USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Gorham > History of Gorham, Me. > Part 69
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(2) John Parker, son of Nathaniel, lived, probably, with his father on the homestead. He enlisted in Hart Williams' company in 1775, and served till discharged Aug. 8, 1776. He was also under Capt. McLellan in the Bagaduce expedition in 1779. He married Eliza- beth Warren. Children :
Nathaniel, m. Ruth Stetson ; 2d, Abigail Stetson ; 3d, Mrs. Abigail Wright ; I'd in Durham ; d. in 1875, aged 95.
Joseph, m: Sarah Newcomb of Buxton, June 22, 1800 ; I'd and d. in Cumberland. Amos m. Charlotte Wormell of Durham ; I'd in Guilford.
Elizabeth, m. Wm. Larrabee of Durham, Nov. 8, 1807.
William, m. Priscilla Wormell, p. Nov. 8, 1816; I'd in Guilford.
John Parker was lost at sea about 1787. His widow and family moved about 1802 to Durham, where she died in 1858, aged 112 years and 9 months.
Eleazer H. Parker, of Standish, and Betsey Rand, of Gorham, were married Nov. 20, 1794. Mrs. Parker was the daughter of Jeremiah and Lydia (Blake) Rand. Mr. Parker and his daughter Esther died in Standish about 1813-14, from the effects of the bite of a wild cat, which broke into the house during the night and made a savage attack upon the family. Mrs. Parker died in Gorham, April 4, 1858, aged 83.
Lydia Parker, daughter of Eleazer, born in 1797, married Josiah Moses of Standish (pub. June 6, 1822). After the death of her husband she came to Gorham to live with her son Marshall H. Moses, and died at his house at Great Falls, June 30, 1879.
Emily Parker, daughter of Eleazer, born about 1810, married (pub. Nov. 4, 1838) Silas Flood, son of Morris Flood, and lived for thirty- six years at White Rock. After the death of her husband she moved to Great Falls, where she made her home with her brother Joseph where she died June 23, 1882.
Susan Parker, daughter of Eleazer, married, Dec. 11, 1825, Eben- ezer Hicks of Gorham, and her sister Esther married, Nov. 27, 1800, Isaac Higgins, son of Capt. Joseph Higgins of Gorham.
Isaac Parker, son of Eleazer, born in 1800, came to Gorham about 1830, accompanied by his brother Joseph W. He lived at White Rock, where Daniel Plummer now lives. From this place he moved to West Gorham, on to the Capt. John Stephenson place, then
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returned to White Rock, and lived near the church. He married, in 1823, Ann, daughter of Morris and Lydia Flood. Children :
Jane, b. Nov. 26, 1824, m. Wm. H. Johnson, 1844.
Higgins, b. Jan. 3, 1826, m. Mary Proctor of Westbrook.
Sarah A., b. Mar. 16, 1828, m. Henry Gallison of Windham, 1845.
Morris, b. July 15, 1830, m. Caroline Allen of Falmouth.
Emily, b. Jan. 9, 1833, m. Grenville McDonald.
Eliza C., b. Feb. 8, 1835, m. Wm. H. Johnson (2d wife) ; 2d, Rev. Jotham Johnson.
Harriet, b. Aug. 8, 1838, m. Rodman Allen.
Ardella, b. Feb. 8, 1842, m. George C. Davis of Windham Hill.
Isaac Parker died Sept. 24, 1879, aged 79. His wife Ann died April 29, 1893, aged 89.
Jeremiah Parker, son of Eleazer, born in 1807, came from Standish to Gorham in 1821. He lived for a time at White Rock, with Robert M. Files, but finally made his home at Great Falls, where he was in trade for some years. He was one of the board of selectmen in 1876, '77 and '78, and representative to the Legislature for two years. He married, in 1836, Sally, daughter of James and Susanna Nason. Children :
Irving, b. Apr. 20, 1837, m. Hannah Nutting of Otisfield.
Mary A., b. Oct. 30, 1839, m. Elias Howard of Harrison.
Winfield S., b. Nov. 25, 1841, d. young.
Susan A., b. Apr. 5, 1843.
Jane, b. May 31, 1846, m. Chas. A. Whipple.
