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Gc 974.102 J33L 1136478
--- GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 2414
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
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REV. BENJAMIN F. LAWRENCE.
HISTORY OF JAY
FRANKLIN COUNTY, MAINE
BY REV. BENJAMIN F. LAWRENCE, A.M.
When Time, who steals our years away, Shall steal our pleasures too, The memory of the past will stay, And half our joys renew.
1912 GRIFFITH-STILLINGS PRESS BOSTON, MASS. 27018
Morgan Mann. A 32 1.75
PREFACE 1136478
IN attempting to write the early history of Jay, my native town, I have been influenced by three considerations: first, that no authentic history of the town has been written up to this date; second, that the opportunity for gathering the fragments of the early records of the town and gleaning from the fading memories of aged citizens the unwritten history of many important events connected with the lives of the early settlers will soon be lost forever; and third, that I have been induced by several of the contemporaries of my boyhood to take up the work because of the exceptional opportunities I have enjoyed for gathering up the materials for such a work. There are few persons who do not have a natural pride and interest in the place of their nativity and a desire to perpetuate the memories of their ancestors. But aside from these family considerations, it is an important duty of a town, and one which it owes to itself and the generations following, to have an authentic record of its early days placed in its archives for future reference. A thousand little incidents gathered from the lives of individuals or from private papers may cast light upon important questions that may arise in the future. A warrant for a town meeting or some other nunicipal regu- lation, apparently insignificant in itself, may fix a date or determine the motive of a transaction or exhibit the spirit of the age in which it occurred.
In this history I have endeavored to give a true account of the early settlement and genealogy of the early settlers and their descendants for the first and second generations, together with the manners and customs of those days. I do
iii
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PREFACE
not claim that the work will be without errors, as family tradi- tions are not always to be relied on. I have endeavored to go over the whole field, and if there are some omissions or mis- statements I have only to say that I have written according to my best information. In gathering up the materials for the work I have been indebted somewhat to the Jay Register published by the G. H. Mitchell Company of Brunswick, 1905, also to the assistance of Miss Winifred Ladd of Jefferson, Maine.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE I. TOPOGRAPHY - INDIANS - EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP I
II. EARLY SETTLEMENTS
8
III. OFFICIAL HISTORY
IO
IV. MILITARY HISTORY
14
V. INDUSTRIES OF JAY
17
VI. THE CHURCHES AND THE MINISTRY 22
VII. THE SCHOOLS
27
VIII. REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS
30
IX. SKETCHES AND ANECDOTES OF NOTED MEN
40
GENEALOGY
63
V
ILLUSTRATIONS
REV. BENJAMIN F. LAWRENCE Frontispiece
JAY BRIDGE
facing page 18
NORTH JAY QUARRIES
20
OLD BAPTIST CHURCH, JAY HILL
22
NEW BAPTIST CHURCH, JAY BRIDGE
60
22
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, NORTH JAY
26
SAMUEL CRAFTS
66
34
COLONEL DANIEL MERRITT
66
36
MAJOR STILLMAN NOYES 66
66 38
HON. INCREASE E. NOYES
66 40
MAJOR MOSES STONE'S HOMESTEAD
66 42
ISABEL LAWRENCE 66
66 44
HON. DEARBORN G. BEAN
46
ELISHA KYES
48
CAPTAIN EDWARD RICHARDSON'S HOMESTEAD. 50
A. SMITH THOMPSON'S OLD HOMESTEAD
52
A. SMITH THOMPSON'S NEW HOMESTEAD
54
HON. A. SMITH THOMPSON 66
66 56
HOME OF NILES BROTHERS
66
58
VERANUS NILES
60
SEABORN J. HYDE
62
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
CHAPTER I
TOPOGRAPHY
THE town of Jay is situated in the southern part of Franklin County, Maine, on both sides of the Androscoggin River. Its surface is broken into hills and valleys, with two small eleva- tions called Spruce and Canton Mountains. Several small streams wind their way between the hills from the north, flowing into the Androscoggin River.
The largest of these streams is the Seven Mile Brook, on whose banks are extensive intervales and meadows, which being enriched by the annual freshets make valuable additions to the adjacent hillside farms. The town is noted for the fertility of its soil, which consists of a heavy loam. On the river there are three valuable water-powers formerly known as Peterson's Rips (now called Riley), Jay Bridge, and Otis Falls (now known as Chisholm), all of which are operated by the International Paper Company.
