USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Atlas and history of Androscoggin County, Maine > Part 32
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Of ibose who then went to the Stale of Obio, were Selb | Gres, have offreled the removal from much of the area of Hinkley, who nt nn early period come here from Brunswick, the town nf the nlden forent growtb. whinse lug house was upon the hill and opposite the house mors recently bnili by the Inte Jonathan Davis; and Sntnel Tebbelts, tha con of Timotby Tebbierte, olso from Brunswick, wbose house was near the southero vitisge, and a little to the westward.
Another Ihvision andf Webster Incorporated .- The first official nelion of the town of Lisbon fur ita dlylion into Iwo townn was an article in the warrant of October 28. 1824. "To oce if the town will vots to dirtde unid town of Limbon an Davies' Suuth Line," and though at the niceting held November 1, 1824, the question was summarily die- posed of for the tiure by vuting " to diamiss the article relating to the dirision of anid town," yet that question for eîntcen yenrs thereafter was one of carnest nud almost con- Ilant debate and enniention hy those immediately tutsrested in the official meetings of the town, and In private, wben
The mean elevorion of the surface is Ibnl of an Ideal plateau of medium uphenval, of bul little less than four hundred feet, that of Mount Sebntlis in north Jotituds 44º. tho monmure was effected hy an net of the tegiststuro of 08/, 30//, 87, and west longitude T0°, 04/, 22", 84, belng Maina approved March T, 1840, Incorporating ins noribern bi-segment a town by the name of Webster, the other re- laining the name of Lisbon,
The name was given the town in appreciation of lbe shinraeter of the statesman, Daniel Webster, nt the ong- gestion of the Inte Benjamin D. Bryent, Sen , who, how- ever, had regarded ibe division of Lisbon as no injudietous menaure,
Limita and Boundaries of Webster .- Tha line of diriainn described by the nel incorporating the town of Webnter, wne " Davies' mouth line so called," and was n atrnight line exlending fron thin ensters boundary of Lewiston, ennt- routhenat about five miles lo the western houndary of tho town of Bowdoin, but sometime afterward thin legislature mode o slight ebunga in this line, bear its sentre, ao na lo includo in Lisbon nome land of the Inte Br. Baniel Gnrcelon, north of the etrnight line until then in Webster, and still later the same outhority made a deflection of the lino south- word, near the points of the former elintige, so as to incluile in Webster ssine of the land af David Lorribee uutii tben in Lisbon.
The exterior houndnry linee of Welister form nearly a square, the sides of about five miles cnch in linenr extent, and having on the north Lake Schattis und the towns of Woies end Litobheld, with a eligut deflection of the line near its enetern extremity ; on the east the town of Bowdoin; on the south, rbe town of Lisbon ; nud on the west, the city of Lewinton, frum which Webaler is separated hy a line porollel with thin Keonabee River; and including within these lines an nren of neurly twenty-five square miles, being about a fourth part of thol of the Plantorion of West Bowdoinbem, from which ite origin and history have been Iraced
Title to the Land -The English Irneed their titta to the country in North Amerien, they subsequently acquired by conquest and celllement, to the discovery of the country in 1108 by Jobn Cabot und hle son, Sebastian Cabel, nuder the patronaga of the English erown.
The principle acknowledged by all Europenne was that discovery gnvn title to the government by whose subjects or by whose authority it was made, ogninsi all ofliar Europenu governments, nud the sole right of ecquiring ibo toil from the nativea.
James 1, of England, in 1606 mndo n grant of all the territory from the fortieth to the forty-eighth degren of Ecoggin.
north latitude to the council catablished nl Ptymonth In the county of Bovon for directing the affaire of New England.
Tho council granted in 1029 lo lbe colony of Plymouth, & tract of land on the Kennebec River, extending fifteen miles ou ench nide, which wns transferred in 1681 to Edward Tyng, Antipas Boies, Thomas Braille, and John Winslow, and their successors, afterward associated under tba name of the Kenoebce Company, knowo ulso on the Plymouth Comjenny.
