USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 15
USA > Maine > York County > York > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 15
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And on the same day another parcel of marsh land con- taining an acre and a half on the west branch of the river "next unto the Lott of Andrew Everett and Sampson Angier." In 1660 it was voted that the "Town Lott that belongeth unto the Ministry shall extend backward half a mile as the others" (to Little River). This referred to the Scituate Row house lots which had been extended that distance. With this extension the ministerial lot contained about ten acres. The present dimensions of the parish land consist of 1.9 acres of meadow and 47.42 acres of upland and woodland.
The town officials of 1671 seemed to have an apprecia- tion of the trust imposed on them in respect to this property and on August 14, 1671, passed the following resolution expressing this sentiment:
That forasmuch as those Accomodations of Land & Meadow with such appurtenances as are now belonging, which by the Town of York are now thought fit, forever to be confirmed for the Constant use of the ministry, the continued setling thereof being a succeeding benefit unto Posterity, & as Essential for the Continuance of the Ministry: but if otherwise disposed undoubtedly will be fatall discouragement unto both: For the preventing hereof it is hereby ordered by the major part of the Inhabitants of York & concluded as an act of perpetual Standing: that all Such Accomodations of Land & Marsh & Meadow & buildings, which have been heretofore added or Improved for the behooff and for the behalf of the ministry, shall be & remaine unre- versable as an Inheritance given promised & Confirmed thereunto for the perpetuall use & benefitt of the ministry henceforward unto all succeeding generations.
In March of the following year the Selectmen added a
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grant of one hundred acres of upland to be laid out near the marsh "on the other side of the parting of York River." This was not laid out for over sixty years.
The difference between the remnant of about forty- nine acres and the amount originally belonging to the parish represents, with some small acreage sold, the con- stant encroachments and illegal appropriations of abut- tors, principally on the southeast side in the last two hundred fifty years. These constant nibblings took place under the eyes of the Selectmen, as well as the citizens, with occasional protests which were ineffectual; and even with consent after buildings had been erected thereon and removal would have been expensive to the tres- passers. The story is a long one of continued trespass on land given for religious purposes, and questionable com- promises. The town itself appears to be an original violator of this trust. The jail was erected on this land and, as far as known, yielded no revenue to the ministry. In 1713 and 1715 the Selectmen set the first bad example by selling nearly three acres to Nicholas Sewall for a tan- yard and in 1714 nearly two acres to William Grow. There is no record that the money received from these illegal sales was turned over to the minister. This action must have been a signal for abuttors on the glebe to help ' themselves, as in 1718 the town voted that Thomas Haynes, Daniel Simpson and Lewis Bean be a committee to "Assert & Maintain the Towns Right" in the minis- terial land "by all lawfull means at the Town's charge."
At the same time the officials awoke to the fact that their grant of 1672 of one hundred acres had never been properly laid out and the town surveyor was ordered to do so "speedily." It was done "speedily" in 1735! In 1723 the town authorities finally made a survey of what was left of their ministerial property and the result is here set forth :
York November 19th 1723: We the Subscribers being impowered by this Town of York to renew the Bounds of the Land belonging to the Ministry at the lower End of this Town :- In pursuance thereof we have renewed the bounds as followeth viz: Beginning at the Meeting House Creek at Mr Caleb Prebles Souther most corner Bounds and runs from thence North East Sixty four Poles to the Country Road: And then began again at the first mentioned and measured Eight poles South East and drove a Stake into the Ground, which is for the Southermost Corner Bounds of the Widow Lydia Wares Land which
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HISTORY OF YORK
