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 67
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Unable to deliver the bonded unfinished vessels at Castine as The Bangor stipulated, the inhabitants of Bangor and Hampden sent Amos den bonds. and Hamp- Patten and John Crosby, Esqrs., as their agents to General Sherbrook at Halifax, to get either an allowance of farther time, or a part remission of the penalties. But he utterly refused to ameliorate the condition of the bond given by Hampden, and was far from being favorably disposed towards the other. Yet he told Mr. Patten, the people of Bangor might have their choice of four conditions, either to destroy the vessels on the stocks,- deliver them at Castine in the spring,-sell them at auction and distribute the proceeds among the captors,-or pay the penal sum of the bond. Hard as these terms were, no better could be obtained. The agents returned in December, after an ab- sence of six weeks. In the meantime, the enemy had virtually reduced the Hampden bond about half, by sending up and re- moving a considerable part of the vessels in the condition men- tioned. Subsequent events rendered both bonds a dead letter.
Castine, during the winter, was a place of great resort by land Castine, a and water ;- the seat also of amusement as well as business. A temporary theatre was opened, and plays performed by actors from Halifax. Here the British officers passed many of their winter evenings, as a principal place of pastime. They were in general, men whose dispositions, manners and minds entitled them
place of resort and amusement.
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EVOL. II.
A. D. 1815. to respect. Gen. Gosselin, Col. John, Capt. Dickins* of the Sylph, and several of subordinate grade, were truly humane and high-minded men. But Barrie, Captain of the Dragon, was a total stranger to literature, to every generous sentiment, and even to good breeding. A rough sailor, he had no more to recommend him than a savage boldness, and uncouth severity ; which when dis- played among vanquished foes, served to cast a deep shade upon the British character itself.
News of peace.
News of peace and a treaty signed at Ghent, Dec. 24, reach- ed this country from Europe, Feb. 11 ;t and spread with the greatest rapidity through the continent. It was received with every demonstration of joy manifested on similar occasions, by ringing of bells, illuminations, discharge of cannon, and, in sev- eral of the larger towns, by splendid balls and festive dinners, The General Court being then in session, appointed the 22d of February to be observed as a day of public thanksgiving, com- memorative of the joyful event.
'The war of 2 and 1-2 cd. Never were there before at Washington city, three topics of years end. conversation, fraught with so peculiar diversity, as on the pres- ent occasion. One was the joyful event and festive celebration of peace, after a storm of war, which had raged two years and six months without intermission. Another was the signal and re- General Jackson's brilliant successes. markably splendid successes of General Jackson, January 8, against the British army below New Orleans, which shed a re- fulgence of glory on the American arms, at a most interesting junc- ture in the very eve of the war. The third was the home embassy of three Commissioners, from the government of Massachusetts, Hartford Convention. sent thither to effectuate what the celebrated Hartford Conven- tion had concluded to recommend. That body, of 26 members, distinguished for their talents and intelligence, of whom ten were from Massachusetts and two from Maine appointed by the General Court, closed a session of 20 days, January 4, and pub- lished under their signatures a long report ;} pointing out such
Capt. Dickins, reputed to have been the son of an English Earl, was a young officer of graceful manners and noble mind. But just at the close of the war, the Sylph was wrecked and he and his crew lost. There was not a British officer at Bangor, more admired than he was.
t On the 6th of Feb. the enemy took possession of Bucksport in a for- mal manner.
# See " Proceedings of the Convention," printed A. D. 1815-in 32 pages. The Delegates from Maine were S. S. Wilde and Stephen Longfellow, jr.
CHAP. XXVI.]
OF MAINE.
657
measures to the national administration, as the Federalists cen- A. D. 1815. sured or condemned, and recommending several amendments of the Federal Constitution. The errand of the embassy was to request of the General Government, that ' Massachusetts might ' separately, or in concert with the neighboring States, assume the ' defence of themselves against the enemy ; and that a portion of ' the federal taxes, collected within such States, might be paid 'over for this purpose into their respective treasuries.' But hap- pily for both political parties, their voice was drowned and lost, amidst the general exultation and joy.
The British troops evacuated Castine, April 25, after an en- Castine campment there of eight months ; the inhabitants suffering in the meantime every imaginable inconvenience. The return of their freedom and re-enjoyment of their rights, were celebrated in a joy- ful and festive manner ; and all the eastern country to Eastport was once more clear both of troublesome foreigners and ene- mies.
evacuated.
