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 58
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T Steuben, (97th town,) in memory of Baron Steuben, was called planta- tion No. 4, and included two Islands in Dyer's bay. It is the second cor- porate town in Washington county. The township was granted to Thom- as Ruston, Aug. 26, 1794. Its population in 1790, was 233 souls.
** Fayette, (98th town,) was the plantation of Sterling, 7,000 acres of which were granted to Robert Page and associates by the State. It is bounded on the east by Thirty mile river, Lanes' pond, and Crotched pond. There was in this plantation, in 1790, only 166 inhabitants.
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LIVERMORE, * STARKS, t and CLINTON, } the 28th of the month,- A. D. 1795. all of which were plantations.
The passion for the sale and settlement of eastern lands, and Eastern speculation in them, which had prevailed extensively for several lands. years, seemed not to have abated. The Committee, possessing abundant power, had by conveyance and bargain, sold large and numerous tracts ;- to which, if we add the other transfers by spe- cial Resolves to quiet settlers, remunerate public services and sufferings, and endow literary institutions, the whole number of acres, passed from the Commonwealth, since the peace,-a period of 12 years, exceeded three millions and an half, or 150 town- ships of usual size. The public interests, it was perceived, were so extensively concerned in this business, that the General Court directed the Committee to complete all unfinished bargains, make a detailed report of their official transactions, and suspend their sales till further orders. Three hundred copies of their report, when completed, were printed and distributed.
The troubles in Europe had induced great numbers to emigrate Emigrants into this country, whose circumstances demanded public com- Society. miseration. The eastern lands were still plenty, cheap and good ; mechanic skill and manual labor were in great demand ; and men of wealth and distinction, moved by a spirit of benevo- lence, formed " the Massachusetts Society for the aid of emigrants," and became incorporated. To foreigners of fair character it was an accessible friend and adviser ; and hundreds have had occasion to be deeply grateful for the help received.
Besides the powers given to the National Government, for the Metalic regulation of commercial enterprize, so peculiarly beneficial to money. the people upon navigable waters, and the facilities of mutual in- tercourse through the medium of the post-office establishment, so essential to a sparce population ; Congress had the exclusive
* Livermore, (99th town,) [Port Royal,] lies on both sides of the Andros- coggin. The plantation of Livermore and Richardson together, in 1790, contained 400 inhabitants.
t Starks, (100th town,) commemorative of General John Starks, had been called ' Lower Sandy river' plantation, granted in 1790, to Dummer Sewall and others. Population that year was 327.
# Clinton, (101st town,) was the plantation of Hancock; and in 1790, contained 278 inhabitants. It had been settled probably about fifteen years.
VOL. II. 72
aided by &
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A. D. 1795. prerogative of coining money. In fact, each State, by ratifying Coinage. the constitution, had engaged never more to ' emit bills of credit,' nor ' make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts.' Specie was the only circulating medium ; and happi- ly for the interests of honest industry, of fair dealing, and of pure morals, every apprehension was removed of being further troubled with any other than a metalic currency. In this State Cents of Massachu- setts. the coinage of cents, minted on one side with the figure of an In- dian Chief and the word ' Commonwealth,' and on the other with the form of an Eagle and the word 'Massachusetts,' was authorized and prosecuted under an act of October 17, 1786 ;* but ceased when Congress, in 1793, established a mint and ap- pointed all pecuniary accounts and computations to be in dollars, cents and mills. The General Court, Feb. 25, 1795, adopted by law this manner of computation.
Computa- tion by dol- lars, cents and mills adopted. A. D. 1796.
Governor Adams re- chosen.
In the spring elections of 1796, the two great political parties, Democrats and Federalists, were well marshaled, both appearing at the polls with their respective candidates, for every considerable elec- tive office in the State. Governor Adams, however, was re-elect- ed by a handsome majorityt over his opponent, Increase Sumner, one of the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court, though there were some political changes effected in the other departments of government. The three electors chosen in November, for this District, to vote in the third election of President and Vice-Presi- dent, were Stephen Longfellow, Nathaniel Wells and Thomas Rice-all men of Federal politics.
Electors of President and Vice- President.
A new di- vision of ed.
It was about this time that a third Militia Division was formed militia form- in Maine, being numerically the 10th in the State, of which Al- exander Campbell of Narraguagus, [Harrington,] was chosen Major-General. It embraced the militia of Hancock and Wash- ington counties ; and Henry Dearborn succeeded Gen. Lithgow,} as Major-General of the Lincoln, or 8th, Division, after the new one was taken from it. By act of Congress, May 8, 1792, and another of the General Court, June 22, 1793, the Militia depart-
Militia sys- tem improv- ed.