was formerly Peter Wares Estate, late of York deceased: And from thence North East a little Northerly to the Southermost Corner of James Tylers House, formerly Phebe Tanners: leaving the Country Road: And from thence North East one hundred & thirty nine Poles & a Half to a heap of Stones, which is the Eastermost Corner Bounds of sd Lydia Wears Land : & from thence North West to sd Prebles Bounds, the which comprehends the sd Wears Ten acres: Then we began again at the sd Wears Southermost Corner Bounds and about Eight Poles from the sd Meeting House Creek: We measured twenty four Poles South East, leaving the eight Poles between this Line & the sd Creek for a Road & Landing Place : & from thence North East by the Road thirty four Poles : and from thence twenty Poles, besides four for the Road, to the Eastermost End of Nic: Sewalls land : & from thence North East 60 Poles to the Northermost Corner of Mr Ben- jamin Stones House Lott, Bounding on sd Stones Land : & from thence North East one hundred & fifty six Poles to the North Corner of Mr John Woodbridges Land: and from thence South Easterly, a little East, by sd Woodbridges Swamp, Sixteen Poles to Samuel Johnsons Land : and from thence North East, a little Northerly, Eighty nine Poles to the Land formerly laid out to Philip Adams, now in the Possession of Samuel Black : & from thence North West fifty two Poles to said Caleb Prebles Bounds : & from thence South West bounding on said Prebles Bounds to the Head of sd Wears Land : & from thence Bounding on said Wears Land to the Meeting House Creek, containing in the whole about eighty six acres: laid out and new bounded the Day & year above mentioned by us
Joseph Banks Richard Milbury Samuel Came Jeremiah Moulton Elihu Parsons
Having thus set their house in as good order as pos- sible, passively accepting previous encroachments, the process of misappropriation was temporarily stopped, yet the abuttors were sleepless and after several years of relaxation in vigilance on the town's part the process began again. Leases were executed for building of small shops and these became the basis for claims of ownership. In 1730 Elias Perry was employed by the church to take charge of the ministerial land and prevent encroachments. Apparently it required constant policing to stop these depredations. The parish voted on March II, 1735, to "Renew the old Ancient Bounds between the Ministerial Land & Mr John Woodbridge & Mr Ingraham & also between the Heirs of Saml Johnson Dec'd.," and evidently finding that the usual trespassing was taking place, another meeting on March 28 following,
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Voted to Prosecute any Person or Persons that hath already Tres- passed upon the Parsonage Land, or that shall hereafter by Building thereon or Fencing or any other Trespass.
A committee was chosen to act on this vote and were empowered to "Renew the Line between the Parsonage Land & Mr John Woodbridge." The usual renewal meant an acceptance of what was already fenced in by abuttors.
As before stated the grant of one hundred acres in 1672 was not laid out or surveyed until 1735, and then it was chosen in the "Stated Commons." This being in the Second Parish a trade was made with the Scotland people by which this land was given to them, "Provided they and their Minester Quit their Right in the Ministeral Land & Marsh that now is." By this is to be understood all the lands devoted to ministerial purposes given or granted before the organization of the Second Parish.
On May 21, 1736, a settlement of the bounds between the heirs of Samuel Johnson and the parish was made by Samuel Came, Richard Milberry and John Sayward representing the parish. The division line was agreed upon as follows:
... Beginning at a Large Rock lying Fourteen Rods lacking twenty one Inches South East from the North Westerly Corner of the Dwell- ing House of Mr Nicholas Sewall, late of sd York Dec'd, which Rock is marked with the letters IP & the Date of Year 1736, & from the sd marks in the Rock to run North East to the Country Road marking Rocks in the Line as we went along.
The next year the parish sold to Hugh Holman, one of the Johnson heirs, half an acre of the ministerial lot "where the sd Holman's house now standeth, sd half acre Land to Joyn to the Johnson's Land on ths South Easterly Side, & on the Land of Nicholas Sewall late of York Deceased on the South West End & to Run back North East tell half an acre be Compleated: sd half an acre of Land is not to extend moor then 8 feet to the N. Westward of said House." Evidently Holman had built his house on parish land, as others had, expecting to acquire title by occupancy. The parish officials had tamely submitted to this sort of piracy.
As far as known this clearing of the slate lasted for a long time, but encroachments were not wanting, though when begun or by whom is not known. In 1813 another campaign in behalf of the parish was inaugurated to save
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HISTORY OF YORK
what was left of the ministerial inheritance. A committee was appointed to report on the subject, and the following list of encroachments, legal and otherwise were found to exist :
I. Lease to Edward Emerson for 999 years dated March 24, 1766, for 13 square rods where his house stands, at $2.67 annually.
2. Lease to Madame Lyman of a quarter of an acre, where her house stands, granted to Jonathan Sayward April 1, 1787.
3. Lease to David Sewall for 200 years at 25 cents a year for the land on which the front porch of the house of Capt. Josephus Howard stands.
