History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 69

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780


USA > Maine > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland Co., Maine > Part 69


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PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST.


The residence of Capt. Joseph Dingley, in South Casco, was at the north end of the bridge. The old house, which stands upon the first land occupied by a white man in Casco, forms a part of the present residence of C. Murch.


Across the road, the residence of A. Libby was the head- quarters of the land-proprietors of Raymond in 1800. A few rods below is the old mill where Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author and poet, is said to have written his " Recollec- tions of a Busy Life." Back of the mill, in the field, is the old burying-ground where are gathered the remains of the early pioneers of Raymond and Caseo. A thick slab of slate marks the resting-place of Capt. Joseph Dingley, the first settler of Raymond, who died Nov. 23, 1806, aged seventy-seven; Capt. Samuel Dingley, died 1825, aged sixty-eight ; Peter Staples, one of the first settlers " of this town," died 1846, aged ninety-five; and Sarah, his wife, died 1854, aged ninety-nine ; Lewis Gay, who was the first resident freeholder, died 1823, aged seventy-six ; and his wife died 1850, aged one hundred and one; Ichabod Man- ning, formerly of Salem, died 1831, aged forty-seven. Among the later dead in the neat cemetery at Casco village are the remains of Capt. Oliver Mayberry, John Sawyer, Esq., and John Ilolden. On the Pinkham place are the graves of Ester Skinner, died 1874, aged ninety ; Ephraim Cook, died 1853, aged ninety-three; Edmond Pinkham, died 1860, and his wife, died 1865, each aged ninety-three. The old red town-house, erected, moved, and finished by an undecided people, who could not determine where it should stand, finally became stationary in the grove of pines a short distance to the south.


Upon a shady hill-side towards Caseo village is still another graveyard, made historic by the repose of Deacon Ilezekiah Cook, died 1863, aged ninety ; Capt. T. Wight, Stephen T. Jilson, Capt. Richard Mayberry, surrounded by the families of Pinkham, Holden, Lombard, and East- man. Here also is the grave of Mark Leach, Esq., who died in 1841, aged seventy.


Songo River, whose waters wash in a picturesque maze of curves the western border of the town, is the outlet of a beautiful chain of lakes, which has been a fruitful theme for the poet and artist for more than a century. Its shores are still free from the desecration of modern improvement, save an occasional farm.


VILLAGES.


CASCO VILLAGE.


Beside the little bay formed by the south end of Pleas- ant Pond, Casco village extends in a long line, running parallel with the western shore, bordered by bare, cultivated hills, rising gradually towards the west, while to the east the land is more broken and covered with forest. To the south, Packer's Pond empties its black waters through an opening in the stone causeway at the head of Pleasant Pond. The village contains 30 dwellings, the store of S. Decker, established by Nathan & S. Decker, in 1845; R. B. Bangs, general merchandise, established 1876; grist- and saw-mill, established by John Holden, 1837, and pur- chased by Richard Mayberry, who added a shook- and shin- gle-mill, and in 1879, a box-factory ; Chas. W. Winters, blacksmith-shop; a fine school-house, and a church. The Portland Packing Company's buildings, erected in 1869, were burned in 1878. Mails are daily by stage, between Portland and Bolster's Mills, R. B. Bangs, postmaster.


S. C. WATKINS ' CARRIAGE FACTORY.


RESIDENCE OF S. C. WATKINS , SOUTH CASCO , MAINE. MANUFACTURER OF FINE LIGHT CARRIAGES TO DRDER, OF ALL STYLES , ALSO REPAIRING DONE WITH DISPATCH.


261


TOWN OF CASCO.


