USA > Maine > Oxford County > Sumner > Centennial history of the town of Sumner, Me. 1798-1898 > Part 9
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Capt. Bisbee has done most faithful work in collecting dates and facts of interest, of the Bisbee family and their connections, and putting them in convenient form for this work. He will have the thanks of the present generation, and its value will increase as the years go by.
Elisha S., born in Sumner, April 15, 1830, mar- ried Martha J. Parsons of Hartford. He was a beautiful type of manhood, a man of sound judg- ment, and a practical, thrifty and successful farmer. He was esteemed by his fellow citizens for his many good qualities of mind and heart. They had three children. He died Mar. 28, 1897, on the Bisbee homestead.
Asia H. born Jan. 6, 1832, went to California in 1854. and later went to Portland, Oregon, engaged in mining, married, and died. at Portland, Oregon, in 1875, leaving two sons.
Daniel H., born in Sumner, Oct. 9, 1833, went to California in 1854, worked at placer-mining, removed to Virginia City, Nevada, engaged in mill-wright work, and later as foreman and superintendent for the Mining and Smelting Co., for the reduction of mineral ore, for about thirty years. He had the
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
handling of many millions of dollars' worth of bull- ion. He returned to Maine in 1889, and died in Auburn, Oct. 13, 1891. He had three children.
Jane Y., born July 1, 1835, -married James Mc- Donald, Oct. 1, 1855.
Hopestill R., born in Sumner, June 21, 1837, went to California in 1855, engaged in mining, later re- moved to Virginia City, Nevada, and engaged in mill-wright work, as master builder. As a mechanic he was rated among the first, and built some of the finest mill-works for milling mineral ore in the West. He returned to his native town in 1872, and removed to Auburn, where he now resides, and en- joys his vacations in his "cottage by the sea.". He married Ella Byram, Sept. 14, 1871, at Virginia City, Neveda, and they have had four children.
* Hiram B., born Dec. 11, 1839, enlisted as a private in Company F. 9th Maine Volunteers, and was pro- moted to Sargent for meritorious service. He was shot dead at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, May 24, 1864.
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APPENDIX.
A. Extracts from Proprietors' Records.
May 1, 1788, The Proprietors of Butterfield township or No. 6 and No. 7 this day meet at the house of Ebenezer Bancroft in Dunstable agreable to a warrant for that purpose and part of the votes passed at said meeting are as followeth : Voted and choose Ebenezer Bancroft Clerk for said Proprietors. The surtificate entered on the Book of his being sworn as clerk, are in words as followeth :
Middlesex ss. May the Ist, 1788. Personally appeared Eb- enezer Bancroft, Esq., and took the oath of Clerk for the Pro- prietors of Butterfield township, or No. 6 and No.7.
Before me, Joel Parkhurst, Justice of Peace.
. Then voted choose agents to act in behalf of said Proprie- >tary; then voted to choose three persons as agents, and chose Ebenezer Bancroft, Samuel Butterfield and Peter Coburn, and voted to direct stid agents to settle with all those setlers that . are intitled to a hundred acres of land in Butterfield, or No. 6 and No. 7, by a resolve of the General Court, by Measuring off to each, his hundred acres and making bounds accordingly.
And in September the 22, 1791, the Proprietors at a legal meeting voted to accept of the plan and report of the Commit- tee chosen to measure off the settlers lots to each settler, one hundred acres, and that said plan and report be recorded on the Proprietors Book. and according to said plan and report, was set off to each settler as followeth, viz : [Allotments are here given to the following settlers: "In the West town," to
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APPENDIX.
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James Keen, Hezekiah Stutson, John Briggs, Isaac Sturtivant, Benjamin Haild, John Crokit, Moses Buck, Oliver Cumings, Jun'r, John Bisbee, John Fletcher, Levi Crocket, Simeon Bar- ret, John Keen, Moses Bisbee, Joshua Ford, Simeon Parlin.
"In the East town", to Asa Roberson, William Heaford, In- crease Roberson, Meshek Keen, Joseph Roberson, William Tucker, Isaac Bonney, John Bonney, Charles Bisbee, David Oldham, Charles Ford, Elisha Bisbee, Noah Bozworth.]
Attest : Ebenezer Bancroft, Clerk to said Proprietary.
Recd Sept 22, 1804, and Recordd from the Original att Elias Merrill, Regr .
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At a meeting of the Proprietors of Butterfield, or No. six and No. seven, in the County of Cumberland, legally assembled on May the eighteenth, 1801, Voted, that the Clerk of this Pro- prietary make out a copy of all the records relating to the divi- sion and drawings of all the Lands in the Plantation of Butter- field, and transmit the same to the Register of Deeds for the County of Cumberland, in order that the same may be put upon record, which is as follows, agreeable to the Records and Plan of the West Town :
Government's Land. Lot No. 10, in '6th Range, lot No. 10, in 5 R.
