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 21
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1792 to government $340,01
To Mr. Freeman $165,65
1795 “
607,23
185,51
1800 «
1000,89
451,48
1804 .'
1167,75
1044,29
The amount paid to government in one year ending March 31, 1830, was $4,789 89, and for the year ending March 31 1832, $4,777 10.' But the business of the office may be better estimated by the amount of postage on letters and papers which pass through it. For the year ending March 31, 1832, there were received for letters delivered at the office $6,926, and for newspapers and pam- phlets $667, making an aggregate of $7,593 ; besides this the amount of postage on letters distributed and forwarded to other parts of the State was $37,979.2
The first accomodation stage that commenced running from this town regularly, was in 1818, when it went three times a week to Portsmouth. There was a line during part of the war of 1812, when communication by water was interrupted by British cruisers in the bay ; but this was suspended when peace took place, for want of encouragement. In 1832 the number of stages that were employed on different routes from this town was twelve, of which five arrived and departed every day, and the remainder three times a week ; seven carried mails, the others were accommodation stages.
The usual mode of travelling even for some years after the revo- lution, was on horse back, the roads being too bad, except in win-
' The amount of postage paid to government in the State in the year end- ing March 31, 1830, was $31,922 83.
" This being a distributive office, all the letters for the State pass through it.
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196
Travelling.
, [P. II.
ter to admit of comfortable passing in any other manner. The judges and lawyers rode their circuits, and the physicians and minis- ters made their visits on horseback. Chaises came into use here about 1760 for riding about the town and neighborhood ; they were not however in general use, nor were they generally used by those who owned them, but kept like the Sunday dress to be worn only on gala days. The Rev. Mr. Smith purchased one in 1765, and Dr. Deane in 1766, and yet the latter mentions in January 1770 that he "rode to Joshua Freeman's and carried his wife behind him.""1 Dr. Deane has recorded as a notable fact in 1769 that " at the funeral of Savage's child there were 16 chaises in the proces- sion."2 This was probably the whole or nearly the whole number owned in town. It was not until about 30 years after the revolu- tion, that a private four wheeled carriage was kept by any person in town. Public hacks which are now numerous, did not come into common use until about 1818.3
Connected with the subject of post offices is that of the public press, the progress of which is equally interesting. The first news- paper established in Maine, was the " Falmouth Gazette and Weekly Advertiser," the first number of which was issued in this town Sat- urday January 1, 1785. It was published once a week by Benja- min Titcomb and Thomas B. Wait, on a demi sheet.+ It continued to bear this name until April 1786 when it was changed to the "Cum- berland Gazette" and was published by Mr. Wait alone. In 1792 it underwent another alteration, and January 2d of that year it ap-
'These two chaises may be supposed to be among the earliest ; Mr. Deane's cost him £180. Joshua Freeman lived at Back Cove on the farm directly op- posite the Alms house.
" Arthur Savage the Comptroller, who lived where Moorehead now keeps tavern in Middle-street.
3 In 1220 the number of chaises owned in town were 90, and four wheeled carriages 10. In 1830, chaises 101, carriages 16.
4 Mr. Titcomb is now living in Brunswick, a minister of the Baptist persua- sion. He is a son of Deacon Benjamin Titcomb. Mr. Wait was born in Lynn, Mass. and came here in 1784 from Boston, where he had been connect- ed in the publication of the Chronicle. He died in Boston to which place he had removed, about 1827. Mr. Wait was a man of strong mind and great firmness and independence of character. He did much service to our com- munity in procuring the establishment of post offices and mail routes, and in diffusing useful information. At the early period of his residence here he was very popular, and had great ascendancy over public opinion; he was ar- dent and persevering in whatever he undertook and honest in his purposes. He resided here about thirty years.
C. 10.]
Newspapers. 197
peared in a larger form under the name of the " Eastern Herald." Previous to this change, Mr. Titcomb had set up another paper in opposition to Wait called the " Gazette of Maine," the first num- her of which was published Oct. S, 1790. Some dissatisfaction ex- isted at this time against Mr. Wait by a number of respectable peo- ple, who took offence at the freedom of his remarks and at his advo- cating for office some candidates who were not popular with the majority in town.
