USA > Maine > Waldo County > Brooks > Sketches of Brooks history > Part 4
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The acquaintance which Col. Brooks had made with Baron Steu- ben caused the latter to employ him, after the troops had encamped on the banks of the Hudson, to assist further in the introduction of the new system of discipline. In the performance of all his duties, Col. Brooks enjoyed the confidence of Washington; but it was only after the close of the war, in connection with the notorious New- burgh letters episode, that he was able to fully emphasize his patri- otism and his admiration for the commander-in-chief. The occasion of this affair was the discontent that had become prevalent in the army, originating with a few unruly officers and soldiers, who feared that their arrearages of pay would not be forthcoming. As a matter of fact, Congress did not deal justly with the soldiers in regard to these matters, and gave cause for complaint and for doubt as to whether they were to receive even the legally allotted stipend for their services, not to speak of any extra reward for their loyalty. While with many, the complaints never went beyond the question of pay, certain of the higher officers and more intelligent men raised the far more important question whether the very form of the govern- ment was not to blame, and whether a monarchy would not be the best thing for the country after all. So far did these disloyal views spread that a colonel in the army, said to have been one Lewis Nicola, was put forward to communicate the prevailing sentiments to Washington, and through him was made the suggestion that the com- mander-in-chief should assume the rank and title of royalty. This suggestion called out from Washington the magnificent Newburgh re- joinder of May 22, 1782, in which he said: "I am at a loss to con- ceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an
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SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
address, which to me seems (big) with the greatest mischiefs that can befall my country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. . . Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your mind and never commun- icate from yourself or any one else a sentiment of the like nature." Notwithstanding this rebuff the recalitrant officers called a convention. with a view of issuing addresses to the people.
Washington insisted on attending this meeting, over which the sen- ior officer, Gen. Gates, presided, by his request, for he suspected him of being chief conspirator. The commander-in-chief read a paper in which the following passage occurs: "I conjure you to express your utmost horror and detestation of the man who wishes, under any specious pretenses, to overturn the liberties of our country, and who wickedly attempts to open the flood-gates of civil discord and deluge our rising empire in blood." The original manuscript of this ad- dress is now in the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society. On Washington's retiring from the meeting, resolutions were unani- mously adopted, agreeing entirely upon the policy which he had rec- ommended. Just before this meeting. it is said, Washington went to Col. Brooks to ascertain the precise situation. Chief-Justice Parker, of Massachusetts, writing in regard to this, says: "Finding him. as he expected, to be sound, he requested him to keep his officers in their quarters, to prevent them from attending the insurgent meeting. Brooks. replied: "Sir, I have anticipated your wishes, and my orders are given." Washington, with tears in his eyes, took him by the hand, and said: "Col. Brooks, this is just what I expected from you."
After the war, Col. Brooks, like most of the other officers. found himself a poor man. He was, however. immediately appointed Major- General of the Third Division of the Massachusetts militia. and was subsequently often chosen a representative to the general court of the commonwealth. In 1788, as a member of the state convention to ratify the constitution of the United States, he took an active part in the debates of the convention. He was for several years a senator from the county of Middlesex and a member of the executive coun- cil. In 1795 he was appointed by Washington marshal in his district and inspector of the revenue, and when the army of the United States was organized in 1798, he was designated by Washington for the com- mand of a brigade, an honor which he declined. He was adjutant- general of the state of Massachusetts from 1812 to 1815. and in 1816 was elected governor of the commonwealth, serving for six successive
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GOVERNOR BROOKS
terms. Gov. Brooks was assiduous in the discharge of the duties of his office, and was so far fortunate in allying the great party dis- sensions which at that time existed in the state, that affairs were brought to a gratifying condition of internal harmony before he left the executive chair in 1822. There was nothing of the partisan in him, his addresses to the legislature evincing broad and liberal views regarding state policy. To quote again from his biographer, Chief- Justice Parker; "He maintained the dignity of the office, and there- by honored the people who bestowed it. Bred in the best school of manners, his deportment, though grave and dignified like Washing- ton's was nevertheless warm and affectionate. On all ceremonious occasions, ceremony seemed to become him better than any one else. If the writer does not mistake, he was one of the last and best sam- ples of that old school of manners which, though it has given way to the ease and convenience of modern times, will be regretted by some as having carried away with it many of the finest and most delicate traits of social intercourse."
