Yale University Library
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1902.

150th AfiniversarY GQrharn, Maine

CBLBBRATION

OF THE

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH

ANNIVERSARY

OF

GORHAM, MAINE

MAY 26, 1886

PORTLAND, MAINE
B. THURSTON & COMPANY, PRINTERS
1886

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CONTENTS.

PAOB
Preliminary Statement  1
Centennial Anniversary — 1836  2
Address of Hon. Josiah Pierce — 18.36  7
One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary  33
Action of the Town  ,  33
Meeting of Committees  :  35
Invitation Sent Out  36
Programme  37
Procession  42
FORENOON BXBBCIBES  45
Address of Welcome by Gov. Frederick Robie  48
Ode by Mrs. Jennie Bodge Johnson  ,')6
AFTERNOON BXBBCISBS  57
Address by Rev. Elijah Kellogg  59
Hymn by Prof. Henry L. Chapman  84
Address by Hon. John A. Waterman  85
Address by George B. Emery, Esq  90
National Hymn, " To Thee, O Country "  94
Address by Edward Gould, Esq  94
Address by Rev. Edward Robie, d.d  97
Response by Dr. H. H. Hunt  101
Response by Rev. George Lewis  102
Address by Charles W. Deering  103
The Sham Fight  107
EVENING BXBBCISBS  108
Reception at Academy Hall  ,  110
Address by Rev. George L. Prentiss, d.d  Ill
Notice of Celebration by the " Eastern Argus"  123
APPBNDIX  125
Committees, — Continued from page 34  127
Contributors  129
Treasurer's Report  131
Anecdotes  132
Errata  132

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT.

The celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the
settlement of the town of Gorhara took place on the 26th
of May, 1836.
It was probably the result of individual effort on the part
of public spirited citizens, as the town records do not show
any municipal action in regard to the matter, until some
months afterward, when, September 12th, 1836, the town
voted to have the address delivered on that occasion printed,
and that each family in the town have a copy of it. The
committee of arrangements, consisting of Gen. James Irish,
Col. Samuel Stephenson, Hon. Toppan Robie, Joseph M.
Gerrish, Esq., and Caleb Hodsdon, Esq., were among the
most prominent, as well as most active and efficient citizens
of their day ; and the names of most of them are intimately
connected with the history and prosperity of the town.
The celebration was entirely successful, and an occasion of
pride both to those who participated in, or witnessed it, and
to those whose knowledge of it was only traditionary.
In a recent endeavor to find some published account of it,
written at the time, the Portiand newspapers for a week
preceding and a week following the day of the celebration
were carefully examined, but not a word was found in
them, either of previous announcement, or subsequent
notice of the event.
A more extended search, however, brought to light an ac
count of it in the " Portland Advertiser " of June 10th,
and in the " Eastern Argus " of June 14th, of the same year.
A somewhat striking contrast to the newspaper enterprise
of th^ present day.
Below is given the notice of the celebration above re
ferred to, and also an account of the same occasion, which
appeared in the " Gorham Anniversary Gazette," of May
26th, 1886. 2'

2 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
[From newspaper of 1836.]
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
A large number of the citizens of Gorham, together with many
citizens from adjoining towns, celebrated the first centennial an
niversary of the settlement of the town, at Gorham Village, on
Thursday last, the 26th inst., agreeable to previous arrangement.
The procession was formed in front of Gen. James Irish's
house, under the direction of Gen. Wendell P. Smith, Chief
Marshal, assisted by the following Deputy Marshals, viz.. Col.
Edward T. Smith, Maj. Samuel T. Baker,* Capt. Simeon C.
Clements, Capt. Benjamin Mosher, jr., Capt. Charles F. March,
Capt. James Whitney, Capt. William B. Freeman,* Capt. Chas.
Harding, Capt. Christopher Way, Lieut. Francis D. Irish,* and'
Lieut. Charles Paine.
The procession was then escorted by the Gorham Light In
fantry, under command of Capt. James Whitney, and the Mili
tary Band, to the First Parish Meeting-house, where the ser
vices were performed in the following order : Reading of the
Scriptures, Voluntary by the Choir and Band, Prayer by the
chaplain. Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy, Hymn, Address by Hon.
Josiah Pierce, Anthem, Benediction.
Of the abilities and extensive acquirements of the orator,
nothing need be said of one who is so well knowa to the public.
All concur in the opinion that the address was just such an one
as was wanted, admirably adapted to the occasion.
The enumeration of the most impoi-tant events that have trans
pired in town for an hundred years, the patriotism of our ances
tors, and the happy manner in which their privations and suffer
ings, while realizing the horrors of that system of warfare which
directs the weapon of the ruthless savage against the breast of
the defenceless victim, were contrasted with the blessings of
peace, liberty, and plenty wliioh we enjoy, could not fail to satis
fy the highest desire of all concerned, and to kindle a glow of
gratitude in every bosom, for the innumerable blessings of which
we are the happy recipients. The services being concluded, the
procession was re-formed and escorted through the principal
streets of the village, after which they were amply provided for
at the two public hotels in the village.
* still living.

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 3
To add to the interest of the occasion, a company of Indians,
commanded by their celebrated chief, in person, appeared in imi
tation of the Aborigines, of Narraganset, No. 7, armed with
muskets, tomahawks, scalping knives, etc., and presented them
selves in all parts of the village, performing their feats in true
Indian style. They then seemed to show a spirit of fight, by
firing from behind fences and old buildings, till at length they
attacked a company of light infantry that had just returned,
with the military band, from a visit to the old Fort ground,
which resulted in a " bloody fight," and they were captured and
conveyed to headquarters, in spite of the efforts of their distin
guished chief, where they were treated as prisoners of war ; but
on their promising no further hostilities, they were set at liberty.
This added greatly to the amusement and satisfaction of the be
holders. And thus the day was passed off with perfect good
feeling and unanimity, and " no one killed and no one hurt."
GoEHAM, May 27th, 1836.
[From the Gazette of May 26, 1886.]
GORHAM'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Fifty years ago today, Gorham celebrated the centennial anni
versary of her settlement. There are quite a number of . people
now living in town who can clearly recall to mind the leading
events as they occurred in the exercises of that day. Very few
are now left, however, who were participants in those exer
cises. The late Capt. Charles Harding was one of those who
took part in the sham fight, a feature of the day, and it was from
him, — just prior to his decease, — and two or three others, that
the following brief history of the day was gathered.
An irregular firing of salutes began at daybreak, in front of
the Gorham Hotel (now a dwelling-house, opposite Joseph Rid-
lon's store, on High street). Isaac Phinney acted as chief gun
ner, and Isaac Libby and Thomas Patrick as assistants.
Later on in the morning the people commenced to congregate
about the principal thoroughfare, which was then, as now, where
School Street crosses the western termination of Main.
The building which is now the store of R. G. Harding was
then the, hotel of the place, kept by Col. March. About this

4 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
square, as it then was, the collecting numbers continued to gath
er, until it seemed like a day of General Muster. The object of
this particular gathering was to witness the procession, which is
said to have been something very grand for those days. It was
made up of the Portland Band, at its head ; the Gorham Light
Infantry, commanded by Capt. James Whitney, next, and a large
rank and file of citizens. Among the latter were many who had
served in the United States Army during the war of 1812, and
several who had been ofiicers under Washington in the Revo
lution. The whole was under direction of Major-Gen. Wendell
P. Smith, Chief-Marshal of the day.
After the street parade came the address, delivered by the
Hon. Josiah Pierce, at the Congregational Church. This address
was able, well delivered, and truly appropriate to the occasion.
It was afterwards printed at the expense of the town, and circu
lated among its voters, but it is now getting to be a somewhat
rare document. After this came a by no means trivial part of
the celebration, the dinner, served to the military company and
invited guests.
After the dinner, the military company and a body of citizens
marched to Fort Hill, and visited the site of the old Fort, the
foundation timbers of which were still to be seen. On their re
turn, when in the gully just this side of where Mr. A. Hamblen's
residence now stands, they were attacked by a band of mock
Indians, and a skirmish took place, in which the Indians were re
pulsed. But it was not until after the infantry arrived at the
village that the important encounter took place. The- Indians,
skulking along after the soldiers, and thirsting for revenge, final
ly, after having entered the village, with war-whoop and toma
hawk, with bow-arrow and scalping-knife, set upon the uniformed
pale-faces with one wild rush, and a most thrilling and bloody
conflict ensued, to the exuberant delight of the small boy, and a
motley crowd of bystanders.
What a day it must have been, that celebration just fifty years
ago ! What would we not give had there only been a few pho
tographs taken of certain little occurrences of the day. But at
that date even M. Daguerre had not come upon the world with
his discovery, striking a death-blow at all miniature painters
then and thereafter.

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 5
So few copies of Mr. Pierce's address are now in existence,
that it has been thought best to publish it in this pamphlet,
that it may be the better preserved.
The following is the correspondence between the Commit
tee of Arrangements and Mr. Pierce, relative to the publi
cation of his address.
The Committee of Arrangements tender their thanks to the Hon.
Josiah Pierce for the truly able and appropriate Address delivered
before the Citizens of Gorham, this day, and request a copy of the same
for the press. James Ieish,
Samubl Stephbnson,
toppan robib,
JOSBPH M. Gbkbish,
Cforham, May S6th, 18S6. Caleb Hodsdon.
Gorham, May S7th, 18S6.
Gentlemen: — I am gratified to learn that the Address I had the
honor to deliver in commemoration of the first settlement of this town,
was acceptable to my fellow citizens, and I cheerfully furnish a copy for
publication. I am. Gentlemen, with true regard,
Your Ob't Servant,
To Messrs. JOSIAH PIERCE.
Jambs Irish,
Samuel Stephenson,
Toppan Robie,
Joseph M. Geeeish,
Caleb Hodsdon.

ADDRESS

Wb have come together this morning to commemorate the
first settlement of our town. We have met to celebrate an event
that has been productive of important consequences, not only to
those who were immediately engaged in that transaction, but
also to those who have followed them, to us, and to our succes
sors in all ensuing time.
We have come to look backward for a hundred years ; to call
up some of the prominent events that have occurred in this town
during a century ; to contemplate the characters and deeds of
our fathers; to hold converse with the departed dead; to awaken
our sympathy in their sufferings, and to express our gratitude for
their prosperity, our reverence for their piety, our approbation of
their love of ordei-, and of civil and religious liberty.
While we, on this centennial anniversary, acknowledge the
worth of our ancestors, and admire their virtues, by the review
of their lives may we be led to copy their example in all that
was good, and be roused to make new efforts for the welfare and
happiness of our contemporaries ; to attempt and execute pro
jects that shall promote the good of those who may come after
us ; to leave behind us a fair and honorable name, that shall
merit the affectionate veneration of those who shall people these
fertile and happy lands, when our earthly existence shall have
been ended, and we shall have been gathered to our fathers.
Standing here this day, and looking back through the long
vista of a hundred years, what a crowd of interesting associa
tions throng upon the mind ! Within the lapse of a century,
how many events, important and wonderful, have transpired, I
will not say in the world, but in our own beloved country!
How have property and comfort been multiplied ! How
have books and other means of acquiring knowledge been in
creased ! How have science and the arts advanced ! Were the
first settlers of this town permitted to revisit the places of their
former abode, and witness these wonderful changes, how aston
ished would they be ! Our fathers never dreamed of a steam-
engine, and its incalculable powers ! They never imagined that

8 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
machinery could perform such wonders ! A railroad, a steam
boat, never entered into their conceptions !
Within a hundred years how much of joy and of sorrow have
been exhibited here ! How many of the great, the good, and
the wise, have arisen, and flourished, and faded from the earth !
How many, even within the limits of this town, in the period of
a century, have passed from time to eternity ! How many, in the
loveliness of infancy, the bloom of youth, the strength of man
hood, and the feebleness of age, have been consigned to the
grave f The rich and the poor, the haughty and the humble, the
gay and the sad, the favorites of hundreds, and the neglected of
all, have left the varied pursuits of life, and gone down in silence
to the tomb !
During the hundred years last passed, our State has arisen
from abject poverty to high pecuniary prosperity. A few desti
tute inhabitants, scattered along the sea-coast, have multiplied to
hundreds of thousands of wealthy citizens ; log tenements have
yielded to elegant mansions, and garrisons and watch-towers have
given place to lofty edifices, consecrated to Art, Science, Litera
ture, and Religion. The narrow path has widened to the capa
cious and well-made street, and gardens, and orchards, and cul
tivated fields, occupy the former ground of thick and gloomy
forests. When we look around on the prosperity of our country, on the
quiet and peaceable possessions of our citizens, when we look on
the graves of our fathers, and reflect on their privations, their
toils, and their sufferings, let us learn to estimate more highly
than we have heretofore done the value of the inheritance they
have left us.
The settlement of the town of Gorham was one of the conse
quences of the war with the Narraganset Indians. The Colonies
of Plymouth and Massachusetts for many years lived on terms
of friendship with that powerful tribe of natives ; at length jeal
ousies arose, evils, real or imaginary, sprang up, and in 1675 mat
ters had come to a crisis, and war became inevitable ; it broke
out with violence ; the tomahawk, the scalping-knife — inhuman
tortures, and severe captivity, awaited the Colonists ! Many
towns were laid in ruins, many victims slaughtered by an unre
lenting foe. At that time the whole population of New England

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 9
was not probably more than sixty thousand. Every able-bodied
man, capable of bearing arms, was commanded to hold himself in
readiness to march at the shortest notice. Six companies were
raised in Massachusetts, five in Connecticut, and two in Ply
mouth Colony. The Plymouth companies were commanded by
Captains Rice and Gorham. The Narraganset battle was one
of the most memorable ever fouglit on this continent. The hard
ship and sufferings of that fight have hardly a parallel. The bat
tle was fought on the tenth of December (old style), 1675 — the
ninth was an extremely cold day ; the whole white army num
bered one thousand, one hundred and twenty-seven men ; four
hundred of these brave fellows (more than one-third of the
whole effective force) were so frozen as to be completely unfit
for duty. The snow fell fast and deep ; the troops marched all
the preceding night through a tangled and pathless wood. The
battle commenced early in the morning, and lasted six dreadful
hours. Of four thousand Indians, not two hundred escaped, and
on our side six brave captains fell. OE Captain Gorham's com
pany, thirty were killed, and forty-one wounded. Such, fellow-
citizens, were your heroic ancestors — such were the men to
whom the town of Gorham was granted !
The Narraganset war occurred late in the year 1675. There
were eight hundred and forty men belonging to Massachusetts,
who took arms in that conflict. For these men and their heirs
the Legislature of that province resolved to make grants of unim
proved land, on account of their military services ; accordingly,
two townships were granted in 1728, and five more in 1732.
These seven townships were granted on the conditions then
generally imposed, viz. : the grantees were to meet within two
months, and organize each proprietary, to consist of one hundred
and twenty persons ; to settle sixty families in seven years ; to
settle a learned, Orthodox minister; to erect a meeting-house ; to
clear a certain number of acres of land, and to reserve a certain
proportion of the township for the use of schools, the ministry,
and the first settled minister.
The Narraganset grantees first met in Cambridge in 1729.
They then petitioned for more land, and five townships were
granted in 1732. This grant passed the House of Representa
tives on the thirtieth of June, but was not consented to by Jon-

10 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
athan Belcher, the then Provincial Governor, till April 26th,
1733. The grantees held a meeting on the common of the
town of Boston, on the sixth day of June, 1733, at two o'clock
P.M., and formed themselves into seven distinct societies, each
consisting of one hundred and twenty persons, who should be
entitled to one of the townships granted to the Narraganset sol
diers. Three persons were chosen from each society, to make
out a list of the grantees to assign the towns to each company,
and to assemble the grantees of the respective societies, to elect
ofiicers, and manage their affairs. At this meeting it was voted
" that one of the societies, consisting of one hundred and twenty
persons, should consist mostly of proprietors belonging to the
towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth, Eastham, Sandwich, Plymouth,
Tisbury, Abington, Duxbury, and one from Scituate."
To this society was assigned township denominated Narragan
set, No. 7, which is now the town of Gorham.
The seven committees met at Luke Verdey's in Boston, Octo
ber 17, 1733, and assigned the several townships, viz. :
Narraganset No. 1, on Saco river, now Buxton, Maine.
" No. 2, at Wachuset, adjoining Rutland, Mass.
" No. 3, on Souhegan river, now Amherst, N. H.
" No. 4, at Amoskeag, N. H.
" No. 5, on Merrimac river, now Merrimac and )
Bedford, N. H. j"
" No. 6, called Southtown, now Templeton, Mass.
No. 7, on Presumpscot river, now Gorham, Me.
The committee for the township Narraganset, No. 7, were
Colonel Shubael Gorham, Timothy White, and Robert Standfort.
The township being granted and assigned to the company of Nar
raganset soldiers, under the command of the late Captain John
Gorham, the grantees immediately took measures to bring for
ward the settlement of their town. It was determined to make
a survey of one hundred and twenty lots, of thirty acres each,
for the first division, each grantee was to have one right, esti
mated at the value of ten pounds, which right was to consist of
one thirty-acre, one seventy-acre, and one one-hundred acre lot.
The General Court of Massachusetts passed an order, authorizing
and empowering Colonel Shubael Gorham to call the first meet
ing of the grantees of Narraganset, No. 7. It was also voted by

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 11
the Legislature that the seven years assigned for the time in
which to perform the settling duties, should be computed from
the first day of June, 1734, and would consequently end June 1,
1741. In 1734 a survey of part of the town was made, and in
the succeeding year, 1735, the thirty-acre lots were located,
draw n, and confirmed to the several grantees. Several roads
were also located and named. Thus was our town prepared for
settlement, but as yet no tree was felled, no habitation for white
man erected.
One hundred years ago this morning the sun threw his cheer
ing beams over the unbroken forests of our town ; on the suc
ceeding evening " the moon, walking in brightness," shed her
mUd rays on a small opening, made by the hand of civilized man !
A hundred years ago this morning, John Phinney, a son of one
of the conquerors of the Narragansets, a descendant of the Pil
grims, a wanderer from the Old Colony, disembarked from his
canoe on the Presumpscot river, with his ax, and a small stock of
simple provisions, attended by a son of fourteen years of age,
with a design to make a home for himself and family, in this
then wilderness, but now large and flourishing town.
•:;; Having selected a spot for his future dwelling, that son, Ed
mund Phinney (afterward distinguished, not only in our town,
but as a colonel in the War of the Revolution) felled the first
tree for settlement. The event is worthy of commemoration.
The snows of winter had passed away ; " the time of the singing
of birds had come " ; the trees had put on their fresh and ver
dant robe, the woodland flowers
" Were gay in their young bud and bloom,"
unpicked and untrampled upon by civilized man.
John Phinney, the first settler of Gorham, was the son of Dea
con John Phinney, of Barnstable, Massachusetts, and was born in
that town April 8 (old style), 1693. He removed from Barnsta
ble with his wife and five children to Falmouth (now Portland),
about 1732. He had two children born in Falmouth. He re
moved to this town, as has been stated, in May, 1736. He had
three children born in Gorham, viz., Mary Gorham, Colman, and
James. Mary Gorham Phinney, daughter of Captain John Phinney,
and Martha his wife, was born in August, 1736, about three

12 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
months after the commencement of the settlement. This daugh
ter was the first white child born in Gorham ; she married James
Irish, father of General James Irish, and left numerous descend
ants. She was a professor of the Christian religion for seventy
years, and during that long period ever lived an exemplary and
devoted Christian, maintaining the domestic relations of daugh
ter, wife, and mother, in a most unexceptionable manner ; distin
guished for kindness, hospitality, industry, and Christian cheer
fulness. She was a worthy example for all the numerous daughters
since born around her, and she left behind her a memory dear to
many, and a character worthy the commendation of all. This
lady died in 1825, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
Colman Phinney, the second child of Captain Phinney, born in
this town, was killed by the fall of a tree when about ten years
of age, and James Phinney, the youngest son of Captain Phin
ney, was born April 13th (old style), 24th (new style), 1741. He
lived almost to this time, beloved and respected wherever known.
We have seen his venerable form moving among us, the patriarch
of almost a hundred years ! in a green old age, intelligent and
cheerful, in full possession of a sound mind, correct judgment,
and retentive memory. He enjoyed through life the confidence
of his townsmen, and for a long number of years was one of
their officers.
Captain John Phinney lived here two years before any other
white family came ; he lived on land now owned by Edmund
Mann, Esquire. The first land cleared was where the orchard
now grows ; some Indians had wigwams near by, and for two
years Phinney's children had no other play-fellows than young
Indians. During those years Captain Phinney had to go to Pre
sumpscot lower falls to mill ; he used to transport his corn and
provisions in a float on the river, carrying them round the falls at
Saccarappa and Amon-Congin, there being no pathway even to
Portland, through the forest. In these fatiguing and dangerous
journeys to mill he was frequently assisted by his eldest daughter
Elizabeth (who afterward married Eliphalet Watson). She used
to help her father carry his boat round the falls, and assist in
rowing and transporting his heavy loads.
The second settler of this town was Daniel Mosier who re
moved from Falmouth in 1738. He was the father of James

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 13
Mosier, who died in 1834, at the age of ninety-nine years and
three months. Soon after came Hugh McLellan, from the north
of Ireland, and settled near where the widow of his son Thomas
McLellan now lives ; within a short period from the time of
McLellan's coming here, William Pote, WilUam Cotton, Ebene-
zer Hall, Eliphalet Watson, Clement Harvey, Bartholomew
Thorn, John Irish, John Ayer, Jacob Hamblen, Benjamin Skil-
lings and others moved into the town as settlers.
It required no small share of courage, firmness, and enterprise
to go into the wilderness and commence a settlement at that
period. Let us for a moment contemplate the situation of the
province of Maine, at the time when Captain Phinney began the
settlement of this town. There were but nine towns, and a few
feeble plantations in Maine. Portland, Saco, and Scarborough,
were but just recovering from their recent destruction by the
Indians. A second line of townships from the coast had just
been located, and were frontier places, all back of them was wU
derness. The Indians, though nominally at peace, were discon
tented, jealous, and meditated revenge for past chastisements,
and victories obtained over them.
In 1690, all the settlements east of Wells were destroyed. In
the Indian wars from 1703 to 1713, Maine lost one-third of all
her population ; and a large proportion of the personal property
was destroyed ; through extreme want and suffering, many
persons were driven away, never to return. In 1724, the Nor-
ridgewocks were broken up ; in 1725, Captain Lovell and his
company killed or dispersed the Pequawket Indians at Fryeburg.
In 1736, the whole population of Maine was probably not more
than seven thousands In 1785-6 and 7, the scarlet fever, or (as
it was usually called) the throat distemper, raged throughout
Maine, and more than five hundred died with the disease ; in
some towns it was peculiarly fatal ; in Scarborough, no one at
tacked with the distemper recovered. The inhabitants in all the
new towns suffered greatly for want of food, clothing, and com
fortable houses ; while danger from the Indians was constant and
pressing. Famine, massacre, and captivity threatened them con
tinually. It required men like the puritans to undertake and
carry through the hazardous enterprise of settling new towns
among savage beasts and savage men. The early fathers of Gor-

14 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
ham were persons of such characters. The first settlers of our
town were from a noble stock ; the direct descendants of the Pil
grims ; almost all the first inhabitants were from the old Colony ;
nearly every town on Cape Cod contributed one or more settlers
for Narraganset No. 7. The greater number, however, were
from Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Eastham. The immediate
grantees were the conquerors of the famous and far-dreaded In
dian King Philip.
The early inhabitants of Gorham partook largely of the char
acter of their ancestors, the Pilgrims. I'hey were a hardy, en
terprising, virtuous race of men ; of indomitable courage — un
bending firmness — uncompromising integrity ; sober, industrious,
frugal, temperate in all things. They were distinguished for
enduring fortitude, for open-handed hospitality. It is true they
were not eminent for attainments in literature, nor did they make
much progress in the sciences : not that they were deficient in
talents, but they had not leisure, or opportunity for the cultiva
tion of letters. They did all they could do, and more than might
have been expected of them to do, in such times, and in their
position. In their humble dwellings in the wilderness, they had
little leisure for the study of books, even if they had possessed
them. Their minds were incessantly occupied in devising ways
to obtain sustenance and clothing for themselves and families ;
and in providing means for defence against artful and revenge
ful foes. Exhausted with fatigue, and worn with cares and
anxieties, could they be expected to attend to the elegancies
and blandishments of older, more numerous, and wealthier
communities ?
They might at this day, be called intolerant in their religious
views and practices ; but they were in this respect, like other sects
of their age. They were undoubtedly zealous for what they con
sidered to be the truth. A stern and somewhat severe morality
prevailed everywhere among the Puritans ; and it would have
been wonderful, if their immediate descendants had not in this
respect been somewhat like their fathers, following their advice
obeying their precepts, and Uving according to their example.
Our Puritan fathers felt conscious that religion virtue and
knowledge, were essential to good government, and the perma
nent welfare of the community ; hence they spared no pains to

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 15
support the gospel, to inculcate morality in the minds of their
children, and to provide means for their education. At the very
first meeting of the proprietors of this town, one of their first
votes was to provide for preaching and religious instruction.
They never forgot the great and momentous object for which the
Pilgrims settled in New-England ; reUgious freedom and liberty
of conscience. They entered the wilderness for purity of relig
ion ; to found a religious commonwealth ; to raise up a pious race.
Unlike the Spanish adventurers in South America, they
thirsted not for a caT-eer of military glory ; they cherished no
extravagant ambition ! They looked not on immeasurable lands
with the longing eye of cupidity; they expected no brilliant suc
cess, nor anticipated finding crystal streams, whose sands sparkled
with gold! They sought not the sunny plains and exuberant
verdure of the South ! they sought not a clime gay with peren
nial flowers, with a balmy atmosphere, or Italian skies ! They
sought not a land of gold or of spices, of wine or of oil ! Other
and purer wishes were theirs : they expected not a life of luxury
and ease. Sanctity of conscience was their great tenet. " Their
religion was their life." Rigorous was the climate and hard the
soil, where they chose to dwell. Here a countless train of priva
tions and sufferings awaited them, privations and sufferings that
might have made the less brave and energetic quail. Cold, and
hunger, and fear of midnight slaughter, or cruel captivity by sav
age bands was their portion !
Under this load of evils, what but a firm belief in the sacred
ness of their cause, and the consolations derived from the sub
lime truths of Christianity, could have sustained them? To
their religious belief, their exemplary lives, their untiring zeal,
and indefatigable industry, are we indebted for the blessings of
freedom, plenty, and knowledge, now enjoyed by us, their pos
terity. They have left us that, which gold and sUver could not
buy, which gems and diamonds could not purchase ! How great
are our obligations to our brave and virtuous fathers ! how great
also, to our noble and heroic mothers, who dwelt here from eighty
to one hundred years ago ! Think of the wants, the anxieties,
the perils, and the sufferings they endured !
Females of this town, contrast your abundance of food and
dress, your quiet homes, and peaceful, feminine pursuits, with

16 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
their scarcity, when long days and cheerless nights passed with
barely provision enough to sustain life ! flying frequently, at an
hour's warning, from their rude dwellings to garrison ! Setting
aside the wheel and the loom to mount guard as sentinels, to
handle the cartridge, or discharge the musket! Think of the
immense sacrifices they made, and consider whether your rich
and numerous blessings, having been so dearly purchased, are
not to be highly prized. Though we have often heard of their
sufferings, we cannot fuUy appreciate them ! " Their misery was
great ! For months they had neither meat nor bread, and often
at night they knew not where to get food for the morning ! Yet
in all their wants and trials their confidence in the mercy and
goodness of God was never shaken.
The first sixteen years after the settlement of Gorham were
years of great an.viety and suffering ; the settlers often suffered
for food ; at one time all the provision the family of Captain
Phinney had for some days was two quarts of boiled wheat,
which had been reserved for seed.
At that period all the towns in Maine were obliged to erect
and maintain garrisons, or forts, for places of refuge against In
dian attacks. These forts were constructed of hewn timbei-, with
palisades of large posts, set deep in the ground, closely together
outside the timber, and ten or twelve feet high; watch-boxes
were built on the top of the walls ; the whole was bullet proof.
The fort in Gorham was erected on the thirty-acre lot No. 2, a
short distance west of the present town house, on what is yet
called Fort-hill, and which is the most elevated land in the town.
The fort had two six-pounder swivels, placed at diagonal corners,
for the purpose of defence against the Indians, and to be fired to
alarm the neighboring towns of Buxton, Scarborough and Wind
ham, when savages were discovered in the vicinity.
The first meeting of the proprietors held at Gorham was at
the house of Captain John Phinney, on the twenty-fourth of
November, 1741. Moses Pearson was chosen moderator, and
John Gorham clerk. Two days afterward (November 26) the
proprietors voted " that a meeting-house be built, for the worship
of God, in said town, thirty-six feet long, twenty feet wide, with
twenty feet shed," and fifty shillings on a right was voted in
order to erect said meeting-house, and to clear a suitable tract of

