USA > Maine > The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Vol. II > Part 56
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There were also several measures adopted by Congress, which Maine a re- established were of interest to these eastern counties. A late Federal Cen- District. sus taken, exhibited a population in them to the number of A Census. 96,540 souls ;t considerably exceeding all previous calculations. For many purposes, Maine, as if it were a separate State, was now expressly formed into a District, and jurisdiction assumed over all its affairs belonging to the national government. Such, among many, were light-houses ;- the single one in Maine, at Light- Portland-head, and the appurtenant lands, being conceded to the United States. All the coasts and ports in Maine, were classed Collection into nine commercial districts, in each of which there were ap- of the Cus- toms. pointed a Collectort and other Custom-house officers.
* COUNTY OFFICERS IN HANCOCK.
Judges of ( Paul D. Sargent of Sullivan. the Com. < william Vinal of Vinalhaven. Thomas Phillips, Clerk.
Simeon Fowler of Orrington, County Treas'r.
Pleas Oliver Parker of Penobscot. Richard Hunnewell of Penobscot, Sheriff
Paul D. Sargent, Judge of Probate. William Webber of do., Register of Deeds.
Jonathan Eddy of Penobscot, Reg'r of do.
COUNTY OFFICERS IN WASHINGTON.
Judges of ( Stephen Jones of Machias, Ralph H. Bowles, Clerk.
the Com and Judge of Probate. James Arery. Reg. of Probate.
Pleas. James Arery of Machias. George Stillinan, County Treasurer and
Alexander Campbell of No. 4. Reg. of Deeds.
( John Crane of No. 12. John Cooper of Passamaqnoddy, Sheriff.
Machias at this time was the only corporate town in the County of Wash- ington. The first term of S. J. Court, at Pownalborough, was in 1786; and since that year the Common Pleas have set at Hallowell, [Augusta ;] also from the same year in Waldoborough, to A. D. 1800; and in Pownal- borough, [Dresden,] to March 22, 1794. In Cumberland-New-Glouces- ter, was half-shire with Portland, from Jan. 1792 to June 1805. In York county, the S. J. Court sat at Wells, from 1800 to 1802, when it was re- moved to Alfred. The Common Pleas sat at Biddeford from A. D. 1790 to A. D. 1806 ; and at Waterborough, from 1790 to 1806. The Common Pleas were established at Alfred the same year. N. B .- Name of Pow- nalborough changed to that of Wiscasset, June 10, 1802 .- See ante, 1787.
+ In York county 28,821 ; Cumberland 25,450; Lincoln 29,962 ; Han- cock 9,549 ; and Washington 2,758, inhabitants.
# Collectors, in York, Richard Trevett ; Saco river, Jeremiah Hill; Portland, Nathaniel F. Fosdick; Bath, William Webb; Wiscasset, Fran- cis Cook ; Penobscot, John Lee; Frenchman's Bay, Melatiah Jordan ; Machias, Stephen Smith ; and Passamaquoddy, Lewis F. Delesdernier.
55 0
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1790. District Court. Its officers.
A District Court was established, of which DAVID SEWALL was appointed Judge, William Lithgow, Jr. of Hallowell, Attor- ney, Henry Dearborn of Pittston, Marshal, and Henry Sewall of Hallowell [Augusta,] Clerk .*
People on the eastern borders quieted.
By the united efforts of Congress and the General Court, during the last three years, an effectual check had been given to acts of violence, often threatened and sometimes committed, by the Provincials on the eastern side of Passamaquoddy ; though they had defied the arm of resistance. Legal precepts from the British side had been served upon our citizens ; and in 1786, two of their vessels, while at anchor, were seized by the custom- house officers of New Brunswick ; as that government claimed to " the western shore of Passamaquoddy-bay," also Moose, Dud- ley and Frederick Islands. The General Court proclaimed to the inhabitants in the mean time, not to forsake the constitution and laws; for by these they would be protected, till the dispute was fairly adjusted by commissioners of the American and British governments. This determinate resolution served both to en- courage our citizens, and dishearten their opponents. More than 200 people, had already settled on the western side of Passama- quoddy, resolved not to leave their homes, unless driven away ; and therefore the General Court, on application, appointed a com- mittee of seven, from those inhabitants, to survey unto each set- tler one hundred acres, so as best to include his improvements, provided he would pay from five to ten dollars, according to the quality of the land, and take the oath of allegiance.
