Master Timothy Galvin - Part III

April 21, 1821

Mr. Randall Johnson, Clerk of the First Congregational Parish of Westbrook;

Let me not be considered a member of this parish.  I am in belief a Universalist.

Sir Yours,

Timothy Galvin

This statement was published in LB Chapman's Grampa's Scrapebook and led me to consider the significance of Timothy's letter, and to wonder what was happening at the time he chose to write.   Mr Chapman devoted several articles under the heading 'Westbrook, the Battlefield of the Religious Clans.'  The following contains the names of others who also petitioned to be dismissed from the Congregational Parish.  Some of the names will be familiar to people who follow this blog and are interested in the history of Portland, particularly that of the Back Cove (East Deering).

 

You will note the names of  Timothy Galvin, Joseph M. Sawyer and Brackett Sawyer, all souls interred at the Grand Trunk Cemetery in East Deering.

     1820  Maine becomes an independent State.  The state Constitution is ratified,and modeled after the United States Constitution, contains in Article I,a section on religious freedom which reads:

 All men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience, and no one shall be hurt, molested, or  restrained in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshiping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, nor for his  professions or sentiments, provided he does not disturb the public peace, nor obstruct others in their religious worship; --- and all persons demeaning  themselves peaceably, as good members of the State, shall be equally under the     protection of the laws, and no subordination nor preference of any sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law, nor shall any  religious test be required as a qualification for any office or trust , under this  State;  and all religious societies in this State, whether  incorporate or un-incorporate, shall at all times have the exclusive right of electing their public teachers, and contracting with them for their support and maintenance.

To get a grasp on the importance of Timothy's actions and that of the others, I needed to go back in time to the formation of the Ancient town of Falmouth when Maine was a district of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; a colony within a colony. At this time,  Falmouth comprised all of what we know as Spurwink (Cape Elizabeth and South Portland), the Neck (Portland),  Presumpscot River (New Casco/Falmouth), Capisic (Stroudwater) Sacarrapa (Westbrook) and Back Cove (Deering), and some of the Islands. 

     In 1718,  when Falmouth was established,  there was no separation of Church and State. On the contrary, only 'freemen' were allowed to vote and property owners were compelled under the union of Church and State to pay rates for the support of one legalized church.; explicitly the Standing Order; the Orthodox Congregational Church.

      To become a freeman each person was legally required to be a responsible member of the Congregational Church.  The person was made a freeman by the General Court of the colony, and also by the quarterly courts of the counties.  None but freemen could hold office or vote for rulers.  The regulation was far modified by Royal edict in 1664, as to allow individuals to be made freemen who could obtain certificates of their being correct in doctrine and conduct from clergymen acquainted with them.  This ruling applied at the initial settlement of the area, but still had implications for those who came after hostilities had lessened from the French and Indian Wars.

    On or about the early 1720's Isaac Sawyer and his brothers came to the area.  Isaac, his wife and children had come to Maine from Gloucester, Massachusetts.  William Willis' History of Portland and the Rev, Thomas Smith in his Diary  refer to Sawyer as a proprietor of the First Church of Falmouth as having signed a covenant as one of the first members on July 19, 1727.  Isaac sawyer was the grandfather of Anthony, Zachariah and Thomas Sawyer that I have written about in earlier posts of this blog.

     The first settled minister was Rev. Thomas Smith, 1727 - 1795.  He could rightly be called the 'Traveler' because he ministered to his scattered flock over a very large territory, until age and infirmity brought the Rev. Samuel Deane to be his associate pastor in 1764.  Dr. Deane remained an associate Pastor until Rev. Smith's death and then continued to serve as Pastor until 1814. 

Rev. Thomas Smith

The Rev. Samuel Deane

      Meanwhile the area closest to the Bay and the rivers grew in population because of the advantages of commerce and trade.  After 1783, and the Treaty of Paris, the Port on the Neck became the sixth largest in the nation and "Maine's cultural and financial center."
Deering: A Social and Architectural History by William David Barry and Patricia McGraw Anderson.  

     The back country which grew as well, but at a slower pace, developed its own unique character and the differences created divisions within the communities.  Up to this time, all the business for the district was conducted at the meeting house of the First Parish on the Neck creating hardship for those residing in the scattered villages and corners.  The one parish needed division to meet the needs of those who had to travel and whose interests were changing.

