USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > Sketches of the history of the town of Camden, Maine; including incidental references to the neighboring places and adjacent waters > Part 13
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a poll parish for him or any other minister." The above articles were voted upon as follows : " To decide the question whether the town will choose a committee to dissolve the contract between the Rev. Thos. Cochran and said town by yeas and nays :- yeas, 109 ; nays, 26." A committee consisting of the following gentlemen was next chosen "to dissolve the contract between Mr. Cochran and said town," viz :- " Sam'l Brown, Joshua Dillingham, Robt. Chase, Hosea Bates, Nath'l Martin, Nathan Brown, and Erastus Foote." A committee of seven was next appointed " to consult with Mr. Cochran and the church respecting a Council, and to give the necessary notice agreeable to the articles of agreement." The before-mentioned gentlemen were appointed as the Committee.
On the 26th of the month, the Committee handed Mr. Cochran the Notice contemplated by the votes. According to the original stipulation entered into between Mr. C. and the town, he was to be apprised of any intention of dismission six month before the time of the occurrence. The Committee agreed to appoint a time and place to meet Mr. C. and. the church if he desired it, so as to dissolve the connection by mutual consent. Mr. C., although reluctant to take any measures to dissolve his connec- tion with the people here, agreed to call a Council and confer with his church upon the subject. The Committee delayed taking further action upon the matter until the 12th of December, when Joshua Dillingham, Est., and Capt. Hosea Bate-, of that number, handed Mr. C. a note. apprising him of the expiration of the six months, and requested him to signify his views in writing. Mr. C. responded, "that he considered the contract between the town as dissolved, and that be did not expect any more salary, and that he would consult with his church and give the Committee notice as to the Council." He released the town from all claims as their minister, except the six months' salary aforesaid. In another communication, Mr. C. censured the action the town took upon the matter, as he maintainel, that in consonance with the article of agreement, it was the daty of the town by a definite vote, to express not only its dissatisfaction, but the cause of it, so " that he might have an opportunity of being heard before the Council touching
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all matters of grievance." In his communication. now before us, Mr. C. says, " If the causes of dissatisfaction are such as to disqualify me from the ministry, then it is a duty which the Town owe themselves, and the Church of Christ at large to bring them before a Council, who have power to deprive me of' my ministerial office. If not, then it is a duty which they owe me that the Council may justify and recommend me to the improvement of other churches. My character is to be tested by enemies, as well as friends, which makes it necessary that my dismission be not in such a manner as to give people an opportunity of assigning whatever cause might suit a spirit of malevolenee : therefore, I view it a duty which I owe my own character, the church and society with which I have been con- nected to request the Town to act agreeable to the articles of settlement, viz : To vote their dissatisfaction, and the cause, or causes of it. And then I am ready and willing to fulfil my engagement with them in uniting to call a Council to dissolve the connection." *
The Committee considered the view Mr. C. took of the affair as contrary to the intent and meaning of the " Call, Agreement, - and Articles of Settlement." " They therefore thought it advisable. as Mr. Cochran refused all accommodation, and even to join in a mutual council to call one themselves in behalf of the Town." (Town Records.) Accordingly, the Committee forwarded an attestedl copy of the votes of the town, and a letter " to the Rev. Mr. Hase of Warren, the Rev. Mr. Mason of Castine, the Rev. Mr. Blood of Buckstown, [Bucksport. ] the Rev. Mr. Loomis ot Bangor, and the Kev. Mr. Packard of Wiscasset, requesting them to meet as a Council on the 1st day of the ensuing June, at the dwelling house of Nathan Brown."
At the appointed time and place three of the Council were in attendance, viz : the Rev. Messrs. Mason, Huse, and Blood. It appears that the Council disagreed, and adjourned till the 4th of the following July. The Rev. Mr. Jenks of Bath. and the Rev. Mr. Brown of North Yarmouth, were next addressed on the subject, and requested to join in the Council. When the
* Town Records, p. 289.
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Council met the only members present were the Rev. Messrs. Packard and Huse. The Report says, "Mr. Cochran now made other objections to the proceedings of the Town, and the Reverend Gentlemen closed the business by recommending Mr. Cochran and the Town to come to a settlement."
The Committee afterward gave a detailed statement of the reasons why they deemed it inexpedient for the Town to take any further action on the subject. The duty of the Committee here ceased, and it appears that Mr. Cochran soon after dis- solved his connection with the parish here.
