USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harrison > Early settlers of Harrison, Maine > Part 4
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CARSLEY FAMILY.
across the stream by the enrrent which ran against them obliquely. This proved a "paying investment." Mr. Carsley died in May, 1852, and was buried at Tidioute. Pa. He had children as follows :
1. BETSEY, b. Jan. 5, 1825; m. James Whitney, of Harrison, and has issue-(see Whitney family.)
2. SYBILLAN, b. Aug. 25, 1828.
3. INFANT daughter, b. Jan. 29, 1830.
4. DAVID C., b. March 20, 1832.
5. SILAS R., b. Feb. 20, 1836.
6. SAMUEL II., b. Aug. 3, 1837.
By second wife, Clark, Silas and Horace.
iii. BETSEY, danghter of Nathan, I, b. Nov. 7, 1797 ; m. April 25, 1824, Morrill Hobbs, Jr., of this town, and afterwards to Almon Packard; she lived to a good old age.
iv. BERTHIA, danghter of Nathan, I., b. Oct. 25, 1802; m. May 31, 1827, John Dawes, of this town, and is still living near the village-(see Dawes family.)
4. BENJAMIN CARSLEY, son of John, born in Gor- ham, Sept. 23, 1769; married and settled in this town, on the "Pond Road," where Capt. JJames Ross now lives. He was a carpenter and builder- a powerful man, who could drink "full bumpers of the ardent" without apparent effect. He subsequently moved to Pownal, where he lived to an old age. He married two wives, whose names do not appear, and had issue, eight children, as follows :
i. HARRIET, b. in Gorham, Dec. 28, 1800; now an inmate of the "Old Ladies' Home," in Portland.
ii. GEORGE, b. Nov. 8, 1802; a mute.
iii. FREEMAN, b. March 18, 1805; m. Ang. 31, 1834, Martha H. Phinney, of Gorham, and had issue.
iv. MARK, b. Aug. 7, 1807.
v. CHARLES, b. Sept. 19, 1810.
vi. MARY, b. Oct. 11, 1812.
vii. LORENZO, b. Feb. 5, 1814; m. Betsey Bishop, and had issue as follows : 1. Abbie MI., b. Sept.
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HARRISON, MAINE.
1, 1843; 2. Henrietta, b. Nov. 20, 1844, (m. Freeman Bean.) 3. Eunice M., b. Sept. 26, 1859; died young.
viii. MERCY, b. Aug. 7, 1816; m. in Portland.
ix. AI, b. in 1818.
x. REUBEN, b. in 1820.
5. BERTHIA CARSLEY, daughter of John, was born in Gorham, Feb. 6, 1772; died the same year.
6.
ISAAC CARSLEY, son of John, was born in Gorham, Feb. 17, 1773; m. Jan. 18, 1797, Jennie Moshure, a lady of French deseent, and resided for a short time in this town. He was a carpenter and builder ; in old age moved eastward-probably to Wilton- where he died, having had a family, named as fol- lows :
i. JAMES, b. in Gorham, Jan. 28, 1798 ; m. May 8, 1822, Eliza Lincoln, and had issue, four chil- dren, (all born in Gorham) as follows: . 1. Abigail P., b. Jan. 11, 1823; 2. William L., b. March 4, 1825; 3. Royal L., b. Jan. 6, 1828 ; 4. Eliza, b. Aug. 8, 1831.
ii. LOUISA, b. in Gorham, May 13, 1801; m. Mr. Charles Davis, of Farmington, Me.
iii. JANE, b. in Gorham, 1803 ; m. Sylvanus Davis, of Farmington, Me.
iv. ISAAC, JR., b. in Gorham, in 1805 ; m. in Wilton, Maine-name of wife not known.
7. JOSIAH CARSLEY, son of John, born in Gorham, Oct. 7, 1774, of whom no other information.
8. DORCAS CARSLEY, daughter of John, born in Gor- ham, Jan. 26, 1781; married.
9. DEA. SETH CARSLEY, son of John, born in Gorham, Me., July 18, 1782 ; married Jan. 22, 1809, Susanna, daughter of Moses Whitney, of Gorham, and set- tled in Harrison. He purchased of Thomas Perley, of Boxford, Mass., in 1805, Lot No. 20, 1st Range, 2nd Division, then a part of Bridgton; this land was con- veyed to "Seth Carsley of Gorham, laborer," for $400. The deed was witnessed by John and Israel Perley. Mr.