The following encroachments were reported to be illegal:
I. Bulkeley Emerson, 85 square rods occupied by his store and hog sty.
2. Joseph Young, "where his house stands."
3. John Lowe, 600 square feet "where his shop stands."
4. Moses Safford, "where his shop stands."
5. Timothy M.cIntire and Poly Young, "where their house stands."
6. Widow Sellars, "where her house stands."
7. Nathaniel Sargent, 300 square feet.
8. Daniel Sewall, "encroachment on the parsonage lot."
9. Josephus Howard, "where his shop stands."
The committee finally compounded with these encroach- ments on the basis of leases at fixed rates for a term of five years.
In 1833 a committee was appointed at a town meeting to ascertain what rights the town and parish had to the land on which the Court House stood. In the report the committee stated that the land had been used "for public accomodation and private emolument" from time imme- morial and cited the erection of "a Liberty pole and also a nine-pin alley" on it. They asserted that it had always been used as a public parade and "in the memory of some of us a whipping Post and Gallows was erected on this Land."1 The committee cited the fact that the county had granted the sum of five hundred dollars to be added to the six hundred dollars voted by the town on condition that the land be conveyed to the county, but to revert
1 If "some of us" had reached the age of three score and ten a gallows was on this land as late as 1760 as well as a whipping post.
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to the "original owners" when it ceased to be used for a court house. The First Parish by a vote on November 25, 1811, conveyed its right to the county. The committee denied the power of the parish to deprive the "ministry" of its rights in the premises and charged that the parish had "duped" the Court of Sessions as well as to add to this illegality on June 1, 1812, when the parish conveyed to the same grantee the land on which the gaol and county buildings stood for a term of one hundred years. They speak of a "former finesse" by the parish and intimate that the "ministry" of York now consists of ministers of the Baptist and Methodist churches in addition to the older clergymen of the Congregational order. The com- mittee consisted of Alexander McIntire and Solomon Brooks and reported in effect on September 9 that year that the land was vested in the town of York. The sugges- tion that the pastors of the newer denominations had a "right" in this land was probably an outcome of the recent growth of the Baptist and Methodist congregations, and a politic gesture to secure their support.
As a matter of reasoning and history the author differs entirely from the conclusions of the committee. The land was given by Godfrey as a glebe, according to English custom, for the support of the "ministry" at some very early unknown date. At that time the minister was of the Church of England and the only church services officially recognized by the provincial charter were those of the Established Church. To suppose it was given to support a Puritan preacher is contrary to all the facts and policies of Gorges and Godfrey. It was not donated to the parish or the town and it would seem that a court of equity would hold that the income of the land was for the support of a minister who conducted divine worship according to the canons of the Established Church as originally dedicated. While the provincial authorities in 1649 decreed freedom of worship to all, it could not nullify the basic charter of 1639 which authorized a particular church service as official. This law merely permitted others so inclined to adopt whatever form they chose for religious meetings.1
1 A case of somewhat similar character may be found in the history of Kings Chapel, Boston, which was built for worship according to the ritual of the established church of England. In the course of time the congregation became "Unitarian" and to hold possession of the church the Book of Common Prayer is used in conducting the services to the present day.
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HISTORY OF YORK
CEMETERY
What is now called the "Old" Burying Ground is the second, in point of age, in the town, as has been stated in the chapter on the Meeting Houses. This one occu- pying part of the original glebe land of the parish was probably set off for this purpose when the second meeting house was built on the road to Meeting House Creek in 1665. No stones exist as early as that, however, but it may be that those placed there in that period have long since succumbed to the elements, as well as the neglect of the parish authorities in caring for them. It bordered on the original road that ran from the Country Road to the creek and this accounts for the triangular shape of the plot.
There is little to be recorded in the story of a cemetery. Our ancestors gave it little attention, in fact or in writing. It was fenced in 1735, not to prevent those in there from getting out, or to discourage anyone from going in, but to keep out cattle. In 1813 a committee was appointed to take charge of it, particularly to cut down the bushes and prevent cattle and hogs from using it as a feeding ground. In 1822 the fence was renewed. It is now appropriately set off by a stone coping. By the will of the late Jeremiah McIntire in 1912, the sum of three thousand dollars was bequeathed to the parish as a fund for the perpetual care of it as part of the burial facilities and property of the parish.
In 1837 half an acre in the rear of the meeting house was set aside for burials, and this new plot, since increased, has superseded the old ground, and ample room for expan- sion on the Ministerial Lot ensures suitable space for a century to come.
