USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Turner > A history of Turner, Maine, from its settlement to 1886 > Part 13
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Valuation of non-resident personal estate is 377
Total valuation of personal estate, $144,178
Total valuation, $678,703
Amount of tax, $12,015.71. Number of polls, 491. Rate per cent, .0163.
There are about three hundred and fifty farms in town, varying in size from twelve to three hundred acres in each ; and their total value, with buildings, is about five hundred thousand dollars.
The amount and value of stock is given below.
Number of horses, 479, and their value, $29,630. Number of colts, 73, their value being $2,630. Number of oxen, 171, having a value of $9,318. Number of cows, 1,144, valued at $32,976. Number of cattle three years old is 238, having a value of $5,905. Number of two years old, 372, valued at
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
$6,078. Number of yearlings, 396, valued at $2,890. The sheep number 989, with a valuation of $1,830. The swine number 258, valued at $1,585. The total value of live stock is $92,843.
ANNALS.
It has been thought that a brief account of the doings of the town from year to year will show the progress that has been made, the changes that have been effected in public opinion, and the men who have been brought to the front by the judgment and voice of the citizens. The men who have been called to fill the most important offices in town for a series of years must have had the confidence of their fellow-citizens, and have been regarded as the most capable and trustworthy men in the com- munity. For this reason, the annals of the town have been compiled, hoping that they may not be without interest and profit to the reader.
An act of incorporation was passed by the Gen- eral Court of Massachusetts, July 7, 1786, erecting the plantation of Sylvester-Canada into a town, but as the law of the State provided for the election of town officers only in the month of March or April, the first meeting could not be legally held until 1787. By the act of incorporation, Isaac Parsons, Esq., of New Gloucester, was authorized to issue his warrant to some prominent citizen in the town, to call the first meeting, which he did as follows :-
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, CUMBERLAND SS.
To Ichabod Bonney of the town of Turner, in said County of Cumberland, Gentleman : -
You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, to notify and warn all the inhabitants of said Turner (qualified as the law directs) to meet and assemble together at the meeting-house in said town on Tuesday the sixth day of March next, at ten of the o'clock in the forenoon, to act on the following articles, viz .: first, to choose a moderator for said meeting ; second, to choose all town officers that are required by law to be chosen in the month of March or April. And make return of your doings herewith unto the moderator and clerk that shall be chosen at said meeting.
Given under my hand and seal at New Gloucester, the first day of February, Anno Domini 1787.
ISAAC PARSONS, Justice Peace.
RETURN.
TURNER, March 6, 1787.
Agreeable to the above warrant, I have warned the inhabi- tants of said town to meet at the time and place above said, and to act and do agreeable to the above warrant.
To Doctor Daniel Child, moderator ; and Mr. Benjamin True, town clerk.
ICHABOD BONNEY.
In accordance with this warrant, the first town meeting was held at the time and place designated. Dr. Daniel Child was chosen moderator; Benjamin True, town clerk; and Capt. Ichabod Bonney, Ben- jamin True, and Israel Haskell, selectmen and assessors. John Allen was chosen collector, and was to receive fourpence on the pound for collect-
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.
ing the taxes. Samuel Blake was chosen treasurer; Moses Stephens, Jeremiah Dillingham, Stephen Bryant, and Capt. Henry Jones, surveyors of high- ways; and Stephen Bryant and Israel Haskell, " wardians."
