USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Turner > A history of Turner, Maine, from its settlement to 1886 > Part 1
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PLAN OF THE TOWN OF TURNER,MAINE.
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1
MINOT
ANDROSCOGGIN
MEETING-HOUSE. PARISH LINE. THREE SPOTTED LINE
LOTS 26, 27,28. 29, 30, 31,32,33.39, +0,46, 47, 48,49.52, 53.54.55,56. 57, 58, 59, 60, 71, 72 73,74,75, AND 78 WERE GIVEN TO THE FIRST SETTLERS.
HEBRON
GREENE
AUBURN
LEEDS
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BUCKFIELD
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A
HISTORY
OF
TURNER, MAINE
FROM
ITS SETTLEMENT TO 1886
RELEASED_
1/12/20 By REV. W. R. FRENCH, D. D.
atholic University of America LIBRARY
CATHOLIC U/HERNITYOF AMERICA
ILLUSTRATED
WASHINGTON,
D .
PORTLAND, MAINE HOYT, FOGG & DONHAM 1887
12+272
RELEASED
CATHOL
F29 TaF8
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Plan of Turner .
FRONTISPIECE
The First Meeting-house
35
House where Hon. Eugene Hale was born
83
Portrait of Hon. Eugene Hale
85
Mr. Keene's Chair Factory and Hotel
01
Mrs. Irish's Hotel .
169
CONTENTS.
PAGE
The "Propriety "
1
Names of the Proprietors
5
Mills Built .
22
Settlers in 1779
30
Meeting-house Built
35
Rev. John Strickland Settled .
38
Town Incorporated
40 41
Location of the Early Settlers
66 74 83
North Turner .
88 91 93
Chase's Mills
North Turner
95
North Turner Bridge
98
Surface, Soil, and Products
100
North Turner Cheese Factory
103
Turner Center Dairying Association . 10
105
Congregational Parish
110
The Baptist Society
118
The Universalist Parish
125
The Methodist Church
137
Meeting-houses . 138
Ministerial and School Funds 140
Marriages Solemnized by Rev. John Strickland 159
Marriages Solemnized by Ichabod Bonney, Esq. .
163
Family Sketches
Turner Village .
Turner Center
Keen's Mills
Post-offices and Mail Routes
VI
CONTENTS.
Taverns 166
Schools 169
Physicians 171
Lawyers 178
The First Organ .
180
Turner Grange, No. 23, Patrons of Husbandry 181
Masonic Organizations
182
Odd Fellows
185
Temperance Organizations .
185
Cemeteries
186
War Record. Soldiers in the Revolution .
195
War of 1812
196 197
War of the Rebellion
199
Annals
206
The Centennial Celebration
259
The Procession .
295
Address of Welcome. Dr. J. T. Cushing
264
Centennial Poem. Mrs Caroline W. D. Rich . 268
279
Judge Wilson's Address 293
Hon. E. B. Washburn's Address .
299
Speech of Ex-Governor Merrill of Iowa
301
" Clarence Hale, Esq.
305
"'
" Col. F. M. Drew
307
" Dr. Kendall Newhall
308
Orin Bearce, Esq., of Missouri 308
66
66 Solon Chase, Esq.
310
" Daniel Lara, Esq. 311
Hon. Rufus Prince . 312
The Great Stone Mortar 312
The Aroostook War
Hon. Washington Gilbert's Address
PREFACE.
THIS work was undertaken by the urgent solicitation of others, knowing something of the difficulties that must be encountered, and of the tax upon the time and strength which were all needed for other labors. But it seemed desirable that the history of the town should be written, as the celebration of its Centennial would awaken a special interest in it; and as no other came to mind who could conveniently attend to it, the work was reluctantly undertaken. Dr. Timothy Howe wrote a history of the town, which he left in manuscript; this has furnished much valuable information which it would be difficult, if not impossible, to gain
now. The writer of this has been largely indebted to him, and wishes to make suitable acknowledgments. The records of the Proprietors of the Township have been carefully consulted, as also the Records of the Town from the date of its incorporation, and the Records and Papers in the State House, Boston. Items of information have been gleaned from histories of towns, and other publications; and several elderly people have contributed from the stores of memory, items of interest which have added
VIII
PREFACE.
value to these pages. Some facts have been learned by corres- pondence with people in other towns, and no available source of information known to the author has been neglected, in hope of thus making the history as complete and reliable as possible. An effort has been made to condense the history into the compass of a small volume, which could be furnished at a moderate cost; and no illustrations have been employed except the plan of the town and such as have been furnished by interested parties, since, though adding to the interest, they would add much to the ex- pense. Great changes have been wrought since our fathers made for themselves homes in the wilderness, where we now dwell in the midst of comforts which were denied to them; and instruction and benefit may be gained by looking upon them, and noting their manner of life in those early times. The burden of labor in compiling this history has been lightened by the pleasure found in the more intimate acquaintance with the life, customs, and fortunes of the early settlers; and the reward of effort will consist largely in adding to the enjoyment, pleasure, and information of the reader.