Ministers Lands. Lot No. 10, in 4 R. and the south half of lot No. 11, in 5 R.
Ministry Land. Lot No. 11, in 4 R. and North half of lot No. 11, in 5 R.
Grammar School Land: North Gore in the first range, North gore in the second range, North gore in the third range. 27 1 acres. .
The aforegoing couplings together with assignments of public land was agreed to and voted by the Propriety November 26. 1786.
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APPENDIX.
Public Lands in the East Town. .
Government Land : . Lot No. 13, in 6 R. Lot No. 12, in 6 R. Minister Lands : Lot No. 12, in 7 R. North gore in 9 R. of 78 a.
Ministry Lands : Lot No. 11, in 5 R. North gore in 10 R. of 67 a. -
School Land : Lot No. 17, in I R. North gore in I R. 91 a. North gore in 2 R. 21 a.
B. First petition for grant of land in present town of Sumner.
To the Honorable the Senate and the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Common Wealth of the Mass- achusetts Bay. In general Court assembled.
The Petition of Samuel Butterfield of Dunstable for himself and in behalf ot Several Persons here after named, For a tract of Land now the Property of this State, Lying and being in the County of Cumberland and joining has Northerly Lands Peti- tioned for by Abijah Buck and others and North easterly of No. Four. To the value of six miles square or a Sufficient num -- bea of Acres for a town To be laid out as agreeable to your Peti- tioners as maybe-upon such considerations or for such a Sum as you in your Wisdom shall think best for the good of this State, your Petitioners Being Desireous of Making a Settlement on Said Land if granted, whichnot only would be a Benefit to them Selves but to the Comunity at Large and the Wilderness become a fruitfull field. Your Petitioners relying on your Wis- dom, care and Tenderness Pray the Above Said Lands may be granted as you in your Greit Wisdom may Direct. Your Peti- tioners as in Duty Bound shall Ever Pray-
January the 24th 1781 (Signed)
Samuel Butterfield, Alexander Payson Mark Hobbs and others
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APPENDIX.
C. First Petition for Incorporation of West Butterfield.
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled
The Petition of Elisha Bisbee Gentleman and others the sub- scribers Inhabitants of a Place or Plantation commonly called the Westerly Plantation in Butterfield in the County of Cumber- land and Common wealth of Massachusetts -humble sheweth-
That it is now about ten years since the said Plantation be- gan to be setled, that it now contains twenty four heads of Familys : That your Petitioners ever have and stil do labor under Great difficulty, and great Disadvantages on many account more especially on account of the want of Roads Bridges Cas- ways; that your Petitioners labor under great Disadvantages on account of Schools and diverse other matters. being under no Kind of Regulations or suppurt of Minister, or towards the suppurt of schools and the like, and many other Disadvantag es your Petitioners labour under, of which they presume they might in a great measure at least, be relieved provided the said Plantation was Incorporated-
Where upon your Petitioners humble pray your Honors to take this their unhappy situation under your wise and judicues Consideration, and that your Honors will be pleased to pass an act for the Incorporation to said Plantation into a Town by such Name as your Honors shall think proper with all the Privilages Immunities of the other Towns in the Commonwealth : and your Petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray.
Dated at westerly Butterfield the I day of May Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninty three
Enoch Hall Simon Parlin
Solomon Bisbee
Elisha Bisbe William Tucker
Joseph Robinson
John Keen Joshua Foard
Judah Keen
Moses Buck Seth Allen Noah Bozworth
John Croket Jeames Keen
John Fletcher Meshach Keen
Noah Bozworth juner
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APPENDIX.
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D. First Petition for Incorporation of East Butterfield.
Sir
At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Plantation of East Butterfield or No. 7 So Called in the County of Cumberland Common wealth of Massechusetts on the 20th Day of this In- stant Augt the Peeple made Choose of us the Subscriburs for a Committe to patition the Legislature of said Common wealth for an Incorporation of said plantation We therefore pray your honour to draw a patition for that purpose and Subscribe our names to the Same. (and this our request shall justify you in so doing) and lay the same before the General Court at their next Sessions, and procure us an Incorporation as soon as it can be reasonably be doon-Doing which you will oblige us your Humble Servents in particular and the People in general
East Butterfield Augt 22th 1793
To William Wedgry Esqr
Increase Kobinson William Soule
William Hayford Charles foord
Isaac Bonney
E. Second Petition for Incorporation of West Butterfield.
Butterfield Cumberland County Decembr roth A D 1793
To the Honrb! Genrl Court of Massachusetts -- we your Peti- tioners Being A Committe Chusen at A Legal Meeting of the In- habitants of the west Plantation of Butterfield So Cawled- Humbly Pray that your Honners would Incorperate this Planta- tion Into A Town by the Name of New Hancock & grant us the Privileges of other Incorperate towns of this Commonwealth as Soon as your Honners In your Wisdom Can find It Convenient & your Petitioners as In Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray.