Albion, b. Sept. 19, 1848, d. young.
Mrs. Sally Parker died March 19, 1850, aged 32, and Mr. Parker married, in 1851, Ellen A. Plummer of Raymond. Children :
Emma A., b. Dec. 22, 1851, m. Wm. Merrill; I'd and died at Great Falls.
Neal Dow, b. Dec. 29, 1852, d. May 11, 1861.
Daniel P., b. Oct. 1, 1854, m. Sarah Foster of Casco.
Jeremiah, b. Jan. 5, 1857, m. Lizzie Towle of Saccarappa.
Nellie M., b. -, 1861, d. June 4, 1879.
Almon, b. m. Martha Jordan ; 2d, -- in Raymond ; d. Mar., 1898.
Lydia, b. , m. Leslie Higgins.
Elizabeth, b. -, m. Warren Churchill of Raymond.
Nina, b. , m. Chas. Swett of Standish.
Pitt F., b.
Jeremiah Parker died Nov. 14, 1890.
Joseph W. Parker, son of Eleazer, born in 1813, came to Gorham with his brother Isaac. He was one of the prominent and influential men of the town. He was selectman in 1842 and 1843 ; also in 1864 and 1865. He represented the town in the Legislature in 1863 and 1864. He lived at Great Falls, where he was in trade for several years. In 1846 Mr. Parker married Mary P. Lombard of Standish. Children :
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
W. Scott, b. Jan. 19, 1847, m. Maria Cook of Windham, who died Dec. 16, 1882. Clara, b. Oct. 11, 1848, m. Carlyle W. Shaw.
Adeline H., b. May 28, 1850, m. Horace M. Crockett ; d. in 1889.
Kate, b. June 10, 1852.
Emily, b. Jan. 5, 1854, d. young.
Emily L., b. June 26, 1855.
Lizzie, b. Jan. 27, 1859, d. young.
Horace G., b. Sept. 1, 1860, m. Mary Elwell of Westbrook.
Wendall P., b. Feb. 7, 1863, m. Frances Swazey of Bucksport, Dec. 25, 1897.
Albert J., b. Apr. 29, 1864. d. young.
Mary Perkins, b. Aug. 2, 1870, m. Daniel Fogg of Gorham.
Mrs. Mary Parker died June 23, 1891, aged 65. Mr. Parker died Sept. 18, 1901.
John M. Parker, son of Moses and Mary Parker of Standish, lived in that part of Scarboro which is now Gorham, and is still known as Parker's Corner, where he kept a store. He married, June 3, 1825, Louisa, daughter of Thomas Worcester of Gorham. Children :
George W., b. Mar. 22, 1826, m. Sarah C. Harmon, Nov. 29, 1849; has been High Sheriff, City Marshall and Supt. of the Reform School.
Mary A., b. Oct. 28, 1827, m. Benjamin Libby ; d. in Portland.
Harriet S., b. Oct. 25, 1829, m. Robert Mclaughlin.
Elizabeth B., b. Aug. 26, 1831, m. Granville McKenney; d. in Scarboro.
Gardner M., b. Sept. 26, 1833, m. Sarah Meserve, Jan. 1, 1860.
Charles L., b. Aug. 12, 1836, d. Mar. 14, 1851.
Martha L., b. July 21, 1838, m. Robert Harmon.
Mahlon H., b. Feb. 12, 1841, killed at Port Hudson, La., May 31, 1863.
John M., b. Mar. 4, 1843, m. Susan Stiles.
Almira E. W., b. June 24, 1845, m. Merrill Higgins of White Rock.
John M. Parker died in Gorham, July 31, 1873, aged 74, and his wife Louisa, April 17, 1885, aged 80.
PATCH.
Nehemiah Patch was born in Plymouth, Mass., Aug. 22, 1767. Dec. 19, 1797, he bought of Daniel Mann forty acres of land in Gorham above Fort Hill, being the thirty acre lot, 59, and ten acres of lot, 34, which adjoins 59 on the west. This land Mann bought of Josiah Morse of Gorham, Dec. 30, 1794. Mr. Patch moved to Fort Hill soon after his purchase, and lived in the house since known as the Motley house. He was a meat packer, and also engaged in the coopering business. He also opened a store on the corner on the south side of the road leading from Fort Hill to West Gorham. Here he carried on a brisk and thriving trade for some years. No trace of the store building now remains. He married Peggy Wyman, a native of Small Point, Me. Both he and his wife were prominent members of the Free Baptist church on Fort Hill. Their children were :
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GENEALOGY.