There were at this time no party lines of division like those of the present day, but differences grew out of the local situation and individual character of candidates, which caused excitements as vio- lent as those founded on difference of political sentiment. At this particular period a warm canvass had been carried on for member of Congress in Maine, the whole territory composing but one district. The candidates were George Thatcher of Biddeford, then sitting member, Josiah Thatcher of Gorham, Nathaniel Wells of Wells, and Wm. Lithgow of Georgetown. Mr. Wait earnestly supported the re-election of George Thatcher, against whom a large majority of the people in this town were opposed. The contest was main- tained with much virulence and personality, during which Mr. Wait was personally assaulted, Daniel George and Daniel Davis threaten- ed with personal injury, and Samuel C. Johonnot driven out of town. There never has been since that time, more personal abuse during any canvass, than that election excited.' It was during this contro- versy that the Gazette of Maine had birth, and sustained by the op- position to Wait, it continued its existence until Sept. 1796, when John Kelse Baker, who had been an apprentice to Mr. Wait, pur- chased the two establishments, and issued, instead of the two papers, one published semi-weekly, called the " Eastern Herald and Gazette of Maine."" The price of the semi-weekly paper was $2,50, and the list of subscribers, when they were transferred to Baker, con- tained 1700 names. About a year before entering into this arrange- ment, Mr. Baker had been publishing at Hallowell a weekly paper called the " Tocsin," which was successor to the "Eastern Star."
1 The votes returned from this town, were for Wells 65, Josiah Thatcher 23, George Thatcher 21, Lithgow 1. George Thatcher was chosen on the 4th trial by a majority of 60 votes.
2 The principal contributors to the early papers were Judge Thatcher, Wm. Symmes, Daniel Davis, Johonnot and Paul Langdon. Daniel George and Jonas Clark were poetical correspondents.
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198
Newspapers. - [P. II.
There was at the same time another paper published at Augusta by Peter Edes, who had gone there a short time before from Boston. There were now three newspapers printed in the State, which con- tained at that period a population of about 125,000.
In three or four months after Baker had united the two presses, another paper called the " Oriental Trumpet" was set up in opposi- tion to the Herald, by John Rand, who had been an apprentice to Mr. Wait. And in April 1798, Eleazer A. Jenks, another of Mr. Wait's apprentices, established a second weekly paper under the name of the "Portland Gazette." This competition made it necessary for Baker to suspend the publication of the semi-weekly Herald, and he continued it weekly until 1800 ; he was succeeded in the proprietorship by Daniel George, who published it till 1804, when it ceased to exist, having survived the Oriental Trumpet several years.1 In 1805 Isaac Adams and Wm. Jenks jr. suc- ceeded Eleazer A. Jenks in the proprietorship of the Gazette : this establishment has lived through various changes of name and proprietorship and of fortunes until the present time.2 In 1823 it was issued semi-weekly, and soon after took the name of " Portland Advertiser," to which the old title the Gazette of Maine, was after- wards appended. On the first of January 1831, the proprietors, John and William E. Edwards issued from the same press a " Daily Advertiser,"" which is still continued under the editorial care of James Brooks. This is the oldest newspaper press now existing in this State, and uniformly advocated the doctrines espoused by the federal school of politicians, until the recent amalgamation of parties.
In September 1803, the " Eastern Argus" was first published ; it was commenced by Nathaniel Willis jr. in support of the measures of Mr. Jefferson's administration. It continued to be published weekly until Sept. 30, 1824, when it was issued semi-weekly, and in 1832 tri-weekly. Its proprietors, since Mr. Willis left the man- agement of it, have been Francis Douglass and Thomas Todd.3 It has always supported the cause of democracy. In 1806 the "Free- man's Friend," a neutral paper, was established by J. Mckown,
1 Rand, after he relinquished his paper, went to sea and died on his first voyage.
This is the Old Portland Gazette of which we hear so much in the modern politics of the town.
3 Mr. Willis moved to Boston and took charge of the Boston Recorder, which he continues to publish.
199
C. 10.] Adoption of the Constitution of the U. States.
but as those were belligerent times, neutrals could not live ; in a few · years it ceased to exist.