As the town refused to compensate him for the six months' service that was due him, he was under the necessity in 1817 of prosecuting his claim before a judicial tribunal. The case was decided in 1818 in favor of Mr. Cochran, the whole cost to the town amounting to $1,400.
1816. April 1st, at a regular town meeting, it was voted, " To give $10 for each wild cat killed within the limits of said town."
May 6th it was voted " To raise $200 for the purpose of assisting in purchasing a fire Engine."
May 20th, a meeting was called to see what action should be taken on detaching the District of Maine from Massachusetts, and forming there from a new State. The question was sub- mitted to a vote when it was declared as follows : In favor of separation, 37 votes ; against separation, 83 votes. The same question was presented at a meeting held on the 22d of the fol- lowing August, and was again negatived by 95, against 32 votes.
During this year, the three cannons were removed from the mountain. and carried to Boston or Portland.
Nov. 4th. The vote for Representative to Congress was as follows: For Benj. Orr, Esq., 67 votes ; for Erastus Foote, Es., 45 votes.
1817. April ith the vote for Governor is indicated thus :- Hon. Jno. Brooks, S2 votes: Gen. Henry Dearborn, 87 votes.
June 28th. an article was inserted in the town warrant, " To see what measures the town will adopt for the purpose of preventing retailers within the town of Camden selling Spiritu-
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ous Liquors to be drank, or entertaining, or suffering any person or persons to drink the same within their shops." Also, "to see what further measures the town will adopt for the suppression ot intemperance."
On the 12th of July the above was acted upon by passing the following votes : " That there be a committee of three, viz .: Ephm. Wood, Oakes Perry and Tibon Gould, in addition to the selectmen : to carry into effect the laws of the Common- wealth respecting the retailing and drinking of spirituous " liquors within the stores or shops in the said town." " Voted that there he two more added to the Committee, to wit, Wm. larkinan and Alden Bass." " Voted also. that a copy of the wave tiles be put up in every store in the place."
It was the first action the town took upon the subject fwtarwe. The day of the reform was then beginning 'A st/&t publir attention. Liquor was then sold at all the t" de4, as frvely as any of the common articles of commerce, Aut it will thus be seen that the step taken in declaring against the nefarious traffic, was quite a stride in advance of the ideas then generally entertained upon the subject.
At this time, there being difficulty between Spain and Mexico, an American privateer was fitted out at Baltimore under a Mexican captain. and manned with an American crew, to cruise for Spanish prizes. Falling in with a Spanish ship off by Cuba, she captured her. The prize was loaded with coffee, cocoa, cochineal, indigo, tortoise shell, &c. The brig Catherine Shepherd accompanying the privateer, was loaded with the cargo, while the ship was carried into a Mexican port. The Catherine Shepherd then sailed north, and in the month of May arrived at Green Island, where she took in a pilot who brought her into this port. Being boarded by Deputy Col- lector Curtis, the captain,-John A. Nartigue, who was a native of St. Domingo,-pretended they had put in in distress, and had been on an allowance for seventy days. Mr. Curtis and Jacob Ulmer, as Revenue officers, took possession of her as a smuggler, and after securing her. put John Bowers and Simeon Tyler aboard as keepers. Being in a fix they did not antici- pate, the mate, ---- Withington, thinking he could bribe Tyler
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN. .. 151
to suffer them to slip their cables at night. offered him a sum of money if he would consent to the transaction, but he reso- lutely refused to be bribed. Soon after, the cargo was dis- charged, and put into the cellar of the Masons' building. The owners afterward came on and demanded the cargo. Collector MeCobb, of Waldoborough. in a letter dated the 20th of May, instructed Capt. Curtis " to deliver to Capt. Nartigue and Mr. Dickerman [or Dightman, the supercargo,] all the merchandise now in your possession. imported in the brig Catherine Shepherd, excepting the following, viz. : - 1 Bale Cotton ; 1 Box Shell; 2 lbs. do .; 1 Bag ditto. : 2 bbls Castor Oil."" After paying the duties upon the goods, the owners sent a vessel here from New York and took them away. The officers and crew of the C. Shepherd tarried here five or six weeks, but the brig remained here something like a year, when she was sold at auction.t
1818. Abraham Ogier " bid off," " at public auction," " the poor of said town of Camden," at $395,00, for the current year.
