A history of Norway, Maine : from the earliest settlement to the close of the year 1922, Part 1

Author: Whitman, Charles Foster, 1848-
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: Norway, Me. : [Lewiston, Me.] : [Lewiston Journal Printshop and Bindery]
Number of Pages: 596


USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > A history of Norway, Maine : from the earliest settlement to the close of the year 1922 > Part 1


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55



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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