Cumberland County ME Archives Biographies.....Smith, Thomas 
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Tina Vickery tsvickery@adelphia.net March 29, 2007, 3:47 pm

Author: Compiled by George Bancroft Griffith

The Poets of Maine:  Smith, Thomas


The Poets of Maine
A Collection of Specimen Poems from over Four Hundred Verse-Makers of the Pine 
Tree State.
with 
Biographical Sketches
Compiled by George Bancroft Griffith
Portland, Maine
Elwell, Pickard & Company
Transcript Job Print; Edward Smill, Binder.
Copyright by Elwell, Pickard & Co.
1888

page 1


Thomas Smith.

Rev. Thomas Smith, the first regularly ordained minister in
Maine, east of Wells, was born in Boston, Mass., March 10,
1702, the eldest of a large family of children.  His father,
an Indian Agent, died in Saco, Feb. 19, 1742.  Thomas entered
Harvard College in 1716, at the age of 14, and took his first
degree in 1720.  He began to preach April 19, 1722.  In June,
1725, he came for the first time to Falmouth--now Portland--
then the extreme settlement in Maine, and later the people
invited him to become their pastor.  He continued in the
ministry for the unusual period of sixty-eight years, two
months and seventeen days, and officiated in a portion of the
services of the Sabbath till within two years of his death,
which took place on the 25th of May, 1795, having just entered
upon his ninety-fourth year.  We give, as a literary
curiosity, a specimen of Mr. Smith's poetry, which is believed
to be the only indication of his dalliance with the Muses.

THE SEXTON'S APPOINTMENT.
Edward Sawyer, Successor to Father Gooding, Dec. 31, 1759.

O'er Arthur's head they have me dubbed
In Falmouth town chief Sexton,
And I around the Church must go,
To gather contribution.

To dig graves for dead folks also,
Is deemed to be my office;
And ring the bell to church to call,--
And other week days' service.

To keep and sweep the meeting house,
Both I and my meet-helper;
And when wind blows, to shut the doors, 
And get baptismal water.

Good neighbors' all, rejoice with me
In this my high promotion;
And as I do make shoes also,
Pray let me have your custom.

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