Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume II, Part 25

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry S. (Henry Sweetser), 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 736

USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume II > Part 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

tation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and received the degree of S. T. D. from Oxford University, 1867; Hobart College, 1834, and LL. D. from his Alma Mater in 1865 and from Cambridge, England, 1867. James Hor- ton Whitehouse, born in Staffordshire, Eng- land, 1833, designed for Tiffany & Company, New York, the Bryant Vase now in the Metro- politan Muscum; William Fitz-Hugh White- house, born 1877, noted explorer and hunter of big game in Somaliland, Abyssinia, British East Africa and Uganda, and explored Abys- sinia, and the unknown region south of the chain lakes, and author of "Through the Coun- try of the King of Kings" (Scribners, Septem- ber, 1902) ; Henry Remsen Whitehouse, dip- lomat and author, decorated by King Humbert of Italy with Cross of Commander of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus, student of liter- ature and historical research. The White- houses of Maine, noted as jurists, and de- scended from Thomas, who married a daugh- ter of William Pomfret, Dover, New Hamp- shire, 1658, through Thomas (2), Pomfret (3), Thomas (4), Daniel (5), Edmund (6), John Roberts (7), to William Penn (8) and Robert Treat (9). For the purpose of this sketch, we take up the eighth generation from Thomas, the Dover settler, as follows :

(VIII) William Penn, son of John Roberts and Hannah ( Percival) Whitehouse, and a descendant from Thomas Whitehouse, of Do- ver, New Hampshire, was born in Vassalboro, Kennebec county, Maine, April 9, 1842. He was prepared for college at the Vassalboro Academy, matriculated at Waterville College in 1859, and was graduated A. B. 1863, A. M., 1866. He was principal of Vassalboro Academy, 1863-64, was admitted to the bar in 1865, and began practice in the state capi- tal. He was city solicitor of Augusta for four years, attorney for Kennebec county for seven years, judge of the supreme court of Kennebec county 1878-90, and associate justice of the supreme judicial court of Maine since 1890. He received the honorary degree of LL. D. from Colby University in 1896. He served as a trustee of the Kennebec Savings Bank from 1888; was chairman of the com- mission on the New Insane Hospital in 1873, and he wrote a monograph published by the state against the cottage system for the care of the insane wards of the state. He was married June 24, 1869, to Evelyn M., daugh- ter of Colonel Robert Treat, of Augusta, Maine, and among their children was Robert Treat.

(IX) Robert Treat, eldest child of William

626

STATE OF MAINE.

Penn and Evelyn M. (Treat) Whitehouse, was born in Augusta, Maine, March 27, 1870. He was prepared for college in the public schools of Augusta and Congregational high school, where he graduated in 1887. He was gradu- ated at Harvard A. B., 1891, and at the Law School of Harvard University LL. B., 1893. He read law in the office of Symonds, Cook & Snow, Portland, Maine, was admitted to the Cumberland county bar in 1894, and at once began active practice in all the courts. He was elected county attorney in 1900, and served in that office for four years. On Jan- mary 16, 1905, he was appointed United States district attorney for the district of Maine, and later accepted the appointment and was sworn into office, which he has since filled with honor and to the entire satisfaction of the bar of the state. He was a member of the school com- mittee of the city of Portland, 1894-98, and served as president of the Lincoln Club of that city, 1900-04. He was also a member of the Cumberland Club, the Country Club, and the Fraternity Club of Portland. He was ini-

tiated into the mysteries of the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons through the Ancient Landmark Lodge of Portland. His first law-book, published in 1900, under the title, "Equity Jurisdiction Pleading and Prac- tice," was received with great favor by at- torneys throughout the state, and at once took place as an actual necessity in the preparation of any important case in equity. He had in preparation in 1908 a companion work that will undoubtedly prove equally welcome and valuable. Mr. Whitehouse was married June 18, 1894, to Florence, daughter of Samuel Spencer and Mary Caroline (Wadsworth) Brooks, of Augusta. She was educated at the public schools and St. Catherine's Hall, and in music, languages, drawing and painting under the best masters of the city of Boston. She became vocalist in the Rossini Musical Club, of Portland, and spent the years 1891-92 in study and observation in the art centers of Europe, and in the exploration of the antiqui- ties of Syria and Egypt. She is the author of "The God of Things," published by Little, Brown & Company, Boston ( 1902) ; "The Ef- fendi," same publishing house ( 1904), and several of her plays liave been produced. Samuel Spencer and Mary Caroline ( Wads- worth) Brooks had five children, as follows : Albert Wadsworth, married Mary ; child, Barbara : Samuel C., Percy W., married Mary Marshall ; Florence and Marguerite. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Treat Whitehouse have their home at 42 Deering street, Portland,

Maine. Children : William Penn 2nd, born August 9, 1895. Robert Treat Jr., January II, 1897. Brooks, born April 21, 1904.