David, b. in Brunswick, July 19, 1796, m. Sally Harding of Portland; d. in Minot, Nov. 12, 1869.
Sally, b. in Gorham, Sept. 2, 1799, m. Ira Tibbetts ; d. in Portland, Oct. 4, 1885. John, b. in Gorham, Aug. 14, 1805, d. Sept. 4, 1825.
Tracy, b. in Gorham, Dec. 22, 1809, d. Sept. 4, 1813.
Eliza Ann, b, in Portland, June 8, 1814, d. unm. in Portland, June 30, 1880.
Mr. and Mrs. Patch moved to Portland about 1812, where they died, he, May 30, 1846, and she, Aug. 19, 1852. Mr. John Patch, who moved to Gorham about 1894, and lives on the old Reuben Bangs place, is the son of David and grandson of Nehemiah and Margaret Patch.
PATRICK.
Charles Patrick was born at Stroudwater of English descent; and when a young man lived at what is now called Stroudwater village. He was the son of William and Mary ( Hawkes) Patrick. His father removed from Boston to Stroudwater (Falmouth ), bringing his family and goods in an open sail boat. It is said that the passage was made in one day. Charles Patrick came to Gorham in 1776. He was a mason by trade, and was for many years the principal one in town. He built, about 1782, the chimney in the house lately owned by Col. Hugh D. Mclellan ; and plastered the first room that was plastered in Gorham : this was in the house built by Dea. James McLellan, which stood on South St., about one-half mile from the Corner. Mr. Patrick lived on the Charles Robie farm, where Marshall Sturgis now lives. He dressed at that time in the prevailing fashion, and at this day would appear unique. He wore a three-cornered cocked hat with a button, a light blue, single-breasted, broadcloth coat having a stand- ing collar, large brass buttons about two inches in diameter, broad skirts, and muslin ruffles around the wrists, a red vest, a ruffled shirt, buff breeches or small clothes, white stockings, shoes, and silver shoe and knee buckles. His wife was Mehitable Fickett. Children, the four oldest born in Stroudwater :
Benjamin, b. -- , m. Polly McIntosh, Mar. 27, 1796; d. Apr. 28, 1822.
Peggy, b. -- , m. James McIntosh, Mar. 13, 1798.
Polly, b. - , m. Moses Dyer, p. Nov. 20, 1797.
Catherine, b. 1773, m. --- Dyer of Stroudwater; d. in that town.
David, b. Sept. 1, 1776, m. Betsey Jordan, Nov. 20, 1803.
Charles, b. Jan. 8, 1779, m. Susan Grant.
James, b. Aug. 19, 1780, m. Patty Tibbetts of Buxton, p. Apr. 7, 1810.
Thomas, b. Nov. 15, 1782, m. Mary Fickett of Cape Elizabeth, p. Aug. 15, 1818.
Eleanor, b. Dec. 31, 1784, m. Samuel Libby of Scarboro, Apr. 14, 1810.
Stephen, b. Feb. 15, 1787, m. Esther Harmon of Buxton, Jan. 2, 1814; was a soldier in the War of 1812 ; d. in Portland.
Nancy, b. Dec. 29, 1789, d. July 4, 1801.
Christiana, b .--- , m. James Bragdon of Scarboro, Jan. 23, 1813.
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Mrs. Mehitable Patrick died March 26, 1809 or 1810, aged 62, and Mr. Patrick married, Jan. 19, 1811, Mrs. Betsey Adams, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Frost, and widow of Benjamin Adams. Charles Patrick died March 15, 1830, aged 85. His wife Betsey died March 2, 1841, aged 90.
(2) David Patrick, son of Charles, lived on Flaggy Meadow road, in a house, since burned, which stood opposite to that of the late Samuel Cressey. He married Betsey, daughter of Clement and Sarah Jordan. Children :
Stephen A., b. Feb. 7, 1804, m. Mrs. Eliza Harding, Mar. 28, 1827; 2d, Martha Watts ; I'd in Buxton.
