USA > Maine > Washington County > Machias > Narrative of the town of Machias, the old and the new, the early and late > Part 17
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EPISCOPAL.
It appears by record that there was never an organized mission in Machias, but services were held for about a year, by the Rev. John Philson of the Diocese of Louisiana.
The late Bishop H. A. Neely was consecrated Jan. 25, 1867: the same year he made a visitation of his Diocese.
On Sept. 29th he visited Machias. He baptised at that time three adults and confirmed five persons, June 17, 1868 the Bishop again visited Machias and held services baptis- ing two adults and confirming three persons. The first meetings were held in the Methodist Church. This be- ginning of a Mission warranted him in placing some one in charge of the work, and in April, 1868. Rev. John Philson began to maintain the service which continued without intermission so long as he remained in the Diocese. These services were held in a Hall fitted up and placed at his dis- posal by Mr. Win. H. Hemenway.
The Hall was in the building once the store of Mr. Clark Longfellow on the West side: on the East side by the Machias Water Power and Mill Co, by the former 'till burned in 1870 and by the latter from 1842 to 1850 or later.
The Rey Mr. Philson reported in Sept 1868, that there were twelve families connected with the Mission and fifteen individuals not included in the families. There had been fifteen baptisms of adults and thirteen infants. The com- mmmcants were seventeen and the attendants at. Sunday service numbered forty-six. The Sunday School had sixty- six enrolled pupils. Mr. Philson reported that his charge of the Mission terminated April. 1869. Bishop Neely re-
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
ported to the State Convention in 1869 ;- "That the Mission at Machias was now without services: that Rev. Mr. Philson had resigned and the work was hindered by various unfavorable circumstances."
On the other hand, "The unexpected gift of one thousand dollars for the erection of a church building, by a lady who had not seen her native town, for half a century is a strong encouragement for the friends of a Mission to go forward."
"The building of a church would rerew and restore con- fidence and contribute essentially to the organization of a permanent Mission."
The Bishop's reference to the one thousand dollars, for the purpose of building a Memorial church in Machias: said amount having been donated by the late Mrs. Susan Coffin Richards, of Boston, the granddaughter of the late Judge Stephen Jones, who for thirty years previous to 1816, lived in Machias one of its leading and prominent citizens.
Mrs. Richards in 1868 -- '69 was in Europe. One day read- ing an American newspaper her eye fell on the item telling of the visit to Machias by Bishop Neely and the organization of an Episcopal Mission in that town: hence the gift in memoriam of her Grandfather, Stephen Jones. I have in- formation through Bishop Robert Codman, successor of Bishop Neely, that a "Permanent Trust has been created to carry out the wishes of the donor. The income of the fund is now used (1903) for the support of church services in Washington County, presumably at Calais and East- port, until it shall be desirable to erect a building at Machias.
Mr. Richards, husband of the donor, is or was an English- man; lived in Boston several years then removed to, Eng- land. Mrs. Richards left several children ; a great-grandson of Mrs. Richards is the son-in-law of Julia Ward Howe of Boston having married Mrs. Howe's daughter, Laura, now living in Gardiner, Me.
The principal supporters of the Mission at Machias were Dr. J. W. Murray and family ; Wmn. H. Hemenway, Horace A. Gould, J. W. Fenno, and families.
Municipal Life.
-
TALLEYRAND IN MACHIAS.
TN 1794, Phineas Bruce, Esq., a resident and the only mem- ber of Washington County Bar. Machias, first lawyer, en- tertained for two days the French diplomatist Talleyrand : the "Natural son of Capt. Baillac Talleyrand, who according to M. Cohnache, who published the "Life of Talleyrand, leaves his readers to conclude that the noted Frenchman was born "On Mont Dasart in America, " and not in France.
As late as 1860 people were living in Machias, who saw Talleyrand at Mr. Bruce's home. It was always understood that he landed at Annapolis or at Halifax and made his way overland by way of St. Andrew and St. Stephen to Machias.
