USA > Maine > Washington County > Machias > Narrative of the town of Machias, the old and the new, the early and late > Part 22
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The above vote of the town raised quite a storm as the following dissent shows, -We the subscribers dissent from the vote passed this day by the town of Machias in giving permission to Theodore Scott and others to build a dam across the Navigable part of the East River, for reasons hereafter to be assigned.
Machias, July 17, 1801. Stephen Jones, Geo. Stillman. Moses Foster, George Sevey, Peter Talbot.
Wmn. Whittemore, Levi Fairbanks, Daniel Whittemore, George Sevey, Jr.
301
HISTORY OF MACIIIAS.
To the Inhabitants of the town of Machias.
The subscriber being about to build an addition to the honse, which he has lately purchased of John W. Drew, and as the spot intended for the building is partly laid out by the town for a Public Highway: He respectfully asks per- mission of said town to build a wall in front, where the house now stands, on said highway as now laid out for his conveniency in erecting said building, -and will obligate himself to keep said highway in repair, from the bridge near Mr. Longfellow's store to Mr. Kelly's garden fence, and to make said road of sufficient width for the passing and re-passing of teams of any kind.
This request is respectfully submitted to the Town for their decision by
April 1, 1805.
LEVI FAIRBANKS.
In May, 1805, Mr. Wm. Emerson, in the "Lower District, had highway rate lists committed to him as one of the Road Surveyors, Josiah Harris and Jacob Penniman being Assessors.
Under a Warrant issned to Marshall Thaxter, Town of Machias-Greeting: directing him to warn citizens who had been chosen Town officers at a previous meeting, to appear before some Justice of the Peace, or the town Clerk "To take the Oath and Qualify according to Law, to fill the office they are appointed to." The officers were as follows :
Ebenez'r Inglee. Jacob Penniman. Assessors ; Ebenez'r Inglee, Gideon O'Brien, Jacob Longfellow, Jeremiah O'Brien, Wm. Flinn, Jonathan Longfellow, Jonathan Longfellow, Jr., Jacob Penniman, Solomon Meserve, Mortimer Fletcher, Japhet Harmon. Amos Boynton. Jeremiah O'Brien, Jr., Mathias Toby, Josiah Phinney. Joseph Stuart, Surveyors of Lumber. Mortm'r Fletcher, Jonathan Longfellow, Joseph Getchell, Jr., Fence Viewers. Jona'n Longfellow, Jr .. Field Drivers. Jona'n Longfellow, Jr., Pound Keeper. Gideon O'Brien, J. Longfellow, Jr ..
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MUNICIPAL LIFE
Joseph Stuart, Fish Committee. Nathaniel Phinney,
Harbor Master. Solomon Meserve Tythingman. Jacob Penniman, Enoch Waterhouse. Jr., Joseph Goodhue, Josiah Phinney. John Burnham, William Meserve, Thomas Miller. Hog Reeves.
Given under my hand this second day of April, A. D. 1805.
RALPH H. BOWLES, Town Clerk.
At a town meeting, May 2. 1805. held at the Meeting House, in East River, Selectmen present, Jacob Long- fellow and Wm. Emerson; Voted to send a Representative to represent this town in the General Court to be convened at Boston on the last Wednesday in May. Jacob Longfellow was chosen Representative.
The second article in the Warrant called for the choice of a Moderator and "Hon. Stephen Jones, Esq.," was elected.
Voted, to sell at Auction the Public Lots that have been usually sold at May meeting. At this meeting the High Marsh School lot was sold to Mr. John Holmes, for thirteen dollars."
Voted : To sell the old Meeting House at East Falls, at Public auction : the Selectmen to give due notice of time and place of sale."
Voted : That the road laid out by the Selectmen from Eastern River Mills to Gardner Mills between Lewis Foster's and Samuel Foster's, be accepted."
Voted : That the road across the Cove be discontinued.