VOL. II. 83
658
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Party-spirit subsides-Business revives-Importations-Reforma- tion of morals-Thirteen towns incorporated-Penobscot County established-A land-office-J. Brooks, Governor-Measures for a Separation-Brunswick convention-Emigration to the western States-Checked-Moose, Dudley and Frederic Islands, deter- mined by Commissioners to belong to the United States-Commis- sioners on the northern boundary-Eastern public lands-Timber on them-Agriculture encouraged-Eight new towns incorporated -The remains of the Indian tribes-Treaty with the Tarra- tines-A farewell view of them-The season-The Sea-serpent- The Separation revived-2d act-A Convention at Portland form a Constitution-Seven new towns incorporated-New Con- stitution ratified-Maine admitted into the Union-Meeting of Maine Legislature-William King, Governor-The branches and officers of government-State seal-Statute laws revised-Joint Commissioners' of the two States.
A. D. 1815.
THE return of peace damped the flames of party-spirit, and wakened to fresh life every enterprize. As business resumed its wonted channels, and the policy of administration no longer par- took of a belligerent character, the severities of the Federalists presently changed to sentiments more acquiescent in its meas- ures. The most interesting subjects of remark seem to have been, the management, the expenses and the exploits of the late war, with strictures upon British cruelty to their prison- ers, especially in Dartmoor prison ; and with observations upon the people's interests and objects of their enterprize, in seasons of tranquillity. Massachusetts had expended a million and half of dollars, which Congress was indisposed to pay, because Gov. Strong had declined a compliance with the President's call for the militia, or had refused to put them under any one of his officers .*
* A part of the militia was called out by order of the Governor from time to time ; and " it appears that a sum not much short of $1,000,000, has already been paid, or is shortly to be paid for the expenses of the
Effects of the war and of peace.
659
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXVII.]
Commerce being now free of restrictions and embarrassments, A. D. 1815. all vessels were in great demand, and the business of ship-build- Commerce ing and of lumbering, extensively revived throughout Maine. revived. Also the cod-fishery, always considered by the inhabitants, an Cod-fishery. enterprize worthy of encouragement, and usually found to be pro- ductive, was soon resumed with vigor and with prospects of profit, so long as they were unmolested. But as the article in the treaty between our government and the British, regulating the eastern fisheries, had expired ; their cruisers now seized upon all the fishing vessels found in their waters,-the brig Jesseur carrying into the harbor of Halifax, eight sail in one day. Owing to some inadvertence, or impolicy, this important subject made no part of the commercial treaty between the two nations, signed July 3, of the present year; and consequently the embarrass- ments were not removed, till the convention of Oct. 20, 1818; when, by the first article, our rights were re-confirmed, of taking fish in the waters of Newfoundland, and of curing and drying them upon the Island. Plaster, which had been extensively used Plaster. by agriculturists in manuring or dressing their fields, and been sold for more than thirty dollars by the' ton, fell in its price to half the sum, as soon as the transportation of the article from Nova Scotia, was fully resumed. Heavy importations of Euro- Importa- goods. pean fabrics into this country, being soon and sensibly felt, had a tions of twofold effect,-to reduce their prices greatly in the market, and to discourage the home manufacturers, who could by no means afford to sell similar commodities at so low a rate as the traders. Another effect was to reduce the value of materials, and the price of mechanic labor. The merino sheep, which had commanded an extravagant price, having been mixed with almost every flock in the eastern country, presently sunk to less than half their former value, and yet found comparatively few pur-
past year."-See Resolves General Court, Oct. 1814,-also Jan. and Feb. 1815 ; and Report and Resolve, June, 1818 .- The question was, 'will the ' United States pay the expense, where their officers had no command ; ' and where the orders of the President had not been obeyed ?'-See Gov. Strong's message, Oct. 5, 1814, and Mr. Munroe's letter ; also a general or- der, &c. July 12, 1812 .- By the Federal Constitution, Art. 2, sec. 2, " the " President shall be Commander-in-Chief of the militia of the several " States when called into the actual service of the United States."
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THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1815. chasers. Therefore, as English goods flooded the community, the wheels of factories and machineries turned heavily .*
Reforma- tion of mor- als.
