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 8
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Armstrong, Jona. Green, Jno.
Lawrence, Josh'a
Bradbury, Jno.
Green, Sam'l.
M'Curdey, Charles
Bagley, Benj.
Green, Wm.
McLellan, Rob't
Bishop, George
Godson, Rich.
Mclellan, Joseph
Berry, Sam'l.
Gooding, Hannah
Motley, Jno.
Baker, Josiah
Gage, Widow
Morss, Joseph
Cuningham, Patrick Craft, Jona.
Hanse, Jno.
Mountfort, Sam'l
Child, Thos. .
Haden, Jno.
Minot, John
Cobham, Jno.
Ilsley, Dan'l. Jenkins, Robt.
Oxnard, Thos.
Cooper, Simon Cook, Jno.
Knight, Benj.
Osgood, Abm.
Curwin, Nick's
Kelley, Christ.
Owen, Sam'l.
Eldrige, Josh'a. Eayre, Jash'a.
Kent, Jno.
Oulten, Anna
Page, Lem'l
Fernald, Peletiah 9
Lumbar, Jede'h Lowther, Jno.
Purrinton, James
Hustin, Wm.
Mountfort, Edm.
Newman, Mich'l.
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70
Stroudwater Parish. [P. II.
Wiswall of the New Casco parish, to whom the seceders from the old parish had, for some time been paying court, suddenly left his people without the usual formalities, declared for the Church of England, and in August accepted a call from the new society to be their minister.1 He preached in the town-house several Sabbaths, when in October he proceeded to England to procure ordination, according to the established forms of the Episcopal church .?
In March 1765, the Stroudwater parish was incorporated, and on the 21st of August the Rev. Thomas Brown, who had been preaching there several months was regularly installed.3
These events transpiring so rapidly and being of a singular char- acter, produced, as may well he imagined in so small a community, the utmost excitement. But while they tended to occasion much
Preble, Jedediah
Simmons, -
Waterhouse, Wm.
Pool, Abijah
Sertain, John
Waterhouse, Jacob
Pettingil, Dan'l
Sheperd, Jno.
Waldo, Sam'l
Procter, Benj.
Sterling, Rich.
Waldo, Francis
Pollow, Joseph
Tuckfield, Thos.
Waters, Dan'l
Riggs, Josiah
Thurlo, Jno.
Whitney, Moses
Riggs, Joseph
Thomes, Morris
Wells, Joseph
Ross, James
Wiswal, Wm.
Woodman, Stephen
Rollin, Thos.
Waite, Benj.
Watts, Edw'd
Savage, Arthur
Waite Jno. jr.
Wyer, David
Sawyer, Step'n
Waite, Stephen
Wyer, Thomas
Swett, Joseph
Waite, Isaac
1 " Aug. 31, 1764. There 'is a sad uproar about Wiswall, who has declared for the church, and accepted of the call our churchmen have given him to be their minister."-Sm. Jour. They voted him £100 lawful money a year.
2 The connection between Mr. Wiswall and the seceders, was produced by their going to hear him on Sunday, after they became disaffected toward the first parish. After Mr. Wiswall went to England, they used to go to Stroud- water to hear Mr. Brown. Mr. Wiswall returned in May 1765. In July 1766, he wrote to the society in Eng. for propagating the gospel, that his con- gregation had increased to 70 families, who constantly attended public wor- ship, together with a considerable number of strangers ; that from May 1765 to July 1766, he had baptized one adult and twenty-seven children, two of whom were blacks, and had twenty-one communicants. Proc. of the Soc. 1767. He received from this Soc. £20 as a missionary, the rest of his salary was made up by his people. As the law stood at that time, the seceders were obliged to pay taxes to the first parish, but by a vote of the parish in 1772, the amount raised upon the church-people was regularly paid over to Mr. Wis- wall ; in 1770, it was £71. 17. 2. 1771 £85. 14.3. 1772 £81. 1.3. 1774 £109. 6. 9. In 1765, there were 58 church-men included in the bills of the first parish, whose tax amounted to £43. 7. 10.
3 Mr. Brown graduated at H. C. 1752, and had been settled in Marshfield, from which he had been lately dismissed. He continued in the pastoral charge over the church and society in Stroudwater until his death in 1797. The meeting-house now standing on the Capisic road, belonging to the fourth parish, was not built until 1774.
71
First Parish.
