USA > Maine > York County > Parsonsfield > A history of the first century of the town of Parsonsfield, Maine > Part 33
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The name of his first wife is not known nor the date of her death, but probably about 1661. They had six children, three sons and three daughters. The sons were Henry, in the ancestral line of General Henry Dearborn; Thomas, ancestor of Dearborns resident in Effing- ham, New Hampshire, and John, from whom the Parsonsfield Dear- borns have descended.
He married a second wife on November 25, 1662, in the person of Mrs. Dorothy Dalton, the widow of Philoman Dalton. His will bears the date of December 14, 1680, and is witnessed by Samuel Dalton and his wife Mehitable. Samuel was the only son of Philoman and Dorothy Dalton, and he from whom the Daltons in this country have descended.
The first Dearborn in the town of Parsonsfield, was
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JEREMIAH.
He was born in Hampton, New Hampshire, January 8, 1768 (the line of descent being Jeremiah,6 John,5 John,4 John,3 John,2 Godfrey1). He was married to Ruth Bachelder, and moved to Parsonsfield in 1794, and died here January 25, 1851, aged eighty-three years.
JOHN DEARBORN,
Second son of Jeremiah and Ruth (Bachelder) Dearborn, was born in Parsonsfield, February 13, 1801. His father had, seven years prior, removed from Hampton, New Hampshire, to this town, then young, and effected a settlement subject to the deprivations of that early period. The eldest son, Jeremiah Jr., entered the army when John was twelve years of age, and there received injuries which rendered him incapable of toil, and of which he died seven years later. Much of the burden of life thus came upon John. His privileges were few, his duties many, and to his obligations he was ever faithful.
In 1826, he married Miss Sally S., daughter of Elisha and Sally (Smith) Wadleigh, which union was blessed with five children, three sons and two daughters. The third son died in infancy. The other children yet survive. The dear wife and devoted mother, whose loved memory is constantly fresh and sweet, passed "over the river " in May, 1850. He married Mrs. Sophia Hill, of Waterboro, a kind and motherly lady, in 1853, and died April, 1877, a resident during all his life on the same farm where he was born, now owned by his eldest son, Samuel G. His eldest daughter Ruth is the wife of Elliot Fernald, of Saco, and the youngest, the wife of Albert Roberts, of Waterboro.
In early life, he and his wife united with the Freewill Baptists, under Reverend John Buzzell, of which church they ever remained members. He served his town in no official capacity, but modest and retiring, he served humanity as a hospitable, generous, honest, kind- hearted Christian, and on this page of local history, this tribute is laid to the memory of an intelligent, active, devoted, loving and lovable mother, whose life was one of self-abnegation, and to a father of uprightness and honor, whose memory is blessed, by their son,
J. W. D.
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JOHN DEARBORN.
GEO.N. WALKER & CO.LITH. BOSTON
Elliot Sennato
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
HARDY MERRILL.
Hardy Merrill was born in Newbury, Massachusetts, October 18, 1774. He was the son of Henry and Rebecca (Moulton) Merrill, whose ancestors came to Newbury from England, in 1635.
Hardy came to Parsonsfield in 1793, married Salome Kinsman, of Parsonsfield, in 1794. The result of this marriage was nine children. Joseph, the oldest, married Hannah Burbank of Parsonsfield, the result being four children. Isaac, the second, married Hannah McDonald, of Limerick, the result being one son. Salome, the third, married
David Mudgett, of Parsonsfield, the result being five children. Henry, · the fourth, married Rebecca Merrill, of Parsonsfield, the result being
one son. Abby, the fifth, married James Moore, of Parsonsfield, the result being nine children. Hannah, the sixth, married Gilman L. Bennett, of Parsonsfield, the result being four children. Louisa, the seventh, married Silas Moulton, of Parsonsfield, the result being four children. Rebecca, the eighth, married Abner Kezar of Parsonsfield, the result being one son. Samuel, the ninth, married Elizabeth Knapp, of Parsonsfield, the result being four children.
Hardy Merrill died March 12, 1855, aged eighty-one years.
ELLIOT FERNALD.
The progenitor of the family in America was one Doctor Reginald Fernald, who was born in England about 1595 and came to this country about 1630, settling in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and died there in 1656. He is said to have been the first physician who settled in New Hampshire.
