USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Waldoboro > History of the town of Waldoboro, Maine > Part 4
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In August, 1769, the following five families sailed for North Carolina:
Schumacher and five children,
I. This appears somewhat misleading as Shaeffer was in the settle- ment much later.
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EXODUS TO NORTH CAROLINA.
Seitz and three children,
Hahn and adopted daughter, Rominger and wife,
Kroehn and three children.
They proceeded to Boston whence they sailed for Wilmington. Within a short distance of that port the vessel was wrecked. Passengers and crew were saved. After a tedious journey they finally reached their destination and were kindly cared for at Salem and Bethabara.
Sept. 5, 1770, Soelle and five more families left Broad Bay and arrived in North Carolina, Nov. 6th. They were Jacob Reid, Michael Ro- minger, Melchior Schneider and John Philip Vogeler. Others appear to have gone later, among whom may be mentioned George Lochenor, Frederick Lochenor, David Holtzopple, Bernhard Kinsel and Anthony Castner, who outlived seven wives. Many of the descendants of those people are living in that vicinity."
Mr. A. R. Reed of Waldoboro, has the original passport given Bernard Kinsel when he went to North Carolina. Following is a copy : BROAD BAY, SS. LINCOLN COUNTY, August, 26, 1772.
These are to certify that Bernhard Kinsel, a
I. Ellzabeth Vogeler, the last survivor of those who went from Broad Bay to North Carolina, died near Friedland, April 7, 1855, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. The family name in Maine has been changed to Fogler.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
German, has been a wholesome Inhabitant in this Place for the Space of about Eighteen Years, and That he has lived quiet and peaceable with his Neighbors, and behaved himself as a Christian ought to do, and as he purposses to depart from this Place pr Carolina, we have upon his Desire Subscribed this. The Allmighty grant him a prosperous Voyage & bless his Purpose.
CHRISTO. NICHO. HOMEYER,
B. A. & Candidate.
GEORGE STORER, his GEORGE × RODE, mark Another name not legible
From this account it does not appear that Soelle exerted any undue influence to induce those people to leave Broad Bay for North Carolina, but rather being disappointed with the climate, deceived by Waldo and his agents and indignant at the persistant ill-treatment they had received in temporal as well as spiritual matters, they resolved to seek a more desirable place of residence.
Although the settlement lost by this emigra- tion several families, among them some of its best citizens, yet the statement of Holmes and Williamson and repeated by Eaton, that three hundred families left, is absurd, for there is no
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EXODUS TO NORTH CAROLINA.
evidence that even half that number had settled at Broad Bay.
Some of these families were not satisfied with the change and the next spring, (March, 1773) retraced their steps and rejoined their relatives and friends who received them with joyful hearts. Among those who returned were Michael Reid and Barnard Kinsel.1 When the latter left North Carolina, he received a passport from the authorities of which the following is a copy :
NORTH CAROLINA, SURRY COUNTY, Mertch the 12th, 1773.
Where as Barnard Kinsel did this day Crave A pas port and did produs a sufisent sertificat from Brod Bay in the Govrment of New ingland, and has in thes nighbourhood with his wif and four childrin thes thre month and have Beheved them selve Onestly and Soberly and nothing Let to ther Charg Known to me the Present Magstret.
Where as the Berer, Barnard Kinsel, is about to Remove himself and femaly fr Brod Bay in New ingland government where he Came from, We ther for send Gritting to all Shirriffs, Constabels and others of his Magesty's ofisers, Requering you and Evry of you to sufre the Berer hereof to Pass thither so as he do not show himself ofensif to his Magesty's Laws.
I. Mrs. John Weaver was a daughter of Barnard Kinsel and was ten years old when they returned. From her many of the matters of this early history were obtained previous to her death.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
Atested by me one of his Magesty's Justices for the aforsed county.
ROBERT WALKER, J. P.
On his return Barnard Kinsel located on the farm in Nobleboro, bordering on Duck Puddle pond, afterwards owned by Michael Vannah. Upon this farm he planted a butternut which grew to be a tree of majestic proportions and was for years an object to be seen for many miles around. Beneath its spreading branches were buried the remains of Barnard Kinsel,' his wife and several children.
About this time the population of the growing settlement was increased by the arrival of a number of English families from Massachusetts. Many of them purchased the farms vacated by their owners, who had removed to North Caro- lina. Among these arrivals were Waterman Thomas, Capt. Charles Sampson, Capt. Charles Ewell, Zebedee and Joseph Simmons, Levi Soule, Jabez Cole, E. Hunt, Captain Andros, Michael Sprague, Church Nash, Cornelius Turner, John and Ezekiel Vinal, Joshua Howard, Kenlem Winslow, Jacob Stetson and James Hall. William Farnsworth probably came a little earlier.