As a dissoluteness in morals and a relaxation in religious du- ties, were noticed to have become deeper evils than before the war, great exertions were made to effect a reform. Hence, Bible Societies were established for the diffusion of the Scrip- tures, and Sunday-schools instituted for the instruction of the young, which were found in their progress to be of peculiar ben- efit. Also many excellent essays were written, sermons deliver- ed, and at length, an additional statute passed, to check the pro- fanation of the Lord's day. Tythingmen in towns were multi- plied, and only those chosen, who were expected to do their duty. The intemperate use of ardent spirits, was another prevailing sin, always ruinous to individual health and reputation, and often- times, to the comfort and respectability of families. Equally lamentable and perhaps more heinous, was the increasing profane- ness in conversation ;- evils, all of them, which incited a christian community to measures promotive of more purity in life and principle, and greater sanctity of manners.
Woodstock incorporat- ed.
Maine sustained no diminution in her population during the war ; her losses in the army and navy being more than repaired by emigration. For though the town of WOODSTOCK, t incorpo- rated February 7th, 1815, was the only one established, in the District, the current year ; there were established, in 1816, twelve towns-all of which were formed of plantations, recently settled.
A. D. 1816.
Their names and dates of incorporation were these, viz .: KINGFIELD, Į the 24th, and Moscow,§ the 30th of January ;
Twelve new
A corporation was established, Feb. 15, 1816, for the encouragement of manufactures.
t Woodstock, (209th town,) embraces the two half townships, granted, June 14, 1800,- to Dummer Academy, and February 7, 1807, to Gorham Academy. It is north of Paris, and a good town.
# Kingfield, (210th town,) was [Plantation No. 3, Range 1,] a part of the Bingham purchase. It was surveyed by Solomon Adams, in 1808. Its name was selected in honor of William King, Esq. (Ist Governor of Maine) -a principal proprietor. It was first settled in 1806.
§ Moscow, (211th town,) is also a part of the Bingham purchase, and in the same range with Kingfield. Moscow was first settled as early as 1773, and called Bakerstown. It was surveyed in 1812. A baptist church was established in 1812. The town was named for the Russian city of Moscow. -- MS. I etter of Charles Baker, Esq.
661
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXVII.]
WALES, * the 1st, GREENWOOD, f the 2d, WELD,t and GUIL- A. D. 1816. FORD, § the 8th, and CHERRYFIELD, || the 9th of February ; towns incor- DEXTER, T the 17th, and NORTH-HILL, ** the 20th of June ; porated.
and BROOKS, ff the 10th, and CORINNA, ft and RIPLEY, §§ the 11th of December.
The COUNTY OF PENOBSCOT, was incorporated February 15th, County of 1816, being the ninth and last County established in the District established. Penobscot of Maine, prior to the Separation. It embraced all the northern part of Hancock, above Frankfort, and Bucksport; and Bangor, a half-shire with Castine, since Feb. 28, 1814, in which there was then established an office for the northern Registry of
* Wales, (212th town,) adjoins Monmouth. Its plantation name was Wales,-a small town of 4 miles by 3, of good land.
t Greenwood, (213th town,) was No. 4, township,-11,520 acres of which were granted, March 19, 1800, to Phillips Academy ; and 9,000 acres, Feb- ruary 1, 1805, to Eleazer Twitchell and associates.
Weld, (214th town,) encloses a large body of water called Webb's pond, which gave name to the plantation. It is a large town of 48 square miles. § Guilford, (215th town,) was township, No. 6, in the 7th range, and was one of the towns originally granted to Bowdoin College .- [See Sebec, A. D. 1812.] Census in 1S20, 325 souls.
|| Cherryfield, (216th town,) was No. 11, of the Lottery-townships, situ- ated on both sides of the Narraguagus river. Census in 1820-241 inhabi- tants,-a pleasant township.
1 Dexter, (217th town,) was granted March 13, 1804, to Amos Bond and eight others. (No. 4, 5th Range.) The settlement of the town was com- menced in the spring of 1801. The plantation was called Elkinstown, probably from the first settler. It contains about 20,370 acres, 1,200 of which are covered with water. The soil of the town is fine. Post-Office established there in 1818. The town was named in memory of Samuel Dexter-Boston .- MS. Letter of Seba French, Esq.
** North-Hill, (218th town,) is No. 2, a part of the Bingham purchase. It was first settled in 1801, by Jonathan Quimby, and the corporate name was given it by his wife. It was surveyed in 1804, by Philip Bullen .- MS. Letter of William Butterfield, Esq.
It Brooks, (219th town, ) was so named in compliment to Governor Brooks. Its plantation name was Washington. It was a part of the Waldo patent.