The first daily paper established in Portland was the " Daily Courier," the publication of which was commenced October 13, 1829, under the editorial care of Seba Smith jr. and is still contin- ued. There are now published in this town, (February 1833) two daily, one tri-weekly, one semi-weekly, and nine weekly papers.1
Among the topics of a political nature which agitated the public mind soon after the revolution and became the subject of newspaper discussion, was the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. Our people had not taken much interest in this question until the time arrived for choosing delegates to the convention called to ratify the instrument. Communications from place to place were not so frequent nor so rapid as at the present time, and the public mind was not so easily brought to bear upon political subjects. Joseph McLellan and John Fox were chosen by this town delegates to the convention, and Major Daniel Ilsley, who then lived at Back Cove, and Gen. John K. Smith of Stroudwater, were members from Fal- mouth.
The vote on the final question was taken in the convention Feb. 6, 1788, and the constitution was ratified by a majority of 19, the vote being 187 to 168. There were but three of the thirteen dele- gates from this county who voted in the negative, viz. Messrs. Ils- ley, Longfellow of Gorham, and Widgery of New Gloucester.2.
Great doubt and anxiety existed among the friends of the consti- tution as to its ratification by the requisite number of States, and when New-Hampshire, the ninth State gave her assent to it June 21 1788, there was general joy over the country. Immediately on the news being received in this town, a number of respectable gentle- men assembled at a public house and had an entertainment, at which thirteen toasts were drank, each one accompanied by the discharge of cannon. The joyous event was also celebrated " by the ringing of bells, mutual congratulations and federal huzzas."
' These papers are as follows, viz: Evening Advertiser, Daily Courier, Portland Advertiser, Eastern Argus, Christian Mirror, Zion's Advocate, Maine Wesleyan Journal, Family Reader, Sabbath School Instructer, Port- land Courier and Mechanic, Christian Pilot. The whole number of news- papers printed in the State in April 1833, were 44.
2 Mr. Widgery and many other of the minority members addressed the convention after the vote was declared, and pledged themselves to a hearty support of the constitution.
1
200
Members of Congress. [P. II.
Previous to 1792, the whole of Maine had constituted but one con- gressional district, and had been represented by Geo. Thatcher of Bid- deford, both under the old confederation and since the adoption of the constitution. In 1792, our State was divided into three districts, from each of which a representative to Congress was to be chosen by the aggregate majority in all the districts. This mode was found to be exceedingly inconvenient in practice, causing great diversity of sen- timent in regard to the candidates and frequent ballotings. It was therefore before the next election altered to the present system of choosing the representative by the votes of the district in which he resides.
The first election of three representatives took place in Novem- ber 1792 ; there were fourteen candidates for Cumberland, and as might have been expected, there was no choice.1 At the third trial Peleg Wadsworth was chosen by a large majority over Daniel Da- vis, the only opposing candidate, although in this town the vote stood for Davis 124, and for Wadsworth 37. Gen. Wadsworth was suc- cessively re-elected until 1806, when he declined being a candidate."
In 1806, Major Daniel Ilsley was chosen to supply Gen. Wads- worth's place by a small majority over Ezekiel Whitman, who then lived at New-Gloucester.3 In 1808, political excitement raged very high, our people were labouring under the pressure of the restrictive system, and the opposition to Mr. Jefferson's administration was active and violent. The votes of this district were more than doubled for member of Congress, and resulted in the election of Mr. Whit- man over Mr. Ilsley by about 300 majority.4.
Wm. Widgery succeeded Mr. Whitman in 1810, who after one term was superseded by George Bradbury, his vote in favor of the war having transferred the small majority which had elected him into the scale of his opponent. Mr. Bradbury was chosen a second time in 1814; he was succeeded in 1816, by Ezekiel Whitman, who held the seat by successive re-elections until 1822, when on his ap-
' The vote in Portland was as follows: Josiah Thatcher 32, Peleg Wads- worth 30, Daniel Davis 25, John Fox 16, Wm. Widgery 15, Samuel Freeman 11, Stephen Hall 5, John Wait 3, John May 3, Stephen Longfellow 2, Wm. Martin 1. In York, George Thatcher was chosen on the first trial, and in Lincoln Henry Dearborn on the 2d.
2 In 1798, a public dinner was given to Gen. Wadsworth on his return from Congress by the citizens of this town as a mark of their approbation of his official conduct.