THE ROCKOMEKA INDIANS
The native inhabitants of the valley of the Androscoggin formed one of the four tribes of the Abenaquis Indians. This tribe was called Anasagunticooks and was one of the most numerous and powerful in Maine. A branch of this tribe, the Rockomekas, lived at Canton Point, where they had a large village. At first these Indians were very friendly toward the
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
little colony of whites farther down the Androscoggin at what is now known as Topsham and Brunswick. They frequently descended the river in their canoes to barter their furs and Indian maize for tobacco and fire-water. But after a while they began to be suspicious of the rapidly increasing number of pale- faces and to fear that their hunting grounds would be en- croached upon. One early spring, when the waters of the Androscoggin were swollen by the melting snows, they planned an expedition to go down the river and in the darkness of the night surprise and massacre the colony. With the cunning of the wily savage they laid their plans. Several canoe loads of braves dressed in their war-paint were to make up the expe- dition. Two of their trusty warriors were sent down in the early morning, ostensibly to make purchases at the village store, and at night to build a fire above the falls at Lewiston as a signal that their approach was not known. The spies came as planned, but their actions aroused the suspicions of the whites, who treated them freely with liquor, and be- coming intoxicated, they lost their caution and revealed the plot. The whites immediately prepared to receive their foes. When night approached they built the signal fire below the falls instead of above, and the Indians being thus deceived were swept over the falls, their canoes overturned and those who escaped drowning were easily despatched.
THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP
The town of Jay was originally known as "Phipps' Canada." It was granted by the General Court of Massachusetts to David Phipps and seventy-one others for services in the French War of 1755. It was incorporated in 1795 and named Jay for Hon. John Jay, the eminent jurist and statesman, who ren- dered distinguished diplomatic service to the American colonies as an ambassador to Spain and France at the close of the
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
Revolution. It was a large township, six and three-fourths miles square, including thirty thousand acres more or less, about one-third of which was afterward set off and incorporated as the town of Canton in 1821.
The conditions of the original grant were that it was to be divided into rights of four hundred acres each. Four of these rights were to be devoted to church and school purposes, one to be reserved for Harvard College, one for the first settled minister, one for the use of the ministry and one for the use of schools. It was also stipulated that grantees "within seven years, settle eighty families in said township, Build a House for Public worship and settle a learned Protestant minister." It was further required that a plan of the township taken by a surveyor and chainman, under oath, should be returned to the court within twenty months.
This resolution passed the House the same day and was signed by T. Hutchinson, Lieutenant-Governor. A survey of the township was made in accordance with the conditions of the grant, and April 22, 1772, a plan was submitted to the General Court, giving the following boundaries:
"Beginning at a pine tree on the westwardly side of Andros- coggin River on the head line of a township granted to Samuel Livermore and others due East Two hundred and thirty-two chains, twenty-five links, to a stake and stones, thence north on Province Land 380 chains to a heap of stones, thence south forty degrees west, 532 chains on Province Land to a pine tree, thence nine degrees east on Province Land, 240 chains to a stake and stones; thence on Province Land in part and part on the township aforementioned to the Pine Tree first mentioned." This pine tree stood on the northern line of Livermore on the bank of the Androscoggin River.
This plan was accepted by the General Court April 22, 1772. Nearly all the proprietors of this township resided in towns
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
near Boston, including Cambridge, Charlestown, Watertown, Waltham, Weston and Newton. The first important meeting of proprietors was held in Cambridge, Sept. 7, 1772. After organizing, it was voted to adjourn to the sixth day of April, 1723, to meet at the house of Nathaniel Coolidge, Waltham. At this meeting it was voted to choose a committee to lot out and survey said township. This committee consisted of Capt. Abijah Brown, Elisha Harrington and Israel Whittemore. Subsequent proprietors' meetings were held at the houses or inns of Capt. Jonathan Brewer and Capt. Isaac Gleason of Waltham. Alexander Shepherd was proprietors' clerk for many years, until July 25, 1787, and for his faithful and effi- cient services received a grant of two hundred acres of land in the township.
The first division of lots was made on June 30, 1773. Eighty- four lots were then divided among the original proprietors by lot. Isaac Gleason and Isaac Stearns were chosen to draw the lots in the presence of the proprietors. At the same meeting a committee was chosen to clear a way to the township.
At a proprietors' meeting held April 12, 1774, it was voted to give four pounds to each of the first settlers who should clear ten acres of land in the township, seed it to grass or grain, build a house sixteen feet square and settle within one and a half years.