Frame houses began to take the place of the log huts which had been the only shelter of the first settlers. One of the oldest houses of this
I. Barnhard Kinsel was the great-grandfather of A. R. Reed, Esq.
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EXODUS TO NORTH CAROLINA.
character still standing, is the one on the west side, known as the "Smouse House." It was built by David Holtzopple, who emigrated from Broad Bay to North Carolina. It is therefore nearly one hundred and forty years old. It has a frame with plank walls.
Work was also begun on the frame building near Light's Ferry on the east side of the river, which was later removed to its present site and known as "The Old German Meeting House."
CHAPTER XI.
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF WALDOBOROUGH.
In 1773 the population of Broad Bay had increased to such an extent that it was deemed expedient for the public welfare to take steps to have the settlement incorporated into a town. Accordingly the Germans and recently arrived English united in a petition to the General Court of Massachusetts for that purpose. Jacob Ludwig, who, besides being able to speak English, was a man of excellent judgment, was selected to present the petition. He proceeded to Boston by water, taking passage on one of the small coasters then employed carrying wood to that place. The petition was favorably considered and on the twenty-ninth day of June, 1773, the General Court, as the Legislature was called, passed an act incorporating the plantation of Broad Bay into a town, which, in honor of its founder, was named WALDOBOROUGH.1 This occurred when Thomas
I. This is a compound word, derived from the primitives Waldo and borough, meaning simply Waldo town. Formerly the termination was written in full, but that style has become obsolete, and for many years the last three letters have been dropped. Webster and Worcester both pro- nounce the word Wawl-der-bur-rer, accented on the first and third sylla- ble.
৳
CETCHEE- MANNINO - PAOLA
BROAD BAY
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WALDOBOROUGH INCORPORATED.
Hutchinson1 was Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay and the same year that the tea was thrown overboard in Boston Harbor. Waldo- boro was the thirty-second town incorporated in Maine, and one of the first in this region, New- castle having been incorporated in 1753, Booth- bay in 1764 and Bristol in 1765. Following is the act of incorporation :
AN ACT FOR INCORPORATING A PLANTATION CALLED BROAD BAY INTO A TOWN BY THE NAME OF WALDOBOROUGH :
Whereas the inhabitants of the Plantation called Broad Bay, in the County of Lincoln, have represented to this Court that they labour under great difficulties and incon- veniences by reason of their not being incorporated into a Town, therefore
"Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and "House of Representatives, the said Plantation, "commonly called and known by the name of "Broad Bay, bounded as follows, viz, to begin at the "north west corner bound of the town of Bristol, "in said County at a stake standing on the bank "of the Duck Puddle Brook, so called, thence run- "ning northerly by said Brook and Pond to the "northerly end of said Pond, to a Pine Tree
I. The next year Governor Hutchinson, in disgust at the people's opposition to his administration, left for England and Gen. Thomas Gage become his successor.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
"marked on four sides, thence to run north five "hundred and sixty rods to a Pine Tree marked on "four sides, thence to run north, twenty-two "degrees and thirty minutes east, seventeen hun- "dred rods to a Spruce Tree marked on four sides, "thence to run east south east eleven hundred and "twenty rods to a Birch Tree marked on four "sides, thence to run south, seven degrees east, "sixteen hundred rods to a Maple Tree marked on "four sides, thence to run south, nineteen degrees "west, nine hundred and six rods to a Spruce Tree "marked on four sides, thence to run south east "one hundred and sixty rods to a Fir Tree marked "on four sides, thence to run south, fifteen degrees "east, three hundred and twenty rods to a stake "standing on the bank of Little Pond, so called, "thence easterly by the shore of said Pond to the "easterly part thereof, thence south, fifteen degrees "east, to a stake standing on the bank of South- "erly Pond, so called, thence easterly by the shore "of said Pond to the easterly part thereof, thence "south, fifteen degrees east, one hundred rods to "a Spruce Tree marked on four sides, thence run- "ning south, twelve degrees west, three hundred "and twenty rods to a Spruce Tree marked on four "sides, thence running north west four hundred "rods to Goose River, so called, thence southerly "down said River, in the middle thereof, to its "entrance into the Bay, thence round the Back
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WALDOBOROUGH INCORPORATED.