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 17
land to set the same upon. On the next Monday, at an adjourned
meeting, it was voted, « that twenty rods square be cleared on
the west side of the way, called King-street, in order for building
a meeting-house thereon. So soon and so liberally did the first
settlers of Gorham make provision for religious worship. At
the same meeting four hundred acres of land in the town were
granted to his Excellency, William Shiriey, the then colonial
Governor of Massachusetts ; this grant was located by MalUson's
FaUs, now caUed horse-beef falls.
At the same meeting it was also " voted that WiUiam Pote,
John Phinney and Daniel Mosier, be a committee to lay out a
road through the woods, from the end of Gorham street to Sac
carappa miUs." This road is what is now caUed the old county
road, leading from Gorham village by James Phinney's, Daniel
and Benjamin Mosier's and the Tyng place, to Saccarappa.
In 1743, at a proprietors' meeting,. it was "voted to raise six
pence on a right, to pay Daniel Mosier, provided he look out and
spot a road direct to Black Point." At the same meeting " four
hundred acres of land was granted to John Gorham in that cor
ner of the township, adjoining Falmouth and Presumpscot river,
he, the said Gorham, to finish or cause to be finished, the saw
mill and grist mill, that he hath already begun in said township
on Little river." These were the first mUls erected in Gorham.
In 1745, what is called the fifth Indian war broke out, and
Narraganset No. 7, being a frontier town, was entirely exposed
to assaults from the savages ; the few inhabitants were obliged
to be on watchful guard day and night ; often compelled' to fly to
garrison — to labor with arms in their hands ; their crops were
fi-equently injured or destroyed, their fences broken down; their
cows killed, their buildings burned, themselves wounded, killed, '
or carried captive to Canada. These aggravated and repeated
distresses disheartened some of the settlers, and they abandoned
their fields and houses, and removed to towns less liable to attack !
In Gorham, the people lived for years in a state of painful anx
iety; they were prevented from cultivating their lands, their
mills were burned, and the distressed families shut up in the fort
were in danger of starvation !
At the commencement of the war there were eighteen families
in this town ; nine of which moved into the garrison, where they
8

18 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
were closely shut up for four years, and they remained dwelling
in the fort seven years; eleven soldiers were furnished by the
government of Massachusetts to protect the garrison, and assist
the inhabitants in procuring the necessaries of life.
The nine families that removed into the fort were those of
Captain John Phinney, Jacob Hamlen, Daniel Mosier, Hugh
McLellan, Clement Harvey, John Reed, Edward Cloutman, Jere
miah Hodgdon, and Eliphalet Watson. Those who left the town
were William Pote, James Irish, John Eayer, Caleb Cromwell,
Ebenezer Hall, William Cotton, Benjamin Skillings, and Beujar
min Stevens; eight families.
The nineteenth of April, old style (corresponding to the thir
tieth April now) was a disastrous day to the little band of set
tlers in Gorham. On that sad day, one whole family, by the
name of Bryant, was cut off by Indian cruelty ! The father and
the children slain in a most barbarous manner, the wife and
mother carried away heart-broken into captivity! and two of the
most hardy and effective men. Reed and Cloutman, taken prison
ers and marched through the woods to Canada! On that day
there were four families that had not removed to the garrison,
viz. : Bryant's, Reed's, Cloutman's, and McLellan's. Bryant con
templated moving the day preceding the massacre, but concluded
to defer it one day longer to complete some family arrangement.
They had an infant but two weeks old ; the mother wished for a
cradle for her little one, and said if the father would remain in
their dwelling that day and make the cradle, she would risk her
scalp one day longer ! That risk was a fatal one ! Early in the
morning of the day before named, Bryant and his eldest son
went to a field to do some work ; a party of ten Indians were in
the town unknown to the inhabitants; the savages divided them- .
selves into five parties, designing to surprise the four families
above named ; one of these parties fell in with Bryant and his
son, and being un:ible to capture them, they broke Bryant's arm,
and then shot him and his son as they were endeavoring to es-
c.ipe to the fort. Bryant was killed on the low ground in the
road south of Job Thomes' house. Another division of the In
dians proceeded to Bryant's house, and murdered and scalped
four of his children ! They dashed out the brains of the infant
against the fire-place. The agonized and frantic mother, feeble

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 19
and powerless, had to witness the destruction of all that was
dear to her heart ! To leave her husband dead in the way, and
the mangled bodies of her loved and innocent children in her
desolate mansion, and with feelings of bittei-ness, which none
may describe, under the weight of her terrible bereavement, go
captive with the destroyers of all her earthly happiness, through
pathless woods, tangled swamps, and over rugged mountains, to
a people whose language she could not understand, and who were
her enemies and the enemies of her people, kindred, and friends !
Reed and Cloutman were met separately by the Indians, and
after great resistance were taken and carried to Canada, Some
time afterward Bartholomew Thorn, a young man, was taken by
the Indians while he was going home from public worship on the
Sabbath. The savages kept him several years, and then sold him
to a French gentleman in Montreal ; after seven years' absence
he returned.
During this Indian war Colonel Edmund Phinney, then a
young man, was one evening at a distance from the fort, in pur
suit of cows, when a party of Indians, who lay in ambush, fired
upon him, and four balls struck him, breaking his arm, and oth
erwise severely wounding him ; he, however, made out to reach
the fort, and keep his gun. This war of ambuscade, massacre,
and confiagration, kept the people in continual terror and agita
tion, ^or did they feel secure till 1759, when Quebec capitulated
to the army of Wolfe, and France lost her empire, and with it
her influence over the savages in North America.
During the war pubUc worship was held in the southeast bas
tion, or flanker of the fort.
After the termination of hostilities, and the fear of Indian
assaults was removed, the town began to fill up witli settlers, and
improvements went forward. The last repairs done to the fort
were in 1760, when one shilling and fourpence per foot was voted
to Hugh McLellan for stockading the fort with spruce,, pine, or
hemlock posts, thirteen feet long, and ten inches in diameter,
with a lining of hewn timber six inches thick.
At a proprietors' meeting, held February 26, 1760, it was voted.
to raise and assess on the several rights of land sixty-six pounds,,
thirteen shiUings, four pence, toward buUding a meeting-house.
That meeting-house was completed in 1764, at an expense of
one hundred and eighty pounds.

20 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
In 1763 the first bridge over Presumpscot river, between this
town and Windham, was erected.
The inhabitants increased, and in 1764 tbe plantation was esti
mated to contain three hundred and forty souls. The town was
incorporated by the General Court of Massachusetts October 30,
1764, and was the twentieth town incorporated in Maine. The
first town meeting was held in pursuance of a warrant from the
Honorable Stephen Longfellow, at the meeting-house in Gorham,
February 18, 1765, at which meeting Captain John Phinney was
chosen moderator, Amos Whitney town clerk, Benjamin Skil
lings, Amos Whitney, and Joseph Weston selectmen, and Ed
mund Phinney treasurer. Not less than twelve town meetings
were held that year, viz. : on February 18, March 12, March 21,
April 29, May 16, May 30, August 1, August 10, August 20, Sep
tember 2, December 12, and December 19.
The town was now quiet and flourishing, but their prosperity
was soon to be checked by new national difficulties. The trouble
between Great Britain and her transatlantic colonies was assum
ing a serious aspect, and the town of Gorham entered warmly
into the contest. As early as September 21, 1768, a town meet
ing was held, and an " agent chosen to go to Boston as soon as
may be, to join a convention of agents from other towns in the
province, to consult and resolve upon such measures as may most
conduce to the safety and welfare of the inhabitants of said
Province, at this alarming and critical conjuncture." Solomon
Lombard, Esquire, was chosen agent, and eight days allowed him
for going and returning from Boston.
When the ambition and cupidity of the British government
led them to inflict on our land successive wrongs, when they at
tempted to violate the plainest rights, and subvert the dearest
privileges of the Colonies, when the ministry of George III. had
become deaf to the imploring voice of mercy and justice, and
the patriots of America had determined to resist the unrighteous
demands of Old England, when the blood of the good and the
brave had moistened the fields of Lexington and Bunker Hill
when Charlestown and Portland were but heaps of smoking
ruins, where were found the freemen of Gorham, did they prove
recreant to the great and sacred cause of liberty ? No ! Our
peaceful inland town, remote from invasion and the clang of

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 21
arms, was awake and active in the great concern. She contribu
ted freely and largely of her citizens and her property to the
general cause. Our townsmen left their quiet pursuits to mingle
in the storm of war ! She sent her sons north and south, and
east and west, to fight and bleed and die ! Siie constantly con
tributed more than her quota of troops for the continental army,
beside raising and officering a large company under the command
of Captain Alexander McLellan, who went to Castine (then called
Buygaduce), under General Peleg Wadsworth. A large number
of Gorham men were also in the Machias expedition. At one
period, every third man in Gorham was in the army. Numbers
of her soldiers were in most of the principal battles of the Rev
olution. In the engagement on Rhode Island in 1778, two men
from this town, Paul Whitney, and a Mr. Wescott, were killed.
The good and the brave Colonel Edmund Phinney (he who felled
the first tree in this town for the purpose of settlement) early
had command of a regiment under Washington, and throughout
the war conducted himself with great activity, courage, and pru
dence ; he did much to induce his townsmen to exert themselves
to the utmost to maintain the war, and secure the independence
of the country. In a letter to his father, the aged Captain John
Phinney (the first settler). Colonel Phinney says, "I am very
well, and in high spirits, and hope to continue so till every tory
is banished this land of liberty, and our rights and privileges are
restored." This letter was dated in the army. May 26, 1776,
sixty 3'-ears ago this day. Captain John Phinney was at this
time too far advanced in life to endure the fatigues of a cam
paign, but his patriotic feelings were warm and vigorous, and his
sons and his grandsons went to the war. Besides Colonel Ed
mund Phinney, his brother John Phinney, (the man who planted
the first hill of corn in Gorham) and his two only sons, John
Phinney 8d, and Ebenezer Phinney, were in the revolutionary
army. In fact, almost every man in Gorham was out in the army.
Your fathers left their homes and families, that were dearer to
them than life ; they endured the fatigues and dangers of every
campaign ; they parted with their hard earned bread to feed their
brethren in arms ; at home they maintained the families of absent
soldiers. They poured out their precious blood and laid down
their lives, m distant States, without murmuring or complaint !

22 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
They died by the weapons of the enemy — they died by conta^
gious disease — they died by the cold of winter — they died by
the heat of summer ! While those who remained at home, de
voted their time and talents to the great cause, by noble endeav
ors and patriotic resolutions. The preserved records of our town
fully bear me out in these assertions.
In 1772 the town of Boston had issued circulars to the princi
pal towns in the Province, requesting the inhabitants " to express
their sense of the rights of the Colonists, and the several infrac
tions of those rights." In accordance with this request, a town
meeting was lield at the meeting-house in Gorham on the last day
of December, 1772. Solomon Lombard Esquire, who had been
the first settled minister of the town, was chosen moderator ; a
committee of safety and communication, and to draw up resolves
expressive of the sense of the town on the subject matter of the
Boston circular, was raised ; the committee was composed of nine
members, and were Solomon Lombard Esquire, Captain John
Phinney, William Gorham Esquire, Captain Edmund Phinney,
Elder Nathan Whitney, Caleb Chase, Captain Briant Morton,
Josiah Davis, and Benjamin Skillings. The assembled freemen
oE Gorham then voted to return thanks to the town of Boston,
for their vigilance of our privileges and liberties; the meeting
was adjourned one week. At the adjourned meeting, January 7,
1773, the following preamble and resolves were reported by the
committee and adopted by the citizens.
" We find it is esteemed an argument of terror to a set of the.
basest of men, who are attempting to enslave us, and who desire
to wallow in luxury, upon the expense of our earnings, that this
country was purchased by the blood of our renowned forefathers,
who fiying from the unrelenting rage of civil and religious tyranny
in their native land, settled themselves in this desolate howling
wUderness. But the people of this town of Gorham have an
argument still nearer at hand ; not only may we say that we
enjoy an inheritance purchased by the blood of our forefathers,
but this town was settled at the expense of our own Blood! We
have those among us, whose blood, streaming from their own
wounds, watered the soil from which we earn our bread ! Our
ears have heard the infernal yells of the savage, native murder
ers ! Our eyes have seen our young children weltering in their

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 23
gore, in our own houses, and our dearest friends carried into cap
tivity by men more savage than the savage beasts themselves !
Many of us have been used to earn our daily bread with our
weapons in our hands ! We cannot be supposed to be fully ac
quainted with 'the mysteries of court policy, but we look upon
ourselves able to judge so far concerning our rights as men, as
Christians, and as subjects of the British Government, as to de
clare that we apprehend those rights as settled by the good peo
ple of Boston, do belong to us, and that we look with horror and
indignation on their violation. We only add that our old cap
tain is still living, who for many years has been our chief officer,
to rally the inhabitants of this town from the plough, or the
sickle to defend their wives, their children, and all that was dear
to them from the savages ! Many of us have been inured to the
fatigue and danger of fiying to garrison ! Many of our watch-
boxes are still in being ; the timber of our fort is still to be seen ;
some of our women have been used to handle the cartridge or
load the musket, and the swords we sharpened and brightened
for our enemies are not yet grown rusty. Therefore,
Resolved, That the people of the town of Gorham are as loyal
as any of his Majesty's subjects in Great Britain or the planta
tions, and hold themselves always in readiness to assist his
Majesty with their lives and fortunes in defence of the rights
and privileges of his subjects.
Resolved. We apprehend that the grievances of which we
justly complain, are owing to the corruptions of the late minis
try in not suffering the repeated petitions and remonstrances
from this Province to reach the Royal ear.
Resolved. It is clearly the opinion of this town that the Par
liament of Great Britain have no more right to take money from
us without our consent than they have to take money without
consent from the inhabitants of France or Spain.
Resolved. It is the opinion of this town that it is better to
risk our lives and fortunes in the defence of our rights, civU and
religious, than to die by piece meals in slavery !
Resolved, That the foregoing resolves and proceedings be reg
istered in the town clerk's office as a standing memorial of the

24 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
value that the inhabitants of this town put upon their rights and
privileges. At a meeting of the town called to consider of the exigency
of public affairs January 25, 1774 (which meeting was very fully
attended), the following among other spirited resolutions were
passed. Resolved, That our small possessions, dearly purchased by the
hand of labor and the industry of ourselves and our dear ances
tors, with the loss of many lives by a barbarous and cruel enemy,
are, by the laws of God, nature, and the British constitution, our
ovm, exclusive of any other claim under heaven.
Resolved, That for any Legislative body of men under the
British constitution to take, or grant liberty to take, any part of
our property, or profits, without our consent, is state robbery,
and ought to be opposed.
Resolved, That the tea act in favor of the East India Com
pany to export the same to America, is a deep laid scheme to
betray the unwary into the snare, laid to catch and enslave them,
and requires the joint vigilance, fortitude, and courage of the
thoughtful and brave to oppose in every constitutional way.
Resolved, That we, of this town, have such a high relish fpr
liberty, that we all loith one heart stand ready sword in hand to
defend and maintain our rights against all attempts to enslave
us, opposing force to force, if drove to the last extremity,
which God forbid.
After these high-toned resolutions were passed, the venerable
John Phinney made a motion, which was carried, " that if any
person of Gorham should contemn, despise or reproach the for
mer, or the present resolves, he shall be deemed, held and ad
judged an enemy to his country, unworthy the company and
regard of those who are the professed sons of freedom, and shall
be treated as infamous ! " In the preamble to these resolves, the
committee say, " we hope and trust the inhabitants of this town
wiU not be induced to part with their privileges for a little pal
try herb drink ! The inhabitants of this town are in general bet
ter qualified to handle their old swords than the writer's pen

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 25
and if compelled to dispute for their privileges shall have resort
to those solid and weighty arguments, by which they have often
carried their point with savage men and savage beasts." Such,
citizens of Gorham, was the spirit, such the energy, of your
fathers. They avowed themselves ready at all times to aid the
cause of freedom. They never thought of shrinking in the hour
of danger. Their committees of safety and vigUance, in those
trying times, were men of great wisdom, sagacity, and firmness.
They were John and Edmund Phinney (father and son), WUIiam
Gorham, Briant Morton, Solomon Lombard, Prince and Josiah
Davis, Benjamin Skillings, Caleb Chase, Samuel Whitmore, and
many others. James Phinney was chairman of the selectmen
during most of the trying years of the revolution.
In September, 1774, Solomon Lombard, Esquire, was elected
from this town a member of the Provincial Congress, and a large
committee was raised, of which Nathan Whitney was chairman,
to draw up instructions for the Representative, Mr. Lombard ;
the instructions were precise and strong, and voted by the town.
Captain Briant Morton was delegate to the third and last Pro
vincial Congress, which sat at Watertown.
At a town meeting held May 20, 1776, the freemen of Gor
ham, being generally assembled, voted unanimously that they
would abide by, and with their lives and fortunes support the
honorable Congress in the measure, if they think fit for the safety
of these United Colonies, to declare themselves independent of
the kingdom of Great Britain. This vote was passed nearly two
months before the Declaration of Independence was brought for
ward in Congress. So early, so constantly, and so vigorously
did the people of this town manifest their attachment to freedom.
In November, 1777, the town voted one hundred dollars to
each volunteer who would go to reinforce the army of General
Washington ; and one hundred pounds lawful money was raised
in a single year in this town to supply the families of absent
soldiers. The spirit of patriotism in this town never flagged
throughout the whole seven years' war. And after peace re
turned, at a town meeting held May 12, 1783, it was " voted that
no person or persons who have joined the enemy in the late war
against these United States (otherwise called tories) shaU be suf
fered to abide in Gorham."

26 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
From the first to the last day of the revolutionary struggle,
this town complied, and more than complied, with all the requi
sitions of the nation and the state for men, food, and clothing
for the army. At one time the town raised four hundred dollars
for the purchase of beef, and three hundred doUars for the pur
chase of clothing for the army ; and at one town meeting the
inhabitants voted £522 13s 4d for bounties for soldiers for the
continental army, and Captain Samuel Whitmore, Lieutenant
Nathaniel Frost, and Captain Hart Williams, were appointed a
committee to obtain the soldiers.
Colonel Frost was almost incessantly employed in military ser
vices, as well as in civil offices, during many years of the war,
and it gives great additional interest to our celebration to find
him among us in vigorous health (the oldest man in our town),
with so many of his venerable associates with him, the patriots
of the war of our Independence. At the latter part of their
long and useful lives they are receiving the gratitude of the
young, and something of the bounty of the government they
contributed so largely to establish.
It has been already stated that the people of this town made
early provision for religious instruction. In 1741, when there
were not more than ten or twelve families in Gorham, they set
about building a meeting-house. In 1764 a second meeting
house was erected. In 1792 it was voted to enlarge the meet
ing-house thirty feet to the southward. In 1797 it was voted to
dispose of the old meeting-house, and to build a new one. In
1798 the parish gave the " corner school-class the old meeting
house, provided the said class would build a school-house large
enough to accommodate the town to do their town business in."
In June, 1797, the present meeting-house of the First Parish
was erected. At the time of raising the same, a melancholy
accident occurred — a part of the frame gave way, and two per
sons. Doctor Nathaniel Bowman and James Tryon, were killed.
In 1828 this meeting-house was enlarged, altered, and put into
its present form. Until 1790 the First, or Congregational Parish
was the only incorporated religious society in this town. In
January, 1790, George Thomes and sixty-one others were consti
tuted a separate society, which was denominated the Baptist So
ciety, though before that time many were dissatisfied with Con-

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 27
gregational tenets and preaching, and much opposed to paying
taxes to support a Congregational minister. Since 1800 a large
and respectable society of Methodists have been formed, and
there are many persons in town of other denominations. The
Free meeting-house was erected in 1821, to be used by any sect.
The Methodists have also another house for public worship.
The Free-will Baptists and Friends have each one.
The first clergyman employed in Gorham was a Mr. Benjamin
Crocker from Cape Cod ; he hired for six months at three pounds
ten shillings per week, and preached from February 16, 1743, to
the September following, when he was paid sixty pounds (old
tenor, forty-five shillings to the dollar). Mr. Crocker graduated
at Harvard College in 1713.
In September, 1750, the proprietors of this town voted to give
Mr. Solomon Lombard a call to settle here in the work of the
Gospel ministry ; his salary was to be fifty-three pounds, six shil
lings, eight pence annually, and he received the lots of land re
served for the first settled minister, and the use of the parsonage
land during his ministry. Lot number'57 (the lot where Mr. A.
Clarke's farm is) was confirmed to him and his heirs for one of
the minister lots. Mr. Lombard was a native of Truro, Cape
Cod, and graduated at Harvard College in 1723; he was ordained
at Gorhara, December 26, 1750 ; one dollar was assessed on each
right of land ($120) to defray the expenses of the ordination.
How long Mr. Lombard lived on terms of unanimity with his
parishioners, I cannot say; but in the M'arrant for a .proprietors'
meeting, March 11, 1757, one of the articles in the warrant was,
" to inquire into the grounds of the difference betwixt the Rev.
Mr. Lombard and the inhabitants of this town." He was finally
dismissed in 1764, and subsequently united with the Episcopali
ans. During the ministry of Mr. Lombard there was a schism
in the church, and a Mr. Townsend was ordained pastor over one
division of it April 4, 1759 — the Parish ordained him without
the aid of clergymen. Captain Phinney prayed before the
Charge; Captain Morton gave the Charge, and Mr. Townsend
performed the other services. Phinney and Morton were Elders
in the church. Mr. Lombard was a man of talents, learning, and
sound sense. Soon after his dismissal from the ministry he was
engaged in political life ; he sustained many important offices ;

28 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
he was a Justice of the Peace, chairman of the committee of
safety and vigilance in the early days of the Revolution ; a del
egate to the first Colonial Convention ; twice a member of the
Provincial Congress; a delegate to form the Constitution of Mas
sachusetts ; seven years a Representative from Gorham in the
Legislature, and afterward one of the Judges of the Court of
Common Pleas for the county of Cumberland.
A town meeting was held July 12, 1766, " to see what method
the town would take in order to the settling of a good, learned.
Orthodox Congregational minister among us ; and it was voted
to send out Deacon Eliphalet Watson to go after such a minister.
Mr. Lombard was succeeded in the ministry by Rev. Josiah
Thacher, a native of Lebanon, Connecticut, a graduate of New-
Jersey College. He was settled in Gorham in 1767, and after
many difficulties with the Parish he was dismissed in April, 1781.
And like Mr. Lombard, he soon laid aside the title of Reverend
for that of Honorable, and entered deeply into political affairs.
He was a Justice of the Peace — eleven years Representative of
the town — then a Senator from Cumberland county in the Mas
sachusetts Legislature, and subsequently a Judge of the County
Court. Reverend Caleb Jewett was the third Congregational minis
ter ; he was a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and grad
uated at Dartmouth College in 1776 ; he was ordained at Gor
ham, November 5, 1783 ; he was dismissed September 8, 1800.
Jeremiah Noyes was his successor ; he was from Newburyport ;
graduated at Dartmouth College 1799 ; ordained at Gorham No
vember 16, 1803 and died January 15, 1807. One condition of
Mr. Noyes' settlement was, that he should take a dismission when
ever two-thirds of the legal voters of the Parish, at a legal meet
ing held for that purpose, should request it, six months' notice to
be given.
Asa Rand was next ordained over the first Parish in Gorham,
January 18, 1809. He was a native of Rindge, New Hamp
shire, graduated at Dartmouth College 1806, and dismissed from
his pastoral charge June 12, 1822; he became afterward editor
of a religious newspaper in Portland, then at Boston, and subse
quently at Lowell, Massachusetts.
Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy, from South-Hampton, Massachusetts

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 29
succeeded Mr. Rand as pastor of the first Parish, and still re-
inains in that relation.
Doctor Stephen Swett was the first physician in this town ; he
was from Exeter, New Hampshire, and was a prominent man in
town affairs in the time of the Revolution, and was surgeon in
Colonel Phinney's regiment, and in several battles.
Doctor Jeremiah Barker succeeded him ; he afterward removed
to Falmouth; subsequently he married the widow of Judge
Gorham, returned to this town, and died here in 1835, at the
age of eighty-four years.
Doctor Nathaniel Bowman was the third physician ; he gradu
ated at Harvard College in 1786, and was kiUed by the fall of
the meeting-house frame, as before stated. Doctor Dudley Fol-
som, from Exeter, New Hampshire, Doctors Charles Kittridge,
Asa Adams, William Thorndike, Doctor Seaver, Elihu Baxter,
William H. Peabody, Nelson H. Carey, and John Pierce, have
been practising physicians in town.
John P. Little, from Littleton, Massachusetts, a graduate of
Brown University, first opened an office in this town in 1801 for
the practice of law ; Peter Thacher, Samuel Whitmore, Barrett
Potter, Jacob S. Smith, Joseph Adams, J. Pierce, Thomas J.
Goodwin, and Elijah Hayes, have since been counselors-at-law in
Gorham. The first Innholder licensed in Gorham was Caleb Chase in
1770; then Samuel Prentiss in 1776; Cary McLellan in 1779;
and many others since.
TUl 1789 there was but one militia company in Gorham ; in
that year two companies were formed out of the old one ; a third
company was afterward formed; and since, companies of cav
alry, light infantry, and rifiemen, have been organized.
The people of this town have not been inattentive to the sub
ject of education. Before the incorporation of the town the
proprietors and inhabitants made provision for schools. At the
first town meeting in March, 1765, forty pounds was voted for
schools. At that period only one public school was kept in town.
In 1768 the "town voted to improve Mr. John Greene as school
master till the money tax is expended."
In each of the years 1806-1807 £550 ($1,838.33) was raised
for schools ; in 1808, $666.66 ; in 1809, $1,000 ; in 1812, $1,500.

80 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
Gorham .Academy was incorporated by the Legislature of Mas-;
sachusetts March 5, 1803, being the seventh academy incorpo
rated in Maine. Eleven thousand, five hundred and twenty acres
of land were granted by the General Court of Massachusetts for
its endowment, June 20, 1803 ; twenty-five hundred dollars were
contributed by the citizens of Gorham and the vicinity ; and in
1804 the town voted four hundred dollars in aid of the institu
tion. The land granted by the State is in the town of Wood
stock, Oxford County, and was sold by the Trustees for ten
thousand dollars. The Academy went into operation September,
1806. Its first Preceptor was Reuben Nason, a native of Dover,
New Hampshire ; he graduated at Harvard College in 1802.
Mr. Nason had charge of the Academy till January, 1810, when
he settled at Freeport as minister of the Congregational Society
in that town ; he again took charge of Gorham Academy in Sep
tember, 1815, and continued principal of the same till August,
1834; he then removed to Clarkson, New York, and died sud
denly at that place in January, 1835. Charles Coffin, Asa Red-
ington jr., and William White, were preceptors from 1810 to
1815. In 1834 John V. Beane was principal — and Amos Brown
is at present at the head of the Institution.
The principal burying-ground in the town is the old cemetery
in the vUlage, which was given to the town by Mr. Jacob Ham
len in 1770, and contains one half-acre of land. In this place
most of the early settlers and many of the distinguished men
who have lived in Gorham, have been buried.
Ever since the termination of the Indian wars, the town has
been constantly increasing in wealth and population, and at the
present time has more than three thousand inhabitants. It is
one of the best agricultural towns in the state, having little or
no waste land, and has important factories of cotton, woolen,
leather, starch, and gunpowder.
If the healthiness of a place is to be ascertained by the age to
which its people live, then wiU this town be adjudged to be one
of great salubrity; it is beUeved that no town in Maine has con
tained so many aged people in proportion to its population, as
Gorham. The early settlers especially were remarkable for their
longevity.. The first settlers. Captain John Phinney and his wife
Martha, both died at the age of eighty-seven years;' their sons,.

GRAVES OF CAPT. JOHN PHINNEY AND W/IFE. — Old Cemetery, Gorham Village.

GORHAM CENTENNIAL. 31
Colonel Edmund Phinney lived to be eighty-five, John Phinney
eighty-three, James Phinney ninety-four, their daughter, Mary
Gorham Irish, eighty-nine. When the census of 1880 was taken,
there were living in Gorham sixty-eight persons between the
ages of seventy and eighty years ; thirty-two between eighty and
ninety ; and six over ninety years of age.
The deaths in Gorham have been in late years about one in one
hundred of the population, about thirty annually. Though in
1832, when the scarlet fever prevailed extensively, and was very
fatal, fifty-six persons died in town, twenty-nine of whom died
by that malady.
From the time of the incorporation of the town in 1764, to
the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, four Judges of the
courts have lived in Gorham, and she haJ four senators and fif
teen representatives in the Legislature of Massachusetts. The
senators were the Honorable Josiah Thacher, Stephen Longfel
low, Lothrop Lewis, and James Irish.
Colonel Phinney, Judge Longfellow, Judge Gorham, Caleb
Chase, Captain Briant Morton, Captain Hart Williams, Amos
Whitney, Solomon Lombard, Honorable Josiah Thacher and Lo
throp Lewis, were for many years the leading men in town, and
managed its most important concerns.
But I detain you too long ; it is time that I should close. I
have thus, fellow-citizens, endeavored to trace a portion of the
history of our town, to exhibit the deeds and character of its
first settlers. They are not present to join in our celebration;
they have all passed away to be here no more —
" Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."
And we are permitted to reap in peace and joy the fields they
planted in sorrow and in blood! It is but just to speak of their
worth ; it is but grateful to cherish the memory of their virtues.
They were a peculiar set of men, remarkable for their love of
freedom, for firmness and decision of character. Their spring
time of life was passed in hardships, dangers, and difficulties of
no common magnitude. They were mostly agriculturists, hard
working, sober, honest citizens. They had not the advantages
of literary education, but they acquired knowledge enough of

32 GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
letters to fit them for the more important duties of townsmen
and citizens. They had not studied in the schools of eloquence,
but they spoke in plain and forcible language " the words of
truth and soberness." They abhorred disguise, and were above
dissimulation. They were just, and therefore respected ; vir
tuous, and beloved; hospitable, and esteemed; pious, and wor
thy to be imitated. They had no predilections, or personal in-,
terests that they were not willing to sacrifice on the altars of
duty and patriotism.
Liberty and religious freedom were the great objects of their
pursuit ; these they resolved to have at any hazard ; these they
gained and left to their posterity. Let those now living see to it
that they transmit the precious bequest to their children.