The officers required by law having been chosen, no other business was transacted, for the reason probably, that it was not deemed legal to transact any other business under the call for said meeting. Another meeting was called at once to be held March 27, 1787, at which important matters came up for consideration. In August, 1784, a vote had been passed in town-meeting to invite Rev. John Strickland to be the minister of the town at an annual salary of fifty pounds. They had also adopted, by popular vote, a plan of church govern- ment, and had transacted other business, which now seems proper to a religious society alone. The votes passed in 1784 were now reaffirmed, that they might be legal and binding on the people. The first vote was that " The Church and Congre- gation of Sylvester Plantation, taking into consid- eration the great importance of having the stated means of grace settled in the place, and having heard the Rev. John Strickland, a member of Salem Presbytery, sometime; and being satisfied with his principles in Doctrine and Discipline and ministerial gifts and moral character, do make choice of him, the said John Strickland, as our
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minister, and do appoint Messrs. Richard Phillips, John Keen, and Benjamin True, to attend the Presbytery at their next session at the town of Gray, to solicit this our call before the Presbytery, the same having been unanimously voted at a meet- ing held for that purpose on August 12th day of this instant August, the same being again proposed to the Church and Congregation was unanimously approved."
As the vote formerly passed to pay Mr. Strick- land fifty pounds was not considered legal, several of the citizens had given him a bond to that amount to make his pay secure. The town now released those men by assuming the obligation. Certain men had also advanced twelve pounds to defray the expense of Mr. Strickland's installation. The town voted to refund this money. After voting a salary of fifty pounds a year, they voted seventy-five pounds, " lawful money, " for his salary for three years. This is explained by the fact that the proprietors agreed to pay a portion of his salary for that length of time. The town also voted to give him the use of " the common land five years rent free, " and " that he have a reasonable time to visit his friends to the westward annually."
Twenty-two pounds were also raised "to defray the charges of the Beef Execution;" and twelve shillings to each of the selectmen for their services.
15
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Nothing was done for schools, nor for other objects such as now claim attention. But it was voted that "Mr. Daniel French, and his family while under him, be exempted from paying the minister tax." Why he should be exempted, and the same favor be denied to another, it does not appear.
1788
Captain Ichabod Bonney was chosen moderator; Benjamin True, clerk; Benjamin True, Samuel Blake, and Henry Jones, selectmen and assessors ; and Samuel Blake, treasurer. Samuel Andrews was chosen sealer of weights and measures; William Bradford, tithing-man; Joseph Leavitt and Levi Merrill, "wardians"; Stephen Bryant and Jeremiah Dillingham, hog-reeves; Daniel Russell, deer-reeve; Seth Staples, fence-viewer; Andrew Eliot, clerk of the market; Abner Phillips, sealer of leather; Moses Stephens, keeper of the pound; Captain Henry Jones, Richard Phillips, Moses Stephens, and Ste- phen Bryant, surveyors of highways; and Nathan Niles, collector at eightpence on the pound. The selectmen were voted twenty-four shillings each for their services ; and Stephen Bryant twenty-four shil- lings "for his carrying Lois Layden to the town of Pownalborough in the County of Lincoln." William Bradford, Daniel Briggs, and Samuel Andrews were
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
chosen a committee to lease out thirty acres on each end of the parsonage lot, No. 51; the lot on which William Whitman now resides. This year, the road was established from the center of the town through the Lower Street, two rods wide; also, the road from the meeting-house to the Lower Street school- house; the road down the Cary Hill to Blake's Mill; and the road leading from the Upper to the Lower Street by Nelson Jones'. Fifty pounds were raised for roads, and twelve pounds were raised to be laid out on school lot for support of a school, though how anything was to be realized for the support of a school, does not appear. Thirty-three pounds were voted for Mr. Strickland's salary. It was voted to pay men three shillings a day for work on the road; two shillings and sixpence for a yoke of oxen, eightpence for a cart, and eight- pence for a plow. It was voted that Mr. Strick- land's salary should be paid in silver at six shillings and eightpence per ounce, to be reckoned from his installation. Action was taken on several roads, and a committee was raised to petition "the gen- eral session of the peace for and within the County of Cumberland " for a road through this town to New Gloucester. At a meeting held on October 5, 1788, votes were thrown for County Register. Stephen Waite had seven votes, and Enoch Free- man one.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
1789
Dr. Daniel Child was chosen moderator; Ben- jamin True, town clerk; William Bradford, Sam- uel Blake, and Captain Henry Jones, selectmen and assessors; Mark Andrews, collector, at three- pence-half-penny on the pound for collecting; and Samuel Blake, treasurer. One hundred pounds were raised, to be expended in labor on the roads ; the selectmen were voted eighteen shillings each for their services; thirty pounds were raised to support a school the ensuing year; and forty pounds to build three school-houses. At a meeting held the sixth day of April, John Hancock received sixteen votes for Governor; for Lieutenant-Governor, Benjamin Lincoln received thirteen votes, and Sam- uel Adams, Esq., three; and John Lewis, nine votes for Senator. It was voted not to exempt Hezekiah Bryant and Andrew Eliot from paying the minister tax.
