o > .0^ /°- i"*^- - f- ^% v^ip^^ O* o " o ^ •V^ .'& 1.1s ^--^^ ■^^ .0^ ^* ■-. r\ >'^ S^V '," " •» . ,-?► ,.'> ^" -n.; :^1' ^ ■«■' /. ^^ ,'n:^?? "?" o5 N O \** V^ ■0.' "''\ '^■'*. L? ^'^ — r >,*V O^ > ^^^ 1^ "7*. ' ■ ^0^. 3V 3^ ^ ^% - c , c Gardiner, Me., Historical Series.— Number Two SILVESTER GARDINER HENRY SEWALL WEBSTER GARDINER, MAINE: THE REPORTER -JOURNAL PRESS, 1913. F-Z9 D. OIF : FEB IS iu... SILVESTER GARDINER There have been many distinct families bearing the name of Gardiner, both in England and in this country. Accord- ing- to recent researches conducted by Hon. Asa Bird Gard- ner of New York City, that to which Silvester Gardiner belonged is derived from "Sir Osbern Gardiner, Kt. Primus filius , Lord of the Manor of Oral on Douglass River in Wigan Parish, West Derby Hundred, County Palatine of Lancaster. ' ' He was bom about 1128, in the reign of Henry 1. The fam- ily is of Anglo Saxon origin, but is "by intermarriage, also descended from several distinguished Norman families whose progenitors' names are inscribed in the Battle Abbey Roll of the Knights of William the Conqueror." Two branches of this family are known to have em.igrated ■'Z, to America in colonial times. Richard Gardiner belonged to t"^*-*^, a younger branch. He was one of the "Adventurers" v/ho l*-^^ "^ came over with Sir Francis Wyatt, Governor of Virginia, in \V^*«i»^ ^o 1621. He was living in Richmond, Va., in 1627. None of r^yX /C3« his descendants are known to be living. ,, George Gardiner and his two younger brothers, Edward and Robert, were representatives of the eldest line. They came at different times, and to different parts of the country; but all finally settled in what is now the State of Rhode Island. George Gardiner was baptized February 15, 1599-1600, and was married to Sarah Slaughter at St. James' Church, Clerkenwell, London, March 28, 1630. He sailed in the ship Fellowship of Bristol, and arrived in Boston June 29, 1637. In October, 1638, he was residing on Aquidneck Island, R. I. In 1640 he purchased fifty-eight acres of land in the town of Newport, and in 1662 he acquired by deed from one of the Narragansett Sachems a tract measuring five by one and one-half miles in the "Narragansett Country," afterwards called the "King's Province." He held several colonial 4 SILVESTER GARDINER offices, among- them that of member of the General Court or Legislature. He died in Newport in 1645. Benoni, third son of George and Sarah Gardiner, was born in London in 1636 or 1637, and was therefore an infant at the time of the emigration. He married, in 1670, Mary, daugh- ter of Samuel and Elizabeth Eldred of Kingston, R. L With four of his brothers and six other persons he became one of the proprietors of the "Pettaquamscutt Purchase," which was upwards of twelve miles square, and included Point Judith and Narragansett Pier in the King's Province. This tract was subdivided among the proprietors in 1692, and a portion is said to have remained continuously in the posses- sion of the Gardiner family from that time. He died in Portsmouth, R. L, in 1731. William Gardiner, the eldest child of Benoni and Mary, was born in Kingston in 1671, His wife, Abigail Reming- ton, was the daughter of John and Abigail (Richmond) Remington, and the granddaughter of John Remington of Jamestown and Warwick, the original settler of the name in Rhode Island. William settled in that part of Kingston known as Boston Neck, where he died December 14, 1732. The tradition that he was ' 'commonly called Wicked William" rests upon a record in a family Bible made more than fifty years after his death and known to be full of gross errors, although, as a commentator observes, "not more so than traditionary statements of families are often found to be." The will of William Gardiner was made April 12, 1732, and recorded the February following. "Although he calls himself, in modest style, 'I, William Gardiner, cordiuainer,' i.e., shoemaker, he yet proceeds to dispose of more than sixteen hundred acres of land and above ;!^3,000. An old North Kingstown deed contains the clause, 'cordwainer, otherwise tanner.' In descriptions of some of the South County farms, there are mentioned the 'tan-yard' and the 'bark-house.' It may be that one of the callings of William Gardiner, of Bos- ton Neck, was that of tanning." * William and Abigail Gardiner had seven children, born from 1696 to 1708. Their names in the order of birth were *Updike's History of the Episcopal Church in Narragansett, 2d ed., vol. I, page 442. SILVESTER GARDINER 5 John, AVilHam, Abigfail, Thomas, Hannah, Lydia and Sil- vester. Silvester Gardiner was born in South Kingfston, R. I., June 29, 1708.* He was baptized by Rev. James MacSpar- ran May 10, 1722, when he was nearly fourteen years old. Twelve days later the clergyman became the husband of Hannah Gardiner, Silvester's sister. Rev. James MacSparran was one of the most eminent of the Episcopal clergy in this country during the colonial pe- riod. He was sent as a missionary to the Narragansett Church, by the vSociety for the Propogation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in 1721, and remained there until his death in 1757. During a visit to England in 1737 he was honored with the degree of S. T. D. from Oxford University. It was owing to MacSparran 's influence that Silvester re- ceived an education. Silvester was a sickly child, and did not appear to his brother-in-law as likely to be fitted for the kind of life to which his surroundings would naturally lead. He therefore requested of his parents that he be allowed to superintend his education, promising in that case to make more of a man of him than any of the others. Paternal con- sent was obtained on condition that the expense should be deducted from Silvester's share of the estate. The boy was accordingly sent to school in Boston; and after the comple- tion of his preliminary education he went abroad for the pur- pose of fitting himself for the medical profession. After eight years spent in London and Paris, principally the latter, he returned to Boston, where his talents and acquirements soon gained him an extensive practice. His marriage to the daughter of a wealthy Boston physician was doubtless no ob- stacle to his advancement. He gave lectures on scientific subjects, which he illustrated by means of anatomical prepa- rations brought from abroad. He also opened a store for the importation and sale of drugs and medicines, "Dr. Gardi- ner's Drug Store," writes his great-grandson, Robert Hallo- well Gardiner, Jr., "was at the corner of Washington and ■*Updike's History, &c., vol. I, page 136. Hanson says 1707. Up- dike remarks that he often signed his name "Sylvester" after his sec- ond return from England. I have seen more than fifty papers or copies bearing his signature, and in ever^' case "Silvester" or "Silv." is used. 6 SILVESTEE GARDINER Winter Streets, his lot extending- half way to Tremont St., his residence being on Winter St."* As a result of his business activity, he became very rich, and at the outbreak of the American Revolution, he undoubtedly occupied a high rank in wealth, social position, and influence. Dr. Gardiner's connection with the Plymouth or Kennebec Company belongs to this period of his life, but it was so fully treated in No. One of this series that it needs only to be mentioned here. During his residence in Boston he was a constant attendant and one of the Wardens of King's Chapel > and a liberal contributor towards its support. After he had left Boston, the society was reorganized on a Unitarian basis, and he with other absentees was declared to have forfeited his seat. His feelings on this subject are expressed in one of his letters here published. It is not a matter of surprise that Dr. Gardiner's sympa- thies, at the time of the revolt of the American colonies^ were with the mother country. Such, with a few exceptions, was the sentiment of the class to which he belonged. Nor is it to be wondered at that he had some apprehensions as to his personal safety. The sacking of the house of Lieut. Gov. Hutchinson and others was not likely to be reassuring to one who shared their political opinions, and whose natural disposition made it impossible for him to conceal his senti- ments. The British army evacuated Boston March 17, 1776, and was followed by a crowd of loyalists, among whom were Dr. Gardiner and his family. Halifax was his first place of ref- uge, and from that place he soon afterwards went to England and took up his residence at Poole, a town on the southern coast in the county of Dorset, where he remained until the close of the war. During his stay there, like many other prominent refugees, he received a pension from the English government. Soon after his departure, acts of confiscation were enacted by the Massachusetts legislature, under which most of his property was sequestrated. While that in Maine escaped by reason of a flaw in the proceedings, it was left without pro- tection and suffered great damage from squatters and other ■•■Note lo R. H. Gardiner's Autobiography. SILVESTER GARDINER 7 evil-disposed persons. His stock of drugs was taken by- Washington for use in the Continental army, a circumstance which impelled him afterwards to speak of the great chief- tain as "that theif Washington." At a later period, commissioners were appointed by the British government to receive evidence as to the losses of loyalists, with a view of providing for their reimbursement. A schedule left by Dr. Gardiner and now in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society shows that the real es- tate owned by him in Boston consisted of his "mansion" and another house on Winter Street, three houses on the east side of Marlborough Street, and one house on "Long Lane." These had been appraised at 5,650 pounds. His stock of "Drugs, Medicines & utensils" he estimates at 2,000 pounds, and his library and other personal effects were sold for 1,658 pounds and 18 shillings. His "loss by depradations com- mitted on his other Estates by the destruction of the timber, loss of stock, farming utensils &c." at 6,000 pounds, one-half of which was chargeable to the "Cobbiseconte Estate." The sum of these losses is about 15,300 pounds. The Boston res- idence was purchased and afterwards occupied by Dr. Joseph Gardiner, who probably was not a relative of the former owner. Some years after Dr. Silvester Gardiner's death, his heirs applied to the state of Massachusetts for compensation for some of his losses. The state was at the time engaged in a land lottery enterprise, in which they awarded the petition- ers some tickets. The result was that the heirs drew quite a large tract of land in Washington County, Me. The deeds of parcels of this land often refer to them as "lottery lots." Dr. Gardiner returned to the United States in 1785, and resumed the practice of his profession in Newport, R. L He died there of malignant fever, after a short illness, August 8, 1786. The Newport Mercury contained the following obituary notice: "On Tuesday last, departed this life, in this city, Doctor Sylvester Gardiner, in the eightieth year of his age. He was a native of this state, but for many years prior to the Revolution, an inhabitant of Boston, in the state of Massa- chusetts, where in the line of his chirurgical and medical profession, he long stood foremost. He was possessed of an 8 SILVESTER GARDINER uncommon vigfour and activity of mind, and by an unremit- ted diligence and attention, acquired a large property, which, though much injured by the late civil war, is not wholly annihilated. His Christian piety and fortitude were exemplary, as his honesty was inflexible and his friendship sincere. His remains, attended by many of his relatives and of the most respectable citizens, were removed to Trinity Church on the Friday following, where the funeral service was read, and a sermon suitable to the solemnity, at his particular desire, delivered to a very crowded audience; after which the body was interred under the church. The colours of the shipping, in the harbour, were displayed half-mast high and every other mark of respect shown by the inhabi- tants on the mournful occasion." Dr. Gardiner's letters exhibit him as a man of decided opinions, and accustomed to use strong language in expres- sing them. In religion he was no less positive than in other matters. He had deep religious convictions, and was a strong advocate of Episcopacy. The Church festivals he observed with much strictness, often spending its fast- days in complete solitude and abstinence. Late in life he com- piled a book of selected prayers, hymns and "religious dis- sertations", which he had printed and distributed at his own expense. Silvester Gardiner was married three times. His first wife, whom he married about 1730, was Anne Gibbins, or Gibbons, of Boston, the daughter of a wealthy physician, A part of his property came to him through this Gibbons con- nection. In his memorandum already referred to he speaks of his house on Marlborough Street as that of the "late Dr. Gibbons." Mrs. Anne Gardiner died