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 8
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But we will now notice the installation occasion. The church was crowded in the pews, galleries, and aisles, and many were unable to obtain admittance at all. The meeting was called
* Town Records.
t The party that came from Brooksville met with a sad miehap while returning, by the capsizing of the boat, by which a Miss Nichols was drowned.
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to order by making choice of Rev. Josiah Winship, of Woolwich, as moderator, and Rev. Hezekiah Packard, A. M., of Wiscasset, secretary. The following persons were then formed into a Congregationist church :- Thos. Cochran, Robert Thorndike, Jos. Eaton, David Blodget, Lewis Ogier, Bathsheba Thorndike, Elizabeth Hosmer, Lucy Eaton, * Lucy Blodget. Mary Keyes. After the church was formed, the Council gave opportunity to them to call and invite Mr. Thos. Cochran to take the charge and oversight of them in the Lord. Having examined the candidate and being satisfied, the Council proceeded to ordain him as pastor of the church and minister of the town of Camden. The sermon, preached on the occasion by Rev. Mr. Packard, together with the charge by Rev. Mr. Winship, and the right hand of fellowship, by Rev. Mighill Blood, was printed. t A copy of the sermon, &c., is in our possession. It was printed in Buckstown, (now Bucksport,) by Wm. W. Clapp.
At this time there were a few persons who belonged to the society of Friends ; we will here record the fact by giving the names of that " devoted few :" Ruben Hussey and wife, Ephraim Gray and wife. It was some years, however, before any preachers of that sect preached here.
1806. About this time, Rev. Sam'l Baker preached the first Universalist sermon ever delivered in town. It is believed that Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, now editor of the Boston " Christian Freeman," was the next one of that faith who preached here. Transient preachers of this sect visited here until a society was organized, of which we will speak in the proper place.
At this peroid. and in fact some time previous, the Free Will Baptists had preaching here. Rev. Ephraim Stinchfield, who left the Methodist order near this time, and joined the Free Will Baptists, was their stated preacher. In the absence of a Methodist preacher, the Methodists used to attend the Free
* Mrs. Eaton is the only surviving member of the original church : she was born April 10, 1774.
1 Bey. B. C. Chase's semi-centennial Address, delivered in Camden Sept. 11, 1855, p. 7.
* It is said the first newspaper printed in the region of the Penobscot, was at Buckstown.
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Will Baptist meetings, and vice versa. Hence we find on a paper filed with the town clerk, the names of members of these two societies together. Among the certificates recorded we find the following reported as being supporters of Free Will Baptist preaching : Waterman Hewitt, Jno. May, Joab Brown, Jas. Keen, Wm. Spring, Rd. Wilson, Reuben Keen, Zadock Brewster, Elisha Bradford, Jno. Grose, and Peter Barrows.
Indicative of the spirit of politics this year, is the following vote for choice of Governor : Cale' Strong had 78 votes, and his opponent, Jas. Sullivan, 86 : the highest number of votes was for choice of councilmen, when the combined vote run up to 169.
During this year a proposition was made in town-meeting to negotiate with the proprietors of the dams and mills on Megunticook stream, to induce them to open a sluice for the passage of " the fish called alewives and others," into "the Large Pond, '-Molyneaux or Canaan Pond. It appears, however, that no favorable action was taken thereon as it was referred to a future meeting, and thus " tabled."
1807. This year the question was presented in town-meeting to see if our citizens were in favor of a separation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the erection of a new state. The vote stood as follows: In favor of separation, 7 ; against it, 133.
1508. May 2 the town " voted, to raise $100 for the purpose of purchasing powder and balls," agreeably to the requirement of law. This vote indicates the approach of the Embargo time. Camden, like all the other seaport towns in the Province of Maine, very sensibly felt the blighting effects of this restrictive measure. Although it was laid upon our general shipping on the 221 of Dec., 1807, yet it was not sensibly felt in this town until the following spring. Despite of the vigilance of the Custom House officers in this district, several of our vessels managed to elude their scrutiny, and cleared for foreign ports.
Nickerson, a trader here, fitted out a schooner at this time, freighted for the West India market. Capt. Benj. Thomas took command of her, and on a favorable night he clandestinely slipped his moorings and shaped her course for the West
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Indies. Disposing of his cargo to great advantage, he then ventured to return. Apprehensive of a search and seizure by the proper authorities, he bored into the vessel's stanchions, and there deposited the proceeds of the voyage. When he arrived here, search was instituted by the Custom House. officers, * but finding nothing tangible as prima facie evidence of an infraction of the Embargo act, no further action was had thereon.