* The act authorized the coinage also of silver and gold; but it was not undertaken. Cents in great numbers were coined.
t Votes for Mr. Adams were 13,821 ;- for Mr. Sumner, 9,005.
# William Lithgow, jun. a Counsellor at Law, had been a Land Commis- sioner, Major-General, Member of the Senate, and District Attorney. In this latter office he was succeeded, in August, 1796, by Daniel Davis.
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ment received additional improvement in system and discipline. A. D. 1796. In 1796, there were in Maine eighteen regiments of Infantry, and ten companies of Artillery and Cavalry.
There were some legislative regulations, which were of essen- Laws relat- tial benefit to the eastern people. One declared oysters and oth- ing to shell- fish and flowage of mill-dams. er shellfish to be the property of a town, if bedded within its limits, and made it penal to take them within the towns of Wells, Arundel, Portland, Falmouth, North-Yarmouth, Harpswell, Free- port, Scarborough, and Cape-Elizabeth, without the Selectmen's permit ; though at this period, it may be remarked, that very few oysters are found on our coast. Another regulated mills, and prescribed a cheap and expeditious mode of assessing and re- covering damages, for the flowage occasioned by dams.
A serious controversy had lately arisen between the inhabitants A new trea- upon the Penobscot and the Tarratine Indians. By the treaty of Tarratines. cty with the 1785, the government supposed the tribe had nothing remaining but the Islands in the river ; whereas, the Chiefs insisted that the territory from the head of the tide, six miles in width, on each side of the river upwards, indefinitely, was theirs ; and they de- termined not to relinquish it without being paid a consideration. To settle, therefore, the question of controverted claims, three Commissioners, William Shepherd of Westfield, Nathan Dane of Beverly, and Daniel Davis of Portland, met the Chiefs at Bangor, August 1st, 1796, and concluded a treaty with them ;- by which the Indians agreed to resign all their rights to lands from Nichols' rock, in Eddington, thirty miles up the river, ex- cepting Oldtown Island, and those in the river above it. For this relinquishment, the government delivered to the tribe 150 yards of blue woollens,-400 lbs. shot,-100 lbs. of powder,-100 bushels of corn,-13 bushels of salt,-36 hats,-and a barrel of rum ; and agreed to pay them, so long as they should continue a tribe, a certain stipend every year, at the mouth of the Kendus- keag, consisting of 300 bushels of Indian corn,-50 lbs. of pow- der,-200 lbs. of shot,-and 75 yards of blue woollen, fit for garments. The ratification of this treaty consisted in its execu- tion by the seals and signatures of the Commissioners and seven Chiefs ;* and its acknowledgement before Jonathan Eddy, Esq.
* Their names were, Joseph Orono, 'Squire Osson, Nictum Bawit, Joseph Pease, Wiarro-muggasset, and Sabbatis Neptune. The first Indian Agent was Francis L. B. Goodwin, Esq. of Frankfort .- See 1 Sp. Laws, p. 187.
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A. D. 1796. It was supposed this tribe, once so numerous and powerful, was now reduced to 350 souls .* In 1803, the government appointed an agent to superintend their interests, and take care of their lands.
The nine Indian townships surveyed.
Marsh Isl- and sold.
The territory relinquished by the treaty was subsequently sur- veyed into nine townships, and found to contain 189,426 acres.t Already there were thirty-two settlers, who were presently quiet- ed upon their lots ; and in 1798, the residue was offered for sale in quarter townships at a dollar by the acre. Exclusive of this tract so relinquished, is Marsh Island of 5,000 acres and of an excellent soil, which the government in a good mood, confirmed to John Marsh, the first settler, for a small consideration : he ex- hibiting a pretended purchase from the Indians.
Seven new towns incor- porated.
Large as may appear the number of towns lately incorporated, there were seven added to the list the current year, of which only two were formed by a division of others already established. Six of them were incorporated in the same month ; namely, BEL- GRADE, Į the 3d ; HARLEMS and COLUMBIA, | the 8th ; CASTINE, TT
* But a man acquainted with them as early as 1774, says there were supposed to be 400 fighting men among them at the commencement of the war of the revolution.
i Salem Towne, Esq. was appointed agent for the sale of these nine townships ; and in 1793-9, he sold so much of them as to obtain securities for $25,884. He was discharged March 5, 1810.
