History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 80

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 80


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Green, 1808; Judah Dyer, Allmery Hamblin, 1809; Joseph Web- ster, Allnery Ilumblin, Abrabnm Young, 1810; Joseph Webster, Abraham Young, ISHI ; Jeremiah Pennell, Joseph Wehster, 1812- 13; Jeremiah Pennell, 1814; Jeremiah Pennell, Joseph Webster, 1815-16; Jeremiah Pennell, Moses Ilarris, 1817-18; Geo. Latham, Jr., John Morse, Jeremiah Pennell, 1819; Joseph Cummings, Jr., Jeremiah Pennell, George Latham, Jr .. 1820; Isane Stowell, George Latham, Jr., 1821 ; George Latham, Meshnek Humphrey, IS22; Isaac Stowell, 1823-24; Nathan Hunt, Daniel Ilall, 1825 ; Joseph Perley, 1826; Joseph Perley, Natban Ilunt, 1827; Isanc Stowell, 1828; Joseph Cummings, Nathan Ilunt, 1829; IIenry Pennell, 1830; John F. Sawyer, 1831-32; Henry Pennell, 1833; Francis Webster, Parker S. Libby, 1834; Henry Pennell, 1835; William J. Weston, Albert Webster, 1836; William J. Weston, 1837; Nathaniel S. Lawrence, 1838-40; George Libby, 1841; Daniel Hall, March 7 and March 28, 1812; Daniel Hall, George Libby, 1843; Daniel Hall, Nathaniel S. Lawrence, 1844; Henry Pennell, 1845; James Small, Jr., Henry Pennell, 1846; Elias S. Foster, Nathaniel S. Lawrence (vacaney), Georgo Libby, 1847 ; Nathaniel S. Lawrence, 1848; Ellery II. Starbird, George Libby, 1849; Ellery IT. Starbird, 1850-51 ; Joshna IT Ilall, 1852; Isnac Perley, Joshua Il. Hlali, 1853; Rufus Berry, 1854; Joshoa II. Ilall, 1855; Rufus Berry, 1856; Daniel Berry, 1857-58; Al- bert ITill, 1859; Jeremiah Pennell, 1860-63; Charles C. Hall, 1864-65; Isaac E. Allen, 1866-67 ; Charles C. Hall, 1868-69; Rufus Berry, 1870; Henry Pennell, Charles Hall, 1871; Charles C. Hall, 1872; William Purvis, Charles C. Hall, 1873; Rufus Berry, Henry Pennell, 1874; Charles C. Hall, 1875; Charles C. Hall, Rufus Berry, 1876-79.


CHURCHES.


PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.


The first church established in Gray, in compliance with the terms of the land-grant, was a Presbyterian Church, which was organized in August, 1774. Samuel Nash, the first pastor, was ordained June 21, 1775. and remained pastor until September, 1782. A house of worship was erected, the ten pews of which were sold in 1779, for £193. This building was never finished, and being untenable in winter,-the snow sifting through in huge piles, which was shoveled out at the expense of the town,-meetings were held at Joseph Doughty's house. It was sold to Daniel Haney, in 1790, for £4. The old church, afterwards standing in the street near the town-house, was built in 1789, and torn down in 1832. Rev. Samuel Perley, who beeame pastor in 1784, was discharged on the dissolution of the Salem Presbytery, in 1791, after which the church became scattered. In October, 180)3, a council was called, which, finding but two male members, proceeded to reorganize the church as a Congregationalist body. Rev. Daniel Wes- ton was ordained pastor. In 1809 many of the members joined an organization in New Gloucester, styling then- selves Anti-Pedobaptists, and also the Universalist organ- ization in that town. Attempts were also made to evade church support, and conform to the existing law. Rev. Samuel Peckham succeeded Mr. Weston in 1825, and was discharged in 1830. During his pastorate the present church was erected, and dedicated in 1828.


