USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. I > Part 34
USA > Maine > York County > York > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. I > Part 34
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
369
HISTORY OF YORK
DESTRUCTION OF WINCHESTER CARD'S HOUSE, 1752
Another disaster occurred on the southwest side this year by the burning of the residence of Winchester Card, as told by the same journal:
Last Tuesday was Fortnight, (Dec. 5th), at York; a little Girl, the daughter of one Winchester Card, going into the Garret with a Lamp, just at Dusk set fire to a Bundle of Flax Stalks, by which the House and most of the Goods were consumed to Ashes. The good people there, and in the neighbouring Towns, have been liberal in their Charity to the Man. By the next Thursday night his Neighbours had hauled out all the Timber for a new Frame, which was set up within seven Days from the burning of the House, and they are going on with it.
The account further states that people in Portsmouth contributed money for his immediate needs in liberal amount. The paper takes the occasion to read a warning lesson against bringing flax stalks into the house, owing to its inflammable character, but omits any reference to the lamp.
VISIT OF GOVERNOR SHIRLEY, 1754
The disputes with the Indians of eastern Maine at this time had arisen, as elsewhere detailed, from the encroach- ments of the settlers upon their hunting grounds and fish- ing stations. The owners of the New Plymouth Patent, claiming all the land from the Kennebec to the Sheepscot Rivers, and as far inland as Norridgewock, were making unusual efforts to occupy and improve their property. The Indians strenuously objected to further extension of English settlements, and to adjudicate this difficulty Gov. William Shirley and the Council, with a volunteer force from various towns in Massachusetts, set out from Boston by water, on Saturday, June 22, of this year. The Governor was accompanied by an imposing retinue of interested officials, including Colonel Mascarene, the Commissioner of Nova Scotia, Ex-Lieut .- Gov. William Dummer, while the troops, in transports, were under the command of Major-Gen. John Winslow.
The season naturally assured a pleasant and favorable trip to Falmouth where the parley was to take place, but by one of those tricks of the weather the squadron was shortly called upon to ride out a fierce gale. One of the clerks of a company sailing in a transport thus described their predicament:
370
Pelham sc.
libert pinx.
WILLIAM SHIRLEY Governor of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay 1741-1756
YORK IN PRE-REVOLUTIONARY TIMES
23 June Came on the Most Violent Storm that Ever Was Known att that time of the year the Wind South East We Steared for Piscata- qua harbour and had Come With-In two Miles of it But Night come- ing on we tacked the Sloop about and Let her Run Before the Wind all Night After Break of Day the Storm Increasing and the Men almost all Sea-Sick It tore away our Gibb Saile which Put our Men Into a Great Surprise: We Made Way for Land and about one or two of the Clock Sailed into York harbour.
This was Sunday afternoon, at an hour when Parson Lyman was holding forth to his flock, and probably few were down on the waterfront to welcome the unexpected and distinguished visitors. York was not situated topo- graphically convenient on the seacoast as a port of call between Boston and the eastern towns, and as a conse- quence few such expeditions found it necessary to enter the harbor. What occurred following the dropping of the anchors of these storm-tossed snows, galleys and sloops we are unable to say. Nine years before this Shirley had commissioned Jonathan Sayward in the Louisburg cam- paign and doubtless was personally acquainted with him, which would be sufficient for the young and now successful merchant, living in the finest house in town, decorated with trophies from the Cape Breton campaign, to invite the Governor and his party to accept his hospitality, and taste some of his choice wines and rum, on which he was then paying a considerable excise tax. Or Sir William Pepperrell just across the line in Kittery, hearing of the Governor's dismal voyage may have induced him to spend the night at Kittery Point. We have no local diarist for this period, and must leave it to the imagination. They remained in harbor throughout Monday, probably to straighten out the storm-tossed vessels and started for Falmouth on Tuesday morning. The company clerk gives us the following incidents connected with their departure:
25 June Sailed from York for Cascobay When Benjamin Kindale fell from the Bowl Spleate and Went under the Keele of the Sloop Came up att the Stearn and Sprang into the Whale Boate Laughing: Caleb Bean fell into York River and Drove down Stream twenty Rods and was taken up by James Sharp.
The "Shirley Galley" with its consorts, bearing Governors and Councillors in powdered wigs and officers in their red uniforms and glittering buttons, must have been a marvel- lous sight for the villagers of this frontier town, and one
371
HISTORY OF YORK
long to be remembered by them in their fireside discus- sions at the Green Dragon and Ingraham's.
