History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II, Part 19

Author: Banks, Charles Edward, 1854-1931
Publication date: 1931
Publisher: Boston, Mass. [Calkins Press]
Number of Pages: 518


USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 19
USA > Maine > York County > York > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 19


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).


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HISTORY OF YORK


escaped without the disfiguring pockmarks of this foul dis- ease. Inoculation and vaccination were unknown in that day.


Tuberculosis, which went under the name of wasting sickness, consumption and hectic fever, took a large toll among young adults. Epidemics of "throat distemper," now known as diphtheria, killed scores of young children every few years. Bloody flux, probably typhoid fever, also was a very fatal disease in its epidemic form. In fact, the types of disease which swelled the mortality list were the contagious, eruptive and bacterial infections, the nature of which was then unknown. "Iliac passion" was undoubt- edly the appendicitis which we know today, but it would be difficult to guess what "violent defluction " and "putrid fever" represent in our modern morbidity statistics.


THE GRAVE


When the sands of his life had nearly run out and his spirit was leaving its frail tenement, the dying citizen of York provided that his body "should be returned to the earth from whence it came" in hopes of a "Joyfull resur- rection at the great Tribunall." This consignment of his dust was attended with little ceremony or waste of time by our ancestors. Usually within twenty-four hours of the time when the last breath had fled from the body, clods were falling on his coffin. According to our modern con- ceptions this appears to be heartless haste in hurrying the remains of loved ones out of sight and in the ground. Yet their rapid interments had no such meaning nor were they accomplished so quickly for any purpose of con- venience. The undertaker and the embalmer were un- known and, lacking modern artifices for prolonging the processes of decay and preserving the features of the dead for public view, necessitated rapid disposal of the remains especially in warm weather. The sole idea of the people of that generation and their descendants for several gener- ations following was to trim all their religious functions to such a degree of thinness that they would have no sem- blance to the elaborate rites and ceremonies of the English Church. The homely lives they led instinctively forbade it, so the loved in life got quick shrift in death. Neither church services were held nor music heard to lend a finish- ing harmony to the event. Those agreeable adjuncts were


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FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE IN COLONIAL DAYS


left to Popish recusants. Later years brought more elabo- ration. In 1680 it cost £4-10 to bury John Pullman and in 1691 fio to conduct the funeral of Deputy Governor John Davis. In 1676 five shillings was paid for digging a grave, and the digger in 1691 got a pair of shoes for Samuel Sayward's grave. Samuel was a cobbler. Friends and neighbors were at easy call to be selected as under-bearers while the echoes of the village carpenter, hurriedly con- structing a pine coffin without ornament or lining, rever- berated through the primeval forest. Wrapped in a winding sheet in this crudely made house of the dead, without mark- ings for identification, he went on his last journey through the village which had lately known him in life. Placed on a wooden bier, four bearers carried him on their shoul- ders to the place of sepulture, being relieved at intervals by substitutes if the length of the journey required it. The well-to-do or those high in station had pallbearers, when a black broadcloth pall was draped over the coffin and dependent tassels at the four corners were held by particular friends of the deceased in the march to the grave. Burials were usually in the late afternoon and often at night by the aid of torches. It contributed much to the grewsomeness of the entire occasion.


A funeral in Colonial days was a very different func- tion from today. It became a sort of solemn town meeting of entire families. Little children often officiated as pall- bearers at the funerals of their associates and the occasion was improved to impress on them the terrors of Death, the wiles of Satan and the torments of Hell. The dismal character of the obsequies was counteracted after the last clods had rattled on the coffin by neighborly visits where rum and molasses helped to liven up the depression.


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CHAPTER XIII


THE TOWN MILITIA AND GARRISON HOUSES


THE MILITIA


The first settlers brought over to this land the instinct of preparedness for defensive warfare, and from the first the necessity of protecting themselves from an alien savage race was forced upon them. Fortunately, however, the Indians of this section were never a menace for twoscore years, while in southern New England the Pequot War in 1636 disclosed the early antagonisms that became so dangerous in that section. By the Charter of Gorgeana in 1642 the people were authorized to "erecte, rayse and build ... such and soe many Forts Fortresses Platformes and other fortificacons whatsoever and the same and every of them to fortifie with men and all manner of ammuni- cion for the safetie of the said Incorporacon." How much of this was carried out during the lifetime of the Lord Proprietor is not known. It is not improbable that some primitive fortification was erected on Stage Island. Dur- ing his short life in the town Lieut .- Col. Walter Norton probably was the military leader up to the time of his death, but the scant early records do not indicate that any of the first settlers bore military titles, except Capt. Francis Raynes, until after the usurpation of the govern- ment in 1652 by Massachusetts authorities. From that time, with a few intermissions, the Colonial laws of Massachusetts in respect to the militia prevailed. In 1656 the General Court took notice of "several neglects" of the inhabitants (York included), "in not being furnished with sufficient armes, powder &c as the law requires." At that time every able-bodied man between the ages of sixteen and sixty was required to join the Train Band. Every soldier was required to have "one pound of powder, 2 fathoms of match with musket, sword, bandiliers and a rest."


