The Portland daily press., 1882-02-28


in Portland, February 27, 1907, and in honol
of whose seventy fifth birthday we are now
assembled.
Stephen Longfellow was a native Of New
bury, Mass. His grandfather, William Long
fellow, was born in Hampshire county, Eng
land, about the year 1861. In early life he
came to Newbury, where, November TO- 1878
he was married to Anne, daughter Of Henry
Sewall (who began the settlement Of New
buryl, and a sister of Samuel Sewall, after
wards Chief Justice of the Province Of Mas
sachusetts Bay, and Judge Of Probate fc1
Suffolk county. Concerning his occupation,
we only know that he was merchant, and
resided in that part Of the town then known
as the "Falls." In 1890, as Ensign of the
Newbury company, he had part in the i'll
fated expedition to Quebec, under Sir William
Phips. Earlier in the year, Sir William had
captured the French stronghold, Port Royal.
1t was now his purpose to strike a. more deei-
sive blow at the French power in North
America. A larger command was given to
him. With a fleet consisting of thirty-two
vessels, having on board 2200 soldiers. he
sailed from Boston hsrbor August 8. His
progress was slow, and it was not until Oeto-
Der 8, that he appeared before Quebec. The
attempt to capture the place failed, and the ex-
pedition was abandoned. On the return a
violent storm overlook the fleet in the Gulf Of
st. Lawrence, scattered the vessels, and one Of
them containing the Newbury company, went
ashore at Anticosti, q desolate island, and
William Longfellow, with nine others, was
drowned. This was ON the night of the 3lst
of October. The sad tidings at length reached
Newoury. Under date of November q, Judge
Sewall made this entry in his diary:
"Twas Tuesday the 18th of November,
that heard Of the death of Captain Stephen
Greenleaf, Lieutenant James Smith, and En-
sign William Longfellow, Sergeant Increase
Pilsbury who with VIII Mitchell, Jabez Mus
gro and four more, were drowned at Cape
Rritoon ian error,l on Friday night the last of
October"
OF William Longfellow's six children, one,
named Stephen Longfsllow (for Stephen Dunn
mer, Mrs. Longfellow's grandfather), had died
in early childhood. and to another son, born
September %, 1886, the came nams was given
This was the father of Stephen Longfslow
who came to Portland in l745. Concerning
his quiet uneyentful life we know but little.
He became a blacksmith, and we may picture
him, like the poets hero OF the village smithy
with large and sinewy hands, brawny arms,
his brow wet with honest sweat, as he swings
his heavy sledge "with measured beat and
SLOW"
Stephen LongfelIow, the blacksmith, mar
ried, March 25, 1714 Abigail Thompson,
daughter of Rev. Edward Thompson, Of
Marshfield. by whom he had ten children. In
his son Stephen born February Z, 1928, he
lectual promise, and he sent him to Harvard
college, where he was graduated in 1742.
The father was permitted to follow the hon
orable career of his son for nineteen years
after he came to Portland; and when he dieda
Now 7, 1764 he left him small legacy. Itisan
evidence of the sons affectionate regard for
his father, that on receiving this legacy, he
formed the purpose Of converting it into a
permanent memorial. Tsking the silver coin
he sent it by packet to Boston; but unfortu-
nately the vessel was lost and the money with
it. When the tidings reached Mr. Longfel-
low, he made up like amount of silver coin,
which reached Boston in safety, and was
manufactured by John Butler a we'll known
silversmith, into tankard, can, and two
porringers. Each bore the initials s. L., and
the added words of grateful remembrance, er
doio patris. The tankard has been preserved; !;
ard one Of the porringers, after somewhat
eventful history, has found its way back into
the family, and is one of the treasures Of the
poets brother, Alexander w. Longfellow.
Before taking up his residence in Portland
Stephen Longfellow had been keeping school
in York. He came to Portland on the follow
ing letter of invitation from Parson Smith
Falmouth Nov l5, 1744
Sir: We need a schoolmaster. Mr.. Plaisted adj
take the servcs In this place. you may depend upon
our being generous and your being satisfied. I
wish you'd come as soon as possible, and doubt
not but you'll md th1ngs mucn 10 your con
''H'' Your humble ser't,
THOs. SMITH,
P. S. write in the name and with the power Of
the selectmen OF the town. IL you can't serve us
pray advise US Of ii PER first opportunity
The invitation was favorably considered, and
in April following. as Parson Smith records,
Mr.. Longfellow came here to enter upon his
work An appropriation of fifty pounds had
been voted by the town toward the salary Of
grammar teacher; and the people on the Neck,
as Portland was then called, were to have his
exclusive services, proved they contrib uted
the remainder of his salary. Mr.. Longfellow
opened his school April II, 1745, in build
ing on the corner of Middle street and School,
now Pearl street. The number Of
scholars is not known. In the follow
ing wear it was fifty, and on the list which
has been preserved occur the names of the
prominent families of that day, Smith, Moody
Bracket, Waite, Bradbury Jones, Cox, Good
ing, Freeman, Bryant, Coffin, Stickney, Proc
tor and Motley. For that year his salary was
two hundred pounds. As the currency then
was at a depreciation of seven to one, 1t will
be seen that the Office was not very remu-
nerative one even with the tuition, which for
each scholar was eighteen shilings and eight
pence per year, and eight shillings psr quarter.
In manuscript note, in his copy OF Smiths
~ Al, IT,
Willis says: Il think Mr.. Longfellow boarded
with Mr.. Smith when he came here until his
marriage" This occurred October 10. l749.
His wife was Tabitha Bragdon, daughter of
Samuel Bragdon of York. After he built his
house on Fore street, on the lot now occupied
by the Eagle Sugar Refinery, he transferred
his school thither, and he continued to be the
principal instructor in the town until l760,
when be was appointed clerk of the judicial
court. When Mowatt destroyed the town,
October Is. 1875, Mr. Longfellow's house was
burned The committee appointed to exam
inc and hquidate the accounts of those who
suffered in the burning of the town estimated
his loss at l,1l9 pounds. The house was not
rebuilt, and the old cellar was visible on the
unoccupied lot until the erection Of the brick
building by the sugar refinery quarter Of
century ago.
After the destruction OF his house Mr..
Longfellow removed to Gorham, where he re-
sided until his death, May |, 1870. In brief
sketch of his life Mr.. Willis says; "NIr. Long
fellow flled many important Offices in the
town to universal acceptance. He was about
fifteen years grammar school master; parish
clerk twenty-three years; town clerk twenty
two years; many years clerk of the proprie
tors of the common land; and from the estab-
lisEment of the county in l760, to the COM
mencemsnt of the Revolution in l775, he was
register of probate and clerk of the judicial
courts. His handwriting in beautiful charae-
ters, symbolcal Of the purity and excellence Of
his own moral character. is impressed ON all
the records of the town and county through
many successive years.
Of his three sons, Stephen, Samuel, and Will
liam, the latter died in early life while Samuel
left no children. Stephen, the Oldest son, was
born August 8, 1850 December l3, 1918, he
married Patience Young, of York. His home
was in Gorham, and there he died, greatly re-
spected, May 2S 1924. He was extensively
employed as a surveyor, and received appoint
ments to various town offices. He represent
ed Gorham in the General Court Of Massa-
chusetts eight years. For several years he
was Senator from Cumberland county.
He was Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas from 1877 to 1911, and there are
those still among us who remember him
as he drove into Portland in an old square top
chaise, and disn,ounting made his way into
+bo oo,~+ Ln,,Sa asoortod kv II