USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 36
USA > Maine > York County > York > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 36
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
Immediately the Government called upon the States for a detachment of one hundred thousand militiamen, of which twenty-five hundred was the quota from Maine.
416
A CENTURY OF WARS
England, then engaged in a bloody war in Europe and poorly prepared for hostilities on this continent, took no immediate steps towards reprisals. During a year or more the people of Maine were only sufferers in common with others engaged in coastwise commerce and the fisheries. This war developed into a political controversy between the Democrats and Federalists. The latter were wrought up to partisan heat and violence. They gave rein to unre- strained invectives and called it an "iniquitous war." The early defeat of General Hull was received by them with satisfied equanimity. Massachusetts was "Federal" and partisan successes for them prevailed in the current elec- tions. The war was not "popular" in New England.
In 1813, the Prince Regent having a freer hand in Europe, the English government determined to prosecute their "undoubted right" to search neutral vessels engaged in commerce, and the two nations went to grips. In 1814 Russia offered to mediate the dispute, and our ambassa- dors sailed for Ghent to meet the envoys of the British. Meanwhile Admiral Cochrane of the Royal Navy declared a blockade of the entire Atlantic coast from Eastport to the Mississippi. The shipyards of New England hummed with the noise of the adze and hammers of busy craftsmen fashioning ships to harass the enemy as letters of marque or as sea scorpions to sting and capture. The perfect fruit of this long inherited skill in naval architecture was exem- plified in Old Ironsides, Hornet and Enterprise, among others. With the exception of a few land battles from New Orleans to Castine, where the British at the latter place controlled all the territory east of the Penobscot, this war was a contest between the rapidly improvised American navy and the trained fleets of the alleged mis- tress of the seas. In this contest Britannia failed to rule the waves and our despised sailors, Commodores Thomas, MacDonough, Oliver Hazard Perry and James Lawrence, carried the war into the lion's mouth and quieted his roar- ing. Practically every engagement resulted in our favor with the exception of the Enterprise-Boxer fight off Mon- hegan, which resulted in the tragic deaths of both com- manding officers who now lie side by side in the Eastern Cemetery at Portland.
The only local color that this town has reminiscent of this war, is derived from a skirmish or miniature battle
417
HISTORY OF YORK
between the opposing parties. The British men-of-war, Bulwark, a seventy-four gun frigate, the Endymion, her consort, and another smaller one called the Junon, were patrolling this part of the coast continually to prevent vessels lying in or being built in the Piscataqua River from escaping to sea and becoming armed privateers. This blockade was generally effective but an occasional small craft would put to sea while this squadron was absent cruising. As told by one of our aged citizens (born in 1845), who heard the details from his father, the story of our only naval engagement is connected with the En- dymion, and a copy of her log obtained by the author from the Admiralty records in London appears to substantiate part of this personal narrative. It is here related as it has survived the hundred years since it was current, and it is only natural that what was considered a "battle" here was merely an incident in the view of the English captain. It is related that a small craft called a "pinky" or Che- bacco boat had slipped by the cordon at Piscataqua and put to sea. A Chebacco boat was a type of vessel, long since gone out of marine architecture, which carried two masts and sails but no jib or jib sail and was sharp at both bow and stern. It was a favorite vessel with fishermen. This particular boat, called the Juno, was on her way east- ward when she was hailed by the Endymion, which gave chase. The Juno made for her home port in the Piscat- aqua and, taking advantage of local conditions, ran for the Nubble to pass in the narrow gut which separates it from Cape Neddick. The Endymion could not pursue her through this dangerous passage, and it is supposed that she stood off a safe distance from shore to prevent running aground and dispatched her ship's boat and boarding crew to capture the runaway. The Juno succeeded in reaching the Piscataqua, where she was safe under the protection of the guns at its mouth.
The remainder of the "battle" is said to have taken place on the Nubble. The day was Sunday and a man rushed breathless to the door of the meeting house only to find the minister, Mr. Messenger, engaged in the long prayer. He paused till this was finished and in his excite- ment loudly announced: "The British are landing on the Nubble." Presumably this was enough to terminate the services as the congregation was immediately dismissed.