     On July 4, 1786, the Neck separated from Falmouth and was incorporated as Maine's 46th town and became the town of Portland.  The town was comprised of the 'Neck, Casco Bay Islands, and a 'slice of land from Back Cove to Round Cove."  The area of what is now Stroudwater, Westbrook and Deering remained a part of old Falmouth.

     Cape Elizabeth withdrew from the original Falmouth in 1765.  Prior to this, however, the citizens of Stroudwater, about thirty in number, complained about the great distance to the First Parish and petitioned for separation so that they could form their own parish.  Some petitioners actually wanted to leave the Congregational society and join the Anglican church which they did in 1765.  The remainder ultimately formed what would become the fourth parish whose boundaries  encompassed Sacarrapa, Stroudwater, Back Cove to Martin's Point,  to the entrance to Deering Oaks from Forest Avenue, to  Riverton, Woodfords and Morrill's Corners and Brighton's Corner.  The area we know as North Deering was already established by the Quakers.

     It's important to remember that Deering did not become a separate entity until 1871 when it separated from Westbrook. The town of Deering was not annexed to Portland until 1898. 

    Which brings me to reflect on our East Deering/ Grand Trunk Cemetery a bit.  Those of you who have had occasion to visit and stop at the kiosk containing the graphic depiction of the cemetery layout,  will notice that there are four names given to the sacred ground: first, Presumpscot.  That is what you will find on the very old cemetery records, and probably reflects the cemetery's proximity  to the River by the same name.  Second, Back Cove. That is the name of the first settlement. Third, East Deering,  so called once the town of Deering was formed, and last,The Grand Trunk, after the advent of the railroad whose tracks still exist just below the cemetery. 

     In 1764, the Rev. Thomas Browne was invited to preach in Falmouth, but apparently he was not well received by the Pastors of the First Parish. He had a somewhat controversial  
nature and a reputation as a rebel.  However, he was officially installed as the Pastor of the new Fourth Standing Order Parish in 1765 and served the parish for thirty two years until his death at the age of 62.  The Church and Meeting House was built on Capisic Street, on the corner of Brighton and Stevens Avenue.

Tombstone of Rev. Thomas Browne Stroudwater Burial Ground

  

The original 4th Parish building from 1764 was a simple one story church, 40' x 30', with no pews, only simple benches.  In 1884, the church was expanded to meet the needs of a growing congregation.  This building was now two stories, with two rows of windows, and a high vestibule. (Description borrowed from Scott Leonard's blog:  Old Blue Genes) 

http://oldbluegenes.blogspot.com/2014/05/history-of-stroudwater-burying-ground.html 

     In 1799, the Rev. Caleb Bradley succeeded as the pastor of the Stroudwater Parish, and held that post until his retirement in 1829.  According to the Westbrook Historical Society, he married some 500 couples and officiated at 1400 funerals.  The following documents include the names of members of this parish.

The Rev. Caleb Bradley 1771 - 1861

      In 1807, the Embargo Act devastated the lumber industry and timber production of the Stroudwater area was all but dead leaving many people in poverty.  The same was true for the Port and the people of Portland.  Massachusetts abandoned Maine to its own devises during the War of 1812 thus propelling the charge for statehood.

     On February 14, 1814, Stroudwater separated from the old Falmouth and became the city of Stroudwater for three months, when it was renamed Westbrook to honor Col. Thomas Westbrook.  The town boundaries included today's Westbrook and Deering and were set off by the towns of Gorham, Windham, Falmouth, South Portland and Scarborough.

     Although the war created turmoil for many, Westbrook flourished with the building of new mills and factories and trades.  This include the area of Stevens Plains and parts of Back Cove.  The war had little effect here and instead created some prosperity. 

   The first town meeting was called by then Justice of the Peace, Archelaus Lewis before the name was changed to Westbrook and held at the Bradley Meeting House.

         Early in the 19th century, actually, 1821, about forty members of Parson Bradley's parish, 'Stroudwater Congregational Church, then called the First Church of Westbrook, petitioned to be dismissed because of 'their Universalist tendencies', and not wishing to be further taxed to support the original parish or its minister.  They wished to form a free meeting house on Saco Street.  According to the Westbrook Historical Society, a church building was constructed on Upper Main Street in 1832, but did not seem to serve the needs of the members.  However,at the same time as the separation which took place in Westbrook, in 1821, the First Universalist Society of Portland was instituted. The first church was a wooden building constructed on the corner of Congress and Pearl Streets. The Rev. Russell Streeter became the first minister.

