USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Sheepscot > The history of ancient Sheepscot and Newcastle [Me.] including early Pemaquid, Damariscotta, and other contiguous places, from the earliest discovery to the present time, together with the genealogy of more than four hundred families; > Part 20
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Newcastle > The history of ancient Sheepscot and Newcastle [Me.] including early Pemaquid, Damariscotta, and other contiguous places, from the earliest discovery to the present time, together with the genealogy of more than four hundred families; > Part 20
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April 5, 1852. Voted that the town choose a supervisor of schools instead of a superintending school committee. David Q. Cushman was elected to the office. Sept. 4, 1852. E. Wilder Farley had 176 votes for Representative to Con- gress, and was elected.
March 14, 1859. Voted to instruct the Selectmen to establish a liquor agent at Damariscotta village, if a suit- able person can be procured as such agent.
March 5, 1862. It was voted to see if the town will accept the report of the Selectmen in the laying out of a road, beginning near the Brick Yard of George Cunning- ham, and ending at a point on the County road leading from Damariscotta to Wiscasset. The same was accepted
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March 24, 1862. In 1864, it was voted to have a Liquor Agency.
May 28th, 1864, it was voted. that the sum of $25 be raised or appropriated out of any money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, for each member recruited to fill the quota of Newcastle, under the calls referred to in the act of the State of Maine, February 20, 1864 for vohin- teers or soldiers to serve in the U. S. army, and that said sum thus raised and appropriated be used in conformity to the requirements of said act or paying recruiting agents and other expenses of enlistment in filling the town quota under said call and any future calls.
November 17, 1864, it was voted that the Selectmen be authorized to borrow money on the credit of the town, not to exceed $6000, for the purpose of paying volunteers for the U. S. army in anticipation of a call from the town for more men. And in March 10, 1865, it was voted that the town raise $1200 to fill the town quota under the call of December 19, 1864.
May 2, 1867, on a motion for the suppression of " drink- ing houses and tippling shops, " the number of ballots cast with the word " Yes " was 86; those with "No " was 6. A handsome majority which shows how the town stood on the important subject of temperance.
September 17, 1867, voted that the town issue its bonds to the amount of $60,000 in aid of the construction of the Knox & Lincoln Railroad. June 12, 1869, on motion of : E. W. Farley, it was voted that the sum of $2500 be raised the current year towards defraying Newcastle's one-half of the expense of rebuilding the bridge across the Damaris- cotta river.
September 27, 1870, the credit of the town, by vote, was pledged for the sum of $22,400 to aid in the construction of the Knox & Lincoln Railroad. The bonds given paya- ble in 20 years with interest, semi-annually. June 20, 1871, voted that the credit of the town be pledged to aid in the
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construction of the K. & L. R. R. in the sum of $30,600 payable in 30 years. A two-thirds vote was required, June 17, 1871, $13,000 were voted in aid of the K. & L. R. R. 137 voting in favor and 37 against it.
March 20, 1876, it was voted that the town raise $1000, towards the purchase of a fire engine to be located in the Bridge village near the Brick Church, provided the further sum of $500 be raised by private subscription and paid into the treasury of the town on or before the 20th day of May next. .
July 4, 1876. There was a "centennial celebration at Damariscotta and Newcastle." It was not a celebration of the organization of Newcastle, for that was in 1753, a hun- dred and twenty-three years before this ; nor of Damaris- cotta, for that was . incorporated as a town, not a great while ago ; but of the country. The meeting was called to order by William H. Hilton, Esq., who invited Hon. E. Wilder Farley to occupy the Presidential chair. After a few well chosen and pertinent remarks, the exercises con- tinned as follows :
1: Music by the Damariscotta Brass Band. 2. Prayer by Rev. H. Crocker. 3. Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Mr. E. E. Dunbar. 4. Historical sketch of Newcastle and Damariscotta by Gen. James A. Hall. 5. Hymn, America, by the band and audience.
The Antiques and Horribles appeared early in the morn- ing ; a regatta took place upon the river; there was a salute of thirty-seven guns at noon ; the bells were rung from twelve to one at noon; there was a trial of fire engines, and other things were said and done which made the day one of pleasure and enjoyment and long to be remembered.
