USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 33
USA > Maine > York County > York > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 33
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
Pond Marsh. A tract of lowland about sixteen acres
379
HISTORY OF YORK
in extent on the road from Cape Neddick to Wells shown on the topographical map of 1920 near the Pond Rocks (Deeds iii, 87).
Preble's Creek. A creek emptying into the southwest branch of the river so called in 1655 (Deeds iii, 37).
Puddington's Creek. A creek on Gorges' Neck running southwest and emptying into York River (Deeds xi, 50).
Ragged Plain. Mentioned 1725 at eastern end of minis- terial lot.
Roaring Rock. A narrow chasm in the rocky cliff on the northeast shore of Alcock's Neck. This was first described in 1709 as "a hollow rock known by the Name of the Roaring Rock" (Deeds vii, 178). The opening at the top is a yard wide for a distance of seventy-five feet inland at right angles with the sea; at bottom the mouth is six feet wide and the crevice is twenty feet deep at low tide. In a storm the inrushing tide rises like a fountain
ROARING ROCK
many feet above the top of the cliff. Tenney in his novel entitled "Agamenticus" thus describes the natural sound effects : "its music is its power; it is a roaring rock. Besides the common thunder of the waves there is a sound that stirs the blood like a sea trumpet, caused by the sudden expulsion of a great volume of air from below through the narrow opening on the surface; and there is also a wild roar with a rhythm, by the displacement of innumer-
380
ANCIENT LANDMARKS
able pebbles that run up and down with the wash of the waves. This is by far the most musical rock upon the coast of New England." (Pages 107-108.)
Robbin's Brook. A small stream mentioned in 1754 as flowing from Spruce Spring Swamp which drained the swampy land to the southeast of Cooper's Lane and emp- tied into Bass Cove (Deeds xxx, 403).
Rocky Ground. A name retained to the present time. First used in 1699 describing the rocky terrain on the northeast side of Little River (T. R. i, 116), now owned by E. C. Moody.
Rogers' Cove. The deep bend in the river forming a cove, near the mouth, at the head of which was the Sea- bury Station of the discontinued York Harbor and Beach Railroad. It derived its name from John Rogers, one of the earliest settlers on that side of the river and Alder- man of Agamenticus 1640 under the Charter. It retained this name for a century at least, and the small stream which emptied into it bore the name of Rogers' Cove Brook (Deeds iii, 23; x, 225). Site of a very early mill. See remains of an old stone dam.
Sasanoa's Mount. The name given by Capt. John Smith to Mt. Agamenticus in 1616 (Description of New England, 29). He called it "the greate mountaine of Sasanoa." In his revised list made by Prince Charles it became Snowden Hill. See discussion of it in Thayer's Popham Colony, Gorges Society IV, 81-82.
Scituate Row. The land on the Main Street, just north of the First Church, so called from the four settlers who came here in 1642. In 1754 Joseph Simpson, Esq., aged seventy-five years testified "that he well remembers before York was destroyed by the Indians ... that Messrs Abraham Preble, Curtis, Banks and the Twisdens lived upon the upper side of the Way in York as it now goes from Colo. Moultons down along by the Townhouse & they went by the name of the Situate Row .. . for he was well knowing to them he then Living about where they do now at Mr. Prebles Garrison," (Sup. Jud. Ct. Mss. No. 72862).
Scituate. A tract of land about the middle of the town, deriving its name from the same source. The principal landmarks being Tonnemy Pond and Hill, and Scituate Pond.
381
HISTORY OF YORK
Scituate Field or Plains. The land to the northeast of Scituate Row was allocated to the settlers of Scituate Row as early as 1679, and came to be known as Scituate Field (Deeds v, 42). It included the marshes.
Scituate Pond. The marshy land in this tract was dammed by the proprietors and this artificial lake was formed, about 1720.
SCITUATE POND
Sentry Hill. The rocky hill in lower town on the north side of the road to the harbor, so called as early as 1703 (Deeds vi, 22-23). It probably got its name much earlier, during the Indian Wars, as it afforded a commanding view of the surrounding country, being about a hundred feet above sea-level.
Short Sands. The small beach on the northeast side of Cape Neck, mentioned in 1658 (T. R. i, 26). This name is also now given to the short beach at York Harbor. The earlier beach of this name was also called Little Sands.
Simpson's Pond. Mentioned in 1737 as in Newtown, probably a small body of water not shown on the maps.