This name is not numerously QUIMBY represented in New England or in any part of America, but the quality of its representatives will compare favorably with that of many families of much larger numbers. It has been identified with the development of Maine, and is entitled to honorable mention in connection therewith. It . begins at an early period of American history, in settlement of the Massachusetts Bay Col- ony, and is still continuing in a worthy way along the lines of civilization.

(I) Robert Quimby is found of record in Amesbury, Massachusetts, as a ship-carpenter, and was there married about 1657 to Eliza- beth, daughter of William and Elizabeth Os- good of Salisbury. He purchased land in Amesbury the next year, and received grants in 1659-68. He is of record as a "townsman" in 1660 and holding a meeting-house seat in 1667. Ile died about 1677 and it is probable that his death occurred in the Indian massacre at Amesbury, July 7, of that year. His wife was wounded in that massacre, but survived. She was appointed administratrix of his es- tate October 9 of that year. The inventory was made August 27. Their son Robert was appointed to administer the estates of both parents September 26, 1694, and it was not divided until 1700. Children : Lydia, William, Robert, Jolin, Thomas, Elizabeth, Philip and Joseph.

(II) John (1), third son of Robert and Elizabeth (Osgood) Quimby, was born Sep- tember 7. 1665, in Salisbury, where he re- sided, but little seems to be discoverable about his life and character. The baptismal name of his wife was Mary, but her family name is not of record. She died in Salisbury, August 17, 1710. Children: John, Jeremiah, Eleazer, David, Sarah, Robert, Jonathan, Jacob, Jethro. There is some doubt about the last named, as the records show his birth to have occurred more than three months after the death of his mother.

(III) Robert (2), fifth son of John (1) and Mary Quimby, was born December 13, 1701, in Salisbury, and lived in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, where he died about 1747. He was a petitioner for a township at Amoskeag, now Manchester, New Hampshire. He was married December 16, 1725, to Judith San- born, of Hampton Falls. She was a petitioner for a grant of land in Weare, New Hamp-

627

STATE OF MAINE.

shire, in 1748, according to the New Hamp- shire state papers. She was a descendant of Rev. Stephen Bachilor. Their children in- cluded Eleazer, Asaliel and Jacob, all of whom were residents of Old Chester, including what is now Candia.

(IV) Jacob, son of Robert (2) and Judith (Sanborn) Quimby, was born June 20, 1740, in Hampton Falls, and was baptized there two days later. In early manhood he settled in Chester and there married Anne, daughter of John Robie, and widow of Jonathan Towle. He died early in life, and administration was granted on his estate to Walter Robie, Febru- ary 28, 1778. His widow married (third) Joseph, son of Joseph Varnum. On August 20, 1788, Walter Robie was appointed guard- ian of three of Jacob Quimby's minor chil- dren ; Jolin, Saralı and Anne. This was prob- ably caused by the proposition of one of the children to get married and a desirability of a division of the father's estate. The eldest son, Jonathan, received his portion in this di- vision, and Anne Varnum, the widow, also received her share. Jacob Quimby served in the regiment raised about 1760 to invade Can- ada under Colonel John Goffe.

(V) Jonathan, eldest son of Jacob and Anne (Robie) Quimby, was born September 18, 1767, in Chester, settled in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and died November 29, 1827, in Belfast, Maine. He was a blacksmith by occu- pation, and settled in Belfast about 1805. He was married in 1790 to Susan White, born in1 1769, died in 1827. Children: William. Daniel. Sally, Betsy, Jonathan Towle, Phineas Parkhurst and Robert.

(VI) William, eldest child of Jonathan and Susan (White) Quimby, was born April 30, 1792, in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and died June 23, 1879, in Belfast, Maine. He was but twelve years of age when he removed to the latter place with his parents, and there he learned the jeweler's trade and later engaged in business on his own account. Through a weakness of the eyes he was obliged to give up this occupation, and opened a general store in Belfast which he operated until 1864. Im- mediately following the death of his wife in that year, he went to New Jersey with his son ; after remaining there a few years, he returned to Belfast, where his days were ended. He married, November 22, 1818, Apha, daughter of Simeon Watson. She died February 14, 1864. Nine children, five of whom died young ; the others were: Amelia Ann, born November II, 1819, died October 23, 1847 ; married, No- vember II, 1842, Albert Merrill, of Frankfort,

Maine. Julia Maria, born August 21, 1821, died January 4, 1892; married Daniel Hara- den, of Belfast, Maine; children: John and Frederick. William Edward, born January IO, 1837, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, De- cember 3. 1869 ; married Rose A. Oakes ; chil- dren : Charles Jameson and Edward Conner. Herbert C., see forward.