in 1771. His second wife was Mrs. Love Eppes of Salem. The date of their marriage is uncertain, but it is known to have been previous to his departure from Boston in 1776. Sabine mentions her as "his young wife". A letter of Dr. Gar- diner's shows that she was a daughter of Mrs. Love Dick- man, and that she died in England, November 3, 1780. February 18 or 19, 1785, he married Miss Catherine Gold- thwaite. He was then in his seventy-seventh year, and she was twenty-eight. She survived him, and afterwards mar- ried a Mr. W. Powell of Boston. All of Dr. Gardiner's children were by his first marriage. The eldest, John Gardiner, was born in 1731. He was edu- SILVESTER GARDINER 9 cated in England and adopted the law as his profession . He practiced with success in the Welsh curcuit, and married Miss Marg-aret Harries, of good family, in South Wales. His abilities attracted the attention of Lord Mansfield, who did not fully withdraw his favor when the young advocate allied himself with the Whig party, and became junior coun- sel for John Wilkes in the celebrated trial of that distin- guished agitator. For his services in the Wilkes trial he received the gift of a piece of plate, with an appropriate in- scription, which is still in the possession of his descendants. His alliance with the popular party, however, was not favor- able to his rapid advancement; and in 1765 he accepted the appointment of Attorney General of St. Christopher, one of the West India Islands, whither he removed with his family. Political complications soon obliged him to leave that island. After a short residence in Jamaica, he went to Martinique, where he held office successively under the British and French governments. In 1783 he returned to Boston where he again became conspicuous as a legal practicioner; but for some reason, probably on account of his health, he retired in 1786 to Pownalborough in the District of Maine, where he had received some property under his father's will. From 1789 until his death he was a member of the General Court or legislature of Massachusetts. In that position he became known as "the law reformer". His efforts to abolish special pleading were not successful, but he secured the repeal of the law of primogeniture and of the laws which forbade theatri- cal representations. His nephew, Robert Hallowell Gardi- ner, records his recollection of "his short stout person, his hair tied up in a silk bag, and his quick, loud, commanding voice". An unknown writer says of him, "He had an as- tonishing memory, was an admirable belle-lettres scholar, learned in his profession, and particularly distinguished for his wit and eloquence". In the autumn of 1793 he sailed on a schooner from Pownalborough for the purpose of taking his seat in the Massachusetts legislature. The vessel was lost in a gale and all on board perished. The eldest of John Gardiner's three children, John Sylves- ter John Gardiner, D. D., born in Wales in 1765, was from 1805 to his death in 1830, rector of Trinity Church, Boston. 10 SILVESTER GARDINER John Gardiner was active in the revision of the liturgy of King's Chapel, which consisted in the elimination of all ex- pressions relating to the Trinity. The differences of opinion between John and his father on questions of politics and re- ligion have been suggested as the reason of the clause in Dr. Gardiner's will by which only "one Guinea" was be- queathed to his eldest son. This disinheritance, however, was annulled by the first codicil, which bears the same date as the will, and by the fourth codicil, which was executed only three weeks later. It may be observed in this connec- tion that the bequests to John Gardiner were without limita- tions, while William received only an entailed estate. It is evident, however, that Dr. Gardiner intended that his son William, or the persons named as legatees in case that William should die without heirs, should receive the most of his estate. Some of John Gardiner's letters to his father suggest other causes of differences between them than ques- tions of religion and politics.* William Gardiner was probably the second child of Dr. Silvester, but the year of his birth is unknown. He was in- ferior to his brother in character and abilities, but his letters show him to be a person of some education and general knowledge. His father sent him to Gardinerston in 1759 to engage in trade and take charge of his estates. In neither capacity does he appear to have been much of a success. During the Revolution, his Tory sentiments rendered him obnoxious to the opposite party and caused him considerable trouble. He declares that he was "7 times before commit- tees, 2 before General Courts, 2 in Jail or confined". He claimed, as will be seen by his letters, that his enemies were largely influenced by mercenary motives. On one occasion he escaped violence by a hasty flight. The circumstances are related by Rev. Jacob Bailey in a letter written in October, 1774, and printed in "The Frontier Mis- sionary." The writer was an Episcopal missionary at Pow- nalborough, and was himself an ardent loyalist. More of his letter is given here than relates exclusively to Mr. Gardiner on account of the vivid picture which it presents of the *The will of Silvester Gardiner, to which frequent reference is here made, was printed in No. One of this series. SILVESTER GARDINER 11 troubles to which loyalists were exposed. Mr. Bailey's ac- count is as follows: "I arrived at Pownalboro' about dark, where I found the people in great consternation. A furious mob at George- town were running about in search of tea. and compelling people, bj' force of arms, to sign the solemn league. An- other was raging up the river, within twelve miles. They had already destroyed one hundred and fifty pounds of tea for Esq. Hussey, and thrown his hay into the river. Mr. [William] Gardiner had fled from their fury, and tarried with lis all night, expecting every moment to be attacked, as Lovejoy had already invited them among us, and threatened the utmost vengeance upon me, Ridley, Maj. Goodwin, etc. Mr. Gardiner returned after service, but was obliged to fly that evening, and escape to Boston. About midnight, one hundred and fifty men, armed with guns and various weapons, surrounded his house, demanded a sight of him, and insisted upon searching for tea. Mr. Hazard, a gentle- man from Rhode Island, entered into a parley with their leaders, and they firmly engaged that none, except five chosen men, should enter into the house; but they quickly broke theii- engagement, rushed in, rifled the house, broke open his desk, and perused his papers, and after being treated with several gallons of rum, they stole Mr. Hazard's buckles, and then inquired for Mr. Jones, the surveyor. They in- sisted upon his signing the covenant, upon which he stripped open his bosom, and told them they might stab him to the heart, but nothing should induce him to sign that accursed instrument. They seized him with violence and threw him headlong into the river, and then dragged him about till he was alm.ost torn to pieces, but all to no purpose. They at length desisted, and, having drank several gallons of rum, began to quarrel, and had a violent battle among them- selves. Several remained dead drunk, and the remainder returned to their habitations." In 1777 William Gardiner was convicted, at Pownalbor- ough, for being a person "inimically disposed" towards the State of Massachusetts and the United States. The com- plaint was made by Gideon Gardiner. He was sentenced to be transported, but the Massachusetts Council, to which he appealed, was prevailed upon to reverse the action of the court. Soon after he returned to Gardinerston and resumed possession of his estates. From that time he was not seri- ously molested, but his spirit had been effectually cowed, and he allowed the "squatters" and others who were disposed to 12 SILVESTER GARDINER encroach on the property to do about as they pleased. The end of the war did not produce much change in this respect, and it will be seen that his father's letters were full of com- plaints about "Billy's" inattention and neglect. The last of his life was largely spent in hunting and playing practical jokes on his neighbors. He was never married. He died before June 16, 1787, when, as appears by the probate records of Lincoln County > his brother John was appointed administrator of his estate. His death was caused by an overdose of laudanum taken to relieve a colic. He was buried under the Episcopal vestry in Gardinerston. Anne Gardiner, the third child of Silvester and Anne. "was famous for her beauty, her portrait having been paint- ed by Copley, in the character of Diana".* She married Col. Arthur Browne, an Irish oflficer in the British Army, and second son of the Earl of Altamont. Robert Hallowell Gardiner says of her, "The elder brother being very sickly in his youth, my aunt expected to be able to place a coronet on her coach, but in this she was disappointed. Her brother in law recovered his health and lived to vote for the Union of Ireland with England for which service he was made Marquis of Sligo". She died in 1807. Hannah Gardiner, the fourth child, was born in 1744, married Robert Hallowell Jan. 7, 1772, and died Feb. 9, 1796. As their son, Robert Hallowell, who took the name of Gardiner, succeeded to most of Silvester Gardiner's pro- perty, the family deserves a more extended notice than other collateral lines. The Hallowells are said to have been a Devonshire family. Savage says that the first in this country was William Hallo- well, whose son Benjamin, of Boston, married Mary Stocker, May 12, 1692. Their children were Mary, b. Mar. 17, 1693; Ann, b. Jan. 28, 1695; Benjamin, Jr., b. Jan. 20, 1699; Wil- liam, b. Nov. 11, 1700; Joseph, b. Nov. 22, 1702; Sarah, b. Sept. 1, 1705; Samuel, b. Nov. 25, 1707. Benjamin, Jr., married Rebecca Briggs May 29, 1722. His grandson, Robert Hallowell Gardiner, says of him that he "was extensively engaged in shipbuilding, in the fishing on the banks of Newfoundland, and in foreign commerce. ^History of Narragansett Church. SILVESTER GARDINER 13 He was one of the largfe proprietors in the 'Kennebec Pur- chase', and owned a valuble and extensive estate in Boston, embracing- several acres with a large water front extending: from Liberty Square to Fort Hill". Benjamin and Rebecca (Briggfs) Hallowell had four sons, Benjamin, Robert, Sam- uel and Brigfgfs, and four daughters, Sarah. Anne, Mary and Rebecca. All of these are spoken of in R. H. Gardiner's Autobiography; and as extracts from that work are to form a later number of this series, they need not, with the excep- tion of Robert, be particularly mentioned here. Robert Hallowell, the husband of Hannah Gardiner, was the second son of Robert and Rebecca Hallowell, and was born in Boston in July, 1739. He received a mercantile education, and assisted his father in the management of his business. About 1766 he superintended the building of a saw-mill for his father, at Abdagasset, on the Kennebec. He was appointed collector of customs at Portsmouth, N. H., then the second town in importance in New England, and afterwards held the same office in Boston. Custom officials were never popular with the colonists, who had no scruples about evading the revenue laws whenever they saw an op- portunity. Their hostility grew more violent as causes of dissatisfaction with the mother country multiplied. In 1765, the year that the Stamp Act was passed, Robert Hallowell's house on Hanover Street was attacked by a mob, which, says Sabine, " broke his windows, and forcing the doors at last destroyed furniture, stole money, scattered books and papers, and drank of the wines in his cellar to drunkenness". His attempt, in 1768, to seize a vessel belonging to John Hancock for smuggling wine, resulted in an affray in which he received injuries that were at first thought to be mortal. In 1776 he accompanied the British army to Halifax with his family. From that port he sailed to England, and resid- ed in the city of Bristol through the war. Like other promi- nent loyalists, he was proscribed and forbidden to return, and his property was confiscated. He returned to America in 1788 and again in 1790 for the purpose of settling the estates of his father and father in law. The homestead on Batterymarch Street, in Boston, had escaped confiscation, on account of the life estate being in his mother, and there he took up his residence with his family in 1792. In 1816, 14 SILVESTER GARDINER in failing health, he came to Gai diner and lived with his son, Robert Hallowell Gardiner. He died April 23, 1818, and was buried in the tomb under Christ Chiirch. The tablet which marks the place of his burial is affixed to the outer wall of the Church, near the southwest corner. The in- scription reads: "Robert Hallowell. Born in Boston July 1739. Died in Gardiner April 1818. Here lies entombed a man of firm integrity, distinguished courtesy, and strong affections". The children of Robert and Hannah Hallowell were: 1. Hannah, b. Sept. 27, 1773, d. May 1, 1796, unmarried. 