| Notes |
- John Carlton was a useful townsman, was entrusted with office, stood in the highest social class- (if, indeed, any social line were than ever thought of)--and seemed to be in the path to matured years of large distinction. Then came the upheaval of the Revolutionary War, when a compelling force swayed him and drove him in the view of many of his townsmen into a path of dishonor, and to a wretched death.
Parson Bailey of Dresden, Me, a good friend of John Carlton writes: "They seized Captain Carlton of Woolwich and having prepared a coffin commanded him to dig his own grave but after all permitted him to escape. Later, Bailey writes - - 'the whole country was rising into sedition and mobs spreading their rioting in every region nothing could shake his (Carlton's) firmness or abate his intrepid and he was met in a lonely forest by near 100 men in arms requiring to sign the Solemn League and Covenant or consent to be buried alive he nobly acquiesced with the latter and with great resolution in digging his own grave, but finding him still unmoved by their manner they allowed him to escape. There were generous spirits among them swearing he was a good fellow."
Of him Parson Bailey has written: "A man of the highest integrity the most undaunted fortitude, and inflexible loyalty."
Rev. Mr. Bailey highly appreciated the open-handed generosity Mr. Carlton to himself and family, also other loyalists, declaring he had concealed in his house and aided to escape several men sought by sheriffs. However real his Toryism at this time, how disguised or open, he held his townsmen's confidence, for at the next March Town Meeting, he was chosen surveyor of lumber and deer-reeves.
Parson Bailey wrote a friend - - "Mr. Carlton was plundered by the rebels and after a variety of adventures reached the British lines in company with several young men of his neighborhood."
Another letter of April 7, 1781 written by Parson Bailey: "Carlton being taken by a British vessel and carried to Castine and was sent in his own schooner (about 100 tons) by Colonel Campbell as a cartel to Boston, but without any regard to the sanctity of the rebels seized his vessel and plundered his effects. He was fortunate enough to escape and with two or three young fellows belonging to Woolwich reached Penobscot (River) in safety, leaving a wife and nine children to the mercy of the rebels- (This probably took place or March of 1781)."
By Rev. Thayer: "The seacoast, especially east of Casco, suffered incursions large and small craft from the Canadian Provinces, and later from the Penobscot. Seamen Tories piloted British craft or made raids in their own boats. Among the latter class of foragers along the snores of Lincoln and Cumberland counties must be placed John Carlton. Testimony to this effect is not lacking."
In 1782, the last year of the memorable struggle, thoughts of peace were in the ascendancy on both sides of the Atlantic. Here an event startling and dubious comes into the Carlton Family' history. In September a sheriff appears at the Carlton Homestead at "Walnut Point" and makes attachment of the entire property. Two men forced the legal process. And who? David Gilmore, the only brother of Mrs. Carlton and Thomas Percy, an intimate friend at Cox's Head. Gilmore seized 16 tons of hay, one mare and a colt. What did it mean? How hard, how cruel to secure debts atsuch a time of trial, to seize the property and living of a wife and her nine children, whose husband had apparently abandoned her and was an enemy of the state. Or were there explanation tempering the harshness and changing cruelty into real kindness? Indeed might not this affair be a scheme of friends, under guise of the law, to safe guard the family interests? Certainly the plan did have that effect. Other debts had been under mortgage for a dozen years. (Recorded in book 7, page 227 - 1 Sept. 1770-Registry of Deeds Office, Wiscasset, Lincoln Co., Me.)[:ITAL]
The creditor had from fled in that royalist crowd Boston to Nova Scotia. There is a hint that he was now seeking to exact the debt; that could mean no less than taking possession. But could a Tory do so? The claims of these friends were later adjusted and Walnut Point continued in the Carlton Family as previously outlined.
One more chief event will fill out this narration. John Carlton while engaged in one of his incursions along the coast at last met his death. John Carlton did not become a prisoner of war. The bullet--(or ball) intercepted his escape. All accounts assign his death to Small Point, at the Percy home. Reportedly death delayed four days. Dr. Philip Theobald, a surgeon from the Hessian Army, who settled in Dresden, Me gave him medical attendance. His wife, Jane was present when death came. He was then 46 years of age. His friends, Fullerton and Gilmore returned the body by night to "Walnut Point" and there on the shore, in sight of the house he had built, he was laid to rest.