I790
Captain Ichabod Bonney was chosen moderator; Benjamin True, town clerk; Samuel Andrews, Nathan Niles, and Benjamin True, selectmen; and Stephen Bryant, town treasurer. Jesse Bradford collected the taxes for sixpence on the pound. Jacob Leavitt was chosen clerk of the market. There is no intimation of his duties. Twenty
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
pounds were raised for schools. It was voted that the proprietors of the Forge clear ten acres a year on the school lot, and sow to grass, and so each year, till fifty acres are cleared and in grass, for which the proprietors were to receive the two first crops. Voted not to open the meeting-house. In June, a committee was raised to petition the Gen- eral Court to make and repair the county road from this town to New Gloucester. The town would not release those men from paying the minister tax who had certificates that they "attend on the Bap- tist preaching." The article to see if the town would choose a committee to prosecute the select- men for clearing Hezekiah Bryant and Andrew Eliot from the minister tax for 1789, was passed. Fifty pounds were raised for Mr. Strickland's sal- ary. A county road was provided for from Israel Haskel's to the county road at the south part of the town, but the town was not ready to extend the road to Livermore. The article to see if none shall be required to pay the minister tax without their consent, was passed, and also the article to see if the town will allow the selectmen to give orders to the Baptists on the town treasurer for the minis- ter tax.
In January, votes were thrown for a Representa- tive to represent the counties of York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Hancock, and Washington, in the Con-
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gress of the United States. Hon. George Thatcher received ten votes.
I791
Captain Henry Jones was chosen moderator ; Ichabod Bonney, town clerk; Ichabod Bonney, Samuel Andrews, and Samuel Blake, selectmen; and William Bradford, treasurer. Jesse Bradford collected the taxes for eightpence on the pound. The selectmen were allowed sixteen shillings each for their services. Eighteen pounds were raised for the support of a school. It was voted not to raise fifty pounds for Mr. Strickland's salary.
Votes for Representative to the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts were thrown as follows : -
For William Lithgow, Esq., eighteen.
For George Thatcher, Esq., two.
For Governor, John Hancock had eighteen votes.
For Lieutenant-Governor, Thomas Russell had fifteen votes.
For Senator, William Wedgry, Esq., eighteen votes.
At a special meeting held in June, it was voted to raise fifty pounds for Mr. Strickland's salary ; but at an adjourned meeting the vote was recon- sidered. Samuel Andrews, William Hayford, Dan- iel Child, William Bradford, and Nathan Niles
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
were chosen a committee to consult with Mr. Strickland relative to a dismission, and to the dif- ferences in regard to his salary.
I792
Captain Henry Jones was chosen moderator ; Ich- abod Bonney, town clerk; Ichabod Bonney, Sam- uel Blake, and Samuel Andrews, selectmen; and William Bradford, treasurer. Voted not to raise Mr. Strickland's salary for the past or present year. A committee was chosen to " treat " with Mr. Strick- land relative to a dismission. Seventy-five pounds were voted for repair of highways; and twenty pounds for a school. Each of the assessors were voted twenty-four shillings for their services; the treasurer, twelve shillings; and Dr. Child, two shil- lings, the amount of his bill against the town.