Lumber and fur.
Since the war, the lumber-business and the fur-trade had greatly increased. Hunters multiplied, and many spent the whole year in the northern woods of Maine; seldom returning so much as to visit their homes. Hence it was found necessary to preserve by law the lives of those fine furred animals, at sea- sons when their coats were thin, and their offspring young ; and the General Court made it penal in the sum of ten dollars, to kill or take any otter, beaver, mink, sable or martin, fisher or black- cat, leusife, musquash or wolverin in either of the summer months or in September.t
Penalty for killing cer- tain game.
* See Ante, A. D. 1779-when Maine was first made a District.
t Statute, June 10, 1791. No one allowed to kill a deer between January 1, and August 1, under a penalty of ten dollars.
551
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXI.]
Early in the year 1791, there were three towns incorporated, A. D. 1791. two of them were plantations, and all of them had been settled Three new upwards of twenty years.
towns i.ncor- porated ..
CAMDEN, originally Megunticook, on the west shore of Penob- Camden .. scot bay, above the north-east section of Thomaston, was incor- porated, Feb. 17, by that name in memory of lord Camden,* a parliamentary friend of the Colonies in the Revolution. This township, a part of the Waldo patent, was surveyed by David Fales of Thomaston, in 1768 ; within three or four years after which, settlements were commenced on Goose river, Clam cove and Megunticook. Mills were erected ; some attempts at farm- ing on a small scale were made; and for about ten years, the plantation gradually advanced. But after the occupation of 'Big- uyduce, by the British in 1779, Camden became the only place upon the Penobscot, of general rendezvous for the Americans. Thither they fled from their homes through fear of the enemy ; and here was an encampment of a small American force, which is believed to have been under the command of Major George Ulmer.t The saw-mill on Megunticook stream was burned by the British ; and they set fire also to the grist mill, but it was ex- tinguished by Leonard Metcalf and a small party, who bravely drove the assailants to their barges. Since 1794, Camden has been a flourishing town.}
* In a speech of his, as to the royal proclamation, inviting the savages to take the tomahawk,'-he said, " it ought to be damned-it held forth a war " of revenge such as Moloch in Pandemonium advised ; and it would fix " an inveterate hatred in the Americans, against the very name of English- " man, which would be left a legacy from father to son to the latest poster- "ity."-The mountains in Camden, viz. Mount Batty, Mount Pleasant, Mount Hosmers, and Megunticook mountain, are described in another place. The highest is at least 1,000 feet above the level of the sea.
+ Afterwards Major General of the militia, a senator and sheriff.
# Camden (72d town) contains 23,500 acres. Its south-east corner is a rock marked A. X. on the north side of Owls Head bay. The shores are deeply indented with water, and Megunticook cove, next above the mouth of Goose river, forms a good harbor in front of the village. The 'people manufacture large quantities of lime, which they export to all parts of the Union. The 20 associates were proprietors of Camden. In town there are twelve mills of different kinds ;- also two meeting-houses. The first minister settled was Rev. Thomas Cockran, who was ordained in Sep- tember, 1805. After ten years, he was dismissed by mutual consent. In town is a social library of 200 volumes, instituted in 1796, and a post- office, established in 1794. Camden has three harbors, Clam Cove, near
552
THE HISTORY
[VOL. 11.
A. D. 1791.
Bangor.
