USA > Maine > Washington County > Machias > Narrative of the town of Machias, the old and the new, the early and late > Part 3
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A committee was appointed, Japhet Hill, Isaiah Foster, Samuel Scott, to lay out to each proprietor two hundred and fifty acres according to the vote of the proprietors-to lay ont proper roads and landings, and divide the marsh equally to each proprietor
In November, 1770. a meeting was called to see if the pro- prietors would agree to send home to his "Sacred Majesty", King George the Third, the grant they had received from the General Court, for his Confirmation? It was voted quite unanimously to send the document or a copy home to his "Sacred Majesty?" To pay expense they voted to raise twenty shillings on each right which they directed their Treasurer to pay to Mr. John Bernard, merchant of Boston, if he would obtain a confirmation, and if Mr. Bernard would not undertake it, they requested their agent in Boston to employ some one else who would be likely to accomplish the desired object.
A double saw mill was built in 1770, by Ichabod Jones, Jonathan Longfellow, David Gardner, the last a Quaker fromNantucket, near the outlet of Gardner's Lake on the Gardner stream.
Seven years had now elapsed since the commencement of the movement to establish a permanent settlement at Machias. From the Sixteen which embarked on board Captain Buck's vessel in May 1763. their number had increased beyond the most sanguine expectation. More than half of the eighty persons, who had obtained a grant of the Township, were heads of families. Several families were located on each side of the river at Machiasport; so on the Northern side of Middle river: some on East Machias River and a larger more business like and central , village had grown around "West Falls." Three double saw mills had been built on "Kwapskitchwock Falls. "-Indian name- in English
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
"Canoe no walk em." A single mill had been erected at Middle river and a double saw mill at East Falls. The in- habitants had obtained, after much trouble and perplexity, a .grant of the township, which seemed to them their territorial rights ; nothing now remained but to pursue the even tenor of their way, with promise of success.
In July, 1771, the Proprietors voted to hire a minister to "preach the Gospel in this place." They raised or assessed the amount of twenty shillings on each lot holder in the township for so long a time as one could be hired for that amount. . The aggregate raised was eighty-four pounds. Joseph Sevey, Enoch Sanborn, Stephen Jones were appointed a Committee to contract with a minister. Mr. Jones being at Boston in August met the Rev. James Lyon, who had recently left Onslow, N. S., where he had been preaching, but the people were so poor as to be unable to support preaching.
Mr. Lyon was a native of Princeton, N. J., -educated at the College in that town, having received a Presbyterian ordination. On the encouragement held out to him by Mr. Jones he concluded to go to Machias with his wife and children and preach on trial. The next Spring, the people liking him, they invited him to remain. offering him eighty- four pounds as a salary and one hundred pounds as a "settle- ment," together with right to a share in the township This offer he accepted and continued to preach here until he died in October, 1794.
Smith's Centennial says :- "Mr Lyon had a fine musical taste as well as voice. At one time he published a work on music. He had a singular defect of vision, not being able to distinguish between the colors black and red. He once purchased a piece of scarlet cloth, of which he intended to make himself a coat, thinking it was black, until apprised by his wife that it would be much more suitable for a uniform for a British officer than a dress coat for a clergyman. He never was regularly installed as Pastor of the Church which he formed."
James Lyon's Parish work commenced December 5, 1771.
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
and continued until his decease over twenty-three years ;- the first gospel minister settled in the place and probably the first minister to come to the Plantation
The church was formally organized on the 12th day of September, 1782; on this day Joseph Libby and Benjamin Foster were elected Deacons. The rules and regulations, as at the time assented to, were as follows :-
1st. Persons may be admitted to this church without making any public relation of their experience.
2nd. That all matters of acknowledgment of the breach of God's Commandments should be acknowledged before the church only.
3d. That the holy Ordinance should be administered three times a year.
4th. That the months for that purpose should be May, August and October.
The Sacrament of the Lord's supper was first administered by this church on the 6th day of October. 1772. Probably, this was the first observance of the Communion, by any religious Society in the Province of Maine East of the Penob- scot River.
The Inhabitants in June and July, 1773, appointed a committee called "Lot Layers." This committee consisted of Samuel Scott, Benjamin Foster, Japhet Hill, and they engaged Daniel Merit for Surveyor, Messrs. Scott and Foster acted as chairmen and stake drivers ; also spotting the trees and setting stone to mark division lines and bounds.