W. R. F.
HISTORY OF TURNER.
THE " PROPRIETY."
THE town of Turner lies on the left bank of the Androscoggin River, in about 44° 15' north latitude. It is bounded, southerly, by the city of Auburn and the town of Minot, five and a half miles ; westerly, by Hebron, Buckfield, and Hart- ford, ten miles and one hundred and eighty rods; northerly, by Livermore, three miles and two hundred and fifty rods; and easterly, by the Andro- scoggin River. Leeds and Greene are adjoining towns on the right bank of the river. It originally constituted a part of Cumberland County, was afterward embraced in Oxford County, but, in 1842, became a part of Androscoggin County, which ' was at that time created out of several adjoining counties.
The township was originally granted to the heirs and assigns of Captain Joseph Sylvester and his company, for military services, rendered in the invasion of Canada, under Sir William Phipps, in 1690. Mr. Dean, in his history of Scituate, gives this account of the Sylvester family: " Richard
2
2
HISTORY OF TURNER.
Sylvester, the father of Captain. Joseph, lived in Weymouth in 1633, where he acquired an unfortu- nate notoriety by espousing certain religious opin- ions too liberal for the age in which he lived. Mr. Robert Lenthal, his minister at Weymouth, advanced the sentiment, "that all baptized persons should be admitted to the communion without further trial." (Magnolia, I., 222.) This was a heresy, to be noticed by Government, and he was ordered to retract in presence of the General Court, with which order he complied. But Richard Syl- vester, who held the same sentiments, still adhered to his own opinion, and, in consequence of so doing, was fined and disfranchised by the Government. This put him upon removing from the colony, and he came to Scituate in 1642. Joseph, who was his third son, settled also in Scituate, and had a farm on Church Hill in 1664."
Joseph Sylvester, of Cumberland County, Maine, married Lucy Wade in 1788. He lived at a place called Prout's Gore.
Joseph commanded a company under the famous Colonel Church, in his eastern expedition against the Indians in 1689. The next year he raised a company, sixteen of which belonged to Scituate, and many of whom never returned, and joined in the enterprise undertaken by Sir William Phipps, against the French possessions of Port Royal and
.
3
HISTORY OF TURNER.
Quebec. In this campaign, Israel Chittenden was his lieutenant, and John Stetson, ensign. This enterprise proved disastrous and fatal to the brave Captain Sylvester, and many of his men. The his- torian, before quoted, says of them : "Many nun- cupative wills were entered, and proved in the Pro- bate Court Plymouth County, and that among the number was that of Captain Sylvester himself. This will was proved by the testimony of three of his soldiers, Benjamin Stetson, John Perry, and William Perry, and reads thus: ' I give all my land at Hugh's Cross to my son Joseph; the three younger sons to be provided for by their mother, out of my other property. Wife Mary to be exec- utrix.'" The records show also that Timothy Roggers was appointed to administer on the estate of Nathaniel Parker, who joined the Canada expe- dition of 1690.
The widow, Mary, was appointed administratrix on the estate of her husband, Ensign John Stetson. Eliab Turner was appointed administrator on the estate of his brother, Lazarus Turner, who died in the same service.
Moses Simmons, in his will, says: " Being bound to Canada as a soldier, in 1690, in case he shall never return," orders his property to be equally divided between his brothers; his brother John to be executor. He did not return, and his will was puly executed.
4
HISTORY OF TURNER.
Samuel Bryant fell in the same expedition, and an inventory of his property was taken by William Perry and Samuel Stetson.
Samuel Dwelly died also in this expedition, and an inventory of his property was taken by Jere- miah Hatch and Thomas Hyland. His father was administrator. Robert Sprout was another that did not return. These few names are rescued from oblivion.
