Harpswell Historical Society Newsletter Winter 2015 www.harpswellhistorical.org [email protected] www.facebook.com/harpswellhistoricalsociety The Harpswell Historical Society is dedicated to the discovery, identification, collection, preservation, interpretation, and dissemination of materials relating to the history of Harpswell and its people.. Deacon Timothy Bailey From the Editor There are six versions of the story Bette Bailey Behanna The previous editions of our of Will Black in this newsletter. How- ever several questions remain. The last issue of the Newsletter newletter have been edited by Rob had a short item stating that Bailey’s Porter, who brought a new level of • Was Black Will a pauper or well off? Island was named after Deacon Timo- quality to our paper. Unfortunately, • Did he have any legal rights to thy Bailey, with no more information he has retired, and the job has re- land on Bailey Island? given. While doing genealogy re- verted to me, Burr Taylor. I will do the • Was he just a squatter? Did he search for my Bailey family of Basin best I am able to maintain the quality have any “Squatter’s Rights?” If Point, South Harpswell, at the Maine of this newsletter. I would appreciate so, what were they? Historical Society Library in Portland, I your feedback, which you can send • Was his property on Bailey Island found the “Bailey Genealogy” James/ to [email protected]. purchased, or stolen, or taken by John/Thomas and Their Descendants; I read with great interest this ar- underhanded means, or just taken? edited by Hollis R. Bailey, Somerville, ticle about Timothy Bailey. It left me • Was the fact that his “...owner- MA. The book indicated that James, curious about Will Black. In research- ship is acknowledged in the Act John and Thomas were all descended ing him, each story I read added a lit- of Incorporation of the Town of from Thomas Bayley, Sr. who ar- tle more information about him and Harpswell at Harpswell Court in rived in Wessagusset, MA, around Will Black. The information is some- 1758” consistent with his being 1624. Deacon Timothy Bailey and times complimentary and sometimes a squatter? is contradictory. The reader certainly my ancestor, Jacob Bailey, were both Some dates may be helpful. descended from Thomas’s oldest son. gains a different impressiopn of Will Black and Will Black, Jr as s/he reads • 1691: Will Black, Jr. born • 1715: Will, Jr. jailed Bailey, continued on p. 2, col. 1 the different articles. • 1727: Will, Jr arrived at Bailey I. • 1762: Will Jr. bought part Orr’s I. Contents Deacon Timothy Bailey...... 1 From the Editor...... 1 Bailey Island origins: Richard Wescott...... 2 Bailey Island Origins: George Wheeler...... 3 Bailey Island Origins: Wikipedia...... 3 Bailey Island Origins: The Portland Phoenix...... 4 Notes on Black Will, and Will Black, Jr. 4 Smock Marriages...... 5 Island Chowder...... 6 Town Meeting Orders Barn Built...... 6 How to Salt Cod...... 6 Home ...... 7 Early Mackerel Cove with Forest Maid in the background. There were few trees or houses. Christmas in New England...... 8 Bailey, continued from page 1 Historical Society Museum Library, Bailey Island origins: 1st. John, born 05/13/1640 and his Portland, gives a great deal of infor- Richard Wescott wife, Hannah. He served in King mation re: Deacon Timothy Bailey’s Richard Wescott, A History of Harpswell, Phillip’s War ; d. 06/22/1686 purchase of Bailey’s Island from Land Maine, (Harpswell: Harpswell Historical So- 2nd Their son, John, b. in Weymouth, Proprietors at Freeport, ME. In his ciety) pp 38-39. Ma m. Sarah White, daughter book, he states “Uncle” Will Black “The awarding of New Damar- of Gowan and Elizabeth White, was living on the Island when Deacon iscove Island[Haskell] to [a William] moved to Scituate in 1670. d. 1718 Timothy Bailey arrived there. He was Dudley led to a controversy that 3rd Their son, John, b. 11/05/1673, a “squatter” as he owned no part of points up the then existing confusion Weymouth, MA, m. Abigail Clapp, daughter of Dea. Samuel Clapp the Island. Mr. Black moved to Orr’s about the geography of the region. 02/19/1700. He d. 06/1752. Island and died there. Rev. Sinnett’s Dudley had made it clear to the com- They had 11 children. Jacob, b. mother was a grandchild of Deacon mittee that the Island he wanted was 12/13/1706, and Timothy, b. Timothy Bailey. the Island upon which a black man 03/20/1709. Note: Deacon Timothy Bailey’s named Black Will lived. After the 4th. Timothy Bailey, b. 03/0/1709, brother, Jacob, was father of Jacob committee acted, he discovered that Scituate, MA. m. first Sarah Buck. Bailey, b. 01/17/1729, traveled to Black Will lived, not on New Damar- She died 10/09/1740. He m. No. Yarmouth, perhaps with his iscove Island [Haskell], but the Island second, Hannah Curtis of Scituate, uncle, Deacon Timothy Bailey. Jacob to the eastward of it then known as June 7,1742, and “with his wife Cape