USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Wiscasset > Wiscasset in early days : historical notes pertaining to the old town on the Sheepscot River > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
The delightful letters of Miss Eliza Southgate were printed some forty years ago under the title of A Girl's Life Eighty Years Ago. In one of these letters she wrote of returning from a visit in Wiscasset to the house of her Uncle William King, in Bath, in Oc- tober, 1800. The Supreme Judicial Court had been in session here and members of the Court and bar were taking their leave. She wrote:
It had been planned to make the trip by water in company with the family of Judge Lowell who had also been visiting here but owing to the violence of the wind 'twas de- termined to go by land. Mr. Lee took the two Miss Lowells and my- self in his carriage which holds 4 very charmingly. Judge Lowell and wife in a chaise with a boy to carry it back. Judge Bourne in a chair with a boy and Mr. Merrill on horseback. About 5 miles on our way Mr. Lee took Mr. Merrill's horse and he sat in with us, and he sang us a number of songs, we had a charming time.
One can readily picture the incident: John Merrill, Jr., reputed the hand- somest man in the county, on that crisp October morning, aglow with the hues of autumn, squiring the three young girls along the country road to Day's Ferry and at their request singing some of the songs of that now far away time, songs which they may have heard
27
WISCASSET IN EARLY DAYS
him sing here in Wiscasset; and there can be no doubt that they all had a "charming time."
To another friend Miss Southgate wrote:
I told you that Wiscassett would delight you; ease and sociability you know always please you
And of the part taken by John Merrill, Jr., in the social life of Wiscasset there is other mention: Abiel Wood, he who was known as General Wood because of his rank as a brigadier-general in the Massachusetts militia, and who was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts, 22d of July, 1744, became a resident of Wiscasset as early as 1766, at which time he was accompanied by his first wife Betsey, who was a daughter of Joseph Tinkham, Esq., of Middle- borough, and who was then but sixteen years of age. In 1768, Wood purchased of William Groves and for many years thereafter occupied as a place of res- idence Quarter Acre Lot No. 18 on Wis- casset Point. Mrs. Wood's two broth- ers, Joseph and Seth Tinkham, fol- lowed the Woods to Wiscasset and be- came conspicuous figures in the social and business life of the community. The wife of Joseph Tinkham, of Wis- casset, was Marcy Waterman; they lived in the house which for very many years stood on the lot of land now oc- cupied by the house of Captain Ballard, and their oldest child was Betsey Tink- ham, who was born 2d of April, 1779. In the year when Betsey became seven- teen years old a nephew of General Wood, Wilkes Wood, then in his twenty-seventh year, a son of Ebenezer Wood, of Middleborough, visited Wis- casset. Here his Uncle Wood then oc- cupied his large, hospitable three- storied mansion which he had a few years before erected on land now im- proved as a garden and which over- looks the bay from the western side of Water street.
In that year, 1796, the Rev. Dr. Paul Coffin visited Wiscasset, and in his journal he noted that it was "a place of much trade and navigation. It has eight or ten majestic houses, and many very decent, and of the common two- story size." In common with all per- sons who have seen them, he did not fail of being impressed with what he called "the noble edifice of Lawyer Lee" and "the elegant house of Mr. Bradford, finished and elegantly fur-
nished x x x x and a pretty retired sit- uation." He noted that "the Point has pretty wharves, and is flourishing. It has grown two-thirds in six years." Also, that "a terrible fire still rages on Jeremy Squam Island." Had his tour of 1797 led him again to this section he would have found that the number of polls assessed in Wiscasset was 366; that of the assessed value of property $148,825 was the value of personal estates; that the taxes were made up of town tax, $1,483.33, state tax, $316.94, and county tax, $131.26.
Such was the Wiscasset of 1796-1797, to which Wilkes Wood, who had been a student of law in the office of Judge Thomas at Plymouth, Massachusetts, came for the holiday which he took before entering upon the practice of his chosen profession. Here he was cordially welcomed by his Uncle and Aunt Wood and their lively family consisting of Joseph Tinkham Wood, who was then sixteen years of age; Hartley, Ebenezer and Henry of, re- spectively, twelve, ten and eight years; Lydia, of fourteen, and little six years old Susan, the laughter and play of all whom must have resounded throughout the great house, and who must have been impressed and delighted with the presence of their so much older cousin in whom their parents soon discovered prudence and maturity of mind and conduct to their approval and which was to distinguish him through life. Their older son, Abiel, had already be- come established in business and had married Miss Hannah Hodge, one of the six nieces of Squire Hodge, and had come into possession as a place of abode of the old Groves house, in which his father had lived for so long, the site of which is now occupied in part by the post office.