Clement, b. July 5, 1808, m. Eliza A. Harding of Baldwin, in 1834; went to N. Y. Charles, b. Feb. 28, 1811, m. Lucy Paine, the adopted dau. of Dea. and Mrs. Paine, and niece of Mrs. Paine. Ch : Lucy P., b. Sept. 8, 1839, m. Geo. Way, d. Jan. 16, 1891 ; Samuel P., b. Apr. 23, 1841, m. Ellen Delno of Biddeford; David, b. May 18, 1843, m. Abbie Skillings, dau. of Thos. of Stroudwater; Chas. H., b. Oct. 10, 1845, d. young; Henry C., b. Sept. 29, 1846; Edward, b. Feb. 23, 1849, m. Kate Miller of Worcester; Sarah F., b. Apr. 19, 1851 ; Franklin, b. Oct. 1, 1853, d. young ; Ellen C., b. Sept. 20, 1854, m. Peter Fogg; Frank, b. Sept. 19, 1857, m. Effie French. Charles Patrick d. Aug. 27, 1887 ; his wife d. Jan. 22, 1891, aged 75.
David, b. May 26, 1818, m. - -; 2d, Olive Patrick.
Elizabeth, b. July 3, 1827, m. Albert Cressey, June 4, 1854.
David Patrick died Sept. 4, 1838, and his wife, Jan. 15, 1850, aged 67.
(2) Charles Patrick, son of Charles, married Susan Grant. Chil- dren :
Mary A. H., b. May 22, 1816, m. Capt. Drinkwater.
Olive H., b. June 26, 1818, m. David Patrick ; d. in Gorham.
Sarah A., b. Feb. 25, 1820, d. Oct. 26, 1838.
John, b. Mar. 3, 1822, moved to Jackson.
Elizabeth R., b. Dec. 9, 1823.
James G., b. May 5, 1825.
Maria A., b. Feb. 25, 1827.
William P., b.
Emma M., b. Feb. 23, 1831, m. - Parker ; I's in Reed's Ferry, N. H.
Hannah P., b. Mar. 26, 1833.
Charles H. H., b Nov. 5, 1836.
Laura Ann, b. Nov. 18, 1838.
Webster, b.
Henry Clay, b.
Nancie F., b.
Charles Patrick lived on the farm once owned by his father. He sold this place in 1839 to Toppan Robie, and moved to Jackson. He was burned to death by a fire which consumed his dwelling house.
(2) Thomas Patrick, son of Charles, married Mary Fickett of Cape Elizabeth. Their children were :
Lucy Ann, b. July 31, 1819, m. John Smith of Hollis; d. Mar., 1896. Hannah W., b. Jan. 24, 1821, m. Joseph G. Tarbox, Feb. 2, 1846.
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GENEALOGY.
George, b. Dec. 5, 1822, m. Deborah Quinby ; she d. Feb. 16, 1863 ; he m. 2d, Mary E. Purinton.
Harriet, b. Feb. 25, 1829, m. - Smith of Boston ; d. in Boston.
Mr. Patrick died at his home, which is now owned and occupied by his son George, Dec. 9, 1857, aged 75. His wife Mary died March 22, 1864, aged 76.
PEABODY.
Samuel Peabody, born in 1722, was a great-grandson of Lieut. Francis Peabody who came from St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, in 1635 in the ship " Planter." Samuel lived in Gorham as early as 1773. In 1792 he sold his estate in Gorham to Hon. Stephen Long- fellow and moved with his family to Union in Lincoln Co. We have no record of the births of his children who were : Josiah, paid a poll tax in 1773, d. in Newbury, Mass .; Ruth ; Mehitable ; Sarah ; Betsey ; Anna, b. in 1767 ; Lucy, m. in Gorham, Varnum Beverly, Jan. 28, 1791 ; Samuel, lived in Dixmont, Me .; William, paid a poll tax in 1790, and 1792 ; Stephen, and Affia.