The Plantation had voted instructions to the "Lot Layers" to lay out all the marsh grounds and divide the same equally in quantity and quality between the eighty Proprietors In pursuance of their duty they met with resistance from some of the claimants. The primary cause of the resistance does not appear to have been revealed. A meeting of the settlers was called at short notice and held at nine o'clock A. M. in Judge Jones' barn, which stood on the West side of Centre street directly opposite the present Congregational church. The report of the Lot Layers as recorded on the Proprietors books is in the following words :- Messrs Benjamin Foster
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
and Samuel Scott, two of the lot layers, report that they have gone so far in the division of the Marsh as to lay out the lots on the plan, and should have proceeded so far as to have staked out the lots had they not been threatened by Japhet Hill, one of the sworn Lot Layers, Samuel Hill and some others, who "Swore that they would knock the first man down that entered this Marsh upon any such business ; and that if any man should presume to bring any compass and chain and make any use of them they would destroy them". Whereupon the Committee thought it not advisable to do anything farther toward a division of the Marsh until they had acquainted the Proprietors with what they had done, and the opposition they had met with."
The Proprietors no doubt astonished at such profanity and forcible argument, adjourned to two o'clock in the afternoon, when they passed a couple of very cool and sensible votes in relation to the division of the Marsh, and the prosecution of those who tresspassed on lots not their own.
In June and July, 1773, Daniel Merit, as Surveyor, employed by the settlers, assisted by Samuel Scott, Benjamin Foster and Japhet Hill, established "The courses and boundaries of all the Marsh lands in the Township of Machias carefully and impartially laid out; the three men named being Committee appointed by the settlers, also acting as chairman in the said business".
Mr Merritt divided the "high Marsh" into 84 lots, giving description of each lot in a book or pamphlet of 54 pages ; near the close of which he adds in a foot note, -"If any of these lots are difficult to find specially the ministers, you may be better informed by looking at the plan with this too."
Again he writes, "There is 572 acres of High Marsh and Thatch lands, there is 181 acres of thatch in all; subtract this leaves 391 acres of Marsh divided into 84 shares, which gives four acres and 55 square rods of high marsh per share. The thatch land divided into 84 shares gives two acres and 13 square rods per share."
The Surveyor describes lot No. 19 a "very large lot
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
but very bad, and full of drift stuff, and is large for that reason.
No. 39 lot "begins at a stake numbered 38 and 39 and runs southeasterly down Middle River and takes all the thatch to the town landing near Capt Henry White's house, seven numbers 32 to 39 is from Burnt Point to Capt. White's Point and all the stakes is numbered."
To 44 of the thatch lots, after giving courses, the Surveyor adds, "Near the Brick Kiln, Potatoe Point side of the river."
This proves that bricks were made in Machias prior to June, 1773.
No. 45 "Begins at a rock East of Mr. Morris O'Brien's house and south of the thurerfair Creek at the West end, and runs East 35 rods; then North to the river and takes all the thatch up to the West."
Some of the land marks used in recording the Survey are, 'John Young's Cove'- 'the Brick Kiln'-'Obadiah Hill's old House'-'Boney's Cove'-'Joseph Libbie's House'-'Near Sander's Brick Killn'-'George Sevey's West side'-'Boney Creek'- 'Samuel Libbie's Point'-'Indian River'- .Silvanus Scott's Rim'-'Pieter Point and the next Point to Pieter Point'-'Samuel Scott's Cove"-'Ezekiel Libbie's Landing'-'East from Samuel Burnham's'- 'David Libbie's Point'-'John Berrie's Point'-'Daniel Hill's House'-'Daniel Hoit's House'-'Japhet Hill's apple tree near his house. ' 'Joseph Sevey's Creek.'
"Ephraim Andrews thatch lot begins at the dividing line between him and Silvanus Scott, runs West 48 rods, to an oak tree that stoops marked 8 and 9, thence south three degrees West to the River, and the small piece on the Cove or thatch lot joining on N. E. side of Samuel Libbie's point of 90 square rods, is given for to make up for the badness of his lot."