After many long and expensive contests the limils of the company's traet along Ibe river were fully determined to ba the bortbern boundary lina of the towns of Topsham and Woolwich, nad the eoutbern line of tha lowna of Aoson nud Madison end that line preduesd.
Alt thin territory of the town of Webster fa within the limits of the Plymouth Compnuy's grant, the western boundary of both the grant and of the town heiug conter- minous with the eastern boundary of Ihn Innds of the Pe- jepsoot proprielors, and the city of Lewiston.
The grants made by tun Plymouth Company of land in Webster, tocally known ns "Righ's," extend across the town from its western bonmiary nn a course enst-soutboast lo Ibe Kenneheo Rirer, and all these grantm, or rights, were intended to be hounited northwardly end southwardly hy straight and parallel lines.
These larger grants, or rights, sre designated by the names of the respective grantees, of which Ilin southern- mont within the limite of Webeter, is that of Br. Jonatbnb Duvies, Inte of Roxbury, Mnesncbueetis, and procreding in order, next nro the Willie Inll right, the Thompson or Stone right, the Bowdoin right, Iln Vanghe right, tba Perkor right, and the Walde right.
The validny of there grants, with the exception of The Waldo, and tho Thompson or Stone elnims, were generally ndmitted by the settlers in the town, but as their Internt boundaries were rarely defined by reengnized lines of ile- markntion and durable monuments, end as there were often inacourscirs in tho early surreys, disputes ond conteste in detormining truly the boundarice of grants and the lols of tho settlers were almost inevitable.
One of these grants, the Weldo, which for more Ibon half a century was supposed by the setilere to have become a lapsed right, but for which n elni mannt appenred after a long period of alimont undisturbed repose, bus o curious nod in- teresting history, of which, however, the restricted limits of lhees outlines exctuile furtber notice.
Tho llon. Reuel Willisms, who wna for e long period the trusted agent of tho proprietors of the Bowdoin grant, Was admirably filled for that trust by his extensive knowteilge of tho low of resl cetate, and by bie familiarity with the bietory nud tocntion of the grant. And for his good sense and fair denling he is held hore in respectful remembrance.
First Surerys and Surceyore .- Tho Gret surrey of Inori ninde in the town wns ons by Jobn Merrill, of Topsunm, March 1, 1776, of four adjoining lots of two-hundred acres cool, north of Sutherland'e Pood, in the contral part of the town.
Abel Morrill, of Topsham, Joseph Norris, Solomon Adıuns, amit John Smullen nud his son wore among the earliest land surreyors employed here lo survoy grants and settlers' lote.
Topography of Wl'ebate ..- Bunters and frontier residents aro persoon in whom are but rarrly and imperfectly de- rsloped idens of benuly and sublimliy, yet those folt and exprrueed delight at the viow presented hers a century ago from n mountniu height, of the grand primeval forcel.
The requiremouts of land tillage, and not seldom erro- neous views of ita needful conditions, the commerciul value of tbe products of the forest, and occaslounlly destructive structuro.
Aa enrly na the first settlement of the town, a witiler rond was opened month ward to the central parts of the town, knowu long afterwarle ne the " "Vaat Road," over which were taken the trunks of Inrge whlin pive treem to the Andrumeoggin al Littla River, tbenec Bonted to Brunswick, then itrawn by tento to Muqunir Bay, thenee taken hy water lo l'ortiand nud there chladly used for the masta nod spara of ships.
The surface now presente s continuons succession of ruried inequalities, an though forined by the oction of the leltoria ond commianl forcee exerted nhing linea of every form aud dircotion of ourvature, and so sculpturing in re- lief a landaenpe picturesquely beautiful.
eight hundred and fourteen and o hnlf feet above the menn Isvel of the men.
