USA > Maine > Oxford County > Bethel > History of Bethel : formerly Sudbury, Canada, Oxford County, Maine, 1768-1890, with a brief sketch of Hanover and family statistics > Part 16
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1801. The meeting was held at the Middle school house March second. Deacon Ezra Twitchell was chosen moderator and Timothy Carter, clerk. Selectmen, Eliphaz Chapman, Timothy Carter and Phineas Howard. Joseph Greenwood, Nathan Adams and Zela Holt, tythingmen ; John Merrill, Benjamin Russell, Jr., and Isaac York, field drivers. For Register of Deeds, William Russell had four votes and William Fessenden, fourteen. Voted for highways, three hundred dollars, for schooling, two hundred, and for town charges, fifty dollars. A road laid out by the selectmen last year, leading from the Rumford road to Job York's house, was accepted. For Governor, Elbridge Gerry had forty-two votes and Caleb Strong, three. At an adjourned meeting June twenty-second, the following persons were added to the committee for building Alder river bridge : Eli Twitchell, Amos Hastings, Jeremiah Andrews and John Holt. July twentieth, a meeting was held and a vote taken to build the above bridge in accordance with the plans presented by the committee. The building of the same was struck off to Eleazer Twitchell for ninety-four dollars. Voted that the commit- tee to settle with Samuel B. Locke for building mills and for giving him a lease of the school lands, consult with the selectmen before giv- ing such lease. At a meeting October fifth, it was voted to divide the militia company by the parish line. At a meeting called at the
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Center school house December seventh, the first business after organization was to adjourn to the dwelling house of Capt. Amos Hasting for fifteen minutes. A committee consisting of Timothy Carter, Jonathan Clark and John York was chosen to settle with the builders of the school houses in town Benjamin Russell, Esq., was chosen agent to defend the town in actions brought for bad roads.
1802. The meeting was held March the first. Eliphaz Chap- man was chosen moderator, Timothy Carter. clerk, and John Holt, treasurer. Selectmen, Eli Twitchell, John York and John Holt. Moses Mason bid off the collection of taxes and was chosen con- stable. Voted four hundred dollars for roads, two hundred and fifty for schools and one hundred and fifty for town charges. Elbridge Gerry received twenty-four votes for Governor and Caleb Strong, sixteen. Voted to accept the several school houses in town in their present condition. At a meeting August nineteenth, Josiah Bean was chosen agent to defend the town in actions brought for bad roads. Benjamin Russell, Esq., died this year.
1803. The meeting was held March seventh and the principal officers re-elected. For highway surveyors, Richard Estes, Samuel Kimball, Jonathan Powers, Peregrine Bartlett, Reuben Bartlett, Theodore Russell, Jonathan Clark, Amos Gage, Jedediah Grover, Simeon Twitchell, Eli Twitchell and Ebenezer Eames. For select- men, Eli Twitchell, Nathan Adams and John Holt. Amos Bean bid off the collection of taxes and was chosen constable. Six hun- dred dollars were voted for ways. The sugar privilege on the school land on the south side of the river was sold to John Russell, and that on the north side to John Merrill. Voted a committee to look into the condition of the school lands. At a meeting April fourth, Caleb Strong had thirty-two votes for Governor. A com- mittee was chosen to divide the town into school districts, consist- ing of Timothy Carter, Jeremiah Andrews and Amos Gage. Voted to grant ferry privileges against Jesse Dustin's place, against John Russell's and against Samuel Barker's. The same amount for schools as last year, was voted, and one hundred dollars for town charges. At a meeting July twelfth, it was voted to accept the report of the committee on school districts. The report divided the town into six districts, beginning to number from the east part of the town. The first line described was between the sixth and
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1
seventh lots, running on the line to the interval lots, and then between John York's and Joseph Ayer's land to the river; then crossing the river and taking Jonas Willis' interval line to the north line of the town ; all east of the line described to constitute the first district. All the other districts were constituted in essen- tially the same way, part of each district being on the south and part on the north side of the river. At a meeting the fourth of December, it was voted to send Dr. Timothy Carter to Paris to a convention called to take into consideration the formation of a new county, and voted to petition the legislature for same. The dele- gate was instructed to ask to have Norway made the shire town, or Norway and Bethel half shire towns.
