USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Waldoboro > History of the town of Waldoboro, Maine > Part 11
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"Rev. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS RODOL- PHUS BENEDECTUS RITZ,
born in Germany, 1752, emigrated to this country, 1784, ordained in Pa. minister of the German Lutheran church, 1793, came to this place as Pastor 1794 and continued as such until his death Feb. 21, 1811, aged 59 years."
On the reverse we read :
"REV. JOHN WILLIAM STARMAN,
born in Germany A. D. 1773, emigrated to this country, 1786, ordained in N. Y., minister of the German Lutheran Church and came to this place as pastor of above church, 1812, died Sept. 25, 1854, aged 81 years.'
The third inscription informs us that
"This town was settled in 1748 by Germans
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GERMAN MEETING HOUSE.
who emigrated to this place with the promise and expectation of finding a populous city, instead of which they found nothing but a wilderness; for the first few years they suffered to a great extent by Indian wars and starvation; by perseverence and self denial they succeeded in clearing lands and erecting mills. At this time a large proportion of the inhabitants are descendants of the first settlers. This monument was erected A. D. 1855 by the subscriptions of citizens of this town."
The statement that the settlers expected to find a populous city should be taken with a de- gree of allowance.
CHAPTER XXII.
CHURCHES AND LODGES.
Congregational Church.
The Congregational Church was organized by an eclesiastical council, convened for that pur- pose, May 13, 1807. Six persons composed the original membership, as follows: Peleg Oldham, Anna Oldham, Alpheus Delano, who were re- ceived from the church in Duxbury, Mass., Mary Hunt from the church in Pembroke, Mass., Payn Elwell and Lucy Elwell from First Church in North Yarmouth. From 1807 to 1820 services were held in the town house. Early in the spring of 1820, work was begun on the meeting house, which was completed and dedicated the following September. Originally the belfry was surmounted by a very tall spire which about 1840 was removed and the present tower substituted. When the church was built it stood in a large field with no houses near it and no road to the main street. A Revere bell was installed which still calls the worshippers. The sale of pews more than paid the cost of the house. As the years went by the Universalists who owned pews, claimed the right to have preaching part of the time. This precip-
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itated a conflict, which was adjusted by the pur- chase of their pews.
Repairs have been made from time to time. In 1874 the galleries were removed, the floor raised, new windows put in and other improve- ments made to the amount of $4,000. A fine pipe organ was installed soon after.
The pastors have been Rev. John R. Cutting from 1807 to 1815; Rev. D. M. Mitchell from 1816 to 1842; Rev. John Dodge from 1843 to 1853 ; Rev. H. M. Stone from 1854 to 1857 ; Rev. Mr. Lightbody from 1857 to 1858; Rev. T. S. Robie from 1859 to 1863; Rev. F. B. Knowlton six months in 1863; Rev. E. G. Carpenter from 1865 to 1866; Rev. Charles Packard from 1867 to 1872; Rev. Andrew J. McLeod from 1872 to 1880; Rev. E. C. Crane from 1881 to 1883; Rev. Wilbur Rand from September, 1884, one year; Rev. R. P. Gardner from 1886 to 1888; Rev. Herbert I. Senior from 1890 to 1895; Rev. Hugh MacCallum from 1897 to 1899; Rev. William F. Slade from 1900 to 1902; Rev. William C. Curtis from 1903 to 1908.
Baptist Church.
July 6, 1824, in response to a petition, the churches in Warren, Jefferson and Nobleboro sent their pastors and delegates to sit in council with the Waldoboro brethren at the home of Charles Keen. It was voted to proceed to organize, and
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
the hand of fellowship was extended by Rev. P. Pillsbury of Nobleboro, to the following eleven persons, who presented letters of dismissal from other Baptist churches: Thomas Willett, Cyrus Newcomb, Charles Keen, Jacob Kaler, Jacob Shuman, John Welt, Mary Keen, Charlotte Shu- man, Mary Shuman, Catherine Welt.
