USA > Maine > Oxford County > Porter > History of Porter > Part 2
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Meshach's journey was, however, comparatively difficult inasmuch as he actually had to cut his way along the Ossipee Trail after his leaving Effingham Falls - the trail being too narrow for his wagon, and when he came to what is now the site of Porter Village he had to abandon the vehicle as there was neither road nor trail from that point to his cabin in the heart of the forest! The remaining distance had to be covered on foot - all had to wade brooks and force their way through tangled underbrush. The next few days were devoted toward bringing the abandoned load on Ossipee Trail up to the Libby homestead on Libby Hill. A laborious task in which all took an active part. This accomplished, the work of finishing the in- terior of the dwelling was carried on with vigor and skill. Meshach was still a young person - only thirty-two years of age.
The Libbys added another member to their family about this time
6
HISTORY OF PORTER
- the newcomer was named, Elizabeth. The only record we have of her is this: "Elizabeth Libby was born between 1781 and 1786, and was the first female child of European descent born within the limits of Porter. She died in childhood and was buried upon the border of her father's garden."
The parents of Meshach and his brother, Stephen, arrived at the Libby homestead in the early part of May, and no time was lost in selecting two lots; one for their father, John, and one for Stephen; both lots adjoining Meshach's. Michael Floyd came next. These men were the first settlers, and since they had settled in Porter prior to the first day of January, 1784, they were legally entitled to receive one hundred acres of land each from the government. This right was recognized by Jeremiah Hill and his associates who purchased the 18,600-acre tract, embodying the present town of Porter and the western section of the town of Brownfield, from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on September 24, 1793. The "settlers' deed," how- ever, to the four settlers and this to the proprietors, was dated June 16, 1792.
No settlers came in between 1782 and 1787. During this tem- porary "lull," the Libbys and the Floyds were busily engaged in making clearings, constructing houses, and building roads. The co-operative spirit was strong among the early settlers - they needed each other's guidance and material support. Meshach Libby had no such assistance when he first came to Porter!
It is a noteworthy fact that all the dwellings and outbuildings were constructed out of logs, usually pine and spruce, as sawed lum- ber was not attainable - the first sawmill in Porter was built in 1799. The art of constructing loghouses was introduced by the Swedes in 1638, when a group of Swedes and Finns established "New Sweden" on the Delaware River near Wilmington. This type of architecture was soon copied throughout the thirteen colon- ies, thence moved westward toward the Pacific with the tide of immigration.
The extensive clearings were soon plowed and harrowed, and the rich, virgin soil planted with rye, wheat, oats, flax, millet, timothy and other cereal and fodder-grasses. The vegetable garden would naturally include the bean, pea, potato, carrot, beet, turnip, cucum-
7
FORMATIVE YEARS
ber, squash, pumpkin and other plants generally grown in the north temperate zone. Of course, every farm had its herb garden - an herb for every physical ailment! Every American farm was, and still is in a few isolated sections of the country, a self-sustaining institution. All the necessities of life were produced on the farm. Again, let me reiterate and elaborate upon the independence and freedom enjoyed by the farmer of the long ago! The forests, the fields, the lakes and streams - all were at the disposal, and con- tributed to the welfare, of every industrious farmer and his family. Self-help was the very first requisite! "God helps those who help themselves." With this precept constantly before his mind's eye, the farmer moved forward unperturbed.
That a farmer had to possess a working knowledge of many trades, is evidenced by the numerous problems confronting. him. From childhood he was taught how to use the axe and the saw; the pick and the shovel. As a hunter he knew the value of being able to shoot straight; skin the animal, and prepare the pelt for market - if for his own use, he had to convert the skin into leather by im- pregnation with an infusion of oak bark or some other form of tan- nin. This latter act would lead him to the art of making shoes, harnesses and robes. Furthermore, a hunter knew how to dress the flesh of the animal he had killed, either for market or for his own use. As a woodsman, he could readily turn to carpentry - build a house, a boat; tables, beds and chairs. Thus I could go on indefi- nitely, but enough for the present; elsewhere I'll again comment on the extraordinary versatility among farmers of the past.
