USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Guilford > Guilford, Maine, 1816-1916; proceedings of the centennial celebration June 17-18, 1916 > Part 2
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veyed to him one half of the whole territory. This was ever after known as the Waldo Patent.
He distinguished himself as a soldier and was the second officer to Sir William Pepperell in the siege of Louisburg.
He died suddenly near Bangor, Maine, May 23, 1759.
(EDITOR)
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of Massachusetts surveyed a township of land, which was number three in the fifth range of townships, north of Waldo Patent now Garland. This township was granted to the trustees of Williams College.
About the same time township four, range five, now Dexter, was also surveyed. In 1801, the first settlers came to what is now the town of Garland and began to make homes there. Dexter was also settled at about the same time. Mills were erected for the manufac- ture of lumber in Garland and in Dexter. There were also mills in those two towns to grind the corn and wheat.
T
M. L. Hussey Woolen Company
I allude to these facts in connection with the towns of Garland and Dexter for the reason that the early settlers in Guilford had to go either to Garland or Dexter for the purpose of grinding their wheat and corn and to do such trading as it was necessary to do in order to procure the necessary articles for use and for consump- tion.
In the year 1803, Deacon Robert Low and Deacon Robert Her- ring, both of New Gloucester, bought from Bowdoin College a large tract of land in township six, range seven, now Guilford. Ac- cording to the terms of the grant they were to establish homes in
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said township. Immediately after their purchase they did begin to make preparations to clear the land and make homes and form a settlement in the township.
On the first three pages of the plantation records is a historical sketch written by Robert Low.2 Immediately following the his- torical sketch is the record of the warrant to the inhabitants of township number six, range seven, in the County of Somerset signed by Phillip Leavitt, justice of the peace.
From this sketch I quote: "These men (meaning no doubt Deacon Robert Herring and Deacon Robert Low) formed a de- termination to admit on their part no person as a settler who was not industrious, orderly, moral and well disposed. In this they so far succeeded that for many years thereafter lawsuits and broils among the neighbors were known only in name among the neigh- bors."
I further quote from the historical sketch as follows: "In A. D. 1804, trees were felled in several places in the town and the next year corn was raised. On the sixteenth day of February, A. D. 1806, the first family moved into the township and about the middle of March the second family came together with several men who worked during the summer and remained here the winter follow- ing."
These two families were Deacon Robert Low, Jr., and .Deacon Robert Herring, Jr. Robert Low, Jr. settled on the farm owned by the late Joseph H. Deering. This is the first farm west of Lowe's Bridge on the river road.
Robert Herring, Jr., settled on the farm next west of the Deer- ing farm and west of the highway leading from the river road north to Guilford Center, North Guilford and Monson. The farm set- tled upon by Robert Herring, Jr., is now occupied by Herbert L. Crafts.
In 1806, there were only seven men residing within the limits of said township. These men were Robert Low, Jr., Robert Herring, Jr., David Low, John Bennett, Isaac Bennett, Nathaniel Bennett and John Everton.
In the sketch before referred to, we learn that these seven men believing that some established regulations were necessary to pre- serve good order and harmony met and adopted such by-laws as
(2) This sketch appears in the Documentary History of Guilford in this number.
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they deemed necessary for said purposes, to be in full force and effect for the term of one year. A clerk was chosen to keep a record of their doings and such other officers as were thought necessary to carry into execution these laws were chosen. We read that these laws so adopted were respected and rarely ever known to be evaded. Public schools were supported and main- tained by private subscription.
On the eighth day of October, 1812, Philip Leavitt of Athens by virtue of a warrant from the treasurer of the County of Somerset issued his warrant for the organization of the township into a plan- tation. For that purpose the meeting was held on the eleventh day of November, 1812.
On the eleventh day of November, 1812, Philip Leavitt was chosen moderator, Robert Low was chosen clerk, Robert Herring was chosen as first assessor, Nathaniel Greaves second assessor, Robert Low third assessor and Isaac Herring collector.
On November 28th, 1812, a meeting of the voters in the plan- tation was held at John Bennett's house for the purpose of raising money for a school. Under article three of the record of that meeting, we find that a vote to raise money for the school was lost.
