USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > The history of Portland, from 1632 to 1864: with a notice of previous settlements, colonial grants, and changes of government in Maine > Part 46
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1 In this assault about sixty of our troops were killed.
535
ALARM OF THE TOWN-PRIZES.
forcement to the British, our army hastily abandoned their lines in the night and embarked with their cannon and stores on board the transports, which immediately commenced mov- ing up the Penobscot river. The British pursued and the whole fleet was abandoned and burnt, some by our own men and others by the enemy. Gen. Wadsworth conducted the retreat with great skill, and labored incessantly to keep his little army together after the disgraceful result.1 Our troops returned in scattered parties, making their best way home, deeply mortified and disappointed. It was, as Mr. Smith ob- serves, "a sad affair," and while it weakened the resources of the State, it had a disheartening tendency, casting a gloom upon our prospects and a deep stain upon the military reputa- tion of Massachusetts.
On the 3d of September, our town was thrown into great confusion, by the appearance in the offing of three ships of war; the inhabitants were fearful that the British were about to return the visit made to them at Bagaduce. Col. Henry Jackson's regiment was here at the time, having proceeded thus far toward reinforcing the army at Penobscot, when news of the termination of that ill-fated undertaking arrested their progress ; part of Col. Mitchell's regiment was also here, so that the town was filled with troops.2 The batteries were im- mediately and strongly manned, and every preparation made for defense. Three batteries were constructed on the occasion, one on the hill in Free street, another and the principal one at the foot of India street, where Fort Loyal stood, and a third
1 Further particulars of this expedition may be found in Williamson's History of Maine, vol. ii. p. 468. Wheeler Riggs, a carpenter, was the only person from this town who was killed; a ball from the enemy's battery struck a tree, and glancing, fell on his back ; he was engaged in building a battery. He was son of Jeremiah Riggs, was married to Mary Cobb in 1742, and lived in Plum street ; his children were Josiah, Joseph, Daniel, Mary, Wheeler, and Abigail.
2 Colf Jackson's regiment sailed for Boston, September 7, and Col. Mitchell's was discharged September 25.
536
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
on the brow of Munjoy's hill. In the fortification at the foot of India street, were placed one eighteen-pounder and three or four twelve-pounders. The fears of the people were soon dis- sipated by the arrival of the American frigates, Boston and Deane, with a large prize ship; the next day another prize arrived ; both of them men of war. The Deane, of thirty- two guns, was commanded by Commodore Nicholson, the Bos- ton, twenty-four guns, by Commodore Tucker. In August they captured the Sandwich, a packet of sixteen guns, two pri- vateers, and two letters of marque, the Glencairn of twenty guns, and Thorn of eighteen guns. Which two of these valu- able prizes came into our harbor we have no means of knowing.
1780.] The British now feeling secure in their position on the Penobscot, began to commit depredations upon the inhabi- tants on both sides of the bay. To counteract this state of things, the General Court ordered a regular force of seven hund- red and fifty men, under the command of Gen. Wadsworth, to be stationed on the western side of the bay for the pro- tection of the inhabitants .. Two companies were also ordered to Machias. These troops were raised in Maine, but not re- pairing to the place of rendezvous by the time appointed, Gen. Wadsworth came here from Camden to hasten the levy. He wrote to Brig. Gen. Frost, of York county, April 27, urg- ing him "in the name of public virtue" to send forward his detachment without further delay. This letter had the desired effect of hastening on the troops ; of the regiment of six hun- dred men, three hundred were stationed in Falmouth, two hundred were sent to Camden, and one hundred to Machias. The forts here were put in order, and preparations made for an effectual resistance. There were frequent alarms' from the
Mr. Smith says, under March 1, 1781, "We are in a woful toss by news from Capt. M'Cobb of a scheme of an attack from Bagaduce. Two men that were in it say that a number of tories were to disable our cannon and secure our magazine, while the vessels made the attack ;" and September 1, "we have news of the arrival of five ships and five brigs at Bagaduce that much disquiets us."
537
GEN. WADSWORTH.