# Belgrade, (102d town,) has Great pond in the north, and Long pond west, and is separated from Sidney by Snow's pond. Its plantation name was Washington, or Prescott's and Carr's plantation ; and its population, in 1790, was 159.
§ Harlem, (103d town,) was settled in 1774, by Messrs. Clarks, Jones and Fish. It was at first, called Jones' Plantation. At that time there was no settlement nearer than 20 miles ; and the country was " swarming with moose, bears, and wolves." Its population in 1790, was 262 souls .- [See China, A. D. 1818.]-MS. Letter of W. Pullen, Esq.
|| Columbia, (104th town,) was called " the plantations Number Twelve and Thirteen, west of Machias." In 1790, the two contained 231 inhabi- tants, viz. No. 12 had 8, and No. 13 had 223 souls.
T Castine, (105th town,) bears in memory the French baron de Castine, who resided on the peninsula from about A. D. 1667-8, till after the treaty of Ryswick, in 1697 .- [See vol. I, this Hist. p. 471.]-Castine is taken from Penobscot, [See ante, A. D. 1787.]-It first embraced, besides the peninsula part of that town, what is now a part of Brooksville. This pen- insula, now Castine, originally bore the name of a resident Frenchman, called " Major-biguyduce ;' and itself contains about 2,600 acres. Here was established the trading-house of the Plymouth Colony in 1626; here
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the 10th ; NORTHPORT,* the 13th; and EDEN, f the 22d of Feb- A. D. 1796. ruary ; and BETHEL, the 10th of June.
To aid the funds of one College, and five Academies,§ incor- Endow- ments of lit- porated in Maine, the General Court had made liberal grants of erary insti- the public lands from time to time, till the act of Feb. 27, 1797. tutions. By this, the public bounty was limited to half a township, and offered only to such applicants for an Academy, as first secured for it, funds by private donation to the amount of $3,000. In view of this subject, wise and practical men have been of opin- ion, that Grammar schools, judiciously managed, are at all times far preferable to these academic establishments.
The records of the Superior Court of Judicature, both under Records of the S. J. the Charter and the State Constitution, since they had holden Court re- terms in Maine, had been kept in Boston. To remedy this in- their res- moved to convenience, the General Court, March 11, authorized the Court Counties. pective to appoint a Clerk who would reside in the county of Lincoln, and keep the records for that, and those of Hancock and Wash-
were the head-quarters and fort of d'Aulney, from 1640 to 1648 ; here the Baron Castine lived more than 30 years; and here was the British garri- son, from 1779 to 1783. Some appearances of the oldest forts are still to be traced. This has been the shire-town of Hancock, since the county was established in 1789-90, and also a port of entry. The United States have a considerable fortification on the peninsula, furnished with cannon and accommodated with barracks. It is distant nearly a mile from the late British garrison. There has been in this town a Bank, and a weekly newspaper printed, called the ' Eagle.' In the village are two meeting- houses, one for unitarians, Rev. William Mason, settled in Oct. 1793, and one for trinitarians who have settled lately Rev. John Crosby :- also a Court-House and a stone gaol.
* Northport, (106th town,) was the northerly part of the plantation, called " Duck-trap." The whole plantation in 1790, contained 278 inhab- itants.
t Eden, (107th town,) contains 22,000 acres, taken from the northerly part of Mount Desert. It was settled in 1763. In the meadows of the N. E. creek, 500 bushels of cranberries have been taken in a single year. The beauties of the town gave it name .- See A. D. 1785 and 1789 .- MS. Letter of Nicholas Thomas, Esq.
# Bethel, (108th town,) contains 25,920 acres, in a curve of the Andros- coggin. It was originally granted to Josiah Richardson of Sudbury, and others; and hence called Sudbury Canada. The grant was for services in the French war. It was settled in 1773; yet in 1781, it contained only 14 families .- MS. Letter of James Grover, Esq. 1820.
¿ These were Hallowell, Berwick, Fryeburg, Washington, [at Machias,] and Portland, Academies.
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A. D. 1706. ington ; and commit to the Clerks of the other Counties, the records and papers which belonged therein. Still, for the sake of uniformity, despatch and correctness, a travelling Clerk attend- ed the Court through the circuit, about 20 years ; always officiat- ing as Clerk in the Court, during the terms.