Newagen [Bailey Island]. was recommended to the church in purchased a section of Basin Point, North Yarmouth, ME., whither he South Harpswell, from Henry Gibbs “The town acted to satisfy Dudley moved.” He had six children, three of Boston on Oct. 27, 1755. Deed in in September 1735 when it voted by each wife. Olive, died young; Cumberland County Deed Registry, that he be given a quit claim deed to Timothy, died young; Sarah, b. Portland, Me. Vol. I, p. 223-225. "that island whereon Black Will lives 03/13/1739, Delight, b. 7/12/1745 Copies of my notebook, The Bailey and provided that Dudley gives a quit m. Hugh Merryman of Harpswell; Green Families of Harpswell, Maine; claim deed to the proprietors of his Timothy, baptized 10/13,1751. Ancestors and Descendants for Twelve right and title to New Damariscove." Rev. Charles Sinnett researched Generations have been donated to both the Harpswell Historical Society Museum The following April 1736, Dudley gave and wrote several genealogical books library and the Orr’s Island Public Library. the proprietors the quit claim deed about Harpswell families. In his book, It includes genealogical information re: they wanted, stating that it was in Ancestor Thomas Bayley of Wey- many families of Harpswell. return for “the Island whereon the mouth, MA. And Descendants Who Bette Bailey Behanna said Black Will doth reside commonly Wrote Their Name Bailey, Maine Sarasota, Florida called Capenawagan…" “After the Committee for the Resettlement of North Yar- mouth had finished rewarding itself with the larger islands, dozens of smaller islands were still claimed by the town. After some discussion the voters es- tablished a new Committee for the Division of Lands to survey, map, and make a judgment of the quality of all those islands to prepare for their division among the town's landholders by a lot- tery. The drawing for the Islands was held in June 1738, and the results were entered into the town records. Mackerel Cove, Bailey Island Wescott, continued on p. 3 Page 2 Wescott, continued from p. 2 Bailey Island Origins: Bailey Island Origins: “The loser in the division of the George Wheeler Wikipedia Islands was Black Will, who may have George Augustus Wheeler, M.D., and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailey_Is- found his way to the Casco Bay area Henry Warren Wheeler, History of Bruns- land_(Maine) because his former master, Nicholas wick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, “Bailey Island originally bore the Including the Ancient Territory Known As name Newaggin, given to it by the Shapleigh of York, had purchased Pejepscot, Boston, Alfred Mudge & Son, land on Sebascodegan Island before 1878, p. 85. local Abenaki Native Americans, and was first populated by European set- King Philip's War. Shapleigh, who died “Bailey's Island, situated south tlers in the 17th century. in 1685, apparently allowed Black of the Neck, is the present name of Will a good deal of independence what was called Will's Island in the “The first settler of the island was and his subsequent masters, Nicho- Act of Incorporation of Harpswell. William Black, son of Black Will who las' widow and her nephew John Captain James Sinnett, now upwards was a freed slave from Kittery, Maine. Shapleigh, continued to wield a light of eighty years of age, who has re- William sold the land his father had rein over him. Court records show sided upon the island all his life, gives left him in the Upper Parish of Kittery Will accumulated money, worked the following account of the origin of and settled permanently on Bailey’s some land as if it were his own and these names. Island. Because of this, the island had an affair with a white woman became known as Will’s Island. The first settler upon the island that produced a baby who became was a man named Black, who, with “The story goes that in 1742, known as Black Will, Jr. In 1699, Will his wife and a boy, moved there from Reverend Timothy Bailey may have had saved enough money to buy 100 Kittery. They were of mixed breed, bought Will’s Island for one pound acres of land and the following year having in their veins the blood of of tobacco and a gallon of rum from John Shapleigh manumitted him. the Anglo-Saxon, Indian, and African William Black. In another variation Why he did so is not shown in the races. Black and his wife died and of the story, the minister’s wife liked court records. were the first persons ever buried the island and so the Baileys bribed “Black Will, Jr., as the son of a upon the island. Their son, Will Black, municipal officials to find a flaw in white woman, was a freeman; but he lived to old age and became gener- Will’s title to the island and award it ran afoul of Massachusetts laws that ally known by the name of Uncle to them. In any event, after Timothy generally discriminated against black Will. The island consequently took Bailey and his wife took possession