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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 2349
Old Foxcroft
MAINE
Traditions and Memories WITH FAMILY RECORDS
Compiled by MARY CHANDLER LOWELL, M.D., J.M.
Printed by THE. RUMFORD PRESS CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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عموما
1762762
Library of Congress
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F29.088M6 1.
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F 841312 .52
Lowell, Mary Chandler, 1863- Old Foxcroft, Maine; traditions and memories, with family records, compiled by Mary Chandler Lowell ... Concord,
N. II., The Rumford press [°1935] x, 262 p. 1 Illus., 4 port. on 1 pl. 23}em.
1. Foxcroft, Me .- IIIst. 2. Foxcroft, Me .- Geneal. I. Title.
80-1262
Library of Congress
$20.07LO
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Copyright, 1935, by DR. MARY CHANDLER LOWELL
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CONTENTS
PAGE
Dedication
V
Foreword
vii
Prologue
ix
A Man of Courage
1
First Settlers Come In
5
The Birth of Foxcroft.
15
Growth of Village and First Bridge
30
Maine Admitted to the Union
35
An Auspicious Awakening 40
The Decade from 1832-1842 . 62
The Industrial Decades 1842-1882
73
Churches 86
Schools .
104
Civil War Period
129
Memories
137
Women of 'Old Foxcroft' 142
Family Records
155
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أسعار الألة
FAMILY RECORDS INDEX
PAGE
PAGE
PAGE
Allen, Ira
32
Edes .
191
Morse 231
Allin, Isaac
155
Faunc
192
Moulton
50
Arnold.
155
Fitzgerald 192
Murch
232
Bailey
156
Folsomì
193
Oakes 232
Barrows-Davie.
156
Foxcroft . 142
Parsons, I. 233
Bartlett-Lothrop
157
Getchell 194
Parsons, W 233
Bean
158
Gibbs. 196
Paul . 235
Bearce
159
Gilman, E 197
Philbrick.
235
Beland.
160
Gilman, W 200
Pillsbury
236
Blake. .
161
Goodwin .
201
Pratt, J.
237
Blethen .
161
Gould
202
Pratt, P 239
Bolster
162
Gray.
202
Pratt, Thomas. 239
Bradbury
163
Greeley
204
Prentiss 240
Brown
164
Ham
206
Pullen . 241
Buck
165
Bush . .
169
Harmor
209
Rice, J. H.
47
Carpenter Carter
170
Chamberlain
170
Hersey
211
Shaw 244
Chandler 172
Hiscock 192
Snow
244
Chase, Rev. B. C. Jr .. 97
Hobert
56
Sprague 245
Churchill 180
Clarke
180
Howe.
52
Cofren
180
Hughes 216
Thompson, A. 249
Cotton .
25
Hutchinson
7
Thompson, James 22-3
Crockett, Am. 181
Jackson 217
Crockett, Ansel
182
Crooker
182
Jennison
218
Cushing
182
Cushman
183
Knowlton 221
Turner
254
Daggett
184
Labroke
221
Vaughan 254
Davee
185
Lee.
222
Walker . 256
Davis
186
Littlefield-
156
Washburn 256
Dawes.
187
Loring.
100,224
Wells, Rev. E
94
DeLaitre
188
Lowell
225
Wentworth 258
Dinsmore . 188
Mansfield 227
Weston . 258
Dunham, E.
188
Martin .
83
Whittier . 259
Dunham, M 189
Mayhew
229
Whittridge. 260
Dwinel
190
Mayo 230
Williams 40
Dyer .
191
Merrill . 25
Wyman .
261
169
Hassell .
210
Robinson 243
Sanfırd . 196
Chapman, Rev. C .. 96
Hilton 212
Spalding 244
Chase, W 179
Holmes
213
Stedman 245
Howard
216
Swett 50
Thayer. 246
Thompson, John 251
Jefferds 166
Tower. 252
True 252
Jordan 219
Tucker 254
Hammond 207
Rice, R. K. 46
Hayes . 194
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To the "Boys and Girls" of "Old Foxcroft," who have valiantly passed the fourscore mile- stone, and in whose homes the names herein recited were household words - THESE ANNALS ARE REVERENTLY INSCRIBED
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PROLOGUE
FOREWORD
This work has been a labor of love.