John Briggs Elisha Bisbee
Isaac Sturtevant Benjamin Halde
Plantation
Enoch Hall Hezakiah Stutson Committee
APPENDIX.
F. Second Petition for Incorporation of East Butterfield.
To the Hon. Senate and the Hon. House of Representatives in General Court assembled
The petition of the subscribers respectfully sheweth-
that your petitioners inhabitants of the plantation of East Butterfield in the County of Cumberland being the East part. of two tracts or townships of land Containing 45525 acres con- veyed by the Committe for the sale of eastern lands to Mr Eben' Bancroft and others on the 22d of Novemr 1787 which the proprietors have since divided into two townships by a line drawn north and south through the same- have lived in said plantation a number of years labouring under all the in- conveniences that attend unincorporated Plantations which op- erate Greatly to their disadvantage in numberles instances two many to be enumerated here and which will Still operate against them so long as they remain in their present situation : Altho they pay and have payed for a number of years their proportion of taxes towards the support of those laws and regulations which they wish to enjoy in Common with their fellow citizens of in- corporated towns but must of consequence be deprived off so long as. they remain in their unincorporated State- Your petitioners are induced and incouraged to address the legislature on this subject in full confidence and with the pleasing satis- faction that the General Court is at all times disposed to remove inconveniencies and redress grievances that any of the people of the Commonwealth may at any time labour under, when made known to them-
They therefore pray the honorable legislature to take their disagreeable situation under their wise consideration and in- corporate them into a Town by the name of ---- by the following Boundaries Viz begining at the South east corner of said Plantation and the north east corner of Buckfield then running north eighty one dey: west on Buckfield line 4
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APPENDIX.
miles and 226 rods to the said division line of said townships then north 7 miles and 40 rods on said division line to the north line of said towns then south fifty six deg: east I mile and 180 rods by commonwealths land. then south eighty one deg : east 4 miles and 160 rods by common wealths land to the north east corner of of said Plantation then south 3 miles and 260 rods by common wealths land to Turner north west corner. then South twenty six degs: west 2 miles and 300 rods on Turner line to the bounds first mentioned-
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray East Butterfield Decmr 21st 1795- -
David jennings Benjamin Gennens
Dennis Newbegin
Wm Hayford John Bartlett Arviday Hayford
gustavus Hayford Philemon Parsons
Ephraim Riker
Davis Parsons Daniel Riker
Samuel Alley
Ebenezer doan William Baird
Edmon Irish
Ephraim Tinklam Increase Robinson
Micah Allen
Lemuel Keen James Bonney
Daniel Oldham
Charles foord Isaac Bonney
W'm Hayford jr
Alvan Robinson Thaddeus Thomson Richard Dearborn
Josiah Tillson Asa Robinson
James Tilson
Berzellia Hollis Nathan Hollis Anson Soule
Wm Soule Abel Ames
Broadstreet Mason
Freeman Elis Jonathan Bozworth
Benjamin Ellis
Stephen Bozworth
your Petioners pray that the Town may be incorporated by the name of Lisbon if it may be & if not Hartford.
G. Third Petition for Incorporation of West Butterfield. .
To the Hon Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts In general Court assembled January-1796
The Petition of the Subscribers of West Plantation of Butter-
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APPENDIX.