1804. The meeting occurred on the fifth day of March. Jona- than Clark was chosen moderator and Timothy Carter, clerk. Amos Bean was chosen collector and constable. Highway surveyors, Nathan Adams, Timothy Bean, Peregrine Bartlett, Reuben Bartlett, James Walker, Theodore Russell, Eli Twitchell, Cyrus Twitchell, Eli Grover, Jedediah Grover and Solomon Annas. Among other new names in the list of town officers this year, were Daniel Grout, Joshua Roberts, Peter Twitchell, Jesse Cross and Isaac Town. Voted the teachers of the town schools must be approbated as the law directs. Voted two hundred dollars for schools. James Sulli- van had forty-four votes for Governor, and Caleb Strong twenty- ·one. At a subsequent meeting it was voted not to send a delegate to Paris, but to choose a committee to write to the convention, favoring a new county. Voted to have a road laid out from Solomon Annas' house to David Blake's mills. At an adjourned meeting in October, voted to expend one hundred dollars in military stores.
1805. Meeting was held March fourth, at the Center school house. Eli Twitchell was chosen moderator and Timothy Carter, clerk. John Holt was continued as treasurer. Samuel B. Locke was chosen collector and constable. Among the new names in the list of town officers were Paul Morse, Amos Hill, Jedediah Burbank, Isaac Spofford and Joseph Twitchell. It was voted that the school money be equally divided between the summer and winter terms, and according to the number of scholars. Timothy Carter, James Walker and Eliphaz Chapman were chosen school committee. Voted that teachers in town not approbated as the law directs, shall
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forfeit their wages. Voted to dispose of the school lands if it can legally be done. Voted to choose a committee to appraise the school houses. James Sullivan had thirty-six votes for Governor. At a subsequent meeting, voted in favor of the Baptist society's incorporation plan. The committee to appraise school houses re- ported the one in the lower part of the town worth fifty dollars ; the one at Middle Interval, ninety dollars, and the one at the upper end, fifty dollars. Voted two hundred and sixty dollars for school houses ; the first district to have forty dollars, the second, ninety, third, none, the fourth, forty, and the fifth and sixth, forty-five dollars each. Joseph Rust received seven votes for County Regis- ter for Oxford county. At a meeting in November, it was voted that Paris be the shire town of Oxford county. Voted unanimously against the two half shire towns, and chose a committee to act against the petitions from Fryeburg, Brownfield, Porterfield, etc., in favor of Fryeburg as a half shire town.
1806. The meeting was held March third. The same modera- tor and clerk as last year were re-elected. Col. John York bid off the collection of taxes and was made constable. The new names in the list of town officers were Peter York, John Barker, Joseph Wheeler, Elliot Powers, Ebenezer Bean, Jesse Bean and Thomas Frost. Voted two hundred and fifty dollars for schools, and the same amount to be expended on the county road under the direction of Nathan Adams, Daniel Grout and John Holt; also voted two hundred and fifty dollars for town roads. The selectmen this year were Eleazer Twitchell, Nathan Adams and John Kilgore, Jr. Caleb Strong had seventeen votes for Governor and James Sullivan, fifty-three. Eliphaz Chapman was elected Representative to the General Court. Jonathan Clark, Eli Twitchell and Eliphaz Chap- man were made a committee to enquire into the condition of the school districts. At a meeting in November, it was voted to divide the fourth school district and make the great river the dividing line.
