USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Wayne > History of the town of Wayne, Kennebec County, Maine, from its settlement to 1898 > Part 7
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The members received into the church since its organization are a few less than four hundred (385). Probably at no one time has there been one hundred living members, though in 1889 there were reported one hundred and four. The present membership is 83. There have served as deacons in the order named, Isaac Dexter chosen Feb. 11, 1795; Constant Dexter. Nov. 13. 1806 ; Freeman Dexter, Sept. 25, 1830; Thomas Wilson, Sept. 11, 1841 ; Amasa Dexter, May 10, 1845 ; Areadius Pettengill, May 12, 1849 ; William E. True, July 9, 1866 ; Francis Dexter, Mar. 9, 1867 ; John M. Gott, Nov. 1, 1890; Fred W. Small, of whom W. E. True and F. W. Small are now serving in that office.
There have served as clerks, Ebenezer Mason, Abisha Sturte- vant, Samuel King, Freeman Dexter, Samuel Brown, Abijah Crane, Samuel Boothby, Robert C. Starr, Nathaniel B. Frost, James B. Turner, Arcadius Pettengill, Freeman Manter, William E. True and Wallace C. Tribou of whom W. E. True is the present clerk. Five members of this church have gone forth into the work of the gospel ministry. The first was Stephen Dexter, the first person who united with the church after the original eleven. He was dismissed to Harlem (now China) in June, 1798, preached by license for a few years in Fairfax (now Albion) was their pastor from 1809-19; from 1820-2 was pastor of First Palermo ; from 1822-32 was pastor at Corinth ; died in 1836. Of
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the second, Thomas Franeis, mention has been made in connection with the Leeds branch.
Nathan Thomas the third who served at Wayne as licentiate, was ordained at Albion in 1826 where he served as pastor until 1834. The fourth was Rev. Henry V. Dexter, D. D., a biographical sketch of whom is given in the second chapter of this book. The fifth, Rev. Samuel Boothby, was baptized on Dec. 20, 1829, by Rev. Sam'l Fogg. Served as Church Clerk from 1837 to 1842, was licensed Sept. 7, 1840, and was ordained pastor of the Second Livermore Church in 1843. Was pastor at Wayne from 1848 to 1851.
There have been ordained by the church as pastors, Thomas Francis, June 26, 1799 ; Carleton Parker, June 2, 1852 ; and J. P. Chapin, Dec. 16, 1867.
For twenty-eight years the church was without any house of wor- ship, the services being held in private houses and at the school- houses. In 1818 Isaac Dexter began to gather material for a meet- ing house, and the frame was raised Aug. 8, 1820. The house was dedicated June 7, 1823, as a union house, and cost $3000. The steeple was a model of St. Paul's in London, and was nearly 100 feet high. It took some fifteen years for the Baptists to obtain full control of the house. In 1854 it was remodeled at a cost of some $800. The church was greatly improved. In 1871, a vestry was built at a cost of about $400, including furnishings. In 1878, a fence was built inclosing house and lot at a cost of $100. In 1879, a horseshed was constructed at a cost of about $200. At two or more times, lightning struck the spire, once starting a small fire which was discovered and put out without doing much damage. The church was burned May 14, 1879. Action was at once taken to rebuild. The total cost was $2100, besides what was saved from the old house. The pews were bid off Nov. 19, 1879, but Feb. 21, 1880, it was voted "to make the pews of the house free." The house cost the earnest efforts and sacrifices of those interested, and stands to-day, a structure whose description is best given by itself.
The question of parsonage was agitated a long time before one was seenred. Sept. 8, 1832, a committee was chosen to devise some method to build Elder Robinson a house. A house was ob- tained, but it belonged to Mr. Robinson. The church was given the opportunity to purchase it, but failed to raise the requisite sum, and when Mr. Robinson moved away it was sold by him. Again in January, 1839, it was voted to raise a committee to purchase a
EDWARD G. DEXTER
IBPAR
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parsonage, and again in September, 1865, "voted to raise a com- mittee of three to ascertain if we can raise funds to buy or build a parsonage." March 31, 1866, a parsonage was bought for $900. This was sold for the same amount in 1875 or '76, and the money invested, but when the church was burned (1879), $800 of this was put into the new church. The balance was kept on interest and used later toward the purchase of the present parsonage. In 1889 the present parsonage was bought, costing about $1000 ; towards which the convention aided $250.