BANGOR, hitherto the plantation of Kenduskeag, was incorpor- ated February 25, embracing about 20,000 acres. Stephen Bussell and his family passed the winter 1769-70 on the decliv- ity, half a mile above Kenduskeag point, and 100 rods from the Penobscot,-whose residence has been considered the commence- ment of a settlement in this town. He was followed, in the ensu- ing spring, by Jacob Bussell, his father, and by Caleb Goodwin, with their families. The next summer, (1771,) Tho's Howard, Simon Crosby, Jacob Dennet, John and Hugh Smart, removed into the place ; and in 1772 there were in the settlement twelve fami- lies. In March, 1787, a vote was passed to build a meeting- house, 40 feet by 36 ; and the transactions of this meeting are the earliest plantation records extant. Rev. Seth Noble, had then resided with his family in the place about a year, when he entered into a written agreement, with those who signed it, to preach to the people on each side of the river Penobscot, alter- nately, so long as they would pay him $400 by the year. He was installed and continued in the ministry here, about eleven or twelve years. Entrusted with an agency in procuring the incor- poration of the town, he was directed by a vote of the plantation to have Sunbury inserted in the act, as appropriate to the pleas- ant appearance of the place. But the name displeased him or escaped his recollection ; for when the legislative Committee en- quired what the town should be called ; he being passionately fond of the church-tune Bangor, told them to insert that name .*
Thomaston ; Goose river having 10 fathoms of water, and Megunticook or Camden harbor. Into the latter empties a pond of the same name. Hos- mer's pond empties into Goose river. By Statute, 1802, a turnpike was made one mile in length, over Megunticook mountain, to Smelt brook .- The first Representative to the General Court, was Samuel Jacobs in 1798. -MS. Let. of Hosea Bates and B. Cushing, Esqrs.
* BANGOR, (73d town,) in lat. 44º 45', when a plantation, extended from the first house north of Wheeler's mills at Soadabscook, to Stillwater, [in Orono;] and contained, in 1790, 567 inhabitants, including adjacents. 1'he township to the stream Penjejewalk, two miles above the ' Point,' was originally claimed by the Waldo proprietors, and they caused a survey to be made by Joseph Chadwick, in 1773, to that place. Afterwards, to make up a deficiency in their patent, the General Court, in 1799 and 1800, assigned the township to General Knox, first reserving 113 lots of 100 acres each, to the settlers .- From 1774 to 1779, Doct. John Herbert was exhorter in religious meetings ; and in the winters taught a school. Rev. Mr. Noble was one of the whig refugees, who fled in 1776, with Col. Jonathan Eddy,
553
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXI.]
READFIELD, the northerly moiety of Winthrop, was incorpor- A. D. 1791. ated March 11, having been the north parishr of that town. Its Readfield. settlement commenced about A. D. 1760, with the other part of Winthrop, on the southerly side of Chandler's pond .*
There were, in 1792, six towns incorporated, all of which, Six new except one, were previously plantations.
A. D. 1792.
towns incor- porated.
MONMOUTH, taking a name commemorative of the place, Monmouth. where a noted battle was fought, June 28, 1778, in the revolu- tionary war, was incorporated January 20, 1792. Its plantation name was Wales. The first settlement was commenced. proba- bly, about 1774-5. It is a part of the Plymouth patent. t
SIDNEY, situated between Kennebeck river and Snow's pond, Sidney. was taken from Vassalborough, and incorporated January 30,- a name famous in English history. The earliest settlement in this town upon the river, was A. D. 1760, and upon the borders of the pond, in 1774. The Calvinistic baptists formed a church in 1791 ; and in Nov. 1793, settled Elder Asa Wilbur in the ministry.#
from Nova Scotia ; and had a lot of 350 acres given him by the General Court in Eddington. During his ministry, there was an associated Church constituted of members on both sides of the river .- He was installed by Rev. Daniel Little, under an oak. His successor was James Boyd, who was settled in September, 1800, and dismissed, November, 1801. Rev. Har- vey Loomis was settled, by the town, in November, 1811, and died in his pulpit, January 2, 1825. He was an able minister and a most excellent man. He was succeeded by Rev. Swan L. Pomroy .- The first meeting- house was built in 1821-2; burnt in 1830, and rebuilt in 1831 .- It cost $12,500, including the organ. The Unitarian meeting-house was built 1828 ; and those for Baptists and Methodists, the same year .- Bangor was first represented in the General Court in 1806, by James Thomas :- Post- Office was established in 1800 :- Bridge across the Kendnskeag, first built in 1807, and cost $4,000 ; a Printing Office was established in Nov. 1815 ; Court House built in 1812 ; an Academy incorporated in 1817; and a Bank in 1818. Population in 1800, 277; in 1810, 850; in 1820, 1,221; and in 1830, 2,868 .-- MAINE CHARITY SCHOOL, Or THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, in Bangor, was incorporated in 1814. It was first opened in Hampden in 1816. It is under the instruction of two Professors-one in Theology and the other in the Classics.