"Cove, so called, thence to continue by the shore "southerly and westerly to the southerly Part of "Passage Point, otherwise called Jonese's Neck, "thence westerly across the Narrows of Broad Bay "river until it strikes the southerly part of Haver- "ner's Point, so called, thence westerly round the "shore of said Point and northerly by the shore of "the eastern branch of Broad Cove, thence round "the head of said cove westerly and southerly "until it comes to a Red Oak Tree standing on the "land of Jacob Eaton, being the easterly corner "bound of the Town of Bristol aforesaid, thence to "run North westerly on said line of Bristol to the "first mentioned Bounds; be and hereby is erected "into a township by the name of Waldoborough, and "that the inhabitants thereof be and hereby are "invested with all the powers, privileges and im- "munities which the inhabitants of the Towns "within this Province respectively do or by ought "to enjoy.
"And be it further enacted that Alexander "Nichols, Esq., Be and he hereby is impowered to "issue his warrant directed to some principal in- "habitant in said township, to notify and warn the "inhabitants in said township to meet at such time "and place as shall be therein set forth, to chuse "all such officers as shall be necessary to manage "the affairs of said town. At which said first "meeting all the then Present male Inhabitants
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
"arrived to twenty-one years of age shall be "admitted to vote.
A true copy of an act passed the General Court the 29th day of June, 1773,
THOMAS FLUKER, Secretary.
A true copy attest,
JACOB LUDWIG, Town Clerk.
By virtue of the act of incorporation Alexan- der Nichols of Bristol, in due time issued the following warrant, calling the first town meeting : LINCOLN, SS. BRISTOL, September 2, 1773. BY Vertue of an act of the General Court, I Do hereby appoint Mr. SEAL. Andrew Shanck of the town of Wal- doboro in sd. County to Notify and warn the Inhabitants in sd. Township to meet at the westerly meeting House in sd. Town, on Tuesday, the twenty first Day of this month, to Chuse all Sush officers as shall be necessary to manage the affairs of sd. Town. At which sd. first meeting all the then Present male Inhabitants arrived to Twenty one years of age shall be admitted to vote.
Itly, To Chuse and Vote for a moderator to regulate sd. meeting.
2tly, To Chuse and Vote for a Town Clark.
3tly, To Chuse and Vote for a Town Treshry. 4tly, To Chuse and Vote for Selectmen.
5tly, To Vote for all Town officers as the Law Directs.
WALDOBOROUGH INCORPORATED.
6tly, To See if the Town will Vote to be warned by Putting up the warrants.
ALEX'R NICKELS, Justice of Peace.
Accordingly on the 2 1st day of September, 1773, the legal voters of the town of Waldo- borough assembled in the log meeting house at meeting house cove and made choice of Water- man Thomas for Moderator. The following town. officers were then elected:
Jacob Ludwig, Town Clerk.
David Vinal, Town Treasurer.
David Vinal,
Christopher Newbert,
Selectmen.
John Weaver,
After voting that the selectmen also serve as assessors, the meeting was adjourned to meet the next day at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, when the remainder of the officers were chosen as follows:
Phillip Shuman, John Hunt, Frank Miller,
Constables.
Jacob Achorn,
Surveyors
Adam Levensaler, ( of Highways.
Abijah Waterman, Henry Stahl, Christian Kline, Henry Creamer, Nathan Soule, Jabez Cole, Conrad Seiders,
Fence Viewers.
Tything Men ..
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
Daniel Filhour,
Wardens.
Ludwig Castner,
Jacob Achorn, Dearreeve,
Mathias Sidensberger, Leather Sealer
Nathaniel Simmons, Sealer of Weights & Measures.
Abijah Waterman, Surveyor of Lumber.
John Fogler,
Wm. Kaler.
Haywards.
Andrew Waltz,
Bernhard Ukkely,
Pound Keepers.
John Newbert,
Peter Gross,
Andrew Storer,
Hogreeves.
Paul Lash, Culler of Fish.
Nathan Soule, "to tack keer that the fish have a free Bass."
The act of incorporation and the preceedings of every town meeting from 1773 to 1801, are re- corded in the first volumn of Town Records, and all subsequent records have been preserved un- broken down to the present time. Jacob Ludwig the first town clerk served in that capacity till 1784, with the exception of the year 1775, when David Vinal officiated. He was again chosen clerk in 1787 and served till 1789 when Jabez Cole was chosen and served till 1794, when Jacob Ludwig again filled the office one year. From 1795 to the end of the volume the records were kept by Thomas McGuyer. These town clerks, especially Ludwig
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WALDOBOROUGH INCORPORATED.
and McGuyer, wrote fair and legible hands and their records compare favorably with those of the present time. Considering the disadvantages under which he labored, it is surprising that Jacob Ludwig acquired a sufficient knowledge of the English language to record the transactions of the town so intelligibly as he did. Though generally exact in his words, he always wrote "achurnt" for adjourned, "warnt" for warned and "kear" for care.