     In 1829, the First Universalist Society of Westbrook was founded.  In 1867, they built the New Universalist Church on Stevens Avenue at the Westbrook Seminary (which became Westbrook Junior College) and now, the former church is the University of New England's Ludcke Auditorium.

     From the beginning of Portland's foundation, with all the changes in names, territories and boundaries, its citizens,  whose lives are woven into the tapestry of history,  have exemplified courage and fortitude to make their way in those challenging early years of war and peace, poverty and prosperity.   I think this was true of Timothy Galvin, teacher, husband and father and free man who made decisions and choices which shaped his future and presented us a true portrait of the lives of our early forbears in the city of Portland and our state of Maine.  I have tried to be as accurate with the dates and events while knowing that this is just a partial picture, and there is much more that could be added to the historical record.  My hope is that others with more threads will continue to weave into this tapestry.

Master Timothy Galvin's Children - Part II

Thank you, Leonard Bond Chapman

for setting me off on a genealogical detective adventure.  Your article about Master Galvin made me curious, and sent me off on a journey to search for more clues about Timothy and his children.  I am pleased to share what I've uncovered, and hope that other searchers may find this useful and will share whatever bits of  information to add to the story of his life.

From "Grampa's Scrapebook"

     George Ilsley Galvin was probably the eldest child born to Timothy and Joanna Ilsley Galvin, born about 1797,  and died in Calais, Maine on July 29, 1841.  I found a military record for George indicating he served in the Militia during the War of 1812 in the Hobb's Regiment.

     Sometime after the War of 1812, he moved to Boston where he married Mrs. Mary Gardner on November 25, 1818.

     Unfortunately, there is no other information about their marriage. Did Mary follow George  back to Maine and, sometime around 1830, locate in  Calais?  I've learned that George lived in Calais until his death in 1841, where he was employed as a lumber merchant. 

     We do know that in 1822, Timothy Galvin sold "his house and shop standing on (the)  land of Jane and Peter Lunt to his son, George Ilsley Galvin of Boston, Mass."  Grampa's Scrapebook.  Later, in 1837, George sold that property to his brother Thomas P. Galvin of Calais, Maine.

     I want to acknowledge three great resources that have been vital to what I've been able to discover about the Galvin children.  First:   Vital Statistics of Calais before 1892, vol. 2, by Susan Howland, second:  "Annals of Calais, Maine and St. Stephen, New Brunswick, including the village of Milltown, Me., and the present town of Milltown,  N.B.", and third:  http://www.uuholton.org/newslett/nl-04-11.htm.

     In the winter of 1832 -33, a request was sent to the State Legislature requesting the building of a church,  to be established in Calais for the first Unitarian Society. 

     George Ilsley Galvin served as a committee member and was later voted an officer of the church.  Apparently, he was regarded as a successful and influential businessman of the time.  Apparently he owned and operated a lumber mill in Calais.

 The church records, most of which were lost in a fire during the late 1800's, reveal some valuable information about George's sister, Eliza  Galvin and her two husbands, Otis Patterson and Rev.William Augustus Whitwell, and her brother, Thomas P. Galvin and his wife, Martha Ann Goodhue (Jones) Galvin.  It is clear that Eliza and Thomas followed George and located in Calais sometime around 1830.  

     As to George's other involvements, I found an article about the Whig Party Convention in 1834 that took place in Augusta.  Three thousand people attended from all over the state to take up the issue of naming a candidate for Governor.  Peleg Sprague was chosen; " a tried public servant, and one well able to discharge the duties of that important station, and that we will use our best efforts to effect his election, and insure the political regeneration of this State."  

     George Ilsley Galvin was one of the representatives from Washington and Hancock Counties. The convention also took up the matter of President Andrew Jackson and created and approved resolutions to express their dissatisfaction and abhorrence to his administration.  The resolutions were read by William Pitt Fessenden of Portland.  Articles about the convention were published in the Portland Advertiser, vol. XXXVI , dated August 5, 1834 and Maine Working Men's Advocate on Thursday, April 7, 1834.

