Surname File – Tilton

The original handwritten letter is misfiled/mislocated.  This is an OCRed version of a 1970’s typed copy of the letter. Below is a plain text copy of the letter.

15 Dec. 1845
Dear children;
We have been well drenched with rain in this section
which was succeeded after a few days of mild weather with
snow and very cold winds, sleighing for about 10 days has
been excellent. But yesterday after a light fall of snow,
Mr. Tomson came again, and as he continues his visitation
today also, and as I have not been to Portland to look up
mg umbrella, I am compelled to stay within doors, a favor-
able moment, therefore, to advise you of our continued
health and comfort. Mother has not since she returned from
Bangor, exposed herself abroad, or made a somerset at home.
Mary can do such things with a better grace, as she is
comparatively young and spry, but perhaps not with much less
personal injury. We presume, how ever she felt no ambition
to experiment alone, with no one to witness her feat and
therefore it must go into the chapter of accidents. We are
for the event and sympathise and “weep with those who
“weep. The earth bears no tree more beautiful than the
weeping willow. But ye deep flowing current yt is constantly
undermining its foundation emphatically reminds us of its
destiny – as well as our duty to prepare to transplant it in
a happier clime.
Your Uncle of Ex. passed a night with us, having been to
Portland. I carried to Saco next day, that he might reach
home for N. Hamp. Thanksgiving ye day following. He and Mrs.
Stevens were at Delaware in June did not call on Mr. Furniss
while in N. York as he understood they were at Bloom. We recd.
a letter last week from Mr. F. inclosing the same. This we
almost feared to expect or hope for, after your statement of
his attributing Mrs. Furniss ill health to her jaunt to
Bangor and your influence. It is not uncommon for strong
attachments to result in antipathies. I therefore have always
considered it a good Maxim not to love overmuch. I think no
pecuniary favor, especially those justly earned, an adequate
compensation for loss of personal independence, Besides, there
are some minds that can never flow equally and uniformaly in
a liberal channel. He speke of his family as all well, except
Mrs. F. whose health also he hoped would be improved by the
cooler weather. Winter has set in with them seriously. We
wrote a lengty return in the best style we could, but with
no allusion to yourselves except that you were as usual. I
left yt field perfectly open and clear for you to exonerate
yourselves from unjust imputations, which I believe you are
able to do with good spirit and good conscience and which
I should feel ready and willing to back, if done with modera-
tion and prudence.
We just dropped a slight joke about Mrs. Fur. limiting her
excursions Last to Boston and Quincy, that your mother with
Merry Pegge might visit her at Blooming, next season, such
a feat would bo no greater, in ye new mode of traveling, than
yt. of your grandmother who rode with me in chaise from Portland
to Scar, at 80 years. What think you of it. Mother says “Age is
“nothing”. I never anticipated such an excursion for her, but
shall not wonder if it is effected.
You are all rejuvenating – transplanting sending off ye
young shoot to indoctrinate him in melody and harmony – listen-
ing to moral reports of father away up, down east, opening and
displaying elegant brick houses ( where I was gratified to learn
my own remembrance by Gov. Kent if it was not at a great dearth
of subjects) all these and a long catalogue of other things
mentioned in your very brief episle are doing and acting in
yout midst. Surely then we ought not to be idle – nor have
we been – ye shed, as you suppose, is a great convenience, it
reaches from house to barn and needs only a door to enter ye
barn without going outdoors. Our pigs came up one to 214 the
other to 221 lbs. Henry’s weighed 317 lbs. Cow over 300. We
had a quarter, to be returned next year.
Turkies are on hand quite ready for market. School closed
last Saturday. Cousin John came out with flying colours and
many tickets of merit. He has done himself great honor. I hope
my two eldest grandsons will continue to shine in all they
undertake. The next and last two I know but little of.
