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Two Accounts of General Lafayette's 24 June 1825 visit to
South Berwick, Maine.
A Childhood Reminiscence by Sophia Elizabeth Goodwin
Eastern Argus, #80, July 4, 1825, Portland, Maine
Communications: LAFAYETTE IN SOUTH BERWICK
Gen. Lafayette passed the night of the 23d of June, at Dover, N.H. On the evening of that day a Committee of the citizens of South Berwick, waited on him, and invited him to breakfast with them, the next morning, on his way to Portland, which invitation he accepted.
At 8 o'clock in the morning of the 24th, he arrived at the bridge, which is on the line of the State, where he was handed over by a Committee of the N. Hampshire Legislature to Cols. Dunlap and Emery, the Aids of Gov. Parris. On the line of the State, under a civic arch of evergreens, festooned with oak leaves and adorned with roses, Col. Dunlap in an appropriate address welcomed him to the State of Maine, to which the General made a suitable reply. He then entered the carriage with Col. Dunlap and rode uncovered to Mrs. Frost's hotel. The street for nearly the whole distance was lined with Misses and young Ladies on one side, and lads and gentlemen on the other, who, as he passed, retained their stations, and cheered him with "Welcome Lafayette." --- Near Mrs. Frost's similar arches were erected over the street and the gate of the front yard. On the balcony over the front door, in the presence of a large concourse of people, the Hon. Benjamin Greene, as Chairman of the Selectmen of the town, addressed him as follows:
General--We receive you with grateful emotions, and we greet you with a heart felt welcome to the State of Maine. We rejoice in the privilege of seeing you, and of being able to place before our children, the distinguished Patriot, whose character our parents have taught us to venerate. Your name, Sir, is identified with that freedom and independence with those civil and social rights by which the citizens of the United States are favored above any other people upon the Globe. - In you, sir, we recognize the intimate friend & early associate of the father of this country; whose joint services, sacrifices and sufferings greatly contributed to the procuring those national blessings which we now inherit and which Heaven grant we may transmit unimpaired to our posterity. It will not be expected, sir, nor indeed would it be decorous for us in this place, to attempt an enumeration of the great things which you have done for your adopted country, and for the whole family of man. It could be but the repetition of that eulogium, which has been a thousand times pronounced, with an emphasis which has filled they world. - The lustre of your fame, Sir, never can be brightened, nor can time corrode it. It is spotless, it must be immortal. - Suffice it for us that we see you and are permitted to call our children to look upon the man of whom the have so often heard their parents speak. - Our children, sir, will talk of you when we sleep with our fathers, and while stimulating and encouraging each other to the practice of noble, benevolent and virtuous exertions, by the illustrious examples of the great and good, who shall have passed before them, they can and they will triumphantly exclaim, we have seen Lafayette.General --- We feel a strong desire to express our gratitude for your public services, our admiration of your personal worth, & our devout good wishes for your future happiness - wherever you go, wherever you may abide, may you largely participate in that heart-cheering gratification, which your presence must always afford to those who behold you.
To which the General made an appropriate reply. Then was introduced to him a large number of ladies and gentlemen, all of whom he took by the hand - and seemed not the least impatient in receiving the greetings of the lowest citizen, or the smallest child. He was then introduced to a Hall elegantly decorated for the occasion, where he breakfasted with a large number of gentlemen. After breakfast, he called on Mrs. Cushing with whom he was intimately acquainted when in this country during the revolutionary war. Their meeting was particularly interesting. At 10 o'clock from Mrs. Cushing's door, he entered his carriage and started for Portland.
NOTE
This is a transcription of a newspaper clipping in the collection of the Old Berwick Historical Society. It is reprinted here by permission of the Old Berwick Historical Society, and may not be reprinted without OBHS permission.
"The Visit of General Lafayette"A Childhood Reminiscence (1)
by Sophia Elizabeth Goodwin
My mother (2) says, "I remember with great distinctness the visit of Gen. Lafayette to South Berwick, for I was then about twelve years old, a time of life when a visit of such importance would make a great-impression. It was arranged that the General should breakfast at Mrs. Frost's tavern. As it was his entry into Maine he was received with great-formality at the bridge at the landing, the line of the state by the state officials the Governor and his staff. Arches were erected on the street with "Welcome Lafayette" inscribed on them, the boys walked in precession with the same motto on their hats, while the girls, in white dresses and blue sashes, bore the same inscription on their sashes.
An elegant-breakfast was provided at Mrs. Frost's. The attendants at the table were the principal young ladies of the village. One young lady Miss Sally Noble was honored by the conspicuous attention of the General, who said she was the most-beautiful young lady he had seen in America. The citizens were introduced to the General in the parlor of the Hotel. My father (3) acted as master of ceremonies and I remember my pride in his easy address. I remember my father wore a claret colored frock coat - which displayed his remarkably handsome person to great advantage. But I was half ashamed when he brought up my sister Hetta and myself and introduced us as his children, though I was partially assured when the General complimented him upon having so interesting a family. The General upon being informed that there was a lady in this village whom he had known in his first visit to America politely said he remembered her very well, and requested to see her. There upon a party of gentlemen escorted the General and his son George Washington Lafayette, a middle aged man, to the residence of Madam Cushing. Judge Green(4) walking arm in arm with the General, and my father with his son George Washington Lafayette.
Madam Cushing received him at the door saying I am happy to welcome you General to my house, she reached forth her hand which the General took saluting her on both cheeks.
Pleasant reminiscences were recalled when she said, "I can tender you but a slight entertainment General, will you take a glass of Currant wine made with my own hands." The General pronounced it delicious she then offered him a basket of beautifully frosted plum cake. That was a triumph of the day to me, for on that day it being a festal day, my mother had arranged to have a party at her house in the evening. As soon as Mrs. Cushing had been apprised that the General was to visit her she sent to my mother telling her of the great strait she was in, in having no cake to offer the General. Mother at once sent the cake provided for her party, and hence my pride and delight that my mother's cake should serve for entertainment of so distinguished a guest."
S. Berwick Aug 23d, 1885
[Text as written in notebook]
Notes
1. From a notebook containing the memoirs of Sophia Elizabeth Hayes Goodwin (wife of Ichabod Goodwin), Courtesy of her granddaughter, Miss Elizabeth Goodwin, March 1977, Sarah Orne Jewett House, South Berwick, Maine.
This is a transcription of a typescript in the collection of the Old Berwick Historical Society. It is reprinted here by permission of the Old Berwick Historical Society, and may not be reprinted without OBHS permission. Some punctuation has been changed silently.2. Susan Lord Hayes (married name unknown), daughter of William Allen Hayes.
3. William Allen Hayes (b. Oct. 20, 1783) Lawyer/Bank President, former state representative - 1822.
4. Benjamin Green (b. May 5, 1764) Lawyer/Marshal of United States, appointed by President Adams, from 1824 to 1830/representative to the General Court 1809, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, & 19/member of convention to frame State Constitution 1819/Chief Justice of court of common pleas from 1811 to 1822/speaker of the House, 1824.
Edited by Terry Heller, Coe College
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