Voted: That the road from the Mills to the Cove be con- tinued by making bars and gates. At this meeting Wm. Simpson was excused from serving as Tythingman; "JJames Foster was appointed in his stead." The following Road Surveyors were appointed, Gideon O'Brien, Win. Emerson. Wm. Simpson, Moses Foster, Nath'l Hanscom, Jona'n. Longfellow, Nathaniel Phinney. Jr .. George Seavy, Joseph Getchell, Jr., Ephraim Hadley.
The inhabitants assembled at the Court House in Machias,
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
Monday, the 27th day of May, 1805. Gideon O'Brien, Wm. Emerson, Selectmen present, the names of the follow- ing persons were drawn from the boxes: for petit Juror for S. J. C., Josiah Phinney. Grand Jurors Abijah Foster. Wm. Simpson, David Libbee. Tilley Howe, Paul Crocker. James Crocker, Daniel Meserve. Petit Jurors for County Courts in said County, Arthur Albee, Appollos Chase, Isaac Longfellow, Enoch Longfellow. Ephraim Holmes, John Holmes, Jr.
Attest
RALPH H. BOWLES, T. C.
At this time Consider Drew of the Middle River District, by his Petition to the Selectmen shows that "About the beginning of last May, two of the Selectmen viewed and laid out a road from Stephen Smiths. Jr .. across the lots of Joseph Foss, Enoch Longfellow and your Petitioner, according to a plan herewith exhibited, which highway is very injurious to your Petitioner, and does not accommodate the said Smith, Foss and Longfellow .-- Your petitioner therefore prays that said road may be discontinued where it crosses his lot, and from thence Southerly to the County road, and that instead of crossing his said lot. the Select- men may be directed to lay out a highway from where said road strikes his Northerly line: thence down between him and Enoch Longfellow's to the County road, for reasons to be shown, when the town shall take the subject matter of this Petition into consideration.
In town meeting held in the Court House, Machias. April 1, 1805, -votes were taken.
For Governor.
C'aleb Strong, 63.
James Sullivan, 35.
Lieut. Gov'r.
Edward A. Robbins, 63.
William Heath. 35.
David Cobb, 64
Senators, . 66
Mark Langdon. 63.
George Ulmer, 31.
John Farley, 35.
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MUNICIPAL, LIFE.
For Reg'r of Deeds, Samuel Smith, 50.
.. 4
Levi Fairbanks, 4.
Jeremiah ()'Brien, Jr., 23.
Geo. S. Smith, 7.
For Co. Treasurer,
Jacob Longfellow. 77.
6 6
John Cooper, 3.
In 1806, May 31, Josiah Harris, Ebenezer Inglee and Levi Fairbanks Assessors, committed their Warrant to Gideon O'Brien, saying "Your District extends from the South end of the Bridge over the West Falls to the Western line of the Township, and Sontherly to the West line of Joseph Libbee's land.
John Lincoln, James Flinn. Jr. Thomas Miller. Moses Lambert. Daniel Lambert. John Cates, were assessed for a poll tax $3. only. There were twenty-three freeholders in this list. Gideon ()'Brien's $19.21: Benj. Foss. for one cow. tax fourteen cents : the aggregate being $175.58.
Capt. O'Brien must have been a good read builder; no matter if he was Selectman, Assessor or Overseer, he must serve as Highway Surveyor whenever called upon. Five names of Morris O'Brien's sons appear in above list and one grandson, Jeremiah O'Brien. Jr.
A list of road workers was committed to Mr. John C. Talbot. June 15, 1811. "Your District extends from the North end of East river. Lower Bridge to the Corner of the County road on Scott's Hill; Josiah Harris, Peter Talbot Jr., Assessors. Single Poll tax was $3.00. There were thirty names, eleven of whom were rated for only $3.00. Several had boys old enough to be taxed on his poll, thus Billings L. Cary paid on three polls: Peter Talbot, Peter Talbot, Jr .. Timothy Weston, two polls each. There were eleven. more than thirty-three per cent of the number, who had $3 to each name.