Soon after preaching services were held in the homes of the members, Elder Job Washburn (not pastor as given on page 122) and Mr. Samuel Chisam officiating. June 25, 1825, Mr. Chisam was ordained as pastor, at the home of John Shuman, where outdoor ordination exercises were held. Mr. Chisam served the church ten years, although he continued to live in Jefferson and had no stated salary. Meetings were held in the Shuman district and at Feyler's Corner. In 1837, when Rev. Joseph Wilson became pastor, so many members were added that services were transferred to the village where a house of wor- ship was erected in 1838, at a cost of $3,000. It was dedicated Sept. 12, 1838. A fine sounding bell was provided.
In 1860, at an expense of $2,800, a spire was added and the building raised several feet to provide a vestry. In 1889 the building was en- tirely remodeled and rededicated. A pipe organ had previously been added.
The church has had the following twenty
CHURCHES AND LODGES. 221
pastors : Samuel Chisam, 1825 to 1835; Joseph Wilson, 1837 to 1845; O. B. Walker, 1846 to 1850; Edward J. Harris, 1850 to 1851; L. C. Stevens, 1852 to 1853; Joseph Tuck, 1853; Joseph Kalloch, 1855 to 1859; A. H. Estey, 1860 to 1865; H. B. Marshall, 1865 to 1868; Henry Stetson, 1868 to 1872; W. G. Goucher, 1872 to 1874; Luther D. Hill, 1874 to 1879; G. P. Pendle- ton, 1879 to 1880; Albert H. Ford, 1880 to 1884; James Graham, 1884 to 1891; G. W. Ellison, 1891 to 1892; G. W. F. Hill, 1892 to 1900; H. B. Til- den, 1901 to 1904; G. F. Sibley, 1904 to 1909; F. H. Pratt, 1909.
Methodist Episcopal Church.
The M. E. Church at the village was organ- ized in August, 1856, Rev. William H. Crawford, pastor, although there was some church organiza- tion earlier, meetings being held in the town house by Father Ellis. During the next year the meet- ing house was built, through the efforts of John Heyer, Martin Mank and others, who put nearly all their means into the work. The meeting house was dedicated Oct. 28, 1857. We are unable to give a list of the first members, but among those early in the church were John Heyer and wife, Gilmore Miller and wife, William Schwartz and wife, Moses M. Richards and wife, Martin Mank, Gardner Achorn, Ward Adams and wife, Gideon Hoch and wife.
.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
The meeting house was several times repair- ed and a bell was presented by Capt. Charles Comery.
The pastors have been William H. Crawford, Cyrus Phenix, Phineus Higgins, A. R. Lunt, John N. Marsh, Josiah Fletcher, H. B. Wardwell, John Collins, J. P. Simonton, Seth Beal, C. L. Haskell, William L. Brown, Orrin Tyler, J. R. Baker, E. H. Hadlock, D. B. Phelan, T. J. Wright, F. L. Hayward, J. A. Weed, T. A. Hodgdon, J. E. Lombard, L. L. Harris and N. R. Pearson.
The Winslow's Mills chapel was dedicated in September, 1894, and is connected with the Wal- doboro charge. A bell was placed in the belfry in 1907.
North Waldoboro.
The North Waldoboro Methodist church was organized in 1820, and has an eventful history which we have not been able to obtain. The meeting house was erected in 1843 and was sup- plied with a bell a dozen years ago.
Orff's Corner Meeting House.
The meeting house at Orff's Corner was built in 1839 by George W. Genthner, who sold only about half the pews. Consequently he made a financial loss. By a deed executed June 24, 1849, he sold pew No. 8 to Solomn Orff and John Hoch for thirty-five dollars. After his death his widow sold the remaining pews. Thirty-seven
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CHURCHES AND LODGES.
years ago the high pulpit was removed, the doors taken from the pews and arms substituted. In 1895 the tower was built and new colored glass windows took the place of the old windows. Soon after a bell was purchased. It is connected with the North Waldoboro M. E. Church. South Waldoboro Meeting Houses.