C ELBE RATI ON
OF THB
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIYERSARI

At a town meeting held June 8, 1885, the third article in
the warrant being " To see what action the town will take,
if any, in regard to a suitable observance of the one hundred
and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the town, which
will occur in May, 1886," a committee of twelve was ap
pointed to report in regard to the matter at the next March
meeting. The committee consisted of the following persons,
viz.: Frederick Robie, John A. Waterman, Joseph W.
Parker, William L. Larrabee, Samuel R. Clement, Stephen
Westcott, Otis Purint6n, Charles W. Deering, Stephen
Hinkley, George B. Emery, Mark Mosher and Stephen L.
Stephenson. On the 8th day of March, 1886, at the adjournment of the
annual town meeting, it was
Voted, To have a suitable observance of the one hundred
and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the town.
The above named gentlemen were chosen a committee to
act in the matter, and were authorized to expend on the part
of the town a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars in an
appropriate celebration of the event, which sum was then
raised by the town for that purpose.
The first meeting of the committee was held at the house
of Gov. Robie on Saturday afternoon, March 13, 1886, all
being present except Messrs. Mosher and Parker.
Gov. Frederick Robie was chosen chairman and Stephen
Hinkley, Esq., secretary.
The following sub-committees were appointed : —
4

34 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
On Programme — Messrs. Emery, Stephenson and Deer
ing- On Literary Exercises — Messrs. Hinkley, Larrabee,
Clement, Robie and Waterman.
On Invitations — Messrs. Waterman, Hinkley and Pur-
inton. At the next meeting, March 27, the committee on Pro
gramme made a report which was accepted, and which formed
the basis of the programme hereafter given in detail.
The committee on Literary Exercises reported that they
had invited Rev. Elijah Kellogg to deliver the address and
that he had accepted the invitation. This report was also
accepted. At this and subsequent meetings of the general committee,
some of the sub-committees were enlarged and numerous
others appointed, from time to time as occasion required. A
full list of these committees is given in another place. Gov.
Robie was requested to act as President of the day and to
deliver an address of welcome, which he consented to do ;
and the following gentlemen were appointed vice-presidents:
Saul C. Higgins, Edward Gould,
George Motley, Winiam Smith,
Simon E. McLellan, - Jeremiah Parker,
SeweU Cloudman, Van W. Carle,
Samuel E. Stone, David F. Rolfe,
Frank A. Hamblen, Charles Patrick,
Lewis Lombard, Stephen L. Stephenson,
Mark Mosher, James G. Meserve,
George W. Crockett, Sumner C. Bolton,
Rufus Whitney, Ezra Thombs,
Daniel C. Libby, Joseph G. Bodge,
Moses Fogg, George B. Emery,
Theodore B. Edwards, Stephen Westcott,
Thaddeus P. Irish, Dana Estes,
Samuel Cressey, Rufus King,
Rufus H. Hinkley, J. McGregor Adams,
Wesley Murch, N. J. Rust,
Arthur Phinney, George F. Fabyan,
Charles Chadbourn, Randall J. Elder,

ANNIVERSARY. 35
Roscoe G. Harding, Lewis Pierce,
Joseph Skillings, William W. Peabody,
Charles G. Alden, Thomas S. Smith,
F. Augustus FUes, Gerry Rounds,
Benjamin A. Watson, Edward Storer,
Reuben M. Bangs, James Warren,
J. N". Newcomb, Reuben Nason,
WUIiam B. Freeman, W. F. Higgins,
Charles B. Cotton, Edward P. Pomeroy,
Benjamin Waterhouse, Isaac McLellan,
Isaac L. Johnson, Samuel McLellan.
Arthur M. Benson, John A. Waterman,
Stephen Hinkley,
On the evening of May 5, a meeting of all the committees
was held, to which other citizens interested in the success of
the celebration had been invited. There was quite a large
attendance, and reports were made by the several committees,
showing what progress had been made by them, and what
needed still to be done. Thus a pretty accurate estimate
could be made of the expenses of the celebration, and of the
sum which would be needed therefor, in addition to that
voted by the town. It was thought best to raise this amount
by individual subscription, and a paper was circulated dur
ing the evening with very encouraging results.
It was further decided that the paper be circulated through
out the tovva, and Mr. Levi H. Bean was selected for that
purpose. That Mr. Bean discharged this duty very success
fully and satisfactorily wilLbe seen by the treasurer's report
at the close of this pamphlet.
In order that abundant notice of the proposed celebration
and seasonable invitation to attend it might be given, it was
announced quite extensively in the leading newspapers in
New England, and by the following circular, signed by
the committee of arrangements, of which fifteen hundred.
copies were printed and distributed.

36

ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH

1733-

NARRAGANSETT, No. 7.

1736. GORHAM, 1836.

1886.
ilHE citizens of Gorham propose to celebrate the
One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the
settlement of the Town, in an appropriate man
ner on Wednesday, the 26th day of May next, at Gorham
Village. There will be a grand procession, and an address of wel
come by Gov. Frederick Robie in the forenoon, and an
address by Rev. Elijah Kellogg, short speeches, social
reunions, and other interesting exercises in the afternoon and
evening. At sunrise and sunset there will be salutes of one hun
dred and fifty guns from the site of the old Fort on Fort Hill.
Music will be furnished for the occasion by a Gorham
chorus of one hundred and fifty persons, and Chandler's
band, of Portland.
All the sons and daughters of Gorham, and former resi
dents of the town, are cordially invited to participate in
these exercises.
Gorham, Me., April 26, 1886.

anniversary. 37
These meetings of the Committees were held with great
and increasing frequency, until as the day of the celebration
drew near, there was an almost continuous session of some
of the members of the numerous committees ; nor did their
service cease until every part of the programme had been
carried out as nearly as was practicable.
The following is a copy of the
PROQRAMMK.

Qfie Haridred and Fiftieth Armiver^arY
OF THE
SETTLEMENT OF GORHAM, MAINE,
Wednesday, May 26, 1886.
Salute on Fort Hilt, and ringing of all the Bells In the town at sunrise.

Will form on South Street, right resting on Main Street, at 9 o'clock a.m.,
and be ready to march at 9.20 o'clock sharp, in the following order:
CHIEF MARSHAL.
COL. HENRY R. MiLLETT.
AIDS,
Edwaed Haeding, John A. Hinkley,
De. William P. Watson, B. W. Febnet,
Geoege T. Peatt.
Chandlee's Band, of Portland, 25 pieces.
PoETLAND Cadets, Capt. Haret Eastman, Commanding.
John R. Adams Post, No. 101, Dep't of Maine, G. A. R.,
Theodoeb Shackpoed, Commanding.
C. H. Waeebn Post, No. 73, Dep't of Maine, G. A. R.,
E. R. WiNGATE, Commander.

38 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
Peesident of thb Day, Oeatoe, Officiating Cleegymen,
Genbeal Committee and Invited Guests, in carriages.
Harmony Lodge, No. 38, F. & A. M., Feed W. Haeding, W. M.
DiEiGO Lodge, No. 21, K. of P., C. A. Beackbtt, C. C.
Pebsent and Past Officers of the Town.
Present and Foembr Residents.
School Committee.
Gorham High School, F. W. Davis, Principal.
District Schools.
Gorham Grange, No. 54, P. of H., G. M. Paeklee, Master.
BtrxTON Grange, No. 95, P. op H., R. F. Carter, Master.
Mounted Company, L. H. Bean, Captain.
Section of First Maine Battery, O. T. Despeaux, Captain.
Indians ; G. D. Weeks, War Chief.
Trades.
Phinney Memorial Rock, with Boat attached.

The procession will march down Main Street to the Gray Road,
counter march, up Main, up State, down High, down Church,
through Water, through Elm, up Preble, up Green, up Pine,
down State, down South, through Lincoln Street, to the tent in
Governor Robie's field near the Portland & Rochester Railroad
Station.

EXERCISES AT THE TENT.
In the Foebnoon, Commencing at 11 o'clock.
Music — Anniversary March, composed by C. R. Ceessey, of
Gorham. Chandler's Band.
Prayer, By Rev. H. S. Huntington,
Pastor of the First Parish Church, Gorham.
Singing — "American Hymn," Keller.
By the Chorus, W. L. Fitch, Conductor.
Reading of Selections from the Scriptures, By Rev. F. A.
Beagdon, Pastor of School Street M. E. Church, Gorham.

ANNIVERSARY. 39
Addeess of Welcome, By Gov. Febdeeick Robie.
Singing — Original Ode, By Mrs. Jennie Bodge Johnson,
Gorham, By the Chorus.
Benediction, By Rev. M. B. Gebbnhalgh,
Pastor of North Street M. E. Church, Gorham.
In the Afteenoon, Commencing at 1.30 o'clock.
Music, By the Band.
Peayee, By Rev. Gboege L. Prentiss, d.d., of New York.
Singing — " Green be your Fame," Rossini.
By the Chorus.
Address, By Rev. Elijah Kellogg, of Harpswell.
Singing — Original Hymn, By Prof. H. L. Chapman, Bowdoin
College. Tune — Russian National Hymn.
By the Chorus.
Singing — " To thee, O Country," Eichberg.
By the Chorus.
Announcements by the President of the Day.
Music, By the Band.
Shoet Addresses, Singing, Music by the Band, etc.
Closing Hymn — America.
Benediction, By Rev. Edward Robie, d.d., of Greenland, N. H.
At the close of these exercises there will be a SHAM FIGHT,
in the field and woods near the tent, between a body of Indians
led by their War Chief Presumpsaukett, and a squad of Scouts
represented by the Grand Army Soldiers.
Ringing of bells at sunset, and parting salute on the site of the
Bryant House.

IN THE EVENING,
A Reception will be given by the ladies of Gorham, at the
Academy Hall. Past and present residents, visitors, and strangers
in town, are cordially invited.
There will also be Social Reunions at the Halls of the various
secret organizations, where brethren and their friends wUl be
warmly welcomed.

40 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
During the preparations for the celebration, there were those
who asked "What shall we do in case of bad weather ? " but in gen
eral, there was no more thought of unpropitious circumstances,
and a postponement, than there was of changing the day of Capt.
John Phinney's landing on the calendar. But as was the case at
the centennial celebration fifty years ago, it rained heavily dur
ing the previous day and night, and cleared off just in time for
the exercises, so that the clearing up became a part of the cele
bration. In the early gray of the morning, a flash illumined Fort Hill,
the thundering of the sunrise gun echoed from the hills, and
before the salute was ended, the rain ceased, the clouds dissolved,
the sun shone out brightly, and the church bells rang joyfully.
As the bright sun and cool breeze dried the streets, prepara
tions were rapidly completed ; flags waved from every flagstaff,
and before eight o'clock, public buildings and private residences
were everywhere decorated with national emblems and historic
symbols. Altogether, the effect was most gay and picturesque.
In addition to the private display, the committee on decora
tions had erected in the center of School Street, where it crosses
Main Street, a lifelike figure of an Indian in full war paint, armed
with gun and tomahawk. The figure was mounted on a pedestal
resembling marble, and that in turn stood on an apparently gran
ite base. On the shaft were the dates "1736, 1886," and the
original name of the township — " Narragansett No. 7." This
figure was greatly admired for its perfectly natural attitude of
expectancy, and the pose so suggestive of the bold, bad, red man.
A great arch at the head of Main Street, bearing the word "Wel
come " in large and conspicuous letters upon each side, spanned
the street. It stood like a crystallized forest of green boughs in
the heart of the village, and elicited much admiring comment.
The cemetery on the west side of School Street, given to the
town for a burial place, by Mr. Joseph Hamblen, in 1740, was a
spot of great interest. The graves of John Phinney and his
wife, Hugh and Elizabeth McLellan, Stephen Longfellow, and
others were appropriately designated by flags.
The old brown stone monument erected in 1805, and recording
the settlement of the town, had been recently moved to the head

THE PROCESSION FORMING UNDER THE ARCH AT HEAD OF MAIN STREET.

ANNIVERSARY. 41
of Church Street, and placed upon a granite base. The inscrip
tions are as follows : — ON THE WBST SIDE.
" Gorhara is one of tlie seven townships granted by Gen. Court in the
year 1732, to the Narragansett settlers. On a division of the property
among the original grantees, this town was assigned to Capt. John Gor
ham and one hundred and nineteen others, and was then called Narra
gansett No. 7." NORTH SIDE.
" Capt. John Phinney commenced the first settlement in this town
May, 1736. This event celebrated May 26, 1836, May 26, 1886."
SOUTH side.
" This town was incorporated by the name of Gorham, Oct. 30, 1764."
BAST SIDE.
" This monument was erected by direction and at the expence of this
town. May 6, 1805. Placed upon its present base. May 26, 1886."
The "Hugh McLellan" house, on the west side of the Fort
Hill Road, was decorated with flags attached to its front, and over
the front door the McLellan coat of arms was reproduced by a
shield bearing three white doves in line between two gold stars,
and a banner inscribed by the name of McLellan. This was for
many years the home of Hugh and Elizabeth McLellan, settlers
in Gorham in 1738. It was erected in 1773, of bricks made by
Hugh McLellan and others, and is said to be the first brick house
built in Cumberland County. The first McLellan house, a log
cabin, stood a little further north on the east side of the road.
The eight o'clock train from Portland, followed by other long
and heavily loaded trains, helped to swell the throng that was
rapidly collecting in the streets, and by nine in the morning, the
village was alive indeed. The chief-marshal and his aids were on
the gallop, executing their plans, many of the horsemen of the
parade were already in the saddle, while the press reporters, in a
carriage drawn by a pair of splendid bays, reconnoitered and sur
veyed the situation. Governor Robie's grounds, in the rear of
the depot, swarmed with people, and the sidewalks on the route of
the procession were crowded with men, women, and children,
from all parts of the town, and the neighboring towns, Portland,
Westbrook, Scarboro, Buxton, Standish, and Windham. Differ
ent estimates placed the number waiting along the proposed
route of the pj-ocession at from three thousand to five thousand
persons.

42 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
THE PROCESSION.
The procession formed on South Street, the right resting
on Main Street, according to the programme, and moved in
the following order: —
Chief Mai-shal— Col. H. R. Millett.
Aids— Edward Harding, J. A. Hinkley, Dr. W. P. Watson,
B. W. Feeney, George T. Pratt.
Platoon of Police.
Chandler's Band, D. H. Chandler, leader, 25 pieces.
Portland Cadets, Capt. Harry Eastman, commanding, 30 men.
John R. Adams Post, No. 101, Department of Maine, G. A. R., Theodore
Shackford, commanding, 40 men.
C. A. Warren Post, No. 73, Department of Maine, G. A. R., E. R. Wingate,
commanding, 60 men.
Carriages containing Governor Robie, Rev. Dr. George L. Prentiss, of
New York, Gen. S. J. Gallagher, Col. F. W. Guptill, Lieut.-Col.
W. A. R. Boothby, Lieut.-Col. A. B. Neally, Lieut.-Col.
J. F. Hayden, Lieut.-Col. R. T. McLellan, Major
George E. Dole, of the Governor's Staff,
George B. Emery, Esq., Judge J. A. Waterman, Mr. Dana Estes, of Estes
& Laui'iat, Boston, Rev. Dr. Edward Robie, Rev. F. A. Bragdon,
Gen. S. J. Anderson, Col. John M. Adams, Stephen L.
Stephenson, Esq., Col. William B. Freeman,
Mayor Chapman, of Portland, H. J. Libby, Esq., M. P. Emery, Esq.,
Councilor Silas Hatch, Mrs. Martha C. Wentworth, grand
daughter of Capt. John Phinney, the first settler, her
son, Dr. J. P. Wentworth, and grandson, Harold
N. Wentworth, Edward Gould, Esq.,
S. R. Clement. Rev. H. S. Huntington, Rev. George Lewis, Albion
Little, Esq., Councilor J. A. Locke, N. J. Rust, Esq.,
of Boston, Major Hewes.
Harmony Lodge, No. .S8, F. and A. M., Fred W. Harding, W. M., 80 men.
Dirigo Lodge, No. 21, K. of P., C. A. Brackett, C. C, 50 men.
Carriages and Picnic Wagons containing Present and Past OfScers of the
Town, Present and Former Residents, School Com
mittee, Past and Present.
Gorham High School, F. W. Davis, principal, 80 pupils.
District Schools, 300 pupils.
Gorham Grange, No. 54, P. of H., G. M. Parker, Master.
Buxton Grange, No. 95, P. of H., R. F. Carter, Master.
Mounted Company, L. H. Bean, captain, 45 men.
Section of First Maine Battery, O. T. Despeaux, Captain commanding,
10 men.
Indians, G. D. Weeks, War Chief, 20 braves.
Phinney Memorial Rock.

r^-:

GRANGE DIVISION OF THE PROCESSION.

ANNIVERSARY. 43
FLORA, CERES, AND POMOMA.
Following Gorham Grange came one of the most pleasing
features of the procession, designed to illustrate different
departments of agriculture. First was a log cabin, mounted
on wheels, drawn by four horses, bearing on the roof the
name "Pioneers." In advance of this cabin marched a
delegation dressed in primitive style, carrying implements of
industry used by former generations. On one side of the
cabin was this inscription: "Be it ever so humble, there 's
no place like home." On the opposite side: "1736, They
Endured. 1886, We Enjoy." Within the cabin was a fam
ily dressed in antique garb. The mother was busy spinning
flax, and the boys and girls were cutting up capers after the
fashion of boys and girls of all periods.
The next tableau gave a vivid picture of rustic simplicity.
A jigger covered with evergreen and spruce made a bower
of greenery for the occupants, a group of ladies. On one
side was "Laborer — Maid. Labor conquers all things."
On the other side: "With humble faith they fell the trees,
break the sod, and plant the seed."
The next was an equally charming spectacle ; a vehicle
bearing vines and blossoms, and another company of ladies.
The words "Cultivator — Shepherdess" appeared on one
side, and under them the line: "He that tilleth the soil shall
be satisfied with bread." On the opposite side was the line:
"Till with hope — Watch with care."
Following this was a beautifully adorned vehicle on which
in great letters were the inscriptions : " Charity. Harvester.
Gleaner. Faithfully gather. Carefully glean." On the
other side: "Faithful in gathering, careful in gleaning."
Then came a pretty cottage scene. The inscriptions were:
"Husbandman — Matron. As the homes are, so the Na
tion." On the other side : " Culture at home. Refinement
abroad." The mottoes on the next pictured representation were as
follows: "Grain is King. Ceres brings grain." On the

44 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
other side: "To Ceres belongs golden grain. King of
Kingdoms." The next bore the following mottoes: "Flora, I bring thee
flowers and blossoms. Sweet promises of rich golden fruit."
Similar mottoes were on the other side. This vehicle was
fairly blossoming in floral beauty, and the fair occupants
who were borne along within it, were singing their songs of
joy and happiness.
The Goddess Pomona was remembered, and a tribute paid
to her by the next carriage, which like the others was cov
ered with flowers, fruit and trailing vines. The mottoes
were: "Pomona brings the golden fruit, products of the
Orchard and Vineyard." On the opposite side: "Pomona
brings the fulfillment of Flora's promise, golden fruit."
VILLAGE FARM ON WHEELS.
Following these tributes to Ceres, Flora, and Pomona,
came an exhibition of a village farm on wheels, — the de
sign of Mr. Henry B. Johnson. First passed along six
noble looking oxen drawing a cart on which were a plow
used in 1776, and one used in 1886 ; then a horse attached
to a patent hay-loader; then a span of grays drawing a
patent horse-hoe, and a seeder; then a span of handsome
bays attached to a Bradley mowing machine, and last a pat
ent hay tedder, drawn by one horse.
The mounted company also formed a very attractive part
of the procession. It was a fine display of handsome horses
and excellent horsemanship, as well as of neatness and tidi
ness in all respects. It was much admired, and reflected
great credit upon its officers, Capt. L. H. Bean and Lieut.
Perley Hanson, whose careful drilling and personal example
contributed largely to its success.
The procession marched down Main Street to the Gray
Road, countermarched up Main, up State, down High, down
Church, through Water, through Elm, up Preble, up Green,
up Pine, down State, down South, through Lincoln Street,

ANNIVERSARY. 45
to the tent in Governor Robie's fleld near the railroad
station. All along the route, the streets were lined with people
who in many expressive ways manifested their great delight
in the variegated spectacle.
The Phinney rock was borne on a jigger ornamented with
small spruce trees and flags. On each side was a placard
that told the spectator that this was "the rock to which
Capt. John Phinney moored his boat the first time he rowed
up Little River."
The pupils of the High School made a good appearance in
the procession, as did also the younger children of the dis
trict schools. Several banners were carried by these schol
ars. One bore the following: "West Gorham No. 5 banner.
The first West Gorham schoolhouse was built of logs in 1761."
Miss Grace Weeks had charge of the scholars from West
Gorham No. 6 district. Another banner was inscribed as
follows: "Our free schools, the hope of a free people." On
another was to be read: "We learn not for school, but for
life." The Indians in the procession looked as though they were
in truth aborigines. They were in savage rig, and armed
with bows and arrows, and tomahawks. The big medicine
man stalked gravely along in the center, adorned with a
head-gear of feathers, one end of which nearly reached the
ground. The Indians were a very attractive feature of the
procession ; and by their grotesque and skillful manceuvers,
and good conduct through the day, they won much praise
for themselves and their renowned chief, Presumpsaukett.
FORENOON EXERCISES.
The great Yale tent, gaily decorated with flags and bunt
ing, was quickly filled by the procession and the attendant
crowd, and though packed to its utmost capacity, the num
ber outside of the tent still seemed as large as that within.
The exercises opened at about 11.30, with an "Anniver-

46 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
sary March," composed for the occasion by Mr. Charles R.
Cressey, of Gorham, which was finely rendered by Chand
ler's Band.
The audience was called to order by Governor Robie,
president of the day, and a fervent and appropriate prayer
was offered by Rev. Henry S. Huntington, pastor of the
First Parish Church. Keller's "American Hymn " was
then sung with great spirit and power, by a chorus of one
hundred and fifty voices, selected from the musical sons and
daughters of Gorham, under the direction of Mr. W. L.
Fitch, conductor, and accompanied by Chandler's Band.
After the singing, the following selections from the Holy
Scriptures were read by Rev. F. A. Bragdon, pastor of the
School Street M. E. Church.
Psalms lxxxix. 1-17; xcv. 1-7; cxlvi; cxii; cviii. 1-5.
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my
mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
For I have said, Mercy shall be built up forever ; thy faithfulness
shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a cove
nant with my chosen; I have sworn unto David my servant.
Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all
generations. Selah. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders,
O Lord ; thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
For who iu the heaven can be compared unto the Lord ? Who
among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord ?
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to
be had in reverence of all them that are about him. O Lord
God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee ? or to thy
faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the
sea : when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Thou hast
broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain ; thou hast scattered
thine enemies with thy strong arm. The heavens are thine, the
earth also is thine : as for the world, and the fullness thereof,
thou hast founded them. The north and the south, thou hast
created them : Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
Thou hast a mighty arm : strong is thy hand, and high is thy
right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy

anniversary. 47
throne : mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is
the people that know the joyful sound : they shall walk, O Lord,
in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice
all the day : and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For
thou art the glory of their strength ': and in thy favour our horn
shall be exalted.
O come, let us sing unto the Lord : let us make a joyful noise
to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence
with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with
psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above
all gods. In his hand are all the deep places of the earth : the
strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it :
and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and
bow down : let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is
our God : and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of
his hand.
Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I
Hve will I praise the Lord : I will sing praises unto my God
while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in
the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth
forth, he returneth to the earth ; in that very day his thoughts
perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope is in the Lord his God : which made heaven, and
earth, the sea, and all that therein is : which keepeth truth forever :
which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food
to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners : the Lord open-
eth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed
down: the Lord loveth the righteous : the Lord preserveth the
strangers : he relieveth the fatherless and widow : but the way
of the wicked he turneth upside down. The Lord shall reign
forever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye
the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord,
that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be
mighty upon earth : the generation of the upright shall be
blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house : and his right
eousness eudureth forever. Unto the upright there ariseth light

48 ONE hundred fiftieth
in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion and
righteous. A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth : he will
, guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved
forever : the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He
shall not be afraid of evil tidings : his heart is fixed, trusting in
the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until
he see his desire upon his enemies. He hath dispersed, he hath
given to the poor ; his righteousness endureth forever; his horn
shall be exalted with honour. The wicked shall see it, and be
grieved ; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away : the de
sire of the wicked shall perish.
O God, my heart is fixed ; I will sing and give praise, even
with my glory. Awake, psaltery and harp : I myself will awake
early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people : and I will
sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is
great above the heavens : and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens : and thy glory above
all the earth.
At the conclusion of the reading, Governor Robie was
introduced to the audience by Judge Waterman, and de
livered the following
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Sons and Daughters of Gorham: —
We joyfully meet on this lovely morning of May, in view of
many historic hill-tops, and in sight of the valleys of our own
native soil. The scene appears more beautiful and suggestive
than ever before. Our hearts beat with ecstacy, and our voices
swell with thanksgiving and congratulations on account of per
sonal kind greetings, and at the sight of so grand a panorama as
nature here spreads out before us. From the commanding sum
mits around us we can look upon the most delightful scenery.
In the distance are the lofty granite mountains of New Hamp
shire, nearer are the swelling hills and fertile valleys of our own
native State. Sometimes in our view is the blue ocean, with its
white sails of. commerce, and dearer than all else about us, are
the old homes where; many of us were born. The earth is

ANNIVERSARY. 49
covered with its fresh carpet of green, the familiar trees extend
their shady branches, and the birds that have come and gone for
so many centuries are here again by their representatives, and
with their sweetest songs join in the universal response of wel
come; midst such pleasant surroundings we meet for an unusual
and special purpose, and it becomes my official duty, as president
of this grand gala day of our own, to call this distinguished
gathering to order, and to welcome the presence of a large num
ber of the sons and daughters of the ancient town of Gorham to
the sights, rights, and services of this eventful occasion: the
celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its
settlement. Our minds are crowded with the mighty memories
of the past, and a common bond unites us all as one great family.
In behalf of the citizens of Gorham, I bid you all a hearty wel
come. Those of the sons and daughters of our town who, for sufficient
reasons, have left their ancestral roof for enlarged opportunities,
and the varied responsibilities of life, are only adopted citizens of
other localities, and we claim such as our own by the royal title
of birth. During your absence you have not been forgotten by
us, and are not yourselves strangers to the manor born, but return
bringing golden sheaves with you, and with reciprocal joy and
affection we welcome you home again to the land of our fathers.
I welcome the many strangers in our midst, and extend to such
the hospitality of our homes.
We stand in view, and are in the vicinity of many a sacred
and historic spot, and it is meet that we tarry at our one hundred
and fiftieth milestone, and first recall the old family names of the
men and women of Gorham, made illustrious by the noble exam
ples and high purposes of early times. One hundred and fifty
years ago, on this very day, on yonder high summit, were congre
gated the family of that noble. Christian - man. Captain John
Phinney, our earliest ancestor. He had come here from what is
now known as the city of Portland, in a boat, by a circuitous
route through the waters of Casco Bfiy, to the mouth of the river
Presumpscot, and thence, after several miles of interrupted navi
gation, on account of water fall over steep ledges, he entered
Little River, a tributary of the Presumpscot that traverses the
breadth of our town. There was no other practicable method of
5

50 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
reaching here at that early period, and after many serious impedi
ments and delays, he reached the point of destination on the early
morning of the 26th of May, 1736, It was but a short distance
from what was to be his future home. Disembarking, he fastened
his boat to a rock as a landing-place, and today this rock appears
in our procession as one of the distinguished and honored monu
ments of early times. It bears the first footprints of Anglo
Saxon occupancy of our town, and, in a limited sense, is the Ply
mouth Rock of our civilization. It will hereafter be deposited in
a conspicuous place at the base of our town monument. On that
eventful morning in May, our early ancestor stood midst a dense
forest of high trees which shut from human vision everything
but the blue sky. In the evening he could see above him the
heavens, the stars, the mysteries of God's mighty work, from
which he drew inspiration, faith, and hope for future reward.
The cultivated fields, village, and city of the present period, were
then practically a dark and forbidding forest. From the long
centuries of the past there came nothing but an unwritten his
tory, and the unreliable traditions of an Indian race, and the
silence of a vast solitude was only disturbed by the tread of the
red man, and the voice of the wild beast. From this point civili
zation commenced. One hundred and fifty years ago, upon
yonder summit, was begun and created a family home, the unit
of our form of government. The multiplication of similar family
homes made our town, and have made the state, and nation. One
hundred and fifty years ago this morning, the family Bible was
read for the first time in our town, the first prayer was offered,
the first song of thanksgiving ascended to the throne of God,
and the appearance of the Phinney family, and the blows of
the woodman's axe were the forces that commenced to roll back
the mysteries of the past for a new departure, to make room for
the beginning of the real historic life which we now see and know.
We are proud of our ancestor, and the first families who settled
our town. The noble characteristics of the pioneer family per
meated the locaUty, and there was a unity of loyal brotherhood
and Christian fellow^ship among our early ancestors that is worthy
the emulation of their descendants. We come as Pilgrims and
view with unmeasured delight the spot where the first Christian
family home was consecrated. We tread here and there upon

