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M. L.
Gc 974.102 N83w 1247297
mat RNL
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01091 8123
E
CHARLES F. WHITMAN
C
A HISTORY
OF
NORWAY, MAINE
FROM
THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS TO THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1922
BY
CHARLES F. WHITMAN
NORWAY, MAINE 1924
Copyrighted 1924 by Lewiston Journal Company
Lewiston Journal Printshop and Bindery Lewiston, Maine
1247297
PREFACE
After the Buckfield, Me. History was written, in which the author of this work had so large a part, it was determined to get out a history of Norway, where he had lived for nearly fifty years, cor- recting and enlarging the narrative of events, and bringing it down to the present year. It was thought best to leave out of its pages much undesirable matter, usually seen in town histories, which have very little or no interest for the general reader of later times, and to produce such a work as should be considered standard authority for future reference.
Investigation of ancient records and authorities had shown serious errors relating to the early settlement of the town, as the story has come down to us. The founders of the town have been called squat- ters-a term of reproach. This is a great wrong and the story as given in these pages will clear their memory from this stigma.
It is considered a matter of much importance at this period to be able to trace one's ancestry to the Revolutionary Patriots and the Pilgrim Fathers and Mothers. Of the former, Mr. Noyes' History mentions only thirteen who settled in Norway. The Centennial His- tory gives the names of twenty-five. This history has the names of sixty-four-over half of whom died and were buried in Norway.
No town history is of much account, unless it has a good gen- ealogical record of families. This part of the work will be found quite extensive. Many of the family lines are traced from the im- migrant ancestor, and a few from ancestors more remote.
Much satisfaction is felt in the up-to-date index, where the prin- cipal events and mention of persons of note are catalogued in such a manner that the thing sought can be easily and quickly found.
C. F. WHITMAN.
Norway, February 6, 1923.
HISTORY OF NORWAY
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. Descriptive Location-Tracts-Waters-Soil and Scenery.
CHAPTER II. Perspective
Conditions after War of Independence-Law relating to settlements on public lands-Settlers not squatters.
CHAPTER III.
Rust Tract Purchased and Lots Selected
James Stinchfield comes with hunting parties. Intends to buy tract for settlement. Gives it over to Capt. Henry Rust-Lots selected. Sketches of earliest settlers.
CHAPTER IV. Coming of First Settlers' Families
The precise time (1787) of coming fixed-Joseph Stevens builds first house and first family to come-Other settlers.
CHAPTER V. Pioneer Period of Rustfield
Families of William and John Parsons and others come-Nathaniel Stevens injured, his neighbors assist his family-Two of settlers lose cows- The mills built-First deaths-Tract run out and lotted.
CHAPTER VI. Later Pioneer Period of Rustfield
Heads of families, 1790-First school- First marriage-Daniel . Cary drowned-First county road.
CHAPTER VII. Pioneer Period. Cummings Tract
First settlers-Two noted wood choppers-Fuller's Corner and Center Norway.
CHAPTER VIII. Pioneer Period. Lee's Grant
First settlers, tenant farmers-Jacob Tubbs buys lot of Francis Light- foot Lee-First town road-Edward Little buys the tract, changes tenants to owners-Stories of Capt. Josiah Bartlett and Joshua Pool.
6
HISTORY OF NORWAY
CHAPTER IX.
Pioneer Period. Waterford Three Tiers
Controversy over location of church and town house, gave them to Nor- way-Public lots-First settlers-The Chapel.
CHAPTER X. Pioneer Period. Phillips Gore Origin of name .- Barney Sawyer-First settlers.
CHAPTER XI.
Pioneer Life
Short pioneer period-No failure of crops till 1816-Little suffering and few calamities-Moral worth of the settlers.
CHAPTER XII. Naming the Town
Captain Rust made no effort to have the town named for him-Petitioners for incorporation asked to have it called "Norage," which suggested name of Norway. Two versions of its meaning.
CHAPTER XIII. Annals from 1796 to 1826
First town meeting-Occurrences of note-A year without a summer -- "Great Fire," 1816-1817, great crops raised-Maine admitted as a State- Phillips Gore annexed.
CHAPTER XIV. Early Norway Village
Post office established, William Reed appointed postmaster-Univ. church and school house built-Pen picture of the village in 1804.
CHAPTER XV.
Revolutionary Soldiers
Over 60 Rev. Soldiers settled in Norway, three were at Bunker Hill- Stories of Phinehas Whitney, Amos Upton, and Lemuel Shedd, etc.