Under article four, we find: "After some discussion and debate it was on reconsideration and some stipulated conditions voted to raise money for a school. Twenty-one dollars was raised for that purpose. John Bennett's former school room was selected to have the school kept it. Nathaniel Greaves, John Bennett, and John Robbins, Jr., were chosen committee for the school."
It will thus be seen that immediately after the organization of the plantation the necessary steps were taken to provide for the education of the children within the plantation. Thus early com- menced that interest and that liberality which has ever been main- tained for the support of schools in our town. All through the years, as shown by the records of the plantation and of the town, will be found liberal sums raised and expended for the education of the children within the limits of township six, range seven, or Guilford.
From the records we find that Robert Herring was born June I, 1764. His wife was born May 20, 1765. From record book number one of the town of Guilford, on page eighty-eight, I take the fol- lowing :
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Robert Herring, born June ist, 1704. Sally Herring, his wife, born May 20th, 1765.
CHILDREN
Robert Herring. Junr., born in New Gloucester, Me., Jany, Ist, 1784.
Isaac Herring, born in New Gloucester. September 16th, 1786. Nathaniel Herring, born in New Gloucester, August 8th, 1788. Sally Herring, Junr., born in New Gloucester, September 25th. 1790.
Lydia Herring, born in New Gloucester, July 27th, 1792. Benjamin Herring, born in New Gloucester, July 20th, 1794. Abagail Herring, born in New Gloucester, March 20th, 1707. David Herring, born in New Gloucester. March 26th, 1799. John Herring, born in New Gloucester, April oth, 1801. Betsy Herring, born in New Gloucester, August 6th. 1804. Deborah Herring, born in New Gloucester, October 20th, 1806.
DEATHS
Robert Herring, died April 27th, 1814.
Sally: wife of Robert Herring, died October 2nd, 1832.
Robert Herring, Jr., d. Guilford, March 17, 1847.
Isaac Herring d. Guilford, Sept. 20, 1865.
Nathaniel Herring d. Guilford, Oct. 24, 1840. Sally Herring d. Rockford, Minn., Mar. 5, 1857. Lydia Herring d. Guilford, Nov. 28, 1881.
Abagail Herring d. Guilford, Oct. 17, 1832.
David Herring d. Guilford, Aug. 22. 1801.
John Herring d. Guilford, Aug. 23, 1875. Betsey Herring d. Augusta, Wis., Dec. 24, 1870. Deborah Herring d. Augusta, Wis., Mar. 14, 1873.
Deacon Robert Herring and Sarah Herring, his wife, are buried in the burying ground just east of the building formerly occupied as a town house. Your historian recently was in that burying ground. The stones at the grave of Robert Herring and of his wife, Sarah Herring, are in good condition. From the tombstone at the head of each grave I took the following inscription: "Deacon Robert Herring died March 21. 1851, age 87 yrs. Sarah Herring, his wife, died October 5. 1832, age 67 yrs."
The first son it will be noted is Robert Herring, Jr. Robert Herring, Jr., at the date of his death owned the lumber mills at North Guilford. The sons of Robert Herring settled in Guilford.
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BIRTHS
Robert Low, born in New Boston, N. H., March Ist, 1781. Rebecca Low his wife born in New Gloucester, Sept. Ist, 1782.
CHILDREN
Isaac Bradford Low, born in N. Gloucester, March 2d, 1805. Polley Leach Low, born in the Township, No. 6, now Guil- ford, Sept. 29th, 1806.
Judith Moulton Low, born in the Township No. 6, now Guilford, April 4th, 1809.
Anna, second wife of Robert Low, born in N. Gloucester, April 20th, 1784.
Rebecca B. Low, born in Pln. No. 6, now Guilford, June 28th, 1812.
Frederick Plummer Low, born in Pln. No. 6, (now Guil- ford). Sept. 21st, 1814.
Rachel Wharff Low, born in Guilford, May 13th, 1817.
Roger Sherman Low, born in Guilford, April 30th, 1820. Sylvina Larrabee Low, born in Guilford, Sept. 26th, 1824. Mrs. Rachel S. Low, 3rd wife of Rohert Low, born in N. Gloucester, February 3d, 1786.
Thomas P. Wharff (her son by her Ist husband) born in Litchfield, October 5th, 1809.