AN EARLY CONTROVERSY ON THE LIQUOR QUESTION
On June 15, 1754, the General Court, by a vote of fifty-two to seventeen, passed an act granting an excise duty upon wines, distilled spirits, limes, lemons and oranges, sold by retail. This combination suggests many things. It was regarded as a new, annoying and unconsti- tutional method of taxation. The House, in explanation of its passage, stated that it was "a salutary Excise Bill whereby all that consumed spirituous Liquors, the Rich as well as the Poor; those who consumed them for Luxury, as well as those who consumed the same for Necessity, might pay the Excise therefor." The Council at first refused approval but later relented and gave its consent. Governor Shirley on June 17 sent a message to the House in which he said it would be "imposing a Burden upon the People which would be inconsistent with the natural Rights of every private Family in the Community ... to be subjected to keep and render an Account of the Quan- tity of the excisable Liquors, which they shall consume in their private Houses to Collectors and their Deputies," under penalty for refusal. He recommended to the mem- bers that its operation be suspended until it had been printed and sent to the towns during the recess, and "yourselves informed of the general Sentiments of the Country." The Court was adjourned till October 17 to await the results of this important referendum. The York representative, John Bradbury, had voted against its passage.
Meanwhile, the usual number of inevitable pamphlet- eers rushed into print. At least ten of these political infusions were issued in that year with such fanciful titles as "the Cub new-licked"; "the Eclipse"; "the Relapse"; and "Monster of Monsters" by Tom Thumb, Esq. In the "Crisis" the author asks, "Is there a New England man weary of his Priviledges? If this is not the case, and God forbid it should ever be, we shall unite to a Man in instruct- ing our Representatives tenderly to cherish LIBERTY and PROPERTY and defend us from so grievous an EXCISE." He closed with this tribute to the Governor:
372
YORK IN PRE-REVOLUTIONARY TIMES
"Awake, ye Bards, the sprightly Lyrick Now Hey for Praise and Panegyrick.
The Monster Slain, the People freed,
And Wreaths round SHIRLEY'S glorious Head."
One writer asks, "How would a Man of any Spirit after he had given an Account bear to be accosted by a little dirty Fellow, with a Sir, I do not believe you have given a true account, you must Swear to it?" The objectors called it an invitation to perjury and bribery and corrupter of morals, charges that sound familiar at the present time. Evidently our forefathers took their liquor seriously. When this bill reached York a town meeting was held August I that year, and the following sentiment was expressed, possibly influenced by these vigorous pam- phleteers :
Voted, That the said Bill (in the apprehension of the Town) is Griev- ous, burthensome and Inconsistent with the natural Rights of every private Person & Family: and that Mr. John Bradbury, their Repre- sentative, not only continue his Endeavours against the said Bills passing, and thereby comply with the Sentiments of his Constituents, but also Return his Excellency Thanks of this Town, for his Paternal care of their Rights and Privileges, so dear to them and giving them opportunity of standing up for the same, praying his Excellency the Bill may not pass into a Law.
When the General Court reassembled after the recess the same bill was repassed with a more stringent provision than before respecting reports of the private consumption of liquor, a section not in the original bill. Every person consuming liquor in their home, not purchased from an innkeeper or a retailer, was required to render an account of the amount so used. Exemption was made in favor of the Governor, the President and Fellows of Harvard Col- lege, settled ministers and grammar school masters. As York had only two ministers and one grammar school master, this class distinction had little interest for the general run of tipplers.
As an example of the tax paid by York's most sumptu- ous householder, Jonathan Sayward in his records shows that in three separate years it cost him £16-10-0, £11-10-8 and £13-17-6 for his family consumption in twelve months. The tax being four pence a gallon for rum and six pence for wines, the curious can figure out how many gallons were drank in his house in a year.