Skirting the western horizon aro sean, southernmoet, the promineut beights of Rohinson'a Mountnin, of course gra- nivis boso, crowned with a growth of forest trees, then tha denuded aurfuca of the Pellengitl and Jordan bille, and further an in the extreme northwest, the rugged Declivity of tbe unromnutia Hedgehog Mountnin, with a streamlet winding south warit olong their bases, uniting with one from the south, the affluents of the Nonama Fond etrenm, n tributary of Sobottte River, the frat familinrly known ne Dwelly's Breok, the other ns Robinson'e Brook,
Lake Sebattis, MoCackney's Pond, Mount Sebatlia, n. mnguetio, geodetio, and nutronomical atation of the United Sinice Const Survey, aud for nwny to Ibo northienst the green anil lilled ncali vittes nud summits of Oak Mountain, with lateral valleys extending southword, fringo the northern boriler.
Ouk Mountain is o spur of an elavation of moderate wielth and of considerebla beight, axtendiog centraily through the lown southwardly to the town of Durbom where the Andros- coggin River at Lisbon Falle has broken through its Interni walls, locally known na the Lisbon Ridye, nearly parallel with which nloug ita western base, flows tho Seburtis River, and nloug its auelern, Littlo River, both effluents of the Androscoggin.
Ponda und Streams,-Lake Sebattis, forming n plensing feninra of the varied landaoape, bas, too, n material value in the menufnoturing industry ne a reservoir for the watar power upon its outlat, Sebattis River, and with other Inke- late licro, doubtlams might easily be stocked with some of the mora valued kinds of 6sb.
This river, Sebattis, having n very considerahle volume of water, receives ibal of n number of Irilitaries, among the most prominent of which are the Ross, Birty Brook, Thorpe or Troops, from the enatword, tho Noname Fond streams, end with a gently winding course mouthwarilly nlong through productive tillego land, joina, in Lisbon, the more swiftly Bowing Androsenggin.
Another considerable stream bnu a descriptive ne well as distinctive unme In that of Little River, tha wolters of which with those of its Internt tributary streamlets with Clamshell Brook, form the houndury, eastward, of a part of Lisbon, noribword of their coufluonee with those of the Andro-
Tbn waler of MeCnoknoy's or Round Pond, ie inelosed in a deep cuvity in the course porons oil beer the south- enstern murgin of Lake Sebaltis, wilb elmost presipitous sides, and of diminutiva area, und en its more recent onme huplies of n circular form, the nature of the surrounding coil elenrly showing bow tbe redundant water escepes with- out a surface outflow.
Centrally situated, and elevated considerably above the menn level of the ground, is noother of thesa diminutive lakes, much of its still murince, ut tbe auminar solaties, oversprend with The floral beauty and fragrance of the swsal while wolter lily, the botonio name of which calls up the mythie nympbe.
One of the earliest settlers of Little River Plantation was Alexander Sutherland, who was born in Scotland in 1722, lind served os n private in the British army in the French and ludion war of 1756, left the acrrice st the eloso of the war, oud white bunting bere in Ibe early spring, by a fell upon the ice be freetured the elnvicle, or cullar bone, nud from thut incident this elevated collection of water bas lines borna the natne of Sutborland's Pond.
Neur (bis, northwardly, is yet ebother, very similar in form, extent, and elevation, the name of whieb, Lion Pond, is suggestire of the former presonce hora of water-birle, which from fear of the remoreeless fowler, now hut rarely
Snek bara the pinshy briok
Of weedy Inke or maiga of river wido.
Springe .- Supplementary to these Inrger streams" and Youutnina, a marked hydrographie feature is the distribution over the surface, usually nesr the bnecs of declivities of porous eoila, of perennisl springs, whish, with wells gene- rally of moderate depth, wre Mores of the vital fluid of orgnnie lifo in their abundance of sweet and limpid water. Tile wnier of n few of these springs is tinetured with A Irnce of Ibe partially soluble minerals, and, if tested, may ba found to linve a specini hygienic value.
A spriog of this kind io upon the Inud of Mr. Phineas Moody Spofford, and nnother on that of Mr. Eliphalet Smith Bryent, nroe tbo margin of Sobaltis River.
