History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 80

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 730

USA > Maine > York County > History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 80

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

which he built, and in which he lived and reared his children,-two sons and six daughters.

Lady Pepperell, widow of Sir William, after the death of her husband, built a house of more modern style than the Pepperell mansion, near the old Congregational church, where she lived with her daughter thirty years, till her death, Nov. 25, 1789.

The house is now occupied by Miss Cutts, and, though much out of repair, retains the air of having been finished in the best style of the day. The old Pepperell house was plain in architecture, but contained many rooms. The hall was spacious and well furnished ; portraits adorued the walls, a beautifully-kept lawn descended to the water, and an avenue of trees led from it to the Sparhawk residence. During the Revolutionary war it was used as barracks for troops. It has been curtailed ten feet from cach end, but still presents ample proportions. It is now owned by Charles Bellamy.

THE PEPPERELL TOMB.

Among the attractions to the visitor at the Point are the Pepperell tomb, which contains all that is mortal of the Pepperell family and many of their immediate descendants ; the monument raised over it by Sir William, which he im- ported from England, and upon which is chiseled the coat- of-arms of his family ; the Pepperell house ; the mansion of Lady Pepperell; the old Congregational church and parsonage house, in which is the study occupied by Dr. Stevens from 1751 to 1791 ; the Sparhawk house and Battery Hill, upon which Fort McClary stands, and from which a charming view of ocean, islaud, city, and village is obtained.

THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT,

conspicuously located in Old Orchard Cemetery, shows how the citizens respect the memory of those who fell in the late struggle to perpetuate our national life.

THE WHIPPING-POST,

with which every town was required to be provided, stood at Spruce Creek, near the Methodist meeting-house.

CHURCHES. CONGREGATIONALIST.

There is but little record of the first religious work of the town of Kittery in existence. At a meeting held by the town, or parish, Sept. 7, 1683, 50 were voted to be given to Mr. John Emerson " toward ye building of a house," to be paid in money, or other pay equivaleut, namely, market- able pine boards at 20s. per thousand feet ; marketable wheat at 4s. 6d. a bushel ; peas at 4s. a bushel ; Indian corn at 2s. 6d. a bushel ; pork at 3d. per pound; boofe at 2d. a pound, to be delivered in Berwick. Fifteen acres of land was granted the minister, to be laid out of the minis- terial and school land by the meeting-house.

A meeting-house was built at Long Reach in 1708-9, and a new one built in 1730. In 1712, £240 were assessed by a general rate to support the ministry in three separate sections of the town in equal proportions.

Previons to the year 1750 all the inhabitants living in the lower part of Kittery towards the sea attended upon the

286

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

ministry of Mr. Newmarch. This was before the toll- bridge across the Spruce Creek was built, its place beiug occupied by a ferry, across which people were taken to aud from church without charge. But during this year a peti- tion from sundry brethren, living at what was called Spruce Creek. to be dismissed and formed into a new church, was granted by the present church, and an amicable separation effected, and on the 19th of September, 1750, a church was organized by Rev. Ward Cotton, and the same day Rev. Josiah Chase was ordained pastor. Mr. Chase remained their minister twenty-eight years, till his death, which oc- curred suddenly, Dec. 10, 1778. He was returning from a funeral, in the evening, accompanied by neighbors, till within sight of the light of his own dwelling, which he struck across the fields to reach. In the morning he was found drowned or frozen in the ereek, into which it is supposed he fell by losing his way. After his death the church was destitute of preaching nearly four years, when Rev. Joseph Littlefield was ordained, July, 1782. lle remained their minister till abont the year 1827, when age and infirmity disqualified him for the pulpit. He was the last minister of this church, which lost its existence about this time,-the house burning down, and the field was occupied by another denomination.