C. 4.]
unhappy feeling they knit the remaining friends of the first parish more closely together, so that the settlement of Mr. Deane which seemed to threaten a dissolution of the society, gave to it more unity and strength. When Mr. Smith, who had now attained his 63d year, saw the bitter spirit of opposition fall harmless from his beloved people and that they rallied around him and his colleague with more zeal and friendship than ever, his heart, which had droop- ed under the trials that had surrounded him, revived and swelled with joy. " A great day this!" exclaimed the good old man at the sight of a full meeting, notwithstanding Mr. Hooper of Boston preached to the new church-people. He rejoiced that his society still sustained itself, amidst the great divisions and despite of the unwearied efforts that had been made against it. The day at length arrived for the ordination of Mr. Deane, and he was solemnly inducted into the sacred office the 17th of October 1764, in the presence of a vast collection of people.1
The church people felt severely the oppressive obligation which rested upon them, not only of supporting their own minister, but of contributing to the support of the ministers of the first parish. In 1765, when party zeal was at a high point, the first parish refused to excuse them from paying toward the settlement and salary of Mr. Deane, and in 1770 they preferred a petition to the General Court to authorize that parish to omit taxing them. The other party not consenting to this prayer it did not succeed; but in 1772, the col- lector was directed by the parish to pay back to those persons the amount he should collect of them deducting only the expense of collection. In 1773, the amount raised by the parish was £360 lawful, of which the proportion assessed on those who attended the church was £80 or two ninths of the whole. Both parties were at length desirous of procuring some relief to the members of the church from this legal obligation without a relative benefit, and in the latter year a committee of conference was selected from each party in a spirit of amity, which was willing to forget former asperities and to remove existing difficulties. The conference resulted in a united petition to the General Court, which in pursuance of the ap- plication, exempted the members of the Episcopal Church from
' Rev. Mr. Adams prayed, Mr. Merriam preached, the senior pastor gave the charge, Mr. Peter Smith the fellowship of the churches, and Mr. Wood- ward closed with prayer.
72
Quakers. [P. II.
any further contribution to the expenses of the first parish. Thus terminated an unhappy quarrel, which for several years had disturb- ed the peace of the inhabitants on the Neck, and had scattered the bitter fruits of dissension and division in its little neighbourhood ; both societies now moved on in quietness to the eve of the revolu- tion.1
At the time of the revolution, the only religious societies on the Neck were the first parish and the Episcopal church; in the other parts of the territory of ancient Falmouth there were three flourish- ing churches with regularly ordained preachers, viz. Mr. Clark and Mr. Brown in the Purpooduck and Stroudwater parishes, and in New-Casco Rev. Ebenezer Williams, who had succeeded Mr. Wiswall.2 Beside these, there was a society of Quakers which held regular meetings according to the established usages of their sect.
The first meeting for worship which was set up by the Friends or Quakers in this State was in that part of Kittery now called Elliott in 1730, and from the seed there sowed they spread into different parts of the State. Some indication of their increase and of the serious alarm it occasioned, is given in the fact, that the first church in this town kept a fast in 1740, ,"on account of the spread of Quakerism," at which all the ministers in the western part of the State attended.3 In 1742, a meeting was held in Berwick and the same year they appeared here, the singularity of their dress and manners, which were more strongly marked than they are at present, attracting universal attention.4 In 1743, a few families in Falmouth
1 The next year after the settlement of Mr. Deane, the singers, who used to sit below, were moved into the gallery, and in 1769, the scriptures, at the request of the church, were read for the first time as part of the regular ser- vices of the Sabbath. Dean's diary. In 1756, £25 were raised to purchase Tate and Brady's Psalm Book, with the tunes annexed.
2 Mr. Williams graduated at H. C. 1760, and was settled Nov. 6, 1765 ; he continued the faithful pastor of this flock until his death in 1799.
3 July 30, 1740. "The church kept a day of fasting and prayer on account of the spread of Quakerism. Mr. Jeffrey and myself prayed A. M. Mr. Thompson preached. Mr. Allen and Mr. Lord prayed, and Mr. Willard preach- ed P. M. Sm. Jour. Judge Sewall in his diary gives an account of the Hoegs" of Newbury, who, in 1711, became quakers. In 1714, a fast was held in Newbury, on account of the spread of that "pestilent heresy."-Coffin. Descendants of these young Hongs visited our town last summer, and by their venerable appearance, and the unchanged simplicity of their dress, carried us back to the dark day when their ancestors took their lives in their hands and ventured all things for the faith, as they believed, once delivered to the saints.