Stage Island. This landmark, also known as Stage Neck, since the connecting sand bar was filled in and joined to the main shore, has been described in Volume I, Chapter XII, to which reference is made.
Stony Brook. A small brook in Ferry Neck, near where the River bends to the East on the land formerly
382
ANCIENT LANDMARKS
belonging to Rowland Young (Deeds xii, 176, 180; xv, 50). Name first appears in 1727.
Stony Neck. On the south side of Cape Neddick River, on the property originally granted to Sylvester Stover and his partners. In 1680 it was "Comanly called the Stony Necke," (Deeds iii, 88).
Sunken Marsh. A tract of Marsh "a small distance above the path as we goe to the ferry," (Deeds iii, 72); a description in 1680 which answers today. It was on the north side of the road as it turns from the highway to go to the Marshall House. A similar tract was so called at Braveboat Harbor (Ibid. iii, 86) in the same year.
Swett's Point. The rocky point of land at the western side of the mouth of York River, deriving the name from this family which lived there in the eighteenth century.
Tatnick. The marsh area forming the original north- west boundary between this town and Wells. It is an Indian word meaning "to shake or tremble," in allusion to the insecure footing on the tussocks of marshy land which shake when walked on. Tatamuckatakis signifies a meadow that trembles. It is now in South Berwick.
Teagle's Brook. The will of John Sayward, 1742, men- tions certain land adjoining property of John Bane and the widow of Benjamin Preble, one bound of which was this brook. Probably a small tributary of New Mill Creek, but the name Teagle is unknown, except as an archaic word for a crane to lift weights.
Tonnemy Hill. A small elevation in Scituate about two hundred feet above sea level. It is one of the few sur- viving Indian place names in York and, as may be imag- ined, has many surprising spellings in addition to the one already given, such as Tonnemony, Wonnemy, Tonem and Tonnemee. Fortunately, the Town Records (1, 162 in 1700) have the probable complete orthography of this word, viz .: "Wannametonname Hill," the significance of which is found in its component parts : Wunnam-aton-emy, meaning Red Paint Hill. This is confirmed by the fact that the mineral, yellow ochre, is found on the shores of the adja- cent pond and was a well-known source of supply for the Indians in decorating themselves for ceremonials and war. In the early part of the nineteenth century, within the recollection of the oldest inhabitants, a paint mill was in
383
HISTORY OF YORK
operation there which used this limonite as the base for yellow paint.
Tonnemy Pond. A small round pond, near the hill of the same name. It is very deep and in addition to the ochre found on its banks, it has a local reputation as the receptacle of the counterfeit dies thrown into it by the parties in this famous case. The current belief was that it had no bottom.
Three Turks Heads. One of the early names for Mt. Agamenticus, given by John Smith.
Tree Bridge. A log structure, so called in 1680, crossing the head of Bass Cove, near the Country Club grounds (Deeds iii, 78). It was called the "Dog Bridge" in 1754 Ibid. xxx, 403).
Warren Pond. Two miles southwest of Agamenticus, now in South Berwick.
Whidden's Back. A ridge of land on the road from York Heights to Cape Neddick so called in 1732 (Deeds xv, 160-195). Probably named for Jonathan Whitten who had a house in that locality in or before 1691 (T. R. i, 96).
Whitney's Cove. Probably the one originally called Hilton's Cove.
Widow Ben's Bridge. Probably the small bridge on the Country Road as it crosses New Mill Creek and named for the widow of Benjamin Preble who lived there (T. R. ii, 313).
Young's Neck. The neck of land on the southwest side, since known as Elijah's (Blaisdell) Neck (Deeds xii, 137).
384
CHAPTER XXV LATER EMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE
In the middle of the nineteenth century York was still in the sole possession of its ancient peoples. Out of six hundred families residing here in 1850 only ten were natives of other States, and, as far as known, none had come here as immigrants from Europe. Thirteen families who had settled here before 1650 still held their ancient homesteads and were holding their own numerically as factors in the re-population of the town in the successive decades. The oldest family in the town is Young, its settlement dating from 1635. The next in time is Brag- don, 1636, and in order of precedence Simpson, 1637; Donnell, 1641; Banks, 1642; Preble, 1642; Weare, 1643; Raynes, 1643; Parker, 1648; Stover, 1649; Adams, 1650; Freethy, 1650 and Moore, 1650. Both Thomas Bradbury, 1634 and Ralph Blaisdell, 1637 removed to Salisbury and in the next century some of their descendants returned and continued to reside here. But for this break in con- tinuity they would be the oldest representatives of the first settlers. This is a record of stability and vigor of stock which has few equals in the annals of a new country. Indeed it is rare in England, where conditions are more firmly fixed, to find a dozen families residing in one parish for nearly three centuries.