Penobscot during the remainder of the war, which often called out the troops, but nothing was seriously attempted, if any thing was ever designed from that quarter. Nothing of im- portance took place on the Penobscot during the year 1780, and in the winter all the troops returned but a small guard, which remained at Gen. Wadsworth's headquarters at Thom- aston. The British hearing by a spy, the situation of the general, sent a party of twenty-five men in February, 1781, to surprise him. They were guided to his quarters at night by an abandoned traitor, and secured an entrance to the house before they were discovered. As soon as the alarm was given, the general, who was in bed seized his blunderbluss and two pistols which he kept loaded by him, and defended himself reso- lutely in his chamber until he was disabled by a wound in his arm, when he surrendered and was taken to Bagaduce. - His wife and two children, with a female friend, who formed his family, were left behind. The general was kept a close prisoner until he and Major Burton, another prisoner, ingen- iously effected their escape in June following and returned to this place.1
1 Peleg Wadsworth was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, April 25, 1748. He was a descendant in the fourth degree from Christopher Wadsworth of Dux- bury, who died about 1677. His father was Deacon Peleg, who was the son of Deacon John, the son of Christopher. The family is supposed to have come from Yorkshire where the name still exists ; its coat of arms being three French lilies stalked and slipped, crest on a globe of the world, winged proper, an eagle rising. He graduated at Harvard College in 1769, having among his classmates Chief Justice Parsons, William Tudor, and his lifelong friend, Alexander Scam- mell, for whom he named his distinguished son, Commodore Alexander Scammell Wadsworth of the navy, and from whom, also the fort on House Island, at the mouth of our harbor, was named. After leaving college he and his friend Scam- mell taught school in Plymouth, and the worthy Judge John Davis was their pupil. Prof. Francis in his life of Judge Davis, says, "they were the most ac- complished and efficient teachers of their time." They both became distin- guished officers in the army of the revolution ; Scammell commanded a regiment at the battle of Saratoga in 1777; in 1780 he was Adjutant General of the army. At the siege of Yorktown, September 30, 1781, he was taken prisoner, inhu- 35
538
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
This town, notwithstanding its serious loss at the commence- ment of hostilities, contributed its full proportion of men and
manly wounded, and died in consequence, October 6, 1781. He was deservedly a very popular officer and man. Gen. Wadsworth joined the army at Roxbury in 1775, as captain of a company of minute-men, and by his courage and skill rose rapidly in the service. In 1779 he was second in command in the unfortu- nate expedition to the Penobscot, which, it is said, would have resulted differ- ently, had the charge been committed to him. The next year, he was appointed to the command of the coast of Maine, had his headquarters at Camden, where, being left in winter with only a small guard, he was surprised at midnight, and taken prisoner to Castine. After a confinement of four months, he effected his escape in June of 1781. In 1784 he established himself in Portland and the next year began to build the first brick house ever constructed in the town; it was two stories high, and was two years in building. It is still standing next above the Preble House, a third story having been added by Mr. Longfellow who married a daughter of the General. General Wadsworth was a very active and useful citizen of the town; he was a skillful surveyor and engineer, and several plans exist of private and public works, drawn by him. He took a deep interest in the welfare of the place and of the district. He was elected chairman of the first convention held in Maine, at Portland, October, 1785, on the subject of separation from Mass. He was afterward chosen a delegate to another and subsequent convention in the two following years in conjunction with Samuel Freeman, Daniel Davis, and others. In 1792 he was elected to the Senate of Massachusetts, and the same year, a representative in Congress, being the first from Cumberland district. He was successfully chosen to this honorable po- sition, one of three assigned to Maine, until 1806, when he declined a re-election, In 1798 the citizens of Portland gave him a public dinner in approbation of his official conduct. In 1807 he transferred his residence to Hiram, in the county of Oxford, to occupy and improve a large tract of land granted to him by gov- ernment for his services, where he died in 1829 at the age of eighty-one years.
In 1774 he married Elizabeth Bartlett of Plymouth, a woman of fine man- ners, dignity of deportment, and energy of character, by whom he liad ten children, viz., Charles Lee, Elizabetlı, Zilpah, married to Steplien Longfellow, John, Lucia, George, Henry, who perished before Tripoli, a voluntary sacrifice for his country, Alexander S., a distinguished officer in the navy, Samuel and Peleg.
