USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > The history of Portland, from its first settlement: with notices of the neighbouring towns, and of the changes of government in Maine, Part II 1700-1833 > Part 13
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in order to have enough wood cut for the coaster when she returned. He lived several years in his log-house, and then built a framed one opposite the head of High-street, which survived the revolution and its owner's life, and was subsequently burnt. He died in March 1794, aged 93 years. Anthony died in 1784. When the Bracketts came here, and for some years after, the Indians had wigwams around the swamp above their houses. Anthony lived with Joshua until his marriage in 1733. They each left a numerous posterity, and their blood is mingled with that of the Trotts, Smiths, Fabyans, Lunts, Skillings, Greens and Larrabees.
1 Mr. James Deering, in digging for a foundation for the brick stores at the foot of Exchange-street in 1797, found at the depth of 17 feet below the sur- face two oak planks lying side by side across what appeared to be the gulley; he supposed them to have been placed there for passing over the brook. In Fore-street there were other gullies over which bridges were thrown, one was above Centre-street, near where Mrs. Oxnard's house is, another was a little west of clay cove.
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until 1790, at the head of Free-street, in both of which the children used to gather whortleberries. The land was wet and swampy from Middle to Centre-street, where Free-street is, so that it was difficult to pass over it ; on the south of where the latter street is, Deacon Cotton had a tan yard and a large orchard. There were also or- chards where Market-street is, in the rear of Dr. Deane's house in Congress-street, at the corner of Congress and Temple-streets, and on other parts of the Neck.
In 1739, the large square bounded by Fore, Middle and Ex- change-streets, and extending about 12 rods west of Exchange-street, containing four acres, with a dwelling-house and barn upon it,' was sold by Benjamin Ingersoll to Phineas Jones for £480 ; it is now covered with expensive buildings and is one of the most valuable spots in town. The house stood on the west side of Exchange- street, a little above where the Merchants' bank stands. In 1740, the northeasterly corner of Exchange-street, extending on that street 14 rods or about half way down,? was sold by Deacon James Milk to Joshua Freeman for £80 old tenor, equal to about seventy-five dollars in silver. Upon this lot Mr. Freeman built, soon after, the house which formerly stood on the corner of the street, but was mov- ed in 1826, a little east on Middle-street to make room for the brick building now standing there. Mr. Freeman occupied the house sev- eral years as a tavern and store ; it passed from his hands to John Tyng, who conveyed it to John Fox for £400 ; Mr. Fox occupied it until he built the house in Fore-street after the revolution, in which he died. The only buildings on Exchange-street at the time of the revolution, were on the west side, a wooden store two stories high with a gambrel roof,3 occupied by Deacon Richard. Codman, the Jones house and a small one story store at the foot of the street, kept by John Fox. On the east side were Nathaniel Deering's shop
I These were the only buildings on the tract for a number of years. The house was occupied by Mr. Jones until his death in 1743, and afterwards by Jabez Fox, who married his widow ; it was built by Benjamin Ingersoll, who kept tavern in it in 1728, probably the first public house in town after the re- settlement ; it was for many years the best house on the Neck, and in 1754, Gov. Shirley lodged there when he held his conference with the Indians. The house was taken down by Wm. Widgery to make improvements on the lot.
2 Exchange-street is 500 feet long.
3 This was moved when Mr. Boyd built his brick stores in 1803 on that spot, and now stands in Main-street, near the head of Green-street.
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at the foot, John Deering's house now standing and occupied by his widow, a one story house occupied by Nath'l. Fosdick, afterwards collector, and the Freeman house on the corner. At this period, the street was considered much too far up for business, and the prop- erty there of comparatively small value ; it is now the centre of commercial operations, and real estate is probably as high there as in any part of the town. At the time we are speaking of, the square from Plumb-street to Centre-street, was principally a mowing field.
We propose to close this general survey of the Neck, with a brief notice of the streets which were opened previous to the revolution.
King-street. In the settlement under Danforth in 1680, this was called Broad-street ; it was probably opened before that time, hav- ing been the principal route out of town. On the resettlement, it was formally laid out by the selectmen four rods wide, and accepted by the town April 1, 1724, when the name of " High King-street, was given to it. After the revolution, some persons who lived on the street endeavored to change the name to State-street, and for some years a struggle between the two was kept up, but the old name finally triumphed.
