USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Turner > A history of Turner, Maine, from its settlement to 1886 > Part 2
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Voted to give a bounty of Six Pounds to each settler, that shall take a Lot and build a house, and clear 5 acres of land, agree- able to the grant to the Proprietors, by the first day of Novem- ber, 1772.
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Voted to appoint a person to go down the latter part of Sum- mer to see and assist the Committee of Bakers Town, in making a road from Bakers Mills, to the foot of Sylvester Town, also to see that they cut out the same.
Voted to cut out the road between the second and third tier of Lots, a rod wide, making it join the road through Bakers Town.
These various inducements procured no settlers, and the forests of Sylvester remained unbroken. It was not only necessary to make generous offers to settlers, but also to see that a road was made for their convenience in getting to the township. A farm, however desirable in itself, which could be reached only by following spotted trees for miles through a dense forest, would have few attractions to most men. Hence, the proprietors were as earnest in their efforts to secure a road through Bakerstown, now Auburn, as in their own township. At a meeting holden April 15, 1772, it was
Voted, That the time for taking settling Lots, and making returns, be lengthened out till the first of September next.
Voted to appoint an agent to make application to the next Sessions at Falmouth to get or procure a road laid out from Little Androscoggin River to Sylvester Town.
We may infer from this vote that the people or proprietors of Bakerstown took no interest in the road through their township to Sylvester, and were not inclined to make one for the accommodation of
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their neighbors. As a further inducement for men to settle in Sylvester, the following votes were passed at this meeting : -
That any person that inclines to take a Mill Lot and one set- tling Lot, and will give security to Mr. Charles Turner, Proprie- tor's Treasurer, by the first of January next, to build a Saw Mill fit to saw boards, and two years from the first of January next a Gristmill fit for grinding meal, shall have said two Lots con- firmed unto him by the Proprietors, he doing the duty of per- forming the conditions of one settling Lot.
Voted to give four pounds and ten shillings Bounty to settlers, from the first of November 1772 to the first of July 1773, they performing the conditions as before.
Voted that Mr. Josiah Smith, the Agent, be directed at the expense of the Propriety to procure some kind of conveyance for horses over Little Androscoggin River.
Voted that the time for making returns of Lots taken, be lengthened out from the first of September 1772 until the first of July 1773.
Dr. Howe says: " Hitherto all efforts of the pro- prietors to procure settlers for their new township had proved utterly abortive; but this year, Daniel Staples, Thomas Records, Elisha Records, Joseph Leavitt, and Abner Phillips entered the town with axes on their shoulders, and commenced the first actual settlement of the place. These were the true pioneers of Turner.
The proprietors seem now to have been encour- aged to make renewed efforts to secure settlers. The forests once broken, and even a few homes
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established, men would be more willing to come in and select lots for themselves. Some social advan- tages were now possible, and life would be relieved of that feeling of isolation and desolateness which must have been suffered by the first settler. At the proprietors' meeting, held in Pembroke, August 4th, 1772, the following votes, among others, were passed : -
Voted to allow William Turner, Proprietors' Clerk, twelve pounds in full for his service to this day.
Voted that a Committee be chosen to get a Grist and Saw-mill built in the Township, upon the best terms they can for the Pro- priety ; and have liberty to give a sum not exceeding Twenty Pounds to any person or persons that will undertake to build them, in addition to what was voted by the Proprietors at their meeting in April last, provided said person or persons shall compleat the Gristmill by the fourth day of August next, and the Sawmill by the fourth day of August 1774, and give good and sufficient security to the Treasurer, Mr. Charles Turner, on or before the first day of December next, for performing the same, and keeping them in order for grinding corn and sawing stuff for the Proprietors and Settlers, at all times as customary, for twenty years next following ; said Committee, in case they can- not agree with any person or persons on the terms limited by this vote, to report, as soon as may be, what is best for the Pro- prietors to do, in order to accomplish the business: that this Committee consist of three, that Mr. Charles Turner, David Little Jun, and Col. Joseph Josleyn be this Committee.