WEBB'S MILLS,


between Great Rattlesnake and Dumpling Ponds, was a mill settlement previous to 1850, its products finding an easy outlet by way of Panther's Pond and Jordan Bay. The place occupies high ground, between hills, and contains a fine large school-house, creeted for joint use as school-house and church ; the store of S. S. Browne, established 1859 ; hardware-store of J. II. Sawyer, established 1872; Tripp & Co.'s axe-handle factory, with a capacity of 30,000 to 35,- 000 handles annually, established 1865 ; shook- and stave- mill of J. F. Strout, established 1873 ; M. F. Winslow, grist- and shingle-mill, established by John Small as a merchant- mill, and reduced because of the small production of grain. Mails are tri-weekly to Mechanics' Falls and Bolster's Mills, alternately, by stage ; S. S. Brown, postmaster. A mile east is David Duran & Co.'s stave- and shook-mill, established 1860.


SOUTH CASCO


comprises a cluster of dwellings around the Hawthorne Church, in Raymond, and hall' a mile distant, in Casco, a hamlet of 16 buildings, including the clothing-manufactory of F. A. Dingley, established 1859, and employing 50 operatives, many of whom receive the work at their homes ; the store of William Dingley, Jr., in the same building ; S. C. Watkins' wagon- and smith-shop, established 1877 ; and South Casco Post-Office, Wm. Dingley, Jr., postmaster.


CIVIL HISTORY.


The first town election of Caseo was held at the Friends' meeting-house, March 30, 1841. Daniel M. Cook was chosen moderator of the meeting ; Alpheus S. Holden was elected Town Clerk ; Isaiah Gould, Richard Cook, Fred- erick Nutting, Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor; William Cook, Treasurer; Stephen Cook, Collector and Constable ; James Webb, Stephen Hall, Isaiah Wins- low, Daniel Barton, William Jordan, James Knight, Zach- ariah Cook, Stephen Cook, George Strout, John Ring, Nathan Mayfield, Job Mitchell, Clark Watkins, Mark Dingley, Peter Graffam, James Hobson, and John Holden, Surveyors of Highways; Obadiah G. Cook, Johnson W. Knight, John Small, Ebenezer Buzzell, Solomon Mayberry, Geo. W. Dingley, Surveyors of Lumber, Wood, and Bark ; Obadiah G. Cook, Ebenezer Buzzell, Isaiah Gould, School Committee. Six hundred dollars were voted to pay town charges, $700 for highways, and the full amount allowed by law for schools. The following is a list of the principal town officers :


SELECTMEN.


1811 .- Isaiah Gould, Richard Cook, Frederick Nutting. 1842 .- Potter J. Mayberry, James Knight, Daniel M. Cook. 1843-44 .- William Webb, Isaiah Gould, George W. Dingley. 1845 .- William Webb, Levi Holden, Daniel Murch. 1846 .- Isaiah Gaull, George W. Dingley, John Small. 1847 .- William Webb, Frederick Nutting, Levi Holden. 1848 .- Isaiah Gould, Potter J. Mayberry, Daniel Walker. 1849 .- Alpheus S. Holden, Potter J. Mayberry. Lewis Gay. 1850 .- Richard Mayberry, Aaron B. Holden, William Maxfield. 1851 .- Alphens S. Holden, Anson Jordan, William Dingley, Jr. 1852 .- Alpheus S. Holden, William Rolf, William Dingley, Jr. 1853 .- William Rolf, William Dingley, Jr., Aaron B. Holden. 1854 .- Alpheus S. Holden, William Rolf, John C. Jacques.


1855 .- William Dingley, Jr., Spencer Decker, David Duran. 1856 .- Alpheus S. Holden, Lewis Gay, Potter J. Mayberry. 1857 .- Richard M. Webb, Lewis Gay, Oliver M. Cook.


1858 59,-Spencer Decker, David Duran, William Dingley, Jr. 1860-61. Daniol MI. Cook, Potter J. Mayberry, Aaron Mann. 1862 .- Potter J. Mayberry, Samuel S. Browne, William Hall. 1863. Daniel M. Cook, Aaron Mann, John Small. 1864 .- Spencer Decker, Eliner Brown, James Chute (2d).


1865 .- Daniel M. Cook, Benjamin C. Gay, William II. Hodgdon.


