History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 75

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

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TREASURERS.

John Mann, 1789-98, Joseph Staple, 1799; John Cushing ; 1800-7; Maj. Thomas Means, 1808-9; Samuel Dillingham, 1810-13; Samoel Porter, 1814-15: Samnel lolbrook, 1816; Baraabas Bar- toll, 1817 ; Samuel Holbrook ; 1818-23 ; Josiah W. Mitchell, 1824- 27; Nathan Nye, 1828-35 : Enoch Harrington, 1836-38 ; Samuel A. Holbrook, 1839-47; Robert S. Soule, 1848-51 ; Samuel A. Holbrook, 1852; Ammi R. Mitchell, 1853-61; Robert S. Soule, 1862; Samuel A. Holbrook, 1863-75 ; Enos C. Soule, 1876; Amos Field, 1877 : John A. Briggs, 1878-79.

COLLECTORS AND CONSTABLES.

Cornelius Soule, George Bartoli (col. and con.), William Todd (con.), 1789: Josiah Reed, George Burtoll, William Todd (vaeaney ), 1790 ; Josiah Reed, Thomas Bicknell (cols.), 1791 ; Reuben Carver (W'est), John Stockbridge ( East), 1792; Reuben Carver, Thomas Bieknell, 1793; Josiah Reed, John Stockbridge, Reuben Carver, 1794 : Reuben Carver, Josiah Reed, 1795 ; William Litchfield, John Mann ( East), JJosiah Reed ( West and Middle Dist.), 1796; Benjamin Sawyer ( Ist Dist.), Reuben Carver (2d Dist.), John Mann (3d Dist.), 1597 ; Benjamin A. Richardson, Samuel

Litchfield, Reuben Carver, 1798; Joseph Hutchings ( West), Obadiah Curtis (East), 1799; Lebbens Tuttle (West), Josiah Reed (East), John Stockbridge, John Townsend, 1800; Lebbeus Tuttle (West), Noah Burrell ( East), John Townsend, 1801 ; Joseph Hutchings ( West), Noah Burrell (East), Benjamin Sawyer, Joseph Townsend, 1802; Edward Thompson (whole town), Joseph Townsend, 1803; Thomas Worthly, Josiah Cum- mings, 1804; Joseph Hutchings ( West), Thomas Worthly (East), Joseph Stockbridge, 1805; Simcon Tryon (West), Asa Sprague (East), John Stockbridge, 1806; Joseph Hutchings ( West), Asa Sprague (East), Josiah Reed 1807; Barnabas Bartoll, Capt. Josiah Mead, 1808; Thomas White, 1809; Thomas R. White, Josiah Reed, 1810; James Johnson, 1811; Maj. Josiah Reed, Capt. M. M. Kendall, 1812; Johe Townsend, Jonah Reed, 1813-14; William Jordaa, Cornelius Dillingham, John Towa- send, Josiah Reed, 1815 ; William Jordan, Robert R. Kendall, John Townsend, Josiah Reed, 1816; John Townsend, Robert R. Kendall, Josiah Reed, 1817-18; John Townsend, Thos. R. Dillingham, Thomas R. White, 1819; John Wentworth, Thomas R. White, John Townsend, 1820; John Wentworth, T. R. Dil- lingham, Thomas R. White, 1821; Jehn Wentworth, T. R. Dillingham, John Townsend, 1822; Daniel Dunbam, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1823; Bailey Curtis, John Wentworth, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1824; Jonathan Pratt (col.), Thomas R. Dil- liagham, John Townsend, 1825; Jonathan Pratt, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1826; Bailey Cortis, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1827; Nathaniel Curtis, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1828; Nathaniel Curtis, Asa Bailey, 1829-30 ; Nathaniel Curtis, Horatio G. Ken- dall, 1831; Nathaniel Curtis, 1832; Bailey Cortis, Iloratio G. Kendall, 1833; Bailey Curtis, Thomas R. Dillingham, Bailey Curtis, 1834 ; Thomas Means, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1835-36; Nathaniel Curtis, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1837-38; Esoch Har- rington (col.), Thomas R. Dillingham, Nathaniel Curtis, Thomas Means, 1839; Samuel A. Ilolbrook, Thomas R. Dillingham, Seth Bailey, Jr., 1840; Samuel A. Holbrook (col.), Thomas R. Dillingham, Seth Bailey, Jr., Robert R. Kendall, 1841; Samuel A. Ilolbrook (col.), R. Pope Kendall, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1842 ; Samuel A. Ilolbroek (col.), Thomas R. Dillingham, R. Pope Kendall, 1843-44; Samuel A. Holbroek, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1845-47 ; Rebert S. Soule, Thomas R. Dillingham, 1818-50; Robert S. Sonle, John L. Holbrook, 1851; Theodore Curtis, Seth Bailey, Jr., 1852; Ammi R. Mitchell, Seth Bailey, Jr., 1853; Ammi R. Mitchell, Noah Crocket, 1854; Ammi R. Mitchell, 1855; Ammi R. Mitchell, Jebn S. Sherman, Nehemiah Thomas, 1856; Ammi R. Mitchell, George Brewer, 1857 ; Thomas B. Lane, George Brewer, 1858; Thomas B. Lane, Seth Bailey, Jr., 1859; Ammi R. Mitchell, Seth Bailey, Jr., 1860; Abeer H. Wade, Seth Bailey, 1861; Abner 11. Wade, Samnel Lunt, 1862; Abner II. Wade, 1863; Abner 11. Wade, George Brewer, 1864-65; Abner II. Wade, Charles Field, 1866; Thomas B. Lane, 1867 : Abner II. Wade, George Brewer, 1868; Warren E. Jordan, 1869; Amos Field, 1870; Warren E. Jordan, 1871-73; Reuben B. Rogers, 1874; James II. Banks, 1875-78; Alfred L. Oxnard, llorace B. Townsend, 1879.

CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCHI.

The town of Freeport was constituted a separate parish by its incorporation in February, 1789. The Congrega- tionalist Church was formed December 21st ensuing. A church had already been erceted in 1774 on the old bury- ing-ground between the village and Porter's salt-works. This was given to the town, with the exception of the pew- ground on the lower floor, in 1789. The covenant was signed by Ephraim and Mary Griffin, Ambrose Talbot, Bartholomew Reed, John Mann, George Rogers, John Soule, Joseph Stockbridge, John Cushing, Samuel Wins- low, George and Dorcas Dennison, Thomas and Sarah Cobb, William and Anna Litchfield, Silas Holbrook, Abigail Todd, and Rebecca Adams. Rev. Alfred Johnson was ordained pastor Dec. 29, 1789. Ambrose Talbot and John Cushing were chosen deacons; Calvin Carter was made

Photo. by Conant, Portland.

SAMUEL BLISS, son of Samuel and Sarah (Loomis) Bliss, was born in Lebanon, Conn., April 30, 1795. He spent his youth on his father's farm and in the common schools. On attaining his majority he went to Virginia, where he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, in which he remained for five years, when he sold out and returned to his native town. Oct. 12, 1820, he married Betsey, daughter of Gershom Dorrance, and granddaughter of Col. George Dor- rance, of the Wyoming massaere. Of this union six children were born to them,-three sons and three daughters, viz .: George D., born Aug. 12, 1821; died at Placer City, Cal., Dec. 26, 1851. Saralı, born in Albany, N. Y., June 3, 1823; died Oet. 5, 1873, aged fifty years. Gershom, born in Freeport, May 11, 1827 ; died Nov. 2, 1871, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Elizabeth, born April 20, 1830 (married Seward P. Grant, of Freeport); and Caroline A., born Dec. 9, 1832. After his marriage he went to South Carolina, where he again engaged in the mer- cantile business for one year, and returned to Connec- tieut. Removed with his family to Albany, N. Y.,

where he was in trade two years, when he sold out and purchased, in company with John Armstrong, two farms in Cumberland township, and a hotel stand in Freeport, and commenced farming; which business they followed for four years, when Mr. Bliss sold out to his partner and entered the hotel business, which he continued for six years. He then sold this property and purchased a tract of land on the Raisin River, Michigan, upon which he located two of his sons. Subsequently he purchased a farm of two hundred and fifty aeres in Pownal, Me., and kept a dairy, the first in the county. Carried on this dairy farm for fifteen years, when he sold it and moved to South Freeport, and, after a few years in the merean- tile and fishery trade there, he retired from business. In polities Mr. Bliss is a staunch Republican. He represented his town in the Legislature in 1835, and Pownal in 1854-55. He and his wife have been members of the Congregational Church since 1857. Though having reached the ripe old age of eighty- five, he still retains his mental vigor to a remarkable degree.