Lieut. Ebenezer Peabody of Boxford, was also a descendant of Lieut. Francis Peabody. He was a brave officer in the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill, and was also at the taking of Burgoyne, and in many engagements. His son Ebenezer Peabody, Jr., born Feb. 13, 1767, came in early life to Gorham, where he married, March 9, 1792, Sally, daughter of Maj. George Lewis. About the year 1802, he removed with his family to Peterborough, N. H., where he engaged in farming. Children :
Kendall O., b. Dec. 20, 1792, I'd in Franklin, N. H .; was a prominent business man ; m. Alice Blanchard ; 2d, Betsey Austin ; d. Jan. 23, 1855.
Ebenezer, b. Sept. 3, 1794, m. Rebecca Robertson ; d. in 1847.
Louisa, b. Aug. 10, 1796, m. Capt. Charles M. Davis, Sept. 4, 1822 ; I'd in Port- land ; d. Apr. 5, 1858.
Caroline, b. July 9, 1798, m. Dexter Baldwin, May 27, 1824 ; d. in Mt. Vernon, Me., July 6, 1827.
William H., b. Jan. 20, 1801, m. Hannah March, Sept. 9, 1828.
James Lewis, b. July 25, 1803, m. Sarah J. Blake, Dec. 22, 1831 ; I'd in Franklin, N. H .; d. Aug. 7, 1866.
Betsey K., b. May 5, 1805, m. Ebenezer Robinson of Portland, Dec. 25, 1827 ; d. Apr. 8, 1832.
Sarah Lewis, b. Mar. 29, 1807, m. Ira Greeley, Aug. 30, 1832 ; I'd in Franklin, N. H.
Ebenezer Peabody died in Peterborough, N. H., July 26, 1816. Mrs. Sarah Peabody removed to Franklin, N. H., about 1817, where she died Sept. 12, 1849, aged 83.
(2) William H. Peabody, son of Ebenezer, studied at Hanover, and took the degree of medicine at Dartmouth in 1826. He estab- lished himself in his native town, and had an extensive practice here
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
for sixteen years, until his death. He was devoted to his calling, with whose progress he kept pace by careful and assiduous culture. He was a Christian gentleman and physician. He married Hannah, daughter of Col. James March. Children :
Caroline B., b. July 7, 1829, m. Orlando Smith, Nov. 20, 1850 ; d. in Baltimore in 1895.
William H., b. Dec. 30, 1830, d. July 7, 1832.
Elizabeth R., b. Oct. 20, 1832, d. Mar. 10, 1834.
Emily E., b. July 17, 1834, d. Feb. 20, 1847.
William Wirt, b. Mar. 20, 1836, d. young.
William Wirt, b. Oct. 26, 1838, I's in Ohio.
George I., b. Apr. 22, 1840, d. Aug. 28, 1840.
Sargeant P., b. Mar. 2, 1842, I'd in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dr. Peabody died March 2, 1843. His widow died in Ohio in 1899, at the home of her son.
PENFIELD.
The Penfield family came from Cape Cod, and settled in Gorham in the south part of the town, on the farm where William E. Strout now lives. This adjoins the farm where George Strout, grandfather of William, settled. The old Penfield house formerly stood where Wm. Strout's house now stands, but has been moved back, and now (1898) forms the ell of the house of Mr. Strout.
Nathan Cook Penfield married, Dec. 11, 1800, Mary Green of Standish, and his sister Sally married, Dec. 15, 1796, Ezra Fickett of Gorham. The children of Nathan C. and Mary Penfield were :
Benjamin, b. Sept. 10, 1801, d. young.
Sarah F., b. Sept. 29, 1803, m. Hugh Edwards of Boston, Oct. 11, 1827.
Ann, b. Sept. 8, 1805, m. - Plummer.
Patience P., b. Nov. 20, 1807, m. Geo. Worcester, Nov. 15, 1826.
Elizabeth, b. Mar. 14, 1810, d. young.
Benjamin, b. Mar. 29, 1812, m. Susan Whitney of New Hampshire.
Charles C., b. Jan. 20, 1814, m. Almira Strout, Aug. 26, 1835.
Hannah P., b. Sept. 10, 1816, d. Oct. 1, 1835.
Elizabeth H., b. Aug. 5, 1818, d. in Boston, Aug. 30, 1840.