Mr. Elliot Fernald was of the fifth generation, and was born in Ber- wick, Maine, March 9, 1785. His name appears on the tax list in Par- sonsfield first, in 1805. On January 31, 1811, he married Miss Sally Mudgett, daughter of Simeon Mudgett, and they had four children. He died June 16, 1858, aged seventy-three years, and Mrs. Fernald died April 7, 1882, aged ninety years. Mr. Fernald served the town quite a number of years as one of its municipal officers, was an indus- trious, upright citizen, a kind and affectionate husband and father, and a neighbor much esteemed. In politics, he was a democrat, never seeking distinction. He was never associated with any organized
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church, nor making pretension to be what he was not, yet he was a Christian in all good conscience, and his modest and retiring every-day life of genuine honesty would put to shame many of loud-mouthed pro- fessions, whose names swell the church records, but whose lives of pro- fessed ritualistic exactness do not comport with their outward sancti- mony.
His eldest daughter became the wife of Captain Joseph Dearborn, of Parsonsfield, the second daughter is the wife of Reverend James Rand, of Dover, New Hampshire, and the third, the wife of Thomas B. Went- worth, of Parsonsfield.
His only son, Elliot, junior, married Ruth, the daughter of John and Sally (Wadleigh) Dearborn, resided on the home place till after the death of his father, served the town for several years as selectman, then moved to Saco, where he now resides, and where he has served on the board of aldermen. He possesses the like sterling qualities of heart and life, which characterized the father, and which are generally possessed by the descendants of old Doctor Reginald Fernald, the paternal ancestor.
NEAL.
The family is of English extraction and was among the earliest set- tlers of New Hampshire. In a deed dated May 17, 1629, from four Indian Sagamores to John Wheelwright and others, recorded in York County records, Walter Neal, one of the witnesses, is styled " Gov- ernor for the company of Laconia." In 1631, Captain Walter Neal was agent of Gorges, Mason and others, for their patent including Portsmouth, Newcastle and Rye. He lived at Little Harbor, at the mouth of the Piscataqua. He discovered the White Mountains, drove away pirates, hung an Indian, made a survey and map of the territory he governed, and in 1634 returned to England.
In 1683, another Walter Neal was a freeholder in Portsmouth and signed a petition to the king, which was sent to England by Nathaniel Weare.
In 1785, two brothers, Walter Neal and Enoch Neal, came from Newmarket, New Hampshire, to Parsonsfield, and settled on the Middle Road. John Neal now lives where Walter lived, and Luther where
Geo. H. Walker & Co. Lith. Busten
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Enoch settled. Walter left a son Walter, who had his father's farm, married Miss Shores and died in 1845, leaving several children, among whom were Creighton, Joseph and William. William now lives in Newmarket, and his mother is living with him at the age of ninety-five.
Enoch Neal was born in Newmarket, in 1762, married Nancy Towle in 1788, and died in Parsonsfield, June 22, 1817. His wife died December 23, 1840.
REVEREND LORING T. STAPLES,
Son of David and Catharine (Manson) Staples, was born in Liming- ton, Maine, February 28, 1830. His boyhood was passed upon his father's farm. Young Staples early evinced a proclivity for the study of medicine, and after receiving the rudiments of a good education at the common schools in his native town, he later attended the acad- emies at Limerick and North Bridgton, where he prepared himself for college, with the avowed intention of entering the profession of med- icine. He was a quick, apt scholar, and took high rank in his class. He taught twenty-four terms of school in various towns in the state, and in Danvers, Massachusetts; marked success attending his efforts. The failing health of his father compelled him to give up his college course, and he returned to the old homestead to assist his father on the farm.
In 1857, he married Sarah D. Gilpatrick, of Limerick, Maine. Soon after his marriage, he moved to Wales, in Androscoggin County, Maine, where he remained several years. From there he removed to Limerick and thence to Parsonsfield, in 1866.
In 1867, becoming the subject of profound religious impressions, he could not content himself in the ordinary routine of a secular calling, but was impressed with irresistible conviction that he was called in duty to engage in the ministry of the gospel, and was ordained by the First Freewill Baptists, becoming one of the leading preachers in that denomination. There is not the slightest trace of affectation in his address, but he challenges attention by his earnestness and sincerity. There is a seriousness in his manner before which levity shrinks abashed, an occasional vehemence which sweeps all obstacles before it.
Soon after moving to Parsonsfield, he removed to Middle Road Vil- lage, and there successfully engaged in mercantile business, in which
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he remained for thirteen years, doing a very large amount of business and building up a large and extensive trade, carrying into it the same energy that has always characterized him.