people. A 1705 law, for example, its first name from him. Afterwards, of the island, William Black left to live barred an interracial marriage for him Deacon Timothy Bailey, of Hanover, on Orr’s Island. From then on, the and the white woman with whom he Mass., purchased the island and island was known as Bailey’s Island.” lived and had children. moved there with his family. The “In 1715 Will, Jr. was jailed for hav- Blacks were squatters and, having no Another tidbit ing extramarital relations with her, legal claim to the land, they moved Bailey’s Island became Bailey Is- but he and his family stayed together to Orr's Island and settled on the lot land by act of the United States Post after his release from incarceration. now owned by Mr. Ralph Johnson. Office. They wanted to shorten the By September 1735, Black Will, Jr. Thereafter, Will's Island was called length of the address. had changed his name to William Bailey's Island. “ Black and moved with his wife and son to Cape Newagen Island which soon also became known as Will's Island. Even though William Dudley was given the Island by the Commit- tee for the Resettlement of North Yarmouth, William Black continued to live there as a squatter until Deacon Timothy Bailey bought the Island, and then the Blacks moved across what became known as Will's Gut to Little Sebascodegan Island.” Running lights from the Forrest Maid of Mackerel Cove From the Harpswell Historical Society Museum Page 3 Bailey Island Origins: as squatters. The Blacks moved to upon oath the 16th July 1715 (MPC The Portland Phoenix nearby Orr’s Island and today the V:171). August 30 - Septem- water between the two islands is “1727 - Wm. Black (son of Black known as Will’s Straight.” ber 6, 2001 Will) most likely was one of, if not the http://www.portlandphoenix.com/ar- first, to arrive on Bailey Island “Will was obviously an industrious chive/features/01/08/31/feat_slaves.html 1758 - The son of “Black Will,” man, who, perhaps by doing extra William Black, assumed “squatters work for his neighbors, was able to rights” to Newaggin. The ownership raise enough money to buy himself Notes on Black Will, is acknowledged in the Act of Incor- 100 acres of land. Eventually, Shap- Will Black and Will poration of the town of Harpswell at leigh freed Will for reasons that are Black, Jr. Harpswell Court in 1758. The island not clear. From notes by Cheryl Ferrante at is referred to as “Will’s Island”. “In 1708, Will used his land to http://www.blazenetme.net/~phloors/ “1760 - End of Indian Wars - help free another slave, Anthony black.htm Throughout the Indian Wars there is Freeman. Freeman was freed by his “NOTE: Black Will was Major no record that Will or his family ever owner, but the state of Massachu- Nicholas Shapleigh’s slave. After had to leave the island despite at- setts required a bond for any freed Nicholas died (1692) he was eventu- tacks on many other nearby outposts slave. (This bond was supposed to ally given to John Shapleigh of Kittery. in the area. prevent slaveowners from freeing old John’s wife found religion and freed slaves who would become wards of Black Will.. John died in 1706. Black “1762 - In February of 1762, the state, but served as an obstacle to Will purchased 100 acres in Kittery in William Black (son of “Black Will”) freeing any slave.) Will put up some 1696 while still a slave. bought most of the south end of Little of his land as bond then loaned Free- “NOTE: In 1708, Will bound his Sebascodegan (Orr’s) Island consist- man two acres to settle and farm and land to protect the town on Charles ing of one hundred forty four acres allowed him to pay for it later. Frost’s freeing Tony Freeman, and from Joseph Orr for one hundred seventy two pounds. In September “Will is also remarkable in that allowed him to build on the land. His of 1762, he purchased additional he had an affair with a white woman will, proved 1727/28, provides that acreage for thirty five pounds, nine who bore him a child but managed to his wife, Sarah, be supported by his shillings, four pence. This purchase avoid prosecution for what was, at two sons, “and bequeathed to wife appears to have been an investment the time, a crime punishable by jail. Sarah, and in the will of two sons, rather than for a place to live and, “Will’s son, William Black was not William and Joshua, To Joshua he therefore, indicates that Will may so lucky. Black lived and raised a son willed 3 piggs.” According to this will he had a grandson named William. have had money to spare at that time The island, today known as “NOTE: Elizabeth was presented and was not the destitute pauper Bailey’s island, was bought for fornication July 5, 1715 (MPC history has made him out to be. It is by a Massachusetts man who V:166), lived with and was lawfully also plausable that he had been paid kicked the Black family published to but was not permitted for his claim to title of Bailey Island