Here Wilkes Wood found John Mer- rill, Jr., who had been his college chum and who was known to him as "Chumo Merrill"; here, too, he found another college mate, Jeremiah Bailey, who had graduated in 1794, the next year after Merrill and Wood, and who was then a student in the office of Silas Lee; here he found among his relatives and their associates and connections that "ease and sociability" later enjoyed by Miss Southgate; and here he met the lovely Miss Betsey Tinkham, with whose charms he became smitten, as appears in a letter soon afterwards by him ad- dressed to Mr. Joseph T. Wood, Wis- casset, a copy of which is here given:
28
WISCASSET IN EARLY DAYS
Middleboro' December 1st 1796. Yes, Dear Cousin, you were right in your conjecture that I had not so soon forgotten you; Very nearly as soon should, I forget my exist- ance as my acquaintance at Wis- cassett.
You & perhaps others imagine it strange not to hear from me soon- er & may suspect me guilty of fickleness or duplicity: I have only to ask a suspension of sentence while I offer an excuse.
Soon after my return home my youngest Sister was taken sick with a slow nervous fever which rose with increasing malignaty 'til the 24th Day when we gave up all hope of her recovery or existance but a few hours. Her reason & speech were both wholly lost. We were soon encouraged again, but scarce- ly dared hope her restoration. She has now been 3 weeks as we sup- pose recruting but so gradual it is hardly perceptable & sits up yet but very little.
My Ma, by her anxiety & inces- sant attention to Theodate has made herself sick & now has the same fever. She has not yet been nearly so bad as Daty & we hope the fever has formed a crisis. So that the family has been all an- xious & attentive the well for the sick; each cough & cold are the source of new alarms. I myself have been unwell 3 or 4 days past but feel much better today.
These are the circumstances, my Dear Cousin, which I offer as rea- son for so long neglecting to an- swer your 1st letter which I recd. & likewise one from Chumo Mer- rill: Your 2d I recd. a day or 2 since & am moved by the gentle re- proach to obey my inclination & no longer delay an answer.
You & Chumo are pleased to say many things in commendation of Betsey Tinkham. Every thing in her praise I readily assent to, for I think myself as fully sensible of her charms as any Person living. I am much obliged to you for what you say of her for I cannot forbear feeling interested in every word tho't & circumstance respecting her. You are likewise (from your politeness to gratify me I imagine) pleased to make some insinuations tending to confirm a belief of her attachment to me. I should be un- happy to suppose them wholly
without foundation; but I fancy myself indebted to your good dis- position for a greater part of them. Indeed I come from Wiscast. seri- ously impressed with such ideas, that a coincidence of inclination in some measure subsisted between us. I am yet in the lively exercise of such feelings & God grant that no circumstance may weaken or sus- pend any mutual attach. this side the grave. This brings me to the question of settlement.
On my return to Plymo. I was immediately sworn & came to Mid- dlebo. have been doing some pro- fessional business. The reasons which delayed my writing have also prevented my fixing any determi- nate place in this respect. My par- ents must be consulted; the cir- cumstances mentioned have not permitted it. They are not however altogether ignorant; a report of my courtship arrived here before me. Should I persevere in solicitations, I do not dispare of their consent, but such a consent might give me pain. This perhaps might be less than that of a separation from. your Cousin. It may be however a serious question. To accommodate all these present difficulties de- mands all my prudence. God will- ing you may see me in the spring.
What, Maria! the amiable Maria about to leave you? God give her an easy passage. What disastrous God rules the matrimonial affairs of Capt. HH. Pray for his restora- tion. You can't say much about Sarah? Hay! so, so, hay? What think Chumo says about her & you? How often does Capt. Choat sail, hay?
Why can't you confide to me a tale of your circumvalations & strategems? or have you by this time got more bold & commenced operations to storm the Castle. There may be I think where cir- cumstance are convenient much prudence used in a warfair under the direction of Cupid. A gradual success which finally gains the vic- tory affords in my opinion the greatest sum of hapiness.
