BONY BRAKY

STATE OF MAINE, ss.

BE it remembered, That on this eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, and the forty-sixth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Jonathan Greenleaf, of the District of Maine, has deposited in this Office, the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as author in the words following, viz : "Sketches of the Ecclesiastical History of the State of Maine, from the "earliest settlement to the present time-by Jonathan Greenleaf, Pastor of "a Church in Wells."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies of maps, "charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the "times therein mentioned ;" and also, to an act, entitled, "An Act sup"plementary to an act, entitled "an act for the encouragement of learning, "by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and "proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and ex"tending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and "etching historical and other prints."

A true copy of record,

JOHN MUSSEY, jun. Clerk of the District Court of Maine.

Attest, JOHN MUSSEY, jun. Clerk D. C. Maine.

PREFACE.

THE following work was undertaken not with any in tention of writing an Ecclesiastical History of the State, but merely with a view of collecting and preferving materials, of which, a regular history might hereafter be composed. It was believed that many important facts might be arrested in their way to oblivion, and recorded for the benefit of after times; and it was deemed advisable that publicity in some form should be given to this collection, in order that the errors relating either to fact or date might be corrected by the present generation, or probably, most of those corrections could never be made. In relating similar events, which happened in so many different places, much variety of stile or expression cannot be expected. The principal aim has been to record in a concise and intelligible manner such things only, as would interest the reader, and such as would probably be of some consequence hereafter.

It is not pretended that the following pages contain all the information of an Ecclesiastical nature that might be found in the State. It is presumed however, that the principal facts relating to the several denominations are here presented.

No labor has been spared to collect information from every probable source. Town Records, Parish Records, Church Records, and in some instances, private Records have been consulted. Information has also been sought from aged intelligent people, and some facts have been thus obtained which were never before written. Much care has been bestowed in

fixing the dates of events; and although some few errors of this kind may be detected, yet it is presumed that in general the dates may be relied on.

In collecting the facts relating to the different denominations of Christians, the author has aimed at correctness by applying for information to intelligent persons in the several Societies, and by examining their own official statements.

For much valuable information respecting the Episcopal Church in Maine, the author is under great obligations to the politeness of Robert H. Gardiner, Esq. of Gardiner.

Many particulars relating to the Roman Catholic Societies at New Castle and Whitefield, were communicated by Samuel Bishop, Esq. of Dresden.

The History of the Calvinistic Baptists was gathered principally from Backus and Benedict's Histories, and the printed minutes of the several associations in the State.

For the account of the Societies of Friends the author is greatly indebted to Samuel F. Hussey of Portland, and Joshua Meader of Berwick.

The fails respecting the German Lutheran Society at Waldoborough, were kindly furnished by Rev. Mr. Starman of that place.

The History of the Presbyterians is gleaned chiefly from the Records of the ancient " Boston Presbytery," the Records of the first "Synod of New England," the Records also of the "Salem Presbytery," and from information communicated by the Rev. Mr. Strickland of East Andover.

The principal part of the information respecting the Freewill Baptists, and the Christian Churches, was obtained from Elder John. Buzzell's "Religious Magazine," the

memoirs of some individuals which have been published, and information furnished by Elder Mark Fernald of Kittery.

Most of the facts relating to the Methodist Church, were collected from "Lee's History of the Methodists," the minutes of the annual Conferences, "the Discipline,” and information obligingly furnished by Rev. Asa Heath, of Scarborough, the presiding Elder of the Western District in Maine.

Many Gentlemen among the Congregationalists both Clergymen and Laymen, have rendered essential services to the author in his researches, and he would take this method to express his grateful sense of the kindness of his Brethren in the Ministry, who have so readily opened their records to his inspection, and also to those Town and Parish Clerks, who have with so much kindness assisted him in his labors.

He would particularly acknowledge the aid he has received from Rev. Allen Greely of Turner, whose pen furnished the sketch of the history of the Church in that place. Essential services have also been rendered the author by Rev. Daniel Gould of Rumford, Rev. Dr. Porter of Conway, Rev. Nathan Church of Bridgton, Rev. Ebenezer Price of Boscawen, in New-Hampshire, formerly of Belfast, Hon. David Sewall of York, Hon. Mark L. Hill of Phipsburgh, and Hon. Jeremiah O'Brien, and Josiah Harris, Esq. of Machias.

Much valuable information has also been obtained from the Journals of Rev. Jotham Sewall, which the author was obligingly permitted to peruse.

In sketching the history of the Church in Brunswick' much assistance was received from a manuscript on the files of that Church written by Rev. Winthrop Bailey.