Between the years 1725 and 1730 a small chapel was erected near the Eliot line, about half a mile north of the residence of Hon. Mark Dennett, in which service was held for a few years. The Rev. John Eveleth, formerly of Arundel, officiated. Prominent and influential among the members and supporters of it were John Dennet and Richard Gowell. Mr. Eveleth died here, Aug. 1, 1734, at the age of sixty-five, and was buried on the farm of Samuel Fernald, near the creek. This was an independent effort.

FIRST CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH OF KITTERY was formally organized Nov. 4, 1714, and the Rev. John Newmareh was ordained pastor. Mr. Newmarch graduated from Harvard in 1690. He came into town in 1695, married here, and had land granted him as minister of the town. The church at its formation consisted of 43 mem- bers,-18 males and 25 females. The male members were John Newmarch, William Pepperell, Elihu Gunnison, John Dennet, Henry Barter, John Fernald, Ebenezer Emons, Joseph Mitchell, John Ingersoll, Samuel Skillin, Samuel Hutchins, John Adams, James Fernald, Dodavah Curtiss, Thomas Rice, George Jackson, John Ford, and Samuel Ford. Henry Barter and John Fernald were the first deacons. April 2, 1731, Joseph Gunnison and Samnel Lunt were chosen deacons. By will of Col. Wm. Pepper- ell, the church was given £60 to be laid out in the purchase of plate for the use of the church. Mr. Newmarch, be- coming feeble through age, in 1750 asked assistance in the ministry, and May 1, 1751, Benjamin Stevens was ordained as colleague pastor. Mr. Newmarch then relinquished his ministerial labors of more than fifty-five years in town, and died Jan. 15, 1754, aged eighty-one, ripe and full of years and much respected by his people. Ile was buried in au oak grove near the present Methodist meeting-house. Plain marble tombstones, erected by those who respect his memory, mark the place of his repose.

Mr. Stevens maintained a pastorate of forty years, dying suddenly May 17, 1791. Sir William Pepperell left the church a bequest of £10, which Lady Pepperell, as his executrix, laid out in a christening basin. The Hon. Rich- ard Cutts was appointed to receive the basin in behalf of the church, Feb. 29, 1760. Mrs. Turrell, of Medford, left a legacy to the parish to purchase a sacramental cup, for which Deacon Joseph Gunnison receipted Aug. 5, 1765. The Rev. Jonas Hartwell succeeded Dr. Stevens in 1792, but was dismissed for unchristian conduct and practices in May, 1798. In December of the same year the Rev. William Briggs was ordained. At his dismission, in 1814, not a male member remained, and but few females. For nearly five years previous to his dismission the Lord's Supper was seldom administered, and then females served the table. The church was destitute two or three years succeeding, when the Rev. John Dutton was hired for a year and nine months, then again destitute till December, 1819, when Stephen Merrill, under a commission from the Maine Missionary Society, preached six weeks, after which he tarried a year or more by request. A revival attended his labors and some were added to the church, which had become reduced to but one resident member, Mrs. Bellamy. Several were admitted to the church. Mr. Merrill was ordained pastor June 20, 1821, and under his guidance the church revived again. At his own request he was dismissed Oct. 21, 1831. They were destitute till Oct. 29, 1837, when Mr. Tobias R. Miller was invited to become their pastor. He was accordingly ordained Nov. 21, 1838, and preached for them two years, when he left on a mission to solicit aid to repair the meeting-house. Through his efforts some four or five hundred dollars were raised, aud the house repaired. The committee for this purpose were Mr. Miller, Oliver Cutts, and Deacon Charles Duuean. It was rededicated June, 1840; sermon by T. H. Miller. Mr. Miller was dismissed Jan. 26, 1841, and the following day Reuben Kimball was ordained. Mr. Kimball remained pastor till Jan. 9, 1850, when he was dismissed, and Albert William Fiske installed July 18, 1850. He remained till April 1, 1857, when he was dismissed at his own request. William A. Forbes supplied ten months, fol- lowed by Rev. Samuel H. Partridge for a time. In Sep- tember, 1859, Rev. M. C. Bartley commenced his labors, and remained till his death, June 2, 1860. The Rev. William A. Forbes returned Oct. 1, 1860, and continued till Oct. 1, 1863, when his health compelled him to resign. The Rev. Thomas L. Ellis began a ministry November, 1863, which closed April, 1868. During the summer the pulpit was transiently supplied by the Baptist and Metho- dist ministers of the neighborhood. In the autumn of 1868 Rev. Samuel S. Drake began his labors as stated sup- ply. There has been no settled minister since his departure. Membership, 28. The present parsonage was built 1729, and the first meeting-house, 1731. The records mention that in July, 1669, it was voted in town-meeting to lay out 150 acres of land in each of the three divisions of the town, which, if they were so called by settlements, were at Kit- tery Point, Eliot (then called Sturgeon Creek), and South Berwick (then known as Newichawaniek, or Quamphe- gan).