1866 .- Daniel M. Cook, Elmer Brown, William Dingley, .Ir. 1867 .- Daniel M. Cook, David Duran, Andrew Libby. 1865,-Albion Cobb, James H. Lombard, Benjamin C. Giay. 1869-70 .- Richard Cook. Jr., Potter J. Mayberry, Wm. Dingley, Jr. 1871 .- Potter J. Mayberry, Andrew R. Gay, Samuel S. Browne. 1872 .- Samuel S. Browne, Alpheus S. lloklen, Lewis Gay. 1873 .- William M. Cook, David Duran, Andrew R. Gay. 1874-76 .- William M. Cook, David Duran, Fred. A. Dingley. 1877 .- Famnel S. Browne, Solomon M. Gny, Addison Shuw. 1878 .- David Doran, William Dingley, Jr., Joshua C. Couk. 1879,-Spencer Decker, Josiah Webb, John H. Sawyer.


TOWN CLERKS.


Alphens S. loklen, 1841-45; Richard M. Webb, 1846-17; Daniel M. Cook, 1848-54: Moses S. Eastman, 1855-57; Daniel M. Cook, 1858-61 ; Moses S. Eastman, 1862-63; William F. Cook, 1864; Lyman W. Holden, 1865; William F. Cook, 1866-67; Lyman W. Holden, 1868-73; Edwin A. Barton, 1874-76; George F. MeQuillan, 1877 : Edwin A. Barton, 1878 ; Lyman W. Holden, 1879.


TREASURERS.


William Cook, 1841: Levi Holden, 1842: Barelay Wigbt, 1843; Obadiah G. Cook, 1844 : Barclay Wight, 1845; Potter J. May- berry, 1846; James Knight, 1847: James J. Knight, 1848-50; Aaron B. Ilolden, 1851-53: Moses S. Eastman, 1854: Richard Mayberry, 1855; Clark Stone, 1856; Richard Mayberry, 1857-59 ; Alphens S. Holden, 1860; Samnel S. Browne, 1861; Spencer Decker, 1862; Alpheus S. Ilolden, 1863; Richard Mayberry, 1864; Ephraim Brown, 1865; Richard Mayberry, 1866-67; Lewis W. Hloughton, 1868 : William F. Cook, 1869-70; Alphens S. Ilolden, 1871 ; William F. Cook, 1872-76; Daniel C. Smith, 1877-79.


COLLECTORS AND CONSTABLES.


Stephen Cook, 1841: Levi Holden, 1842; Barclay Wight, 1843: Obadiah G. Cook, 1844; Barelay Wight, 1845; Jacob . Wat- kins, Richard Mayberry (vacancy), 1816: Richard Mayberry, 1847-49; Obadiah G. Cook, Moses S. Eastman, 1850; Edward Mayberry, 1851 ; John Cook, 1852-55; Richard Mayberry, 1856; Luther Edwards, Daniel M. Cook (vacaney), 1857 ; John Small, 1858 ; Freedom Chute, 1859: Lewis Gay, 1860 ; Cyrus K. Holden, 1861; Lewis Gay, 1862-64; Benjamin C. Gay, 1865-66; Ben- jamin F. Cook, 1867; Edwin A. Barton, 1868-69; Lewis Gay, 1870; Clark N. Maxfield, 1871 72: Nathan C. Pinkham, 1873- 71; Clark N. Maxfield, 1875-77: R. C. Gay, 1878-79.


CHURCHES.


SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.


Obadiah Gould, the first member of the Society of Friends, came to Raymond in 1801. Meetings were held in the neighborhood now known as " Quaker Hill," at the houses of Mr Gould and Daniel and Elijah Cook, who were also members of the monthly meeting at Windham as early as 1811. The present meccing-house was built near the house of Daniel Cook, south of Casco village, in 1814. Ephraim Cook also joined the meeting. The younger members have become scattered through the surrounding country, but meetings are still held. The members belong to the society organization at. Windham. Isaiah Gould succeeded his father, Obadiab Could, as elerk in 1826, and was suceceded by William Hall, present clerk, in 1864.


262


HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.