2. Nancy, b. Nov. 22, 1774, d. Sept. 17, 1775. 3. Anne, b. in Halifax, N. S., July 15, 1776, d. in Boston, Aug. 15, 1800. 4, Rebecca, b. in London, Eng., Sept. 29, 1777, d. May 14, 1779, "buried in the Parish of Mary Lebone". 5. Robert (afterwards Robert Hallowell Gardiner), b. i.i Bristol, Eng., Feb. 10, 1782, d. in Gardiner, Me., Mar. 22, 1864, married Emma Jane Tudor at Trinity Church, Boston, June 25, 1805. Rebecca, the fifth child of Silvester and Anne Gardiner, married Philip Dumaresq, of whom the "History of the Narragansett Church" says that he "is said to have traced his lineage from nobles of the island of Jersey. He was born in 1738, became a merchant in Boston, and married Dr. Gardiner's daughter in 1763. At the time of the Revolu- tionary War he was a loyalist and, in 1776, retired to Hali- fax, with his family. Having been, in 1778, proscribed and banished, he was appointed, by the British government, col- lector of customs at New Providence, Nassau, where he re- mained until his death." Dr. Gardiner had so little confidence in Dumaresq 's busi- ness ability that he objected to the match, but his objections did not prevail. By his will he left his daughter Rebecca the "Diamond Lot" in Pittston, but entailed it on her chil- dren. Robert Hallowell Gardiner afterwards bought out the Dumaresq heirs. Abigail, Dr. Gardiner's sixth and last child, married Oliver Whipple November 15, 1774. He was a native of Rhode Island, born about 1743, a graduate of Harvard Col- lege in 1766, and practiced law in Portsmouth and Hampton, N. H. He is described as "a fine looking and accomplished SILVESTER GARDINER 15 gfentleman, corpulent, with a very expressive countenance. He was six feet in height, or very near it, erect and straight, and in manner dignified and courteous." He was a man of some ability, but seems to have lacked steadiness of purpose. His wife obtained a divorce from him in 1796, but they soon afterward thought better of it and were married again. Their remarriage was the occasion of the following epigram by a brother lawyer * : "Divorc'd, like scissors rent in twain, Both mourned the rivet out; Now whet and riveted again. You'll make the old shears cut." Mr. Whipple was one of Dr. Gardiner's attorneys before his return to this country, and was one of the executors of his will. He visited Pittston in 1784 for the purpose of ex- amining and reporting on the condition of the property there. The last of his life was passed in Washington, D. C, where he obtained a clerkship, after he and his wife had spent most of their property. He died in the neighboring city of Georgetown in April, 1813. The Whipp'es had three children, only one of whom was married. Their daughter Hannah married Frederick Allen, a lawyer of repute in Gardiner, Me. Mrs. Whipple's last days were spent with her married daughter. Robert Hallo- well Gardiner speaks rather slightingly of his aunt Abigail, but other accounts represent her as a woman of exalted character. Her religious devotion led her to make a written covenant with the Almighty, which she annually renewed. Oliver and Abigail Whipple have no living descendants. Mrs. Allen had numerous letters and other papers relating to the Gardiner, Whipple and Allen families. Her daugh- ter, Mrs. Margaret Elton, presented them to the Massachu- setts Historical Society, where they form a valuable and in- teresting collection. The Maine Historical Society has another collection of Gardiner papers, a gift of the late Rob- ert Hallowell Gardiner. From these two collections most of the following letters are taken. *Jonathan Mitchell Sewall, b. 1748, d. 1808. I have a volume of his poems, printed in Portsmouth, N. H., in 1801. One of his couplets has escaped oblivion: "No pent-up Utica contracts your powers, But the whole boundless continent is 3-ours. ' ' LETTERS I— SILVESTER GARDINER TO- Halifax May 9th 1775 Dear Sir I wrote you in Jan^" last wherein I mentioned my fears of the Troops leaving- the Town of Boston which they did on the 17^^ day of March in such a precipitate manner as gave the friends of Government only four or five days notice which put them under a necessity of leaving almost every thing they had, as no Vessel or Seaman were to be found so suddenly to transport them with their effects; which threw them into the utmost distress; indeed the Gen- eral gave them all the assistance he could by assigning them some places in the Transport, but there was not room to carry off any of their effects and but very little of their household firnilure; and what they did was chiefly dis- troy'd or stolen by the Soldiers or Saylors — on their arrival at this miserable place it was with the greatest difficulty they could get Houses to screen themselves from the weath- er. Houses did I say they hardly deserve that name, the [torn] inhabitants took every advantage of our misfortune and made us pay at the rate of 50 £ pr ann' for Houses that would not before rent for five Pounds & had the conscience to make us pay 50/ a Cord for Cord Wood that would not fetch Ten Shillings pr Cord before our arrival, the stated price of Beef Mutton and Veal is at 12^1 a pound butter at 1/6 and every thing else in proportion except fish which is cheap enough, as I found I could not stay in Boston and trust my person with a set of lawless rebels whose actions have disgraced human nature, & who have treated all the Kings Loyal Subjects that have fallen into their hands with great severity, and for no other crime than for their Loyalty to the best of Kings and a peaceable Submission to the best constituted Government on Earth. I don't believe there ever was a people in any age or part of the World that en- joy so much liberty as the people of America did under the SILVESTER GARDINER 17 mild indulgent Government (God bless it) of England and never was a people under a worser state of tyranny than they are at present — I find there are people among you that have imprudence enough to abet this horrid rebellion and even in the Senate House to give the highest incomiums on a wretch that has nothing else to recommend him but his perjury & rebellion, and had he taken the side of Govern- ment never would have been heard of but I would advise those trumpeters to Sedition and rebellion to remember that some mens praises and panegyricks are like the pillory of infamy and disgrace — We have heard nothing from Quebec for some time but have reason to hope and believe it is still in the hands of the King — Genl Howe detach'd the 47 regl for that place 21 days ago and by a Vessel that arrived here Yesterday we hear that 22 Days ago 12 Sail of Ships from England were seen to the Westward of Newfoundland bound to Quebec, and by the winds we have had, both fleets must have arrived there before now, which is sooner I am perfectly sure than the rebel reenforcements can pass the lakes and get before the place. — the 19^^ April cut me of from all my estate in the Country both in hands Mortgage bond and book Debts, and now being drove from Boston have lost all the rest [of] my estate there, both Stock in trade and the income of my Houses that I have^'nothing now left I can call my own but about £ 500. in Cash which I happened to have by me. By this cursed rebellion I am drove to this wretched place, and from a state of 'Affiuence?. (could truly say I did not know a want) to a mere^'state^bf indigency that is to say when this poor £ 400. is gone^God only knows what I shall do, for the present I purpose^staying here during the summers cam- paign to see if lit will give the Kings Troops a footing in some part of America if it should not I purpose going to some part of the^ West'; Indies or in some Town in j' England or Ireland for the severity and length of the Winter in this place and badness of the Houses will render it impossible for me to stay here during the Winter Season. — I am Dear Sir Your Mo Obed^ and very humble Servant Silv^ Gardiner. 2 18 SILVESTER GARDINER 2 —SILVESTER GARDINER TO OLIVER WHIPPLE London oct 1783 Dear Mr. Whipple, by all accounts it appears that the people of America do not seem inclined to pay much regard to the late peace, except to those articles of it that suit them, what will be the effect of such a conduct I do not pretend to say; if the}' sho uld proceed agfainst my Estate in June next I beg" you will not fail to claim for me and in opening the case first en- deavour to remove any prejudice that may have taken hold of the Jury by saying whatever they have entertained of my being unfriendly to their State may not be true. I never bore arms against them, that I never entered into any association or subscription against them of which there were many during the blockade at Boston. I broke no Law of the Province by retiring into a neighbouring Province, and where there is no law the Apostle tells them there can be no transgression: and when you have fully dwelt on that head, by showing it in every point of view; then show the great danger there will be by making a presedent of trying a man by a law made two years after the crime or a pretended, one was commit- ted — the danger of allowing or paying the least regard to such an act will be of so dangerous a nature, that they may there by involve themselves and their posterity in such a pre- dicament that no man can be safe a practice so destable as not practiced now by no civilized nation upon earth, and is this the liberty they have been holding out to the poor de- luded people this ought to be laboured in every point of view — both by the Roman and English Law no man could be tryed but by being present and answering for himself to his accusers face to face. I ought to have been notified to ihis action and time allowed for my appearance and I would have readily appeared this point ought to be set in every point of view — and if the Court seems determined to proceed in the Action have the opinions of the Judges on this point. I am very sure had I been notifyed and time given for my appearance they never could have got a Judgement against me or my Estate my son William has been asleep in this and every thing else relating my interest or I am afraid his own. SILVESTER GARDINER 19 if this is overruled and they will proceed on the tryal then bring- the sixt article of the Peace provided it has been de- clared and Proclaimed, it then becomes a law of the State and must be received both by court and Jury as such the fifth article is nothing but a Jumble of words, all recommenda- tory: but the sixth article is so plain and explicit! that wants no explanation, in it all prosecutions and confiscation are to cease, and the Seventh Article declaring there shall be for the future a perpetual friendship between the subjects of his Britannic majesty and the citizens of the United States, if these actions should be permitted to go on I should desire the court to reconcile these articles with their proceedings if necessar^^ desire my son William to fee one of the best Lawyers at court as he at present possesses one of my es- tates tjia^will^dmi^^jiandsomejeejto^ that shall be employed I shall take care and see j'ou paid for what you do for me in these affairs Poole Feb 10. 