Other meetings of the proprietors were held in the autumn of this year, but no business was accomplished, except to raise a tax of thirty shil-
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lings on each original share, to be paid to Mr. Charles Turner, their treasurer, on or before the 15th of March, 1773. This had been the most suc- cessful business year since the beginning of their efforts to induce settlers to locate in the township. The prospect of war with England was favorable to their enterprise rather than otherwise; and they seem to have been more hopeful of securing the requisite number of settlers within the time speci- fied by the General Court. Dr. Howe makes the following record: " This year (1773), Peleg Wads- worth, Ichabod Bonney, Jun., and Peleg Chandler performed such settling duties as to entitle them- selves to three of the several settlers' lots; and Josiah Staples commenced a bona fide settlement upon a fourth. At about the same time one Elisha Lake actually removed his family into the new plan- tation, but his continuance in the place was only of short duration, and did not entitle him to the rights of settlement." In March, 1773, it was voted : -
That Daniel Staples, Thomas Records, Elisha Records, Joseph Leavitt and Abner Phillips, have ten dollars Bounty, each, paid to them by the Treasurer, they giving security for performing the conditions of settlement, agreeable to a former vote.
Dr. Howe makes this note : " Although Ichabod Bonney, Jr., and Peleg Wadsworth took up settlers' lots in 1773, Captain Bonney did not remove to the
3
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town till 1783; and General Wadsworth never was a permanent resident here. He graduated at Har- vard College, in 1769, and, for several years, taught a grammar school in Plymouth. He took an active part in lotting out and selling this town, but when the Revolutionary war broke out he entered into the military service, and was employed some time in arming, equipping, and disciplining the raw troops of the country. He held several important military appointments, and in 1780, when the General Court of Massachusetts projected a scheme for expelling the British forces from the Penobscot, the com- mand of the land forces was confided to him. In this enterprise he encountered incredible hardships and dangers, and was finally taken a prisoner by the English. After the close of the Revolutionary war, General Wadsworth removed to Maine, and settled in the town of Portland, but afterward removed to Hiram, where he lived much respected, and died universally lamented by his numerous acquaintance." It was also voted : -
That all those persons who have or shall take settling Lots, on or before the 24th day of May next, and shall give security to the Treasurer, for performing the conditions of settlement, and shall perform said Conditions by the first day of July, 1774, shall be entitled to four pounds ten shillings Bounty.
Trespassers continued to be a trouble to the pro- prietors, and at their meeting in May of this year, it was voted : -
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That the Committee for prosecuting trespassers be hereby fully empowered and authorized to prosecute all trespasses that have been or shall be committed on said Township, until final issue, with power of substitution : also that they be hereby fully empowered to see the road cleared out from Little Androscog- gin River to Sylvester Town; also to procure conveyance for horses over Little Androscoggin River, if Bakers Town people will not build a bridge.
Hearing that their meetings, held in previous years, were not legal, and that they might be involved in difficulties, should they attempt to enforce their resolutions against trespassers, or should there be a disposition on the part of any one not to comply with their votes, they proceeded to call a meeting of the proprietors in legal form, that the question of legality might be at rest, and all their acts be surely valid. The first meeting under the new call was held in Hanover, March 8, 1774. It was then voted: "To confirm all and any former votes and grants, at any former meeting or meet- ings."
About this time the " Pejepscut " deed and claim came to the knowledge of the proprietors, and they were fearful that this claim would interfere with their grant, as located by them. To set this matter at rest, they voted, at a meeting held April 5, 1774 :-
That Charles Turner be appointed, and he is hereby appointed, to make all necessary enquiry, in the best way possi-
.
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ble as to the Pejepscut Deed and Confirmation, how it is bounded, especially where it begins, and crosses Androscoggin River, and procure an attested copy thereof, if possible; also as to the westerly bounds of the Plymouth Company's Grant ; and make any other inquiry he shall think necessary, relative thereto, and make report of his doings at the adjournment of this meeting.