287

TOWN OF KITTERY.

FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH AT KITTERY POINT was organized at the house of Mrs. Susanna Fowler, Nov. 10, 1827, by Elder Henry Hobbs, with a membership of 12. They worshiped in Brave Boat Harbor school-house till the erection of their meeting-house in 1828. It was dedicated December, 1829, and Elder Nathaniel Thurston chosen pastor. Nathaniel Milton became pastor in 1835, and remained two years ; then Luther Perry was with them during 1837 ; Carlton Swan was pastor, 1839-40; J. J. Weatherbee, 1843 ; Almon Libby, 1848 ; Francis P. New- all, 1849 ; Seth W. Perkins, 1853; A. Libby, 1856; Chas. Hurlen, 1858 ; James Austin, 1859 ; Lowell Parker, 1860; Eli B. Fernald, 1861 ; Benj. S. Manson to April, 1871. F. W. Towne, present pastor. Their first Sunday-school was held in 1829, but was not regularly organized till 1842. Now there is a flourishing school of 190 scholars. The first deacons were Darius Frisbee and Solomon Wil- liams. Present membership of the church, 101.

THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

of this town arose from the ashes of the Congregational Church of Spruce Creek. The Rev. Joseph Littlefield, the last minister there, enfeebled by age, invited Paschal P. Morrill, a preacher of the Methodist persuasion, to assist him in his ministrations in 1827, and counseled his peo- ple to aid in his support. Mr. Morrill labored with accept- ance during the year, and was succeeded by John W. Atkins. for the years 1828-29.

The first class was formed in 1827 under Mr. Morrill's ministry, and consisted of 14 members, viz., Gowen Wil- son, Nancy Wilson, Wm. W. Fernald, Waite Fernald, Mary Cutts, Julia Fernald, Thomas Manson, Alzira Johnson, Susan Pettigrew, Hannah Caswell, Abigail Pickernale, Susan Haley, Robert Cutts, and Hannah Cutts. Gowen Wilson was the first class-leader,-a position he occupied with great faithfulness for more than twenty-five years. After him John Goodsoe was appointed leader. The first meetings of the society were held in the old Congregational meeting-house, till about the time of its destruction by fire. In the summer of 1835 the present house was built under the supervision and through the influence of Hon. Gowen Wil- son, Wm. W. Fernald, and Samuel Fernald. It was erected on contract by John W. Goodwin, of York. The dedica- tion services were held Nov. 24, 1835, by Rev. Mr. Per- kins, of Dover, N. H. Getting out of repair, it was re- modeled and improved, 1857-58. The expense of building was met by assessment upon the pew-holders. The parson- age was built in 1842. Enlarged and repaired in 1863, and enlarged again in 1871. The old Congregational meeting-house stood on the east side of Spruce Creek, at the forks of the road next east of present meeting-house, where its foundation may yet be seen. Present member- ship, 74. The church property is valued at about $2500. Pastor, supplied.