In 1822 Gov. Brooks retired from political life, though he still continued to hold positions of importance, being president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Massachusetts Society of the Cin- cinnati, the Washington Monument Society, and the Bunker Hill Monument Association. In his private life, he devoted himself to the cultivation of his farm and extensive scientific and political as well as general reading. Harvard gave him the degrees of M. D. and LL.D. Gov. Brooks died at his home, March 2, 1825, leaving an only surviving son. Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Scammel Brooks. U.S.A.
GOVERNOR JOHN BROOKS' TOUR IN MAINE 1818
Portland, Sept. 29-Governor Brooks' tour in Main, as appearing in a Portland newspaper of that date.
Cn the eighteenth inst .. his Excellency. Governor John Brooks, pro- ceeded as far as Doctor Burnham's in Unity, where suitable provi- sion had been made for his accommodation through the night. Next morning he moved on his journey through Troy, Dixmont, and No. 2. where he was met by a very respectable cavalcade, consisting of gentlemen of both political parties from Hampden, who escorted him to Hampden Corner, where an excellent dinner had been pro- vided for him. his suite and escort. When his Excellency was ready to resume his journey, another cavalcade from Bangor, consisting equally of gentlemen of both parties, met and escorted him to Ban-
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SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
gor, where he was announced by a salute from a company of artil- lery stationed there for the purpose. On Sabbath day his Excellency attended public worship at the meeting house of Rev. Mr. Loomis. Monday, the twenty-first, with Maj .- Gen. Herrick, accompanied by their suites, he reviewed part of Brig .- Gen. Trafton's brigade, some of whom had marched voluntarily between thirty and forty miles to exhibit testimonials of their military ardour and discipline before the Commander-in-Chief. No marquee nor refreshment having been pre- pared in the field, his Excellency was escorted back to his lodging where an elegant entertainment was given by the military officers to- gether with the municipal authorities of the town, of which a large company of military officers and gentlemen of respectability partook, immediately previous to his Excellency's leaving the place for Cas- tine. During his stay at Bangor, the Governor received visits from some of the principal Chiefs of the Penobscot tribe of Indians, to whom he made some suitable presents through the medium of his aides.
Monday afternoon, his Excellency passed over the Penobscot into Brewer through Orrington, to the delightful little village of Bucks- port, where he spent the night with Caleb B. Hall, Esquire. On the 22nd, he reviewed a regiment at Castine, and afterwards visited the U. S. fortifications at that place. Wednesday, he reviewed another regiment at Belfast. Thursday he was to review a regiment at Thomaston in the forenoon, (where he was met by Major-General King and Brigadier-General Wingate and their suites), and another in the afternoon at Waldoboro. On Friday he reviewed a regiment at Nobleborough, in the forenoon and another in the afternoon of the same day at Wiscasset. Saturday he arrived at Bath and reviewed the troops at that place, from whence he was expected to proceed in the afternoon to Brunswick, where he was to spend the Sabbath. Two regiments were to be received at that place yesterday, and he may be expected in Portland in the course of today. From this town he will proceed to Wells, where we understand his Excellency will complete the objects of his tour by the brigade review which was postponed on account of the weather.
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IN MEMORIAM
Mrs. Amorena Roberts Grant, the fourth child of Jacob Welling- ton and Phebe Abbott Roberts, was born November 5, 1842. As she was the only girl of his family he named her for his sister, Amorena Roberts Manter. About 1849 her father sent her to live with her aunt Amorena in Brooks. In about two and one-half years her new mother died, but she continued to make her home with her adopted father, Dr. Ezra Manter, until she was twenty years of age.