The oldest stone in the "Old" Burying Ground is that of Lucy Moodey, dated 1705. Here are buried York's historic dead: Samuel Moody and his wives; the famous Jeremiah Moulton, beside his wives; Lieut. Joseph Banks; Judge Jonathan Sayward and his wife; Judge David Sewall; Samuel Donnell, Royal Councillor, and Rev. Isaac Lyman and his consort. There is also the "Witches Grave" so- called, for no discoverable reason. It marks the last resting place of the wife of Samuel Nason, the saddler, and has a large flat stone laid horizontally over it from headstone to foot-stone. This is enough to give it an unusual char-
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acter.1 Another gravestone records the death of Mrs. Hannah Tappan who was born in Canterbury, England in 1649 and became the wife successively of John Sewall and Jacob Tappan, both of Newbury.
It is an interesting question whether the victims of the Massacre of 1692 were interred here, perhaps in one trench, as the winter weather and the labor of digging separate graves in frozen ground required some such economy of effort, without formal ceremony.
1 An explanation, as given by an old resident, long since dead, is as follows: Mr. Nason, the widower, was about to move from town and to prevent the hogs, "well yoked and ringed as the law directs and allowed to go at large," from disturbing the grave, he considerately placed the heavy stone across it. F. D. M:
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CHAPTER X LATER CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
In continuing the narrative of various denominational bodies which have become established in York there is no intention of invidiously classifying them as secondary in importance. Like all New England towns, York came to be identified with the so-called Puritan type of religious worship, and it so remained adherent to that form for two centuries. For this reason it necessarily has been dealt with at the head of the story of local ecclesiastical affairs. Also like all New England towns, York has changed its attitude towards the original forms of worship. Before two centuries had elapsed she welcomed new Christian denominations by whatever name designated, and these several representatives of Christian churches will be dealt with in the order of their coming to York. The first chal- lenge to the ancient monopoly of the Congregational form of worship known throughout New England which had its origin in Colonial days came from within its own membership.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Growing dissatisfaction with the "standing order" had been evident for some years, and for various reasons, personal and doctrinal, there was a tendency to break away from the frigid formalism of the ancient dogmas and adopt a more liberal attitude towards covenanted religion. The leader of this sect in Maine was Elder Elias Smith, an itinerant Calvinistic Baptist preacher. He had, how- ever, abandoned its tenets respecting immersion, and members of his denomination permitted choice of baptism by sprinkling and admitted to their communion professed Christians of all denominations. They were often called Free-will Baptists. Under the influence of this singular man, ten persons on May 13, 1808, organized the York Christian Church in the dwelling house of John Tenney. Peter Young, a native of this town, son of Rowland and Mary Young, then twenty-four years old, was ordained as the first pastor in September following, in the orchard adjoining the Tenney residence.
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LATER CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
Young was evidently a religious enthusiast and three years previously had started out on a plan of itinerant preaching. In his autobiography he stated that while in Alton, New Hampshire, he was "led out of Calvinistic bondage into the glorious liberty of the gospel of Christ," and dreamed that he was again at York where there was a flock of sheep that had no shepherd; whereupon he returned to York and was promptly chosen the shepherd of this new flock. Twenty-six persons were present at his ordination and a number were baptized in Little River. Their church had no creed, platform or articles of faith. Young remained in charge for about a year and on Sep- tember 4, 1809, Moses Safford began his labors as a preacher, continuing for ten years. He was followed by Mark Fernald in May, 1819, who also remained the same length of time. Elder Peter Young was again called to shepherd the flock in 1829 and ministered to them for seven years. He was succeeded in 1836 by Elder Robinson, who remained only one year. The succession of pastors since that date is as follows:
1839
Abner Hall
1885
B. S. Maben
1842
Stephen R. Bickford
1887
W. B. Flanders
1846-9
Thomas Bartlett
1893
W. G. Voliva
1852 P. L. Beverly
1895
T. G. Moses
1853
Charles E. Goodwin
1900 John A. Goss
1874 Hezekiah Short
190,8
C. J. Yeomans
1881
James A. Phillips
1910
C. V. Parsons
1884
J. W. Card
1891
C. V. Parsons
1850-I
The original meeting house for the society was located at the junction of Portland and Cider Hill Roads, and when abandoned for the new building it was taken by Allen C. Moulton as a manufactory for dressed lumber. The construction of the new meeting house, begun in 1889, occupied four years. It was dedicated on May 13, 1891, by Rev. E. A. Hiner who preached the sermon. By the will of the late Bulkeley Donnell a legacy of three hundred sixteen dollars was left this church, of which the interest is to be devoted to the support of the society. William Gardiner Moulton, at the time of his death in 1906, had been a member for seventy-eight years and served as Deacon for forty-three years.