field So Colled Humbly Shews the many Inconvenincies Par- ticularly Attening Us In our Present Settuation For the want of Sivel Regulations others of Our Fallow Men Injoy
We feel Vary Unhappy We Injoy But Little of these Religious Liberties and Privilegs Which Is Injyed In all Regular Towns. Many Yeares has this West Plantation Ben Settled The long Continuance with out order Causes Many to Be come Enemies To Order and Good goverment and your Humble Petitioners Further Shuing the Want of Sivel Ragulations to Improve Both . the Preached Gospel and Simmenarais of Larning which Cannot Be Propaly Regulated and Suported Under the Plantation head your Humble Petitioners Further Shews another Evil attening Us and All our Contry Men and Falow Citizenes that Is the Want of Convenant Roads through our Barran and Uncultivat- ed Lands and as your Humble Petitioners Wiling help Support Sivel goverment We Pray your Horners would Not Deni U's the Privilegs of the Same
and as your Honers Stand at the helm of goverment We your Humble Petitioners Have Confidence to Belive Will Not Deni Us of this our humble Petition and your Humble Petition- ers humbly Pray that your Honers Would Incorporate In to a Town B the Name of gilman and grant Us all the Liberty ani Privilegs of other Incorporated Town and a In Duty your Peti- tioners Will Ever Pray- By the Boundaries of this West Plan- tation Beginning a Buckfeeld North West Corner From thence Running South 8td East 3 Miles and 294 Rods To the Pro- priety Divis on Line then North 7 miels and 30 Rods then North 65d West 260 Rods then South Sod West 4 Miles and 46 Rods then South I miles 220 Rods Then South I3d 'Eas: 2 miles and IS4 Rods To the Bounds Furst mentioned
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Isaiah Cushman John Briggs Enoch Hall
Simeon Barrett John Croket
Oliver Comings
Timothy Cobb John Keen
Moses Buck
John Crocket
Benjamin Heeld
Joshua Fooard
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APPENDIX.
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Levi Crocket
John flectcher
Simon parlin
Isaack Sturtevant Solomon Bisbe
Thomas fletcher
Joel Crocket
Jacob Bradbury
Seth Sturtevant
Seth Allen Joseph Robinson Mesach Keen
Noah Bosworth
Welem Tucker
Noah Bosworth Jur Elijah Bisbee James Keen
H. Petition for Incorporation of West Butterfield, with the River as dividing line.
To the Hon : the Senate and the Hon House of Representa- tives in General Court assembled
We the Subscribers your petitioners inhabitants of the plan- tations of Butterfield by this our humble petitior beg leave to represent. That when the proprietors purchased the two tracts - or townships of Land known by the name of Butterfield of the . Commonwealth, there was then twenty nine Settlers living on the west side of the east branch of twenty mile river so called within the limits of Said townships said river running nearly north and south through Said towns. That twenty one of said Settlers settled under the Commonwealth the other eight purchased their land of the proprietors. that when the proprietors loted out said townships they ran a rang line north and south through town between the settlers and loted said towns from said line declaring said line to be the division line of said towns. turning twenty two settlers into the west town the other seven being some of both the aforesaid description with the two mills which is all there is in said towns to this day which one of the first settlers built intirely at his cost into the east town that there might be settlers in each town bringing them on the skirts of the same. That on Survaying the plans of each town there appears to be 8365 acres of land more in the east town then there is in the west, that on numbering the in- habitants three fifths of the rateable polls are found in the east town-
Your petitioners therefore concieve it to be a very great hard-
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APPENDIX. X
ship that any of the first settlers should be turned over 'with the mills to the east town, when by making the said east branch 1 of twenty mile river the division line of said towns when it will lay the towns in as good or better forms then the said rang -line will which may be seen by viewing the plan and equaly di- vide the settlers and give the east town then 4475 acres the most, and as the same proprietors ownes both towns it cannot be injurious to them
Your petitioners therefore pray the Hon : legislature to take this our petition into their wise consideration, and incor- porate the west plantation of Butterfield into a distinct town by the name of- - by the boundaries accompanying this petition making the said east branch of twenty mile river the dividing line of said towns that the west town may have its share of settlers and land and save some of the settlers one half of their travel to do publick business
As'in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray
Butterfield December 18 A D 1797 Lemuel Keen , Daniel oldham
Charles Foord Wm Hayford jr
Calvin Bisbee Solomon Bisbee
William crocket Thads Tomson Luis Crocket · Joseph Robinson
Meshach Keen Simeon Barrett Reuben Procter William Doble Juda Keen
James Tilson
. Jonas Coburn Zadock Keen
Micah Allen Isaac Bonney
John Briggs : Joseph Crocket John Keen Hi- Seth Allen his
James × Keen John X Crocket
mark mark
Asa Robinson Benjamin Heald Noah Bozworth jun Simon Parlin
Increase Robinson jr Timothy Cobb
Increase Robinson
John Fletcher
Joshua Foord
John Crocket Jr
Hezekiah Stetson Thomas Frasher Thomas Fletcher Asa Coburn John Cole
Isaiah Cushman Alvan Robinson Isaac Sturtevant his
Will > Tucker mark
Noah Bosworth
Seth Sturtevent Josiah Tilson
APPENDIX.