The church has always manifested a substantial interest in the benevolences of the day. Probably since the organization of the church the yearly average for benevolences has not been far from $25. In 1855 they reached $73; in 1857, $85; 1896, $85. In time of need she has received help from the convention and from individuals. Deacon Thomas Wilson did not wait until his death, but while living gave liberally for every good work, helped purchase pews by which the Baptists gained control of the church, assisted liberally toward the first parsonage, and at his death in 1868, he left to the church $1000, a portion to be used toward building a vestry and a fence about the lot, and $500 was to be used as a ministerial fund, the interest only of which was to be used toward the support of preaching. That sum has since been in- creased by other gifts, as follows : in 1871, Allan Wing $200; in 1876, Mrs. Alice Besse $100; Lewis Dexter $100; and in 1894 by Mrs. Kate M. Stevens now of Chicago, $100, so that the fund now amounts to $1000. Of this ministerial fund, W. E. True and G. W. Walton are the trustees.
We have had three church bells. The first was purchased about 1845, weighing some 840 pounds, and costing over $200. Becoming cracked, it was exchanged for one taken by Gen. B. F. Butler at New Orleans as contraband of war. As this weighed less than 600 pounds we received a difference of a few dollars. This was in 1862. The present one was bought of parties in Canton in 1880, for $25.00. We have had three musical instruments. A melodeon bought before 1849 ; a seraphine in 1856 ; an organ in December, 1880.
The Free- Will Baptist Church .- In accordance with a request of a number of brethren in the town of Wayne at the January session of the Bowdoin Quarterly Meeting, held in Wales, a committee was appointed to visit those brethren, and if they should think expedient, to organize a church in that placc. On the 18th of Jan. 1831, a
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majority of said committee met the brethren in conference meeting held at the school house on Beach Hill in Wayne. At the close of the meeting a request was made for all those who wished to be or- ganized into a church to manifest it by rising. Fourteen arose, seven males and seven females. They were questioned in regard to their views of doctrine and discipline and it was found that this company agreed in sentiment with the people known as Free-Will Baptists. Five of these, viz : John Berry, George Foss, Charles Gott, Esther Berry and Patience Gould, were members of the Free-
Will Baptist church of Leeds. Daniel Ridley and Mary Ridley were members of the Free-Will Baptist church in Fayette. Samuel Gould, Stephen Morey, Richard Berry, Ruth Gould, Sally Berry and Betsey Ridley were from the Methodist society in Wayne. On the day following, a meeting was held in the Baptist meeting-house in Wayne village. Elder Silas Curtis preached a discourse from Isaiah 10, 21, from which the speaker endeavored to present the sentiments of the Free-Will Baptist. The fourteen mentioned above then came forward in the broad aisle, joined hands, and entered in- to fellowship, to watch over each other and walk together in church fellowship. Taking the scriptures as their only rule of faith, they received the right hand of fellowship from Elder Curtis as a church in the Free-Will Baptist connection. Stephen Morey was chosen clerk. The conference meetings were held the third Saturday of each month, and an extra meeting was held nearly every month. The members of the church were well united. Love and union pre- vailed. At the conferences there was witnessed a good degree of the Divine presence. Each member came forward and related the exercise of his mind. Elder Curtis met with them in the most of their meetings and occasionally preached to them. John Berry was their first deacon, and Charles Gott and Richard Berry were the first messengers to the Quarterly Meeting.
This church did a good work for fifteen years. There were fre- quent additions. The whole number of members recorded is eighty. Elders John Chaney, O. W. Bridges, Nathaniel Purington and Clement Phinney occasionally visite t the church and preached. Elder Franklin Morrel served the church as pastor three years, closing his labors in 1844. Most of the meetings were held at the Beach Hill school house, but some were held in private houses and barns and occasionally at the Baptist meeting house. Charles Gott was clerk of the church during the most of the time of its existence. The temperance sentiment in the church was strong. Two of its
REV. L. W. RAYMOND.
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members were called in question for voting for a man who sold ardent spirits.
In 1847-8 many of its members moved away, some died, and others took letters to join sister churches. There seems to have been a general breaking up and here the record closes. How long the church existed after this we do not know.