In June 1653 the Court records make mention of Lieut. Arthur Bragdon and of Serg. John Davis, but the first reference to a military appointment is in June 1654 when it is of record that


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Francis Raynes (is) chozen Leeft: by & for the Military Company at Yorke whom this Court Confirmeth in his place & gives lyberty to the Company for Choyse of Ensign. (Maine Court Records.)


John Davis was chosen to this latter office. Apparently in celebration of this event Raynes and Davis went to the tavern and under the influence of something not specified they fell to "fighting and drawing blood one of the other." This evidently left no permanent scars, as in 1660 Raynes was chosen to be Captain and Davis Lieutenant. Thomas Donnell was elected "to carry the Colours" (ensign). John Alcock, John Twisden and Matthew Austin were to be Sergeants. There was but one company in the town at that time. There are only scanty references in the town and court records to these citizen soldiers, and no lists whatever of the rank and file. In 1668 Job Alcock was chosen Lieutenant with Arthur Bragdon as Ensign.


At the first court held after the Submission in No- vember 1652 the autonomy of the local militia was recog- nized by an order that the company in York "shall not be drawn to any ordinary generall traynings out of their owne County without their consent."


The General Court of Massachusetts ordered in 1660 that the militia of the frontier towns of Scarboro, Fal- mouth and Saco should not be compelled to "Attend any Genirall Trayneings at Yorke without speciall warrante from the major Generall." The reason given was the safety of their families, and establishes the fact that the annual musters for the county were held in this town.


Until the outbreak of the First Indian War in 1676, militia service became largely perfunctory. On October 10, 1666, the Provincial Court passed the following order:


It is ordered that the Military Commission officers in their respective places shall once a Moneth take a view of all their Souldgers armes & doe order that they bee Well fixed & fitted with powder & shott meet for the service of this province, and likewise the Military officers whose Commissions are out shall bee renewed to the same persons as for- merly. (Maine Court Records.)


The growing unrest of the Indians which culminated in King Philip's War stirred the people to a closer observance of the militia laws and the need for preparedness. In 1674 the entire militia of the county assembled at York, the town's quota being eighty, to hold the first training day on record. The outbreak of that war and the defensive


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HISTORY OF YORK


measures of the town are dealt with in another chapter. In 1681 Abraham Preble was Lieutenant of the local Company, and, as owner of the garrison house, probably continued in that capacity up to and after the Massacre.


To reorganize and regulate the militia a law was passed in 1693 which directed all the male inhabitants between sixteen and sixty, other than specified exemptions, to be enrolled and report for training four days in each year. The exempts were many, extending not only to members of the Legislature, ministers, deacons and all judicial and executive officers, but to Masters of Arts, herdsmen and sea captains. The able-bodied men were required to be equipped with a firelock and its appendages, furnished at their own expense. All officers above the rank of ensign were to be appointed by the Governor without the advice of the Council and all under that rank were to be appointed by the local captains of companies. All the militiamen in the same town were required, under heavy penalties, to convene in arms at the usual place of assem- bly and await orders. An "alarum" was stated to be a discharge of three guns in succession at stated intervals. This organization is not to be confounded with troops levied for actual warfare on special duty, but for a reserve force undergoing training to fit them for regular service. The frequency of actual warfare from 1676 to 1756, over eighty years, practically converted the Train Bands into a regular army, or Minute Men, as they were called.


In the next century the following named persons occu- pied the several ranking positions in the years set against. their names as found in various documentary sources :


James Plaisted, Lieutenant, 1703 (T. R. i, 173). Matthew Austin, Ensign, 1703 (Ibid. 176).


Andrew Browne, Ensign, 1708-9 (Deeds vii, 161) Arthur Bragdon, Lieutenant, 1713 (T. R. i, 238).


Daniel Simpson, Lieutenant, 1721 (Ibid. 372).


Peter Nowell, Captain, 1724 (Ibid. 415). Joseph Moulton, Lieutenant, 1724 (Ibid. 415).


John Harmon, Lieutenant, 1724 (Ibid. 416).


Joseph Young, Lieutenant, 1724 (Ibid. 417).