As no action was taken at the adjourned meeting on this matter, it is presumed that the " Pejepscut " deed did not interfere with their grant. But, after all their efforts, they could not succeed in procuring the erection of a saw and grist mill; hence, they thought best to offer greater inducements, as the following vote will show: -
That if any person or persons will undertake to build a Corn Mill in Sylvester Town, by the tenth day of October, 1774, and a Saw Mill by the tenth day of October, 1775, fit for grinding and sawing, and will give good and sufficient security to Mr. Charles Turner, Proprietors' Treasurer, for performing the same, and keeping them in order for grinding and sawing for the Proprie- tors and Settlers, for twelve years next following, shall have one Mill Lot and one Settling Lot confirmed unto him or them by said Proprietors, he or they doing the duty or performing the conditions of one settling Lot : also shall have twenty-five Pounds Lawful Money. Also voted, that Col. Warren, Charles Turner, and Peleg Wadsworth Jun. or the major part of them, be a Committee to let out the same.
It appears that the people of Bakerstown were not disposed to build a bridge across Little· River for the accommodation of the proprietors and the
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public, for at meeting held May Ioth, 1774, it was voted : -
That Mr. Ichabad Bonney Jun. be desired at a suitable time in the ensuing summer to go down to the Eastward, and build a bridge over Little Androscoggin River, in the road lately cleared from Bakers Town to Sylvester, and for that purpose employ a suitable number of hands in the most prudent and cheap way he can, either by carrying them from here, or employing those that are there, - said Bonney to have for his service ten Dollars per month, to commence from the time of his going from home, and to end with the time the work is done, and he to allow for the time he is employed in his own service there, and he to be allowed for his own expenses in going down and while he is there, during the time he is engaged in said service, excepting a house which he is to find himself.
To meet the expenses, they voted : -
A tax of twenty shillings on a Right, to be paid to the Treas- urer, on or before the fourth day of September, 1774.
And, to encourage the building of mills, it was voted : -
That the Committee for letting out the Mills have liberty to give ten Pounds more, in addition to the twenty-five Pounds already voted, if occasion require.
At a meeting of the proprietors, held in Pem- broke, July 19, 1774, it was voted : -
That Mr. Ichabod Bonney Jun. be desired and employed, and he is hereby desired and employed, at a suitable time this summer, to go to the eastward to forward the building of a Grist and Saw Mill in Sylvester Town, as far as he shall think neces-
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sary the ensuing fall, and for that purpose to employ a suitable numberof hands, in the most prudent and cheap way he can, either by carrying them from here, or employing those there ; said Bonney to have for his own service four Pounds per month, and his own expenses, excepting a horse, - to commence from the time he goes from hence and to expire with the time he is employed there.
This new effort seems to have been crowned with success, since at a meeting held October 25th, 1774' the proprietors voted as follows : -
Whereas Mr. Samuel Blake proposes to build a Grist and Saw Mill in Sylvester Town, to be completed fit for grinding and saw- ing, in one year from this date, and to keep them in good repair for twelve years next ensuing, for said Mill Lott, and the whole of the preparation already made by said Proprietors in said Township for building said Mills to this day, and also £33 - 6-8, lawful money, the one half of which to be paid in three months from this date, the other half when the work is com- pleted: Therefore said Proprietors hereby contract with said Blake, on the conditions aforesaid, he giving security to Mr. Charles Turner, Proprietors' Treasurer, for performing the same.
In January, 1775, each proprietor was assigned a lot of land for his own use, and thirty lots were returned as " settlers' lots," the numbers of which were placed on record, but no mention is made of the owners' names. These lots were located on the Upper Street and Lower Street, so called, and a few on the road leading south from the village. About this time the Revolutionary War began to be immi-
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nent, and the attention of the people was given to those things which deeply concerned their country's welfare. The proprietors of "Sylvester Town " even found a subject to engross their minds more intensely than their lands to the "eastward," and seem to have forgotten the meetings which were called for the transaction of business, for it does not appear by their records that the meeting appointed for September 4th, 1775, was ever held, or that any meeting was held during the two years following. But Mr. Charles Turner, their treasurer, was mean- while actively engaged in securing settlers, and in promoting the interests of all concerned.