The most sensational feature of the Talleyrand discussion. which is by no means new in Maine, is that one embodied in an argument drawn by Joseph Williamson, Esq., of Belfast, the famous Maine historian. He gravely discusses the probability of Talleyrand's birth in Mt. Desert Island, n d his argument is so good that it is worth repeating. He says: In 1729, the distinguished French statesman, Prince Talleyrand, having been prescribed by the Jacobins, sought refuge in this country, where he remained until the over- throw of Robespiere. One account states that he first landed at Castine, another at Wiscasset, and it is undisputed, that during his exile, Thomaston, Hallowell. Brunswick and
89
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
Portland were visited by him. Some forty years ago the New York Courier and Enquirer contained an interesting communication from what was said to be a most reliable source, claiming that he was a native of Mount Desert, in this state instead of having been born in Paris, as all his biogra- phers have alleged. The writer asserted that his information was derived from Hon. Edward Robbins of Boston, formerly Lieutenant Governor of Massachusets, who died in 1829, "a gentleman of extensive information, something of an antiquarian, and, whose organ of inquisitiveness was very prominent."
The communication is substantially as follows :
When Talleyrand was in Boston, in 1794, he was introduc- ed to Mr. Robbins, and they became quite intimate. A few weeks subsequent to their acquaintance, Mr. Robbins was called on business to Mount Desert. in Maine, where, to his surprise, he found Talleyrand incog .. and on questioning him in regard to his business there, he returned an evasive answer, and treated him very coldly during his stay.
The stranger's (Talleyrand) visit caused considerable surprise among the few inhabitants of the place at that time, and when Mr. R. informed them that his name was Talleyrand, a French gentleman of considerable note, who had left France on account of the Revolution-that he had been introduced to him in Boston, and was surprised to find him so shy and indifferent on their meeting and the people were as much so, as they had noticed his strolling about the place without any apparent notice. But some of the older inhabitants observed that his lameness and walk put them in mind of the French boy (as they used to call him) who was taken from there about the time of the close of the French war. These observations induced Mr. Robbins to make particular inquiries in regard to the French boy and they informed him that sometime previous to the war, a French ship of war came into that place to make repairs, and to obtain wood and water; that while there, the captain became intimate with a young girl, the daughter of a fisherman then absent, which created a scandal among the
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MUNICIPAL LIFE.
little society of fish mongers, and in due time the girl gave birth to a child-a fine hoy.
The next year the French captain made his appearance among them, and found the mother and son, whom he well provided for, and made some presents to the grandparents, which apparently reconciled them, especially as he promised to marry the girl when he should come out the next year; but they never saw him again.
When the boy was about a year old, the mother over- turned a kettle of boiling water on his feet, which so curled up his toes as to make him a cripple for life. Some few years after this, the mother died, and at the close of the war or about that time, a French gentleman (not the father of the child) came there for the purpose of taking the boy to France; but the grandparents would not give him up until the gentleman proposed as follows: That he would give them enough money to make them comfortable during their lives : that the father was dead, and that the uncle of the boy was a French nobleman, of immense fortune and had promised the father that he would adopt him and bring him up as his own child, provided he could be brought to Paris ; which proposals were accepted, and the boy was taken away.
The correspondent adds: "Since writing the above I have seen extracts from the life of Talleyrand, by M. Colmache, as published in Frazer's Magazine, which I think are rather confirmatory than a refutation of my relation of his birth-place and parentage. - otherwise you will plainly see, that the reputed parents of Talleyrand have outraged all affection, and I think from the above statement of Mr. Robbins, and by M. Colmache, Talleyrand's private secretary, we may conclude that Talleyrand was the natural son of Captain Baillie Talleyrand, and not the son of the elder brother, the Count de Talleyrand, and that he was born at Mount Desert in America.
Talleyrand died in 1838. By his will, his personal memoirs were not to be published until thirty years thereafter. At the expiration of that time, in 1868, Napoleon III oh- tained from the heirs a further postponement of twenty- two
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
years. In 1890, therefore, a true account of the testator's origin will appear. It may be added that no settlement is known to have existed at Mount Desert during the last century before 1762.
Surely there could be no more romantic story connected with the life of the great Frenchman.
As confirmatory of the foregoing I give the following: In June 1857, I visited the Island of Mt. Desert. I tarried one night at the home of Nicholas Thomas, town of Eden, then probably 85 years old. He claimed to be the first white child of English or American parentage born on the Island.
In conversation on early settlement of Mt. Desert, he alluded to Talleyrand. the great French Statesman, as hav- ing been born at Mt. Desert.
"The cellar where the house stood in which Talleyrand passed his early childhood. is plainly to be seen and you are going to South West Harbor, at the head of which is the cellar only a few rods from the beach." I visited the place and stood on the spot of Talleyrand's birth as told by the early island people.