In 1871, his wife died, leaving three children, Henry L., now assist- ant physician at the Soldiers' Home, at Togus, Maine, Elva N. and Alice. In 1875, he married as his second wife, Miss Caroline M. Chamberlin, of Middle Road Village, the result of said union are two children, Anna and Arthur. While in his native town, he held offices of trust, and in his adopted town of Parsonsfield he was honored with office for many years. In 1880 and 1881, he represented Parsonsfield and Cornish in the State Legislature and took great delight in the investigation of all new questions, whether in law or politics. He became one of the leading members, strong in debate, with rare tact and judgment, acquitting himself with credit; quick to draw conclu- sions, he was a forcible debater and a dangerous opponent.
He has never given up his itineracy, but with unshaken determina- tion and ardent zeal he has continued to pursue his religious work, making it the leading object and aim of his life. In 1886, he removed to the old neighborhood where he was born, and where he now resides, extensively engaged in farming.
STEPHEN PARSONS,
Son of Thomas Parsons, Esquire, and father of John U., had a decided genius for inventing. After several years' study, he devised a cannon which would discharge seven balls in rapid succession by turning a crank. About the time his model was perfected, he became interested in religion and united with the Congregational church.
Reverend Joseph Garland relates the following: "In 1835, or about that date, Mr. Parsons attended a church conference at my father's house. He brought into the room, carefully wrapped up, something that excited the curiosity of all. During the meeting he rose quietly and remarked that he had an idol which he wished to destroy in their presence. He said the Bible taught him that he should seek to save life not destroy it. Then placing his model upon the open fire, he looked calmly on while it was being consumed."
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GEO.N.WALKER & CO. BOSTON
Josepho S Dearborn
CAPT. JOSEPH : S. DEARBORN.
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Mr. Parsons invented the sash plane, now in common use by carpen- ters, and also other useful tools. As elsewhere stated, the Parsonses have been very prominent in town.
JOSEPH PARSONS,
Son of Enoch Parsons, and great-grandson of the proprietor, has been for years identified with the interests of the town, as have also David and John U., sons of his brother Asa B. They are all good citizens and correct business men.
JOSEPH S. DEARBORN,
Second son of Captain Jacob Dearborn, was born in Hampton, New Hampshire, December 26, 1811. His father first moved to the town of Parsonsfield about 1796 or '97, and made purchase of a farm, here remaining until 1809, when he returned to Hampton, retaining his farm in Parsonsfield, and remained in Hampton until 1816, when he again came to Parsonsfield and remained here until his death.
Joseph S. learned the trade of blacksmith of his father, which busi- ness he has followed largely most of his life. He married Lydia, daughter of William Frost, and reared a family of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters.
He has been a very industrious, hard-working man, engaged in agri- culture in addition to the business of his trade; and has served his town acceptably in offices of trust. He was as well as his father and eldest brother, Jacob, junior, commissioned a captain in the state militia. Mrs. Dearborn died April 13, 1883.
JOHN TUCK.
Entered Hampton Academy in 1836, at seventeen, when that institu- tion was under the instruction of my brother Amos, as principal. When about prepared to enter college, was obliged to give up doing so on account of failure of health. Having recovered in a measure, after a brief rest from study, returned to the academy and for a year reviewed and extended the study of the English branches. After teaching a few terms, settled on the paternal homestead in Parsonsfield.
In January, 1848, removed to Biddeford, where I have lived till date, except for a short time in Washington, and nearly a year in the
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West. Have written for the press several papers on scientific and educational subjects, and others more numerous perhaps on political topics, and am the writer of the article on "AGRICULTURE OF PAR- SONSFIELD."
This brief sketch of the life of Mr. Tuck was prepared by him on the day that he died, and only a few hours previous, and was the last work he ever accomplished. I introduce it as he wrote it, which gives some idea of the modesty of the man. He had previously said to me in regard to the history, "Give me no title but simply plain John Tuck." He was one of the most interested in the forthcoming history of his native town, and one who gave the writer as much encourage- ment in the arduous work as any of its native sons.
In politics he was early a democrat, later, a republican, and later still, an independent, and in religious views a bold Unitarian and an outspoken liberal. He was ever guided by strong convictions, was mentally sensitive, yet strong, though physically weak and suffering much.