* Readfield, (74th town) is a fertile and pleasant township. Here is situated the " MAINE WESLEYAN SEMINARY," instituted A. D. 1825.
t Monmouth, (75th town,) contained in 1790, 439 inhabitants .- It is the site of an Academy, incorporated in 1809.
# Sidney, (76th town,) contains 20,000 acres; of which 1,000 is a bog. There are in town 3 double grist-mills, and 3 saw-mills ; a large establish- VOL. II. 70
554
THE HISTORY
[VOL. 11,
A. D. 1792. LIMINGTON, hitherto called Ossipee plantation, was incorpora- Limington. ted, Feb. 9, when it contained about 670 inhabitants. It is a part of Francis Small's purchase from Captain Sunday. It was settled about 1773; and in October, 1789, a church of six members was organized .*
Hebron.
HEBRON, the plantation of Sheppardsfield, was incorporated, March 6, containing at that time about 550 inhabitants. The first settlement is supposed to have been commenced about 1774.+
Bucksport.
BUCKSPORT, [Buckstown till changed, June 12, 1817,] was in- corporated June 27, and is township " Number One," condition- ally granted with five others by the Provincial Legislature, in 1762, to David Marsh of Haverhill in Massachusetts, and his associates. The first settlement was commenced in 1764, where the village now is, by Colonel Jonathan Buck, an emigrant from the same town, and his associates, who removed thither with their families, and built a saw-mill and two dwellinghouses the same year. In 1775, the men of this plantation and that of No. 2, [Orland,] formed themselves into a military company ; and also chose a Committee of inspection and safety. The ill-treatment, which the inhabitants received from the British, after they occupied 'Biguyduce, drove some away and occasioned the rest much suf- fering. Some had their houses reduced to ashes, and were piloted by Indian guides through the woods to Kennebeck ; and some were forced to labor on the enemy's fortification. The settlers returned and the plantation revived in 17 84.1
ment for carding wool and dressing cloth ; two meeting-houses for bap- tists, one for friends, and one for methodists. Sidney was first represented in the General Court, 1808, by Mr Wilbur. Post-office established in 1813. -MS. Letter of Ambrose Howard, 1820.
* Limington, (77th town,) settled Rev. Jonathan Atkinson in the minis- try in October, 1794 .- See ante, 1785, note (a) to Parsonsfield.
t Hebron, (78th town,) whose name was selected from the scriptures, is a pleasant township. It was granted by the State,-being originally called " Philip's Gore."-2 Special Laws, p. 201 .- The academy there was in- corporated in Feb. 1804, and has been endowed with a half township of land.
# Bucksport, (79th town,) in lat. 44º 34', is beautifully situated, and high- ly favored with one of the best harbors in the Penobscot waters. Eas- tern river, fed by Dead brook and Dead river, forms a part of the eastern boundary of the town, and was called by the Indians, " Alamasook." It empties into the Thoroughfare, below Gross-point in Orland. Here are owned 2,000 tons of shipping ; also 11 mills of different kinds, besides an
CHAP. XXI.]
OF MAINE.
555
MOUNT VERNON, the ' plantation of Washington,' was incor- A. D. 1792. porated June 28, by a name which commemorates the seat of Mount Ver- General Washington. Its population at this time was about 600.
non. It was probably settled in 1774-5; it was first represented in the General Court, in 1800, by Nathaniel Dudley .*
enterprize.
The rage for multiplying municipal towns, and new settle- Objects of ments,-for entering upon wild lands and lumber speculations, appeared to admit as yet, of no abatement. Efforts so energetic to people a new country, were sure evidences of enterprize and fortitude. The District was still abounding with unoccupied mill sites,-hundreds of which were in the heart of heavy timber tracts ; and there was great interest taken in converting wild lots, which cost little or nothing, into places of culture and habitation, and opening extensive prospects of plenty and comfort, for rising families.