The subsequent pastors were Rev. Thomas Riggs, 1831 to 1833; Rev. Calvin White, 1833-37; Rev. Nathan W. Sheldon, 1839-43; Rev. Allen Lineoln, 1845-59; Rev. James P. Richardson, 1859-62; Rev. Ebenezer Bean, 1862-74; Rev. Edward P. Eastman, 1875-76; Rev. Herbert R. Howe, 1877; Rev. E. Bean, 1878-79.


Deacons .- John Humphrey, 1803-33; Jeremiah Twitch-


301


TOWN OF GRAY.


ell, 1836; Reuben Morse, 1842; Moses Humphrey, 1825 -44; Robert Merrill, 1844; Benjamin B. Sweetser, 1832; Luther Pennell, 1847-69; Charles H. Starrett, 1856; Charles Libby, 1863; John Merrill, 1865-79.


Church Clerks .- Daniel Weston, Samuel Peckham, Wil- liam P. Doughty, Allen Lincoln, William P. Doughty, E. Bean, D. B. Cummings. The society have a good church and parsonage, free from debt.


BAPTIST CHURCH.


The first mention of the Baptist Church is in the town record, where it is certified that " Mar. 18, 1782, Jacob Twitchell joined the Baptist Church, and was ' dipt ;' wit- nesses on hand, Daniel Hubbard and James McCullison." The first preacher was William Merrill, who remained until 1810, holding meetings at his house, now the residence of Hezekiah Whitney, two miles east of the village, on Coll- yer's Branch road. It is related of him that his meetings were well attended by the boys during the apple-season, the orchard surrounding his house being one of the first in Gray. On one occasion he preached from the word " Watch !" and on the repetition of his text, his wife, re- minded of temporal cares, would hasten to the window in obedience to the injunetion. The following-named persons were incorporated as a Baptist Society in June, 1790: Moses, Asa, Joel, and Benjamin Libby ; Thomas and James Frank; James, John, and Oliver Humphrey ; William and John Dolly, John and David Nash, Isaac Lane, Joseph Weeks, Hosea and Levi Morse, David Jordan, Samuel Howell, Nathaniel Russell, and Timothy Fogg. Other persons were members of the church in New Gloucester.


A house of worship was erected by the Universalists, at Gray, in 1829, by Daniel Hall, Eliab Lotham, and Benja- min Smith, committee, at a cost of $1500. In 1855 the Baptist Society bought a half-interest, and obtained com- plete title in 1861.


Deacons .- Thomas White, 1782; Nathaniel Ford, 1803; Jonas Humphrey, 1839 to 1879.


Clerks .- Joseph Allen, 1782; George Latham, 1803; Jonas Humphrey, 1824-39; William Goff, 1829; Moses Foster, 1853 ; Thomas Gilpatrick, 1857 to 1879.


Pastors .- Nathan Merrill, 1782-1807 ; Ephraim Stinch- field, 1803-10 ; Nathan Morse, 1807-10; Samuel Colley, ordained Sept. 8, 1803; John Purkis, ordained 1829; John M. Duran, installed 1836; George Whitney, 1840 ; O. A. Redlon, 1845; David Newell, 1850; Moses Foster, to 1853; Charles Bean, 1855; William T. Smith, 1857 ; Dexter Waterman, 1861 ; Moores Cole, 1863 ; M. Rieker, Edwin A. Kish, 1864; J. M. Purkis, 1865; C. Bean, 1868; Joseph Foss, 1869; F. Reed, 1874; William T. Smith, 1876-79.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL CIIURCII.


