History of Androscoggin County, Maine, Part 88

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew, ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Boston, W.A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1050

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1770, August 6, Capt. Moses Little and Capt. Robert Sergent were chosen to build a saw-mill in the township for the proprietors in case Abel Sawyer, Jr, fail of building a mill by the first day of September next. This committee was later instructed " to view and spot out a road from New Gloucester to Cushing Town," etc .; the settlers were given leave to cut the grass in the meadows, etc .; it was voted " that if a number of men to the amount of eight will settle upon either of the additional lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 and clear five acres in one year from this date; also build a house and finish the same fit for the reception of a family, shall have the lot settled," etc. 1771, March 15, a com- mittee was chosen to treat with James McHurd, Esq., about a lot of land on which the saw-mill is built. 1772, March 2, voted to pay Nathanael Bayley £4 for work done on the county road in Bakerstown. July 2, action was taken about a bridge across the Little Androscoggin river. 1773, March 29, the proprietors are in debt £469-9-4 on account of Bakerstown, and have due them from unpaid taxes £712-1-0. October 11 inducements were offered for settlers: 2,500 acres to any who will cut down and clear up 30 acres a year yearly for four years and settle three families within two years, four families the third year, and three families the fourth year. Major Samuel Gerrish is granted land, and 169 milled dollars, on condition that he build a bridge before October, 1774, over Little Androscoggin river at the end of the county road in lot 74. 1775, March 6, voted to lay out a second division of land, of 200 acres, to each original right or share, also took measures to build a bridge over the river at Mr Emery's mill. 1777, March 3, allowed John Nevens a bill of £44-14-6 O. T. for helping to lay out lots, clearing roads, and mending high-

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

ways in 1767, 1768, 1770, 1775, 1776. Voted to give 60 fifty-acre lots of the undivided land to those proprietors already settled, and to such as shall begin to clear the next summer and settle a family by March 3, 1778. April 7 voted to lay out 46 acres to Mr Stephen Rawlings. April 9 Moses Emery and Thomas Bayley, of Bakerstown, were chosen surveyors of highways. 1779, March 1, a committee is chosen to agree with Lieut Moses Emery or some other person to build a grist-mill for the benefit of the settlers. 1780, Thomas Bayley, Edmund Bayley, and Moses Emery are allowed bills for services in the new town, and Samuel Shaw, Thomas Bayley, and Nathaniel Shaw are to see that the timber in the township be not cut. 1782, March 4, voted to lay out the undivided land, and Samuel Emerson, Simeon Bartlett, Nathan Ayer, Zebulon Davis chosen to do this. They were authorized to warn off all settlers they are satisfied have no right under the proprietors, and notices of warning were posted in Bakerstown and New Gloucester. 1783, March 3, a committee was appointed " to consider the affair of Mr Parsons and others that have taken up land in the town," which reported that " all the non-proprietors that were settled in the township on the first day of January, 1781, excepting Eliezer Parsons, son of Philemon Parsons, if they will peacibly and quietly quit all their pretended right and title to land they have laid out to themselves shall be allowed 50 acres each in the first division of lots that are not drawn - each two of them to draw (a) 100 acre lot and stand an equal share with the proprietors in drawing said lots, and if they will not comply with this offer, as they came in illegally they shall not be intitled to any land in the town." 1784, January 8, voted to pay Lieut Moses Emery $100 for building a saw-mill and grist-mill, and to excuse him for his neglect in not building the mill according to contract," etc. June 7 voted to draw the lots laid out in the [second] division of lots, and a committee chosen to examine into the failure of Lieut Moses Emery in not having his grist and saw-mills in repair, etc. The report of Amos Davis, who surveyed the land, gives the early settlers' names and other items of interest.