For the first time William Pope appeared in the tax list for 89.79. Peter Talbot. Sr .. $27.37; Peter Talbot, Jr .. 812.52. M. Jones Talbot $5.76, Timothy Weston, $12.53. Tho's H. Carr, $11.38, Jonathan Battles, $3.96, Elijah Pope, $7.56.
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HISTORY OF MACIIIAS.
To Mr. John C. Talbot, one of the Surveyors of highways in the town of Machias for the year 1811.
Your District extends from the North end of East River, Lower Bridge to the Corner of the County road on Scott's Hill.
The following is the list of Assessments made upon the Polls and estates, of the persons therein named each one his respective proportion of the sums total of the town tax for highways, which you are to cause to be expended in labor and materials for the highways within your said limits; one half thereof before the first day of August next and the other half before the expiration of the term for which you were chosen, allowing one dollar, fifty cents per day for each man and one dollar per day for each yoke of oxen, carts, plows etc., as you can agree for. If any of said persons shall be deficient in working or otherwise paying the sums they are assessed, you are at the end of said term to render to us or our successors in office, a list of such persons and the sums so deficient. You are to give six days notice to each person of the time and place they are to work and of the tools required.
Given under our hands this 15th day of June, 1811.
Battles Jonathan 1 poll,
tax
$3.96.
Billings & Cary,
3 polls,
11.54.
Fenlason, Nath'l 1 poll,
3.43.
Foster, Abijah 1
4.54.
Folsom, Jeremialı 1
..
10.84.
Hartford, Paul
1
3.08.
Pope, William 1
66
9.79.
Pope, Elijah 1
7.56.
Rich, Samuel
1
5.40.
Rich, Ezekiel
1
4.20.
Talbot, l'eter
2 polls,
27.37.
Talbot, M. Jones 1 poll,
5.76.
Talbot, Peter & J. C. 2 polls,
21.52.
Whittemore, Wm. 1 poll,
9.57.
Whittemore, Daniel 1 poll,
6.69.
Weston, Timothy 2 polls,
12.53.
Wright, Thomas 1 poll,
3.10.
Carr, Thomas H. 1 poll,
11.38.
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MUNICIPAL LIFE.
Massachusetts Militia, -To Mr. Edward Sevey,-Yon being duly enrolled as a soldier in the Company under my command are hereby ordered to appear at the place of parade by the Meeting House on Tuesday, the fifth day of May, at one o'clock in the afternoon, armed and equipped as the Law direets for Military duty and inspection. Given at the town of Machias the twenty-third day of April, 1812. WM. CHALONER, Captain.
Peter Talbot and Geo. S. Smith, Assessors issued their Warrant to John C. Talbot, Highway Surveyor, June 20, 1812. defining his limits. - "Your District extends from the North side of East River. Lower Bridge to the Rhim Road on Scott's Hill."
There were seven "single polls," at $3.00 each. Several of the freeholders paid for two polls. Thirty persons in all were in the list; among them were JJohn Dickinson, Billings & Cary, John Chaloner, Paul Hartford, Samuel Kemp Joshua Lane. John Tuell. Timothy Weston, Thomas Wright, Nathaniel Waterman. The highest 'tax was paid by Peter Talbot, $19.03: Peter and J. C. Talbot, $14.15; Weston, $10.OS: Wm. Whittemore. 10.32; Dickinson, $6.38.
CAPITULATION OF MACHIAS.
General Cooper to Governor Strong.
Machias, 17. Sept .. 1814.