John Martin, of Bristol, who was said to have been the only man in this vicinity competent to perform that duty, was employed to make a survey and establish the bounderies of the town. At a meeting held Oct. 19, 1773, the town voted to pay him £5 15s. Iod. for his services.
Eaton states that under this survey the courses, distances and monuments were so in- correct that it was impossible to follow them, which gives countenance to the story that the . surveying party took with them too much liquor for the nature of the work. This incorrect survey was afterwards the cause of some dispute between Waldoboro and Warren, which was arranged by mutual consent and the line surveyed and marked by James Malcolm. This line was again called in question by the authorities of Waldoboro. Finally in 1836 the Supreme Court appointed Hon. Jona- than Cilly, John S. Abbott and Lucius Barnard, Commissioners to establish the line. Their report
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
was adopted and the line so established was accepted. Otherwise the bounderies of the town remain practically as originally surveyed."
Among the first acts of the town was the establishment of highways. March 16, 1774 three roads were laid out. One was from the Bristol line to Peter Pracht's bridge; another from George Heibner's on Dutch Neck to join the Bristol road above the meeting house, or at Eugley's Corner; another from J. Oberlack's to Nathaniel Simmon's on the East side.
In May, 1774, the road on the west side was extended from Peter Pracht's (Prock) to Mr. Schmouse's March 4, 1776, a road was established from Back Cove to the road previously laid out on the east side.
For several years the town declined to appro- priate money for schools, but April 4, 1780, a vote was passed to raise money for a school, or schools, and the selectmen were instructed to "regulate the schools in four quarters." At the same meet- ing it was voted that every man work two days on the highways.
In 1778 the town passed a vote prohibiting rams from running at large "at unseasonable time in the year."
About this time the town voted several times not to act concerning the form of government.
I. Page 148, Annals of Warren; also Frank Bulfinch, Esq.
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WALDOBOROUGH INCORPORATED.
This vote refers to a State Constitution, which had been reported and was now submitted to the peo- ple and rejected.
The town continued to vote not to send a representative to the General Court, till May 8, 1782, when Jacob Ludwig was chosen representa- tive.
Town meetings were held part of the time in the meeting house at the cove or "westerly meet- ing house," and at other times in the new meet- ing house on the east side. As these town meet- ings were conducted in English, a language with which few of the voters were familiar, the speeches must have been a queer mixture of German and broken English.
CHAPTER XII.
WALDOBORO DURING THE REVOLUTION.
The German emigrants, who settled this town were generally warm friends to the cause of civil and religious rights; for, to obtain these, was one of the principal motives which induced their re- moval from the father-land. But through what difficulties and dangers had they passed to insure for themselves and their descendants, the enjoy- ment of those rights! And now when the worst, as they supposed, had been endured, when the once feeble plantation had just begun to feel the benefit and security of an incorporate town, the mutterings of another and darker storm were being heard. With the principal events of the American Revolution every school boy is familiar; with such particulars of it, as relate to the history of Waldo- boro, comparatively few are conversant. To those we now intend to call your attention. In May 1776, the Provincial Congress enacted that all civil and military documents should, after the first day of June, be "In the name of the Government and People of Massachusetts Bay in New England," without any mention, whatever, of the British Sovereign. But Waldoboro had anticipated this
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WALDOBORO DURING REVOLUTION.
action of the Legislature by totally ignoring "His Majesty" in the warrant for the March meeting of that year.
Following the action of a large number of the eastern towns, Waldoboro, on the 8th of April, 1776, chose a Committee of Correspondence and Safety. The members of this committee were Bernhard Shuman, Jacob Eichhorn, Solomon Hewett, Jacob Umberhind, Bernhard Ukkley, Caleb Hewett and John Weaver. Their duties were to correspond with other towns, and to con- cert measures for the public defense. Previous to this the town had united with other settlements in petitions to the Provincial Congress, calling atten- tion to the general distress prevailing on account of the great scarcity of provisions, and the exposure of the inhabitants to the depredations of the enemy from lack of arms and ammunition. The town had also voted to petition the General Court to relieve them of their Province rate, as they were "at so much Charge in Getting into Town Regulations."