1807. The meeting was held at the third district school house March the second. The moderator and clerk were re-elected. James Walker was chosen treasurer. Jonathan Abbot bid off the taxes and was chosen constable. Among the new names in the list of town officers were Jonathan Abbot, Luther Bean, Timothy Bean, Walter Mason, David Burbank. Voted for schools two hun-
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dred and fifty dollars ; for town charges, fifty, and for highways, six hundred dollars. Voted to raise the per diem pay for labor on the road from sixty-seven cents to one dollar. Caleb Strong had nineteen votes for Governor and Levi Lincoln fifty-six. At an adjourned meeting Timothy Carter, Eliphaz Chapman and Lieut. Stephen Bartlett were chosen school committee. The vote on the separation of Maine from Massachusetts stood, yeas, forty ; nays, seventeen. Elipliaz Chapman was again chosen Representative to the General Court.
1808. The clerk and moderator were re-elected. John Kilgore, Jr., Isaac Town and Samuel Kimball were chosen selectmen. Timothy Carter was chosen treasurer. Moses Mason bid off the collection of taxes at six cents on a dollar. Among the new names in the list of town officers were Arnold Powers, Nathan Marble, David Blake, Solomon Annas, Jr., Job York, Peter Walker and Otis Grover. Timothy Carter, John Holt and Isaac Town were school committee. A committee on accounts consisted of Timothy Carter, Eli Twitchell and Moses Mason, and on Alder river bridge with the view of rebuilding it, Samuel B. Locke, Eli Twitchell, Daniel Grout, Timothy Carter and Jolin York. Voted to make the Great river the dividing line between the first and second school districts. Two hundred dollars were voted for schools, the same for the repair of Alder river bridge, and four hundred for roads. Accounts were allowed to various parties and among others to James Walker for hats, sixty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents. At a subsequent meeting, Daniel Grout bid off the building of Alder river bridge for three hundred and seventy-five dollars, and it was voted to raise the required sum. Timothy Carter, Samuel B. Locke and John York were chosen a superintending committee, to make writings with the contractor and to superintend the work, draw on the town for the money, etc. James Sullivan had sixty-three votes for Governor and Christopher Gore, twenty-five. At an adjourned meeting, voted to set off all the inhabitants in the third school district, on the north side of the river, from Ebenezer Eames and annex them to the fourth district on the north side of the river. Eliphaz Chap- man was re-elected representative. Voted May second, to set off the inhabitants of the first and second school districts on the north side of the river into a district by themselves. Voted to set off Samuel B. Locke, Ebenezer Eames, Amos Hastings, Nathaniel
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Swan and John Merrill, from the third school district and annex them to the fourth, on the north side of the river. Voted ten cents per head for crows and three cents per head for crow blackbirds. At a meeting in September, upon the question of petitioning the President to have the embargo taken off the town, "voted not to have the embargo taken off." Voted to accept the road laid out for Eleazer Twitchell, Jr., and the one from Joseph G. Swan's to David Blake's mills. The jury box was revised and accepted.
1809. Moses Bartlett was chosen moderator, and Timothy Carter, clerk and treasurer. For selectmen, John Kilgore, Jr., Samuel Kimball and Jonathan Abbot. The new names in the list of town officers were Daniel Gage, John Ellingwood, Silas Powers, Thomas Jackman, Jonas Willis, Abel Gossom and Samuel Robert- son. Voted seven hundred dollars for roads, two hundred and fifty for schools and one hundred and fifty for town charges. Levi Lincoln received seventy-three votes for Governor and Christopher Gore twenty-eight. Eliphaz Chapman was re-elected representative.
