USA > Maine > Somerset County > Skowhegan > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 14
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Canaan > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 14
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Bloomfield > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 14
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Starks > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 14
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Norridgewock > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 14
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224
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
should be licensed to retail ardent spirits for medicinal and mechanical purposes only. Resolutions to the same general effect were introduced at the following March meeting by the Hon. Drummond Farnsworth and J. S. Abbott, Esq.
The history of the town since its incorpora- tion is brief, but it may be said generally that the town is pursuing a prosperous course, and is steadily gaining ground.
" Aunt Harlow," the second wife and present widow of Dr. John Harlow, has been a fixture of the town for the last quarter of a century. She resides in a most beautiful and romantic spot, near the bank of the river, where, in gen- eral seclusion, she pursues her favorite occupa- tions. By her own industry, and the aid of others, she has filled every possible corner and crevice of her cottage with geological speci- mens, some of which are really curious. In addition to these, she has, by her ingenuity, constructed of moss and yarn, many tableaux, representing scenes in the Scriptures, the early settlement of the country, &c., and the young people are frequently drawn together to exam- ine her cabinet, and listen to her instructive, though eccentric conversation. She has con- duced to the amusement of the young, and they, in turn, have added to the comfort of her declining years. She is altogether the most remarkable personage in Norridgewock.
John Ware, is a name that richly deserves mention in this history. He was born in Gro- ton, Massachusetts, and was a son of Dr. -
225
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Ware, formerly well known in the vicinity of his sphere of practice. Mr. Ware came here very poor, with nothing but industry, integrity, and a good will as his friends, in the year 1782. He began at his trade as a cooper, and was accustomed to give a great deal of credit for the work he did. It was his custom to trust his work out for a year, and then, for every bushel of grain that was owed to him, to take a note for five pecks. From such humble be- ginnings he continued in trade until he be- came the wealthiest person in Somerset county. Some of his customers have complained of him ; but the most that can be said to his dis- advantage is, that he was well calculated for a successful merchant. He understood human nature, and especially the nature of the Indians, who came many miles to deal with him. He bought their furs greatly to his advantage, and sold them as well. He kept a very large store, was a great economist, never imprudent, and always exercised the Yankee's skill after the " main chance," and if those whose wealth helped to swell his own would but blame the avidity with which, in former times, they re- sorted to the strong drinks which were sold by Mr. Ware, as well as by every other merchant, they would accuse their own folly quite as much as Mr. Ware's keenness at a bargain. His spirit of enterprise is an example to every young man. He died in August, 1829, aged 62 years.
Ithamar Spaulding, Esq. was, for many years, a prominent and highly respected citizen. If
226
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
the Persians acted with propriety, when they pronounced the life of every man useless, who died without planting a tree, while they re- garded the lives of those who planted trees as beneficial to the race, then the name of Itha- mar Spaulding should be held in grateful and lasting remembrance. It was through his ad- mirable taste and commendable zeal, that the village of Norridgewock acquired its beautiful appearance.
It was in those days when all the wheels of enterprise were oiled with good (?) liquor, that Mr. Spaulding proposed to Mr. Ware, that if the latter would furnish liquor for the men, he would furnish trees, and oversee the labor of transplanting them. The offer was accepted, and the village was rendered beautiful. Mr. Ware insisted on poplars and willows, but wherever Mr. Spaulding had his way, he set out elms, which have the strength of the oak and the pendant grace of the willow, and which are the most beautiful of all shade-trees. Posterity ought to cherish his memory as often as it looks upon the magnificent and enduring monuments of his taste and skill, which render Norridgewock one of the most charming and delightful of all New England villages. He was assisted by Dr. John Harlow.
Mr. Spaulding, after discharging many offices of trust, and enjoying the confidence of the people, removed to Solon, in September, 1817. He was a rigid moralist, upright and virtuous, and emphatically an honest man. He died May 20, 1832, aged about 60 years.