1784 The above is nearly what I wrote you last October which I hope you received, there will be exhibited against me the next court at Pownalborough I am told some of the most extraordinary demands that ever were made ag'ainst any pe rson before when there is not the least fo und ati on fo r whic h I must desire your Particular care of — one is to be made by Gideon Gardiner for 1200 pounds this man is a Tenant but imhappy for me was greath^ in debt before he came so: and I was sued often soon after he got upon the premises, which by his deceiving me with assuring that he could soon pay I became bound for him which I was obliged to pay. I was partner with him in this farm but I found him such a villian that I got rid of him: settled accounts with him and was obliged to take his note of hand for the balance for money paid and goods supplyed him to the amount of 193 pounds, with interest to last oet. amount to 325 pounds, in May 1772 I leased him the Farm he now lives on vid the lease &c. After we had settled he pretended there was some things omitted I told billy then at Kennebeck to examine into it, and what was just and right to do, accordingly he sends me up the inclosed account. Since then I never had to my knowl- 20 SILVESTER GARDINER edgfe anything' to do with him. I think the lease and this account will do for him. Mr Thos Dinsmore became my Tenant the 25 of March 1770 as you will see by his lease, but by being my Tenant before he like the rest of my Ten- ants were very poor which obliged me to supply with neces- sarys to keep him alive, on settlement he fell in my debt 24 pounds for which I was obliged to take his note and then leased him a part of wSwan Island. See his lease and note, in the year 1772 one Mr Norcross became my Tenant by lease which I here send (by the recommendation of Judge Strowbridge) You will see by his lease he had a great Family of Children and was exceeding poor that I was obliged to supply him from time to time as you will see by his notes of hand and account: the account was got ready for signing but the Vessel was going under sail it was not done — the trouble some time coming on I think I never had an op- portunity afterwards David Welch became my Tenant very poor had a large Family of young children which obligfed me to supply him with Stores of almost every kind otherwise he must have sufEered greatly, after some years we settled and the ballance of his account August 8th 1770 was £ 134: 17: 5. I do not remember that much passed between us afterwards Some time after when I was at Kennebeck he told me if his great meadow was drained it would be a great advantage to him I answered if so it should be done as soon as I g^ot home. I greed with two men supplied them with sufficient Provissions and every kind of utensils and sent them down to do the necessary ditching with directions as he under- stood the spade better than the men he may if he pleased change work with one of them, the work was done and on their return I paid them this was all at my expense and he had all the profit during his lease when billy and I went to the Eastward I generally carryed most of my leases stoped at Welches and left with him his Crawford and Graces lease and forgot to call for them (they are of the same tenour of all the rest of my leases) Goodwin the younger leased my house and Saw mill at my Pownalborough the late Lessee died and his Estate was rendered insolvent and I was obliged to repair the mill which I was obliged to do, which was agreed upon; between us agreeable to the two papers attend- SILVESTER GARDINER 21 ing: his lease which was all I ever agreed with him to do which might have amounted to about 18 pounds and he has charged me 1000 pounds and recovered Judgment for a ballance of 400 pounds as billy acquaints me what a cruel villianous action this is with the rest of these villianous de- mands you will see by the lease what this abandoned scoun- drel was to give — he paid me littls rent how much I can't say as I have not my books with me but I often complained to him for not remitting me and as soon as his lease was out I let the mills to one Mr Chote who I believe is a rouge but not so abandoned on as goodwin who has retained the great- est part of the mill rent and beside has Lodged an account against me for 1000 pounds three times more than all the mills and House ever cost before Mr Welch who never was worth a farthing in his life has trumped up an account of 3500 pounds Gid: Gardiner one of 1200 pounds Dinsmore one of 400 pounds it requires some delay to manage these Suits if they are pushed which I dare say you are equal t oo if they file them as I am not present get them put of according to the law of the Province until I can be notified which no doubt will be granted for two terms for they are all without the least foundation as I shall be able to Prove so far from my being in their debt they are all in my debt in very large sums as you can fully piove if they will allow you time and no doubt they will because the law allows it. if they push to be admitted to their oaths on their accounts you are to oppose them for in such cases as these, the}- must bring their Books to see the charges were regularly made at the time when the goods were delivered, or the service done — they must then produce my orders for those things and their actual delivery or service at the time when the service was said to be done this is always done in cases of this kind and the oath of the party never admitted in cases of this kind — they are not like milk scores where the nature of the case cannot admit of such proofs if the cases cannot be supported with these proofs the action must fale for the oath of the party is always refused in such Case for want of the highest Proof which the law always requires — for futher Particulars I must refer you to the papers sent in each case with a fuU Power of Attorney all which I hope you will receive safe. 22 SILVESTER GARDINER the last Sessions of Parliament there was an act made ap- pointing a committee of five persons to examine into the claims and losses of the Loyalists which they have suffered on their adhering" to their allegiance and report to the Treasury their doing-s thereon, what is to be done next Do not pretend to say — but it is said there will be a demand made on each State for these several Losses or money taken from each person, every Loyalist that has suffered on this account, have been notifyed to attend this committee and is allowed untill next March to give in his memorial and sche- dule, but the committee is allowed to set for two years ta finish the whole I believe Government designs at present either to pay or to see us paid for all the losses we have met with on occasion of the war on being notifyed to attend this committee, I wrote to my son William to send me an authen- tic account of my losses both real and personal and altho re - peat ed several times yet to my great disappointment he has not sent me any account of them altho he received my first desire in June last and I must now suffer the loss of many thousand occationed by his negle ct in this matter what i want I will now be particular viz: a well authenticated account of the sal e of all my personal Est ate in the Tow n of Boston of what kind soever in one paper which I su ppose may b e easily had of the Vendue master in one distinct and separate paper and the best account that can be procured of seizing and carrying of all my stock of drugs and medicines by that theif Washington if their value can be ascertained the better but I believe that cannot be done as there were very large em- bezelments likewise billy must get a Particular and authentic account of the sale of my two Sloops as he never paid the least regard to my repeated desires on this head — I lately wrote to Mr John Haskin to send them to me: that is what relates to my estate in Boston therefore I beleve it best you should write to him to Haskin to know what he has done in the affair — As soon as you receive these papers write to billy di- rectly to come to you to consult with you relating upon these and all the rest of my affairs he must be perfectly acquainted with all my transactions with every one of those Villians my SILVESTER GARDINER 23 Tenants and I have wrote to him by this opportunity to gfo to you a s soon as he re ceives my lett er to repair to you directly to whom I have sent a power of attorney in which he is joyned— if Goodwin has recovered against me for a large sum which Billy writes me has, you in that case draw a Petition to the General Court praying: execution may be stoped giving- your reasons for the same and billy must carry it to Boston and desire some of the representatives of the Town with whom he may make some interest to present and support it. I beg you will upon the receipt of these papers acquain t me. with it and bv all opportunity s le t me hear from you relative to these and all other afairs that is like to effe ct my interest in your country Show billy this letter and desire him to show you the one I write him, by this opportunity — as I have expressly ordered so to do by delivered in my memorial and schedule to the commissioners at Lond on last November and am to be heard on it in June next . I am in hopes I shall receive from you by that time; every thing I shall want, I shall now absolutely lose many thousands on an account of his neglect that can't be now remided. pray Don't fail of letting me know what success John Gardi- ner has had in his Petition — The reason of that, part of all my leases where in the Lessee were to Hall all the Tim- ber &c relativ to their Building was this, as I had supplyed them with draught cattle, chains and every thing necessary for carrying on Farming business it was agreed if I would build them better Houses than Log ones, they would every thing relativ to what is expressed in their leases they were to have the sole benefit of those houses during their leases — pray let me know what you have done relative to the Defini- tive Treaty and what are the Consequences resulting from it as soon as I can get an answer from this question I 11 give you farther directions when ever send me any letters that are single ones — put them in the ships bag which is the most safest way. If you send a Packet you may give it to a private hand sending me two or three lines in the bag that you have wrote by such a person keep billy's letter &c until he arrives with you. I have wrote him a short letter to repair to you directly — when he will receive my Particular orders relativ to my affairs. 24 SILVESTER GARDINER I am Dear Sir (with aff. to your dear dear wife and little boy and compliments to all enquiring friends, tell nabby I shall write her in my next) your afif — and Very humble Servant Silv. Gardiner P. S. I here inclose you a Copy of Gideon Gardiners and many of my Tenants notes: Can you think it is possible, to perswade mankind, I owe either of them a farthing-, as they were never worth five shillings in their lives; and yet should advance for me thousands of pounds, at a time when they were continually Borrowing money of me, and giving me their notes of hand that carried Interest, and never should apply to me for the money I owed them, nor for their notes that carried interest when their book debts carried none, tho, I was down to Kennebeck annually for many years — I will send these original notes next June with thousands of pounds of other notes for you to collect if I don't see him my self I have wrote billy by two other conveyances to repair to you without loss of time after he receives a list of them 3.— SILVESTER GARDINER TO OLIVER WHIPPLE Poole May : 1784 Dear Sir About fourteen months ago I wrote to Doct Gardiner of Boston to send me an exact account of Sales of all my per- sonal estate in Boston from the Vendue master's Books; and others who sold them. He wrote me for answer it could be easily had. and yesterday I received a large Packet from him, attested Governor Hancock. Signed. John Deming. Thos Walley. and Peter Boyer to the following purport. This certifies who it may concern that it appears by the Books and accounts of the committee, who were appointed to sell the effects of the absentee's Estate that the neat pro- ceeds of the real and personal Estate of Doct Gardiner, after deducting the Claims upon the said Estate amounts to ;^2773: 3—.;^: m— aqual to ;^2079: 17: 3 Sterling which had been paid into the Treasury SILVESTER GARDINER 25 Annexed is a list of a number of people that had ren- dered acconnt agfainst the Estate which was allowed to the Value of /l308 to them all I never owed ;^100: So instead of sending- me an account of Sales of my estate which he wrote me could be easily had. he has sent me a certificate reducing- the whole of my real and personal Estate in Boston to only ;^2079: 13: 3 worth at least i^SOOO You will easily see through this vilany, i f you hav e not alread y transmitte d what I want, and ha v e wro te for so often: pray make de - mand upon the persons who Sold the Estate with the price annexed to every art icle which if refused protest against him before a notory Pubkick or two witnesses, as well attested as conveniently it can. and give yourself no further trouble with the abandoned Villains, our hearing here is before commissioners that are not tied up by Riged rules of law. I am with love and compliments where due I don't believe these infamous Villains can be matched, without it is from the worst that the bottomless Pitt con- sists of. Your aff. and very humble Servant P. S. I flatter myself your good Sence has suggested this same method to vou which is now on the water to this place — 4. --SILVESTER GARDINER TO OLIVER WHIPPLE London July 30, 1784 Dear Mr Whipple I think it proper to acquaint you that I have wrote you very fully by Doct Dix, a passenger with Capt. Calahan, that soon after I had closed and delivered that Packet, I was favored with yours of the 7. of June by Capt. Lyde which gave me the pleasure of hearing you had received mine by Mr Peirce, with all the papers inclosed. I have not Sent you the Specialties of those wicked wretches my Tenants, that have filed those unjust accounts against me, as their prosecution requires more delicacy than I can attempt to direct; but it behoves you for reasons that you will be hereafter informed of to put a Stop to the horrid Strip and waste made on the Worromontogus Tract forbid those Villians that built the Saw mill there, from taking it 26 SILVESTER GARDINER away and lease it to some person to preserve it. I Should be glad Billy would give you a particular discription of the Situation of my Several estates at Kennebeck which I have often wrote him for without effect, first Cobbisconte whether the old tenants are on the Premises, or who? what im- provements have been made on it Since my leaving the country — what encroachments have been made, what Houses have been built, if any, in opposition to my right, and what- ever else is worthy notice; and so go through the whole of them, so that I may give particular directions, if I should determine not to return. Upon the whole, I believe it best for you to go dow n t o Kenne beck o n this business and then I Shall be Satisfied its well done. You need not go farthe r up the river than Bumbo hook late Briggs Hallowell, and so down to the chops Far m. Your going down wil l I hope have a good effect and give weig ht an d influence to my interes t there, especially as my Tenants and Debtors as they know y ou are clothed with my P ower, with a little art you may draw from Welsh who advised him to trump up that account against me, in which he has Subjected himself to Severe punishment, but if he will tell the whole truth, he may be forgiven — if I should ever return to America it will not be in a Skulking manner as if I had been guility of some crime, no, I have broke no law. I have acted agreeable to the laws of God and man and the dictates of consience regulated by the divine laws I am Dear Sir your most aff and obliged and very humble serv Silv. Gardiner 5.