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 29
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1 Lotteries were then popular, and an easy mode of granting favors by gov- ernment which was often adopted: our people in 1803 applied, but without success, for one to enable them to pave the streets of the town.
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C. 14.]
Academy. 269
from Stroudwater ; three of the bridges are supported by tolls, the other two are free.
In the general spirit of improvement which was prevailing, the cause of literature was not overlooked. As the means of the people advanced, it became an important consideration with them to raise the standard of education in town, which had always been much de- pressed. With this view, some of our influential men, among whom the late Judge Freeman was particularly active, took measures for the purpose of establishing a higher school than had before existed here. . In February 1794, they procured an act to incorporate an academy, which was placed under the visitatorial care of fifteen trustees, and measures were actively taken to raise a fund for its support.1 The trustees were not to exceed fifteen, nor be less than eight. In 1797, , the general court granted to the trustees a half township of land, provided a fund of $3000 should be formed. This amount after considerable effort, in which Judge Freeman made unwearied exer- tions, was at length raised, and the half township was laid out."
The academy was first opened under the instruction of Edward Payson in 1803, in the two story wooden building opposite the meet- ing-house of the third parish in Congress-street. This was occupied until 1808, when the new brick academy in the same street was fin- ished and improved.3 This school has always been well conducted. and supplied a deficiency in the means of obtaining an education, which had long been seriously felt. But three town-born young men, previous to 1800 had graduated at any college ; these were the sons of the Rev. Mr. Smith and George Bradbury. To obtain an education was a much more expensive and difficult undertaking than it now is, and but few persons of that day in comparison with the present were liberally educated+. Among the persons who have had charge of instruction in the academy, are the late Dr. Payson, Eben-
1This was the 4th academy incorporated in Maine ; those preceding it were Hallowell and Berwick in 1791, and Fryburg in 1792.
2 This half township was located on the eastern boundary line of the State, about 20 miles north of the monument. It was sold by the trustees to Joseph E. Foxcroft of New-Gloucester for $4000, and by him to Samuel Parkman of Boston, and now belongs to his heirs.
3 This building cost $7,300.
4 The following are the native inhabitants who have received a liberal ed- ucation in the order of time, viz. John Smith, H. C. 1745; Peter T. Smith, H. C. 1753; George Bradbury, H. C. 1789 ; S. D. Freeman, H. C. 1800 ; Wm. Freeman, H. C. 1804 ; Isaac Foster Coffin, Bowdoin Col. 1806; Charles S. Daveis, B. C. 1807 ; John Mussey, B. C. 1809; Nathaniel Deering, H. C. 1810; John P. Boyd, John P. B. Storer, Charles Freeman and George Free-
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270
Schools and Education.
[P. I].
ezer Adams and Nathaniel H. Carter, afterwards professors at Dart- mouth College, Rev. Wm. Gregg and Nathaniel Wright. The pres- ent preceptor, Bezaliel Cushman, has faithfully and unremittedly discharged the duties of that responsible trust seventeen years. The income of the funds is small and wholly insufficient to support an instructor who is paid by tuition fees.