DEATHS
Rebecca Low, first wife of Robert Low, died Feby. 12th, 1811. Anna Low, 2nd wife of Robert, died November 6th, 1826.
Rachel Low, 3d wife of Robert Low, Esq., died December 23d, 1858.
John Everton was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, April 5, 1765. Rebecca Everton, his wife, was born in North Yarmouth, Maine, 1771. Esther, his second wife, was born in North Yar- mouth, in 1767.
John Everton had three children ; two sons and a daughter. John Everton settled on what is known as the Maxfield Flat on the river road from Guilford to Foxcroft, west of the Beals' hill so-called. None of the three children of John Everton were born in Guilford. The last, John Everton, Junior, was born in Freeport, February 10, 1804.
His second wife, Esther, served as nurse and doctor. While rid- ing on horse back to see a patient she was thrown from her horse. Her spine was injured so that she was never able afterwards to do
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anything. His son Simeon had a daughter who married a man named Bemis and afterwards lived in the towns of Charleston and Exeter.
John Bennett was born in New Gloucester, January 29, 1773. His wife, Sally Bennett, was born in New Gloucester, March 14, 1772. They had eight children; seven sons and one daughter.
The daughter, Sally Bennett, was the wife of Isaac Edes, whose descendants now live in Guilford. The seven sons all settled, lived and died in Guilford. Many of their descendants are now living in town. John Bennett was known as Captain John Bennett.
Methodist Episcopal Church Elm St.
Nathaniel Bennett was born in New Gloucester, November 19th, 1768. His wife, Rachel, was born in North Yarmouth, June 22, 1774. Nathaniel Bennett had by his first wife eight children; two sons and six daughters. Nathaniel Bennett's second wife was born in Lewiston July 9, 1778. She was the widow of James Douglass. At the time of her marriage to Nathaniel Bennett she had four children by her first husband, James Douglass, all boys. The young-
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est of the four was George 11. Douglass, a respected citizen and a prominent business man of our town and father of Henry Douglass, who is now deceased. Nathaniel Bennett by his second marriage had six children, four sons and two daughters.
Isaac Bennett was born in New Gloucester December 8, 1770. His wife, Peggy, was born in New Gloucester May 29, 1771. They had cleven children ; six sons and five daughters. The three Ben- netts were brothers.
On my visit to the okdl burying ground I found the graves of Captain John Bennett and his wife Sarah, and Nathaniel Bennett. Stones mark their graves.
I have thus given a sketch of the first seven men who settled in Guilford, except David Low. I find no mention of David Low in the records. The descendants of these seven men are still with us.
The town of Sangerville was incorporated on June 13, 1813. By the act incorporating the town of Sangerville, its northern boundary was the Piscataquis River. On February 8, 1816, Guilford was incorporated as a town. When Guilford was incorporated the whole territory within the bound of township six, range seven, was in- corporated. The south line of this original township was nearly all south of the Piscataquis River. In making the center line of the Piscataquis River, in the act of incorporating the town of San- gerville, the division line between the two towns, the burden of supporting two of the bridges on the Piscataquis River came upon the two towns, Guilford and Sangerville.
These two bridges are the bridge across the river near Sangerville Station and the bridge known as Lowe's Bridge. On careful exam- ination of the plantation records and of the carly records of the town of Guilford facts have been learned which in some instances are different from what the popular opinion has been.
The first record from the record books of the plantation and of the town of Guilford in regard to any bridge is in the year 1822. On September 9, 1822, the voters in town meeting assembled voted to accept one half of the bridge across the Piscataquis River be- tween Joseph Kelsey's and Carleton Mills. The first bridge across the Piscataquis River within the limits of the town of Guilford was built where Sangerville station now is. Prior to building the bridge at this place the river was forded. In 1821 we are informed that a bridge was built at this place by subscription. It was a primitive affair but it served its purpose. In the spring of 1824 this bridge was carried out by a freshet.
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At a special town meeting on April 16, 1824, the town raised the sum of two hundred dollars to be applied to the building of the bridge across the Piscataquis River near J. Kelsey's. At the same meeting a committee of three was chosen to act with a like commit- tee chosen by the town of Sangerville. This committee was Josepli Kelsey, Seth Nelson and Stedman Davis. The town voted to allow Joseph Kelsey one dollar and fifty cents per week to attend the ferry until the bridge or some other thing shall render it unneces- sary, provided that the town of Sangerville shall agree to pay to the town of Guilford one half of said expense and one half of the ex- pense of a boat. The bridge which was then constructed at this place was more substantial than the former one. There was a trestle in the middle of the river which supported the bridge.