-
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CARSLEY FAMILY.
Carsley built his first house in Bridgton-or on that side of the road which was a part of Bridgton-but subse- quently bought land on the Otisfield side, and built the present house. He early united with the F. W. Baptist church, (one of its original members) was chosen a dea- con, and served in that office faithfully during the re- mainder of his life. He was a man of honesty and integ- rity, and was widely known and highly esteemed for his straightforward deportment, and sincere piety. His ac- quaintance with his denomination was extensive ; he had listened to the preaching of Benjamin Randall, Joseph White, David Marks and many other early ministers. He retained his faculties in old age, and at the time of his death, which occurred March 27, 1874, he was the oldest man in his town; his wife predeceased him, Dec. 16, 1873 ; their children, seven in number, were as fol- lows :
i. MARIA, b. Feb. 2, 1810; d. July 29, 1839-nn- married.
ii. SUSANNA, b. Dec. 18, 1811; m. June 13, 1833, to Stephen Blake, and died Oct. 9, 1848.
iii. EDWARD P., b. March 25, 1815; lived at home with his parents, and has never married.
iv. NATHAN, b. April 20, 1817; m. Elizabeth Whit ney, his cousin, in 1842, and settled in this town. He worked as carpenter and farmer, and had issue as follows : Emily A., b. July 16, 1843-dead; George F., b. Nov. 20, 1845, and John E., b. Oct. 18, 1848-dead.
v. JOHN, b. July 16, 1820; m. Adaline, daughter of Timothy Blake, of Gorham, in 1842, and d. at his father's house, July 19, 1847, leaving one child, Charles B., b. Oct. 1845; d. Jan. 23, 1846.
vi. MARY A., b. Feb. 21, 1823; m. Stephen Blake, (who had m. her sister) and d. in Harrison, March 19, 1867.
vii. RICHARD P., b. April 13, 1826; m. Oct 7, 1851, to Caroline M. Hayes, and resides at Newton, Mass. He is a carpenter by trade; has had
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HARRISON, MAINE.
issue, two children, viz: Edmond, who d. young, and Harriet.
10. EUNICE CARSLEY, daughter of John, born in Gor- bam, April 30, 1784 ; married.
CASWELL FAMILY.
CASWELL, is said to be a French surname. Savage calls it " Casirell or Cassell." They are distinct from a family from Scotland who spell their name Carswell. The first known ancestor of this family was THOMAS CAS- WELL, of Taunton, Mass., one of the early settlers of that town; from him have descended numerous branches, now represented in several states. ALEXIS CASWELL, President of Brown University, was descended from the same ancestry at Taunton. A son of the THOM- AS before mentioned, STEPHEN by name, was father of SIMEON CASWELL, who came from Taunton, to Minot, Maine, thence removed to Harrison, in 1797, and was an- vestor direct of the families of that name, in that town and Bridgton. Mr. Caswell was born in Tannton, Mass., March, 1763; married Miss Rachel Staples, and died Oct. 21, 1844. He probably came into town with the Bray family, and cleared a farm at the north-east part of the town since known as "Caswell's Corner." He was rather short but heavy built, with dark complexion. He was a. Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Caswell had issue, eleven children, as follows :
1. PHILIP CASWELL, born in Taunton, 1786; married Phila Bray, (probably of Minot)-she was born Jan. 28, 1789-in 1811, and settled at "Caswell's Corners," in Harrison. He was a good farmer, and served in several town offices. Mr. Caswell died Feb. 4, 1874, aged 88 years; his wife predeceased him, Sept. 30, 1868. Children as follows:
i. MARY A., b. May 4, 1812; m. to Enoch Haskell, of Harrison, Jime 29, 1833.
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CASWELL FAMILY.
ii. MARQUES D. P., b. Aug. 29, 1814; m. Lucinda Cilley, of Gorham, Jan. 4, 1843 ; settled on his father's homestead as farmer and blacksmith ; is the shortest man in town, save one, and has had issue, as follows :
.1. DAVID E., b. June 7, 1844; m. Hattie, daughter of Daniel Haskell, of Harrison, in Oct., 1875, and lives at "Caswell's Corner."