ANNIVERSARY. 51
ground made sacred by historic memories. We recall heroic
deeds that inspire our very nature and excite our pride that we
are the descendants of a race of men, who by sacrifice laid the
foundation of the homes and institutions we now enjoy. On
yonder hill the rude log cabin was built, the first little clearing
was opened, the fort and block house erected, within which the
entire population of the town was sheltered for four long years.
In the fort was the garrison, the only defence of the family home,
and there the parish pastor and the school teacher found employ
ment and security. The early history of our town tells us of
many a sad story of savage cruelty, and within half a mile from
here are the stone and earthen floors of Bryant's cabin which were
once wet with the blood of four dear children, but the dark clouds
that then lowered so near had their silver lining. The power of
endurance, loyalty, true religion, and every other manly and
womanly virtue of the Phinneys, McLellans, Moshers, Watsons,
Hardings, Cresseys, Files, Irish, Hamblens and other representa
tive pioneer families were sufficient for every sacrifice and danger,
and the solid material to establish the institutions of justice, free
dom and safety which we now enjoy. In our oldest cemeteries
lie buried in unknown graves many of the brave men of those
early days, but we find a very few sleeping beneath leaning and
crumbling stones of slate, whose honored names have been nearly
effaced by the ruthless touch of time. Today we lay the choicest
flowers of spring upon their graves, and recounting their heroic
deeds pay a just tribute to their noble dust.
" Gone are the living, but the dead remain.
And not neglected ; for a hand unseen.
Scattering its bounty like a summer rain.
Still keeps their graves and their remembrance green."
The relationship which the present inhabitants of Gorham hold
with the past can be divided into three exact periods ; for three
separate links of fifty years each connect us with that historic and
memorable day when our town had its birth, a day ever worthy
to be commemorated as the most important in our local history.
I personally well remember (and this is the case with but very few
others of my fellow citizens) the stirring events of the centennial
celebration of our town which occurred fifty years ago. I recall the

52 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
occasion and the venerable and distinguished men of that period.
Among the number in the procession were Col. Nathaniel Frost,
the oldest man in town, and other revolutionary heroes. On an
historic eminence, around a centennial banner, which received the
cheers of all the people, stood venerable men whose shoulders
then touched those of younger men, but whose hands had clasped
the hands of some of the noble men and women who first settled
in this town. The old men of today are the living connecting
links with our first centennial, and likewise are moving on in
advance of a generation who in turn are soon to fill their places.
Thus looking back we bring near ourselves by continuity of the
same extended chain the parsonal presence of those who lived
and acted one hundred and fifty years ago, and although long,
long years separate us, we are still united by such connections
that the early history and traditions of our town and its glorious
people seem to be a near part of ourselves. Future generations
by similar divisions of periods of time, will be the near represen
tatives of this great ancestry. The experiences and acts of the
first fifty years of the progress of our town are the most eventful
pages of its history. In the year 1786 on its semi-centennial anni
versary it was said, " there are those living among us who felled
the fi>st trees, planted the first kernel of corn, helped build the
first house, and aided in driving the savages into distant forests."
Even then block houses and rude cabins had been partially aban
doned, and in their place cultivated clearings and comfortable
homes had made their appearance. The constitutional liberty of
a great nation had then been secured by the aid of the brave men
and women who first founded this town. Glorious cycle of time !
we bend over its wonderful revelations and pay a just tribute of
lofty cheers to the memory of our early ancestors. The second
link of fifty years brings us down to the year 1836, and within
that period we find a continual progress in the population, wealth
and m.aterial resources of our town, and among the conspicuous
land marks, which more than anything else, marks the character
of its people, is our venerable academy, which was built in 1806.
Education and educated men and women were among the choicest
offerings of the period. The war of 1812, in which many of our
soldiers participated, with its rights and its wrongs, was vindicated
by the triumph of the stars and stripes, and a free ocean for Ameri-

ANNIVERSARY. 53
can commerce was secured. We now leave this important link, and
in 1886 look back upon another period of fifty years, which today
we complete, and add the third Hnk to the lengthened chain con
necting us with the fixed and written register of the past. The
last fifty years are better known to us than the record of any
previous period. Religion, education and loyalty have been
recognized by special landmarks which will forever distinguish
this generation, but which, like others, are passing away for others
to succeed. The faith which our forefathers had in God, which
led them in the midnight of poverty and dependence, among their
first acts to consecrate a place for public worship, has inspired the
present generation in the sunlight of prosperity, to erect commod
ious and beautiful churches in keeping with their enlarged means,
and meeting-houses of this character everywhere "nestle in our
valleys and crown our swelling hills." The Gorham Female
Seminary was dedicated in 1837, and has acomplished much for
the town and state. The Normal School building was erected in
1878, much to our credit, but much more to our educational
advantage. We point with pride to the willing enlistments of
three hundred and eighty-six of our sons in the war for the Union
and feel the highest emotions of pride and gratitude when we
read the names of fifty-seven of our sons who lost their lives as a
costly sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Their names are
inscribed upon marble on yonder monument to be thoughtfully
read by ourselves, and to be honored by a distant posterity. This
monument may crumble and fall, but the heroism and sacrifices of
our volunteer soldiers for a righteous cause are imperishable.
When we recount the achievements of the sons of Gorham, and
their bravery on so many glorified battle-fields for the Union, we
hand down to other generations the proudest page of our history,
and while we honor the living who, with their lost comrades,
under all the vicissitudes of war were equally true to their town,
state and nation, we cherish in our heart of hearts today the
memory of those noble men of Gorham who died to save their
country. I joyfully welcome here today a large company of
the veteran soldiers of Gorham, Buxton and Standish who be
longed to the Union Army. Many of them wear the badge of
the Grand Army of the Republic. I gladly welcome the presence
of many of the representative farmers of our own town, and their

54 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
families, and the faithful Patrons of Husbandry of Gorham and
Buxton. The giant force of the strong right arm of labor is the
prime producing power of our national greatness. In our town
it has subdued the forest and estabhshed cultivated fields and
independent rural homes, and today Gorham occupies the front
rank of agricultural towns in our state. Our farms illustrate the
fruit of industry, frugality and intelligence, and farming hereafter
must be the chief employment of our people. It is the most
honorable and useful of all pursuits, and may future developments
by the application of art, science and co-operation, in the hands
of a progressive people, open tiie way for still greater triumphs in
our agricultural history.
I welcome here today the distinguished members of Harmony
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, the oldest and one of the
most respected of our secret societies, also the worthy fraternity
of Knights of Pythias, a more recently formed organization, and
the invited guests of each. You are the exponents of high moral
and social culture and true humanity.
I welcome the Cadets, one of the military companies of the state
from the city of Portland. We are justly proud of the metropolis
of our State, and her progressive growth in everything that con
stitutes a great city. We respect the power and influence of her
educated, business and working men, and honor the strong and
loyal aim of her citizen soldiers which have and are ever ready to
protect the lives and property of all our people.
My task would be incomplete if I failed to welcome here today,
by special recognition, the faithful and generous women who
were born in our dear old town. In the forest, on the farm, in
polite society, in the great moral and political contests of the past
our noble women have always been heroic and true, and thus
" their uncounted vote has always been counted for the right."
Our daughters have seemed to illustrate and perpetuate the
Christian virtues of Mary Gorham Phinney Irish, the first white
child born in our town, as the true type of excellence, and thus
as mothers they have molded the correct habits (Jf our boys and
pure character of our girls, which has so much determined our past
history. It is the same influence and similar teachings which will
secure greatness to our future history. We extend our warmest
congratulations to Martha Coleman Phinney Wentworth, who

ANNIVERSARY. 55
honors this occasion with her distinguished presence. She is the
daughter of James Phinney, who was born in 1741 and died in
1834, having finished an eventful and faithful life of 94 years.
She is the granddaughter of Capt. John Phinn'ey, our earliest
ancestor ; the niece of Mary Gorham Phinney and of Col. Edmand
Phinney of Revolutionary renown, and the widow of the late
Capt. Thomas E. Wentworth of Gorham, a distinguished officer
in the recent war for the Union. I extend to the teachers and
pupils of our public schools the congratulations and hearty wel
come of all our citizens. You are the pride of our town and
worthy of a high rank of honor.
The past one hundred and fifty years are over and gone. The
conditions and experiences of the past will not be the recorded
revelations of the future. We are in the full enjoyment of
liberty, power, wealth, and peace, the fruit of the toil and sacri
fices of those who made our early history. There are great perils
which threaten our future. It is the eternal law of existence
that we shall move forward or backward, and the preservation of
our great birth-right by personal example of private worth, public
virtue, and the illustration of that righteousness which exalteth
a nation, should enlist our united endeavor. To-morrow's sun
will rise upon the commencement of a new period of time, which,
in fifty years from now, will either excite the admiration or sor
row of another generation.
Today we look back with stately pride upon the past. We are
proud of our temples of worship, our homes, our schools, our
farms, and workshops, and the morality, intelligence, and industry
of our people. Let us remember that no period or generation is
distinctly separate from another. The youth of today are " the
trustees of the American future." The fives of every generation
should exemplify all that was true and noble in the past. There
should be an earnest striving among our youth to build up char
acter in the interests of frugality and sobriety, and to illustrate
a loyal performance of every known duty. Thus, in fifty years
from now shall the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement
of our town find an assemblage of its sons and daughters, in their
firm manhood and true womanhood, worthy to receive the wel
come of Gorham by the words of the Roman mother, « These are
my jewels."

56 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
At the close of the address, which was listened to with
earnest attention, and was heartily applauded, the fol
lowing original Ode, composed for the occasion by Mrs.
Jennie Bodge Johnson, of Gorham, was sung by the chorus,
the vast audience joining, and giving it a most inspiriting
effect.
ODE.
Tune — Auld Lang Syne.
Wake every heart, awake and sing
In chorus full and free !
While notes responsive backward ring
From memory's shoreless sea.
Above the echoes of regret.
In songs of joy entwine
Fresh garlands from the laurels yet.
For Days of Auld Lang Syne.
Seen thro' the centuries' misty light
Their colors fair unfold.
Foundation stones of Peace and Right
In adamant and gold.
Thro' clouds of battle smoke how clear
Their fadeless glories shine.
Awake a royal tribute here
For Days of Auld Lang Syne.
The joys that make the whole world kin
To festal days belong.
From Freedom's treasury all may win
The fellowship of song.
We bring a hearty welcome here,
Good will to thine and mine.
And from our chaplet of good cheer
One song for Auld Lang Syne.
Unfurl the banner that we love
And give it three times three,

LARGE TENT WHERE THE EXERCISES WERE HELD.— May 26, 1886.

ANNIVERSARY. 57
•
Wake loyal hearts, awake and prove
The rapture of The Free!
Beneath the sheltering Stripes and Stars
We hail the Northern Pine,
And mingle with our proud huzzas
Three cheers for Auld Lang Syne.
The exercises closed with the benediction, pronounced, in
the absence of the gentleman to whom this service had been
assigned on the programme, by Rev. L. Z. Ferris, of Rock
land, Mass., former pastor of the First Parish Congrega
tional Church at Gorham.
During the intermission at noon, large numbers of visit
ors were entertained by members of the general commit
tee, and numerous other citizens, whose houses were hospit
ably opened to them, while a great multitude found abund
ant and agreeable refreshments at the excellent restaurants
of Goudy, Alexander, and others, who had made ample ar
rangements for th# occasion.

AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
The spacious tent was again filled to overflowing long
before the time appointed for the exercises to commence,
and the number unable to gain admittance was greater even
than in the forenoon. Seats were largely disregarded, and
the vast audience stood jammed together as in an immense
political mass meeting.
At two o'clock the great assembly was called to order by
Governor Robie. Chandler's Band then played an appro
priate selection, " Ye Olden Tunes," at the close of which
Rev. George L. Prentiss, d.d., of New York, offered an
earnest and impressive prayer, remarkable for the sweetness
pf its spirit, the tender personal and local allusions it con
tained, as well as for the fervor and depth of feeling with
which it was uttered.

58 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
After the prayer the chorus sang Rossini's beautiful
GREEN BE YOUR FAME.
Green be your fame 'forever
Sires who our nation planted.
By storm and death undaunted.
Firmly on Freedom's rock ;
When danger rose around you.
Loudly glad hymns ye chanted.
While every bosom panted
Wildly with freedom's glow.
Dark grew the clouds above you.
Loud howled the midnight tempest,
While through the pathless forest.
Rang out the savage yell ;
Still rose your song triumphant.
Danger and death despising ;
Still to Jehovah rising
Proudly your anthems swell.
Rev. Elijah Kellogg was then introduced as the orator of
the day by Governor Robie, who said : " I have the high
honor to introduce to this audience a true representative of
' Old Times in Gorham,' which he himself has made good
old times by his personal power of ready description and a
correct knowledge of the men and women who made its
early history. Rev. Elijah Kellogg needs no words of com
mendation or even an introduction to a Gorham audience.
Respected, honored, and beloved, he has written his own
biography in the memory and on the hearts of all our people.
Listen to our distinguished friend who will now address you."

ANNIVERSARY. 59
REV. ELIJAH KELLOGG'S ADDRESS.
The occasion, my friends, that has brought us together requires
that we should speak of the principles which actuated those who
on this soil first broke the ground, endured hardship and met perils
of all descriptions, obtained their daily bread, and laid the found
ations of the fabric other hands have reared ; and that on this spot,
where so large a portion of my childhood, youth, and early man
hood were spent, we should endeavor, by the light of the past, to
make such use of the characters of the brave and virtuous as to
incite to a worthy emulation — that religion, patriotism, and
manly vigor may not die with us, and in our households, but be
come the heritage of those who shall succeed us. The conditions
of our existence are predicated often before we are born in virtue
of transmitted instincts and the influences that meet and, to a
greater or less extent, shape the first reaches of thought and
ripen impulses into habits. Early impressions exert a vast in
fluence and are with difficulty eradicated. A coloring mixture
poured upon ice may be removed by a removal of the surface,
but mingle it with the water when freezing, and where is the force
that shall separate them ?
What but the power of early impressions and stirring memo
ries of the days when the grass was greener and the sun brighter
and life sweeter than it will ever be again, has assembled here
today so many old schoolmates, relatives, and tried and loving
friends who have drank together out of the moss-covered bucket at
the Thatcher well, picked strawberries in Chadbourne's pasture,
caught trout in Week's brook, and endured tribulation under the
oastiffations of Reuben Nason. Thus do the sentiments of those
who, though they have long ceased to live, have not ceased to
exert influence, grow into and grow up with those whose minds
are now crystalizing to maturity. They will assuredly become
such persons, to a great extent, as those who have preceded, and
the influences they encounter and the instructions they receive
upon the threshold of life make them. Therefore all inquiries
respecting the characters and doings of these persons, who, one
hundred and fifty years ago today, set up the institutions of
religion and education on this soil, are of great interest and
value to us. They were Puritans by descent, though American

60 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
born and bred, with the exception of one family of Scotch
Presbyterians. Permit me to place before you a Puritan who flourished during
the reign of Elizabeth, and to all allow him to speak for himself.
It seems that certain motions had been made in the English
House of Commons looking to reformation in the church, a com
mittee appointed to report the reforms and petition the Queen.
No sooner had business commenced than the Puritan Peter
Wentworth Esq., member from Tregony, thus delivered himself in
favor of free speech, and against the encroachments of the
crown, — well aware of the peril he encountered.
"Jfr. Speaker : I find written in a little book, ' Sweet is the name
of liberty.' But the thing itself has a value beyond all inesti
mable treasure. So much the more it behooves us to take care
lest contenting ourselves with the sweetness of the name we lose
the thing itself. I conclude that in this house which is termed a
place of free speech, nothing else is so necessary for the preserva
tion of the Prince and State. Two things, Mr. Speaker, do great
hurt in this place. The one is a rumor that runneth about this
house, and this it is, — Take heed what you do. The Queen's
Majesty liketh not such a matter. Whosoever perferreth it, she
will be offended with him, or the contrary. Her Majesty liketh
of such a matter whosever speaketh against it, she will be
offended with him. In every cause we ought to proceed a ccord-
ingto the matter and not according to the Prince's mind. Many
times it falleth out that a Prince may favor a cause perilous to
himself and the whole state. In su ch a case where are we, if
we follow the Prince's mind. How could any Prince more
unkindly treat, abuse and oppose herself against her nobility and
people than her Majesty did the last Parliament? Is this a just
recompense in a christian Queen for our faithful dealing ? The
heathen do requite good for good. How much more is to be
expected from a christian Queen. And will not this her Maj
esty's handling, think you, make cold dealing in many of her
Majesty's faithful subjects in the future ? I fear it wUl. We are
incorporated into this place to serve God and mankind, not to be
time servers, or as humor feeders, or cancers that pierce to the
bone." The members listened with mingled astonishment and
terror depicted on their faces. But when they heard him arraign

ANNIVERSARY. 61
the Queen, and that Queen Elizabeth, (who once said to the
bishop of Ely, " Proud Prelate, you know what you were before
I made you what you now are, and if you do not immediately
comply with my request, by God I will unfrock you," ) the House
interrupted him, ordered him under arrest, and to be examined
before a committee consisting of all the members of the Privy
Council, who were of the House, and fourteen other members,
that he might have an opportunity of excusing his fault ; but in
stead of that, he defended himself, and silenced the committee.
Powerless to reply to this champion of civil liberty, the commit
tee said : " Mr. Wentworth, you might have uttered what you
had to say in better language. Why did you not ? " " Would you
have me, a member of the House of Commons, the place for free
speech, to have done as you of her Majesty's Privy Council do, —
utter a weighty matter in such terms that she should not have
understood herself to have made a fault ? Then would it have
done her no good : whereas my intent was to do her good."
"You have answered us." " Then I praise God for it."
The men who cut the first trees, and planted the first hills of
corn on the shores of Massachusetts and Casco Bays, were men
of this stamp, and their blood flows in your veins. Are not the
principles advocated by this staunch yeoman, at the peril of life,
the same that you have drawn in with your mother's milk, and
been taught at your father's knee ; and is not that noble senti
ment of his, " We are incorporated into this place to serve God
and mankind," the same which actuated those who here incor
porated themselves for a like purpose ?
Eight hundred and forty Massachusetts men bore arms in
Phillip's war. This was the most severe conflict with the sav
ages the colony of Massachusetts Bay was ever engaged in, and
the expenses of this war bore very heavily upon them. Being
destitute of money, they granted to the soldiers who had served
in that war, and to their heirs, seven townships of lands in
Maine, then a part of Massachusetts, and in New Hampshire.
Narragansett, No. 7, fell to the lot of Capt. John Gorham and
associates. These men were the direct descendants of the Pur
itans. Nearly every town on Cape Cod was represented, and
furnished its quota for the settlement of Narragansett No. 7,
to which they gave the name of Gorham, as a mark of respect

62 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
for their leader, Capt. John Gorham. Forty of them were from
Barnstable, thirty-nine from Yarmouth, twenty-two from East
ham, seven from Sandwich, three from Plymouth, six from Dux-
bury, and one from each of the towns of Abington and Scituate.
The most common causes that have led to the colonization of
other countries have been the lack of food, the overcrowded
population. Most emigrate or starve. The desire of conquest,
as the Danes and Normans came into England, — or the greed
of gold that colonized South America with Spaniards.
But those from whom the settlers of this town descended, when
they came to these shores, intended to found, and did found, a
commonwealth on the basis of religion and education and law.
All the grants of their general court were upon the following
conditions, — among others, in seven years to settle sixty fami
lies, to settle a learned orthodox minister, to build a meeting
house, to clear a certain number of acres of land, to reserve a
certain portion of the township for the support of schools, the
ministry, and the first settled minister. They thus at the outset
provided for an educated ministry, and for the education of the
people, and for a house of worship. It was not left to choice or
chance. It is to be hoped and expected, say they, that no mem
ber of this commonwealth will suffer so great a degree of bar
barism in his household, that his children shall not be able to
read the Word of God. The persons meditating settlement on
this soil might have occupied their land and remained as a plan
tation, without fulfilling the requirements above stated, but they
carried out the decrees of the Executive in the spirit with which
they were enacted. As their first act, they prayed to God, and
voted that a meeting-house be built in said town, of logs, and
that fifty shillings be assessed on a right to build it. When, be
fore they could clear sufficient land to raise crops, they were so
hard pressed with hunger that they were often without meat or
bread, and were forced to boil and eat the grain reserved
for seed, and even to boil and eat green beech leaves and
ground nuts, they employed and paid Rev. Benjamin Crocker, a
Harvard graduate, to preach to them as they sat in their log
meeting-house, on pine saplings hewn on one side, supported by
legs with the bark on them, and with their muskets between
their knees, listened to a service to which they were called by

ANNIVERSARY. 63
beat of drum. The growth of the towns that composed this
Republic, and of the country itself, was at first slow ; but it was
natural and healthy, grew out of the habits and character of the
people, and reflected them ; whereas in respect to the numerous
republics that in rapid succession have risen and fallen in the
world, or that have now a name to live, while they are dead,
they have not had such a natural and healthy growth. Their in
stitutions are something put upon them like religion upon a
hypocrite, and have not grown out of the spirit instincts of the
people, and been shaped by them to meet and satisfy a general
want. The steady growth and permanent prosperity of this
town has resulted in a great degree from the occupation, as well
as from the character of its original inhabitants. All progress
comes from tying man down to a piece of land, and compelling
him to obtain his bread from it. So long as man wanders, and
merely gathers what nature offers, he makes little progress. He
has but few wants, they are easily satisfied, and when they are
satisfied, he sleeps. He builds no permanent structures, and
bestows little labor on that which is to be abandoned tomorrow.
His memorial column is a heap of stones, a tree, or a mountain
peak. With only the animal for his competitor, he rises but
little above the level of his four-footed antagonist. A birch
canoe, a bow and arrow, snow-shoes, a sledge, a few rude tools of
bone or of stone, record his progress, and limit his attainments
in mechanics ; but fasten him to the soil, place him in contact
with the forces of the material universe, that he may perceive
and avail himself of their aid. Make him a producer, and at
once new wants arise, that clamor for gratification, and that
stimulate invention. Competition begets effort, arts and sciences
are bom, and leisure and culture follow. What saith the scrip
ture on this point: "The king himself is served from the field."
" He who tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who
foUpweth after vain persons shall have poverty enough." As
insects take the color of the bark upon which they feed, thus
their whole course of thought and act were tinged and shaped by
their religious proclivities. They believed that men were made
of the earth, and the nearer they keep to it, the better and hap
pier they are, and that this idea was foreshadowed by the Crea
tor when he assigned this occupation to the first of the species.

64 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
They loved the soil, and clung to it, and placed ownership of the
land from which they obtained their bread, before everything
else. Elizabeth McLellan expressed the sentiments of her neighbors,
when she said, — " We will risk our scalps for land." The land
was worthy of the risk, for it was fertile and repaid the culti
vator. Place a community On a barren sand or a hungry gravel,
that contributes nothing of itself, from which there is no re
sponse, and the husbandman receives only the value of the dress
ing he put on it, and that community will dwindle ; but the in
stance has yet to be found of failure or lack of progress, where
an industrious race have owned and tilled a fertile soil.
When in 1730, Edmund Phinney cut on Fort Hill the first tree
for the purpose of clearing land to plant, his was the initial act
that, succeeded by others of a like nature, was destined to trans
form the haunts of the wolf and the savage, into homes for fair
women and brave men, where barns should be filled with plenty,
and the oxen feed after their, manner. An agricultural people are
essentially a warlike people, since they produce the men, the
provisions, and the clothing. It surely does not become us to
forget that the contest which rendered us independent of Great
Britain, was fought by farmers, and the expenses borne by the
farms ; that our grandmothers spun the wool and flax, and wove
the blankets and other clothing, and knit the stockings required
during the war ; that every household was , a manufactory, and
every woman an operative. Narragansett was then a frontier
settlement, an unbroken forest extending from thence to Canada,
and from time immemorial it had been the thoroughfare by
which the savage passed from the interior to the sea coast and
the mouths of the rivers, and the exposure was great. The
nerve and resolution manifested by our progenitors in clearing
land of such an enormous growth as this soil then produced, and
subduing and fitting it for tillage, was a triumph over obstacles
of which any body of men might be justly proud.
Hugh McLellan and his son William cut a tree for a mast in
the flat between the Congregational Meeting-house and the old
Female Seminary, on the stump of which they turned around,
without their stepping off, a yoke of oxen, six feet in girth ; the
remains of which were of large size in my boyhood.

ANNIVERSARY. 65
The first man who set foot on this soil with the intention of
making a permanent settlement, was Captain John Phinney, the
son of a Narragansett soldier. He was a pious, energetic man,
an accomplished officer, of clear head and good judgment. He
was so well balanced as not to be confused by sudden exigencies
or discouraged by severe rebuffs, and was the Miles Standish of
the little colony. He came up the Presumpscott River in a light
canoe, accompanied by his son Edmund Phinney, afterward a
colonel in the Revolutionary Army, and then fourteen years of
age. As they were obliged to carry their boat and its lading
around the falls at Saccarappa and Ammon Congin, they took
with them only an axe, gun, and a small quantity of provision
and ammunition. Captain Phinney landed, and proceeding west
about two miles through the forest, selected a spot on the south
ern side of Fort Hill, so named from its becoming the site of a
fort built during the Indian war, and upon the farm since occu
pied by Mr. Moses Fogg. Here the son cut the first tree ever
cut in Gorham, in order to clear land for planting. May 26th,
1736. In the same year Captain Phinney removed his family,
consisting of his wife and seven children, being himself forty-
three years of age.
The present inhabitants of this town have great reason to
congratulate themselves that the most important events, and even
many of the most minute details of the history of their native
place have been so fully and, on the whole, so accurately pre
served, collected, and transmitted to them. This is due to the
fact that the majority of the first settlers were not only persons
of strong natural abilities, and tenacious memories, but lived to a
great age; and thus the links in the chain that connects the
present with the past are comparatively few in number, and
likewise that one family among them was not only very numer
ous, but being nearly related to large families in Portland and
Saco, the number of interested custodians of the manners and
times of our forefathers was multiplied. It is seventy-eight years
since the death of Edmund Phinney, who cut the first tree for
clearing land to plant, seventy-one since that of John Phinney Jr.,
who planted the first hill of corn, and but fifty-two since James
Phinney, the youngest son of the first settler, died at the age of
ninety-three, a man of great intelligence, possessed of a most tena-
6

66 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
cious memory, more especially of dates, events, and the names of
individuals, retaining his faculties till the last, and whose daugh
ter, Mrs. Martha C. Wentworth, is still living to take part in these
ceremonies, to the great gratification of all present. Elizabeth
McLellan, the wife of Hugh, the third settler, died in 1804, aged
ninety-six, and leaving two hundred and^thirty-four living descend
ants ; and it was from her lips that my father took and wrote down
the account of the massacre of the Bryant family. Captain Phin
ney and his family lived the only white family in this wilderness
for two years. Then came Daniel Mosier, then Hugh McLellan.
Others followed till they summed up eighteen families.
PRIVATIONS OP THE PIONBBR.
The hardships encountered by this handful of people set down
in the midst of a dense forest, were at first very great. They
were without a road in any direction, except a mere bridle path
through the woods, indicated by spotting trees, — that is, a slice
of bark and a little of the wood was taken from trees a few rods
aj)art so as to leave a permanent scar. This gave the right
direction and in a direct line, but it could not be followed in the
night. The sloughs and brooks must be waded and the rivers
forded. So difficult was the road for horses that they were seldom
used. We should also bear in mind that those settlers, while
clearing their land and before they could obtain crops from it,
must procure their supplies of various kinds from Portland and
Saco and Scarborough. Their method was to carry these sup
plies on their own backs, or on the back of a horse led by them.
Another way was, when they wished to carry their grist to mill,
(and the nearest mill was at Ammon Congin, now Cumberland
Mills), to carry their grist on their back, two or three miles, to
the Presumpscott, then take a light boat or make a raft, and
when they came to the mills at Saccarappa, carry both boat and
grist around the falls. In this case several went together, or the
women went with the men. AVhen but one or two went, they
made a raft of logs fastened together with withes, carried their
load around the falls, and leaving the raft first constructed to
return on, made another to go on with. The first settlers must
undergo all this toil to obtain bread, or pound their corn in a
mortar, or parch it before the fire, and boil their wheat and rye.