She lived in Brooks for about four years, Searsport for about two years and in Winterport until 1862, when she decided to be of some service to herself. May 3, 1869, she married Lemuel C. Grant of Frankfort, Maine, son of Joseph Grant. Her husband had served through the Civil War, first in the 1st Maine, re-enlisting in the 19th Maine and was appointed quota master sergeant in 1st Maine Reg- iment Heavy Artillery. After receiving his discharge he took up the sailor's profession and rapidly rose as a navigator. He was the mate of the Bark Warren when she was lost with all on board in the summer of 1870. Mrs. Amorena Grant was the grand-daughter of Dr. Jacob Roberts and great grand-daughter of Joseph Roberts, Jr. Mrs. Grant assembled data for the genealogy of Joseph Roberts' family and the same was published about 1902, by the West Chicago Press Association, 65-71 Plymouth Place, Chicago, Illinois.
Her work was most authentic and detailed information showed years of research work on her part and much of the information as- sembled by her in regard to the Roberts family has made possible the Sketches of Brooks History, by reference and by using some of the narrative in whole or in part.
Much of the genealogy of the Roberts family would be of interest and of value to the readers of these Sketches, but as the book had a large circulation, only necessary material has been repeated.
BROOKS, THE TOWN
Brooks is one of the principal towns in the County of Waldo, cen- ter of a prosperous farming section. It is twelve miles from Belfast on the railroad. There is a daily stage to Monroe.
Brooks is bounded on the north by Jackson and Monroe; on the east by Swanville; south by Waldo; and the west by: Knox.
Marsh River (or Stream) which rises in Knox and received sup- port from two tributaries-one rising in Thorndike and the other in Jackson,-flows into Frankfort Marsh from which it derives its name.
There are within the village limits three falls that furnish water power for about seven months of the year. The Upper Falls, where A. J. Roberts built and operated the first saw mill. At the bridge in the village is the old gristmill power, and a few rods below is a priv- ilege owned and operated by Roberts & Sons.
On the southeast side of the stream there rises a ridge of gentle ascent that stretches for a mile or more as a natural fortification, protecting the village and breaking the force of high winds. A part of this ridge or slope is known as Page's Hill. On the opposite side lies South Brooks, the original village, which is about two miles away.
In the days following the advent of the railroad, there were in Brooks Village seven large pants manufacturers, furnishing employ- ment to three hundred hands. While this industry has declined in recent years, yet it is an important part of the industrial life of the Town.
Brooks is a small, hilly town, having generally a good soil for agricultural purposes, and, in recent years, the farms have been im- proved and extensive crop raising and dairy business has been con- ducted.
No town of this size in the country has done more for the cause of freedom and temperance.
JONATHAN LANG
Jonathan Lang moved from Sanbornton, N. H., in 1814, and settled first in the town of Knox; afterward moved to the west of the lot settled by Nathan Wiggin, on what was formerly the farm of Daniel Lang.
Jonathan had two sons by his first wife, both born in New Hamp- shire, viz. Daniel, born Oct. 4, 1800, and consequently now (1880) in his 80th year; Jonathan, born April 13, 1804, who settled in West
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BROOKS THE TOWN
Brooks on the farm known as the "Lang Place". Jonathan Lang was the father of the writer of this record. He married Letitia Wil- son of Harpswell, Maine. He died in 1868, April 16th, aged 64 years. Three years before his death he sold his farm in West Brooks and moved on the farm originally taken up and cleared by Nathaniel Wiggin, and adjoining that of his brother Daniel Lang.
DANIEL LANG
DANIEL LANG remained on the home farm. He brought the seeds of his orchard in his pocket from Deerfield, N. H., when a young man and grew a fine thrifty orchard which he grafted as they came into bearing.
The old log house stood just back of where his orchard was, and the remains of its primitive cellar are now marked by a slight de- pression of the surface of the field.
Daniel Lang married MARY ANN DOLLOFF of Waldo. He had only one son, Joseph Lang who lived with him.
