USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Freeport > Three centuries of Freeport, Maine > Part 6
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Three Centuries of Freeport, Maine The month of March, the eleventh day, From Portland they got underway, To Freeport they were bound; Ent'ring the river, near at hand To where they did intend to land, Ice did their boat surround.
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The fog and darkness both set in, No object possible was seen, Although the land was near. They hail a friend to know what's best, That on their oars they lie at rest, Till turn of tide appear.
But they conclude the best to do, To break the ice, a passage through, In hopes to reach the land; A Lantern at mast-head was set, Near Union Wharf for to direct, As I do understand.
Then nothing more of them was known, Till the night, 'twixt twelve and one, Their distant cries were heard By people on the shore, The distance is a mile or more, No way for help appeared.
It seems part left the boat, to try To reach the shore, knowing 'twas nigh, While others wait behind. Not long they wait 'twixt hope and fear, When cries for help. soon fill the ear - Consternation the mind.
With hopes to save, their best they do, But by some means they all fall through, But three the boat regain; Weary and wet they set them down, All hope is fled, their fate they moan, While life in them remain.
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Maine Ballads
Methinks that Aderton did say, "O for the dawning of the day, O for the rising sun! O for some friendly aid at hand, To help us on the solid land, Tous no help can come!
"Farewell my child and partner dear There's nothing on this earth so near As is my love for you; The summons comes, I must obey, My soul soon leaves this house of clay, My dearest friends adieu.
"O Thou who art the widow's God! Soften the affliction of Thy rod, And dry the widow's tears; And may the daughter prove to be A pattern of true piety As she grows up in years."
Methinks that Curtis made his moan, "O must we perish almost home, Our dearest friends so near; Hard fate of ours," with grief he cries, "No friendly hand to close our eyes, Before us death appears.
"Farewell, my wife and children too, No longer can I stay with you, The objects of my love; Short is my tarry here below, You tempt my stay but I must go, I trust we meet above.
"The God of glory, from the skies, The widow and the orphan's sighs In pity deign to hear; May they in Thee a father find, A friend of mercy, just and kind, To them forever near."
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Three Centuries of Freeport, Maine "Oft have we been where seas did roar And yet preserved to reach the shore," Young Brown did sigh and say; "For what peculiar, strange offense Have we incensed Omnipotence, To blast our coming May?"
"Must I be snatched from all that's dear, From every friend and comfort here, Ah! cruel fate of mine. Adieu, my friends on earth adieu, I leave the joys of earth to you, Yes, I must all resign."
His parents, far advanced in years, Wipe from their eyes the flowing tears, Thou great and all supreme, And all relations, may they find Thy ways are holy, just and kind, And be Thy praise their theme.
Hodgkins and Davis both were drowned, As in the water they were found, A distance from the yawl. Their children here are orphans left, Their partners seem almost bereft Of earthly comforts all.
Lord, of Thy mercy send them more Than they can ask, we would implore, The tears wipe from their eyes; Hence may they learn to look above And there to place their purest love In heaven above the skies.
This sad event is to us all A loud, a solemn, serious call To be prepared to die. The day or hour there's none doth know When hence we shall be called to go, For death is ever nigh.
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Maine Ballads
Surviving friends their virtues claim As sweet memorials of their name, And while they sleep in death, 'Tis yours, with pious care to tread Their steps as far as virtue led, Till Heaven demand your breath.
But what! shall we poor worms complain Or charge our God with councils vain? Or shall we dare repine, O may we in affliction say, 'Tis He who gives and takes away, And bless His name divine.
P. K. TRACY
XV
FREEPORT IN 1816
T HE earliest historical sketch of Freeport which has come to light is that written by the Rev. Reuben Nason and contained in the collection of the Massachusetts His- torical Society. He was the third pastor of the First Church and just before the paper was written had severed his connection, perhaps with some little unpleasantness, which may account for an obvious vein of pessimism which threads its way among the statements he has made.
We learn that the early settlers were many of them ship car- penters and depended upon that business for subsistence. Others were dependent upon the sale of wood and timber, and that since in 1816 wood and timber were nearly exhausted, the town had a decaying aspect. Ship building was carried on in a small way. Vessels of four or five hundred tons had been built at Mast and Porter's Landings and used for coasting. Some locally owned vessels cruised to the West Indies.