A Free-Will Baptist church was organized in 1840, in the barn owned by Ephraim and Josiah Norris, the father and grandfather of Melvin Norris the present owner. Isaac Frost and Nathaniel Purington assisted in the organization of the church, which after- wards was known as the Wayne and Winthrope hurch. A meeting- house was erected on the line between Wayne and Winthrop. Benjamin Lombard, who had been a prominent member of the Beech Hill church, united with this church, and preached for them a part of the time. Rufus Berry and John Lowell were the deacons. Their meeting house was burned sometime between 1850-52. About this time an effort was made to unite the members of this and what remained of the Beech Hill church. A house was built at Wayne village in 1851, and in February 1852 a church was organized, with nine members, viz: Benjamin Lombard, Rufus Berry, Fannie Berry, Charles Gott, Annie Gott, Bradbury Sylvester, Mary Moul- ton, Louisa Gardner and Betsey Copps. The right hand of fellow- ship was given by Rev. John Stevens who became their pastor. Rufus Berry and Charles Gott were the first deacons, and Bradbury
Sylvester the first clerk. Mr. Stevens was pastor till October, 1854. He held a warm place in the hearts of the people. Quite a number united with the church during his pastorate. In April, 1855, Rev. George W. Gould became pastor and remained about four years. During his pastorate the church increased in numbers and strength. Rev. Hiram Whitcher preached here a part of a year, after which G. J. Abbot was pastor for two years. In Sep- tember, 1864, Rev. G. W. Gould commenced a second pastorate and continued till January, 1868. As in his former pastorate, the church made a gain while he was with them, and at this time num- bered about 60. Rev. O. Pitts was the next pastor. After a short pastorate Mr. Pitts left for a larger field of labor. In August, 1868, Rev. Josiah Keen became pastor of the church and labored one year and four months.
During these years there were some additions, but a general fall- ing off was noticeable, and after Mr. Keen closed his labors in Novem- ber, 1870, the church had no settled pastor. The parsonage was
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sold in March, 1873, and the meeting house was sold to the district to be remodeled for a school house and is still used by the town for that purpose.
Some of the members united with the Main Street F. B. Church of Lewiston, quite a number united with the Methodist church in Wayne, but in later years a larger number united with the Baptist church. R. Berry, Charles Gott and Robert Bangs served the church as deacons ; B. Sylvester, A. M. Stetson and Asa Hutchin- son held the office of clerk. The last records of the church were written May 31, 1873, by B. Sylvester.
Note :- While the building that is now used as a school house was used as a meeting house, the basement was finished for a school- room and a very successful high school was taught in it for a num- ber of years. E. H. Libby a prominent member of the F. B. church was the first teacher and was followed by A. R. Dickinson, J. E. Pierce, G. W. Walton and others. The room was also often used for singing schools.
Religious Worship in North Wayne .- The history of religious wor- ship in the north part of the town commences almost with its first settlement. Somewhere about the year 1800, Rev. Comfort C. Smith a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, bought a tract of land on the hill where Cyrus Ladd now lives and erected his house and barn which are still standing. He carried on his large farm and also a saw mill on the stream ; but while thus diligent in secular affairs, he did not negleet his Master's business, but gathered the people together on Sunday for worship. Of their earliest meeting- place we have no record. Possibly it might have been the kitchen of his own roomy house. Rev. Mr. Smith was a native of Massa- chusetts, a man of culture and ability, and a citizen of prominence in his adopted town.
Somewhat later we learn that a building which stood just beyond the house where Roswell E. Morrill now lives, was occupied as a school house. Services were held here for several years and Rev. Daniel Jones, a minister who resided in the village, also preached here in conjunction with Mr. Smith. Prayer meetings were also held at adjoining farm houses. About the year 1835, a brick school house was erected in the village, and here religious services were held until the church was built. Among the preachers at this time are recalled the names of Rev. Daniel Wentworth, Rev. James Cumner, Rev. Caleb Fuller, Dr. Webber of Kent's Hill and others.
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NORTH WAYNE CHURCH.
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The rapid increase in the population, owing to the large business done by the "North Wayne Scythe Company," made the erection of a church an imperative necessity. Accordingly in 1849 a meeting of citizens was held and the following persons were appointed "Trustees of the North Wayne Chapel," Josiah F. Taylor, Lowell Sanborn, Charles A. Williams, Elias S. Young and Elisha Graves. Reuben B. Dunn in behalf of the North Wayne Scythe Company conveyed by deed to the above trustees, a lot of land situated in the village of North Wayne, on which to build a church. During this year the trustees found themselves unable to build, but in February, 1850, Rev. Daniel B. Randall the preacher in charge, Josiah F. Taylor and Reuben B. Dunn were appointed a committee who, as the records of the church read, "should cause to be built and fin- ished, at North Wayne, a house or place of religious worship, for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to be held by trustees for a house of worship according to the usage and discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and said house is to be built in a good, substantial, workmanlike man- ner, and finished in one year from date, or by the first of March, 1851." The record further shows that this committee promptly and faithfully fulfilled their duty at the time appointed, Mr. Sal- mon Turner of East Livermore being the architect.