Governor Adams de- election. In recurring to public men and political measures, the eye un- clines a 4th expectedly rested upon a paragraph in the last address of Gov- ernor Adams, to the General Court, by which he declined a fourth election to the executive chair. All were ready to ac- knowledge the exalted patriotism, excellence and merit of this distinguished man. He possessed talents of an high order, which were improved by a collegiate education ;* and his unconquerable love of liberty, his firmness of purpose and active persevering zeal rendered him, one of the most brilliant patriots of the revo- lution. " His mind was early imbued with piety ;" and he died October 3, 1803, aged 81, in the faith and consolations of the Gospel.
Mr. Sam- ner elected Governor.
He was succeeded in the office of Governor, by INCREASE SUMNER, who had been commissioned to the bench of the Su- preme Court in 1782, on the resignation of James Sullivan. In this election, the contest was between the political friends of these two gentlemen ;- a contest which both at the polls and for weeks previously, exhibited more rancor and party-spirit, than had ap- peared in any former election, since the adoption of the State Con- stitution. Federal politics had now attained a complete ascenden- cy through the State. Besides those who had been uniformly scoffers of the French revolution, in unison with British States- men ; many men of the purest republican sentiments had be- come settled in their opposition to the French, though struggling for political freedom and equality, because of their unwarrantable conduct towards the sovereignty and commerce of the United States. Others, who were devotees to neutrality and peace and unfeigned believers in the wisdom and policy of President Wash- ington, joined the advocates of Mr. Jay's treaty ; and by conse- quence, all these classes, now united into one party were encoun- tered by their democratic adversaries, who charged them with
Parties.
* He was graduated at Harvard University, A. D. 1740. In the revolu- tion, he was called the " Patriot Samuel Adams." He was a member of the old Congress, Secretary of State, of Massachusetts, Lieutenant-Gov- ernor 5 years, and Governor three.
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forgetting the political intrigues of a British cabinet, and upbraid- A. D. 1796. ed them for sins of ingratitude to the French nation. But they were repaid by retorts and accusations of being under ' French influence'-to the hazard of their country's greatest good. In this manner the weight of the Federalists was thrown into the same scale with the English ; and that of the Democrats into the opposite one with the French.
At this juncture, the third election of President and Vice- J. Adams President, thoroughly tested the strength of these parties through ferson, P. the Union. But JOHN ADAMS, the Federal candidate, was elect- and V. P. of the Union. ed to the Presidency, over THOMAS JEFFERSON, his Democratic opponent, by a majority of 71 to 68 electoral votes. This result, as the constitution then was, placed the latter gentleman in the chair of the Vice-Presidency. Such now was the state of our foreign relations, that the course pursued by the administration towards the British, had a tendency to aggravate or increase the disaffection of the minority. It was said by the Democratic party, that the policy adopted was neither neutral nor impartial ; for both the English and French had done us wrong, and yet to the former only were tendered proffers of amity .- In reply, it Measures was represented that the French nation had refused to repair in- against juries often repeated ; had violated her subsisting treaty with the aggression. United States ; and had treated our envoys with indignity :- and therefore, all intercourse between that country and this was at length suspended. Nay, in the ensuing spring, there were acts of Congress passed, for raising a provisional army, and for author- izing the defence of merchant vessels against French spoliations. But though the policy pursued and opposed, greatly inflamed party-spirit throughout the community, it produced no effects un- favorable to the progress of Maine, in settlement, numbers, or agricultural enterprize. The eastern country was quite flourish- ing, as appears evident from the circumstance, among others, that five towns were incorporated the current year,-all of them ex- cept one being previously plantations. ADDISON* was incorpor- Five new
* Addison, (109th town,) was plantation " Number Six, west of Machias." It lies on the west side of " Indian river." It was named for the erudite Joseph Addison. In 1790 it contained 208 inhabitants.
and T. Jef-
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A. D. 1796. ated Feb. 14; AUGUSTA,* Feb. 20; WATERFORD, f March 2; towns incor- NORWAY, t March 9 ; and HARRINGTON, § June 17. porated.
Augusta.
Augusta is the ancient ' Cushnoc,' a very noted place upon the Kennebeck. Soon after the patent upon that river was grant- ed to the Plymouth Colony, in 1629, the patentees, it appears, made settlements and erected a trading-house near the head of the tide. In their " institution of government, A. D. 1653, with- " in the patent, under a Commissioner, Mr. Thomas Prince, the " people residing at Cushnoc were included therein, and took the " oath of fidelity." The settlement was laid waste, in the second Indian war, and resumed with partial success after the peace of 1713, when Doct. Noyes built a stone fort at Cushnoc. || But the place was again depopulated and remained without inhabitant till Fort Western was built there, in 1754,T by the Plymouth Proprietors. Soon after the French war closed, a re-settlement was permanently effected and gradually increased. Yet it is said,
* Augusta, (110th town,) was first called Harrington :- changed to its present name, June 9, the same year.
t Waterford, (111th town,) adjoins New-Suncook, [now Lovell]. The town was surveyed in 1774 ; and the next year improvements were made by David Mc Lain, the first settler. The rateable polls in 1786, were 14; and in 1799 a minister was settled and a militia company formed .- 9 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. 137-147 .- Rev. L. Ripley.