A second division of lots was made June 29, 1774, but on account of the troubled condition of the country at the breaking out of the war of the Revolution the proprietors were unable to fulfil the conditions of the settlement within the seven years, and they were granted another seven years for that purpose, to encourage settlement in the township. On March 27, 1787, a committee was chosen to select the best position for a saw and grist mill. On April 6, 1791, the committee, which consisted of Capt. Richard Peabody, Col. Josiah Fuller and Capt.
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
Moses Stone, reported that they approved of a site on Lot No. 6, Range 5, east side of the Androscoggin River, on a brook called Mosquito Brook, as the most suitable place in said township. Deacon Elijah Livermore was empowered to build a saw and grist mill and an order for fifty pounds voted for the same pur- pose. On April 2, 1789, a road was laid out and cleared from Sandy River through the township until it met the road formerly cleared across the Seven Mile Brook at about the distance of two miles.
Very few of the proprietors themselves came to settle in the township, but many of their descendants and friends took up the lots. As soon as the settlement started it grew rapidly. On April 6, 1791, the proprietors met and voted to assess a tax for the purpose of building a meeting-house. This work was commenced but not completed until the association of pro- prietors was dissolved. Later on, at a meeting held Jan. 2, 1797, it was voted to give the inhabitants of Jay the house erected and the lot of land which formed the site, including about two acres. The last meeting of the proprietors was held in Watertown, Sept. 3, 1798. At this meeting it was voted to pay to the treasurer of Jay all surplus moneys of the proprietary treasurer, to be used in finishing the construction of the meeting-house.
The organization of proprietors which had been formed twenty-seven years before then came to an end, and the town of Jay commenced its independent existence as a town in the Province of Maine. The town had already been incorporated in 1795 by the General Court of Massachusetts in accordance with its petition.
The first town meeting was held on the first Monday of April, 1795, the warrant having been issued to William Liver- more by Edward Richardson, who had been given authority by the act of incorporation. The officers chosen at this first
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
town meeting were as follows: Moses Crafts, moderator; William Livermore, town clerk; Peter Austin, Samuel W. Eustis and William Goding, selectmen. William Livermore was chosen treasurer; William Livermore, Samuel Goding and Samuel W. Eustis, assessors; William Peabody and Oliver Fuller, constables. The town thus incorporated continued undivided until 1821, when the western portion was set off to form the town of Canton.
SEPARATION OF THE TOWN OF CANTON
The following is copied from the Jay Register published by T. H. Mitchell Company, 1905:
"On February 5, 1821, an act to divide the town of Jay and to incorporate the westerly part into a township by the name of Canton, for Canton, in Massachusetts, was passed by the Maine legislature and signed by the first governor of the state. The dividing line between Jay and Canton estab- lished at this time was as follows: 'Beginning at the south- east corner of breakage lot No. 8 in the sixth range on the north line of the town of Livermore; thence north on the east line of said number, or tier of lots, to the north-east corner of lot No. 8 in the second range on the westerly side of Androscoggin River; otherwise said lot to extend so far north that a west course across said river will strike the north line of lot No. 6, in the tenth range on the easterly side of said river; thence west in said north line to the south-east corner of lot No. 7 in the eleventh range; thence north on the east line of said range to the south-east corner of lot No. 14 in said eleventh range; thence west in the north line of said number or tier of lots to the south line of the town of Dixfield, etc. - Provided, however, that Israel Bean, Joseph Lawrence, Joseph Strout and John Drought, with their families and estates, and also lot No. 8, in the eleventh range, shall remain
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
a part of and belong to the town of Jay.' Additions have since been made to the town of Canton by annexing lots from the town of Hartford on the south.
"The town of Canton, although having more than one- third of the territory of the old town, received that propor- tion of all public property and of the ministerial and school funds, also to hold all public lands that fell within her bor- ders; likewise, she assumed one-third of the liabilities of the town of Jay at the time of separation. James Starr, Esq., of Jay Hill, issued the first warrant for a town meeting in the new town; this he directed to Joseph Holland, the meet- ing to be held in the schoolhouse near Mr. Holland's, at Canton Point, March 28, 1821. At this meeting John Hersey presided as moderator; Dr. Cornelius Holland was chosen town clerk, which office he filled for ten years; Joel Howard became treasurer, and Joseph Holland, Abiathar Austen and Joseph Coolidge, Jr., were elected selectmen of the new town."