1810. The principal town officers were re-elected, except that Peter York was chosen third selectman. Moses Mason was chosen collector and constable. Among the new town officers were Thomas Cushman, James Grover, John Case, Thomas Fletcher, Ephriam Powers, James Hodsdon and Foxwell Swan. Voted the usual sums of money for schools, roads and town charges. Voted to have a pound built and a committee was appointed to look after its construction, and to obtain a site for it. Voted that the school committee select books for the use of schools in town, and lay the same before the town for approval. For Governor, Elbridge Gerry had seventy votes and Christopher Gore thirty-three. Henry Rust had sixty-eight votes for County Treasurer. Voted to set off Eliphaz, Samuel and Timothy Chapman and Isaac Stearns from the fourth school district and annex them to the fifth. John Kilgore, Jr., was elected representative. Voted to meet and celebrate the Fourth of July at Middle Interval, and the following were appointed a committee to have the matter in charge: Lieut. Moses Bartlett, Eli Twitchell, Moses Mason, Capt. Eleazer Twitchell, Deacon Asa Kimball and Col. John York. The committee were instructed to engage an orator for the occasion. At a meeting November fifth, it was voted to build a magazine on Dr. Carter's land, built of
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brick, and be round in shape ; to have a platform made with flat stones, for the flooring, said house to have walls of the thickness of the length of one brick, and six feet and eight inches in height ; to have a good and substantial door to be fastened by a good lock. The job was struck off to Daniel Bean for the sum of seventeen dol- lars. Timothy Carter, Major Amos Hills and John Russell were made a committee to locate the building and superintend its con- struction. A committee was chosen to petition the legislature for permission to sell the public lands.
1811. The meeting was held March fourth. It was voted to have a collector of taxes in each parish. Nathaniel Swan was chosen for the West Parish and Ephraim Powers in the East. Nathan Swan and Ephraim Powers were elected constables. Among the new names in the list of town officers were Ezekiel Duston, Ephraim Rowe, Edmund Chapman, William Estes, Jeremiah Andrews, Jr., William Andrews, John Mills, Elijah Bartlett and Robbins Brown. Six hundred dollars were voted for roads, three hundred and fifty for schools and one hundred and fifty for town expenses. Voted to have two-thirds of the school money expended in winter and one- third in summer. Elbridge Gerry had seventy-seven votes for Governor, and Christopher Gore thirty-three. Voted that the road on the north side of the Great river be three rods wide. Voted to have the great road leading from Captain Twitchell's to Gilead line three rods wide. Voted to have the scholars limited to their own districts. Moses Mason was chosen representative. Voted to choose an agent to remonstrate against Mr. Howard's road. Voted that the selectmen open the road through to John Case's land lead- ing from Joseph G. Swan's to David Blake's mills, some way or other. Voted to choose a committee to view Pleasant river bridge. Voted to accept the straightening of the road from Jesse Bean's to Gilead line. Voted not to accept the vote on Pleasant river bridge, and voted to do something about said bridge. Voted two hundred dollars extra to be expended on the roads under the direction of a committee. The last vote was rescinded.
1812. John Kilgore, Jr., was elected moderator and Timothy Carter, clerk. Ebenezer Bean bid off the taxes at four cents on the dollar and was chosen constable. The highway surveyors this year were Isaac Town, Daniel Grout, Walter Mason, John Holt, Samuel
·
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Kimball, Amos Bean, Jonas Willis, Thomas Frost, Ezra Twitchell, Jr., Cyrus Twitchell, John Case and Benjamin Annas. School committee, Timothy Carter, James Walker and Moses Bartlett. One thousand dollars were raised for roads and three hundred and fifty for schools, Voted that the trustees sell the public lands in such manner as they may see fit. Voted that the selectmen lay out a road from Joseph G. Swan's to David Blake's mills. Voted to allow Timothy Carter two dollars per year for the last ten years, for his services as town clerk, and one per cent. on what money he had collected as treasurer. Voted not to accept the report of the selectmen on the road from Joseph G. Swan's to David Blake's inills, and voted to choose a committee to lay out said road. Voted that the next annual meeting be held on the first day of April next. At an adjourned meeting in May, Moses Mason was chosen repre- sentative. Voted to accept the report of a committee appointed to lay a road from Joseph G. Swan's to David Blake's mills, beginning at a hemlock on the town line, about two rods east of the road as now traveled by the Widow Osgood's in said Bethel, and running generally more or less west of north by James Annas' place to the county road by the guide board near Joseph G. Swan's house, the whole length being twelve hundred and twenty-eight rods. The road run through land belonging to Widow Osgood, Benjamin Blake, Timothy Carter, Solomon Annas, James Annas, John Case, James Hall and John Walker. No damage was asked and none assessed. A meeting was called July thirteenth, to take action on the war with Great Britain. Voted that all able to bear arms should equip themselves as soon as possible, and a committee consisting of Moses Mason, John Barker, Jonathan Clark, Jonas Willis, Samuel Kimball and Nathaniel Segar, was appointed as a committee of safety. At a meeting August twenty-ninth, voted to send three delegates to Paris, one in the Federal and two in the Republican convention ; chose. Amos Hastings, Jonathan Powers and Timothy Carter. Voted that notices for town meetings hereafter be posted on the Center school house and on each of the two meeting houses in town. Voted that the selectmen cause a bridge to be repaired on the "Whale's Back" before the next circuit court of common pleas for Oxford county. Chose Ephraim Powers agent to defend the town against an indictment for deficiency of powder and balls. For Governor, Elbridge Gerry had eighty-six votes, and Caleb Strong, forty-one.