3 The vote in this town was for Whitman 316, Ilsley 227.
+ The result of the ballot in this town was for Whitman 536, Ilsley 220.
201
French Mania.
C. 10.]
pointment as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, he resigned it, and Mark Harris was chosen for the remainder of the term. Stephen Longfellow was chosen the next term and was followed in 1824 by our present representative, John Anderson, who has received the successive suffrages of the people of this district until this period.
Maine, during her connection with Massachusetts, was favored but once with a representative in the Senate of the U. States ; this was just previous to the separation, when Prentiss Mellen in 1818 was elected to supply the place vacated by Eli P. Ashmun. It is a noticable fact that the senator and all the representatives to Congress from Cumberland district since the adoption of the constitution have been inhabitants of this town.
The strong party divisions which have distracted the country for nearly forty years, did not display themselves until the commence- ment of the wars which grew out of the French revolution. Prior to that time a warm and deep interest had been taken by the people of our republic in the revolution of France, and the most ardent sympathy was felt and expressed by all classes of our people in the great cause in which she was engaged. Its similarity to our revolu- tion, and the assistance which she had effectually rendered to us en- listed the sincere aspirations of the freemen on this side of the atlan- tic for her success. On this subject a sort of mania prevailed which carried the devotion so far as to realize the truth of the remark that there is but a step from the sublime to the ridiculous. French fash- ions, French phrases and manners were caught at, and imitated as though they were themselves the substance of liberty. Our town was not free from the infection ; we find by the papers that the birth day of Washington in 1792, was celebrated by a supper at citizen Mot- ley's, at which citizen Nath'l F. Fosdick presided, and that artillery was discharged under the direction of citizen Weeks. In another paper wehave a communication addressed to citizen Wait, the editor, noticing a similar meeting at citizen Cleaves's in Saco.
But the wild and licentious course pursued by the people of France dispelled the hopes which were entertained by the patriots on this side of the water of the regeneration of that delightful land and of Europe, and the policy which the administration of our country deemed it necessary to pursue in the war which followed, changed the current of feeling which had existed and brought down upon that administration a severe and bitter opposition.
1
202
Politics of 1793 and 1794. [P. II.
The people of this town in that emergency were decidedly favor- able to the policy of Washington ; in 1793, they heartily responded in a public meeting to his proclamation of neutrality, and supported the vigorous measures by which that act, so well calculated to pre- serve us from entangling alliances, was enforced. In 1791, Con- gress appropriated $172,698 to put the harbours on this eastern coast in a state of defence, and an engineer was sent to this town to super- intend the construction of fortifications rendered necessary by the threatening aspect of affairs.1 A law was also passed by Congress, ordering 80,000 minute men to be raised from the militia to be ready to march at a minute's warning. The proportion of this force re- quired of Maine, was 2,020 meu, which was raised with the greatest alacrity by voluntary enlistments, and formed into one division under the command of Ichabod Goodwin of Berwick. In this town the zeal in this service was so strong that after the number was filled, considerable offers were made to those who had been enrolled, for an opportunity to take their places.2
The firmness of the administration carried us safely through the trials of that period. But although there was considerable unanimity . on these measures, there was still a large class in the country who were strongly opposed to them ; and it was to rally these persons and to give strength to the opposition that clubs were formed in many places, called republican societies. One of them was established here in the summer of '94 ; the leading members of which were John Baker, Major Bradish, Wm. McLellan and Samuel Dunn, who held monthly meetings, at which suppers were furnished at a house in Free-street. The society maintained so rigidly the doc- trine of routine in office, that they provided by their constitution that the chairman should be chosen monthly. The members of these societies continued to retain a warm attachment to France, notwith- standing the waywardness of her political course, and thought our government was bound by justice and the obligation of treaties to assist her against the armed alliance of kings against whom she was singly contending.
1 The name of the engineer was Col. Rochfortaine ; while he was proving some pieces of ordnance in July 1794, on Munjoy's hill, an 181b. cannon burst and killed Andrea Zeldstedt, captain of a Swedish vessel lying in the harbour, and wounded Jeremiah Colby.
2 Eastern Herald Oct. 6, 1794.
1
C. 11.]
Courts, Law and Lawyers.
203
CHAPTER 11.
Courts-Court houses and Jails-Inferior Court-Superior Court -Law and Lawyers-Capital trials-Decrease of crime.
