Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume IV, Part 94

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry Sweetser, 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume IV > Part 94

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).

Numerous settlers came from

IRISH England about 1715 and settled in the old seaport town of Falmouth,

on the coast of Maine. When they arrived the town had been occupied by the descend- ants of the English settlers who first came under George Cleeves and Richard Tucker for forty-four years. The settlement was founded in 1633, on land known under the Indian name Mashigonne, but the Indians de- stroyed the town in 1676, and it was not re- built until 1680, under President Darforth. The town was again entirely destroyed by the French and Indians in 1690, and the inhabi- tants who escaped death took refuge in the surrounding towns and came to look upon Falmouth as impossible of again rising from its ashes. It was largely with the help of new immigrants, who had not caught the pessi- mistic spirit engendered by twice fleeing for their lives from the horror of Indian warfare, that the place was reinhabited. It took twen- ty-five years to overcome this spirit of fatal- ism, and in 1716 a resettlement was under- taken, which progressed so favorably that in 1719 the town of Falmouth was organized, and from that time a steady and determined growth was made.

(I) It was under such conditions that James Irish found Falmouth, in 17II, when he arrived on the coast of Maine from his home in England, looking for a home in the new world. He joined the band of hardy pioneers determined to rebuild a settlement so favorably located for trade and commerce. He was born in England, and was a young single man when he arrived in Maine. He needed companionship, and found his future wife in the person of a young woman named Elizabeth, her surname not being recorded. They were married before 1723, and just as the town of Falmouth, of which he was a pioneer rebuilder, had sprung Phoenixlike from its ashes, after they had been undis- turbed a quarter of a century by a scattered. indifferent and cowed refugee people. He was probably a member of the church com-

2136

STATE OF MAINE

munity gathered by Rev. Thomas Smith, who organized in Falmouth the first church east of the Saco river, March 7, 1727. His chil- dren attended the first school under the pio- neer schoolmaster, Robert Bayley, after its organization in 1773. He took his wife and children in 1738-40 to Gorham, a settlement ten miles west of Falmouth, known as Nara- gansett Number Seven, where a settlement had been started in 1736. The place became known as Gorhamtown, in honor of Captain John Gorham, and had been granted to sol- diers who served in King Philip's war in 1728. When the Indians threatened to burn the town, he fled from his farm to the garri- son for greater safety, and when this danger was over he returned to his farm, where he died. Children of James and Elizabeth Irish, born in Falmouth, Maine: I. John, April 13, 1724. 2. Miriam, September 13, 1725, mar- ried Gamaliel Pate, August 7, 1743. 3. Jo- seph, April 12, 1728, married Hannah Doane, 1753; made their home in Buckfield, Oxford county, Maine. 4. Elizabeth, April 19, 1730. 5. Thomas, February 27, 1733, died young. 6. James (q. v.). 7. Thomas, January 29, 1737, married July 6, 1759, Deliverance Skil- lings. 8. William, married July 18, 1765, Mary McCallister, and died April 17, 1852.

(II) James (2), son of James (I) and Elizabeth Irish, was born in Falmouth, Maine, January 21, 1736. He was a soldier in the revolution, enlisting in Captain Williams' company, Colonel Phinney's regiment, and after one year's service returned home. He re-enlisted in 1777 as sergeant in Captain Whitemore's company, Colonel Fogg's regi- ment, and was stationed for some time at Peekskill, on the Hudson river. He returned home in 1778 to his farm, having taken ad- vantage of the excellent farms offered to sol- diers desiring to settle in the new districts in Maine, where his father had been settled since 1740, and where he was brought up and cleared his farm from a wilderness. He mar- ried Mary Gorham, daughter of Captain John Phinney, of Gorham. She was the first white child born in the settlement at Narragansett Number Seven. This marriage was made be- fore 1757, and resulted in the birth of nine children, all born before his departure to fight the battles of his country in the American revolution. Children : I. Stephen, March 24, 1757, married Anna Bangs, April 1, 1779. 2. William, March 12, 1759, married Sarah March in 1781. 3. Martha, August 28, 1761, died November 10, 1836; marriage published to Stephen Whitney, October 28, 1780. 4.