Mr. Loring in his history of Piscataquis County says this bridge was carried away by the high freshet in 1832.ยช The bridge, how- ever, at that time must have gone to decay considerably because ,we find on the records where a meeting was held on the 4th day of June, 1831, when the town voted "that the selectmen cause San- gerville bridge, so-called, to be repaired in the cheapest and best possible way they can consistently with the interests of the town considering it is an old bridge and unworthy of expensive repairs, and voted to raise fifty dollars in corn or grain- as we raised it in March last to pay the expense which may arise in repairing said bridge."
The first record, however, which we find in regard to our re- building the bridge after it was carried out by the freshet was held on September 8, 1834. The town at this time passed a vote to take measures to have the road across the river at this point discontinued. Sangerville would not agree to this. Thereupon the town chose a committee to rebuild the bridge. This meeting was held on the 29th day of September, 1834. Joseph Kelsey, Robert Herring, Jr., and Seth Nelson were chosen committee to superintend the building of the bridge.
At the annual town meeting held on March 2, 1835, the town raised six hundred and eighty-one dollars to defray the expense of building a bridge near Joseph Kelsey's. The bridge, therefore, must have been built in 1835. Mr. Loring in his history states that the bridge was completed in the fall of 1835. The records of the town of Guilford substantiate his statement. We are aware that the
(") Loring's History of Piscataquis County, p. 104.
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popular opinion has been for many years that this bridge was built in the year 1833. For many years there were the figures 1833 on the south end of the present bridge. The bridge is now in fair repair although it has done service for eighty-three years. It is now the oldest bridge on the Piscataquis River.
The first bridge built where the bridge now known as Low's Bridge was in the year 1830. This bridge was damaged seriously by the freshet in the spring of 1837. It became necessary to rebuild this bridge and it was rebuilt in the year 1843. In the high freshet in the spring of 1857. the bridge was carried away. During the summer of 1857, this bridge was rebuilt. Isaac F. Wharff did the stone work. The abutments under this bridge show the thor- oughness with which the work was done and are a credit to the man who did it. The bridge will apparently last many years.
RE
DE LAVAL MIR SE
CENTENNIAL TRADES PARADE Bank Square
In the early part of the year 1828 it had become neces- sary to have. a bridge across the Piscataquis River at Herring and Morgan's mill. The lumber mill in our village was at that time known as the Herring and Morgan mills. During the summer of the year 1828, a bridge was started to be built by subscription across the river substantially where the present bridge now is. On September 8, 1828, a town meeting was called.
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Article four in the warrant was, "To see if the town will assist in building a bridge over the river at Herring's mills." The town voted to pass over the article. At this time no road had been located across the river at this point or near the point. There was consid- erable contention as to just where the road should be located and the bridge built. We find upon the record where there was an at- tempt to locate the road and bridge across the river near the west end of the lot on Elm Street now owned by Mrs. Cowie. There was also an attempt to locate the road and bridge near where Hussey & Goldthwaite's elevator now it. There must have been considerable agitation at this time because we find that on the third day of No- vember, 1828, there was an article, "To see if the town will petition the legislature to set off that part of the town lying between the river and the town of Parkman to the town of Parkman." The voters in the town meeting, however, voted to pass over this article.
There were numerous town meetings held in regard to building the bridge across the river at Herring & Morgan's mills, or in the village of Guilford. We do not find, however, any definite action taken by the town toward the construction of the bridge across the Piscataquis river at the village until the town meeting held the 19th day of November, 1829. At that meeting the record states there were considerable sums subscribed by individuals to expend on the bridge aforenamed.