373
HISTORY OF YORK
THE EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 18, 1755
Seventeen days after the disastrous earthquake which nearly destroyed Lisbon, Portugal, when sixty thousand persons were killed by falling buildings New England was visited by another earthquake, the most severe in its history. It occurred on Tuesday morning, just before day- light, the moon about two hours high, the heavens clear and an unusual stillness prevailed. Sleepers were awak- ened by violent rocking of beds, the falling of bricks from the chimneys, pewter platters tumbling from the dressers, and the creaking of timbers as houses swayed with the vibrations of the quake. For nearly two minutes this awesome tremor kept up, and people rushed out into the open for safety. Animals added to the tumult by neigh- ing, lowing, and the howling of dogs and the startled cackle of fowl gave evidence of their reaction to this ter- restrial disturbance. The movement of the quake was in a northeast and southwest axis at first and it was followed by a sort of vibratory action, Chimneys bore the greatest injuries being generally broken at the roof line and other- wise twisted out of position. The Ingraham brick house was badly shaken up, bricks being loosened and cracks in the walls started. About an hour after the first shock another one followed, but of lesser intensity, and for the next four days slight rumblings ensued, tapering off, as it were, while the earth's crust was getting adjusted to its new position. As far as known there was no loss of life during this phenomenon in York. It made a profound impression upon the community here as elsewhere, and in a day when the minds of the people were easily excited by such manifestations of "Divine Displeasure" the min- isters in the town took advantage of it to revive the faith of those heretofore careless in their church life. Fasting and prayer in frequent meetings resulted in renewals of the covenant by many as is told in connection with the pastorate of Isaac Lyman and Samuel Langdon.
EMIGRATION EASTWARD
About the year 1760 the "Course of Empire" moved from York in reverse gear, and about a dozen families of this town removed to the near and distant parts of the British provinces. Branches of the Banks and Weare
374
YORK IN PRE-REVOLUTIONARY TIMES
families went to Nova Scotia; Stovers, Prebles, Hutchins, Westcotts and Perkins to Penobscot, Castine and Sedg- wick; Prebles to Machias, Bowdoinham, Georgetown and Boothbay; and Moultons to Bath.
THE NEW KING
On October 25, 1760, George II of unimportant mem- ory was gathered to his fathers and his son automatically ascended the throne as George the Third, who was to become of very important memory to the people of this country. News of his accession did not reach York until about January 5 and the usual gatherings in the taverns toasted the health of His Majesty with the formal phrase: "The King is dead, long live the King." Some of them drank it loyally while to others it simply meant another drink.
RETURN OF WANDERING YORKERS
In 1763 the town welcomed on their return two promi- nent absentees. On May 17 Nathaniel Barrell, son-in-law of Judge Sayward, came home from London after an absence of three years, "to the great joy of his friends" (Bradbury, Diary), to which may be added, in all prob- ability, his wife, Sally Sayward.
A month later Capt. Johnson Moulton, who had been absent "in the wars" for more than two years, also resumed his life here under more peaceful conditions. On August II following, by proclamation of the king, a pub- lic Thanksgiving was observed in the town on account of the reestablishment of peace by treaty.
WRECK OF A YORK SLOOP IN 1763
The Boston News-Letter prints the following account of the loss of a York vessel, which foundered off Cape Ann in January of this year. The name of the sloop is not given, and the Master's is given as Adams. She was from Bos- ton bound for "Old York with a very valuable Cargo" and was cast away in a storm "on a Place call'd the Sal- vages near Cape Ann the 5th of this Inst." It states that she got clear of the reefs, and then sprang a leak, and that a passing vessel tried to transfer those on board but the seas were so high that it was impossible, and "Every Soul
375
HISTORY OF YORK
being 8 in Number, Passengers included, perish'd in the Water."
PROPOSAL FOR A UNION OF THE COLONIES
When the famous Jonathan Mayhew, who had visited this town in 1743, published in 1750 his remarkable "Dis- course on Charles the First and the Doctrine of Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance," he kindled the spark which set all the thinking men in the colonies by the ears, and it soon grew into a blaze which never died out until Lexington and Concord. In 1754 the ideas of this pam- phlet found expression in a resolve of the General Court in favor of a union of the colonies for mutual protection. It passed by a narrow majority, 41 to 37, as the proposal was full of explosive material, and among the negatives was John Bradbury of this town. Col. Jedediah Preble, a native son, then representing Falmouth, was with the majority. Twenty years later John Bradbury presided at a patriotic meeting here that gave voice to the spirit of union with the rest of the colonies.
EARLY TRAVELING TRADESMAN
In 1763 one William Davies "lately come from Eng- land," advertised that he would be in York on specified days of the week, regularly, to full and dye cloths, and remove stains and grease spots from all kinds of fabrics. He was the forerunner of the peripatetic peddler.
THE NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENT
The frugality cry, "save your money and you can save your Country," following the lead of the merchants of Boston in the non-importation policy, was taken up by the church here as a patriotic duty, as a result of a meeting called for this purpose. It was in effect an embargo of self- denial against articles of luxury, such as silks, furs, mil- linery, glue, starch, cheese, glass, paper, etc., hitherto imported from England. The towns generally in New England adopted this form of commercial "boycott," as a protest against the Townshend Acts of 1767.