Since many of the records of the early settlers are somewhat sketchy, we are often led to inferences drawn from research. Here's one case in point: Stephen Libby (b. 1763), Meshach's brother, returned to Pittsfield, either in the fall of 1782, or in the spring of 1783, after his having built his cabin on his lot in Porter, and to have married Mary Knowles soon thereafter. Their first child, James, was born in Pittsfield on June 5, 1784. Stephen must have returned to Porter prior to April 3, 1786, as their second son, Daniel - the first male child born in Porter, came to this world on that date.
The year, 1787, marks the influx of four additional settlers, namely;
View taken from Libby Hill (Bald Face) in 1956 shows Kezar Falls at left. Towle's Hill, left to center. Davis Hill a bit right of center below the highest mountain. Lumber mills area in right third of picture. The fields of Laurence Stacey (Elm Row Farm) above this area. The Everett Stanley farm at extreme right. The mountains along center horizon are in Cornish.
The homes of the first four settlers were clustered around three sides of this Porter landmark, and not many years later a home was built high up on the eastern slope. This place was first occupied by members of the Gibbs family, and in the 1850s by the Ezra J. and Wm. G. Towle families.
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FORMATIVE YEARS
Benjamin Bickford, Benjamin Bickford, Jr., and Samuel Bickford, from Rochester, N. H. The fourth was Benjamin Ellenwood from Groton, Mass. The Bickfords gave their name to Bickford Pond; and Colcord Pond was originally known as "Ellenwood's Pond." The Ellenwood family moved away from the farm on the west shore of the pond prior to 1797 - Mrs. Lamson, Ellenwood's mother-in- law, was the first person to die in Porter; shortly before the death of Elizabeth Libby (date unknown).
An important land-transaction took place in the southern section of Oxford County in 1788 - this civil division of the District of Maine was at that time known as "York." This sale concerns the "Cutler Grant" - of considerable importance to both Porter and Brownfield in the early days. Source of information: Record of Deeds. Book 51. Court House, Alfred, Maine.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
TO TIMOTHY CUTLER
"Timothy Cutler of Scarborough, District of Maine, purchased 500 acres of land from John Wiswall, who held land under an in- complete grant of the government of the late Province of Massa- chusetts Bay, and which has been since granted under authority of the Commonwealth and other persons. Therefore resolved that Mr. Nason, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Noyes be a committee to ascertain the value of the said tract of land, and that the petitioner be permitted to lay aid, so much of the unappropriated lands within the Com- monwealth, as the said committee shall judge to be a reasonable compensation for the damage he has sustained (this the committee fixed at 200 pounds)."
The following concerns the two tracts granted to Timothy Cutler. The first tract mentioned was located in the town of Hiram.
"One of which tract to contain 2200 acres and is bounded as follows: Beginning at Saco River on the south side thereof at the intersecting of the southeast of Brownfield Line where it crosses said river, and runs by said line South sixty-two degrees west, five hundred and sixty rods; thence South forty degrees east, eight hun- dred and four rods; thence Northeast by east four hundred and six rods to Saco River; thence up said river as the same doth run till
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HISTORY OF PORTER
it terminates at the same bounds - also the other tract being on the Southwest side of Brownfield, and containing three thousand and eight hundred acres, and is bounded as follows: Beginning at a pitch pine marked on four sides "T. C.", standing on the South- west side line of Brownfield by the edge of a small river called Sheppards River, and so runs from thence adjoining said Brownfield South twenty-eight degrees east two miles; thence south sixty-two degrees west, nine hundred and fifty rods; thence North 28 degrees west, 2 miles; thence North sixty-two degrees east, nine hundred and fifty rods to first bounds, which two tracts of land last men- tioned to be laid out to said Timothy Cutler, and to be considered as full compensation for the tract land first mentioned, containing 500 acres together with the damages mentioned in said resolve.
Sanford, Dec. 11th 1788.
To the committee for the sale of Eastern Lands.
Sam Nason John Fox Joseph Noyes
Committee for viewing the land.
Wherewith we the said committee have hereunto set our hands and seals this Twenty-seventh day of January, anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. Signed and sealed and delivered in presence of Nath. Wells, Leo Jarvis, John Read, Daniel Cony.