ANNIVERSARY. 67
They were often without wheat for months, and were sometimes
compelled to eat the grain reserved for seed, and even forced as
a last resort to boil and eat green beech leaves. The pioneers
could not live comfortably, as they had no way to clear their
land but by the ax and fire-brand, and their crops must be grown
among the ashes. It was important to burn thoroughly, or nothing
could be raised, and they must therefore set the fires when the
woods were dry, and thus often burned up their first dwellings
that were wretched shelters, not much labor being bestowed
upon them.
I will describe the hardships encountered by a single family
that of Hugh and Elizabeth McLellan, to represent those which
in different degrees of intensity, fell to the lot of all. I do this
for the following reasons : because they began in the greatest
poverty, made the most rapid progress, and because they were,
in the phraseology of that day, Scotch Irish. King James colo
nized the North of Ireland with Scotch and Irish, and the
McLellans went over at that time and their descendants came
over to this country. They were Scotch Presbyterians, a High
land clan set down in New England. One of them, Bryce,,
settled in Portland, James in Saco, and Hugh bought a soldier's
right in Narragansett No. 7, which took all the money he
possessed, leaving him only an old white horse, well-nigh past
labor, a cow, and scanty clothing. His only household utensils .
were an iron pot, skillet, some earthen pans, wooden trenchers in
lieu of plates, and a hook and trammel to hang the pot on, and
which Elizabeth brought over from Ireland in her straw bed.
By settling among the Puritans in Narragansett, they were at
first compelled to encounter the prejudices which then among
protestants attached to all who emigrated from Ireland. Going
on to his land the latter part of the winter to fell trees, McLellan
found an old camp that had been used by lumbermen, much
decayed. He repaired it and spent the winter chopping, and the
last of March went for his family. Nearly all of their household
effects were put on the back of the horse. Elizabeth rode and held
the youngest child in her lap. WilUam, born in Ireland, and then
ten years old, drove the cow, and Hugh, a large framed and very
athletic man, followed with a pack on his back, a musket slung
across his shoulders, and another child in his arms. About four

68 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
of the clock in the afternoon they reached the camp, cold, tired,
hungry, and the children crying, expecting to find food and shel
ter. But during the absence of Hugh, snow had fallen, breaking
in the roof of the camp, and partly filling it with snow and the
broken fragments of the roof. The parents procured some pieces
of bark, scraped out some of the snow and trod down the rest,
spread some hemlock brush over it and their blankets on that.
There was a fire-place built against the back wall of the camp
with stones and clay. In this Hugh built a fire. Elizabeth and
the children lay down with no roof but the sky. The father cov
ered them with what wearing apparel they possessed, and put
light boughs over them. He then took the horse and cow inside
lest the wolves should attack them, and building a fire outside sat
by it all night with his gun across his knees. The next day prov
ing fair, he put on the roof and cleared the camp of snow. It
was built over a large stump, which, being in the center, had
served the lumbermen, the former occupants, for a table, and
answered the same purpose for Hugh's family. Elizabeth told
my father that the sweetest meals she ever tasted were eaten on
that old stump, for they were on their own lands, had a certain
dwelling-place, a thing which had never fallen to their lot before.
Amid difficulties of this nature did our ancestors secure a fast
hold on this soil. THE INDIAN WAE.
To take land from the forest and bring it into tillage involves
hard labor and is a work of time, even with a strong force of men
and cattle, because it takes a year to raise a crop. But they were
destitute of these helps. They had no grass seed to sow, and the
land was left to come into grass of itself, and the first crop was
mostly fireweed that always comes up on a burn. No sooner had
they by dint of toil and suffering subdued the forest sufficiently
to cut a little hay, keep small stocks of cattle, escape the press
ure of pinching poverty, and look forward to better days, than an
Indian war broke out, and for fourteen years they were never free
from the apprehension or actual experience of savage warfare.
For four years they were closely confined to the garrison, and for
seven years partially so, living in their own houses during the
winter, when the savages were not wont to come, as they could

ANNIVERSARY. 69
be tracked, — and in the summer they went out in the day
to plant and sow, returning at night to the fort. They often
labored in squads, part of them working while other kept watch.
Boys were also placed back to back on stumps to look out and
give the alarm. During this period their cattle were killed and
many persons murdered by the Indians.
The four years during which they were confined to the fort
were years of great suffering by reason of sickness. The rooms
in the garrison were small, the only windows were loop-holes.
They were crowded together, there was but imperfect ventilation,
sick and well in the same rooms, no physician, no proper nourish
ment for the sick ; and when the weather was most sultry and the
fresh air most needed, was the very time when danger from the
savages was most imminent.
It was now the spring of 1746. Nine of the families composing
the little settlement had gone into the fort. Four, Bryant's,
Reed's, Cloutman's, McLellan's, were living on their farms, the
rest had fled. Capt. Phinney, well aware of the danger, was
extremely anxious and was urging them to come into the fort
while they were exerting themselves to the utmost to plant and
sow, lest, once in the fort, they should starve. McLellan had built
a substantial log house with bullet-proof shutters and loop-holed,
on the same side of the road on which the brick house now
stands, but further down the declivity and nearer to a spring that
now serves as a public watering place. Reed lived on the next
farm now owned by George Pendleton, Esq. Cloutman lived
just above Reed on the Frost farm, and Bryant about thirty rods
above Cloutman. His house stood in the corner where a town
road crosses the Fort Hill road, and less than half a mile from the
garrison. In the garrison, under the command of Capt. Phinney,
were eleven soldiers furnished by the State of Massachusetts to
aid in defending the fort, and to act as scouts and as a guard to
settlers who were compelled to obtain provisions from Portland,
and to cultivate and harvest their crops. They had, however, to
deal with a foe merciless as the pestilence, who gives no warning
and shows no mercy. Ten Indians, eluding the vigilance of the
scouts, had come into the settlement, resolved to either kill or cap
ture these four families without firing a gun or doing anything
that would alarm the garrison. It is not probable that the

70 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
Indians meant to kill the McLellans but to take them prisoners.
The McLellans were naturally benevolent and hospitable ; having
suffered extreme poverty themselves, they knew how to feel for
others, and were ever ready to divide with those in need. Before
the war the settlers were in constant intercourse with the savages
who were great beggars, and wanted meal, pork, potatoes, and
especially rum. William McLellan, Edmund Phinney, and the
Watson and Bryant children had Indian playmates. Some of the
settlers would give to the Indians because they were afraid of
them, some from kindly feeling, but the majority refused ;
while Elizabeth, who had no fear about her, always gave them
when she had anything to give, saying, "God made them, and
that they had as good right to the soil as her folks, and better
too." Before the Indian war the settlers were not wont to fasten
their doors at night, and often on rising in the morning, Hugh
would find an Indian sleeping on the hearth-stone, wrapped in
his blanket, and the chance guest was never permitted to go
away without eating with the family. A savage never forgets a
favor or an injury, and often when they had plenty would repay
the kindness. Not many days would pass by before a salmon, a
brace of wild pigeons, or a haunch of venison would testify their
gratitude. Mrs. Bryant on the other hand was a boisterous
woman, a great scold, and hated and despised the Indian. When
they wanted to sharpen their knives or tomahawks on the grind
stone, she would drive them away, calling them Indian dogs, and
would never suffer one to enter the house, and even refuse them
a drink of water, saying, " If you once began with them there
was no stopping place." These things were all made a record of
in Indian memories, and the day of reckoning was at hand.
Bryant had made his arrangements to go into the fort, and would
have gone that day, but his wife, who had an infant a fortnight
old, said she would risk her scalp one day longer if he would stay
out and make a cradle, and he consented.
It was now the evening of the 18th of April, the weather being
warm for the season, and quite a fire on the hearth. The Mc
Lellans were sitting with the door open. William came in from
the spring with a pail of water, and had just set it down, when
the dog who went with him, but lingered behind, ran into the
house, growling and his hair bristling. As he was known to have

ANNIVERSARY. 71
a great antipathy to Indians, their suspicions were aroused at
once. They fastened the doors and the shutters, and hung
blankets before the fire that they wished to m:ike use of. They
had four guns, powder and lead, and while Hugh and William lay
at the loop-holes, Mrs. McLellan, behind the screen of blankets,
was molding bullets and making cartridges. The night passed
quietly, but after the war, an Indian told William they had beset
the path to the spring, and could have touched him as he went
by with the water ; but either the recollection of past favors,
or something else, held them back. The night, however, passed
quietly, and when morning came, McLellan yoked his oxen,
resolved to finish his work that day, and go into the fort. He
was about to start for the field, when Reed, the next neighbor,
came to borrow a chain. They told him of the actions of the dog,
but he said he did not believe there were any Indians round,
guessed the dog smelt a wolf, that he should finish his work, and
go in the next day. On his way home, he stopped at the brook,
and got down on his knees to drink ; while drinking, two
Indians jumped ujion him, bound him, and led him away.
On the morning of that day, Bryant's son told his father if he
would help him cover some potatoes that were dropped, he would
help him make the cradle, and they went to the field together.
The Indians during the night had made a hole in the brush
fence that separated the field and pasture, and lay concealed
behind it. The cattle, finding the gap, came into the field.
Bryant and his son drove them out, and as they were putting up
the fence, the Indians sprang upon them. Bryant was a very
swift runner ; he told his son to hide himself in the woods, and
ran himself toward the fort. Paying no attention to the boy,
the Indians pursued Bryant, but finding he would reach the fort
and alarm the garrison before they could overtake him, fired and
broke his arm, and in this crippled state, overtook and killed him.
Mrs. McLellan heard the gun, and told her little daughter Abi
gail to go up to Bi'yant's and see what that gun was fired for ;
but the child, who had heard the talk about Indians the night
before, was afraid to go, and hid herself in the brush. Her
mother finding her, boxed her ears, and sent her off. When she
reached the house, four children were lying on the floor dead
and scalped. Sarah Jane, a little girl of her own age and her

72 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
playmate, whom the Indians had knocked on the head, scalped,
and left for dead, lay in the doorway with her bloody head stick
ing out of it. She knew Abigail, and asked her to give her a
drink of water. Too much terrified to heed the request, Abigail
ran home, and when she reached the house, fell fainting on the
threshold. Her mother put her on the bed, and threw cold
water in her face; she revived, exclaimed '¦'¦Indians!" and fainted
again. Elizabeth blew the horn and fastened the door. Hugh
and William had heard the gun, and the moment they heard it,
they left the cattle and came home. Cloutman was a very pow
erful man ; he was more than six feet in height, and weighed two
hundred and twenty pounds, and possessed courage in proportion
to his strength, and the savages were well aware of it. As he
was about to go into the garrison, and the deer were very trouble
some, and would leap any common fence, he had only the day before
made his field fence very high, putting brush on and top poles.
He was alone in this field sowing grain, having put his family
into the fort. Cloutman had placed his gun against the fence,
and was sowing away from it. Eight of the strongest Indians had
been selected to take him, if possible, alive, as they did not wish
to alarm the garrison, and they lay concealed behind the fence.
Five of them had laid aside their guns, and armed with knives
and tomahawks, prepared to grapple with Cloutman, while the
other three retained their guns, determined to shoot rather than
permit him to escape. He heard them as they came up behind,
and turned around. Seeing there were so many of them, and that
they were between him and his gun, and likewise between him
and the fort, he ran for Bryant's ; but in trying to leap the fence
he had made so high the day before, he fell back, made another
attempt, and fell back. They were now so near that he turned
and put his back against the fence, and faced them. He knocked
down two of them, and hurt them so much that they died before
they reached Canada (as the Indians themselves reported after
the war). He trampled a third under his feet, and would have
mastered all of them if the three armed with guns had not come
up and put their weapons to his breast, when he surrendered; he
was bound and taken by the Indians to Canada, and was drowned
in attempting to escape by swimming across Lake Champlain, in
a stormy night in November.

ANNIVERSARY. 73
During sixteen years of struggle and danger, the settlers main
tained with unshaken fortitude their rehgious character. They
observed strictly the Sabbath, and continued (whether with or
without a minister), to hold their stated services in the flanker
of the fort, or in the meeting-house that was near the garrison,
sitting in church with their guns beside them.
When the Indian war ended with the capture of Quebec and
the downfall of the French power in Canada, the inhabitants
of this town were in a condition of great poverty and had
abundant reason for discouragement. Their cattle had been
destroyed, mills burnt, and roads had returned to their natural
state for want of labor upon them. It was not customary in
those days to sow grass-seed, but to leave the land to come into
grass of itself, and the first crop was generally fire-weed and the
next pigeon-weed. There was very little English hay to be
obtained from it. Very little of the land had ever been plowed,
but the planting and sowing had been on burnt ground, and not
being tilled, it had grown up to bushes.
To recover from adversity and set to work cheerfully to repair
broken fortunes is a greater proof of real stamina of character,
than patiently to endure. But our ancestors manifested a fertility
of resource, a dexterous suiting of means to ends, and ability to
accomplish great results with means, to common view, totally
inadequate, that must ever entitle them to our respect. Their
first resource was the cultivation of the soil, and to this they
applied themselves with the greatest energy. The next was lum
bering, and this also in the winter season they prosecuted with
indomitable resolution and corresponding judgment. In this
latter respect they were met at the outset by great obstacles.
To lumber they must have oxen, and many oxen, a strong team.
The most profitable business was cutting and hauling masts for
the British Navy; but these masts were a hundred feet in length
and three in diameter after they were rough hewn, and the
bowsprits were larger still, though not so long. As they had no
money to buy cattle they must raise them and must have a large
number of young cattle growing up all the time to supply the
place of those worn out or disabled. While they could pasture
large numbers of cattle, they could not raise hay on their small
clearings to winter them. They were not, however, to be turned

74 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
from their purpose. Fryeburg was then a wilderness, and the
intervales along the river produced an abundance of good grass.
They cut this grass, made it into hay, and stacked it. They
next built a log camp to shelter cattle and men. The McLellans
had among them six negroes, others of their neighbors had one
or more. They all united, and in the fall of the year fitted their
negroes out with pork, beans, and molasses and potatoes, who
took the young steers and heifers and drove them to Fryeburg
The blacks obtained a good part of their living by hunting and
trapping, — for deer, moose, and raccoons were plenty, — and in
the spring came home with the cattle. They manufactured
their own clothing, and flax and wool were of great import
ance. They from the marshes at Scarborough obtained salt
hay, which, though it is poor fodder for working cattle, sheep
thrive well on, with a little grain or English hay.
Probably, some one who reads this will be disposed to inquire.
How did they obtain those negroes if they had no money ? I
reply, By knowing how.
Before they could obtain teams able to haul masts, they could
with light teams haul boards and shocks into Portland on the
snow. They had a number of small mills. William McLellan
had three that they built themselves on small streams, in which
they could saw logs spring and fall, and they could cut the logs
on the banks of the streams and roll them in. They could send
this lumber to the West Indies and obtain all the blacks they
wanted, and negroes were not as valuable as they have been
since. As they did all this within themselves, owned the lumber,
cut it, owned the mills, and sawed it themselves and hauled it
with their own teams, though lumber was not high in price, it
paid them well. There is another consideration. None had
much money then, and people had to accommodate each other.
Merchants were very willing to carry lumber on shares ; even
sailors were hired in this manner. A man had so much a month
and a privilege — that is, he was allowed so much room in the
vessel to carry what he liked. The owners, by this arrangement,
escaped paying so much cash. People would often send adven
tures of butter, fowl, and vegetables, onions especially, to barter
them for West India produce. They called them ventures, for
short.

ANNIVERSARY. 75
PATRIOTISM OF THE INHABITANTS.
They had scarcely begun to live comfortably, and to look for
ward to better days, after all their hardship, when the difficulties
with England began to threaten. The patriotism of the men of
Gorham in this new exigency, is sufficiently set forth in the fol
lowing preamble and resolves passed by them in town meeting,
assembled on January 7th, 1773. " Not only may we say that
we enjoy an inheritance purchased by the blood of our fore
fathers"; but this town was settled at the expense of our own
blood. We have still amongst us those whose blood, streaming
from their own wounds, watered the soil from which we raise
our bread. Our ears have heard the infernal yells of the savage,
native murderers. Our eyes have seen our young children wel
tering in their gore in our own homes. Many of us have been
accustomed to earn our daily bread, and listen to the gospel, with
our weapons in our hands. We cannot be supposed to be fully
acquainted with the mysteries of court policy; but we look upon
ourselves as able to judge so far concerning our rights as men, as
christians, as subjects of the British Government, as to declare
that we apprehend those rights, as settled by the good people of
Boston, belong to us, and that we look with shame and indigna
tion on their violation. We only add that our old captain who
for many years has been our chief officer to rally the inhabitants
of this town from the plow or the sickle, to defend their wives,
their children, and all that was dear to them, from the savages, —
is still living. Many of our watchboxes are still in being, —
the timber of our fort is still to be seen. Some of our women
have been used to handle the cartridge and load the musket,
and the swords we sharpened and brightened for our enemies
have not yet grown rusty. Therefore
" Resolved : That the people of the town of Gorham are as
loyal as -any of his Majesty's subjects, in Great Britain, or the
plantations, and hold themselves in readiness to assist his
Majesty's subjects with their lives and fortunes, in defence of the
rights and privileges of his subjects. But it is clearly the opin
ion of this town, that the Parhament of Great Britain have no
more right to take money from us without our consent, than they
have to take money without consent from the inhabitants of
France or Spain.

76 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
" Resolved : That it is clearly the opinion of this town, that it is
better to risk our lives and fortunes in the defence of our rights,
civil and rehgious, than to die by piecemeals in slavery."
This was not cheap rhetoric, but all was meant that was
uttered. At one time every third man in Gorham was in the
army, and when a committee of vigilance, appointed by the
town, made search, they found but two Tories in it. They raised
money to supply men for the army, sent wood and provisions to
aid the poor people in Boston, who were suffering for their devo
tion to their country, and during the entire war, strained every
nerve to aid the cause of liberty.
THE OLD ACADEMY.
The inhabitants of Gorham have ever been peculiarly alive to
the importance of education. When poor, and pressed for bread,
provision was made for schools, and in the trying times of the
Revolution it was the same. Prominent among the educational
forces that have contributed to molding and developing the
characters of youth, was the Academy. Great numbers have
gone from it to all parts of the country, who have been a power
for good in every department, both of thought and of labor. I
was a scholar at that Academy in its palmy days, with Sergeant
S. Prentiss, George L. Prentiss, Cyrus Woodman, John A.
Andrew, Edwin Coburn, and all the Smiths and Stephensons.
As years pass on, I have been surprised to find how many are
still living and occupying important positions, who there received
their early training, and whose fondest associations cling to that
old spot. Incorporated in 1803, the building as it now stands
was finished and dedicated to the interests of sound learning and
religion in 1806, with the Rev. Reuben Nason as principal. As
the school increased in numbers, and the abilities of Mr. Nason
as an instructor became known and appreciated, he was allowed
an assistant. William Smyth and Alpheus S. Packard, afterward
professors at Bowdoin College, were his assistants. A very dif
ferent pedagogue from any of the present day was Reuben
Nason, and upon very different principjles from those in vogue at
this period, was his school discipline based. He was a ripe
scholar, not only in the classics, but also in the higher mathe
matics, and he loved knowledge for its own sake. He was

ANNIVERSARY. 77
addicted to free and easy habits in school, that would not be
tolerated in a teacher at present. He was not a very handsome
man, but of dark complexion, and bilious temperament, with a
stoop in his shoulders. He would read his newspaper in school,
and sometimes forget to take off his hat. He had a singular hab
it, when very deeply interested in reading his newspaper, or in
study, of punching his cheek with his finger. When that unmis
takable evidence of abstraction appeared was the time to whis
per, swap jack-knives, or talk with your fingers ; and it was
generally both anticipated and improved. He would come into
school of a winter's morning, pull off his boots, put his feet to the
fire, and set the class to reading Virgil, without any book to look
over ; but woe betide the luckless wight, who, not having got his
lesson, imagined because as Mr. Nason had no book, a mistake
would pass unnoticed. The least error in translating, pronuncia
tion, or even scanning, which was then much practiced, would be
detected. He. had but one mode of discipline, — flogging, — and
the instrument was a cowhide, which long and frequent practice
enabled him to use most effectively. Incapable of partiality, he
always whipped his own children more severely than any others,
and often when they did not deserve it. One of the kindest
hearted of men in his family, and out of school, and even in the
school-house so long as the scholars were studious. Any infrac
tion of discipline irritated him to such an extent that he lost all
command of both hand and tongue, and plied the cowhide (cow-
skin he called it), with merciless and even frantic severity.
Let a boy be detected throwing a spit-ball, or reading The
Devil on Two Sticks, or Rob Roy, or The Mysteries of Udol-
phus, or more especially writing a billet to a girl, then, my
friends, you would see Jove clad in all his terrors. " Incorrigible
rascal ! " " stupid dolt ! " " unmitigated scoundrel ! " emphasized and
driven home with blows from the cowskin, that not only left
their impress on the delinquent, but on the bench itself (when a
blow was dodged), testified the depth of his indignation. The
exercises of the school were commenced and closed by the read
ing of the scriptures and offering prayer. Mr. Nason was accus
tomed to open his eyes at intervals during prayer, and the con
sequences of being caught transgressing at such a moment were
something terrible. But the virtues of the good old man far

78 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
overbalanced his infirmities. He was a noble scholar, he had the
good of his pupils at heart, and they knew and appreciated it.
His certificate that a boy was thoroughly fitted, rendered the
College examination a mere form. Dui-ing the twenty-three
years he taught in Gorham, he did much to promote the interests
of sound learning, and exerted an influence that will long con
tinue to operate. UNCLE BILLT.
It was customary at that time to warn persons out of town
unless they owned land or had other property and were of such a
character as rendered them worthy and useful citizens. The
McLellans owned land, though in other respects poor enough ; but
there was a prejudice against them in the minds of most because
they were outlandish. Some said they were Irish, some said they
were Roman Catholics, they must be, for they came straight from
Ireland. Capt. Phinney resolved to judge for himself and called
on them. He was hospitably received and invited to eat with
them, which he did, although they had not much to offer but a
warm welcome. At his return he said to his neighbors, " Those
are the sort of people we want. They are poor, very poor, but
unless I am very much mistaken, they will not long remain so.
With a hundred of them I would face all the Indians between
here and Canada."
Capt. Phinney, a soldier and accustomed to judge of men by
their bones and sinews, conceived a great liking for William, who
began even then to give token of the strength and cool daring,
that in manhood so distinguished him ; for beneath an exterior as
rough as the coat of the rhinoceros or the alligator, he concealed
the noblest traits of character, and was as free of heart as strong
of hand. No danger could deter or difficulties prevent him from
accomplishing his purposes. He married Rebecca Huston and
accumulated a large property. As they were universally beloved
and respected and had a great number of relatives, of nieces and
nephews, though without children, they were always spoken of as
Uncle Billy and Aunt Becca, by the younger part of the
community. In default of juvenile books, the young of that day availed
themselves of the information to be gathered from the talk of

ANNIVERSARY. 79
aged people whose lives were in themselves a romance. No char
acter ever stood out in such bold relief before my youthful vision
as that of Uncle Billy. It was my privilege to spend a portion
of my childhood, boyhood, and early youth in the family of his
sister, and in that of his brother at the old homestead, the old
brick house, and you may be assured' that the characters of
William, Hugh, and Elizabeth lost nothing in their hands. Aunt
Warren used to say to me as I sat on the block in the chimney-
corner, with both hands on her knees, looking up in her face and
listening, " Elijah, they never had any town poor in Gorham as
long as brother Billy lived;" which indeed was not without some
share of truth, for my mother, who was her niece, testified to very
much the same amount. At one time, said the old lady, a bear
kept getting into brother's corn and plagued him dreadfully.
He waked up in the night and said to his wife, "It is such a
bright moon I believe I can chalk my gun b.irrel and shoot that
bear.'' He went out, and in little less than an hour he killed the
bear. He then called up the two hired men and they skinned
and dressed the carcass. He had heard that afternoon his pigs
had broken out of the pasture and the Poundkeeper had locked
them up. He told the hired men to take one of the hind quar
ters of the bear, carry it up to the village and lay it on the
Poundkeeper's door-step, then break the Pound and drive the pigs
home. Brother Billy said he thought he had done a very decent
night's work, — killed a bear and got his pigs out of pound.
The enterprise of William McLellan was not confined to his
native town. Jane McLellan, his sister, married Actor Patten of
Topsham, and when William had cut all the trees suitable for
masts that he could lay hold of in Gorham, he went to Topsham,
and together with his brother-in-law. Patten, cut masts on the
banks of the Androscoggin, rafted and took them through Merry-
meeting Bay to Portland, by no means an easy task, considering
the distance and the gre.at size of the sticks.
Uncle Billy owned a part of some vessels with the McLellans
of Portland, and he with his wife were accustomed to send adven
tures in them, generally in a vessel of which my grandfather,
Joseph McLellan, who likewise was a brother-in-law to Uncle
Billy, was master. Capt. Joseph, ready for sea, came to Gorham
to take leave of his relatives, and said : —

80 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
" Aunt Becca, what do you want for your venture this time ? "
"I don't know what I want; don't know as I want anything."
" Do you want sugar ? "
" No, we 've got a barrel of sugar in the house now."
" Do you want coffee ? "
" No, we 've got a bag of coffee left from the last venture."
" Well, you must take some kind of West India truck, for they
won't give you the gold for a venture."
" Why don't you have a nigger ? " said Uncle Billy.
" Well, I don't know but I would as soon have a nigger as any
thing else."
" But," said the Captain, " the venture won't bring the nigger,
you will have to pay boot."
" Well, get him, and tell them the next trip you will pay the
boot in hogshead shocks."
When the Captain returned, he brought a Guinea negro, a boy
of eighteen, from Antigua. They named him Prince McLellan,
and Uncle Billy bought a helpmeet for him, Dinah, and after her
death, another, Chloe. Prince was not of large size, but in youth
he was very muscular and extremely agile. During the Revolu
tionary war, he ran away and shipped on board Capt. Manly's
privateer, and being discharged in Boston, came back of his own
accord to slavery. Prince always took pride in telling that the
first work he did was to drive the team that hauled the shocks to
pay the boot necessary to purchase himself. When the slaves
were emancipated in Massachusetts, Uncle Billy said to him :
" Prince, you are your own master now, you can go or stay."
" Well, Massa, guess I 'U hab my liberty."
" If you go, you shall not go empty-handed."
His master gave him a horse and cart and told him to take
what he wanted. Prince loaded the cart with provisions and
what he considered most needful, put Chloe on top and set forth.
They went on to the town of Wells and there took up their
abode. In less than a year the town of Gorham received notice
from the town of Wells that Prince and Chloe McLellan were
chargeable. When Uncle Billy heard of it, he said that no town
should take care of his blacks, and went after them and brought
them home. Prince told the neighbors " he was nebber so glad
in his life as he was to see old Massa."

