Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-26


Deprivations and Hardships ofthe Early
settIers-Thrilling Observation-Disclosures
Of the Colonists-The History brought
down to 1850.
We are able to present below very full abstract
ofthe history of the town of China, read at the CEN
tennial celebration on Friday last. The facts
were collected from various sources, and combined
form very faithful record of the history of the
town.
The paper begins with an historical sketch by
Eli Jones, taking general survey of matters of
historic interest Of which the last quarter of the 18th
century and the portion of the 10Th already past
have been wonderfully prolific. Having glanced
at The prominent incidents in the outside world,
commencing in IVA, the steps are retraced and at
the beginning of the season of IVA, John Jones,
better known as Black Jones, is prepared to run
out a new township east of the Kennebec; through
the ackless forest he leads little band of settlers
to locate on the new survey; the beautiful China
lake, embosomed in the heart Of the tract to be
surveyed and located, is surrounded by the I'M
broken, primeval forest its undsturbed waters the
home OF the shad, herring, pickerel and perch. In
July OF lI14 the sound of the woodlands axe first
1ell upon the silence Of the scene-a stately pine is
felled upon the shore Of the lake, little south of
the 'Narrows," and its trunk served the party for
dining table. Here was born, on November
10Th, the first female child, Anna Clark, the moth
rot Deane Pray, Esq, of Augusta.
These first settlers were Edmund Jonathan,
Andrew and Ephraim Clark that year they erect
cd and entered their log cabins. These four broth
ers, natives of Nantucket, were accompanied by
their Professionalism Clark, senior and Miriam
Clark Two years aftel, the venerable mother of
the settlers died, and her husband survived her
four years; they were inferred in what is now
Sumner Hawes farm Ephraim lived bachelor
liie; born July l5 l1jl, he did not marry until
1875. They were blessed with od-fashioned
family of sons and daughters, who all lived to
the age of maturity. Jonathan. one of the sons.
still resides on the old homestead. Geo. Fish, all
Englshman, and Eph. Clark, built on the Clark
brook the first saw mill erected in town. Fish
died on his passage to England his widow died at
their place Of residence. Her grave the first
opened in the grounds adjoining Friends meeting
house on the east side of the lake. Abb aham Bur-
rel and Michael Norton came the next year. The
son of the latter the late Thomas Norton, was the
first male child born in the plantation, where he
lived and died. Josiah Ward soon came, the
builder Of the first frame house in town. George
Mclaughlin and Benz. Dow soon followed, the
latter the builder of the first grist mill on the
Wiggin brook near the head of the lake. About
lII6 there were few settlers on the west side of
the pond between China village and the Narrows.
Job Chadwick was the first minister and school
master.
These early settlers suffered many hardshps.
During Edmund Clark's absence in Nova Scotia,
on business his wife and children were left alone
in the log hut, the only door and protection from
the wild beasts being q quilt hung in the doorway.
The bears would prowl around the house, and the
wolves serenaded them at night with their fierce,
dismal howlings.
There were indications of Indian settlements
as tomahawks, pipes, arrows, and various other
relics, found a tribe occupied what Is called
Pages point, short time previous to the coming
of the whites. On this point company of Indians
were encamped, engaged in collecting f,Ir3, two
white men from neighboring town being with
them. They had been successful, and the whites
determined TO murder the Indians, take the turs
and decamp. But the squaws overheard their
assls from II Ter ri
who determined to destroy the whites. The
squaws going behind the whites threw water up
on their guns. The whites put for the woods, fol-
lowed by the Indians, but being aided by the dark
ness, they succeeded in climbing trees and evading
their pursuers. The Indians gave up the pursuit,
and all was still, when silently descending they
made their escape, losing their guns and all the
fur belonging to them.
The first settlers being sea-faring men, made
slow work of clearing the forests. They were
sometimes on the verge OF starvation; during the
Revolutionary war they were unable to obtain
provisions from distance. At the time the Brit
ish assembled the Penobscot, when the Americans
retreated into the wilderness, large company
found their way through the new plantation on
their way to the civilized world, and crossed the
pond.
The way the settlers carried grist to mill was
TO take bushel of corn in canoe to the outlet,
then on their shoulders, following spotted trees,
to the river: taking canoe again down the river,
to Cobosseecontee (Gardiner) about % miles, that
was pounded in "samp mortar On the
trip to Gardiner at night, the sack of corn formed
the weary travellers pillow, and meal, moistened
with pure brook water, the food for the journey.
Moose meat and Indian corn were the chief food in
those days. The blockade in l715 cut oil the corn
supply, and the settlers were very much reduced.
Abraham Burrel, having been unsuccessful for
many days in procuring moose, starvation stared
his family in the face. At length moose stood
before the hut; the first shot missed; the animal
remained near, until second shot brought him to
the ground. Mrs. Burrell, whilst In the woods
engaged in picking berries, placed her sleeping
babe upon the ground of the hut. Upon her
ture huge bear sat on his launches gazing quiet
ly down on the little sleeper scream Of terror
from the mother caused the intruder to "vamoose.'
An early settler, returning at night from visiting
neighbour heard some object following him, and
FASTENED to reach his house; he had scarcely
closed the door when ravenous pack of wolves
surrounded the dwelling.
When physician wanted, Mrs. Ward,
benevolent lady, was the Good Samaritan. Moth
err Wards saddle bags were well stuffed with
herbs and roots. She lived to a good old age. 1t
was common for the ladies to strap on their snow
shoes and visit the sick. They would also travel
over the snow drifts from six to eight miles to at
tend divine service at Priests hill, Vassalboro'.
They were compelled to 20 without bread from
three to six months at time. Not only the shoes
but the mems garments, were made OF Unframed
moose skin. The moose came down to the lake
shore to drink at night, or early morn the settlers
lay in wait In their canoes and shot them on their
appearance. They had few TOOLS the nearest
blacksmith was on the kennebec; fish was abun-
dant but salt scarce; they lived in houses without
glass, boards or shingles; the dishes, cups and
saucers were made of wood. During the mems
absence at the war; the noble women felled trees,
hoed corn, or planted it, hunted the cows in the
woods, or took bag of corn their shoulders to
mill These brave women lived before the days
of Dolly Vardens and Grecan bends, and were
not afraid to pray, like Hannah of old, that their
board might be surrounded with olive branches,
who in mothers old age, would rise up and call
her blessed.
In a few years a road was constructed to Vas
salboro In raising the broadsde of the first barn,
that Of Abraham Burrel, it had reached the angle
of 40 degrees, and the strength Of the crew could
raise it no farther. The women rushed to the res
cue, and the broadside was soon brought to per-
pendicular. So sang our mothers! Soplayed they
the piano forte! Owing to the difficulty of keep
ing sheep, on account Of wild beasts, flax was early
cultivated.
This (JonesO plantation, was incorporated into
town named Harlem, in l796-the fiji st town meet
ing being held at the house of Sheubel Bragg.
The ''powers that be- in the new town, in
clined to sway despotic rule, as the following
rather intolerant manifesto was issued two wears