Congress-street. This was anciently called the country road, af- terward the Buck-street and Queen-street, which latter was its proper name ; it was laid out four rods wide from the head of King-street to its junction with Middle-street, and was accepted April 1, 1724. Lots were granted upon it as early as 1720, when it was noticed as Queen- street. The usual route from the country to the harbour was in early times through this road and King-street ; it also led toward the mill at Capisic, which was erected as early as 1( 80, it was this circum- stance which gave to it the familiar name of the country road : the creek from clay cove and the marshes in the central parts of the Neck intercepted the passing on a more direct course. Its present name was applied to it by the town in 1823.
Exchange-street. This street was laid out in 1724, three rods wide and then called Fish-street, which namne it retained until 1810, when its present one was given to it. It had probably not been opened earlier than 1724, as it is not noticed in the grants made in that quarter.
Middle-street was accepted by the town April 1, 1724, from King to Main-street four rods wide ; a path had been opened before this
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General description of the Neck. 121
time, but at what period, we have no means of ascertaining ; from King-street to the cove was opened by the ancient settlers. It was called originally " the Middle-street," from its relative situation, which name it has ever since borne.
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Fore-street. In the grants made by Danforth in 1680, on the south side of the Neck, a highway three rods wide was reserved from King-street " towards the meeting-house," which was that part of Fore-street lying east of King-street. On the west side of clay cove, a reservation was made for a road four rods wide ; how far up the road was opened at this time is not known, and no name appears to have been given it. In 1724, the street was regularly laid out by the town four rods wide " from meeting-house point" to the foot of Exchange-street, and in 1727, it was extended to the head of round marsh, but has never been opened higher than the Portland bridge. It never has been formally named by the town, but has ever borne its present appellation from the circumstance of its being the fore or front street. The part east of King-street has been considerably driven back by the washing of the sea, so that there were formerly buildings south of where it now passes upon the margin of the beach. That part of the street which crosses clay cove was not made until 1765, when Alexander Ross, Enoch Ilsley and James Hope con- tracted "to build a good and sufficient breast-work across clay cove, and make a good road thereon."
Thames-street. This was an ancient street leading from the ferry ways to King-street, on the bank. It was adopted by the town April 1, 1724. It was relaid out in 1760 three rods wide.
School-street was laid out in 1724 two rods wide, and then called " The Lane," which name it retained for many years. It probably took its present title from the fact that a town school-house formerly stood on the corner where it joins Middle-street.
Plumb-street was opened by Phineas Jones through his own land in 1742 ; it was called Jones's lane for many years. The town gave it the name of Plumb-street from the numerous plumb trees in the large garden of Deacon Titcomb at the head of the street.
Centre-street. This street was laid out in 1742 by Samuel Skill- ings, two rods wide, through land which descended to him from his father John Skillings, and had formerly belonged to Rev. George Burroughs. It was accepted by the town in March 1743, and was
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General description of the Neck. [P. II.
familiarly called Love lane until it received its present name in 1812 from its central situation.
Mountjoy-street. This was laid out in 1727, from the head of King-street to the top of Munjoy's hill, and thence to Sandy point ; the street was not opened until 1795.
Main-street was formally laid out April 4, 1727, " beginning at the head of Middle-street where it cometh into said way" (Queen- street) to the head of round marsh various courses four rods wide. It had for many years been the only road which led off the neck in that direction. It was called the Main-street, but no name was given it by the town until within a few years.
Spring-street was laid out as far as the spring in 1754 and accept- ed, but no name given it. It was laid out anew in 1760, and in 1788 it was continued to Ann-street and received its present name ; it has within two or three years been continued to Brackett-street.
Willow-street. This street was opened in 1760, one rod and a half wide, passing through the land of Samuel Proctor and Moses Pearson. No name was given to it, but it received its present ap- pellation from the willow trees through which it passed. It was originally called Pearson's lane.