Lucia, Samuel, and Peleg only survive ;. the youngest seventy-one years old. Mrs. Longfellow died March 12, 1851, aged seventy-three. She was born in Duxbury, January, 1778. She left a large family which will be noticed when speaking of lier distinguished husband. Comniodore Alexander died in Wash- ton, April 5, 1851. Charles Lee, the eldest son, died September 19, 1848, aged seventy-two.
539
CONTRIBUTIONS OF FALMOUTH TO THE WAR.
supplies to support the war, and it is believed more than any other town in Maine. In 1780 its proportion of beef for the army was twelve thousand three hundred and sixty pounds, and in 1781, nine thousand seven hundred and ninety-six pounds, and the same year it was required to furnish forty-one shirts, as many pair of shoes and stockings, and one hund- red and thirteen blankets.1 They also raised a committee of nine in that year to procure thirty men to serve during the war, and voted to each man who would enlist twenty dollars in silver, bounty, and ten dollars a month, pay. It may safely be affirmed that no town in the State suffered more or contrib- uted more in proportion to its means than did Falmouth. In reading the brief summary we have given of the great struggle for independence in this country, one cannot fail to be im- pressed with the similarity of many of the proceedings of that day with those which the great rebellion is now causing; the efforts to raise men and supplies, the anxieties, the sacrifices and sufferings, are of like kind, but how inferior in magnitude, and yet how fraught with glorious compensations. May the vast efforts and the magnanimous contributions of the supplies, which constitute the sinews of war, and the unexampled volun- tary aids to alleviate its miseries, be speedily and triumph- antly crowned by a re-establishment of a united country, strengthened by the raging of the mighty tempest and elevated to a far higher place of national honor, influence, and renown.
In another respect our town furnishes an analogy to some scenes of the present day. Our venerable minister, Smith, had a slave named Romeo, and in this pressing call for sol- diers, he had him enlisted in the army for three years, giving him his liberty in consideration of receiving half his wages,
1 In 1781 the quantity of beef furnished by Massachusetts was one million nine hundred thousand four hundred and eighty-seven pounds, of which the proportion for the county of Cumberland was fifty-three thousand eight hund- red and nine pounds ; North Yarmouth, nine thousand and ten pounds ; Cape Elizabeth, five thousand six hundred and eleven pounds.
540
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
ten shillings a month. The document thus closes, I "liberate and give up all right, claim, and title to him and his service, and to all intents and purposes to be his own or a Free man" dated May 8, 1781.
After the attack upon New London and Groton by Arnold in September of this year, some uneasiness was felt lest he should extend his visit to this place ; but all fears were soon turned to the brightest hopes by the arrival of a large French fleet in the Chesapeake, which gave a preponderating influence to our arms. Public expectation centered on the movements in Virginia, and every rumor from that quarter was eagerly caught. On the 4th of October, news was brought to town by hand-bills struck off in Boston, of the surrender of Cornwallis, fifteen days before that auspicious event took place, which oc- casioned great rejoicing. On the 27th of the same month an express arrived with the joyful and veritable tidings of the great victory at Yorktown, which elevated the spirits of the people, and scattered all the shadows which the correction of the late premature information had cast upon themn. On the next day, which was Sunday, our ministers improved the occa- sion by suitable discourses, and on Monday the day was spent in public rejoicing.
Having hastily run through the principal military events of the war in which our town was interested, we will briefly notice the course it pursued in relation to civil affairs. After the House of Representatives resolved themselves into a provincial Congress, its recommendations received the implicit obedience of the people devoted to the cause of liberty. This assembly soon afterward, in pursuance of the recommendation of the continental Congress, to bring itself as near to the old form of government as circumstances would admit, elected a council consisting of twenty-eight persons, who in the vacancy of the office of governor exercised the duties of that office.1 After
1 Before this, the committee of safety discharged the principal executive duties.
541
CIVIL AFFAIRS OF THE PROVINCE.
the declaration of Independence, it became a question what form of government Massachusetts should establish, and in September, 1776, the House recommended to their constitu- ents to choose their representatives to the next General Court with power to adopt a form of government for the State.