Sam Cooper, Justice of the Peace."
In November, 1789, Jeremiah Hill of Biddeford, Me., sent Samuel Titcomb to survey the territory (Porterfield) that he and eight others were determined to purchase from the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts.
In 1791, four men from Rochester, N. H., moved into the com- munity and became temporary settlers - they were: David Allord, Job Allord, Joseph Clark and Moses Drown. They stayed but a few years.
On May 22, 1792, a young man from Hampton, N. H., called at the home of Meshach Libby - his name was David Moulton. In short, he came, he saw, he conquered - he bought the Libby Home- stead. The price? "Sixty pounds, lawful money." David departed, but returned on April 27, 1793, to take possession of his property. Having sold his own place, Meshach bought that of his brother,
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FORMATIVE YEARS
Stephen, and made it his permanent home. Stephen, after his hav- ing disposed of his farm, bought several tracts of land adjacent to his original lot, and established himself on the northern slope of Libby Hill where he and his family resided for many years.
Another business deal - overshadowing the previously mentioned "Cutler Grant," now comes to the forefront in our narrative. This particular purchase was referred to in foregoing paragraph, but at this time requires further study. The document is, however, some- what lengthy, hence space is not available here to give it verbatim. (See Moulton's "History of Porter" for a complete copy). The salient points are as follows:
"Know all men by these presents that we whose names are under- signed and seals affixed, appointed by the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a committee with full power to sell and convey the unappropriated lands of the said Commonwealth lying within the counties of York, Cumberland, and Lincoln, for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred and sixty-four pounds, lawful money, paid to us for the use of the said Common- wealth, by Jeremiah Hill, of Biddeford, in the county of York, Esq., and his associates hereafter named, pursuant to the contract made with them some years since, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed, and by these presents do, in behalf of the said Commonwealth, give. grant, bargain, sell, and convey to the said Jeremiah Hill and his associates, viz .: Aaron Porter, of said Biddeford, physician, Thomas Cutts and Nathaniel Scammon, both of Pepperrelboro', in said county of York, esquires, Seth Storer, of said Pepperrelboro', mer- chant, and James Coffin, of said Pepperrelboro', yeoman, Caleb Emery, of Sanford, in said county of York, esquire, William Emery, of said Sanford, and Nathaniel Merrill, of Fryeburg, in said county of York, yeoman, a township, being a tract of land lying in the county of York aforesaid, now called 'Porterfield,' (so-called for the above-named Dr. Porter); bounded as follows, viz .: beginning at a pitch pine tree, standing on the line of New Hampshire and on the north side of said Ossipee river, thence running on said line north eight degrees east, nine miles one hundred and twenty rods to a beech tree standing at the west corner of Brownfield, thence bounded
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HISTORY OF PORTER
by said Brownfield, north seventy-eight degrees east, five hundred and fifty-two rods to a pitch pine tree, thence south twenty-eight degrees east, seven hundred and sixty rods to a hemlock tree stand- ing near the south-west side of a small stream called Shepard's river, being the northerly corner of Timothy Cutler's land, thence bounded by said Cutler's land, south sixty-two degrees west, nine hundred and fifty rods, thence south twenty-eight degrees east, two miles, thence north sixty-two degrees east, nine hundred and fifty rods to said Brownfield line, thence running on said Brownfield line south twenty-eight degrees east, seventy rods to a pitch pine tree, thence south eighteen degrees west, nine hundred and eighty rods to a pop- lar tree, thence south seven degrees east, seven hundred rods to a maple tree standing by the north side of said Ossipee river until it intersects first mentioned bounds.
To have and to hold the afore-granted premises to the said Jere- miah and his associates as tenants in common, in the following proportions, viz .: to the said Jeremiah Hill two fifteenth parts, to the said Aaron Porter six fifteenth parts, to the said Thomas Cutts one fifteenth part, to the said Nathaniel Scammon one fifteenth part, to the said Seth Storer one fifteenth part, to the said Caleb Emery one fifteenth part, to the said William Emery one fifteenth part, to the said Nathaniel Merrill one fifteenth part. To them and their several heirs and assigns respectively, in the proportions aforesaid.