CHAPTER XVI. War of 1812-15.
A Norway company marches to Burlington, Vt. Several die-Two com- panies march to Portland.
CHAPTER XVII.
The Aroostook War
This "war" a great burlesque-Scene at Gurney school-house-Capt. A. F. Noyes marches his company to Augusta in winter.
CHAPTER XVIII. Norway in the Rebellion
Sentiment of citizens overwhelming for crushing the Rebellion-First company in the county raised in Norway-Seven companies organized in town-The draft-Summary of men furnished-Roll of the Dead.
7
HISTORY OF NORWAY
CHAPTER XIX. The Spanish War
Norway company stationed at Chickamauga, Ga .- Capt. Frank T. Bartlett died-Company roll.
CHAPTER XX. Norway Village in 1825 Pen picture of the place by S. S. Smith, born in 1819.
CHAPTER XXI.
Churches and Ministers
Univ. society organized in 1799-Rev. Thos. Barnes, 1st pastor, church built in 1801-Congregational Society at Norway Center formed, church built there in 1808-A remarkable dream of Preacher Stoddard-Rev. Noah Cressey-Other Societies and preachers.
CHAPTER XXII. Educational History
Susan (Burns) Everett, taught first woman's school-Job Eastman first male teacher-First schoolhouse built in 1794-Rev. Noah Cressey's work for education-Norway Liberal Institute-Notable teachers.
CHAPTER XXIII. Annals, 1826-1875
Asa Barton began publication of the Oxford Observer-Town house built near Norway Center in 1838-Washingtonian movement started here 1845-Notable town meeting, 1847-War time measures-Shoe business established-Other events.
CHAPTER XXIV. Annexation of Tract from Paris
How the contest started and its final result-Norway Pine Grove cemetery now in Paris-An amusing incident of the controversy.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Race for the Railroad
Portland and Boston contend for the N. E. terminus of the Canadian R.R .- G. G. Waterhouse, A. A. Latham and Orin Hobbs, organize a victory for Portland-Story of the race.
CHAPTER XXVI. Norway Hamlets
Norway Center-Fuller's Corner-The Chapel-Noble's Corner-Norway Lake.
CHAPTER XXVII. Fraternal Societies
Free Masons-Odd Fellows-Knights of Pythias-The Grangers-The G. A. R .- The Loyal Legion.
CHAPTER XXVIII. Reform Movements
Washingtonian movement-Sons of Temperance-Good Templars- Reform Club-State and National Prohibition.
8
HISTORY OF NORWAY
CHAPTER XXIX. Norway Village in 1858 Pen picture by Jeff C. Gallison-Interesting and notable persons.
CHAPTER XXX.
Inns and Innkeepers
Joseph Stevens, first keeper of public house-Joshua Smith, first of note in village-The "Twelve Apostles" and the Elm House-Otis True, William W. Whitmarsh and John A. Woodman, popular landlords.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Postal Matters
First P. O. established in 1801, William Reed appointed P.M. and held office for 40 years-Post riders-Post offices in the hamlets-Postmasters.
CHAPTER XXXII. Annals, 1876-1900
Important events related-Branch railroad built-Fred W. Sanborn buys the Advertiser plant-Municipal Court established-Centennial cel- ebration held-Electric railroad built-Italian labor war.
CHAPTER XXXIII. Notable Men
Capt. Henry Rust-Jonathan Cummings-Edward Little-Benj. Fuller- Ezra F. Beal-Adna C. Denison-David Noyes-Sylvanus Cobb, Jr .- Lawrence M. Carroll and others.
CHAPTER XXXIV. -
Norway Lawyers
Luther Farrar-Levi Whitman-William Wirt Virgin-A. S. Kimball and others.
CHAPTER XXXV. Norway Physicians
Morris Shannon-Moses Ayer-John S. French-Asa Danforth-Calvin E. Evans-O. N. Bradbury and others.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Norway Newspaper Men
Asa Barton-Cyrus W. Brown-Chas. F. Brown, "printer's devil"- Mark H. Dunnell-Col. George W. Millett-Simeon Drake-J. A. Seitz- Fred W. Sanborn.
CHAPTER XXXVII. Norway in 1865
Pen pictures of the leading men of the town-Amusing story of Eben C. Shackley-People in school district No. 8 by the author.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Savings Bank Robbery of 1867
Story of the robbery-Arrest and conviction of Dr. Young .- Papers and part of stolen property recovered-Langdon Moore's narrative.