In Mr. Nason's opinion the soil of Freeport was adapted to the raising of fruits but he said that few attempts had been made to plant trees and that there was not even a "cyder mill" in the town. There were, however, two or three sawmills, three or four gristmills (one of them tide) and two carding machines.
Even in 1816 the roads were a problem, for Mr. Nason states that due to the clay soil they were impassable for a large part of the year and owing to the contour of the ground very ex- pensive to build. There were then three taverns in town, two at the Corner and another two miles toward Brunswick - prob- ably at Pleasant Hill.
Freeport in those days was divided into eleven districts for school purposes. There were but three of the young men of Freeport who had entered college, viz: Alfred Johnson, Jr., and Cornelius Dennison, Bowdoin; and Jacob Scales, Dart- mouth. Both Harvard and Yale were represented in town, the former by Leonard Morse, Esquire and the latter by Samuel Holbrook. These were the only college graduates among the citizens, for neither Dr. John A. Hyde nor Josiah W. Mitchell, Esquire had received a liberal education. Probably the Rev. Enos Merrill was a college graduate, thus increasing the num-
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Freeport in 1816
ber to three, when he was installed in 1816, after the paper just quoted had been written.
In Maine's history 1816 is known as the "Summerless Year," January was so mild that people allowed their fires to go out, except what was needed for cooking. February was but little colder and although March was windy at first it was on the whole rather mild. April came in warm but grew steadily colder, until by May the town was back in winter weather, with plenty of snow and ice. By the last of the month all crops had been killed. June was the coldest month of roses known, with a record snowfall of seven inches. July and August were dry and cold and there would have been much suffering and death if it had not been for an abundance of fish and game.
XVI
FREEPORT AND MAINE INDEPENDENCE
F OR generations there has been a tradition that the papers necessary to effect the separation of Maine from Massa- chusetts were signed in the old Codman Tavern on March 15, 1820, by commissioners empowered to perfom this act. In order to clearly set forth this matter in its entirety we are deal- ing with it from its inception, which was prior to the formation of Freeport as an independent town.
The question of separation was first agitated about 1784. On September and October 1 of that year the Falmouth Gazette, the first newspaper in Maine and apparently established for the purpose of furthering the cause of separation, printed this notice relating to it:
"Agreeable to a request made and signed by a large and respectable number of persons ... the inhabitants of the three counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln are hereby notified that so many of them as are inclined, or can conveniently attend, are requested to meet at the meet- ing house of the Rev. Messrs. Smith and Deane in Fal- mouth, on Wed. the fifth day of Oct. next to join in a con- ference, then and there to be held, on a proposal of having the said counties erected into a separate government; and if it should be thought best to form some plan for collect- ing the sentiments of the people on the subject, and pur- sue some orderly and regular method of carrying the same into effect.
In response to this call about thirty persons met and issued an address to the people, requesting them to elect delegates to the convention to be held on the first Wednes- day of January, 1786, for the purpose of considering the question of separation .... The Governor of Massachusetts deeply deprecated these proceedings, and deplored them as having a tendency toward dismembering the Common- wealth. In spite of this condemnation on the part of the Governor the convention met as arranged on January 4, 1786, and organized by electing Selectman Gorham presi- dent and Stephen Longfellow clerk." *
* How Maine Became A State, page 148.
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Freeport and Maine Independence
There were delegates present from twenty towns and a com- mittee drew up a statement of nine grievances "under which the three counties labor." This convention was never dis- solved, merely adjourning until the following September, at which time a petition was drawn up to be presented to the Gen- eral Court. A circular, dealing with this subject was also issued to the inhabitants of the District of Maine. When in the opin- ion of the committee the time was auspicious this petition was to be presented to the Court. In this way it was more than two years later when it actually reached the Court. By that time the convention was a thing of the past and the petition was simply tabled by the House of Representatives.
In January, 1787, at the next convention it was found that only 970 votes had been taken, of which 618 were for separa- tion and 352 opposed to it. This lack of interest was not con- ducive to success and must have been a bitter disappointment to the proponents of separation. The convention, adjourning until September, 1787, determined to secure a further and perhaps more favorable vote but it came to nothing and after several other meetings and adjournments the convention was no more.