The town voted that after so much of the sum that can be collected has been expended the town will finish it in manner here- inafter described. The town voted that a town agent be chosen to superintend the finishing of the bridge and made provision as to the amount to be paid for the services rendered, fixing the compensa- tion for such agent. Isaac Smith was chosen agent. The town voted that a man and his oxen shall be entitled to eight cents an hour. In the fall of 1830, the town held meetings and passed votes towards the completion of this bridge. We do not find that the bridge which was built at this time was carried away by the freshet of 1832. Mr. Loring in his history states that it was. We find, however, that after the year 1832, considerable sums of money were raised to build the bridge at Guilford Village. We are of the opinion that this bridge was either carried away by the freshet or become so unfit for service that it was necessary to build a new bridge, for the reason that in the year 1839, the records state that the bridge was not safe for travel and a new bridge was built at that time. This bridge which was built was carried away in the
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spring of 1855, by the high freshet. During the season of 1855, the bridge was built which was in use until it was taken down and the new iron bridge put in its place. Willard W. Harris and Isaac B. Wharff took the contract to do the stone work and build the bridge, which was built in 1855. The selectmen for the year 1855 were George H. Douglass, Charles Loring and Isaac Weston. In the high freshet in the spring of 1857, this bridge received some injury and the town raised money that spring to repair it.
Mr. Loring in his history states that there has been nine bridges on the ,Piscataquis river. From these statements above can be seen that there have been three at Low's Bridge, three at Sangerville and three at Guilford village prior to the present structure. The burden upon the town in the early years was necessarily large. It will be noted, however, that there must have been public sentiment in favor of them because we find no record of any dissensions, except possibly the one when the bridge was carried out at Sanger- ville in the year 1832.
The west line of Sangerville came very near to the square at the top of the bridge hill. To state the fact accurately the town line of Sangerville as it existed for many years passed through the ell of the house now occupied by Daniel Cimpher. Nearly fifty years ago some of the leading citizens of our village believed that at some time in the near future it would be desirable for some por- tion of the land which was in such close proximity to our village ought to be set off from Sangerville to the town of Guilford. Efforts, therefore, were made at that time to get this tract set off by act of the legislature. At that time the petitioners did not suc- ceed. Later an amicable arrangement was made by which that part of lot eight, range one, south of the Piscataquis river. incorporated as a part of the town of Sangerville, was set off and annexed to the town of Guilford. This tract of land so set off is bounded on the south by the original township line between Guilford and San- gerville, and on the east by the east line of lot eight, range one, as originally surveyed.
In the conveyance of township six, range seven, now Guilford, by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Bowdoin College four lots of three hundred twenty acres each were reserved for public uses. These uses were as follows : one for the first settled minis- ter, one for the use of the ministry, one for the use of school and
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one for the future disposition of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts. These lots, after Guilford was incorporated as a town, were located.
The assessors of the plantation of Guilford issued a notice for a meeting of the voters in said plantation, dated March 7, 1815, to be held at the dwelling house of John Bennett in said plantation on Saturday, the twenty-second day of April, 1815, at three o'clock in the afternoon. Article two is as follows :
To see if the plantation will agree to give Elder Thomas Macomber an invitation to settle here as a town minister on such conditions as shall be thought proper when met.
At this meeting it was voted to give Elder Thomas Macomber an invitation to settle here as a town minister on the condition follow- ing, to wit :
That he shall serve the town as their minister ten years, but should he or the people he dissatisfied, or should he leave the town before ten years, then to have such proportion of the land appropriated for the first settled minister as the time he shall serve as aforesaid shall bear to ten years.
No doubt after due consideration of the vote thus recorded the inhabitants, or some of them at least, thought, no doubt, that the terms set out in the vote recorded giving him the public lot was too exacting for their pastor. A meeting, therefore, was called and held on the seventh day of June, 1815. We find the article in the warrant for that meeting to be :
To see if the plantation will agree to settle Elder Thomas Macomber as a town minister.
At this meeting it was voted :
That Elder Thomas Macomber be the minister of said town when it shall" be incorporated so long as he and a majority of the people of the town are agreed.
Thomas Macomber did settle as a minister and preached in the meeting house at Guilford Center for many years. He served his people well. He died in Guilford on December 18, 1852, at the age of seventy-eight years. His remains lie in the old burying ground at Guilford Center. At his grave is erected a stone from which your historian took memoranda as to the date of his death and age. Some of his descendants still live in town.
The public lot which was reserved for the first settled minister was located. This lot is the place known for many years as the Macomber place east of where J. E. Herring now lives. I am in- formed that Elder Thomas Macomber lived on this lot many years.
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