In testimony whereof the said committee have hereunto set their hands and seals this twenty-fourth day of September, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered,
in presence of us, Timothy Newell,
Thomas Walcut.
NATH'L WELLS, (L. S.) LEO JARVIS, (L. S.) JOHN READ, (L. S.)
SUFFOLK, SS., BOSTON, Sept. 25, 1793.
Personally appeared Nath'l Wells, Leo. Jarvis, and John Read, esquires, and acknowledged this instrument to be their act and deed. Before me, SAMUEL COOPER, Justice of the Peace.
A true copy, examined and compared. Recorded March 27, 1799, Lib. 64, fol's, 60, 65."
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FORMATIVE YEARS
Porterfield was resurveyed by John Wingate in 1793, shortly after the deed to the proprietors of this property had been signed. A plan of this survey was then made; each lot being marked on the plan with the name of its owner. Three copies of this plan were made at that time - the plan was similar to the one of Parsonsfield made by the surveyor, Joseph Cram, for Thomas Parsons, in No- vember 1771. The Porterfield plan (or its copies) probably does not exist today. A plan of John Wingate's survey of the Plantation of Porterfield has recently (Sept. 1956) come to the attention of the writer. A true copy of this plan is now available at the home of the Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society. The plantation of Porter- field, as incorporated in 1802, included "Cutler's Grant" of 3,800 acres, making the total area of Porterfield, about 22,400 acres.
The nine proprietors of the plantation of Porterfield were prom- inent men in their respective towns - all were interested in lumber- ing - all recognized the plantation as a source of revenue; and ap- parently "inexhaustible" source of merchantable timber! Col. Thomas Cutts, one of the proprietors, was undoubtedly the greatest lumber merchant of his time and generation - for decades, pine timber from the virgin forests of Porterfield (called Porter after 1807) was floated down the Great Ossipee and the Saco to Cutts' ship- yards at tidewater below the lower falls of the Saco!
NOTE - The name "Pepperrelboro" (originally spelled "Pepper- relborough") is that of the present city of Saco. It got the name "Pepperrelboro" in 1762; changed to "Saco" in 1805.
Several others of the above-mentioned associates deserve special mention now, inasmuch as their names and meritorious deeds occas- sionally appear in the annals of Porter in the early half of the nine- teenth century. First, Dr. Aaron Porter of Biddeford. He owned the largest number of shares in the "corporation," besides enjoying the distinction of his having, first the plantation, then the township, named in his honor. Nathaniel Merrill of Fryeburg comes next. His first appearance in Maine history starts with the year, 1762, when he, and two other men - John Stevens and "Limbo," drove 105 head of cattle and eleven horses from Gorham, Maine, to the luxur- iant meadows of the Pequawket country. He was therefore one of the first settlers of the town of Fryeburg. Furthermore, he was
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HISTORY OF PORTER
chosen moderator at the first plantation meeting in Porter Village, held on July 12, 1802, at the home of Wm. Broad. The other note- worthy person is Caleb Emery of Sanford. He built the first grist- mill in Porter - at the outlet of Colcord Pond, in 1793. The near- est grist-mill before that time was at Effingham Falls, N. H.
II
FIRST SETTLERS
It appears logical to the present writer that this is the pertinent time and place to present a few family pedigrees respecting the most prominent persons who became settlers in Porterfield prior to its organization, as a town, in 1807. It is to be hoped that some future historian or genealogist will restore and record the missing branches of these genealogical trees.
1782
John Libby (b. ? d. 1804); married
Mrs. John Libby (b. ? d. 1804) Her Christian name unknown. Children: Meshach, Enoch, John, Jr., Simeon, Jonathan, Stephen, Kezia, Mary.
Remarks: The few available facts concerning Meshach, Simeon and Stephen will be given in subsequent sketches. There is no record of Enoch. About John, Jr., Thomas Moulton writes: "He had so retentive a memory that, having heard a lengthy sermon, he could repeat the whole of it, imitating very accurately both the tones and gestures of the speaker (aside from memory he was not endowed with superior mental powers)." Jonathan was not a per- manent settler. Kezia married a Sargent. Mary married Daniel Knowles.
