USA > Maine > Washington County > Machias > Narrative of the town of Machias, the old and the new, the early and late > Part 10
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The foregoing regulations being presented and consider- ed, paragraph by paragraph, it was voted to accept the same. JAMES AVERY, Town Clerk.
A lawful meeting was held at Western Falls the second day of April. 1787. to vote for Governor and the other state officers. The meeting was opened at one P. M. the Select- men presiding.
For Governor his Excellency, James Bowdoin, 73
Honorable B. Lincoln, 03
Lieut. Gov'r. His Honor T. Cushing. 76
Senator Alexander Campbell. 76
Agreeable to a resolve of the General Court the Decla ration of Allegiance was taken and subscribed by the town officers: the Town Clerk was sworn before Stephen Jones, Esq .. and the others by the Town Clerk.
"I do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, testify and declare that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is and of right ought to be a Free, foreign and independent State; and I do swear that I will bear true Faith and Allegiance to the said Commonwealth, and that I will defend the same against traitorous conspiracies, and all hostile attempts whatsoever: And that I do renounce and abjure all allegiance, subjection and obedience to the King of Great
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Britain, and every other Foreign Power whatsoever. And that no Foreign Prince, person. prelate, State or potentate hath, or ought to have any jurisdiction, superiority, pre- eminence, authority, dispensing or other power in any matter, civil, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this Com- monwealth, except the Authority and Power which is or may be invested by their constituents in the Congress of the United States. And I do further testify and declare, that no man or body of men hath or can have any right to absolve or discharge me from the obligation of this oath, declaration or affirmation; and that I do make this ac- knowledgement, profession, testimony, declaration, denial. renunciation and abjuration heartily and truly according to the common meaning and acceptance of the foregoing words without any equivocation whatsoever. So help me God.
STEPHEN JONES. STEPHEN SMITH, JEREMIAH O'BRIEN, JOSEPH LIBBEE, BENJAMIN FOSER,
Selectmen.
JAMES AVERY, Town Clerk.
GEORGE STILLMAN, Town Treasurer.
DAVID LONGFELLOW, JOHN FOSTER, Assessors. ENOCH SANBORNE, JOHN SCOTT,
SAMUEL HOLMES, Collectors.
WILLIAM ALBEE.
EPHRAIM CHASE, Constables.
The inhabitants of the town of Machias, qualified as the Law directs, are hereby notified to assemble at the house of Samuel Rich, now improved as a meeting house, at East River in said Machias, on Tuesday the eighth day of May next, at ten o'clock before noon, to make choice of some suitable person to represent this town in the General Court of this Commonwealth the ensuing year. Then to choose a Moderator and choose one or more Collectors for collecting the town taxes for 1785 and 1786.
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To see what measures the town will take in applying to the General Court for an abatement of this town's state tax, and to grant such sums of money as may be necessary for the support of the poor of this town. By order of the Selectmen.
JAMES AVERY, Tewn Clerk.
Agreeable to the Warrant the Inhabitants met at the time and place mentioned. Selectmen presided. The votes being brought in and counted, it appeared Mr. David Gardner was duly elected to represent this town in the General Court of this Commonwealth.
Voted: That the Representative from this town be and hereby is instructed not to draw any money out of the treasurer for payment of his attendance on the General Court, and not to attend but at such times and under such instructions as the Selectmen and Town Clerk may agree npon, and the Selectmen and Town Clerk to agree with him for the payment of his time when attending by their direction. Then made choice of the Hon. Stephen Jones, Esq .. Moderator. George Seavy was chosen a Collector for collecting taxes for 1785 and 1786. in the room of John Fos- ter not qualified and who was not notified of his appoint- ment.
Voted: That application be made to the General Court for an abatement of this towns state tax; that the Selectinen and Town Clerk be a Committee for that purpose.
Voted: that the sum of fifteen pounds be granted for the support of the poor
Attest. JAMES AVERY, Town Clerk.