9
HISTORY OF NORWAY
CHAPTER XXXIX. Norway Authors
Dr. C. A. Stephens-Sylvanus Cobb, Jr .- Hugh Pendexter-Don C. Seitz-Lavinia Barton Smith-Alma Pendexter Hayden.
CHAPTER XL. Annals 1901-1922
Two free rural delivery postal routes established-Board of Trade organized -Sewer system established-New Grange Hall on Whitman Street built- Brown tail moths appeared-New post office building erected on site of the old Elm House-Other events.
CHAPTER XLI. The Great World War
Causes of the great conflict-Our country enters the struggle in 1917- Ends in Nov. 1918-Germany beaten-Austria dismembered-Poland gains its freedom-Situation of Europe at elose of the struggle-Norway boys who went to the war-Sketches of those who died.
CHAPTER XLII. Industries and Business Men
The two shoe manufacturing establishments-The Cummings lumber business-Snow-shoe business-Novelty company at Steep Falls-The Banks -- Dry goods stores-The groeers-Auto dealers-Drug stores-Beal's Inn- Restaurants-Public halls-Railroad station-Telegraph and telephone offices-Artists' studios-Sehools and churches-Norway as formerly a great center for trade, and a desirable plaee in which to live.
PART II
Diary of Rev. T. J. Tenney.
PART III
The Battle of Bunker Hill-Criticism of Sir William Howe's eampaigns in America-Captured by Indians.
PART IV
Genealogies of Families-Coats of Arms.
PART V
Statistical-Deaths, 1789-1819-Town officers-County officers-State officers-Representatives and Senators-Militia officers-Census of 1790- Census of 1800-Direet tax payers, 1816-Census of 1850 by families- Immigrants-Index.
ILLUSTRATIONS
The Author, Frontispiece
Page
Akers, Effie I.
186
Vivian M.
297
Andrews, Eben C.
343
Albert F.
343
David S.
343
Silas D.
343
Lt. Geo. F.
343
Charles
343
Eugene E.
301
Herbert F.
290
Lt. Francis S.
284
Henry H.
217
Nellie L.
142
Lillian
. 138
Angell, Rev. Caroline E.
122
Bartlett, Dr. H. L.
229
Frances E.
284
Capt. Frank T.
138
Barton, Asa
235 98
Beal, Gen. Geo. L.
182
Beck, Frank H.
295
Bickford, Robert F.
307
Bicknell, Hazel F.
293
Bisbee, Mildred
140
Blake, Capt. Jona.
98, 360 360 287
Chas. G.
361 230
Dr. B. F.
229
Louise
140
Brett, Georgia
138 303
Brooks, Louis J.
Geo. A.
366 366 242
Brown, Chas. F.
H. Walter
287 310 293
Elon L.
295
Buck, Albion L.
293
Burnham, Lt. S. H.
102 288
Carroll, Lawrence M.
Carter, Leonard A.
373
Lucy E.
373
Geo. W.
373
Elizabeth S.
Bolster, John A.
Bradbury, Dr. O. N.
Dr. M. F.
Alvin
Fred S.
Beals Inn
11
HISTORY OF NORWAY
Churches, Univ.
122
Cen. Cong'l
126
Vill. Cong'l
128
Clement, R. E.
375
Cobb, Sylvanus Jr.
102, 243
Cole, Geo. A.
377
Conery, Capt. W. G.
307
Cotton. Rev. E. S.
130
Cook, Almon L ..
304
Cragin, Dr. C. L.
380
Crooker, James O.
384
Cummings; Dr. Stephen
45
Jona's House
45
Chas. S.
289
Stephen B.
289
Geo. I.
289
Edwin S.
289
Fred H.
289
Cora B.
138,
144
O. M.
304 390
Lydia
390
Curtis, Geo. L.
291
Alton L.
306
Cushman, L. H.
301
Danforth, Dr. Asa
394
Abigail C.
394
Frank A.
394
S. Adnah
394
Chas. H.
394
Davis, Fred M.
304
Decoster, Virginia
142
Frank E.
186
Denison, Lucius
390
Arthur E.
217
Adna C.
208
Descoteau, E. E.
186
Dinsmore, Ansel
400
Judith C.
400
Mary A.
400
Nellie C.
144
Jessie L.
144
Drake, Dr. Fred E.
297
Howard L.
309
Eastman, Ray H.
298
Evans, Dr. Calvin E.
229
Dr. Warren R.
217
Geo. F.
217
Foster, Henry B.
287
Dr. Winnie
138
French, John A.