As to the good land it is chietlys on the two miles in width on the SW side I find con- siderable good land but much hurt by that on many good hills the large trees are but few it may be depended on that the watry ponds are nearly as laid down on the plan & I have measured the meadows likewise the lots that I find Settlers are as follows, viz Lot No 1 on the SW end taken up about 3 or four years ago by Andrew Adams & Will.m Wells-Chitman is on the same lot.

I find Chitman improving on lot No 3:4:34:35 the corner falls into his field.

I find Joseph Varrel & Jo Harrison improving on lot No 40.

I find Philamon Parsons improving on lot No 41.

I find [Samuel] Jordan & John Row improving lot 42.

I find [John] Matthews & Josiah Thomas & Allen improving lot 71.

I find John Woster, Jackson, Ring & [Ephraim] Brigs all living and improving on lot No 70.

I find Barnard Briggs living & improving lot 69.

I find Gersham Home living and improving on lot No 79.

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TOWN OF POLAND.

I find Simeon Homes living and improving on lot No 80.

I find a considerable opening fell last Summer by Benja Farnham on lots No 67: 68.

N B By computation it may be seen that there is more land than

was expected as you laid the same on the plan.

N B The cause of 2 lots in 4 plases being of the same numbers because

I found land where [water] was mark'd on the plan.

N B this land presented here was completed in running and bounding in the beginning of the year of our Lord 1783.

1785, March 9, voted to give Lieut Moses Emery £5 in full for building the grist-mill. 1787, April 9, voted to build a meeting-house 30 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 9 feet posts. 1788, February 4, Col Josiah Little and Christopher Sargeant were chosen to attend the next session of the General Court to exhibit the boundaries of Bakerstown and show cause why the petition of John Bridgham and others should not be granted, and to present the plan of Bakerstown as surveyed by Mr Amos Davis in 1780 for acceptance and confirmation. 1789, November 13, line between New Gloucester and Bakers- town surveyed. 1790, March 15, voted to build the meeting-house 30 feet square and 11 feet posts. 1791, March 7, lot 67 in second division granted and confirmed to Deacon Edmund Bayley and his son, Abner Bayley, for settling the original rights of David Bartlett and Eleazer Johnson. 1793, March 4, Josiah Little chosen clerk and treasurer, and his account of £74-9-5 toward building a meeting-house in the town was allowed.1 1795, March 2, voted to sell all the undivided lands, and chose Josiah Little, Silas Little, and David Little to do this. 1796, voted to petition the General Court for £300-13-2 expended in defending the law suits brought by the Commonwealth against the proprietors.

While the proprietors were harassed and troubled by expensive law suits to invalidate their title, by trespassers, etc., the settlers were in equally as bad straits, as is shown by this petition.

PETITION OF SETTLERS, 1785. - To the Honorable Senate & the Honorable House of Representa- tives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts In General Court Assembled The Petition of a Number of Settlers In the Plantation called Bakerstown in the County of Cumberland - Humbly Shews That Whereas sd Plantation has been Several times Taxed to said Commonwealth - Your Petitioners would humbly beg leave to Set forth to the Honorable Court our utter Inability to pay Said Taxes or any part thereof, which Inability we think Is owing In a great measure to the Neglects of the Proprietors of this Plantation - The principles of which are as follows (Viz)

Firstly They have done nothing towards any Roads In sd Plantation, except Cutting out what is call'd the County Road, about three miles & Built a Bridge over a River. Thus are we without Roads except what any Persons are pleased to do at their own Expence, nor will the Proprietors allow anything therefor

Secondly They have done nothing towards Building a Meeting House or Settling a Minister, or having any Preaching In the Place.

Thirdly We have been withont the Priviledge of a Grist-mill until December A.D. 1782. In conse- quence of which we have been obliged to carry our Corn Ten or Twelve Miles to mill with Difficulty & Expence until Sd A.D. 1782.

Fourthly They voted that every settler that came In & setled In a certain Term of Time should have Fifty Acres of Land - Since have warned the Settlers off that came In & setled on that promise.

