Radio Script #671

Little Talks on Common Things

December 19, 1965

Last week I told you about Hezekiah Prince as Customs Inspector in Thomaston 140 years ago. Today I want to tell you something about his social life.

Because Hezekiah was born in 1800, it is easy for us to note just how old he was on any particular date. We do know that he was not married until the fall of 1828, so his diary for the six years prior to 1828 was that of a gay young bachelor of the early nineteenth century.

Hezekiah was certainly not shy with the fair sex. In 1826 he was smitten with a girl he met on a boat down the bay, but he soon got over it and doesn’t mention the girl’s name. A year later he was dating Martha Farley in Waldoboro, and he does say something about her in the diary: “She is decidedly one of the finest girls in this vicinity, possessing uncommon intellect, a mind highly cultivated, a becoming reserve in appearance, an amiable temper, and a pleasing person — in short she is an interesting, elegant girl.”

A few months later Hezekiah had apparently forgotten all about Martha. This time Hezekiah was really hooked and the next autumn he and Henrietta were married. All through those six years from 1822 to 1828 Hezekiah was sure that all work and no play would make Ki, as his friends called him, a dull boy. So he stepped right into the swim of the coastal town’s society. His father was a well-to-do merchant, a town officer, a justice of the peace, and highly respected. There was no home, even that of the widow of General Henry Knox, that was closed to a son of Squire Prince.

The diary entry for August 1, 1822 reads: “In the evening a party of young people, consisting of eight ladies and six gentlemen, took a short excursion down the creek on to the bay in two boats. We had a very pleasant time, drank a few rounds of wine, cracked a few jokes, and returned about half past eleven.”

On September 24, 1822 Hezekiah attended the annual regimental muster, as a spectator, not a participant. He wrote: “I went about ten o’clock and remained there until nearly eight in the evening, viewing the pretty girls and conversing with them. Some of them were quite handsome. The military performance was tolerably interesting, but not so much as the girls who attended.”

“January 24, 1823 — Attended a ba 11 at Waldoboro. We started about 3 p. m., the party consisting of eight sleigh loads. We arrived at Trowbridge’s Tavern in Waldoboro about sunset, where we met the parties from Warren and Waldoboro, making in all about 40 couples. We immediately commenced the amusements of the evening. The hall was small, but the company was tolerably well accommodated. The ladies were in general very handsome and the company highly respectable. Between eleven and twelve o’clock we partook of an elegant supper. We danced until 4 a.m., when we felt it was time to start for home. Arrived home about daylight. My lady, Miss Margaret George, stood it remarkably well.”

The following day’s diary entry tells us: “In the afternoon I called at Mr. O’Brien’s and found Miss George very smart and lively indeed.”

An entry of March, 1823 introduces us to another kind of social event common in most Maine villages 140 years ago: “In the evening I went up to Ulmer’s Schoolhouse to a meeting of the Alpha Society, which has been formed among the young men of this town for the purpose of improvement in declamation and argument. This is the first time I have met with them; was much pleased.”

The Alpha Society met every week, and the diary contains many subsequent references to its affairs. Some of the questions debated were: Which are more useful to society, lawyers or doctors? Are the capacities of the ladies equal to those of men? Hezekiah tells us that by vote the society decided that doctors are more useful than lawyers; but concerning the capability of ladies, Hezekiah’s comment is: “The President decided that the ladies are just as capable as men.”

“March 21, 1823 – Started about 11 a.m. with Miss George and my sister Isabel for Union, the first time I have ever been in that town. Major Foster invited us to spend the night at his home. Since it was snowing heavily by the middle of the afternoon, we accepted.”

The next day, after visiting the mills in Union, Hezekiah drove the girls back to Thomaston, and was all ready for another gay evening. He wrote: “Attended quite a large party at Judge Thatcher’s; spent the evening very pleasantly and danced every dance.”

On February 3, 1824 Hezekiah wrote: “Grand sleigh ride arranged by young people of the place. I carried Miss Julie Thatcher. About 13 sleighs made up the party. Spent the evening dancing until about half past two. I paid Mr. Sampson $1.25 for the use of his horse and sleigh.”

It was only a few days later when Hezekiah was entertained at Thomaston’s most aristocratic home: “Spent the evening at Mrs. Knox’s, where we danced until one o’clock — a small but very pleasant party.”

In the fall of 1824 a new hall had been erected at the corner of Main and Pine Streets in Thomaston, and it was to be opened with a grand ball on December 3rd. The following is Hezekiah’s account: “About five o’clock I put my horse in Mr. Ruggles’ chaise and went over after Miss Sarah Foster to attend the ball. We arrived at the hall about six o’clock, where we found a company of some 18 couples assembled and the dancing already commenced. A cold supper was provided by Mrs. Haskell. Everyone appeared to be having a good time.”

Hezekiah seems indeed to have been fond of dancing. In January, 1825 he wrote: “A dancing school has been opened by a Mr. Ingalls. About 15 ladies and 20 gentlemen are regular attendants.”