(VII) Herbert C., son of William and Apha ( Watson ) Quimby, was born November 26, 1840, in Belfast, and was educated in the local schools. Early in life he became a clerk and thus continued until September, 1864, when he removed to Bangor. He remained in this city less than one year, and removed to New York City in July, 1865, and engaged in the produce commission business. For the first six months he was engaged as bookkeeper and then be- came a partner in the business, continuing this association until July, 1869, returning then to his native state. He purchased a dry-goods store in Dexter, and removed the stock to Pittsfield, Maine, where he remained but a short time. He sold out in 1871 and again settled in Bangor, where he has since continued among the most active and enterprising busi- ness men of the city. He engaged in the shipping business, operating a line of steamers between Bangor and New York, and continued this until 1895, when he became secretary of the Bangor Loan & Building Association. Since that time he has given his entire atten- tion to the duties of this position, and the success of the association is measurably at- tributed to his business ability and faithful de- votion to its interests. He is a member of the Unitarian church and also of the insurance order known as the Royal Arcanum. He mar- ried, October 14, 1866, Emma C., born De- cember 25, 1843, daughter of Frederick H. Dillingham, of Bangor, who died at age of ninety-two.

For many long years the MAXWELL Maxwell family has been known as one of the most honorable, influential and prosperous in the state of Maine, and this fine reputation has been recognized far and wide. All this is largely due to the fact that the members of this strong old family have been able to make choices of a very wise kind at early periods in life, and to hold to these in the midst of dis- couraging circumstances, or to make other choices when many a keen observer saw no good reason for such a course. Many of the Maxwells have early been aware that they possessed the ability to succeed in many dif-

628

STATE OF MAINE.

ferent spheres of life's activities, and have learned this from what they have seen their relatives doing, and from the work which they have tested in the quiet, sanguine manner which has ever characterized them. With this discovery lias come no false pride, or straying now in this path and now in that, but there has been a choice of some worthy work which was as zealously followed as if the toiler could do only the kind of service to which he laid his hands.

Many of these Maxwells have seen around them opportunities which were as clearly re- vealed as the green fields about their homes, or the wide stretches of ocean seen from some neighboring hill. But they have known it was wisdom to seek other chances of service though these were only as glimpses of far-off moun- tains, with patches of sunlight here and there on their crests, and they have not wasted one precious moment in looking at the field or sea. While wise ones shook their heads, and muttered ominous warnings, these wise choos- ers have gone forth to work in some distant place which they helped to transform from a shaggy forest to a cluster of well-tilled farms. Such was the course of the brothers, James and George Maxwell, of Scarboro, Maine, when they seemed but unwise lads to many who observed them. They left their native town and made their way up the Kennebec river to where a few cabins were dotted over what is now the town of Bowdoinham, Maine. Here they began to work manfully. But at the call of their country they left the homes they were hewing out from the forest and entered the revolutionary army, doing valiant service. Again this wise choice was made, though many said that the cause of liberty of which they had such clear hopes was but a delusion. Af- ter this service each young man made choice of a wife, which was characterized by the same wisdom as their other acts in life. James Maxwell married Margaret, daughter of the worthy John and Mary ( Means) Patten, of Topsham, Maine. George Maxwell chose a Margaret from the famous and patriotic old family of Mclellan. With these they spent a very long and happy married life, surrounded by their children and descendants who added to the brightness and worth of the Maxwell name. Though these Maxwell brothers had been warned at Scarboro, Maine, that their going into the wilderness of the Kennebec would shorten their lives, George Maxwell lived to see seventy-five years, and his brother James saw his ninetieth autumn. "You will lose yourselves in those new places," was the

warning given. But each bore the name of captain in a community that loved and honored them and spread their fame far and wide.