The immense improvements which have been made in the means of common education in this country within a few years, have not been lost sight of here ; the number and character of the schools have been brought up to. the spirit of the age. From the solitary little school on the Neck, which at the close of the revolutionary war sent out its half taught urchins, the number has increased to fourteen free public schools, besides as many more of a private character. In 1829, there were thirteen free schools in town, which were attended by 1379 scholars, in two of which the higher branches of education were pursued ; since that time one of these, the classical school has been suspended from an idea that it was an useless expense. In 1831, there were fourteen free schools containing 1545 scholars : two of which were on the islands in the harbour. The appropriation for schools in 1786, the year the town was divided was £30, in 1827, it was $5000, in 1830, $6000. There were in 1832 eleven school- houses in town, four of which were of brick, and seven of wood. We may safely affirm that in no town of its size, is a more liberal regard bestowed upon free education, that vital element in our republican system, than in this town. Some of our private schools are of a superior order, and draw to their lectures and instructions pupils from different parts of the State. We may justly boast that the means of a high grade of moral and intellectual cultivation are brought home to our own doors, that we have wisely profited by the enlight-
man, at B. C. 1812 ; John A. Douglass, B. C. 1814; George Jewett, H. C. 1816; George Chase, H. C. 1818 ; Edward T. Ingraham, B. C. 1819 ; Wm. Boyd, James F. Deering, Frederick A. Cobb, H. C. 1820; David H. Storer, B. C. 1822 ; Wm. Cutter, B. C. 1824; John D. Kinsman, Stephen Longfellow, Henry W. Longfellow, and Edward D. Preble, at B. C. 1825 ; Wm. Paine, B. C. 1826; Wm. H. Codman, Wm. P. Mclellan and John Owen, B. C. 1827, Edward F. Cutter, B. C. 1828 ; John Q. Day, B. C. 1829 ; Francis Barbour, B. C. 1830 ; Edward H. Thomas, B. C. 1831. The following are the sons of emigrants educated after their settlement here, viz : John Wadsworth and James C. Jewett, H. C. 1800; Richard Cobb, B. C. 1806 ; Edward II. Cobb, B. C. 1810 ; Wm. Willis, H. C. 1813 ; Rufus K. Porter, B. C. 1813 ; Nathan Cummings and John Widgery, B. C. 1817 ; Grenville Mellen, H. C. 1818 : Winthrop G. Marston, B. C. 1821 ; Wm. P. Fessenden, B. C. 1824 ; Freder- ick Mellen and P. H. Greenleaf, B. C. 1825 ; John Rand, B. C. 1831.
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271
Library.
C. 14.]
ened spirit which is going abroad and seized upon the numer- ous facilities and advantages for obtaining and diffusing education.
In connection with this subject we may advert again to the library, whose history we have in a former chapter traced to the destruction of the town in 1775, an event which scattered its volumes like the leaves of the sibyl and entirely suspended its operations. An attempt was made in 1780 to collect the fragments and revive the society, but it was not until 1781, that any spirit was infused into its torpid frame. In May of that year, twenty-six members were admitted, who were required to pay two dollars cach in money or books ; several others were subsequently received on the same conditions. But the number of books did not keep pace with the increased number of members, for in 1787, a committee chosen to appraise the books belonging to the library previous to April 3 1786, reported that they were worth but £25.1
It could not be expected that the library would advance much with the very limited appropriations which were made for that pur- pose ; books were vastly dearer than they are now, and most works of value were to be procured only by importation; very few were re- printed in this country. In January 1789, it was voted that each member pay six pence at every meeting for defraying the necessary expenses of the society, and if there were any surplus it should be applied to the purchase of books. The meetings were held quarter- ly, and Samuel Freeman, the librarian, was allowed 6s. for the ex- pense of each quarterly meeting.
In 1794, the books were appraised at £64. 3. 8. and the price of admission was raised to 42s. This year the committee were instruct- ed to purchase Sullivan's History of Maine, Hutchinson's Massachu- setts, Belknap's Biography, Ramsay's American Revolution, the life of Dr. Franklin, the history of the county of Worcester and Ram- say's Carolina. These instructions indicate a design in the society to form a collection of American works. Samuel Freeman, who had warmly promoted the objects of the institution, and had hitherto discharged the duties of librarian for the compensation above noticed, now declined the office, and Daniel Epes was appointed with a sal- ary of six dollars a year. He held the place until 1799, when Ed-
1 These books were a broken set of Ancient and Modern Universal History, containing 41 volumes, the 2nd vol. of the Czar of Muscovy, volumes 1 and 3 of Leland's Deistical writers, the 2nd vol. of Rapin's History of England and the London Magazinc.
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Samuel Freeman.
