The Somerset reporter., 1900-03-29
Arson One Hundred Years Ago

In a former communication l stated
that one hundred years ago, viz, 1796,
1897, 1893 and 1900, Rev Paul Coffin,
Congregationalist missionary, made
/ tour in each of the above named years,
ND into Central Maine. His travels took
him each time to the valleys of the
sandy and the Kennebec rivers In my
/ former letter | gave quotations from his
journal, which told of his journey in
Franklin county and down the Sandy
river. now invite the readers of the
ADVOCATE to make quotations from
Rev. Mr.. Collins journal written during
his second tour in 1877. They are as
follows:
Sept 81, New Vineyard. Rode to
Deacon Nortons of this place and dined.
Preached from Prov 20: Il. Conversed
much with serious company. The
/ family was very sociable and agreeable
- They lodged me in pretty bed.
room. She, seeing me nightly pleased
with my separate room, said, why, we
have gotten a door" This seems a by
word with them, as we here see but few
rooms parted and properly shut by
doors This little apartment reminds
me of the sweet little arched room
found at Captain Ddggetts at the same
place.
Sept %, New Vineyard. Rode to the
house of Henry Norton, nephew of the
/ deacon. His wife is lovely daughter
of Father Gore of Pennington. APP
pointed a lecture at his house as | rode
to it, but the people being busy and Boi
well notified, did not attend.
sept %, Starks Rode through New
Vineyard and visited the two Capt
Daggett's and came to Mr.. Hilton's Of
Starks and dined with his family
Sabbath, Sept. "a, Starks. Preached
from Matt. XVI: 1916. Here | had q
grand auditory, who said they were wei
taught and had learned more than they
had known before. They most earnest
ly begged me to give them another
sabbath. Lodged with Mr.. Nicols
who with his wife, treated me with the
greatest of kindness. Capt. Waugh, al
whose house we kept the Sabbath, is q
sensible man and much opposed to wild
ignorant, itinerant preachers. The PEG
pie are divided here, as elsewhere, gen
orally. Yet many wish for more true
preaching, peace and order
Before quoting farther the writer
wishes to add word of comment. The
Capt. Waugh referred to must have beer
James Waugh, the first settler in the
town of Starks, who commenced clear
ing in the summer of 1773,, of the farm
where James M. Hilton lived in 1850
and which | think is at present owned
by member of the Hilton family. The
early settlers of that day experienced
some trouble from the Indians, and il
1776 two hunters, Roger Chase and g
Mr. Noble were captured by the Indians
and taken TO Quebec. The settlers be
came alarmed. and called upon the Gov
ernor of Massachusetts for aid Accord
ingly Mr.. James Waugh was appointed
captain of a scouting party on June %
TIT, toSkeep watch for Indians on the
Kennebec above NoIridgewock. Capt
Waugh kept journal Of his services
Does any reader of the ADVOCATE, OF
any member of the Waugh or Hiltor
family in Starks or Arson know any
thing of the whereabouts of that jour
nalP If so will they please communi
cate with the editor of the ADVOCATE.
Capt. Waugh and his party made sew
eral expeditions up the river as far al
the Carrying Place, but discovered nj
enemy, and at the expiration of thu
term of enlistment, Dec. /, 1777, thu
party was discharged.
The farm which Capt. Waugh cleared
blossomed as the rose and it's fertile
acres yielded him competency. Here
he made his home, raised his family
and lived out his days upon the earth
| Here Rev. Paul Coffi n visited him ano
preached in his home one hundred ant
two years ago last September. | rea6
the story of those days with emotions
of gratitude for what those pioneers o
the beautiful valleys of the Sandy anC
Kennebec rivers did for those WHIT
should "view the same scenes" NOR,
than hundred years afterward. Ono,
! more the copyist of Paul Coffin's jour
nal asks to remain nameless, but eve
subscribes himself, AN ANsoNITE
Rev. Z. Edwards. pastor of the Eng isf
| Baptist Church at Minersville, Pa, Whei