251
Daniel
12
HISTORY OF NORWAY
Wm. P.
414
Emeline A.
414
Arthur F.
414
Augusta H.
414
Eugene 0.
414
Wm. A.
414
Frost, Chas. A.
304
Fuller, Robert
138
Gardner, Gertrude
144
Gibson, Geo. E.
425
Mary E.
425
J. Frank
425
Fred H.
425 425 425
William H.
425 425
Greenlaw, N. U.
303 310
Hayden, Alma P.
243
Clara A.
432 432
Hill, Geo. F.
295
Hills, Vivian W.
302 102
Hobbs, Capt. W.
102
Albert L.
442 140
Holden, Grace
Mae
140
Holmes, Geo. W.
444
Hooper, Rev. W. W.
122
Horne, Geo. W.
445
Hosmer, Paul F.
186
Howe, Dr. Jesse
447 447
Freeland Jr.
138
Jackson, E. B.
303
Jones, Judge W. F.
224
Otis N.
449
Kate H.
449
Judkins, John P.
186 214
Kaemmerling, Adm'l G. S. Maude
214
Kilgore, Emerson
452
Willis H.
295
Kimball, A. S.
220
Knight, Frank P.
434
Annie F.
434
Guy R.
Goodwin, Stuart W.
301
Hathaway, Geo. F.
Haxby, Nellie C.
144
Samuel H.
Arthur P.
432
George R.
Harry E.
Capt. I. F.
Rebecca G.
13
HISTORY OF NORWAY
George P.
434
Roland H.
434
Samuel
434
Frank P. Jr.
434
Helen H.
434
Mary A.
434
Laferriere, Annie B.
144
Lapham, Dr. Wm. B.
209
Lasselle, Elizabeth O.
144
Lee, Arthur
50
Lewis, Wm. A.
186
Longley, Leon L. Eli
459
Mary W.
459
Lord, Colman F.
460
McIntire, Hon. B. M.
290
Hon. L. E.
164
Farm Scene
464
Merchant, Zeb. L.
293
Marguerite A.
293
Miller, Rev. C. G.
122 98
Sol. I.
251
Dea. N. W.
254
Nathaniel
471
Fred E.
471
Coat of Arms
471
Morse, Edwin A.
475
Needham, Lt. S. H. Wm. O.
475
Nevers, Dr. Harry Alonzo J.
476
Newcomb, L. G.
309
Noble, F. Marion
478
Christine B.
478
Norway Village
Noyes, Capt. Amos F.
David
Frank H.
Oxnard, Horace C.
Packard, Lulu
140
Parker, Anne
142
Parrin, A. G.
304 254 487
Penley, Joseph
496
Edw. W.
186
Pendexter, Hugh
243
Helen M.
243
Pike, Dennis
301
Stella M.
489
Fred H.
249
94 209 291
482
Parsons, Moses
Perry, Fred H.
254
140, .476
478
Millett, Capt. H. R.
295
14
HISTORY OF NORWAY
Seth
489
Nathaniel
489
Homestead
489
Redden, Rev. Fr. J. E.
135
Reed, Elizabeth Cobb
194
Richardson, C. A.
303
Robbins, Arthur H.
310
Rounds, Alice
140
Rural Scenes
18, 63
Rust, Gen. Harry
98
Henry
208
Rustfield, Map of
29
Ryerson, Chas. W.
251
Sampson, M. W.
206
Savings Bank
294
Shedd, Cora Belle
138, 144
Smith, S. S.
113
H. D.
290
Fred E.
290
Lee M.
301
Eugene F.
225
Lavinia B.
243
Spanish War Co.
110
Staples, Dr. Ivan
229
Stearns, Col. A. J.
223
Stephens, Dr. C. A.
240
Minne Scalar
240
Laboratory
240
Stevens, Simon
254
Stiles, Capt. M. P.
274
Stone, Phil. F.
186
Frank P.
297
Sergt. W. H.
284
Street Scenes
182,
259
Stuart, Inez M.
142
Swan, Helen S.
142
Swett, E. N.
297
'Taylor, Miss H. M.
293
Tenney, Rev. T. J.
311
Izah B. P.
311
Rev. C. R., D.D.
311
Thompson, Dr. A.
214
Mary E.
214
Frank E.
214
Towne, Albert A.
1. 307
Trafton, Mabel
138
True, Frank T.
521
Anna C. 521
Otis 180
Tubbs, Chas. N.
290
140
Agnes
15
HISTORY OF NORWAY
James N.