May it please your Excellency :
On Sunday the 11th Inst. very early in the morning, a British land and naval force under the command of Lieutenant Col. Andrew Pilkington and Capt. Hyde Parker captured the Fort and took possession of Machias. the few U. S. Troops and Militia that were in the Fort made no resistance and effected their escape with the loss only of two of the U. S. Troops taken prisoners. When the English troops arrived at West Machias we addressed the Commander and requested that no severe measures might be taken with
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HISTORY OF MACINAS.
respect to the submission of the people, delivering up arms, etc., until a conference could be had. After the Guards were posted and other measures taken to occasion as little trouble and alarm to the inhabitants as possible, the Com- mander established their quarter with me and finding, them inclined to be as favorable as the nature of their orders would allow-we proposed a Capitulation in the name of the Militia , and another to the same effect in favor of the Civil officers and Citizens of the County of Washington, which if consented to by them, and ratified by the proper officers should form the rule of our conduct during the present war between Great Britain and the United States, and immediately sent expresses for General Brewer and Colonel Campbell, who arrived on the evening of Monday,-in the meantime the arms and public property were ordered in. Tuesday General Brewer and Colonel Campbell for themselves and in behalf of the Militia under their command signed the capitulation and were paroled as were the civil officers and citizens. Copies are enclosed. Wednesday several regulations were adopted for the public tranquility and Lieutenant General, Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, and Admiral Griffith arrived this day from Castine and per- sonally approved and confirmed all that had been done. They tarried but a few hours. Thursday at one o'clock the whole British force consisting of about 1000 were embarked and sailed for Castine without having committed any ex- cesses during their tarry at Machias, that deserve notice-It is a duty I feel to declare the conduct of Colonel Pilkington and Captain Parker, while here was calculated to impress on every heart the deepest conviction of British honor and discipline, their strenuous exertion to prevent depredations however small, and when unavoidably made, to provide a remuneration, and their honorable regard to the feelings of those they were sent to subdue. demands our warmest gratitude and will not easily be effaced from our remembrance.
I am aware of the responsible part taken by me on this occasion, but the approbation of those in this place, on whose judgment I can rely and my knowing how impossible it is for the General or State Government to afford this
MUNICIPAL LIFE
308
W.M. COOPER Second son of Gen John Cooper, native of Machias.
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MUNICIPAL LIFE.
County any adequate protection under existing circum- stances, I hope will induce your Excellency to believe the safety and honor of the people have been secured by these measures; and the necessity of taking the oath of allegiance, and submitting to martial law has been avoided.
I have the honor to remain very respectfully,
Your Excellency's most obed't. Serv't., JOHN COOPER, Sheriff of the County of Washington.
It is known that the Br. troops marched from Buck's Harbor to Machias. It was also equally as well known that the General in command, his Staff, the Captains of the vessels, in all about twenty-five officers in full uniform, came to Machias in boats or barges, marines rowing the bcats. So far as can be learned the Br. officers in com- mand endeavored to keep within the rules of civilized war; the "insults" and depradations were left to orderlies and privates and these, not always harsh, yet in some cases humiliating.
The following was published many years ago in one of the local papers :
MACHIAS: WAR 1812.
This town did not receive much notice from the British commanders 'till in Ang. 1814: Castine and Eastport being in possession of the British they planned an attack on Machias. In August or September five British men of war heavily armed appeared in the river about three miles below Machiasport and came to anchor near Birch Point. The British forces numbered 700 regulars and two companies of Riflemen, between 900 and 1000 in all.
The Americans had a force of 16 raw militia in the Fort on Sanborne's Point under command of Col. Samuel A. Morse. Nearer the shore and below Morse's barracks was Fort Manning under charge of Lieut. Manning.
310
HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
As soon as it was known at the village in Machias that the British were preparing to move against the town. Col. Jeremiah O'Brien, mounted his horse and rode through the streets appealing to men to volunteer, declaring that "If I can get twelve men to go with me, I will go to Col. Morse's relief." O'Brien could not get a man! It is said he became so incensed at the lack of patriotism that he galloped his horse across the bridge and to the top of the O'Brien hill ! uttering imprecations not of gospel tone !