Ebenezer, April 5, 1763, married Martha Morton, January 1, 1785, died January 7, 1851. 5. Obadiah, July 17, 1765, died April 17, 1852; marriage to Mary Deane published January 7, 1790. 6. Mary, June 24, 1767, died March 6, 1846; married Timothy Bacon, February 19, 1798. 7. Patience, January 31,. 1770, married John Davis, April 16, 1789, died December 31, 1854. 8. Samuel, April 8, 1772; he died September 25, 1825, and his widow August, 1858. 9. James (q. v.).

(III) James (3), youngest child of James (2) and Mary Gorham (Phinney) Irish, was born in Gorham, Maine, August 18, 1776. He received a good school training, and grew up to be a useful and influential man, his reputa- tion extending to all parts of the state, and his military career to the entire country. He was a selectman of the town of Gorham in 1820 and 1829; state senator in the general court of Massachusetts in 1819-20, and a delegate from Gorham to the convention that met in Portland in 1820 to frame and adopt a constitution for the state of Maine. He was. the first representative elected from the town of Gorham to the first legislature of the state of Maine that met in Falmouth May 21, 1820, and adjourned June 28, 1820, after a session of thirty-nine days. Being a professional sur- veyor, he was employed by the state in defin- ing the bounds of the public lands and divid- ing the same into townships and lots prepara- tory to inviting settlement. After the death, in 1822, of Colonel Lewis, surveyor-general of the state 1820-22, he was appointed his. successor by Governor Albion K. Parris, and in 1824 Governor Parris appointed him to the newly created office of land agent, which office he held up to 1828. He was also one of the three commissioners appointed from the state of Maine to determine the northwestern boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada. In 1846, when the York and Cumberland railroad was chartered by the State of Maine, he selected the route for the road and made the preliminary, as well as the final surveys. Upon the meeting of the directors of the corporation, he was made clerk of the governing body of the road, and was by reason of his superior knowledge largely instrumental in building, equipping and maintaining this new undertaking.

His position in the military organization of the District of Maine, while under the gov- ernment of the commonwealth of Massachu- setts, gave him high rank in the military or- ganization, and he was commissioned briga- dier-general of the state militia. In 1814,

2137

STATE OF MAINE.

when Portland was threatened by the ad- vance on the coast of the British navy, Gen- eral Irish was refused permission by his su- perior officer to call out the troops, but upon his own responsibility, backed by the popular sentiment of the town, he called out the en- tire brigade, and in thirty-six hours had 25,- 000 men under arms and ready for the de- fence of the endangered town. For this act he was later court-martialed, but was honor- ably discharged.

After the war of 1812 he became inter- ested in manufacturing interests, and in 1824 he leased a small tannery and out of it he evolved a large and successful business in the preparation of leather to meet the increasing demand of the boot and shoe manufacturers of New England. He also established a starch factory and a carpet factory. From 1845 to 1849 he held the office of postmaster of Gor- ham, Maine, under appointment by President James K. Polk, which appointment and service determines his political affiliations.

He married, September 2, 1798, Rebecca, daughter of Lieutenant Silas Chadbourne, a soldier of the American revolution. She was born April 9, 1780, and became the mother of his thirteen children. She died October 5, 1831, and General Irish married (second) October 15, 1832, Louisa Mason, a native of Massachusetts, born August 5, 1789, and by this marriage he had no issue. His first home was on the farm of his father on the "Flaggy Meadow Road," which property he sold in 1810 to Seth Herssey and then purchased the farm in the "Blake Neighborhood," formerly owned by Joseph Phinney. In 1826 he sold this farm and purchased a three-story brick house on the west corner of Main and Water streets, Gorham, which was destroyed by fire some time after his death. General Irish died in Gorham, Maine, June 30, 1863, aged eighty-seven years, and his widow survived him and died in Hallowell, Maine, October 3, 1881, at over ninety years of age. Children of General James and Rebecca (Chadbourne) Irish, born in Gorham, Maine: I. Sophronia, September 5, 1799, died March 31, 1886; mar- ried (first) November 28, 1821, Henry Frost, (second) September 23, 1829, John Wingate, of Buxton, Maine. 2. Mary G., July 3, 1801, died October 31, 1856; married, November 26, 1822, Peter Paine, of Standish, Maine. 3. Isaac Chadbourne, November 29, 1803, mar- ried September 5, 1830, Maria March. 4. Abigail, August 14, 1806; married December 15, 1830, Cornelius Waters. 5. Martha, July 15, 1808; married, November 21, 1833, Bryce