On returning to our political affairs, we find Governor Hancock, A. D. 1793. at the spring election of 1793, chosen Chief Magistrate of the Last elec- tion, and Commonwealth, for the twelfth and last time. He was a favorite death of Gov. Han- of the people ;- the last years of his administration were tranquil. cock. He died Oct. 8, at the age of 55, deeply and universally lament- ed. The executive trust was discharged, through the residue of the political year, by Samuel Adams, the Lieutenant-Governor.
Iron and a Woollen Factory .- Rev. John Kenney was, in 1795, the first preacher to this people. There are now in town, two meeting-houses, one at the village, where Rev. Mighill Blood was settled in May, 1303, by congregationalists ; and one for methodists ;- a social library of 600 vols., and a school fund of $1,400. A post-office was established here, in 1799; the town was first represented in the General Court, in 1804, by Colonel Jonathan Buck .- The " Gazette of Maine," was printed here about 7 or 8 years prior to the last war. Here, by act of March 14, 1806, was establish- ed " Penobscot Bank," with $150,000 capital, which continued till 1812 .- ORPHAN ISLAND, oval in form, and in extent, 4 miles by 2, is separated from Bucksport and Orland by the Thoroughfare, 30 or 40 rods wide. Its northern end is opposite to Bucksport village, and its southern extremity is half a league above Fort Point-the site of Fort Pownal. The shores are washed by a tide of 12 or 14 feet ; the ship channel is on the western side, though vessels of 200 tons can pass through the thoroughfare. The Island is owned by William Wetmore's wife, grandaughter of General Waldo, and daughter of Samuel Waldo of Falmouth .- MS. Letter of Hen- ry Little, Esq.
* Mount Vernon, (the 80th town) embraces 15,000 acres; and in 1820, it contained 170 dwellinghouses and shops, and five mills.
556
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1793.
The only towns incorporated this year, were Buckfield and Paris ; two contiguous plantations.
Two new towns in- corporated. Buckfield.
BUCKFIELD, previously called ' Number Five' or Bucktown, was incorporated March 16, containing 22,323 acres. In 1776, some forest trees were felled by Benjamin Spaulding; and the ensuing spring, Abijah Buck, for whom the town is named, and Thomas Allen, removed with their families into the township, and commenced the first permanent settlement. Joined from time to time by others, they and their associates procured a survey of the town in 1785, and then purchased it of the Commonwealth ; taking a deed of it from the Land-Committee, Nov. 13, 1788, for which they paid only two shillings by the acre .*
Paris.
PARIS, which had been called plantation 'Number Four,' was incorporated, June 20th. It was granted by the government, in 1771, to Joshua Fuller, and his associates. The first trees felled by the adventurers were in 1779; and crops were taken from the lands the ensuing year.f
To clear the woodlands of their rugged incumbrances, and render them smooth for the plough and scythe, and fit for human habitancy, required a fortitude and persevering industry, which are never permitted to abate, The first settlers possessed these qualities in an eminent degree. Nor were their felicities all in prospect. Rough as the log-house may appear to the eye of
* Buckfield, (81st town) embraces an area of deep dark soil-good for grain and Indian corn. But in 1816, the fires did the surface of this and other towns immense injury. There are in this town, five large bridges, over Twenty mile river, which, as it passes, runs through Turner; also four mills. Here, in 1821, was a baptist society, of which Elder Nathaniel Chase was the public teacher. Societies of congregationalists, and of universalists include the residue of the population. The town was first represented in the General Court in 1807, by Enoch Hall. Within it has been discovered a mine of mountain iron ore, equal and similar to that of Franconia ; also Lime-stone, which when burnt is found to be nearly as strong as that at Thomaston. Likewise a bed of Yellow ochre has been opened .- MS. Let. Samuel Brown, Esq., 1822.
t Paris, (the 82d town,) manifestly borrowing its name from the capital city of France, is the shire-town in the County of Oxford. There are within it, 13 mills ; 4 bridges across Little Androscoggin; two meeting- houses, one for baptists and one for congregationalists ; Elder James Hooper is the only minister settled in town. Its first Representative to the General Court, was Josiah Biscoe, in 1803 .- MS, Let. John S, Holmes, Esq. 1821,
CHAP. XXI.]