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The following was taken from the Registry of Deeds Office at the Probate Court of Wiscaset, Me-(Lincoln County). Lincoln County was a part of York County until Lincoln County was incorporated June 19, 1760. Sagadahoc County was a part of Lincoln County until it was incorporated as Sagadahoc County on April 1, 1854. Woolwich, Sagadahoc Co., Me isnow in Sagadahoc County but was previously a part of York County--then Lincoln County before became a part of Sagadahoc County. (Woolwich was also a part of the larger town of Georgetown until Woolwich was Incorporated, 20 Oct. 1759).
Book 3-pp. 212-213
"I Jonathan Carlton of Woolwich,-(Me)-husbandman, for 160 pounds received from Nathaniel Tibbets of Woolwich, laborer, (conveys all his lands) -Montsweag Bay to Nequasset along lots 21 and 30, 100 acres and being the same on which said Carltons Mansion house now standeth. The same which said Carlton had of his Father John Carlton, Proprietor of said lands (to Nathaniel Tibbetts).
Lincoln Co. Georgetown, Oct, 21, 1763-John Stinson, Justice of the Peace Entered March 6 1764-Jon Bowman, Reg."
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The John Carlton mentioned above acquired considerable acreage in Woolwich under the Andover-(Ma)-Proprietors Plan. This John Carlton the father of John Carlton who married Jane Gilmore- 18December 1760 in Woolwich. This John and the above mentioned Jonathan Carlton were half brothers. Their father, John Carlton had married first Hannah Barker and they were the parents of the mentioned Jonathan Carlton. Their father married second Mary (Hutchinson) Leeman and they were the parents of John Carlton who married Jane Gilmore 18 December 1760.
Book-3 pp. 241-243
"I, John Carlton, Sr. of Woolwich-(Me)-Yeoman, for 100 pounds by John Carlton, Jr., laborer...do give, grant, bargain, convey. . . all that my certain tract of land situate, lying and being in Woolwich, within the county of York, containing by estimation, one hundred acres be the same more or less, commonly called "Walnut Point" bounded from a Red Oaktree beside Nequasset Bay east and south to a heap of stones. . . 64 rods west of south. . . up and back (detailed description 10 degrees west and north to a Black Oak tree. . .). The said John Carlton & Mary my wife in token of her free consent and full of her right of Dower or thirds in the said granted premises have put our sea1s--33rd year of George II--10 Mar. 1760. Delivered in the presence of David Gilmore, William Gilmore Rec'd the same day 100 pounds in full for the land above granted him by me. John Carlton. The word 64 rods between the 20 and 21st line was before the Delivery York County--17 Sept. 1760. Ack-Aaron Hinckley-Justice of the Peace. In the list of Woolwich loyalists the first name is John Carleton. Of him Mr. Bailey has written a man of the highest integrity, the most undaunted fortitude, and inflexible loyalty.
He had been an intimate and staunch friend of the Dresden rector.
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Woolwich by its location shared in the riotous disorders arising between whig and tory disturbing the peace from Brunswick to Bristol. Another instance of mob lawlessness associated with those already mentioned is recorded by Mr. Bailey and concerned his friend John Carleton, and is a sample of the turbulent tactics of fierce radicals in that campaign against the king's friends.
He
writes: They seized Captain Carleton of Woolwich and having prepared a coffin commanded him to dig his own grave, but after all permitted him to escape.
I fear Parson Bailey's imagination embellishes a first rumor into a telling story, for when a mob proposes to bury obnoxious people they do not stop to make coffins, nor do they carry them about in readiness; cold earth is thought good enough.
Six years later in Halifax, recalling Kennebec events he writes this same incident more fully. When the whole country was rising into sedition and mobs spreading their rioting in every region, nothing could shake his (Carleton's) firmness, or abate his intrepidity: and he was met in a lonely forest by near 200 men in arms requiring him to sign the Solemn League and Covenant, or consent to be buried alive: he nobly acquiesced with the latter and with great resolution assisted in digging his own grave, but finding him still unmoved by their menaces they allowed him to escape. There were generous spirits among them wearing he was a good fellow.
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Old Dead Relatives
1740 - 1782 (42 years)
