Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-08-26
Molasses.fl per gall,

| Chocolate, Is ""
| Moosemeat 6"
Coffee, Is "" lb.
| Corn, "" bush.
Wine, ? s " a." gall.
WI Rum,2 S &c" ="
NE "l 8 "" ="
Vinegar, " Is
Cider, " 10 ""
Tobacco, d" 6" ID.
1t is wonderful how with these prices
and their slender means, they kept soul
and body together. Yet with all the
straitness of their circumstances, it is
Judged that they made a free use Of
alcoholic liquors. In looking over the
account book, on some pages, one third
of the charges will be for rum, and on
some other. nearly one-half. Against
the most respectable names Of that Gay
you sometimes find frequent charges Of
1-2 pit. rum 2s 80 and perhaps at the
same time Ia lb Tea. IS s-or2 OF Is
cd. Using ardent spirits freely at such
a price, will partly account for the pow
crty of those early days. Yet so strong
was the conviction of their necessity-or
SO imperious the demand of appetite.
that they would go in debt for N. E.
Rum at 2s Sd half pint.
But let US not suppose that these
fathers were sinners above all men. 1t
took their sons more than halfa century,
after they had passed away to make the
discovery that ardent spirits were not
necessary for vigorous and successful
labor-and that total abstinence is the
only sure remedy az inst the evils Of in
temperance.
The season of the revolution was a
a time of privation and peril, as well as
poverty to the earthly inhabitant. This
iortifcation having been dismantled and
destroyed, afforded no protection to the
citizens. Castine was in the possession
of the British 1879. The people were
required to take an oath of allegiance to
the King of England. The Inhabitants
of Belfast. then an incorporated town,
and the only in the valley of the Penob-
scot. rather than take the oath, left their
homes. and returned to N. Hampshire
from whence they came. Most others
took the oath of allie lance. Still this
| did not save them from various anoyan-
ces. There are those now living who
remember the alarm and terror following
the defeat at Castine 1919. Part ofthe
vessels at the American fleet aad M the
river, and were pursued in the night by
British vessels which kept up firing up
on the shore as they proceeded. The
inhabitants fed to the forests for safety.
Parents took their children to some
deep glen, out Of the reach Of the ene-
my's shot. There wrapping their little
ones in blankets, and laying them upon
a rude bed Of boughs, they watched
them with sleepless anxiety. Still the
fash of hostile cannon illuminated the
dark forest and their balls whistled
through the trees, making havoc Of trunk
and limb to the imminent hazard Of the
unconscious sleepers at the roots. There
yet lnger among us some individuals,
whose memory reaching back fourscore
years, calls distinctly to mind that fearful
sight. They recollect will, what fear
and trembling they gathered around their
more anxious parents, and were led by
them to the dark forest, tho home Of
the wild beasts, that they might escape
the rage Of civilized men.
They sent a small party to Mt .Ephra-
i'm to burn the house of Richard Stinson
with whom lived his father and mother,
Ephraim Stinson and wife. Among the
party was one Turner, refugee. When
they came to the house, Turner fired into
it,and the ball passed through the post of
the chair in which the old gentleman was
setting. They plundered the house OF
what little was worth carrying away
Turner said he would have done more
damage, but the sight of one OF the old
mans daughters there young maiden
to whom he took strong fancy, prevent
ed him. He afterwards married her.
While the British had possession of
Castine, they frequently sent their boats
across the bay for plunder. Subsequent
ly the Americans kept small force at
Camden for the protection of the inhabl-
tants of tina: vicinity. Sometimes small
parties from thence would come as far as
Belfast, and stop in some of the deserted
houses. A small PARTY, of which Rich
ard St,nson was one, had passeda night
in one of those houses. In the morning
one Of their number went to the shore to
shoot wild foul. A party from Castine
commanded by one Armstrong, had just
landed; and they took him prisoner
| The better to deceive the men still re-
naming at the house, theJ marched him
from the shore with his musket on his
shoulder. The Americans seeing them
approach. and supposing them friends
went out to meet them. AS they met, a
strug gle ehsued. Stinson, though a
small man, was brave and strong. Be-
ing summoned by Armstrong to give up
his gun and surrender, he dropped it,
knocked aside the muzzle of his enemy's =
sprang in upon him, seized him around
the waist, and threw him. In the strug-
gle, Brissh solder stabbed Stinson
through his right arm. He called to an
American to come to his aid. who shot
Armstrong in the head and killed him.
Some ofthe small shot entered Stinson,
but he and all his party escaped with
their lives.
These incidents in the history Of the
early settlers must suffice to illustrate
the perils and Inconvenience they suf-
fered. A full recital of all they encoun.
tered would be necessary to know