USA > Maine > Oxford County > Buckfield > A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
Mar. 6-Mr. Pray preached a funeral sermon for Ephraim Ricker, Jr.
Mar. 7-Annual town meeting. The Democrats elect their candidates by large majorities.
Mar. 16 -- A child of Ephraim Atwood's died last night of canker rash.
Mar. 20-Funeral in the afternoon of Orville Bridgham's child at Union Chapel. It died of canker rash. This disease appears to assume a more malignant form as its prevalence continues.
Mar. 29-A powerful rain. Grist mill dam carried away.
Apr. 10-Funeral of Orville Bridgham's child.
Apr. 22-Elder Seth Stetson is with us. He is 82 years old and is as spry as a boy-walks 6 miles at a stretch-preaches at different places. Apr. 24-Father Stetson preaches at Union Chapel.
June 6-We had a destructive frost last night. Ground in my garden froze 1/2 inch deep.
June 12 -- Another frost last night.
June 19-Funeral of Mr. Waldron.
July I-Our mail by order of Government will come but 3 times a week.
July 4-Mr. V. D. Parris called to see me. He brought a flag that belonged to the U. S. Frigate Constitution in time of the last war. It is now flying in the strong N. W. breeze between E. Atwood's and Mr. Loring's stores.
508
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
July 29-We have a daily mail again by private contribution for pay for extra carrying. I pay $4 per year.
Aug. 4-The people here are interested in the matter of enlarging and fencing and putting into respectable condition our burying ground. A corporation is being formed denominated the Buckfield Cemetery Cor- poration, in order to proceed legally in this contemplated project.
Aug. 13-John Davis returned from the White Mts. last eve and ar- rived on foot about 9 o'clock. He was gone from home but 2 days. He made a quick trip of 90 miles and back in 36 hours and a night spent on Mt. Washington, walking 15 miles on his way home.
Aug. 22-Started with my wife and John Davis for Winchendon.
Nov. 15-Mr. America Farrar is confined at Buckfield by paralysis.
Dec. 3-The church bells are tolling for the martyrdom of John Brown. Henry Ward Beecher says that a man who would not help a fellow creature flying for his liberty is either a villain or a politician.
1860.
Apr. 25-Mr. Noah Hall called to see his brother. He is 80 years old and his wife 75. They have a farm, keep 2 good cows and make butter and cheese to sell. Mr. Hall is vigorous and spry and works every day. He tells me he had a party of neighbors at his house, a few days ago, consisting of 6 including himself and wife whose united ages were 497. Noah Hall, 80; wife, 75: James Waterman, 95; Mrs. Lewis, 89; Mr. Gammon, 70: wife, 79.
May 5 -- The town has a meeting this p.m. to see if the people will vote to loan the credit of the town to the amount of $15,000 to put the B. B. R. R. in running order.
May 16-I look out of my window and see a man on the bridge who is 93-Mr. James Morrill who says he works in the field every day.
509
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
ABIJAH BUCK'S DIARY.
Abijah Buck, His Book 1760 God give him grace therein to Look.
New Gloster, November the 25, 1760, my mother died. December the 10, 1760, I came home from Crown Point. January the 3. 1761, iny father died and left us both motherless and fatherless.
New Gloster, Sept. the 25, 1762, we were married (wife Phebe Tyler). Elizabeth was born July the 1, 1763. Ellen was born January the 8, 1765. Phebe was born the 17 day of December, 1766. John was born the 22 day of December, 1768. Rebecca was born the 15 day of December, 1772.
Bucktown, April the 1, 1776,* Abijah was born the I day of March, 1777 .* Jonathan was born the 5 day of February, 1782.
Buckfield, August 17, 1816, Phebe Buck my wife departed this life.
Lake George June the 9 1760.
Orders that I had from the Captain:
To 1 order To 1 order To 1 order To 1 order To 1 order
尤
S.
d. 0
0
I
5 10
0 6 18 () 0 October the 22 0
To 1 order
To Lawful money 0
12
Lake George July the 27 1760
S. d.
3 8 11
0
3 6
0
6
0)
1 9
New Gloster June the 10 day 1765
Work for Mr. Foxcraft :- To 12 day's work digging cellar To work upon the Flume,
To 1 days work
New Gloster June the 17 day 1765
To 1 day's work upon the roads
To work with the surveyor To 10 day's work
1 S. (1.
5 0
Beginning this town at that time.
Bucktown March the 4 1777.
Credit for Benjamin Spaulding for work donc upon the roads and money pay'd for charges.
*Evidently errors. Should be year later.