[P. II.
ward Oxnard was chosen and allowed ten dollars a year. In 1799, the society was incorporated under a statute passed in 1798.1
1 We cannot omit this opportunity of paying a passing tribute to the mem- ory of the late Judge Freeman, whose numerous and valuable services to our community entitle him to high commendation. He was born in this town June 15, 1742, and was the oldest son of Enoch Freeman. The family origin- ally settled in Watertown, Mass., but this branch moved to the Old Colony. He traded and kept school previous to the revolution. He first came into notice as a public man in 1774, when he warmly advocated the rights of the colonies. In 1775, having just attained the age of 33, he was chosen sole delegate to the provincial Congress from Falmouth, and was re-elected in 1776 and '78 ; he was appointed secretary of Congress in 1775, the duties of which office he ably and satisfactorily discharged for three years. In 1775 he was appointed clerk of the courts in this county, and held the office with the exception of one year in the administration of Mr. Gerry, until 1820, a period of forty-six years. The same year he received the appointment of Register of Probate, which he held until he was commissioned Judge of Pro- bate in 1804, the duties of which office he faithfully discharged until 1820. He was also post master from 1775 to 1804. The confidence reposed in him bv his fellow-citizens was no less conspicuous than that of government : in 1788 he was elected one of the selectmen of the town, and with the excep- tion of one year was annually re-elected 25 years. In 1781 he was chosen deacon of the first parish, and held the office about 45 years. In 1802 he was appointed president of the Maine Bank in this town which he held for several successive years, and was also a number of years president of the overseers of Bowdoin College .* These numerous and varied offices he filled with sin- gular industry, fidelity and accuracy, and by a judicious arrangement of his employments, still had time to spare for the charities of life. His active and benevolent mind sought relief from the toils of official duty in the humble walks of beneficence ; and we find him originating and aiding by his money, his example, and his personal efforts, all the institutions whose tendency was to elevat . the tone of society and to improve the manners and morals of the people. Notwithstanding his numerous avocations,he turned to account his pe- culiar talent as a draftsman,and published the Town Officer, Clerk's Magazine and Probate Directory, which in an age when there were few lawyers and no books of practical forms in common use, had a very rapid and extensive circu- lation, and passed through several editions. In the latter part of his life, when he had thrown off the cares of office, Mr. Freeman found employment in di- gesting the manuscript journal of the Rev. Mr. Smith, and collecting informa- tion relative to the town and county. This he published in 1821, and thus preserved from destruction many valuable materials for history. In reading the extracts from Mr. Smith's Journal, we cannot but deeply regret that the editor should have been placed under an injunction to destroy what he did not use, and that thus by far the larger portion of the journal is lost forever. Such are some of the particulars in the useful and protracted life of this ven- erable man. In his domestic and private character, he may be traced by the same lines of kindness, benevolence and integrity which marked his public course. He was twice married, his first wife, Miss Fowle of Watertown, Mass. died in 1785, at the early age of 30 ; he married in 1786 the widow of Pearson Jones and daughter of Enoch Ilsley, the excellent woman with whom he lived 44 years, and whom he survived about a year. He died in June 1831 aged 89, leaving children by both of his wives.
*He held at one time the several offices of delegate to the general court, its secretary, clerk of the courts, post master, and register of probate. At another period, he was at the same time judge of probate, clerk of the courts. post master, selectman, president of the Maine Bank, president of the board of overseers of Bowdoin College, deacon of the first church and an active member of several societies.
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Library.
C. 14.]
At the commencement of a new century, the society partaking of the customs of that period, assumed more of a social character, and part of the funds were diverted from the higher objects of the insti- tution to the temporary and bodily gratification of the members. In 1800, we find it voted, " that a supper be prepared at the next annual meeting and a cold collation at the quarterly meetings, at the expense of the society." This no doubt promoted good fellowship among the members and drew a prompt attendance upon their meet- ings, but it may well be doubted whether the literary character of the institution did not suffer in proportion as its attention and funds were turned from its legitimate objects to ministering to the pleasures of the body. This was not a solitary instance, for in 1802 and 1804, " a hot supper" was ordered to be furnished at the annual meeting in those years. This part of the history of the society does not promise much for the increase of the library nor give a very high idea of the intellectual character of the day ; but it must be admitted that it was in conformity to the custom of the country, which was one of cor- poration dinners, club suppers, and of physical action, rather than of intellectual energy.