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IHISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

J. K. Prescott. Rev. Asa S. Jones and Rev. David C. Burr have entered the ministry from this church.

A Universalist church-the sceond in the State -- was erected by Joseph Lufkin and Solomon Dennison, between Mast Landing and Freeport village, and dedicated by Rev. Hosea Ballou in 1811. It was occupied by Rev. Thomas Barnes, who had formerly preached here, Rev. Jabez Woodman, and Rev. Russell Streeter. This building was removed to the village, where it was burned in 1832, after which the organization ceased to exist.

SCHOOLS.

The first school-house of which we have any record was built on Capt. Roger Edwards' lot (No. 38) in South Freeport, in 1736. At the organization of the town the inhabitants of each district were ordered to meet and choose a school-master. £100 were appropriated for schools in 1794. Rev. Alfred Johnson's salary was increased in 1795, and he taught a grammar school as a part of his ministerial duty.

Soon after the burning of the town-hall, in 1847, a town-house was built at Freeport village. In 1873, Samuel A. Holbrook laid out a publie square for the town, upon which the town-house was moved, and a high-school building erected by Rev. John J. Bulfinch, N. O. True, and Samuel A. Holbrook, manager. $30,000, obtained as a surplus on the settlement of the war debt of 1861-65, and $10,000 furnished by subscription, were appropriated to build the school-house. A school supervisor was chosen in 1876, and school districts were abolished. There are 710 school children ; 450 attending school. The expense of the high school for 1879, under the efficient manage- inent of Professor Stephen A. Thurlow, Principal, and Supervisor of Schools, was $1523; seventeen common schools, 83922; with a cost of $60 for supervision. The school-buildings are uniformly neat and well furnished.

ASSOCIATIONS.

FREEPORT TEMPERANCE REFORM CLUB

was organized Dee. 22, 1875. President, William A. Mitchell ; Vice-Presidents, J. E. Davis, Joseph Farwell, F. W. Nichols, William R. Kendall ; Secretary, O. H. Briggs ; Treasurer, II. B. Tuttle. The officers for 1879 are Il. G. Sleeper, President ; M. M. Curtis, Vice-President; E. Russ, Secretary ; W. A. Davis, Treasurer. The member- ship is 60.

SOCIAL LIBRARY

has 750 volumes. P. Briggs is the librarian.

FREEPORT CORNET BAND

was organized in 1865 by Henry Miller, a veteran musician of the volunteer army of 1861-65. The band consists of 17 pieces. II. E. Davis is leader and director.

MASONS.

Freeport Lodge, No. 23, F. A. M. The records were burned in 1845. It was rechartered May 5, 1845.

LAWYERS.

Josiah W. Mitchell, a man of prominence and ability. Ile studied law with Judge Whitman, of New Gloucester,

and commenced practice in Freeport, where he remained until his death in 1852.

Richard Belcher, from Winthrop, a prominent man from 1825 to 1870; now retired from active business.

Ezekiel W. Mitchell, son of the first lawyer, has practiced here since 1859.

Ilarrison G. Sleeper, educated in Boston, admitted to the bar in 1862, and practiced in Freeport since 1866.

Samuel Clark has been a prominent lawyer since 1859.

PHYSICIANS.

John A. Ilyde, M.D., from Rehoboth, Mass., graduated at Boston Medical School, 1794, and began practice in Freeport, where he died in 1857.

Louis Nichols, M.D., a student with Dr. Hyde, com- meneed practice here, and afterwards removed to Kingston, Mass., where he died.

Aaron Lufkin, M.D., graduated at Bowdoin Medical School, Brunswick, Me., in 1823, and practiced medicine here until his death in 1826.

Ebenezer Wells, M.D., born in Warren, Me., 1801 ; grad- uated at Bowdoin in 1823; settled in Freeport, where he still lives, in 1826.

Ephraim A. Hyde, M.D., son of the first doctor, born in 1814, graduated at Berkshire, Mass., and commenced practice with his father in 1841; died in 1871.

John Butler, M.D., settled in 1840, and removed to Wells, Me.

William II. True, M.D., assistant surgeon in United States army in the war of 1861, practiced here two years after, and removed to Portland.

Woodbury G. Frost, M.D., succeeded Dr. True, and removed to Bath, Me., after three years.

D. D. Spear, M.D., of North Yarmouth, educated at Bowdoin and Berkshire, Mass., 1867 ; came to Freeport in 1873.

John G. Pierce, M.D., graduated at Bowdoin in 1867 ; came from Canton in 1876.