He died October 8, 1886, aged sixty-seven years. His portrait is to be seen page 26, and is from a photograph taken some years prior. He had been intending to have a photograph taken for the express purpose of introduction in this history, but had been deterred therefrom because of a severe injury from which he had been suffering, received during his last visit to his native town in June previous, which ren- dered him unable to walk. He was just getting able to ride, and had on the day of his death been out for a ride, preparing the above sketch after his return.
JOSEPH F. DEARBORN,
Second son of Joseph S., is a man of unusual energy and business enterprise. He was born May 29, 1835, and with the large family of children obtained his education mostly at the district school, supple- mented by a few terms at Parsonsfield Seminary. In 1855, he went to Boston, Massachusetts, thence in 1857 to Kansas, then in 1859, he came to Portland, Maine, where he engaged in business for a time. May, 1861, he took his first trip to California (by Isthmus), where he remained one year, returning to Parsonsfield in 1862 and engaging
Geo. H. Welker & Co. Lith.Boston
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in mercantile business. In 1863, he sold out his business interests and again went to California, remaining but one year, then returning to Parsonsfield and again engaging in trade, where he remained until 1882. He then went to Illinois, where he engaged in business in Geneseo and Mattoon, in poultry and eggs. He resides in the city of Mattoon. Some idea of the extent of his business may be obtained from the fact that in January last sixty-one tons of dressed poultry was shipped by him from that city, and the total shipment for ten months was three hundred and ten tons. From March 1 to September 1, 1887, he also shipped one hundred and seventy-six thousand dozen of eggs, and he claims that his business is now only in its infancy, and is the only business he has ever engaged in or investigated that has no limit. He is also engaged in the wholesale vinegar business, shipping in car- load lots.
In 1859, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Nathaniel and Pamelia Brackett, and they have had three children, two of whom are living.
While a resident of Parsonsfield he was engaged in town business most of the years, and representative to the Legislature in 1876. His life has been and still is, an unusually busy one.
SIMON FROST DEARBORN,
Brother of Joseph F., is the youngest son of Captain Joseph S., born January 24, 1851, and is now a resident of Boston, Massachusetts, engaged in business at 117 State Street. He left town in 1870, and in 1881 was married to Miss Annie L. Rand, of Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire. They have one little daughter, born September 8, 1885. Mr. Dearborn is a young man of fine physique, full of energy, with a future full of promise.
* RUFUS MCINTIRE,
The third son of Micum and Rhoda (Allen) McIntire, was born Decem- ber 19, 1784 ; in York, Maine. He was fifth in descent from Micum McIntire, a Highland Scotsman, who settled first in Berwick, then in Scotland parish, York, probably at the close of the Civil War in England, in 1646.
* This sketch is from the pen of Miss Mary R. McIntire, of Portland, eldest daughter of Mr. McIntire.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
Rufus McIntire fitted for college in South Berwick, under the instruction of Josiah W. Seaver, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1809, read law in Alfred with Honorable John Holmes three years, and was commissioned a captain in the United States Third Artillery, at the beginning of the war of 1812-15. He raised a company of more than a hundred men in York County, and served through the war on the frontier of New York.
He came to Parsonsfield in 1817 for a temporary residence, but spent the remainder of his life in this town, in whose welfare he felt a lively interest to the end, April 28, 1866. He served in many public offices, as representative of the town, as county attorney, as representative in Congress, land agent of Maine, United States marshal and surveyor of the port of Portland. ·
In 1819, he married Nancy Hannaford, of Parsonsfield, who died February 2, 1830. In 1832, he married again, Mary B. Hannaford, a sister of his first wife. She died November 18, 1838. In his family he had ten children, Mary Rolfe, Annette, James Otis, Alonzo, Eveline, Malcolm, Rufus, Malcolm, Malcolm, Nan. Hannaford. Of these, three sons died in infancy.
JAMES OTIS MCINTIRE, born in Parsonsfield March 5, 1822, was educated for the bar. In 1846, he married Miss Sarah A. Hubbard, of Cornish. His residence was in Alfred where he was Clerk of Courts ten years. He died in Parsonsfield April, 1875. His children are Philip W., Ella N., Sarah H., Katharine H.
RUFUS MCINTIRE, JUNIOR, born April 6, 1828, is a farmer. He mar- ried, in Trivoli, Illinois, in 1856, Miss Eunice Jordan, from Gorham, Maine. He served as a soldier in an Illinois Battery, through the Civil War and still lives in Trivoli. His children are Eva M., married to Oscar Wykoff, Emma W., Alice, James Otis.