We hear nothing from Pittsfield. Flabby is better than in my
last.We expected Nabby a guest thanksgiving day, but ye weather
was too severe, and we imparted of our dinner to her. Was your
table filled as expected? Not much visiting frliends in Me. nor
N.Hamp, such stormy thanksg. It storms too bad to go 1 :and one
half mile to ye office of course this must lie over one mail as
also ye N.York letter. M. has not advised me of Dr. Gallup’s
bill nor do we know with whom Mrs. Frost left umbrella. If
W. Haines has not found it when I go in, I shall call at W.
Moulton’s and if not with either I shall give it over. Our kind
regards to enquiring friends, and love to yourselves, one and all.
Your affectionate parents
N. and M. Tilton
P.S. Tuesday.
Mother wishes to know if tulips must be transplanted in ye
spring and I now recollect your omission of ye subject of
pairs scions. I hope your disappointment of ye farmer will
not imbue your minds with any illegitimate inferences, like some frie
friends farther off. It was out of my power to effect ye object.
We did not know Ruth had emigrated east till you mentioned it.
I suspect Dr. Gallupe too sanguine in expecting an entire cure
of my complaint. Exposure to cold which I can in no wise avoid
will produce a recurrence. Having used ye two first lists of
powders I took one of Dulcamara – nearly a week since. After
two successive nights of Bry. I took Dul. 3 nights and have
been quite well since unto this present. Mother is quite off
from powders not considering perhaps yt her complaints can
only be alleviated not cured.

Surname File – Tilton

The original handwritten letter is misfiled/mislocated.  This is an OCRed version of a 1970’s typed copy of the letter. Below is a plain text copy of the letter.

19 July 1846
Dear Children,
In anticipation of finding ye box, aoout wh. you had previously Written,
1 called at Saco a epot yesterday, but came near a disappointment, as
there is no expressman, nor ex. office at Saco ana ye captain of
affairs nad nothing to do with articles entrusted to an express. While
talking quite loudly a young man arrived in waggon, an 1 said ye box
haa come ana was a own town at bank’s tavern, i do nt understand now
ye express is connected with boat and cars, ana yet distinct and
separate, must inquire una inform myseif. 1 returned to banks ana re cd.
ye box safe ana sound ana paia for. Rather better lack than with
umbrella of old. Of urn. it may be wise to speak no more, as it and
ye inquiries are worn equally threadbare ere y-s. You understand well
now to make ye hearts bo ana with joy ana gratitude. Muy ye best of
blessings fall to your lot in return for your generous and affectionate
contribution to remember ana make ha~.-py pour mother* s /approaching 80tn
natal .-Anniversary. on ye coming Wednesday you will nave ys. before you,
together with a specimen, we hope, of similar articles as yse. forwarded
to us for ye day, while our thots are mutually fixed on her, uho,
under providence, has been ye head ana arm, stay and life of us axl
nearly half a century , ana who, the often suffering, from pain and
debility, seems to lose nothing of mental brightness, animation and
activity.
Mrs. Storer enquired aoout you la st week, of ye senior’s health in
particular, 1 replied, si ck ana well alternately, ana wishing us “to
live out a green o la age” . She that your wish wonderfully gratified
in your mother’s deep green. Reflecting on ye scenes thro whi ch she
has past ana on what she now sustains, we have no little reason to be
thankful to a heavenly Fath er who rias watched over her ana ail of us
ana permits as still to rejoice together in ye enjoyment of his manifold
mercies on earth. Ana yet it behooves us often to aavert to such
reflections as in your WO psalm by hawkesworth “Yet a few years or
aays perhaps-or moments pap in silent lapse ana time with me snail be
no more” etc.
On Friday lust Uro. Hat ch, of whom we had bo th drehmpt y e aay ana
night previous called and passed ye aay, said sue came on purpose to
wash for us, but Hrs. Finney had washed on Monday previous and your
mo tn er was una erway for a no small ironing but was overtaken by a
severe attack of colic, no thing like it ya summer. Mrs. Hatch’s
coming was verj opportune, uer attention to your mother was like a
mother’s to her child, aid all ironing and every tiling eiae necessary,
was remarkably ..kina ana offered to come ana take cure of mother any
time if sick, or come and wash. The circumstance fairly excl tea
mother’s gratituae ana rendered ola impress tons quite oblivious. The
w man has faults, wm nas not? But she uas judgment, capacity, industry
and ability for business fauna only in a precious few, yt go out to
service. 1 carried her nearly home in chaise not only thinked her
for aer kindness, but lamented her faults wh. deprived your mother of
ye very assistance she most needed. She said sue was sensible of ym.