O. W. Norton practiced medicine since 1854, graduated at the Pennsylvania Eclectic College in 1867, when he re- moved from South Freeport to Freeport village, where he now resides.

MILITARY.

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.

John Maxwell, Nathaniel Josselyn, Jonathan Byrom, Robert Townsend, Melzor Byrom, Richard Gookins, Na- thaniel Aldrich, Samuel Litchfield.

In 1798 there were three companies of militia equipped as the law direets, and supplied with $200 worth of ammu- nition. The town rendered efficient service in the war of 1812, both on land and water. A privateer, named "The Dash," was built on Harraseeket River, and manned by a picked erew of sixteen young men of Freeport. Capt. . George Bacon had recently, with the assistance of one man, rescued a prize in which he was a prisoner, and been in- jured in an escape from recapture, and the command de- volved upon John Porter. The " Dash" was spoken by the " Champlain" when steering for Georges Banks, and was never heard from after.

Capt. Porter's brother, John Bennett, and Dennis Syl-

285

TOWN OF FREEPORT.

vester were lost on the vessel. Fifteen muskets, with necessary ammunition, were purchased by the town, as a precautionary measure, in 1814.

WAR OF 1812.

Richard Belcher, Rufus Cushing, Simeon Coffin, Lieut. Robert Dunning, James Edes, Ammi R. Mitchell, Ammi Mitchell, John Mitchell, Joseph Mitchell, Jothan John- son, Charles Paine, Jeremiah Plummer, Samuel Soule, William Townsend, William Ward.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

SAMUEL APPLETON HOLBROOK.

Samuel, father of S. A. Holbrook, born in Lebanon, Conn., Dec. 16, 1776, married Hannah Webster, daugh- ter of John and Patience Webster, Oct. 13, 1811, who was born in North Yarmouth, April 4, 1786. Ile was the son of Timothy Holbrook, a respectable farmer in Connecticut, and spent his minority at home. He was fitted for college by Dr. Ely, of Lebanon, and graduated at Yale, with the usual honors. Ile subsequently taught school, while continuing his studies, with the intention of following for a livelihood one of the professions, till impaired health compelled him to relinquish his cherished desire. After one year as a merchant, he removed to Freeport, Me., about 1808, and in partnership with Mr. Fowler (Holbrook & Fowler) ear- ried on mercantile business until the beginning of the war of 1812, when he returned to Lebanon, Conn. In the fall of 1815 he returned to Freeport with his family, and for the following ten years was engaged in the general mer- eantile trade. In 1824 he purchased the Governor Trumbull farm, in Lebanon, Conn., removed there, and car- ried on farming for some years. Subsequently, for two years, he was interested in the business of Shirley & Hyde, book publishers, Portland, and then returned to Freeport, and in the spring of 1830 again opened trade as a mer- ehant. From 1832 to 1836 he had associated with him as partner William Gore (Holbrook & Gore), and in the latter year gave up his business to his son, Samuel A. Holbrook.

Ile was a resident of Portland, afterwards, for five years, and removed to Freeport, where he died, June 17, 1849. He was known as a man of sterling integrity, of correct habits, and possessed of a genial and sociable disposition. In politics, early in life, he was a Republican, later a Whig, held many town offices, and was a representative in the State Legislature. His children are John Webster, born in Freeport, Oet. 8, 1812, and died Aug. 19, 1820. Sam- uel Appleton, born Jan. 5, 1815. Julia A., born Oct. 9, 1816. Samuel, Jr., born April 28, 1819, died Sept. 15, 1820.

The mother of these children died Nov. 7, 1820. For his second wife he married Mrs. Elizabeth How, of Portland.

Samuel A. Ilolbrook married, Sept. 19, 1850, Emma Cushing, daughter of Perez and Lucy Burr, of Freeport. Their children are Fannie Appleton, wife of William L. Lowell, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Julia A. In early manhood, Mr. Holbrook became interested in the local af- fairs of his town and county, and was an active member of the old Whig party. In 1840 he was elected treasurer of the town of Freeport, and served twenty years. In 1849 he was elected representative to the State Legislature, and again in 1861, the Whig party having relinquished their organization, favoring crushing the Rebellion by force of arms, as an independent Union candidate was elected by votes from both parties, and served two terms. In the Legislature he was a member of important committees, and took decided and prominent part in the great questions then agitating the public. He was a member of the State Senate in 1865-66-67, and in the years 1870-72 was again elected a member of the House of Representatives. Subsequently, in 1873, he was elected to the State Senate, and served two years. Mr. Holbrook is well known throughout the State as a prominent Republican, and a gentleman of strict integrity and rare financial ability, en- joying to a remarkable degree the confidence of his neigh- bors and friends and all who have had dealings with him. Whether as a private citizen, a town officer, or as a legis- lator, his characteristic integrity, fidelity to principle, ready perception of future results, and sound judgment, have given him rank among the most influential men in the county and State.