Thus for anght that appears of record the matter ended quietly. the Proprietors not holding a meeting 'till two years later. in July, 1773, when the disputed territory of Marsh lots was finally drawn for by lot among the Pro- prietors. From this time 'till 1781, a period of eight years,
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
including a portion of the Revolutionary War, no meeting was held by the settlers, almost every man of the Association acting in a Committee of the whole Township on the "State of the Colonies."
In 1774 the first meeting house was built on a lot pur- chased by a Committee, who had been appointed by the residents, of George Libby, one of the sixteen, being a part of the lot now occupied by Libby Hall in Machias. The church building was forty-two feet long, twenty-five feet wide, one story in height It contained no pews. Ranges of seats were placed on each side of the narrow aisle, at the head of which a small pulpit was erected.
The builders, all done by private subscriptions, were Stephen Jones, Stephen Smith, sr., George Stillman, James Flynn, David Longfellow, William Tupper, William Albee Joseph Averill, Amos Boynton, Daniel Meserve, Jonathan Pineo, John Berry, Joseph Libbee, Job Burnham, Enoch Waterhouse, Obadiah Hill. The building cost 65 lbs. 8 s., or three hundred and seventeen dollars. It was a few years later purchased by the Town when, in 1785 an amount of money was raised to repair and make some changes in the building ; also to provide a building for religious worship at East Falls. Besides the religious services held in the church, it was used for Plantation and Proprietors' meetings, and for many years subsequent to 1790 , when the County of Wash- ington was organized, the various terms of Court were held in it; also the first schools of which there is record, were kept in the building. The lot was larger then, than it is now, as this first meeting house stood East of the present Libby Hall site and on land for many years occupied by private dwellings.
In April, 1774, Capt. Ichabod Jones, who, in connection with his nephew, Stephen Jones, continued his interest in the prosperity of the plantation, came here with his wife and daughter on a visit; but in consequence of the difficulties arising out of the celebrated "Boston Port Bill," and of the apprehensions, which every day grew stronger of a rupture between the colonies and the mother country, he
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
remained with his family the following Summer and winter his vessel being at anchor in the harbor.
News of the conflict between the Colonists and British troops at Lexington and Concord, near Boston, came to Machias early in May : the fighting having occurred April
19, 1775. Capt. Jones had at this time commenced to load two of his vessels, the Unity and the Polly with lumber for Boston: he was Captain of the Unity himself, and Nathaniel Horton was Master of the Polly. Capt. Jones, sailed from Machias in the early part of May, having directed Horton to touch at Cape Ann and Salem for a market and failing there, to proceed to some port in Connecticut. On his arrival at Salem Capt. Horton found the whole country in great excitement, and the Inhabitants of Boston including his own family. in great distress. Contrary to orders he proceeded to Boston to bring his family away. Capt. Jones was in the town also making arrangements to bring from Boston his house furniture, as well as the families and furniture of John C. Jones, his son and Thomas Lee, a part- ner of his son.
He seemed also desirous of carrying a quantity of pro- visions to Machias for the Inhabitants, who were in a great measure destitute: the unsettled state of Public affairs hav- ing paralyzed the business of the country during the previous year.
It was necessary, however, in order to remove his own property, and that of his friends, to apply to Admiral Graves, who was in command of Boston Harbor, for per- mission, which was granted on condition that JJones should return to Boston with lumber with which to construct bar- racks for the British troops, who then occupied the Town.
The Jones vessels were accordingly loaded with household furniture, belonging to JJones, his son and Mr. Lee, together with n considerable quantity of provisions, which had been secretly conveyed on board, previous to his application to the Naval authorities.
Admiral Graves ordered the armed schooner, 'Marguerite,' entter of about one hundred tons, carrying nearly forty
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
men, commanded by Midshipman Moore, who was a relative of the Admiral, to accompany Jones to Machias. The object of this visit of the Margaretta. is said to have been three fold; first, to see that Capt. Jones performed his agreement to return to Boston, with a load of lumber ; second, to protect him from trouble by the Inhabitants if any should arise; third, to carry to Boston the stores of an armed vessel, which had been cast away in vicinity of Machias a short time be- fore.