— SILVESTER GARDINER TO MRS. LOVE DICKMAN a copy of a letter to Mrs. love Dickman my mother in Law Poole Novbi" 6, 1780 My Dear and ever honored Madam It is with the Deepest grief and Concern I find myself called on to acquaint you of one of the most melancholy events that has ever befallen me; it is in the death of my dear Mr^ Gardiner who died the SILVESTER GARDINER 27 third Instant at four o'clock in the morning-, this Stroke is almost too heavy for me to bear, under my other misfortunes which by her cheerful temper and usual vivacity in a great measure both vSupported herself and me. In her I lost the best of wives, as well as a dear tender companion, and you a most amiable daughter. I am now left alone to mourn and bewail this my great loss, never to be made up. She was formerly in the Circle where we lived when the candle of the Lord Shone around us, in Some measure, Eyes to the blind, feet to the Lame, and often made the widow's heart Sing for Joy. Alas! She whom my Soul loved and in whom were all my Joys, and happiness were centered in this world is now no more. She is gone a little before us to receive the rewards of a well spent life. No woman ever had a better heart than She had — Her distemper was of a very deep-rooted, obsti- nate, nervous kind, laid in a very violent head ache about twelve months ago at Bristol owing I think to the bad thick air of that Place — it began to show itself in April last by a weakness in her left ankle after a long walk, without the least pain, its advances were so gradual, as not to give us the least alarm for some months, as She appeared both to her Self and friends in high State of health as She ever en- joyed. In about two or three months, She began to perceive the weakness to extend not only to the ancle, but up that leg and whole limb to her hip, that it was with difficulty She could walk a few Rods, which so alarm 'd me (after doing every thing in my Power) that I carried her to London, to see if I could get any assistance among the most learned of our Profession, on our return to Poole — not finding the re- lief I expected from their Prescriptions, I carried her to Bath to see whether the waters of that Place with the Joynt advice of the Physician there could give her any relief, but instead of that, I found plainly She grew worse faster than She ever had done before. She began now to lose her health which I imputed to the bad air of the Place after a Stay of five weeks, we returned to Poole, her disorder increased now faster than ever. She lost her reason in a great measure [and] the use of that whole Side, that God was pleased to take her to himself and leave us to mourn the loss of the best of women as a wife. Parent or mistress, in Short, She was always agreeable, pleasing and beloved where ever she 28 SILVESTER GARDINER went — thus my dear madam, I have g-iven you a circumstan- tial account of my dear wife's disorder — let the remem- brance of her tfood life, abate your grief. She is .gone a little before us, to receive the rewards of a well spent life — about three months before She died, She received a very un- kind letter from her brother William who among- other cruel thing's he told her let the difference between Great Britain be made up. When and how it would it was determined She Should never be Suffered to return to her native land, or to lie in the Tomb with the rest of her Family. Poor man I forgive his malice as I hope God will, but I advise him to take care that he does not Suffer what he so freely denounced against the best of women who always did him honour when it was known, it is very rare among the most Savage peo- ple in the most dark ages of the world that they ever carried their malice beyond the Grave as this unchristian man has done may God almighty bless and enable you to bear up and Support your Self under this great affliction will be the Pray[er] of dear madam your most affectionate Dutiful Son and Servant Silv. Gardiner. 6.— SILVESTER GARDINER TO OFFICERS OF KING'S CHAPEL Newport, April 7th, 1786. Gentlemen I was told in London that the Wardens and Vestry of your Church had sold my two pews in the Chapel. I did not then give the least credit to the report as I did not be- lieve there could be found so much ingratitude in any society of men profesing Christianity; but upon enquiry since my arrival to my great mortification I find my Charity but too ill founded; as I have it confirmed by such authority that I can no longer doubt the truth of it, therefore I shall be much obliged to you gentlemen for an attested copy from your books of the notification of the Vestry that sold them and the names of the gentlemen who composed it, that I may know whether there was any mention made in the notification or warrent for calling that meeting of the several Articles to be SILVESTER GARDINER 29 acted upon; and if the sale of the Pews was particularly mentioned — the Warrent for calling- the meeting: — a regu- lar account drawn out and a demand made on the pretended delinquent proprietor — are formalities required by Law be- fore you can legally proceed to the sale of his property; the two last articles were strictly observed formerly before the Church proceeded to dispose of the Pews of any of her mem- bers — and surely they would not conduct in a different man- ner against me who have laboured so zealously and disin- terestedly for the good of that Church. my Pews could not be sold for nonpayment of taxes, as Mr. John Haskins a gentleman of Veracity who assured me he would religiously discharge that duty during my absence — Besides I have a Bond of the Church for one hundred Pounds sterling- wnth ten years interest due thereon which I presume will be deemed a sufficient security for her dues and it can- not be pretended I had left the Church; as mine was only a temporary and necessary absence — therefore we must en- deavor to find some other cause for this Very — unkind treat- ment as I think I have fully proved they were not forfeited by a non-compliance with the tenor by which i held them — and if so I can assign but two reasons; one is a breach of the tenth Commandment and the other that it was with a View of carrying into execution the plan of a set of men who live by the Vices and follies of their neighbors; this could no otherways be effected than by divesting a great number of old orthodox proprietors of their Pews and giving them to those of their own sentiments. By this means they gained to themselves a majority of new voters which enabled them to turn out the old ones and orthodoxy together and they are now labouring to corrupt the faith in the ever blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost which the scriptures declare to be one God, and which faith alone can intitle us to salvation for there is no other name given under heaven whereby we can be saved; but our Lord Jesus Christ who died and suffered for us was both God and man, Man that he might Bleed and die for our sins: and God that he might attonement and satisfaction for them — Great is the mistery of God manifest in the flesh; What monstrous absurdity is it then to conceive that so holy and divine a person as our 30 SILVESTER GARDINER Blessed saviour who came into the world to destroy idolatry; should encourage it by receiving- divine adoration; (which is due only to God) and he never forbid it. — ■ The mystery which from the begining of the world has been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ Eph: 3: 9. now com- pare this text with the first Chap, of Gen. where you will find the world was created by God almighty. It is likewise confirmed in John 5. 30, where he says that "he and his father are one", also in Eph. 2. 5-6 it is said he thought it not robbery to be equal with God. John 5.7. there are three that bear record in heaven the father the word and the spirit. John 17, 11. holy father keep thro' thine own name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are — These are the declarations, my brethren, of him who hath the words of eternal Life and if ever we hope or expect to be saved by his merit it must be by our faith in him, not as a creature but as a God.— but notwithstanding the many declarations in holy writ of three persons in one God which has been the faith in all ages of all true Christians, the Church has often been disturbed by various heresy, and by none more than the Arrian (so called from arrias the author of it) which has been condemned by the Christian Church as often as it has appeared and by their councils and Synods and which both the nicene and athanasian creeds were de- signed to check. — ■ The Athanasian creed was not composed by the person whose name it bears but designed as an honour to him for the glorious defense he made at that time against the Arrian heresy — That heresy has been lately revived by Doct. Samuel Clark a man of g'reat learning but consumate pride which would not suffer him to believe what he did not understand — Vain mortal ! what finite creature can com- prehend the Godhead of Father son and holy Ghost; these three persons are one God in which faith we and all Christ- ians have been Baptised from our Saviour's time to this day Let us not then, my brethren, suffer ourselves to be lead away from that faith enjoined by our blessed saviour and handed down to us by his apostles and the whole Christian church. — It is not repugnant to reason to beleive some things which are incomprehensible provided we have sufficient ground for the belief of them especially what relates to God! SILVESTER GARDINER 31 as I obeserved before We have no doubt of the scriptures be- ing a divine revelation, and this mystery of the Trinity is therein fully declared, that we cannot comprehend it, is no reason that we should not beleive it — for by that way of arguing we might disbeleive in God! but every argument from reason as well as the scripture assures us there is a god and that he is incomprehensible and to beleive him so does not lessen our faith in his being — In like manner divine revelation teaches us the mystery of a Trinity, man likewise is composed of two substances corporal and spiritual, but how they are united and operated upon each other has not been discovered by the wisest Philosophers. — It is a melan- choly truth that heresies and divisions have often disturbed the Peace of the Christian Church and those heresies are now entering your sanctuary. — whereby satan will have an opportunity of showing his malice and man the corruption and degeneracy of his nature but these divisions may give some among you an opportunity of proving their truth and sincerity by stedfastl}^ persevering in the faith and opposing such errors. — I had almost forgot to warn you against those deceivers who have laboured to corrupt your faith by insinuating that the Glory Patri was made and introduced into the service of the Christian Church by Pope Damasus in the latter part of the fourth Century whereas there was no such usurpation as Popery at that time in the Christian Church, nor did it take Place untill the seventh century, no doubt the Doxology was early introduced in the whole Christian Church, those who would deceive you declare in the preface of their man- gled service of our Liturgy "that no Christian, it is supposed can take offence at it or find his conscience wounded in re- peating" it is surprizing to conceive that an orthodox chris- tian can join in worshiping the great Creator of the world with those who deny the honour which the scriptures give to the second person in the ever blessed and glorious Trinity — All good men are called upon to separate themselves from the congregation of such men lest they should be partakers of their Guilt and join me in saying with the good old Patriarch Jacob "Oh my soul come not thou into their as- sembly my honour be not thou united with those who deny the glory due to the second person in the ever blessed 32 SILVESTER GARDINER Trinity. — They call themselves the first Episcopal Church in Boston; vain mortals ! they cannot be looked upon in any other light by the whole christian Episcopal Church than an heretical, schismatical, independant meeting' house; and they will find there is not an Episcopal church on earth that will own or hold communion with them, and the man who has been at the Bottom of reviving this heresy among you and thereby destroying the Peace and unity of that once happy church may never expect to find admittance among the faithfull in the Church above! But to return to the affair of the Pews I shall be obliged to you to make out the account between me and the Church that it may be settled in a friend- ly manner and prevent my taking a step which may be dis- agreeable to you as well as myself — Examine the files of the superior court and there you will find a case tried between Trinity Church and a worthy Citizen of your town who had been unjustly deprived of his Pew in that Church and after a full and candid hearing the Jury brought in their Verdict in favour of the Plaintiff — and this I have no reason to doubt will be the Case between us whenever the affair is brought to an Action, as you have neither attended to the Letter or spirit of the Grant in the sale of my property — I pray God to take you under his divine Protection and hope you will believe me — Gentlemen Your Sincere friend and Well wisher Silv. Gardiner P. S. I shall esteem it as a favour if you will send me an attested copy of the votes of your church that Passed (I think) between the years of 1750 and 1754 wherein the Church obliges herself to pay whatever sum of money the Committee should find necessary to borrow — SILVESTER GARDINER 33 7.