Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-30
The First Town Records of fInlIOwell-
interesting. Local History.

| The First Town Records of iinliOwell-
| Interesting Local History.
Mr.. Alfred Davenport of Chelsea, has kindly
put into our hands the original first town records
of the town of IIallowcll, which was founded in
| HI. Mr.. DAycnporis grandfather, jonathan
| Davenport, was the first town clerk of the town,
which then embraced all the territory from Gaidi-
ner to Vassalboro' (includins Augusta, which was
then place of minor Importance We propose
to examine these records with the hope Of obtain
| ing something Of interest to readers.
At meeting Of the inhabitants of kcnnebec
river, Cobbscconte and upward, held at the house
| of Mr.. Peasc Clarke, Feb. lst, ll63 articles OF
agreement were entered into to procure preaching.
| A committee was appointed to raise money for the
purpose. The minister to divide his time between
Cobbiscconte and Fort Western (now Augusta or
upwards, as most convenient to the settlers. A
list is given of many Of the texts from which the
| minister preached In one discourse the good
minister (Rcv. Mr.. Allen said that he "would be
| glad to see morality and good works in their high
est latitude Texts arc also given of the preach
| ing by Rev. Mr.. Murray.
| The first town meeting after the Incorporation
of the town of IIallowell, was held at Fort West
ern, on the 22d of May, A. d. III. Deacon
Pease Clarke was chosen Moderator, and the fol-
lowing town officers were elected; Town Clerk,
Jonathan Davenport; Constable Saml Bullen
| Secctmen Pcase Clarke, James Howard, Jona-
! than Davenport; Treasurer, James Howard !;
| Wardens, Samuel Howard, Samuel Badcock {;
| Tythingmcn, Daniel Savage Peter Hopkins In
| formers Of Deer, jonathan Davenport, Moses
| Greeley Fence Viewers, Adam Carson, Benz.
| White.
| James Howard appointed to provide town
| book at the town's charge, in order to keep the
| towns record.
| August 18th, 1875, the Rev. MI. Gillett was or
daned as a minister Of the Gospel In IIallowell
The "fo%c part of the year." l71s, Dea. Samuel
Copv's family came to Hallowell, and in l719,
Benjamin Pettengill, Esq. came to Hallowel In
registering the marks of sheep and swine, that
adopted by Jonathan Davenport, was "a piece cut
| off from the near square, other ways crop
| from the near car" The grandson, who lives on
| the old homestead, retains TIE seli-same mark.
| The sum total Of the ratab!c estates in the town
| Of lIallowe both real and personal, as they stood
J in February, l116 was el3S5.l0. James Howard,
| Esq, was not taxed one faithng fer real estate,
and but eighty-one pounds on the personal, which
was rated lis Id besiGcs his poll, which was g
| Sd. Capt. VIM Howard was not taxed anything
| for real estate. The above rate was laid three
ffths on the polls and two-ffths on the estates
and eighteen pounds Of estate rays Just the same
as poll. The number of polls in the town at
that time was 10! Tie rate for the whole town
was ga los Cd.
| September 4th, l117G, a church Of Christ gather
ed in Winthrop, and on the 9th, Rev. Mr.. Eaton
preached fIom the text in Psalms, 81 have sworn,
and will perform it, that will keep my righteous
| judgments" On the death Of Deacon Clarke, he
preached from Isaiah 81, l3, "Instead of the
thorn" etc.
At town meeting he'd at Fort Western, on
the Isl Of July, Hi, ii was voted 'to lave the
Rhode leadc from the lower end Of the town, on
the east side of the River, to Fort Western as al
| so Rhode up aud down the River on the West
side as far as the Town runs. Voted, to have the
Rhodes cleared by way of Rate l.ahour, set at four
shilings day fer man, and two shlings and
| eight pence for yoke Of oxen" 1t was voted to
| have all the meadows with tie town to be kept
| for the benefit of the people Of the said town of
lIallowel. Voted, to have the Selectmen send a
petition to the Propretors of the town, to request
a ministerial lot, whereon to set meeting house,
also for burial lot and training field.
And this is the way they used to intimate" to a
minister that he ought to have "cal" to 90 else
where "IIallowcll, Oct. Is, l774-At town
meeting, legally warned and met at Fort Western.
voted not to hire Rev. John Allen any more to
preach. Witness, Jonas Clark, Emerson Smith,
Nathaniel IIersey, Ezekiel Page, Benz. White,
Isaac Clark, Jonathan Davenport, Nathaniel
Floyd"
Here is little advice recorded, adapted to every
month in the year:
ain January, neither bleed nor take physick
| In February let blood, but be sparng of phys OK.
In March, purge and bleed.
In April the pores of the blood are open for ply
| sick.
In May, cat sage ard sweet butter.
| In June, shear sheep.
In July, gather in Herbs for the whole ear: dry
| them in the shade. Abstain from physick, If
| possible.
In August, beware of physck, etc, in dog days.
| In September, October and November, great.
| In December, let the kitchin he the apothecary
shop"
Those were the days when it was supposed that
| the health of the individual depended altogether
upon bleeding, vomiting and purging.
On the 10th Of February, l772, the assessors OF
the town settled the valuation of the estates of the
town as follows 1.-The number Of ratable polls arc
Sc eighty OF which we allow to be inhabitants
| the other six we call TRANSPLANT" a list of tax
payers are given, giving such names as these AL
len, Badcock, Butterfeld, Bolton, Bullen, Brook,
Cowing, Clark Davenport, Davis, Floyd, Greeley
Howard Talowcll, Jones, Page. Snow, Stone
Smith, Sprague, White, Wheeler, Thayer, &c.
Mr.. Davenport has also shown us deed from
the Propiietors of the kennebec Purchase to his
grandfather, given at Boston on the l4th of June
1903. The deed is given in the carrying out of the
project of His Majesty King James the First, fol
the advancement of colony and plantation ir
New England.
Supreme judicial Court, L;bbey j., Pre-