1 This was on the plains near Minot Corner and was ready for use in 1793.

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

Fifthly There are not more than Four or Five Proprietors that are setled In the Plantation & not more than Ten or Twelve that have any Security for their Land; nor would their possessions & Interests Vend for enough to pay the aforesaid Taxes, nor are we In any capacity to Tax the Interest of the Proprietors as we have no records, nor papers relative thereunto nor can we come to the knowledge thereof

Sixthly The lines of Said Plantation are not established & consequently it remains unknown how many Setlers are In Said Plantation, So it being very difficult if not Impossible to assess the Said Setlers equitably, if their capacity was ever so agreeable otherwise to pay Taxes Sd setlers have requested sd Proprietors to establish lines sundry terms, but it yet remains unperformed

Seventhly We your Petitioners have laid before said Honourable Court a Petition for a redress respecting ye above premises & according to the return we have had, we find Sd Taxes laid upon us were Stayed for ye term of six months that we be put In a better capacity for paying Taxes, for which favour we give thanks - But our capacity for paying Taxes as it appears remains no better.

Eighthly We have lately Taxes sent us to the amount of 903£-17s to be assessed upon us and officers appointed relative thereto - Which if we could obtain a redress of the above premises or be adjusted for an Incorporation & it were performed we doubt not but we should feel ourselves willing to pay any resonable Tax ye Honourable Conrt should see meet to lay upon us - And we hope through the kind Providence of our Good God we should be able We would urge the aforesaid Neglects of the Proprietors together with our extreme poverty & look to your Honours for direction & relief by abating the whole of sd Taxes or otherwise as In your Wisdom you shall think fit & as in Duty bound your Petitioners shall ever Pray

Bakerstown October Ye 22d 1785.

(signed) MOSES EMERY JOSIAH DUNN SAMUEL SHAW

DAVID ANDREWS

Committee of Said Bakerstown.

N. B.

The 19th of the Above mentioned October began a storm of Rain & continued until the 23rd of sd Octbr which occationd such an Inundation of water as carried off both the Mills & all ye Bridges in sd Bakerstown which adds greatly to our poverty & distress. We the above Petitioners would humbly beg the Sd Honourable Court to send a committee to view our preseut Circumstances.

MOSES EMERY JOSIAH DUNN SAMUEL SHAW DAVID ANDREWS.

In 1767 a mistake was discovered in the survey and also that it conflicted with the Pejepscot purchase, and in June, 1768, an order was secured for a new location. The troublous times before and during the Revolution prevented action until 1780, when Amos Davis was appointed surveyor. The survey began at the northerly corner of New Gloucester and run on its head line southwest four miles ; then northwest seven miles; then northeast to Turner line; then by Turner to Androscoggin river; then down the river to Twenty- mile falls ; from said falls to New Gloucester line 400 rods northeast of the place of commencement; from thence to the corner. The plan (returned in February, 1781,) was submitted to a joint committee of the General Court, but no report appears on record and the original plan was lost. In accepting this survey the proprietors excluded all land not confirmed to them in October, 1765.

Bridgham & Glover Purchase. - The following contract was the cause of serious trouble and long litigation : -

It is agreed between Samuel Phillips jr and others, a committee authorized by the General Court to sell the unappropriated lands in the Counties of Cumberland and Lincoln on the one part- and John

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TOWN OF POLAND.