## Corinna, (220th town,) was township, No. 4,-4th range. It was alien- ed by the State to Doct. John Warren of Boston, June 30, 1804.
§§ Ripley, (221st town,) was settled in 1804; and incorporated by its pres- ent name in honor of General Eleazer W. Ripley, a distinguished officer in the late war. The original grant of the town, by the State, was Sept. 27, 1803, to John S. Frazy, who conveyed it to Charles Vaughan, and John Merrick, Esqrs. The town was surveyed in 1809, and 1813. The Post- Office was established in 1818 .- MS. Letter of Mr. Jacob Hale.
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THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. 1). 1816. Deeds, was appointed the shire-town, for the new County. Still, all matters arising within it, cognizable by the Supreme Court, were to be tried at Castine ; and the gaol there was to be a prison for the use of Penobscot County, three years .*
A land-of- fice estab- lished.
During an interval of 12 or 13 years, since the committee of eastern lands had been discharged of their official duties ; and William Smith, Esq. lately deceased, had been the agent, merely to oversee the lands, complete the sales previously made, and col- lect the debts ; there had been only seven or eight townships con- veyed in the whole time, otherwise than as donations, or gifts by special resolves of the General Court,-though these amounted to no less than four hundred and fifty thousand acres. It was found that the eastern lands were now in demand for settlement, and that the eastern people were anxious to have the sales re- sumed and opened in a manner calculated to suit purchasers. Therefore a statute was passed February 15, 1816, which estab- lished a Land-Office in Boston, for the management, sale, and set- tlement of them ; and three Commissioners were appointed to the trustt by the Executive,-assisted by a surveyor-general. They continued in office till the political connexion between Mas- sachusetts and Maine was dissolved; acquitting themselves of the duties to the public acceptance.
Commis- sioners.
John Brooks Governor.
At the May election, (1816,) JOHN BROOKS succeeded Gov. Strong in the Chief Magistracy of the State, by a handsome ma- jority, over Samuel Dexter, who was the Democratic candidate. He was a man of unassuming manners and great political integri- ty. He had distinguished himself as an officer in the war of the Revolution, and was Adjutant-General of the State at the time of his election. He continued to be elected Governor from year to year, till after the Separation.
The most important event of his administration was the divis-
* The County officers were-
Samuel E. Dutton, [of Bangor,] Judge of Probate.
Allen Gilman, " Register of Probate.
Jacob McGaw, " County Attorney.
Thomas Cobb, Clerk of the Courts.
Jedediah Herrick, [Hampden,] Sheriff.
John Wilkins, [Orrington,] Reg. of Deeds, and County Treas.
+ These were Edward H. Robbins, of Milton, late Lieutenant-Governor of the State ;- Lathrop Lewis, of Gorham, lately a Senator, who was also surveyor-general ;- and Joseph Lee, of Bucksport, Rep. of his town.
CHAP. XXVII.]
OF MAINE.
663
ion of the Commonwealth. The necessity of a separate govern- A. D. 1816. ment in Maine had pressed convictions upon the mind, through Separation the whole of the late war ; and, therefore, as soon as peace re- considered. turned, the subject became a topic of great interest and general discussion. Nay, it appeared that petitions for a separation had been presented to the Legislature, early in the preceding Janua- ry Session, by 49 towns, in their corporate capacity, and by in- dividuals in nearly as many others ; and that the population of the former was 50,264, and the memorialists themselves were 2,936. To ascertain in a legal and satisfactory way the sentiments and wishes of the people, the General Court, Feb. 10, directed meet- ings to be holden, May 20th, in all the towns and plantations of the District, and the yeas and nays to be taken on this question- " Shall the Legislature be requested to give its consent to the " separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts, and " the erection of said District into a separate State ?"-requir- ing the affirmatives, the negatives, and the whole number of votes, in each municipal corporation, to be certified and sent under seal to the Secretary of State.