CHAPTER II
EARLY SETTLEMENTS
ACTUAL settlements of the town were not made till after the close of the war of the Revolution. Prominent among those to take up their residences in the township we find the names of Simon Coolidge, Oliver Fuller, Samuel W. Eustis, Joseph Hyde, Scarborough Parker, Nathaniel Jackson, Samuel Jack- son, Joseph Macomber, Samuel Whiting, Moses Crafts and Moses Stone.
James Starr, Jr., settled on Jay Hill probably in 1802. About the same date we find the names of Nathan Crafts, Ezekiel Richardson and others of the above-mentioned families as residents on the hill or near-by farms. The village soon became the business center of the town. Here were built the first meeting-house and the first tavern, a noted hostelry for many years and largely patronized in the days of the old tally-ho stage-coach. Here were the village blacksmith shop, the cabinet shop, the cooper's and shoemaker's shops. Here were the first village stores, the lawyer's office and court-room. Here resided the first doctor and minister who settled in town. Here for many years was the only post-office in town, and here was transacted all the public business of the town. Since the building of the mills and bridges at Jay Bridge, the opening of the extensive granite quarries at North Jay and the passing through the town of the Farmington Railroad, the business of the town has been transferred to these neighboring villages and the hill remains as a pleasant residential village.
Among the early settlers in other parts of the town we find the names of Nathaniel Jackson, Oliver Fuller, Thomas Fuller,
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
Elisha Kyes, Samuel W. Eustis, Daniel Rowell, who took up farms in the vicinity of the granite quarries of North Jay. Moses Stone, Joseph Hyde, Scarborough Parker, Ebenezer Whittemore, Isaac Parkhurst and Jedediah White settled on farms near Stone's Corner. As early as 1798, Israel Bean, Joseph Coolidge, William Goding, William Peabody and William Chenery became residents of that part of the town comprising district No. 4, now known as Bean's Corner. In the southwestern part of the town, which was afterward set off as the town of Canton, William Livermore, Henry Goding, Peter Austen, Abraham Peterson and Joseph Coolidge had taken farms about the time of the settlement on Jay Hill. In addition to these we find prominent among the early inhab- itants the names of Eliphalet Gray, Daniel Child, Joseph Macomber, Thomas Paine, John Richardson, John Axtell, Peter Bartlett, Galen Thompson, Samuel Cole and Benjamin Bean.
CHAPTER III
OFFICIAL HISTORY
IN this chapter we give the names of those who have filled the principal offices of the town. At the head of the list we place the selectmen of the town. In early times before the duties of town officials were fully defined the selectmen exercised a great variety of powers, and anything and everything not expressly provided for fell, by custom at least, under their jurisdiction. Whenever any perplexing question arose in town affairs or came up in a town meeting, it was handed over to the selectmen as if they were the fountain of power if not of wisdom. Hence to be one of "the fathers of the town" has ever been regarded as a special honor. The importance which our fathers attached to this office may be seen by the number of years in which prominent citizens were continued in service.
The first town meeting in Jay after its incorporation was held on the first Monday of April, 1795, in the Baptist meeting- house on Jay Hill. Moses Crafts was chosen moderator; Peter Austen, William Goding and Samuel W. Eustis, select- men. The same men were also chosen assessors; William Livermore, town clerk and treasurer; William Peabody and Oliver Fuller, constables.
From the town records we find the following names of those who served as selectmen:
1776. Peter Austen, William Goding, Samuel W. Eustis. I778. Samuel W. Eustis, William Goding, Daniel Rowell.
1779. Edward Richardson, Daniel Rowell, Moses Crafts. 1800. Samuel W. Eustis, Daniel Rowell, Moses Crafts.
1801. William Livermore, Moses Crafts, Scarborough Parker.
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
I802. Moses Crafts, Scarborough Parker, Joseph Parker.
I 803. Capt. Daniel Rowell, Nathan Crafts, Joseph Lathrop.
1804. Nathan Crafts, Samuel Chenery, Moses Crafts.
1805. William Chenery, Scarborough Parker, Samuel
Crafts.
1806. Same board.
1807. Same board.
1808.
Jeremiah Stearns, Oliver Fuller, Ithimar Phinney.
1809.
Oliver Fuller, Nathan Crafts, James Starr.
18IO. William Chenery, Moses Crafts, Joel Howard.
18II. William Chenery, James Starr, Daniel Rowell.
In the years following we find the names of Moses Stone, Abiathar Austen, Elijah Stone, bringing the record up to 1822.
In 1822 Newton Linscott, Cyrus Parker, Daniel Butterfield.