JOHN P. PILLEY
JOHN P. PILLEY, one of Brooks' old and well known citizens, moved there from Turner, Androscoggin . County, Dec. 23, 1821, and resided there many years on his place near Brooks Village.
He married HANNAH CILLEY, March 10, 1822. Mr. Pilley was honored with many positions in town, and for years was an active temperance man. He held the important office of Sexton.
His family were as follows:
ELIZA, born 1825. married ZADOC FORBES.
BENNETT, born 1829, married MARY A. CURTIS, and resided in Massachusetts. CHANDLER, born 1832, married SARAH PEAVEY, and after her decease HARRIET RICHARDS; wheelright and carriage builder, Searsport.
HIRAM, born 1835, married MARY ROSE; he was station agent at Brooks Village.
CALVIN, born 1838. was killed at siege of Port Hudson, June 14, 1863. He was orderly sergeant of Company F, 26th Maine Regiment.
Mrs. Hannah Pilley, wife of John Pilley, and one of the oldest residents, died in Brooks December 10, 1875, aged 75 years. She was a daughter of Peter Cilley, Esq., one of the pioneers of the town. She married Mr. Pilley in 1822, and they lived together for fifty- three years.
She was an exemplary wife and mother, and a truly Christian woman, and left a wide circle of relatives to mourn her loss.
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SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
LOREN ROSE
LOREN ROSE moved here in 1836 from the town of Greene. He first lived, a few years, where Libbeus Jones formerly lived in the vil- lage. He then purchased, and moved to a place near the church. In 1873 he built a large and elegant two-story public house.
His son Albert, the youngest boy, lived at home with his parents. . Mr. Rose was a leading man in town and held various stations of trust and honor. He had a large family; Augustus married Abby Chase, lived on a fine farm southwest of the village, and later re- moved to Fitchburg, Mass. In 1873, John Calvin married Mary, a daughter of A. D. Bean, Esq., and lived on the farm formerly owned by Mr. Bean, north of the village. Albert served three years in Company F, Fourth Maine Regiment. He rose to rank of Brevet Captain. He was in nearly all the engagements in which the Regi- ment participated and escaped unhurt. Married Emma Curtis of Monroe. Mary married Hiram N. Pilley, a leading citizen of the town; Sarah married Roscoe G. Edwards, who lived upon the old home farm, the "Thorndike Place". Vesta married a man by the name of Kilgore. Nancy and Phoebe were unmarried.
HON. BARNABAS MYRICK ROBERTS
HON. BARNABAS MYRICK ROBERTS, the 4th child of Dr. Jacob, was born October 17, 1818, in Brooks.
He began teaching school at sixteen. Soon after reaching his min- ority he went to Kentucky where he taught school with much suc- cess. At the urgent request of his parents, he returned home and settled on a farm in Jackson. He married MISS EMILINE RICH, a sister to his brother Hamlin's wife.
In 1853, he opened a store at Brooks Village, and two years later became a partner with Hon. N. G. Hichborn, afterwards the temper- ance candidate for governor of the state at Stockton, which partner- ship continued till Mr. Hichborn's death in 1875, after which he con- ducted the business alone.
Originally a Whig, Mr. Roberts became an Abolitionist in 1844. He was one of the founders of the Republican party in Maine, and was always one of its trusted leaders.
He was State Senator from Waldo County. For four years he was collector of customs at Belfast, Me., during the war and a candidate for Congress in 1866. He was a ready debater, well informed and of unimpeachable integrity.
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BROOKS THE TOWN
He died in 1896. His wife died December 19, 1893. They had seven children.
CAPTAIN THOMAS SAWYER
CAPT. THOMAS SAWYER, who migrated with his family from North- field, Mass. to Brooks in 1801, sprang from a long line of hardy pioneers, the first of whom, likewise a Thomas Sawyer, came from England about 1636, with two brothers, at a time when only a nar- row strip of our coast line had been redeemed from the Indians, and settled in Lancaster, Worcester County, Mass. in 1647, six years be- fore the incorporation of the town, and when the Indiains were next door neighbors.