I. Petition for Incorporation of both Plantations as one Town.
To the Honorable Senate and house of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The Petition and Remon- strance of us the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the Plantation of East Butterfield, in the County of Cumberland. Humbly Sheweth
That, whereas there is a Petition before the Honorable Court, for incorporating the said Plantations into two distinct Towns. we are not able to reconcile our minds to the proposal for the "present ; but should much prefer their being both incorporated together at present into one Town, in order to remedy the . great evils we suffer for want of incorporation. our principa! reasons, and which we think to be weighty, are, that there are scarcely Eighty Families in both the Plantations, and as to many, especially in East Butterfield. their settlements are very new, and their improvements small. it is our Sentiment there- fore that the People are not at present sufficiently able to bear the expense and burden of two distinct incorporations. we have no doubt but it will be most proper and convenient that the two Plantations Should be formed into two Towns, in some future Period ; but think we are not at present equal to the Task of supporting them. We beg leave further to represent, that whereas some among us have it in contemplation that about three thousand Acres of Land with a number of families thereon, Should be taken off from East Butterfield and incor- ; porated with West Butterfield, if this should take effect. the remainder of East Butterfield, with its present small improve- ments, would form an incorporation of very Slender abilities indeed ; or otherwise, would remain under all the disadvantages attending an unincorporated Place. On the whole, as it appears to us that two distinct Incorporations, or any plan, under exis- ·ting ircumstances would be attended with greater inconven- iences than that of travelling to Town meetings, in the Com- mon Center, of the two Plantations, and others mentioned in the Petition for two Incorporations, Our Humble Petition and
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APPENDIX.
prayer therefore is that the Honorable General Court would be pleased to take the Ideas we have Suggested, together with the other matters relative to the Subject, into their wise consider- ation, and incorporate East and West Butterfield into one Town : and as in duty bound shall ever pray
December 19, 1797
William Soule Barzillai Hollis Anson Soule -
/ Nathan Hollis Nathan Hollis jur Davis Parsons
Samuel Alley
James Ricker Ephraim Ricker
Ebenezer doan
William Baird Benjamin Elwell
John Elwelle
K. Petition for Incorporation of East Butterfield, with the River as dividing line.
To the Honourable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled- Most Humbly Sheweth that your petitioners inhabitants of the plantation of East Butterfield in . the County of Cumberland being a part of two tracts or town- ships of land granted to Mr Ebenezer Bancroft and others that your petitioners having taken into thire Consideration the reasons alledged in a petition of the inhabitants of west Butter- field so Called praying your Honnours to incorporate them into a distink Town making the East branch of twenty mile river the deviding line between the Said East and west Butterfields -- upon mature deliberation all circumstances considered your petitioners think it to be an equitable division of inhabitants and land as that of the Proprietors & that many of the inhab- itants are better accomadated then they will be by the proprie- tors line being desireous to put an end to any further dispute on the matter and to get our plantation incorporated- your petitioners pray your Honners to tak this our petition in to your wise consideration and incorporate the Said East Butter- field into a destinct Town by the name of W'msSton- and the boundaries accompanying this petition making the Said East
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branch of twenty mile river the division line of the Said Butter- fields as in duty bound your petioners will ever pray-
Butterfield April 7th 1798
Ebenezer doan Ephm Tinkcom James Ricker
Andrew Cushman Jonathan Bozworth Joseph Chandler
Malachi Bartlett Gustavus Hayford Enoch Leathers
Peter Silley Edmund Irish Dennis Newbegin
Nath! Cushman Paul mc Daniels Richard Dearbon
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Levi Hayford Samuel Alley Wm Hayford
John Pumpilly Davis Parsons
Joseph Mason
Anson Soul Arvida Hayford
Andrew Russell
Jeremiah Rusell Stephen Bozworth
. L. Joint Petition for Incorporation as Two Towns.
To the Hon Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatives in General Court asambled
We the Subscribers inhabitants of the plantations of East and west Butterfield in the County of Cumberland being two townships of land known by the names of Nº 6 : and Nº 7 Con- taining 45525 acres which was conveyed to Mr Ebenezer Ban- croft and others by the Committe for the Sale of eastern lands on the 22d day of Novem' 1787-
In behalf of ourselves and the inhabitants who have deputed us by this our humble petition beg leave to lay our grievances before the Hon : legislature
Some of the inhabitants of the said plantations have for more then fifteen years and others for a shorter term been la- bouring under all the inconveninces that attend unincorporated towns untill they have become almost intolerable and while we have been strugleing with our difficulties we have for several years been petitioning to have them removed by incorporation but we are so unhappy as not to obtain them yet for reasons unknown to us except it is an opposition that has been made by
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APPENDIX.
the proprietors who live many of them out of the Common- wealth whose interest it is to screen their land from town taxes --
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