0
3 6
0
9 Nov. the 3 0
Due to Captain Nathaniel Ingersoll, the sum of Lawful money To 1 lb. Chocolate To 2 1b. Sugar To 1 lb. Sugar
510
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
To 10 days work at 1 s p d To money paid for charges To money & work To Running out his Lot
2
0
0
0
7 4
0
13 0
0
6 =
Bucktown March the 4 yr 1777
Credit for Abijah Buck
S. d.
To 18 day's works at the roads
3
12 0
To Money for the first charges-the Petition
0
7 4
To 7 day's work on the roads
1
8 =
To Money for charges
0
6 0
To Money for charges
0
3
To 11 days work at the roads
1 0
To Running out his lot
0
6 U
Similar entries for Nathaniel Buck, Thomas Allen. John Brown, Jonathan Tyler, Moses Buck, Jonas Coburn, William Doble and John Buck.
Sharon (West Butterfield) May the 17 yr 1778 Credit for David Reckard
To 351% days work at 8 Dollars per month
Bucktown November the 8 yr 1779
We held a meeting and voted 20 paper dollars to a right
0-1-4 lawful money, which was paid to Mr. But- terfield 280 Dollars paper money which is 18 8 U
The next I went to Falmouth to Esq. Freeman's to get the Petition wrote and to sign it. Was four days upon the journey. Time and ex- pense 1-3-0.
Bucktown, April the. 6, 1780.
The first time that I went to Boston to get our Petition granted, was gone from home 28 days. The Proprietors voted me 4 shillings or a bushel of rye a day, and 3 shillings a day for expense-which was 9-16-0. Then I settled with Col. Bancraft and Mr. Butterfield at Bos- ton and pay'd them 1-16-o in hard cash, which was the balance at that time.
Debtor to Dr. Child
To 1 visit to my wife
()
12
8
To 1 visit to Father Tyler
0
14
4
To 1 portion of physic
0
1
4
To charge for Father Tyler
0
3
4
1 11
8
0
14
3
To coming for John
Bucktown, September the 8, 1785.
To work with the surveyor, running Bucktown lines, 7 days works, and to running Butterfield town lines 7 days with the surveyor. To charges by the surveyor and his hand for keeping two horses 16 days. and to stores to the value of 6 shillings and to 21/2 gallons of Rum. This is for the two towns to pay between them.
Bucktown, October the 4, 1785.
I went with Mr. Jordan surveying the town. I was 7 days at 5 s. per day 1-15-0. To keeping the acct. for the Proprietary from time to time 0-6-0.
Bucktown September the 16-1781
511
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Bucktown, November the 7, 1785.
My second journey to Boston. We were gone 16 days. Was voted 4 shillings a day for expus. and 3 shillings a day for our time, which was 5-12-0. Our passage was 6 shillings apiece. Our horses were 10 days upon the journey. Their expense was 3 shillings a day 1-6 --- 0.
Bucktown, January the 24. 1786.
I went to Wells to see Esqr. Wells, as to how to proceed about the purchase (of the township). Was gone 5 days. Time and expense J-0-0.
Bucktown, February the 27 yr. 1786.
The third time I went to Boston, upon the Proprietors' business, I was gone 27 days, for which my expenses and time amounted to 10-1-0.
ACCOUNT OF HIS JOURNEY.
The first day I traveled to New Gloster. The next day I went to North Yarmouth. The first day of March, I went to Falmouth, and there agreed for my passage to Boston. The second day of March was stormy, which was bad for my journey. The third day was also stormy, which left me waiting for my passage. The 4 day, the wind was against us, but we are in hopes of sailing tonight. The 5th day, not gone yet. Most out of patience. The wind seems to promise fair, so I am in hopes we shall sail tonight. The 6 day, we are making preparations for sailing tonight. The 7 day, we are still waiting for the moving of the wind and the weather. The 8 day, we keep looking out for a favorable wind. but we are very weary. The o day we have a fair wind at last. This the 10 day, we had a fine passage to Boston-a good run of it. This the 11 day, we went to see Esqr. Wells, but being full of business, I could do nothing. This the 12 day is Sunday. This the 13 day the General Court agreed that the Settlers should have 100 acres apiece: This the 14 day, very dull; nothing done. The committee has so much work on their hands. they can't do anything for us yet. This the 16 day, 1 agreed with the committee to have the papers drawn. This the 17 day, I got the papers wrote and signed. This the 18 day, I got ready to go home, and sailed about midnight, with a fair wind. This the 19 day. we are at sea with a dull wind which obliged us to put into Marble- head. This the 20 day, it looked so much like a storm, that we hove up and went to Salem for a harbor. This the 21 day, we layd in Salem harbor. This the 22 day, we hove up and stood over to Cape Ann, and there we raised a breeze and at night came to sail with a good wind. This the 23 day, we are at sea, with a fine breeze which brought us to Falmouth. This the 24 day, I came from Falmouth to New Gloster. This the 25 day. I came from New Gloster home most tired out.