In 1793, David Hunt, innkeeper, of Gray, received a letter from Rev. Jesse Lee, of Virginia, the first Methodist preacher in Maine, appointing a time when he would be at his house to take dinner and hold a meeting. In response to this appointment a large number of people gathered in front of the Congregationalist meeting-house at Gray Cor- ner, where the preacher of the place met them, and refused


to let them to go into the house. The meeting was held in a barn near by. Rev. Philip Wager, who was appointed at Lyun, Mass., for the province of Maine, in August, 1793, preached next, and formed a class during the year. In 1807, Gideon Ramsdell, James Colley, William Barnell, Zachariah Fletcher, Stephen Pennell, Amos Cuminings, Moses Hunt, Reuben Hill, Josiah Clark, John Starbird, Ephraim Staple, Joseph Weeks, and David Small were recorded on the town books as Methodists by James Colley and William Bennett, committee of that church.


The church was incorporated June 10, 1808. Gray became a part of the Readfield circuit on its organization, and Rev. Stephen Hull preached there once in two weeks. Gray and Windham were made a cireuit in 1844. In 1796, Jesse Stoneman preached here, and was succeeded by Revs. Nicholas Snethen, Robert Yell, Timothy Merritt, Josiah Taylor, John Finnegan, Martin Rutter, in 1811- 12; S. L. Bishop, 1820; C. Fogg, 1821-22; P. Ayers, 1823; James Jaques, 1824-25; J. Briggs, 1826; S. Frank, 1827; J. Hutchins, in 1828; Revs. Owen Bent and John IIntchins, 1829 ; Abel Alton and Francis Mas- seure, 1830; Caleb Fogg, 1831; Daniel Clark, 1832; Benjamin Burnham, 1833; C. C. Cone, 1834 ; John Rice, 1835; Paul C. Richmond, 1836-37; Asa Heath, 1838; John W. Dunn, 1839; Asahel Moore and Wm. Campbell, 1840; Daniel Waterhouse and Simcon C. Chase, 1841; Joseph Milliken and E. A. Stockman, 1842; James Rice and James Thurston, 1843; James Rice, 1844; Henry Crawford, 1845; A. Turner, G. C. Crawford, Phineas Libby, 1846; Charles Mason, Caleb Mugford, 1848; I. Harrington, 1849; Benjamin Lufkin, 1850-51; S. W. Pierce, 1852; S. H. Tobie, 1853; J. Stone, 1854-56; James S. Rice, 1857 ; II. B. Mitchell, 1858; A. C. Traf- ton, 1859; S. P. Blake, 1861; S. S. Cray, 1862; J. W. Sawyer, 1863-64 ; S. V. Gray, 1866-67 ; J. H. Pillsbury, 1868; Alpheus B. Lovewell, 1869; Hezekiah Chase, 1870-72; J. II. Trask, 1873-74; J. B. Cole, 1875; J. H. Pillsbury, 1876-77; E. G. Gerry, 1878; G. W. Bar- ber, 1879.


A building was erected in West Gray in 1840, and a second erected in the east part of the town by a branch styling themselves Protestants. This was moved to Gray village, rebuilt, and dedicated by Rev. Joseph Colby, P.E., in July, 1869.


Membership, 1869, 45. Class-leaders, E. M. Hames, Gray ; Emmery Allen, West Gray; George A. Morrill, Dry Mills; S. P. Sargent, Douglass Mills. Recording Steward, E. M. Ilames. Trustees, E. Allen, Marshal Morse, Hiram Skillings, Daniel Doughty, E. M. Ilames, J. D. Anderson, Henry Pennell.


SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES.


In 1780, £350 were voted for the support of schools, the town was divided into two districts, and in 1785 Israel HI. Buker was engaged to teach school a year, "at any place in town," for £45. He was also elected collector, that he might collect his own pay. A school-house was erected in the easterly district in 1793, by the inhabitants. The next year it was paid for by the town, and William Grela and Daniel Ilaley were made a committee to build


302


HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.


three others in the southern, northern, and Dutton Hill neighborhoods. A fifth was erected in 1797, Long Hill in 1799, and the seventh in 1801. Four lots of school land were sold in 1814 for $1171.25, to establish a school fund, the interest on which was $71.25 in 1878. Appro- priations have been : in 1788, C10; 1791, £30; 1793, £40; 1799, £200; 1820, $100; 1840, $600; 1850,8700; 1864, 81100; 1867-72, $2000; 1879, $1400. The town comprised 12 districts in 1878, with ten good school-houses and $6000 worth of school property. Of the 615 children, 460 attended school. School supervision cost the town $40. Supervisor for 1879, Susie C. Frank.