GORHAM.

TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES.

THE town of Gorham embraces an arca of somewhat more than six miles square. It is of an irregular shape, its longest side being on the Presumpscot River, and its - 1 shortest on the line dividing it from Westbrook, where the width is about three miles. The length of the town at its boundary on the Presumpscot River, which divides it from the town of Windham, is about eight miles. The surface of the town is rolling, and somewhat hilly in the northern part, although the hills are nowhere so steep or precipi- tous as to unfit any portion of the soil for cultivation. The soil is chiefly of a clay loam, and in the winding valleys, which spread out between the highlands, is rich and pro- ductive. The prevailing stone is micaceous slate, lying in ledges, and some granite and limestone are found in the northern part. It is considered one of the best agricul- tural towns in this portion of Maine.

The whole castern border of the town is washed by the Presumpscot River, which affords, by its numerous falls, many hydraulic privileges for purposes of manufacture. Stroudwater River traverses the southern part of the town ; and Little River, rising in Buxton, within two miles of the Saco, enters Gorham on its western border, and flowing in a winding channel, affording several mill-sites, and watering fertile intervals, it at length falls into the Presumpscot, on the eastern side of the town. Formerly, the township was covered with a large growth of white pine, and lumbering, including the cutting of large masts, was a lucrative em- ployment ; at a later period many logs were hauled to supply the mills which sprang up on the Presumpscot, and at Saccarappa.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The original grantees of the town of Gorham were a portion of the 840 Massachusetts men, and their heirs, who bore arms in the Narragansett expedition, as it was called, in 1675. To these men the General Court of Mas- sachusetts granted 7 townships,-2 in 1728 and 5 more in 1732,-on the terms then generally imposed, viz., that the grantees should meet within two months, and organize each propriety, which should consist of 120 persons ; that they should settle 60 families in cach town within seven years ; that they should settle a learned orthodox minister, erect a meeting-house, clear a certain number of acres of land, lay out a lot for the settled minister, one for the min- istry, and one for the use of schools. They were also re- quired to meet and choose committees to superintend their general concerns, and to determine the rights of claimants. The first meeting of the grantees was held in Boston, June 6, 1733, when the proprietors formed themselves into 7 distinct societies, of 120 names cach, representing and

claiming each one of the Narragansett townships. Three persons were chosen from each society to make out a list of grantees of the respective societies, to elcet officers, and manage their affairs. At this meeting it was voted that one of the societies should consist chiefly of proprietors belonging to the towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth, Eastham, Sandwich, Plymouth, Tisbury, Abington, Duxbury, and one person from Scituate, Mass. This society, headed by the name of Capt. John Gorham, was assigned Narra- gansett township, No. 7, now the town of Gorham, the name being derived from its chief original grantee.

At that time few of the persons actually engaged in the Narragansett war were living. The committee for the township of Gorham were Col. Shubael Gorham, Timothy Waite, and Robert Stanfort.

A small grant of land (200 acres) had been previously made by Massachusetts, in what is now the town of Gorham, to Joseph Mallison, of Boston, for the purpose of erecting mills at Horsebeef Falls, on the Presumpscot River; which falls, for many years, bore the name of Mallison's Falls. Mallison's tract was laid out by Phineas Jones, surveyor, by order of the General Court; Nathaniel Knight and Samuel Libby carried the chain. Mallison conveyed this tract of 200 acres, March 16, 1733, to Gen. Samuel Waldo, of Boston, for £50 in bills of credit. Neither Mallison nor Waldo erected mills on this grant. A few years later the proprietors of this township granted 400 acres to Gov- ernor Shirley, adjoining Mallison's, near Little Falls, where Factory village is now situated.