March 18, 1879, Resolved that this meeting recommends that the town at its annual meeting in 1880 raise by taxa- tion one-twentieth part of its first loan, namely three thousand dollars and one year's interest thereon, which will
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become dne July 1, 1880, and that such a course shall be continued, year by year, until said loan is paid, unless future events should call for a different policy. And on March 22, 1880, it was voted that the town raise such an amount as is called for, to pay the interest on the bonds issuedf or the benefit of the K. & L. R. R. March 21, 1881, it was again voted to raise by taxation $3000 to pay the bonds issued to aid the construction of the K. & L. R. R. which became due July 1, 1881. It was voted to raise the sum required to pay interest aceruing on bonds issued in aid of the Knox & Lincoln Railroad, also the interest on coupons and orders.
The stand which Newcastle took in the last war was noble, patriotic and prompt. Her quota of soldiers was readily furnished, bounties were offered them by the town, and at the sound of the bugle and the drum, they marched to the field of battle where lives were lost, limbs were shattered and pain and suffering endured. Still the love of country prevailed, battles were fought, hardships were borne, fatigue, hunger, heat and cold were experienced until the contest had ended, victory was proclaimed, and peace and prosperity had returned once more to the land of the free and the home of the brave. Newcastle did her part cheerfully, readily and without complaint in that fear- ful struggle which cost the lives of thousands and sent sorrow, affliction and loss into large numbers of the families which are scattered throughout this widely extended land.
And her action with regard to the K. & L. R. R. has been noble, honorable and just. For the good of the com- munity and her own supposed prosperity, she voted away her money as the calls for aid were made, but not realizing the profit or the advantage that had been anticipated and finding herself heavily burdened with debt, an increased taxation and little hope of relief, instead of raising the cry of poverty, of repudiating her bonds, refusing to pay interest, and thus breaking faith with her creditors, she has
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manfully met the difficulty, made arrangements to meet her indebtedness and thus save her credit and deal on the principles of integrity with those who complied with her wishes in the day when she mn le her offer and called upon the public for aid. The votes I have quoted show this. And while the credit of other corporations have through mismanagement and fraud, sunk so low as to forever lose the confidence of the community, that of Newcastle stands firm ; she is endeavoring to meet her engagements, and to deal with her creditors on the principles of fairness, honor and integrity.
The Lincoln Democrat was first published in Newcastle, July 24, 1850. J. J. Ramsey was editor and he continued it nine years. Wednesday was the day of its publication.
About the year 1869, an effort was made for the purpose of erecting a dam across Damariscotta river a short distance above the bridge at the head of the falls, and to encourage the enterprise, the town on May 21, 1870, passed the fol- lowing vote : "That the stock of the Damariscotta Water Power Company and all the structure and machinery and capital used for operating the same, be exempted from taxation in the town of Newcastle for the period of ten years after the same is put in operation."
Newcastle State Bank was incorporated in 1854 with a capital of $50,000. Algernon S. Austin was President and Thaddeus Weeks, Cashier.
The Directors were Algernon S. Austin, Joseph Haines, Thomas J. Merrill, John H. Converse, Austin Hall, Joseph Stetson, Joel Huston, Addison Austin, and Albert Glidden. The bank was situated in Austin's Block, corner of Main and Water streets. During the Rebellion, in 1865 its charter was given up and it became a National Bank with Joseph Haines for President and David W. Chapman, Cashier.
The first physician in Newcastle we have any knowledge of, is Dr. Kenelm Winslow who practised here in 1763. He
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lived where the late Mrs. Barstow resided. Dr. Bush in 1797. Dr. Josiah Myrick practised forty years .* Dr. Lot Myrick, his son, who lived at Damariscotta Mills, practised 20 years. He then married the daughter of Hon. John Dole of Alna, quit practice and moved to Angusta. Dr. Samuel Ford continued in the practice 20 years and then died. Dr. Moses Call was physician here 40 years. Dr. John T. Acorn has been here 45 years and is still active in his pro- fession. Dr. John S. Wright moved here from Edgcomb, practised 5 years and then died. Dr. Fred Hutchings 2 years, and Dr. W. S. Hall, 3 years.
CHAPTER XXXII.
MINISTERS, MEETING HOUSES+ AND CHURCHES.
AT the time of organizing the town there was a Meet- ing house on its Western side, and the Rev. Alexander Boyd, a Presbyterian Minister from Scotland, was preach- ing there. Mr. Boyd came to this country a young man and was recommended as having received a liberal educa- tion and studied Theology at the University of Glasgow. He was approved by the Boston Presbytery, and licensed
* Dr. John T. Acorn.
t I use the word Meeting house because it is descriptive, appro- priate and was properly used by our fathers. The word Church is equivocal ; it may mean the building, or the body of believers assembled within it. The Episcopal use of the word is not of American growth.