SECOND METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY.

The Second Methodist Episcopal Church of Kittery was organized Oct. 24, 1866. The society formally organized Nov. 20, 1866, and appointed the following-named persons as trustees : Howard Paul, Alex. Dennett, John Goodsoe,

Chas. H. Bartlett, and Theodore Kcen. The lot for a meeting-house and parsonage was donated by Dr. Charles Chase, of Boston. Membership at organization 33, who were transferred from Spruce Creek Society. They were supplied in 1867 by Rev. N. D. Adams. In the year 1868 a neat church edifice was erected, and dedicated December 31st. Conference sent them as pastor in charge Rev. W. H. H. Pillsbury, who remained two years. In 1870, Rev. A. W. Pottle became pastor. The value of church prop- erty is $10,000. The parsonage contemplated has not been built. Membership, 59. First and only class-leader, John Goodsoc. Pastor, Rev. William W. Baldwin.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF KITTERY

called its society meetings, according to its records, in the name of the First Baptist Society of Kittery till Jan. 19, 1842, when, by a vote of the society, it was changed to its present name. When application was made to the General Court to be incorporated as the First Christian Society, the name was objected to on the ground that all religious so- cieties were Christian. Hence their application was granted under the name of the First Baptist.

A church organization was effected Nov. 20, 1806, under the countenance of Elder Ephraim Stinchfield and Moses Safford, with a membership of 14. The first church was built in 1807, on the road leading from York to Kittery, by way of Brave Boat Harbor. At first it was without pews. The first mention on record of the sale of pews was July 24, 1812, in which year an addition was made to the meeting-house. Moses Safford became pastor soon after the church was gathered, and was dismissed April 27, 1815. The same year Elder Mark Fernald was chosen pastor, and maintained that relation till his death, Dec. 30, 1851. He preached his last sermon November 2d of that year. Elder Mark Fernald was born in town March 9, 1784, was con- verted Dec. 6, 1807, ordained to the ministry in York, Sept. 20, 1809. During his ministry the church prospered so that in 1842 a new church edifice was contracted for, 50 by 37 feet, to cost 8929, and to be completed the 20th of July. Benjamin Norton, of Portsmouth, was the builder. The church lot was bought of M. B. Moore for $50. The house was dedicated July 28, 1842, by Elder Shaw. Burned in 1849. Rebuilt during the year, and dedicated by Elder G. M. Payne, Jan. 26, 1850. After the death of Elder Fernald, Elder Payne took the pastoral care of the church, June 24, 1852. Various preachers filled the pulpit during that year. Elder S. S. White preached about a year. Elder Appleton W. Reed preached his first sermon to this people June 5, 1853. Elder J. H. Rowell, April 22, 1855. Elder Payne, who had assumed the pastoral care of the church in 1852, was dismissed from this relation July 26, 1856. Elder Rowell remained till April 26, 1863. Thomas G. Moses was ordained June 24, 1863, and resigned April 10, 1866. Elder G. M. Payne supplied from Nov. 4, 1866, to Nov. 3, 1867. The next two years there was no stated preaching. March 29, 1869, Elder Cottle began a ministry which terminated in the fall of 1870. Present pastor, Rev. James H. Rowell. The first deacon of this church was Pelatiah Fernald, who died Oct. 12, 1849, aged seventy-eight. Present membership, 147.

288

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

SECOND CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF KITTERY

was organized May 25, 1843. In 1837 the meeting-house was built, and dedicated in the summer of that year, and Elder George MI. Payne became their first minister, and served them in this capacity for about fourteen years. Membership at organization, 26. May 31, 1862, Elder Lewis Phillips commenced a pastorate, which he resigned October, 1868. From April 4, 1869, to March 27, 1870, Elder John A. Goss supplied the pulpit. Elder S. A. Hutchinson followed, April 3, 1870, to 1878. Present, vacant. Their deacons have been Maj. Mark Dennet, Joseph Graves, Alex. Graves, Richard Williams, and Joseph Cox.