(I) Captain James Maxwell was born in Scarboro, Maine, August 13, 1746, and died at Bowdoinham, Maine, September 16, 1836. He cleared one of the best farms in Bowdoinham, and helped many a neighbor by his kindly ad- vice and work of his strong arms. His smile of cheer often did more to brace others for the storms and toils of life than scores of words from others would have done. In the last day of his life his smile was still bright, and his advice was clear and helpful. He aided greatly in every important undertaking in his town. He was selectman from 1789 to 1791, and also from 1801 to 1809. His service as town clerk covered the years 1789 to 1794. He married, November 27, 1777, Margaret, born at Topsham, Maine, March 8, 1853, died at East Bowdoinham, Maine, July 26, 1831, daughter of John and Mary (Means) Patten, of Topsham, Maine, and granddaughter of the sturdy ancestor, Actor and Pauline (Sutor) Patten. Their children were: 1. Mary, born October 17, 1778, died October 10, 1845 ; mar- ried Timothy Merritt. 2. Peggy, born Sep- tember 7, 1780, died November 15, 1879; mar- ried Elihu Hatch, a very successful farmer of Bowdoinham. 3. Betsy, born May 4, 1782, died April 22, 1843 ; married William Decker, of one of the strong old Maine families, and was the mother of nine children who were loved and respected by all who knew them. 4. James, born March 10, 1784, was lost at sea in January, 1810. 5. John, born July 3, 1786, died at Port Au Prince, April 12, 1822. 6. Robert, born January 21, 1789, died in Bowdoinham, where he had been a very suc- cessful farmer and lumberman, and an ensign in the war of 1812, February 19, 1865. He married Abigail G. Hathorne, of Woolwich, Maine, one of the most successful teachers of her time, and who grandly helped in the train- ing of the six children. 7. Noble, born April 9, 1792, died in Boston, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 13, 1887; was a noble soldier in the war of 1812, and the successful commander of many ships and a man of noblest qualities. 8. William, whose record is given below. 9. Actor, born March 9, 1797, died at sea, May 13, 1816.

(II) William, son of Captain James and Margaret (Patten) Maxwell, was born at Bowdoinham, Maine, February 22, 1794, died in that town, June 14, 1879. He was a suc- cessful farmer and most helpful in the affairs of his town and state. Many fine opportunities

629

STATE OF MAINE.

for service beckoned him here and there, but he wisely chose to remain in the town so dear to his heart. He married, March 14, 1826, Betsy Wilson, born at Topsham, Maine, No- vember 14, 1796, died August 13, 1871; thus making as wise a choice of a wife from one of the old pioneer families of Maine as his father had made. She was a woman of noble character, and daily rejoiced in the successful and helpful lives of her eight children. These were: 1. Margaret P., born March 12, 1827, married Charles Woodbury Purington, of Topsham, Maine. 2. Noble, born November 27, 1828, died January 31, 1833. 3. Charles, born December 14, 1830, became a well-known resident of Bath, Maine. 4. Thomas C., whose record is given below. 5. Pamelia H., born December 22, 1834, died October 29, 1899; married Andrew J. Reed. 6. John F., born March 12, 1837. 7. Albion K. P., born March 15, 1840. 8. Rachel, born August 29, 1842, married Robert Dunning, of Richmond, Maine. (III) Thomas C., son of William and Betsy (Wilson) Maxwell, was born in East Bowdoin- ham, Maine, January 12, 1833, died at Rich- mond, Maine, April 10, 1895. In his earlier years he cultivated his farm with fine success ; sold the farm in 1883 and moved to Richmond and lived retired until his death. At the call of his townsmen he served Bowdoinham as one of the most helpful of her selectmen for seventeen years, and in scores of other ways helped the community where he lived and many people in other towns and cities. He married, October 27, 1860, Ruth Ann, born at Bowdoin- ham, Maine, June 26, 1840, and who still makes her home at Richmond, granddaughter of James Sedgley, one of Bowdoinham's best soldiers in the revolutionary war, and inherited that strong patriotic spirit of his which led three of the Sedgley name in that town to enter the civil war for three years of good service. Robert and Joseph Sedgley settled in Bowdoinham as early as 1749, being of one of the strong old families of York, Maine. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell are: I. Mattie C., born February 3, 1862, married Samuel Garretson and resided in Los Angeles, California. 2. Noble, April 21, 1863, one of the prominent business men in Maine; mar- ried, February 23, 1892, Florence S., born at Augusta, Maine, April 3, 1867, daughter of Joseph and Philena Whitmore (Hatch) Hill. 3. Gilbert, April 3, 1866, married Lily Foye. two children, Noble and Marjorie. 4. Ruth M., November 7, 1879, married Jefferson Southard. All these children have inherited the noble and helpful qualities which have made

life a blessing and success for their ancestral lines.

The Fickett family is probably

FICKETT the same as the English Fitch- ett, or Fitchet. This family is of Somersetshire, and bears arms: Gules a lion rampant a baton in bend ermine. Crest : A demi-lion pean ducally crowned or.