512
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
NOTES ABOUT THE WEATHER, ETC.
Bucktown, October the 23 yr 1785.
More than a common freshet, that swept away mills and bridges, to a great damning. (Damage).
Bucktown, January the 2 yr. 1786.
An Earthquake was heard this morning before Sun-rise.
Bucktown, April the 2 yr. 1785.
A smart Snow Storm for this time of year. The 7 day a Smart Rain Storm that made a large freshet.
The 18th day November, 1786.
From that time to the 14 day of December one continual frost.
The 9 of April, 1787.
A Smart Thunder Shower.
Bucktown, March the 19, 1789.
The committee being on the proprietors business ruling the Settlers names on the plan of the town.
Bucktown June the 8 1790
Went to New Gloster to acknowledge deed
₺ 0
12 0
Went to York to see Esq'r Wells
0
15 0
To my horse
()
12 0
Went to Boston 22 days at 3 s.
3
6
0
Horse for the journey
1
16
0
Money pay'd to acknowledge deed
0
10
1)
Money pay'd for one quire of paper
(
1
4
7
4 6
Bucktown December the 15 1790
This day Settled with John Clay and finding his due £ 0
Boston January 27 1792.
Pay'd to the States Com.
£ 120 6 6
Bucktown March the 12 1792
Five pounds seven shillings and nine pence was left after
paying for the town,
3
8 0
Received of Thomas Lowell
12
0
Received of Simon Record
(
6
0
9
13
9
Eben'r Bancraft's account against Buck's Proprietary is £ 11
12
0
For value Received I promise to pay unto Abijah Buck, or his order, the sum of Eighteen Shillings, to be paid in Cash or Corn, at the market price, at or before December next ensuing the date hereot, as witness my hand.
October the 12th 1785
Joel Foster
In 1789 and 1790, there were items entered in the book, showing that Abijah Buck sold hay and corn in considerable quantities to the settlers. Also other articles, from which it might be inferred, that he was at that period, a trader in a small way.
Mr. Spaulding's work upon Col. Bancraft's opening :
Abijah Buck's work :
£5
7 9
Received of Mr. Hubbard
1 0
8 0
513
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
REMINISCENCES OF MAJ. LUCIUS LORING.
In November, 1887, Major Lucius Loring was interviewed by a rep- resentative of the Oxford Democrat and asked to give his reminiscences of men and affairs in Buckfield in early times, which he did as follows : "I shall be 20 years old if I live until the 27th day of December. I have seen go Independence Days. I remember things that occurred 60, 70 or 80 years ago, better than I do things which have happened within a year. Sometimes I forget these more recent dates and so, for the past 15 years I have kept a journal or memorandum. I have lived in Buck- field 83 years, last March. My father, 'Old Squire Loring' as he was called for many years, was born upon the Connecticut river, in the town of Hatfield, Mass. When he was 12 years old he went to Bridgewater. His father died when he was but four years old and he went to live with an uncle. My father found friends in Bridgewater and was enabled to go to school and get an education, and afterwards he taught school himself. He married my mother there. She was a Barrelle. The late Pascal Barrelle of Hartford was her father. Father came from Bridge- water to Turner about 93 years ago. I fix the date, by the age of my oldest sister, the late Mrs. James Jewett, who would have been 92 last September, had she lived. She was born the year after father moved to Turner. I was born in Turner, and came to Buckfield when I was about 7 years old. My father helped settle the first minister in Turner, old Parson Strickland. I remember him well for I was old enough to go to meeting considerably, before we moved away from there. He wore a great white wig, and a three cornered hat. * * * * When my father came to Buckfield, he built a little store just above where the Randolph Thomes store stands now. Father cut away the alders and put up a store 25x25 feet, and that was the only building at that time on that side of the bridge. except the old Capt. Parris stand. Where the streets on that side are now, was all an alder swamp. Logs were laid in thick in the mud to make a road from the end of the bridge near where Rawson's drug store now is, to the foot of what has since been called Loring's Hill. I suppose it took its name from my father. as it had no name to my knowledge, when we came here. The business was all on the other side of the river then, and people laughed at father for building a store where he did and said he never would have a cus tomer over there. Old Squire Record owned about all the land around Buckfield village at that time and the saw and grist mills. He was one of the proprietors of the town. The first grist mill ever built in Buck- field was erected by a man by the name of Chandler, and it stood down where the saw mill is now.