"Ichabod Jones is represented by some persons to have been inclined towards his Majesty's Government; if so he knew full well that the sentiment of the people at Machias to be adverse to his. He probably solicited of Admiral Graves the protection of the Margaretta in the outset, not- withstanding it was intimated that he expressed some uneasiness, that the armed cutter was ordered to accompany his vessels to Machias.
Before he left Boston , however, he appears also to have fortified himself with a certificate, from the Selectmen of that town, desiring the people here to permit Capt. Jones to return and bring away from Boston the distressed in- habitants and their effects." The two vessels and the Mar- garetta arrived in Machias river on the second day of June. The next day as a pre-requisite to reopening his accustomed trade with the people, Capt. Jones circulated for their signatures, an obligation by which they were to bind them selves, not only to carry lumber to Boston as heretofore. but to protect him and his property at all events. Failing in this he called a meeting of the residents to be held June 6. There was a general attendance, and a vote was passed to allow Capt. Jones to proceed with his business as usual, the citizens agreeing to purchase and pay as they had pre- viously done. Upon this assurance Capt. Jones landed his goods, commenced trading with the inhabitants and loading his vessel.
There is a tradition that Capt. Jones in making sale of the supplies from on board of his vessel"Favored those who had favored him," and would give credit only to those who
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
voted in favor of permitting him to carry lumber to Boston. It was also the talk among men of Machias, with a greater semblance of truth, that the lumber which he proposed to take to Boston, was just what was required to build bar- racks for the Royal troops.
The startling news of the battle at Lexington was yet fresh in the patriot hearts of Machias. Doubtless the thoughts of Revolution came to them in the dreams of the night as well as at their firesides and conversations of the day. There were restless minds here fired with the wrongs which the Colonies had so patiently endured. and believing that the eargoes of lumber for Jones' vessels were intended for quarters in which to shelter British sokliery, caused the determination that the Jones vessels should not return to Boston ..
At this early date there were only about six tons of English hay cut in the Township. The quantity needed for lumbering purposes being procured and brought in vessels from Nova Scotia. Such was the state of agriculture in other respects that only a very limited quantity of vegetables were raised, not even potatoes sufficient to meet the consumption of the inhabitants. A few cows were kept and only oxen enough to draw logs in the winter.
There were about eighty families and nearly one hundred single men then living in the territory of Machias all of whom depended on lumbering for subsistence. The settle- ment was at a great distance from any other considerable place: Boston was their source of supply- their only market. The only mode of communication, or of obtaining food to live on in seasons of plenty or of scarcity, was by water: their were no roads, no bridges. The only channel of communication could be easily controlled by a vigilant enemy.
There were a few settlers' houses whose occupants were in no way able to assist their neighbors at Machias, except. if called on, to bear arms. Chandler's River then twenty miles West by water (now Jonesboro) contained a dozen families. Pleasant Birer (now Addison and Columbia) and
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
the Narraguagus River valley contained not over twenty families, fifteen to forty miles by water West of Jonesboro.
These settlers did not know one another in their different log houses at the head of bays or on the shores of the Rivers ; they were struggling for subsistance themselves. There numbers were so few that no relief was expected of them. Before Jones' arrival in his sloops, it was told by old people, in the early part of the ninteenth Century, that. "There was not three weeks provision in the whole township of Machias. Yet in spite of all these adverse circum- stances our little Band of Patriots became only the more resolute and determined.
It seems probable that Benjamin Foster of East Falls was the leader in originating and outlining a resistance to the sailing of the vessels. He became afterwards Colonel of militia, and was a man of practical good sense, bold and energetic. He had had several years experience in the French and Indian War; was at the capture of Louisburg and had not wholly forgotten the smell of gun-powder. A
private meeting was called in which the ready and willing Morris O'Brien boys were consulted; who with Ephraim Chase, Josiah Weston and others constituted the first "Council of war" convened in the incipient stages of the Revolution East of Boston. The meeting was first conceiv- ed by a few persons in the East room of the Job Burnham Tavern. The old Tavern, built in 1770, is now (1903) stand- ing preserved in its outlines-same sash and glass, doors, chimney, rooms as when the handful of Patriots gathered there one day in May, 1775, to discuss the news from the stirring fields of Concord and Lexington, being in full accord and sympathy with the resistance to British rule in New England. This meeting at the Tavern was held on Tuesday. Even the silent voices were responsive, if not. emphatic, when Jeremiah O'Brien said,-
"Well neighbors what do you think of this report of the out-break at Lexington?"