— WILLIAM GARDINER TO SILVESTER GARDINER. Boston, 29th Deer., 1777. Hond. & Dr. Sir, I did myself the honour to write to yon by the last Cartel that I was going- to ye Eastward to obtain ev- idence of the illegality of my tryal, — I returned the 3d Inst. The Council has declared the tryal illegal, & tho' the matter is refer'd to them by the assembly, yet they will not dismiss me, nor order a new tryal till the court meets, which will be in a fortnight from this, from some peculiar circumstances — the Evidences swares the Jury, were taken from Hallowell, Vassalboro, Winslow & Winthrop that try'd me; the Con- stable [of] Winslow swears, that the town Clerk Pettis one of my Judges, sent to the selectmen a number of names on slips of paper, which were put in a hat & then drawn out, the town clerk not present at the drawing, nor no jury Box in the town — which was all against law — The Constable of Winthrop swore the town voted six names into a hat & re- turnd three, altho there were above fifty freeholders in ye town & no jury Box in ye town — the Law says one quarter part of the freeholders or more shall be put in a box & voted in a March meeting & from thence the jury shall be chosen — the Constable [of] Vasselboro swore that seven names were wrote on slips of paper & put into a hat & three drawn from thence, that there was 90 freeholders in the town nor no jury box — the Constable of Hallowell Robertson swore no jury box ever was in that town, I did not think it worth while to ask him any further question as he was indebited one Thousand Dollars to yo[u] I wrote you before the Law, orderd each town to meet of freeholders & others qualifyed & the committee to lay before them the names of such people as were tho't inimical, then a person was to be choosen to procure evidence for the tryal — but this method wo'd not suit, for Gardinerston was all my friends the Committee knew the Complaint proceeded from malice & not from any love for their country; Gid. Gardiner your tenant who is destroying your Estate was afraid of my Application to ye assembly against him; declared that I sho'd be transported; 3 34 SILVESTER GARDINER as soon as he heard of the Act, & applyd to J. North a new made justice, who has destroy'd much [of] my timber, be- sides an avowed enemy these many years, who petition 'd to the Assembly against me last year with a view to deprive me of my Estate but no notice was taken of it — a Clause in ye transporting: act says, any person applying to two justices of the peace, ag'ainst any person that has been inimicaly in- clind, a Warrent shall be granted, on this I was apprehend- ed, tho this was designd for such persons as were not free- holders, persons that fleed from this act in the towns to which they belongd — thus you see how much cruelty and injustice have been used towards me in apperhendg-, picking a jury from towns under influence of Howard Bowan 8c others, without mentioning the dispute with one [?in] Winthrop about ye Dam — besides how much they are interested in your estates in their town — and also new made towns who are supposed to be ignorant; the Evidences brought from afar, one or two, in many good peoples opinion infamous & unknown to the jury — the Court wo'd not suffer me a Law- yer & even Wigs (Whigs) despised the tryal, as unjust — I must mention the Council as kind & willg: I believe ready to do me justice but it appears that they have defer 'd it at present for reasons before Sheriff Goodwin brought me to the board of war to be by them transported, but on application to ye Legislature, I was not put on board the guard ship, but permitted to take ye Evidence at Gardinerston on giving Bond to return; since my return I am a prisoner with liberty of the town You will ask me what I have done against the country, I answer nothing. — What was you condemnd to be trans- ported for? barely for reflecting on, Howard, Bowman, & North; say I the first was a Cobter, the other wo'd in a little time be blacker than the Devil, the last was a Joe Bunker justice; on this decliration the whole court declared to the jury this was sufficient to transport me — Chandler of Win- throp was foreman of the Jury — I must mention Bowan is Judge of Probate who has the care of Forfeited estates, & power to appoint agents, North is by his order for Gardiners- ton, as I belive both to be poor; and sho'd they not strive hard to get a good maintanance — my Estate will support them both — SILVESTER GARDINER 35 A relative of Mr. Browns is at Cambridge, & sent for me yesterday, but as I am situated, its not in my power to visit him he's related to Gen Howe's lady, I've forgot his name he belongs to ye 63 Regt also a Mr. Higgins & Lady — the latter desires their respects to you — My Expences since my being apperhended to this day have amounted to six hundred & thirty three Dollars, for Sherifs fees, Evidences, travaling charges, for copys of pa- pers &c. in abt three months; & if finally Liberated, from this ajffair my taxes alone will be one Hundred & Two pounds Lawf. Money as i am told, you can compute how much real money, when I tell you Boards in 1774 sold for four & half Dollars & now only seven & half — I have delivered a Copy of my record of the Court, to Capt. Ogleby of the 7lst Regt whom I recommend to your notice as a Gentleman of worth, he [will] inform [you] of any other matters relating to me.— Please to remember my affectionate Love to my Brother & Dr. Sisters, & Accept of my most sincere wishes for your long life, health & happiness; and that Divine providence may Bless us with peace, & that I may once more pay most greatful duty to the best of parents. I remain, Dr Hond Sir Yr Dutifule Son Wm Gardiner 7. times before Committees 2. before General Courts — 2. in Jail — or confined now transported perhaps — acquitted every time no Evidence appeard, but ye last 36 SILVESTER GARDINER 8.— WILLIAM GARDINER TO SILVESTER GARDINER. Hond & Dear Sir Yesterday I arrived at this place to pay you my most dutiful respects, after passing thro a long train of cruel usage, for some years past; but most unhappy me: to hear you had embarqued for England the week before; — I will not attempt to describe the feelings of my heart, at this unhappy disappointment, & nothing but fillial tears gave rae ease — My Father, Friend & Companion, advanced in age, leaving his native country, Estate children, & every thing that must be dear to him, & crossing the ocean, in a tempes- tuous Season, under every difficulty & disadvantage, known scarcely to any body, & almost destitute of the means of Sub- sistance — Good God the Scene makes my heart almost bleed — and nothing wo^^ give me ease, but the letters I have seen di- rected to you, from my Sister Nancy & Brother John, where each promises all the support & assistance that in their pow- er to give — You have given your children such an education & impresd thoes principals of duty & gratitude, that was it equally within power, their not one of them, but would strive who wo^ do most for you. I am certain I wrote Several Letters to you, which ar- rived at New York, you never got, but were suppress'd by some evil person; by those you would have found that the sperit of persecution was carried so far, that I often suffer' d on your account, notwithstanding you have been told that my misfortunes was owing to my indiscretion, which is as false, as it is cruel — I quitted your in ieh^Y 1775 when M^" Routh came there and every isic) since have been a prisoner, altho nothing have ever been proved ags* me — the last part of my time Ive subsisted on charity — I return to Boston from this tomorrow, being only on my parole, having ob- taind leave to visit you, & to get the Kennebeck papers to Support the Action agst John Tyng — this favor I got thro the means of Mr Hancock & the Good council of Boston, the latter from knowing my treatment was cruel, befriended me — It stood thus, when I was brought to Boston for trans- portation, I petitioned the council & House that the tryal was illegal & unjust; they gave me Leave this time twelve SILVESTER GARDINER 37 months to go to Kennebeck, & g-et such evidence as I thot proper to support my petition: I returned in twenty days, layd my papers before the council, who like honest men de- clared the tryal unjust & illegal— the lower House order the committee, who all declared the same, after examining the papers, which were by the house ordered to lay on the table — I petitioned & remonstrated but in vain; till last month when I begd, to be released from my confinement & leave to visit you at New York to obtain certain papers; re- citing my tryal was declared illegal, & unjust, as declared so by the council & the committee of the lower house of Assem- blys — My papers was then called for but to the supprize of all good men they were taken out of the files of the Assem- bly — many of the evidences gone in the army, or to sea, or dead — consequently nothing left to support me— It was a cout of record & by every principal of justice they were an- swerable as much as a supream court wo^^ be, if I brought my bond to prove my debt against A. B — Mr Gushing M^ Powell Ml" Hopkins & others of the council, declared this treatment infamous — I mention this circumstance among one hundred to shew I have not had justice — notwithstand- ing cruel misrepresentations — Tho I am on parole, I must mention every thing that concerns you, You will receive by this conveyance the names of certain persons excluded from the country, by an Act passed by our Assembly last month — an act parsed at the same time the Lower House & stopd at the council till the next meeting of the assembly which will be the fatal act to your Family "its called the confisca- tion Bill; it not only confiscates the Estates of mandamus councellors, but all officers who are under the pay of Great Britian & receive pay, also a few other people, with a clause to appoint certain persons to sell their estates, collect, re- cover & receive their debts." I did all in my power & shall continue to do to get your name out of this Bill, but I belive its in vain, — ■ that not one of your family will inherit one farthing of your estate — January is the time proposed for Sale — I was in the gallery of the House while the matter was debating, — Your name, with H. Grey and Gov^" Hutch- inson was mentioned with more than common wrath — altho the exclusion Bill takes everybody absent in, room is left to petition the assembly, & depend not one person will be re- 3'8 SILVESTER GARDINER fused returning but those whose estates are confiscated and whose names are in the confiscation bill — Mr. Ed. Lloyd, Mr Warden (the Baker — Courtney the Taylor, Collo Pit- man, M^ Lovell, may return on petition but not without — but your Sons in Law Hallowell & Demersq: are on the confiscation Bill & never will be permitted to return — M^ Fisher who you will se, can inform you the particulars — A Bill renewing the tory act (on which I was tryd) is passed the lower house but stopt at the council till December Sessions — Notwithstanding- the passing these Bills I can assure you, many very respectable characters are in office, who wish this transaction had never taken place & the division in the lower House were 61 yeas & 33 nays, — of the former many officers, As to your affairs, they have been so injurious, that it is with pain I mention, not a man you have served, or settled in the Eastward Country, but strove who shod cut & destroy most — I am aloss [at a