If a charismatic stranger came to a town and invited family, friends, and neighbors to leave familiarity behind and sail across the sea to Jaffa, 156 residents of Addison in the 1860s would have said yes – but for about 156 different reasons.
In “The Reverend and the Mainers,” the newest publication from the St. Croix Historical Society, author Barbara McFadden Dodge recounts the story of the Rev. George Jones Adams, beginning with his travels through the country during the Civil War before he arrived in Maine.
The Civil War provided a powerful backdrop for the social narratives that were being spun at the time, including Adams’s own insistence the stage was set for the second coming of Christ – if only he and a contingent of believers could make it to Jaffa.
The Mainers who accompanied Adams did so willingly at first, though they quickly found out after the ship sailed that everything was not what it appeared to be with the reverend. For some, it was a fatal error in judgment, though most survived the trials that followed.
Dodge incorporates extensive primary and secondary documents into the 190-page book, including letters from the “colonists” and their family members and contemporary newspaper accounts of the well-publicized journey.
Dodge is a graduate of the University of Maine in Machias, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in education.
“My father’s military career and his passion for history inspired my desire to explore the history of any place in which I found myself,” Dodge said. “When I arrived in Machias as a young college student, I was enthralled and eagerly embraced the area’s rich history.”
This is Dodge’s first book, but she’s always had a love for writing, inspired by her grandmother, Dorothy (Erskine) Roberts, the former owner and publisher of The Lincoln County News.
Dodge said “The Reverend and The Mainers” story felt like it was a tale for her to tell.
“The family members provided invaluable encouragement and shared their personal letters, diaries, and documents,” she said. “I am truly grateful. This project could never have been accomplished without their many contributions.”
“The Reverend and the Mainers” can be purchased on Amazon in paperback and e-book formats. Email the St. Croix Historical Society at stcroixhs@gmail.com for information on purchasing a copy in person.
See other books by the society at stcroixhistorical.com.