1781
Meshach Libby (b. 1750. d. March, 1829): married
Deborah Ely (b. ? d. ? ); his first wife.
Children: Sarah (b. 1771. d. ? ); married, June, 1793, to Gideon Mason. Mary (b. ? d. ? ); married William Hill. Meshach, Jr.
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HISTORY OF PORTER
(b. ? d. ? ); Elsy (b. ? d. ? ); married Edward Hill. Elizabeth (b. 1782. died in childhood). Eunice (b. ? d. ? ); married Jacob Hurd. Remarks: Meshach Libby was the first settler. His son Meshach, Jr., came to Porterfield in 1793, but not as a permanent settler. Meshach's second wife was Hannah Cram - no record. Only Elizabeth and Eunice were born in Porterfield.
1782
Stephen Libby (b. April 26, 1763. d. Oct. 25, 1855); married Mary Knowles (b. March 1, 1768. d. Oct., 1816). First wife. Children: James (b. June 5, 1784. d. ? ); married Phebe Benson, July 17, 1808. Daniel (b. Apr. 3, 1786. d. 1818); married Mary Rundlett. Josiah (b. March 23, 1788. d. June 8, 1788). Mary (b. July 30, 1789. d. ? ); married Josiah Weeks, Jan. 27, 1811. Jemima (b. Aug. 22, 1791. d. May 12, 1879); married Joshua Weeks, Oct. 21, 1810. Stephen, Jr. (b. May 21, 1793. d. Dec. 4, 1868); married Dorothy Blake, Jan. 23, 1814. Sally (b. Jan. 20, 1795. d. 1873); married Jordan Stacy, Dec. 4, 1817. John (b. Feb. 20, 1797. d. Jan. 21, 1878); married Nancy Libby, Nov. 17, 1816. David (b. Jan. 16, 1799. d. ? ); married Betsy Towle. Aphia (b. Dec. 6, 1800. d. ? ); married Ralph King, Nov. 16, 1820. Olive (b. July 5, 1802. d. ? ); married Wm. Hodsdon, May 14, 1824.
Nancy Mathews (b. Dec. 13, 1788. d. Jan. 9, 1818). Second wife. Married Jan. 9, 1817. One child, Lydia (b. Dec. 23, 1817. d. ? ); married William Perry, Oct. 17, 1847.
Sally Mathews (b. May 13, 1793. d. Dec. 16, 1866). Third wife. Married March 17, 1818. Children: One son who died in infancy. Daniel (b. March 19, 1821. d. ? ); married Almira Howard, Oct. 29, 1854. Albion (b. June 9, 1823. d. ? ); married Harriet Bragg. Nancy (b. April 28, 1825. d. ? ); married Ezekiel Jenness, Aug. 9, 1851. William T. (b. Dec. 23, 1827. d. ? ); married Susan Mars- ton. Thomas (b. Dec. 23, 1827. d. March 23, 1828). A twin brother of William T. Gideon (b. June 19, 1830. d. ? ); married Catharine McMann.
1792
David Moulton (b. June 18, 1760, d. Oct. 18, 1838); married
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FIRST SETTLERS
Dorothy Moulton (b. June 22, 1770, d. Jan. 19, 1853), Feb. 16, 1794. Children: John (b. Dec. 7, 1794, d. March 4, 1876); mar- ried Jane Coffin (b. Oct. 31, 1800, d. ? ). Joseph (b. July 23, 1797, d. ? ); married Abigail G. Beal. Sarah (b. Dec. 18, 1799. d. ? ). David, Jr. (b. Aug. 23, 1802, d. June 13, 1867); married Phebe Wentworth. Mary (b. Jan. 28, 1805, d. Dec. 16, 1836); married Moses Swett, Jan. 18, 1829. Thomas (b. Aug. 15, 1810, d. Oct. 31, 1888.