PENNELL INSTITUTE,


a fine brick edifice and grounds in the village of Gray, commenced in 1876 and completed in 1879, was donated to the town of Gray by its founder, Major Henry Pennell, grandson of Joseph Pennell, Esq., one of the early settlers of the town. The building complete, with clock and bell, cost $20,000; library, $3000; and laboratory, $2000. It is endowed with a fuud of $25,000, to be held intact for its perpetual support.


ASSOCIATIONS.


INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS.


Siloam Lodge, No. 45, organized April 4, 1877, with Warren H. Vincent, N. G. ; Benjamin F. Skillings, V. G. ; William S. Douglass, Treas. ; Albert Pennell, See. 1879, membership, 85; net assets $3000, including finely fur- nished rooms in Odd-Fellows' building, Gray village. Offi- cers, W. H. Vincent, N. G .; J. II. Newman, V. G .; Thomas Hancock, Treas. ; Augustus Pennell, Sec.


PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.


Gray Grange, No. 11, organized Oct. 3, 1874, with 28 members ; S. L. Adams, Mas. ; Kate Adams, See. ; Deacon John Merrill, Lee .; Hezekiah Whitney, Ov .; David Law- renee, Treas. ; Mrs. Martha Merrill, Ceres. Officers, 1879, II. Whitney, Mas .; Albert Pennell, See .; S. L. Adams, Lee. ; Andrew Allen, Ov .; George F. Cobb, Treas. ; Mrs. Hezekiah Whitney, Ceres.


DRY MILLS TEMPERANCE REFORM CLUB,


organized Aug. 7, 1874, with Wm. M. Dow, Pres .; Charles J. McDonald, Vice-Pres. ; George A. Morrill, Sec. ; Thomas Quinn, Treas. Officers, 1879, George A. Morrill, Pres. ; Benj. J. Simmons, Vice-Pres .; Lorenzo E. Dow, See. ; Freland M. Small, Treas. There are 273 names upon the club pledge-book.


PROMINENT MEN.


Among the men of the present are G. A. Morrill, E. H. Starbird, Henry Pennell, Charles E. Libby, W. Il. Vinton, Charles H. Doughty, Jr., Thomas Hancock, Jacob Clark, D. B. Cummings, Vincent Frank, and Cephas, grandsou of Rev. Samuel Perley, the first preacher.


THE LAWYERS


have been Simeon Greenleaf, 1807; Joseph Waterman, James B. Cleveland, 1831 ; James O'Donnell, 1849 ; J. D.


Anderson, since 1874, and W. HI. Vinton, who was a mem- ber of the State Senate in 1853-54, 1861-62, 1877-78, member of the State Legislature in 1857 and 1873, and president of the State Senate in 1878. Ile is a man of superior business attainments and remarkable memory.


PHYSICIANS.


Rev. Dr. Samuel Perley, 1774; Dr. Briggs, 1796 ; Peter Whitney, 1803; C. II. P. MeLellan, 1795, 1825-28 ; Charles Hutelins, Nicholas H. Allen, 1841 ; J. D. Sturges, Win. W. Green, 1863-72; Charles L. Holt, 1872-74 ; F. A. Morgan, dentist, 1869-79; Abram W. Anderson, 1876 ; Egbert F. Andrews, 1874-79; J. F. Newman, 1879.


MILITARY.


SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.


Nathan Noble, killed in battle Oct. 7, 1777.


Moses Twitchell, died in Canada, Nov. 9, 1775, after one month's service.


Moses Twitchell, Jr.