2. MARQUES E., b. May 17, 1846; d. July 14, 1849.
3. CYNTHIA H., b. Dee. 14, 1847.
4. MILLARD M., b. May 12, 1850; m. Hattie, daugh- ter of Isaiah Webb, of Bridgton, in which town he works as a machinist.
5. ALBERT B., b. Feb. 13, 1855 ; unmarried.
6. CORNELIA F., b. Feb. 26, 1857 ; unmarried.
7. CLARA M., b. May 12, 1859; unmarried.
iii. EBENEZER S., b. March 15, 1815 ; m. Emily Lee Barron, of Albany, in 1846, and resided for several years in this town. He now lives at Bridgton, where he works as painter and car- penter. Children as follows :
1. MELISSA J., b. Nov. 3, 1847; m. to Ansel Har- mon of Bridgton, July 28, 1867, and d. May 8, 1873.
2. ELLEN M., b. Dec., 1849 ; m. Albert C. Bangs, July 29, 1869.
3. JAMES F., b. July 7, 1852.
4. EDGAR M., b. Aug. 9, 1854 ; m. Emma Hayden,(?) Sept. 7, 1875.
5. ATTLEY M., b. April 1, 1857 ; unmarried.
6. IDA E., b. Jan. 22, 1859; unmarried.
7. LILLIAN, b. Aug. 21, 1,862; unmarried.
iv. ARMINTA, b. Feb. 9, 1818; m. James Edwards, of Otisfield, (?) in June, 1848.
V. FIETTA, b. July 10, 1819; m. to Thomas Has- kell, of Harrison, in Jan., 1844.
vi. ROSILLA, b. June 7, 1825; m. Henry Haskell, of Harrison, in Jan., 1850.
vii. ABEL A., b. Jan. 18, 1822; d. July 14, 1824.
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HARRISON, MAINE.
viii. ALFRED, b. Jan. 18, 1828; d. Aug. 1, 1831. Philip Caswell had thirty-tico grand-children.
2. FANNY CASWELL, b. Dec. 2, 1788; m. Robert Lamb, of Otisfield, and is now living in this town.
3. SIMEON CASWELL, b. Feb. 1, 1790; m. Lydia Whit- ney, and settled on the Sweden road, about one mile above North Bridgton village. He and his wife were buried near their home; they had issue, two daughters and a son, as follows :
i. RACHEL,
ii. ABIGAIL, I have no particulars.
iii. SIMEON.
4. MARQUES D. CASWELL, born in Minot, Oct. 30, 1791 ; married Sally Nutting, of Otisfield, in 1818, and settled at "Caswell's Corner," in Harrison, where he now lives a very active, well preserved man for one so old. His children, six in number, are as follows :
i. NEWELL N., b. May 13, 1819; m. Elizabeth Gethercole, (of English parentage) Dec. 30, 1847, and resides at Harrison village. Mr. Caswell owns lumber and grain mills, is a good mechanic, and a very quiet and highly respected citizen. His children are as follows :
1. EMILY E. b. March 24, 1849.
2. HOLLIS, b. May 22, 1861.
ii. FRANCIS B., b. March 28, 1821; m. Eunice Rus- sell, and settled in Bridgton, where he kept a fancy goods and jewelry store, in company with his brother. He, Mr. Caswell, carried on carriage manufacturing, and has been Selectman. He m. 2ndly, Abbie Scribner ; has son, Franklin.
iii. LYMAN, b. Sept. 29, 1824; m. Mary Hancock, and carried on carriage building, at Harrison village, till his death.
iv. ARVILLA, b. Aug. 9, 1827 ; m. Edward K. Whit- ney, of Harrison, Oet. 29, 1848.
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CASWELL FAMILY.
V. FIDELIA, b. July 8, 1830; m. Samuel Gray, of Harrison-now a widow at the village.
vi. John H., b. May 6, 1833 ; m. Elizabeth Whitney, of Harrison, and settled at Bridgton, where he keeps a jewelry store.