The Legislature made concessions to the District of Maine, which apparently fell short of what was desired, for in March, 1791, a paper was sent out to the people of Maine by a few of their Representatives, extolling separation. When in the course of the following year the Legislature ordered a poll on separation to be taken in Maine, the resultant vote showed 2,084 to be in favor of and 2,438 against severing ties with the old Bay State. And although four conventions were held from 1793 to 1795, nothing definite was accomplished.
The plan, as heretofore conceived, having been so unsuccess- ful, another one was formulated. Accordingly "In January, 1795, a convention of delegates of twenty towns and five planta- tions of the counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln met and issued an address to the people of these counties proposing that they, not the whole district, be formed into an independ- ent State." * But two years later, in 1797, when the Legislature again caused a vote to be polled on this subject, the District of Maine as a whole was still opposed to separation. A petition
* Hatch, Maine, A History, page 112.
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Three Centuries of Freeport, Maine
from sixty towns, asking for separation in 1803 was of no avail, while another vote on this question in 1807 met with a crush- ing defeat. Still another vote on May 20, 1816, disclosed that while separation was favored by 10,584 and opposed by 6,941, less than half of those eligible to do so had cast their ballots.
A committee was appointed with Senator Harrison Gray Otis as chairman, to further learn the opinion of the people of Maine on this subject of separation. The committee presented a bill whereby Maine should elect a convention to meet at Brunswick on August 26, 1816, and if a majority of four to five were found to be in favor of separation the convention was to draw up a constitution. Upon election day a count of the bal- lots showed the balance to be more than four to five, which seemed to be a defeat again for the separationists. At the De- cember session the General Court found the Brunswick con- vention's work to have been "unauthorized and invalid" and deemed it inadvisable to take any action at that sitting.
"On April 19, 1819, 'a committee of the Maine members of the Legislature issued an address to the people of the District, urging them, in the selection of representatives, to choose none but supporters of separation. They also urged that the towns pe- tition for separation in their corporate capacity. At the annual election party differences were extinguished and the sole issue was separation. Every Senator elected from the District was in favor of separation, and of 127 representatives chosen by 89 towns, 114 were in favor of separation and only 13 opposed. Both these numbers were subsequently increased by later re- turns. A great number of towns voted to petition the General Court in their corporate capacity. The opposition was success- ful in only a few cases.' ... So overwhelming a majority rendered it practically impossible for Massachusetts to refuse separation. The Legislature referred the subject to a joint com- mittee on which Maine was well represented, and the commit- tee reported a bill providing that there should be a vote of the District on separation, and that the returns should be made to the Governor and Council. Should there be a majority of 1500 in favor of separation, the people of Maine were to be regarded as assenting to it. The Governor was to proclaim the result, and a convention was then to be chosen which should meet in Port- land, select a name for the new State and form a constitution.
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Freeport and Maine Independence
The constitution was to be submitted to the people for rati- fication. If they refused to adopt it, the constitution of Massa- chusetts, except such parts as were locally inapplicable, was to be the constitution of the new State until legally changed. But whatever the result of the vote on the constitution, the District was to become a State on March 15, 1820, provided that the consent of Congress were first obtained .... On the next day, after a long debate, the bill was passed by a vote of 193 to 59, and two days later it was signed by Governor Brooks. Every county in the District voted for separation, although the ma- jority in Hancock was only sixty-three. The total vote for sepa- ration was 17,091, opposed 7,132. Proclamation of the result was duly made by Governor Brooks." *
The subject of electing a constitutional convention now oc- cupied Maine's attention and in order to frame this constitu- tion the convention met at Portland court-house on October 17, 1819. The constitution was drawn up and the name of "Maine" selected for the newly formed state, after much debate.
The bill making Maine a separate state was signed by Presi- dent Monroe on March 3, 1820, and on March 15, 1820, all ties with Massachusetts were automatically severed.