Dr. Howe makes the following note : -
Samuel Blake was a native of Taunton, Bristol County, Massa- chusetts, and married Abigail Richard, of Thompson, Conn. He died January 11th, 1802, leaving the following issue : Caleb, who married Betsey Briggs, June 11th, 1793 ; Samuel, who mar- ried Nabby Bonney, January 27th, 1776 ; Thatcher, who married Sarah Evans, .November 11th, 1778; Edward, who married Sally Harwood, of Bowdoinham; Abigail, who married Dr. Michael Howland, of Bowdoinham ; Grinfill, who married Eunice Cary, January 2d, 1805 ; Silas, who married Sophia Cary, studied med- icine with Dr. Luther Cary, and settled in the town of Otisfield ; Joseph, who studied medicine with Dr. Joseph Snell, of Win- throp, and died in Turner, August 18th, 1813; and Lydia, who married Gustavus Newhall, April 7th, 1811.
At this time mills had not been built, and every grist had to be carried to New Gloucester to be
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ground. Roads were not completed, hence it was necessary for those sturdy men to carry their corn on their shoulders to New Gloucester to be ground, guided a portion of the way by "spotted trees." We may well suppose that many a one shrank from this task, and tradition informs us that one man, not a lover of farm labor, would carry a bushel of corn to mill in exchange for a day's work, and that he was often employed in this service. But notwithstanding the great discouragements of the time, and the hard- ships incident to pioneer life, the work of bringing new settlers into the town went surely, though slowly, on. Says Dr. Howe : -
A number of single young men were, during this period, in- duced to take up settling lots, and a few families actually moved into the plantation. In the spring of 1775, Israel Haskell removed his family from New Gloucester into Sylvester, and this was the first family that made a permanent settlement in the plantation. Mr. Haskell had married Abigail Davis, by whom he had a large family, whose names and marriage relations were as follows : Abigail, married Richard Phillips ; Hannah, married Abner Phillips; Israel, married Juda Wellman; Jacob, married Mary Johnson, March 15th, 1793; Esther, married Joseph Tyler, March 15th, 1793; Phebe, married Samuel Tyler; Asa, married Jemima Bray; Elizabeth, married Daniel Bray; and Mary, married Nehemiah Sawtelle.
Soon after, Hezekiah Bryant removed his family from Halifax, in the County of Plymouth, which made the second family. Mr. Bryant had married Deborah Crooker, of Pembroke, who died April 22, 1782. In November following, he married Mary Ellis, of Hebron, Maine, who died in March, 1784. In July, 1784, he
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married the widow Joanna Colley, who died in June, 1805. August 18, 1805, he married the widow Rebecca Child, who died February 27, 1826. Mr. Bryant's children with their marriage connections were as follows: Deborah, who married William Gott; Sophia, who married Joshua Purrington ; and Thomas, who married Salome Sawtelle. The above were born in Halifax, and the following in Sylvester : Bethiah, the first child born in Sylvester, married Ebenezer Keith, of Livermore; Jonathan, who married Anna Morse ; and Hezekiah, who married Polly Townsend.
Moses Stephens, in the same season, removed his family from New Gloucester, which made the third family in Sylvester. Mr. Stephens had married Mary Collins, who died on the 24th of April, 1780, which was the first death that occurred in the plan- tation. After her death, Mr. Stephens married the widow Han- nah Davis, of Gloucester, Mass. His children and their mar- riage connections were as follows: Anna, who married Joseph Leavitt, July 18, 1776; Jacob, who married Patty Sawyer; Mary, who married Isaac Phillips, in 1779; Elizabeth, who married Oliver Turner, October 12, 1788 ; Moses, who married Nancy Smith, October 9, 1788; Aphia, who married Seba Smith, October 9, 1788 ; Michael W., who married Polly Bryant, Octo- ber 14, 1805 ; and Lydia D., who married Alden Blossom, Octo- ber 23, 1803.
What other settlers came in during these years there are no records to show, but it appears that the proprietors turned their attention to their township again, and active measures were taken to promote the interests of the settlement. The resolve grant- ing them the township required them not only to secure a certain number of settlers within a given time, but also to build a meeting-house and settle a
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learned Protestant minister. But this had not been done, so they now determine to fulfil this part of their contract with the State. ] In a meeting held August 24, 1778, they voted : -
That it be recommended to the Rev. Mr. Charles Turner to enquire of the settlers of Sylvester Township what they will build a meeting-house for, 30 feet square, 18 feet posts between joints, finish the outside, lay the lower floor, with 6 windows in the house; and upon his return to report to the Propriety.
Voted, that it be recommended to the Rev. Mr. Charles Tur- ner, to agree with some person to clear two acres on the meet- ing-house spot.