"Yes" said Mr. Thomas, "my parents and others of their generation stated that about 1763 a French vessel came in for a harbor. detained several days waiting for fair wind. There was on board a well dressed, genteel looking man, whether an officer of the ship or passenger, no one seemed to know. He was a frequent visitor to the house occupied by a French family. Quite elderly people were heads of the dwelling. With them lived a grand-daughter of sixteen, the mother of the girl having died and the father absent probably at sea. The girl was called handsome. The vessel sailed and nothing further was known of the craft. A boy babe was born, the mother and child remaining with the old folks. When the boy was five to seven years old, what ap- peared like a merchant ship came into S. W. Harbor Another, if not the same well dressed man, soon landed quietly seeking information as to whether there was living here a child likely to be six to eight years old The search-
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MUNICIPAL LIFE.
PHINEAS BRUCE HOUSE-BUILT IN 1790.
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MUNICIPAL LIFE.
ing eye of the man was greatly brightened when it rested on the boy, a child of fair proportions, a promising lad. Soon it was that the stranger wanted the boy. The mother and grandparents gave no consent, they could not think of the parting.
After several unavailable visits to the house, one day the man appeared with a small bag in his hand, pleading and repeating previous promises of 'Good care'-'a fine school- ing' and noble position. Throwing the bag on the floor, he whispered. - 'you take the bag and I will take the boy.' Then it was the child disappeared; the vessel sailed. the grand son was not heard from by the old people while they lived.
'The bag contained gold, only the heads of the house ever knew the amount.'
When Talleyrand was in Machias, he was judged to be forty. While at Bruce's he alluded to Mt. Desert, express- ing a desire to see the "Mountain on the Sea." When he left, it was told that he went to General Cobb's in Goulds- boro, where he could easily see the mountain, and later according to Ex-Gov. Robbins, was met on an apparent in- different stroll rear the place of his birth?
The Bruce house in which Talleyrand stopped is now standing in Machias, on Bruce Street. a picture of which is elsewhere shown in this vol. : owned in part by C. B. Donworth, Esq .. At the end of the house showing windows on the upper floor. is the chamber he slept in two nights. The size of the room, the window and door are the same as they were in 1794; a coincidence that the house, built in 1791 by a lawyer, should be owned by a lawyer in 1903, members of the same bar ..
Mrs. Bruce knowing that her guest was a person of rank, spread on his bed a new patchwork quilt containing one thousand squares.
"After the overthrow of the Terrorists in Paris, Talleyrand procured a revocation of his banishment and returned to France: entering Paris in March. 1796.
"Talleyrand was in the United States not much over a
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
year. He is accredited as the most subtile, shrewd, and un- principled of all modern diplomatists; a notorious character."
EDUCATIONAL.
No mention is made of schools, public or private previous to 1785. There might have been schools under the Plan- tation or township government, if so they were maintained by individuals and private expense as "Family Schools."
The first appropriation was made in town meeting the 11th day of May, 1785, when by unanimous vote "sixty pounds of Lawful money, $300, was levied as a tax for the support of a school."
A vote was also recorded, empowering the Selectmen to divide the town into as many districts and in such manner as they think necessary.
The earliest record of the selection of a School Committee was on May 5, 1790, when Stephen Jones, Geo. Stillman, Marshall Thaxter were chosen.
Previous to 1790 there does not appear any Act of the General Court requiring towns to elect a School Committee.
In April, 1794, the School Board elected, consisted of Geo. Stillman, Henry White, Peter Talbot, Wm. Emerson, Nathan Pineo.
The first school house in Machias was built in 1799 or 1800; framed building thirty-five feet by twenty-two feet, one story in height. It occupied the lot on Main street, where the Donworth block now stands. This building was standing in the early thirties. Other school houses have been erected but this one retained its historical prestige. In April, 1828 a district meeting appointed Obadiah Hill, Wm. A. Crocker. John Holway, S. A. Morse Wm. F. Penni- man, Geo. S. Smith, to sell and dispose of the building. John Holway was purchaser. Mr. Holway fitted one room for an office which he occupied himself; also another room for a store as a rental. In 1835 Mr. Holway sold it to Wm. A. Crocker and on the same date Mr. Crocker conveyed it to P. E. Donworth. The last purchaser commenced using
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MUNICIPAL LIFE.
the building at once. He turned it end to the street, made additions and used it several years for a store and tenement. Along in the forties he made further changes so that only a part of the old school house is left as annex to the present block. The rear end of the ell is the room where the early Smiths, Libbys, Hills, Longfellows, Clarks, and Machias boys of a century ago were lined up for reading, spelling and exercises in 'rithmetic.