Williamson says that:
"The joint Commission, prescribed by the act of Separa- tion was filled thus: - 'Massachusetts appointed Timothy Bigelow and Levi Lincoln; Maine, Benjamin Porter and James Bridge, and these four chose Silas Holman and Lathrop Lewis, to complete the Board [Note, Bigelow of Groton, Lincoln of Worcester, Holman of Bolton, Porter of Topsham, Bridge of Augusta and Lewis of Gorham] to negociate with Massachusetts, if possible, a purchase of all her lands in Maine, the three Commissioners of Maine, joined by Daniel Rose of the Senate and Nicholas Emery of the House, proceeded to Boston in February (1821); where they were met by a Committee of the same number on the part of Massachusetts. A discussion of many days succeeded; and at length, it was agreed that Maine should give Massachusetts for her part of the public lands in this State $180,000; that is, discharge Massachusetts from all
* Hatch, Maine, A History, pp. 141, 142, 143.
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Three Centuries of Freeport, Maine
Indian claims and subsidies, equal to $30,000, and pay her $150,000 in 40 years with annual interest at five per centum."
From October 30, 1820, to November 27, 1827, this commis- sion held eight formal meetings in Boston, three in Portland and one in Bangor and Augusta.
As is clearly shown by the foregoing account there is no rec- ord of any meeting of these commissioners in Freeport and as for their signing the papers which made Maine into a separate state, the impossibility of this act on their part can be readily seen by the fact that they did not function as a commission until after the admission of Maine to statehood.
The only circumstance which could have given rise to the tradition mentioned at the opening of this chapter is the fact that a few men: Robert H. Gardiner, Jacob Abbot, Ammi R. Mitchell, John A. Hyde, Josiah Pierce, Dudley Todd, Samuel Fessenden, Edward Russell, Stephen Longfellow, Junior, Jo- siah W. Mitchell, William O. Vaughn, Benjamin Orr, Wil- liam R. Stockbridge, Joseph McKeen, William Barrows, John W. Mellen and Benjamin Dunning representing Cumberland, Kennebec and Lincoln counties, met at one time in Freeport and drew up and signed a broadside against separation a few days before the subject went to a vote. They probably con- vened in the Jameson Tavern, they were delegates (giving a basis for the later term of "commissioners") from three coun- ties, they actually drew up and signed a paper which was in regard to the matter of separation, and in time all this could have grown into the story as it is told today.
XVII
MILITIA OF THE NEW STATE
U NDER the laws of 1820, all able-bodied, white citizens be- tween the ages of eighteen and forty-five were enrolled as militia. Each man must provide himself with equip- ment and present himself twice a year for training. On these muster days each man dressed in his usual clothes, for uniform, and brought whatever he had for arms, with a result so unmili- tary and unmatched that some one christened the militia the "String Beans" and the name stuck.
There are many commissions still in the hands of Freeport people, authorizing their ancestors to be officers in the militia. These descendants may rest assured that their ancestors shone as "Solomon in all his glory," for whatever the garb of the pri- vates, the officers were clad in "beaver hats, black coats and white trousers six inches too short but strapped to keep them from working up over their long legged boots."
We have the roster of Captain Litchfield's Company of Artil- lery, which will give the personnel of one of the earliest of these companies in the state but probably only one of those in Free- port at the time, 1820:
John Townsend, Jr. Charles Rogers Thomas Anderson
Charles Brown Enos Townsend
Theophilus Thompson
George Litchfield
John Rogers, Jr.
Jeremiah Winslow
Joseph A. Means
John Gurney Lendall C. Litchfield
Judah Lunt
David Grant
William Chase, Jr.
Ammi Bartol
Daniel Brewer, 4th John Stetson Steven Harvey Joseph Magrath William Sawyer Jesse Corliss, Jr.
Reuben Day
Samuel Grant
David Reed
Robert Mann
Ebenezer Sylvester
John Field Nathaniel Mitchell
John Weston Thomas Mann Elijah Field
Laommi Cushing
Jeremiah Todd
Lowrig Prout
Reuben Bartol
Gideon Dennison, Jr. William True, Jr. William Haskell, Jr.
Nathan Mann
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Three Centuries of Freeport, Maine
Whether this company had them or not there were in town later two brass cannon, which have gone from the scene perma- nently, unless some well or cellar will yield them up. There was rivalry between different parts of the town as to their possession and with considerable secrecy they were moved from place to place, first in the hands of one party and then in the hands of another. Perhaps some one knows where one of them is now but if he does he guards the secret well.
On June 6, 1836, the military company of Freeport, known as the Harraseeket Cadets, held a field day, at which the ladies presented them with a standard.