4 July 1742, Mr. Sinith says, "many strange quakers in town."
73
Quakers.
C. 4.]
had adopted the opinions of that sect and a meeting for worship was then first established in town. James Winslow was the first of our inhabitants who joined that society. He came from Plymouth colo- ny before 1728, and is the ancestor of the numerous family which then as now lent a most important support to the doctrines of that respectable people in this neighborhood. In August 1743, Benja- min Ingersoll " desired to be taken under the care of the meeting," and in less than a year after, we find Nathan Winslow and Enoch Knight of Falmouth, members. In May 1751, a monthly meeting was established for the Friends in Falmouth and Harpswell ; the male members of which were James Winslow, James Goddard and Benjamin Winslow from Falmouth, and Edward Estes, Thomas Jones, Ebenezer Pinkham, and Lemuel Jones from Harpswell.
Accessions were made continually to the Society from among the people here, particularly from that part of Falmouth in which James Winslow resided;1 preachers from abroad occasionally visited and aroused the people, and some of their own members too were early stimulated with zeal to spread their religion. In 1759, certificates were granted to Patience Estes and John Douglass " to travel on truth's account," and in August of the same year, Mary Curby from England, and Elizabeth Smith from West Jersey, came here as travelling preachers. In 1768, a meeting-house was built near the Presumpscot river, in that part of the town which retains the ancient name, forty feet long and thirty-two feet wide by subscription, on the same spot where their first house, quite a small one was erected in 1752.2 Previous to 1774, the Quakers had been required to pay taxes for the support of the ministry in the first parish, but at their annual meeting in that year, perceiving the injustice of com- pelling persons to contribute to the support of a mode of worship
1 James Winslow had a grant of land on fall-cove brook, at Back Cove, to erect a mill on in 1728, but this falling within an ancient grant, he removed northerly to the Presumpscot river, near where its course is turned southerly by Black-strap hill. He died respected, leaving a large posterity, in 1773.
2 The following names of the subscribers to the new house, will probably show all the adult males belonging to the society in this vicinity, viz. Benja- min Winslow, Benjamin Ingersoll, Hatevil Hall, James Goddard, Enoch Knight, Stephen Morrell, Sam'l. Winslow, Nath'l. Hawkes, James Torrey, Job Winslow, Elijah Pope, John Robinson, Elisha Purinton, Benj. Winslow jr. David Purinton, Wm. Winslow, James Winslow, Nicholas Varney, Jacob Morrell, Elijah Hanson, Jona. Hanson, Benja. Austin, Daniel Hall, Pelatiah Allen, Win. Hall, Nathan Winslow. Some of these lived in Windham.
74
Quakers. [P. II.
from which they derived no benefit and of which their consciences did not approve, they passed the following vote: " Voted that the following professed Quakers, living within the bounds of the parish be exempted from parish rates the current year, viz. Benj. Austin, Nath'l. Abbott, Samuel. Estes, James Goddard, Benjamin Gould, Solomon Hanson, Robert Houston, Daniel Hall, Enoch Knight, John Knight, John Morrill, Stephen Morrill, Jacob Morrill, Elijah Pope, James Torrey, Ebenezer Winslow, Benjamin Winslow, Job Winslow, William Winslow, Oliver Winslow, John Winslow, Sam- uel Winslow, and James Winslow."" None of these persons lived within the present limits of Portland, and it was not until several years after the revolution that a sufficient number had gathered upou the Neck to constitute a separate meeting for worship.2 Liberty was first granted to them in 1790 by the monthly meeting, to hold a separate meeting for worship for five months to be held at the house of William Purinton.3 The brick meeting-house of the society in School-street was commenced in 1795, and finished in 1796: it is two stories high and its dimensions are thirty-six feet by forty. The branch of the society in this town, was permitted to hold but one meeting on Sunday until 1797, when the privilege was extended to two meetings: after the peace of '83 it received many additions from other societies in this town and from other towns, including some of its most valuable members. During the revolutionary war and to the year 1800, there were several revivals in the society; and during that period they were in the habit of openly declaring their sentiments in the congregations of other christians; on a Sabbath in May 1779, four Quakers attended meeting at the first parish, " sat with their hats on all the forenoon and then harran- gued."" David Sands a celebrated preacher of their order, aroused attention in a high degree in favour of their principles; in March 1785, he preached in the assembly room on the Neck to a crowded
' A law was passed by Mass. in 1757, exempting "Quakers and anabaptists who allege a scruple of conscience," from paying ministerial and parish taxes; the necessity of the above vote we do not perceive unless it was to designate the exempts.
