Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-09
NO. S5.
An Ancient Record.

Moses Copeland, Esq, one of the early set
tiers in Thomaston and Warren, in this coun-
ty. The book itself, as sample of the ma
terials used and the bookbinder's art, is Gu
riosity. The paper was undoubtedly of fine
quality at the time when made. 1t must
complexion. was calendered and bears on the
centre of each leaf. the water mark of the
manufacturer. The binding was thorough.
the sheets, by threes, being sewn with very
coarse thread OF twine to four strips of buck
skin, each halt an inch wide. running across
the back and extending four inches outward
on the insides of the cover, where they were
fastened. The covers are made of pine side
boards more than quarter of an inch thick,
covered with thick paper or cardboard. and
the back is of buckskin, which in those days
abounded But far more interesting than the
mere construction of the book are the associ-
ations connected with it. Its records ante
date the revolution by ten years. Its owner,
Moses Copeland, according to brief sketch
of a portion of his history, which we find on
ton. Massachusetts. He was born in l74l.
In 1853. at the age of seventeen, he enlisted
and went west to fight the French and In
dans, and 10 use his own language, twas at
that fight when our army was defeated at Ii
conderoga." He continued in the service,
and in l759 event To Canada, and was there
when Quebec was taken" and twas gone
about six months" After his return. he
married, in l76l. Patience, daughter of Be-
noni Sweet, of Boston. About March,
1852. he left his wife and son. and came to
Thomaston, where he remained about five
months. At the expiration OF that time he
returned home. and the record says; "Octo-
Der l3. moved my family to st. Georges
Fort, Thomaston where | lived about two
months then | moved to a house that
built on my own lot, and in 1868 | built
grist mill" He was also commissioned
deputy sheriff in 1868, and in l774 built
saw-mill. We learn from Eaton's Annals of
Warren that Mr.. Copeland established him
self ''on the western side of the river, near
the present line of Cushing, on the lot orig
inalv drawn and relinquished by Mr..
Boggs.'
His saw mill was built near the tide-waters
on the creek, and n grist-mll short dis
tancc above" Mr.. Eaton thus spcrks of
him: "Active. shrewd and calculating, he
became a man of business, wealth and dis
tinction, and had great influence in the af-
fairs of the plantation for half century"
According to Mr.. Copcland's own record, in
the book before us. he built a second dwell
ing house in l164 cup by the mills. and
moved up to that house in about September"
In 1866 his grist-mill dam broke. and was
and afterward in the same wear the
mill was nearly destroyed by fire. but was
also rebuilt and made to run by horsepower
when the water failed. Mr.. Eaton says
these mills continued To do "A good business
for twenty years. Mr. Copeland subsequent
" removed we believe, to the locality of the
present village of Warren, where he built
new mills. In 1919 he was elected a repre-
sentative to the General Court, or legislature.
in Boston, the first representative of his
town. The first settlement in Union was
made in l172, and the present towns of Hope
and Appleton must have received settlers
very soon afterward A Mr.. Barrett was the
first prominent settler in Hope. and for a
time the locality was called Barrettstown.
Fergus McLain was the first prominent set
tier of Appleton, probably not far from 1850,
where he became the owner of large tracts of
land. built mills, and became a man of
wealth ard influence, and also represented
his section at the General Court in Boston.
But returning to Mr.. Copelands history and
the book before us, we are irresistibly trans
ported in imagination back to those times in
" hich he was a vigorous actor. and the men
and women whose names are found upon the
pages of his book. amid dangers, privations
and hardships, laid the foundations of civili-
zation and progress whose fruitage enjoy.
The settlement at Thomaston had been eff
fected as most Of the early Judgements in
Maine were against the hostility Of the In
H. tta u,xI
When Mr. Copeland took up his residence in
Thomaston. the fort, which had more than
once saved the settlers for several miles
around, from determination, and been the
scene of desperate battles, was still garri-
soned by few soldiers.
Only four years before. an attack was made
upon this fort by 400 French and Indians,
but being forewarned, Gov. Pownal strength
. ned the garrison. and warm was the re-
ception Of the enemy that they were obliged
to retire, infiicting no more serious injury
than the general destruction Of cattle to the
number of sixty, and such other mischief as
they could commit upon property. As late
as 1890. two years before Copeland's arrival,
warned by friendly Indian, an alarm gun
was fred and the settlers again, and proba-
bly, for about the last time, sought refuge in
the fort, with cattle and property. The In
dians appeared but confined their depreda-
tions to plundering the more distant houses.
For a little time there was comparative
peace. Agriculture was begun on small
scale. cattle increased and grazed upon the
meadows, the heavy forests began to give
way to clearIngs, commerce with Boston was
undertaken, and also the construction of
coasting vessels. The fort and block houses
remained az monuments Of dangers and
trials from the Indians passed away forever.
Settlers increased, lands were rapidly taken
up, a rude church was built, and preaching
''Up 10 the close Of the war;"
says Mr.. Eaton. ''there had not been a
framed house in the whole settlement of st.
Georges, except the meeting house, and pos
sibly one barn at the fort. But in l763,
framed house was erected by Capt. Mclean
for his sister, Mrs. Giffen, who, with her son
Robert, then resided on lot No. 2 above
Oyster River" In 1764 second framed
house was built by Moses Copeland, and in
1865 third by William Boggs; the latter,
we believe. still standing near 'sthe Willows"
in Warren, which were planted by his son
Joseph Boggs. Other settlements were soon
formed at Wesserweskeag, Joseph Coombs
and Elisha Coombs being among the pio-
neers: and Mr.. Eaton gives this item, i'm
teresting TO the residents of Rockland He
says: sin 1867 also John Lermond, Of the
Upper ST. Georges with the occasional aid
Of his two brothers, went over to what
is now Rockland, built camp, and got
rfynssffmuod m Ins,rxh v,au.