5. BETSEY CASWELL, b. June 24, 1795; m. to Josiah Whitney, in the year 1826.
6. LIBEUS CASWELL, b. March 16, 1797; m. Polly, daughter of John Woodsum, of Harrison, Oct. 24, 1820, and settled where Mr. Farnham now lives, in 1836, having sold his farm previously at "Caswell's Corner." He died in 1856. Children as follows :
i. MARY A., b. April 26, 1821; m, to Silas Stiles, of Bridgton, and went to Aroostook County.
ii. JOHN W., b. Oct. 31, 1822; m. Mary E. Puring- ton, Feb. 23, 1851, and settled at Harrison village, where he manufactures wire. Mr. Caswell owns a fine residence. Children as follows: Isabella, Elizabeth, Mary, Affie B., Wallace, Charles A., Frederick, and Franklin. All unmarried.
iii. JANE, b. Jan. 3, 1825; m. John Coffin; 2nd, William Smith; 3rd, David Yarrington-now in the West.
iv. LIBEUS A., b. Ang. 30, 1826; d. June 12, 1827.
v. ADALINE, b. May 27, 1828; m. to Irish Fogg, and lives in this town.
vi. LIBEUS A., b. March 15, 1830; m. Louisa Loomis, and now lives in Iowa.
vii: DAVID J., b. March 9, 1832; m. Isabella Frost, went to Iowa and thence to Nebraska.
viii. EMMA C., b. May 31, 1835 ; m. two brothers, viz : Mark and William Morton. In New Haven, Conn.
ix. ABBY F., b. March 17, 1838 ; m. to Simon Libbey.
x. ZILPAH A., b. July 28, 1840; m. Wentworth Stuart; 2ndly, John Gardner, and lives in Boston.
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HARRISON, MAINE.
7. ZEBINA CASWELL, born Feb. 13, 1800; married Dor- cas A. Haskell, Sept. 22, 1822, and settled near "Caswell's Corner," next house below his brother Libens'. Mr. Caswell was a man of information, erudite, nrbane in manners, and highly respected. He died in Waterford, in 1875, and was buried at " Caswell's Corner," in this town. Children as fol- lows:
8.
i. ALMON, b.
ii. JULIA A., b. ; m. to Cyrus Baker.
iii. CATHERINE, b.
iv. ALBERT, b.
v. STEPHEN, b. -; m. and lives at South Waterford. He is a merchant.
ARMINTA CASWELL, born Feb. 16, 1802; m. to Enoch Brackett, Sept. 22, 1822. Lives in town.
9. ALANSON CASWELL, b. May 13, 1804 ; no particulars. THOMAS J. CASWELL, b. in April, 1806; m.
10. Buntin, in British Provinces, and now resides at Calais, Milltown. He has one son and six dangh- ters. I have no records.
11. HADASSAH CASWELL, b. Dec. 6, 1808; never mar- ried.
CUMMINGS FAMILY.
THOMAS CUMMINGS, b. May 11, 1768 ; came from Tops- field, Mass., about 1810, and settled on the hill where the town farm is now situated. Mr. Cummings was descend- ed from an ancient family in Topsfield, in England, and lived a neighbor to the Kneeland family before coming with them to Harrison. He had a large family. Chil- dren :
NOTE .- There are several other large families of Caswells in Maine, sup- posed to be descended from brothers of Simeon, the first ancestor of this family. 1 have the names of several that were married in Turner, Maine.
55
DAWES FAMILY.
1. JONAS, born June 9, 1798; married Naney Piper, July 2, 1829, and lived in Harrison, where his son George now lives. Mr. Cummings died about 1870. Chil- dren :
i. DORCAS A., b. May 10, 1830.
ii. ZIBEAH B., b. Jan. 27, 1832; d. March 22, 1850.
iii. ALBERT F., b. April 20, 1835 ; now living on the Bolster's Mills road.
iv. GEORGE H., b. Aug. 27, 1838; m. Sarah Fergu- son, and lives on the homestead place. Mr. Cummings is a progressive, public spirited man ; has served in the town offices.
2. FOSTER, born Aug. 23, 1800; married Lucy, daughter of Samuel Seribner, of Harrison, and lived in town. Mr. Cummings eventually went West where he was killed. He had four children, viz: Nathaniel, Albion, Caroline, and one daughter that married Samuel Miller.
