USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Waldoboro > History of the town of Waldoboro, Maine > Part 3
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
built a grist mill, partly on his own and partly on Waldo's account. This mill was where the elec- tric light plant now stands. George Werner had no sons but two daughters who married Kinsell and Achorn.
CHAPTER VII.
INDIAN WAR.
This year (1754) the settlers were alloted lands. The lines of these farms were generally run east and west from the river. The occupants received no deeds but were granted long leases of ninety-nine years on condition of paying a nominal rent of a pint of barley or corn, "if called for," clearing three acres of land each within two years, and building a dwelling at least 16x18 feet. The present business part of Waldoboro village came into the possession of John Ulmer. The first houses, which were only log huts, were lo- cated near the banks of the river. As the land was cleared and the owners became better able, more commodious habitations were erected farther from the river, and on many of those old farms can be seen two and even three cellars where the dwellings of the original owners once stood. The only roads were foot paths from house to house.
The same year General Waldo, for the pro- tection of settlers and as a residence for himself while at Broad Bay, determined to build stockade, or garrison. The spot selected for this stockade was where a supply of water was available. This lo-
46
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
cality is now known as Sproul's Spring. This was the principle fort at Broad Bay though four others were constructed farther down the river, one being on the farm of the late Andrew Storer.
In 1755 the French and Indians began depre- dations and in 1756 England formally declared war against France. Then to the sufferings of the settlers in the wilderness were added the horrors of Indian savagery. During the next five years the inhabitants of Broad Bay and other settlements lived in continual fear. The garrisons were occupied as places of refuge, and work upon the farms could only be performed under a strong guard. All who were able to bear arms were organized into companies, receiving for a large part of the time, pay and rations which were the principal means of support for their families. Leistner was Captain of a company of scouts; another company was commanded by one Matthias Remilly, who was the first regular commissioned militia officer in the place. Farming under such circumstances could be carried on only in a limit- ed manner, and when the pay and rations of these companies failed, great distress ensued. Eaton says, "One family at Broad Bay subsisted a whole winter on frost fish, with only four quarts of meal. Many a German woman was glad to do a hard day's work at planting or hoeing, for eight pence, or a quart of meal. There were, at this time, but
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INDIAN WAR.
few cattle in that place, and a quart of buttermilk would often command a day's work." One man went to St. George to buy a cow, and not pos- sessing anything else, offered his wife as security for the payment of the price of the animal. As soon as he could raise the funds he visited the former owner of the cow, and redeemed his "better half."
A journal of the operations of one of the companies of rangers at Broad Bay was found in the Secretary's office at Boston. It was dated May 31, 1757, and gives an account of service performed for the space of one week. As it is somewhat lengthy and not particularly interest- ing, we omit it.
Notwithstanding every precaution was taken for safety, many were killed during the war and others captured by the Indians, who were always on the lookout for an opportunity to waylay some settler who had ventured away from the garrison. The first man killed was one Bouzer, who went in search of his cow near the brook at the foot of the Thomas hill. The Indians had removed the bell from the cow and thus drew him into ambush. They also ambushed the house of a Mr. Piper be- fore daylight, and shot him dead when he came out for wood. His wife having secreted her child in the cellar, endeavored to prevent the Indians from entering the house; but they shot her
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
through the door. After their departure the child was found safe and uninjured in the cellar. Among those captured was a young man by the name of Kline, who was carried to Canada. When peace was declared his father went thither and brought him home. Mr. Lash, who was haul- ing wood with a horse and car, was suddenly as- sailed by three Indians who attempted to make him a prisoner. Lash being a powerful man, seized and held two of them, but the third shot him dead. This was Ferdinand Lash's grandfath- er, and his house was very near where the resi- dence of F. W. Scott now stands. He was in the act of tipping off the load at the door when attacked. This affair has sometimes been con- founded with the murder of another Lash, at a later period. Farther down the river, an as- sault was made on Loring Sides,2 who with his little son, was in search of his cattle but a short distance from the garrison. Discovering the In- dians, the boy ran by direction of his father and escaped; but Sides was killed, scalped and his body mutilated. This occurred on that part of the old Sides place now owned by Capt. Albion Stahl. A tomahawk was found in the head of the murdered man, and is now in the possession of A. R. Reed of this place. The Indians turned
I. The German for Lash was Losch.
2. The German for Sides was Seitz.
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INDIAN WAR.
some cattle into a cabbage yard cultivated by Henry Demuth at Storer's Point on the western side of the river. Seeing the cattle within the en- closure, Demuth and a neighbor went over in a boat to drive them out. As soon as they land- ed, they were attacked and Demuth was captured, and never being heard of afterwards was supposed to have been killed. His companion attempted to escape in the boat but was fired upon and killed. Jacob Sechrist, another man and a woman were killed on Dutch Neck. Sechrist has no de- scendants living.