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by them to preach at their session at Pelham, N. H., June 14, 1748. He was appointed by them to supply George- town in the District of Maine, with discretionary power to visit " Whicheasset and Sheepscoat." At Georgetown, the people were pleased with Mr. Boyd, and gave him a call to settle. This was in August, 1749. But the Presbytery had heard from Scotland some reports to the disadvantage of Mr. B., and therefore returned the call to the Church at Georgetown, and at the same time cited their candidate to appear before them. In the ensuing October he presented himself before that body and confessed, that previous to his leaving Scotland, he had, in an irregular manner, married a lady by the name of Mary Buchan, and had left her. This fact he had studiously concealed at the time of receiving his license to preach ; but he now declared his intention to send for her and treat her as his wife. The Presbytery sharply rebuked him for his duplicity, and as he appeared penitent, they continued his license. He again returned to George- town, and in June, 1750, the people renewed their invita- tion for his settlement among them ; but he also visited- Newcastle, and was invited by the people there, to tarry with them. This latter invitation he accepted ; and he had become a resident there, when the town was organized.
How much preaching the town had been favored with, previous to that time, is uncertain ; but it is understood, that, as early as convenient, they took measures to have the gospel among them. Christopher Tappan had donated two 100 acre lots ; one to be given to the first settled min- ister, and the other to the inhabitants of Sheepscot, as a glebe or parsonage forever. And as soon as the town was organized, measures were taken to have the gospel settled among them, and the design of the benevolent donor carried into execution. Accordingly, in April, 1754, only nine months after the organization of the town, I find the record of the town meeting to contain the following vote : "That there be forty pounds raised for supporting the gospel, and
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to pay the charge of attending the Rev. Presbytery, in order to have the gospel preached among us, and to lay in a proper stock of ammunition."
The Presbytery was to meet at Newbury ; and as it was not convenient for them to come to Newcastle to perform the services of Ordination, it was arranged that this service should be at Newbury; and that a committee from the town should be there, and in behalf of the town, should receive Mr. B., as their minister, after the ordination.
Previous to this meeting there had been another, when a committee was appointed to make arrangements for the " affair. " And on the 31st of July of that year, a meeting of the town was held, when it was stated by James Clark and Robert Hodge, a previously appointed committee, that they had given Mr. B. a call for settlement ; that he had replied affirmatively ; and that the ordination was to take place on the 20th of August next, at Newbury. They also stated that they had " promised him ninety-three pounds, or the Minister's lot and €26 an l the use of the Parsonage lot, upon condition that he is to remain with us until the Rev. Presbytery see fit to remove him for non-performance in us ; and we have promised him forty-six pounds a year, salary, and likewise charges of attending the Presbytery at Boston, in having the call presente l. "
It was also vote.l, that James Clark, Alexander Nickels and John MeNear be a committee to attend the Ordination of Mr. Boyd at Newbury, and that they receive him as their minister, in behalf of the District and congregation. But the vessel in which Mr. Boyd and the Committee were embarked, being detained by stress of weather, he did not reach Newbury at the time appointed for the ordination. It was therefore postponed until September 19th, when it was duly performed. On this occasion Rev. Mr. McGregore of Londonderry, preached from II Timothy, 2, 3. Rev. Mr. Morehead of Boston gave the Charge, and Rev. Mr. Parsons of Newbury presented the Right Hand.
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Mr. B. returns with the committee and commences his labors at Newcastle, and on the next year, April 19, 1755, they vote to raise .623 towards the Minister's salary before the Province Precepts reached them ; thus generously pre- paying this amount as a subsidy in time of need. The tax for the whole would be made out when the precept arrived. One year afterwards, at the meeting in March 25, 1756, the town found themselves in arrears to Mr. B. and they chose William MeLelland, A. Nickels and S. Kennedy a committee to settle with him.
The inhabitants of Newcastle were never unanimous for the settlement of Mr. Boyd And at the time of his ordi- nation, a remonstrance was presented to the Presbytery from Nathaniel Winslow and others who called themselves Congregationalists, against having Mr. B. settled over them. But their.objections had no weight with the Presbytery. And after the ordination, the difficulties rather increased than diminished, which divided the town into powerful parties. On the same year, June 24, 1756, there was a town meeting when it was voted by the "major part" of the inhabitants, that Mr. B. was not received according to law or the Presbyterian standards. A number however protested againet this vote.