Sergeant Asa Libby, enlisted April 24, 1780, for eight months, for £11 per month, payable in corn, etc.


Isaae Foster, enlisted April 24, 1780, for eight months, for £10 per month.


Jonathan Hayden, enlisted April 24, 1780, for eight months, for £10 per month.


Amaziah Delano, died in Gray, 1850, aged ninety-two. Joseph Allen, died in Gray, 1849, aged ninety-one.


James Welch, died in Gray, 1845, aged eighty-one.


William Libby.


Samuel Stowell, enlisted at Cape Ann, Mass.


James Doughty, served under Gen. Greene, and was in North Carolina.


Jonas Humphreys, served under Arnold; re-enlisted; was killed at the battle of White Plains.


Sergeant Samuel Thompson.


Jonas Humphrey, served under Gen. Arnold ; re-enlisted, and was killed at the battle of White Plains.


Sixty pound fines paid by drafted men to Capt. Stevens, April 24, 1780 : Isaac Nason, Nathan Merrill, John Bar- ber, James Russell, Elisha Cummings, William Greely, Isaae Small, George Doughty, Daniel Cummings, Richard Hayden, John Wilson, Nicholas Low, Thomas White, Jer- emiah Hobbs, Jolin Humphrey, Nathan Morse, Clement Hayden.


Clothing left on hand at the end of the war was applied on poor, and used to pay town officers' salaries in part.


1807 .- Daniel Libby, Jr., Captain ; Calviu Jordan, Ser- geant; David Orne, Clerk.


1824 .- Militia, twenty cents a day voted for rations ; quarter pound powder.


1840 .- Company B, 4th Regiment, Ist Brigade, 5th Di- vision, boundaries defined.


Among the early military men of the town were Maj. Jabez Mathews, 1778; Lieut. Wm. Webster, 1779 ; Capt. James Stevens, 1780; Lieut. Divid Small, Maj. Jedediah Cobb, Lieut. Robert York, 1786; Capts. Daniel Haney, Joseph MeLellen, 1790; Capt. James Doughty, 1818; Col. Mesheek Humphrey.


303


TOWN OF HARPSWELL.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.


REV. JOIIN RICE.


His father, George Rice, born in Scarborough, Sept. 21, 1780, married Hannah, daughter of Moses and Rebecea (Crockett) Hanscom, of Gorham, Me. She was born Sept. 9, 1788, and died Oct. 20, 1826. He died Sept. 13, 1858. His grandfather, Lemuel Rice, was also born in Sear- borough, May 2, 1756, and died Jan. 16, 1827. John, born July 1, 1810, removed with his parents to Durham when two years old. Ile was educated in the common school, and in the New Gloucester Academy, under the instruetion of Rev. Jabez Woodman, and for three terms was a teacher during the winter months. In August, 1833, he commenced study for the ministry, and in 1837 was ordained an elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Upon the close of his teaching, at the age of twenty-two, he became a traveling preacher, and in 1834 was admitted a member of the Maine Annual Conference. His minis- terial labors were continuous from 1833 to 1874, and he remains a member of the Conference as a superannuated minister, being obliged to retire from constant labor on account of ill health. Both as a devoted Christian worker and an exponnder of the Scripture, his influence has been felt in the various churches over which he has been called to preside, and large numbers have been added to the church annually under his teachings. He married, July 24, 1836,


Mary T., danghter of Nathan and Mary ( Haskell ) Hunt, of Falmouth, and granddaughter of David Hunt, born in Quincy, Mass., July IS, 1745, who was one of the early


LITTLE


Photo. by Conant.


REV. JOHN RICE.


settlers of Gray, and for many years a representative man of that town. Their children are llenry F., John II. (deceased), John O., and Charles C. C.


HARPSWELL.


GENERAL DESCRIPTION.