227
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
The Agricultural productions in 1837 were, - 3,975 bushels of corn, 6,841 of wheat, 842 of rye, 29,014 of oats, 412 of beans, 296 of pease, 652 of barley, 53,320 of potatoes, 2,058 of turnips, 7,035 of apples, 9,182 lbs. of wool, 132,410 of pork, 26,623 of beef, 2,905 tons of English hay, 324 horses, 51 colts, 264 oxen, 561 cows, 618 other cattle, 3,339 sheep, 530 swine, 291 bbls. of cider, 31,545 lbs. of butter, 12,347 of cheese.
There were 41 chaises, 1 coach, 136 horse wagons, 1 grist-mill, 1 saw-mill, sawing 150,000 feet of boards, (now 200,000 ft.,) 1 fulling-mill, dressing 3,000 yards of cloth, 1 oil-mill, 2 tan- neries, with 42 vats, 5,400 feet of stone quar- ried, and 700 feet dressed, $5,700 stock in trade, (now $21,100,) $22,761 loaned, $15,300 bank stock ; real estate in 1841 was valued by the Legislature at $279,069; valuation in 1845, $305,776 ; taxable estates in 1837, $336,891. Agriculture has advanced somewhat in the town since 1837, with the exception of the wheat and potato crops ; but the trades remain about the same. There was a time when Norridgewock was, as a town, far more enter- prising than at present. Business has decreased, but the town is one of the first in Maine for its agricultural productions and general standing.
J. S. Longley & Co. have, within a few years, raised for the market large quantities of garden seeds. They are doing a large business.
TANNERIES. - Mr. James Laplane, a Scotch- man, came to Norridgewock in 1782-3, and had a few small tan-pits in the south part of
228
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
the town, in what was called Fairfield woods. He ran away from Scotland. He loved a girl whose parents were averse to him, and he car- ried her, a slender female, in his arms to the sea-board, and emigrated to America. In 1790-1, William Farnham commenced dig- ging pits where the road now is, between John W. Sawtelle's house and Henry Butler's store. The pits were on land belonging to Josiah Heald, who gave them to Major John Loring when he came. Farnham then went up to the small brook near Seth Cutler's, where he worked a short time. David Lancaster carried on the business, for several years, near the edge of Bloomfield, on land now owned by Deacon Morse. Maj. John Loring came in 1802, and commenced the business near the river on Mill stream, in South Norridgewock. He in- vested considerable, and did a large business. In 1806 a fire destroyed his buildings, and nearly ruined him, but he recovered from the blow, and erected other buildings, and in 1812 he built an oil-mill, the only one in Somerset county. He sold out in 1825 to Col. E. Rowe, who continued until 1845. Maj. Willoughby Prescott has also followed the business to good advantage. There is nothing of it now done in Norridgewock.
The statistics of Canaan, Bloomfield, and Skowhegan, for the year 1850, will show the state of the business.
MODERATORS .*- Daniel Cony, 1788 ; Zepha- niah Keith, 1788, 9 ; John Parlin, 1789, 90, 1, 2,
* Town Record.
.