You have I think time & op- portunity to make the greatest profit of these advantages I doubt not you manage them with greater skill than I am able to teach you. Sarah is worthy the attention of any Young Gentleman
29
WISCASSET IN EARLY DAYS
I think; Indeed she is a very fine girl; & I hope for the pleasure some day ör other to congratulate you in the felicity of matrimonial union with her.
Please to inform me in your next whether you have heard of the Brigg Neptune or of Capt. Savage.
If your not more pleased with the aforegoing than H am you wou'd prefer less to more. There- fore present my respects to your Pa & Ma, to your Brother & Lady to Esqr. Tinkham & Lady to Mrs. Savage. Love to Lydia, Sukey Tinkham, Sally & Sarah Hodge, Friendship to Frank with your
self from Dear Cousin, sincerely
Yours, Wilkes Wood
N. B. You will deliver the en- closed letters & take the bill with my thanks to yourself & continue to write you know what will please me I am sorry you nor I cannot prevail with B. to favor me with a line I shall continue entreat her. I am now more out of the way but you shall hear from me often. Di- rect your letters to Plymo.
Mr. Joseph T. Wood.
While this letter was dated in De- cember it was not mailed until the 24th of the next month. The answer thereto was as follows:
Aurora had
left the western hemisphere & the Sable curtain of the evening made its appearance & retired from the business of the day I betook myself to my Cham- ber -? & for what purpose? to pour out my sentiments into the bosom of my Friend Wilks-
I acknowledge, & with real pleas- ure, the receit of your two favours & am sorry to hear of your having been sick-but pleasd to find you on the recovery.
Ah, Wilks I had almost given you up for a perfidious friend or at least for an inconstant lover to my amiable friend Betsy, but am now fully convinced of your fidelity- only put the case to yourself & reflect what I must have thought in not hearing a word from you for six months & repeatedly writing it certainly must have excited some hard thots-but let that drop & let's trace some part of your letter. you seem to chide me for my not writing more explicit concerning Sarah, but believe me, I wrote my
sentiments & to convince you of that will now inform you that she is courted by a Gentleman from the Southward his name is Hunter. I thank you for what you say con- cerning her; "as I shall always re- tain a particular friendship for her & think her capable of making a man truly hapy, but never do I anticipate that from her. You are no doubt sensible that young minds are easily ensnared by Beauty & are ever fond of some new object, this is certainly the way of the world & why should I not be one of the class. in you I confide, as a real friend & believe me when I make an open attempt to Storm the castle of love you shall know it, but alas, we know not the pre- destination of our lives whether it be fatal or not, but hope is the balm of comfort for us all and we all enjoy it-I think I have said enough on this subject now let me turn that which will strike more home to you, that of your lovely Betsy; here I feel at a loss as I al- ways do in matters of Love, but I will do my best to describe to you her present situation, she had as well as myself given up as maried & considerd herself
at liberty, (many Gentlemen from Kenebeck, promising young men, too), were upon the verge of attempting Ac- cess to her Gentle heart, but feared a repulse on your Account, she was truly sensible of it & also of your neglect & if your letters had not reached as they did I fear Wilks the consequence might have been great; but her generous heart, on knowing your Circumstances, feels herself once more under the ties of Cupid.
I shall not expatiate on the rest of our Wiscasset Ladies, but will only say they continue much the same as when you were here. so no more at present, but remain yours with sincerity
J. Wood
Wiscasset, Feby. 25th, 1797.
I wrote the foregoing letter some time ago & thot I wold let it lay till my pa-pa got home in hope to hear something more from you; but I recd yours by the post & the Inclosed delivered and am not able to express to you pleasure which it afforded &c but she in confi- dence told me she was truly con-
30
WISCASSET IN EARLY DAYS
vinced of your attachment for her, she was wronged by saying she recd Mr. B.'s visits with pleasure, but she realy thot your silence suf- ficient excuse for excepting them if agreeable to her. I fancy Mer- rill only wish'd to hector you a lit- tle for I am sensible he would not have wrote you so in Earnest, but I shall not make many comments on this subject, will only say that Betsey is what you realy wish her to be a true lover.