Geology of Webster .- The restrister limits of these out. lines cumpel the omission of this intereeling part of its proper history, will but little beyond the general state- ment that the geologiont structuro bere, in most of its lend- ing features, is closely snulogous to that of a much lerger area of central Maine.
The deepest exposure yel made hero shows an underlying rock formation, consisting chionly of gueies, often impreg- nated with iron, though in souio localities of ils outcrop, this rock is comparatively free Irnin rxiraneous mineral substances, eud possesses & tanterial value for building purposes.
This gneiss rock formotion hna given chnrocler, though in many degrees of di forence, to the formation immediately nhovo it, especially so where it upproeches the surface, de it does in numerous looalities.
Upon the Coplain Eemnes estate, in sinking a well to tha deptb of seventy feet, nearly the whole of the distance wns through the drift, comeisting of course grarel intermixed with smooibly rounded graoitic atunes ani pebbles.
Upon the meadow-land eastward of Sebaltis Rirer, a few feet of the upper surfaca consist of ntluvium and olny, then to tho depth of fifteen fuat is found a soft, unctuous blua clay, in whieb nro small, round nud oval, smooth tuleoso uodules, the blus elny saturated with water.
Nearly in every direction, occasionally deeply imbedded in the soil, though usually opon tho nurface, aro found errallo blocks or boulders, in coms instances of immense siec, and gunorally of irregulur form and of course grauitio
At the meeting held May 6, 1:09, " Choar James Rogers been elected representative to thr general conrt, nod be wns the first one nhosen hy the town for tont office. At the meeting hetd Mny 21, 1599, " Voted that tbe bridge nt Joritnn'n Mille be built by the nurrryors of bigb- wnys, and thal Abet Nutting he orerseer of the same." It will be acen flint the town at sererol itmes roted "nni lo ment a represenintivo lo the general court this yenr," and the question whatber a lown within the Com- monwealth of Masnnebusetts under its coneititlon could in thla monner decide to be unrepresented in the legislature,
It appears los that the town ensumed the right to deter- mine who might, and who should not, breome resident citizens of tha town, and octually eeereined tho amutned authority.
Incorporation of Thompsonborough, etc -Upon the request of a majority of the Inhinbitonts of the town of Bowdoin, an not wns pnamed by tho leglalnture of Minasnobrusello, nod approved June 22, 1709, " to incorporate the wenterly port of the town of Bowdoin, in Ibe county of Lincoln, into o separote lown by the nama of Thompsouboroitgh," the timiin of which bra determined by a line " beginning at tha northwest corner of tho town of Topmbnm, nt Little Rirer, nol running up said Little River, abnut one mile to what is called Bowdoin'e Rond; then running westward on enid road about eight er len rode lo a large pina tree marked with tha Irtier Q., it being the southenat corner of what is enlted Whitteinre's Lot, and thenice running north-north- cart to the north tine of maid lown."
The Dome of Thompsonborough was given lo lhe town în courteous recognition of thin friendly offices lo the citleens of the town, af General Samuel Thompson, of Brunswick, afterward of Topsham, n non of Jnmes Thomp- son, and who was born nt Bidileford, March 22, 1185, and who om colonel of an delacliment of volunteers iu 1776, tandn prisoners of Cupl. Mowelt, eninmondor of tha loop-of-war Consenu, together with Coptuin Mowett'n eurgoon phil chaplain at Falmouth, now Portland.
First Town Meeting and Officers -The first meeting of the town of Thompsonborough was held nt the dwelling-house of Samnel Telihetts, Esq., Murch 17, 18011, and ite muti- cipal government was organized by the eleetlou of Samuel Tobbetts for moderator of the meeting; Noah Jordan, tuwn clerk; Robert Hlewey, lown treasurer; Thomas IInm, Sumuel Tebbette, and Jonathan Hibbard, neleeinen and sesamsore; Adoniram Sinclair, conminbla and collector of Inzer; Robert llewey, Abel Xutting, Thomns Tehbetts, Samuel llinktey, Jonathan Hibbard, and Abrahnin Frost, (ything men ; and Calvin Cownp, Juscph Deering, John Hewey, Jr., John MeManbus, Thomas Tebbetts, Williom B. West, Bnwning Oooding, Russell Ihinkley, Bphrnin Jor- finn, Jonathan Fugg, Simeon Crocket, Stephen Dodd, and Benjamin llum, surveyora of high ways.