TIIE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH


was organized in Casco, Dec. 10, 1827, with 12 members, Ichabod M. Gay and wife, Hezekiah Cook and wife, Dan- iel Mayberry and wife, Lewis Gay and wife, Nathaniel Strout, Peter Staples, Jr., Mary Proctor, and Sarah Cook. Hezekiah Cook and Ichabod M. Gay were the first dea- cons. The church was organized by Revs. Zachariah Leach and Zachariah Jordan. Rev. Joseph White was made pastor in 1833, and Joseph Phinney, 1844. Peter Staple was ordained in the " Gay meeting-house" iu Casco, on the site of the " old Western Church of Raymond," Sept. 23, 1834, and was pastor three years. The meeting-house was finished afterwards, and dedicated Nov. 17, 1836, by Rev. John Stevens, of Limington. Rev. Austin Wheelon and Rev. T. D. Burnham held revival meetings in 1839, and were suecceded by Revs. Almon Libby and J. H. Phinney in 1840, Daniel Clay, 1842-43, and 11. Chandler, 1848. Clerks : Peter Staples to 1833; S. D. Burnham, 1834-43 ; John Cook, 1843-58.


The old building has been abandoned since 1865, and is falling into decay. A reorganization of the society was effected by Rev. John Pinkham, Sept. 12, 1876, and Colby Jordan was made clerk, Josiah Winslow and Stephen S. Welch, deacons. John D. Spiller and wife, James E. Tripp and wife, Alonzo Small and wife were leading mem- bers. Present membership, 17. Meetings are held in Webb's Mills school-house.


THE CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH OF RAYMOND


was organized in Casco at the house of John Cash, Dec. 23, 1813. The first members were Keziah Cash, Christian Strout, Elie Cash, Regia Duran, Martha Brigham, John Cash and son, Louis Gay, Prince Strout, Levi Brigham, and Samuel Duran. Rev. Jacob Herrick was first pastor, Deacon Levi Brigham, clerk, Samuel Duran, deacon. Na- thaniel Cash was made deacon in 1852. A church library was established in 1825 by the Rev. Elliott Kellogg. Rev. T. P. Richardson was made pastor in 1834, D. Shepley, 1857. A new organization was effected at Casco village, Sept. 19, 1864. Moses S. Eastman was chosen clerk ; Rev. T. T. Murry, E. M. Wight, and M. S. Eastman were chosen com- mittee to revise the creed ; Tarbel Moors, treasurer ; Rich- ard Mayberry and E. M. Wight, deacons. Rev. T. T. Murry was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Leonard Green (1866), Rev. George F. Tewksbury, B. H. Osgood, L. C. Mann, E. R. Osgood. Services are held in the Union church, Casco village.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.


A class was formed at Webb's Mills in 1844, with Levi Small, leader, and Barclay Wight, recording steward. Oli- ver Mayberry and wife, Amos Jordan and wife, Joseph, Olive, and Betsey Wight, Anna Ricker, Joseph and Mary Strout, and Betsey Small were members. Meetings are held in the Webb's Mills school-house. Rev. T. J. True has been pastor since 1878. This class is a part of the Raymond charge.


SCHOOLS.


The school fund was divided by the act of incorporation, and the town clerk, selectmen, and treasurer were made an


ex-officio board for its future management. Eleven school districts were organized in 1845, and additional school- houses erected. In 1878 the school property, consisting of five good and three inferior school-houses, in eight dis- triets was valued at $4000. The town contained 333 school-children, of whom 212 attended school. School superintendent for 1879, Augustus Mann.


ASSOCIATIONS.


INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS.


Pleasant Pond. Lodge, No. 168, organized July 23, 1878, with Augustus E. Mann, W. C. T .; Lizzie Jipson, W. V. T .; Frank H. Mayberry, W. Sec .; James M. East- man, F. Sec. ; James Jipson, Treas. ; Charles W. Winters, Marshal ; Richard Mayberry, Chap. ; Joseph Beatty, P. W. C. T. Officers 1879 : Joseph Beatty, W. C. T .; Lizzie Jip- son, W. V. T .; Ilattie R. Mayberry, W. Sec .; John W. Beatty, Rec. Sec .; George W. Burges, Treas. ; Charles W. Winters, W. M .; Richard Mayberry, Chap. Meet at Casco village.