Louisa M., b .. Mar. 1, 1821, m. Wm. F. Veazie of Boston, Apr. 14, 1842.
Nathan C. Penfield died Oct. 14, 1850, aged 74. Mrs. Penfield died Aug. 29, 1853, aged 74.
(2) Charles C. Penfield, son of Nathan C., was a sea captain. He married Almira, daughter of Geo., Jr. and Comfort Strout. Children :
Charles R., b. 1837, d. Mar. 7, 1851.
Harriet, b .- , m. Isaac Brown.
George F., b. - , l's in Topeka, Kas.
Capt. Penfield died April 18, 1868, and his wife Aug. 19, of the same year, aged 53.
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GENEALOGY.
PERKINS.
The names of John Perkins and John Perkins, Jr. appear on the tax list of Gorham for the year 1763. James Perkins appears with the other two for the first time in 1774. In 1768 John Perkins bought of David Gorham one-half of the hundred acre lot, 38, on which Perkins was then living, and a part of which lot he sold in 1772 to James Mosher. His wife's name was probably Charlotte Tuck, of Boston. We have no record of their family, but there were :
John, m. Lois Hadaway, May 25, 1769.
Susanna, m. Samuel Gammon, p. Oct. 5, 1776.
Esther, m. James Cates, Sept. 20, 1768.
James, was a sergeant in Capt. Williams' company in both the 31st Mass. and the 18th Continental regiments, and was then promoted to ensign in Capt. York's company. In 1777 he enlisted as second lieut. in the 15th Mass., and resigned Feb. 24, 1778. After his military service he does not appear to have resided in Gorham. He d. Mar. 4, 1830.
John Perkins was a sergeant in 1775 in Capt. Williams' company, and ensign under the same officer in the 18th Continental regiment, Jan. 1, 1776. He died of the small pox in Brookline hospital, April 18, 1776.
(2) John Perkins, Jr., son of John, was a cabinet maker. His home until 1783 was on the south side of Main St., about one-half mile below the village. The lot is now included in the new cemetery. In February, 1783, he sold this place to Josiah Swett, and bought of Isaac D. Holbrook the west half of the hundred acre lot No. 9. Here he lived till March, 1795, when he sold this farm, with the buildings and cattle, to his son-in-law, Ephraim Lombard. He mar- ried Lois, daughter of James and Bethiah Hadaway of Barnstable. Children :
Lucy, b. Sept. 16, 1770, m. Abiel Briggs, Aug. 26, 1786.
Polly, b. Nov. 10, 1774, m. Ephraim Lombard, Nov. 20, 1794.
Betty, b. - -, d. unm.
Peggy, b. - -, d. unm.
John Perkins, Jr., died Aug. 6, 1796. Mrs. Lois Perkins was liv- ing as late as March, 1795.
PHINNEY.
John Phinney was the first settler of Gorham. He was born in Barnstable, Mass., April 8, 1693, and was the son of Dea. John Phinney of that place. His grandfather, John Phinney, was one of the soldiers in the fight in the swamp in King Philip's war in 1675.
Capt. Phinney married, Sept. 25, 1718, Martha, daughter of James and Patience Colman of Barnstable, and about 1732 removed, with
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
his family, from Barnstable to Falmouth, Me. In May, 1736, he, with his son Edmund, a boy of thirteen, came up the Presumpscot river to make a settlement in the wilderness of Narragansett, No. 7. (See Chapter V.)
He was a brave, energetic, sagacious man, and looked after the interests of the little colony which soon grew up around him, with the affection and discretion of a father. Beloved and respected, he lived to see the forest give way and a flourishing little hamlet stand in its place, dying Dec. 29, 1780, at the age of 87. His wife died Dec. 16, 1784, aged 87. They are both buried in the old cemetery at Gorham village. The children of Capt. John and his wife Martha (Colman) Phinney were :
Elizabeth, b. in Barnstable, July 15, 1721, m. Eliphalet Watson in 1740. Edmund, b. in Barnstable, July 27, 1723, m. Elizabeth Meserve in 1750. Stephen, b. in Barnstable, Dec. 16, 1725, m. Olive Early.
Martha, b. in Barnstable, Oct. 18, 1727, m. Hart Williams of Falmouth, Feb. 18, 1750.