Mindful of this service, the General Court of Massachusetts granted a township of land to the heirs and assigns of Captain Sylvester and his company, situate, as supposed, in the Province of Maine; but, on running the line between Maine and New Hampshire, the township was found to be in the latter State. A petition was then presented by the parties interested, to the General Court for another township, on which action was taken as follows : -
PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
June 25, 1765.
On the petition of James Warren and Joseph Joslyn Esqrs. and Mr. Charles Turner, Agents for the proprietors of a Town- ship granted to Capt. Joseph Sylvester and Company who served in the expedition against Canada in 1690, which town- ship was known by the name of Sylvester-Canada, and that the whole of said Township on running the line between this Province and New Hampshire, fell with the government of New Hampshire.
5
HISTORY OF TURNER.
Resolved, that in lieu thereof there be granted to the Petition- ers & the Legal Representatives or assigns of the said Joseph Sylvester and Company a Township of the Contents of seven miles square in the unappropriated Lands belonging to this Province. Provided that the Grantees within six years settle Thirty Families in said Town, build a house for publick worship, and settle a learned Protestant Minister, and lay out one sixty- fourth part of said town for the use of the first settled Minister, and one other sixty-fourth part for the Ministry, and one other sixty-fourth part for a Grammar School, and one sixty-fourth part for the use of Harvard College.
Provided, also the said Township be laid out in such a part of the unappropriated lands belonging to this Province adjoin- ing to some former Grants to the eastward of Saco River, and that they return a Plan thereof into the Secretary's office within twelve months from this day, for confirmation.
In Council, June 25th, 1765. Read and Concurred. · Con- sented to by the Governor.
True Copy from the Records of the General Court. Vol. 20, Page 71.
Attest. JOHN AVERY JUN., Secretary.
The number of the original proprietors was sixty, and the names were as follows : -
Joseph Atkinson, Eleazar Jackson,
Edward Smith,
Samuel Bryant,
John Joyce,
Thomas Snell,
Robert Buck,
Cornelius Jones,
Thomas Soper,
John Silvester,
John Delano, Joseph Knap,
Benjamin Sutten, Joseph Studley,
Samuel Dwelly,
John Kingman,
Samuel Doughty,
John Lambert,
Mathew Stetson,
William Eaton,
Arthor Low,
Samuel Sprague,
John Field,
Mark Lothrop,
Joseph Shelley,
Nathaniel Bartlett,
John Kent,
6
HISTORY OF TURNER.
Benjamin Gannett,
Gershom Marble,
James Snow,
Paul Guilford,
Thomas Morton,
Moses Simmons,
James Glass,
Samuel Pittifer,
John Stetson,
Joseph Goold,
Joseph Prior,
Stephen Totman,
Samuel Hunt,
Robert Pheney,
Lazarus Turner,
James Howard,
Nathaniel Parker,
Thomas Wild,
Thomas Hiland,
Elnathan Palmer,
Jabez Warren,
Isaac Hanmer,
Peter Roach,
Return Waite,
James Harris,
John Reccords, Ebenezar White,
Nathaniel Harlow, Capt. Jos. Silvester, Benony Wolly,
Nathaniel Holmes,
Edward Standley, John Wetherel.
The proprietors selected and located the town- ship granted them by the General Court, and returned a plan thereof, as required. The town- ship, as located, was confirmed to them by the fol- lowing act : -
PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
June 20th, 1768.
Resolved, that the within plan of a Township of the contents of Seven miles square, granted to James Warren Esqr. and others, Agents for the Proprietors of a Township called Sylvester Canada, formerly granted to Capt. Joseph Sylvester and Com- pany, which Township, by the late running the line between this Province and the Province of New Hampshire, fell within the bounds of the Government of New Hampshire, to them and their legal Representatives and Assigns, and by them laid out on the west side of Androscoggin River, bounded as follows, Viz - Beginning at a place in Androscoggin River called crooked Repels, six miles (as the River runs) above Androscoggin great falls, which is the easterly corner of Bakerstown so called, from thence running North Sixty Degrees West, in the North-
.