THIS town is the most eastern civil and geographical division of Cumberland County. It consists of a peninsula called Harpswell, or Merriconeag Neck, which extends southward from Brunswick into Casco Bay, and of the following islands : Sebascondegan, or Great Island, Orr's, Bailey's, and Haskell's Islands, with Whaleboat Island, Birch Island, and several smaller ones. The area of the Neck is 4570 acres, and that of Great Island, 5790 acres, according to the measurement made in 1731, by Phinehas Jones, a surveyor .* The whole town probably contains about 12,000 acres.


Ilarpswell can hardly be considered an agricultural town, though portions of it are very productive. Some excellent farms are to be found upon the Neck, and upon some of the larger islands. The soil of the Neck is largely granitic rather than a gravelly loam, with small traets of clay loam. On Great Island the soil varies from


a hard, tenacious elay to a sandy loam, while in some lo- calities are found a fine sand, and in others slaty and granitic soils. Most of the farms are equal to those on the Neck, being excellent meadow and grazing land, while the higher parts are suitable for corn and wheat. Orchards do not flourish well.


EARLY SETTLEMENT.


A portion of Harpswell was included in the grant to Thomas Purchase made by the Council of Plymouth, June 16, 1632. In the conveyance of jurisdiction to Governor Winthrop in 1639, the grant is defined as "all that tract of land at Pejepscot, aforesaid, upon both sides of the River Androscoggin, being four miles square towards the sea," meaning undoubtedly towards Casco Bay. Up to this time Thomas Purchase was probably the only settler in this region of country.


In 1672, Nicholas Cole and John Purrington bought of Sagettawon and Robin Hood, Indian sagamores, " all the Land Lying & Being between the Two Carrying Places


* MeKeen, in Itarpswell Banner, October, 1832.


304


IIISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.


Upon Merriconeag Neck Beginning at the head of the Westermost Branch of Wiggen Cove, so directly over to Wester Bay to the Bight, and so up along the neck from side to Side untill they come to the Uppermost Carrying place at the head of the Wester Bay at the Meadow which George Phipping has formerly mowed, so over to the head of the crick that Comes in from the Easter Bay ;" also " 'That whole Tract of Meadow which they have formerly possessed Upon the Great Island lying and being at the head of the Cove against the Little Cove on Great Jebege Island." The deed was witnessed by Thomas Stevens and his wife, Margaret .* It is probable that Purrington him- self did not occupy this land. If he did, he afterwards moved to Arundel.+


Nicholas Shapleigh, of Kittery, had, about the year 1659, though the exact date is unknown, purchased and caused to be settled Merrieoneag ( Harpswell) Neck and the island of Sebascodegan. The purchase was made of the Indians and the price paid for the deed was " a considerable sum of wampumpeag, several guns, and a parcel of tobacco."} There is no special reason for supposing, however, that Shapleigh actually settled there himself.


This land of Purchase and Way, and of Nicholas Shap- leigh, all came into the hands of Richard Wharton, a Boston merchant. July 4, 1683, John Shapleigh, the heir of Nicholas, sold to Richard Wharton "all that tract or neck of land called Merryeoneg in Casco Bay, Province of Maine, and is bounded at head, or upper end, with the plains of Pejepscot or lands late belonging to or claimed by Mr. Purchase, and on all other sides or parts is incompassed and bounded with and by the salt water; and also all that the aforesaid island called Sebaseo, alias Sequaseo-diggin."§


Oct. 10, 1683, Eleazer Way, of Hartford, son and heir of George Way, the partner of Thomas Purchase, sold to Richard Wharton, for £100, " one moiety or half part, or whatever share or proportion, be the same more or less, he, the sd Eliazer Way, now hath, may, might, should, or in anywise ought to have or elaim, of, in, or to a certain tract or parcel of land commonly called and known by name of Pejepseot, situate, lying, and being within the Province of Maine in New England aforesaid," together with one-half of all lands, uplands, meadows, etc., belonging to the same, " which said traet of land and premises for the space of forty years, or thereabouts, before the late war with the Indians, was in the actual possession and improvement of Mr. Thomas Purchase, and was actually given by patent from the Council of Plymouth, within said Kingdom of England, to the said George Way, and Thomas Purchase, deceased."||


