Notes on Judge Jonathan Sayward of York, Maine By Frank D. Marshall 148 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY Vol 1, # 4 Oct 1913 Notes on Judge Jonathan Sayward of York, Maine By Frank D. Marshall Judge Jonathan Sayward of York, Maine, was Judge of Probate and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas up to the time of the outbreak of the Revolution, at which time his commission was revoked by the Provincial Congress. He was a man of consid- erable means; and was largely interested in shipping, both with the West Indies and with Halifax, and during the early years of the Revolution his diary discloses that he had one ship tied up in London. His diary, kept from 1761 until his death in 1792, shows him to have been a conservative and straightforward man; a gentleman whose house was open, and who fittingly entertained many of the distinguished men of the day. Previous to the Revo- lution his business correspondents in Boston were the Hancocks, both father and son. He was a personal friend of Sir William Pepperill and Colonel Sparhawk, and especially during his latter years, of Judge David Sewall, his fellow townsman ; also of the Reverend Isaac Lyman, minister of the old First Parish in York, and who was grandfather or greatgrandfather of President Eliot. The Judge was a Deacon of this church. On the evening of the 20th of April, 1775, news of the Battle of Lexington reached York; next morning a company of sixty- four men, armed and equipped, under Captain Johnson Moulton started for Lexington, the first troops to leave the State of Maine. The same morning an open meeting was assembled to take action in furtherance of the cause of liberty. The records of this town meeting disclose that Judge Sayward was waited upon by a corn- mittee appointed in open meeting to learn his sentiments, and to ascertain what letters he was reported to have received from Governor Hutchinson of Massachusetts, former Royal Governor ; it being reported, as the record reads, that he was not in full and hearty accord with the sentiments of the people in this dark and direful day " but rather was inclined to the contrary. " Thereup- on Judge Sayward came into the meeting "and made a speech which was declared satisfactory." It is evident from an examina- NOTES ON JUDGE JONATHAN SAYWARD 149 tion of Judge Sayward's diary that in the turbulent times that followed the outbreak of hostilities some of the townspeople were hot-headed, and inclined to make trouble for those citizens who from natural conservatism or important business connections, such as the Judge, were slower to absolve allegiance to the Crown and take an irrevokable step to open rebellion. On May 13 of the same year he writes, "Provincial Congress Resolutions are looked on equal the laws of a kingdom and superior to our own; when and where these things will end God only knows the juditious are entirely neglected. Hot men and fiery counsels are the only men and measures approved." The record does not disclose that Judge Sayward took any part in public affairs during the succeeding six years. Until near the end of the "unhappy contest between this and the mother country, he doubted the outcome of it, but apparently held the respect of the community, and at the close of the war entered more fully into the activities of the community. We find that in 1791 the French Consul and Judge Sullivan were his guests, and on the next day President Langdon and others dined, "More good company." A few days later it is recorded: "Doctor Bullman's widow died." Doctor Bullman was the young surgeon of the Maine Regiment in the expedition against Louis- burg and died at Louisburg from fever. On May 14th, 1792, is this entry in Judge Sayward's diary: "Widow of John Littlefield of Wells died this week aged about 90 year-She was originally of this town, daughter of Coll Harmon-her first husband was Richard Jacques who kill' the Jesuit Rally at Norregewock in 1724, her next was Elder Mavberry of York, her third her third Capt. John Littlefield of Wells." About this time General Knox was entertained by the Judge, and the Judge in his diary speaks very highly of him. The house in which Judge Sayward lived stands on the banks of York River. It was built about 1732 and is today in a fine state of preservation with many of its colonial furnishings. It has always remained in the family, and is now the summer residence of Doctor Leonard Wheeler of Worcester. The following is an extract from Judge Sayward's diary 1789. Oct. 31st, This week hath been filled with tumultion Rejoicings and Shows Enjoy David C. Young PO Box 152 Danville, Maine 04223 courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. 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