2 By a return made by the selectmen of Falmouth, Jan. 24, 1777, to the general court, the number of male quakers in town over 16 years of age, was 64. No others were returned from the county .- Gen. Court files.
3 Mr. Purinton lived in Church-lane.
+ Deane's diary.
C. 4.]
Quakers. 75
audience; the Falmouth Gazette thus speaks of his performance: " He professed great candour to all who differed from him in reli- gious sentiments; delivered many true and important doctrines of the gospel, without mixing any of the sentiments peculiar to his sect; he spoke severely against gaming and other fashionable amusements." Perhaps that people never produced so much excitement throughout the country as about the close of the revolutionary war; the com- munity harrassed and impoverished by protracted hostilities, were easily and naturally influenced by the pacific doctrines of that sect, who on all occasions and in every situation protested against bellig- erent principles. More converts were made by them then than at any other period.1 In the struggle for national independence, they maintained consistency in their conduct and opposed hostilities in every shape. They suffered their property to be taken for taxes and sacrificed, rather than willingly contribute to support measures which violated their principles. Although we commend their firm- · ness in defence of conscientious scruples, we cannot but think the occasion to which we have referred, would well have justified a less rigid observance of them. They held too strictly to the letter of the doctrine, which requires the turning of the other cheek to the smiter. The smaller matters, the mint, annise and cummin, the too narrow construction of the law ought not to beguile us from the performance of the great and serious duties of life which are as plainly and forcibly written upon the page of inspiration.
Some of the members of the society here during the war, who relaxed from their stern discipline in regard to self defence were " denied unity" with them. One of their respectable members was visited by the overseers and brought "to condemn his miscon- duct in being concerned in a ship that was a letter of marque;" another was complained of because he had one son in the army and . another had enlisted in that service. They carried their reprobation still further and rebuked those who purchased cattle distrained for taxes; a complaint was made against one of their members for attending vendue and buying a cow distrained for taxes for carrying on a war; a committee was appointed " to labour with him" and he
1 " Feb. 14, 1782, people are in a sad tumult about quaker meetings, minis- ters and taxes." " 1787, Sept. 24, quakers annual meeting, great numbers flocked." Smith's Jour.
t
76
Quakers. [P. II.
was brought to condemn his misconduct; others on being visited condemned themselves for the same cause and were restored to favour. Their discipline is extended to the whole life and conver- sation, and all the members of the society are under the inspection of overseers and visitors, and their slight deviations from the rigid rules of the order in " dress or address," are made the subjects of private or public censure according to the circumstances of the case.
The society has not increased here of late years and may be con- sidered declining, the vacant places occasioned by death not being supplied by accessions of new members. They pursue the still and quiet way which their religion dictates and their conduct appears to be influenced by those pure principles of that religion which suffers long and is kind. If the society does not increase in numbers, it may with truth be said of it that it does not degenerate in its char- acter.
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77
War of 1744.
C. 5.]
CHAPTER 5.
War of 1744-Causes of war-Preparations for defence-Com- mencement of hostilities-Alarms from Indians and the French- Volunteers-Capture of Louisburg-Treaty of Falmouth-Un- settled state of the country-War of 1754-Peace-Capture of Quebec.
ALTHOUGH the march of the town was regularly onward, its pro- gress was occasionally disturbed and impeded by circumstances which affected the whole country. Besides our natural enemies, if I may so call the aboriginal inhabitants, whose very existence as an independent people was incompatible with the growing population and power of the colonies ; our connection with the European con- tinent made us peculiarly sensible to the commotions which often agitated its restless nations. In 1740, the death of Charles sixth, Emperor of Germany, gave occasion for a fierce war for the Austri- an succession, in which, before its close, all the powers of Europe and North America were engaged. It was opened by Frederick, the young king of Prussia for the recovery of Silesia from the chiv- alric Maria Theresa. The elector of Bavaria claimed to succeed Charles sixth, and being supported by the electoral college, adverse to the pretensions of Maria Theresa, he soon enlisted a powerful alliance in aid of his cause. The accession of France to this alli- ance was a signal not to be mistaken, that England, with the Ger- man possessions and prepossessions of her monarch, would throw herself into the confederacy of the opposite party. So general was the expectation of this event in this country, that for some months previous to the declaration of war by England against France in 1744, our general court had anticipated approaching danger, and made some preparations to meet it. As early as April 1742, the government ordered a breast-work and platform for ten 12 pounders to be built on the Neck for the defence of the harbour, and appropri- ated £400 to pay the expense, the labour and stores to be furnished by the town.1 This work was erected on the bank, on the eastern side of King-street. In 1743, the general court appropriated £1280
1 This breast was constructed under the direction of Enoch Freeman. who received a commission from Gov. Shirley in 1744, and had the command of it.