MALCOLM MCINTIRE, born May 2, 1835, graduated from Bowdoin College in 1857. In 1858, he went to Owensboro', Kentucky, as a teacher. In 1869, he married Miss Mary Hardin, of Owensboro'. Has been a teacher in both Owensboro' and Hartford, Kentucky. He was in the service of the government through the Civil War, and for many years since was in the internal revenue service. His children are Mal- colm Hardin and Rufus McIntire.
GEO. H. WALKER & CO. LITH . BOSTON
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COL SIMON J. WHITTEN.
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The four daughters of Rufus McIntire, all living and unmarried, left Parsonsfield, November, 1869, and have made a home for themselves together in Portland.
The house in which they spent their whole lives in Parsonsfield was built for the first settled minister, Reverend Benjamin Rolfe, nearly a century ago.
COLONEL SIMON JORDAN WHITTEN,
Was the eldest son of Richard and Mercy (Jose) Whitten, and was born in Scarboro, Maine, February 27, 1786. His parents soon after moved to Cornish, Maine, thence to Parsonsfield, and in 1833 they removed to Troy, Maine, where Mr. Richard Whitten died June 3, 1845. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Simon J. married Mary B. Pike, of Cornish, on October 25, 1810, and they took up their residence at East Parsonsfield, where he entered into mercantile business in company with his wife's father, Mr. John Pike. Four years later the partnership was dissolved, and he removed to North Parsonsfield, where he erected an imposing mansion with out- buildings in keeping, and also a large store. Here he pursued farming and mercantile business for many years, dying January 31, 1859, at the age of seventy-three years. He reared a family of fourteen children , viz. : Nancy, Albert, Armine, Mary, Mercy, Sarah, Simon, Dolly, Han- nah, Henry, Ira, Edwin, John and James, the eldest being born Jan- uary 10, 1812, and the youngest, February 11, 1832.
Mr. Whitten was a man of much activity, devoting some time of his early life to driving a stage-coach on the line between Portsmouth and Haverhill, long years before the advent of the railway car with its pleasant accommodations. He was the first man who ever drove a six-horse team on said route. In later life, he took much interest in military matters, and occupied the various positions from private to colonel. He was a member of the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, prior to, and through the Morgan excitement. He was also one of the board of trustees of Parsonsfield Seminary and contributed largely toward its erection.
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BENNETT.
I copy from a sketch of the Bennett family prepared by John P. Bennett, more than fifty years since.
" John Bennett, a native of England, landed at Kittery, Maine, at a period unknown to the writer. He married Mary Wilson, of Kittery, and removed to Wells, where he and his consort died. They had a large family of children, but only four of them survived their parents. David Bennett died in early life, while engaged in the French War, in which he held the rank of lieutenant. One of his daughters married with a Mr. Wilson, of York; the other, with a Mr. Story, of Wells, and died about 1833, at an advanced age. Joel Bennett, the youngest son, married Lydia Perkins, of York, daughter of Mr. John Perkins. Five children were the issue of this marriage, viz .: Mary, John, Lydia, Joel and Elizabeth.
"Mary married Samuel Dalton and removed to Parsonsfield. Lydia married Mr. Richard Lord, and also removed to Parsonsfield. Joel married Lucy Story and lived in Wells. Elizabeth died at an early age. John Bennett, born June 1, 1773, removed to Parsonsfield about 1800 and purchased a farm, and on the 25th of February, 1805, he married Susan Lougee, daughter of Deacon Gilman Lougee. Two sons were the issue of this marriage, Gilman Lougee and John Perkins. Mr. Bennett died August 13, 1833."
From our town records, we learn that Mr. John Bennett, above referred to, was a prominent business man, holding the various offices of honor and trust. His eldest son, Gilman Lougee, was a physician (see page 141).
. His second son, JOHN PERKINS BENNETT, was, like his father and elder brother Gilman, a man of marked ability, and prominently identi- fied with the business management of the town. He was born August 21, 1811, obtained a good education at district and high schools in town, and at Effingham Academy ; was a teacher of common schools in early life, which he continued during the winter months, until near his decease. On July 2, 1834, married Miss Armine Whitten, daughter of Colonel Simon J. Whitten, and retaining the homestead farm, there lived, dying at the early age of forty years. He left three children, one son and two daughters, the eldest, Ellen S., married David C.
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