3. ASENATH, born March 23, 1803; married Oct. 15, 1822, Seth Carsley, 2nd, and died many years ago.
4. NABBY, b. April, 1808; m. Peabody Kneeland.
5. LOUISA, b. June 27, 1809; never married.
6. ELIZABETH, b. Dec. 21, 1811; married Sept. 27, 1832, to Samuel Gray of Harrison, and died Ang. 15, 1867.
DAWES FAMILY.
The family are presumed to be of English descent. Several families were early in Massachusetts. The Har- rison family came from Duxbury, Mass. JOSEPH DAWES and wife, Mary Cushing, settled in the town of Minot, about 1790, and probably went there with the families of Sampson, Packard and Howard, as those came from Mas- sachusetts, to this town, through Minot. Mr. Dawes came to this town abont 1802, and with his son, cleared the farm where his grandson and great-grandson now live. Mr. Dawes had one son born in Duxbury, Mass. His
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HARRISON, MAINE.
first wife died July 22, 1789, and he married 2ndly, -, by whom he had two children. He died in this town, March 27, 1833. Children as follows :
1. CUSHING DAWES, son of Joseph, born in Duxbury, Mass., Ang. 2, 1775; married Mary Packard, (she was born in Duxbury, Mass., Feb. 11, 1780) in Minot, Me., Nov. 27, 1800, and soon after came to this town. He settled with his father on the farm where the family have ever since lived. Mr. Dawes died Sept. 13, 1853, aged 77 years. His widow died May 24, 1874, aged 94 years. Their children were as follows :
i. NANCY, b. in Minot, Dec. 8, 1801; m. Bucknell Seribner, of Harrison, Oct. 11, 1821, and died Oct. 3, 1823, aged 21 years.
ii. JOHN, b. in Harrison, April 21, 1803; m. Berthia, daughter of Nathan Carsley, (she was born Oct. 25, 1802) May 31, 1827, and settled on his
father's old farm, where he now lives. Mr. Dawes has always been a public-spirited man, and has filled many positions of trust in his town; has been Se- lectman and Representative ; is Justice of the Peace, and Deacon of the F. W. Baptist Church. Mr. Dawes has issue as follows :
1. SAMUEL II., b. Sept. 18, 1828 ; m. Lucy A. Adams, of this town, Jan. 19, 1851, and now lives on the "Old Dawes Farm." He is an active busi-
ness man, and has acquired competency. Mr. Dawes has built a magnificent residence on the hill, over- looking the village, and has done much to beautify the grounds about his house, making it a very attractive place. Children-Annie and Cora.
2. NANCY, b. Nov. 8, 1831 ; m. Galen J. Deguio, of Portland, Jan. 19, 1854.
3. SILAS C., b. Sept. 15, 1840; m. Addie Frye, of Lewiston, Me., Nov. 24, 1863, and now lives in Toledo, Ohio. He is General Agent for the "Union Life Insurance Company," of Cincin- nati, Ohio. He has two sons.
2. BELA DAWES, born in Harrison, Jan. 6, 1793; mar-
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EMERSON FAMILY.
ried Eunice Walker, (see Walker family) Oct. 21, 1819, settled in Harrison, and had issue, of whom hereafter. Mr. Dawes died in 1870, aged 77 years. His children were as follows :
i. ELIZA, b. March 12, 1820 ; m. Benjamin Wheeler, May 1, 1849-lives in this town.
ii. SOPHIA, b. July 7, 1822; m. John Simpson, of Saco; 2ndly, Frederick Le Barron.
iii. CALVIN, b. Feb. 5, 1826; m. Susanna Newcomb, of Harrison, Jan. 4, 1853.
iv. ORIN, b. Jan. 18, 1828; d. Sept. 1, 1831.
v. LEVI, b. May 24, 1830; m. Angeline
vi. ALANSON, b. June 23, 1833 ; m. Melissa Wheeler, (sister of Benjamin, before named) and settled in this town. He has had a small farm, and worked in the wire factory-now living at the village. Has children as follows : Leman, John, Nellie, Lillie and Addie.
vii. LoIs, b. July 28, 1836 ; d. March 19, 1844.