THE whole territory of Maine formed but one county until 1760, when the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln were established ; the former embraced the present counties of Cumberland and Oxford, the latter all the country east of them. On this occasion a term of the Superior Court was first granted to Cumberland, and held in Falmouth in June, for the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln ; the records of the court however, were still kept in Boston. The In- ferior Court and Court of "General Sessions of the Peace," had been held in Falmouth once a year since 1735. The first term of these Courts was established here in 1736, William Pepperrell of Kittery, being Chief Justice. The Inferior Court consisted of four judges ; the Sessions was composed of all the justices in the county,' and they were " empowered to hear and determine all matters relat- ing to the conservation of the peace and punishment of offenders," grant licenses, lay out highways, &c. This court continued until 1808, when it was abolished, and a court consisting of five justices was established in its place. The Inferior court was established in 1699 and was continued until 1811, when it yielded to the circuit system, by which the Commonwealth was divided into six circuits, of which the counties of York, Cumberland and Oxford formed one. This continued until after the separation from Massachusetts, when the present Court of Common Pleas was established.
As early as 1733 the inconvenience of attending court at York by people in this part of the country, was so severely felt, that the town authorized the selectmen to join the neighbouring towns in a petition to the general court to divide the county or have the courts held further east, and it was in consequence of this effort that a term of the court was extended here.2 There was no court-house and no
1 These two Courts were held at the same time and place: in 1747, Oct. Mr. Smith says, " I prayed with the court P. M. Justice Came drunk all dar "
2 In 1735, June, the Legislature appointed the Inferior court to be held at York and Falmouth alternately in January and October. The judges wem Samuel Came, Timothy Gerrish, Joseph Moody and Jeremiah Moulton : John Leighton was sheriff ; they all resided west of Saco river.
1
204
Court Houses and Jail. [P. II.
regular place for holding the courts before the revolution ; they were generally held at the town house at the foot of Middle-street, some- times at the meeting-house, at others in one of the taverns, but always with one exception upon the Neck.1 A large and handsome court-house was commenced by the county in 1774, on the spot where the town-house had stood, which had been moved to Cou- gress-street to make room for it ; this was nearly completed, when it perished in the conflagration of the town.2
The frame of the second court-house was raised in October 1785, and finished next year ; it was two stories high with a belfry, and was 48. feet by 34 ; the courts were held in the second story, the first was an open hall. This was removed to Court-street in 1816, and the centre of the present court-house was erected on its site the same year.3 In 1831, two wings were added each about 20 feet in width, and projecting a little beyond the line of the front, to enlarge the public offices and to furnish jury rooms and lobbies up stairs. The addition gave an improved appearance to the front, and it is now a well proportioned and beautiful building, furnishing convenient and safe apartments for the courts, the public offices, and for the muni- cipal court of the city.4
Before the revolution, the jail stood on Middle-street, where the market-house now is, it was a small building 33 feet by 18 ; this was taken down in 1799, and the jailor's house was removed to Federal- street, where it now stands occupied by Samuel Hale. The pres- ent jail was erected in 1799, under the superintendence of John Park of Groton, Mass. ; it is of substantial stone work, 50 feet by 34, two stories high, with rooms in the attic, and cost about $8,000 ; the building committee were Samuel Freeman and Judge Gorham.
1 " Oct. 4, 1743. The court this year is kept at Purpooduck on pretence of no tavern this side." Sm. Jour. In 1776, Alice Greele charged 10s. 6d. for a room for the use of the court ; in 1777, her bill was £2. 8.
" This building was 54 feet by 50, and was crowned with a belfry ; the erec- tion was superintended by Stephen Longfellow, Esq. then Clerk of the court.
3 The building was sold to the Union Society of christians, who occupied it until 1827, when they sold it ; it now stands in Green-street, and is occupied as a soap and candle manufactory.
4 The original dimensions of the building were 60 by 50 feet, two stories high and built of brick ; the front is finished by a pediment, supported by six columns and pilasters and surmounted by a belfry, on the spire of which is a nicely adjusted pair of scales to indicate what ought to be going on below. The building committee were Richard Hunnewell, Barrett Potter and Albert Newhall; the whole cost including the additions was $23,000.
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