SOUTHI CASCO TEMPERANCE REFORM CLUB.


Organized Nov. 3, 1875. Andrew R. Gay, Pres. ; Daniel Lombard, Vice-President ; Llewellyn Welch, Sec. 1879, Hezekiah Lombard, President ; William M. Mitchell, Sec. Meetings are held in the Hawthorne House, Raymond.


MERCHANTS, ETC.


Past merchants of Casco have been Joseph Brown, 1840 -50; Levi Ilolden, 1830-45 ; Holden & Mayberry, Ed- ward Mayberry, 1853 ; M. S. Eastman, 1852-65. William Webb, 1847; Jordan & Webb, Anson Jordan, 1852-60; Randall Barton, 1861; David Duran, 1867; Webb & Browne, S. S. Browne, Webb's Mills. William Rolf, 1847 -56; Otis Watkins, 1847 ; Dingley & Watkins, 1851; William Dingley, Jr., 1867-79, South Casco.


PHYSICIANS.


Dr. Joseph Wight, 1796-1848; Dr. John Eastman, 1827-54 ; Dr. Pascall Ingalls, Dr. B. M. Wight, 1864; Cyrus K. Bowker, 1857-64; Dr. Albion Cobb, 1868-79; Charles H. Young, 1868-79.


George F. McQuillan, 1874, Lawyer.


Among the leading men of Casco, are Andrew Libby, Alpheus Holden, Richard Mayberry, Isaiah Gould, Clark N. Maxfield, Potter Mayberry, Lyman W. Holden, Capt. John Small, David Duran, and Samuel S. Browne.


MILITARY.


SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.


Dr. Joseph Wight, surgeon; Capt. Richard Mayberry and his son, William Mayberry, who served him as waiter, and was with him at the battle of Bunker Hill.


WAR OF 1812.


James Jordan, Samuel Dingley, William Chane, Peter Graffam, Peter Skinner, Louis Hancock, David Decker, Ephraim Brown, John Nash, James Welch, Jr.


MRS. ALBION COBB.


Albion bobb . M.D.


( PHOTOS BY LAMSON. )


RESIDENCE OF ALBION COBB, M.D., WEBB'S MILLS, ME.


The subject of this .k. ch Was Lorn in that part of the town of Ray- mond which now form, the town of Casco, in 1811. He was the son of John and Polly Holden. John. his i .. ther, was the eldest son of John and Sibyl Hollen, and Polly, his mother, was the eldest daughter of Dr. David and Eunice Ray. His parents anıl grandparents were born in Wrentham and Woburn, Mass. His youth was spent in acquiring a thorough aca- demie education, and many winters of his early life were employed in teach- ing. In this vocation he was highly successful, and hence extremely popu- lar. Though fitted by education and natural ability to have attained to eminence in any ealling or profession in life, he has occupied himself with the cultivation and management of his large and beautiful farm, near Casco villagc.


Mr. Holden has always been noted as an upright, intelligent, liberal, and public-spirited citizen, ever ready to promote the prosperity of his native town, and its advancement in educa- tion, morals, and religion. He lately renovated and beautified the church edifice at Casco village, at a cost of


PHOTO BY LAMSON


A.S. HOLDEN.


more than one thousand dollars, and he was largely instrumental iu pro- moting the building, in the same village, of the handsomest, most com- modious, and best-appointed school- house to be found in a circuit of many miles.


His reputation for intelligence, ca- pacity, and integrity has led to his being often chosen to offices of public trust. He was a member of the Maine House of Representatives in 1843 and in 1865, of the State Senate in 1845-46, and of the Ex- ecutive Council in 1856. So long as he could be induced to bear the burden, the municipal affairs of the town were confined almost exclusively to his care ; his fellow-citizens resting assured that, so long as their business was under his management, the best thing would always be done in the best manner.


Mr. Holden has always been in easy circumstances, and has managed his private business with shrewdness and tact. Hle is unmarried. Few persons have carned or enjoyed more universal respect and good-will among his towns- men or the public generally than has Mr. Holden.