Patience, b. in Barnstable, June 27, 1730, m. Thomas Weston, Feb. 3, 1750. John, Jr., b. in Falmouth, Mar. 18, 1732, m. Rebecca Sawyer, Jan. 24, 1755. Sarah, b. in Falmouth, May 18, 1734, m. Samuel Leavitt of Buxton, Jan., 1756; d. in Apr., 1793.
Mary G., b. in Gorham, Aug. 13, 1736, m. James Irish, Mar. 10, 1756.
Colman, b. in Gorham, July 18, 1738, d. young; killed by a falling tree.
James, b. Apr. 13, 1741, m. Martha Hamblen, Jan. 12, 1763; 2d, Lucy Cross.
(2) Edmund Phinney, the eldest son of Capt. John and Martha C. Phinney, came with his father to Narragansett No. 7, and felled the first tree cut in town for the purpose of settlement. This was a large basswood tree, and stood a little north of where the house of the late Moses Fogg stands, on the thirty acre lot, No. I. Mr. Phinney was a man of great activity and energy, and all his life held a promi- nent place in the business affairs of the town, serving in many public capacities. He was selectman, one of the Committee of Safety, mem- ber of the Provincial Congress, and Representative to the General Court of Massachusetts. He was a soldier in the French and Indian wars, serving as a sergeant in both Capt. Berry's and Capt. Hill's companies. He was a captain in Colonel Samuel Waldo, Jr.'s regi- ment about 1764, and later, in 1772, held a captain's commission in the militia. His love for his country and his devotion to the cause of Liberty was intense. In 1775 he received a colonel's commission, and was placed in command of the 31st Mass. regiment, which was composed entirely of the citizens of Gorham, and adjoining towns. This regiment he, in July, 1775, marched to Cambridge, and when the British evacuated Boston in March, 1776, it entered that city and was stationed near Fort Hill. Tradition says it was the first regi-
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GENEALOGY.
ment to enter the city after the departure of the enemy. One company of Col. Phinney's regiment which was noted for its fine appearance was selected to march at the head of the procession which on April 8, followed Gen. Warren's body to its resting place in the old Granary burying-ground. Jan. 1, 1776, Col. Phinney was commissioned colonel of the 18th Continental regiment, in which his former com- mand was merged. In the autumn of 1776, he had a long and tedious march with his regiment to Ticonderoga, and during that and the following year, he took an active part in the movements of the northern army until the surrender of Burgoyne, when being out of health he returned to his home, to live again in retirement with his family. He was a good officer, and performed his duty hon- crably ; no greater proof of this is needed than to know the high esteem in which he was held by his old soldiers after their return home. Notwithstanding the Scarborough people did not like him overmuch on account of the course he took in marching a company of about fifty men from Gorham and Buxton, armed and equipped, under Capt. Samuel Whitmore, to Saco and Scarborough for the purpose of regulating the political morals of certain persons, among whom were Mr. King and Dr. Alden, they being strongly suspected . of toryism. Dr. Alden was compelled to make his recantation kneeling on the top of a hogshead; this he would not do till he heard the cocking of several muskets around him. Mr. King was permitted to read his, standing on a table in front of his house at Dunstan Landing, in Scarborough. But after a more cool considera- tion of the thing than was allowed at the time, it is believed by many that Mr. King was not at heart a tory, but was fully of the opinion that the Colonies were not strong enough to cope with the Mother Coun- try, that the Revolution would be a failure and bring ruin and disaster to all engaged in it ; therefore he hung fire and did not come up to the point desired by the more ardent spirits of the day. But of the patriotism of Col. Phinney there is no doubt; 'though he may have erred in judgment in this affair. In 1781 he was colonel of the 3d regiment of militia of Cumberland County.
Col. Phinney's farm was composed of the two thirty acre lots, 106 and 108, which are located on the northerly side of the old road to Saccarappa, about one mile from Gorham village. His house, which he built before the war, about 1765, stood where the Woodbury house, so called, lately stood. He joined the church in Windham, Feb. 14, 1748, but was dismissed to unite with the Gorham church, Dec. 23, 1750. He was one of the three first ruling elders of the Gorham
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