After the completion of the building, the committee before named with two "disinterested individuals" whose names are not given in the record, appraised and affixed the price of the pews, and gave the deeds to the purchasers. In the list of purchasers appear many familiar names, but nearly all of them have now exchanged the church militant for the church triumphant.
In May, 1851, came the event of greatest interest to those who had planned and executed this enterprise, as well as to the people generally, the dedication of the church. Well might they rejoice and take pride in it, for it was a fair and stately building. A large audience room fitted up with fine altar furniture, carpets and hand- some chandelier, a beautiful Bible the gift of the women of the village, a fine organ presented by the Ladies' Circle, all helped to render it attractive to the eye, and satisfy those who had given freely of their means toward its erection. Below, in the basement, was a commodious vestry, neatly fitted with settees, reading desk, &c. A smaller room was fitted for the fine library which Reuben B. Dunn presented to the workmen and citizens of the village, which is still in good preservation, an impressive object lesson of a generous,
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kindly deed. Last, but not least in the attractions of the new church, was the sweet-toned bell, the gift of Josiah F. Taylor, which still rings ont its familiar peal.
Of the exercises at the dedication, it has been necessary to rely upon the memory of those present to give account. The pastor Rev. Daniel B. Randall offered the dedicatory prayer ; Rev. William Farrington preached the sermon, and a fine choir rendered appro- priate selections. A large audience was present, with many neigh- boring ministers, among them Rev. Ezekiel Robinson and Dr. Torsey of Kent's Hill. At this time the membership was large. It is not possible to give the exact number, as it was included with that of Wayne, when returned to Conference. There was also connected with the church a flourishing Sunday school, having a large library. For many years this continued to be a strong and growing church, but with the decline of the seythe business and the removal of the employees, many of whom were its staunchest supporters, its strength declined. Still for the greater part of the time, preaching has been sustained in part, Sunday school carried on, and other re- ligious services maintained. The students of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary have been of much help in these services ; some of those who came down to assist as beardless boys, have become famous preach- ers. Of these we recall Rev. J. Roscoe Day, Chancellor of Syra- cuse University, as well as many others.
It is proof how substantially this church was built, to add that the only important repairs were made in the year 1881 when about two hundred dollars were raised for that purpose among the citizens, the late Ex-Governor Bodwell, at that time president of the North Wayne Tool Company, generously giving fifty dollars. With this amount the audience room was thoroughly renovated, and the church painted. After the completion of these repairs, special services were held appropriate to the occasion, Rev. John P. Cole, pastor, preaching a very fitting sermon.
Concerning this church it may be farther said, that though built in the interests of the Methodist denomination, it has always exem- plified the christian grace of charity, and has never refused to open its doors to any who sincerely believe in the Supreme Being who is the God and Father of us all.
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WILLISTON JENNINGS.
CHAPTER V.
THIE TOWN'S MILITARY HISTORY-THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE- STORIES OF THE MILITIA AND THE OLD-FASHIONED MUSTERS-REC- ORD OF THE TOWN IN THE CIVIL WAR, WITH LIST OF SOLDIERS.
PROMINENT in the military, as well as in the civil history of Wayne, appears the Wing family. On Wayne's military roll of honor the name of Wing is often found recorded. They were descended from a martial ancestry. As far back as 1485, Theo- dore Wing received the knightly accolade from the hand of King Henry VII, of England. In Burke's General Armory of Great Britain, is described in heraldry, "The Wing Armour, County of Rutland." Over the monogram of Wing appears the coat of arms. A shield is embossed with these Arms : "Per pale, argent and vert, (silver and green) a maunch, or loose sleeve, counter-changed :" and surmounted by this Crest : "A maunch per pale, argent and vert between two wings united by a silk wreath or bandeau." These were, as stated in true heraldic history, "the Arms of Wing, as borne by Sir Theodore Wing, Lord Warden of the Wastes and Liveries to King Henry VII."
John Wing, the chief progenitor of the Wing family in America, came to Saugus (now Lynn, Mass., ) in 1632, with his wife Deborah, her father, the Rev. Stephen Batchelder, and others. Mr. Wing, with nine others, joined the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and locat- ed at Sandwich, Cape Cod, Barnstable County. Their land was laid out by John Alden and "Miles Standish, the Puritan Captain."