At the present session, in June, it was found on examination, Yeas and that by the votes returned there were 10,393 yeas, and 6,501 nays ; and that the whole number of legal voters was 37,828 ;- a majority of the freemen not having voted at all upon the ques- tion. The result was not precisely what the advocates had an- ticipated ; nevertheless, the Senators from Maine, and most of the Representatives, petitioned the Legislature for its consent to form the District into a separate State ; and accordingly a bill, drawn with great ability and skill, was reported by John Picker- ing of the Senate, which became a law on the 20th of June. It Ist Separa- tion-Jaw. first prescribed the terms of separation ; and then directed the voters to meet in their respective towns and plantations on the first Monday of the ensuing September, and give their yeas and nays upon the main question as thus modified-" Is it expedient " that the District of Maine be separated from Massachusetts " and become an Independent State ?"-Also, every town was authorized to choose at the same time as many Delegates, as by the constitution, it might elect Representatives ; and these were directed to convene in the meeting-house at Brunswick, on the last Monday of the same September ; and if they found that a majority of five to four at least of the votes returned, were in
Nays, taken in Maine.
664
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1816. favor of the proposed separation ; then, and not otherwise, the Convention at Bruns- wick. Convention was authorized to form a constitution. At the time and place appointed, 185 Delegates convened and elected WIL- LIAM KING, President, and Samuel K. Whiting, Secretary. The next business was to canvass the returns ; when it appeared, that there were 11.969 yeas, and 10,347 nays ;- presenting a result much less than the statute-majority required, and far below what had been confidently and generally anticipated. The advocates for an independent State, who constituted about two thirds of the Convention, unwilling to submit to a total defeat, endeavored to give a novel though unexpected construction to the act, and shew that there was a substantial compliance with its spirit, if not its letter. For a Committee reported that the aggregate of yeas, in the towns and plantations giving majorities in favor of a separa- tion, compared with the nays, in those giving a majority against it, Nothing ef- exhibited an affirmative larger than as five to four .* Hence, the complished. Convention accepted the Report, though encountered by the Pro- fectual ac- test of a large minority ; and appointed two Committees, one to frame a Constitution, and the other to apply to Congress for ad- mission into the Union ; adjourning to the 3d Tuesday of the ensuing December. But the General Court, convening in the meantime, disapproved of the construction assumed, and dissolved the Convention.
Emigration to the west- ern states.
Another subject, already more essentially interesting to the prosperity of Maine, was the infatuating spirit of emigration to the western States,-tauntingly denominated the " Ohio-fever." It began to rage early in the preceding year-occasioned, or in- flamed by a variety of causes, some of which may be mentioned. The latter period of the war had been gloomy to the eastern people. The enemy had seized upon a large region of their territory, invaded other places, and put an end to commercial in- tercourse-even the coasting trade. Articles of import and of provision, and indeed the principal necessaries of life, were scarce,
* The Report stated, that " the whole aggregate majority of yeas, over " the nays, in the towns and plantations in favor, was 6,031 ;- the whole "aggregate majority of nays, over the yeas, in the towns and plantations " opposed, was 4,409; then, as five is to four so is 6,031 to 4,825. But the " majority of nays is 4,409 only." Yet the Legislature said, " the Con- " vention have misconstrued the act."-See Report and Resolves, Dec. 4, 1816, p. 317-322.
665
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXVII.]
and their prices high. The altercations of political parties, so spir- A. D. 1816. ited, so obstinate, and so long protracted, had become extremely tiresome and disgusting to all unaspiring men. The spring sea- sons of the anterior and current years, were uncommonly cold and unpropitious ;- particularly in the present summer, there was ' not a month without frost.' War and adversity had cast upon some a heavy weight of debt, and poverty had always been the lot of a still greater number ;- both classes having noth- ing to leave and little to carry with them. It was represented, that the lands in Ohio and Kentucky were rich, the climate mild, and the summers long ; and that breadstuffs and other articles of food there, were abundant and cheap. By this contrasted view of the two countries, rendered more visionary by captivating stories, industriously sent into circulation, the lower orders of so- ciety were put in motion, and nothing could break the spell. Neither the return of peace, the disappointments and miseries of some who had removed, the return of others, nor the dissua- sives of friends, could check the current. It had burst its banks, and could not for a period be controlled nor diverted.
The winter of 1816-17, was the severest which had been ex- A. D. 1817. perienced by the eastern people for many years, the succeed- Cold winter ing spring was very chilly, and everything vegetable was back- and spring. ward. Wheat, rye and corn were extremely scarce, so that in many places it was impossible to procure a sufficiency for seed. Nay, the forbidding aspect of the times was such, as to educe fears of a famine before the close of another winter ; and thus to give a fresh impulse to the enchanting spirit of emigration. Hun- dreds who had homes, sold them for small considerations, and lost no time in hastening away into a far country. But in July, Bountiful autumn.
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