Other York families locating here prior to 1700 and resident in the town in 1850 are Allen, Austin, Averill, Bean, Beal, Bracey, Came, Card, Carlisle, Grant, Jun- kins, Main, MacIntire, Moody, Moulton, Nowell, Par- sons, Plaisted, Rankin, Trafton and Webber.
Of the founders' kin, Godfrey, Norton, Hooke, Bar- nard, Johnson, Garde, Alcock, Puddington, Twisden, Curtis, Crockett, Hatch, Angier, Hilton and Rishworth none are represented in the male line, though most of them have left descendants whose blood flows through female stems. The same is true of the Lord Proprietor, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and his two nephews, William and Thomas, the latter of whom resided here for a while. Lieutenant Colonel Walter Norton has living representa- tives in the Simpson family through the marriage of his
385
HISTORY OF YORK
daughter, and all descendants of this alliance can thus be traced to this valiant soldier, the companion of Godfrey in the beginnings of York.
Between 1700 and 1750 there is record that seven immigrants arrived in York from Scotland and Ireland. From the former kingdom came Robert Oliver (1703), and from the latter came Patrick Fitzgerald, as related in Chapter IV of this volume, probably the earliest Irish- man in the town. They were followed by Benjamin Johnstone (1720), John McLellan (1720), Patrick Lawlor (1724), John Hasty (1728), John Daley (1735). Records of all these will appear in Volume III.
Alien immigration has never been a problem in this homogeneous Anglo-Saxon community. It was not until 1830 that this town had its first view of real immigrants from Ireland, according to a local annalist, and his account of their coming is here quoted on his authority:
"The first time the writer ever saw Irish people was in the Summer of 1830. The party consisted of about twenty individuals of both sexes, who came here in a vessel, and one of their number, a man, was sick, and died a few days after they landed. They established their household in an old boat or sail-house, which was hastily fitted up for their occupancy, and was situated then close to the South- Westerly end of Sewall's bridge, and on the opposite side of the road where David Sewall's sash and blind factory now is (1873). Our people were amazed at their singular appearance, and their costume and language excited great laughter among crowds of men and boys who were continually at their heels, for they invariably sallied forth in squads and parties.
They landed at Emerson's wharf, and after moving their luggage away and establishing quarters for their sick companion and them- selves, they came back to the wharf - it being high tide - and com- menced fishing in a very novel manner, without the aid of bait or hooks. Their method was in this wise: a common two or three ounce phial, tied to the end of a string, was lowered and dangled and jerked through the water, to a greater or less depth, and if any one was so lucky as to inveigle or capture a one or two inch minnow into his receptacle and land it on the wharf, the whole party would set up a shout, intermingled with their inexplicably confused jargon, that out-Babeled Babylon. This result, to them, seemed as astonishing and extraordinary as though it had been a ten thousand pound whale.
Another act of theirs completely amazed those of our Protestant townspeople who witnessed it. The sick man died, and to carry out the fashion or their creed, the corpse lay in state nearly one whole day and night. In the center of the room in which he died a cata- falque or throne was improvised of old barrels and boxes, with which the apartment abounded, and after being covered with the remnants
386
LATER EMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE
of sails, upon this the deceased was placed, with the face and feet exposed to the gaze of all who could see him, by the light that entered the open door, all the windows, if there were any, had been dark- ened, to give effect to the lighted candles that were burning at the head and feet of the corpse. Clay pipes, pieces of tobacco and papers of snuff were lying on both sides of the body. No drinking, waking or carousing took place, nor extreme paroxysms of grief were mani- fested, as in later years is indulged in on similar occasions by the same class of people. This exhibition continued a nine days wonder, no one living here ever having witnessed the like before." (Emery, Ancient City of Gorgeana, 162-164.)
As far as known these early travelers from the "Ould Sod" were transients, perhaps stopping here on their way to some other destination. The narrator gives no further clue to them and it is evident that none of these invaders of our ancient privacy remained to furnish entertainment for the curious. The first definite additions to our "for- eign" element came here shortly before the middle of the nineteenth century, when the tide of immigration began to flow westward with astonishing rapidity. Indeed it grew to such proportions that it alarmed the people throughout the north, and a new political party, hostile to its development, called the "Know Nothings," was organized to repel this manifest challenge to the native stock. York, however, had no pressure from this cause. As shown in Chapter I of the first volume of this History, the drain of its own sons and daughters, migrating to the newer states of the west, has more than met the influx of persons of alien birth who have settled here.