LOVE-and respect for a cherished name of ancestors; of pioneers and deeds accomplished.
LOVE-mingled with intense appreciation of the difficul- ties encountered and overcome; the sterling qual- ities possessed.
LOVE-associated with duty to pass along these historic facts and revered memories.
LOVE-and an earnestness of public spirit to incite and stimulate a desire, not only to perpetuate the memories herein recited, but a determination to add to them worthy interest an hundred-fold.
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PROLOGUE
In examining closely the snapshots of memory, difficult indeed is it to distinguish which of two thrills produced the most lasting effect upon me.
One, the moment when, as House Surgeon in a New York hospital in my early twenties, I was making my afternoon "rounds" and was handed a telegram. Breaking the seal, these words met my eyes:
"You have been unanimously elected by the Trustees of the Maine State Hospital to the newly created office of Woman Physician on the Medical Staff. Kindly report in person at once. The Trustees will continue in session awaiting your arrival."
(Signed) E. A. THOMPSON, For the Board of Trustees.
The other, when a child of nine years, my teacher said to me: " I wish you to write a composition about the history of Foxcroft." A composi- tion! And the history of Foxcroft! I replied, "But, Miss Gilman, I don't know how to write a composition, and I never knew that Fox- croft had a history. I just can't." With that wonderful stimulating smile, so characteristic of this teacher, with the look of assurance of a sympathetic interest and faith in my ability, she replied, "But you can try, can't you?"
Thrilled by a sensation of confidence imposed and encouragement, yet ashamed of my ignorance, I advanced on the Home Guard, my beloved aunt. She suggested that I run across the street and confer with my "best friend," as I called Esquire Holmes.
Rushing into his study, with much slamming of doors and clanging of latches, I pounced upon the arm of his chair and with one hand in his grey beard, pulled his face around to my gaze-not without many ex- clamations from him-and said, "Now, Esquire Holmes, what do you think my teacher wants me to do?"
"Take a whipping, as I think you deserve this minute."
"Oh, please, Esquire Holmes, stop your fooling and guess."
"But I never guess. What is it?"
"Write a composition about the history of Foxcroft! Do you think we can?"
"We? Did she include me?"
"Well, n-no, not exactly, but, Esquire Holmes, don't you think you could be decent (a smile came over his face) and help me? Why, I don't even know how to begin."
"Are you obliged to write it tonight, young lady?"
"No, sir, but you know that if I feel that I've got to do a thing, I like to do it and have it over."
"There, there (for I was pulling his whiskers unmercifully), you come over early tomorrow morning and we'll make a start."
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PROLOGUE
The idea! Tomorrow morning ! Why didn't he show some enthusiasm? Old folks were strange! But wait-perhaps he didn't quite know himself how to begin such an important work.
Morning came, and though it was to usher in the birth of an historian, . I had to eat my breakfast. Asking to be excused from the table, I announced that "the history was to begin." Across the street I rushed to be met at the door by the "old squire," with hat and cane, to take a walk. It should be stated that the old gentleman was very lame, and was making an unusual effort to encourage and assist me.
Slowly, the dear old friend, with my hand in his, limped along under a barrage of questions, in no way disconcerting to him. Not once did he omit the old-time courtesy and doffing of hat to a lady, or the genial "Good morning, how are you, Sir?" to the men we met.
At the present Annis house (then Knowlton) we crossed diagonally to Green Street and down towards the river, perhaps 100 feet. Esquire Holmes was very intent upon an exact position, stopping often to note distances. At last he spoke.
"Young lady, the history of Foxcroft commenced right here. Re- member, right here." And as he emphasized his words, he lifted his cane and there, as though to plant it, he struck the earth and continued, "Where is your paper and pencil? Better write it down. Right here, John Chandler cut the first trees in what is now Foxcroft. It was then Plantation No. 5 in the 7th Range."