May 26, 1787 a Warrant was issued for a town meeting to be held at Western Falls. Monday . the fourth day of June at two o'clock in the afternoon, for the following purposes. viz., Ist .. to choose a Moderator: 2nd, to choose a Collector for the Eastern Distriet in said Machias, to collect the taxes for years 1785 and 1786. 3d, To vote what shall be allowed
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the Collector for collecting said taxes. 4th, To see if the town will make any allowance to Benjamin Foster, Esq., for lumber belonging to the town, which was in his hands and lost. By order of Selectmen,
JAMES AVERY, Town Clerk.
Agreeable to the Warrant the inhabitants met and mada choice of George Stillman, Moderator; Made choice of Silvanus Seavy for Collector of taxes of Eastern District for years 1785 and 1786.
Voted seven and one half per cent for collecting said taxes.
Voted; that the fourth article in the Warrant be dismissed.
The Committee appointed to give instruction to the Representative from this town to the General Court and Petition for an abatement of our State tax, layed before the meeting a copy of said Instructions and Petition which was read and approved and are as follows:
Machias, May 30, 1787.
MR. DAVID GARDNER :
We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee by the town of Machias to communicate to you, their motives in choosing you their Representative, have to inform you that their design and intention therein was that you should attend the first session of the General Court, and represent to that Honorable Body, their inability to pay the State tax assessed upon them the last year, and that you should use your best endeavors to obtain an abatement of the whole or a part of the said tax, and for the reasons assigned in our Petition herewith. But if you cannot obtain an abatement of the whole tax you are requested to apply for a Resolve for the Sheriff to stay Execution until we can have opportunity to collect some lumber and send to market to raise the money. which cannot be done before the Fall or next Spring; also for permission to pay the proposed part in fractions.
The town of Machias in their present embarrassed state do not think themselves able to support a Representative
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there the different sessions, therefore recommend to you to endeavor to have their business accomplished, as soon as may be, and that you then are permissioned to leave the House. But should any important questions come before the House during your attendance, if in its tendency it will be likely to be highly benificent to the Public, you will give your vote for it; but you are not by any means to give your vote for an emission of paper money, nor are you to give your vote to any measure that will have a tendency to annihilate Public or private Debts. We have the Honor of our Nation at heart and would not by any means give our assent to an act that would have even a tendency to sully it. Though we are poor we mean to be honest. The Town of Machias wish to have the Powers of Congress enlarged. You will therefore give your vote for any measures that shall be adopted for that purpose; and the Constitution of our Commonwealth we wish to have preserved inviolate, and the smallest deviation from the spirit of it not to be admitted upon any consideration. You are also to apply to the Honorable Caleb Davis, Esq., to know what has been done by the Court respecting erecting this District into a separate County. You are to consult with him, the necessary measures to be taken, to have our former Petition on that subject complied with, and use your best endeavors to have it accomplished.
You are requested to consult with the Rev. James Lyon on the necessary measures to be taken to carry these in- structions into effect and ask him his assistance therein. Our reasons for pleading the remit of our state tax is drawn in the form of a Petition; you may present it to the Court, or only lay it before a Committee which ever may be thought best. We are your most obedient humble servant,
STEPHEN JONES, JAMES AVERY, Committee.
JEREMIAH O'BRIEN, L
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Humbly Sheweth :- That the General Court in March, 1786, taxed all the Settle- ments in the Eastern parts of this Commonwealth, among which this town was taxed thirty pounds; the tax act not coming in to the hands of the Assessors 'till last Fall, and all communication being stopped between this place and Boston during the course of the winter prevented our making application to the Honorable Court before :- we beg leave to lay before you a true and unexagerated state of our sit- uation and the difficulties and burthens we have and still labor under. In the month of May, 1763, about 12 men and three women came to Machias and began to erect a double saw mill, and in the month of August the same year the remainder of their families came down. The next year a number of other families having joined them : they suppos- ing themselves to be within the Jurisdiction of the Province of Nova Scotia, applied there for a grant of a Township; but that Government supposing them not to be within their limits refused making them any grants. In the year 1766 they having considerably increased in number, made an ap- plication to the Government of Massachusetts, but there be- ing some errors in the Petition they failed, but repeatedly renewed their application until the year 1770, when a Grant passed the Legislature; but then the King's approbation to be obtained before the grant would be valid. During all this time and 'till the War commenced, the people were in a state of uncertainty respecting their lands, therefore devoted most of their time to lumbering and had made but very little improvement upon their lands when hostilities com- menced, at which time they had not three weeks provisions in the township, and the very early and active part they took in the late contest rendered them very obnoxious to the British Commanders, and they had reason to apprehend their vengeance, and for the first year all kinds of business but war was dropt. The next year attempts were made for im- proving our lands, but the frequent alarms upon our coasts embarrassed the people so, that but little progress was made.
