meeting would probably have been a melancholy one to both parties.

The Fourth of July was, this year, celebrated at Wessaweskeag; the religious services being performed by Messrs. Washburn and Ames; the Declaration read by Asa Coombs; an oration delivered by J. Ruggles to a crowded house, and a collation served up by Anthony Hall, at which E. Snow, Jr., presided, assisted by H. Prince, Wm. Stackpole, and Wm. Heard. Cannon and music accompanied each sentiment; and everything went off well. The Regimental Muster was largely attended this year at Blackington's corner, but the military turn-out was not so great as usual a symptom that the martial spirit was beginning to decline. A volunteer company of riflemen, however, called the Thomaston Guards, was organized for service in cases of emergency in the State penitentiary, and, Aug. 22d, made choice of Ballard Green for captain, John O'Brien, lieutenant, and James Vose, ensign, This company, under a succession of different officers, continued its organization till disbanded in Feb., 1843. A Rifle Company in East Thomaston, also, was formed, either in this or the following year, of which Alexander Barrows was captain, John Brown, lieutenant, and Alanson Dean, ensign.

Among the many casualties of this year, may be noted the burning of the hatter's shop of Henry S. Swasey near the present house of T. Rose, Thomaston, on the evening of New Year's day; loss $700. On March 16th, Wm. M. Bentley, a young seaman with Capt. Almond Bennett, was lost at sea, supposed to have walked overboard in his sleep—he having been addicted to somnambulism; and, Sept. 3d, the brig Mark of East Thomaston, returned without her valued and enterprising captain, Mark Spear, who died at Martha's Vineyard, on passage home from the Chesapeake. This season also, Jairus Munroe was severely injured by a premature explosion in a lime quarry which, wholly destroyed his sight; but, after some efforts to regain it, (to aid which, the town voted in 1827 to loan him $50, and again in 1835 gave up his note for the sum as farther encouragement,) he learned to pursue his former business in the dark, and, by perseverance, industry, and economy, brought up his children, acquired a good property, and receives a large share of the respect and admiration of the community. A similar acccident befell John and Josiah Achorn, Sept. 15th, whilst drilling out a charge in the lime-rock; the latter losing a hand, and the former being severely injured in the head and eyes. Benjamin Snow, whilst greasing the cogs of a wheel in the gristmill at Wessa weskeag, Oct. 13th, had his arm caught between

the spur and lantern, and dreadfully broken and lacerated in its whole length,- besides being injured in the back, precipitated eight feet into deep water, and carried by the current about 20 feet down the stream. Here he succeeded in reaching the shore, shut the gates to stop the mill, and then fainted. He was soon after discovered, carried home, and had his arm amputated the following day; but died on the 24th.

The winter of 1824-5 was very mild, -the lower river not having frozen over at any time; the summer very hot, and, in July and August, very dry, with destructive fires at Beech Woods. The dysentery, in its most malignant form, extensively prevailed, and carried off upwards of twenty-two children of this town, besides several adults. Grasshoppers were abundant, but the crops, with the exception of potatoes, were tolerably good. During a week of severe cold, the mercury, Dec. 13th, fell, in the midst of a violent gale, to 8o below zero. Many vessels, among them Captain Witham's sloop Mary, was so loaded with ice as to be in danger of sinking; some were driven on shore; while others, as those of Captains Shibles and Champney, escaped with the loss of deck-loads; the crews being in many cases much frost-bitten. The Milo, Capt. John Robinson, first struck on York ledges, was got off in a leaky condition, but again went ashore on Coffin's beach, Gloucester. The crew and one passenger, Miss Mary French of this place, in a boat, with difficulty reached the shore, about half a mile distant, through the ice; but not till the lady's feet were much frozen.

Business in 1825 was generally prosperous. Large quantities of lime were manufactured, at 90 to 95 cents in Boston. Navigation did well, some of it remarkably so; and shipbuilding flourished. Col. Healey, this year, paid bills of different mechanics employed by him to the amount of $50,000. To facilitate the increasing commerce of this and other places on Penobscot Bay, a light house of granite was this year built on Owl's Head promontory, in what is now South Thomaston, and lighted up, for the first time, about the end of September. A keeper's house was also put up, and Isaac Stearns was, Sept. 10, 1825, appointed the first keeper, retaining his office 13 years. His successors have been, Wm. Masters, appointed Aug. 3, 1838; Perley Haines, July 28, 1841; Wm. Masters, re-appointed, April 22, 1845; Henry Achorn, August 8, 1849; Joshua C. Adams, April 8, 1853; Asa Coombs, Feb. 27, 1857; and Geo. D. Wooster, Mar. 29, 1861.*

* Books of Accts. of Light House Board, Washington, D. C.

CHAPTER XVIII.

FROM 1826 TO 1829 INCLUSIVE.

1826. BUSINESS continued flourishing. Many importations, particularly of salt and coal, were entered and paid duties here. Shipbuilding increased, as well as trade, notwithstanding some changes and failures. The firm of Green & Foster was unexpectedly struck upon, January 31st, by the owners of a cargo lost in their brig Washington; and they were obliged to discontinue. A rope walk, 600 feet in length, was, early this year, erected on the high land east of Mill River by John & Israel Dresser of Castine; who manufactured cordage here some years, but returned to that place. Elliott & Co. this year dissolved; and John Elliott, Jr. and Wm. Metcalf set up separate establishments as pump and blockmakers; carrying on the same successfully, the former till 1855, and the latter to the present time. To accommodate the increased business, Mill River bridge was widened, and adjoining shops moved. The sale of lottery tickets was now at its acme; and, in March, a ticket sold by a principal dealer here, drew a prize of $1000, which, with another of $200 duly bruited, greatly stimulated this species of gambling, till the traffic was prohibited by law.