ANNIVERSARY. 81
Not long after this, his master gave to him and his wife twelve
acres of land and a house, during their lives, and ten acres of pas
ture land to him and his heirs. He had before this given the
farm adjoining to his nephew, William McLellan, and he gave to
Prince an entailment on that farm, that the occupant of it should
provide everything comfortable for Prince and his wife in their
old age. Prince lived to be nearly a hundred, and his wife,
Chloe, with whom he had lived two-thirds of a century, died only
two years before him.
Thus to provide for his two servants, after they had left him of
their own accord, shows in a strong light the noble character of
WiUiam McLellan.
Uncle Billy was a member of the church, under " the half-way
covenant," as it was called, which permitted persons of good moral
character, by assenting to the Articles of Faith, to have their
children christened, though not to partake of the Sacrament.
My father, the Rev. Elijah Kellogg of Portland, married
Uncle Billy's niece, Eunice McLellan, and was a frequent visitor
at the homestead. Uncle Billy always requested him to conduct
family worship, and used on such occasions to put into his hands
an old King James Bible of very fine print and much worn and
stained by time and use. In addition to this. Uncle Billy had, in
cases of necessity, strapped his razor on it. " Squire McLellan,"
said the clergyman, one evening, " you are a man of property
and standing in the community, and have a great deal of com
pany here. You ought to have a better family Bible than this."
To which Uncle BiUy replied that he thought they could get as
much out of that as they practiced. " But you wUl not be able
to get anything out of it much longer, as you are growing old and
the type is small and very indistinct." His guest then went on to
say that some Bibles were then being printed in sheets, of very
large type, and persons subscribed for the numbers and then had
them bound, at a greater or less expense, as they pleased, and
named the price of the sheets and the prices of the different
styles of binding. Uncle Billy thought it was too much money
to pay out for a book, for that amount of money would buy a
yoke of light cattle or two good cows. He then inquired if it
would contain the Apocrypha, as he thought a great deal of the
Apocrypha. His relative said that it would, and added that
7

82 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
he need not pay the money, that he would buy the sheets, have
them bound, and send the book to Mr. McLellan, and the latter
could pay him in wood. Uncle Billy said he did n't care for the
wood ; " bring on the book."
In due time the Bible came, and Uncle Billy was delighted
with it and could read it without glasses. He soon loaded a cord
of rock maple wood, and with four oxen started for Portland.
He had not proceeded far, when coining to a bad place in the
road, the sled turned completely bottom up,
"Damn the Bible, Apocrypha and all," cried Uncle Billy.
Struck with horror, he stood for a moment in silent amazement,
then fell on his knees in the snow and repeated the Lord's
prayer, unhitched his cattle, and, much cast down in spirit,
returned home. The next day he had the church called together,
told them what he had said, and asked them to turn him out.
" Mr. McLellan," said the minister, " are you in the habit of
using such language?"
" Never used such language before in my life."
" How, then, came you to do it ? "
"I suppose the suddenness of the thing jumped it right out
of me."
" Have you confessed your sin to God, and asked forgiveness
for the same ? "
" I have. "
" You confess it before this church, and ask forgiveness of
them ? "
« I do."
" And you never intend to repeat it ? "
" No, so help me God ! "
" Well, you can do no more than to confess, repent of, and
forsake sin. You cannot undo it."
" I think there ought to be something done to me. If there
had not been some dreadful bad stuff in me, the sudden start
could not have brought it out, and it stands to reason, that a man
who has such wickedness in him ought not to be in a church."
The church accepted his confession, but he could not prevail
upon them to inflict any penance.
My friends, the men who laid the foundations of sound learn
ing and religion on this soil and whose bones molder beneath

ANNIVERSARY. 83
it, were not persons of culture and scholarship. Many, most of
them, were Uke WilUam McLellan, rude in speech and rough in
manner, but in aU the strong points of character, in all that goes
to make up a true manhood and contributes to the progress of
society and the perpetuity of great principles, they were not
lacking. Neighbor stood by neighbor to the death, the needy
divided their morsel with the needy, and toil was no drudgery to
men who beUeved that labor performed in a right spirit becomes
worship. Poor, they made many rich. Not enjoying the advan
tages of education themselves, they provided them for others.
They were content to face hardship, danger, and death, that their
children might be better situated than themselves, and reap what
they had sown. We, in common with the inhabitants of these
New England States, owe a debt of gratitude to our forefathers,
not easy to overestimate.
Men born, reared, and educated in towns and at schools and
academies and colleges built upon foundations similar to those
here laid, have gone to all parts of this great country, bearing
with them their household gods, to create for themselves homes
of a similar character and to sow the seeds of good principles
around them, and to establish institutions of learning similar to
those they left behind them. For more than forty years the
people of the New England and the Middle States have been.
exerting this influence in the far West. We gave them money
with no grudging hand to build meeting-houses, academies, and:
colleges. Our best talent went to fill their pulpits and professor
ships. Along the chain of the great lakes, the tow paths of the
canals, on the banks of the Dubuque, Missouri, and the Wiscon
sin, the colporteur, the missionary, and the school teacher followed
the sound of the ax and the smoke of the clearing fires. They
dropped the seed of the Word into the rut of the emigrant's
wheel, and pressed the water of life to his thirsty lips. In log,
camp, sod-houses, and dug-outs, children were taught to read,
write, and cipher, and Jesus and the resurrection were preached.
The result of these quiet, unobtrusive efforts, little known
by the world at large, came to the surface when the call to arms
rang through the land, and the plow was left in the furrow, the
hammer on the anvil, the plane on the bench, and the free States
stood up together, shoulder to shoulder, in the proud conscious-

84 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
ness that from San Francisco to Machias they were one. The
cohesive power of kindred institutions, advocating gospel princi-
ciples, deciphered itself to the world. The grain-grower of the
Prairies said to the lumberman of the Penobscot, " My broth
er, give me thy hand. I am as thou art, for whither thou goest
I will go ; and where thou lodgest I will lodge ; thy people shall
be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest will I
die, and there will I be buried ; the Lord do so to me, and more
also, if aught but death part thee and me."
And the Mausoleum at Gettysburgh, consecrated to a nation's
dead, is the fulfilment of a promise written in blood.
It is for this reason that we, with patient toil, investigate and
enshrine in our hearts, and upon occasions like this, transmit to
our children, the principles of those who have gone before us,
that youth, who are now taking the bent, and forming the hab
its which they will probably retain through life, may neither taint
the blood nor ignore the teachings of an ancestry whose toils
have rendered possible the progress of the present, and placed
them in circumstances which, while they present opportunity, at
the same time compel responsibility.
Mr. Kellogg's address occupied about an hour and a quarter>
and afforded great delight to the eager and attentive audience.
The speaker was frequently interrupted by hearty applause,
which at the close of the address was very enthusiastic, and long-
continued. When it had subsided an original hymn by Prof.
Henry L. Chapman, Bowdoin College, was sung by the chorus,
accompanied by the band, to the air of the Russian National
Hymn. HTMN. I.
Hallowed by memories sacred and tender,
Riseth the past on our welcoming sight ;
Ours are its victories, but Thine is the glory,
Father of Mercies, and God of all might !
II.
Hopeful and radiant beckons the future.
Stretches before us the way none can trace ;
Fearless we foUow, for Thou art our leader.
Father of Mercies, and God of all grace !

ANNIVERSARY. 85
in.
Child of the centuries. Home of our fathers.
Theirs was the patience that wrought thine increase.
Ours be the loving and loyal devotion
Laid at thy feet, where we gather in peace.
IV.
Thou, ever merciful, God of our Fathers,
Guiding their feet through a pilgrimage sore.
Look on their children, and grant them thy goodness.
Guide them, and shield them, and bless evermore.
Immediately after the singing of this hymn came several short
addresses upon topics relating to the history of the town. The
speakers were introduced in a happy manner by the President of
the day, and the topics assigned them were duly announced by
him, as follows, viz. :
"The Lawyers of Gorham;" responded toby Judge John A.
Waterman. JUDGE waterman's ADDRESS.
We are told that Ferdinand of Spain, in sending colonies to
the Indies, provided that they should not take with them any
law students, lest suits should get a footing in the new world,
mistakenly judging, perhaps, with Plato, that "lawyers and phy
sicians are the pests of a country."
Whatever may have been the temporary effect of such precau
tions upon Spanish colonies, is it not a somewhat significant fact
that Spanish authority in North America, at one time of such
vast extent, has so nearly disappeared, while that of those En
glish colonists who brought with them not only their religion,
but the common law of England, has become so powerful, and is
still increasing and extending itself ? Our Puritan ancestors, in
the spirit of the compact made upon the Mayflower, almost con
temporaneously with the meeting-house and school-house, estab
lished judicial tribunals, and provided ways and means for a vig
orous administration of the law.
In Maine, even before the province had acquired that name,
the people were not indifferent to their needs in this respect, and
we find that as early as 1636, Gov. William Gorges set up a court

86 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
in the western part of the State, then called the province of New
Somersetshire, the first term of which was held at Saco on the
21st of March of that year, 1636.
It is refreshing to notice how soon and how summarily the
strong arm of the law began to be exercised, for on the 25th of
March, only four days after the court was established, four per
sons were before it, and fined each 5s, 8d for drunkenness, and
not very long afterward one of the traders of that day had the
wholesome discipline of the law applied to him, being indicted
for charging a profit of more than five per cent on the goods he
sold. It was not, however, until the beginning of the present cen
tury, when the population of Gorham had increased from the
single family that settled here in 1736, to about twenty-five
hundred inhabitants, that the town had a lawyer of its own,
in the person of John Park Little, a native of Littleton, Mass.
He graduated at Brown University in 1794, was admitted to the
bar in Massachusetts in 1799, and opened his office in this town
in 1801. He remained here until his death, in 1809. It is rather
suggestive of the estimation in which lawyers were held by the
Gorham people of that day, that when it was known that Mr.
Little intended to settle here as a lawyer, there was very decided
opposition to it — not to him personally — but to having a law
yer in the town. So strong was this sentiment that the people
met in the meeting-house on a Sunday, after the regular ser
vices of the day, and almost unanimously voted against his com
ing. Whether they threatened to strike, in case he came, or to
boycott him, does not appear ; but one thing was unmistakable,
they did n't want him to come, and they said so in plain English.
And yet that was perhaps no plainer speech than twenty years
before they had uttered in regard to their " pious and learned
Orthodox minister," when they voted " that Mr. Thacher should
no more carry on or hold forth in the pulpit." But uninviting as
was the prospect, Mr. Little came, and he proved, as we are told,
" a man of great worth, faithful to the duties of his profession,
highly respected for his moral and social virtues, having the full
confidence of his friends and townsmen," and, — what must have
seemed a dispensation of Divine Providence — "a pillar of the
church" which had so bitterly opposed his coming. He built

ANNIVERSARY. 87
and occupied for a short time the large three-storied house now
standing on Main Street, known as the Webb house.
Several other lawyers came here before Mr. Little's death, but
none of them remained long. As nearly as I can learn they were :
1 Peter Thacher, son of Hon. Rev. (or Rev. Hon.) Josiah
Thacher, who practiced here, and at Saccarappa also, for a short
time, and whose affections, I suspect, were transferred to the lat
ter place, as he bequeathed to the town of Westbrook two thou
sand dollars for the support of public schools there, but did not
remember Gorham in his will.
2 Samuel Whitmore, who was a native of Gorham, and a
graduate of Dartmouth in 1802. He read law with Mr. Little,
and opened an office here about 1806, with every prospect of suc
cess. He was chosen colonel of the regiment in this vicinity,
and is described as a brilliant young officer as well as lawyer.
But his career was very brief. He died August 27, 1808, at the
age of twenty-eight.
3 Barrett Potter, also a graduate of Dartmouth, who came
here in 1805, but the next year removed to Portland, where he
spent the remainder of his honored life. He was judge of pro
bate of this county for about twenty-five years.
4 Joseph Adams, a graduate of Harvard in 1805. He first
settled in Buxton, but soon removed to Gorham, and practiced
law here until 1821. He was county attorney for many years,
and when the convention was held in Portland in 1819, at which
the constitution of Maine was adopted, he was one of the dele
gates from this town. He moved to Portland in 1821, and
remained there in practice until his death in 1850. Mr. Adams
was regarded as a sound, judicious lawyer, an upright man, and
a valuable citizen.
5 Jacob S. Smith, a native of Durham, N. H., also a gradu
ate of Harvard. He opened an office in Gorham a short time
before Mr. Little's death, and continued in active practice about
thirty years. He then bought a farm near this viUage, upon
which he lived for nearly thirty years longer. He afterward
removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where the last fourteen or fifteen
years of his life were spent, and where he died in 1880, at the
age of ninety-four years. During the active practice of his pro
fession he was thoroughly devoted to it, and had the reputation

88 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
of being a wise counselor, an honest lawyer, and an estimable
and honored citizen.
Josiah Pierce conimenced practice here when Mr. Adams
left, in 1821. He was a native of Baldwin, Maine, and a gradu
ate of Bowdoin. A man of rare intellectual gifts, well educated,
a great reader, endowed with a tenacious and ready memory,
fond of society, possessed of charming conversational powers,
and spurred by a wonderful activity, both of mind and body, he
filled a prominent place in his profession and in the other walks
of life. He was often honored with public office, as selectman,
representative and senator in the Legislature, and as judge of
Probate for more than ten years.
As orator at the centennial celebration fifty years ago today,
he did much to awaken special interest in our local history, and
at the request of the town he prepared with great labor and
painstaking research the present history of Gorham. After an
honorable and successful career of more than forty years he
died in 1866, at the age of seventy-three.
Elijah Hayes came here from Limerick in 1833. He possessed
a good deal of shrewdness and tact, and was quite successful as
a practitioner. He had acquired a very good reputation at the
bar, and had his full share of business, which was rather- on the
increase, when his sudden death occurred, in 1847.
The other lawyers who have practiced in this town, exclusive
of those now living here, were Thomas H. Goodwin, Henry P.
A. Smith, Charles Danforth, John W. Dana, and Alvah Black.
They were all men of more than ordinary ability, as they proved
in other localities where they afterward resided, as well as by the
favorable impressions they made upon this community while liv
ing in Gorham ; but they did not find the field sufficiently attract
ive, and remained here only a comparatively short time. All are
dead but one, the Hon. Charles Danforth, an honored and beloved
member of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine for nearly
twenty-five years. Serus in coelum redeat.
While this is not the occasion for eulogy, nor defence of the
legal profession, I think it worthy of notice that during the past
eighty-five years this town has been remarkably free from a litig
ious spirit, that fewer suits at law originating here, and between
its inhabitants, have found their way on to the court dockets, or

ANNIVERSARY. 89
have required trials, than in almost any other town of its size in
the State, and further, that not a lawyer ever got rich here by
the practice of his profession.
Gorham has also sent forth many sons, native and adopted,
who in other localities have been distinguished members of the
legal profession. There is time, however, for mention of but
two or three.
One of the most prominent among them was Stephen Long
fellow, a native of this town, whose professional life was spent
in Portland. His great eminence in his profession, his upright
ness and integrity in the practice of it, and his pure and blame
less personal character were befitting one who could claim such
an honorable ancestry as his, ',' and, departing, leave behind him"
a name to acquire through his son, the poet and " man greatly
beloved," additional honor and fame.
Randolph A. L; Codman was another distinguished lawyer,
who went from Gorham, where he was born in 1796. He was a
man of brilliant talents, a dignified and courteous gentleman, an
eloquent advocate, and an accomplished and successful member
of Cumberland Bar. He also resiled the greater part of his pro
fessional life in Portland, where he died in 1853.
There is one other to whom I must allude, whose name, I
doubt not, is already in the minds of many who hear me ; one
whose boyhood and youth were spent in Gorham, and who com
menced his legal studies here ; whose attachment to the town,
and to his Gorham friends, was strong and life-long ; who, after
years of absence, and when his reputation as a lawyer was
already established, and he was almost the idol of his adopted
State, still longed for old Gorham, and said he remembered it so
distinctly that he could tell any alteration that had taken place
in the village, even to the naUing on of a shingle — and declared
that he could go on the darkest night along the banks of the
Great Brook, — his favorite fishing haunt, — and getting down on
his hands and knees by the old familiar holes, could find the iden
tical hooks he had lost when fishing there twenty years before.
I speak his name, not because the people of Gorham do not know
to whom I refer, but because I know that they always love to
hear it spoken, and are always glad to honor the name of Sear-
gent S. Prentiss. I need not dwell upon his eminence and sue-

90 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
cess in his chosen profession, — as a lawyer winning verdicts from
juries who sometimes reported to the court that they had found
in favor of Laieyer Prentiss, or astonishing and profoundly
impressing the couit by the gravity and importance of his legal
points, and the clear and cogent reasoning with which he argued
them in his law cases, — his patriotism, the broad nationality of
his views as a statesman, and his fearless and chivalrous advo
cacy of them, nor upon his fame as an orator, whose strong, rich,
and wonderfully modulated voice, now high, clear, and inspirit
ing, rang out like a clarion over the vast assembly he was
addressing, rousing and electrifying, and straining to the high
est tension the minds of his hearers, or in tones as melodious
as the notes "of flutes and soft recorders," calming and soothing
their excited spirits, hushed them to silence and melted them to
tears. Is it strange that Gorham dwells with pride and delight upon
the name and fame of such a son ?
AUow me in closing to propose The Memory of Seargent S.
Prentiss : the able and eminent lawyer — " the eloquent orator,"
the fearless patriot: claimed as their son by both North and
South, and worthy of their united admiration and honor.
" The Schools of ' Auld Lang Syne,' " responded to by Geo.
B. Emery, Esq. MR. emery's address.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :
The people of Gorham have long been noted for their culture
and noble maintenance of schools of learning. For a period of
twenty-eight years after the first settlement, there was, however,
no public school. Those who had the means sent their children
to other places, while others received private instruction at home.
At the first town meeting, after the town was incorporated in
1764, it was voted to raise for the purpose of a school forty
pounds — one hundred thirty-three dollars — no mean sum for
that time. At the same meeting the town voted to " improve
" Mr. John Greene as a schoolmaster.
For about forty years after the town was incorporated, there
was but one school district — that was the whole town, and its
affairs were managed in town-meeting — the selectmen employed

ANNIVERSARY. 91
the teachers. Early in the present century the management of
schools was taken from the town, and the present school district
system established. One of the original school-houses, it is
believed, is used for that purpose to this day — the one in the-
Whitney district, about two miles northwest of Fort HiU. The
meeting-house of the town was built in 1764, and stood on the
parish lot, just north of where Mr. Simon E. McLellan now lives.
It was used as a place of worship till 1798, when the present
Congregational church was built. The town then voted to give
the old house "to the Corner School Class." This house was a
wooden, one-story building, with flat roof, a huge fireplace in one
end, and the seats and desks rising as they ran back to the wall,
with an aisle in the middle.
This was the first building used exclusively for school purposes
in this district, and in it many a veteran schoolmaster held des
potic sway — the longest incumbent being Nathaniel Phinney.
Master Phinney, as he was familiarly called, was a descendant of
Capt. John Phinney, the first settler of the town. He lived on
the place, till recently known as the Woodbury place. Mr.
Phinney was not only a schoolmaster, but a farmer, a teacher of
music, a magistrate, and held at various times almost every office
within the gift of his \fellow-townsmen. I have heard my father
say he could well remember his tall, upright bearing, as he stood
in the singing seats of the old church, leading the choir, beating
the time with one hand, while in the other he held the tything-
man's rod, a staff some six feet long, painted black, with one end
white, a warning to all unruly urchins. In those days noisy gath
erings of men and boys at the corner of the streets on the Sab
bath, loaded teams from the country, and driving parties from
the neighboring city, could hardly escape the watchful attention
of Master Phinney. The schools in those days were very unlike
the present. The studies were elementary, confined to reading,
spelling, writing, and '* cyphering," knitting stockings, and sew
ing patchwork. Within the recoUection of some now among us,
in a country school kept by a young woman, a lady sent one of
the small editions of Murray's Grammar by her daughter, with
the request that she might be taught grammar. The " school-
marm " considered herself insulted, and made an appeal to the
people of the district, who took her part, and insisted that they

92 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
would have "no aristocracy taught in their school." To quell
the small rebellion, the good woman was obliged to withdraw
her daughter, and the obnoxious book also. The brick school-
house on South Street was built in 1826. The first teacher in
this house was Mr. William Ashley ; the second, my father. Pos
sibly some within the sound of my voice can tell better than I
about that school. Certainly I have heard it remarked. What a
" floggin' " your father once gave me in that school-house.
In 1802, a petition headed by Judge Stephen Longfellow, pray
ing for an Academy to be located at Gorham, was presented to
the legislature of Massachusetts. Colonel Lothrop Lewis, at
that time Representative from Gorham, was an able man, and his
efforts were successful. The charter provided for fifteen trus
tees, and their first meeting was held June 1, 1803, and for three-
quarters of a century the old Academy did splendid service,
which was felt throughout New England. The Trustees of the
Academy have been wise, able men from the beginning, usually
the practical business and professional men of the town, and
sometimes neighboring towns. Of the original board. Father
Bradley died in 1861. I recall the trustees of my school days, a
body of white-haired, venerable men. I see them now as they
come into the hall on examination days, and take their seats upon
the stage, men of character and marked individuality, every one.
There is Father Bradley, four-score and more, heavy in feature
and figure, but full of shrewd philosophy, who could scarce open
his mouth to speak without perpetrating a joke. General Irish,
with military step and commanding air, and opinions very posi
tive. Captain Robie, smaller in stature, but keen, swift, alert,
with finest business sagacity. Doctor Waterman, slight and bent
in figure, moderate and dry in manner, his whole being tremu
lous with the fiash of his wit.
The eloquent, brilliant Judge Pierce ; Dr. John R. Adams,
the beloved pastor, who, his successors say, must have been the
great minister of the town; the quiet, but efficient Emery; the
conservative, methodical Jameson ; the scholarly Chas. A. Lord ;
the genial Rev. John W. Chickering, d.d., complete the list, all
of whom but the last named are now dead. Later the honest,
whole-souled Stephen Hinkley, and Rev. William Warren, d.d.,
of honored memory, were added to the board.

ANNIVERSARY. 93 '
The first principal of the Academy was the accomplished Reu
ben Nason, and among the earlier assistants were Professors
Smyth and Packard, later of Bowdoin College. Mr. Nason was
a small-sized, dark-complexioned, quick-tempered, nervous, eccen
tric man, superior in the classics, a great lover of good scholars,
and a strict disciplinarian. Under his care the school prospered.
He occupied on the southerly side of the great chimney in the
old schoolroom a circular desk, and his assistant a similar desk on
the opposite side of the chimney. Many a story is yet told of his
goodness and severity. In 1835 Rev. Amos Brown was chosen
principal. The first catalogue gives his assistants as Rev. Thomas
Tenney, Mr. George L. Prentiss, Miss Margaret Woods, Miss
Hannah Lyman. Doctor Prentiss is said to have been a St. John
from his infancy. John A. Andrew, the great war governor of
Massachusetts, an angel in everything but figure. At this time,
through the efforts of Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy, then pastor of
the Congregational church, money was raised, and the seminary
built, and in 1840 the school had increased to three hundred stu
dents. Mr. Brown w^as a man of presence and positive qualities,
that might have commanded an army.
In 1847 Mr. Edward P. .Weston succeeded to the head of the
school, under whose administration the Maine Female Seminary
was established, the boys falling to the charge of D. J. Poor,
under the corporate title of Gorham Male Academy. Mr. Wes
ton was a man of fine address, of exceeding versatility, less the
schoolmaster than Mr. Brown, more the magnetic than the
dynamic, of amazing readiness of resource, excellent judgment of
men and measures, in fine, one of the most accomplished men
Maine ever produced. Of the pupils of the Academy, now
eighty years old, there is a host now living and scattered every
where. And what shall I say more, for the time would fail me to tell
of old Masters Morrisy and Bangs, of Edmund Mann, Charles
Hunt, and Mrs. McDougal, of Capt. Saul C. Higgins, Mrs. Pea
body, and Mrs. Martha Hight Holmes, now living, and a great
cloud of teachers who have obtained a good report, yet were not
made perfect without great trials with some of us.
Thus the Fathers laid the foundations for national strength
and greatness. That they built wisely, let the result of the
great rebellion tell.

94 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
The same institutions, endowed and maintained, according to
the increase of wealth and demand, can alone be the pledge of
the nation's future security and glory.
The National Hymn, "To Thee,0 Country,"— music by Eich
berg — was then sung by the chorus. The words of the hymn
are as follows : —
To thee, O country, great and free.
With trusting hearts we cling ;
Our voices tuned by joyous love.
Thy power and praises sing.
Upon thy mighty, faithful heart,
We lay our burdens down ;
Thou art the only friend who feels
Their weight without a frown.
For thee we daily work and strive.
To thee we give our love ;
For thee with fervor deep we pray
To Him who dwells above.
O God, preserve our fatherland.
Let peace its ruler be.
And let her happy kingdom stretch
From north to southmost sea.
" The business men of Gorham " was responded to by the ven
erable Edward Gould, Esq., of Portland.
EDWARD Gould's address.
I certainly feel much honored and gratified to be present on
this anniversary.
A native of this town, and living here my first eighteen years,
I have naturally a vivid recollection of those, my early days. I
can look back to the year 1808, and see the stately form of John
Park Little walking from his splendid new house to his law
office ; and I retain the recollection of other events of that pe
riod, such as the ordination dinner, at my father's house, of Rev.
Asa Rand, in January, 1809.
I witnessed the removal of Preceptor Nason's effects when he
left for Freeport in 1810.
I have been requested to speak of the men and business of
those days, included in the twelve years from 1811 to 1823.

ANNIVERSARY. 95
The principal storekeepers were Capt. David Harding, the
Robies, Capt. Eben Hatch and Alexander McLellan. The latter
had been a successful blacksmith tiU about 1812, when he opened
a store on the hiU. These aU acquired good reputations for en
terprise and success.
The business was mostly by barter, or exchange of goods for
lumber and country produce, which was in time reconverted into
new supplies for their stores.
With the e-.ception of Capt. Hatch, these merchants were
largely engaged at times in the packing of beef for West India
markets, and in farming occupations. They also had cooper
shops, employing many men and grown up boys. The cooperage
business was prominent in this village. About ten shops within
half a mile were sending out their enlivening clatter.
The stores secured much of .the trade on the line of the road,
through the notch of the White HiUs to Vermont. The long
trains of loaded sleighs, which came in the winter over the Fort
Hill road, were imposing spectacles. Of course, nearly all were
bound for the larger market of Portland, but many stopped here
over night at the taverns. At times when the sleighing to Port
land was poor, much of their trade was here, especially in heavy
goods. The viUage was alive with active mechanics, each trade
represented by two or more, thus securing competition. There
were chaise and wagon makers, sarldlers, blacksmiths, masons,
carpenters, hatters, tailors, and extensive furniture shops. Sam
uel Edwards, at first a maker of wooden clocks, and possessing
much ingenuity, ventured on brass time-pieces, repairing watches,
and the casting of sleigh-bells, and other articles of brass, cop
per, and iron.
Samuel Gilkey, an ingenious house carpenter, had the temerity
to undertake the manufacture of linseed oil, in the basement of
George L. Darling's shop. With a scanty supply of flaxseed, a
grinding mUl turned by one horse, and a press subject only to
hand leverage, his operations were not large.
That business was left to more successful minds in other places.
The trade of the place was so interwoven by exchanges, turns
and offsets, without the use of much ready money, that the most
skUlful and prudent were the most successful, as usual.
The travel and teaming from the back towns to Portland was

96 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
very extensive, passing along day and night, with large carts
]oaded with boards and cooperage, hauled by oxen.
The waterf.ills of the town were converted to useful purposes.
Beside the more common mills, valuable works by WiUard But-
trick, and subsequently by Peter Whitney, were located at Little
River, beyond Fort Hill, for the coloring and dressing of woolen
cloth, woven by the wives and daughters of the farmers. Good
fuUed cloth, suitable for men's clothes, was extensively provided
here during the war of 1812, and afterward.
The hard-working men were not without their recreations.
Beside the military trainings of four times in the summer, the
general muster of the regiment, formed from the towns of Stand
ish, Gorham, and Scarborough, always paraded here. Especially
the town was honored with the Grand Brigade musters of 1812
and 1816, held in the Jewett pasture, in near proximity to this
spot. Other exhilarating customs were the raising of buildings
and the haulings, with two long strings of thirty or forty yoke of
oxen each, and Col. Frost, with his stentorian voice, giving the
command. The farmers and mechanics, I think, gave their services with
out charge on those occasions, in conformity to custom, and
the exciting and often comic and ludicrous proceedings of the
occasion. The highly respectable lawyers, Joseph Adams and J. S.
Smith, the minister, physicians, and academy preceptor and oth
ers, with the social library, tended to promote the moral and
religious sentiments of the community.
The prompt action of the property holders in 1817 and 1818
saved Gorham Corner from being cut off by an opposition road
from beyond Fort Hill to James Mosher's, making nearly a
straight course from Standish to Saccarappa, saving to the up
country people a mile in distance, and the obnoxious hills of the
old road. Prompt measures were taken to counteract this meas
ure, and by an early survey of the route of the Standish road as
now traveled, and another to Saccarappa, good substitutes were
offered, shortening the distance nearly the same, and retaining
the travel through this village.
As an inducement it became necessary to make a large private
subscription to relieve the town in part of the burden of build
ing the roads.