7
HISTORY OF TURNER.
easterly line of said Bakerstown, five miles and a half, to the northerly corner thereof, then running North twenty-six Degrees East by Province Land Ten miles and 180 rods to a stake with stones about it, then running by Province land South Sixty Degrees east Three miles and 250 rods to a heap of Stones by said River, thence running Southerly by said River to the bounds first mentioned, be accepted and hereby is confirmed to the said Petitioners and the legal Representatives of the said Joseph Sylvester and company, their heirs and Assigns forever, they complying with the following condi- tions, Viz - The grantees within six years settle thirty families in said Town, build a house fit for public worship, and settle a learned protestant minister, and lay out one sixty-fourth part of said Town for the use of the first Settled minister, and one sixty-fourth part for the Ministry, and one sixty-fourth part for a grammar School in said Town, and one Sixty-fourth part for the use of Harvard College, in Cambridge. Provided the same doth not exceed the quantity of Seven miles square, (exclusive of three thousand and two hundred Acres allowance for Ponds therein contained) nor interfere with any former grant.
In Council, June 20th 1768. Read and Concurred.
Consented to by the Governor upon condition that there shall be Eighty-one families according to the engagement here- with written. The engagement is as follows : I do in behalf of the Proprietors of this Township engage that there shall be eighty-one settlers, being the proportion of Settlers agreeable to the size of this Township.
Signed, JAMES WARREN.
A true extract from the Records of the General Court. Vol. 21, Page 360-61.
Attest : -
JOHN AVERY JUN., Secretary.
Having secured their township of land and located it, the proprietors now proceeded to lay out
8
HISTORY OF TURNER.
lots, and to induce the required number of families to settle on their lands. In July, 1768, they called a meeting of the proprietors, to be held at Mrs. Ruth Turner's, innholder, in Hanover, on the 20th day of October, following. At this meeting, Hon. John Cushing was chosen moderator; Charles Tur- ner, proprietors' treasurer, and William Turner, clerk. It was voted " that each proprietor pay the sum of twenty shillings on each share to the treas- urer, on or before the third Tuesday in May, 1769, for discharging the debts that are or may be due from the propriety." It was also voted that Colo- nel James Warren, Charles Turner, and David Little, Jun., be a standing committee, to transact the affairs of the propriety, settle accounts, adjust the debts that are or may be due from the propriety, and order payment of the same, and, agreeable to law, make sale of those proprietors' lands who are delinquent in paying their taxes ; to determine the number, quality, and situation of the settling lots, and about convenient roads; and procure a plan of the same, to be lodged with the clerk as soon as may be." Roads were to be made, and proper inducements offered to settlers, else they would not leave comfortable homes to locate in a wilderness, where they would suffer many deprivations without compensating advantages. New Gloucester had already been settled, and its people were enjoy-
9
HISTORY OF TURNER.
ing the comforts of life. But there was no road through Bakerstown, now Auburn, in which there was a river to cross before reaching Sylvester-Can- ada, and the proprietors found it difficult to induce men to purchase the farms which they had to offer, or even to accept them without price. The com- mittee were, doubtless, active and energetic, yet little seems to have been accomplished for a con- siderable time. Meetings of the proprietors were called, and adjourned, without doing any important business, for the reason, doubtless, that it was diffi- cult to tell what it was best to do. At a meeting held in Pembroke, January 2, 1770, it was voted to raise a tax of thirty shillings on a share, to be paid to the treasurer, on or before the first day of Feb- ruary ensuing. In the summer of 1870 something was done toward making the necessary roads, it seems; for, in August of that year, it was voted that "Major Joseph Josleyn, David Little, Jun., and Charles Turner be a committee to employ some suitable person or persons to repair very soon to the township and continue the road begun by Aaron Hinkley, Esq., to the limits of the township to Bakerstown, and, likewise, mark out a road from thence through Bakerstown."
Meantime the proprietors were troubled by tres- passers coming up the Androscoggin River, in the winter time, and cutting valuable pine trees, which
.
IO
HISTORY OF TURNER.
grew in abundance near the banks, and running them down the river in the spring. Hence, at a meeting held in Pembroke, October 23, 1770, "Hon. John Cushing, Esq., and Charles Turner were chosen a committee to prosecute all trespass- ers on said township." But the trespassers were bold and persistent; they even cut hay on the meadows, and stacked it for the use of their teams in the winter. The proprietors, being equally per- sistent, chose a committee to burn their stacks of hay, and continue the prosecutions. At the meet- ing mentioned above, Hon. John Cushing and Charles Turner were chosen a committee "to employ some suitable person or persons to clear out the road laid out from the meeting-house lot, in said township, to the line of said township, adjoin- ing Bakerstown." This must be the road now known as the Upper Street, leading by Mr. Bar- rell's, over Dillingham Hill, in Auburn, and through the village of North Auburn.