off as squatters. to marry, mulatto WILLIAM BLACK, and that he was not “driven” away by Timothy and Hannah Bailey. In with a white woman, though he was Nov 22, 1714 (LND, 699) born circa addition, Deacon Timothy appears as not legally allowed to marry her. In 1691. The Deposition of Valentine a witness to the February 1762 deed 1715, he was jailed, not for misce- Scates and Samuel Allen both of full between Joseph Orr and Will Black, genation, but under laws prohibiting age Testifyeth & Saith That Black Will hardly the work of an enemy. extramarital affairs. a Mollatto of Barwick & Elizabeth “1777 - In 1777, Wm Black pur- “By 1739, Black and his family Turbit of said Barwick, has for some chased, for eighteen pounds, sixteen had moved to the Harpswell area time past dwelt together both in one shillings, six pence, in partnership and were the first settlers on what house & they the Deponents know of with Josiah Clark, “...equal parts of was then known as Will’s Island. The know [sic] other person or persons the two islands in or near Casco Bay island, today known as Bailey’s is- that dwells in the house with them called ...Capt. Parker’s Island (now land, was bought by a Massachusetts and haveing frequent ocation to be at the house have seen them in bed man who kicked the Black family off Notes, continued on p. 6 together & further Saith not taken Page 4 Smock Marriages Burbank all of Bradford, were “JAMES BAILEY, born in 1680, was a witnesses that the clothes she son of John Bailey and Mary (Mighill) then had on were of his provid- Bailey. He lived in Bradford, Mass. ing & bestowing upon her. He married first, Hannah Wood, July William Balch, 14, 1702. She was born January, 20, Minister of ye Gospel.” 1681. He married second, Mrs. Mary • Bailey Genealogy. Part One. Account of- Jambs Bailey Of Rowley And Some Of His Bacon, November 22, 1733. This sec- Descendants. Compiled By Mollis R. Bailey. ond marriage is cited as an instance Mrs. Gertrude E. Bailey. Mrs. Abbie F. in New England of what were known Ellsworth. 1899. Harpswell Osprey on view at the Museum, as smock marriages. Smock mar- 929 Harpswell Neck Road riages were weddings where the bride appeared dressed in a white sheet or chemise furnished by the bridegroom. The reason of such a garb was the belief that if a man married a woman who was in debt he could be held liable for her indebtedness if he re- ceived any property with her. Eventually all immodesty was avoided by the bridegroom’s furnishing to the bride all the clothing worn at the wedding retaining title to the same in himself. This was done in the presence of witnesses that he might prove the fact in case he was sued for any debts she might have contracted. The following is a copy of the re- cord in the case of the second marriage of James Bailey: — “ Bradford, December, ye 24, 1733. This may certify whomso- ever it may concern that James Bailey of Bradford who was married to the widow Mary Bacon No- vember 22, last passed by me, ye subscriber, then declared that he took the said person without any- thing of estate and that Lydia, the wife of Eliazer Burbank & Mary the wife The Selectmens’’s Report for 1896. Note the tax rate is $14.60 per thousand, whereas today it is $6.24 per of Thomas Stickney & Mar- thousand. The town’s valuation was $488,980.00. In 2014, the State Valuation was $1,797,900,000. Also, in garet, the wife of Caleb 1896, support for the poor was almost as much as support for the schools and just as much as for the roads. Page 5 Notes, continued from p. 4 cream. Season to taste with salt How to Salt Cod for called Ragged Island) and Sagwin and pepper, add thyme. Add cooked Shipment to Europe Island” (?Seguin Island). lobster and shrimp and heat. Add “[Richard] Pott's fishing operation “1795 - In Jan. 1795, William butter. Add more cream or butter if was probably similar to that carried Black bought nine and one half acres desired. Good with a big “slug” of on by other fishermen along the from John Blake for ten pounds, two sweet sherry. coast of Maine in those days. He may shillings, eight pence (Book/Page have had one or two helpers to fish 23/469). This land bordered on land with him, hand lining for cod within owned by David Wheeler, Michael a few miles of shore and processing Sinnett and William Black.. his catch by salting and drying it. Each “1805/1807 - Between 1805 day after they returned to shore, they and 1807, an Elizabeth Meyer, call- would have cleaned the fish, setting ing herself the daughter of William aside the livers which would be laid Black, sold 23 acres on Orr’s Island out later on pans set in the sunshine to Stephen Sinnett for one hundred to extract their oil which would be twenty-six dollars and fifty cents, and stored in casks. The cleaned cod were all interest in an island in Casco Bay salted heavily and stacked into piles called Parker’s Island or Ragged Arse about two and a half feet