Free-street. A portion of this street was laid out two rods wide east of Love lane, now Centre-street, in 1772, but it continued a mere bog, over which foot passengers could hardly pass until after the revolution. In 1784, it was continued through to Main-street, three rods wide, and in 1788 the lower part was opened the same width.
Temple-street. This street was laid out 1757, two rods wide, and was called before the revolution, Codman's lane, passing by his house and through his land ; it was not opened until 1762. Its pres- ent name was given to it by common consent after the war, but it has no recorded title.
1
Lime-street was opened in 176S, twenty-nine feet wide and called Lime alley.
Essex-street was laid out in 1756, two rods wide, it had no name given to it, but was called Fiddle-street and Fiddle lane, until 1814, when the town voted its present appellation.
Hampshire-street. There was a court here which run down to where Federal-street now is before the revolution, and called Gree- le's lane ; it was opened to Middle-street one and a half rods wide
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General description of the Neck.
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in 1784, and named Hampshire lane. It owed its first name to the celebrated Mrs. Greele, who for many years kept a noted tavern upon the corner of it.
Newbury-street. There was a street here before 1690, called Fleet-street ; but its ancient name had perished before the revival of the town ; this passed near the head of the Creek, which run up from clay cove, and before Middle-street was made over the stream, was a street of some consequence ; it bore the name of Turkey lane until it was altered to its present by a vote of the town in 1814. It was formally laid out two rods wide in 1760.
In 1759, the street which passes from Middle-street, opposite Essex-street to clay cove, was laid out two rods wide, but it has never yet received a name, either popular or recorded.
In 1727, the road from the Main-street down the hill by the mile post to Back Cove creek, was laid out four rods wide, and in 1736 the road round Back Cove three rods wide was laid out and accepted by the town.
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CHAPTER 7.
Revolution-Causes of excitement-Stamp act ; its repeal-Sugar act-New duties laid-Military force employed-Collision with the troops-Repcal of duties-Non-importation agreements-Du- ties on molasses and tea-Tea duty enforced and tea destroyed- Proceedings in Falmouth-Boston port bill-Convention at Fal- mouth-Preparations for war.
FEW towns in the colonies felt more ardently, and none suffered more severely in the cause of independence, than Falmouth. Al- though she carried on a profitable trade directly with Great Britain by means of the mast ships and other lumber vessels, and an indirect one through the West-India Islands, her inhabitants were not deter- red by any mercenary motives from expressing their sentiments freely in relation to the measures of the mother country.
The French war which terminated in 1763, had been carried on at a vast expense, and although it resulted gloriously to the English arms by the expulsion of the French from all their possessions in the northern part of America, yet it had made large additions to the national debt of England. It was to relieve that country from future embarrassments of this sort, which suggested to her government the scheme of raising a revenue in America to be applied for its gov- ernment and defence.
The first act which was adopted with this view was the revival of the sugar act as it was commonly called, in 1764. This imposed a duty upon sugar, indigo, coffee, wines, silk: , molasses, &c. of foreign growth and manufacture, and required that the net proceeds of the tax should be paid into the treasury of England. A former act lay- ing duties on some of the articles enumerated had existed since 1733, but never having been strictly observed, little revenue had been real- ised from it. The ministry now gave particular instructions to the officers of the customs in America to enforce the law rigidly. It was on this occasion that public attention was first directed to the right of parliament to impose taxes upon the colonies. James Otis wrote a pamphlet on the subject, in which he denied the right, and the representatives of Boston were soon afterwards instructed to use their exertions to procure the repeal of the act ; in them it was ob-
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Resistance to the Stamp .Act. 125
served, " if our trade may be taxed, why not our lands ? Why not the produce of our lands and every thing we possess and make use of ? This we apprehend annihilates our charter to govern and tax ourselves."