What rumor was asked?
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
OLD BURNHAM TAVERN.
1
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Why said O'Brien, "That the first blow has been struck and American blood spilled near Boston?
I move said Foster that tomorrow we raise a Liberty Pole in front of the Town House!
"Agreed-Agreed" was the response from every soul present.
A "Committee of Safety was then appointed to have super- vision of all affairs relative to the Proclamation lately received issued by the Provincial Congress.
One man present by name of Jones (Ichabod. probably. ) who hailed from Boston, suggested that it "Might be advis- able to call a town meeting to act on the propositions dis- cussed in the Tavern meeting, which. if the town should act favorably, would lend weight to acts of this character and impart to them the forms of legality." The suggestion was favorably received and next day a public meeting was held, which was considered quite fully in line with the (lesire of the Colonial Congress. to have all movements so far as possible assume form of legal resistence to the British yoke.
The Committee of Safety proposed to the meeting and it. was voted by acclamation to immediately plant a "Liberty Pole."
On adjournment a sufficient number of volunteers set about the work. They selected a tall, sapling pine pruning the branches, leaving only a "tuft of verdure" at the top, the best emblem they had at command of the Flag they desired to fight for, live and die under !
Meanwhile other willing hands had dug a deep hole in which to plant the "Tree of Liberty." Long before the sunset on that memorable day amid the shonts of the assembled inhabitants and the discharge of muskets the lofty pole was set and secured. The people gathered around the "tree;" there solemn pledges were made and exchang- ed to resist the mother country, and if occasion calls to sacrifice property and life itself in defense of Colonial Rights and Independence.
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
The night succeeding and for a few days these patriots anxiously waited the course of events.
A week or so later. two vessels under convoy of an armed Cutter, appeared and cast anchors in the Harbor. As was quickly understood. were dispatched to Machias to procure lumber, boards, pickets, planks, &c., to be used to house and protect King George's troops while they attempted to over- awe and further subdue the inhabitants of Boston and vicinity. By this arrival confirmation was received of the battle at Lexington, and the people of Machias were made acquainted with the actual state of affairs in that quarter. regarding which there had been a great degree of uncertainty and anxiety.
The cutter Margaretta which convoyed the merchant vessels mounted four, four pound guns and sixteen swivels. She was commanded by a spirited, young Irishman named Moor, who notwithstanding his coming in the character of an enemy, by his gallantry and gentlemanly conduct won largely the esteem of the inhabitants.
Very shortly after his arrival, observing the "Liberty Pole" Captain Moor landed and declared to a group of men, who had gathered at the landing, being of the same party who had erected it-"That pole must come down."
"That Pole, sir," said John O'Brien, "was planted by the unanimous approval of the People of Machias."
"Well, sir," rejoined the officer, "with or without their approval, it is my duty to demand its removal!"
"Must come down, " repeated O'Brien with a tone deno- ting defiance. "Such words are easily spoken, my friend- I think you will find that it is easier to make than it will be to enforce such demand."
"What? Am I to understand that resistance will be made? Will the people of Machias dare to disregard an order, not originating with me, gentlemen, but from the Government whose officer I am?"
"The people of Machias," replied O'Brien, "will dare do anything in maintainence of their principles and rights."
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
"It is useless to bandy words," rejoined the officer, a little nettled at the determined spirit manifested.
"My orders are peremptory and must be obeyed."
"That Liberty Pole must be taken down, or it will be my painful duty to fire on the town."
As the youthful officer turned to re-enter his boat he was accosted by Mr. Jones, the merchant before alluded to, who prevailed upon him to suspend action until a town meeting could assemble, when prehaps the people would agree to remove the objectionable pole. During this con- versation the group of men had disappeared, with the understanding that the Committee of Safety would meet that afternoon and consult about this startling situation.
The committee assembled promptly. Being composed of the O'Briens, Fosters and kindred spirits, it may be quickly imagined what their opinions were in regard to taking down the pole. Instead of discussing that question they engaged in forming plans to repel an attack should one be made. They advised that a town meeting be called to take the sense of the inhabitants on the question of removing the pole, feeling confident that the people would unitedly favor by vote to keep it up.
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