OF MAINE.
557
luxury,-it was usually the sanctuary of virtue, of health, of A. D. 1793. character, and the birthplace of many such, as the world calls good and great. Even the merest wood-cutter amidst his soli- tude, breathes a nectarine atmosphere and exults in his freedom, as he sees field added to field, and " cottage after cottage rise," -until the wilderness changes and brightens into towns, the pro- ducts of honest adventure and productive toil,-the prospective dwelling-places of posterity in successive generations.
558
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
CHAPTER XXII.
Political parties-Federalist and Anti-federalist-The General Government-The French revolution-The Americans take sides -Treaty with England-Samuel Adams, Governor-Representa- tives to Congress-Bowdoin College established-Lime and lum- ber-Maine flourishing-Nineteen new towns incorporated-Eas- tern lands granted-Coinage and money-Electors of President and Vice-President-A new militia division-Militia system im- proved-Shellfish-A treaty with the Farratines-The nine In- dian townships and Marsh Island-Seven new towns incorporated -Academies endowed-Records of the Supreme Judicial Court removed to the proper Counties-I. Sumner elected Governor- Parties-Election af Adams and Jefferson, President and Vice- President -- Measures against French aggressions-Five new towns incorporated-Gov. Sumner's speech-What is the river St. Croix determined by Commissioners-Eight new towns incorpor- ated-War measures-Land tax and loan-Sedition and alien laws-The whole system opposed by the Republicans-Envoys to France-Truxton's victory-Collection districts-Kennebeck county established-Lisbon incorporated-Statistics-Limits of the Plymouth and Waldo patents, and Pejepseot purchase settled -Deaths of Gov. Sumner and General Washington.
A. D. 1794. Political parties.
PARTIES are the legitimate offspring of all free and enlightened governments. For such is the diversity of men's education, pur- suits, sentiments, and views, that if their opinions be the result of inquiry and reflection, they almost necessarily differ, as to the merits of men and the wisdom of measures. Honest disagree- ment awakens research and discussion ; and party-spirit, so long as it appears only in the robes and temple of truth, is a minister of light for good to the people. Otherwise, seizing upon the flam- beaux and poisoned darts of abuse, it becomes a fell destroyer of moral worth, of fair fame, and of every thing else, essentially valuable in society. Hitherto a spirit of rational liberty, and the dictates of reason, had kept it, in this country, under due re- straints. The politics of the former parties, and their respective names, 'whig' and ' tory,' though borrowed from England, were
CHAP. XXII.]
OF MAINE.
559
well understood and appropriately applied, till the close of the A. D. 1794. American Revolution.
But when our national sovereignty was acknowledged abroad, Federalists and peace was established and enjoyed at home ; our country had federalists, and Anti- arrived to a new era in its importance and condition. It might then be said in truth, to abound with well informed statesmen and high-minded republicans, who were honestly jealous of any gov- ernment, State or National, supposed to be invested with powers or prerogatives, which could by force of its utmost exertion possi- bly infringe upon the rights or immunities of the people. As soon, therefore, as the national Constitution was published; it was examined by an intelligent community with great scrutiny and care, and made the topic of universal remark. In this Common- wealth, its friends and its foes were nearly balanced ; yet neither party had justly any occasion or right to call in question the oth- er's motives. If one class believed a Confederative Government ought necessarily to possess all the attributes of National Sove- reignty,-coercive power, and distinct legislative, executive and ju- dicial departments of authority ; and if the other thought the prerogatives vested by the new Constitution in a national admin- istration, would be found in their practical operation and effects, to swallow up the State Sovereignties ;- both had equal claims to integrity of intention, and were equally advocates for an indis- soluble union. The result, however, was such, that those in favor of the Constitution, as reported by the Convention, were denom- inated Federalists, and its opponents Anti-federalists :- Classes into which the whole community became divided.
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