Dr. Moses Wing, son of Simeon of Sandwich, Mass., who came to Wayne in 1782, was a remarkable man and had an eventful career. From tradition, from authentic history and from official records at Washington, D. C., the following events and incidents are gleaned. At the early age of sixteen he ran away from his Sandwich home, with intent to join the army of the Revolution. His father went after him to bring back the runaway, but Moses, staying at a wayside inn, safely hid from discovery, eluded his father's search, and escaped capture. He commenced service Jan. 1, 1776, in the continental
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army, as a drummer boy, in the artillery, company of Capt. Dimond, regiment of Col. Knox. At the battle of Flatbush, Long Island, while doing his duty among the musicians detailed to take care of the wounded, he was struck by a cannon ball and lost his left leg. He was in several hospitals and was discharged at Fishkill, N. Y. He served on board several Continental armed vessels and privateers, as surgeon's mate and surgeon. Besides this surgical practice in the navy, he also served in the same capacity in the Boston hospital and in Col. Samuel Goff's Massachusetts regiment. He was honor- ably discharged in March, 1782, at Falmouth, Maine. So he had nearly seven years' service in the Revolutionary War. He taught school and practiced medicine awhile in Winthrop. He was the oldest of the Wing brothers, the seven sons of Simeon, who were among the first settlers of New Sandwich, afterwards Wayne. He was noted as a successful physician and was well skilled in surgery. He was the first town clerk mentioned in the annals of the town and served in that capacity for eighteen years. He was noted as a man of sound judgment and strict integrity. He had the complete con- fidence of his fellow citizens. When his brothers had difficulties to be adjusted or disputes to be settled, they always chose Dr. Moses as umpire and abode by his decision. Late in life he was a Revo- lutionary pensioner and died in 1837 full of years and honors. Some aged people, now living, remember well how, in his wide country practice, he rode on horseback with the old-time saddle- bags, and also how he went on the offside of his horse to mount in order to swing his wooden leg over the horse's back. A story is re- lated of him, as follows : His brother William was sick and dis- couraged and could not be roused from his despondency. Dr. Moses, while sitting beside his sick brother on the trunk of a tree that leaned from the bank far out over the Wing Pond, by a quick and dextrous movement of his foot, tipped the unsuspecting William over backwards into the water. This involuntary plunge bath gave such a sudden shock to the invalid's nervous system that he experi- enced a speedy recovery from his illness. The salutary effects of such heroic treatment by an old school doctor were just about as miraculous as the faith cures and Christian Science healings of these later days.
Samuel Jennings, one of the pioneers of Wayne, in the time of the Revolutionary War, came, with his father John Jennings, of Sandwich, Mass., and staked out a claim on the peninsula between the Wing and Lovejoy Ponds. They felled some trees and went
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back home. The next spring Samuel came down again, boarded with Job Fuller, and changed works with Ebenezer Wing. They burned and planted but had bad luck. Samuel became discouraged and returned to old Sandwich once more. The next spring his father wanted him to go down east the third time but Samuel clan- destinely left home, went to Plymouth and thence to Boston and enlisted on board a privateer. His father, having royalist tenden- cies, was much displeased, and went after him to bring him back, but finally relented and said to the Yankee skipper, "Whip him ; make a good sailor of him." Samuel made the cruise and re- turned to Boston on the privateer's third prize. Then he went back to old Sandwich and in the following spring joined his father and brother in Maine.
Col. Nathaniel Fairbanks was born in Dedham, Mass., July 15, 1754. He first came to Pondtown, Me., in 1767. There was then "no road, only a line of spotted trees between this settlement and the Kennebec River." He went "to the westward" in the spring of 1769, and came back in November, 1774. The town was then in- corporated by the name of Winthrop and had a large population. Immediately upon the news of the battle of Lexington, Nathaniel Fairbanks and eighteen other young men went to provincial head- quarters at Cambridge, Mass., ready to take up arms in defence of their country. Mr. Fairbanks was in Capt. Samuel McCobb's com- pany of Col. John Nixon's Regt. He was in Arnold's expedition up the Kennebec, across the wilds of Maine. He took part in the siege of Boston and served six weeks after the term of his enlist- ment expired. In Winthrop he lived in the Metcalf neighborhood, one of the social and political centres of the town. Here in 1778 he built a house that is still standing. In this mansion he entertained in state Talleyrand, the diplomat, once Napoleon's prime minister, and with him the Duke of Orleans, afterwards Louis Philippe, when these distinguished personages were on a tour of this country in 1794. Gov. Hancock gave Mr. Fairbanks a Captain's commission in 1788, and he was the first militia officer of Winthrop to receive the commission and rank of Colonel. He held, at times and in turn, nearly all the civil offices of the town. He represented Winthrop in the General Court at Boston, Mass., nine years. He was a delegate to the convention held at Portland in 1794. He was a fluent speaker, a good conversationalist and story-teller, a pleasing pre- siding officer in public meetings, a man of sound judgment and much executive ability. His grandchildren loved to listen to his nar-
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