"I can't write so fast, Esquire Holmes. Do wait."
"Well, well, that was in the early spring of 1804 and John Chandler had come here from New Gloucester with Col. Foxcroft, Elisha Alden, Moses Hodsdon and Stephen Weston. Got those names?"
"Yes, Esquire Holmes, only they are not spelled right, I'm sure."
"We will attend to that later. Right over there where Hall's house is (S. W. Hall, Esq., now C. E. Washburn's) was where the first town house was built, and I taught school there, and right around here was the burying ground."
The composition was showing signs of life! It is still in existence. Tied with blue ribbon purchased especially for it at Mrs. Vaughan's store, and marked with a blue pencil, "To.be read before the school!"
A MAN OF COURAGE
Joseph Ellery Foxcroft was born in New Gloucester, District of Maine, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, March 10, 1773, the son of Rev. Samuel Foxcroft, who was settled, in January 1765 over the Congregational Church of New Gloucester as "the first and worthy pastor." Young Joseph was a decendant in the 4th generation of Francis Foxcroft, born in England, Nov. 13, 1657 and who came to Boston in 1680, settling there as a merchant. On Oct. 3, 1682, Francis Foxcroft married Elizabeth, daughter of Judge and Deputy-Governor Thomas Danforth of Cambridge Massachusetts.
Thus, not only had young Foxcroft high intellectual instincts and an inbred aptitude for commercial pursuits, but also a strict scholarly training. His playmate and youthful chum was a near neighbor, the son of one of New Gloucester's pioneers. It may be of passing interest to note that the pioneer settler had already provided for his own family, a beautiful and very heavy hooded cradle, fashioned by his own hands. This cradle not only furnished comfort and asylum for his own young children but those in the neighborhood as well, and young Joseph's first ejectment came at the age of six months when he had to vacate the cradle for the benefit of the babe who later became playmate and schoolmate, friend and adviser.
It is also of interest to read that the cradle, still in excellent preserva- tion, is housed in the town of "old Foxcroft." Foxcroft and his chum received their early educational training from the Rev. Mr. Foxcroft and an endeared pedagogue, Jabez Woodman, Joseph entering busi- ness; his chum attending college. No sooner had young Foxcroft attained his majority, than he became proprietor of the general merchantile store at the "Lower Corner" in New Gloucester, as well as postmaster, which office he held for forty years. Meanwhile confer- ring with some of the "wise heads" in town relative to a large land project he contemplated negotiating. By the time he had passed his twenty-sixth birthday he had partially contracted with the Trustees of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, for the purchase of a township in the remote wilds of the then northern Hancock County, in the District of Maine.
After the terms of the purchase price had been agreed upon, certain conditions were imposed, the fulfillment of which required the generous and whole-hearted support of all his friends. Young Foxcroft knew nothing of real pioneer life. The township for which he was negotiating lay in a far isolated wilderness; the only possible means of access to it being on foot, requiring many day's travel, and finding one's way by compass and possibly "spotted trees." He determined to explore the tract in the company of an excellent guide and surveyor.
Returning from the trip his decision was to consummate the con-
المحللين
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OLD FOXCROFT
tract; but again the conditions, among others, a settlement of twenty- four families within a named time, confronted him. Turning to his old friend and ardent supporter, himself one of the original proprietors and pioneer settlers of the then flourishing town of New Gloucester, Col. Foxcroft received assurance of support and faith in the project. There were several in his own town "open minded " to the inducements offered, but with a young fellow in an adjoining town, Col. Foxcroft and his friend were using all their persuasive powers.
John Chandler Jr., born in Duxbury Mass. Nov. 27, 1779, the son of John and Mercy (Sprague) Chandler, was at this time attaining his majority. His grandfather, Mr. Jonathan Chandler, had, through the good offices of his cousin, Peleg Chandler, (and Col. Foxcroft's ardent supporter) been induced to try pioneer life in an adjoining township.