In 1801 the price of admission to the library was put at $15, and continued so until 1811, when it was reduced to $11. It advanced again to $15 in 1819, and to $20 in 1825, and a tax varying from two to three dollars was annually levied. The library had revived in 1809 ; a committee was that year chosen to provide accommo- dations for persons who wished to visit the library to read ; its prospect continued to brighten, and it went on steadily increasing until 1825, when it contained a good selection of books, and more free from ephemeral and trashy reading, than many larger libraries which have had a more rapid growth. The number of proprietors at this time was 82, and the number of volumes 1640.1 . The li- brary was kept in an office, inconvenient as a place of resort for consulting the books, but yet corresponding with the income and means of the society.
At this period a number of members conceived the design of en- larging the institution, and bringing it up to the standard of the age
1 In 1821 the library contained 1200 volumes ; in 1825 140 volumes were added to the library, and the whole expense for that year, including $50 for the librarian was $331.
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274
Atheneum.
[P. II.
and the literary wants of the town. They proposed to establish an Atheneum on the basis of the old library, extending its means, ad- vantages, and accommodations, and adding to it commercial and literary reading rooms. In pursuance of this plan, an act was pro- cured in March 1826, to incorporate the " Portland Atheneumn." Nearly all the proprietors of the library became associates in the Atheneum, and their whole property was purchased in August 1826 for $1640, when the old society was dissolved. The proprietors of the Atheneum also purchased the property of another association which was established in 1819 under the name of Atheneum and Reading Room without reference to the formation of a library, which was also merged in the new institution.
The plan of the Atheneum was favorably received by our inhabi- tants ; one hundred and thirty-three persons became proprietors at $100 a share, and the first year of its operation there were, in addi- tion to the proprietors, ninety-four subscribers to the Reading Rooms at $5 a year.1. Under these auspicious circumstances, large com- mercial and literary reading rooms were opened on the first of Jan. 1827, supplied with the principal commercial newspapers of the country and periodical publications at home and from abroad. The library also received a very valuable addition by the importation from England and France of rare and standard works at an expense of about $1500. Additions have since been annually made to the library, which, in proportion to its size, is one of the most valuable in the country, containing a large number of the best works in liter- ature and science, and the periodical literature of the last half century ; the institution is an honor and an ornament to the town, and well entitled to the encouragement and support of its intelligent citizens. The number of books it contains is about 3500, which with the other property of the institution was valued in January 1832, at $6,158, and belonged to 111 proprietors.
There are numerous other institutions, particularly of a charitable kind which adorn our town, and which have for many years poured
1 Only $60 on a share of this subscription have been paid in, of which $2400 are invested in Canal Bank Stock and the remainder has been appropriated for the purchase of books.
The officers of the Atheneum first chosen were Wm. P. Preble President, Wm. Willis Secretary and Treasurer, Levi Cutter, Ichabod Nichols, Albion K. Parris, Henry Smith and Ashur Ware Directors.
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Charitable Societies. 275
upon the sufferings and sorrows of the poor, the relief and consola- tions of benevolence. A few of them only can be briefly noticed here. The most ancient is the Marine Society, established in 1796 for the education and relief of scamen and their families. They have a respectable cabinet of shells, minerals and natural curiosities, in a room in the Mariner's church. The Benevolent Society was instituted in 1803, to encourage and assist those meritorious persons who have been reduced to poverty, but have not become objects of public support. The Female Charitable Society incorporated in 1812 and conducted by ladies, is one of the most efficient and use- ful of the sisters of charity in our town ; it visits with noiseless step the cheerless house of want, and kindly smoothes the pillow of sick- ness and sorrow. The Charitable Mechanic Association is an instr- tution of a high and praiseworthy character, embracing in its design that more elevated order of benevolence which extends its care to informing and cultivating the mind, and training up a race of mechan- ics of sound moral principle and intellectual power. The society was incorporated in 1815, and has since established a fine library for apprentices, and has now every winter a course of lectures upon subjects of the highest interest. The Institution for Savings, is another association of the most useful character, and not liable to the objections made against the charities which bestow merely alms. Its grand object is to promote industry and economy by affording a safe and profitable depository for the smallest earnings of the poor. It was established in 1819 and has met with great encouragement, having occasioned a large accumulation of money from the savings of labor- ing people, which might otherwise have vanished away without pro- ducing any benefit to its owners. The amount of its deposits on the first of January 1833, exceeded $80,000.