At about the same time of the above successful expedient, a number of our citizens clubbed together and fitted out a vessel for a foreign cruise. While in the harbor awaiting a favorable breeze, Collector Farley got word of her intent to sail, and so dispatched the Revenue cutter from Waldoboro after her. The suspicions against the vessel being confirmed, she was at once stripped of her sails to prevent her sailing, and a keeper placed on board to guard her. The sails being carried ashore, the officers tried to get some one to carry them to a place of security, but no one responded to the request. Si- meon Tyler, then a lad, told his father he would get, and secrete them when night approached, which he accordingly did, and hid them in his father's cellar, the late Wm. Carlton- house. Some one followed him to the house, but made no attempt to recover the sails. In about a week the injunction was removed by the owners of the vessel getting signers to a bond as security against clearance. As soon as the sails were restored, the vessel was perfectly equipped, or, " in good order and well condition " for a cruise. On the first evening breeze, the sails were hoisted, and the anchor weighed, and away, " like a thing of life," the freighted vessel sailed for France. The cargo and vessel were there sold, and the captain and crew returned in another bottom. It appears the signers of the bond were irresponsible men, and consequently no indem- nity was ever obtained.
Our citizens, deeming it unjustifiable to break over the Embargo law, voted at a town meeting, held the 12th of Sept., to choose the following committee to draw up a petition
* Jos. Farley, Esq., of Waldoboro, was then Collector of this district and it is believed that Capt. Calvin Curtis was his deputy at this port.
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relative to raising the restriction, and present it to the President : Nath'l Martin, Phineas Bowers, Saml. Jacobs, Capt. Jno. Pendleton, and Wm. Parkman. As it is a matter pertaining to general history, and is worthy to be preserved in print, we will here present the address entire :
" To the President of the United States :
"The Citizens and freeholders of the Town of Camden, situated on the Bay of Pensbscot, in the District of Maine, in legal town meeting assembled, respectfully represent,-
" That, influenced by patriotic desire of subserving to the laws and Government of their Country, they have hitherto submitted to the distress and embarrassment of the Embargo without opposition, and still influenced by the purest motives, their greatest sense of the love of their Country never shall be found wanting in promoting the public safety and welfare ; but, the evils we are now experiencing, and the dismal prospect before us make it, in our opinion, a duty incumbent on us to be no longer silent. Being thus situated in a new, rough, and in a great measure an uncultivated part of the Country, and depending on the fisheries and lumber trade principally for subsistence, our fish and lumber remaining on our hands in a perishable condition, having no market for the one nor the other ; added to this the severe restriction on our coasting trade, the I'mbargo presses peculiarly hard on your Petitioners, depriving them of the means of discharging their debts with punctuality, and of supporting themselves and families with decency ;
" We now, therefore, look up to your Excellency, as our political head, with the most satisfactory expectations that our foreign relations have so far changed with respect to Spain and Portugal and their dependencies, as that you can legally grant us a speedy relief by suspending the Act of Congress laying an Embargo on all the ships and vessels in the harbors of the United States, in which or in part as you by your superior means of information may judge most conducive to the welfare of our common Country. From their distress and embarrass- ment your Petitioners anxiously solicit you to relieve them." *
* Town Records, p. 176.
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Said Address was duly forwarded to the President, Thos. Jefferson. It may be easily imagined that the prostration of the commercial interests of our citizens, in which they were quite largely engaged, would be likely to cause them to use their utmost endeavors to secure the removal of the cause of the detriment.
