This is part of a series on Lafayette’s visit to New England – June 13 to June 29 1825.
Lafayette entered Kennebunk shortly after 1:00 PM. A large cavalcade of citizens greeted him. Horace Porter was the chief marshal. There were also many gentlemen from surrounding towns led by General Elisha Allen of Sanford. A national salute was fired, under the direction of Major James Osborn and Captain Samuel Littlefield when Lafayette was about one mile from the village. A bell peeled.
Dr. Samuel Emerson addressed him at Towles Hotel, also known as the Mousam house
“By the appointment of my fellow villagers and at their request I have the honor to bid General Lafayette a most cordial welcome, and to assure him that, though our climate is the coldest in the United States, our hearts are warm with gratitude for the distinguished services rendered our beloved country in her struggle for independence.
You have gone the rounds of the encampment of Liberty, you have seen the omnipotence of her power and resources, and your heart has exulted in the fruits of your pious labors. Every true American has traveled with you, in imagination, and felt an honest pride in the admiration you have expressed.
This little village, with thousands more, has literally been redeemed from the forest since you fought by the side of Father Washington; and the children of those brave soldiers whose bleeding feet you generously supplied with shoes, when the only wealth the country possessed was her courage, are now presenting to your view unbounded wealth, unequaled respect and unrivaled welcome.
But, General, your adopted Country trembles to trust you in the power of tyrants; would be to Heaven you could tarry among us till the summons comes to call you to the realms of celestial Liberty! God grant that your life may be prolonged to the very verge of sublunary enjoymnent; that those who survive may deposit your remains in the same soil with Washington, Greene, Lincoln, Knox, and the whole radiant galaxy of your compatriots, whose sacred memory, like your own can never perish. This, sir, is the united sentiment of every one who so cordially echoes the universal paen, “Welcome, Lafayette.”
Lafayette replied:
“I am highly gratified to be so affectionately welcomed by the people of Kennebunk, and by you, my dear sir, to have that welcome expressed in the most kind and flattering terms. I thank you. I thank all my friends for their sympathy in the delight I have felt to find in these extensive and patriotic rounds the happy results of independence, freedom and self-government. While I had the honor to be persecuted by every government of Europe, without one single exception, I equally gloried in the thought of my preserving the approbation and of y living in the truly Republican hearts of the American people.
Now, sir, after this happy visit to every one of the United States, I will not only rejoice at the witnessed salvation on this extensive empire, at the already effected salvation of the American hemisphere, I will bless the anticipated salvation of mankind, to whom the first example has been given of a true and complete national liberty. Accept, my dear sir, and all of you who so eagerly, so freindlily throng around us, be pleased to accept my most affectionate and respectful acknowledgnents.”
At the dinner following Lafayette offered this toast:
“The town of Kennebunk, where the first tree was felled on the day when the first gun of American and universal liberty was fired at Lexington; may the glorious date be to flourishing Kennebunk a pledge of everlasting and ever-increasing republican prosperity and happiness.”
The bridge and streets were decorated. Arches read “Washington-Lafayette” or “Brandywine”. A double arch from the “Phoenix building” had two sides. One read “The Boy Escaped” a reference to Barren Hill Pennsylvania on May 18, 1778. The other read “Yorktown”.
He then proceeded to Joseph and Priscilla Storer’s Mansion. Mrs. Storer had collected all the ladies of the village to pay respects to the general.
There was some trouble though. Professional pickpockets were in the crowd. Captain Elijah Bettes lost $1,000 in notes and drafts, a pocketbook from Samuel Lord with $500 in notes of hand and bank bills. Judge Clark lost $45 and valuable papers. A visitor had $8 drawn from his pocketbook.
Three men were identified as the likely perpetrators Lewis Marin, Louis Smith and Gardiner Hayoford. Martin got 20 days solitary confinement and 5 years hard labor. Smith gave states evidence and was let go. Gardiner, the youngest, was acquitted. It appeared that the team have been following Lafayette from Boston to Portland.
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For information on the bicentennial of Lafayette’s tour check out Lafayette200.org