This year, John Hancock had thirty-four votes for Governor.
Samuel Adams, thirty votes for Lieutenant- Governor.
David Mitchell, six votes for Senator.
William Wedgry, one vote for Senator.
In October of this year, votes were cast for Rep- resentatives with the following result : -
For the County of Cumberland - Peleg Wads- worth, Esq., six votes; William Wedgry, Esq., two votes.
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County of York - George Thatcher, Esq., eight votes ; Nathaniel Wells, Esq., one vote.
Counties of Lincoln, Hancock, and Washington - William Lithgow, Esq., eight votes; Daniel Coney, Esq., one vote.
For Electors -Samuel Freeman, Esq., two votes; John Frothingham, Esq., two votes; Thomas Rice, Esq., one vote; Daniel Coney, Esq., eight votes ; Edward Cutts, Esq., nine votes.
I793
William Hayford was moderator; Ichabod Bon- ney, town clerk ; Ichabod Bonney, Samuel Blake, and Samuel Andrews were selectmen and asses- sors; and William Bradford, treasurer. A commit- tee was raised to build a school-house on the Lower Street, and ten pounds raised for the purpose. Seventy-five pounds were voted for repair of high- ways, and twenty-four pounds for the support of a school.
I794
Dr. Daniel Child was chosen moderator ; Ichabod Bonney, clerk; Ichabod Bonney, Samuel Blake, and Caleb House, selectmen ; William Bradford, treas- urer; and Nathan Niles, Samuel Gorham, and Richard Phillips, surveyors of highways. Beniah Niles, Seth Staples, and Jabez Merrill were
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
chosen a school committee. This committee, it is presumed, performed the duties of school agents and supervisors. Twenty pounds, or about sixty- seven dollars, were raised for support of schools. Voted one hundred pounds for building two bridges over the Twenty Mile River, and repair of high- ways, one bridge above Blake's dam, and the other at " Mr. True's waiding place." Mr. Strickland's salary was not voted.
At a special meeting called in February, 1794, to see if the town would raise Mr. Strickland's sal- ary for 1791, 1792, and a part of 1793, it was voted to dissolve the meeting.
In November, the votes thrown for Representa- tives in Congress were as follows : -
Peleg Wadsworth, Esq., thirteen votes.
William Wedgry, Esq., thirteen votes.
At a meeting held December 25th, Ichabod Bon- ney was chosen a committee to procure "a stock of powder, balls, and flints," as required by law. For many years, a quantity of ammunition was kept in readiness for any emergency, in a small brick build- ing called a powder-house.
I795
At a special meeting held April 5th, votes were thrown as follows : -
For Governor, Samuel Adams, thirty-two votes.
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For Lieutenant-Governor, Moses Gill, forty-two votes.
For Senators, David Michel, sixteen votes ; Wil- liam Wedgry, seventeen votes; Stephen Longfellow, fourteen votes ; Charles Turner, twenty-seven votes.
On the next day, Dr. Daniel Child was elected moderator; Ichabod Bonney, town clerk; Ichabod Bonney, Samuel Blake, and Beniah Niles, select- men; and William Bradford, treasurer. It was voted to "lease out the commons," meaning the school lands, and including, perhaps, the ministerial lots. Twenty-two pounds were raised for support of schools, and seventy-five pounds for repair of highways. Beniah Niles was engaged to build a pound near the meeting-house, for four pounds and ten shillings. The use of the commons was sold to John Loring for five years, at two pounds, six- teen shillings a year. On the sixth of May, a special meeting was called, at which twenty-seven votes were cast for a revision of the constitution.
1796
Dr. Daniel Child was moderator; Ichabod Bon- ney, town clerk; Ichabod Bonney, John Turner, and Chandler Bradford, selectmen; and William Bradford, treasurer. Voted one hundred dollars for the support of a school, the first time Federal
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money appears in the town records. One hundred and twenty pounds were raised for repair of high- ways. The selectmen were directed to lay out a road from John Turner's to Livermore line, and between the lots owned by Benjamin Jones and Richard Phillips Jr., to the great river, to accom- modate Elijah Gilbert. A portion of school lot No. 99 was leased for five years.