W. F.
Upton, Uriah H.
251
Virgin, Gen. Wm. W.
102
Ward, Artemus
242
Warren, Ambrose
132
Whitman, Levi
Charles F.
400
Mary A.
138,
217
Victor M.
140
Jessie L.
137
Ozias
137
Izah T.
98, 533
Whitmarsh, Col. W. W.
533
Martha C.
144
Woodman, John A.
180
Wyman, John
537
Young, Howard B.
306
Annie
138
Wentworth, Rev. B. C.
220
209
Verne M.
144
Wingate, Annie B.
303
287
140
NORWAY SCENE) LAKE VILLAGE ACROSS THE WATER
HISTORY OF NORWAY
CHAPTER I.
DESCRIPTIVE.
The town of Norway is situated in the southern part of Oxford County, bordering on the County of Cumberland, and is drained by the Little Androscoggin and Crooked Rivers and their tributaries. Greenwood and Albany bound it on the north; Paris on the east; Oxford and Otisfield on the south; and Waterford and Harrison on the west. The whole boundary line of many courses, is about thirty miles in length. Four different tracts of land were taken at its in- corporation to form the town. These were: Rustfield of rising six thousand acres exclusive of water surface; Lee's Grant of substan- tially the same land surface; the Cummings Tract of three thou- sand, five hundred and sixty acres; and the Waterford three tiers of lots of seven thousand two hundred acres. Phillips Gore of some fifteen hundred acres, was annexed by act of the Legislature in 1821, and a part of three lots of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty acres from Paris in 1859-61. The water surface of the lake and largest pond is about fifteen hundred acres,-a total area of some twenty-five thousand acres. The Lee's Grant is situated in the northeastern part of the town; the Rust Tract south of it; the tract obtained from Waterford in the western portion; the Cummings Purchase is between it and the Lee's Grant, while the Phillips Gore constitutes the southwestern part of Norway.
The town has one large body of water, the Pennesseewassee Lake, or as it was called in the early days the "Great Pond," located in the original tracts of Rustfield and Lee's Grant. It is some five miles long with an average width of about half a mile. There are three sizable ponds; the Little Pennesseewassee or Hobbs' Pond on the Cum- mings Tract near the center of the town; Sand Pond on the Water- ford Three Tiers, and North Pond on the Lee's Grant. There are several smaller ponds in different sections besides numerous springs and streams.
A ridge of high land running north and south through practically the center of the town separates the streams flowing into the Little Androscoggin River from those running into the Crooked River.
The soil is generally good and under proper cultivation very pro- ductive. There are some very fine farms, among which may be mentioned the Jackson farm on the Lee's Grant, the Wyman farm on the Cummings Purchase at Norway Center and the Tucker farm on the Rust Tract near Norway Lake village.
20
HISTORY OF NORWAY
The forest growth of Norway is of a mixed character of hard and soft woods common to this climate. The most valuable are the white pine, spruce, hemlock, white birch, rock maple and oak.
The surface of Norway is hilly and uneven. The highest eleva- tion, according to the U. S. Government survey, is Merrill Hill in the northwestern part of the town on the Waterford Three Tiers. It is 1243 feet above sea level. Two other knobs-portions of the same elevation, are 1100 and 1176 feet, respectively. Jim Hill, farther south on the Cummings Purchase, raises its bald head 980 feet to- wards the skies. A short distance from this hill towards the north- east on the same tract is Holt Hill of 1005 feet elevation. Frost Hill on the Phillips Gore in the southwestern section is 970 feet high, while Pike's Hill on the Rust Tract near the village is the smallest of these hills, being only 870 feet above sea level. The views from them all, particularly that from Jim Hill and the last two men- tioned, where there is a range of the whole horizon, are scarcely ex- celled anywhere in the County of Oxford, which is the most beautiful part of Maine.
21
HISTORY OF NORWAY
CHAPTER II.
PERSPECTIVE.
For several years, after the close of the War for American Inde- pendence, the tract of country now called Norway, with its enterpris- ing and public-spirited citizens, was an unbroken wilderness. The Fall of Quebec in 1759, following Gen. James Wolfe's great victory over the French commander, Gen. Louis Joseph Montcalm, on the Plains of Abraham, and the subsequent transfer of Canada to Great Britain, had ended for all time the fear of further savage depreda- tions upon the settlements in the English colonies of North America, and tribes and bands, which had been hostile hitherto, scattered and found places of encampment elsewhere.