Bridgham of Shepherdsfield, gentleman, and John Glover of New Gloucester, yeoman, both in the Connty of Cumberland, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the other part -that the said committee will make and execute to the said Bridgham and Glover a good and lawful deed of a certain tract of land, being all the land belonging to the State lying between the towns of New Gloucester, Gray, Raymondton, Otisfield, Bakerstown and Shepherdsfield, upon the said Bridgham and Glover paying the said committee for the said land three shillings and nine-pence in consolidated notes of this Commonwealth, and three-pence in specie per acre for so many acres as Samuel Titcomb of Wells shall certify to the said committee, that the said tract contains without his making any allowance for ponds, bogs, or water land. And the said Bridgham and Glover engage to pay the said committee for the tract above-said described, at the rate above expressed, one-half at the time of receiv- ing the deed, and the other half within nine months from the date thereof, with interest nntil paid; which deed the said Bridgham and Glover engage to appear to receive at the office of the committee within one month from the time the said Titcomb shall return to the said committee a plan of the said land. They also engage to pay the said Titcomb and his chainmen the expenses of surveying the said land in the first instance the same to be credited as part payment for the land aforesaid. In witness whereof the parties aforesaid have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals, this 22d day of June, Anno Domini, 1787.

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of ELIJAH WILLIAMS JAMES LYON

SAMUEL PHILLIPS NATHANIEL WELLS

LEONARD JARVIS

RUFUS PUTNAM.

N. B. It is understood that there is reserved for the future disposal of government, 100 acres of land, to be disposed of to each settler who settled on the tract of land aforesaid before June 1, 1784, and made a separate improvement thereon, on his application and payment therefor, to be laid out as will best include lis improvement.

Titcomb's survey covered 19,859 acres belonging to Bakerstown, as shown by the accepted plan of the survey of Davis, and notwithstanding the Legisla- ture was memorialized by the Bakerstown proprietors, a grant of 20,959 acres was issued January 15, 1789, to John Bridgham and 64 others, bounded thus : " Beginning at a hornbine tree standing on the south line of Turner about 2 miles 174 rods from a place on Amariscoggin River, called the Crooked Ripples ; thence running southwest 11 miles 260 rods to a maple tree ; thence northwest three miles; thence northeast 10 miles and 90 rods to a hemlock tree; thence south 634° east, to the place begun at," etc. In June, 1790, John Bridgham, Amos Dwinal, and John Glover were authorized to com- mence actions against Bakerstown for possession, etc. March 5, 1792, the General Court directed the Attorney-General to prosecute those claiming on the Bridgham and Glover grant under Bakerstown, and he filed an information in the Supreme Judicial Court of Boston in February, 1792, against the Bakerstown proprietors. On this a scire facias was issued, commanding them to appear in Portland on the second Tuesday of July, 1792, "to shew cause why the Commonwealth should not be re-seized of the lands." By consent of the parties (Commonwealth sci. fac., plffs., vs. Proprietors of Bakerstown), the Supreme Judicial Court in session at Portland, July 10, 1792, assigned to the proprietors of Bakerstown "a quantity of land equal to a tract seven and a half miles square, exclusive of 8,600 acres allowed for ponds " therein, to

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

be included within the bounds of the original confirmation aforesaid, and these lines : -

Beginning on the side line of New Gloucester, 427 rods from the north corner of the said New Gloucester; thence running north 33º 45' 427 rods on the side line to the said north corner; thence running southwest, on the head line of said New Gloucester, four miles; thence running northwest seven miles to a bound in Thompson's Pond; thence running northeast 438 rods to a pine tree standing on the shore of said pond; thence continuing the said course from the said pine tree ten miles and 209 rods to a spruce tree, the two last lines being 12 miles and 27 rods long; thence running south 60º east 150 rods, to the corner of Turner; thence continuing the same course on the side line of said Turner towards Androscoggin River, until it meets the curve line hereafter mentioned; also by a line begin- ning at the bound first began at, and running from thence northeast towards the Twenty-mile or Great Falls on Androscoggin River to the said curve line; then by a curve line, above referred to, to be drawn parallel to said river, and intersecting the said side line of Turner at one end, and the said line running towards the said Twenty-mile Falls at the other end, and to be so far from the river as, with the other lines aforesaid, to include a quantity of land equal to a tract of land seven miles and a half square, exclusive of 8,600 acres allowed for ponds.