229
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
3, 4; Dr. Zebulon Gilman, 1790, 1802 ; Oba- diah Witherell, 1790, 1; Zachariah Longley, 1790 ; John Clarke, 1791, 3 ; Oliver Wood, 1792, 3; John Moor, 1793 ; Perley Rogers, 1794, 5, 6, 7; Josiah Warren, 1794; William Ward, 1794; Daniel Stewart, 1795, 7, 1801, 2, 10, 16; James Thompson, 1796, 7, 8; John Harlow, 1799, 1806, 8; William Spaulding, 1800, 1, 4; William Jones, 1802, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 ; Solomon Bixby, 1804 ; Simon Pierce, 1806, 7; John Loring, 1808, 9; John Ware, 1808; Calvin Selden, 1811, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 40, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Warren Preston, 1814 ; William Allen, 1815, 17, 21, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 36, 7, 8, 9, 40, 1, 6, 8 ; James Waugh, 1816, 17, 18 ; John G. Neil, 1818, 19, 20, 1, 4, 5 ; Samuel Searle, 1818; David Kidder, 1822, 3 ; John S. Tenney, 1827, 9, 32, 3, 4, 40, 3 ; Drum- mond Farnsworth, 1827,35, 7, 8, 41, 3, 9 ; Cullen Sawtelle, 1830 ; Caleb Jewett, 1830; Solomon W. Bates, 1831; Melzar Lindsay, 1833, 41, 2, 4, 5 ; James Bates, 1837, 8, 9, 44 ; Elisha P. Bar- stow, 1838 ; David Danforth, 1844; Seth Par- lin, 1845: Simeon Robbins, 1847; Thomas C. Jones, 1847.
TOWN CLERKS .*- John Clark, 1788, 95 ; Daniel Stewart, 1789, 90, 2, 3, 4; Josiah War- ren, 1791 ; Josiah Spaulding, 1796, 7, 8, 9, 1802, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 ; John Har- low, 1800, 1, 6 ; William Allen, 1816, 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30, 1, 2, 42, 3, 4, 5; Asa · Clarke, 1833, 4, 5; Melzar Lindsay, 1836, 7,
* Town Records.
20
230
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
8, 9, 40; Calvin Selden, 1841 ; Edward Rowe, 1846, 7, 8, 9.
TOWN TREASURERS .*- Josiah Heald, 1788; John Clarke, 1789, 90; Simon Pierce, 1791; Silas Wood, 1792, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 1803, 4, 5; John Ware, 1799, 1800, 1, 2, 6; John Loring, 1807, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16; James Wright, 1817, 18 ; Ezekiel Heald, 1819, 20, 2; Mark S. Blunt, 1821, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30, 1, 2, 3, 4 ; George Sylvester, 1835; Edward Rowe, 1836, 7, 8, 9, 40, 2, 3; Cullen Sawtelle, 1841; David Dan- forth, 1844, 5, 6, 7, 8; Loren B. Jones, 1849.
REPRESENTATIVES TO GENERAL COURT .¡- Ithamar Spaulding, 1807 ; John Ware, 1808, 9; Calvin Selden, 1810, 11, 12; William Sylves- ter, 1813, 14, 15; Josiah Spaulding, 1819. The town did not send a delegate for the first eigh- teen years after its incorporation, nor during the years 1816, 17, and 18. The foregoing gen- tlemen went to Boston, while those that follow went to Augusta. Eleazar Coburn, Nor. and Bloom., 1820; Caleb Jewett, 1821 ; Jonas Par- lin, 1822, 3 ; William Allen, 1824, 7, 34; Drum- mond Farnsworth, 1826; Calvin Selden, 1828 ; Samuel Searle, 1829 ; John Kidder, 1831 ; Cy- rus Fletcher, 1832 ; Arthur Spaulding, 1833 ; Seth Gage, 1835 ; John S. Tenney, 1837; Sam- uel Hutchings, 1838; Melzar Lindsay, 1839, 40 ; William H. Ellis, 1841; Edward Rowe, 1842 ; Anson P. Morrill, 1843; Abraham W. Freeman, 1844; James Adams, 1845 ; David
* Town Records. + Ib.
231
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Danforth, 1846 ; Stephen Weston, 1847; Sim- eon Robbins, 1848.
VOTES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS .* - 1738, Washington 35; 1792, Washington 12 ; 1796, Federal 24; 1800, Federal; 1804, Federal 26, Democrat 41; 1808, Madison; 1812, Madison 99, -- 14; 1820, Munroe 23, Scattering 4; 1824, Adams 116, Crawford 12; 1828, Adams 130, Jackson 66; 1832, Adams 158, Jackson 94 ; 1836, Harrison 137, Van Buren 114 ; 1840, Harrison 271, Van Buren 100; 1844 Clay 198, Polk 85, Birney 41 ; 1848, Taylor 177, Cass 86, Van Buren 72.