In 1648 Thomas married MARY PRESCOTT, daughter of John Pres- cott, the founder of Lancaster. Their children numbered eleven. Of these seven (five of them boys) grew up, married and raised large families. During the succeeding generations there has sprung up a large army of Sawyers, many of the earlier ones being hardy farmers, blacksmiths, and millers. In the Revolution the Sawyers of Lancas- ter furnished a fine quota of fighters. One notable instance is that of Col. Ephraim Sawyer, whose five sons were all in the army at the same time,-Ephraim Jr., Josiah, John, James, and Peter.
Capt. Thomas was sixth in line from his progenitor, Thomas. His parents were Abner and Hannah (Piper) Sawyer of Templeton, Mass. Abner was a Lieutenant in the Revolution, in 1778. He was Town Treasurer from 1772 to 1774, and Selectman from 1774 to 1777. He died Sept. 4, 1779, in his 38th year.
Their children were as follows:
SILAS, Mar. 6, 1764; mar. (1) MARY Ross, Dec. 14, 1785: (2) MRS. ELIZ- ABETH COLE, Dec. 14. 1823: (3) MRS. GRACE HOWE, May 11, 1841. ABNER, Aug. 26. 1766; mar. EUNICE HAVEN, Apr. 3. 1792.
THOMAS, Mar. 29, 1768; mar. OLIVE PRIEST, Jan. 1, 178S.
HANNAH, Apr. 21. 1770; mar. JONAS LAMB, Apr. 1, 1790. HOOKER, June 5, 1773; mar. LUCY STRATTON, 1795.
DOROTHY,-12, 1775; died May S, 1778.
PHOEBE, Mar. 15, 1777; mar. ISAAC LAMB, Jan. 9. 1797.
PHINEAS HOUGHTON, Oct. 1. 1779; mar. REBECCA ORCOTT, Feb. 15. 1803.
Abner Jr. and Thomas moved to Northfield, Mass. about 1796, and Thomas went from there to Brooks in 1801.
Capt. Thomas and Olive lived in Templeton for eight years after they were married, and four of their children were born there.
DOLLY, Nov. 13, 17SS.
THOMAS, bapt. May 23. 1790; mar. MERCY THORNDIKE.
OLIVE, bapt. May 27. 1792; mar. LUCI'S DWELLEY.
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SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
ABNER, Oct. 27. 1794: mar. LUCY CRARY.
CATHERINE, mar. JOSEPH CRARY.
PHINEAS, mar. JANE CRAM.
Soon after Capt. Thomas Sawyer arrived at Brooks he took up the farm where George Damon recently lived, and engaged in ex- tensive farming. For many years he carried on the Proprietor's farm on Brigadier's Island, his boys carrying on the home farm which embraced the farms later known as the Damon and Webber farms.
GENERAL THOMAS SAWYER
GEN. THOMAS SAWYER took up the farm where Benjamin Leathers formerly lived. His wife was MERCY THORNDIKE. He and his father, Captain Thomas Sawyer, built a saw mill below where the mill now stands, and where the railroad fill crosses the stream. This mill was burned down in the course of a few years. Meantime, they erected a grist mill just above where the shingle mill formerly stood. Remains of the old dam may be seen at low water in the shingle mill pond. The citizens turned out and gave labor on both these mills as they were public conveniences.
Thomas rebuilt the mill after the first was burned. He did the gearing himself. and in after years worked at the trade. Raymond S. Rich of Thorndike first worked at mill gearing in Brooks. Thomas held various responsible offices in town, and among others that of military rank of General of militia. He had but two children, Eliz- abeth and Augustus. The girl married William Dwelley. Thomas removed to Massachusetts where he died.
ABNER SAWYER
Abner Sawyer married Lucy Crary.
Children of Abner and Lucy (Crary) Sawyer.