Voted, that all who have taken up Lotts in Sylvester Township and have not fulfilled the original conditions, unless they will perform the conditions on their respective Lotts, by the first day of June, 1779, they one and all shall forfeit their title to deeds ever thereafter.
Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Charles Turner should take a view of the road upon the westernly side of Wilson Pond, and that he would be so good as to inform the Proprietors what he thinks the settlers ought to have for their trouble.
Voted, that Mr. Charles Turner, Treasurer of the Propriety be empowered to run the lines of the two westerly tier of Lotts, and to run three tier of Lotts from Androscoggin to the end of the Township, parrelled with the Lotts already laid out, at the expense of the Propriety.
There is no record of Rev. Mr. Turner's report, but the proprietors apparently acted on his sugges- tion, since at a meeting held March 9, 1779, they voted : -
That the sum of twenty Pounds be allowed the settlers of Sylvester Town for clearing the road at the westerly end of
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Wilson Pond, to be distributed among them according to their several services in clearing said road.
It was also voted at the same meeting :-
That Capt. Ichabod Bonney be a committee to repair to Syl- vester Town, and prepare all the materials of wood, for building a Meeting-house of thirty-five feet square, and twenty feet posts, and procure workmen to frame and raise the same, and board the walls with one and a half inch stuff, and compleat the roof, and procure nails for the purpose, and conduct the whole in such a manner as shall appear to be the least expensive to the Proprietors.
Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Baldwin be desired to write a letter to the Settlers of Sylvester Town, informing them of the full acquiescence of the Proprietors with their proposal of settling the Rev. Mr. Charles Turner as their minister, and transmit to them what part of his support, during five years, the Proprietors have voted to pay.
This Rev. Mr. Baldwin seems to have become one of the proprietors, since he was generally pres- ent at their meetings for a few years, and on several occasions was chosen clerk, yet his name does not appear in the list of proprietors who drew lots. To remove all doubt as to the meaning of the proprie- tors in their offer to pay a portion of the minister's salary, they passed the following vote April 19, 1779.
Whereas the Proprietors at their last meeting, voted to pay one half the charge the settlers shall be at, for the support of a Clergyman for three years, and one third part for two years after, and whereas some doubts may arise with regard to the intention of the Proprietors in case the settlers should agree for
.
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articles of produce, in certain quantities, instead of Money in its present uncertain situation :
Therefore, Voted, that it is the meaning and intention of the Proprietors to conform to the contract which the settlers shall make with the Rev. Mr. Charles Turner, for his standing salary, agreeable to the proportion in their said Vote expressed, whether it be for money or articles of produce.
Though they made commendable effort and gen- erous offers to induce settlers to locate on their lands, and to fulfil their part of the contract with the State within the specified time, the proprietors were not fully successful. The appointed time was expiring; the requisite number of settlers was not secured; a meeting-house was not built, and a learned Protestant minister was not settled. Hence, at a meeting held August 9, 1779, Hon. James Warren was chosen an agent of the propriety to present a petition to the General Court, represent- ing the difficulties they had labored under in fully complying with the conditions of settlement "on account of the particular situation of the times, and to pray the General Court to extend to them a further time for that purpose." The following resolve shows the result of this petition : -
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, September 14th, 1779.
On the petition of James Warren, Agent for the proprietors, of a Township of land on Androscoggin River, called Sylvester- Canada, confirmed to himself and others, by the General Court
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of this State, on the eighteenth day of June 1768, upon certain conditions, as may appear by the resolve of that date.
Resolved, that for the reasons in said Petition assigned, the furthur term of three years be allowed said Proprietors for ful- filling the conditions required by the aforesaid Resolve of the 18th of June 1768, within which term the fulfillment of said conditions, by said Proprietors shall operate and be to all in- tents and purposes as satisfactory as if performed within the Term prescribed by the aforesaid Resolve of June 18th, 1768, said Resolve to the contrary notwithstanding.
Sent up for concurrence. JOHN HANCOCK, Speaker.
In Council, September 14th, 1779. Read and concurred.
JOHN AVERY, Dep. Sec.
Consented to by the major part of the Council.
True copy. Attest : Dr. Howe says : --
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