The Declaration of Independence was printed and sent to all the ministers of the Gospel in the State, to be publicly read by them on the first Lord's day after its reception, and to be recorded by the town clerks in their respective books. Neither of these requests were carried out in Waldoboro. Dr. Schaeffer, to whom we have
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
before alluded, was the minister at the time and would neither read it nor allow it read in the old meeting house, the only public place then in Waldoboro. Through the influence of Jacob Ludwig and Andrew Schenck, it was translated into the German language and by them read to the people, who everywhere received it with rejoicing.
Such was the exposed condition of the eastern coast that during the earlier years of the war, Lincoln County was allowed to use her men for coast service, though some had enlisted, and among them, Conrad Heyer, who was in the army at Cambridge at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill. Capt. Jacob Ludwig, who had attained some distinction in the French and Indian wars, raised a company in this town and Warren. On the third of November, 1776, they embarked for Machias, were on duty there through the winter, and returned after an absence of six months. The militia were frequently called out for the protec- tion of exposed points, and in 1777, Capt. Ludwig raised another company. A copy of the pay roll of this company shows that, William Farnsworth was Ist and Jacob Winchenbach, 2nd Lieutenant, Caleb Howard, Sergeant, and among the privates from this town were Wm. Miller, Godfrey Hoffses, Henry Oberlock, Valentine Mink, John Winchen-
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WALDOBORO DURING REVOLUTION.
bach and Isaac Sargus. This company was in service from Oct. 7 to Dec. 20, 1777.
Upon the opening of this year it became known that Gen. Burgoyne was about to invade the country from the North, and every exertion was made to enlist men to arrest his advance. Waldoboro voted on the 22d of April to pay ten pound lawful money "for each man 'listing in town for three years or during the war," a phraseology with which we became very familiar during our "late unpleasantness." Early in the season of 1777, Lieut. Col. Dummer Sewall, of Georgetown (now Bath), came to Waldoboro to enlist as many men as he could for the continental service. At this time there were two organized militia com- panies in town, the one on the east side command- ed by Capt. Schenck, that on the west side under the command of Capt. Ludwig, both true to the cause of liberty. Col. Sewall, after crossing Light's Ferry, rode down to Schenck's Point, and requested the Captain to immediately call out his company. So that all might understand, the men were addressed by the Colonel in English and then by Capt. Schenck in German. Peter Light, John Fitzgerald, George Sidensberger, Isaiah Cole and Barney Freeman volunteered at once. Col. Sewall then made the same request of Capt. Ludwig, and upon the assembly of his company they were addressed in both languages, and
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
Charles Heibner, Charles Walch and George Leistner were enlisted. The men proceeded to Bath on foot, where they were armed and equipped, giving their individual receipts for the same. They then took up their line of march for the army of Gen. Gates, and were all present under his command at the surrender of Burgoyne, Oct. 17, 1777. These prisoners, mostly Hessians,' were placed in camp near Boston, and not a few of those who escaped or were parolled found their way to Waldoboro. Among them, was Dr. Theo- bald, a Surgeon and Chaplain. He preached and practiced medicine hereabout three years, when he removed to Pownalboro. Dr. John G. Borneman was another and also John Peter Walter. The latter was born in Brunswick, Germany, 1734, died in Waldoboro in 1830. He came to Bath with General McCobb. He came to Waldoboro and married Mary Waltzgrover, a half-sister of Conrad Heyer. John Peter Walter was an educated man, proficient in several languages. His name was probably Walder or Walther.2
Owing to the continual decline in the value of the currency, towns were called upon to furnish supplies of clothing and provisions for the
I. England sent 29,000 Hessians and 17,000 returned. The remain- ing 12,000, were either killed or stayed in this country and became citizens. Gen. George A. Custer was the great grandson of a Hessian officer.
2. Frank B. Miller.
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WALDOBORO DURING REVOLUTION.
army in place of money. May 7th, 1778, Waldo- boro chose a committee of twelve to procure cloth- ing "for the Soldiers in Continental Service." At the annual meeting, March 16th, 1777, it was voted to pay for this clothing, the bill being £67 8s.
The enemy having taken possession of Biguy- duce, now Castine, the State in concurrence with Congress, took steps to dislodge them. As a portion of the force, a draft was made from the militia of Lincoln County, to the number of 600 men. Those from this town, served in Capt. Philip M. Ulmer's company of Col. McCobb's regiment. The pay-roll of this company shows the names of Sergt. Joshua Howard, and the fol- lowing privates :
Jacob Achorn,
John Achorn,
Michael Achorn,
John Hunt,
John Ulmer,
Chris'r Newbit,
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