M. Edwards. 6. Adeline, September 26, 1810; married, December 6, 1832, Dr. William Marrett, of Westbrook, Maine. 7. Francis O., September 22, 1812; married, January II, 1846, Caroline E. Atwood, born in Worcester, Massachusetts, who died May 17, 1866, and he died in Brooklyn, New York, December 16, 1894. 8. Marshall, September 9, 1814; married (first) October 16, 1846, Martha Fogg; (second) December 19, 1877, Mary F. McLellan. 9. James, June 9, 1816, died young. 10. Rebecca C., September 21, 1817; married September 21, 1846, Lyndon Oak, of Garland, Maine; she died February 24, 1902. II. Elizabeth, July 29, 1819; married, De- cember 1, 1841, John McArthur, of Brooks, Maine, and died in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, July 1, 1896. 12. James H., March II, 1823, died May 18, 1846. 13. Thaddeus P. (q. v.).

(IV) Thaddeus P., youngest child of Gen- eral James and Rebecca (Chadbourne) Irish, was born at Gorham, Maine, November 25, 1824. He was educated at Gorham Acad- emy, and as a boy entered the employ of Mc- Arthur & Brooks; after a time removed to Garland, Maine, where he engaged in the manufacture of boots, the firm being Clark & Company; the work at this time was all done by hand. He remained here until 1868, when on account of his wife's health he sold out, and engaged with his brother Marshall in the carpet manufacturing business in Gor- ham, and continuing until he received an ap- pointment as mail agent on the Portland & Rochester railroad, in which position he re- mained till 1886, when he resigned, and re- moving to Somerville, Massachusetts, built a house, where he has since resided, living re- tired. He is the only one living of thirteen children, and is now (1908) eighty-six years of age. He has taken a prominent part in the Congregational church since his early youth, and while a resident of Gorham took an active part in all of its affairs, and is at the present time a member of the Broadway Congregational Church, of Somerville. In 1865 he was for some six months connected with the Christian Commission in Virginia. He erected a house on the corner of Main and Water streets, on the ruins of the brick house formerly occupied by his father, Gen- eral Irish, and which had subsequently burned.

He married, November 29, 1848, Ellen A., daughter of Josiah Davis, of Standish, Maine, born February 14, 1827. She became the mother of three children, and died October 20, 1869. He married (second) Lucy Jane

2138

STATE OF MAINE.

Rice, November 23, 1870; she was born April 6, 1830, and died without issue, May 6, 1900. Children of Thaddeus P. and Ellen A. (Davis) Irish, born in Garland, Penob- scot county, Maine: I. Elizabeth R., Septem- ber 8, 1849, died March 6, 1865. 2. James H., November 24, 1852; married, Novem- ber 25, 1880, Junia H. Sanborn, born in Rochester, New Hampshire, October 23, 1857; children : i. Philip James, born December II, 1881 ; ii. Forest O'Neil, January 8, 1885; iii. Hazel Marguerite, April 2, 1886; iv. Chester King, August 28, 1887, died December 4, 1887; v. James Hobbs, January 19, 1889; vi. Ellen Davis, July 1, 1890, died February 21, 1892; vii, Christine, November 21, 1891 ; viii. Robert Jasper, December II, 1897. 3. Fred Davis, born April 10, 1857, see forward.