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR IN NORRIDGEWOCK .¡ - From 1789 to 1798 they were unanimously for the successful candidate, except a scattering vote occasionally ; usual number 20. In 1793 the whole number was 9, all for Hancock.
Chosen.
Not Chosen.
1799 Sumner
30
Heath
17
1800 Strong
14
Gerry
23
1801
Do.
11
Do.
35
1802 Do.
27
Do.
27
1803
Do.
26
Do.
21
1804 Do.
34
Sullivan
27
1805 Do.
27
Do.
50
1806 Do.
41
Do.
41
1807
Do.
47
Do.
48
1808 Sullivan
35
Gore
49
1809 Gore
80
Lincoln
22
1810 Gerry
22
Gore
101
1811 Do.
31
Do.
88
* Town Records.
+ Furnished by Melzar Lindsay, Esq.
232
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Chosen.
Not Chosen.
1812 Strong
100
Gerry
21
1813
Do.
115
Varnum
25
1814 Do.
112
Dexter 22
1815
Do.
122
Do. 30
1816 Brooks
115
Do. 41
1817 Do.
119
Dearborn
29
1818 Do.
110
1819
Do.
59
1820
King
129
Weston
1
1821 Parris
74
1822
Do.
84
1823 Do.
68
1824 Do.
100
1825
Do.
49
Lincoln 95
1826
Lincoln
119
1827
Do.
85
1828
Do.
113
1829
Huntoon
142
Smith
102
1830
Smith
108
Huntoon
159
1831
Do.
115
Goodenow
147
1832
Do.
110
Do. 159
1833 Dunlap
124
Do., et al.
137
1834
Do.
148
Sprague
176
1835 Do.
112
King
124
1836
Do.
150
Kent
160
1837 Kent
221
Parks
84
1838 Fairfield
125
Kent
237
1839
Do.
99
Do.
226
1840 Kent
263
Fairfield
100
1841 Fairfield
109
Kent
223
1842
Do.
98
Robinson
187
1843 Anderson
80
Do.
175
Crowninshield Do.
46
Wingate and -
155
Whitman
Whitman, et al. 80
Longfellow, et al. 76 Do. 49
32
233
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Chosen.
Not Chosen.
1844 Anderson
90
Robinson
203
1845 Do.
81
Morse
171
1846 Dana
75
Bronson
128
1847
Do.
68
Do.
142
1848 Do.
80
Hamlin
155
In 1841 the Abolitionists began to be dis- tinctly known ; - their votes were, 1841, 20 ; 1842, 48; 1843, 50; 1844, 50, and 6 scatter- ing ; 1845, 51: 1846, 74 Abolitionists, and 33 National Reformers ; 1847, 36 Abolitionists, and 29 National Reformers ; 1848, 105 Free Soil.
Those names in italics were Whigs or Federalists.
TAXES* - 1788 To 1849.
Town.
Highway.
Schools.
1788
£10 $41
£60
1789
58
1790
€8
£100
1791
8
100
£30
1792
60
50
40
1793
50
20
1794
20
80
25
1795
150
40
1796
30
100
50
1797
$200
45
1798
300
$150
1799
400
200
1800
400
200
1801
$130
500
200
1802
500
200
* Town Records.
+ And 25 bushels of rye.
20*
234
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Town.
Highway.