As the general government continued the Embargo, our citizens on the 30th of Jan., 1809, petitioned the Legislature of Mass. to use the influence of the Commonwealth to effect its removal. As the Address contains some interesting historical facts not mentioned in the one addressed to the President, we will here give it a place at the risk of some slight repetitions :
" To the Hon. the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts :-
" The Inhabitants of the Town of Camden in regular meet- ing assembled, beg leave to represent :
" In common with our fellow Citizens we have suffered, and are still suffering very severely under the operation of the several Embargo Acts. We are willing to make great sacrifices and submit patiently to any privations which appear to be necessary for the true honor and prosperity of our Country. We cannot however perceive and are yet to learn that the system pursued by our General Government is likely to procure for our Country honor abroad or safety and prosperity at home. We have in common with many other towns in this Common- wealth, petitioned the President and Congress for redress of our heavy grievances, and have seriously to lament that instead of being attended to, new and greater restrictions are imposed, and we cannot but view with great alarm the late Act of Con- gress to enforce the Embargo,-an act which in our opinion strikes home at the civil rights of the People, and threatens a total subversion of our Liberties. We are convinced the exist- ing Embargo Laws cannot be carried into effect in this part of the Country except by military force, and we dread the consequences that may. ensue from fire arms being put into the hands of unprincipled men acting under the authority of the officers of Government against the united and deliberate senti- menta of the most respectable part of our Citizens. This being
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the situation of our Country, and this our opinion respecting it, our only hope rests in the exertion and patriotism of our State Government, and we earnestly request your Honorable Body to interpose in our behalf, and to take such steps as you in your wisdom may judge expedient in order to relieve us from our present distress."
[Signed :] Phineas Bowers, Nath'l Martin, Benj. Cushing, David Blodgett, Hoshea Bates, Jno. Pendleton, Nath'l Hosmer, Jr. " Camden, Jan. 30, 1809."
On the 1st day of the following March the Embargo was so far removed as to permit the departure of vessels to all coun- tries except Great Britain and France. Intercourse commer- cially between these two powers was interdicted by statute in an Act entitled the " Non-intercourse Act." This was a great relief to many of our citizens whose principal business was connected directly, or indirectly with shipping. Thus closed the Embargo times of 1808.
1809. In the town meeting of April 3d, we find that the " Honorable Body " ot Hog Reeves (generally composed of newly married men.) numbered in their train twenty of our most respectable citizens. The chairman of that august Council was the Rev. Mr. Cochran, who, we doubt not, with his clerical brother, Benj. Jones, scrupulously attended to the allotted duties of said office.
During this year a respectable number of adherants to the Universalist faith formed themselves into a society for their mutual benefit, and for the purpose of avoiding the payment of the town parish tax. They used to meet at private houses, where one of their number would read for their edification the sermons of Ballou and Murray. Joshua Dillingham and Jno. Harkness were the ones who generally read. The following . are the names of the principal members of the society at that time : Lemuel Dillingham. Joseph Sherman, Joseph Dilling- ham, Simeon Tyler. Jr., Joo. Harkness, and Benajih Burows. The Universalist society was not incorporated until some years afterwards, of which, we shall speak in the proper place.
1810. The number of votes for Governor this year was 213,
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as follows : Hon. Christopher Gore, 102 ; Hon. Elbridge Gerry, 111. This shows quite a change in the political sentiments of our citizens since the time they used to vote the "regular ticket" without a dissentient ballot being seen.
1811. In regular town meeting, May 2, it was voted, " That the Town give $10 for each Wild Cat's Head killed in Town the present year." The bounty on crow's heads was 20 cents.
About this time Maj. Joseph Peirce, of Boston, became a resident here. He was the clerk or agent of the Twenty Associates. About the year 1805 Isaac Harrington built the house known as the " Old Mansion House." Before it was finished Mr. Harrington failed, and it passed into the hands of Maj. Peirce. Said " Mansion House " was destroyed by fire about the year 1852. Maj. Peirce decamped from Boston about the year 1816, for parts unknown, carrying with him the records of the Twenty Associates. It was said the cause of his unceremonious departure was owing to his not only being badly in debt, but particularly to his illegal speculations in the lands of the "Lincolnshire Company," of which as agent, he had the oversight. The loss of their records was the cause of much vexation to the Company, and of great harm to many of the settlers, who thereby had much difficulty about their land titles.
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Number XV.
The Last War-An Embargo-Action of the Town-A Memorial pre- sented-War declared-A Committee of Safety appointed-Every Citizen to be prepared for actual service-Military ammunition-The Militia of Massachusetts-The Division of Maine-Regimental orders issued-Cam- den Companies assemble at Eager's Tavern-Cavalry Company formed- An alarm list organized-Volunteer Company raised-Start for Fort St. George-Sail for Machias-A Recruting Station opened-The number Enlisted-The Battles they were engaged in-Chesley Blake -- Engagement between the Enterprise and Boxer-Metcalf and Tarr-Bravery-Paul Thorndike, Jr., taken by the English and carried to Dartmoor Prison -- His Yankee Stories.