RESIDENCE OF HON. A. S. HOLDEN , CASCO, ME.


263


TOWN OF CASCO.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


DAVID DURAN,


son of Nathaniel and Mary Duran, was born in the town of Casco, Cumberland Co., Me., in 1823. His boyhood was spent on the farm and attending school. Upon reaching his majority he took charge of his father's farm, and the


LITT


Photo, by Starbird, Augusta.


David Duran


eare of his aged parents. In the year 1846 he married Adeline Gerry, of Cumberland County. They have a son and daughter. Mr. Duran has ever been interested in local and State politics. In the year 1855 he was elected a seleetman, and served nine years. In 1868 he was elected to the Legislature, and served one term. In 1877 he was elected State Senator, and re-elected to that office in 1878 and 1879. Mr. Duran is a Republican in politics, and is prominently identified with the orders of Masonry, Odd- Fellows, and Knights of Pythias.


RICHARD MAYBERRY,


son of Daniel Mayberry, of Windham, was born in the town of Casco (then Raymond) in the year 1811. His minority was spent at home on the farm and in lumbering. For ten years after reaching his majority he followed peddling on the road. He then purchased a farm, upon which he now resides. In 1844 he married Catharine M Knight, of Otisfield. Their children are Florence J., Cyrus (., and Frank P. He was one of the organizers of the Republican party in his vicinity, and has taken a somewhat active part in polities. In 1843 he was appointed deputy sheriff by


N. L. Woodbury, and held the office for ten years, and during that time he was appointed postmaster, and held the offices of selectman, collector, and treasurer of the town.


Photo, by Conant, Portland.


RICHARD MAYBERRY.


In 1860 he was elected a representative of the State Legis- lature, and held the office one term, discharging the duties of that position to the satisfaction of his constituents, and with credit to himself. Since that time he has been engaged almost wholly in agricultural pursuits and in the lumber trade. He has been a member of the Congregational Church for many years, and is a deacon of that church.


ALBION COBB, M.D.,


was boru in Westbrook, Cumberland Co., Me., Dec. 22, 1824, and was the eldest son of Asa and Nancy D. Cobb, whose family of eight, with one exception, attained adult age, and were noted for their scientific and literary attain- ments. Dr. Cobb's advantages for instruction in early life were meagre in the extreme, and were only attainable by the most severe effort. The district school, which was his almost sole resource, was two miles distant, over an unfre- quented road, extremely subject to be blockaded by snow ; yet this, and two terms of eleven weeks each at Westbrook Seminary, constituted the whole of bis school opportunities, aside from professional teaching. His studies have been


carried on without instructors or assistance of any kind, yet iu knowledge of ancient and modern languages, natural science and literature, few persons, even with the advan- tages of a university education, excel him. He began the study of medicine in August, 1847, and graduated from the Medical School of Maine, at Bowdoin College, in the class of 1851, having in the mean time attended one term at the Medical Department of the University of New York. In May, 1852, he began the practice of his profession at Bol- ster's Mills, in the town of llarrison, Me., where he remained in active practice for over seven years, when, after having


264


HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.


spent a little over a year in his native town, he removed to Webb's Mills, in the town of Casco, where he has since resided. In 1862 he entered the army as assistant sur- geon of the 4th Maine Volunteers, and had usually the sole medieal and surgical charge of the regiment till he was mustered out with it in July, 1864. In November, 1863, at Bristow Station, Va., he received a severe wound, from which he is still disabled. From August, 1864, till June, 1865, he was acting assistant surgeon United States Army, and stationed at IIarewood Hospital, near Washington, D. C. In November, 1851, he married Miss Louise A. Stockman,


daughter of Mr. Robert Stockman, of Poland, Me. 1le has now living four sons, viz., Albion E. Cobb, M.D., a graduate of Dartmouth College Medical School, now prac- ticing medicine at North Windham; Carolus M. Cobb, engaged in teaching; and Ernest O. Cobb and Anson A. Cobb, who, though still boys, liave attained a good reputa- tion as scholars. Mrs. Cobb, wife of the doctor, has for many years been employed in teaching, in which profession she is eminently successful, having taught more than fifty terms of school, and winning, in every instance, the highest approbation.