Robert Southgate, Esq., was appointed commissioner and David Purrington surveyor to lay out the lands and run the lines. The court at Boston, in February, 1795, accepted Davis's survey in part and Southgate and Purring- ton's in part, and confirmed so that " the lines of Bakerstown as laid down by S. & P.'s plan be the true line of Bakerstown," and there being a line marked on the north part of their plan (as run by Davis within their line) by which about 900 acres were cut off, the court then declares that "this line run by Davis shall be the north bounds of Bakerstown provided the proprietors release all claim of right and interest to such lands within these bounds as were actually settled upon them before Davis run his line.

In March, 1814, Josiah Little petitioned the court on behalf of the Bakers- town proprietors claiming compensation for " a loss of more than 2,000 acres of their most valuable land, given to those who were only trespassers or parole tenants," etc. The court appointed a committee on the claim, which reported " that the Supreme Judicial Court in the decision made in October, 1793, exceeded the authority given by the act of June 18, 1791, and the proprietors of Bakerstown are thereby deprived of 2,253 acres." The Commissioners of Land Office were then ordered to examine into the facts, and they reported that "the proprietors have had their land reduced 2,255 acres and 65 rods below what was understood by all parties at the original inquest, and that those having the interest should be compensated by the Commonwealth for said quantity of land as in a state of nature at the time when the judgment was rendered." The selectmen of Minot, Asaph Howard, Nicholas Noyes, and Charles Moody made an estimate of the lands "as they would be worth in a state of nature." The legislature accepted their valuation, and, in 1823, allowed Mr Josiah Little's claim of $22,073 on 2,4531 acres. None of his expenses in litigation ($2,124.83) were allowed. The persons holding these lands, the lots, number and value of acres were : -

Capt. Daniel Bucknam, lots 12 and 13, 1353 acres, $10 per acre; Gideon Bearce, lot 14, 202 acres, $12 per acre; Capt. John Bridgham & Brothers, lots 17, 18, 19, 20, and 38, 300 acres, $14 per acre;

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TOWN OF POLAND.

David Rowe, lot 37, 100 acres, $8 per acre; David Millett, lot 72, 100 acres, $8 per acre; John Millett, lot 90, 100 acres, $9 per acre; Benjamin Clifford, lot 73, 100 acres, $9 per acre; Isaac Allen and John Row, lot 89, 100 acres, $7 per acre; John Coy, lot 91, 1343 acres, $12 per acre; Joseph Clifford, lot 124, 1143 acres, $8 per acre; Elijah Hackett, 113 acres, $13 per acre; Isaac Bearce, lot 28, 25 acres, $6 per acre; Asa Bearce, lot 27, 60 acres, $7 per acre; Asa Lowring, lot 26, 50 acres, $5 per acre; James Hodg- kins, 100 acres, $15 per acre. 900 acres above Davis's line (in Hebron) were estimated at $6} per acre.

CHAPTER XLII.

Incorporation - Surface and Soil - Early Settlers- Hackett's Mills - Poland Corner - West Poland - Early Traders, Etc. - Early Taverns-South Poland - Poland Spring - Mechanic Falls- Paper-Making-Poland Paper Company-Other Business Interests - Mechanic Falls Ledger -Physicians, Etc.