1819. At the parochial meeting of the town, held the 19th of April, it was " Voted, To raise $100 for the sup- port of the Gospel Ministry the ensuing season."
July 26th. At a special meeting for the purpose, the town voted in favor of separating from Massachusetts, and for the forming of a new State. The vote stood as fol- lows : - For separation, 97; against it, 46.
Sept. 20th. At a meeting called for the purpose of elect- ing a delegate to attend the convention to be held in Port- land, to form a constitution " for the proposed new State,"
* We would here acknowledge our indebtedness to J. H. Curtis, Esq., for the loan of letters and other documents which we have heretofore quoted, from which we have derived important data and gleaned valuable facts.
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+ Statements of Mr. Simeon Tyler.
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Nathaniel Martin, Esq., was chosen to serve in that ca- pacity.
As a matter of history, we will quote the following ac- tion of the town on the draft prepared by the delegates at the convention : -
" At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the town of C'amden, in the county of Lincoln, qualified to vote for sen- ators, holden on the 1st Monday of Dec., being the 6th day of said month, A. D. 1819, for the purpose of giving in their votes in writing, expressing their approbation or disapprobation of the constitution prepared by the conven- tion of delegates assembled at Portland on the 2d Monday of Oct. last, pursuant to an Act entitled 'an Act relating to the separation of the District of Maine from Massachu- setts, and forming the same into a separate and indepen- dent State.'
" The whole number of votes given in said Camden were sorted and counted in the open meeting, and were 63 votes, of which 59 were in favor of the constitution adopted by the convention at Portland, and 4 votes were opposed to said constitution."
1820. On Monday, the 3d day of April, the legal voters of Camden assembled at the Masons' Hall, (their usual place of meeting,) and for the first time gave in their votes for public officers of the State of Maine.
As it may be interesting to exhibit the vote of the town upon said occasion, we will here produce the record : - For Governor, Hon. Wm. King. 150 votes; Allon Bass, 6; Oakes Perry, 2; Joshua Head, Esq., 1; Robt. Ogier, 1. For Senators, Nathaniel Green, Esq., 196 votes; Benj. Cushing, Esq., 177; Erastus Foote, Esq., 172; Edward Kellaren, 17; Wm. Norwood, 1. For Representative, Jonas Wheeler, Esq. 161 votes; Ephm. Wood, 22; Moses
* Town Records, p. 350.
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Trussell, 1; Jonah Howe, 1; Nath'l Martin, Esq., 1. For County Treasurer, Joshua Head, Esq., 100 votes; Jonas Wheeler, Esq., 1.
It will be seen that Mr. Wheeler was our first represent- ative. He was afterwards chosen president of the Senate, which place he occupied at the time of his death, - 1826.
Dec. 26th occurred quite an extensive fire, by which four buildings were consumed, consisting of a grist-mill and saw-mill, owned by Capt. John Pendleton and Wm. and Joseph Eaton ; a bark-mill, used by Moses Parker, and a blacksmith shop, owned and occupied by Robt. Chase and Asha Palmer. They were situated on the site now occupied by the grist-mill, (at the foot of the stream,) and on the vacant place adjoining to the south of it.
1823. At a legal parochial meeting held the 11th of August, the town voted thus on religious matters : - " To raise 8200; one half to be laid out for orthodox preach- ing, and the other half for liberal preaching."
During this year, commenced to visit the port of Cam- den the first steamboat that ever plowed these eastern wa- ters. Her name was the Maine, Capt. Daniel Lunt, for- merly of Lincolnville, but now of Appleton, master. She was of about 125 tons burthen. The steamer Patent then plied between Boston and Bath. At the latter place, the Maine connected with her, and on the eastward route touch- ed at Townsend, Owl's Head, Camden, Belfast, Castine, Sedgwick, Cranberry Islands, Lubec, Eastport and, occa- sionally, at St. John. The fares were as follows : - From Bath to Camden, $2,00 : from Belfast to Eastport, 85.00 ; from Bath to Eastport, 86,00. When the Maine first vis- ited Camden, a cannon announced the fact, by salutes, which soon brought to the shore an cager multitude. anx- ious to behold the Fultonlan craft. As Capt. Lunt con- cluded to tarry here over night, our citizens were tendered the privilege of inspecting the boat, which offer they were
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not backward in accepting. Warren Rawson was appoint- ed as agent for this place.