loss] to say who exceed'd, — Norcross damages cannot be estimated at less than fifteen hundred Pounds SterS — not an Oak tree left within 100 Rods stream from my New Mill to two miles above y^ great carryg place — timber estimated before these times at ;^2500 Sterg — Welch has cut 500 cord wood for his Salt Works just by Hams — & other timber not less than .;^400 Steg Gid Gardiner has cut & destroyed all before him, and gave leave to every body else: Your Estern Mills & farm are every bodys, & the timber that has been destroy' d exceeds belief — As to Cobbiseconte Estate & Mills all I have rec"^ from them is four Hundred Doll & (paper) these eighteen months 9— ROBERT HALLOWELL TO SILVESTER GARDINER. My Dear Sir, It gave me more pleasure than I can express to know 3'ou had Obtained an addition to your allowance from Government — trifling as it is, am certain your mind will be greatly releived — tho' I most sincerely wish they had put the other fifty pounds to it — Your account of Mrs. Gardiner has given both Mrs. Hallowell and myself much uneasiness. I hope it is not so bad as your fears suggests. She has our SILVESTER GARDINER 39 most sanguine wishes, that she may soon recover the use of her Leg-. a flagg of Truce is arrived here from Boston, after a passage of 33 days. She left that place 21st of July. Mr. Rob. Temple's family, a son of Harry Bromfield's, and four Gentlemen, belonging to Ireland, are the Only passengers. — I have conversed with them all the accounts they give are, that Dr. Ternay arrived at Newport about ten days before they sailed. One of his Transports with troops seperated from the fleet on the Voyage, and got into Boston two days before they left it, and the soldiers where (were) immedi- ately sent on their March for Providence — it was not even conjectur'd what their future Operations would be — a large continental army had taken the field (they say upwards of 20,000). The Demand for men from the Massachusetts Government for the Campaign was 8000, and they suppose 6000 of them had joined, or where (were) on their march from Washingtons Quarters — the mode for raising these men was, the several Towns were called on to furnish a cer- tain proportion, which they did, or where (were) severely fined — part are Inlisted for 9 months and others for 3 — some of the Towns have been Obliged to give at the rate of 75 hard dollars a man pr month others agreed to pay a cer- tain quantit\^ of corn pr month, some have 100 or 150 bush- ells corn for the Campaign — this the Soldiers do, to avoid being in any manner concerned with paper money. The Town of Boston got their Quota in a different way — they paid from ^900 to ;^1000 Bounty, and the men only receive the Common continental pay — their paper money had been as low as 70 paper Dolls, for one silver, but when this Ves- sel sailed it was a little better; the Value then was from 50 to 55 for one — they all agree it fluctuates exceedingly, and the Value of it depends on circumstances of good or bad News — they had an account at Boston that Admiral Graves was arrived at Halifax, it was rather an unpleasing circumstance, and they affected not to believe it, but Mr. Temple says he has not a doubt in his mind of the truth of it — the account came by express from a Capt. Nichols who is settled at Gouldsborough, and he had it directly across the Bay of Funday. I think Mr. Temple told me he saw the man who brought it. — Mitchell, Doct. Smith &a number 40 SILVESTER GARDINER of Others arrived at Boston two days before they sailed, they came in a Brigt. of 16 guns commanded by one Carpenter, directly from Liverpool — this Vesssl clear'd out for Halifax— they got into diflEiculty on their arrival — the Vessel was Seized by one of their Ships of War, some of the passengers imagine she will be Clear'd — others think not — they all seem to agree in the same story, that the Americans wish much for peace, but will not accept it, on no other terms, than independence was you to hear Mr. T. you would sup- pose they never could be subdued — the takeing of Charles- town he says had no other effect, than makeing them more resolutely determined not to give in — he talks on every sub- ject relative to America in a very strange manner. Very little trade is carried on in Boston, only 4 or 5 people do any business. Salem & Newbury infinitely more — the people there, are growing very Rich — Marblehead & Cape Ann, are so exceeding poor & distressed, that they have not been able to raise any men for the Continental Army — they have at last settled a form of Government for the Massachusetts, — the Election of a Governour comes on in October. Mr. Bowdoin presided as president of the Provincial meeting when this business was concluded, & it was generally thought he would be chose. — Mr. Temple says he had fre- quently seen Mr. Gardiner, and confirms the account of his being sent as member to the General Assembly — he makes his way very well with them, and is in Very good Esteem. I have inquired about Mrs. Gardiner's friends, but can hear no account of them — a great many letters was brought in the fiagg Truce, but the Collector has sent them all to London to some of the publick Officers— the accounts at Boston from New York were, that General Clintons Army had met with some trifling reverses in their attacks on the Rebels, that he has evacuated the Jersies & gone to New York with all his troops — they say Boston is so full of peo- ple that it is with difficulty they can get Lodgings dissipation & all kinds of Vice flourish abundantly, gaming is carried to an amazing heighth — one of the Gentlemen told me he was certain that if he had any British goods to sell there, he had not doubt of getting 400 pr. ct. on the foot of his Invoice by wholesale — the above is all I can recollect to have heard relative to America — I have just returned from Bath — my SILVESTER GARDINER 41 Sister & Capt. Bishop have been there some time, he is much in the way Mr. Coffin was, nothingr stays on his Stom- ach — his Physicians say, his digestive facultys are intirely gone, they have recommended sea Bathing and a milk diet — he returned home to Weymouth this day to try what that will do for him. — Mr. Coffin after exercise and the Sea Air, and not finding benefit from either, has taken a Voyage to New York — we are all much chagrined at the unfortunate fate of the outward bound East & West India convoy — Mrs. Hallowell begs her most sincere Love to Mrs. Gardiner, hopes that she has not forgot that she owes her a letter. Miss Eppes is also indebted in the same Way — had I have got my money in London I should certainly have paid you a Visit on my Return but I have nothing to comfort me yet on that Score, and almost despair now of getting it. — What I shall do unless I have relief in that or some other way, God knows — my affectionate Regards to Mrs. Gardiner Mr. & Mrs. Routh & Miss Eppes in which Mrs. H. begs to be Included & I am my Dear Sir Your most Affect. Rob Hallowell Thursday Bristol Augt. 24, 80 Doc Gardiner (I have inclosed a Couple of Franks.) Sunday morning the foregoing I wrote to go by thursdays post, but unluckily was a few minutes too late. — on further conversation with the passengers of the flagg Truce — I find they have at least put the Best face on American Rebel Affairs — I do not think full credit is to be given to what some of them have related — for they are certainly in a most distressed situation — and I do not suppose they got the men for their Army with that facility they would make us beleive — Judge Sewell just now told me, he has read all the Boston papers, some as late as 17th July: from advertisements & publications in them rela- tive to recruiting their Army, most of the Towns are greatly deficient, for they are called on in the most pressing manner for their Quotas, and severely threatned if they delay send- ing them immediately: a fine of .2^300 was laid for every de- ficient man after a certain Day. Ternay arrived at Newport 11th July — Mr. Temple has sold all his property in America — & he supposes that in a year or two there will not be one 42 SILVESTER GARDINER acre left for the proprieters — I have seen only one news pa- per, & in that is an advertisement signed by one Lapham of Pitts Town, for an assessment on lot N 7 (belongfing- to Chs. Ward Apthorp on the West Side Kennebeck River contain- ing- 3200 acres) of /^135. 11. 9 and on Flo: Vassalls on the East Side in the same Town, for the same sum — the meeting of the Committee has been adjourned from time to time, and these taxes are by an Act of their Assembly on all unim- proved lands. — the extraordinary exertions that have been made in America for the present Campaign is to reduce New York — one of their advertisements say it is to put an end to the War this year — there is letters for Col. Pickman, but it was not in my power to get them — Mr. Oliver Lechmere & most of our acquaintances here have heard from their friends but could not obtain their letters — tho' they had the morti- fication to see them, the Collector tells them he does not deliver one, as he has positive orders to send them all to London Rob Hallowell . 10.— WILLIAM GARDINER TO SILVESTER GARDINER. Boston May 14, 1783 Hond & Dear Sir I reed your Letter dated May 20, only last March, & only one more since you left New York and that one year after written — My Long Silence my Dr Father have not been from the want of the most Affectione & dutiful respect, or forgetfulness to one, to whom I owe every thing; and to whom by every moral tye, I am indebted to — 1 have braved every difficulty every cruele treatment, destitute of friends money or estate, for a while, that in case of the worse, that I might have something to give to the best and dearest of men, in accomplishing this no tongue can tell what I had to encounter — I finally had some friends, who were an honor to mankind, justice. Honor, & innocence plead my cause. In some degree they patronized me, & gave me their advice, which was not to write to any within the British lines or in Britain — I ask'd why not, they told me, that possibly my Letters, might be made use off against me, tho inspected; I told them, that others, had Liberty, & SILVESTER GARDINER 43- did write their friends, they again replyd, their advice was, not to write, to no person, — at this time some people were taken up at new York, other were illy treated — if retaliation were to be made, it wod be on those, that were suspected — This I hope, will be sufficient, to inform, how dangerious it was to one, imputed, tho innocent; to indanger both his life, & his uncertain property, & even I knew if you were sensible of situations, you wod not have ask'd nor desired, no person to have risqued Life, for a momentary gratifica- tion — I do not know well how to describe our situation here; I must refer you to Mr Webster the bearrer. — All your Es- tate in Boston, & Connecticut are all confiscated, thoes at Saco, & Kennebeck have not gone thro the Laws, but great divions are on this point Some say the penal Statute that was made 1777 confiscated all, others, only confiscable, & that Libeling thein & going thro the Law, were only, mere forms; others say that passing thro the law was not form; but their the party was to be try'd, by a jury to determin his guilt; if guilt}^ then confiscation to ensue — the barr are divided — the Judges are oppinion that by the constitution, which precludes the penal statute they are not confiscated — others are of opinion that as they were not confiscated in point of Law\ that Sixth article will prevent any further proceedings — the whole will depend on what part the new assembly will take, no recommendation of congress is bind- ing, & every State is a Soverainty of itself, the fifth article, relates to Loyalists, but then congress, is only to recom- mend — As to my estate it is Libelled with the rest, & fate must determine it — only consider my life, time, money, trouble, your gift, & every other circumstance that can give me an honest just title, now to be disputed & perhaps taken from me for ever, my fate is misery, wretchedness 8c pover- ty — add scorn & derision — all from these abandoned Scoun- drells in my country — You & the family to which I belong, infamously, given up, by Britian, without pity, total neglect, a life of poverty, wretchedness & misery must be the fate of honor, virtue religion & Loyalty — Is there not a Felton to be found to end that Buckhorse minister; and virtue in a nation, to make restitution, & wipe off the indeliable stain at present, to those whoes only crime is being faithful — I am sure there is some choosen curse in 44 SILVESTER GARDIXER the vStores of Heaven to blast him, & every honest man ex- tricates (sic) him — For many reasons I did not deliver to Major Goodwin your Letter — He nor Lithgow are your friends — but more of this by the by — As you have been the founder, father & benefactor of Kennebeck I am now at Liberty to give you as full Account of the progress, increase, settlements, which are beyond all accounts if I may properly so say — When the w^ar first began