There are many other societies in town whose object is to ameli- orate the condition of man, and which have spread their useful results over the whole surface of our community, but we cannot stop to no- tice them here ; their history is practically written on the living tab- lets of the generations as they pass. It may not be improper in this connection to say that no town sustains a higher reputation than this, for readiness at all times, and on all suitable occasions to contribute to the cause of humanity, whether it lie in giving succour to the poor and distressed or in the higher walks of benevolence, elevating the
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276
Epidemics. [P. II.
moral tone of society and lending its aid to promote its good institu- tions ..
The town has occasionally been visited with epidemic diseases of a fatal character. In 1736 the throat distemper, which had been raging for more than a year in the country, commenced its ravages here. It broke out in Kingston, N. H. in 1735, and spread with fearful and fatal rapidity throughout the colonies ; its ravages were generally among the young ; in New Hampshire where it first ap- peared, a thousand persons died of it, and in Boston not less than four thousand persons were attacked. It was equally fatal here, forty-nine persons died of the disorder upon the Neck and twenty- six in Purpooduck out of a population of six or seven hundred in each place. The Rev. Mr. Smith, in conformity to a usage of that day, united to his clerical duties the practice of medicine, and was at that time if not the only, almost the only physician in the place ; it con- tinued to prevail here and in the neighboring towns through the year 1737 ; in North Yarmouth seventy-five died of it.
In 1786 the complaint appeared here again and attacked adults as well as children, and in 1832 it made a third periodical visit, sweep- ing numerous victims, among the young and beautiful of the land to an untimely grave.
The small pox also frequently prevailed here before the introduc- tion of its antidote, the kine pock innoculation; but it never has been very destructive among our people. During the revolutionary war there were some cases among the soldiery, which terminated fatally. In 1792 there was an unusual excitement on the subject ; a hospital was then built on the back side of Munjoy's hill by the town, and another was procured at the expense of individuals on Bangs' island, where between forty and fifty persons of both sexes repaired for in- noculation ; the charge of them both was given to Doctors Coffin, Thomas and Erving. Not one of the persons who received innocu- lation at this time died. We know little of the terror which that epidemic was wont to produce before its infectious nature was dis- armed of its poison by the introduction of kine pock innoculation. Those who have witnessed the dismay with which the cholera has been accompanied within a few years, will not have an inadequate idea of the alarm which went before that former enemy of our race.
Among the improvments which have taken place in our town, we presume we may rank the change which has recently been made in
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Change of the Town Government. 277
its form of government. The town, ever since its first organization, agrecably to New-England usage, had been in their municipal ca- pacity, a perfect democracy. The whole body of the people had been the law-givers in their primary assemblies, and their decrees had been executed by persons selected by them. The meetings of the inhabitants were formerly held in the meeting-house, afterwards in the court-house, and more recently until 1826, in a school-house in Congress-street, the lower room of which was prepared for the use of the town. The population had increased so much about the year 1820, that more convenient accommodations were loudly demanded. The subject came before the inhabitants in 1823, and in 1824 a com- mittee was chosen to consider the expediency of erecting a building which should contain a hall for the public meetings of the inhabitants and suitable apartments for public purposes, together with conven- iences for a market. The object met with a favorable regard both from the committee and the town, and the result was the erection of the spacious building at the junction of Middle and Congress-streets in 1825, at an expense including the land a little short of $20,000.
The large hall which it contains affords convenient room for the assemblies of the inhabitants, and here the 2000 legislators of the town formerly assembled to deliberate and act upon the important subjects relating to its government. The election of all executive and police officers, the location of streets and the assessment and appropriation of money were all acted upon by masses of people, whose numbers varied, according to the interest taken in the subject, from 50 to 2000 persons. The partiality and injustice, and the crude action on important questions which often resulted from the excited feelings and the superficial consideration of these assemblies produced a general enquiry among the citizens for some remedy for such evils. The population liad now reached 12,000, producing a number of voters much too large to act upon public business with that deliberation which the extent of the town and the amount of money expended in its government required.1 Beside the frequent
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