square Island containing about 70 acres to and two and a half feet tall. The cod Town Meeting Orders James Sinnett for fifteen dollars and were left this way for several days twenty-five cents.” Barn Built before the salt was washed off, and “On January 1-4, 1871, the town they were restacked to press out the Island Chowder voted that the selectmen and over- excess water remaining upon them. Good eating is most certainly part seers of the poor “be and are hereby “The next step in the curing pro- of our history. The following is from instructed to build a new barn for cess was to lay the split fish, flesh side Island Cooking published in 1976 by James Alexander in place of the up, on so-called stages which were the Orr’s Island Fire Department Aux- one destroyed by fire, and that they slatted platforms raised several feet iliary. A recipe from Ruth Sheffield of furnish him with hay and sufficient above the ground. To ward off dew or Bailey Island. farming tools, using their discretion fog each night or to protect the fish • 3 T. butter in the matter. if rain threatened during the day, the • light cream “The town also passed the fol- cod were turned skin side upward to • ¼ lb. salt pork lowing resolve: ‘That in our candid keep moisture away from the flesh judgment, the burning of the barn of as much as possible. The first few • salt & pepper James Alexander, and the maiming of days of processing the fish were the • 2 sm. cloves, garlic, chopped his cattle in the night-time by some most crucial, for if the flesh got wet • ¼ tsp. thyme person or persons unknown, are an then it would usually spoil or parboil • 2 med. onions, chopped outrage upon a peaceable commu- in the sun and fall to pieces. After • 1 lb. lobster meat nity which demands the most vigor- the fish dried four or five days, they • 2 lbs. fish, preferably, haddock ous efforts to detect and convict the were stacked in round piles, much perpetrator, as no person is safe in his • 1 lb. shrimp like a hay cock with the skin side up person or property in a community and tails toward the outside. After • 4 potatoes containing at large such a person. being left this way for a week or two Dice salt pork and fry. Add onions “‘Therefore, Resolved. That the while the fish sweated and became and garlic and cook until soft but selectmen be authorized and in- moist, they were laid out and stacked not brown. Chop the raw fish or put structed and are hereby required to again and dried once more. The cod through a grinder. Cook potatoes in make diligent search to apprehend were then cured. The last step was to salted water until just tender. Put and convict the offender, using their weigh and pack them into so-called potatoes and fish through a ricer or discretion as to the methods to be quintals or hundred weights for ship- sieve. Add the salt pork and onion taken to produce that result.’” ment.” mixture to 1 quart of milk or light • Wheeler, p 178 • Wescott, pp. 12-13 Page 6 Home pine. But put a thousand of them to- You may buy a homestead or a house, [Delivered by Elijah Kellogg gether as near as they can grow. What you may perhaps buy a wife, but you at Donation Party, October 19, 1897] a change! As you enter that majestic cannot buy a woman’s love. Costly “THE sweetest word that ever cathedral no sunbeam can pierce, furniture, rich dresses, retinues of trembled on human lips is the word and look up at those heights, trees servants, and luxurious dishes do not ‘home.’ It embraces and concentrates straight as an arrow seventy feet to a make homes. It is not the residence in itself the germs of a thousand forc- limb, you almost feel like uncovering but the affection of the occupants es of happiness, power, and progress in reverence. Thus with the family re- that constitutes the home. Those yet to be developed from it. So long lation. The happiest homes are those who are united in the bonds of a as man wanders, and, like the savage, the members of which are frequently true affection behold themselves merely gathers what grows of itself called to sacrifice something or to reflected in each other, and each is from the soil, or captures the fish of deny themselves something for the to the other as another self. In the the streams, the birds of the air, and others comforts and happiness. It is confidence of love there is repose. the beasts that roam the forests, he this that sweetens home. It is those “My friends and neighbors, this makes no progress; he bestows no who bear the burdens of life together, assembly is made up of those who labor upon, and therefore takes no relying upon and trusting in each have been reared and have reared interest in, that abode which he is to other, who get the most out of life, others in homes where parental love abandon tomorrow. It is only when bear its trials without being soured by and filial affection were the main- he has a permanent dwelling and them, and rear children who