Thomas Bragdon, Captain, 1742 (Ibid. ii, 51). Andrew Gilman, Captain, 1752 (Tax List).


Doubtless these officers served before and after the dates mentioned and it is not assumed that it is a complete list, the names being taken from collateral sources.


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In 1734 the town was apparently in a satisfactory state of preparedness, and at the annual town meeting that year it was voted:


That the Select Men take into their charge all the Great Gunns that belong to this Town & keep them in their possession till further order. That the Select Men examine into the Town Stock of Amonision & see (whose) Hands it is in & what Condition & make Report at the next Town Meeting of what Stock there is in the Town.


In 1741, however, at the annual meeting in March, with a number of years of peace behind them, the voters thought it wise to reduce the calibre of its artillery and passed the following vote:


That Capt. Nathaniel Donnell, Capt. Samuel Sewall and Samuel Bragdon Jr. be and hereby are Impowered to dispose of the Great Guns belonging to this Town, and Purchas Smaller on (es) with the Produce of them for the Use of this Town acording to their discresion, and to be dun as Convenantly as may be.


In four years the Louisburg campaign was on, when "Great Gunns" were a necessity.


In 1744 York had three hundred and fifty militiamen in the regiment commanded by Col. William Pepperell. In 1757 there existed in his regiment a cavalry company known by the brave name of "The Blue Troop of Horse" of which Abraham Lord of Kittery was Captain. The majority of the horsemen belonged in that town, but the following persons residing in this town were attached to it: Daniel Grant, Joseph Grant, Daniel Junkins, Joseph Junkins, Jr., Alexander Junkins, Jr., Jeremiah Moulton, 4th, John Nowell and Nathaniel Webber. It is not known whether it took part in any military operations or was only an ornamental organization. In this year Col. William Pepperell was still in command of the County Militia with Lieut. Col. Jeremiah Moulton, Capt. Thomas Bragdon, Capt. Nathaniel Donnell and Capt. Samuel Sewall attached to the regiment.


In 1757 the first complete list of the town militia, officers and men, is here recorded :


YORK TRAIN BAND 1757 Col. Nathaniel Donnell, in command Samuel Milberry, Capt. Lieut. Samuel Donnell, Second Lieut. Daniel Clark, Ensign


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HISTORY OF YORK


Averill, David Averill, Samuel Banks, Joshua Banks, John Banks, Alcock Banks, Josiah


Moore, Josiah


Nowell, Abraham


Nowell, Samuel


Perkins, Elisha Perkins, John


Persons, Jonathan Jr.


Banks, Aaron Jr. Bale, Joseph Black, Samuel


Philbrook, John


Black, Josiah Jr.


Preble, Peter


Bowden, Abraham


Rose, Robert


Bowden, Abraham Jr.


Sargent, Jonathan


Bowden, Ebenezer


Snowman, John


Bowden, Paul


Spinney, Samuel


Bowden, Isaac


Stover, Abraham


Bright, Matthew


Stover, Samuel


Cane, John


Stover, David


Carey, Daniel


Stover, Josiah


Clausen, Nathan


Stover, Nathaniel


Conaway, John


Stover, Dependence


Daley, John


Stover, Jonathan


Daley, David®


Stone, Josiah


Dean, John Dill, Daniel


Staples, John


Donnell, William


Staples, William, Jr.


Eaton, William


Toppan, Wigglesworth


Fountain, John


Toppan, Joseph


Freeman, John


Tinker, John


Freeman, Nathaniel


Weare, Jeremiah


Goodwin, Abiel Jr.


Weare, Daniel


Grow, Daniel


Weare, Elias


Harmon, Zebulon


Weare, Joseph 3rd


Hutchins, Jonathan


Weare, John


Hutchins, Samuel


Wardwell, Daniel


Hutchins, Enoch


Webber, Charles


Hutchins, Richard


Webber, Samuel


Horn, John


Webber, Gershom


Ingraham, Edward


Webber, Joseph


Ingraham, Aaron


Webber, Paul


Ingraham, Joseph


Webber, Samuel Jr.


Johnson, John


Webber, Josiah


Levale, Thomas


Webber, Gershom Jr.


Linscott, Ichabod


Whittum, Bartholomew


Matthews, Elijah


Whitton, Daniel


Milberry, Joseph


Wilson, Michael


Milberry, John


Welch, Paul


Milberry, Samuel Jr.


Woodbridge, Paul D.


Moore, William


Woodman, Benjamin


Moore, William 4th


Young, John


Moulton, Abel


Young, Rowland, Jr.