Schools. $300
1803
$100
$700
1804
100
600
300
1805
100
700
300
1806
130
800
300
1807
50
900
300
1808
100
700
300
1809
50
1000
400
1810
150
1000
400
1811
75
1100
400
1812
75
1200
400
1813
100
1500
400
1814
100
2000
500
1815
200
1500
500
1816
200
1500
500
1817
500
1500
500
1819
200
1500
500
1819
300
1500
500
1820
200
2000
500
1821
250
1500
500
1822
300
2000
600
1823
250
1625
600
1824
250
2000
600
1825
250
2000
600
1826
250
2000
600
1827
200
2500
600
1828
200
2500
600
1829
200
2500
600
1830
300
1500
600
1831
500
2000
700
1832
200
1500
700
1833
250
2000
700
1834
500
2000
700
1835
300
2200
700
235
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Town.
Highway.
Schools.
1836
600
2500
700
1837
400
1600
700
1838
600
1500
700
1839
600
1700
700
1840
700
2200
700
1841
600
1700
700
1842
600
2200
750
1843
700
2000
750
1844
750
2000
750
1845
750
2500
750
1846
650
2000
750
1847
650
2000
900
1848
700
2000
900
1849
700
2000
750
For Ministers' Tax see " Ecclesiastical."
CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
As related in the History of Canaan, Rev. Ezekiel Emerson, Pastor of the Church in Georgetown, on the breaking out of the Revo- lution, retreated to Norridgewock, where he resided several years, preaching to the settlers of Norridgewock, Canaan, and vicinity. He undoubtedly broke the bread of life to the peo- ple from 1777 to 1783, say six years. As there was no town in either place, he was supported by private subscription, and was much beloved. He was a most excellent and worthy man. See Ecclesiastical History of Canaan.
The first public movement for the establish- ment of Public Worship was on April 7th, 1789, when a committee of nine men was chosen to
236
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
" view the center of the town, and pitch on the most convenient spot for a meeting-house." But it was decided on the 20th of the same month, to dismiss the matter "for the present."*
April 5, 1790, " voted that the preaching be at Mr. John Clarke's." The first preacher's name mentioned on the Town books, is record- ed in the following vote, passed May 26, 1790. " Chose Decon Longley, Mr. John Heald, and Oliver Wood, Esq., for a committee to agree with Mr. Muzzy, to make up a year from the time he began to preach." In the year follow- ing the selectmen were instructed to engage Mr, Muzzy permanently, but the vote was countermanded, and he left the town. Efforts were made in 1792, to join with the people of Canaan, and secure regular preaching in each town alternately .*
In the latter part of the year 1792, there were serious efforts made to erect a meeting-house. There were two lots selected as appropriate places. " Esq. Tobey, of Fairfield, John Burrill, of Hancock, and Captain John Grey, of Seven Mile brook," were chosen to decide on the loca- tion. There was considerable feeling in the town on the subject, and it was thought that citizens of other towns would give an unprej- udiced decision on the best site for the church. John Moor, John Heald, and John Clark were chosen to wait upon the aforesaid committee, and join with them in drawing a plan for the building. The town voted to raise ££150 to erect the church. In 1793, Rev. Jonathan
* Town Records.
237
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Calef was voted to be employed until all the money in the bank belonging to the town was expended .*
The different portions of the building were let out to those mechanics who bid lowest, and the lumber was furnished on the same terms. July 15, 1793, the town agreed to hire Mr. Calef one third of the time if he would settle in Canaan.i He preached a short time, but was not popular in Norridgewock, and soon ceased.
The committee appointed to select a location for the church, reported in favor of a spot, but the town voted not to accept the same. It was at length decided that it should stand in Mr. John Clark's field. #
In those times a raising was a scene of great mirth, when it was the custom to raise the building, and sometimes for the people them- selves to fall down. A meeting-house was a rare building, and the raising thereof corres- pondingly remarkable. In order to do full justice to the occasion, therefore, it was voted Jan. 23, 1794, " to choose some person or per- sons to provide rum, and whatsoever is found necessary, for raising the meeting-house, and that the committee formerly chosen for procur- ing material, &c., be the persons, and that they appoint a day at this meeting, when they will let out the giting of one barrel of West India rum, and one quarter of a hundred of maple sugar, to them that get it the cheapest."