A second Christian Church, combining membership
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HISTORY OF YORK
in both York and Kittery, was organized June 9, 1866, as the result of the labors of Rev. Joel Wilson of Kittery among the people of Beech Ridge and vicinity. Religious services were held in the schoolhouse of that section and twenty-three members formed the original church organ- ization. A modest but commodious meeting house, cost- ing about thirty-two hundred dollars, was dedicated February 21, 1867, and a bell calling them to worship was presented to the society that year by the Hon. Ichabod Washburn of Worcester, Mass. The first Deacon was Henry Grover, and Rev. Mr. Wilson continued as pastor until 1873 when he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph H. Graves who remained for one year. The following is the succession in the pastorate:
1874 Joel Wilson
1886
William P. Israel
1876 George M. Payne
1887 John H. Mugridge
1878 Joseph Whitney 1891 James R. Phillips
1879
Edwin D. Wells
1895 . George H. Kent
1882 George M. Payne
1899 Eben S. Greenleaf
1904
George H. Kent
Mr. Kent remained until 1907 and no successor was chosen. The meeting house was closed to preaching until 1914 when it was reopened for services with Rev. Mr. Eldredge in charge.
In the last hundred years a number of ephemeral religious organizations have sprung up and had a tempo- rary vogue here only to disappear from memory. The latest to succumb to the lack of interest in these pass- ing variations inviting popular support is the Second "Christian Church" which closed its doors as this volume was printed.
METHODISTS
The first Methodist service in Maine was conducted by Elder Jesse Lee of Virginia on September 10, 1793, at Saco. He had been instrumental in forming societies of this denomination in the New England states. He came to Kittery and held a service there which was attended by many from York. While there was much interest in hearing his sermon, the results of his campaign were meagre in practical results. A later exhorter, a young Irishman, Rev. John Newland Maffit, stationed at Ports- mouth by the New England Conference, succeeded in
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awakening enthusiasm where Lee had failed. He was a marvelous pulpit orator and possessed of great personal magnetism which swayed the large audiences that sat spellbound under his eloquence. It is related that Charles O. Emerson of the First Parish, a young and influential lawyer, and Jeremiah Brooks, a merchant, who had heard him preach in Portsmouth, invited him to visit York. Mr. Maffit accepted the invitation and his audience was immediately responsive and sympathetic. An appoint- ment was made for a second service the following evening and his audience filled the Court House to overflowing. The meetings continued and resulted in the greatest "revival" ever experienced in York. In 1829 a church with seventy-three members was organized by Rev. J. Spaulding and Gershom D. Cox. On February 28, 1831, they were legally incorporated and trustees were chosen to hold property deeded to the Methodist Church on which to erect a church and parsonage. As the society grew in strength the need of a suitable meeting house resulted in the selection of a committee consisting of Solomon Brooks, Joseph S. Clarke, Francis Plaisted, Jeremiah McIntyre and Alexander Dennett. A plan to lease a piece of ground was considered and rejected. The County Courts, being removed from York in 1833, the use of the Court House reverted to the First Parish and the adherents of the Standing Order in parish meeting granted the use of that building to the Methodists on Sabbath Days for four months, provided "they do not disturb the peace or interrupt any other religious meet- ing." This gave them a fortunate opportunity to secure temporary accommodations while they were struggling with the problem of financing the erection of a building of their own. After considerable negotiations with the owners of available sites the committee finally decided on the location where the present church stands, on the main street of the town. This was owned by Mrs. Mary Lyman and her brother Nathaniel Sargent, and the frame of the building was raised on August 31, 1833, and fourteen months later was ready for occupancy. It was erected from plans of a meetinghouse then recently completed in Great Falls, N. H. and dedicated October 15, 1834, by . Rev. Gershom D. Cox, who preached from this text: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heavens
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