EMERSON FAMILY.
MICHAEL EMERSON came from England, early in the 17th century and settled in Mass., where he reared a family from whom descended WILLIAM EMERSON and THEODORE, brothers, who came from Methuen, Mass., the former in 1772, the latter in 1779, and settled in Bridgton, Maine, and became the ancestors of the Emer- sons in that town and Harrison. WILLIAM EMERSON was born in 1748, married Elizabeth Myrick, a Welsh lady, and died in 1827. " He was by nature," says Mar- shall Cram, "singularly fitted to aid in the settlement of a new country ; he had a strong constitution, great pow- ers of endurance, cheerful spirits and a kind heart." He had issue, six sons and seven daughters, of whom one settled here, viz :
NOTE .-- This Dawes family is descended from the same ancestry as Congress- man Dawes, of Massachusetts.
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HARRISON, MAINE.
1. MAJ. JACOB EMERSON, b. in Bridgton, in 1776; mar- ried Mary, daughter of George Thoms, of Gorham ; (see Thoms family) purchased of Enoch Perley, Lot No. 12, in Range 1, of the 20th Division of lots, then (1797) in Bridgton. He bought, 2ndly, in 1807, Lot No. 12, in Range 3, of the 2nd Division, of Thomas Perley. The deed was witnessed by Sarah Wood and Mary Perley, and acknowledged by Moody Spofford, Jus- tice. Mr. Emerson purchased, 3rdly, of Thomas Perley, of Boxford, Mass., Lot No. 13, in Range 3-the deed of conveyance witnessed by Sally Wood and Sally Warren, and acknowledged by Stephen Peabody. Mr. Emerson erected a house on the first mentioned lot, and lived there while clearing land, some three years prior to his mar- riage. He sold this to Israel Harmon, who sold to George Hanscomb, who soll to Solomon Newbegin, who sold to Thomas Lakin, present owner.
Maj. Emerson was collector in 1806; Selectman for about ten years, and Representative for 1823-25-27 and 1829. He was Ensign in the old militia, but on account of political views, was superseded by Benjamin Foster, who was promoted to Captain. But in the following autunm Emerson was appointed Quartermaster, and after- wards commissioned Major of the 2nd Regiment, of the Ist Brigade, 12th Division, Maine Infantry ; this commis- sion he resigned in 1816, when E. Mattoon was Adjutant - General. He joined the "Oriental Lodge" of Freemasons at North Bridgton, in 1806, and received the degree of Master Mason. He was Justice of the Peace for many years, and served in many positions of trust, always sus- taining the confidence reposed in him, and proving him- self an able man of his school. He was naturally grave, and of few words, but kind hearted and honest. He was detached for service in the war of 1812, but excused be- cause of sickness in his family. Major Foster, of Bridg- ton, killed a moose on the day of Mr. Emerson's birth, and he (Emerson) used to say "I remember well that mother had moose-meat for dinner the day I was born." He lived respected and died deservedly lamented, Aug.
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FOSTER FAMILY.
7, 1865 ; he was buried on the hill a little way north of his residence. His issue was as follows:
i. MARY, b. May 1, 1806; m. Sewall Berry, of Sweden, and is now a widow in Saco.
ii. GEORGE, b. Sept. 17, 1807 ; resides on the home- stead with a maiden sister. Never married.
iii. AMos, b. May 5, 1809 ; was drowned in a brook in Carmel, Me., 1835, while in a fit.
iv. LYDIA, b. Dee. 21, 1810; d. June 1, 1826.
v. ROBERT, b. Nov. 5, 1812; d. Oct. 18, 1813.
vi. ROBERT, b. May 26, 1814; went to sea and was never afterwards heard from.
vii. NANCY, b. Oct. 16, 1816; resided at home with her brother George. Never married. Died in 1870.
viii. WILLIAM, b. Feb. 17, 1819; was a blacksmith, and died in Portland, Oct. 8, 1844.
ix. SILAS, b. April 24, 1821 ; went to California in 1841.
x. CARLOS, b. Nov. 10, 1823 ; m. Orissa Bryant, of "Howe's Hill, " Paris; removed to Illinois. thence to California, where he now lives.
xi. LOVINA K., b. May 4, 1825; m. Elias Hanscomb, of Lyman, now resident of Biddeford.