Moody, Ebenezer


John Milberry, Clerk


214


Staples, Miles


Philbrook, David


Philbrook, Daniel


TOWN MILITIA AND GARRISON HOUSES


The following company was composed of men living on the southwest side:


Samuel Sewall, Esq.


Captain


Joseph Swett, Lieutenant Ensign


Jeremiah Bragdon, Christopher Pottle William Dunning Joseph Bragdon


Sergeants


John Raynes


Francis Raynes


Corporals


John Sewall Benjamin Bridge


Drummer


Adams, Samuel Allen, Barsham Beal, Josiah Beal, Obadiah Baker, Joseph Baker, Isaachar Baker, Thomas Booker, Jacob


Main, Joseph Payne, Daniel


Pottle, Daniel


Raynes, Nathan Raynes, Robert


Sargent, Joseph


Sargent, William Sewall, Joseph


Sewall, Moses


Smith, James


Swett, Samuel


Trafton, Charles Trafton, Joseph


Trickey, William


Webber, Daniel


Webber, Joseph Webber, Benjamin Welch, Samuel Whitney, Abel


Witherspoon, John


Moody, William Main, John


Young, Ebenezer Young, Joshua (Mass. Arch. xciii, 373)


In addition to these regular companies a small number of men, living on both sides of the river, were assigned to the duty of answering "alarms," viz .:


YORK ALARM LISTS 1757


(Northeast Side of River) Clement, John Donnell, Benjamin Goodwin, Abiel Preble, Nathaniel


Perkins, Sparks Sayward, Jonathan


Stover, Joseph Jr. Trevett, Richard Weare, Elias Weare, Joseph Jr. Westcott, Andrew Young, Job


215


Bridges, Samuel Bragdon, Samuel Caton, John Cole, Joseph Crosby, Daniel Duning, James Farnham, Jonathan File, William Hayes, James Moore, George Moore, Joshua Moore, Samuel Moore, William


HISTORY OF YORK


(Southwest Side of River)


Sewall, Dummer


Adams, Samuel (Ensign)


Beale, Josiah (Captain)


Sewall, Henry


Ferrymen


Bragdon, Samuel (Captain) Holt, Joseph (Captain) Main, Joseph Moore, John (a miller)


(Mass. Arch. xciii, 373)


In 1757 the great campaign for the reduction of Canada took place, as related in another chapter, and the militia- men were drafted by the Provincial authorities for this important offensive. Quebec was taken in 1759, but the war continued for two years longer to complete the con- quest and drive the French from Canada. The few years intervening between the last French War in 1759 and the outbreak of the Revolution in 1775 were affected by the political commotions of the period. The Royal officials were loath to create an armed force that might be turned against the government, and Governor Hutchinson in 1770 expressed this unconsciously in a veto of the bill to restore the militia to an efficient basis. At the conclusion of the war, after independence had been achieved, the new government revised the previous laws governing the militia. The Train Bands were to consist of able-bodied men from sixteen to fifty, and the alarm list of those and others between fifty and sixty-five with the same exemp- tions previously noted, to which Selectmen of towns were added. In 1792 the new Congress enacted a general militia law which restricted the number of available men to those between eighteen and forty-five years.


It was the custom, when a new king ascended the throne, to issue new commissions to the officers of the militia, who would then take an oath of allegiance to their new sovereign. This ceremony, in Provincial times, was always made the occasion of a public meeting in the local tavern. George Third succeeded his father on October 25, 1760, but it was not till December 31 that he was "pro- claimed" in Boston, and over a year before the new com- missions were ready for distribution to the militia officers here. On December 23, 1762, the Colonel of the Yorkshire militia called upon them to assemble at Ingraham's Tavern to receive their commissions, and John Bradbury records in his diary that it was "A very warm time this evening with some of the gentlemen." This comment had nothing to do with the state of the weather. On the


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TOWN MILITIA AND GARRISON HOUSES


twenty-fourth of January following, Bradbury set out for Boston to be present when the new "Peace" was to be proclaimed and on February 8, he wrote: "all the Pro- vential officers were invited to attend at Consort hall at 7 oclock to Drink the Kings helth. Attended accordingly and many loyal healths were drank."


THE POST RIDER Spreading an "alarm" to the Militia


Before the Revolution Jotham Moulton was Captain of the Town Militia attached to the regiment of Col. Nathaniel Sparhawk, and during the war he rose to the rank of Brigadier General. York has always furnished a large share of the higher ranking officers of the county military organizations. Colonels Josiah Chase, Moses Lyman, Esaias Preble, Solomon Brooks, Masterson Young, Jeremiah Brooks, Luther Junkins, Majors Elihu Seavey and William McIntire were all in active association with the regular State military establishment. In 1832 there were five companies of infantry in York under the new State law of that year, and it would seem that the town was almost an armed camp again.