A second vote by the majority declared that "they will . not receive the Rev. Mr. Boyd to be their minister ; but a number of the inhabitants protested that they had no right to vote in such a case ; alleging that he was already received. They were willing however to leave it with the Rev. Presbytery to decide the matter. But the "major part of the inhabitants" voted that they would not have Mr. Boyd preach on the Damariscotta side of the town at all ; and so the meeting, which proved to be a stormy one, was adjourned.
1757. The second Article in the Warrant for a town Meeting to be held on March 19, was to see if the town will appoint a time when a settlement can be had with Mr.
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Boyd, that the Treasurer and others who have paid, may bring in their accounts, so that "both minister and people" may know what is due for the support of the gospel ; and also "to see if the town will send a man to the Rev. Pres- bytery next April, in order to have the grievances removed that have arisen between the Rev. A. Boyd and the town." The committee was appointed, and consisted of John MeNear, John Ward and Wm. MeLelland.
Nothing farther was done at this meeting ; but dissatis- faction still continuing, a warrant was issued on the 23d day of March, calling a meeting on the 7th of April prox- imo. The first article was to "inquire into the reasons why we have not had the sacrament of the Lord's supper administered amongst us since the Rev. A. Boyd's ordina- tion ; and whether this, with Mr. Boyd's conduct amongst ns be a grievance or not, to the most part of the town ; and if judged a grievance as aforesaid, to put it to vote whether we will send a man at the town's charge to the Rev. Pres- bytery, in order to have this grievance removed, as soon as said Presbytery, in their wisdom, shall determine."
The committee appointed on the 19th of March, do not appear to have done their duty, or had been excused ; and on the 7th of April, the town by vote declared, that the conduct of Mr. Boyd is "a grievance," and that a man be sent to the Presbytery to have him removed.
1758. Dissatisfaction with Mr. Boyd continues ; and it is certain that there are hindrances to his usefulness which he cannot remove. Prejudices had risen against him ; and rumors of wrong were rife. And on July 12, the town had a meeting, principally with regard to this matter, when it was voted, Ist, To send for a Justice of the Peace at the town's expense, in order to have proof elicited of the charges made against Mr. Boyd, and stated in the fore- going Warrant. I have looked over that Warrant, but can find no specification of charges ; they were only general ; but whatever they were, they rested with great weight
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upon the minds of a majority of the inhabitants, and they were determined to rid themselves of the present undesir- able incumbent. The sacrament, we know had not been administered ; Mr. Boyd's antecedents were bad ; and dif- ficulties of a formidable character, had arisen, since he had been settled at Newcastle. 2d, They authorized the town Clerk to write to the Rev. Presbytery in behalf of the town ; and 3d, They voted to "Desire the Rev. Presby- tery to remove Mr. Boyd from us ; and if the said removal cannot now be obtained, to desire them to appoint Mr. Boyd to supply elsewhere."
In Sept. 28th, another town Meeting was called with regard to this matter, when a committee, consisting of James Forbes, James Cargill and Wm. McLelland, was raised to settle with Rev. Mr. Boyd. And at an adjourned meeting held Oct. 9, the committee report that there is due Mr. Boyd, salary and settlement money, the sum of £66, 13s., 4d. His receipts amounted to £13, 6s., 7d, 2f. Balance due £53, 6s., 7d, 2f. The Committee were taken by Mr. Boyd as sureties for the amount and the town ordered the constables to collect it.
The town also appointed James Cargill and Robert Hodge a committee to " lot " with Mr. Boyd, as to which of the lots appropriated by Mr. Tappan for religions services, should be his; and which should belong to the town. They did so; anl lot* 15 fell to Mr. Boyd, while lot 16 remained to the town, as a glebe or parsonage forever.
Mr. Boyd paid, and the account settled, his labors closed in that place. He had preached in town about seven
* There is a difference between the numbering of these lots as made by the town, and that afterwards made by David Murray, Esq,, Surveyor. And the only way that I can reconcile the diffi- culty, is, this town must have reckoned lots 1 and 2 as lot No. 1; while Murray reckoned them regularly 1 and 2 ; thus, on the town's numbering, the parsonage was No. 16 ; on Murray's, No. 17.