In pursuance of this recommendation, this town on the 14th of October following, voted "that their representatives in the House and Council might join in forming a constitution for the province, as in their wisdom they may judge most for the safety, peace, and happiness of the State, and use their endeav- ors that the government shall consist of two branches, a Council and House of Representatives." But before the fol- lowing May, public sentiment underwent a change on the subject, and the town adopted a resolution that it was bet- ter to delay the forming of a constitution on account of the war and the absence of many people ; they however empowered their representatives to join in the deliberations if it was found that a majority of the towns were in favor of the measure.1 Boston and several other towns had expressed their disappro- bation of the forming of a constitution by the General Court at this time, although the representatives had generally been elected with that view. The two houses, however, in June, 1777, formed themselves into a convention and raised a com- mittee of twelve to prepare a constitution. This committee reported a form of government in December, which received the approbation of the General Court in March following, and was submitted to the people for their ratification. The con- stitution was rejected by a large majority ; the vote in this town was taken May 19, 1778, and was unanimous against it, the whole number of votes being sixty-eight.2
1 The representatives in 1776 were Jedediah Preble, Joseph Noyes, Samuel Freeman, and John Waite. In 1777, Jedediah Preble and Joseph Noyes.
2 The votes of the State which were returned, were two thousand for and ten thousand against the constitution reported ; one hundred and twenty towns made no return. For the features of this instrument, Bradford's History of Massa- chusetts may be consulted. Vol. ii. p. 158.
1
542
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
In January, 1778, the town expressed its opinion in favor of a confederation of the colonies as recommended by Congress, and that it ought to be immediately adopted ; they however submitted the subject to their representatives in the General Court, Samuel Freeman and Joseph Noyes, without giving them positive instructions, declaring that they were not ac- quainted with the arguments against it.
When the constitution was rejected, a sentiment generally prevailed that a convention should be called, for the express purpose of preparing a form of government. To meet the prevailing opinion, and seeing the necessity of a regularly or- ganized government, the General Court in February, 1779, submitted the subject again to the people in their primary as- semblies. The recommendation was accompanied by a propo- sition, that if a majority of votes was in the affirmative, the convention should meet at Cambridge in September. The votes in this town given in May, were adverse to the measure, being ten for and thirty-three against it. It was thought that this was not a proper time to act upon so important a subject, on account of the absence of many people, and that the con- fusion, excitement, and distress of war were not favorable to that calm deliberation which the importance of the subject re- quired. The majority of the people of the State, however, having entertained a different opinion, the town in August chose John Waite their delegate to the convention.
The convention met in Boston, in September, when a large committee was chosen to report a draft of a constitution ; after a short session they adjourned to meet again in January, at which time they agreed upon a form of government, which was published and distributed to the several towns in March. On the 22d of May, 1780, the consideration of its adoption came before this town, and a committee of seven was appointed to examine the instrument and report whether any amendments were necessary ; they were specially instructed to report on the
543
STATE CONSTITUTION FORMED.
objections to the third article of the bill of rights.1 This article related to the support of public worship, and made it obligatory on towns to furnish suitable provision for the support of prot- estant teachers of religion. Objections were made in many towns, and Boston particularly, to the exercise of any compul- sion on the subject, lest the liberty of conscience should be infringed ; it was also discussed largely in the newspapers. The committee of this town reported unanimously that the third article ought to be rejected, they thought there ought to be no restrictions whatever on the subject of religion. The constitu- tion was, notwithstanding, approved, the vote in this town on the third, the most objectionable article, being forty-nine for and thirty-four against it. Gen. Preble was chosen to meet the convention on the first Wednesday in June. The constitution was adopted by the people by a majority of more than two- thirds of the votes, and the first election under it took place Sep- tember 4th, 1780. The votes in this town for Governor, were for Hancock forty-six, Bowdoin three ; for Lt. Governor, James Warren forty-four, Bowdoin three, Artemas Ward four, Han- cock one. The senatorial votes were for Gen. Preble thirty-five, John Waite four, and David Mitchell three; John Hancock was elected Governor, of Lt. Governor there was no choice by the people ; Gen. Preble was chosen senator for the county.