418
A CENTURY OF WARS
The townsfolk were rallied by the hue and cry which fol- lowed, and the York Artillery, an independent company, was hurriedly mustered. Dragging their single field piece to Long Beach, they awaited the commencement of hos- tilities. The rest of the story revolves around an individual who fought the enemy alone from the shore of the Nubble. According to the narrator this was Benjamin Donnell, who led his own forlorn hope against the invaders. From a point of vantage behind the rocks he rested and leveled his old musket thereon, aimed at the pursuers and with deadly accuracy felled a "Redcoat" whose blood figura- tively smeared the scene as he bit the deck in his dying moments. Nothing in the log of the Endymion suggests this casualty and a local expert on firearms even doubts that the muskets of 1815 were able to hit a ship at that distance, and if a marine were killed it must have been from fright. Actual details are wanting. Whether he fired at the Endymion or the small boat sent from her in pur- suit, whatever the facts, the tradition of Donnell's fatal aim still remains to his credit as the silence of the log of the Endymion may be held to "give consent."
The rest of the story is a continuation of the pursuit by the English. They landed at Brave Boat Harbor in force and endeavored to reach their quarry by land, but owing to unfamiliarity with local roads and the width of the Piscataqua they gave up the chase. It is probable that the confusion which has arisen in various versions of this story has come from the similarity of these two names, Junon, a regular British vessel of war, and Juno, the reported name of the American craft.
There were also men of this town doing duty in the military service. A volunteer company known as the "Sea Defensibles" was organized for duty at the fort on Stage Island as a guard for the harbor. The services of this com- pany were recognized by the United States Government, and land grant certificates were awarded to each member. A local annalist "recalls seeing the certificates of three members of the company; Ivory Simpson of Scotland, Ebenezer Chapman of Raynes' Neck and Charles Moody of York Village" (Moody: Handbook 72). Others who served in this war were Moses Brewster as a privateers- man, and Capt. Jonathan Talpey who was taken prisoner and confined in Dartmoor Prison. On the pension list of
419
r
t
f n n
- e e
HISTORY OF YORK
this war are found the names of Rufus Baker, Jonathan S. Barrell, Joseph Berry, Ervin Chapman, Henry Donnell, Francis Goodwin, Benjamin Lucas, Skipper Lunt, George Moore, LeRoy Simpson and Joseph Thompson. William Stacy served in the Navy. Amos Nowell, son of Mark, born October 2, 1790, enlisted in 1814 for three years. He was wounded at the Battle of Plattsburg, in hospital at Burlington, Vermont, and was never heard from after- wards. John Banks of Little River also served in this war.
In the latter part of 1814 hostilities ceased by common consent and the Treaty of Peace was signed at Ghent December 24 that year, although the news of it did not reach this country until February 11, 1815. The delay in arrival of this news permitted General Andrew Jackson to gain his famous victory on January 8 over General Paken- ham at New Orleans, ignorant that the war was over.
On March 16, 1813 it was
Voted that a committee be chosen to examine the cannon belong- ing to the town and report the adjournment of this meeting whether they are good and sufficient and worth putting carriages to and also to make application to the proper authority of the State or United States government for aid in protecting York Harbour from the assaults of the enemy - and Alexr McIntire, Isaac Lyman, Joseph Sewall, Elihu Bragdon and Thomas Savage were chosen that com- mittee.
THE MEXICAN WAR, 1845-48
As far as can be determined after an extensive investi- gation, which is corroborated by others who lived in that period, this town furnished two soldiers for the war with Mexico - Charles Bragdon and William Redding. It was considered a campaign for conquest, perhaps in the interest of the "Slave States," and as such sentiments prevailed in the South the prosecution of it was left principally to that section of the Union. The only local reminiscence of this war is the "Palo Alto" cannon which was displayed in the procession at the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the naming of York, in 1902, but its connecting link with the part which York took in that war is not apparent.
THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-65
In the war for the preservation of the government this town was in almost complete sympathy with the adminis- tration of President Lincoln and his policies and purpose to
420
A CENTURY OF WARS
uphold the integrity of the Union. Like all other towns in this state there was a definite political element which did not follow the extreme radical Abolitionists on the ques- tion of Negro slavery and its abolition by force, while others were disinclined to another extreme view of coerc- ing the Southern States to abandon what they regarded as a purely local institution. Slavery had long since ceased to be of practical interest to the people of the North where Negroes were a negligible quantity and factor in the life of the people. Ten years before the war there were only six colored persons in York - two males and four females - and these were classed as Free Negroes. It can be readily understood that the local sentiment on the ques- tion of slavery was largely without a basis in dealing with that race. Like all New England communities there was the high moral urge to end what was considered a blot on our civilization. It would not be entirely true to say that this town joined with the people of the North in this war solely for the purpose of "freeing the Negroes"; rather that its old men counselled and the young men volunteered to lend their aid towards the preservation of the Union which for nearly nine decades had become a great and growing nation. The opposition to the inauguration of military conflict and, after it had begun, to the continu- ance of the war as it proved to be a gigantic struggle be- tween the North and South, was reflected here as in other towns of the state. But the so-called "Copperhead" spirit was of minor importance as the vast majority of its citi- zens stood solidly behind "Old Abe" in his calls for vol- unteers when the first shot was fired on Fort Sumter. The honor of being the first to enlist in York is claimed for Charles Donnell Preble and John Moore Lowe, who joined a company which was raised in Kittery by the late Dr. Mark F. Wentworth who became a Brigadier-General and was severely wounded at Petersburg. They were not mus- tered into the national forces but served as an independent company stationed at Fort McClary. Josiah Chase was the only commissioned officer in the war who was enrolled from York. He was enrolled at first as a Corporal in Com- pany E, Twenty-Seventh Regiment of Maine Infantry and later commissioned as Lieutenant of Company B, First Maine Battalion. Charles W. Walker was a Sergeant and John W. Freeman a Corporal in Company K, First
421
HISTORY OF YORK
Maine Regiment. In General Kilpatrick's raid on Rich- mond, Paul R. Ramsdell and Webster Simpson took part under command of Lieutenant Dahlgren, were taken pris- oners and died in Libby Prison. Henry Dow who was cap- tured later also died a prisoner of war.
A number of York's sons served in the Massachusetts forces. John F. Weare, a native of York, was Captain of Company C in the Fortieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers and took part in the Battle of the Wilderness where he was severely wounded. He survived the casualty until the present century and his body lies in the cemetery at Cape Neddick. Bradford W. Blaisdell was also severely wounded at Cold Harbor. Three brothers of Charles W. Walker (sons of Richard and Clarissa Walker), namely Albert R., John H. and Wilson M., represented a com- plete family contribution to the fortunes of the Union. Wilson M. Walker served with Gen. N. P. Banks at Port Hudson.
This town also furnished a dozen men who entered into the various naval branches of the service, and their names are as follows:
Charles E. Bowden
George W. Lord
Henry Bowden
William H. Manson
Charles H. Chapman
William Powell
John Dennett* George O. Simpson
Rufus Donnell
Hiram D. Stover
Andrew L. Emerson*
Harmon Varrell*
Of these there still remains one survivort of that great struggle, our distinguished townsman, Capt. John Den- nett, U. S. Coast Guard, retired. He entered the service as Master's Mate and was attached to the U.S.S. Seminole on the Cotton Blockade. His ship captured the British S.S. Sir William Peel in attempting to run the blockade. She had on board about a thousand bales of compressed cotton which was to have been exchanged by the Confed- erates for munitions of war. This was a specially impor- tant and rich prize and was the subject of a protest by the British Minister at Washington. Captain Dennett was an ensign under Farragut in the Battle of Mobile Bay and rescued three of the five survivors of the ill-fated monitor
t Died 1933.
422
A CENTURY OF WARS
Tecumseh blown up by a torpedo. Andrew L. Emerson was an ensign in the fleet under Commodore Farragut and took part in the Battle of Mobile Bay. Ensign Rufus Donnell was executive officer of the armed brig Perry engaged in blockade duty off the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.
The following is a list of the men who served in the military service, a total of sixty. There were about two hundred fifty heads of families in the town at the out- break of the war, so about a quarter of the men of military age represented York in the Civil War - a very creditable record.