ana were she to return next season, believed she siiouia yield less to
feelings of ye moment. She de siren, me to say she toot much of you
“th<3 sue naa run away”.
irr to aTMcL 7/19/46
Hi tn er to we have continued co mi Ik our two cows and take cure of ye
milk but finding it of kittle or no use Co enslave ourselves thus,
we gave ye whole concern to Lan ice for Z- ye butter, do ;ou perceive
1 am ridding myself of a task not ye less irksome by cunfingi me to
ye pail ano your mother to ye routine of puns. .No twit a st anal ng 1
cieared ye fields at hoeing. i cannot willingly abandon ym in haying
especially as henry is disappointed in a man to whom he had paid $8 in
advance to assist in mowing. We are letting a part in shares. Mr.
Me L. was taro before we commenced. Ha a we as heavy a crop in proper tn.
we snoulu despair of ye end till a snowfall, hut as our fields were
much winter killed we nope to get thro in summer and in season to puss
a little time ut Hitts. Xou point us to y e curs for conveyance, of
course, if mother goes, aitno we have exchanged our ofc. chaise for
another ana remarkably easy one and own yes, own and .possess a very
good family norse. The full strength of all your old invites to Bangor
1 perceive, is presented anew, ana with, fresh ana addi tional vigor
in your last. We thank you most cordially for so kiiia arid urgent
invitations ana sincerely regret it is not compatible with our circum-
stances to gratify our ow and your wisn.es ye present season. Say , with
our compliments to Mrs. Perham, Hr®. Strickland ana anna yt they
must compensate you for our unavoidable absence. How unfortunate your
neighbor Mr. . Smith*. And how wonderful yt similar casualties are not
more frequent. What do we not owe to ye author and, preserver of life!
Our neighborhood has been not a little alarmed ana agitated till within
10 or 12 days past. Sidney Burnham in ye wigwam opposite us commenced
a high handed career, first killing nis father’s swine ana next at
attempt ut our hens, which leu to a skirmish with myself, it being in
ye daeryard, next nis father’s hens ana endsu in taking away bars and
fences to let creatures into corn etc. etc. Complaint was at length
made to H. and Lsq. Bonnell, and tney directed ye officer to arrest
him- They ha a to break in ye windows ana with, long poles make him
ar op his ax, wh. tney seized and then grabbed and dragged him out ye
winaow and carried him to ye house of correction at Bor tian a wnere he
now is to ye great relief of ye neighborhood.
he nave had a good supply; of strawberries whr la st eo till yesterday,
quite a supply of currants, ana gooseberries for 2 pies. Yes, Henry ,
ail ye Bangor trees are doing well ana we hope you mil yet eat from
ym. us g„od plums in Scar, as grandpapa has at Bangor. The little
folks here are all well, ye measles have been at Hrs. Chases out not
yet reached here.
Cariosity co ala not oe suppressed till ye box was opeinea. Henry had
seen ye letter but could not imagine its contents. While 1 was dining
1 directed him remove ye cover ana open ye oox ana i cl did me as much
good to see all both great ana small gratified with a look ana a taste
as it does Mr. McjL. to see nis friends eat ye fruit or his garden. You
are tnot to be dreadful good folks down at Bangor, wish you lived
nearer. Weather is variable here as with you, rather dry of late.
Mo trier’s ill turn ‘Friday Shrunk her cm; sider ably, out today she is
quite revived. 1 can’t ride so often us she needs, anu dare not trust
ner alone. Hope to be more at leisure soon. reter Wiggin’s saltriver
letters were nuts H. ilxed to crack. You see some funny stories yt
fl I to ATMcli 7/19/46
aont reacn ns arid vice versa probably. When you take up ye pen you
hold on to it like stags. Write on then, we will read, but expect
not an idea in return till Sep. united love and friendly affection to
all ye liousenola ana friends of ye same.
