The Portland daily press., 1896-01-14

To the Editor Of the Press.

|
To the Editor Of the Press:
Correspondents of the PRESS have
lately called attention to the ancient
burial place of the King family near
Dunstan Corner In Scarborough. There
is little difficulty in locating the spot. It
is a small but conspicuous mound less
than quarter of mile from the corner
| on the westerly side of Broad turn road.
Thls mound was originally graded with
much care and was for years surrounded
by renee. No trace of the gate now
remains, and large pines are growing
within the limits of the old enclosure.
This Is the place of burial, not Of William
King, the first governor of Maine. but of
his father, Richard King, wi h his two
wives, Isabella Bragdon and Mary Black,
and some other members of the family.
Richard King was man of great promi-
nence in the early history Of the District
OF Maine, though his fame is somewhat
obscured by that of his more distinguished
sons, -Rufus, u. S. Senator from New
YORK, Minister to the court OF St. James
ana candidate for the presidency of the
| United States. and William, first COVER
nor of Maine.
Richard King, there is little doubt was
born in Kittery In 171S. He was in 1745
appointed by Governor Shirley commits.
sary OF the troops and ''went III the SER
Woe to Annapolis Royal Soon after
his return In 1746 he removed to Soar
borough and Sc ms first to have built
house and saw mill on the southerly side
OF the Old Blue Point road on the ives t.
efiy SIDE OF the stream, near the present
residence of Thomas Seavey, at "Tylers
prloge. The house cellar still shows
plainly. The present roadway evidently
follows the embankment, which formed
part OF the milldam. Some years later he
huilt at Dunstan Landing stately house
on the spot where Hiram Googins now
i1ves. near the old elm. A part of the
house still remains. Here Mr.. King re-
sided until the time of his death, March
", l7lo. Dunstan Landing was then a
thriving place, and Mr.. King did large
business. When the oolonists prior to
sentiment against the oppre ssive action
OF the British government, King took the
| unpopular course of counselling nlOdera-
t1on. 1t was to his credit that he should
feel regard for those who had done so
much for him, and in whose service he
had acted He went no further than to
demonstrate against the tremendous risk
/
conflict with the most powerful nation
on earth, but in The excitement Of rhe
times 1t brought upon him storm of de-
nunciation. The story has often been
told OF the mob said to have come from
Gorham, which surrounded his house at
the Landing one night and compelled him
to declare allegiance to the Continental
| Congress. He was then in feeble health,
and the humiliation of such treatment
evidently FASTENED his death, which oc-
CURED just before the conflict which he
so much deprecated began at Concord
bridge and Lexington. Eight of mis- nine
children lived to maturity and two be-
came especially distinguished.
| Rufus, the Oldest child, was born in
1755, and after graduating from Harvard
College settled in Newburypnrt. In 17I8
| ne was member OF the Massachusetts
General Court, and the next year was
elected Representative Ito Congress. In
1888 he removed to New York. where he
was soon chosen U. S.. Senator. AT the
Washington minister to England, which
position he held several years. He subse-
| quently served two terms in the u S,
Senate. He was twice voted for for Vice
President, and in 1916 was the Federalist
candidate for President of the United
States against James Monroe. Upon the
election Of John Quincy Adams he was
| again made Minister to England, but
| after one year he resigned on account of
| failing health, and returned to this coun-
try where he died at his home on Long
| Island April 26, 1927.
Gov. William King was born in the
| mansion house at Dunstan Landing Feb,
| y. 176S, being thirteen years younger than
his half brother Rufus. His father diod
when he was but seven and he received
only common school education. William
was as ardent Democrat, as Rufus was
| Federalist Drake in his American
Biography says Of him: Gin native
mental endowments he ID thought to
have been superior to his celebrated
brother. After residing a while in Tops
ham. about 1900 he rem we'd to Bath.
Mem b rBof the Maine leg stature for some
years, he took PROMINENT part in
drafting and enacting the Religious
! Freedom Act,' and was also the origi-
nator and principal supporter of the "Bet-
| tsrment Act" He exerted his powerful
influence to effect tho separation OF Maine
| from Massachusetts. which occurred in
| 1919, and was president of the convention
| which framed the constitution of Maine
and was it's first Governor, 1891; United
States Commissioner for the adjustment
Of Spanish claims, 1874. He was gen
81 al OF militia and collector of customs
| of Bath, 1S61-4. He was an eminent and
successful merchant and Intelligent pa-
| iron of institutions of learnign'
Governor King died June II, 1862 at the
| age of "a, and was buried in his family
lot at Bath. His statue, presented by the
state to the general government, stands
| in the Capitol at Washington. One of
the most distinguished efforts of James
G. Blaine was his speech in the Senate
upon the presentation of this statue. -
| The History OF Scarborough, compiled
l Ill lnx,, wv