  

     LB Chapman described Eliza Galvin as "rather above the average of 'the outside world' in personal charms, and is said to have married a Unitarian Minister." 

     Indeed she did!  Eliza actually was married twice. Her first marriage on January 24, 1836, to Otis Patterson, a lawyer originally from Waldo, ended with his death, barely a few months after their wedding.  According to a piece in the Annals of Calais:

Otis Patterson, Esq., came from Waldo county and settled in Calais about 1832, and opened an office.  He died four years afterward; but his brief career proved him a man of fair ability and sterling integrity.  His widow, whose maiden name was Galvin, married Rev. William A. Whitwell, the first pastor of the Unitarian Church of Calais.

     Eliza Galvin was born about 1802. ( I have not found any birth records s for any of the Galvin children in existing resources.)  She died at the age of 81 years old on November 25, 1883,  in Germantown, PA,  where she lived with her brother Thomas P. Galvin and his family for many years,  after the death of her second husband, the Reverend William Augustus Whitwell.  William and Eliza were married about a year after the death of Otis Patterson, on May 21, 1837.  

    The couple met in Calais  where William was the first Pastor of the newly formed Unitarian Society.  Shortly after their marriage,  he took the pulpit in Houlton, Maine, where they lived for about three years.  Apparently, the Rev. Whitwell was loved and esteemed as is indicated in the following newsletter.  I enjoyed reading it so much that I want to share it in its entirety; well worth reading!

Restored Portrait of Rev. William A. Whitwellgiven to the Unitarian Society by Miss Charlotte Galvinfrom the estate of Eliza Galvin Whitwell

     After William's death on February 10, 1865 in Chestnut Hill, Newton, MA, Eliza moved to the Philadelphia area to live with her brother Thomas Galvin and his family.  Here are a few records for Eliza that might be beneficial to other Galvin family researchers.

Eliza was living with her brother in 1870 about five years after William's death.

     Thomas P. Galvin was born about 1811 or 12, depending on which records you look at.  He may have been the youngest of the Galvin children.  Unfortunately, I was not able to find any information about his brother, Edward Galvin, but I assume he may have died young and it's very evident that he was regarded very highly,  as Thomas Galvin's oldest son was named for him.There appears to be one grandson who also carries the name Edward IIsley Galvin.  Ilsley was of course, Joanna Galvin's maiden name.  

     Thomas Galvin probably moved to Calais with his brother and sister in or about 1830.  He was also in the lumber business, perhaps with George.  On June 19, 1837, he married the widow, Martha Ann Goodhue Jones.  Martha was a communicant of the First Unitarian Church as well, and mention of her is recorded in Annals of Calais in the history of the church.

     Martha who was born in Newburyport, MA,  married Benjamin F. Jones on October 11, 1830 in Portsmouth, NH.  The couple had three children:Frank Shannon Jones who died in infancy, Elizabeth C. Jones,  1832 - 1845 and Charles Hayden Jones, 1833 - 1920.  It appears that Charles was born in Maine where the couple had moved.  I believe Benjamin Jones died sometime in 1834.

     On June 19, 1837, the widow, Martha Ann Goodhue Jones married Thomas P. Galvin in Calais.  Their union would produce five children:  Edward Ilsley, b. April 3, 1838, Charlotte Whitnell, b. September 17, 1840, Laura Wood, 1843 - 1866, Mary Shannon, b. April 19, 1845, and George William, 1848 - 1849.  Sometime after Charlotte's birth, records show that the family located in Philadelphia, settling in Germantown, PA until their deaths.

1840 Census in Calais, MaineNote there is a female listed between the age of 60 and 69.  Could that be Joanna Galvin?

          The following are records indicating that the Galvin's were  citizens of Philadelphia, PA  There is also a reference to Thomas's employment in the lumber industry and Eliza Galvin's residency in the family's home until her death in 1883.

          Martha A. Galvin died on May 11, 1889 at the age of 81.  Her husband, Thomas P. Galvin died in April 1892 at the age of 80.  At the time, the family home was located at 41 West Walnut Lane in Germantown, PA.  Eliza Galvin Whitwell was interred on November 27, 1883 at the  in Philadelphia,PA.

     I have a few more interesting pieces to add the Galvin story,  but they will have to wait for another day.  Again, I love the path set by our friend, LB Chapman and his story of Master Timothy Galvin.  Part three to follow.