Your affectionate parents
h. ana M. Tilton
P. S. ioaise wi sues me to say now thankful the is hunt Mary for ye
basket and books. 1 think myself they will awaken attention to her
grandma wn. had began to flag.

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Unformatted Transcription Text Below

June 18th 1889
92 Cedar St. Bangor
Dear Sir;
Yours of the 11th inst was duly rec’d – I was pleased
to know more definately your plan for that “contemplated History”
you surely are entering upon a task of great magnitude with
a dubious prospect of any help fromnthose now on the stage – for
myself, were we to meet, your questions might draw out some
useful material, wh’ the cold sted fails to recal, to my regret ,
My Father’s account Books and business records went to Minn,
with my brother Henry – who passed away 7 or 8 yrs since as
to records of income from his pupils, I can state that his
charges from all ages never exceeded $1.75 for tuition ,
board and washing per week, for those who stayed over Sunday!
Yet some were sure it was a great charge! but were anxious to
get their unruly troublesome boys under his mild but effectual
discipline.
Pg 2
He never resorted to corporal punishment I never sent a boy
away tho obligid to refuse many from /Lek of room ” oh put
them in the barn, only take them, “was the cry of several
parents! We had boys of 7, 8 yrs of age to 18, 20, Greek,
Latin, Mathematics, Reader mingled in one room and all were
amenable to my humble self when Father was called to Parish
duties – when out of school – These are trifles – but show
chatacter of both parties – some 25 boys were with us at
different times – left pleasant memories – Domestic afflic-
tion Cpmpeled Father to give up school in 1828, he was chosen
Preceptor of a New Academy at Buxton – You may find several
of his pupils among the middle and also aged residents of
upper Scar, also Buxton who were warm friends to his last
days. The ignorant parsimonious class of Scar. 2d Parish
caused his giving up the desk. Some disliked “College
Larned” preacher some “preaching for pay” and as each one
“signed off”as the law allowed, their tax Father gave up- till-
yearly salary was reduced to $150. and that hard to collect.
While we had boys he preached without pay that Sunday might
be a Sabbath day to them and not to them alone for others
attended and he was expected to visit the sick and attend
funerals as when a regular pastor. The Methodist and Baptist
sects caused much disruption of religious ties. They
protest to labor gratis which suited many. Mr. Heath the
earlist Meth, preacher at Dunstan wasn’t genial, fanaticism
displaced reason and sohe felt it a duty to embrace an oppar.
to harass Father – At meetings in distant parts of a 6 miles
parish wxtent. One famale widow arose and harangud the
gathering before he closed. The same colledted others and
came some miles to pray and sing before our house – he took
no notice of any of thesL scenes – to deeply wounded. In
later days he went often to the Methodist meeting when his old
parish were minus preaching and a change came in the Methodist
characteristics – he communed with them and enjoyed social
intercourse with pastors and people. I mention these facts
AS show the element from which came the “Cochrane” sect, it
cannot be called religious as sensuality seemed to prevail
to such a degree at length that Saco authorities razed the
building where its devotees held their orgies and broke up
meetings of Scarb. and other towns uniting with them. Mr. S.
in his book names Cochrane a minister – rather a scapegrace,
strongly magnetic – bringing weak ones into his toils. State
Prison clained him at last.
Previous to the inroads of this class of fanatics regular S.
meetiings were well attended – young people were walking 4
and 6 miles or riding part way in turn “ride and tie” was the
term used – some on howseback with wife on pillion behind
them a large block near the yard stood ready to alight and
mount from. One good old man I remember was so deep in thots
of what he heard that he failed to miss the clasp of his
wife round his waist, and rode off leaving her perched on the
block till someone called him back.
The meeting house with its 2 score of large windows, was
guiltless of stove or furnace heat – women had foot stoves
which they renewed with coals at the parson’s house opposite
where good fires in winter were ready and benches purposely
encircling the big fireplace for general use. In summer the
water pail and drinking cups were provided and both arrangements
were wetf patronised at intermission – Those coming a distance
bringing their lunch found the fire and water very acceptable.
The parson’s family had a busy day – someone must keep guard
and replenish all needful.
How unlike present usages were many customs of past days.