Remarks: David Moulton was born in Hampton, N. H., and served in the American Revolution, enlisting in 1778. His wife, Dorothy, was born at Portsmouth, N. H. Their oldest son, John, served in the War of 1812. Thomas took an active part in many state activities - from town clerk (1858), Representative in the State Legislature (1857), to State Senator (1859-60). Consult, "Col. John Moulton's Papers," and, "Hon. Thomas Moulton's Papers," at the Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society.
1793
Daniel Knowles (b. 1740, d. ? ); married
Mary Blake, his 1st wife.
Children: Mary (b. March 1, 1768, d. ? ); married Stephen Libby. Hannah (b. ? d. ? ); married Simeon Libby. Jemima (b. ? d. ? ); married Elijah Fox. Isaac (b. ? d. ? ). Sally (b. ? d. ? ); married - Watson. Experience (b. ? d. ? ); married Josiah Kezar. Rachel (b. ? d. ? ); married Jonathan Hodsdon.
Mrs. Pottle (no record). Second wife.
Mary Libby (b. ? d. ? ). Third wife.
Children: Comfort (no record), Olive (no record), Tryphene (no record).
Remarks: Daniel Knowles and his family came from Pittsfield, N. H. He was the first treasurer of the plantation (1802). Experi- ence's husband, Josiah Kezar, was a son of the hunter, George Kezar of Parsonsfield. Daniel Knowles' second wife, Mrs. Pottle, died about a year after her marriage. He and his son Isaac moved to the state of New York in 1817.
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HISTORY OF PORTER
1793
Joseph Pearl (b. ? d. 1813); married
Catharine Clark (b. ? d. May 4, 1837). Children: Polly (b. ? d. ? ); married Wm. Moulton. Simeon (b. ? d. ? ). Betsey (b. ? d. ? ); married Ichabod Bickford. Benjamin (b. ? d. June 1, 1830). Sally (b. ? d. ? ); married Jonathan Quint. Diamond (b. ? d. ? ); married Jane Cook, Oct. 6, 1814. Anna (b. ? d. ? ); married James Stanley. John (b. ? d. ? ). Joseph, Jr. (b. ? d. ? ); married Eliza Cook April 20, 1820. James (b. Feb. 26, 1804, d. ? ); married Hannah Garland, Sept. 25, 1825.
Remark: Both came from Rochester, N. H.
1793
Joseph Pottle, David Pottle, Thomas Randall, Samuel Richards, Samuel Richards, 2d, John Thompson, John Hayes and David Hodsdon became settlers in 1793.
Remarks: Joseph Pottle was the first captain of the plantation company. Thomas Randall, father of the "Eaton Poet," Joseph Pottle, Samuel Richards, 2d and John Hayes were not permanent settlers.
1794
Edward Fox, Elijah Fox, Hanson Libby, Tobias Libby, John Libby, Jr., Jonathan Libby and Meshach Libby, Jr., came to Por- terfield in 1794.
Remarks: Elijah Fox, Jonathan Libby - the brother of Meshach and Stephen Libby, and Meshach Libby, Jr. - the only son of the first settler, Stephen Libby, did not remain here permanently. Eleven members of the Fox families served in American wars.
1794
Simeon Libby (b. ? d. ? ); married Hannah Knowles (b. ? d. ? ).
Children: John (b. ? d. ? ), Samuel (b .? d. ? ), Hannah (b. ? d. ? ); married Levi Libby of Ontario, N. Y., March 13, 1814. Isaac (b. ? d. ? ). Josiah (b. ? d. ? ). Simeon, Jr. (no record).
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FIRST SETTLERS
Job (b. ? d. ? ); married Ruth Fox, June 27, 1822. Daniel (b. ? d. ? ). Abram (b. ? d. ? ). Lemuel Rich (b. ? d. ? ). Mary (b. 1800, d. ? ); married Aaron Houghtaling. Julia Ann (b. ? d. ? ). Jesse W. D. (b. ? d. ? ).
Remarks: Simeon Libby was Meshach Libby's brother. He moved to the state of New York in 1817. Hanson Libby and Tobias Libby, mentioned previously, were Isaac Libby's sons.
1794
Gideon Mason (b. June 22, 1772, d. ? ); married
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