Present membership, about 100.

FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF KITTERY

was formed May 30, 1870, under the supply of Rev. Geo. W. Bicknell, of Portsmouth. It embraces about thirty-five families. The Sabbath-school was organized June 3d of the same year. The church was organized Oct. 9, 1870. A lot was donated by Dr. Robert M. Otis, and a house for worship erected during the summer of 1871, and September 3d following it was dedicated. Membership, 15. Youngest of the churches in town, its prospects are bright and flat- tering. There is no settled pastor at present.

SCHOOLS.

Eugene Lynch was elected a schoolmaster in 1817. The next year the selectmen were instructed " to call ye town together when ye schoolmaster comes." John Stuart taught the town school in 1720, and Benjamin Rolfe in 1728, at £60 a year.

The present district system was adopted in 1820. There are now in the town three high schools, with an average attendance of 54 scholars. Five hundred dollars were appropriated for their support by the town in 1878.

The town is divided into ten commou-school districts, and contains eleven school-houses, valued at 817,000, with their grounds and apparatus.

There are within the town 1020 school children, 650 of whom were registered at school in 1878. The town appro- priation for that year was $2700.

KITTERY FREE LIBRARY.

In 1868, Miss Arabella Rice left by bequest a sum of $30,000 to found a library, to be known as the RICE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. The town provided rooms in the Odd- Fellows' Block, Kittery village, and the library, comprising 1030 volumes, was opened to the public in 1877. Trus- tecs, Daniel Austin, President ; Ichabod Goodwin, Vice- President ; W. II. Y. Haskett, Treasurer ; William II. Ilaskett, Secretary; John Wentworth, Ephraim O. Spin- uey, Directors. A fine catalogue has been published, and the library is liberally patronized, though the selection of books is not yet completed.

PROMINENT MEN.

William Pepperell, the elder, was made a justice of the peace in 1690, and held the office till 1725. In 1715 he was appointed one of the judges of the Court of Common

Pleas, and served on the bench many years, his son William acting as his clerk. At the formation of the Congregational Church he was one of the original members, and during his life was a firm and able supporter. He died 1734. He had command of the fort at the Point, with rank of captain, and also of the militia, and before his death had risen to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. His wife survived him a few years. The old Pepperell fort was built about 1700, and was probably a defense erected by private enterprise, though it may have been garrisoned by soldiers in the pay of the colony during Indian alarms.

Sir William Pepperell, second son of William, the elder, was born June 27, 1696, and married Mary Hirst, March 16, 1723, by whom he had four children,-Elizabeth, born Dec. 29, 1723 ; Andrew, born Jan. 4, 1726; William, born May 26, 1729, died the following February ; and Margery, born Sept. 4, 1732, died in infancy. His two children who survived were well educated. Andrew graduated with the honors of Harvard at the age of nineteen, and became as- sociated with his father in business. Though engaged to a Miss Waldo, he never married, and died Feb. 1, 1751, aged twenty-six. Elizabeth, the daughter, married Nathaniel Sparhawk, May 1, 1742, and resided at the Point, near her father; and the place still goes by the name of the Spar- hawk place. Sir William was early trained to business habits in the counting-house of his father, whose clerk he was from a very small boy. The wealth and importance of the firm were recognized in all the commercial circles of the Continent, and the large and varied transactions in which it engaged made it known in Europe. Contracts to build vessels for foreign merchants were taken, as well as for supplies of stores to meet government needs. They maintained a large fishing-fleet, having sometimes as many as a hundred on the banks taking fish for the markets of Europe and the West Indies. Sir William was commis- sioned justice of the peace and captain of a company of cavalry as soon he arrived at majority. Soon he rose to major and lieutenant-colonel, and at thirty was made colonel, which gave him command of all the Maine militia. He was chosen representative from Kittery 1726 and 1727, councilor to the government at Boston, which appointment was renewed thirty-two successive years; eighteen of them he served as president of the board. In 1730, Governor Belcher appointed him chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, which position he filled till his death, 1759.