At the Governor meeting held in April, the fol- lowing votes were thrown : -
For Governor, Samuel Adams, twenty-nine votes; Increase Sumner, three votes.
For Lieutentant-Governor, Moses Gill, twenty- eight votes.
For Senators, Stephen Longfellow, twenty-eight votes; Charles Turner, twenty-five votes ; Stephen Bryant, one vote.
There were at this time four school districts in town: first, the Upper Street from the meeting- house south; second, the Upper Street from the meeting-house north, including the Center and Eli- jah Gilbert's ; third, the Lower Street and Blake's ; fourth, Snell's Hill and all to the west of it. Dan- iel Briggs, Jesse Bradford, William Bradford, and Moses Snell were chosen a school committee. It was also voted to accept of John Sole, of Pembroke, in the county of Plymouth, to be an inhabitant of the town of Turner.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
1797
Dr. Daniel Child was chosen moderator; Ichabod Bonney, town clerk; Ichabod Bonney, John Turner, and Chandler Bradford, selectmen; and William Bradford, treasurer. Thirty-six pounds were voted for schools, and John Loring, Jabez Merrill, Wil- liam Bradford, and John Bonney, school committee. One hundred and fifty pounds were raised for repair of highways.
Votes for Governor, Increase Sumner, forty-two votes.
Lieutenant-Governor, Moses Gill, forty-two votes.
Senators, Stephen Longfellow, thirty-three votes ; Daniel Davis, thirty-six votes.
1798
Dr. Daniel Child was elected moderator; Ichabod Bonney, town clerk; Ichabod Bonney, John Turner, and Chandler Bradford, selectmen. One hundred and twenty dollars were voted for schools, and five hundred dollars for repair of highways.
In November there was an election of Represen- tatives to Congress, at which Peleg Wadsworth, Esq., received seventeen votes, and Charles Turner two.
Increase Sumner received forty-two votes for Governor, and Moses Gill forty votes for Lieuten - ant-Governor.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
For Senators, Stephen Longfellow received twen- ty-two votes, and Daniel Davis thirty votes.
1799
Nathaniel Sawtelle was chosen moderator; Ich- abod Bonney, town clerk; Ichabod Bonney, John Turner, and Chandler Bradford, selectmen; and William Bradford, treasurer. Benjamin Evans, Hezekiah Bryant, Jabez Merrill, and Job Randal were elected school committee. One hundred and twenty dollars were raised for schools, and six hun- dred and fifty dollars for repair of highways. Wil- liam Bradford collected the taxes for one shilling on the pound.
This year, a committee, consisting of Dr. Luther Cary, William Bradford, and Ichabod Bonney, was chosen to petition the General Court for leave to sell the lands belonging to the town.
1800
Nathaniel Sawtelle was elected moderator; Ich- abod Bonney, town clerk; William Bradford, treas- urer; and Ichabod Bonney, John Turner, and Chandler Bradford, selectmen. Chandler Bradford, Richard Phillips Jr., Luther Cary, and William Loring Jr. were chosen school committee. Two hundred dollars were voted for schools, and one thousand dollars for highways. It was voted to
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
build a school-house in the west district. Roads were laid out each year for the accommodation of the settlers, but it is not easy in every instance to determine their location.
In April, the vote for State officers was as follows : -
For Governor, Caleb Strong, Esq., forty-six votes ; Moses Gill, Esq., two votes.
For Lieutenant-Governor, Moses Gill, Esq., forty- eight votes.
For Senators, Daniel Davis, Esq., twenty-one votes; Stephen Longfellow, twenty-one votes.
In November, Peleg Wadsworth received thir- teen votes for Representative to Congress.