The plan of laying out the town of Gorham was as fol- lows: 1st division, 120 lots of 30 acres; 2d division, 100- acre lots; 3d division, 70-acre lots. Each right was to have one lot in all the divisions. The first division of 30-acre lots was laid out as compactly as possible on the proposed roads crossing each other at right angles ; the design being that the settlers might live near each other, for the purpose of mutual aid and defense against the Indians. The external lines of the town were run in 1734; the 30-acre lots were surveyed, numbered, drawn, and confirmed to each right in 1735 ; several roads were also laid out the same year. A few lots had been sold prior to being located and numbered, the oldest deed being that of Thomas Thornton, of Dor- chester, Mass., to Col. Shubael Gorham, of one 120th un- divided part of Narragansett, No. 7, for £5, dated June 12, 1735. The same year, Col. Shubael Gorham purchased several other such undivided parts of the township, of Joseph Akers, of Sandwich, Elisha IIall, of Yarmouth, John Maker, of llarwick, Robert Nickerson, of Chatham, and several others; so that Col. Gorham soon became a large proprietor, and sold many lots to other settlers.

The first actual settler was John Phinney, " a son of one

286

Photo. by Conant, Portland.

ELIAS S. GOFF.

Elias S. Goff was born in the town of Gray, June 26, 1811. He is fifth son in a family of eight children of William and Anna Goff.

His father was a native of Cumberland County, and was descended from a Revolutionary soldier who died on the field of battle at Monmouth, N. J. His father being engaged in agricultural pursuits, Elias Goff's boyhood was spent on the farm and in attending school.

He learned the trade of a wheelwright, and engaged in building mills until 1856, when lie commenced lumbering in the town of Standish. He continued in business there for seven years, and was engaged in the same business for one year in New Hampshire.

He settled in Gorham in 1867, and the same year, in partnership with Hugh M. Plummer (Goff & Plummer), engaged in lumbering and coop- erage, and in general trade. This firm carries on a large business, and employs some forty men.

Mr. Goff has ever been deeply interested in local and State politics, and is a stauneh member of the Republican party. In the fall of 1879 he was elected to the State Legislature, after a closely con- tested canvass, by a majority of only twenty.

He married, June 3, 1841, Abbie B., daughter of Ebenezer and Betsey (Alley) Rowe. She is a native of Mercer, Somerset Co., Me., and was born Oct. 12, 1813. They have an adopted daughter, Annie L. Goff.

257

TOWN OF GORHAM.

of the conquerors of the Narragansetts, a descendant of the Pilgrims, a wanderer from the old colony of Plymouth, who disembarked from his eanoe on Presumpscot River, attended by his eldest son, fourteen years of age, with an axe, gun, and a small quantity of provisions and ammuni- nition, to select a spot for his future home. Proceeding westerly nearly two miles from the river, he chose a sunny, elevated spot on the south side of Fort Hill, and there that son, Edmund Phinney, afterwards distinguished, not only in various town and State offices, but as a colonel of the Revolutionary army, felled the first tree for clearing a farm. This was on a lot adjoining what is now ealled Fort Hill road, formerly King Street, about one mile northerly from the principal village in Gorham. This land is now owned by Mr. Moses Fogg."*

John Phinney was forty-three years old when he began the settlement of Gorham. He was a son of Deaeon John Phinney, of Barnstable, Mass., in which town he was born April 8, 1693 (O. S.). Ile had married Martha Colman, and had five children born in Barnstable, and two in Fal- mouth after their settlement there in 1732; whence they removed to Gorham in 1736. Mary Gorham, Colman, and James, the three younger children. were born in Gorham, the former being the first white child born in the town. Her birth occurred in August, 1736. She married James Irish, father of Gen. James Irish, and left numerous de- scendants. Colman Phinney, the second child born in Gor- ham, was killed by a falling tree, when about ten years of age. James lived in the town till October, 1834, when he died in the ninety-fourth year of his age. He was a highly respected and useful citizen. There seems to be a difference of opinion as to the second settler,-whether it was Daniel Mosier or Ilugh MeLellan,-but the difference is imma- terial, inasmuch as it is agreed that both settled in the town near the same time. Daniel Mosier removed from Fahnouth to the town in 1738, two years after the Phin- neys, who up to this time had been the sole occupants of that part of the wilderness. Hugh MeLellan came from the north of Ireland, and settled on land a quarter of a mile north of Gorham Seminary, or the site of the present State Normal School. The settlers who followed Mr. Me- Lellan, soon after, were William Pote, William Cotton, Ebenezer Hall, Eliphalet Watson, Clement Harvey, Bar- tholomew Thorn, John Irish, John Eayr, Jacob Hamblen, Benjamin Skillings, and others.

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History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 75

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

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