P OLAND was incorporated, the 95th town, from Bakerstown and the Bridgham & Glover purchase, February 17, 1795. It is three-fourths surrounded by New Gloucester, Raymond, and Casco in Cumberland county, and Oxford in Oxford county. Minot and Auburn bound it on the northeast. It received its name, it is said, not from the Indian chief Poland, but the old hymn tune "Poland," so great a favorite with Moses Emery, the agent to the General Court to secure incorporation. In 1827 part of Thompson Pond plantation was annexed. Minot was set off in 1802, and in 1852 a small portion was set off to Danville. The important sections are East Poland, West Poland, South Poland, Poland (Corner) or the Center, Mechanic Falls. East Poland includes Marston Corner, The Empire, Minot Corner, Hackett's Mills, Bailey and Harris hills, etc .; South Poland, The Range, Ricker and Shaker hills, etc .; West Poland, Megquier, Johnson, Allen, and Black-cat hills, Herrick valley, and The Ridge or "Promised Land," etc. The Center embraces Poland village, White-oak hill, Pigeon hill, etc. The surface is diversified ; in the east level and uninteresting; in the west partaking of that charming blending of hill, valley, and lake scenery so lovely a feature of the Oxford Hills, and calling up visions of the White Mountains. A dreary sand strip of varying width passes through the middle of the town, formerly covered with one of the finest white-pine growths in Maine, from which before the Revolution were cut many masts and spars for British men-of-war. Beautiful lands or "ponds " add attractions to the landscape of the western part. The most picturesque are the three Range ponds. Thompson's pond on the west border is eight miles long, two wide, and stocked with fish. Tripp pond is in a charming rural section, and a fine "horseback" ridge extends along its west shore. Quaker Bog pond is in the south, and the gem-like Worthley further east. Little Androscoggin river winds on the north and

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

separates the town from Minot, and, by its unusual amount of water-power, is a great natural source of wealth.

The great trail of the Indians between the Sebago Lake region and the lower Androscoggin passed across Bakerstown, and in aboriginal days quite a village probably occupied permanently the country around Thompson and Tripp ponds, and Poland Spring was quite a famous resort. Their places of sepulture have been discovered in various localities, and many weapons and implements have been found.

From the first Poland has taken high rank as a farming town and many of the farmers have been clear-headed, intelligent, successful men. The attrac- tions of the town have brought into existence the model farms of N. Q. Pope (White Oak Farms), and James S. Sanborn (Elmwood Farm), which not only add to the beauty and prosperity, but are really experimental agricultural stations, from which the earnest farmer gathers useful information to be turned to account on his own domain. The Grange has a large membership and is doing a good work. The soil is very fertile; an admirable quality of apples is raised; other fruits and crops flourish. Dairying is profitably conducted ; fine horses and blooded stock are remunerative branches of husbandry. Many farm-houses have been arranged to accommodate the summer visitors that the charm of the scenery, and that leader of Maine watering-places, Poland Spring House, attract here in annually increasing numbers. Railroad communication is afforded by the Grand Trunk, running along the eastern and northern side, with stations at Danville and Lewiston Junctions (Auburn), Empire, and Mechanic Falls, and by Portland & Rumford Falls Railroad at Mechanic Falls.

EARLY SETTLERS. - Nathaniel Bailey was the first settler. He came to The Empire in 1768. John Newman came in 1769. (A daughter of his is said to be the first child born in town.) Moses Emery with his wife and infant child came from Newbury, Mass., in 1769, and located at The Empire. In the summer he built a log-house a few rods east of the bridge at Hackett's Mills and lived there for some years, when he removed to the falls where has grown the village of Minot Corner. He was, by seven years, the earliest of the settlers of the town north of the river, but was a man well adapted for the wild and hazardous life of a pioneer; loved to hunt the animals that fre- quented the wilderness, and made boon friends of the few Indians who still kept their home in the vicinity. Moose, bear, and deer abonnded, and many were the adventures of this hardy man. He moved across the river in 1772, and built saw and grist mills at Minot Corner about 1776, which were carried off by high water and soon rebuilt. He was an active, energetic man, just the one to advance a new settlement, kept a ferry across the river until the bridge was built, and was agent for the settlers to the General Court to secure the incorporation of the town of Poland. He died April 28, 1836, aged 92. His son, Moses, born September 20, 1772, received a grant of 50 acres of land from

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History of Androscoggin County, Maine, Part 88

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew, ed Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Boston, W.A. Fergusson & co. Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew, ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Boston, W.A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1050