arise and springs of action and the foundation produces something from the earth call them blessed children that have of charitable and friendly acts. The that progress, happiness, and the real manhood who can look danger in desire to share with others the gifts home relation begin. Home is the the eye without quailing and grapple a kindly Providence bestows on our- place where character is built, where to severe tasks without wilting, and selves is bred in the atmosphere of The happiest homes are those are nobody’s servants. home. All the sweet charities of life the members of which are “It is evident that home is not are but the overflow of these feelings frequently called to sacrifice and sympathies born and bred at the something or to deny them- domestic hearthstone. selves something for the others “I thank you, my friends and comforts and happiness. neighbors, for the gifts of affection bestowed this night, and may the sacrifices to contribute to the happi- blessing of God rest upon yourselves, ness of others are made, and where your children, and your homes.” love has taken up its abode. Love is • Elijah Kellogg, The Man and His Work, Chapters from His Life and Selections From the strongest passion of our natures His Writings,Edited By Wilmot Brookings and finds its happiness in sacrificing Mitchell, Professor Of Rhetoric And Ora- for its object; the parent for the child, tory, Bowdoin College, 1903 the child for the parent, the sister for Help Us Cut Our Costs the brother. In this relation they are A big thank you to the eighty four in the best possible position for moral people who have agreed to receive and intellectual development; they their newsletter by email. stimulate and call out each other’s We appeal to readers to send their powers, energies, and affections. Elijah Kellogg, Harpswell, ca. 1880 email addresses to harpshistory@ “Infinite wisdom has declared, mere locality, that it is not defined gmail.com so they can receive their “It is not good for man to be alone.” HHS newsletter by email. It would There is not a more unsightly or by metes and bounds. From Gibraltar to Archangel, from Calcutta to the help us save postage, printing ex- unprofitable tree than a white pine penses, and time for the volunteers growing alone. It is a mass of knots, frozen seas, there are homes. One principle, one fruit-bud produces who must individually fold, address, knobs, short-jointed, crooked, and stamp, and mail each hard copy. You wind shaken, in short, a scrub. The them all. Home is not a thing that can be bought or sold in the market. will receive the newsletter in color, lumbermen in contempt call it a bull too. Thank you! Page 7 Christmas in New gress was in session on Christmas Day. Acknowledgments England Businesses throughout New England The Harpswell Historical Society “In 1687 the Puritan minister In- were always open on Christmas. And acknowledges with much gratitude crease Mather railed against Christ- children attended school on Christ- the gift of a kitchenette including a mas. He declared that those who mas well into the 1800s. stove, refrigerator and a sink, as well celebrated it “are consumed in com- “By the early 1800s, however, with as a heater for Centennial Hall. potations, in interludes, in playing Episcopalians and Catholics already We also thank Frances Caswell for at cards, in revellings, in excess of celebrating Christmas, the holdout her gift of a Forest Orr painting. wine, in mad mirth.” No one really Protestants felt pushed to join in, disagreed. It just didn’t bother some though most still believed Christmas Donations was essentially a pagan holiday that people the way it did Mather and the Donations are still welcome for the Catholic Church had coopted for Puritan leadership. the 2015 fund raising year. “Charles Dickens and his Christ- its own purposes. The poem Twas The Night Before Christmas, pub- You may mail your donation to: mas ghosts helped with the PR make- Harpswell Historical Society over for the holiday. lished in 1822. and Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol in 1843 gave 929 Harpswell Neck Rd “Charles Dickens and his Christ- the holiday a facelift, and the opposi- Harpswell, ME 04079 mas ghosts helped with the PR make- tion in the church began to relent.” or over for the holiday. http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety. give online at “It would take more than 100 com/wont-go-get-new-england-colonial- www.harpswellhistorical.org years for Christmas to develop the christmas-traditions/ with Paypal or a credit card. wholesome, shiny veneer it has today. While the southern colonies and New Board Members York, with its Dutch roots, embraced Ann Standridge, Paul Dostie, Dave Christmas earlier, New England Prot- Hackett, Daniel McMahon, Burr estants would hold out well beyond Taylor 1800, and their influence was felt

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