ANNIVERSARY. 97
Before the decision of the court on the conflicting routes, a
bond was signed, and contract made with the selectmen by David
Harding, Toppan Robie, and Thomas McLellan, that they would
build the two roads (Standish and Saccarappa), and pay all land
damages, for three thousand five hundred dollars, they relying on
the private subscriptions for the balance. This agreement was
signed January 14, 1818. (Amount of subsciiption not known.)
On account of this inducement, and for other reasons, the Cir
cuit Court ordered the roads' to be laid out by Cornelius Barnes,
July 28, 1818 :
Land damages on the Standish route,  $1,027
Saccarappa  765

Total, $1,792
The roads were built and finished during 1818 and 1819. I
had the honor myself of working on them, and was allowed
therefor about one-quarter of my father's subscription of sixty
dollars. The solid men of Gorham have continued to be awake to
secure other convenient modes of travel, such as the straighter
roads to Gray and Buxton lower corner, and the railroad, all of
which have been built since I left the town. The Academy, the
Normal School, and the Soldiers' Monument, the Town House,
and the churches, are (some of them at least) enduring witnesses
to the public spirit, zeal, and pertinacity of some of your men
who were foremost in securing their location here.
I will only add respecting myself, that after leaving the Acad
emy in August, 1821, 1 served two years in the variety store of
Alexander McLeUan, who also kept the post-office. Here, by
the nature of his varied business, I had an opportunity to form
industrious habits, and to obtain a good knowledge of men and
things. In response to " The Clergymen of Gorham," Rev. Edward
Robie D.D., of Greenland, New Hampshire, spoke as follows : —
eev. dr. robie's address.
I am happy, Mr. President, to be permitted on this occasion to
say a few words in memory of the clergy of Gorham. We have

98 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
heard this afternoon that at the time the General Court of Mas
sachusetts made a grant of seven townships to the Narragansett
soldiers, it was imposed, as one of the conditions of the grant,
that the persons to whom it was made settle a learned Orthodox
minister, and set apart a certain portion of the township for his
support. It is on record that the first settlers of Gorham did so.
At the very first meeting of the proprietors it was voted to build
a meeting-house for the worship of God in this town, thirty-six
feet long and twenty-six feet wide, and to make provision for a
preacher. The name of the first minister was Benjamin Crocker.
But my memory does not go back to those early times. The
first minister of Gorham I ever saw was Rev. Asa Rand. At the
time of his leaving Gorham in 1822, I was too young to have
much personal remembrance of him now, but I remember well
the reverence and love with which my father and mother used to
speak of him. I remember also with what regard and honor he
was received by the people when some years afterward he spent
a day in this place. I believe it would require some of the best
and richest words in the English language to tell the indebted
ness of this town, or of the people of this town, ior their general
intelligence, their knowledge of Christian truth, their high moral
and religious character, to that one man, Asa Rand. He was
obliged to resign his ministry on account of ill health, some bod
ily infirmity. He moved to Portland, and started the Christian
Mirror, the first religious newspaper in the State, and one of the
first in the country. For a time he was editor of the Boston
Recorder, and by his writings, as well as by his ministrations in
the pulpit, he was an eminently useful man, and "being dead, he
yet speaketh."
His successor, the minister of my childhood, was Rev. Thad
deus Pomeroy, whom many of you here present well remember;
an able, efficient minister, a chronic invalid, yet a constant
worker. Sometimes on Saturday he would be prostrate with an
attack of bleeding at tlie lungs, and on Sunday he would preach
his two sermons, and hold a service in the evening, as though he
had never been sick ; ever quick and ready in speech and action,
sometimes, perhaps, too quick. He was fond of a good horse,
was reputed to have the best horse in town. Once having spent
a winter at the South for the benefit of his health, he came home

ANNIVERSARY. 99
from Savannah, Georgia, all the way on horseback, walking the
horse nearly the whole way, for it was a fast walker; and I
remember that on the day after he reached home. Dr. Peabody
and other citizens went to his house, or rather to his back yard,
to see the horse which had brought their minister home on this
journey of nearly a thousand miles.
Mr. Pomeroy was interested in village improvements, and had
a row of shade-trees planted the whole length of the street on
which he lived, superintending the work with his own hand. He
had in his garden a nursery of fruit trees, and was glad to give
them to those who would cultivate them, and taught the farmers
how to bud and graft them. He was greatly interested in the
cause of education, and was the chief agent in enlarging the old
Gorham Academy into Gorham Female Seminary, which for a
number of years was quite a noted institution. He traveled all
over the State to obtain funds for its endowment. He was a
wide-awake man, and endeavored to keep his people awake.
One Sunday afternoon, when he observed that the congregation
was drowsy, he paused in his sermon, and asked the choir to sing
the doxology. After they had done so, he resumed his discourse,
and had the attention of the people to the end. He did not hes
itate to reprove and rebui<e as well as exhort with all fidelity and
affection, and sometimes his hearers felt hurt by his remarks ;
but I have no doubt that the smart they felt was needed and
deserved. He was a whole-souled, generous man, one who in
Christian simplicity and godly sincerity, and not with fleshly
wisdom, but by the grace of God, had his conversation in the
world, and more abundantly among this people. When he had
been dismissed many years, and was an old man, he made you a,
visit, and you gave him quite an ovation, alike honorable to him
and to yourselves. Since his day you have had a numerous suc
cession of ministers. I don't know as I can recaU the names of
all of them; Davenport, two Adamses, Strong, Parker, Ferris,
Huntington. The trouble is, within the last fifty years you have
had too many ministers. Why, when you have a good minister,
why do you not keep him fifty years ?
I must not forget on this occasion to speak of ministers of sis
ter churches here, who, however separated in forms and minor
matters, have been united in love and in the zealous pursuit of

100 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
the same ends, and with like success. I remember a Methodist
preacher. Elder Lewis, whom I loved to hear, whom everybody
loved to hear, who had a voice loud enough to make the deaf
hear, and who used to inspire all who heard him with something
of the same loving enthusiasm which evidently filled his own
soul. Other ministerial brethren might be named, as Abbott,
Jaques, Morse, Hutchinson, Colby, Wetherbee, Tyrie, Jones,
Bragdon, and among the Free-will Baptists, Bean, Hutchinson,
and the venerable Elder Newell, and doubtless many more not
personally known by me, whose excellent and useful Christian
ministries have been of great benefit to the people of the town,
and whose influence is still felt among them. These sister
churches and brother ministers of different name have been
working harmoniously together for the same noble end, of pro
moting Christian righteousness and truth in this community.
Our country towns are not what they once were. The coun
try town life, which used to be the glory and strength of New
England, is largely a thing of the past. Great manufacturing
cities have risen, and have sucked into them the life of the coun
try. The spinning-wheel has left the farm-house, and gone into
the city. The country tailor and harness-maker, hatter and shoe
maker, carpenter and cabinet-maker, and blacksmith, have fol
lowed. The few mechanics, tradesmen, and farmers even, that
remain, find their line of work and of business different from what
it was fifty years ago. I should be trespassing on forbidden
ground on this occasion were I to presume to give the causes of
this changed condition of things. But the fact of the change is
apparent to every observer. This changed condition of things
affects the country churches and the country clergy. When I
was a boy yonder church used to be filled with a congregation,
one-half of whom, I think I may say two-thirds of them, came
in their carriages, many of them three or four miles, to church.
How many families now attend these village churches from a dis
tance of three or four miles ? Much is said of the unchurched
masses in our cities, and our practical Christianity has a hard
problem to solve, and a hard work to do, in elevating and Chris
tianizing the masses in our cities. But I apprehend that if a fair
census were taken, it would be found that* the scattered popula
tion in the outlying districts of our country towns who do not

ANNIVERSARY. 101
attend church, exceed in numbers those in the cities ; and if the
question be as to their moral condition, which is the better or
worse, it would not be easy to answer. Still the country town
is the constituent unit of our political life. The country town-
meeting is the primary school of our great republic, and not
withstanding the increasing influence of our rapidly growing
cities, the welfare of our republic, the healthy Ufe of our nation,
is yet more dependent upon the condition and character of our
country population. May old Gorham keep up her character.
The best and noblest monument we can erect to the memory of
our fathers is a pure and upright character. The clergy m ly
pass away, the form of church organization be dissolved, but the
principles which they represent, and for which they are supposed
to stand, must be maintained if our beloved republic is to live.
May they not only be maintained, but continually strengthened,
and as the years and centuries pass on, may the character of our
people be lifted nearer and nearer to that perfect standard of
righteousness set before us in the teachings of him whom God
hath sent to be the king of truth, the Lord of all. So shall our
prosperity be as sure and certain as the movements of the stars,
as lasting as are the laws of nature, which are laws of God.
Doctor H. H. Hunt, of Portland, a native of Gorham, and for
many years an able and successful practitioner in this town, was
caUed upon to speak for " The Physicians of. Gorham."
DR. hunt's response.
In response. Dr. Hunt said he had prepared some exceedingly
interesting remarks, but owing to the lateness of the hour, would
detain the audience only long enough to cite the dreadful fate of
one of Gorham's physicians who early forsook the ranks of his
brothers, and who today, instead of standing proudly at the head
of his profession, is found in the governor's chair.
After music by the band. President Robie proposed "The
Ladies of Gorham," adding that " the magnetism of their intel
ligence, their virtues, and their beauty, have attracted many a one
of the youth of other towns to come among us for his better
half."

102 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
Rev. George Lewis, of South Berwick, whose wife, a daughter
of the late Hon. Hugh D. .McLellan, is a lineal descendant of
Elder Hugh and Elizabeth McLeUan, responded briefly and
gracefully. It is to be regretted that Mr. Lewis' felicitous speech
can not be given in full, but the following is all of it that the
¦committee have been able to obtain.
REV. GEORGE LEWIS SAID : 
If I could respond to this sentiment, as happUy as I have
lived for the past twenty years with one of the women of
Gorham, you might well be proud of your representative. It is
sometimes asked why there is so little said about women in his
tory ; it is because man writes her history, or rather does not
write it. Wherever civilization goes, woman goes. She travels
ahead of th^ minister, the lawyer, the teacher, and side by side
with the doctor. Life without woman would be too dreadful to
contemplate. She is God's best and greatest gift to the world.
It was hoped that Hon. Cyrus Woodman, of Cambridge, Mass.,
would respond to the following sentiment, but he was unexpect
edly called away by telegram.
" The towns of Buxton and Gorham represent No. 1 and No. 7,
two of the seven Narragansett towns which were given to the
soldiers of the memorable Narragansett fight in 1675, by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The early traditions and fam
ily connections of the towns of Gorham and Buxton come from
the same heroic and brave ancestry. Hand in hand, shoulder to
shoulder, these two towns have stood together in all the conflicts
of civil liberty, material and social advancement. We have here
today a native of Buxton, who was educated at our Academy,
who is a worthy representative of Narragansett No. 1, the Hon.
Gyrus Woodman, of Cambridge."
Rev. Joseph Colby, a worthy and beloved army chaplain, was
expected to respond to the following: — "The Veteran Soldiers
of Gorham in the War for the Union."
Mr. Colby was unavoidably absent, but that, had he been
present, he would have paid an honorable and deserved tribute
to the memory of the soldiers, none who know him and his
personal loyalty and devotion to his country, can doubt.

ANNIVERSARY. 103
The last address was by Charles W. Deering, Esq., who re
sponded to "Agriculture in Gorham."
c. w. dbering's address.
Mr. President :
It was the custom in the early days of the Christian era, to
reserve the best of the wine tUl the last of the feast. But sir,
today, you have seemed to reverse this order. You think that
those who are not tired out with the oratory of the doctors,
lawyers, and ministers, can stand a ten minutes speech from a
farmer. the FARMERS OF GORHAM IN 1736, AND THE FARMERS
OP GORHAM IN 1886.
As we take a retrospective view of the circumstances which
surrounded our forefathers one hundred and fifty years ago, the
obstacles they had to contend with, and to overcome, the dangers
that stood in their every pathway, not only from the wild beasts
of the forest, but from the more savage and wary Indians, may
we not pause and ask ourselves the question, should we have
been equal to such emergencies ? Should we, like Caleb of old,
have felt that we were able to possess the land ? The first settlers
of our town were from a noble stock, the direct descendants of
the Pilgrims. Almost all the first inhabitants were from the old
Colony ; nearly every town on Cape Cod contributed one or
more settlers for Narragansett No. 7 (which is now Gorham).
The wives and daughters of the first settlers of Gorham shared in
all the toils and wants of their husbands and fathers. They
used to labor in the fields and the forests, carry burdens, go to
mill, gather the harvests, and assist in the defences of their house
holds and their property. Our early inhabitants partook largely
of the character of their ancestors. They were a hardy, enter
prising, virtuous race of men, of indomitable courage, unbending
firmness, uncompromising integrity, sober, industrious, frugal,
and temperate in aU things. They were distinguished for endur
ing fortitude, and open-handed hospitaUty. Rigorous was the
climate, thick and heavy were the forests they had to clear, and
hard the soil where they chose to dwell. Here a countless train
of privations and sufferings awaited them, privations and

104 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
sufferings that might have made the less brave and energetic
quaU. Cold and hunger, and fear of midnight slaughter,
or cruel captivity by savage bands of Indians, was their
portion. Under this load of evUs, what, but a firm belief in the
sacredness of their cause, and the consolation derived from the
sublime truths of Christianity, could have sustained them ? To
their religious behef, their exemplary lives, their untiring perse
verance, and indefatigable industry, are we indebted for the
blessing of freedom, plenty, and knowledge, now enjoyed by our
citizens. Great are our obligations to our brave and virtuous
fathers ; great also to our noble and heroic mothers, who dwelt
here in the first and middle of the last century. Though we
have often heard of their labors and sufferings, it is difficult
fully to appreciate them. Their misery was great ; for months
they had neither meat nor bread, and often they knew not where
to get food for the morrow, yet in all their wants and trials,
their confidence in the goodness of God was never shaken. The
first sixteen years after the settlement of Gorham were years of
great anxiety and suffering ; at one time all the provisions the
family of Capt. Phinney had for some days, were two quarts of
boiled wheat, which had been reserved for seed. And notwith
standing all their poverty and the circumstances which were so
much against them, yet by their indomitable courage and perse
verance, they surmounted every obstacle that came in their
pathway. "Advance " was their motto. We have no accurate
data by which to determine the number of the inhabitants, or
the amount of their property, prior to the Revolutionary War.
In 1772, there were seventy-seven horses owned in town; at
that time there were but four men in town that owned two
horses each.
The farmers of Gorham, as a class, have been bold and
courageous, enterprising and industrious. Perhaps their thrift
and increase of wealth cannot be more clearly shown than by
referring to our town valuation of fifty years ago, and comparing
it with the town valuation of today. In the year 1835, the town
valuation was one hundred and twenty thousand and forty-six
dollars. In the year 1885, the town valuation was one million,
two hundred and twelve thousand, one hundred and two dollars,
which gives us an increase of more than tenfold in our valuation

ANNIVERSARY. 105
while the poll tax payers have not increased fifty per cent in
number for the last fifty years. And when we consider the fact
that the increase of our population has been very slight, that
there has been a constant draft of our best citizens to the large
cities and to the Great West ; and also that within the last half
century we have passed through a four years' Civil War, wherein
many of our most noble farmers and citizens laid down their
lives to maintain the Nation's Flag and the Nation's Honor, and
the Freedom and Liberty which we now enjoy. I say in consid
eration of these facts, and the enormous taxes that have been
paid for war purposes, we stand in wonder and amazement at our
own wealth and prosperity today. And should we ask the ques
tion, " Can this ratio of increase of wealtli be continued for the
next fifty years?" we doubt if one could be found who would
dare to say it can be. And yet "Advance " is our motto.
There has been a wonderful improvement in all agricultural
implements. Today you have seen the old wooden plow of fifty
years ago, superseded by the new steel plow and the sulky plow ;
the hand scythe by the many improved mowing machines ; the
sickle and the cradle are superseded by the great reaper and
binder of the West ; the old wooden tooth harrow is followed
by the Thomas smoothing harrow, the Shares harrow, or the
Disc harrow. These are all labor saving utensils, some of them
saving labor more than one hundred-fold. And yet there is
room for improvement, not only in agricultural implements, but
in the management of our farms.
We find prominent among the farmers of the first century
after the settlement of Gorham, the names of Phinney, Alden,
Longfellow, Lombard, McLellan, Mosher, Morton, Merrill, Irish,
Whitney, Robie, and many others too numerous to mention here.
Many of the families of these noble pioneers occupy the same
farms today that their ancestors settled on one hundred years
ago or more. But what a contrast between the early days of the
settlement of this town, and the present time. Instead of the
dense forests, inhabited by the wild beasts and the savage
Indians, today we see the broad fields of grass and grain, waving
under a high state of cultivation, and yielding an abundant
harvest. The soil tUled with implements of modern improve
ment, and the crops are harvested with mowers and reapers, and

106 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
with a rapidity that astonishes the world. Several of our farms
in Gorham produce annually more than one hundred tons of hay
each. Gorham has nineteen District schools, two Free High
schools, and a State Normal school located here, and six churches
with regular preaching upon the Sabbath, which gives us one
school for about every one hundred and fifty inhabitants, and one
church for about five hundred and fifty inhabitants. The farm
ers of Gorham early learned to co-operate in self defence, and
also in the maintenance of public education and public Worship.
When the Revolutionary War broke out, the inhabitants of
Gorham felt the full weight of 'the responsibilities resting on
them, and bravely determined to be faithful to their sacred trust ;
faithful to themselves, and faithful to posterity. They avowed
themselves ready at all times to aid the cause of freedom. The
people of Gorham have always been noted for their great liberal
ity. When Portland was burned by a British fleet in October,
1775, the people of Gorham sent teams and men to assist the
distressed inhabitants in saving their effects, and moved many of
them to this town. And again at the great fire of July 4th, 1866,
at Portland, Gorham furnished timely aid. The supposed value
of Narragansett No. 7, was twelve hundred pounds at the time
it was located. But History says that the first one hundred and
twentieth part of this grant that was sold, was sold for five
pounds, which makes the real market value but six hundred
pounds, or less than three thousand dollars.
We find that the farmers of Gorham have held many respon
sible positions of trust and office, and have always acquitted
themselves, both with great credit to themselves, and the good
old town they represented. Gorham has furnished, since the
year 1882, one of the best governors the State of Maine has
ever had, and has the material for many more ; and should we
be called on to furnish a representative to Congress, or a United
States senator, or even a vice-president, we should be most
happy to respond. Much more might be said in behalf of the
farmers of Gorham, but the lateness of the hour forbids any
extended remarks, and I forbear.
Mr. Deering's address was followed by the singing of America
by the chorus and the audience generally, accompanied by the

INDIAN STATUE AND INDIANS.

ANNIVERSARY. 107
band, and the exercises were closed by the benediction, pro
nounced by Rev. Dr. Edward Robie.

THE SHAM FIGHT.
This part of the celebration was graphically described in the
Argus of the following day, by an eye witness, whose account it
has been thought better to republish verbatim, than to attempt a
new description. It is as follows : —
" Some time before the afternoon exercises in the tent closed,
the band of athletic Indians, led by their chief, Presumpsaukett,
came dashing into the field in which the tent was pitched, sound
ing their war-whoops, and made for a large tree about half-way
across the field toward the woods. Here they held a brief coun
cil, and then began to execute a vigorous war-dance. Then the
big medicine man harangued them, bidding them be brave as she-
bears in the fight, and as merciless as she-wolves to the van
quished. Scarcely had the speech ended, when a sharp-eyed sav
age spied a white scout on the edge of the woods beyond the
three log huts that stood, looking like souvenirs of pioneer times,
at irregular distances from one another in the grassy field. Rais
ing a horrible war-cry, the Indians grasped their guns, and
started for the rash scout, fleet as the deer. But it happened
that the scout was not alone. He was backed by the C. A. War
ren G. A. R. Post, of Standish, under the command of the bold
Captain E. A. Wingate, and the reception the Indians received
from their rifles checked their headlong speed quite suddenly.
Then, to add to the confusion of the redskins, several well-aimed
shots were fired at them from the nearest log hut, and two of the
savages fell, mortally wounded. The Indians were very cautious
for a while, skulking behind trees, or lying flat on the ground.
The almost incessant crack, crack of the guns died into silence.
To the scouts in the woods it appeared as if the Indians had
abandoned the field. One of the scouts incautiously attempted
to reach the nearest log hut, but just as he was weU away from
the shelter of the woods, suddenly the savages were upon him.
He was taken prisoner. After a brief consultation, one of the
redskins began to drive a stake mto the ground, and others

108 ONE HUISTDRED FIFTIETH
brought kindling-wood and placed around it. The fate of the
unhappy scout was evident. He was to be burned alive. Alas,
his comrades were too few to rescue him, and so his soul went
up amid the crackling flame and the yells of the savages. The
redskins then captured one of the empty log huts, and put the
torch to it. But their triumph was of short duration. The big
cannon of the fort on the hill had sounded the note of alarm,
and the brave members of John R. Adams Post, of Gorham,
Capt. Theodore Shackford, commander, were coming at full
speed to the succor of their fellow-whites. They came upon the
savages like a whirlwind, and utterly routed them, killing or tak
ing as prisoners the whole band. This fight was intended to
partly represent that attack of the Indians during the seven
years' war on the garrison at Fort Hill, when they surprised four
members of the Bryant family outside the stockade, and killed
in cold blood all but one, Mrs. Bryant, and her they carried
away as a captive." EXERCISES OF THE EVENING.
The following very interesting account is taken principally
from the Daily Press of the 27th of May, and gives in an
admirable manner the impressions made upon the writer of it by
this part of the exercises. THE EVENING CELEBRATION.
The handsome decorations of the day were fairly outdone by
the beautiful appearance which the people of Gorham gave to
the village in honor of the celebration in the evening. Every
where could be seen through the branches of the trees the
vari-colored lights of Chinese lanterns, and fireworks were being
constantly displayed. The square at the corner of Main and
School streets was rendered about as light as day by long lines
of Chinese lanterns extending completely around its four sides,
while a profusion of other lanterns added to the brilliancy of the
scene. The Normal School boarding-house, opposite the Acad
emy, was a blaze of light, and from Academy Hill fireworks were
being constantly displayed. At sunset the section of the battery
fired a final salute, while the residents of the village with their
friends were gathering at the Academy building and other points

ANNIVERSARY. 109
of interest. The crowds had not apparently diminished to any
great extent, evening trains bringing about as many as they took
away. WhUe the throng at the Academy waited for the recep
tion to be given in the haU up stairs, interest centered in the
collection of relics in the old schoolroom below.
The settlers of this historic town have left behind them many
curious and valuable reminders of the lives they led, the dangers
with which they were beset, and their struggles with the red
men. The ladies of the vUlage, under whose care the collection
was placed, had gathered as many as possible of these tokens of
by-gone days, and much interest was shown in them. The rooms
were handsomely draped with bunting, and the walls hung with
portraits of old residents.
A very ancient heirloom was a spinet, made in London at least
two hundred years ago. The case is finely inlaid, and the keys
when touched produce a twanging sound. It formerly belonged
to Madame Wendell, whose second husband was Parson Smith, the
first minister of Portland. The cradle made for Madame Wen
dell was among the relics, and did not appear very much worn
out despite the fact of its use during five generations ; also the
elaborate robe in which Parson Smith was christened. Near by
hung the muster-roll of Captain Oliver Hunt's Company, May
5th, 1795. Among the articles upon the table were the musket
and canteen carried by Charles Thomes in the Revolutionary
War, and the canteen carried by Job Thomes in the War of
1812 ; a flax comb used in 1777 ; a pitcher that was brought over
in the Mayflower; a machine on which suspenders were woven
in the olden times ; a mustard jar and a mug, at least one hun
dred and fifty years old; a mould for casting pewter spoons, also
very old ; aU loaned by Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Roberts. An ancient
beef-steak dish, pickle dishes, canteen, pewter platter, one hun
dred and fifty years old, and the " sampler " of Betsey Thomes,
marked by her in 1781, loaned by Mrs. Ezra Thomes. The
sampler contains the following bit of personal history : —
Betsey Thomes is my name.
And English is my nation ;
Gorham town is my dwelling-place,
And Christ is my salvation.
Betsey Thomes of Gorham
Aged 14: 1781.

110 ONB HUNDRED FIFTIETH
A coffee mill one hundred and twenty-five years old, loaned by
WUIiam H. Lombard ; a shoe once belonging to Mrs. Captain
Joseph McLellan of Portland, a daughter of old Hugh ; a silver
teaspoon more than one hundred years old, loaned by Mrs. F.
G. Cousens ; an old surveying chain once belonging to Solomon
Lombard ; the sign of A. Davis, 1803 ; a tin kitchen seventy-six
years old, loaned by G. Rounds; the two oldest Bibles in the
town and another ancient volume, being the Elements of Algebra
by John Kersey; a gold ring and ear-rings over two hundred
years old, loaned by Mrs. Thomes ; spoons one hundred and fifty
years old, and the porcelain bowl used by Parson Lancaster;
bellows one hundred and fifty years old, loaned by Mr. A. L.
Hamblen. In the case of arms was the sword worn by Lieutenant-Colonel
McLellan in the Revolutionary War, a cannon-ball found near the
house of Mr. Roberts on Fort Hill, supposed to have been fired
from the cannon on the old Fort ; the barrel of the gun with
which Captain " Billy " McLeUan is said to have shot several
Indians ; old guns owned by Mr. W. H. Lombard ; and, coming
down to a later date, the musket carried in the late war by
Captain Colman Harding.
The cane of Colonel Shubael Gorham, one of the three grantees
of the town, was sent from New York for the occasion by its
present owner, Mr. William F. Gorham of that city, a lineal
descendant of Colonel Shubael. The cane is very long and
heavy with a massive head of ivory, the stick being of malacca.
Upon the silver band at the head is the inscription," D. Gorham,
1754." Other articles in the exhibit were, a framed bill of sale
of Cornelius Waldo's negro slave Ned to John Phinney, in 1782 ;
a pin belonging to Mary, daughter of old Hugh McLellan ; Indian
arrow-heads, and so many other equally valuable relics that it is
impossible to name them all.
THE RECEPTION.
While the guests were gathering in the hall in the second
story. Chandler's band, stationed outside, played a finely selected
programme. The reception room was made resplendent with
decorations and was filled with people. Over the door a very
handsome crimson banner, the gift of Mr. Beal, the decorator

ANNIVERSARY. Ill
bore, in golden letters, the inscription, "Narragansett No. 7,
1736-1886." Under a canopy at the end of the hall stood the reception
committee, composed of Governor and Mrs. Robie, Judge and
Mrs. Waterman, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hinkley, Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Ridlon, Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe G. Harding, Mr. and Mrs. E.
H. F. Smith, Rev. and Mrs. H. S. Huntington, Rev. and Mrs.
F. A. Bragdon, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Clement, Mr. and Mrs.
Albion F. Johnson, and Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Burnell, to receive the
distinguished guests in the name of the ancient town. After a
short time devoted to social intercour.<e and the renewal of old
friendships. Judge Waterman called the assembly to order and
introduced Rev. George L. Prentiss, d.d., of New York, who now
delivered the address which had been expected from him in the
afternoon, but which, in dBference to his wishes, had been post
poned until the evening. His theme was " Recollections of
Gorham Fifty Years Ago."
DR. PRENTlSs' ADDRESS.
In 1836, not long after the one hundredth anniversary of the
town, I ceased to be a resident of Gorham, and my visits to it,
during the intervening half century, have been but few and far
between. I have known but little of its later history. Most of
the faces before me are the faces of utter strangers. And yet
the sight of these once familiar scenes has awakened in me a
host of sleeping memories. Indeed, ever since receiving the
invitation to be with you on this occasion, my thoughts have
kept flitting back through the fifty eventful years that separate
1886 from 1836, and I have reaUzed, as never before, what I owe
to my native town ; how much in the way of mental and spiritual
training ; what precious friendships ; how many of those bright,
youthful hopes and aspirations, that shed such radiance upon Ufe.
And I have rejoiced anew in being a son of Gorham ; where else
could I have been born to a goodlier heritage ? From what other
point in the vastness of space could I have entered upon this
wondrous stage of existence under happier auspices, or with
fairer outlook ?
"Heaven lies about us in our infancy." My cradle seems to
have been rocked on the very verge of the kingdom of God, as if

112 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
the Lord had given his angels charge concerning it. In truth, is
not a Christian home, in miniature at least, the veritable kingdom
of God on earth? No; I would not, if I could, exchange my
birthplace for any other spot on the round globe. These things
do not come of mere chance :
'¦ It is the allotment of the skies.
The hand of the Supremely Wise,
That guides and governs our affections
And plans and orders our connections."
My acquaintance with the Gorham lying this side of 1836, I
repeat, is very slight; but not so with the Gorham lying far
away in the past just on the other side of 1836. With that my
acquaintance was close, and my recollections of it are vivid and
full of pleasantness. In my mind's eye I still see the aged men
and women, the fathers and mothers, the young men and maid
ens, the boys and girls of the town, as they appeared five and
twenty years ago. I see them in their homes, at work in the
fields, moving along the ancient highways, walking the village
streets, sitting together in thes chool, in the academy, and in
the house of God. I see them going in solemn procession to
the place of burial and standing by open graves. I see them
assembled, like one great family, and rejoicing together on festal
days, when their hearts were glad. I can call them all by their
names. The lapse of time has invested some of them with such
an ideal aspect, that no gallery of portraits by renowned masters
of the art could equal them in dignity and grace. Especially is
this the case, when I go back to the old farm in West Gorham,
where first I saw the light. Bygone images and scenes of that
home of my chUdhood steal into my mind, to borrow the words
of Coleridge, " like breezes blown from the spice islands of Youth
and Hope — those two realities of this phantom world." First
of all and irradiating all, rises before me the image of my sainted
mother, who taught me how to pray, to trust in God, to foUow
Christ, and live for Him and His cause. Can I ever forget those
Sabbath evening hours, when I used to kneel down close by her
side, and hear her commune with her God and Saviour, even as
one talketh with a friend ?
I count it a favor of Providence that my boyhood was
seasoned with the genial influences of nature. I delighted to

ANNIVERSARY. 113
wander through the woods and pastures, to watch the changing
aspects of the sky, and to indulge in bright day-dreams, while
listening to the music of rippling brooks, or lying on the grass
under the trees of the orchard and hearkening to the songs of
birds. The earliest incident that I can recall carries me back to
the summer of 1819, when I was three years old. I refer to the
death of my honored grandfather. Major George Lewis, whose
name I bear. I remember well how my soul was touched with
mingled awe and ¦«'onder, as I looked upon him lyiug in his
shroud. Another never to be forgotten incident was my first
visit to Portland, when seven or eight years old. Wild with
excitement, I was chasing butterfiies along the road leading to
our neighbor Watson's. Suddenly a voice, I can almost hear it
now, called me to the house and told me, to my infinite delight,
that I was going with father to Portland. What a ride, as
through fairy land, was that ! I have journeyed since far and
wide; have visited many famous cities, at home and abroad;
have once and again crossed and recrossed the ocean ; but the
ride to Portland with my father on that midsummer afternoon
my first glimpses of the beautiful town, the strange, tall-masted
ships, and the wide sea stretching away beyond, gave me a shock
of astonished, rapturous emotion, which surpassed, I think, aught
of the kind I have ever experienced since.
Among the strongest impressions of those early yehrs is the
district school, which my brother Seargent thus described in his
New England address delivered at New Orleans twenty years
later : —
Behold yon simple building near the crossing of the village road ! It
is small and of rude construction, but stands in a pleasant and quiet
spot. A magnificent old elm spreads its broad arms above and seems to
lean toward it, as a strong man bends to shelter and protect a child. A
brook runs through the meadow near, and hard by there is an orchard,
but the trees have suffered much and bear no fruit, except upon the
most remote and inaccessible branches. From within its walls comes a
busy hum, such as you may hear in a disturbed bee-hive. Now peep
through ycmder windows, and you will see a hundred children with rosy
cheeks, mischievous eyes, and demure faces, all engaged, or pretending.
to be so, in their little lessons. It is the public school — the free, the
common school — provided by law, open to all, claimed from the com,
munity as a right, not accepted as a bounty. Here the children of the
rich and poor, high and low, meet upon perfect equality, and commence-
9