Ezekiel Austin
Charles H. Banks
George W. Berry
Joseph B. Littlefield
Bradford W. Blaisdell
John M. Lowe*
George Blaisdell
Horace Lunt*
Joseph Blaisdell
Joseph W. Manson
William Blaisdell Isaiah Boston
Jeremiah L. McIntire*
Charles Bragdon
Thornton McIntire
James S. Brewster
Daniel Moulton
William H. Brewster
Daniel Patch Solomon Poole
Frank Came Wilbur Curtis
Charles D. Preble
Josiah Chase*
Charles H. Ramsdell*
Joseph H. Cochi
Paul R. Ramsdell
Thomas Cochi
William H. Redding Moses Rowe
John F. Dixon Henry Dow John Dudley
Joseph A. Sewall
David Fitzgerald*
Charles Stewart*
John W. Freeman*
Albert R. Walker
Charles L. Grant*
Charles W. Walker
John P. Grant*
John H. Walker
Rufus Grant
Wilson M. Walker*
Charles A. Goodwin
John F. Weare Charles Welch
Ivory L. Goodwin Joseph Hill
John F. Welch
John T. Hill
Luther D. Welch
Charles H. Hooper
Joseph Winn
William H. Woodward
William Hooper
George H. Hutchins Hamden C. Keen*
Daniel H. McIntire*
Daniel W. Simpson
423
HISTORY OF YORK
The name of James S. Brewster has been included in the list of men serving in the army, but he was in both branches of the service. He was attached to the U.S.S. Agawam, of which the late Admiral Dewey was then in charge as a Lieutenant Commander. Mr. Brewster was later attached to the Twentieth Maine Volunteers and was wounded at the Battle of Five Forks.1
The town in its corporate capacity did not take any action relative to the war until August 7, 1862 when a special town meeting was called to consider the situation. According to the report of it Charles Moody made a"few remarks" upon the distracted state of the country, proffer- ing all his substance if need be to put down the rebellion. He was followed by George M. Freeman of Cape Neddick with a "patriotic address." As a result it was resolved "that a liberal encouragement ought to be given to per- sons who are willing to leave their business and families to fight the battles of our country and uphold the honor of the flag." To put this into practical effect it was pro- posed to raise $3, 100 to be used as a bounty for the quota of volunteers named for this town at $100 each. This was increased by an amendment to $150 each, but even then it was not satisfactory to the meeting and a committee was appointed to revise the whole subject. While the committee was considering this Mr. - was invited "to make a speech, who responded in so excitable a manner that he was called to order by George Bowden, Esq." The committee, consisting of Nathaniel G. Marshall and George M. Freeman, reported in favor of a bounty of $200 each for those who were mustered into the service before August 15 and the sum of $6,200 was ordered to be bor- rowed for this purpose. Josiah Chase was appointed recruiting officer.
A meeting was held on August 30 following and the bounty was raised to three hundred dollars, while on September 8 a committee was appointed to ask the Gov- ernor to postpone mustering the drafted men into the service of the United States. In 1863 the town repeated its offer of three hundred dollars for each person mustered in
1 Acknowledgment is here made to Moody's Handbook History of York for the above list of soldiers and sailors who served in the Civil War. Mr. Moody stated that it was compiled from the Adjutant General's report with the aid of Mr. James S. Brewster and it is accepted on the assurance that "every patriot's name who served is included." The names starred were living in 1897.
424
A CENTURY OF WARS
from York. In December 1863 in answer to the President's call of October 17 a bounty of four hundred dollars was offered, but it was getting difficult to obtain new men for the war.
A town meeting was held early in 1864 to see what action it would take on the call of the President for two hundred thousand more men and a committee was chosen to address the Adjutant General relative to crediting York's quota with those who had enlisted in the navy. It was also ordered to raise five thousand dollars towards paying the town's debt on account of bounties previously paid. This was amended by a reduction to three thousand dollars.
Another call was made by the President for five hun- dred thousand men, and the town responded again with the same bounty and a bonus of twenty-five dollars to the recruiting officer for each man procured and the same to every citizen. The last meeting on this subject was holden January 12, 1865 to consider support of the war and every article was postponed. The struggle had lasted four years and the man power of the town was about exhausted. Lee surrendered in the following April, the long "cruel war" was over, and the debts of the town in support of the Union were an inheritance to be paid at leisure.
YORK ASSOCIATION OF VETERANS AND SONS
A regular Grand Army Post was not established in the town for the reason that there were not sufficient veterans of the Civil War to permit of such an organization. In order, however, to perpetuate the memories of that great war and to foster the spirit of loyalty to the country and the flag, a number of the survivors of it formed an organi- zation for these purposes on October 30, 1897 under the name which appears as the heading of this paragraph. The officers of the association elected at this time were Charles W. Walker as President, Daniel A. Stevens as Secretary and J. Alba Sewall, Treasurer. The roster of the members at that meeting, in addition to the officers just named, was as follows :
M. J. Adams Charles Banks James S. Brewster
George Caswell
Josiah Chase
John Dennett
425
HISTORY OF YORK
John M. Drury
Horace Lunt
A. L. Emerson
Daniel H. McIntire
David Fitzgerald
Jeremiah L. McIntire
John W. Freeman
Albert Moulton
Charles L. Grant
Charles H. Ramsdell
John P. Grant
John L. Hatch
O. B. Schofield Edward Shea
Jasper J. Hazen
Charles Stewart
Charles Hildreth
Edward J. Sylvester
John Junkins
Harmon Varrell
Hamden C. Keen
John H. Varrell
John M. Lowe
Wilson M. Walker
Charles H. Wilson
The "Sons" of this organization were:
John Q. Adams
Eugene Lee
George Banks
Albert G. McCullum
Ross Banks
Charles E. Noble
W. G. Banks
H. D. Philbrick
Frank Keene
George F. Preble
John D. Keene
E. A. Sewall
William T. Keene
E. D. Twombly
John E. Woodward
As far as known to the writer the only survivor of the Civi War living at this time (1931) is Capt. John Dennett Charles L. Grant of Co. K, First Maine Cavalry, died June 23, 1931, as this volume was going to press.