Oct. 25, 1683, John Blaney, of Lynn, and Elizabeth, his wife, the former widow of Thomas Purchase, of Pejep- scot, deceased, and the administratrix of his estate, testified " that said Eliazer Way had soll his [ Purchase's] moity to sd Wharton in sd Patent by the consent of the children of sd Purchase for their support and settlement for £150," reserving seven lots which were secured to the children by articles in the deed. The portion sold was " All that


mooiety, half deal, and remaining share, whatsoever the same is or may be, of the said lands late belonging to the sd Thomas Purchase by virtue of the said patent or any other right in partnership with the said George or Eliazer Way, and all the right and title, propriety and interest which the said Thomas Purchase died seized of, or that he might, should, or ought to have had in the sail Province of Maine." The children of Purchase signifi I their consent to the sale on the deed itself."


It will be seen from the above extraets that at this time Wharton owned the whole of what is now the town of Harpswell,-except a few islands,-the greater portion of Brunswick, and a tract on the river in what is now the town of Topsham.


On the 7th of February, 1682, the General Court of Massachusetts "granted Merriconcag Neck, with 1000 acres of land adjacent, to the President and Fellows of Harvard College." ** Under this grant, Nicholas Cole, in 1691, set up a claim to the possession of the Neek, he having settled here previous to that time, and purchased the land of the Indians. The college at one time became anxious to secure the grant which had been made in 1682, and applied to the Legislature for its confirmation, but the decision was in favor of the Pejepseot purchasers, into whose possession the property had come.


Sebascondegan (Great Island), included in llarpswell, was granted to Governor Thomas Danforth, President of the Province of Maine, and to Sumner Nowell, Esq., by the General Court of Massachusetts, May 7, 1684, " for their great pains and good service done by order of this Court in the expedition in several journeys to Casco, for which no recompense hath been made them."tt


In 1658, Thomas Haynes settled at Maquoit, where he retained land as late as 1678. ITis wife's name was Joyce. Richard Potts was settled as early as 1672, and probably a year or two earlier, on what was known as New Demariscove Island. In 1673 he owned and lived upon the point which still bears his name, at the extremity of Harpswell Neck.


The following individuals are known to have been settled about this time, certainly prior to 1700, within the limits of what was afterwards called the Pejepscot purchase : at Middle Bay, John Cleaves; on White's Island, Nicholas White; at Mair Point, James Carter, Thomas Ilaynes, Andrew and George Phippeny ; at Maquoit Bay, John Swaine, Thomas Kimball, of Charleston, who settled on Hoeg Island in 1658, John Sears, Thomas Wharton, Sam- nel Libby, who subsequently resided in Scarborough, Ilenry Webb, Edward Creet (or Creek), and Robert Jordan ; on Smoking Fish Point, Christopher Lawson, an Antinomian ; at or near New Meadows, in 1675, was Alister Coombs.


The island of Sebascodegan was settled as early as 1639 by Francis Small and his wife, Elizabeth, whose child was the first born on the island, of English parents. Ile was from Kittery, and was a tenant under Col. Shapleigh. The latter also owned Merriconcag Neck. The Neck at this time had a number of settlers upon it, who were all driven off by the Indians at the commencement of King Philip's war in


& Pejepsent l'apers. + thid. # Pejepscot Records. 1 Ibid.


¿ Pejepscot Papers, Statement of Title.


Ibid.


$1 Altested copy of Court Record, in l'ejepscot papers. tt Ibid.


305


TOWN OF HARPSWELL.


1675. In 1683, Shapleigh, finding his property alnost worthless on account of the Indian troubles, sold the Neck and island to Richard Wharton, of Boston.




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