Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-04-06
An Body Kennebec Settlement.

Few localities along tho Kennebec
River offer more interesting history than
the present town Of Dresden. It Was .
part of what was known - the Frank.
tort Plantation, which includes the pres
ont towns Of Dresden, Wiscasset. Alma
and Perkins. Lister on In 1760 these
towns were incorporated under the name
of Pownalboro In honor of the Aassa-
chusetts governor of that date. Pownal-
boro (Dresden) became the shire town,
and so remained for 81 years. In 1794,
Dresden, Perkins and Alma were set Oh,
while the name of Pownalboro was re-
tanned for that section known as Wiscas-
set. This latter name WAS adopted In
1902 and the good old name of the orig
-inal incorporation was lost to that SEQ
ton.
Pioneer life always included protec-
ton against the Indians, 30 We find rec.
ords Of block house whore oil could
take refuge In the time of attack. This
house no longer exists, but close to 1t IN
point Of space was built in 1871 q large
court house, which still remains. Many
. conflict between the GARDENERS, Bay.
ards and Quincys took place within these
walls and here rang the eloquepce of
President John Adams, Judge Gushing
and the Sewalls. In 1760 the famous
Boston Massacre case was tried here and
John Adams, lawyer for the defence OF
Captain Preston, travelled from Boston
to Pownalboro on horseback following q
blszed trail, Q far cry to our present
speed by automobile, but was the jour-
ney less pleasurablep This old court
house 10 now the residence of direct de-
scendants of Samuel Goodwin, the first
owner, who had his grant directly from
the builders, The Plymouth Company.
The Goodwin family preserve as nearly
as possible the old furnishings, which In
clude valuable portraits of Thomas John
son, whose mother Was daughter of
Samuel Goodwin, and of Rsbecca Pres.
colt, granddaughter of Samuel Goodwin.
The upper story Of the house remains
with one exception as in the old court
days. The old court room has been par
titioned off into bedrooms.
Battles of tongues were not the only
kind that waged In Pownalboro. During
the Revolutionary War, Mr.. Jones, ia
military known az mahogany Jones" on
account of his dark complexion, prompted
by patriotism, headed small party who
went to the house of Brigadier Cushing,
took him out of bed, carried him over to
the Penobscot and delivered him to the
British.
Any sketch of Pownalboro or Dresden
would be far from complete which does
not include the story of st. Johns Church
and the Rev. Jacob Bailey, the first rec
tor and missionary to these parts.
Through the influence of DR.. Sylvester
Gardiner, q glebe lot of one hundred
acres was granted by the proprietors OF
the Kennebec Purchase, and by Novem-
Der, ITO, the church was erected and
sufficiently completed for the first serv-
ice. Near by it was built the parsonage.
long promised to Mr.. Bailey. He gave
most unselfish devotion to bis scattered
flock, but during the Revolution showed
such loyalty to the Royal cause that in
IT'S persecution was so great that he
was obliged to fee the country. The
loss OF tho shepherd was followed by the
desertion OF the flock and both church
and parsonage fell down. Thus the lot
was forfeited, but the company by suit
regained possession, and the property
was granted to trustees, Samuel Sumner
Wilde, then of Hallowell, a justice of the
Supreme Court of Massachusetts,, who
removed to Massachusetts, on the separa-
ton Of Maine; James Bridge of Augusta;
and Robert Hsllowell Gardiner), for the
benefit of the minister of the Congrega-
tional society In Dresden, go long as no
Episcopal society shall exist In said
town, but when an Episcopal society
shall be established and q minister ser-
tied over 1t In said town then for the use
and benefit Of said Episcopal minisie r
said society was established, but only
fragments of its records remain and the
fund Is still held by succeeding trustees
for the benefit Of the Episcopal church