The Bakerstown (now Minot) records of 1786/7 contain the state- ment that "the young settlement was this year greatly increased by the arrival of Jonathan Chandler and his sons, Nathaniel, John, Ichabod and Reuben with their families." A fifth son, Avira, and his family joined them later."Of the best rugged Pilgrim ancestry, possessed of a sturdy fighting spirit, and stalwart physique, in John Chandler Jr. was Col. Foxcroft's idea of the typical pioneer.
On Jan. 22, 1801, in consideration of the sum of $7940.00, the Trustees of Bowdoin College conveyed by deed, the title to Plantation No. 5 in the 7th range to Joseph E. Foxcroft, accepting, as part pay- ment, a mortgage deed. In the early spring of 1801, Moses Hodsdon of Levant was sent in to survey the tract into 200 acre lots. While this was being accomplished, Col. Foxcroft held conferences with Col. Sanger, proprietor of Sangerville, and Isaac Wheeler, one of the pro- prietors of Garland. Each was from Worcester County, Massachu- setts. "Isaac5 Wheeler Esq. was in Maine as early as the year 1800, when he was a member of a surveying party engaged in laying out lots, in the townships comprising the 'Waldo Patent,' a tract of land 36 miles square lying on both sides of the Kenduskeag River, a few miles northwest of Bangor."
The two above named gentlemen, already, were trying to interest settlers in the District of Maine. Late in 1803 Col. Foxcroft received from John Chandler Jr. a promise that early the next spring, 1804, he would accompany him (Col. Foxcroft) to his township. Again, with Stephen Weston as guide, Col. Foxcroft, Moses Hodsdon Jr., Elisha Alden and John Chandler Jr., set forth on foot from Athens. Tramping through Harmony, Ripley and Dexter to Sangerville townships, they crossed the Piscataquis River near the mouth of Black Stream.
In 1853, of the trip, Col. Foxcroft wrote. "We crossed a little above the Falls and came down the north bank of the river; at lot No. 11 in the 1st. range we ascended the hill."
There, from that of which we have excellent proof, Col. Foxcroft, perhaps as a stimulus, certainly as a compliment, asked young Chandler
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OLD FOXCROFT
to fell the first trees in what was to be a new township. And with a brave heart the strong arm of John Chandler Jr. raised the ax, as Col. Foxcroft in filial respect to his home teachings, motioned to Hodsdon, Alden and Weston to remove their caps, and with bowed heads, the first ceremonial in "old Foxcroft" took place.
Thinning out the underbrush and marking trees, they then, as Esquire Holmes pointed out to me to be the only logical way, proceeded down what is now Main Street to the Falls.
There, on the extreme eastern part of lot No. 10 in the 1st range, Col. Foxcroft pointed out to Alden, several acres of land he wished him to open. They continued on by the river bank to the southeast corner of the township where they found Abel Blood and his hired man at work. They passed several days with Blood, making trips to lot No. 4 in the 1st range, owned by Moses Hodsdon Jr. of South Berwick, to the west- ern corner of lot No. 6 in the 1st range where Col. Foxcroft decided to have Alden cut a bridle path through to the Four Corners (later so dis- tinguished) and over the hill to lots No. 6 and 7 in the 8th range, al- ready purchased by one Joseph Morse of Hopkinton Mass.
Leaving Chandler, Hodsdon and Alden to commence a clearing at the Falls, Col. Foxcroft, with Weston the guide, went to Garland to again interview Esquire Wheeler, who, having completed his log house, had just returned from Rutland Mass. with his bride. Wheeler prom- ised hearty cooperation, but placed great stress upon the erection of a saw and grist mill at once, as pioneers would not consider any proposi- tion until assured of mills. Col. Foxcroft gave his word, that such should be built, and that already men were making a clearing for log houses and gardens, incidentally procuring logs for the dam.
Returning to Athens, Col. Foxcroft purchased new axes and as large a supply of provisions as Weston could manage and sent him back to Hodsdon, Chandler and Alden.
At Skowhegan, Col. Foxcroft completed a contract with John Spald- ing of Norridgewock to undertake, with Blood, the handling of the mill privilege; and Spalding thought he might also interest his brothers, Eleazar and Seth Spalding in the project.