The first teacher in this building was Arthur Hill Gillmor, a talented young Irishman, an exile from his native land on account of political opinions not in harmony with those of King George III. In 1786 Gillmor was landed in Little Machias Bay, now in Cutler, in company with two hundred or more, being a company of persons, who had made them- selves offensive to the home government. The vessel in which they were transported was in charge of a Captain Napier, who heartlessly put his passengers on shore in the woods, not knowing whether they were left there to starve or be killed by Indians. Machias was the only settlement within a hundred miles where these suffering people could receive aid in way of food and clothing. Gillmor became useful as an instructor in families and schools in private dwellings in different districts of Machias and at English- man's River, before the school house was built. He was a strict disciplinarian, approaching severity. His pupils held him in fear and in their later days often were heard relating their experiences under Master Gillmor. The late Jeremiah O'Brien said he liked Gillmor's rules of school except the "big round rule."
The "Lower" or Machiasport district, not to be outdone by West Falls, built a school house about the time the first one was built at Machias, as the following, copied from the original paper, shows.
Machias, April 18, 1803.
To the Selectmen of Machias :-
We, the subscribers belonging to the Lower School District, on the West side of Machias River, having put up a fraim for a School House, and being desirious to finish
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
the same, pray that you would grant us a warrant to call a meeting in some suitable place in said district. for the pur- pose of agreeing in some suitable measures for finishing the said school house.
EBENEZER GARDNER, WM. SANBORNE, BENJAMIN BERRY. NATH'L PHINNEY, JR .. JOSIAH PHINNEY.
The Bell school house was built in 1820; called the Bell School because it was the first school building in town furnished with a bell. The building was one story ; later a second story was added making two rooms.
Next was the house on Elm street, built in 1821; John Holway giving the lot, torn down in 1864, and the Hill School house, built in 1825, the late Obadiah Hill giving the lot to the town, the same where the engine house on Court street is now. These were followed by the Preble, Harding, Dublin, Hemmenway, Rawson, also two buildings one in West Kennebec and one in East Kennebec district.
The first Libby Hall school building was erected in 1850; burnt in 1858. The present Libby Hall, a fine building in its architectural outlines, with rooms on the first floor for the High School and Grammar School. Libby Hall on the second floor has a seating capacity of seven hundred.
The town, 1903, has nine school buildings, affording fifteen school rooms. In 1853 a school house was built in the Atus district. This was designed to accommodate the negro families of that part of the town. A few years later the blacks nearly all disappeared by removals and death ; the school discontinued and the building removed.
In 1847 the district system was discontinued, the town assuming entire charge of the schools, which proved of advantage to the out lying districts. - probably helpful to the school population as a whole. The first step in con- solidation was when the three districts in the village were united, followed soon by all district lines being removed.
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MUNICIPAL LIFE. 1
The early residents of Machias were, many of them, liberal supporters of schools. After the town was incorporated and commenced levying taxes and paying for public instruction, individuals and families often employed teachers at individual cost. The following may be taken in evidence. -
Capt. Gideon O'Brien To John Edmonds, Dr.
1792.
April. To 6 m's. schooling of children, £2. 9. 0.
1793.
April .. To 7 m's. schooling of three children, at 4 shillings each per month, as pr. agreement, £4. 4.0.
£6. 13. 0.
Paid May 23, 1793.
1797.
Capt G. O'Brien To. J. Greenwood, Dr.
Aug. 1, To instructing his children twelve weeks, £11. 8. 10.
I have seen several bills of accounts in which Capt. O'Brien was the payor. After his own children had passed school days he manifested interest in other young persons. Capt. Gideon O'Brien To Charles Angier, Dr.
1805.
April, To instructing Benj. Belyter, eleven weeks, $2.75
Recv'd Pay't, CHAS. ANGIER.
Daniel Upton appears as an Instructor of private schools 1796 and at times several years later.