We have been to much trouble to ascertain the facts of these fatal encounters and though we may err somewhat in the details, we think the main points are correct. Many others suffered death or captivity at the hands of the savages, but their names are unknown. Whenever Indians were discovered lurking in the vicinity of the settlement, the inhabitants were warned by firing, to seek safety in the stockades. The few cattle they possessed strayed off in search of sub- sistence and became so wild that many were never recovered.
Thus they lived till about 1760, when, after the capture of Quebec the Indians began to make proposals for peace, although the conclusive treaty between England and France was not sign- ed at Paris till February 1763. Work was now
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
renewed upon the farms, and during the winter large quantities of cord wood were cut and hauled to landing either on hand-sleds or by horses and cars. It is said that one German matron hauled out, on a hand-sled, two sloop loads' in one season.
CHAPTER VIII.
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS. LAND CLAIMS.
In 1760, after the return of peace, the Broad Bay settlement began to assume more the appear- ance of prosperity. The same year the County of Lincoln, which included all the territory eastward of Cumberland County, was formed, with Pownal- borough as the shire town. The settlement now embraced from ninety to a hundred families. After spending much time in its preparation, the following list of settlers is presented : Joseph Ludwig and his two sons Jacob and Joseph Henry, James Schenck, a tanner, Jacob Winchenbach, Christoval Woltzgruber, Anthony Hoffses, John Stahl, Charles Umberhine, Daniel Philhour, John Christopher Walleazor, Hans Peter Gross, a blacksmith, Frank Miller, a paper maker, Peter Leight, a wheelwright, Peter Sidelinger, Bernhard Ukkely, Conrad Seiders, Jacob Creamer, Michael Reid, John Godfrey Oberlack, John Weaver, C. Hoch, Valentine Mink, Frederick Heidenheim, Jacob Sidensberger, George Werner, Martin Demuth, George Kuhn, Christoval Storer, Henry Benner, John Newbit, Jacob Ulmer, John Ulmer, Peter Schwartz, John Woltz, Peter Miller, Michael
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
Eichhorn, George Hoch, Martin Hoch, John Welt, Christover Walck, William Kaler, George (or Peter) Pracht, George Clouse, David Genthner, Charles Leistner, David Rominger, (died in Bethabara, N. C., 1777.) Jacob Eichhorn, Zacharias Newbit, John Sidelinger, Andrew Woltz, John Walck, Christopher Newbit, Jacob Reid, (died in Freidland, N. C., 1819) Frederic Genthner, Henry Edgar, George Schmouse, Charles Heibner, Philip Christopher Vogler, Philip Rominger, Mathias Remilee, John Michael Seitz, (died in Freidland, N. C., 1817) Wilibaldus Kostner, Bernhard Kinsel, Frederick Kinsel, Joseph Comerer, John Labe, David Holtzopple, Charles, Broadman, Daniel Beckler, Samuel Fyler, George Lockenor, David Keveler, Francis Keizer, Christian Klein, Michael Rominger, (died in Friedland, N. C., 1803) Mel- chior Schneider, (died in Friedland, N. C., 1790) Borkhard, Schnaudeal, Henry Wagner, Philip Schuman, John Razor, John Adam Levensaler, a tailor (died in Boston) George Dolheim. These names were secured from old documents, family traditions, and from other sources. Some of the Christian names may be in- correct and some names may be overlooked en- tirely. So far as possible the original German spelling is preserved. As previously stated, Paul Losch (Lash), Lorenz Seitz, Jacob Seichrist,
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EARLY SETTLERS-LAND CLAIMS.
Henry Demuth and Bouzer, had been killed by the Indians.
It is probable that no roads were made be- fore the incorporation of the town. People went afoot or on horseback. Not a frame building had been erected in the settlement. Cattle were scarce. Few potatoes were cultivated. Rye was the only bread stuff raised until Daniel Philhour commenced the cultivation of maize, or Indian corn, in 1764. This grain soon grew into much favor. Cabbage was raised and sour krout manu- factured from the first. Flax was raised and fur- nished the principal material for clothing and do- mestic articles, until the introduction of sheep when a mixture of flax and wool was used, pro- ducing cloth called linsey-woolsey. The getting out of wood and lumber provided the principal employment of the settlers. These were shipped to Boston in sloops."