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And in the month of August one brigg that was loaded in our river and bound to the West Indies, and the two sloops that were loaded by and bound to Newbury, were all taken off the mouth of our Harbor soon after they sailed, by reason of which some people suffered greatly. In the Fall of the same year Mr. "Edy" came along from Boston hav- ing obtained some provisions by the order of the General Court, tho' not clothed with any authority by them, yet he proposed to carry on an Expedition against Cumberland in Nova Scotia, and the inhabitants of Machias full of zeal to support the common cause immediatly engaged with Edy and set out for Cumberland; but finally after the severe season had set in and had to make a retreat through the wilderness upwards of 300 miles through the snow. The next year an expedition was formed under the authority of our Government against Nova Scotia and to enter that Province by the way of Cumberland, the general Ren- dezvous to be at Machias. This the enemy got intelligence of and before any considerable number of the troops or any cannon arrived here, a small squadron of their ships, consist- ing of one ship of forty-four guns. three frigates and an armed Brig entered our Harbor. with a full determination to des- troy us, but by the goodness of Divine Providence and the vigorous exertions of the people, they were repulsed with great loss on their part and upon our side of one man killed, one wounded; two dwelling houses, two barns and one mill burnt. They afterwards collected in force at the mouth of the river, St. John. and we had frequent alarms and infor- mation, that they were determined to make another attack upon us, so that all the people's time and attention was taken up in making the necessary preparations of defense 'till the senson closed, when we were informed the enemy had retired into winter quarters .. In the year 1778 we had some little tranquility and considerable exertions were made for im- proving the lands. But in the year 1779 we were again thrown into the greatest distress by the enemy establishing a Port at Major Bigwayduce (since Castine. ) We then expected nothing but subjugation and people had no heart
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
to do anything. After our troops arrived and beseiged the enemy, General Loud found a reinforcement was necessary and sent an order for one half of the Militia to join him. The draught was immediately made and set out with Colonel Allen and had got as far as Deer Island when they received intelligence that the seige was raised. The people then re- turned home again but were under considerable apprehen- sion of being subjected; the British Commander having issued Proclamation denouncing vengeance against all those that did not come in at that time and submit themselves to the British government and take an Oath of Allegiance. Many persons to the Westward of us were discouraged as to propose to fall in with the British so as to become neutral, and had Petitions drawn for that purpose, which were sent to this Town to join in the measure, but we refusing and the steps we took prevented those places who were in favor of it from falling in, whereby the whole of the Country Eastward of Bagaduce was preserved.
The people of this town were almost reduced to a state of desperation, but still determined never to subject until re- duced by superior force; although all communication with the Metropolis and all other parts of the State, from whence we had any hope of relief seemed to be cut off, frequent alarms now took place through this and the ensuing year and while the war lasted. The people were called out to erect Fortifications and keep guard ; great pains were taken by the enemy to bring the Indians upon us and in the Fall of the year 1779, the noted Major Rogers was actually sent through by the way of Saint John's to Canada to bring a body of Indians against us early in the spring; and they came a part of the way as we were afterwards informed, until the Indians belonging to St. John's River met them and persuaded them to return by telling them that the French and we were brethren and that to fight against us would be to fight against their father, the French King. But as we had early intelligence of the business that Rogers was upon, we really expected him and were at the expense of keeping
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scouts up the river to discover the enemy if they approach- ed.