These letters are quoted as examples of the epistolary correspondence of two young New England gentlemen in the latter part of the eighteenth century, as well as for their local interest. At the time when those letters were writ- ten Joseph Tinkham Wood was in his seventeenth year and Wilkes Wood was ten years older. The course of true love appears to have ever after ran smoothly with Wilkes Wood and Betsey Tinkham, for they were mar- ried on the 18th of October, 1798. Her death occurred 21st of September, 1803. Tender reference to his bereave- ment and to his motherless children appears in the copy of his letter to General Wood which follows:
Middleborough Decr 30 1807 Dear Sir
If you have had no particular information this part of the world later than I have from you I think it will not be disagreeable to you to hear again from the place of your nativity. Our Friends here are generally in health enjoying the common bounties of Provi- dence. But I must except in some measure Aunt Lydia Elmes, for- saken by her children, the infir- mities of old age creeping upon her, in destitute circumstances, without the prospect of permanent amelioration of her condition she seems to shudder at apparent ap- proaching evils & her mind is clouded with the gloom of dismal apprehensions-the charity of her connections & Friends has been equal to support hitherto but she has discovered an obstinate deter- mination to continue
in your House alone against the solicitation & admonitions of her Friends to the manifest danger of her health & life. That House has become thro' decay quite an unfit habit- ation for any human creture and it has been much expected that the winds would have quite demolished
it this fall; indeed the fences and whole premises appear like pro- perty derelict. She has now quited it and is at present with my Moth- er. Mrs. Peirce, Mrs. Harlow that was: has offered her a habitation whether she will go there or not I can't tell. She is now quite down spirited and gloomy and needs the charitable attentions of somebody constantly.
Your property here cannot I think in its present condition be any longer servicable to Aunt Elmes, and had better be disposed of in some other manner by the next spring- I wrote you upon this subject a number of months since but receiving no answer, suspect it never reached you.
Upon the close of the year it is natural to revert to time past and on a retrospect of my life the scenes the transaction & pleasures in which I have participated at Wiscasset croud upon my mind and hold a distinguished place in my recollection & liberally afford to me that kind of satisfaction which the review of such interesting events and important periods of life are productive of- Tho' time with its busy occurrences is at work to deface & destroy the picture; yet its outlines are perfectly legi- ble; tho' fadeing the colours are still distinguished- The chief ob- ject to me in that numerous group which contributed to render the scene superlatively delightful has vanished Yet there are tran-
scripts of the original left to me: the likeness has been epitomized into three little otherselves who are the constant, faithful & true wit- nesses of her that is absent to re- turn no more- My children are very healthy & active my attention to them has not yet been divided with any other object that can come so near my heart. I am single & so like to be for aught I know.
There has been much political noise of late wars & rumors of them defean our ears & render them scarcely susceptible of any other impressions- But the Coun- try within two or three days has been panic struck with an em- bargo- All are amazed-and at a loss whom to blame & why this calamity is brought upon us- Yourself and Neighbours will not
31
WISCASSET IN EARLY DAYS
grudge a due share of homage to Mr. Bonaparte on this occation I think your interested sensibility at least is hereby moved & there is little doubt the embargo proceeds from some demands &. threats from him-whether the measure is designed to be hostile or favour- able to France is not so evident the effect of it however so far as I have means of judging will be most favourable to the views of Napoleon 1st.
I have only time to add that I should be very happy to receive a letter from you upon the subject of A. Elmes She would feel ad- dtional obligations to you for the further use of your little farm- but it would be better when use of in other hands & more produc- tive if sold if not sold the old house which is entirely useless as such should be taken down & converted into fence which will be necessary there if the land is improved- - With the pleasure of wishing you Aunt Wood & your whole family a very happy New Year
I am your Cousin and very Hum'e Servt,
Wilkes Wood Genl. A. Wood
Wilkes Wood practiced his profes- sion in Middleborough until he was appointed judge of probate for Ply- mouth County, in which office he suc- ceeded his
old preceptor, Judge Thomas, in 1821, and he held that of- fice until his death in 1843. He had a reputation for sterling integrity. Well read in the law and conscientious in all the duties of life, he was an able judge.