In 1855 it was decided to build a meeting house at South Waldoboro, but some contention arising two houses were built, Baptist and Con- gregational. Since 1860 the Congregational meeting house has been occupied by the Metho- dists. In the gale of September, 1869, the Bap- tist steeple was blown off and the steeple of the other church so weakened that it was soon after taken down. In 1909 the Baptists built a bell tower and added a bell. Rev. Sidney Packard is the pastor.
West Waldoboro and Dutch Neck.
In 1888 a chapel was erected at West Wal- doboro and dedicated by the Methodists in August of that year. A Union Chapel was built on Dutch Neck in 1885-86, but has been occupied by the Methodists and connected with the Bremen and West Waldoboro Circuit of the M. E. Church.
A chapel was built near Mank's Corner and called "Monroe Chapel." A small chapel was also erected at Sprague's Corner in the Duck Puddle neighborhood.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M.
In former years the Masonic brethren of Waldoboro were connected with St. George Lodge of Warren. From 1807 to 1822 this
fellowship existed. In 1822 an effort was made for a charter and it was then arranged for St. George Lodge to meet on alternate years in Wal- doboro. In 1844, after a suspension of several years, caused by the Morgan excitement, work was resumed. St. George Lodge held meetings in Waldoboro, in the house now occupied by Mrs. Dora York, in a hall in Clark's building, and in Sproul's block. At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge, in May, 1849, a charter was granted the following brethren: Joseph Clark, John Balch, George Sproul, Thomas Genthner, James Cole, Jacob Ludwig, Joseph Miller, James Cook, Aaron Kaler, Isaac B. Humphrey, John W. Tebbetts, William Bearce, Charles Castner, Lewis S. Soule, and Rufus Rich, and these brethren were instituted into a lodge in January, 1850, and designated as King Solomon's Lodge, No. 61. The lodge room was in Sproul's block.
In 1854 the Lodge being burned and charter destroyed, a new charter was issued to Joseph Miller, John Balch, Lewis S. Soule, C. C. Atwell, William Eugley, Thomas Genthner, John W. Tebbetts, Alden F. Miller, William Bearce and William S. Cochran. A lodge room was estab-
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CHURCHES AND LODGES.
lished in the Samson block where the lodge re- mained till 1879 when more commodious rooms were found in Clark's building. In the fall of 1902 the Lodge moved to rooms which had been finished for it in the Mathews & Gay building. The present membership in 114.
Wiwurna Chapter, No. 34, Order of the East- ern Star, was organized in 1895 and received a charter the next year. It has a membership of fifty-two.
Germania Lodge, I. O. O. F.
Odd Fellowship in Waldoboro dates back to Medomak Lodge, No. 23, which was instituted Jan. 20, 1845. In 1850 the lodge reported 65 members; invested funds, $500. The lodge was unfortunate in having been burned out three times, the last time in 1854, from the effects of which it never rallied. The whole number initi- ted was 93. The following became members of the Grand Lodge: C. C. Atwell, John H. Kennedy, Alden Jackson, William Ludwig, A. T. Moses, and John B. Wildes.
Germania Lodge, No. 57, was instituted Nov. 22, 1877, with the following charter members : William B. Creamer, Charles D. Creamer, Osmay S. Head, Charles H. Lilly, Harvey C. Heyer, Webster L. Mathews and Aaron O. Winchenbach. The lodge finished a hall in the Schwartz & Castner building, which was subsequently pur-
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
chased. The lodge remained there till 1904, when a move was made to the elegant rooms in the new Odd Fellows' building on Jefferson street. This lodge has been very prosperous, having a membership of 175, and owning two buildings.
Good Luck Rebekah Lodge, No. 72, was in- stituted Feb. 28, 1896, and has a membership of 108.