W E have now approached a period which not only marks an important epoch in the history of this town, but also in that of our Republic. "The Last War," or the "Seamen's War," as it is sometimes termed, will now de- mand our attention.
On the 4th of April, 1812, a general embargo of 90 days was imposed by Congress upon all the shipping within the har- bors of the United States.
In anticipation of a war, this town indicated its apprehensions on the 30th of May by passing the following vote: "That the Town allow the musicians, officers and privates detached or drafted, $5 per month in addition to the pay allowed by Government after being called into actual service." And on the 2nd of June the following was inserted in a warrant for a town meeting: "To see what measures the Town will adopt for the defense of said Town against foreign enemies." This article was acted upon by passing the following vote : " That a Committee of seven be chosen to draft a memorial to be sent to the proper authority to request some assistance for the safety of said Town against foreign invasion."
The expectations of our citizens proved correct, for on the 18th of June, during the same session that imposed the embargo, Congress " declared war to exist between Great Britain and
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the United States." Government immediately adopted measures of defense by calling upon the different states for their propor- tion of the 100,000 militiamen to be raised for the purpose. The quota to be supplied by Maine was 2.500. On the 2d of July this town appointed a " Committee of Public Safety," consisting of 22 of our most prudent and prominent citizens, and at the same time it was voted " Unanimously that every Citizen, (whether exempt from Military duty or not) forthwith arm aul equip himself for actual service, to be ready at a moment's warning to assist in repelling foreign invasions or any emergency for the defence of the Town." A committee was next appointed to " examine the Town stock of Military ammu- uition and utensils." July 13th it was voted to raise $150 to purchase ammunition in addition to the Town stock required by law."
At this time the Militia of Mass. consisted of eleven Divisions, four of which were in Maine. In 1808, March 9th, Adj. Gen. Win. Donnison arranged the different companies into two Brigades, called the 1st and 2d Brigade. Of the divisions in Maine, Hon. Win. King, of Bath, was then chosen Major Gen- eral. Feb. 12th, 1812, a new arrangement was made by creating a fifth Regiment. This was deemed necessary from " the great extent of territory included within the limits of said Regiment as well as the numbers of which it was composed," justifying a division, and also from the fact "that the convenience of the troops seemed to require " it. This regiment was " com- posed of three Companies in Camden, two Companies in Thomaston, one Company in St. George, and two Companies in Hope and Appleton, to be called the 5th Regiment, and annexed to the 2d Brigade and 11th Division of the Militia." This division was made out of Lieut. Col. Sam'l Thatcher's third Regiment, which then left under his command "two Companies in Warren, two in Union, and one in each of the towns of Cushing, Friendship and Putnam." *
On the 4th of August, (1812,) Wm. Carlton, (of Camden,) as Adjutant of the 5th Regiment. 21 Brigade, 11th Division, issued, per instructions given by the Lieut. Commandant on
*Extracts from " General Orders " now before us.
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the 30th of July, a Regimental Order, calling upon the Mili- tary and Light Infantry companies in Camden, Hope, Thom- aston and St. George, to assemble at places designated, in their respective towns, between the 17th and 19th days of August, "armed and equipped as the law directs," prepared to fill all vacancies of officers, and parade on the occasion. The compa- nies of Camden pursuant to notice, met at John Eager's tavern (now called " the Megunticook House,") on the 17th, where vacancies were filled, the troops inspected and paraded. The companies present were Capt. Calvin Curtis's Light In- fantry, * the 1st Infantry, then lately commanded by Stephen Rollins, (which had a captain's vacancy to fill.) and Capt. Wm. Brown's 2d infantry. The vacancy in the 1st Infantry Company was filled by making choice of Asha Palmer as captain.
It was in 1813, as near as we can ascertain, that a company of Cavalry was formed, of which Dr. Isaac Barnard.t of Thomaston, was appointed captain. This company was com- posed of men from Thomaston and Camden.
At the time the troops were being disciplined the spirit of patriotism was infused into our older citizens, and as they by law were exempt from military duty, they organized a volunteer Alarm List. Composing it were men from all ages between the years of 45 and 65, several of whom had seen service in the Revolution. This veteran volunteer company numbered in all about 40 it is believed. John Pendleton was chosen by them as their captain.