(I) John Fickett, immigrant ancestor, may have been a French Huguenot, for the only occasion on which he signed his name, so far as the writer can discover, was on the petition of New Hampshire petitioners to the general court of Massachusetts, February 20, 1689-90, asking for protection from the Indians, when he spelled his baptismal name "Jean." As this spelling is never found among the English for a man's name, the fact of French ancestry seems certainly established by this one record. At that period many French came to the shores of New England, as well as to New Rochelle, New York. It is suggested that the spelling has been Anglicized from Fiquette, or some similar surname. In 1689 he was doubtless of Portsmouth, or vicinity. He had descendants at Kittery. Maine, though the history of Kit- tery does not mention them. We know that Jean Fickett lived at Scarborough, Maine, an adjacent town. Of his family we know only that he had a son, John Jr., mentioned below. (II) John (2), son of John (1), or Jean Fickett (1), was born probably in the old coun- try, about 1675. From a deed recorded in York registry Vol. XIV, folio 243, we learn that he had two sons: 1. John. 2. Thomas, mentioned below.

(III) Thomas, son of John Fickett (2), was a shipwright, of Kittery, Maine. He bought the rights of his brother, John Fickett, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a tanner, to the estate of his father, formerly of his grand- father and grandmother, including the home- stead, itpland, marsh and meadow, at Scar- borough, Maine, by deed dated December 8, 1731. But for this deed very little would be known of the family. Thomas Fickett be- came the ancestor of a somewhat numerous family at Scarborough. From Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth there served in the revo- lution the following, probably all being his grandsons or great-grandsons: John Fickett was in the company of Captain Bryant Mor- ton in 1776, at Cape Elizabeth and Scarbor- ough, also in Captain Joshua Jordan's com- pany, Colonel Jonathan Mitchell's regiment. John Fickett Jr. was a matross in Captain John Wentworth's company, Colonel Peter

630

STATE OF MAINE.

Noye's regiment, at Cape Elizabeth. Nathan- iel Fickett, Zebulon Fickett, Daniel Fickett, Benjamin Ficket Jr. and Captain Benjamin Fickett were also in the revolution. Thomas Fickett married, December 13, 1749, at Fal- mouth ( now Portland), Maine, Isabella Rob- erts, of Falmouth. Benjamin Fickett, of Fal- mouth, married, February 2, 1760, Sarah Saw- yer.

(VI) Zechariah Fickett, descendant of the family given above, was born in Scarborough, or vicinity, about 1775. He moved to Har- rington, Maine, when a young man, and mar- ried Fannie Dinsmoor, a descendant of the Scotch-Irish settlers of New Hampshire. In 1840 he moved to Brewer. He was a farmer all his life. Child, Amos G., mentioned .below.

(VII) Amos G., son of Zechariah Fickett (6). was born at Harrington, Maine, July 15, 1806, died October 9, 1875. He was a ship- wright all his life. He came to Brewer, Maine, with his father in 1840. He married ( first ) Lucy S. Willis, daughter of Major John Willis. He married ( second) Olive Sewell. Children of first wife: 1. Albert Gilmore. 2. Irene M., married Edward Stoddard. 3. and 4. Ambrose and Amasa, twins. 5. Charles. These three lost their lives in the civil war. Child of sec- ond wife : 6. Oscar Amos, mentioned below.

(VIII) Oscar Amos, son of Amos G. Fick- ett (7), was born in Brewer, July 28, 1861. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. At the age of fourteen he began to learn the butcher's trade in a meat-market in Bangor, Maine. In 1887 he bought out the business of his employer and has carried it on since then. He conducts a large and well- appointed meat and provision market in Ban- gor, and in connection with his market has a meat-cutting and sausage-making establish- ment and employs a dozen men. He also does a wholesale business, supplying yachts, vessels and the various summer hotels of the vicinity. He is a merchant of high standing and great popularity. He is a Republican. He is a member of Penobscot Lodge of Odd Fellows; Katahdin Encampment, and of Bangor Coun- cil, No. 123, Royal Arcanum. He married, May 19, 1885, Nellie Burke, Their only child died young.

The ancestor from whom the SKINNER Skinner line of this sketch starts was a very early settler in Connecticut, of whose antecedents nothing is known, and who does not appear to have been related to any of the Massachusetts fami- lies.

(I) Jolin Skinner first appears at Hartford. Connecticut, in 1639. He married Mary, daughter of Joseph Loomis, and died in 1650. She married (second), November 13, 1651, Owen Tudor, and died August 19, 1680. The Loomis genealogy gives the names of the chil- dren of Jolin and Mary as Mary, Ann, John, Joseph and Richard, next mentioned.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume II, Part 25

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry S. (Henry Sweetser), 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe Publication date: 1909 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 736

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry S. (Henry Sweetser), 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 736