A family bearing the Scandinavian surname of Torge- son was settle here in 1850. The father, Hansen, born in 1773, and his wife Mary, born 1770, settled in York with their son Samuel, a mariner by occupation, as became a Norseman. He was born in 1814 and was married to a wife Mary, by whom he had five daughters and two sons, John H. Torgeson and Samuel Torgeson. The latter was living with his mother in 1880, unmarried, and John had a family with a son, born in 1876, named Samuel. This family seems to be our first resident family of foreign extraction.
Fifty years ago there had percolated through the immi- gration sieve, to reside in York, eleven persons of Cana- dian origin, nine of British nativity, one of Danish and one of French. Not an imposing array. The gentleman
387
HISTORY OF YORK
of Gallic descent was born in New York, the son of a French father, and bore the magnificent name of Alfred Constantinople. He was here in 1880 with a third wife and six children by his three marriages. Out of the ship- loads of immigrants from Europe arriving at Castle Garden, New York, and the ports of Boston and Portland, perhaps half a dozen came here to settle, Thomas Mitchell, wife and son Henry, Daniel Haggerty, Michael Connor and Tommaso Cocci (Cochi), the latter of Italian origin.
388
CHAPTER XXVI
THE PROFESSIONS: LAW, MEDICINE, SCIENCE, LITERATURE
LAWYERS
It is understood, of course, that educated lawyers are not a pressing necessity to the pioneers who emigrate to plant a colony in the wilderness, although in time they become useful members of the community. In the English conception of civil life, law and order are the chief pillars of a settled State, and the aid of legal advisers becomes necessary. What little "law" was needed by the first settlers came from home-made barristers and "sea law- yers" who had acquired some knowledge of forms while holding various offices in the Province and town. The most that could be said about them was the possession of common sense which could be derived from such books on the subject as were then available. In 1709 the town voted; "that their be a Law Book bought with the Towns Money," for the use of the Selectmen. As far as known the earliest educated lawyer, who practised his calling here was Thomas Morton, a bencher of Clifford's Inn, London, who had lived an eventful life in New England from 1624 onward, with some intervening years in Eng- land. He came the last time in 1644, and in 1645 removed to York where he died two years later. That he did con- veyancing is certain and probably he acted in other legal capacities. He witnessed the Charter of Agamenticus in 1641. (Vol. I, 439.)
Edward Rishworth, who had a good working knowl- edge of the principles of law, though never educated in it, came to be an all-round legal assistant to the townspeople, writing wills, deeds and other like documents. His official services as Recorder of the Province and Justice of the local courts gave him practical experience in dealing with the forms of law.
The Prebles, Abraham (1641-1714), and Abraham, (1673-1724), began and carried on this legal development in the family, which was brought to a distinguished fruition in the person of William Pitt Preble (1783-1857), son of
389
HISTORY OF YORK
Esaias, and grandson of the second Abraham. He was fitted for college by Rev. Rosewell Messenger, graduated from Harvard in the Class of 1806 and began the practice of his profession in this town and county. He rose from this small beginning, as the son of a mason, to state, national and diplomatic honors and positions of trust, and left a son to continue the traditions of this branch of his distinguished family.
DAVID SEWALL
He was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Batchelor) Sewall, his father's second wife, and he was born October 7, 1735 in York. His family was descended from one of the earliest as well as officially distinguished families of Newbury, Mass. and he carried on during his active lifetime the best traditions of his ancestors. He entered Harvard College at the age of sixteen and was graduated in the class of 1755. In 1760 he was admitted to the Bar and he rapidly rose to leadership in legal circles in the Province. In a letter to his wife dated June 29, 1774, John Adams, who traveled this circuit, said of him on a visit to York:
David Sewall, of this town, never practices out of this County; has no children; has no ambition nor avarice, they say (however quaere). His business in this County maintains him very handsomely and he gets beforehand. (Life and Letters i, 6.)