On Sept. S, 1804, John Chandler Jr., on his return to Minot from the new township, purchased of Moses Hodsdon Jr. of South Berwick, 100 acres of land for $150.00, being the eastern one half of lot No. 4 in the 1st range. This was the first piece of land purchased with the intention of the purchaser to settle upon it. In 1805 John Chandler Jr. obtained permission, to clear a path from Knowlton's mills to the mouth of Black Stream, on the Piscataquis River; thence through southeastern Lowestown to the new township, and down to lot No. 10 in the 1st. range, or "The Falls."
With his cousins, Ichabod and John Fish Chandler, youths of 19 and 16 years, respectively, and Elisha Alden and hired man, in the early spring of 1805, they left Athens with hand sleds well loaded with pro-
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OLD FOXCROFT
visions, ready to undertake several months of hard work. Having cleared their trail, Alden and man commenced the path to the "Cen- ter" and "Dundee". John Chandler Jr. and his cousins cleared, burned over and fenced in, an opening large and safe enough, for a log house and good sized garden plot. The log house was made ready for the family occupancy. Then, clearing and burning over about six acres at the Falls for the Spaldings, they returned to Minot.
In mid-summer of 1805, having through Esquire Wheeler obtained land in the township, Joseph Morse from Hopkinton and Timothy Hutchinson, from Sutton Mass. joined Alden and his man. Morse commenced an opening on lot No. 6 in the 7th. range and Hutchinson on lot No. 2 in the 1st. range. Col. Foxcroft's optimism increased !
FIRST SETTLERS COME IN
In the Old Colony days, in Plymouth the land of the Pilgrims, To and fro in a room of his simple and primitive dwelling, Clad in doublet and hose . .
. . strode the Puritan Captain.
Near him was seated John Alden, his friend and household companion, Writing with diligent speed at a table of pine by the window;
Fair-haired, azure-eyed, with delicate Saxon complexion-
Youngest of all was he of the men who came in the May. Flower.
Nothing was heard in the room but the hurrying pen of the stripling Writing epistles important to go next day by the May Flower Filled with the name and the fame of the Puritan maiden Priscilla! HENRY W. LONGFELLOW, 1858.
In February, 1806, John Chandler's preparations for moving his wife Abigail (Poole) Chandler and children, John and Nancy to their new home, was completed. They commenced their journey of more than 150 miles, with a yoke of oxen and sled heavily loaded with feather beds, small amount of furniture, cooking utensils, and provisions to last until more could be brought to them. They reached safely, the clearing of Phineas Ames in East Sangerville, where Chandler had arranged that his wife and children should remain for a short period. Ames was to use the oxen for their keeping, until Chandler could care for them.
With his man "Jock" or "Jake" (the writing is not legible) and such of his goods as they could strap upon handsleds, he started through the woods on the early morning crust, provided also with snow shoes and guns. Chandler was a man of great energy, and determined to make a success of his undertaking.
Arriving at the log house, where a fire was started, and the goods they had brought taken care of, they commenced tapping the maples, and digging out centers of "foot chunks," for buckets that the year's supply of sugar might be assured. Leaving Jake to keep the fire going and empty the sap buckets, boiling down some sap if possible, young Chandler returned for his wife and children.
May we not try to visualize the leave taking of that young family, as they left the Ames home, at what we now know as Lane's Corner, for that early morning walk, of seven miles, through the woods, in March, 1806? Father and mother, each drawing a sled, loaded with household furnishings and provisions; young John, a sturdy lad of five years trudging along by himself, while carefully secured on the feather-bedded sled, drawn by the father, was little Nancy, a child of three years; Mrs. Ames, waving a good-by, promising to send Mr. Ames over in a few mornings, with milk and eggs, and more fresh hulled corn, and to come herself when the ground dried!
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OLD FOXCROFT
Let us follow the little party, intent on keeping the trail, and wonder- ing if they may find John Spalding and his wife and six children at the Falls. No records can be found concerning this. But there is one, of the fact, that Jake had been industrious, and plenty of fresh maple syrup awaited them for that first dinner of hulled corn, generously supplied by Mrs. Ames.