In consequence of the depreciation of paper in 1777, great injustice was done to those who were in the service of govern- ment, which led to much suffering and complaint, especially among the soldiers and their families. This evil was increased by the conduct of some persons, who, regardless of what they owed their country, endeavored to convert the hardship of the times into a source of profit to themselves. To prevent this spirit of monopoly and extortion, the patriotic men of that day. labored zealously. In the spring of 1777, a convention met at
1 The committee consisted of John Waite, John Burnham, James Frost, Joseph MeLellan, William Crocker, George Warren, and John Thrasher.
544
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
Springfield, composed of delegates from New York and the several colonies of New England, which recommended that certain prices should be fixed upon articles of food and clothing furnished to the families of those who were in the public ser- vice. Upon this recommendation, an act was passed by the General Court which checked in a measure and for a time the evil.1 But the law could not remove the original cause of the distress, and cupidity and speculation found means to evade it ; the war suspended importations and devoured the diminished products of the field.2 In June the town applied for assistance to the government for the poor, and two hundred bushels of Indian corn were ordered to be delivered to the overseers, "they paying its value." The season of 1777 was very productive in this region and afforded a temporary relief ;3 but a year of famine followed, and there was a lamentable deficiency not only here, but throughout the country, of the necessary arti- cles of subsistence. But here the evil was increased by a fail- ure of the usual sources of employment, by which the means whereby our people lived, were taken away. This state of things raised up an unworthy class of men to speculate upon the miseries of their fellow citizens. Against this class of peo- ple complaints were loud and general, and at length attracted the attention of the continental Congress, which endeavored to
1 In pursuance of this act, the selectmen and a committee of Falmouth es- tablished prices upon the principal articles of merchandise; some of which were as follows : salt pork ninety-six shillings for a barrel of two hundred and twenty pounds ; by retail, best pieces eight pence. Good beef seventy-two shillings for a barrel of two hundred and twenty pounds. Good cotton wool from the West Indies three shillings a pound by the bag, at retail, three shillings eight pence. In June a committee of nine was chosen in Falmouth to prosecute for breach of the act.
2 April, 1777, Mr. Smith says, "distressing time for provisions," and August, "provisions awfully scarce and dear; we live from hand to mouth."
8 1777, July 29, a marvellous fruitful season as to every thing. August 18, never was there such gardens, never such fields, never such pastures, never such a year for every thing. September 2, the earth is burdened with its fruits .- Smith's Journal.
·
545
SPECULATORS CONDEMNED-PRICES REGULATED.
provide a remedy. In pursuance of their recommendation, a convention of delegates for the northern district of the United Colonies was held at New Haven early in 1779, who formed a plan for regulating prices on all the articles of living, and pre- venting extortion. This was approved by the General Court of Massachusetts, and a law passed on the subject.
The depreciation of money however, which was one cause of the evils lamented, went on, and in the circumstances of the country could not be prevented ; there was nothing but paper in circulation, which from its continually sinking in value, people were unwilling to take in payment for their commodities. Still it was believed that positive enactment could do some- thing to alleviate the prevailing suffering, and a convention was held at Concord in July, 1779, generally attended by delegates from the towns in Massachusetts, which fixed certain prices on all the products and business of the country, and rec- ommended a general effort to prevent a greater depreciation of public paper.
In August a meeting was held in this town, which adopted the proceedings of the convention at Concord, and appointed a committee to establish a table of prices applicable to every branch of industry and to all commodities. A vote was also passed that if any person refused to receive the current money for any article he had to sell, he should be viewed as a violator of the resolutions and treated as such. A committee was also chosen to meet delegates from other towns to produce union and energy of action on this subject.1
1 The following extract from our town records will show how minute this scheme was : for innholders the prices fixed were, for toddy made of West India rum eighteen shillings per mug, do. of New England rum twelve shillings, din- ners twenty shillings, suppers fifteen shillings. For laborers per day, viz., car- penters four shillings and find themselves, masons four shillings, common labor- ers three shillings. Merchantable boards a M. twenty-two pounds ten shillings, clear boards thirty pounds, clapboards thirty-six pounds per thousand, sheep's wool twenty-five shillings a pound, men's yarn stockings three pounds, best English hay thirty pounds a ton, milk two shillings six pence a quart, beaver
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