Twenty years later Jonathan Sayward wrote in his Diary under date of July 31, 1794: "Judge Sewall his grand new house was raised it will when finished be one of the grandest billt in the county." This beautiful Colonial mansion stands today as one of the finest exam- ples of that type of architecture and is a visible monu- ment to his successful career. In memory of his ancestors who came from Warwickshire he gave it the name of Coventry Hall. It is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Edith C. Matthews of New York City. He entered official life early and was a Councillor of the Province 1776-1778-1780 and under the government of the United States was a Presidential Elector in 1788. He was ap- pointed to the Provincial Court in 1777 and in 1789 President Washington appointed him Judge of the United States Court for the District of Maine, the first to receive this honor. During the twelve years that he held the
390
S
DAVID SEWALL, LL.D., 1735-1825 Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts and Judge of the United States District Court of Maine By courtesy of Bowdoin Museum of Fine Arts Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
From painting by J. Johnston, 1790
THE PROFESSIONS
office of Judge in the local court he usually traveled his circuits on horseback. He was easily the first citizen of York in his maturer years and by general consent dis- tinguished visitors to the State coming to York were always his guests. In town affairs he was actively inter- ested in all matters for the advancement of its prosperity and his counsel in public concerns was always powerful during the sixty years of his adult life. He was deeply interested in the history of his native town and not only transcribed parts of the Province and Town Records but prepared an account of the Indian Massacre at the Cen- tenary of the tragedy. He also left a large collection of original letters from prominent persons of his time, includ- ing a number from George Washington, and reminiscences of his long experience in the Courts and with members of his profession.
When well past fourscore years he laid aside the ermine which he had so signally worn with honor and he remarked to a friend that if he were to lead his life over again he would not wish to alter it. He lies in the old burying ground and upon the stone that marks his last resting place is carved the following eulogy on his life:
Consecrated to the memory of the Hon. David Sewall, LL.D.
An elevated benevolence was happily directed by an enlightened intellect. Conscientious in duty, he was ever faithful in its discharge. Piety with patriarchal simplicity of manners conspired to secure him universal esteem. His home was the abode of hospitality and friend- ship. In him the defenceless found a Protector, the poor a Benefactor, the community a Peacemaker, Science, Social Order and Religion an efficient Patron. Distinguished for his patriotism talents and integrity, he was early called to important public offices which he sustained with fidelity and honor. Having occupied the Bench of the Supreme Court of the State and District Court of the U. States with dignified uprightness for forty years without one failure of attendance, he retired from public in 1818 and died Oct. 22, 1825, aged XC years.
Death but entombs the body,
Life the soul.
NATHANIEL GRANT MARSHALL
In his day and generation the subject of this sketch was easily the best known citizen of York and the impress of his activities on the development of the material and cultural interests of the town are among its enduring fea- tures. He was the son of an English emigrant of the pre-
391
HISTORY OF YORK
vious century and with this humble beginning the young boy began to make a place for himself in the world. Handicapped by the lack of a hand, he was unable to com- pete successfully with others in manual labor and thus, was forced to seek advancement in other ways that led to the development of his natural mental abilities. In early life he had been employed as a clerk in local stores, and when he had reached manhood went into business for himself.
He was interested early in the politics of those years preceding the Civil War and gradually became a leading factor in public matters. But this was not by unanimous consent. Like all men of strong characters and successful careers, he was subjected occasionally to hostile criticism. For example, after serving several terms as Collector of Taxes a grateful citizenry in town meeting lauded his efficiency and zeal in obtaining such a large percentage of the taxes due the town and thanked him for the impar- tial administration of his office. Several years later the same voters expressed in another town meeting their denunciation of his arbitrary actions in administering a different town office and charged him with the familiar crime of attempting to "rule or ruin them." Such is the fickleness of public opinion - a not unknown experience of successful men in any sphere of life.
He served his town, county, state and nation in the course of his long life as Town Clerk (1875-79), County Sheriff (1854-57), State Senator (1861-62), Collector of United States Customs (1849-53), Collector of Internal Revenue for the First District of Maine (1862-70) and Enumerator of the 1880 Census, a variety of services that kept him almost continuously in the public eye. In 1870 he built the Marshall House and thus entered upon the task of developing York as a summer resort. But with all the burden of this great project, quite foreign to his habits of life, he took upon himself the clerical drudgery of the office of Town Clerk as a means of securing to the town an orderly compilation of its scattered records and their preservation for future generations. In the few years that he held this office he transcribed the early town books, which had been written without sequence on any convenient page. He restored them to their proper places in a beautiful copy filling two large folio volumes of
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.