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1813. John Kilgore, Jr., was chosen moderator and John Holt, clerk and treasurer. Ebenezer Eames was made collector and constable. Among the new names were Benjamin Goodenough, Edward Richardson, William Staples, Obediah Kimball, Alpheus Swan, Barbour Bartlett. Three hundred dollars were voted for schools. Voted to lend out all the books in the town clerk's office to be returned in one month, and if not so returned to collect twenty- five cents of each person so keeping a book. For representative, Timothy Carter had twenty-seven votes and Moses Mason sixty- eight. Guide boards were ordered near Robbins Browns, near Eleazer Twitchell's, near Greely Swan's and one at the river bank near Josiah Bean's. Two roads were accepted, one at the lower part of the town leading into Job York's road and the other begin- ning near John Merrill's on the north side of the river, on the road leading to Newry line, at the corner of Nathaniel Swan's field and running east of south to the river, then across the river at Sand Rips, so called, then up the river to the ferriage place, etc., to be a bridle road to the river and over the river to the ferriage place, and an open road two rods wide from the ferriage way to the county road.
1814. The meeting was held at the Center school house, April fourth. For Governor, Samuel Dexter had ninety-three votes, Caleb Strong, fifty-three. Elhanan Bartlett bid off the collector- ship at five cents on the dollar. School committee elected, Dr. Moses Mason, Barbour Bartlett and Elias Bartlett. Twelve hun- dred dollars were raised for roads, and the usual sums for other purposes. Two hundred dollars were voted to help build a meeting house at Middle Interval. Chose Eli Twitchell and Jonas Willis a committee to see to fencing the burying ground. Moses Mason was re-elected representative. A road was accepted beginning at Ebenezer Eames' barn to the corner of Peter York's fence and to the main road against his barn. Also a bridle road from John Russell's field to the county road.
1815. The meeting was held April third. Ebenezer Eames bid off the collectorship. The road surveyors chosen for the north side of the river were John Bean, Peter York and Edward Richardson ; on the south side, Jesse Bean, Eben Greenwood, John Walker, Jonas Merriam, Elias Bartlett and Job York. For school commit-
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tee, Timothy Carter, Rev. Arthur Drinkwater, James Walker, Elisha Bartlett, Peregrine Bartlett, Samuel B. Locke, Barber Bart- lett and Jonathan Abbot. Voted to give the assessors power to remit the taxes assessed to aid in building a meeting house at Middle Interval, to all who are opposed to paying the tax. Voted eight hundred dollars for roads and the usual amount for other purposes. At a meeting May eighteenth, it was voted not to divide the town. For representative, Moses Mason had sixty-three votes, Jonathan Abbot, thirty-seven, scattering, ten. The vote on a division of the town was taken on a petition for the same signed by Eli Grover, Jedediah Burbank, Amos Gage, Amos Hill, Jesse Bean, Samuel Burbank, James Grover, John Barker, Benj. Goodenough, Cyrus Twitchell, Samuel Barker, John Mills, Daniel Gage, Jedediah Grover, Peter Twitchell, Joseph Greenwood, Joseph Wheeler, John Grover, Paul Morse, James Grover, Joseph Wheeler, Jr., Robbins Brown, Eleazer Twitchell, Benjamin Annas, Aaron Abbot, James Walker, Thaddeus Twitchell and Ezra Twitchell. Voted to send a petition to the General Court asking to have the proceedings of the town legalized. Voted to allow Daniel Gage ten dollars for work he has done on the road laid out from the great road through his field to the river. Voted to accept the road down by Bear river. Voted to raise money to repair the road on Whale's Back, which is complained of. Voted to accept the road in the lower part of the town for Ebenezer Bartlett and Enoch Estes.