Meanwhile, the British Commander ordered boats and barges lowered and manned, each carrying a small cannon on the bow and officers and troops to the number of 800 commenced moving up river. Col. Morse not being re-in- forced as he had expected ordered evacuation and retreat from Sanborne's Point to Machias village. The British took possession of the Fort, burned the barracks and de- stroyed everything within reach, and continued their march unmolested to Machias.
It is said that one Jones, not Stephen, met the British officer near the Meserve hill, and waved his hat in friendly salutation and rode on his horse in advance conducting the British to town.
Mr. Oliver W. Crocker, who was then about 18 years old, went to Machiasport to see the British. When the British officer came to Meeting House hill at Machiasport, he seized yound Oliver by the arm saying, "Show me the way to Machias!" Young Crocker had war in his heart, and he feigned insufficient acquaintance with the road. but the corporals with fixed bayonet kept him ahead and made him travel towards the town !
The British took possession of Machias not a gun fired by the Americans. The officers were tolerably well disposed while the troops robbed the hens' roosts and pig pens and "cut capers" generally !
Most of the men in town were anti-war or "Strong men :"
Governor Strong refusing to call out troops for defense anywhere in Massachusetts, and Maine was Massachusetts
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MUNICIPAL LIFE.
then. If the war hal any supporters they were in a minority and individual volunteers.
The O'Brien family, George Burnham, S. A. Morse, John Holway, Obadiah Hill, Benjamin Harmon, Samuel Harmon, Simeon Crocker, Henry Harmon, were about all among the prominent men who supported the Federal government.
Years afterwards his political opponents reflected on Col. Morse's courage and patriotism, unjustly as will be seen.
Early in commencement of the war S. A. Morse, John Burn- ham. John Holway and others fitted up a cruiser to prey on British vessels and merchandize on the Coast between Quoddy and Mt. Desert. Their vessel was captured in the early part of 1814. Burnham was carried a prisoner to Dartmoor and Morse to Halifax. What became of their companions or who they were is not known. Morse was paroled. He came direct to Machias and being full of the war spirit he volunteered to take command of the forces on Machias river, Jabez Sanborne a Corporal being in immediate command of the militia in the Fort.
Col. Morse was aware that if he made useless resistance to the British or made no resistance if cap tured by them, by the law and usage of war, he would be shot without trial or ceremony, hence prudene dictated retreat in good order !
Morse was no coward! A coward on parole would not put himself voluntarily in way of danger and certain death if captured by the enemy !
John Holway was outspoken in denunciation of the "cowardice" of some of his fellow townsmen !
The British made threats of burning Holway's and the ('Brien's houses and property. They failed to carry the threat into execution.
The only musket discharged at, towards or over the British troops on their march by road or by barge on the river from Birch Point to Machias was by one man of the militia in the Fort named Dinsmore who came from Narraguagus. He was so humiliated and so full of resentment that nothing less than "One crack at "om" would appease him.
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
William King, who was Provincial Governor, afterwards the first Governor of Maine after separation from Mass- achusetts, did issue a proclamation calling for volunteers and means of defense. Men and means in the Eastern Counties in response to King's call were limited.
Without reference to the sentiment that prevailed in Machias, whether patriotic or otherwise, it was no doubt better for the people that resistance was not made, as the town would no doubt have been captured and probably de- stroyed.
Col. Morse proceeded to Hampden, procured a small vessel had her furnished and manned and very shortly captured a British merchant vessel, which came under the "Bounty act" of Congress for such captures. The bounty was not paid, however, until after Col. Morse's death in 1862. his heirs receivng its benefit.
In October 1814 while the British held Machias they made a foraging march to Jonesboro, intending to go to Pleasant River, Addison, but the roads and bridges were so poor and few, so much woods to pass through, not mentioning the whiz of a bullet now and then coming from some King man's musket, they abandoned the march and returned to Machias.