Maine Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
Maine Lodge, K. of P., was instituted Jan. 7, 1895, with the following charter members : George Bliss, Edwin O. Clark, George L. Welt, Jesse K. Willett, Osmay S. Head, Herbert L. Leavitt, L. C. Mank, G. W. Rowe, W. E. Philbrook, W. M. Sides, L. W. Parsons, W. C. Creamer, E. S. Per- kins, Harrison Hilton, W. S. Winslow, W. E. Clark, F. B. Miller, F. O. Miller, B. A. Boggs, A. E. Boggs, John Burkett, M. M. Johnson, J. W. Sanborn, F. B. Hahn, C. A. Richards, C. H. Howard, P. S. Whitney, C. H. Curtis, J. C. Chip- man, G. O. Waltz.
A fine lodge room was fitted up in Union block which was burned in 1900, when the Lodge moved into their present commodious rooms in the Jack- son building. It has a membership of 100.
Ermine Assembly, Pythian Sisterhood, was instituted March II, 1902, merged into Temple of Pythian Sisters, in February, 1907. Present membership 35.
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CHURCHES AND LODGES.
Waldoboro Grange.
Waldoboro Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, No. 406, was chartered April 1, 1893. It holds its meetings in Grand Army hall. It has a membership of 113.
Maple Grange at North Waldoboro is in a flourishing condition.
Charles Keizer Post, G. A. R.
Charles Keizer Post, No. 135, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized March 30, 1885, its charter being dated April 25, 1885. It was named for Charles Keizer, a member of Company E, 20th Maine regiment, killed at Laurel Hill, near Spottsylvania, Va. The charter members were Samuel L. Miller, James H. Stanwood, F. M. Eveleth, Thomas R. Hogue, William H. Levensaler, George G. Benner, Austin Keizer, Danby L. Creamer, Toleman Mathews, James Ludwig, Elijah S. Levensaler, George W. Young, John W. Palmer, David H. Kimball, Frank A. Hutchins, Isaac W. Comery, Byron M. Castner, Thomas A. Kaler, Robert Creamer, Aaron O. Winchenbach. The Post owns the building in which it meets. Its membership is 31.
The Woman's State Relief Corps, No. 56, was organized May 27, 1889. It has a member- ship of 29.
CHAPTER XXIII.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
A genealogical table of the former inhabi- tants of Waldoboro, involving the labor of years, would necessarily be incomplete and unsatis- factory, but a history of the town would not be acceptable which did not give some special ac- count of its founders and notable citizens. In this chapter, therefore, an attempt will be made to give sketches of citizens, who have been promi- nent in theological, legal and medical professions and in politics. It is a matter of regret that we have no information concerning such men as Dr. John Christopher Walleazer, Dr. John G. Borne- man, Charles Leistner and others.
CONRAD HEYER.
Conrad' Heyer, considered the first white child born in the present town of Waldoboro, after the first permanent settlement, was born at Schenck's Point, on the eastern side of Broad Bay, April 10, 1749. His father, Martin Heyer, died from exposure and hunger during the winter before Conrad was born. He grew to manhood in the settlement. When the first meeting house
I. The Germany way of spelling this is Konrad.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
was dedicated he was among the singers, although only about fifteen years of age. At twenty-two he was an active member of the German Lutheran church. On the breaking out of the Revolution he appears to have been in Boston, probably having gone thither in one of the coasting vessels. He immediately joined the army at Cambridge. He must have enlisted from some other colony than Massachusetts, as his name does not appear on the Massachusetts rolls. However, he served long and faithfully in the ranks of those who fought for independence. He was stationed at Ticonderoga where he helped construct portions. of the fortifications. He crossed the Delaware with Washington, forming one of the Vanguard on that occasion when the troops suffered much from the cold, being poorly clad. After the war Mr. Heyer settled on a farm in the north part of the town. He enjoyed the distinction of being not only the first white person born in town, but living to greater age than any other citizen ever attained. He never was, until the winter he died,. confined a day by sickness. He died Feb. 19, 1856, aged 106 years, 10 months, 9 days. A full account of his burial with military honors is given in Chapter XVI.