10
78
War of 1744. [P. II. .
for the defence of the eastern frontiers, of which £134 were applied to this town, and the same year commissioners were appointed to select suitable places for block-houses, of which six were ordered to be supplied between Berwick and Falmouth, and six further east ; the commissioners were here in December.
The population of Maine at this time was short of 12,000'; the territory furnished two regiments, the first extending as far east as Saco, containing 1655 men, was commanded by Col. Wm. Pepper- ell ; the other, including the remainder of the soldiers, 1290 strong, was under the command of Col. Samuel Waldo. Falmouth sup- plied 500 of this number, being more than any town in Maine.2
In May 1744, news of the declaration of war by England reached this country and gave increased activity to all the preparations for a vigorous defence. Our people were not yet exempted from the fear of Indian depredations, nor was it so long since they had expe- rienced them that all memory of them had been lost; they immedi- ately entered with earnestness on those measures of security, which former sufferings had taught them to appreciate, and so pressing did they regard the occasion, that even the church-going bell was drowned in the busy note of preparation.3 The provincial government in June, raised 1000 men, of which 600 were designed for the defence of the eastern country.4 Sixty-five of these troops were posted in different garrisons in this town, of whom two were stationed in Rev. Mr. Smith's house, which had been constructed and used for a gar- rison some years before.
In addition to these precautionary measures, the government en- tered into a treaty with the Penobscot Indians at Georges' fort in July, who bound themselves, as did also the other Indians on this side the Penobscot river, to remain neutral during the war. In faith of this treaty, the troops in this quarter were discharged, ex- cepting one scouting company, under the command of Capt. Jordan. This officer was accompanied by three Indians of the Saco tribe,
1 Williamson 2. 212. 2 Douglass Sum.
3 " May 20, 1744, People are at work at North-Yarmouth and this town about their garrisons to-day. Not a very full meeting, people fearing to come." May 25, " All the talk and thoughit now is about war. People are every where garrisoning." Smith's Jour.
4 270 were stationed at Georges' fort and Broad bay, 50 at Pemaquid and 50 at Sheepscot. 1 Doug. 384.
79
Commencement of Hostilities.
C. 5.]
whose families were settled at Stroudwater, and supported by gov- ernment. Pacific overtures were unsuccessful with the St. John and Cape Sable Indians, who had acquired the feelings and views of the French, and entered into all their plans. When it was found that they would not join the English, nor remain neutral, war was for- mally proclaimed against them in November, and the Penobscots were required to render assistance to subdue them, in pursuance of former treaties. This requisition as might have been expected, was not complied with, and these children of the forest, by a natural at- traction, were soon found fighting by the side of their red brethren against the English. War was therefore declared against them in Aug. 1745, and a high premium offered for scalps.
This subtle and vindictive enemy being again let loose from all restraint, started up from their swamps and morasses, harrassing the whole line of our settlements, and committing depredations upon the undefended plantations. Two companies were employed as scouts between Saco and Brunswick, which were unable to find the Indians collected in any force ; but individuals and small parties would make sudden onsets for reprisal or revenge, and as suddenly disappear. In August, a party was discovered in Gorham, which was then a fron- tier post containing but few settlers, and in Sept. some scattered Indians were traced in the neighbourhood of this town ; one was fired upon at Long Creek, and a few days after, a son of Col. Cush- ing of Purpooduck was killed by them. This town was so well covered by other settlements, that it enjoyed a comparative degree of quiet, during the first year of the war, and the people were at liberty to go out in pursuit of an enemy, on each of whose heads the government had established a bounty of £400 old tenor.1 This sort of merchandize was indeed rather difficult and hazardous to obtain, but the temptation was so strong that four companies of volunteers were raised in this town in September, and others in the neighbour- ing towns to go in quest of it. They were all however unsuccessful; for scarce had the presence of the enemy created alarm upon the whole frontier, than they suddenly retired far beyond the reach of an observation quickened by the strongest passions of our nature.2
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