The same fall word came from the British officer at East- port that three of his soldiers had deserted. Expecting they would cross the bridge at Machias three sentinels with shot guns and bayonets were stationed on the bridge. Early in the morning they came to the bridge; they were ordered to "halt," but not obeying the sentinels fired, one fell dead and was buried in Machias; the remaining two were recaptured and returned to Eastport.
Mr. Levi Bowker, now living (June, 1881, ) who will be 86 August 20, 1881, was "Drummer boy" and Orderly sargeant, in the Fort.
Mr. Bowker remembers the practice of troops in the Fort while out on picket at Larrabee's Cove and Bucks Harbor; occasionally a musket would be discharged in- dicating prospective quiet, no invader near. Again "All's
-
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well" could be heard over the tree tops as passed from Sentry to Sentry.
In Summer of 1814 while Morse was in the Fort his men captured a drove of beef cattle from the western part of Washington and eastern part of Hancock county destined for St. Andrews, supply for the British garrison. Morse's men kept the cattle for several days in the woods near East Machias and Machias. Sept. 19 when the British attacked and burned the barracks they obtained possession of the cattle or so many as they could find. Morse a few days previous having ordered the cattle driven to Machiasport.
Machias was held by the British forces but a few days. When they evacuated the commander ordered all houses searched for arms, ammunition, etc. The troops gathered all they could and the guns were loaded on a cart in the road near the site of the recent "Old Machias House," and trucked to Machiasport, thence by transport to Halifax.
Some of the more patriotic hid their guns. but the town was quite thoroughly "cleaned out."
A platoon of British soldiers fired on one man, who was making off with his two guns. He had been down river bird hunting. When he came to town not knowing of the British order being enforced he thought the men "fooling," so he shouldered arms and forward.
The commanding officer was notified, meanwhile, the man with his muskets had crossed to the westerly side of the river, so that when the platoon (8 men) fired they had a long shot, the fleeing man fell over a log, pretending that the shot had struck him; the British officer ordered his surgeon to go across the river and see to the man who was wounded over there, but before the surgeon arrived where he lay he gathered. up and made a hasty retreat to the woods beyond! He was not a citizen of Machias, name not known.
After successfully resisting attacks of British forces during the Revolution to feel it necessary to capitulate to the same invading power only thirty-two years later, many
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
of the same men living in 1814 who lived here in 1775- 1782. was humiliating, hence no one of them had words to express in fitting terms the experiences of 1814. It is a matter of local pride that the flag. the Pine Tree Flag of 1775, did not trail, nor was it lowered or supplanted by any other 'till 1814!
The people of the town could not do better or different than they did when they agreed with the Br. Commander to capitulate. Twelve officers were in possession of Dr. Parker Clark's house, his family turned out; one thousand regulars occupied meeting house, school houses, stores, barns and some of them quartered in tenements, the occupants having been ordered to vacate.
The Br. officer exacted an oath of allegiance to King George and renunciation of the U. S. Government; other- wise he should be compelled "to burn the town."
The cool head of John Cooper, Capt. Stephen Smith, Jacob Longfellow, Stephen Jones, Col. Benj. Foster. Ephraim Chase and others, saved the town the disgrace, of the oath of allegiance: saved the town from destruction. Far better as after occupying the town less than one week, foraging on cattle, poultry and crops, the Br. Regiment left and no farther molestation of the place occurred.
Let it be remembered that Eastport, Castine. Portland, New York had surrendered before Machias and Washington the Capitol of the Nation had been reduced to ashes! Is it not marvelous that Machias escaped spoilation if not de- struction in 1814? The British memory must have had a tinge of the Margaretta affair; of the capture of the tender Tatmagouche and Diligence: of the two or three prizes, Br. merchant vessels, by John O'Brien in 1776; also the successful defense, repulse and defeat of the Br. fleet in 1777? All these events of a local nature combined with the National dislike of the Colonists in general, and the In- dependence of the States so recently acquired, the con- clusions drawn that the heart of the Br. Commander in 1814 was not so hard as it might have been.
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