The House of Representatives of Massachusetts took the same side of the question and made a statement of the rights of the colonies on the subject of taxation, which, with the pamphlet of Mr. Otis and other papers of a similar character were sent to England and published. These bold views of independency created alarm in the British Ministry, and hastened on measures which tended still more to widen the breach.1
The stamp act followed in February 1765, to go into effect on the first of November following. The news of its passage roused the feelings of the people, already sufficiently excited by the expec- tation of some measure of the kind, to exasperation, which broke out in mobs and vented themselves in showing up the authors and sup- porters of the obnoxious measure in the most contemptuous manner. The colours of the vessels were displayed at half mast, the bells were tolled muffled, and the act was printed with death's head upon it. The assemblies of Virginia and Massachusetts being in session, denounced the system, and the latter proposed to the colonies a meeting of delegates, to make a general and united " representation of their condition to his majesty and implore relief."
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Boston was the centre of excitement, her mobs and town meetings struck terror into the provincial government and the advocates of royal power. The houses of secretary Oliver who had been ap- pointed stamp officer and of the officers of the customs were attack- ed and injured, and that of Lt. Gov. Hutchinson was entirely des- troyed. Every stamp officer throughout the country, unable to resist public opinion resigned his commission, and when the time arrived for the act to go into operation, there were neither stamped papers to be found nor officers to execute it.
The general court assembled on the 23d of October ; the repre-
1A letter writer in London Feb. 10, 1765, remarks: "Several publications from North America lately made their appearance here, in which the indepen- dency of the colonies is asserted in pretty round terms. Some scruple not to affirm that sentiments like these will oblige government here to think of steps that may check such haughty republican spirits."-Bost. Even. Post May 27, 1765.
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Revolution. [P. II.
sentative from Falmouth, Col. Samuel Waldo, was by vote of the town, " directed to use his utmost efforts to prevent the stamp act taking place in this province." Mr. Waldo was not friendly to the popular party and was not again elected a member. The house, by a strong majority expressed its entire disapprobation of the act, and attempted to pass a resolve that all courts should proceed in business without using stamped papers, in the same manner they had done before the passage of the law ; in this however they were defeated by the governor, who prorogued them before the passage of the re- solve. Some courts were opened as usual, and the custom-house officers in Boston issued clearances without being stamped. In this county the justices of the inferior court assembled at Falmouth Jan. 1, 1766, and proceeded to business without stamps.1
It is probable that the custom-house officers in this town had eith- er procured some stamped papers or refused to grant clearances without them ; for on the 8th of January 1766, a mob assembled and threatened the custom-house, and January 25, another mob collected and burnt some stamp clearances.2 A brig had that day arrived from Halifax, which brought a small parcel of these papers and lodged them in the custom-house. As soon as the inhabitants had notice of the fact, they assembled in a body, marched to the custom-house and demanded to have the whole given up to them immediately, de- claring that an article so odious to all America, should not be kept there. After receiving them, they were carried through town on the end of a pole and then committed to a fire prepared for the purpose amidst the acclamations of a great concourse of people.3
The uneasiness in England produced by these disturbances was very great, and united with the representations of the merchants and manufacturers on both sides of the water, whose pecuniary interests were in danger, produced the repal of the obnoxious act in March 1766. Information of this event reached Boston May 16, and was received at Falmouth the same day by the arrival of a mast ship in 30 days from London ; which was confirmed by an express from Boston the day but one after. Nothing had probably produced
1 " 1766, Jan. 1. The justices met at Freeman's and resolved to go on with courts as heretofore, though stamps are not to be had."-Dean's diary. The justices were Jeremiah Powell, Enoch Freeman and Edward Milikin.
2 Smith's and Deane's diaries.
3 Bost. Even. Gaz. Feb. 3, 1766.
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throughout the colonies so ardent and sincere a joy as this, in which no town joined more heartily than the inhabitants of ours. Mr. Smith says, " May 19, our people are mad with drink and joy ; bells ringing, drums beating, colours flying, guns firing, the court-house illuminated and some others, and a bon fire, and a deluge of drunk- enness." !“
Government seized the occasion of the present joy to procure from the colonies an indemnity to the persons whose property had been destroyed in the late commotions. The general court evaded the subject on the ground that they were not authorised to appropri- ate the money of their constituents for such purposes ; the gover- nor prorogued them to give them an opportunity to receive instruc- tions on the subject. The majority of the towns either voted to compensate the sufferers or left it to the discretion of their represen- tatives ; but Falmouth, at a meeting of the inhabitants on the third of September, voted " that the representative be directed to signify, that it is the opinion of the town of Falmouth that the inhabitants of one town ought not to be assessed to reimburse the inhabitants of another town for any riotous proceedings of the inhabitants of another town."? The house determined against an unqualified compensa- tion, but added to their bill of indemnity a grant of free pardon to all who had been engaged in the riots.