A few weeks later a new hotel was opened in Thomaston near the State Prison. Built by Captain John Copeland of Warren, it was called the Georges Hotel. Hezekiah tells us about its opening: “A little after sunset I went to Copeland’s Hall, where I found some ladies and gentleman from out of town assembled. The whole party consisted of 12 couples belonging to this town and 10 couples from Waldoboro, Warren and Camden. It was a most beautiful assembly of ladies. Commenced the dance about half past seven, took supper about eleven, and broke up about half past four. Everything went on with the completest regularity and harmony. Most of the people from out of town remained at Copeland’s hotel all night.”

Now let us see what kind of summer outing Hezekiah enjoyed in 1826. Here is how how he spent the 9th of June in his 26th year: “About 9 a.m. four of us men started for Owls Head, each with a lady. We stopped at Mr. Stearns, the keeper of the light, where our horses were put up and we partook of the little niceties we had carried along. Rambled about the rocks and over the ledges, and about two o’clock we had dinner. Then we took a sail in a neat little boat supplied with fishing tackle. I had the satisfaction of pulling in the first fish, one of them a very stout fellow. Sarah Sampson was the only girl who caught a fish. We came ashore about 5 p.m. and started for home. On our way one of the teams had an unfortunate accident. Near Tillson’s Tavern, Mr. Kelley’s horse became frightened. The chaise turned upside down and Kelley and his lady, Miss Southward, fell under it. The lady was not injured, but Kelley had a dislocated shoulder. We carried him into the tavern, summoned Dr. Lovejoy who, after some difficulty, got the shoulder back in place. We were detained about an hour, and the accident put a damper on what had otherwise been a delightful excursion.”

Hezekiah Prince’s diary contains many more references to gay parties and outings.

As for the fair sex, Hezekiah seems to have distributed his favors widely. During 1825 and 1826 he seldom dated the same girl twice. Sometimes he escorted two or three girls at the same time. Such was the case on July 7, 1826, when he wrote: “The young folks having arranged for a water party on the pond this evening, I got Piper’s horse, put him in my chaise, and sent brother Joseph to Warren for Mr. Cilley. After his return, I rode to Mr. Swan’s and up to Mr. Paine’s for some girls. Got all collected, boarded a gondola and floated slowly on the stream. We sang and talked and had a pleasant sail. After an hour we went to the ball and spent the evening dancing until midnight. Mr. Brown, a fine comic singer, added life to the party. It began to rain as we left the hall, but we all got our ladies home without their getting much wet.”

I have mentioned Hezekiah’s presence on one evening at the home of Madame Knox, the aristocratic widow of General Henry Knox, George Washington’s great artillery commander and America’s first Secretary of War. When Hezekiah Prince was only six years old, General Knox had died from the result of a chicken bone stuck in his throat. But even a six year old boy was old enough to remember the bulky, commanding figure of the famous general of the Revolution. As for Mrs. Knox, she had been welcomed in the homes of the greatest colonial ladies — Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison/Martha Washington and dozens of others. Mrs. Knox was the granddaughter of General Samuel Waldo and a major heiress of his vast estate. But in the years just before his death her husband, General Knox, had made many unwise investments.

Furthermore her surviving children were only a vexing care, and no help to Mrs. Knox. When her death occurred on June 20, 1824, this is what Hezekiah Prince put in his diary: “Madame Lucy Knox died this morning in great agony and distress. She has been failing all the spring, but has been confined to the house less than a month. It can be truly said of her ‘How are the mighty fallen.’ Three of her children are still living. Mrs. Thatcher, Mrs. Swan and Henry Knox. Henry is a poor miserable, drunken puppy, and I don’t know what can keep him from becoming a town charge. All the property Mrs. Knox has left cannot amount to more than $3,000, and doubtless her debts will take all of that. Mr. Swan is likewise drunken and miserable, but he has a rich mother to depend upon. Thatcher has a large family, but is a sober man. I doubt if he has any property, and he earns not more than 75 cents a day.”

An important event for Thomaston during the years when Hezekiah Prince kept the diary, was the construction of the State Prison. His first reference to it was on November 13, 1822 when he wrote: “The State Committee for designating a suitable place for the State Prison met in this town this evening and spoke favorably of the situation here.”

Hezekiah feared one of the competing towns would get the prize, but by the middle of January he was reassured. The diary tells us: “The Portland papers brought the news this morning that the committee appointed to recommend a site for the State Prison has reported to the legislature that Thomaston is the most suitable place and probably it will be built here.”

Then on February 18, 1823 came the entry: “The Prison Committee met here today. They are Rose of Boothbay, Ames of Bath, and Bond of Hallowell. Dr. Rose is to be superintendent of the construction, which will commence soon. The committee has visited various parts of the town but has not yet decided on the exact site.

“April 30, 1823 — Walked up around Limestone Hill, where it is supposed the State Prison will be built. It is certainly a fine situation.

“May 13 — The committee has purchased ten acres of Limestone Hill for the prison. They paid $3,000 for the land. A couple of men from Boston have contracted to build the prison for $12,000.

“May 10, 1824 — At last the prison is nearly finished and the prisoners will be moved to it early next month.”

Finally in June, 1824 the State Prison was in operation in Thomaston, and there it has remained for 141 years.

Year: 1966