When the Spalding brothers, John and Eleazar arrived with their families, they were soon busy with hired men, erecting log houses and getting material for the dam to be built across the river, as well as the required machinery for the mill. Without horses or oxen this was an "Herculean task," and, as the mill must be in operation by January, of the coming year, 1807, no time could be lost.
John Spalding's house was in readiness for him, situated on the site of the old Drake house, overlooking the Cove and the, now, High and Pleasant street hills in Dover; and there in June 1806, the first white child, Joseph F. Spalding, was born. A lad of much promise, he d. Apr. 18, 1811.
Eleazar located his house farther back from the river, on what is now the Academy Campus. And when their brother Seth came in, he located between his brothers, so that the little settlement of three log houses was known as Spauldingtown. Four years later it was changed to Greeley's Mills and years later the "Village."
Mrs. Joan (Spaulding) (Williams) Pillsbury related the story of her grandmother's, (Mrs. John Spaulding) determination to have a plank, instead of dirt floor, to her log house. The logs were being assembled for the dam, and in preparation for building the mill etc .; the men of course working from dawn to sunset. Mrs. Spaulding selected logs, hewed and laid them, then rubbed sand over the hewn surface until she had a smooth floor,-the first in "old Foxcroft," and the outcome of a woman's determination !
Early in the spring of 1807, the little colony was increased by the arrival of six men, -- Timothy (Richard 1) Hutchinson from Sutton, Joseph Morse (Samuel 1) from Hopkinton, Samuel (Edmund 1) Chamberlain, Ephraim Bacon and John Bigelow from Charlton, Mass. and Eliphalet (John 1) Washburn from New Gloucester, Me. At once, each commenced a clearing,-Hutchinson on the Ebenezar Dunham farm, Joseph Morse at Dundee, Bigelow on the lot later known as the Corbett Pratt farm, while Washburn cleared lot No. 3 in the 1st range.
Chamberlain and Bacon, with lumber already awaiting them, began the erection of the first frame house, a double one, for two separate families under one roof! It has been stated, that they allowed them- selves a brick chimney at $25.00 per M. The house has been vari- ously located, but from a well-remembered personal description by Mrs. Sarah J. Greeley, who was born there, it is believed to have been located, on the driveway leading to the Congregational parsonage, between the Blethen Block and the Monument.
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OLD FOXCROFT
In August, Chamberlain and Bigelow returned to Charlton; and on Sept. 13, 1807, Mr. Samuel Chamberlain and Miss Abigail Tucker were married in Charlton, Mass.
Esquire Wheeler, who had made the journey between Garland and Rutland several times, had been consulted as to the most comfortable way, for the ladies and children to make the trip. He had taken his wife and two young children, to his father's home in Rutland for the summer, and they were to return in September. He suggested char- tering a sailing vessel for the little company and their belongings; the household goods and provisions to be sent by wagons from Charlton to Boston.
The party consisted of (1) Isaac Wheeler Esq. and wife Betsey, two children, Reuben a lad of two years and Sally, aged six months; later the wife of Hon. Charles P. Chandler; Sarah Murray, Mrs. Isaac Wheeler's sister ; later the wife of John S. Haskell of Garland; (2) Mrs. Nizaula (Rawson) Hutchinson and five children; Lewis, ten years, Galen, nine years; Nizaula, six years; Marmaduke Rawson five years and Charlotte an infant. Mrs. Hutchinson was an older sister of Mrs. Jerusha (Rawson) Holmes (Mrs. James), who was the mother of three of Foxcroft's most sterling citizens,-James S., Salmon and Cyrus Holmes. (3) Mrs. Prudence Morse and four children, Richard, Rachel, Amos and Eliza. (4) Mrs. Lucy (Chamberlain) Bacon and three children; Lucy aged five years, "Cinderilla" aged two and a half years and Socrates Bonaparte aged seven months. (5) Mr. and Mrs. John Bigelow and infant daughter, Mary Jones. (6) Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chamberlain, the bridal couple.
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