114 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
under the same auspices the race of life. From among these laughing
children will go forth the men who are to control the destinies of their
age and country.
It would be easy to spend all my time in talking to you about
-West Gorham sixty years ago. It was a thrfty, well informed, and
well ordered community, embracing some of the worthiest families
of the town. PUgrim blood ran in its veins. Gladly would I
speak, did time allow, of particular famUies and of individual men
and women — of the Lincolns, the Stephensons, the Hamblens, the
Watsons, the Skillingses, the Sturgises, the Cobbs, the Clements,
the Fileses, and others, whose names have still the sound of old
friends and neighbors. One other name, however, it would be
an almost unfiUal act in me to pass without special mention —
that of Elder James Lewis. From the religious point of view,
he was, perhaps, the most striking figure in the history of the
town. He was not a man of culture, or of large talents ; nobody
would call him great in the ordinary sense of the term ; but how
great he was in goodness and single-hearted devotion to the
Divine Master whom he served! How great he was in meek
simplicity and fervor of spirit ! How great in apostolic labors as
a youthful pioneer, and then as the patriarch of Methodism in all
the region round about. ,
It has been my privilege to know intimately many of the most
eminent ministers of my time; but I never knew one whose
individuality was more picturesque and interesting than that of
my venerable uncle. What a pleasant thing it was to see him
riding here and there and everywhere, in that queer little gig,
with that old white horse, on his errands of Christian love and
evangelism! West Gorham has reason to be thankful that the
dust of so eminent a servant of God is sleeping in her bosom.
In 1827, after the death of my father, the farm was sold and
our family removed to the vUlage or "corner," as it was then
oaUed. And here began a second chapter of my life in Gorham;
a chapter of new and larger experiences. Gorham VUlage in
1827, like so many New England viUages at that time, was a little
world by itself. It had not yet been robbed of its quiet seclusion,
social freedom, and independence, by the irruption of the great
noisy outer world. The age of railroads and telegraphs and tele.
phones was not yet come. You get more news from all quarters

ANNIVERSARY. 115
of the globe — a great deal of it disturbing -^nd distracting news
— in one day, than used to reach us in the course of a whole year.
There can be no question that in its more tranquil, self-centered
character, village society of that period had some decided advan
tages over the present. It had more real leisure, and was less
affected by the worrying excitements and passions of the hour.
It had a better chance to develop its own native forces in strength
and beauty. And these forces in the case of Gorham were exceed
ingly vigorous. The founders and early proprietors of the town
were mostly descendants of the sturdy men of Plymouth Colony,
who fought with such wonderful endurance and heroism in King
Philip's War; the conquerors of the Narragansetts. Not a few
of them were in a direct line from the Pilgrims. Their religious
faith and customs, their civic and domestic virtues, their manners,
their names, and household traditions, were all redolent of Barn
stable, and adjoining towns of the Old Colony. I made a pil
grimage to Barnstable last summer, and spent part of a day in its
ancient burying grounds. I found them full of the graves of my
ancestors, and of the ancestors of many of the early and later
settlers of Gorham ; of the Phinneys, Gorhams, Davises, Lewises,
Hinkleys, Hardings, Cobbs, and others. But while the first set
tlers of the town were largely of Cape Cod stock, other settlers,
bringing with them other names, other family traditions, manners,
and sometimes another creed, came during the next one hundred
years. And these new elements helped to diversify and enrich
the character of the town, especially of the village. The effects
of this process of social change and evolution were very marked
in the early part of this century. Boston and Cambridge, New
bury, Hingham, Groton, and other notable towns of Eastern
Massachusetts, were represented among the new-comers by names
that are historical in the annals, not of New England only, but of
the whole country. And besides these two chief sources of sup
ply, the Green Isle contributed one of the strongest and best'
elements in the making of the town. I refer to the Scotch-Irish
element which came in with Hugh McLeUan and Elizabeth, his
wife. They were both solid Presbyterians, and he was long a
ruling elder in the church here. If now we add to these shaping
infiuences in the first settlement and earUer growth of the town,
those whether of individuals, or families, or caUings, which have

116 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
wrought with so much power since the beginning of the present
century, we have before us, I think, the main factors in the history
and character of Gorham. Nor can we wonder that a community
fashioned out of such materials, animated by such ancestral spirit
and traditions, should have been eminently distinguished for its
intelligence, its interest in education and good learning, its beauti
ful famUy life, its pious virtues, and its patriotic devotion. Cer
tainly, all these high qualities marked it fifty years ago. Of course
it was not perfect, and in some respects, I dare say, there has since
been a decided change for the better. To me, as I look back to
those days, the deepest and most striking feature was the religious
life, as manifested both in the family and in the church. The
way of viewing our relation to God and divine things, which then
prevailed, was, to be sure, pretty strict and somewhat artificial;
and as a consequence, Christian nurture lacked, more or less, that
bright, spontaneous, genial element, which properly belongs to it.
Religion was too often a sort of spiritual bugbear instead of a
delight and a " joy forever." Too much of the preaching of the
time abounded in technical terms and theological abstractions,
and so was fitted to repel rather than attract the youthful mind.
But for all that religion was a blessed reality — the great under
lying reality and solace of existence ; and for myself I. can never
cease to thank God that I was trained up so to regard it;
And now will you indulge me in a few personal reminiscences
of some of the men, who in my boyhood represented what was
best and most attractive in this community. My mother's next
door neighbor was James Phinney, the patriarch of the village.
His father. Captain John Phinney, was born in Barnstable, Cape
Cod, in 1693. He himself was born in Gorham in 1741, so that
his life was almost coeval with that of the town. He had known
well my grandfather Lewis, my grandfather Prentiss, my uncle
Lothrop Lewis, and, indeed, all my kindred. He showed the
kindest interest in me, and I used to call him " Uncle Phinney."
His memory was very strong and tenacious, and all the events of
his time, whether in town or nation, seemed stored up in it. He
was five years old when Bryant and his children were massacred
by the Indians, and could give you, either from his own childish
recollections, or as he had heard them a hundred times from the
lips of his father and mother and other eye-witnesses, all the

ANNIVERSARY. 117
details of that direful tragedy. He was fourteen years old when
word came of Braddock's defeat, and the name of young Colonel
Washington began to twinkle, like a morning star, on the horizon
of American history. He was eighteen years old when Quebec
was captured by General Wolfe, and had himself felt the thrill of
unspeakable joy and relief that ran through Gorham and all the
frontier settlements at the glorious news. He was thirty-one
years old when in response to the famous Boston circular the
citizens of Gorham organized a Committee of Safety, and his
father and elder brother were made members of it. From this
time on through the Stamp Act agitation and all the momentous
events that followed, until the battle of independence was won,
the new constitution established, and Washington inaugurated
first President of the United States of America, he knew every
thing by heart, and you could consult him as a living chronicle
of the Revolutionary and subsequent times. He was in truth a
wonderful old man, remarkable alike for his solid, civic virtues,
his Christian excellence, his rich treasures of varied experience,
and the benignant, sunny temper, which made his very presence
a benediction. He typified to my imagination, as much as any
man I ever knew, the ideal of a Pilgrim Father. How well I
remember his venerable form and aspect as he sat in the house of
God ! Too deaf to hear the minister, he used to select a text
and preach a little sermon to himself while the congi'cgation
were listening to the voice from the pulpit. He died in 1834, at
the age of ninety-three.
Another of our nearest neighbors, an excellent type of the old
famUy physician, was -Dr. Dudley Folsom, a man of uncommon
worth and usefulness, skillful in his profession, a wise counsellor,
and leading citizen. One of my most vivid as well as earliest
recollections of him carries me back again to the old farm. I
was very ill and thought to be almost in articulo mortis, when
late at night he was summoned to my help. Although more than
sixty years have since passed away, that midnight scene, the
anxiety of my parents, the hushed voices, his tender ministrations)
are all distinctly recalled. Dr. Folsom died a few months after
the centennial of 1836, lamented, as he had been esteemed, by
the whole town.
Another name that always recurs to me when I think of

118 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
Gorham fifty years ago, is that of Deacon Thomas S. Robie, one
of those rare men whom we are wont to describe by simply
saying they are "pure gold." His goodness, his liberality, and his
modesty were alike conspicuous. The Congregational deacon is
not always an attractive figure in New England fiction; not
always, indeed, in fact ; but fiction itself could not easily invent
a worthier or lovelier character than that of Deacon Robie. I
have personal reasons to remember him with gratitude, and
rejoice on this occasion to testify my heartfelt respect for his
memory. It is to me a source of deep regret that I cannot take by the
hand today my beloved schoolmate and friend. Deacon Marshall
Irish, that faithful servant of Christ and the Church, who so
recently passed to a better world. We were brought into close
intimacy with each other during the great religious awakening
of 1831, which pervaded New England, and formed a turning
point in the spiritual history of Gorham. In company with a
goodly number of other youths, we made public confession of
Christ together, and although we have rarely met since 1836, my
affection and esteem for him never changed. How much this
village owes to his long, steadfast example of Christian fidelity
and usefulness !
Most of the Gorham boys who were my comrades at school and
in the academy, wandered out into the wide world and pitched
their tents for life elsewhere. It was a good thing for the town
that so true an offshoot and representative of its ancient stock
as Marshall Irish passed his days on the old homestead, living and
dying in the midst of you.
I have spoken of Dr. Folsom. There was a younger physician,
my cousin and my dear friend, William H. Peabody, whose name
is associated with some of my pleasantest memories of Gorham.
He was a man born to be loved, — a true Christian gentleman,
refined in his tastes, fond of books, public-spirited, kind to the
poor, and enthusiastic in devotion both to his profession and to
all good causes. He had a special admiration for that eloquent
jurist, William Wirt, after, whom he named his eldest son, and
also for my brother Seargent, after whom he named his youngest
son. Although he was by several years my senior, we were in
the closest sympathy with each other on the stirring questions of

ANNIVERSARY. 119
the day, and delighted to discuss them together. Losing his
father in boyhood, as I lost mine, he grew up, as I did, in the eye
and under the loving nurture of his mother, an admirable Chris
tian woman, through whom he inherited some of the finest traits
of the old Colony stock. His whole personality was singularly
attractive, and I cherish his memory as though we had parted for
the last time a year, instead of more than forty years ago.
Gorham has been noted from the beginning for the high
character and ability of its lawyers. The name of one of the
foremost of them all, Josiah Pierce, is identified with the history
of the town, both its written and its unwritten history. I can
never mention or think of him without grateful emotion. He
was my mother's friend, lightening the heavy burdens of her
widowhood by his professional services, freely given, and by his
persistent kindness. He was a devoted friend of my brother
Seargent, who began the study of law in his office, and lived like
a younger brother in his family. He was my own faithful friend
to the day of his death. I doubt if any man ever lived in
Gorham, who did more to stimulate and guide youthful minds in
the pursuit of knowledge. Familiar himself with the best litera
ture of the language, he had a rare power of inciting others to
study and love it. My sister-in-law, Mrs. WUIiam Prentiss, well
remembered by some before me as Angelina Hunt, one of the
brightest and best informed women I have known, often told
me that she owed her singular fondness for books and wide
acquaintance with them to Judge Pierce ; and many others could
have said the same. His mind was as versatile as it was gifted.
What a useful citizen he was ! How much he did to promote
the best interests of the town, especially to rescue from oblivion
the precious records of its history, and to make known to their
children and to the world the noble Uves and virtues of our
fathers, you need not be told. I have alluded to his friendship
for my brother Seargent by whom it was warmly reciprocated.
How vividly, as though it were last year or last week, I recall an
evening spent with my brother, just out of Vicksburgh, late in
1836. I was passing the winter there under the hospitable roof
of Judge Guion, my brother's partner, and he came out to have a
talk with me about home and about Gorham. He and I little
dreamed at the time how historic the spot was to become in less

120 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
than seven and twenty years, for it was near the famous line along
which General Grant's army slowly picked and battered and
fought its way to the capture of the Vicksburgh stronghold on
July 4th, 1863. Having made minute inquiries about old
acquaintances and old neighbors, he remarked that nowhere else
had he met characters so original, so striking and full of unique
individual traits as in Gorham. Referring to Judge Pierce, he
expressed for him the warmest admiration, adding, "He is a
man weU qualified to be President of the United States." Nor
do I think this was extravagant praise. His varied talents, his
knowledge, his sound sense, his thorough acquaintance with
American history, law, and legislation, his patriotism, all fitted
Judge Pierce to fill with honor any position in the gift of the
people. But it is high time, Mr. President, to bring these hasty reminis
cences to a close. And yet how willingly would I still go on and
speak to you of others, whose names I recall so well ; of my old
pastor and true friend, Mr. Pomeroy ; of Mr. Nason, at whose
feet I took my first lessons in classic lore ; of the Rev. Timothy
Hilliard, who represented among us, in such a catholic spirit, the
Episcopal church ; of Amos Brown, who did so much here, and,
later, in New York to promote the higher interests of education ;
of Captain Robie, the honored father of a highly honored son ;
of General Irish, so long distinguished in the service of the town
and of the State ; of my old schoolmaster, Daniel G. Emery, who
also was distinguished in the service of town and State ; of those
excellent men. Deacon McLellan and Deacon Chadbourne ; of
George Hight, my esteemed Sunday-school teacher ; of that
courteous gentleman of the old school. Colonel Stephenson ; of
that good farmer and upright man. Colonel John Tyng Smith ;
of Jacob S. Smith, the cultivated lawyer, and father of two of
my cousins and schoolmates ; of Colonel Hugh McLellan, a man
remarkable in many ways, and not least for his minute, accurate
knowledge of the history of Gorham ; of Captain Stephen and
Captain William Stephenson, of Captain Hunt and Captain
Motley and Captain Codman, whose names are associated with so
many dear friends of my mother and sisters, as well as of my
own ; of Stephen Hinkley, Charles Hunt, Seth Hersey, and Dea
con Paine, and I know not how many more among the older

ANNIVERSARY. 121
generation of my contemporaries. How gladly, too, would I speak
of younger men, whose names are closely associated with my
brother Seargent as his college classmates, or his friends : William
Tyng HUliard, John H. Hilliard, George Stephenson, the Smiths,
Wendell, William, Edward, and the others, Francis Barbour,
Francis Robie, and George Pierce, cut off, alas! in the morn
ing of a beautiful manhood ; and of a younger generation still,
beloved schoolmates and companions of my own boyhood, or,
later, college friends : Reuben Nason, Andrew Barbour, Charles
Robie, Frank Irish, Edward Robie, Frederick Robie, Elijah
Kellogg, Cyrus Woodman, Frederick and Charles and Stephen
Stephenson, John Albion Andrew, and many others. Happily
of them some are here today to speak for themselves.
An old Hebrew proverb says that "the glory of children is
their fathers." This is a true saying, as I think we all feel
today. And it is no less true that the glory of children —
oftentimes the greater glory, by far — is their mothers. What a
different one hundred and fiftieth anniversary we would celebrate
today, if the foundations of this town had not been laid in a
wholesome, pure, and godly family life ! The women of Gorham
have been not less remarkable for the sweet household virtues
which have adorned so many of its homes, than the men of
Gorham for those sturdier, more public virtues, that have made
so many of them pillars in both church and State. In order to
truly depict some of these homes as I remember them fifty years
ago, my pencil would have to be dipped in fairer colors than
those of earth. There was around them such a dawn
Of light ne'er seen before.
As fancy never could have drawn.
And never can restore.
The mothers and daughters, whose presence transfigured them,
were fashioned by the Eternal Spirit ; they followed Christ as
their master, and learned their lessons of household wisdom
and goodness at his feet. Some of them stUl live to bless the
world ; a few of them are here today ; but the larger number
long ago were joined to the more congenial fellowship of saints

122 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
and angels in a better country ; and there may we be so happy
as to see them again face to face.
The address was followed by a poem written by Miss Sophia
E. Perry, and read by Miss Mary G. Barker of Portland, and
Mr. F. W. Davis ; and later, remarks were made by Mr. Dana
Estes of Boston, the most liberal donor to the Public Library, in
behalf of which he made an earnest appeal. Professor H. Hunt,
of Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, after some interesting
remarks in regard to Dr. Deane, the author of " Pitchwood Hill,"
read that celebrated poem, which was new to most of the
audience. This was followed by the reading of letters of regret,
many of which had been received by the committee, from J. P.
Baxter Esq., Judge John A. Peters, and Judge Charles Danforth,
of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, Hon. W. W. Rice of
Worcester, Massachusetts, Professor Henry P. Warren of Law-
renceville, New Jersey, Arthur Phinney Esq. of Sandusky, Ohio,
Frederick Davis Esq., of Chicago, John O. Winship Esq., of
Cleveland, Ohio, and many others.
The close of the reception and the other social gatherings of
the evening at the halls of the various secret organizations was the
termination of the celebration, it was an occasion which cannot
fail to be remembered by the citizens of Gorham with pride and
mutual congratulations, as one of the most interesting and
important events in the history of the town.
For the success of the musical part of the exercises in the tent,
the credit is largely due to the efforts of Mr. Charles K. Hinkley
and Prof. Fitch.
The exhibition of relics and curiosities at the Academy, which
has been already described, showed much industry and tact on
the part of the committee in charge of that department, Messrs.
Arthur J. Benson and Wm. P. F. Robie, to the former of whom
the public is indebted for the unique and entertaining news-sheet,
The Gorham Anniversary Gazette, an interesting extract from
which is given in the early part of this compilation.

ANNIVERSARY. 123
The celebration received many notices from the press,
one of which is appended.
Editorial from the Eastern Argus, Portland, of May S7, 1886.
gorham's CELEBRATION.
The good old town of Gorham, famous even among, the many
famous towns that figure in the history of Maine as a State, a
District of Massachusetts, and a British colonial settlement,
observed yesterday with fitting pomp and ceremony, — and what
is of more worth, with loving and loyal admiration for its
picturesque past, and high confidence in its promising future, —
the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its settlement. The
story of the observance is so fully told elsewhere in the Argus
that no need remains for more than mention in this column.
The arrangements for the celebration, carefully studied and
admirably planned, were carried out to perfection. The people
of Gorham have abundant reason to pride themselves upon the
programme, and upon its execution ; upon the hearty welcome
home extended to visiting sons and daughters who had left the old
homestead, some of them " strange countries for to see," and the
cordial reception given to the strangers within their gates ; and
above all, upon the literary exercises, and the store of historical
knowledge brought to light. Gorham is an old town, as Ameri
can towns go, but she is young in spirit, and not yet in the
maturity of her life. That her future may be as prosperous as
her past has been honorable, is the hearty wish of the Argus.
The selectmen of the town had charge of the police arrange
ments, and throughout the day the best of order was preserved.
No disturbance or accident of any kind occurred, notwithstand-
inw the great crowd in attendance, the credit for which is due, in
a large degree, to the care and judicious management of Mr.
Lewis McLellan, chairman of the board.

APPENDIX

APPBNDIX.

COMMITTEES.
Continued from page 34.
COMMITTEE ON DECORATIONS, MOTTOES AND ILLUMINATIONS.

William P. Watson
Simon B. Guthrie
William P. F. Robie
Harry B. Elkins
Everett P. Hanson
Frank Stanwood
Fred M. Patrick

John A. Waterman
Fred W. Harding
Edwin R. Gamman
Daniel P. Whittier
Bartlett W. Feeny
Arthur J. Benson
Willis I. Bickford

Jr.

George B. Emery
Joseph Ridlon
William E. Files
Charles R. Cressey

COMMITTEE ON VOCAL MUSIC.

Nathaniel M. Marshall
Walter Buxton
Charles K. Hinkley

Frederick Robie

COMMITTEE ON SALUTE.
I Isaac L. Johnson

COMMITTEE ON PROCESSION.

Henry R. Millett
Roscoe G. Harding
George T. Pratt
John A. Hinkley

Lewis McLellan
E. H. Foster Smith
Manuel Thomas
Thomas S. Smith

COMMITTEE ON PLACE FOR PUBLIC SERVICES AND PREPARATIONS FOB
THE SAME.

George B. Emery
Charles W. Deering
Alexander Allen
Theodore E. Shackford

Stephen L. Stephenson
Thaddeus P. Irish
Lewis McLellan
John S. Leavitt

128

APPENDIX.

Lewis McLellan
Levi H. Bean
Walter Clements
Edward Harding

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.

Joseph Ridlon
Gardner M. Parker
Isaac L. Johnson
John R. Cressey

John A. Waterman
George B. Emery

COMMITTEE TO AUDIT BILLS.
Stephen Hinkley

Joseph Ridlon.

TREASURER.

COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION.

Frederick Robie
William B. Hellen

John A. Waterman

Lewis McLellan
Isaac L. Johnson

COMMITTEE ON POLICE.
Charles E. Jordan

Isaac L. Johnson

COMMITTEE ON PmiNNBT ROCK.

COMMITTEE ON COLLECTION OF OLD RELICS.
Arthur J. Benson I William P. F. Robie

COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE CABBIAGBS.

Henry R. Millett

I Henry B. Johnson

COMMrriEB ON PUBLICATION OP THB PROCEEDINGS.

John A. Waterman
Stephen Hinkley

George B. Emery

APPENDIX.

129

CONTRIBUTORS.

NAMES OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE FUND RAISED BY CITIZENS FOR THB CELE
BRATION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.

Frederick Robie
George B. Emery
Daniel Murray
Charles F. Merrill
Henry R. Millett
Solomon B. Cloudman
George T. Pratt
Liberty Moulton
Frederick D. Scamman
Willis I. Bickford
Daniel F. Whittier
Samuel O. Carruthers
Frederick A. Bragdon
Fred W. Harding & Co.
Theodore E. Shackford
Gardiner M. Parker
Henry N. Sweetser
David F. Watson
Benjamin L. Harmon
Frank H. Emei-y
Theodore B. Edwards
John S. Leavitt Jr.
Thomas Farden
William H. Johnson
Samuel Roberts
Albion F. Johnson
Jonathan S. Whitney
John Cobb
William McLellan
Alvin Lombard
William F. Pillsbury
Charles W. Deering
Robert B. Meserve
Knight Bros.
Abram Bickford
Albert S. Riggs
t;ornelius N. Hayes
Charles R. Cressy
Melville Johnson
Daniel S. Brown
Andrew L. Fulsom
Jeremiah J. Grant
Joseph W. Hale
Charles E. Richardson
Joseph G. Bodge
Orrin Berry 10

John A. Waterman
Lewis McLellan
Charles K. Hinkley
Henry 13. Johnson & Sons
William P. Watson
Edwin R. Gamman
William L. Larrabee
George A. Allen
Harry B. Elkins
Albert H. Mosher
Frank Stanwood
John H. Card
Henry S. Huntington
Thaddeus P.Irish
Isaac L. Johnson
Samuel R. Clement
Orville A. Bean
Joseph Ridlon & Son
Sumner C. Bolton
Wilber J. Coburn
John S. Leavitt
Kimball & McLaren
Joseph F. Newman
Matthew Johnson
Edward S. Palmer
Benjamin Irish
William H. Kimball
Rufus A. Fogg
Lewis Lombard
James G. Larrabee
John E. Meserve
James G. Meserve
David Urquhart
Asa Burnham
George B. Tripp
Edwin Libby
John F. Stickney
Frank W. Meriill
SeweU Cloudman
George W. Heath
William H. Cummings
William H. McLellan
Nathaniel M. Marshall
William H. Moody
Eugene H. Cloudman
Irvin Richardson

130

APPENDIX.

Edson O. Nay
Josiah C. Nay
William Elkins
Joseph H. Winters
James H. Darby
Enoch Mabry
Oswell Charles
Heni-y Mayberry
Almon L. Files
II. Greely Parker
Martin L. Keyes
Clarence L. Libby
Uriah S. Nason
A,. W. Lincoln
.lohn N. Newcomb
Mark Mosher
Rufus Mosher
George F. Small
William E. Strout
George Chadbourn
Mrs. Alvin Cressey
Charles M. Moody
Charles G. Watson
Everett E. Files
J. Wesley Files
Mrs. Mary P. Files
William Hasty
Frank I. Whitney
Eugene Lowell
Charles E. Crockett
Seth Dougluss
Robert Cobb
David Patrick
Samuel Cressey
John Billings
Mrs. Mary H. Tyler
George M. Thompson
Cyrus Abbott
Everett P. Hanson
Byron G. Coburn
Moses Fogg
Edward Harding
Brown Brothers
Lewis L. Files
George W. Lowell
Rufus Whitney
Stephen Hinkley
Stephen L. Stephenson

Herman S. Whitney
Allen Smith
Charles Cash
Lewis J. Brackett
Abram Tyler
Harvey W. Murch
Manuel Thomas
Edward M. Moses
Carlyle W. Shaw
Joseph W. Parker
Charles Davis
Merrill T. Files
Elbridge M. Wilson
Charles E. Jordan
E. H. Foster Smith
Albert M. Hamblen
Edwin Coburn
Isaiah Cobb
Charles E. Rolfe
Frank I. French
Fred O. Sturgis
Abial Rounds
George Watson
Saul C. Higgins
F. Augustus Files
Henry R. Colesworthy
Edwin R. Smith
Charles F. Clement
Nelson U. Crockett
John D. Spipuey
Charles W. GrafEum
Frank E. Demeritt
Edwin G. Cressey
Ijeonard C. Grouard
Mrs. Henry P. A. Smith
Roscoe G. Rowe
George F. Ayer
Edward W. Guptill
William B. Hellen
Mrs. Sarah E. Holden
J. J. G. Hannaford
Arthur H. Stanwood
John A. Hinkley
Benjamin Waterhouse
William H. Usher
Levi. H. Bean
Charles Hanson
Also, Portland & Rochester R. R.

APPENDIX. 131

treasurer's report,

RECEIPTS.

Cash from Town, . , . . . . $500.00
Cash from Subscriptions, .... 605.25
Cash for materials sold. .... 15.50

$1,120.75

EXPENDITURES.
Tents, seats, and platform, .... $286.14
Music, vocal and instrumental, . . . 170.85
Salute and fireworks, ..... 130.29
Decorations, ...... 100.44
Literary Exercises, and printing, . . . 111.21
Indians, and sham fight, . 35.46
Carriages for procession, .... 28.00
Badges for schools, ..... 26.75
Supplies ior Cadets and G. A. R. men, . . . 21.45
Soliciting committee, and procuring Phinney Rock, 24.00
B. Thurston & Co., in part for printing History of the
Celebration, ..... 186.16

$1,120.75

Examined and approved :

Joseph Ridlon, Treasurer.

John A. Waterman,
Stephen Hinkley, I /tH^?.

Committee.
George B. Emery,

132 APPENDIX.
The following anecdotes in regard to the Indian fight, being
literally true, are thought to be worth preserving.
AMUSING INCIDENT DURING THE SHAM-FIGHT.
"After the Indians had attacked Bryant's house, and set it on fire, they
were attacked in turn by the soldiery, and a sharp fight ensued, creating
great excitement among the immense throng of witnesses on the hill.
After the Indians were repulsed, ' Mrs. McLellan ' started to go to the
stockade; one of the savages got his eye on her, and in true Indian
style determined to make an end of her. The old lady saw her enemy
approaching, leveled her gun, and shot him in the leg. After a moment
he started up, and aimed his gun at the old lady, but she proved too
smart for him, having reloaded her piece while the Indian was gath
ering himself up. She leveled on him a second time, and shot him dead.
One of the crowd of spectators, in his excitement forgetting for the
moment that this was not a reality, clapped his hands, and exclaimed,
' God bless your dear old soul, you fixed him that time, did n't you ? ' "
BETTER THAN THE SIOUX.
A Portland gentleman returning to town on the evening of the cele
bration, fell into conversation with a person who many years ago spent
some time in the West, in the Sioux country, and had several times wit
nessed the I'aids of those savages. Speaking of the Gorham affair, he
said, " Those mock Indians were not only better looking than real
ones, but they showed more vigor, more cunning, and more intelligence,
and in fact the whole thing was done a sight better than the Sioux them
selves could do iii" <

ERRATA.

On page 60, fourth line, omit all.
On page 64, 1730 should be 1736.
On page 77, Udolphus should be Udolpho.
On page 91, fifth and sixth lines, the meeting-house should be the
second meeting-house.
On page 110, musket carried should be musket captured.

APPENDIX. 138
At the final meeting of the general committee, held June 12,
1886, votes of thanks were passed to Rev. Elijah Kellogg, orator
of the day, to Prof. Henry L. Chapman, and Mrs. Jennie Bodge
.Johnson, for their interesting, valuable, and most acceptable lit
erary productions.
At a previous meethig the committee had acknowledged their
obligations, and repeat their thanks here, to E. F. Newhall, Esq.'
of the Oriental Powder Mills, for the generous gift of the pow
der used for salutes and otherwise on the day of the celebration.
The committee also desire to extend their thanks to the Chief
Marshal and his aids, to the meaibers of the chorus, to the vari
ous sub-committees, particularly to the committee on decorations,
whose good taste and skillful execution of their plans added
materially to the attractiveness of the occasion, and to all others
wlio in many ways contributed largely to the success of the
celebration. Since the commencement of this volume, one of the members
of the general committee who took an active part in the early
preparations for the celebration, Stephen Westcott, Esq., has
deceased. His associates on the committee express only the
common sentiment of the community in which he lived, in
lamenting the loss of an upright and estimable man, and a valu
able and highly respected fellow-citizen.

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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