Several vessels that were bound here with supplies were taken ard one that was loaded with fish, furs and other valuable articles and owned in the place was taken on her passage to Boston and others that had property on board belonging to the inhabitants fell into the enemy's hands. The numerous alarms and the want of provisions very much impeded the improvement of the lands, the remaining years of the war and kept the people in a very marked situation. When the Peace took place in 1783, and goods could be purchased for lumber. they were under the necessity of oh- taining considerable credit in order to carry on their business and clothe their families. The mills during the war went to decay and were rotten down, but lumber being in great demand and commanding a great price, they were excited to rebuildl their mills, but were at a very great ex- pense in doing it. as labour of all kinds was exceeding high; had just got under way and a prospect of discharging the demands against them. when the Navigation Act was passed which immediately marked the price of lumber down from eight to four dollars per thousand and is now a drag at three dollars. Thus were our people involved in the utmost dis- tresses, for most of them were in debt at the commencement of the War, and during the contest had no means of discharg- ing it even with paper money, which they would not even wish to have done had it been in their power, and to those old debts they had been under the necessity, as before mentioned of adding a very considerable new debt; and the Navigation Act was followed by two exceeding dry seasons, especially the last, when the drouth set in very severe in July, the mills were soon stopped for want of water and con- tinned so the remaining part of the season. And winter set in very early without rain, the erop of potatoes cut pro- digiously short, and no credit to be obtained so that the in- habitants were reduced to greater straights the winter past than during any part of the war.
They have also been at a very great expense in running
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out their Township. laying out their lots ; settling a Minister and supporting him for fifteen years; building and provid- ing places for Pubile Worship, making roads and many other heavy expenses, which arise in bringing forward the Settlement of a new Township. As an almost total stop was put to all business during the War, the inhabitants in general were unaple to pay the minister yearly which obliged him to run in debt for the support of his family, and when Peace took place there was nearly nine hundred pounds to be raised to pay his salary to enable him to discharge his debts, which came very heavy on the people; add to this ยท his salary since the Peace at eighty pounds a year; for a public school 250 pounds a year, we have raised to make and repair roads. and highways and 200 pounds we have raised the present year for repairing our meeting house, with other expenses of the town make it almost impossible to pay any state taxes laid upon us at present. And our great de- sire to support the Laws renders it necessary for us to make still further application, which is for a County to be erected in this District. which if granted must be attended with considerable expense, but the necessities of it make us anxious for the accomplishment of it. There are many strong and urgent reasons for a County being established in this District, in particular for the punishment of crimes against the Public which although they are not numerous yet there is some and amongst others those of fornication and bastardy :- also for granting licenses to persons as Inholders and retailers of spirituous liquors, for no person will be at the expense and fatigue of travelling three hundred miles and upwards through wilderness and exceeding bad roads, and when they come they must seek friends to be Bondsmen for them, which perhaps as they are strangers it would be impossible for them to obtain, and the consequence will be there will be no licensed persons in this part of the county ; liquors will be sold in a clandestine manner, and if one sells another may, and the matter will be so general that no person can be informed against or punished and in- dividuals may thereby be much injured by too free use of
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spirituous liquors. A county road is also exceedingly wanted, which will not be obtained until a County is estab- lished here; in short, as was before observed our reasons are too numerous to be mentioned.
In the first years of the War the General Court found it necessary to grant the Settlements on the Eastern shore con- siderable sums of money to purchase provisions for the in- habitants. This place received with the others and have repaid the whole since the Peace took place, which amount- ed to nearar 1,200 pounds, which we believe is the only place Eastward of Penobscot that has repaid the public any part of the sums received,. Neither have they been at the expense of supporting a minister, building meeting houses, raising money for Highways and public schools.
We are informed the Honorable Court have been pleased to abate the taxes laid on several of the Plantations eastward of the Union River in consideration of their inability to pay, and we are fully sensible that this place is the least able (for the reasons before mentioned') of paying of any in the eastern County.