In 1764, those who had taken up farms on the western side of the bay and river were molest- ed by claims of ownership by other parties. General Waldo either had an erroneous knowledge of the boundaries of the patent, or wilfully direct- ed the settlers to occupy those lands. Even the river was not the western boundary. As estab- lished in 1786, the line constituting the western boundary of the Waldo Patent, started at the
I. Annals of Warren.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
shore of the Storer farm on Broad Bay, and ran North, seven degrees East, 37 miles, and 60 rods. This line is mostly East of the Medomak river. In consequence of these claims a greater part of the settlers were without legal title to their lands. Waldo's right of ownership being invalidated, the leases from him were worthless. Upon the dis- puted tract was also located their rude meeting house. The claim on the western side was made by Thomas Drowne in behalf of the Pemaquid Company. His rights to this claim are too com- plicated for explanation here. The Drowne line, so called and referred to in old deeds, extended from the lower falls (Sproul's dam) nearly West to Duck Puddle Pond, and the claim embraced all the lands South of that line and West of the river. The only course was to purchase their farms anew. Some fifty or sixty did this, pay- ing 2s, 8d per acre and securing deeds from Drowne. Under this settlement they were al- lowed to retain the lots assigned by Waldo for church and school purposes.
After this came the heirs of John Brown of New Harbor, laying claim to other lands west of the river. These claims were not finally adjusted till 1804, when a commission appointed by the Massachusetts legislature, passed a resolve, proposing to all claimants to relinquish their rights to the disputed lands in Jefferson, Edge-
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EARLY SETTLERS-LAND CLAIMS.
comb, Newcastle, Nobleboro, Bristol, Boothbay and Waldoboro, to the State, and that the Gover- nor and Council would appoint three disinterested persons, not inhabitants of Massachusetts, or Maine, who should quiet the settlers in their lands by giving them deeds of their lots, upon the pay- ment of five dollars as a fee for each deed. This proposal was complied with and all the claimants relinquished to the commonwealth their rights. The Commission awarded to the Plymouth Com- pany a township among the unlocated lands of the State. This Commission settled the last contro- vercy in Maine regarding land titles.I
Nor were the settlers east of the river un- molested, for the heirs of Waldo, having discover- ed flaws in their titles, were harrassing them with unjust claims.
Of the lots promised by Waldo for church and school purposes no deeds were given and they were never realized.2
Travel from the westward reached the river at "Light's Rock" where a ferry was maintained by Peter Light and his wife previous to and through the period of the Revolution. All travel- ers and soldiers, passing east and west, crossed this ferry. The toll was a copper for a footman and three coppers for a man and horse. Madam
I. Maine Historical Society's Collection, Vol. II, page 192.
2. Jacob Ludwig.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
Light had the care of the ferry, the boats and the tolls.' The river was also crossed by fording just above the present lower bridge when the tide was out. Foot passengers for many years crossed the river on a boom where the Bulfinch bridge now spans the stream.
About this time English families first began to settle at Broad Bay. Many of these purchased the farms vacated by those who removed to North Carolina. These people came from Massachusetts and among them may be mentioned, Waterman Thomas, Capt. Charles Sampson, Sen., Zebedee and Joseph Simmons, Levi Soule, Sen., Jabez Cole, E. Hunt, Capt. Andros, Michael Sprague, Church Nash, Cornelius Turner, Sen., John and Ezekiel Vinal, Joshua Howard, Sen., Kenlem Winslow, Samuel Sweetland, Thomas McGuyer, Edward Manning, Nathaniel Pitcher, (who came from Duxbury) Cornelius Turner, Jacob Stetson, James Hall, Capt. Charles Ewell, Abijah Water- man.2 William Farnsworth probably came earlier.
Ship building was begun about the same time, and probably the first vessel was built by John Ulmer. On this craft James Hall3 was
I. Judge Groton.
2. Abijah Waterman was drowned in the Medomak river.
3. James Hall did not remain in Waldoboro long but took up a farm in Nobleboro, just over the Waldoboro line. He was the father of Stephen Hall and others. A large part of this farm is now owned by Frank Lawrence Embree, of New York, from whose summer residence is secured a beautiful view of Duck Puddle, or Hall's Pond.