CUMBERLAND.


INCORPORATION AND BOUNDARIES.


THE town of Cumberland was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of Maine, dividing the town of North Yar- mouth, passed March 19th and approved March 28, 1821. The new town ineluded all the lands lying to the eastward of a line beginning at the sea-shore at the southeast corner of the John Dabney farm, granted in 1735, on the divid- ing line between the lands of Alexander Barr and Reuben Loring, and extending northerly to the southeast corner of 120-acre lot 1; north, 26° west on the lot lines to the north corner of lot 5; south, 65° west on the line between lots 5 and 6, crossing lot 6 and following the south line of lot 7 to its south corner ; following the western line of the 120-aere divisions west of Royal River north, 26° west to the gore annexed in 1734; following the original town line south, 64° west to the easterly corner of 450-acre squadron No. 2, and northwest to the Gray line, together with all the islands belonging to North Yarmouth, except Cousin's, Little John's, Lane's, Great and Little Mosier's. All persons dwelling on lands joining the division line were granted the liberty to elect in which town they should belong, with their lands, within ninety days of the passage of the act. From this privilege there resulted a long series of petitions and transfers from one town to the other. The town is eight miles long and three miles wide. It is bounded on the northeast by North Yarmouth and Yarmouth, on the southeast by Casco Bay, on the southwest by Falmouth, and on the northwest by Gray. The islands belonging to the town are Great Chebeague, Crotch, Broken Cave, Hope, Smooth Clapboard, Basket, Bates, Ministerial, Stove, Bangs, Sturdivant, Goose, Crow, Sand, and Jewell's Islands.


EARLY SETTLEMENT.


John Phillips, a native of Wales, was the first settler in the town of Cumberland, on a point of land fifty feet above the mussel-beds which line the shore projecting from the hard, half-bared hills which rise a quarter of a mile farther inland. A beautiful stream finds its way through from the


level meadows nine miles farther baek, and falls in a series of caseades from the projecting land into the little cove. Here he erected a stone house, or garrison, and traded with the Indians. Ile sold his garrison to George Felt, of Mal- den, Mass., in 1640. Mr. Felt made his home here, and in 1643 completed his title by repurchase of Thomas Gorges. LIe had two sons born here, George, who was killed by the Indians on Munjoy's Island in 1676, and Moses, who was born here in 1650, and removed to Chelsea about 1733. Mr. Felt returned to Malden, after the Indian outbreak of 1676, at the age of seventy-six years. Capt. Walter Gen- dall lived near the shore, next the Falmouth line, as early as 1665. John Plaice bought a piece of land between Gendall and Felt extending north to the creek. Ilis deed, dated Nov. 12, 1670, says, " joining John Koleman." These titles were lost, or merged in the general confusion attend- ant upon the Indian outbreak of 1676. Capt. Gendall, the first to return after the peace of 1678, built a strong house of heavy timbers, loop-holed for defense, and calcu- lated to withstand the assault of the savage foe if occasion should again require. Displaying an intrepid bravery and keen business faculties, Capt. Gendall was made the chief of a committee, appointed by order of Thomas Danforth, Esy., president, Sept. 22, 1680, to determine the place of resettlement, and lay out homes for settlers in a manner most capable of defense against any future Indian out- break. In 1681, Anthony Bracket and George Pearson were appointed to lay out for him, near to the Falmouth line, " where he had builded a house and begun a planta- tion," a farm not to exceed 200 acres. In those days there was more variation of chain than of compass, liberal allowance being made for bad lands, hills, and bogs. With the 200- acre school lot, an eighth of a mile north, as a basis, this tract, running beyond Duck Cove, must have contained about 500 acres. The main settlement on Royal River furnished what employment there was aside from the slow work of clearing land. Capt. Gendall was engaged in saw- ing lumber at the falls from 1681 until he lost his life in




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