Maine Memory Network

Reverend Thomas Smith (1702-1795) was the pastor of First Parish in Portland for 57 years. During his long life of 94 years, he also worked as a physician and real estate speculator, becoming very wealthy.

At Falmouth Neck (now Portland), Smith responded to the call for sanctioned violence against the Wabanaki. In 1757, Smith and prominent members of the First Parish Church equipped a posse of 16 men. These "scouters and cruisers" were sent to "kill and captivate the Indian Enemy" to the east of Falmouth in the area between the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers. Shortly after, Reverend Smith noted in his journal the receipt of 198 British pounds for "my part of the scalp money"— equal to one-quarter of his salary.

Smith and other English colonists who founded First Parish Church not only organized genocide of the Native people, they strove to grow personal fortunes by populating Maine with White settlers. The 1755 Proclamation offering bounties to hunt and kill Penobscots was one of dozens of such programs in the Massachusetts Colony’s campaign of genocide targeting the Wabanaki people all across the Northeast region during Reverend Smith’s lifetime.

Thomas Smith's silver-handled walking cane is engraved: "Tho Smith, Rev. Thomas Smith, born Boston Mch 10, 1702, died May 23d 1795, Ordained in Falmouth, Me. Mch 1727, Was the first settled minister in Cumberland Co." The engraving is on the silver below the handle.

Thomas Smith gained wealth during his time in Maine. The most valuable possessions held by Reverend Thomas Smith were his enslaved persons. Upon the death of his son, Thomas Smith, Jr. in 1776, the father bought his son’s enslaved people, "a man and a likely young negro woman" for 700 English pounds—about $130,000 as of 2021. A census of Falmouth Neck (Portland) in 1749 counted 21 "slaves" in the population of 2,346.

An image of Reverend Smith shows him displaying this silver-tipped walking stick, an extravagant item for the time. Smith's diary entry from 1769 demonstrated his pride in material possessions: “Had a new wig, a rich one, and hat. Had my super fine black clothes.”

Reverand Thomas Smith, who served as pastor of Falmouth Neck's (Portland) First Parish Church from 1727 to 1761, and his wife, Sarah Tyng, had eight children. At least one of their children was christened in this gown. The Smiths were relatively wealthy for the area.

A history of the church notes that when Smith accepted the call to serve as minister, his salary of 70 pounds was a third of the entire town budget. He also received money from the parish collection. The church built a house for the Smiths and supplied them with firewood as well.

This christening dress is attributed to the Smith family. Its quality represents a higher social status. The shape is unusual for a christening gown, since it resembles adult clothing rather than the elongated cotton gowns normally worn. The gown features appliqué crocheted floral lace trim on the overdress, which is made of linen twill.

The forefathers of Portland (previously Falmouth) hired mercenary scouts and paid bounties for “killing and captivating the Indian Enemy.” This contract promised a bounty “for every Captive or Scalp and of every Thing else they shall or may recover.” Those signing the agreement promised to furnish ammunition and provisions for the scouts and cruisers for 60 days.

Among signers are Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s great grandfather Stephen Longfellow II, and Thomas Smith, minister of the First Parish Church in Portland from 1724 to 1795. Another signer, Samuel Waldo, was the owner of vast land claims extending to the Penobscot River, as well as lumber and mill businesses and had an economic stake in removing the Wabanaki from their homelands.

The complete list of signers of the document were: Samuel Waldo, Benjamin Aite, Thomas Smith, Jedediah Preble, Stephen Longfellow, Benjamin Titcomb, Ebenezer Mayo, Thomas Moseley, Simon Gookin, John Cochs, James Milk, William Cotton, and Alexander Moss.