As visible evidence of the town's grateful appreciation of the sacrifices of her sons on the field of battle, and the services of the survivors, a handsome monument to their memory graces the Town Square, surmounted by a statue of a soldier shown in the uniform and with the accoutre: ments of the Army of the Union. In addition the town. annually appropriates funds to defray the expenses o public exercises on Memorial Day.
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, 1898
This short-lived conflict got very little repercussion ir this town as there were but two of its citizens who had a part in it - Walter Hatch, although he enlisted in Ports. mouth in a New Hampshire company, and Cato R. Phil brick. Both survived the experience and are living in the town at this time.
426
A CENTURY OF WARS
THE WORLD WAR, 1914-18
The perspective of this titanic struggle, which involved nearly all the important governments of the globe, is too close to hazard any opinions on the part which this country played in the progress and result of the clash of arms, and its political effect upon our destinies as a world power. It is sufficient, under the circumstances, to record the part which this town took in providing men and ma- terial to secure the final victory which followed the Allied arms. It was the first time in which this country under- took to wage a war with soldiers drafted from all classes within specified age limits, although in the early months volunteers were accepted for incorporation in the National Army and were the leaders of the American Expeditionary Force sent overseas in 1917, shortly after war was declared by us against the German government. It is perhaps well to state here the fact that a lineal descendant of Richard Banks, one of the founders of this town, was a volunteer as soon as this country declared war and was sent over with the first troops, taking part in the famous Battle of Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood. There the German goose step towards Paris was halted by these American troops. These volunteers were the last to leave the occu- pied area at the bridgeheads on the Rhine.
The part which York took in this war offers no special features that are not common with every settled com- munity in the United States. It had representatives in the United States Army, the National Army, the Regular Army, the Navy, the Marines, and in all the various sub- divisions of each corps. In addition to these the town was represented by women attached to the Corps of Nurses.
The casualties suffered by those who went from York were not large. Only three were killed in action. Four died of disease or wounds, one was shell-shocked and one wounded. Following is the list of enlistments. The initials in parentheses indicate the nature of casualty: (D) died; (K) killed; (SS) shell-shocked and (W) wounded.
Walden B. Adams Daniel R. Austin Leon Blaisdell Colburn E. Blaisdell
Edward A. Bragdon Reginald Bridges
Herbert D. Bracey
Edward M. Cook
George B. Blaisdell
Lemuel H. Craig
427
HISTORY OF YORK
George D. Clark (K)
Francis R. Morse
Ralph E. Donnell
James E. Nowell (SS)
Bert E. Donnell
Frank G. Patch
William I. Donnell
Henry Patch
Albert T. Eaton
Ralph E. Perkins (D) Charles Perkins
James H. Ellis
Leroy H. Plaisted
George A. Ernst
William H. Philbrick
James B. Farish
Hollis Parsons (D)
Frank R. Freeman
Edward E. Ramsdell (K
Harley Freeman
Robert Ramsdell
Edward Goodwin
Louis Goodwin
John Stover Henry Stover
Jasper Gibson
George E. Stover
Hugh L. Gibson (D)
Arthur D. Stover
Samuel Gleekman
Charles Gleekman
Howard N. Sewall Jasper Shaw (W)
Edward Gleekman
Ralph Simonds
Richmond P. Hobson
Albert W. Trafton
William P. Hancock
George A. Hooper
William Trofatter Wallace F. Voudy Theodore Weare
Roland Hutchins
Charles H. Hutchins
Harold E. Weare
George S. Hutchins
J. Russell Weare Raymond Weare Peter Weare
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.