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EARLY SETTLERS-LAND CLAIMS.
master workman. He was at that time the only man in this vicinity capable of launching a vessel. Hall afterwards removed to Nobleboro. Peter Cramer, a German, left Boston when the English troops took possession, and settled here. Many erroneously consider this name a corruption of Creamer, but such is not the case unless the change was made previous to the settlement of Broad Bay.
CHAPTER IX.
EARLY RELIGIOUS MATTERS. FIRST MEETING HOUSE.
The Broad Bay settlers were a pious and in- dustrious people of the German Lutheran faith. Religious services had been held in their homes regularly, but in 1760 they determined to build a meeting house. Two narratives of the building and dedication of this first house of worship have come to light, both of which are given and the reader can form his opinion as to which is correct.
The first is the account of Judge Nathaniel Groton, published in a Bath newspaper previous to his death in 1758. His story is as follows :
"Having determed to build a house they volunteered their services. They had no money and only such materials as they could provide themselves. The site selected for the house is about three miles south of the bridge on the west side of the bay, and now called Meeting House Cove. This place is a little west and north of Dutch Neck. Here they laid the foundation of the house, 28 by 36 feet. It was built of spruce and hemlock logs, hewn and dove-tailed at the corners to strengthen and keep up the walls which were 12 feet inside in the clear; the floor was of
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EARLY RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
hewn logs and as smooth as their German axes and other tools could make it; the roof was of frame work covered with long pieces of stuff split out of logs and so laid on with birch bark that it was
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FIRST MEETING HOUSE.
(From sketch by R. K. Benner.)
guarded against letting in water. The pews were of logs hewn out, something like the old wooden horse blocks. The pulpit was the ornament of the House; it stood about six feet from the floor and was ingeniously contrived, large enough to hold the preacher and so light that a strong man could carry it. It was at the top semicircular ; the
front was of plated work and gracefully centered to a point below. The pulpit ten years after the house was built, was painted by one Isaac Sargers,' who was the first of his trade at Broad
I. The late Charles Miller learned his trade of Isaac Sargers.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
Bay. The windows at first were made of sheep- skin."
Near the House and to the east thereof was the burying ground where sleep undisturbed and forgotten, many of those early German Pilgrims.
"It was not till after the treaty of peace be- tween France and England had been signed in Paris in 1763, that the scattered population dared to leave their homes and garrisons and assemble in the house of God before described. Rev. John Martin Shaeffer filled the pulpit on that occasion. The small house was crowded. The choir was organized by Frank Miller, Sen., and composed of male and female singers. Among the youngest was Conrad Heyer, then about fifteen years old. The service was all in the German language. Dr. Shaeffer read from the 137th Psalm and preached from the 5th and 6th verses of the same. These pious people, many of whom in their own country, had worshipped in gorgeous churches, re- joiced that they were after so many years, per- mitted to assemble in their rude built meeting house and worship the same God under the same form of religion they did in Germany."
The other story is from the historical sketch of the Moravian Mission at broad Bay, Maine, by John W. Jordan, and is as follows:
"Among the carpenters employed in the
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EARLY RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
erection of the Single Brethren's House at Herrnhaag, was Hans George Hahn.' Leaving there in 1743 he proceeded to Revilen in Franken ******** where he was married. After the lapse of a few years the young couple resolved to go to Pennsylvania and settle in the vicinity of a Mora- vian congregation, but it so happened that the vessel on which they sailed had her original des- tination changed to Boston, where they landed, and, hearing of the German settlement at Broad Bay, ****** they proceeded thither in a coasting vessel. After making his home at Broad Bay, Hahn held religious meetings and read sermons. Through the efforts of Hahn and his wife, George Soelle and Samuel Herr were prevailed upon to visit Broad Bay, arriving in August, 1760. After a brief stay Soelle went to Litchfield and to Bethelhem, N. C. In August, 1762, Soelle2 re- turned to Broad Bay and offered to assumed spiritual of them. It was determined to erect a meeting house at once.
I. When Hans George Hahn came to Broad Bay, he brought with him a poor but educated young man named Orff, or Orph. For the proper pronunciation of Hahn, give the ah the usual English sound, but it is usually pronounced Han. Hahn had four sons grown up. They were George, Philip, John and Frederick. Two remained here, one went to North Carolina and later to Virginia, and one went to New Hampshire. He also had an adopted daughter.