In this and the preceding year no tax appears to have been raised in the North Parish, and nothing done except to vote, in consequence of a sale of their portion of the old meetinghouse to the Baptists as related under date of 1816, that Perez Tilson "collect the furniture of the pulpit and take care of the same until called for by said parish." Here end the doings of this parish as a legal territorial corporation. In the mean time, within its limits, Methodism had continued to increase; the seeds of Universalism sown by Mr. Baker while an advocate of that doctrine, were in course of cultivation by Rev. Wm. A. Drew and other occasional preachers; and the Congregationalist portion now proceeded to build a new house of worship. A lot of one acre of land was given for that purpose by Benjamin Bussey of Roxbury, conveyed by deed, Oct. 3, 1826, "to the Proprietors of the new Meeting House in Thomaston, and their associates," for the consideration, as expressed in the grant, of "my regard for our holy religion, my interest in the support of moral institutions, and my desire for the prosperity of the Town of Thomaston.' The lot was pleasantly situated on the south side of Main street, in the present Thomaston, as now occupied; and was given on "the

express understanding that no other building than a meetinghouse is to be erected on the premises." The proprietors incorporated themselves, Oct. 12th, and voted that $3800 be raised by subscription in fifty-dollar shares. These were all taken up by 46 subscribers; of whom Col. Healey took 15 shares; Benj. S. Dean, 14; Wm. R. Keith, 3; Eusebius Fales, J. Gleason, and A. Austin, two each; and W. Nicholson, W. Singer, and 36 other substantial citizens of the western village, one each. The pews, 78 in number, were appraised at $4066; the right of choice selling for $606,25; and the house was dedicated, Oct. 2, 1827. Assessments have been made at different times for fencing and adorning the grounds; for constructing a furnace in 1830; for sundry repairs on the roof and foundation, more particularly for raising the house and making a vestry under the south end in 1839; and for lowering the gallery and other alterations in 1857. The donation of a communion table was made by J. Gleason in 1828, and a fine organ has been lately provided, chiefly by the efforts of the ladies. In place of the old North Parish, new religious society was now formed under the name of the First Congregational Society in Thomaston; and, being virtually the same society, succeeded to all its rights and remained connected with the same church. Rev. Mr. Ingraham, now a reformed man, having continued his services, preaching in Stimpson's Hall and other places, with somewhat discouraging success, seems, with the new house, to have renewed his power, and an extensive revival took place; adding in 1828 sixty-nine new members to the church. Among these was Henry J. Knox, the only son of the General that arrived to years of maturity; who, after a life so unworthy of his honored parent, now became a changed man, desirous of doing what he could to atone for the past and prepare for the future. At his death four years later, impressed with a deep sense of his own unworthiness, he requested that his remains might not be interred with his honored relatives in the family vault, but deposited in the common burying-ground near the tomb of his former associate, Dr. E. G. Dodge, with no stone or other memorial to tell where. But now Mr. Ingraham asked his dismission, which, by advice of council, was granted, with regret, Jan. 1, 1829; – there having been added to the church 146 persons during his ministry, and 183 baptized. In July, 1829, Rev. Eber Carpenter, of Waterville, accepted a call to settle in the place. A salary of $450 was voted him, and Sept. 23d fixed for his ordination. But, from the inadequacy of salary, dissatisfaction

of certain members of the church, and general indifference of both church and society, the council on that day refused to proceed; and a second call, in November, was declined by Mr. Carpenter, then in Belfast. In the following year, Rev. Richard Woodhull, a graduate of Bowdoin college and Bangor seminary, came to the place and was ordained as pastor, July 7, 1830. Faithful and zealous in the work of the ministry, he also exerted a salutary influence on the education of the young, as an able lecturer, a superintendent of the common schools, and teacher oftentimes of a private school for the higher branches. His connection with the church and society, having continued for the long term of twenty-five years, during which there had been 99 admissions to the church and 95 baptisms, was finally dissolved March 6, 1855. He has been succeeded by Rev. Levi G. Marsh, two years, installed in 1855; Rev. James McLean, a native of Scotland, installed Aug. 30, 1859; Rev. James Orton, Sept. 1, 1861; who left in 1863. The deacons of this church have been C. Bradford, appointed 1812; P. Tilson, 1818; Jas. Starrett of Warren, 1822; J. M. Gates, 1830; S. Albee, 1834; Alex. Singer, 1838; D. Vaughan, 1844; Isaac Loring, 1857; Wm. S. D. Healey and J. A. Fuller, 1861. The present number of church members is 112.

Sabbath Schools were this year systematically organized in the town, under the influence and according to the recommendations, we believe, of the Sabbath School Union. Five were established, viz. :—one at Mill River, one at Wessaweskeag, one at Owl's Head, one at the Head of the Bay, and one at the Shore; including 133 scholars, in all. A purchase of books was made, and, according to the report of Capt. A. C. Spalding, secretary of the board of directors here, an encouraging degree of success was observable.

On the 31st of January, the mercury at Mill River stood in the morning at zero, at noon, with a high N. W. wind and bright sunshine, 16° below, and at evening 22° below. The next morning it was 24° below, -not rising above 5° or 6 below, during the day. Influenza prevailed in February, here and throughout the State with great severity. Three remarkably warm days occurred in May, when, at noon of the 16th, the mercury stood at 98°. Though dry and the crops unpromising till July 28th, the season was not unproductive. Grasshoppers, however, were innumerable, appearing as early as March 15th; and dysentery again swept off many children. Boisterous storms and severe weather occurred in October; and, among other disasters, the sch. Dolphin, loaded with