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HISTORY OF YORK


THE ANNUAL MUSTERS


These famous days when our high-stepping grand- fathers gathered in battle array to pass in review before the Field Officers are now only a tradition, as they were abolished ninety years ago, and scarcely any one now liv- ing can give an adequate description of these affairs. They ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous, from solemn duty to buffoonery and it seems incumbent on the author to surrender his obligation to give an absentee's account of them, from hearsay, to a native of York who saw them a century ago and gave a lively portrayal in language which leaves little to be desired. It will be taken wholly from Emery's "Ancient City of Gorgeana and Modern Town of York," pages 112 to 116, and the reader will appreciate the story of an eye-witness as he presented it.


In the recollection of the writer, during the years 1829-33 a Muster for inspection and review of the district took place in his native town and lasted one day in each year; and for confusion, revelry and tumult, it compared favorably with the accounts formerly published of fairs once held in Donnybrook, Ireland, or the din and clangor of half a dozen Fourth of July celebrations combined in one. An Old York Muster, as it was then termed in times past, will never be forgotten by a beholder, much less by a participant.


The military display on that occasion was of itself a curious spectacle: - fantastic companies in rag-tag-and-bob-tail uniforms, - no two alike, - with arquebuses, blunderbuses, firelocks, guns, mus- kets and Queen's arms of every conceivable shape and form, except the right one; and not one in a hundred would be of the least practical use, except as bludgeons or shillalays in a single combat or hand-to- hand fight. Bands with untuned and untunable instruments emitted most diabolical sounds, remind you of the unearthly chaotic jargon of the condemned emanating from the bottomless abyss.


Leaving out debauches, gaming, riots, tumults and the like, there were exhibitions of buffoonery, wax-works, Jim Crow dancing, destroy- ing each others stock in trade, (no police or keepers of the peace in vogue at that time), the sale of confectionery and molasses ginger- bread - which cheapens as the day wanes, for the reason that dealers in these commodities had rather sacrifice their wares, and depart empty-handed than otherwise. A not uncommon scene, toward night, would be the beaux and belles, with soiled vesture and a weary gait, suffering the full fatigues from a full season of enjoyment, depart- ing for their homes, laden with the spoils only vouchsafed them once a year, viz: a dozen sheets of molasses gingerbread tied up in a silk red bandanna handkerchief.


Among the numerous divertisements of the day we may make mention of a sham fight, then thought to be a necessary adjunct to


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TOWN MILITIA AND GARRISON HOUSES


the completion of a full performance on a training day. The battle was only to be feigned, yet preparations were made by the ambulance corps to take care of the killed and wounded. It was necessary, in the first place, to select a number of men to play the parts of the dying and dead; and to prevent mistakes and confusion, each one was furnished with a ticket setting forth the nature and severity of his injuries. The two lines then approached each other, the mimic combat began, and soon the ground was thickly covered with the victims of war's fell rage. The ambulance men advanced and began to pick up the sufferers. The wounds of each one, as indicated by the ticket attached to the body, were carefully examined, and the proper rem- edies were promptly administered. One soldier, however, received instructions which justified him, as he thought, in giving up the ghost. Those who were taking care of the wounded were surprised at finding that he gave no signs of life, and immediately called an officer for con- sultation. The officer asked what ailed him, but received no reply. A physician was then called, under whose direction water was thrown in the wounded man's face, but without the desired result. Finally, the signal for the close of the exercises sounded, whereupon the dead man jumped up as well as ever. In reply to questions which were put to him, he said he had done nothing but what seemed to him the severity of his wounds required.


After this rehearsal of the ghastly effects of war on the militia of York the reader will not be surprised to learn that the State militia was abolished in 1843 and "training days" passed into history. Among the leaders of this heroic army of defenders of Liberty were Col. Moses Lyman and Major William McIntire, while Jeremiah McIntire, of another branch of this family, was first a Colonel, then General and finally Major General of the State militia. It is of course understood that there was an uninterrupted flow of "Dutch Courage" available for the inspiration of the officers as they led their charges to battle, and the story is told that one of them, on one particularly bloody day, rode his mount home at top speed, and the front door being open, drove right in and up the stairs to the second story. As proof of this the prints of the horse's hoofs are said to be visible to this day!


The Training Field, as early as 1690 and probably before that, was on the level tract of land originally called "The Plain," adjoining the Country Road, and northwest of the old railroad bed.


In 1775 there was a general reorganization of the militia of the Province, and as it affected this town the old arrangement of four companies was changed to six, and in the shifting and breaking up of units the usual




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