Civilization has taken from us much that simple, informal
and enjoyable in return we haveebeauty, grandeur, leisure,
and great progress in science and all that tends to mental
and spiritual development. Can we say it has left integrity,
uprightness and purity of character. Scarboro had many very
sterling characters – but with these mingled another element
of the savage nature – imbibed another element or early contact
with and dread of their Indian foes – Proofs of this were
evident in the treatment of Mr. King and others for differences
of views during the Revolution. Father occupied the King house,
near the Landing so called, the first decade of his ministry –
as a child I well remember seeing marks of the axe gashing the
beam in the hallway made by the mob, that in other savage
ways insulted and even sought his life by placing ropes across
the road to throw him from his horse at night etc. These savages
were not all Scar, men but some were known to be. One specially
rose to be Deacon of the church in later days but Mr. King’s
daughters Mrs Southgate refused to take the elements from his
hand and he was changed to the opposite aisle. He was a saint-
ly man I remember in looks.
When reading your purposed plan, my sister agreed with me in
saying there were some pages we cared not to turn, in such a
view of our dwelling place – even our near neighborhood had
many undeveloped beings – whose deeds were outside the pole
of civilized life. They have put off the flesh with its temp-
tations and I will not revive their life course – rather turn
to more attractive subjects.
When Father settled there, Dunstan was quite a busy place,
lu±ber trade and building vessels at the Landing employed
many – several stores were well supported – the owners of them
moving to Portland when that business ended – this changed the
place greatly – men of energy like Jewet Wm. Wood – Capt.
Haines – Rufas Emerson all well known citizens of P. whose
children live there now and began their life in Scar. Society
was good large families graced these homes but as business
died out and no new enterprize succeeded young men left for
other prospects. The town was called a good place to migrate
from and it has sent out to enrich and grace various points
of our broad land many who have won both fame and fortune as
well as benifiting the world by talents improved.
One of the odd characters of the time, was Richard or Dick King
as generally called a brother of Rufus, on his Father’s side
and Gov. Wm. and Cyrus of Saco – but unlike any of them – a man
of great physical and mental power but without culture – pique-
ing himself on lack of it – yet he was well read specially in
T. Paine’s works professing to Deistic views – he was strong in
argument and often silenced opponents by witty retorts – during
the war of 1812 he was a released prisoner from Halifax, I think
was carried into N.Y. in a delipated state of apparel – buying
a yd of cotton cloth he tied up his neck – went to brother Rufus
house and sent in his name. Rufus had a party of distinguished
men at dinner. He told the servant to show the gent in at once –
he came very gingerly avoiding to step on the flowers of the
rich carpet – Pretending to think them real and wishing to
mortify his aristocratic brother – but failed – his party were
surprised when introduced but confounded when listening to his
philosophical conversation. He lived on Scottow’s Hill – had a
large family not one like to himself in any respect – a son
became Methodist preacher. Dick King the Infidel was a noted
chatacter then – now, we dont fear the influence of Paine’s
followers but understand better the true animus of the man –
one step up in civilization and liberalityof thought.
The best part of 2 Parish in S. was on the Nonsuch river and
Beach Ridge where were many thrifty farmers whose sons went to
Mass., and farther west, doing credit to the old town. Portland
also has the honor of several solid men from that younger stock
but I know nothing of the present inhabitants – thirty five
years have passed since leaving there – changes for better have
no doubt taken place – the sterile soil of Dunstan and Broadturn,
may now bear fruit from mechanics and artizan culture while some
seed sown in the past on mental soil may have slowly taken root
under more favorable circumstances of the present day. I have
jotted down at various times this potpouri of words as they rose
to mind, if you care to read and canegather any grains of wheat
from sc much chaff – put it to use – if not give the scrap
basket these pages. Questions might have called up some things
more to your purpose and spared you much you may find irrele-
vant.
However I mail it with the best wishes of
Your Aged Friend
M.F. Tilton
To C.L. Libby Esq.
6-18-1889

From: 70.14.17 I – Transcription – M.F. Tilton letter to C. L. Libby, Esq. 18 June 1889 – 70.14.17.I.pdf