REV. JOHN MARTIN SHAEFFER.
Rev. John Martin Shæffer was the first Ger- man Protestant minister in Waldoboro. He was
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
sometimes called Dr. Shæffer, not because he had conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, but for the reason that he had some knowledge of bleeding and blistering, and not only preached the gospel but practiced medicine. He was a native of Germany but came to Broad Bay from Boston. He was introduced into the settlement by General Waldo, or his son-in-law, Mr. Fluker, soon after the second colony arrived in 1753. At the commencement of the Revolu- tion he was a tory and carried his political doc- trines into the pulpit. He invariably refused to pray for the success of the American armies. He was a smart preacher and a good singer. His moral character was rather equivocal. He left a wife in Germany, seduced the wife of another and brought her to this country with him. He was profane, intemperate and gradually lost all in- fluence as a minister of the gospel. He made the settlers believe it was necessary to be bled every spring, for which he received a regular fee of fifty cents. He is said to have charged a stated fee for every funeral, marriage, and for every baptism, which he was careful to have paid before performing the rite.
These emoluments, with such advantages as his prosperity, influence and superior education, en- abled him to take in making bargains, soon ren- dered him opulent. He engaged in navigation,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
took lumber and wood of the settlers at his own price, liquidating the accounts in his own way. Many a poor German had to work a week for him, to pay for the annual loss of blood in him- self and family, and when any considerable sick- ness occurred, a sloop hold full of wood went to pay the doctor's bill. He remained in Waldoboro after being deposed from the church. He finally removed to Warren. While absent in Boston his house was entered by four men in disguise, who seized the women, pinioned their arms and con- fined them in the cellar. Then they broke open the closets and chests and carried off the gold and silver they contained. Thus went a larger part of the doctor's ill-gotten hoard. He return- ed in rage and dispair and plunging still deeper into intemperance, expired on the 20th of April, I794. Mr. Copeland, who had been administrator of the doctor's estate, married the widow on the 20th of August following.
REV. FREDERICK GRUHNER.
Rev. Frederick Gruhner, (commonly pro- nounced Kroner) was born at or near Frankfort on the Mayne in Germany. He was well versed in Latin, German and French languages and in theology. He was licensed to preach the gospel as a German Lutheran teacher. After the de- parture of Rev. Dr. Theobald, it is believed he recommended Gruhner to the people of Waldo-
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
boro. He was examined by a committee consist- ing of Dr. Walleazer, Jacob Ludwig, Joseph Lud- wig and Conrad Heyer and found qualified. In the pulpit he was graceful and eloquent. A short time after his settlement he married a daugh- ter of John Ulmer. It was soon discovered that he spent much time, on week days, at the tavern where he indulged in drinking and card playing. He contracted debts and became embarrassed. Forseeing that his career would end in his dis- missal, he preached his last sermon, from the text: John the Evangelist, 7th Chapter, 34th verse. The next morning those who sought him could not find him for he had started early on horseback, and proceeded west beyond the reach of his creditors. Neither his friends, nor his wife were ever advised of his whereabouts or pursuits. REV. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS RODOLPHUS BENEDICTUS
RITZ.I
The minister with the long name was born in Germany in 1752, and received a classical edu- cation at the University of Helmstadt. He emi- grated to this country in 1784, and was ordained in Pennsylvania minister of the German Lutheran Church in 1793. He came to Waldoboro in 1794 and continued as pastor until his death which oc- curred Feb. 21, 1811, at the age of 59 years. He
I. This name has been spelled Retz.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
was the first minister who occupied the pulpit of the old meeting house after its removal to its present site. He always preached in the German language. After he was settled in Waldoboro he married Margaret Hahn and was given a farm twenty-five rods wide extending from the Me- domak river to the Kaler pond. His dwelling house was north of the cemetery and not far from the church. It was a timber house, dove- tailed at the corners and was torn down after his death. When first called upon by the neighbor- ing clergy Mr. Ritz was able to converse with them only in Latin. He was a dignified man as was becoming his position. His nearest approach to levity ever known of him is contained in the following annecdote: Mr. Demuth had taken of- fence and refused to speak to him. Mr. Ritz in company with a friend, passing him one day, in the usual manner without a nod, the friend ob- served : "There goes Mr. Demuth." "Nein, nein," said the minister, "neicht Meister Demuth, Meister Hochmuth." May 22, 1809, he certified that he had received a lot of land in lieu of a hundred acres of ministerial lands.