FOSTER FAMILY.
The FOSTERS are of English derivation and came to Massachusetts about 1640. They were intermarried with the Peabodys and Perleys previous to the coming of those families to America, and while residents in Massachusetts; as well as since their settlement in Maine.
ASAEL FOSTER came from Danvers, in the year 1772,
NOTE .- I have complete records of the older generations of the Emerson fam- ily and collateral branches, which belong more properly to the history of Bridgton, and will be kept in anticipation of the published records of that town; a work which I sincerely hope some competent hand will soon undertake, and avert their destruction by fire, as were the Proprietors' Records of that town- ship. AUTHOR.
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HARRISON, MAINE.
and first settled at a place in Bridgton, since known as " Hensborongh"-Lot No. 4, Range 19. He built the first frame house in Bridgton, and his wife was the first mar- ried woman that settled in that town. Mr. Foster died in Feb., 1820, "from the kiek of a horse," aged 71 years, having had issue, eleren children, named as follows : Joseph, Asael, Benjamin, Francis, Moody, Lucy, Mary, Sarah, Joanna, Rebecca, and Mehitable.
1. BENJAMIN FOSTER purchased land of Thomas Perley, then in Bridgton, now in Harrison, bordering on Crooked River, and near the land of Maj. Emerson.
Here he had a rude camp and worked clearing land several years previous to his marriage; he after- wards erected a frame house, and married Nancy Veasey, of Denmark. He planted twelve acres of corn on burnt land, the first year of his residence in Harrison. Some years after his marriage, and when the population of his town had increased, Mr. Foster built a small grocery and "grogery," which was continued many years. The store was the place where many eurious scenes were enacted. Being near the course of the river, the drivers resorted thither, where they could wet the inside to correspond with the outside.
At one time one of the Inmber-drivers feigned sick, and one "Old Doctor Black" was called to Mr. Foster's to pre- scribe for him. While there the Doctor was invited to take some of the "ardent," which to refuse in those days, would have been considered a transgression of the rules of propriety ; consequently he shared in the "flow of the bowl," and was soon as merry as the merriest. Now the Doctor had a white-faced horse, and Capt. Foster had a white-faced steer; and when the Doctor had become so intoxicated as not to discriminate, the drivers changed the saddle and bridle from the horse to the steer, and placed the Doctor upon his back. The poor frightened creature was not acquainted with such a harness, and raising his tail high in the air, bellowed, and dashed down the yard, precipitating the "medicine man" head- long into the mud.
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FOSTER FAMILY.
Capt. Foster was once camping in Bridgton, when an old horse, belonging to a neighbor, kept eating from his hay-stack. The owner was requested to take care of the horse, again and again, but took no heed. Coming in from the woods one evening the old horse was found eat- ing from the Captain's hay, Without any delay, Foster commanded one of the men to hold the horse, when, go- ing into the camp for a brand of tire, he made it fast to the horse's tail, and giving him a smart ent with a stick . sent him dashing down the road. The running of the horse through the wind, caused the fire to burn more brightly, frightening him more and more, and he never ceased his running until he reached his owner's barn, and stood trembling before the door. It may be unnecessary to say that the horse never returned to trouble Captain Foster's hay.
I have now to relate the most curious and sad affair (perhaps) in the experience of Mr. Foster, and one which ocenrred in his early years .* He had been on an evening visit to his "intended," and was returning, when he stumbled upon a huge bear. The bear made for him at once, and to escape, Foster made haste to climb a small tree-one which he supposed too small for the bear to Ing. But he soon saw her bearship coming up after him. He climbed as high as he dared to, lest his weight should break the tree. The bear took his heel in her teeth, tear- ing away the slipper and flesh, and losing her hold fell to the ground. Foster then supposed his danger past, but he was again disappointed. She had no sooner recovered her feet than she climbed the tree again, this time tear- ing the flesh away from his heels, clean to the bones, and both man and bear fell to the ground, the tree breaking. Mr. Foster was "top of the heap" when they struck the ground, and ran with all his might toward his home- the bear did not follow-and was so wild with fear that he did not feel the pain of his feet until going through
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