In March, 1774, war was declared between France and England. The works at Louisbourg had been twenty-four years in building, had cost France six millions of dollars, and were deemed impregnable. The project of capturing them was conceived by the provincials, and Pepperell intrusted with the command of the expedition. Pepperell was personally known, highly popular, and the forces, consisting of 4300 men, were raised in eight weeks. A landing was effected May 1, 1745, and the place capitulated June 19th follow- ing. For this success he was knighted. Visiting England, he was received with great consideration. After his mar- riage he built the northern portion of the Pepperell house, at the Point, where he resided till his death. After his return from Europe, loaded with honors and titles, his walls were hung with costly mirrors and paintings, his sideboards

289

TOWN OF KITTERY.

creaked with silver, his cellars were filled with choice wines, his park was stocked with deer, he kept a retinue of ser- vants, and maintained a costly equipage. A splendid barge, manned with a black crew, dressed in uniform, bore him across the waters of the creeks and harbor, where he willed to go, in truly baronial style. In 1756 he was commis- sioned lieutenant-general, and upon Pitt's accession to the ministry he was commissioned lieutenant-general in the royal army,-an honor never previously conferred upon a native of America. In his business transactions he dealt largely in real estate, and acquired immense landed estates. These he mostly devised to his grandson, William Sparhawk, upon condition he assumed the name of Pepperell when he should arrive at the age of twenty-one. When the troubles with the mother-country came on his heirs remained loyal to the crown, and left the country and the vast estates acquired by father and son, though more than fifty years of success- ful business were swept away by the confiscation act of 1778. To Lady Pepperell and her daughter, Mrs. Spar- hawk, the baronet had devised a life interest in the Saco lands. In exchange for this right the State assigned them, as absolute property, two-ninths of them. The plate be- longing to Sir William was bequeathed to his grandson and heir, and allowed to be taken out of the country under the confiscation act. Col. Moulton, with six soldiers, guarded its conveyance to Boston, whence it was shipped to England.

Andrew, the oldest son of William and Margery Pepper- ell, was born July 1, 1681, and was taken into partnership with his father, whose business had become very extensive. He married, in 1707, a daughter of Robert Eliot, Esq., and resided in New Castle, where he died in 1713. He had two children,-Sarah, who married Charles Frost, and Margery, William Wentworth. His widow married Charles Frost, father of the one who married the daughter.

Mary, the eldest daughter, was born Sept. 5, 1685; married Hon. John Frost, by whom she had sixteen chil- dren ; eleven of them reached maturity. After Mr. Frost's death she married Rev. Benjamin Coleman, D.D., and then Rev. Benjamin Prescott, of Danvers, Mass. She died 1766, aged eighty. Margery, the next daughter, was born 1689; married Pelatiah Whitemore for her first husband, by whom she had four children. He was lost near the Isles of Shoals. She afterwards married Elisha Gunnison, judge of the Court of Common Pleas, who resided at the Point.

Joanna, the next daughter, was born June 22, 1692; married Dr. George Jackson, had six daughters, and died 1725. Miriam was born Sept. 3, 1694, and married Andrew Tyler, a merchant of Boston ; had two sons and three daughters. Dorothy, born July 23, 1698, married Andrew Watkins, who commanded one of her father's ships, by whom she had two sons, Andrew and John. Her second husband was Hon. John Newmarch,

Jane was born 1701 ; married for her husband, Benjamin Clark, by whom she had two sons, Benjamin and William. Her second husband was William Tyler, brother of Andrew, of Boston. After the death of his son Andrew, the firm- name remained the same, and William, the youngest and only remaining son, was admitted to a partnership in the business.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 80

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 730

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 730