To commemorate this occasion a broadside was printed, which we present in full:
"FIRST ANNIVERSARY [of the] HARRASEEKIT CADETS.
The Haraseekit Cadets - of which L D. Townsend was a member, - celebrated their first anniversary at Free- port, June 6, 1836.
At ten o'clock a company of Ladies in Uniform were escorted to the green in front of the meetinghouse, when a beautiful standard, - painted by Charles Codman of Portland, - was presented to the Cadets by Miss Susan R Kelsey. On presenting the standard to Ensign Hyde, Miss Kelsey addressed him as follows:
'Sir: I present to you this standard, from the Ladies of Freeport to the Harraseekit Cadets; and allow me to as- sure you, that while their high estimation of your courage forbids a suspicion that it can ever be sullied by an act of cowardice, they feel confidant, that as soldiers, you will be equally distinguished for the practice of those kindlier vir- tues of humanity, which shed such a lustre upon the tri- umphs of the brave. Should the shrill clarion note be again heard in our land, and this banner be unfurled on the field of battle, while its graceful folds float amidst the slaughter of our bravest and best, even then may the recol- lection that it was presented by those whose weakness leads them to look to you for protection and safety, be your strongest incentive to courage and glory.'
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Militia of the New State
To which Ensign Hyde replied as follows:
'Ladies In behalf of this company, I tender you thanks for the invaluable gift you have bestowed upon us. Our company is yet in its infancy; and though we must strictly rely upon our exertions, it is gratifying to learn that those exertions have been appreciated by you. It is highly en- couraging to us to receive such a proof of regard from such a source. Cold indeed must be that heart which does not at this time quicken with emotions of gratitude and de- votion to those whose applause has in all ages been the strongest incentive to deeds of heroism and bravery. The Ladies of Freeport may rest assured that no act of coward- ice shall ever sully the brightness of this beautiful banner; and should we be called to battle, our highest aim shall be to deserve by our bravery the highest confidence they have this day conferred upon us.'
They then repaired to a tent, where a collation was pre- pared; after which they returned to the meetinghouse, and an address was delivered by Col. John L Kinsman, of Portland. The cadets then repaired to the Hotel of S Thing, and partook of a dinner provided by that gentle- man. The music by the band from Augusta was very fine, the weather was beautiful, and the whole performance such as to afford great gratification to the large collection of people who attended to witness them."
The second anniversary included military guests, the Light Infantry Company of Yarmouth. Descriptive of this celebra- tion we quote the following from Old Times:
"27th of May, 1837 the Light Infantry Company re- ceived an invitation from the Harraseekit Cadets of Free- port to meet them June 6th and join in celebrating their anniversary. On the day appointed the company rode to Staples Tavern in Freeport and met the Cadets and both 'marched into the village with colors flying and cannon roaring' After a collation the Light Infantry marched homeward stopping at 'Bookers' to 'settle up' were dis- missed at meeting-house after having voted to invite the Cadets to join them in celebrating their own anniversary, August 29th."
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Three Centuries of Freeport, Maine
In accordance with this invitation the Harraseeket Cadets on that date were met at Booker's Tavern, escorted to the village, had dinner at Staples' Tavern, marched to the Universalist Chapel and were there addressed by Mr. Mandel of Westbrook. After drilling the Cadets were escorted back to Booker's Tavern.
We do not know what uniforms the Cadets wore on this oc- casion but their hosts had "dark blue cutaway coats with white facings and braid trimmings, tall hats of the shako pattern ornamented with tall white plumes topped with red and white linen duck trousers."
It is also said that small boys followed the line of march to gather up gaudy feathers and brass buttons shed as these young soldiers violently exerted themselves during the maneuvers.
The northeastern boundary of Maine was a bone of conten- tion for a number of years but matters were aggravated by ac- tion of local Canadian officials and in 1839 there was great danger that war would result. So tense was the situation that Maine prepared for hostilities. In Freeport a military com- pany was formed, to be ready if needed. Samuel Holbrook was appointed captain and no doubt had his men ready, but there was no need for their services for the Federal and British gov- ernments agreed to leave the matter in the hands of Lord Ashburton and Daniel Webster, who fixed the boundary as it now exists.
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