Next year the first troops were sent from England to enforce these laws. The people resented this open intim- idation, and when General Gage needed transports, his
376
YORK IN PRE-REVOLUTIONARY TIMES
request of the owners of vessels in York to furnish shipping for the use of the troops was refused. In these ways this town testified its adhesion to the cause of liberty and free- dom when the occasion required.
BURNING OF REV. MR. LANGTON'S HOUSE IN SCOTLAND
From the issues of the Boston Chronicle, November 21-28 and December 12-19, 1768, the following account of the destruction of the parsonage at Scotland is taken, as furnished by" correspondence" from Portsmouthand York :
We hear from the upper parish in York that on the Ninth inst. the dwelling house of the Rev. Mr. Samuel Lankton of that place, with great part of the household furniture, cloathing &c. was consumed by fire. The family was in great danger of perishing by the flames, it happening about midnight, two or three children saved their lives by jumping out of the window in the back part of the house. The fire broke out in the kitchen, and was first discovered by the servant maid, so that the family, consisting of thirteen persons were merci- fully alarmed and escaped the flames, only a few houshold articles and some wearing apparel was saved. This melancholy accident has involved a very large and worthy family in great distress, they being almost entirely destitute of food and raiment. Their loss is estimated at upwards of £3,000 old tenor being nearly everything they had in the world.
A HEAVENLY PORTENT
While this was not a purely local happening a cor- respondent of the New Hampshire Gazette from this town, under date of June 28, 1770, sent the following item: "A COMET now appears in the Heavens as large in Magni- tude as any of the Superior Planets." Another observer called it "a fiery comet nearly in opposition to the sun." As these mysterious celestial visitors were always a source of wonder and awe in an age when superstition was rife one can readily believe that the universal prediction was that "somethin' awful's goin' to hap'n," and it did.
Fin de Siecle
By the time the town had arrived at the year marking the hostilities which opened the Revolution, it had settled down into an orderly community which maintained the regular habit of transacting the routine business of choos- ing officers annually, drawing names of jurors out of the box and then adjourning. Aside from its participation in the current political agitations of the times, nothing of purely local interest occupied their attention. The last
377
HISTORY OF YORK
act of the citizens in 1775 was to hold their annual town meeting on March 14, at which the only business trans- acted was the election of officers, as though no crisis was impending.
Joseph Simpson, Esq., was chosen Moderator, and Daniel Moulton Town Clerk.
Dr. John Swett, Edward Grow, Joseph Grant, Jere- miah Weare and Samuel Harris were elected Selectmen and Assessors.
Nicholas Sewall and Thomas Bragdon were chosen as Wardens; Thomas Nowell and Matthew Ritchie as Constables.
Besides these, the following named persons were se- lected to fill the minor town offices:
Surveyors of Highways. Enoch Hutchins, Henry Talpey, David Sewall, Esq., Dr. Job Lyman, John Sedgeley, Matthew Austin, Ebenezer Sayward, Thomas Bragdon, Jonathan Nowell, Jr., Samuel Shaw, Jr., Joseph Hasty, David Preble, Daniel Blaisdell, Nathaniel Moulton, John Kingsbury, Samuel Parsons, Jotham Trafton, Ebenezer Blaisdell, Jr., George Moore and John Stone.
Fence Viewers, Field Drivers and Hog Reeves. Peter Littlefield, Abraham Bowden, Josiah Stone, Paul Dudley Woodbridge, Joseph Bragdon, John Stover, Nathaniel Abbott, David Grant, Abel Moulton, Jr., Nathaniel Swett, Daniel Bragdon, Jr., James Junkins, Jr., Samuel Kingsbury, Joseph Nowell, Samuel Linscott, Daniel Grover, Jonathan Farnham and Joshua Moore.
Tithing Men. Samuel Nason and Joseph Grant.
Sealers af Leather. John Sewall and Joseph Grant.
Culler of Fish. William Moore.
Surveyors of Lumber. John Stover, Richard Trevett, Joseph Bragdon, Joseph Grant and John Stevens.
Culler of Staves and Hoops. Samuel Derby.
Sealers of Wood. Caleb Preble, John Stover, Cotton Bradbury and John Weare.
Surveyors of Clapboards and Shingles. John Stover and Cotton Bradbury.
With these men at the helm the town faced the in- evitable Revolution, after providing that the Constables should pay over the town monies to the Treasurer elected by the Provincial Congress, and agreeing to indemnify them for their acts in this respect.