Tracing thum rapidly, in outline, the history of the plan Intiuni to this period, the social and material condition of those who Inve enrued ond olitsined the rights of citizena of n ebertered tuwn, and of the ounimonwealth, in seen to inve been very couxillerably alnuged for tho botter, and tho national government, so recently established, hegius le davalop Its benign influence eren to the remotest forest homo within he beneficetit sovereignty.
Change of Nome to Lisbon .- But the name, Thompson- borough, was a zubjeot of so much criticism and complaint on the port of thorn who were most frequentty otitiged to spenk or write li, on account, na they expressed it, of its greath length," that a legislative act of February 22, 1802, authorized its displacement for oun of fewer letters nud syllables, and one suggested apparently for no olber reuson ly a citizen, Abal Nuuing, was adopted, and witb. out eny change of territery the lown took the betan of Limbou.
Change of Limits .- It so continued until Marsb 4, 1808, when a legislative set was passed and approved "lo nnuox an unincorporated Irnel of land, ealled and known by the name of Little River I'Inntation, to the town of Lishon in the county of Lincoln," and therain described As " bounded west wardly, about ono mile on Lewiston ; southwestwardly, on Androscoggin River, about mix miles; enalwardly, on Topebami, about one mile; bortbwardly, on Linbon, about Ave milon ; and the history of the l'lautation of Little River in hencefurth merged in flint of the town of Lisbon,
Ezekiel Thompson, il brother of tho hulf bluod of General Samuel Thompson, wus long n residant at Little River. Town Action on Various Subjects, Ils Lubon .- Al n meeting of the town beld August 29, 1808, foremost of the subjects Ibero ilincassed and determined wes ono that directly af- festad the tnotarial intercets of most of the inhabitants, ns the products of the forest wern then a iending interest of the town nnet after the village of tho land, und after dis- oussiou of the question it was disposed of by voting "to petition the I'resident of tho United Sinten to suspend the embargo aither wholly or in part, and that Benjamin B. Bryent, Nonb Jordan, Samuel T'ebbeits, Jominh True, leano l'ebbetis, Jr., Thomas Ilom, und Gideon Curtis le a nom- mittee to preporo a petition therefore."
One of the consequencee of tho enforcement of the em- borgo hy President Jollerson was to give intensity to the disliko of tho inbalitons of the town to the politient priu- ciples of the party of which be was then the noknowledged chief, and to manko theni persistent odberents of the Federal party ow long as Ibat perty maniutofued s distinctive er- ganisation,
An article in Ilio worrant of January 20, 1809, to ** soo if The town will choose a committee to take into consideration the distressed situation of the times und to petition the legislature of our Commonwealth to dovico evine menus for our relief," wis n quection discussed at the meeting beld Februory 7, 1809, aud dechloit by roling " to choose a cototalttee, and that Josinh True, Benjamto B. Bryeut, Nathaniel Enmes, Nonb Jordan, Moves Tebbells, Sethi Ilinkley, Jolin Smullen, Somuel Tebbetts, and Samuel Heath, ben committee to draft suid petition aud to prepare somo resolutioon."
For a period of about len yenre from this time, in which occurred the war batwove the United States and Great Britain and the restoration of pence by n formal trenty, the industrint intereets of our country through its wholo extent wero greatly drpressed, and tbe mntorial condition of the people of New Englund was in addition adversely affected by light harvests during the yours known ne ibe "oold seasous."