"My father used to run a niill here for the manufacture of cards. In those days every woman had to have cotton cards. wool cards and tow cards. Father made the wooden backs and they were sent to Bos- ton and teeth put into them by hand. I have packed up thousands of
514
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
them, when a boy. We used to haul them to North Yarmouth and put them aboard the packet for Boston. Prices were low in those times. Then and for a long time after, the very best of help could be hired for $.50 a day and dinner. It cost us $1.00 a hundred to get goods from Portland, and it was a hard business for the teamsters at that price. One could buy a good team horse for $50.00. * * *
* At the time father came to Buckfield all the business was on the north side of the river. Uncle Ben Spaulding had a store on that side, and the house Jolın Russell now lives in opposite Mr. Whitten's is the identical build- ing which was Uncle Ben's store. It was afterwards moved across the river and converted into a dwelling house. It sat near where the Artemas F. Cole stand does now.
"Old Major Mark Andrews was the first trader here. He married Capt. Josiah Parris's sister. He used to bring his dry goods up from Portland on a horse in saddle bags. He moved to Winthrop and finally to Albany, New York, where he had a married daughter and I think died there. He made $30,000 in Buckfield. He said he never sold a thing unless he got twice at least what he paid for it. He kept no ledger. The people were poor, and would sell their corn in winter to him at $.42 a bushel, and exchange it for goods at his high prices, and in the sum- mer he would sell this corn for $1.00 a bushel to people coming in from the West to take up new lands.
"That looking glass (pointing to a very handsome and well pre- served gilt frame glass of the olden style) was my mother's. It came from Boston. She used to keep it in the spare room-and a spare room wasn't used except on very rare occasions. People now-a-days have changed in that respect very much. When I was a boy, a parlor wasn't considered well furnished unless it had a bed in it, with a handsome quilt, and the few who could afford such a luxury had a bureau. The people didn't go into luxuries much in those days. Why, the north room in the Prince house where I lived, was the first room that was ever painted in Buckfield. We had to send to Waterford for a painter. His name was Robie. It cost $30. to paint that room. The first wall paper ever used in Buckfield was put on to two front rooms in the old tavern where the Atwood & Spaulding store now stands, which Zadoc Long and myself hired and fitted up when we were married. Those rooms were considered wonders then. * * *
"My father, Capt. William Lowell, and Unele Thomas Long were about all the Federals there were in Buckfield when I was a young man. Rouse Bisbee, who moved from Buckfield to Woodstock, was the only Federalist in that town for many years and the people would 'hoot' him when he went to town meeting. He once at Portland was given a suit of clothes by some of the people there for standing by his colors. Rouse was an uncle of Capt. Lewis Bisbee of Sumner, whom all Buck- field people knew. Dr. Hamlin, the first clerk of the courts in the county, at whose place I boarded one winter when attending school, was also a Federalist, but some people called him a 'tory.' The Federalists you know were opposed to the War of 1812.
515
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
"When I was nine years old, I rode horseback to Portland. Father had a two wheeled chaise and he and mother were going to Bridge- water on a visit. As they had the old horse I was given the four-year-old colt. I remember the journey well. Father came out as far as the Deer- ing bridge and pointed me towards home, with directions to stop at Gray Corner over night. I got there about three o'clock and had my horse unsaddled and put up, and went into the tavern and sat down. Soon I began to feel homesick. My grandfather Barrelle lived in Turner, and I made up my mind to go there instead of staying where I was over night. I ordered my horse saddled and put along quite lively. At II o'clock that night I reached grandfather's. * *
I was a student at Hebron Academy four years. I boarded with old Deacon Barrows, and paid $1.25 per week for board and washing. I had always lived in a village and had rather a hard time of it. Elijah Hamlin and Dr. Bethuel Cary, who died in Sumner, were in my class. Young men used to go there in the fall and fit themselves to teach school. We had larger schools in those days and always had a big exhibition at the close of the term. *
"Old Judge Parris, Capt. Parris's brother and father of Gov. Albion K. Parris, was quite a man in those days. He lived in Hebron and was judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was very much of a gentleman in his appearance and a man much respected. * When my father came to Buckfield they had no schoolhouse in the village, and only had a school a little while in the summer. It was taught in a chamber in Uncle Ben Spaulding's house. The teacher had no educa- tion. She could read a little, but couldn't write a word. She came from Massachusetts though, and that was all the qualification needed as mnost of the people thought. She used to get us boys to write her letters to her friends in Massachusetts. * My father was in trade in Buckfield about 20 years and I traded here about 40 years. Father was a very enterprising man, ambitious to go ahead and do a large business. He never saved much money though, but he got a good living and educated his children. He was a very dressy man, and wore knee breeches and silk stockings, russet top boots, blue broadcloth clothes with brass buttons. I've heard him say that the last time he was in Portland he saw the boys pointing at his boots from across the street.