At the time we petitioned to be incorporated, several of the members of the General Court informed us that, it would not be the means of bringing on taxation any sooner, as they supposed it would be unreasonable to tax us sooner than the other places adjacent, who were more able to pay, only because we wished to be incorporated to come into better regulations among ourselves. We don't wish to shrink from the public burthen but, whenever we are able to pay anything towards it, we will do it with cheerfulness; but from the many difficulties we labored under during the War; our embarrassed situation at the time and since the Peace took place: the large sums we have been obliged to raise, for the support of a Minister and other purposes; the punctual manner in which we repaid Government the moneys borrowed, together with our inability at present, we hereby pray your honorable Court to be pleased to take our distress fully into their consideration and be pleased to
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grant us relief by remitting our State tax, and as in Duty bound will ever pray.
By order and in behalf of the town of Machias.
STEPHEN JONES, JAMES AVERY, Committee. JEREMIAH O'BRIEN, 5
Attest :
JAMES AVERY, Town Clerk.
To William Albee and Ephraim Chase of the town of Machias: You are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of Machias, qualified as the Law directs to assemble at the Meeting house, at the Eastern Falls in said Machias, on Wednesday the twenty-first day of November inst, at eleven o'clock a. m., to choose some suitable person to represent this town in the convention called by the Legislature of this Commonwealth to take into consideration, the Constitution proposed for the Government of the United States of America.
By order of the Selectmen.
JAMES AVERY, Town Clerk. Machias, Nov. 17th, 1787.
Agreeable to warrant, the inhabitants met at the time and place mentioned and made choice of Benjamin Foster. Esq., Moderator.
Voted: That David Gardner be and hereby is appointed to represent this Town in the Convention called by the Legislature of this Commonwealth to take into consideration the Constitution for the Government of the United States of America, and that our said Representative give his vote for adopting the same. The meeting then adjourned without day.
A town meeting was held on the 5th day of December, 1787 at the meeting house at Western Falls to choose a Surveyor of highways in lieu of Capt. David Longfellow, who had declined. Stephen Jones was elected Moderator and Deacon Joseph Libby Surveyor of Highways.
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On March 11, 1788, the inhabitants were warned to meet at the Eastern Falls, in the meeting house, at ten o'clock before noon, on the seventh day of April next to transact business of annual town meeting. The first, second and third articles called for election of town officers and grant- ing moneys to meet usual charges. The fourth article read : -To see what repairs and alterations shall be made to the meeting houses.
5th: To see if the Town will make any allowance to Colonel Foster for loss on boards collected for the town; also, at two o'clock in the afternoon of said day, to vote for Governor, Lieut. Governor and one Senator for the County of Lincoln.
At this meeting Stephen Jones was elected Moderator and Ralph Hart Bowles, Town Clerk; James Avery, Peter Talbot, Jeremiah O'Brien, Selectmen; also were voted to be Assessors; George Stillman Town Treasurer; John Foster and Nathan Longfellow, Jr., Collectors ; Ephraim Chase and William Albee, Constables; Jeremiah O'Brien, Amos Boynton, Abijah Foster, Sam Holmes, Enoch Waterhouse and Aaron Andrews, Surveyors of highways .; Ephraim Chase, Peter Talbot, Moses Foster, John Foster, Wm. Chaloner, Gideon O'Brien, Amos Boynton, Wm. Albee, N. Longfellow. Jr., Jonathan Pineo, Benjamin Gooch, Surveyors of lumber; Stephen Munson, Job Burnham, Fence viewers; Aaron Sevey and Consider Drew, Field Drivers ; Jacob Palmer and N. Longfellow, JJr., Sealers of leather. ; George Stillman, Esq .. sealer of weights and measures. ; Stephen Munson, Marshall Thaxter, Jacob Longfellow, Hog Reeves; Benjamin Foster Junior. and Joseph Libby, Wardens.
Voted :- That swine run at large the ensuing year.
Voted: That the sum of eighty-six pounds be levied and raised from the polls and estates of the inhabitants of this town for the Rev. James Lyon's salary the ensuing year.
Voted: That the sum of sixty pounds be raised for the support of Schools. Voted: That one hundred and fifty pounds be raised for the work on the highways.
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