1816. Barbour Bartlett was chosen clerk and Eli Twitchell, Samuel Chapman and. Elias Bartlett, selectmen. Among the new town officers were Bezaleel Kendall, Edmund Chapman, Aaron Frost, Calvin Twitchell and James Hodsdon. Hogreeves chosen, Rev. Valentine Little, Rev. Arthur Drinkwater, Perkins Moulton, Jonas D. Merriam, Theodore Stearns, Eli Grover, Jr., Urban Shorey, James Wheeler, Luther Locke, Nathaniel Green- wood, Timothy Capen and Aaron Mason. Voted one thousand dollars for roads and three hundred for schools. Voted to dis- continue the road laid out for John Mills and others. Benjamin Estes, Jesse Duston and Jonas D. Merriam were appointed tyth- ingmen. At an adjourned meeting, the vote electing Messrs. Little and Drinkwater, hogreeves, was rescinded. Voted to divide the interest on the school funds among the several schools in town. For Governor, Samuel Dexter had eighty-eight and John
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Brooks forty-eight. Voted to divide the fourth school district by the parish line. The selectmen were directed to regulate the ferries in town. A road was laid out for the benefit of John and Cyrus Mills leading from the house of John Mills to the road near the Widow Grover's. A resolve passed by the General Court, legalizing the doings of the town, was placed on file and recorded. Voted that no person should sell spirituous liquors near the school house where the town meeting is held. Samuel Chapman was chosen representative. The town voted for separation from Massa- chusetts, seventy ; opposed, twenty-two. Barbour Bartlett was elected delegate to the Brunswick convention, held with regard to separation from Massachusetts. Another vote on separation stood eighty-nine in favor, thirty-one opposed.
1817. Met at, the school house and adjourned to the Center meeting house. Peter York bid off the collectorship of taxes and was chosen constable. The names of James Beattie, Micajah Blake and Dr. John Grover appear in the list of town officers. Henry Rust received ninety-nine votes as candidate for County Treasurer. The usual sums of money were raised. It was voted to assist the seventh school district to build a house. This meeting was held in Center meeting house, and it was voted that the constable clear the entry of spirituous liquors. A committee was chosen to select a site for a bridge across Bear river. Voted to accept of a road laid out from William Staples' to the town line. Thomas Frost was annexed to the first school district on the north side of the river. A road was laid out for Peter Grover, beginning at his corner and running to the county road between Bethel and Greenwood. Voted to build a bridge across Bear river, the expense not to exceed one hundred and ninety-five dollars. Voted to send Barbour Bartlett as agent to Paris. Voted to accept the bridle road laid out for Elijah Bartlett. Voted a committee to examine the place for a road round by Mr. Locke's and across by Col. Hastings, consisting of Timothy Carter, Capt. Daniel Grout and Deacon Asa Kimball. Voted to ask the town of Newry to build a road to meet the road built by Bethel to Bear river. Voted to raise a committee to meet a committee from Rumford to settle the legal settlement of Ephraim Colby. John Burk and family having become paupers were vari- ously disposed of.
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