REV. JOHN WILLIAM STARMAN.
Mr. Starman was a native of Germany, born in Lenep, near Elberfeld, in 1773, a subject of the Elector of Palatine. His father was pastor of the Lutheran church in Lenep. He received his edu-
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
cation in the schools of his native town and in his father's house. In the year 1796, he went to New York where he boarded a greater part of the time in the family of Dr. Guisenhainer. The doctor, seeing he was religiously inclined, en- couraged him to prepare for the gospel ministry. He did so, was examined by the Lutheran Synod and accepted. After the death of Mr. Ritz, a meeting of the church was held and Capt. Charles Miller was delegated with power to go to Phila- delphia and engage a preacher. He visited the church in Philadelphia and was recommended to Mr. Starman. After conversing with him he gave him a call to come to Waldoboro. Whereupon he set out on his journey and arrived here and preached his first sermon in the old German meeting house late in the fall of 1.812.
Soon after Mr. Starman's settlement in Wal- doboro, his friends advised him to marry. They went so far as to designate who he should marry. The lady designated consented to the conditions and they were married.
For the first eight years in Waldoboro he preached entirely in German, but perceiving that the use of German was dying out and that in a few years English would take its place, he made the latter language a study and in 1820 he ven- tured to preach his first English sermon in his own meeting house. This sermon cost him much
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
labor in the writing and much effort in its delivery but he made himself well understood. From 1820 to 1835 he preached an English sermon one Sunday in four; than one half the time in German and half in English. About 1840 he preached one Sunday in four in German and on those days the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered. The church had been divided from the first between the Lutherans and German Reformed. At the celebration of the Lord's Supper, the former took the bread and wine from the communion service themselves, while the latter had the bread put into their mouths and the wine cup held to their lips by the deacon. Mr. Star- man labored hard and long to reconcile these trifling differences and finally he had the satis- faction of seeing both sects come to the same communion table and unite in undivided fellow- ship.
Mr. Starman was in person about six feet in height; in manner bland and courteous, stately and graceful in his movements. In preaching he was eloquent and rapid in delivery in German. In English he was somewhat embarrassed, owing to the difference of idiom of the languages. For example, in one of his English sermons he was speaking of the tongue, of its influence and power over the character and happiness of society, and he said: "Like the helm of a ship it is." He
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
made such advances in the English language that he was able to act as a member of the superin- tending school committee. He died Sept. 25, 1854. The intelligence of his death was received by the people of Waldoboro, of all religious de- nominations, with heartfelt sorrow.
COL. JACOB LUDWIG.
Jacob Ludwig was born in Germany in 1730; settled at Broad Bay in 1753; married Margaret Hilt in 1755. He and his brother Joseph lo- cated on opposite sides of the Medomak river immediately after their arrival and the farms they took up they continued to occupy till their death. Colonel Ludwig held many offices, from common road surveyor to town representative. He ac- quired enough of the English language to enable him to record the early transactions of the town intelligibly. In the latter part of the French and Indian war he seems to have resided in Boston where he enlisted in the army and did service at Ticonderoga, Lake George and Crown Point. In 1776 he was chosen captain of company sent to Castine for the protection of that place. His knowledge of both English and German eminently fitted him to act as a magistrate among a mixed population. He retained his faculties till the time of his death, which took place in Waldo- boro, Jan. 1, 1826.
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