To return to the subject matter of the letter of Wilkes Wood to his cous -. in Joseph, it is interesting to know that "in a warfair under the direction of Cupid," as so quaintly expressed in their correspondence, Joseph succes- fully stormed the "Castle of love" and that the fair Sarah became his wife in the year when he became of age. Soon thereafter, from designs by
Nicholas Codd, a Boston architect who had also designed and built fine houses for James Kavanagh and Mat- thew Cottrill at Damariscotta Mills and Damariscotta Bridge, respectively, he built the notable mansion in High Street which is even to this day some- times spoken of as the Carlton house · because of Maj. Moses Carlton's fifty years occupancy, he having purchased
it of Wood in 1807. Wood afterwards came into possession of his father's great house in Water Street and here made his home until his death in 1820.
The lives of the two cousins were in striking contrast: Wilkes Wood was by temperament and by training and experienced as a lawyer conservative and prudent; Joseph Tinkham Wood reared in commercial circles and in early life prospering beyond all dreams of success, became subject to all the changes and fluctuations of business and in the prostration suffered by Wiscasset merchants and shipowners by reason of the interruption of com- merce consequent upon the Jefferson Embargo and the War of 1812 he met with most severe losses. Stories of his reputation as a jester and bon vivant have survived to this time. He was ac- tive in politics as well as in business; and in the Massachusetts militia he was for a time a commissioned staff officer in the second brigade of the eleventh division, which division was officered in Lincoln County. His in- clinations were to support the policies of the Federalist party, and he was voted for from time to time by the members of that party in his candida- cies for representative to the Legisla- ture. A letter which he wrote to Capt. John Binney, after the transfer of the latter from the command of the Unit- ed States forts at Wiscasset, the lower Kennebec and the Damariscotta and St. Georges Rivers to the northern fron- tier, is testimony of his disapproval of the Jefferson and Madison policies, and a copy is here given:
Wiscasset Sep 7th 1813 Cap. John Binney- Dear Sir
Your much esteemed favor of the ult is recd & the contents duly noted.
I regret for your sake that the army is obliged to be stationed in so unpleasant a part of the U. States, but cannot but feel grateful that you have found a place that comparing with the District of Maine you give us the decided pref- erence. I can assure you since our acquaintance I have looked forward with pleasure to the day that shall make you the permanent resident of Wiscasset with your amiable Fammily-if we have not so many allurements as many other places we have one essential one which is good society & real social feelings toward one another-which some
32
WISCASSET IN EARLY DAYS
WISCASSET PUBLIC LIBRARY 1
of our neighboring Towns do not enjoy in that supereminent degree which they might do-by the way Peace was formally declared last week between K. & T .- the latter made a splendid Ball & in Person invited the former and Lady to it, the object is not yet known but many have their conjectures-after this I shall not be surprised to see Peace between France & England- but the Lord have mercy on some intended Victim-
As to news, I have with much pleasure (for a Tory) to say that yesterday my store windows were a third time broken in rejoicing for a naval Victory, at the mouth of our River-the rencounter was be- tween the U. S. Brig Enterprise & the British Brig Boxer, of about equal size and mettal. the action continued 45 minutes & ended in the capture of the Boxer-further particulars we have not heard, the Wind being ahead they bore away for Portland. I presume you will have the particulars by the time you rec. this.
We are all anxiety for the late news from England and the Conti- nent, as probably a little time will decide the fate of the Mediation. We are still sanguine here in its success or that it will lead to peace. I do believe the Nation is heartly sick of the War, it grows more and more unpopular daily
with the People & I believe Mr. Madison finds it more difficult to manage than he expected & is will- ing to sell out his stock in it at par-this brings me to business with which I feel more conversant than Politicks-
before you left home you pro- posed to sell your shares in the W Bank-if you still continue dis- posed to do it and a fair rate I would purchase them & would thank you to say by return mail at what rate you would sell the whole or a part & I will give you an immediate answer. If we should trade I would pay you in 6 per cent stocks of the 16 million loan of which I have a few Thousand Dol- lars
Business is verry dull here but the people appear cheerful in the hopes of better times-my vessels both got out safe to- and the prospects are fair for good voyages but I dare not make any calcula- tion in these times-on property out of reach
Your Fammily are all well at present but soon expect an in- crease-Mrs. McCrate has a fine daughter-he goes off this morng for Boston
Write me soon & believe me to be with Sentiments of real Friendship
Your most H. Joseph T. Wood
3542
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.