"When I went into trade, we took little or no money. We took oats, beans, peas, butter, tow cloth, flannel cloth, etc. Why I have taken three and a half tons of butter in a single summer and autumn at ten cents a pound. It was hard getting anything out of it at that price. We used to get a big profit on our goods and that helped out. For two or three years after Ralph Jewett and I went into trade together, we sold $20,000 a year of dry goods. We had customers from ap as far as Jay and from over to Paris Cape. We built what is called the Loring store the year that the railroad was built, and it cost us $1600. The first year we paid for the store, supported two families, and in addition to this a net profit of $2,600. That's the best business I ever did in a single year. We bought prints in Boston at ten cents a yard and sold for a shilling. Yes, the
516
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
farmers sold their produce cheap and paid high prices for goods, but they got rich then faster than now. There was Ira Gardner, who made $12,000 on the farm where Cy Dean lives now. Interest was higher then ; we got twelve per cent. The farmers worked and that wasn't all they calculated. My mother used to say, 'There's a good deal in calculation, and I've found it so in my experience and observation. The people then had no expensive habits. They didn't go into luxuries, and were frugal and saving. Their dress and living was plain. Lewis Sampson and Ephraim Lowe used to work for my father at $8 per month. and both left good farms and money at interest. * * When Ralph * and I went into trade Ara Cushman had a little cobbler's shop at West Minot where he used to take sole work to be made up. Now he employs some 600 hands at his factory in Auburn and is very wealthy. Ralph and I used to put out such sole work to these little door yard cobble shops. which were quite plenty in those days. But the business didn't pay any- thing to speak of then, and we went out of it. It was just the wrong time, and we made a great mistake, for the business came up right off, and those who stuek to it made money. I see that E. F. Packard of Auburn has recently died. He was born in this village, in the Parsons house."
517
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
OREN RECORD'S DEPOSITION.
On the 3d day of March, 1827, Oren Record, oldest son of Dominicus Record, Esq., then of Sangerville, Maine, gave a deposition to be used in a suit brought by Dr. William Bridgham against Richard Waldron. The south boundary line of lot No. 12, 7 Range, in the vicinity of the river near the village being in controversy and the occasion for the suit. What he stated, which gives us a pen picture of the vicinity around the village in the early days, is as follows :
I Oren Record, being 53 years of age testify and say that I have lived in the town of Buckfield from the time I was 10 years old till the year 1822, at which time I moved to the town of Sangerville, and during that period I was well acquainted with the situation of the lot lines, within a mile or more, in any direction from Buckfield Village. That I have been more particularly acquainted with my father Dominicus Record's, Isaac Foster's and Edmund Chandler's settling lots, and the mill priv- ilege and the public lands near to. I have known the line between the minister lot and State lots about 30 years. The first information I received respecting this line was from 'Squire Abijah Buck. The next from my father 'Squire Record, who showed it to me. Afterwards it was shown me by Joel Foster, who then lived on the lot west of the State lot. I have been on this line many times. The line ran easterly with Joel Foster's northerly line, and about 20 rods south of where John Irish's house now stands. I have seen this line since the Great Fire of 1816 ran over it. * * * * *
Joel Foster marked a line for a road from his house on his lot to the mills. I followed this line in company, with him at one time, which he told me he marked for his own convenience in going to the mills. I saw Foster with his axe at said mills, the day he marked the line. The reason I recollect it more particularly is, that I had so much shorter distance to go to Foster's, who was a shoemaker, to get shoes mended and made.
The line began at Foster's opening, and crossed the South Pond brook, on the beaver dam, a little south of where the bridge now stands. Then after passing the beaver dam it turned to the north several rods, varying so as to keep on high or dry ground, and running a little south of where the Drake house stood, and where the John Irish now stands, and crossing the swamp brook a little south of where the bridge now stands, thence running south of the Chaffin house, thence crossing the Isaac Foster lot at the northwest corner of the mill privilege, thence
by the river to the mill. * *
*
* *
One Thomas Frazier lived with father, from the age of five or six years till he was 21. He was bound to father by the Selectmen of Easton. He used to drive my father's cattle to pasture. They were never driven to the land in the vicinity of the beaver dam.
The land near said beaver dam was so covered with windfalls and thick growth that I should think it would be impossible that cattle could go through it.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.