378
CHAPTER XXXIII LOOSENING OF THE MATERNAL TIES 1760-1774
The conquest of Canada, with the elimination of their ancient enemies the French from their flanks and rear, gave the colonies a welcome sense of security which they nor their ancestors had ever before known. They were now able to live in security and develop their destinies untroubled by dynastic wars in Europe or fearful of savages now deprived of their former allies. This situation inevitably led to a sense of new-born strength and the consciousness of future invulnerability. The three thou- sand miles of ocean separated them from everybody. Herein dwelt the germ of emancipation from interference of external control and the loosening of the ancient ma- ternal ties. They were never cordial nor strong, but "independence" was a strange word in their political dic- tionary, and nobody knew how to define it, or give evi- dence as to its effects. Englishmen had never visualized a state of society without a king and submissive subjects, the one to rule over them by Divine Right, and the other to tremble at his commands.
At this juncture the stupid, prerogative-ridden George, third of his name, unable to speak English, came to the throne from his Hanoverian environment to rule over Englishmen in America who couldn't speak German. This was one of the underlying causes which started the loosen- ing of the old ties and led up to the rupture. War, so far as York is concerned, began in 1765 as it did elsewhere. The passage of the Stamp Act on January 10 of that year aroused great resentment in the colonies and the people here entertained the same sentiments regarding it as an invasion of their "rights." Mob violence against the few customs and revenue officials who tried to put it into effect resulted, and the offices were looted for the objectionable stamped papers and the documents committed to public bonfires. The Act was repealed in March 1766, and news of the event reached York on May 17 by an express from Boston, and it can be believed that the joy of the towns-
379
HISTORY OF YORK
people was expressed in the ringing of bells, drums beating, colors flying, gun firing and - loyal toasts drank to "the Great Pitt." Then arose the problem of reimbursing those officials whose offices, houses and personal property had been destroyed by the "Sons of Liberty." These innocent officials suffered great losses as they were only performing their duty in enforcing an Act of Parliament. They appealed for relief to the king and he recommended that the Province give them compensation. The House of Representatives voted to refer the matter to the country "for the purpose of knowing the Minds of their respective constituents." A town meeting was called to meet here Mon- day, July 21, 1766, to consider the reference. "After some Debates," it was voted that in the opinion of this Town: a Just and faithful examination and enquiery be made: who are the sufferers; what there Loss & Damage is: and whether all circumstances considered they all shod be made whole. only such as may appear to be fit subjects of it. That this enquiery be very Scrutenous: That best endeavours be used to find out where or by whom these Sufferers shall or ought to be compensated; either by any Particular Town or Towns or the Province in General: and however this may turn we conceive it ought finally to be made good and paid by the Person or Persons who committed these most horrid and Detestable Violences: and this we strictly enjoyn our Representative to use his utmost power and Influence to affect.
This cautious statement of opinion closed with an expression of confidence in "our present Representative" (Jonathan Sayward) and the decision was left to his dis- cretion (T. R. ii, 156). It is apparent that the influence of Mr. Sayward can be seen in the ambiguity of this action, but it was the last time that his views found voice in the town counsels. This was followed by the Act of Parliament, passed June 29, 1767, imposing duties on imports of paper, glass, painters' colors and teas, combined with the establishment of a Civil List to be paid out of this tax and the surplus revenue to be at the disposal of Parliament. The General Court met this situation in February 1768 by taking the next step in the great drama. By resolution it invited the other twelve colonies to form a Confederation to deal with these laws and obtain redress by a united front in dealing with the Ministry. Jonathan Sayward, the representative from York, spoke and voted against sending such a letter, but it was passed by an overwhelming majority, against the protest of Governor
380
1
LOOSENING OF THE MATERNAL TIES
Francis Bernard. This royal representative, as the mouth- piece of a class of politicians of the die-hard conservative upholders of "prerogative," was adding his mite to the widening of the threatening breach. He refused to grant charters to new towns in Maine, because it would result in sending new members to the General Court hostile to the king! Sayward was one of his chief supporters. The English government condemned this intercolonial letter as "highly inflammatory and tending to sedition" and commanded the Court to rescind the resolution with- out delay. This was boldly refused by a vote of ninety- two to seventeen and Governor Bernard thereupon pro- rogued the session and declined to issue precepts for a new election. Sayward was one of the "17" notorious in that day as "Rescinders," and the only one in Maine to support the demand. Excitement ran high, and broad- sides, caricatures and newspaper articles expressed the general condemnation of the minority. The "92" were acclaimed in prose and verse, toast - at banquets as patriots. In a broadside dated June 30, 1768, entitled "The Rescinders," their excuse for voting to submit is thus pilloried :
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.