* Town Records. + Ibid. ţ Ib.
238
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Different views of necessity prevail among different people.
A little manuscript volume, entitled " Town Book, for the Meeting House Accounts, No- ridgwock," gives the following items of the cost of the church.
1794. Town of Noridgwock to
October - OBADIAH WITHERELL, WILLIAM SYLVESTER, and JOHN WARE, Dr. - as Committee for said Town to finish the meeting house.
to sundres paid for Rum at vendue of pews Brot. from Ware's account 15s. 6d. £0 15
6 to bringing up 10d & 20d Nails In october 10s. as Ware's Book 0 10 0'
I Qr paper to Write Notes 2s. 0 2 0
to paying Charles Witherell for bringing up 4d Nails 4s. 0 4 0
Paid Simon Pierce for under pining -
7 6
to Cash paid Sundre Persons for Lumber bid off at Vendue 22 Dec'r 1794 36 2 0
Paid Elezer Spaulding Jr. underpining 6 6
-
0 12 0
paid Ware 6s for 2 m 10d Nails -
0 6
0
paid Josiah Warren for 2 m Boards at 24s 2 8 0 2s per m for feching sª Boards 0 4 0
paid Capt" Witherell for 1137 feet Boards 24s per m. 1 6
1
29 Paid Joseph Vickere - 18 17 Paid Josiah Warren for gitting Bark for the 6 meeting house 0 6 0
Paid Joseph Vickere for Labour for finish- ing out side of the house 105 0 0
July 27 :
Paid for Brads, Nails, Oill, and giting 15
1 6
Novem. from Boston oill -
Paid Elezer Spaulding Jr. 6 6
0
Paid to Wm. Weston for under pining 12 13 6 Paid Joseph Vickeree for Labour 4 10 0
1796.
Paid Mr. Heald for Sawing Boards 0 1 10.
June 2 to Cash sent to Boston for Glass, paint, puttey, oill, at pa. 33, W-s Day Book 110 0 0
8 Paid Wm. Sylvester for 564 Clabboards at 6s. 0 1 1 2
Paid 6s. for Stagan poals -
-
0 6 0
5
0
to Josiah Heald for 2 m Boards -
1795. May
239
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Paid Mr. Sylvester for Gowing after Win- dow Crowns -
1 0 0
Paid Mr. Gilman for 4 1b 4d Nails 0 3 3
15 Paid for feching out Sparks, from Wither- ell's to Edmund Parker's, 1 Glass W. I. Rum 0 0 3
Cash paid Kidder for advise feee 0 12
' July 24 paid Joseph Moor for 550 clabb : at Eight Dollars pr. m. 1 6 4
0
£332 6 3.1
In the winter of 1794-5, divine worship was celebrated one third of the time at Mr. John Clark's, one third at Mr. Silas Wood's, and the remainder at Mr. Josiah Spaulding's. During the year 1795, £27 were raised for the support of the gospel .*
The house was made tolerably habitable, and on the 29th of September, 1794, the pews were sold at public vendue, to Joseph Vickere, John Ware, Josiah Spaulding, Eleazar Spauld- ing, Jonathan Parlin, Uzzial Withee, David Lancaster, Josiah Heald, William Weston, Robert Richards, Amos Adams, Jr., Nathaniel Withee, William Farnham, John Laughton, Solomon Bixby, Dr. William Ward, John Spaulding, Joseph Tarbell, Edmund Parker, Abraham Moor, David Pierce, James Thomp- son, Robert Whitcombe, John Moor, William Spaulding, Seth Spaulding, Ephraim Brown, Nathan Parlin, Thomas Heald, Peter Farns- worth, Isaac Kidder, Amos Shed, Samuel Cook, Obadiah Witherell, Peter Gilman, Jr., William Withee, Josiah Warren, Luke Withee,
* Town Records.
240
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
Asa Longley, and Charles Whitcombe, for $2,001.15.