(V) Fred Davis, son of Thaddeus P. and Ellen A. (Davis) Irish, was a resident of Boston, Massachusetts, with office at 212 Summer street. He was educated in the Gor- ham public schools, graduating from the high school in 1875. He then entered the book and stationery business with the firm of Dresser, McLelland & Co., of Portland, and remained till 1881, when because of poor health he resigned and went to Mexico for six months. Returning, he entered the em- ploy of Estes & Murray, of Boston, as travel- ing salesman and general utility man. In 1893 he was elected treasurer of the Briggs Piano Company. He retired from that posi- tion in 1896, engaging with Lee & Shepherd, and remaining till 1901, then engaging with Dana, Estes & Co., remaining till 1907, when because of ill health he resigned. In 1908 he became connected with the firm of H. M. Cauldwell Co., where he still remains. He is a member of the Pine Tree Club, and was its first assistant secretary; and the State of Maine Club, of Somerville. Like his father, he is a Republican.

Colonel John Milton, of Port- ADAMS land, Maine, second son of Na- than and Susan ( Merrill) Adams, was born in Rumford, Oxford county, Maine, September 22, 1819, died in Portland, Maine, October ,29, 1897. He came of the well-known Adams family. His line of ancestry being clearly traced to (I) William Adams, who came to New England in 1638, living first in Cambridge, and set- tling in Ipswich in 1640. He was selectman in 1649, and from his will, which was proved in Ipswich court, March 25, 1662, was a

man of property and position in that part of ancient Ipswich called "the Hamlet."

(II) Nathaniel, his son, is spoken of in the early records with the honorary title "Mr.," and his tombstone is still to be seen in the old Ipswich burying ground, bearing the following inscription :

Mr. Nathaniel Addams died Apr. ye 11-1715 in ye 74 year of his age. Now hes gon to eternall rest God will him safely keep Although hes buried in ye dust

In Jesus he doth sleep

O you his children that are left I pray let some be found

That do endeavor to make good

Your foregone leaders ground Grave saint behind that cannot find

Thy old love night or morn Pray look above for there's your love Singing with ye first born."

(III) Thomas, (IV) Thomas, (V) Eze- keil were influential citizens of Ipswich.

(VI) Nathan, born December 1, 1757, be- came a resident of Andover, Massachusetts, and served in the revolution as lieutenant in a company from Andover. He removed to Andover, Maine, of which he was one of the grantees and proprietors. In 1803 he bought a valuable tract of land in Rumford, Maine,

which became one of the most prosperous farms on the Ellis river. He died in 1831, at the age of seventy-four. He married, De- cember 1, 1785, Betsey, daughter of Eben Poor, of Andover, Maine, and direct de- scendant of Daniel Poore, who came from England in the "Bevis," 1638.

(VII) Nathan, his oldest son, was born January 28, 1788, and March 17, 1817, was married to Susan, daughter of Ezekiel Mer- rill and Sarah (Emery) Merrill. She was the first white child born in Andover, Maine, a cousin of Stephen Emery, attorney-general of Maine in 1839-40, and a woman of un- usual beauty of face and character. They lived on the homestead in Rumford, of which for many years before his father's death he had entire charge. His death was the result of a fall, January 26, 1830. Their children were: I. Milton, died young. 2. John Mil- ton. 3. Charles. 4. Nathan Emery. 5. Su- san Merrill. 6. Henry Smith.

(VIII) John Milton, second son, and sub- ject of this sketch, was ten years old when he was left fatherless. During the next five years he proved his mother's able assistant in managing the large farm. His early edu- cation was gained in the common schools, and from a relative who was a student at Bow- doin. At the age of fifteen he abandoned the idea of going to college, mainly because two years of Greek were required. He attended

John M Alors

2139

STATE OF MAINE.

school at Turner, and two years at Bethel and Bridgton academies, and at seventeen began to teach, still pursuing his studies. In 1838 he volunteered in the Aroostook war, as it was called, and was made orderly sergeant in Captain John T. Hall's Oxford County company. The company was discharged af- ter only one month's service. At nineteen he taught in an academy at New Market, on the eastern shore of Maryland. The fa- cilities for travel were few then, and it was a hard six days' journey from his home in Rumford. He taught there two years most successfully, when the death of a brother compelled his return home. He then entered Gorham Seminary, taking, except for Greek, the studies of a college course. Graduating two years later, he entered St. Hyacinthe Col- lege, Canada, his special purpose being to gain a thorough knowledge of the French language. The president of the college se- cured board for him in the famous Papineau family, which was wealthy and cultured, ad- mitting him to a society where French was spoken in its purity.