In the following year. (1824,) the Patent run on the route between Boston and St. John, Capt. Lunt, master. In 1825, the New York was put on in opposition to the Patent. We believe that Capt. Thomas Rogers, (now of Boston.) was then master of the New York. So great was the rivalry between these two boats, that intentional col- lisions not unfrequently took place between them. Soon after the New York was newly fitted up, by replacing new boilers for the old ones, she was badly damaged by being run into by the Patent. When off Petit Menan, Aug. 26, 1825, the New York was burned."
* We are indebted principally to Capt. Lunt for the above facts.
HISTORY OF CAMDEN. 155
Number _XIV.
Remarks - Project of creating a new County - Licenses - Salt Works - Paper Mill -Temperance Societies - Politics - Schools - Cholera -Town House built -Licenses - Military Affairs - Obnoxious Laws - Fantastical Proceedings - Amendment to the Constitution - Canada Railroad - Light House erected - Keepers - Megunticook Bank.
T TINIE most interesting portion of the history of Camden, lies in the times when the sires of its present inhabi-
tants were upon the stage of active life. But few events of general interest, worthy of record, have transpired in the town within the past thirty years, yet, as matters pertaining to history, they, in connection with transactions of minor importance, are deserving of attention.
We will first glance at the common affairs of the town, after which, we shall notice separately, those things that are noteworthy of themselves.
1826. At this time the question of creating a new county was agitated, and on the 2d of September, we find an article inserted in the town warrant, "To see if the town will petition the Legislature for a new County, bear- ing the name of Knox, comprising the towns in Hancock and Lincoln counties, mentioned in a printed petition to be addressed to the Legislature of Maine, January, 1827." The town being opposed to the formation of the proposed county of Waldo, remonstrated " against being included in the new county of Waldo, in its prosent shape, as deserib- ed in the bill now pending before the Legislature."" On
* At our present writing, a project is on foot to form a new County by the name of Anor, to be composed of the towns of Camden, Lincolnville, Soarsmont, Hope, Appleton, Union, War-
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the 11th of Sept. the town voted, "to petition the Legis- lature for a new county bearing the name of Knox." A committee was then chosen to present a petition for said purpose. At the same meeting the town granted nineteen retail dealers licenses to sell liquor.
At this time Goose River settlement numbered eighteen dwellings. Gen. Nath'l Estabrook's Salt Works, on Beau- champ Neck, was the principal, if not the only, business establishment in that part of the town. As it was found not to be a remunerative investment, the Salt Works were carried on but a short time, and the operation was dis- continued.
1828. During this year, Eben'r H. Barrett and John Swann erected a Paper Mill on the site now occupied by the Powder Mill, at a cost of $5000. They manufactured about $40 worth of paper per day. In 1841 the mill was destroyed by fire.
1829. At this time the temperance reform began to receive the active support of a number of our citizens, and on the 17th of Aug. the " Camden Temperance Society" was organized, of which Nath'l Dillingham, Esq., was the first president. At the time, a series of resolutions were drawn up, the tenor of which were in opposition to the traffic, and to the effect that those subscribing to the prin- ciples of the society were expected not to drink spirituous liquors unless they deemed it necessary. Those who were willing to stand by these resolutions were requested to in- dicate their willingness by stepping forward into the floor of the (school) room. Only three, Nath'l Dillingham, Lewis Ogier and John Swann responded to the invitation. The
ren, Rockland, South Thomaston, Thomaston, St. George, North Haven, Vinal Haven, I-lesboro,'- besides sundry other i-lands. The proposed new County is defined by the originator of the move- ment, ( Hon. E. K. Smart,) as being in the " Lime Rock Valley of Maine."
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society afterward received the support of quite a number of persons of both sexes, and, in the year 1832, we find it numbered 88 male and 02 female members. As the re- port of the society is interesting as a matter of history, we will here produce it: It says, "At the time of the adoption of the constitution, every store, except one, sold ardent spirits - now, out of eighteen stores in the village, but three retail ardent spirits.
"It is a rare thing for the respectable part of the citi- zens to drink ardent spirits, or to offer it to their friends.
" Drunkenness in its worst garb is rarely seen in our village : still, however, the vice is not removed from among us.
" The fact that the lime-burning business has increased, and that the laborers are of the poorest class, together with the fact, that three retailers are found among us, who openly violate law, and more doubtfully their consciences. will readily account for that lingering vice.
" Most of the paupers have been made so by intemper- ance.