The sugar act now only remained to interrupt the friendly inter- course of the two countries. Before the passage of this act, smug- gling had been extensively carried on under the eyes and with the knowledge of the officers of the customs, but now its penalties were
1 An article in the Boston Even. Post of June 2, gives the following account of the reception of the news in Falmouth. "On Sunday noon an express ar- rived from Portsmouth with a confirmation of the great and glorious news, for whom a handsome collection was made, which seemed to change the counte- nance of all ranks of people, and every friend to liberty was filled with pleas- ure and satisfaction-on which occasion an anthem was sung after service at church. The morning following was ushered in with every demonstration of loyalty and joy that could possibly be expressed, such as ringing of bells, firing of cannon at the fort and on board the shipping in the harbour, having all their colours displayed, beating of drums, &c. when many loyal toasts were drank, viz. The Queen-The Royal Family-The great Pitt-Conway-Barre, &c. &c .; and on Tuesday the same noble spirit appeared. In the evening the houses of the town were beautifully illuminated, fire-works played off, bon fires erected, &c. The whole concluded with so much order and decornin, that it did great honour to the town."
2 Jedediah Preble, a staunch whig, had been chosen without opposition to succeed Samuel Waldo as representative.
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rigidly enforced. Several cargoes of wines and sugars had been seized in Boston and Salem, and considerable excitement was pro- duced, though not of so universal and fatal a character as had distin- guished those of the former year. On the 7th of August the collector of Falmouth seized a quantity of sugar and rum belonging to Enoch Ilsley for breach of the act; in the evening a number of persons assembled, attacked the house of the comptroller where the collector then was, with clubs and stones, until past 10 o'clock, during which time the property was removed by the people beyond the reach of the custom-house officers.1 Gov. Bernard issued a proclamation Aug. 18, offering a reward of £50 for the discovery of the persons engaged in this riot.2
In the summer of 1767, while the colonies were resting from the agitation into which they had been thrown by past acts of the British Legislature, Parliament was preparing new causes of excitement. She could not relinquish her scheme of raising a revenue in America, and beside passing an act laying duties upon glass, painters' colours, tea and paper in the course of this summer, the proceeds of which were appropriated towards making a more certain and adequate pro- vision for the charge of the administration of justice and the support of civil government in such of the colonies as it should be necessary, she passed another, asserting a right " to make laws of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever." The government also established a board of commissioners for the receipt and management of the customs in America, and fixed the salaries of certain officers which Massachusetts had refused to do.
The passage of these acts occasioned at first no violent outbreak- ings like those which followed the stamp act, but rather a policy to enlist the manufacturers and merchants of England in their favour, by addressing their pecuniary interests. For this purpose the peo- ple came to a firm determination to abstain from the use of all the dutiable articles and of all foreign superfluities, and to encourage by all their influence and means, domestic manufactures of every kind.
1 Boston Even. Post Aug. 25.
?July 11, 1768. About 30 men armed with clubs, axes and other weapons attacked the jail in this town and rescued two men, John Huston and John Sanborn, who had been convicted at the last supreme court for a riot. The governor offered a reward of £20 for the discovery of any persons engaged in this riot .- Essex Gaz. Aug. 9. These persons were probably implicated in the mob for the recovery of Mr. Ilsley's sugar.
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C. 7.] Military force called in.
Bostou took the lead in this measure, and our town, Dec. 4, 1767, by the following vote heartily responded to the course proposed- " Voted that this town highly approves of the measures of the town of Boston to encourage home manufactures, and that the town will at all times endeavor to suppress the use of foreign ones and encour- age industry and economy agreeably to the plan proposed by the town of Boston ; and that the selectmen be directed to return the thanks of this town to the town of Boston for their seasonable and very laudable attention to, and concern for the happiness and welfare , of this province as well as of the whole continent."
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