Daniel Briggs, William Bradford, and Joseph Copeland were chosen a committee to repair the meeting-house. Two hundred dollars were raised to supply the town with preaching, in accordance with a late law of the State, and a committee was chosen to procure a preacher. A committee was also chosen to care for the parsonage and school lands, and to prosecute trespassers.
180I
At a meeting called for the purpose, votes were thrown for State officers, as follows : -
For Governor, Caleb Strong, Esq., forty-one votes ; Elbridge Gerry, Esq., twenty-five votes.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
For Lieutenant-Governor, Samuel Phillips, Esq., thirty-eight votes ; William Heath, Esq., twenty-one votes ; Daniel Islley, Esq., one vote ; John Cushing, Esq., one vote ; Caleb Blake, one vote.
For Senators, Stephen Longfellow, forty-eight votes ; Luther Cary, twenty-eight votes ; Mr. Wood- bury, twenty votes ; Daniel Islley, eight votes ; John Cushing, eleven votes ; John K. Smith, two votes.
For County Register, Daniel Islley, Esq., twen- ty-five votes.
At the annual meeting, Luther Cary was chosen moderator; Ichbod Bonney, town clerk; Ichabod Bonney, John Turner, and Chandler Bradford, selectmen ; and William Bradford, treasurer. Dr. Luther Cary, Rev. John Strickland, Jabez Merrill, and Daniel Tuttle were chosen school committee. Three hundred dollars were raised for schools, and one thousand dollars for highways; and certain roads were accepted.
1802
Nathaniel Sawtelle was elected moderator; Ich- abod Bonney, town clerk; Ichabod Bonney, Benja- min Evans, and Nathaniel Sawtelle, selectmen ; and William Bradford, treasurer. Chandler Bradford, Joseph Ludden, Joseph Bonney, and Daniel Tuttle were chosen school committee. Three hundred and fifty dollars were raised for schools, and one
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thousand dollars for highways. Five shillings a day were allowed on the highways in June and July, and four shillings in the autumn.
At a meeting for the election of officers, held in April, votes were thrown as follows: -
For Governor, Caleb Strong, Esq., fifty-two votes; Elbridge Gerry, Esq., thirty-six votes ; Joseph Leav- itt, two votes.
For Lieutenant-Governor, Edward H. Rolins, forty-six votes; William Heath, thirty votes; Sam- uel Pumpelly, one vote.
For Senators, Mr. Woodbury, thirty-nine votes ; John Cushing, Esq., thirty-nine votes ; Luther Cary, Esq., seven votes; Samuel P. Russell, Esq., six votes.
A committee was again raised to petition the General Court for leave to sell the parsonage and school lands. A committee was raised to divide the town into school districts; and a road was accepted to Livermore line, beginning on a line between Nathaniel Sawtelle Jr.'s and John Soul's. Sixty dollars were raised for repairing the meeting- house. Four hundred dollars were raised to build a bridge over Twenty Mile River, and it was voted to pay seventy-five cents a day for labor. Peleg Wadsworth received eleven votes for Representa- tive to Congress.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
1803
At a meeting held January 24, Daniel Howard, Esq., was chosen " to appear at the Court of Gen- eral Sessions to be holden at Portland in the County of Cumberland on the third Tuesday of February next to answer in behalf of said town for not being provided with a public Teacher of Piety, Religion, and Morality."
At a meeting held in April, State officers were voted for as follows : -
For Governor, Caleb Strong, Esq., sixty-three votes; Elbridge Gerry, Esq., eight votes; Joseph Ludden, one vote; Edward Blake, one vote.
For Lieutenant-Governor, Edward H. Robbins, forty votes ; David Cobb, one vote ; William Heath, two votes; Luther Cary, one vote.
For Senators, Woodbury Storer, thirty-eight votes; John Cushing, thirty-six votes; Ezekiel Whitman, one vote.
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