The Pennesseewassees who had taken the name of their tribe, from the region (now called Norway Center), "where the fruitful land slopes down to the shining water," had long before the coming of the white men, forsaken the haunts they once loved so well. Per- haps a pestilence had swept them away, or it may be, that Capt. John Lovewell's death grapple with the Pequakets, in what is now the town of Fryeburg, by which the tribe was almost destroyed, had caused them to emigrate.
The most probable reason for their disappearance, however, is that the downfall of the French authority in Canada, with the con- stant incoming of English settlers had caused them to go elsewhere. But whatever the reason, they had disappeared never to return, long before any settlers had come into the region.
Though the surrender of Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis and his British forces at Yorktown, Va., in October, 1781, to Gen. George Washington was generally regarded as virtually ending the Revolu- tionary War, there was a short period following, of suspense and doubt as to what King George and Parliament might do, but all un- certainty was finally dispelled when the House of Commons, in March the next year, by a decisive vote, passed a resolve that it would "con- sider as enemies of His Majesty and the country, all those who should advise, or attempt, the further prosecution of offensive war, on the continent of North America." And commissioners were soon there- after appointed, to negotiate a peace and acknowledge the Inde- pendence of the United States. Such a peace was signed at Paris, Sept. 3, 1783, and thereafter, the British forces were withdrawn from the country.
Our National Independence had cost the loss of some 50,000 men and a debt of about $45,000,000. Massachusetts, to which Maine then belonged, whose rank was 4th in population in 1790, when the first U. S. census was taken, furnished about 68,000 men-more than three times what Virginia, the largest colony, had in the conflict, and it incurred a debt of its own of about $5,000,000. Its loss in men was between eight and nine thousand. Maine must have had 6500 men or more in service and its loss was fully one thousand. But for Massachusetts there would have been no War of the Revolution, or any Independence of the 13 English Colonies.
22.
HISTORY OF NORWAY
The old Continentals, returning from their service in the army, having been paid off in almost worthless currency, found themselves in very poor circumstances. Many had families to support and thou- sands looked with longing eyes to the public lands of the District of Maine, of which it was estimated that some twenty millions of acres were suitable for cultivation and the production of crops. And the General Court of Massachusetts to encourage settlements upon them passed an act in 1783, to sell to every settler, on any of the large rivers and navigable waters, a tract of as much, if desired, as 150 acres. at one dollar per acre, or give him 100 acres elsewhere, on con- dition, that in four years, he put sixteen acres under cultivation and built a: habitation upon the land. This law was soon changed, but while it lasted, it was productive of great good. Men who had settled on public lands back in the interior and were in possession of their lots January 1, 1784, as well as others who took advantage of this act obtained their holdings free. There must have been several thou- sands of such settlers in Maine. There were 47 in Bucktown, now Buckfield. No land act was ever more beneficial to the people, and one can but feel that the law should have been extended for a longer period, and the public lands kept out of the hands of speculators.
Where townships were afterwards sold by the Commonwealth in which persons were holding under the law of 1783, the grants or con- veyances to the purchasers, excepted and reserved to each settler his 100 acres of land, to be run out in the best way to include his im- provements. But long after this law was repealed the State en- couraged settlements on its public lands and passed acts "quieting" settlers in their holdings on favorable terms. Owners of townships and tracts suitable for settlement, encouraged pioneers to settle upon them, for without such hardy occupants, the right to retain possession of the lands, would lapse, since there was a proviso in every sale of a township, that a certain number of families should be settled upon it within a certain given period. But though no such condition was imposed upon grantees and purchasers of tracts not large enough for townships, they had to pay a greater price per acre, and without settlers, their holdings would be of little benefit to them. It was the policy of the Commonwealth to procure the settlement of the public lands, and it adopted several ways to accomplish its purpose.
At a later period when the southern and western portions of the District of Maine had acquired a large immigrant population, specu- lators obtained lands to hold for high prices, and some dealt harshly with those who had settled upon them and made improvements, and to such an extent was this abuse carried, that a remedy was sought. William King in 1807, then a senator in the Massachusetts Legisla- ture, afterwards the first Governor of Maine, devised what was called the "Betterment Act," which was passed by the General Court and received the Governor's signature in March, 1808. The Republicans had beaten the Federalists and elected a Governor and Legislature, or this law never could have been passed. The majority in Maine, had given the Republicans their victory. The law provided where one had been in possession and occupancy of land for a certain period, and brought it from a state of nature to one of cultivation, with habitation and outbuildings, that the owner of the land should pay
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