# Norway, (112th town,) embraces " Rustfield," Lee's grant, Cummings' grant, and three tiers of lots taken from the plantation of Waterford. Its name is obviously from a well known country in Europe. A church was formed here about 1802 ; and the Rev. Noah Cressy ordained Sept. 20, 1809. His ministry was continued ten years.
§ Harrington, (113th town,) was Number Five, or the plantation of Nar- raguagus. It embraces eleven Islands, viz .- Bobear, Pond, Trafton's, Dyer's, Knox's, Flint, Gourd, and Strout's Islands. Jordan's Delight, Ship-stern-4 acre Island, and one other. The name of Harrington, in- troduced by Col. Dunbar, was selected, on being repudiated by Augusta. In 1796, the plantation contained 177 inhabitants.
| Also spelt " Cushenock" and " Cushnock."-[St. of Ken. Cl. p. 15, 18. Winthrop's Journal, p 64.]-Noyes built the garrison " at his own charge ; " which was judged to be the best in the eastern country, and was for a " while kept at the public cost, but afterwards slighted ; which occasioned " the inhabitants to withdraw ; and then the Indians burnt it with several " other houses."-Penhallow's Indian Wars, in 1 Coll. of N. H. Hist. Soc. p. 88.
T See ante, A. D. 1754 .- The block-house of Fort Western is still standing on the east side of the river below the bridge .- MS. Letter of Hon. Daniel Cony.
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there were in 1770, only " three families" in what is now the A. D. 1798. village of Augusta. It has been a shire-town since 1787; and is established as the Seat of Government for the State .*
Governor Sumner was re-elected in 1798, by a respectable Gov. Sum- majority ; though Mr. Sullivan, and General William Heath, were ed. ner re-elect- both run against him. In his address to the General Court, he His Speech: represented our foreign relations to be in a critical and alarming posture ;- such as ' called for the united wisdom, decision and ' firmness of the American government, and for the unequivocal ' assistance of every State in the Union.' He stated, that our Envoys had been treated by the French Court, with a marked contempt heretofore unknown among civilized nations; and exor- bitant sums of money have also been demanded of us, as a peo- ple, but ' upon what pretence,' said he, ' I know not, unless it were ' to compensate the citizens of France, for the trouble they have ' been put to, in capturing and condemning our property.' He recommended the distribution of cannon, and immediate prepara- tions for defence against the French, as a foreign enemy. Hence Portland harbor and other places were put in a better situation to resist invasion ; some arms and ammunition were distributed ; and apprehensions of war were resounded by the Federalists through the United States.
* Augusta, a beautiful village, in Lat. 44° 14', was a settlement usually known by the name of the ' Fort,' till separated from Hallowell .- (See that town, A. D. 1771.) June 14, 1794, the town was divided into three religious societies, called the South, Middle, and North parishes. The two latter are embraced by Augusta. The north parish adjoins Vassalborough. In October, 1786, Rev. Isaac Foster was settled in the middle one, at the village ; and was succeeded in October, 1795, by Rev. Daniel Stone. He was dismissed in 1809, and Rev. Benjamin Tappan settled, in October, 1811. Fort Western, was an important post, -- and long under the command of Capt. Samuel Howard .- He was a Judge of the Common Pleas; and left a large estate ; which two of his grand-children continue to occupy, particularly the building he erected. A handsome bridge, over the Ken- nebeck, rests upon two pillars or piers of split rocks, built in 1797, at the cost of $26,000. Once it has been burnt by an incendiary, and since rebuilt. In Augusta, besides the elegant STATE-HOUSE, there are three meeting- houses, a Court-House, a stone gaol, a female Academy, a Bank and an Athenaum. A Post-Office was established here in 1794 .- The first Rep- resentative to General Court, was Daniel Cony, afterwards Judge of the Common Pleas and of Probate, Senator, Elector of President and Vice- President. The village is at the head of sloop navigation on the Kenne- beck. The first meeting of the Legislature at Augusta, was in Jan. 1832. VOL. II. 73
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