The house seems to have progressed very slowly towards completion, as we find each year some little addition made. Rev. Phineas Randall preached a few months, commencing June, 1796. At this time a very encouraging revival commenced, and about thirty persons were hopefully converted. In the year 1797 a movement was made to settle Mr. Randall, but it was not successful.
In February, 1797, an article was inserted in the warrant for the town meeting, - " To see if the town will vote to establish a church in this town, in the Congregational order." The article was dismissed.
In 1798, Rev. Jotham Sewall was employed one half of the time.
In the year 1800 negotiations with Rev. Bell were had. His services, or his terms, seem not to have been very acceptable, for the town voted, in 1801, not to raise any money for the support of the Gospel. The amount of money bid for the pews having come in rather slowly, it was voted to reimburse those who had paid for their pews, and finish the house at the expense of the town. In the following year it was voted "not to settle Mr. Stetson." At the same time it was voted that "cach Re- ligious Denomination (there being three in number, the Congregationalists, Baptists and Methodists) shall have the use of the Meeting House according to their respective numbers, and that they shall have the privilidge to occu-
241
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
py the same according to the disapline of their respective Churches, and that the meeting house shall never be sold without the Consent of the majority of all the denominations."* At this time, the church was very roughly con- structed. Planks, laid on blocks, constituted the pews ; a few rough boards made the pulpit ; something like an orchestra was erected to correspond with the rest. The chief singer was a son of Parson Emerson. - Rev. S. Stet- son's MS.
In April, 1802, Rev. Seth Stetson received and accepted a call to settle over the Congregation- alist Society. He removed here in the follow- ing June, f and remained about two years, when he took charge of the Second Church and So- ciety in Plymouth, Ms. He remained a preach- er of Congregationalism about twenty years, when he renounced his sentiments, and became a Universalist clergyman. Mr. Stetson was born in Kingston, Ms.
He preached a portion of the time in Nor- ridgewock, and the rest in the neighborhood. He also taught school. He had preached but a few Sabbaths when he was invited to settle in Norridgewock.
* Town Records.
+ " Called (in 1802) on Mr. Gould, a good christian, who lived in a log house. Happy souls ! I had rather dwell in the poorest cottage with humble disciples of Christ, than in the richest pal- ace with the greatest ungodly princes. Met with many christian friends, Esq. Wood, Esq. Sylvester, Capt. Pierce, &c. The peo- ple in general were comparatively poor, and able to support preaching but part of the time. The Methodists used the meet- ing-house occasionally. Then we made use of such a sort of place as Jesus of Nazareth was born in. - Capt. Pierce's barn." -Mr. Stetson's MS.
21
242
HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK.
The town was destitute of regular preaching for several years after 1804.
In the year 1804 Rev. Mr. Marcy preached four sabbaths in the town, but it was voted not to employ his services further .*
The people did not manifest a very praise wor- thy zeal in finishing their church. As late as 1807 a committee was raised to see that the house was decently finished. At about this time the money raised for the support of the Gospel was equally divided among the three denominations. Mr. Sewall was invited again in 1809, and in 1810 Rev. Mr. Elliot occupied the pulpit for a short time.t In the year 1813 the meeting- house was granted to the use of each denomi- nation in proportion to the taxes paid by each. March 11th of the same year it was voted that " Mr. Ebenezer P. Sperry be invited to settle in the Gospel Ministry in this town, and that he be accordingly chosen to that office : provided, however, that the said Sperry shall obligate himself to ask a dismission whenever he shall be requested so to do, by a major part of two thirds of the legal voters of the town, who are taxed towards his support, in legal town meet- ing assembled for that purpose. Also voted, that as a compensation for the services of the said Sperry, in the office aforesaid, the following salary be paid him; to witt: for the first year, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars; for the second year, two hundred and eighty dol- lars ; for the third year, three hundred and ten dollars ; for the fourth year, three hundred and
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