We will now revert to the year 1812. Soon after the declaration of war, Lieut. Isaac Russ enlisted a company of volunteers in Camden and the adjacent towns, which numbered about 70. Something like a quarter part of these velunteers belonged in Camden. Of this company Jno. Spear, of Thom- aston, was capt. ; Isaac Russ, of Camden, 1st lieut. ; Jno. Smith,
*Capt. Curtis received his commission Jan. 2, 1811, and resigned it April 20, 1815.
+ This was the Dr. Barnard we have before alluded to, who was the Arat physician in Camden. Sometime after leaving this town he settled in Thomaston, when he married a widow Hanson. He represented that town at the General Court of Mass. from the year 1806 to 1810. So says Ar, Sibley in his Hist. of Union, p. 821.
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of Thomaston, 2nd lieut .; Thomas Tolman, of Thomaston, ensign. Among those from Camden who enlisted in this com- pany, was Asa Richards and Asa Sartelle. In December this company started for St. George, where they remained in the fort until March, when they were embarked in a vessel for Castine, where they were joined by Col. Cummings' Montville company. They next sailed for Machias. On their way they espied the English 20 gun ship Rattler, which had been lying in wait for them at the mouth of Machias river. Hugging the shore. our transport escaped observation, and run safely into Machias. After remaining in Machias fort a month, they were transported in a vessel by night to Eastport, where they were to remain according to stipulation one year. After re- maining in Eastport one year and a half, a number from this place -returned, among whom was Asa Richards.
During the same year (1812) a recruting station was estab- lished in one part of Moses Richards' house, (on the site where the Methodist church now stands.) The recruting officer was corporal Caleb Young, then of Thomaston, but now of Camden. The men he enlisted were to serve as regular soldiers, or as "one year men," as they were called. and to be annexed to the 9th regiment. They numbered about thirty. This company proceeded to Portland and thence to Plattsburg, N. Y., where they were engaged in the battle that was fought there. They also participated in the battles of Chippewa and Bridgewater. Among the number from this town in the company was Chesley Blake, (brother to Capt. Wm. Blake.) who advanced from a corporal to a captain. He distinguished himself at the battles of Chippewa and Bridgewater, and at the siege of Fort Erie. Gen. Scott soon after promoted him to a lieutenancy. He afterwards commanded the first steamboat that plied between Buffalo and Detroit. On the lakes, he was familiarly known by the sobriquet of " the Lake King." He resided in Detroit, where he died about four years since.
1813. The engagement between the British brig Boxer and the U. S. brig Enterprise, betwixt Monhegan and Pemaquid, on the 5th of Sept., was distinctly heard here, and by some it was witnessed! from the summit of Mt. Batty. The action, which
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lasted 35 minutes, resulted in the death of both commanders and the capture of the Boxer.
Shortly after the above_naval battle. Wm. Metcalf and Win. Tarr, of this town, became participants in the same kind of an engagement. The name of the man-of-war ship in which they were in service we cannot ascertain. Falling in with an English frigate, broadside answered to broadside until the ships neared each other. As soon as theBritish frigate was within leaping distance, Metcalf was the first to board her. Springing alone on deck with his boarding pike, he was at once assailed on every side. He fought with desperation until joined by his comrades, and after he had despatched quite a number of the enemy, he fell wounded, disabled in the knee. His fellow comrade, Tarr, was mortally wounded, and did not survive the action. The British were the victors, and the Americans fell into their hands as prisoners. " On the termination of the war Metcalf returned home. Possibly he may still be living, as he has not been heard from for a number of years.
At near the same period of the war. another of ourcitizens, Paul Thorndike, Jr., experienced somewhat of the fortunes of war. He sailed in an American privateer, in a subordinate capacity, andwhile cruising near the English coast, our war craft fell in with a British merchantman, bound for Quebec. She was captured, and after being manned, Thorndike was put on board as prize master, and proceeded homeward with the prize. When in the vicinity of the English Channel the prize was retaken by a Baritish cruiser, and those on board incarcerted in Dartmoor prison. While on their way to prison, their keep- ers tarried a short time at an inn for refreshments, and while there, many of out curiosity gathered around the prisoners. The spokesman of the crowd began to interrogate Thorndike relative to the "rebels" in America. The querist wished to know what our strength was ? what kind of fortifications we had ? &c. " Why, sir," replied Thorndike, "every stump is a " place of defense, and every pile of rocks is a fortification, and you might as well think of subduing Satan in tophet as to try to subdue the Yankees by fighting them." Thorndike and his companions remained in Dartmoor prison until the close of. the war, when they were released.
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