One of Upton's bills reads :
To instructing your son William and your daughters Nabbie and Rebecca, the one six weeks, the other twelve weeks at one shilling per week. $4.50
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
In the early schools text-books were few. Problems in arithmetic were products of the teacher, hence original. A few of these are yet well preserved in posession of Mrs. E. O'B. Harding, the grand-daughter of Gideon O'Brien. One of these questions reads: "If Newbury-Port contains 8728 rateable polls each having to pay eight shillings and one and one fourth pence; How much is the poll tax of the town?"
"In 695 guineas and five shillings how many pounds? Ans. £9. 7. 5."
'I' shipped 13 dozen of hats at 7s. 3p. per hat-How much is their amount?"
7. 3.
12.
4. 7. 0.
12.
52. 4. 0.
4. 7. 0.
Answer.
£56. 11. 0.
"Bought from Capt. White 7 yards baize at 9s 6 p per yard, -How much did it amount to?"
9. 6. 7
£3. 6. 6. Answer.
A merchant at London received from his correspondent in Flanders £784. 16. 4. Flemish money for the exchange £925. 13. 4., English money. I demand how many shil- lings in English money is equivalent to one pound Flemish. This problem is solved in detail and the resultant answer, £1. 3. 7.
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MUNICIPAL LIFE.
Machias, Sept. 23, 1819.
Mr. S. A. Morse To
Susan Grout, Dr.
To instructing Delia 16 weeks, $2.00
" instructing Caroline 14 weeks, 1.75
" instructing Laura 15 weeks, 1.88
" instructing James Pope 6 weeks, .75
$6.38
Rec'd. pay't, SUSAN GROUT.
Gad Townsley and his sister Baseba Townsley and N. Coffin Farnsworth were teachers in the Hill school house. Charles E. Pike in 1836 kept a private school in the Bell School house; Tuition $8.00 per terin.
Rev. Stephen D. Ward after his term of service as In- structor at Washington Academy was a teacher in Machias Schools.
It seems probable that the same teacher was employed at different times, in different districts of the town. The first teacher, excepting Mr. Gillmor. was a man by name of John G. Taylor, to instruct a school at East Falls. The first school house in this village stood in what is now a field, not far from the P. S. J. Talbot and Co's. store. There was a one story school building on the opposite side of the street from the Academy. A brick building stood on the easterly side of the street nearly opposite the present town hall, used for a school several years: whether built for school use or otherwise is not quite determined.
Later school buildings have been erected at Jacksonville, Chase's Mills and Hadleys Lake-also good buildings to accommodate the school population in the central districts of the Town.
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
WASHINGTON ACADEMY.
It appears that there was quite a general interest in hav- ing a "County School" in Washington County, manifested as early as 1790 -- '91.
The following Petition to the General Court of Mas- sachusetts embodies the prevailing sentiment of the people.
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives :
The petition of the subscribers in behalf of themselves and the inhabitants of the County of Washington respect- fully shows: that it is with the highest degree of satis- faction your Petitioners observe the attention of the Legis- lature to the object of spreading the opportunities and ad- vantages of Education in the different parts of the State and amongst all orders of people.
Your petitioners reside in one of the most distant counties, in a part of the country which 'till very lately has been in- habited by native savages. They made great exertions to subdue the wilderness and reduce the stubborn soil to a state of cultivation. In this, however, they made greater pro- gress than in the means of educating their children. In accomplishing this end they find difficulties which at present they conceive to be insuperable without the aid of Govern- ment.
They therefore, look to the political Fathers with con- fidence that neither their distance nor poverty will prevent them from receiving the favorable attention of this Honor- able Court; and pray that an Academy may be instituted in the town of Machias, where exertions have for sometime been making for that purpose, and that some of the un- located lands in these parts may be granted for the support of such Institution; that wisdom, knowledge and virtue may find their way and be generally diffused amongst the children and youth of this distant part of the Common- wealth ; and your petitioners in duty bound will ever pray.
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL. PHINEAS BRUCE, THEODORE LINCOLN, JOHN FOSTER.
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MUNICIPAL LIFE.
These men all prominent in social, political and pro- fessional life: Col. Campbell, soklier and jurist, representing the Narraguagus valley: Phineas Bruce, a learned lawyer of Machias; The dore Lincoln, son of Gen. Benj. Lincoln of the Revolution, of Dennysville: John Foster, active in trade andl mercantile circles, of Eastport, probably not four other men in the County of larger influence could have been selected for this important work.
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