Graduating from St. Hyacinthe, he went to Portland, Maine, and in the spring of 1844 entered the office of Fessenden & Du- blois, becoming a member of the household of William Pitt Fessenden. He pursued his law studies successfully, teaching French meanwhile in Master Packard's school, and in 1846 was admitted to the bar. He opened an office in Portland and as he had while a student attended to the firm's business in the lower courts, found no difficulty in establish- ing himself. At the end of three years he entered into law partnership with Hon. John A. Poor, the promoter of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence-now the Grand Trunk-rail- road, in which he was deeply interested. The following year, 1850-51, he traveled exten- sively in Europe, acting as correspondent of the New York Railroad Journal, writing chiefly of the railroad systems of Europe and the political outlook of the period. In 1855 he edited The Argus, while its editor, Hon. John Appleton, was serving as secretary of legation at London. In 1856 he was appointed by Governor Wells reporter of decisions, and published volumes xli and xlii of the Maine Reports. About this time he formed a law partnership with Nathan Clifford, which was very congenial to both parties, and which continued until Mr. Clifford was appointed to the United States supreme bench.

The Argus, which was founded in 1803 to support the administration of Thomas Jef-

ferson, was at this time without an editor, and Mr. Adams was unanimously chosen by the eight proprietors to fill the position, but only after much persuasion was he induced to accept, so strong was his preference for the law, in which he had become very suc- cessful. He took charge of The Argus in May, 1857, and in 1866 became sole owner, and continued editor and owner till 1890, when he retired from the active management, retaining controlling interest, however, till his death in 1897. For nearly forty years his strong and not-to-be-mistaken editorials guided its policy, for the personality of its editor was a strong factor in its success. His conception of its place in public service was high, and he never used it to further his own ambitions. He was a politician only in the sense that he sought the highest good of the public, through the machinery of politics, placing measures above men, and right above both. He held the respect and esteem of his political opponents, as well as his party asso- ciates, and his counsels held weight with his party both in Washington and the West. His ready pen, his lucid exposition of facts, and his prompt and unreserved opinions, won for him the confidence of his readers, and he proved his skill as manager by making The Argus, though Democratic, have the largest circulation in the state.

Mr. Adams, though often solicited to take office, almost invariably refused. He was a member of the school board of Portland for several years, and also served as superintend- ent of schools. He was one of the originators of the Maine Press Association, and an in- terested member of the Maine Historical As- sociation. He was appointed by Governor Hubbard a member of his staff, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was a frequent dele- gate to state and national conventions. He was a member of the state legislature in 1877- 78, and served on the finance and legal af- fairs committee at each session. The second year, nominated by his party for speaker of the house, though failing election, he received every Democratic vote. He was appointed a visitor at the United States Military Academy at West Point by President Cleveland.

Colonel Adams was a great student, and did much of his work in his library, sur- rounded by his books. He was a good con- versationalist, and told in a delightful way of the men he had met, and of the editors and politicians with whom he had been more or less connected. He found time to enjoy much of outdoor life, and the several acres sur-

2140

STATE OF MAINE.

rounding his home yielded many unusual fruits and flowers. He was a gentleman of the old school, tall and dignified in bearing, cordial and courteous in manner, honest in purpose, of lofty character, and kind and gentle nature. He was good to the poor, a public-spirited citizen, and was justly held in highest regard in the community in which he lived, and by the fraternity of which he was a brilliant and honored member.