" The town has twice refused to grant the right to Select- men to license retailers to sell spirits to be drank in their shops, &c., by a decided vote.""
Temperance principles were then of a very accommo- dating character, for, inasmuch as members of the society were permitted to drink when they felt it was really necessary, some, -moderate drinkers. claimed that it was " necessary" for them to drink one glass a day, and thus was tolerated a liberal rule, which was not entirely done away. we think, until the Total Abstinence reform was presented to the public. .. Temperance wine" was then used by many professed temperance men in this town, until
* First Report of the Maine Temperance Society, Jan. 23, 1832, p. 31.
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upon one jubilant occasion, a party belonging to the society, found they were the unconscious actors in a bacchanalian jollification. This had the beneficial result of making total abstinence men of a number who were wont to in- dulge in an occasional glass of wine. When the Total Abstinence Reform and Washingtonian Society became the order of the day, many of our citizens enlisted under their banners, after which it became disreputable in a temper- ance man to use, as a beverage, any inebriating liquors.
The vote for Governor this year, (1829,) stood as fol- lows: - Jona. G. Huntoon, (National Republican,) 100 votes; Samuel E. Smith, (Democrat,) 186. In the follow- ing year the same candidates were in the political field, and Mr. Smith received 193 votes, Mr. Huntoon, 137.
1832. $1000 were raised for the support of schools this year.
Anticipating a visitation of the cholera that was then raging in the United States, a town warrant was drafted on the 7th of July, to see what action should be taken "in relation to the welfare of our citizens," and to see what should be done to " serve as a check to the dreadful disorder, now ravaging this continent." The following health committee was appointed to take the proper pre- cautions against the plague for the town : - Dr. Joseph H. Estabrook, Joseph Hall, James Curtis, Dr. Joseph Huse, Frederick Jacobs, Jonathan Eager, Wade Sweetland, Eb'r Thorndike and Dr. Benj. J. Porter. The selectmen were " authorized to borrow $200, if deemed necessary, to make provision for the sick." Fortunately " the destroying pes- tilence" did not visit this section, and the danger antici- pated by the town did not come to pass.
Nov. 5th, the town voted to build a town-house. It was to be "40 by 32 fet, one story high," and to be built by contract, and finished by the 15th of August, at a cost not exceeding 8600. The contractor, it appears,
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figured pretty closely in his calculations, as the house cost, when completed, 8584,35. The first town meeting held in said building was on the 9th of Sept. 1933.
Sept. 11th, eleven persons were licensed to sell spiritu- ous liquors by paying a license fee of $3,00, each, with the prohibition, that they were " not to be drank in their house, store or shop."
1833. At this time there was considerable dissatisfac- tion felt in this State, relative to the military laws, which were deemed unjust, and considered by the people as un- democratic, because the rights of the poor man were not respected-by having to arm and equip his sons on his own expense, while the rich man, who had no sons to bear arms, incurred no cost. The common people protested against thus paying for protecting the rights and property of the wealthy, and demanded that the taxation should be pro rata pecuniarily, and not thus numerically.
At this time, a commanding military officer, who resided in the westerly part of the town, issued an order for the soldiers here to turn out and train at a time and place by him designated. Indicative of the regard they had for the obnoxious military law mentioned above, the company turned ont. armed and equipped with every thing, save what was required by law. Sythes, sickles, axes, shovels, hors and other implements took the place of guns and swords, and the soldiers' uniform was represented by fan- tastie costume, the comicalness of which, can be better imagined than described. Otherwise, the company be- haved with perfect decorum. The officer before mention- ed. - Mr. K. - -, was at first disposed to take umbrage at the farcical manner in which the soldiers made their ap- pearance, suspecting the burlesque was designed as an in- salt upon himself. But being assured contrawise. he took it in good part, connived at the proceedings, and, before the exercises were concluded, he was as humerous as the
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rest. It was upon this occasion, that the "temperance wine" was imbibed to excess, as before stated. This was about the commencement of the military troubles that were subsequently experienced in this town of which we shall speak hereafter.
1834. At a town meeting held on the 8th of Septem- ber, the question was submitted to see if the town would vote to amend the Constitution relative to voting in wards. Prior to this time, all the inhabitants of a city assem- bled in one room to transact election business, and it was found to be a difficult thing to accommodate so large a crowd upon all occasions, and hence it was proposed the voting should be done in the several wards of a city in- stead of the old method. The votes in this town were 9 yeas and 0 nays.
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