The first tier of lots was laid out upon the Androscoggin River, beginning at the Auburn line, and extending northerly, making twenty lots in number. A second and third tier of lots, each con- taining the same number as the first, and lying side by side, were soon laid out, and a site selected for a meeting-house. It was at the line between lots numbered thirty-four and thirty-five, on the ledgy
II
HISTORY OF TURNER.
hill just north of Mr. G. W. Blossom's present resi- dence. The proprietors, it seems, expected settlers would purchase lots, and make themselves homes in the wilderness, when roads were opened for their convenience. But in this they were disappointed. No one was disposed to locate in the township, and subject himself to the inconvenience and hardship of pioneer life, and expose himself to peril by living in the vicinity of Indian tribes, who might, at any time, become hostile. The relations also between the colonies and the mother country were becoming unfriendly, and Dr. Howe well says : " The storm of civil warfare was seen to be gathering over the country, and, in case of that event, the situation of frontier settlers in the backwoods, where they must be exposed to the invasions of wandering bands of hostile savages, was not at all inviting." The act granting the proprietors a township of land was passed in 1768, on condition that thirty families were settled therein within six years, a meeting-house built, and a learned Protestant minister settled. A considerable portion of this time was already passed, and none of the above conditions had been complied with ; and it does not appear that there were any grounds for hope that the conditions would be com- plied with in seasonable time, unless greater induce- ments were held out to attract settlers to their lands. Wherefore, in January, 1771, at an adjourned meet- ing, at Hanover, the following vote was passed :-
LIBRARY
12
HISTORY OF TURNER.
Whereas said Township remains unsettled, although there is a number of Lots laid out, and a Plan thereof returned to the Pro- prietor's Clerk, and whereas the time limited by the General Court for settling said Township is far elapsed; and the Proprie- tors apprehending that by granting away to settlers some of the Lots laid out, to such persons as will perform the conditions ordered by the said court, the settling of said Township would be expedited :
Wherefore the said Proprietors agree to grant to any person that inclines to go and settle said land, one of said Lots, already laid out and marked on said Plan, being about 125 acres, and so to every person that inclines to go, not exceeding the num- ber of 30, and that they shall choose their own Lots, any where in the three first tier of Lots on Androscoggin (or the great) river, taking one, or another, that is marked on said Plan, and make return to said Clerk, of the Lot so chosen, within six months from this time, and the Proprietors will confirm the same to each of said Settlers, they giving security to Mr. Charles Turner their Treasurer, for performing the conditions mentioned in the grant of said Township, as to clearing of land, and building a house : and further, if any of those 30 Settlers choose a lot that has no meadow in it, such settler shall have privilege to cut hay on any Proprietor's land, during the first five years, the 50th and 5Ist lots excepted, one for the Minister, the other for the Ministry, which are not to be included in the above 30 lots.
And that Col. James Warren Esq, Joseph Josleyn Esq, Aaron Hinkley Esqr, Mr. Charles Turner and Mr. David Little Jun, be a committee to procure settlers upon the terms aforesaid, and forward the settlement of said Township.
The gift of a lot, at the choice of the settler, together with certain other privileges, was supposed, no doubt, to be a sufficient inducement to incline
13
HISTORY OF TURNER.
men to accept the gift; but in this the proprietors were disappointed. Their meeting for business was adjourned from time to time, hoping, doubtless, that their committee would be successful in procuring settlers in the spring. There was, indeed, much to arouse effort to procure settlers, since the time allowed them for this purpose was fast slipping away, and, unless they should succeed in their efforts soon, they must suffer a considerable pecuniary loss. In August of 1871, at an adjourned meeting, the fol- lowing vote was passed : -
That Mr. Peleg Wadsworth be employed to go to the Township and lay out two other tier of Lots, in addition to the three already laid out, and Road lengthwise between them of four rods wide, and that any person inclining to settle there, on the terms proposed by vote of the Proprietors at their meeting the 8th day of January last, have liberty to choose one Lot not already taken up, any where in said 5 tiers, excepting the two Lots men- tioned in said Vote; and likewise 8 other Lots containing the largest quantity of Meadow, and most suitable for Mills, to be pitched upon, and the numbers returned by Mr. Wadsworth to the Clerk as soon as may be; and whereas the time for taking up Lots and making return to the Clerk mentioned in said Vote is elapsed, that the time be prolonged to the first day of May next : The Proprietors reserving roads of 2 1/2 rods wide between any two Lots, where it may be convenient.
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