2. Eaton in Annals of Warren says: "This year a Moravian minister by the name of Cilly, came from Germany to Broad Bay, and,. preaching a more spiritual and less worldly-minded religion, converted. many of the settlers to the Moravian faith.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
"In the meantime Rev. John Martin Shaeffer had arrived from New York and had been engaged by some of the settlers.
"Seven families began to build the meeting house. Soelle preached in this house and also to the English settlers at Broad Cove.
"When Shaeffer, who had been away, returned in November, (1762) and saw the progress made by Soelle, he at once began to circulate scandals against the Moravian church, stating it was rumored that Soelle had been stoned out of Philadelphia and escorted from Newport, R. I., by the town constable.
"The log meeting house being completed, Bro." Soelle held the first service Dec. 12, 1762. Text, Ephesians 3:17. A love feast followed. Christmas day was appropriately celebrated, and the last day of the year closed with prayer."
Soelle himself wrote: "The year 1763 closed with unrest and disquietude. Some of the settlers objected to two clergymen in so small a com- munity, and some said they wanted no Herrn- huters,? that my hearers should join Shaeffer and contribute to his support. Bro. Hahn became the
I. In the Moravian church the preacher did not have the title "Reverend" but was known as "Brother."
2. In 1722 a small company of Moravian refugees received permis- sion from Count Zinzendorf to settle on his estate. To this settlement they gave the name of Herrnhut, whence they are commonly known in Germany as "Herrnhutters."
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EARLY RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
target of their missiles. Yet we kept the even tenor of our ways, but it was a time of trouble. ****** Preparations were made to send me and Bro. Hahn on shipboard to Boston; to this end in February demanded my pass. In April the tumult increased."
"On May 10th Bro. Hahn and I, under escort of thirty or forty men, were taken away and held as prisoners for a whole day while our members waited for us in the church. ****** For the bal- ance of the year we had peace."
Finally Soelle's persecutors became suspicious of Shaeffer's walk and conversation, which was increased by a copy of Christopher Sauer's news- paper, which had been sent to the settlement, containing notice from Shaeffer's wife whom he had deserted. In consequence ten families left him. Shaeffer accused Hahn of circulating the newspaper and had him arrested because six years before he had baptized children.
The members of the Moravian Mission at the close of 1764 were as follows :
Michael and Catherine Rominger. (Michael Rominger was born in Wurtemburg in 1709, died at Friedland, N. C., 1803.)
John Philip and Catherine Vogler. (John Philip Vogler was born in the Palatinate in 1725, died at Bethania, N. C., in 1790.)
David and Catherine Rominger. (David
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
was born in Wurtemburg in 1716, died at Betha- bara, N. C., in 1777.)
Matthew and Susannah Seitenburger,
Nicholas and Margaret Orph,
David and Catherine Holsafel,
- and Catherine Wagner,
John Michael and Elizabeth Seitz. (John Michael was born in Wurtemburg in 1737, came to Broad Bay in 1759, died at Friedland, N. C. in 1817.)
David and Margaret Kerbel,
John, George and Barbara Hahn,
Adam Schumacher,
Michael Jung,
Wilabaldus and Justina Castner,
Peter and Elizabeth Kroehn.
Of the Broad Bay settlers and their lands Soelle recorded : "They are as poor as church mice and the land is not rich. Most of the peo- ple have been here twelve years, five of which they spent in barracks. They all have large families. They cannot plow; and if they wish to sow rye, they must use the hoe to stir up the soil. Their flour they obtain in Boston. The severe winters also operate against them."
George Soelle, prior do uniting with the Moravian church, was ordained to the ministry, Sept. 3, 1741, at Rippen, in Schleswig by the Danish Bishop, Hans Adolph Brodersen. In this
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EARLY RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
country he preached in German and English. He was never married. He died in Salem, N. C., May 4, 1773.
CHAPTER X.
EXODUS TO NORTH CAROLINA.
The Moravian Mission at Broad Bay was the only one organized in Maine.
In May, 1767, Soelle was recalled to Penn- sylvania, after a service of five years at Broad Bay. A petition was immediately forwarded to the Con- ference at Bethlehem, requesting his reappoint- ment. Two months later (Sept. 28, 1767) he returned and was heartily welcomed. Shaeffer having withdrawn,1 Soelle's labors were greatly blessed by the Lord.
In the meantime members of the mission had heard of the Moravian tract in North Carolina, of its genial climate and fertile soil, and on Soelle's return he found a large number bent on removing thither. In April Soelle wrote to Bishop Nathan- iel Seidel "The people are still determined to go to North Carolina and have been so since Septem- ber last."
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