you were justly uneasy, that we shod be drove to the greatest extreamity, we were so; we only breathed & did not live; for weeks many familys Did not eat, a mouthful bread; which had a good effect, it drove every one to quit Lumbering & to farm it, the people strove hard, — braved every difficulty, for long- time without Iron, Steel, & every other necessary, alm.ost, to carry on business — very few vessels came to trade, our supply were from the new commers, who considering the risque made us paj' better than one shillg sterling per pound for Iron, & Jona Davis sold one my mill men thirty Gallons Xew Eng- land Rum & made him pa^' Thirty thousand feet mercha Boards for it & even Last winter eight pound Coffee pur- chased one ihousd feet Boards — Indian corn is now two Dollrs pr bus. it has been three dollrs — ■ this Last winter Norridgewock alone sold one thousand bus Grain — We have Settlements as far as the great carrying- place, five Hundred familys between that & ft Halifax Mr Bowdoin the Compa have petitioned to lay a Road in the middle of the 15 mile Lotts, that they may be immediately settled — ■ Sandy River is settled about 50 familys on at present & every Lot taken up — & eight mile above is began another Settlement on San[dy] River — Last March Colburn & others went from here to Coos on ye Connecticut, where they discoverd the greatest body intervale known in ye N Engd ^States — The Land between ft Halifax West side & Norridgewock on the road is sold & settled by 60 familys from Cape Cod — a num- ber familys are in Sebesticok 25 Mile Pond — Jones planta- tion are full, & so is West side Vassalboro — the back lotts of Hallowell & Vassalboro are settled — Winthrop is over run- ing — Washington alias Pinckham are most full — 60 familys are on ye back Cobbise, quite over to Ameriscogging, where likewise is great settlements. — Bakstown is full — As to ye Estates, as far as strip & waste can render them injured they SILVESTER GARDINER 45 are so — Gideon Gardiner's, has no Lumber on it within two miles river of any worth — Smith & others have built a mill on Woromontogus. they first Laid a road, over the falls, then built a mill on the high road as they term it, it has not cut 10,000 Boards this vSpring, from the great drouth we are dis- tressed with — Eastern River Mills does nothing — great de- struction &on the dimond Lott have been made all your other Estates are in the same situation, without the Least improvement, & every thing growing worse — but if no fur- ther confiscation & we enjoy our prosperity the great rise of land will in some measure make up our loss, no thanks to these Scoundrells on the Lands — Your Lot next Holle well, I am offerd Two thousand Silver Dollars for one Hundre d acres — no Land is sold less than five Dollars pr acre at Winthrop, & some eight & even ten, I mean, in state nature — I propose to sell a few Lotts for one thousand feet boards pr acre — Boards are now at eight Dollrs at mills, (above my new mill) but not untill I see you on matters being all set- tled — McKeckney is dead, while he lived I found him to be an abandoned fellow — You have a great number of virtuous & aimable friends who wod have been happy to se you at Kennebeck; but a Circular Letter from Boston will put a stop to every persons return for the present — for God sake think not of returning untill the State here, have repealed all criminal Acts & Statutes, you will have more information on this head than I can give you. Young Mr. Erving is now in goal for returning — & must be sent back — No in- stance of ray life will ever give me more sincere pleasure than the return of my dear Father to his native Country, to pass the remainder of his days in peace & quietness, and en- joy the heart felt — 46 SILVESTER GARDINER 11.— WILLIAM GARDINER TO SILVESTER GARDINER. Gardinerston Jialy 2^ 1783 Hond Sir I have wrote you pr Doct^ Webster Last April & by Cap^ via Boston, Since which I am honor' d with your favour of the lO^h April & as soon as it's safe I will carefully comply with your request, & get a particular account [of] the seizing: & sale of your good of every kind, at present Boston air, will not agree with me; as soon as it will answer, I will punctually comply with your request — Our general Court have pass'd an Act, as I am informed, that every person, that has, been inimical, to the cause by discouraging any person going into Army; or navy; Shall be complain 'd of, & the attorney General shall file an indite- ment to the Grand Jury, and on their finding a Bill the party shall be tried, before the Supreme Court; & if found guilty, they shall be sent out the Country, & if found to return, shall suffer the pains [of] death, this Act extends to all, that have staid behind, paid their taxes, & done every thing the laws of their country exacted of them — The Governor will not sign this Act — I think it contrary to the constitution, to make any post, facto Law — Bowman has returnd my name for tryal, and even Old McCausland — Your friend Goodwin is a great enemy to you; the Letter j-ou first wrote I never diliverd as a duty I thot I owed my Father — the other two last Letters he receivd — I hear my Brother John is at Phil- adelphia, & has obtaind your whole estate, tho I suppose its the part you intended for him — I hear hes much caressd And by a Letter from St. Kitts, 8 April, he acquainted me with his design, but have not a line from him since and as my situation is, at present, it will not be prudent in him to write to such a blk hearted torr y, as the common phrase was, & is. The other side, is the Mem<^ which please to suspend sending untill things are really settled— if the Act passes, my fate will be wretchedness, as my Estate is so fair a Jewell & evidences will not be wanting, in perjury; as I once most unhappily experienced — I have been deprived of law & jus- tice — have been afraid to sue for my honest just debts, for I was told there was no law for such men, by a great man. SILVESTER GARDINER 47 I have lost 450 £ Ster.g: by people g-oingf into the Army & dying & by those who have had my Mills, & is not able to pay me any mill rent; and who deliverd up my Mills to that infernal scoundrel Gushing; and had it not been for Stack- pole, who had a Saw of me, & refused given her up, they would have ousted me then; but he told them; [he] had three stout fellows about him, and being a high wig [whig] ; he would dye first, before he wo^ deliver up the Saw; he had a lease from me, & that I sho^ come on him for damages — if Gushing had any orders from general court for his pro- ceeding, he demanded them— Old Berry & Towns, behaved like villians— I cod wish to know who is to govern this world — I mean to the eastward of Portsmouth — various are the conjectures & if Great Britain act as she has done Lately, destroy. g her friends, who have bleed for her sacrificed fortune, & every consideration, which the most abandon 'd would shudder at, to support her, they will tamely give up this country — the abilities of my country men I admire, they act by England as Gromwell did by the french, by threats, and dare them to stir — Notwithstanding I belive visable, & invisable; that there is some tale to be told — its publick, the mode of bringing the peace about, without the knowledge of the french, & that they wanted to give america a Lean In- dependency, & playd on & off, as interest served; this cir- cumstance and some other matters, which I am intrusted with warrants me, that I may receive myhon^ Fathers bless- ing before I leave this world — & from him only my posses- sions — INDEX OF PROPER NAMES Abbreviations: — d., daughter; s., son; w., wife. Abdagasset, Me., 13 Allen, Frederic, 15 Hannah, 15 Amariscog-gin, Me., 44 Apthorpe, Charles Ward, 42 Aquidneck Island, R, I., 3 Bailey, Jacob, 10, 11 Bath, Eng., 27, Al Berry, Mr., 46 Bishop. Capt., 41 Boston, Mass., 3, 6, 9. 11, 13, 16. 18, 22, 23, 33, 36, 39, 40, 42, 45, 46 Boston Neck, R. I., 4 Bowdoin, Mr,, 40, 44 Bo wen, Mr., 34 Bowman, Mr.. 46 Boyer, Peter, 24 Briggs, Rebecca, 12 Bristol, Eng., 3, 13. 27,41 Bromfield, Harry, 39 Brown, Mr., 35 Browne, Arthur, 12 Bnmbahook, Me., 26 Calahan, Capt., 25 Cambridge, Mass., 35 Cape Ann, Mass., 40 Cape Cod, Mass., 44 Carpenter, Mr., 40 Chandler, Mr.. 34 Charlestown, Mass., 40 Chote, Mr., 21 Clark, Samuel, 30 Clerkenwell, Eng., 3 Clinton, Gen., 40 Colburn, Mr., 44 Coffin. Mr.. 41 Coos, N. H., 44 4 Courtney, Mr., 38 Crawford, Mr., 20 Cromwell, Oliver. 46 Cushing, Mr., 37. 46 Davis. Jonathan, 44 Deming, John, 24 Dickman, Love, 8, 26 Dinsmore, Thomas, 20, 21 Dix, Dr., 25 Dorset, County of, 6 Douglass River. 3 Dumaresq, Philip, 14, 38 Rebecca, 14 Eastern River, 45 Eldred, Elizabeth, 4 Mary, 4 Samuel, 4 Elton, Margaret, 15 Eppes, Miss, 41 Love, 18 Erving, Mr., 45 Fisher. Mr., 38 Fort Halifax, Me., 44 Gardiner, Me., 14 Gardiner, Abigail, w. Wil- liam, 4 Abigail, d. William, 5 Abigail, d. Silvester, 14 Anne, w. Silvester. 8, 12, 14 Anne, d. Silvester, 12. 36 Benoni, 4 Catherine, 8 Edward, 3 Emma Jane, 14 George, 3, 4 Gideon, 11, 19, 21, 24.33, 38, 45 50 INDEX OF PROPER NAMES Gardiner, Hannah, d. Wil- liam, 5 Hannan, d. Silvester, 12 John, s. William, 5 John, s. Silvester, 8-11, 23, 36, 40, 46 John Sylvester John, 9 Joseph, 7, 24 Love, 8, 26 Lydia, 5 Margaret, 9 Mary, 4 Osbern, 3 Rebecca, 14 Richard, 3 Robert, 3 Robert Hallowell, 9, 12- 15 Robert Hallowell, Jr., 5 Sarah, 3, 4 Silvester, 3, 5-8, 10, 14- 18, 24-28, 32,33,36, 38, 41, 42, 46 Thomas, 5 William, s. Benoni, 4 William, s. William, 5 William, s. Silvester, 10- 12, 18-24,26, 33,35, 36, 42,46 Gardinerston, Me., 11, 12,33, 34,46 Gardner, Asa Bird, 3 Georgetown, D. C, 15 Georgetown, Me., 11 Gibbins, Anne, 8 Gibbons, see Gibbins Goldthwaite, Catherine, 8 Goodwin, Major, 11, 44 Goodwin, Mr., 20, 21, 23,34, 46 Gouldsborough, Me., 39 Grace, Mr., 20 Graves, Admiral, 39 Grey, H., 37 Halifax, N. S., 6, 13, 16, 39, 40 Hallowell, Me., 33, 44, 45 Hallowell, Ann, d. Benjamin, 12 Hallowell, Anne, d. Benja- min, Jr., 13 Anne, d. Robert, 14 Benjamin, s. William, 12 Benjamin, Jr., 12, 13 Benjamin, s. Benjamin, Jr.. 13 Briggs, 13, 26 Hannah, Mrs., 12, 14, 41 Hannah, d. Robert, 14 Joseph. 12 Mary, Mrs., 12 Mary, d, Benjamin, 12 Mary, d. Benjamin, Jr., 12 Nancy, 14 Rebecca, Mrs., 12, 13 Rebecca, d. Benjamin, Jr., 13 Rebecca, d. Robert, 14 Robert, s. Benjamin, Jr., 12-14, 38. 41, 42 Robert, s. Robert, 12-14 Samuel, s. Benjamin, 12 Samuel, s. Benjamin, Jr., 13 Sarah, d. Benjamin, 12 Sarah, d. Benjamin, Jr., 13 William, 12 William, s Benjamin, 12 Hampton, N. H., 14 Hancock, John, 24, 36 Harries, Margaret, 9 Haskins, John, 22, 29 Hazard, Mr., 11 Henry I., 3 Higgins, Mr. 35 Hopkins, Mr., 37 Howard, Mr., 34 Howe. General, 17, 35 Hussey, Esq., 11 Hutchinson, Governor, 6, 37 Jamaica, W. I., 9 Jamestown, R. I., 4 Jersey, Island of, 14 Jones, Mr., 11 Kennebeck, Me., 19, 26. 43, 44, 45 3477-'6l Lct-'i9 INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 51 King:'s Province, 3 Kingston, R. I., 4 Lancaster, County of, 3 Lapham, Mr., 42 Lechmere, Oliver, 42 Lithgow, Mr., 44 Lloyd, Ed.. 38 London, Eng-., 3, 5, 23, 25, 27 Love joy, Mr., 11 Lovell, Mr.. 38 Lyde, Capt., 25 INIacSparran, Hannah, 5 James, 5 Maine Historical Society, 15 Mansfield, Lord, 9 Marblehead, Mass., 40 Martinique, W. L, 9 Mary Lebone, Parish of, 14 Mass. Historical Society, 7,15 McCausland, Mr., 46 McKechney, Mr., 45 Mitchell, Mr., 39 Narragansett, R. L, 3 Narragansett Pier, R. L, 4 Newbury, Mass., 40 Newfoundland, 17 Newport, R. L, 4, 7, 28, 39, 41 New Providence, W. L, 14 New York, N. Y., 3, 36, 37, 40, 41, 43 Nichols, Capt., 39 Norcross, Mr., 20, 38 Norridgewock, Me., 44 North. J., 34 North Kingston, R. L, 4 Ogleby, Capt., 35 Oral , Manor of, 3 Paris, 5 Peirce, Mr., 25 Pettis, Mr., 33 Philadelphia, Pa., 46 Pickman, Colonel, 42 Pinckham, Me., 44 Pitman, Colonel, 38 Pittston, Me., 15, 42 Plymouth Company, 6 Point Judith, R. I., 4 Poole, Eng., 6, 19, 26, 27 Portsmouth, N. H., 14, 15 Portsmouth. R. L, 4 Powell, Mr.. 37 W., 8 Pownal borough. Me., 9-11, 19, 20 Providence, R. L, Quebec, 17 Remington, Abigail, 4 John, 4 Richmond, Va., 3 Richmond, Abigail, 4 Ridley, Mr., 11 Robertson, Mr., 33 Routh, Mr., 36, 41 Mrs., 41 Saco, Me., 43 wSaint Christopher, W. L, 9 Saint Kitt's, W. L, 46 Salem, Mass., 40 Sandy River, Me., Sewall, Judge, 41 Jonathan Mitchell, 15 Slaughter, Sarah, 3 Smith, Mr, 45 Doctor, 39 South Kingston, R. L, 5 Stocker, Mary, 12 Strowbridge, Judge, 20 Swan Island. 20 Temple, Robert. 39, 40, 41 Ternay, Dr., 39 Towns, Mr., 46 Tudor, Emma Jane, 14 Tyng, John, 36 Updike, William, 5 Vassalboro. Me., 33, 44 Vassall, Florentius, 42 Walley, Thomas, 24 Warden. Mr., 38 Warwick, R. L, 4 Washington, D. C, 15 Washington, Me., 44 Washington County, Me., 7 Washington, George, 7, 22 Webster, Doctor, 43, 46 52 INDEX OF PROPER NAMES Welch, David, 20, 21 West Derby Hundred, Eng., 3 Whipple, Abigrail, 14, 15 Hannah, 15 Oliver, 14, 15, 18, 24, 25 Wigan Parish, Eng-., 3 Wilkes, John, 9 William the Conqueror, 3 Winslow, Me., 33 Winthrop, Me., 33, 44. 45 Worromontog-us, 25, 45 Wyatt, Francis, 3 ^ y^^^ ^. 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