Colonel Adams was married, April 18, 1867, to Adele Sophronia Hobbs, daughter of Will- iam Whitman Hobbs and Sarah Farmington (Merrill) Hobbs, of Norway, Maine, and a direct descendant of John Whitman, of Wey- mouth, and John Putnam, the ancestor of Israel. They had five children: I. Susan Merrill, married, March 25, 1896, James Han- ington Boyd, and has three children: Helen Hanington, Mary Adams and James Haning- ton Jr. 2. Sarah Whitman, married, Decem- ber 25, 1899, Henry True Hooper, has one child, Anna Putnam. 3. John Milton, born June 11, 1877, died December 18, 1892. 4. Adele Hobbs, unmarried. 5. Charles Henry, married, January 1, 1908, Margaret Esh- baugh, of Montclair, New Jersey.

BEEDE OR BEEDY The surname Bede, Beede, or Beedy, is doubtless derived

from a personal name of great antiquity borne by the venerable Anglo-Saxon histor- ian. A Thomas Beede came to Newport, Rhode Island, from England as early as 1639. The immigrant ancestor of the New Hamp- shire family settled in Kingston, or Poplin, New Hampshire, and is said to have been a French Huguenot. The name was formerly spelled, we are told, with an acute accent over the final letter, accounting perhaps for the spelling Beady, found in Brentwood. His widow Elizabeth and some of the children settled in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, where she died at the age of ninety-two years. Two of the older sons settled in Sandwich, New Hampshire. As nearly as we can from frag- mentary records we have prepared this list of children : I. Eli, born about 1705; had son Thomas, baptized by Rev. Ward Clark, at Kingston, July 9, 1732; Thomas, lived at Poplin; Eli and Thomas were of Poplin, April 19, 1785. 2. Daniel, mentioned below. 3. Hezekiah, born about 1718; married at Kingston, July 9, 1747, Hepzibah Smith. 4. Phineas (?), of Poplin. 5. Son, married Elizabeth -; child Jonathan, baptized September 22, 1734; was a quaker at Kings-

ton, contributed to support the war, August 23, 1762. 'Rev. Thomas, grandson of the immigrant, was born at Poplin, November 28, 1771; fitted himself for college, and grad- uated at Harvard in 1798; married Nancy, daughter of Benjamin Wilder, of Harvard, January 20, 1805, and settled at Wilton, Maine, January 22, 1803, as minister; re- sided on Beede Hill; called to Eastport, Maine, in 1830; to Duxbury in 1837; finally to Syracuse, New York; spent his last days at Farmington, Maine; wife died February II, 1844, and he died November 30, 1848; many of his sermons have been printed.

(II) Daniel Beede, son of the immigrant, was born about 1715-20. He lived in Poplin and Brentwood, where he was selectman in 1760. He married January 22, or 26, 1749- 50 (probably his second wife), Patience Pres- cott, born 1724, baptized September 11, 1748, a daughter of Joshua Prescott and grand- daughter of James Prescott, the immigrant ancestor. He settled in Sandwich before the revolution. Children: I. Daniel Jr., born about 1740, removed to Sandwich, and was captain of the Eighth company, of Sandwich, in Colonel Badger's regiment, of Gilmanton and vicinity, 1776; was selectman of Sand- wich, 1773-79-80; town clerk 1776; justice of the peace 1783 and other years; committee of general court to consider the petition of inhabitants of Wolfborough and Middleton to be set off as another town. 2. John, signed petition at Sandwich for paper money issue, in 1786. 3. Nathan, mentioned below. (Chil- dren of Daniel Beede Jr. and Patience: i. Mary, married, October 27, 1785, Richard Varney, son of Moses and Mary, of Wolfbor- ough; ii. Sarah, married Joseph Varney, son of Samuel and Mary Varney, Octo- ber 27, 1785; iii. Martha, married March 4, 1790, Stephen Hoag, son of Enoch; iv. Phebe, married, November 28, 1793, John Purinton, son of Zachariah and Anna; v. Cy- rus, married, March 2, 1793, Judith Varney, of Dover; all these were Friends' marriages at Dover, New Hampshire.) Of this family some were not Quakers, however, for we find in the revolution : Daniel, Joshua, Josiah, Phinehas, Rezia and Thomas.

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 IV, Part 94

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry Sweetser, 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe Publication date: 1909 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 896

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry Sweetser, 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 896