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years, and was settled minister for more than four. His ministry does not appear to have been attended with any important, satisfactory results.
As far as the Record goes, it does not appear that the town was favored with preaching, the ensuing winter; but at their next March meeting, 1759, a committee of three, Benj. Woodbridge, Robt. Hodge and Samuel Perkins, was raised, "to employ a minister, to preach the gospel to us, for this year." They do not appear to have been very suc- cessful; for at the next annual meeting held March 13, 1760, a committee of three, James Cargill, James Clark and Samuel Perkins were appointed to employ a minister.
No minister however was obtained, and in October 3d of that year, a town Meeting was called, to see if the town would unite with the people of Walpole, provided the peo- ple of Walpole would unite with them, in extending a call to the Rev. Nathan Ward formerly of Watertown, Mass. who was then preaching at that place, to become a minister of both places. It was to be at the option of Mr. Ward, to reside either at Newcastle or Walpole, as he might elect. The business at that meeting, was left incomplete. And at an adjourned meeting, held January 1, 1761, when the same proposition was repeated, it was agreed that the time, pay and labor of the minister should be equally divided between the two places. The part of the salary the town agreed to pay was, 626, 13s. 4d. They also voted to pay for settlement £33, 6s. 8d.
William MeLelland, David Given, Joseph Glidden, Henry Little and John Hussey were appointed a committee with full power to carry the whole proceeding, both as to nnion with Walpole and terms with Mr. Ward, into execution. But if they should fail in their object, then they should report to the towni.
Questions, prejudicial to Mr. Ward having arisen respect- ing his dismissal from Watertown, a committee of seven were appointed to learn the truth of the matter. Their
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names were David Given, Joseph Glidden, Henry Little, John Hussey, David Hopkins, Elisha Clark and John Cunningham. But after diligent inquiry, all suspicions of wrong were removed, and Mr. Ward stood before them as a man of candor and uprightness, and a minister of blame- less conversation, rectitude of character and success in his work.
1761. The project of re-union however, for some cause, failed, and Mr. Ward appears to have left off preaching at Walpole. And in May 18, the town in meeting assembled, gave him a call for settlement with them. They voted him £53, 6s. 8d for settlement, one-half to be paid within ten days after his Installation, and the other half at the end of the year. For salary he was to have £66, 13s. 4d. A com- mittee of three, John Ballantine, David Given and Joseph Glidden, were raised to carry the designs of the town into execution.
Mr. Ward accepted the call, and on the 4th of August, the town had a meeting and according to Congregational usage, voted to invite seven Churches to assist at the Installation. These were, Concord, Rev. Mr. Bliss ; Hol- lis, Rev. Mr. Emerson ; Boston, Rev. Mr. Pemberton : Bridgewater, Rev. Mr. Porter ; Sutton, Rev. Mr. Hall ; Rev. Mr. Cleveland, Jebacca ; and Rev. Dr. Sewall, Boston. It was agreed that the time and place of Installation, be left wholly with the candidate.
And as there was no settled minister in the County, they agreed to apply to the Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State for their advice, to know whether those ministers whom they have selected, will answer the Province law which required the approbation of a majority of the min- isters in a County, to accomplish such an object.
But doubts were still entertained by some, whether Mr. Ward had been properly dismissed from Watertown ; accordingly, at that meeting, a protest, signed by four indi- viduals, Benjamin Woodbridge, Kenelm Winslow, James
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Brown and James Hall, was entered against the proceed- ings. They charge the meeting with acting imprudently in not knowing whether Mr. Ward has a proper dismission from those over whom he was lately settled.
This was throwing cold water upon the flame ; and nothing further appears to have been done till the annual meeting in March 24, 1762, when a new committee was raised, to procure the services of a minister. This com- mittee were William McLellan, Jonathan Laiten and Henry Little.
August 31st of the same year, the town desirons of coming to a decision with regard to the settlement of Mr. Ward, Voted, 1. Not to apply any farther to the General Court in this matter ; 2. To choose seven ministers living in and around Boston to look into and determine upon the mat- ter of the legality and correctness of Mr. Ward's dismission ; and 3, That if they approved of his course, then he was to be supported by subscription raised by his friends, and not by a salary from the town ; and that the time in which he could not be employed in Newcastle, he might labor else- where to preach, as the Providence of God should open the door.
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