In following years the names of Aruna Holmes, Francis Lawrence, Jonathan Ridley, Enoch Parker, Edward Fuller, Joshua Ludden, Melvin Leach.
TOWN CLERKS
As a rule, the town clerks each served for a number of years. William Livermore, the first town clerk, served from 1795 till 1804.
Moses Crafts was chosen in 1804 and served one year. Following him came Dr. Samuel Small for five years, James Starr, seven years, and Ezekiel Richardson, six years. Silas Jones, Jr., was then elected, and served until his death, from 1830 to 1868. Other clerks were Otis Johnson, 1867-69; John H. Merritt, 1868 -; E. S. Kyes, 1894-1901; Rufus Stone, 1902-05; M. A. Macomber, 1905-09. The present clerk is O. S. Waite.
TREASURERS
Among the names of those who first served the town as treasurer were William Livermore, James Starr and Nathan
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
Crafts. Silas Jones, Jr., filled this office from 1850 to 1863. The present treasurer is C. L. Macomber.
Among the more important honors which the suffrages of the town have bestowed on its most distinguished citizens has been that of representing the town in the General Court of Massa- chusetts and after Maine became a state of the Union, in the state legislature. James Starr, Jr., seems to have been the first representing to the Massachusetts legislature after Jay became an incorporated town. He was followed by Samuel Small, M.D. Major Moses Stone represented the town in 18II-12.
The following persons have represented the town in the state legislature: Aruna Holmes, Daniel Merritt, Francis Lawrence, Stillman Noyes, Moses Stone, John Hanson, Ebenezer Kyes.
Franklin County was represented in the state senate by Col. Daniel Merritt in 1842-43; Cornelius Stone, 1864-65; Ebenezer Kyes, 1875-76.
Daniel Merritt was high sheriff of Franklin County from 1846 to 1850.
Francis Lawrence was county commissioner from 1858 till his death.
In 1912 the town had a population of about 2,000 and its valuation was $1,791,897. The number of scholars of school age was 1,91I.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
The March town meeting was the great day for the coming together of all the male population of the town. It was held in the Baptist church on Jay Hill. On these days the two stores and the old tavern back of the big elm kept open bar, dis- pensing new rum and toddy from early morn till late into the night. Inside the church the older and substantial men lis-
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HISTORY OF JAY, MAINE
tened to the reading of the town warrant. I shall never forget the resonant voice of Silas Jones, the town clerk, as he read the town warrant and then announced that they were ready to choose a moderator and elect the officers for the ensuing year. It often happened that the contests for these offices were very spirited, especially for the coveted position of selectman; and the yearly appropriations for town expenses often elicited warm discussion. Newly fledged orators from remote districts of the town frequently made the matter both interesting and amusing. In the meantime the younger people and the sporting element, if the weather was not too inclement, assembled on the common, where there would be a wrestling match between rival champions from different parts of the town; and the enthusiasm enkindled among the friends of the con- tending combatants at some skilful pass or advantage by the favorite wrestler was no less pronounced or boisterous than is witnessed at a modern baseball or football game in our times.
And these days were made festive by the numerous hawkers vending their luscious apples, maple sugar candy, honey and cakes of molasses gingerbread. There are doubtless sons of Jay still living who remember how appetizing the delicious cakes of gingerbread tasted as brought from the cart of the old baker from Hallowell as it drove on to the common filled with its confections.
CHAPTER IV
MILITARY HISTORY
AMONG those who first came to Jay were several soldiers who had served in the war of the Revolution. These came from towns near Boston. They were among the first to enlist in the cause of American independence against the oppressions of the mother country.
In the list of these heroes are the names of Capt. Edward Richardson, Capt. Daniel Rowell, James Starr, Isaac West, Nathaniel and Samuel Jackson, Samuel W. Eustis, Oliver Fuller, Thomas Fuller, Jonathan Parker and Moses Crafts. Moses Stone was a soldier in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of major. Jonathan Parker and James Starr were of the party of disguised Indians who one dark night boarded the British tea vessel in Boston harbor and threw overboard the three - hundred and forty-two chests of tea as a protest against unjust taxation.
We copy the Civil War record from the Jay register of 1905.
CIVIL WAR
But the one war that did stir the entire nation, and which received the most loyal and effective service of every northern state, was that which was fought in the cause of freedom and for the maintenance of the American Union. If one thing more than another is to be revered and commemorated, im- pressed upon the minds of the rising generation, that thing is the record of names and deeds of men who faced the dangers of the battle-field during this trying period. As time rolls on we are apt to forget the value of the service rendered by the
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