119
Eastward from the southern extremity of Lake Seballs honorable act was performed by Joshua Daries, who had Is a formation eviilently exceptional in its structure to that succeeded to the estate of Dr. Davins, in confirming the agreement hy a conveynnes of the property mentioned to the widow and children of bin brother, Jesse Davies. of the nren nujolning, and indicating in the greater dis- placements of ibe crust, a difference in lire action, durotion, or intensity of the foroes there exerted from those tracod in the surrounding formations.
At the distance of half a mile onrthenstward from Robin- son's Mountain, nod riving from the surrounding sandy soll, is a group of billooks of n conieal form, yet all distioct, consisting of ciny, with otbere of a similar figure, composed of sand aus gravel intermixed with smooth and rounded stones und pebbles, whito two of these upon the low, level mendow-lund ore of solid rook.
The base of the soil of the entire area of the town ts clay with alluvium oud bumns in various proportions, determines the ralne of the Innd for agricultural purposes, the greater port of which is of superior quality.
First Colonia's -The history of the early settlements here, in its geyeral cheracter, similar to that of most others in New England, is an individual portraiture of heroic en. Noraoco of toill inconvenience, and discomfort, and, in numerous instances, of lifetime continuauco.
A number of the early locut settlements bere were tande by amoll communities, or colonirs, the members of enob, often connectiono by lineage or marringo, baving heen neighbors in tho older setticinents or towns whenco they came.
The first permanent selllement within the present limits of the town, oftor the departure of the ludiunn to the river 51. Francis, in Canada, was hegun in the spring of the year 1775 by Robert Roms, whose former home lind bren in Bruns- wick, Maine, and who, upon coming bere, built a log house sud innde n oleuring in the solitudes of the deose old forest in short distance soulbward from the intersection of 1ho josde near the Tobias Weymouth farm, in the central part of the town.
Supposing that the title to the lond was held by Massa- chusetin, he had the next year surroyed by John Merrill a tract of two hundred neres, extending northenst a hundred rods, and oorthwest o distance of u mile, the map or plan of which is dated March 1, 1770.
Tha strenm flowing southwordly through this tract has sloce horne a name commemorative of this sturdy pioneer in that of tho Ross Drook,
At the same time Mr. Merrill ourrsyeil three other siinilor and adjacent traots, the noxt seuthwird for Samuel Hewey, the southernmost for Willinto Spear, and the ono adjoining uurthirurd for Robert Howey, all of whoin came haro in die rigor of early manhood from Brunswick to establish this brat and central colony.
These wero zoon juinod by Jolin Howey, the brother of Robert Newey, nud who was the brother, too, of the wife of the pioneer, Robert Ross, and whose lund included that of the Inte Barker Curtis, Esq.
Fruit Trees .- The first apple trees planted in the lown were set in the soil, and orchardo of this fruit treo cultivnteil by the brothers John Howey und Rohort Bewey, somo of these ohil treos otill bonring fruit.
First Birth .- The first person born in town was John Ross, the mud of Robert Ross, the pioneer, hin hirth occur- ring in June, 1778, and who died in Wales, December 16, 11851.
First Death .- About this tito, 1778, occurred lhe death of Mr. Wood, the first denth that touk place in town.
In January, 1177, this colouy received another menilet in the person of Jonatlinn Weymouth, tho futlier of Thomas Weymouth and Hugh Weymouth, who settled upon a lot irbere Robert Jordan's son, William Jordan, now lives, ond como titne afterward built a saw-mill upon the stream flow- ing from Sutherland's Pond ; hut tho water of the pond aring been diverted hy a canal made by Josiah True, the Enter-power for the time was so far injured as to couse the toppoge of the mill.
He camo liere from lho town of Berwick, Mnine, and was con followed by his brother, Timothy Woymonth, who set- leil upon the lot now owned by Mr. Hirsh, and whose ser- ices as a miester millwright were frequently nought in this ud other settlements.
The milis built under the superintendence of Timothy Weymouth have been replaceit by others; but the house, hs oldest one in lowa, thin frame and double boarding of bich ure of ouk and Norway pine, and built under the direction of Mr. Little, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, is till standing, aud ls tbo one iu which John C. Bryent now lives,
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