CHARLES, Oct. 12, 1815.
EMERY, Mar. 6. 1818: mar. MARGARET A. COCHRANE; (int.) Aug. 28, 1841.
HANNAH, July. 16, 1820; mar. SETH G. WYMAN, May 6, 1845.
ANDREW, Nov. 19, 1822: died Sept. 17, 1825.
ABNER, July 21. 1824. LUCY ANN, June S. 1S27.
ANDREW. Apr. 2S, 1829.
CYRIL PEARL, Aug. 15. 1833; died Mar. 22, 1835.
The most prominent of the children was Emery Sawyer. He first settled on what was later known as the Abner S. Forbes farm. He cleared the lot of land, built comfortable farm buildings and lived there some time. He sold out to William Harding who came from
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BROOKS THE TOWN
Buckston. Harding remained on the place several years then sold to Samuel Gould. Gould sold to Forbes. After Forbes purchased the property, he erected a fine set of farm buildings. When Mr. Sawyer sold his place he took up a farm on the flat and built the buildings where W. N. Roberts formerly lived. During this time he read law and later was admitted to the Bar. He removed to Searsport about 1848 and became a very successful lawyer.
PHINEAS SAWYER
PHINEAS SAWYER married JANE CRAM; he had four children-Israel, who died in Lowell, Mass .; Edwin, who died in Searsport; Mary, who married and lived in Massachusetts.
Phineas lived on the homestead. He died in 1843, of typhoid fever. His family had what is now known as the George Webber farm set off for their share. They lived there several years and sold to Al- mon S. Forbes. He sold a few years later to John Leathers, and he in turn sold some years afterward to George Webber.
BROOKS STATISTICS
Population in 1843, 910
Polls, 188
Valuation, $122,253
State Tax, $2,067.28
4 Pensioners, Capital and Manufacturing, $8,777
4 Stores, Capital, $4,000
1 Tannery, 2 Grist Mills, 4 Saw Mills
8 Schools, 373 Scholars
3 Churches, one Congregational, one Free Will Baptist, Friends Salary of Postmaster, Phineas Ashman, $41.00.
Year
Population
Polls
Estates
1816
148
52
1820
210
61
1825
289
57
1827
318
64
1840
910
188
122,253
1850
1021
17
102,343
1860
988
200
158,278
1870
869
205
200,176
1880
870
215
229,437
1890
730
20
229,386
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SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
Year
Population
Poll.s
Estates
1900
669
221
257,091
1910
704
211
288,082
1920
691
203
409,306
1930
729
387
360,746
1930 Farms
75
COUNTY TAXES
HANCOCK COUNTY
Year
Amount
Called Washington Plantation
1816
$22.92
1817
29.32
Brooks
1818
42.35
1819
45.62
1820
22.81
1821
47.28
1822
56.49
1823
53.82
1824
67.43
1825
53.92
1826
61.52
1827
47.10
COUNTY TAX PAID BY THE TOWN OF BROOKS 1828 TO 1927, INCLUSIVE
1828
$ 92.31
1863
$194.26
1898
$ 463.38
1829
143.53
1864
194.26
1899
351.03
1830
112.83
1865
225.93
1900
351.03
1831
84.97
1866
210.74
1901
402.08
1832
77.26
1867
347.63
1902
402.08
1833
61.80
1868
271.52
1903
264.72
1834
84.97
1869
271.97
1904
264.72
1835
84.97
1870
297.56
1905
190.29
1836
108.14
1871
327.32
1906
190.29
1837
108.14
1872
251.94
1907
295.30
1838
104.16
1873
376.91
1908
295.30
1839
104.16
1874
396.77
1909
451.33
1840
104.16
1875
376.91
1910
451.33
1841
175.64
1876
357.07
1911
604.97
1842
186.29
1877
357.07
1912
604.97
1843
163.16
1878
357.07
1913
571.82
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BROOKS THE TOWN
43
1844
167.82
1879
287.64
1914
571.82
1845
155.05
1880
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