History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 53

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 730

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The names and number of colonists present at this time have not been recorded, but it was one of the conditions of the grant that the patentees should transport fifty persons to the colony, "to plant and inhabit there" within seven years. We find within that period quite a list of names and something of the occupation and financial standing of the people. There is an agreement bearing date Jan. 27, 1635, between Peyton Cooke and Richard Williams, for

the furtherance of clapboard making,-an article of export in which the settlers in the neighborhood of the pine-forests early engaged. They were then riven out of bolts or logs, instead of sawn, as at a later day. The principal settlers at this early period, and their pecuniary standing, may be learned from a rate-list for the support of the minister, bearing date Sept. 7, 1636, which gives the names and amounts as follows : Richard Vines, £3; Henry Boade, £2; Thomas Williams, £2; Samuel Andrews, £1; William Seadlock, £1; John Wadlow, £2; Robert Sankey, £1 10s. ; Theophilus Davis, £1 10s. ; George Frost, £1 10s. ; John Parker, £1; John Smith, £1; Robert Morgan, 158 .; Richard Hitchcock, 10s .; Thomas Page, £1; Ambrose Berry, £1. These subscriptions were probably for the support of a minister a part of the time who was engaged to hold religious services in different settlements, as we find no regularly settled minister as early as this at Winter Harbor. The only clergyman known to have been in the country previous to 1636 was Rev. Richard Gibson, an Episcopal minister at Spurwink and Richmond's Island, and who preached at a later period to the fishermen along the coast and upon the Isles of Shoals. In 1636 he appears in the court record as a party to a suit. Rev. Robert Jor- dan, whose residence was at Spurwink, was probably the next clergyman who came into the country, about 1640.

The first settlement was made near the sea, along the north margin of the Pool, where Mr. Vines spent the win- ter of 1616-17. Besides the settlers mentioned in the rate-list, the following names have been gathered from other sources : Francis Robinson, Arthur Macworth, Peyton Cooke, Richard Williams, John West, Thomas Wise, Stephen Batson, John Baylie, Thomas Cole, James Cole, John Walton, John Bonython, Morgan Howell, Arthur Browne, George Jewell. Some of these, Bonython at least, were on the east side of the Saco River. Andrew and Scadlock settled in the west part of the grant, near Little River; John West and Thomas Williams north of the principal settlement at Winter Harbor. Traces of for- mer residences have been discovered at all of these places. A point of land near the head of the Pool, long known as Leighton's. Point, is said to have been the site of a court- house during the period when the earliest courts were held here. This point was the first seat of justice in Maine when William Gorges was sent over and held the first court in 1636. Before this the colonists had formed a " combina- tion" for the government of their little community, in which Richard Vines was the organizing and leading spirit.

The chief employments of the early colonists were agri- culture, fishing, and trade with the natives. Some com- bined the three pursuits, and were, by way of distinction,

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Photo. by E. Il. McKenney.

Gelebt Jelleson

ABEL H. JELLESON (Abel,5 George, Alexander,3 Joseph,2 Nicholas1) is sixth in lineal descent from Nicholas, who came to York, Me., from England about 1635. His father, Abel, born in the town of Waterborough, March 1, 1790, married Polly, dangh- ter of Joseph Bean, of Sanford, Me. Their children are Moses, Abel H., Hannah, wife of Enoch Roberts, Charity (deceased), Esther, and Lorenzo D. Abel Jelleson has spent the greater part of his life as a farmer and lumberman; he is known as a man of sterling integrity, of correct habits, and good judg- ment. He has always been identified with the Demo- cratic party, and voted with the party in the fall of 1879.

His grandfather, George Jelleson, married Eliza- beth, daughter of Deacon Moses Wadlin, of Bidde- ford, formerly of South Berwick, by whom he had three sons and seven daughters.

Judge Jelleson has in his possession a cast-iron shell of about five and one-half inches in diameter, taken from the battle-field at Louisbourg, Cape Breton, June 16, 1745, by his great-grandfather, Alexander Jelleson, under command of Sir William Pepperell.

Abel H. Jelleson was born in Waterborough Nov. 25, 1820. He received his early education in the common school at home and at the high school at Lyman, and for two terms was a teacher. He first married Betsey H., daughter of Joshua Roberts, of Parsonsfield. She died Nov. 4, 1852. Of this union were born one daughter, Ella C., and one son, Ansel L., a merchant in Biddeford. For his second wife he married, July 5, 1853, Sarah E., widow of the late James H. Staples, and daughter of Benjamin and Clarissa (Libby) Dudley, of Kennebunkport, by

whom he has one son, Daniel L. By her former marriage Mrs. Jelleson has two sons,-John A. and James Henry Staples, of Boston, Mass.

In November, 1846, Mr. Jelleson settled in Bidde- ford. Until April 1, 1848, he worked in the Laco- nia Cotton Mills, and was subsequently a clerk in a store. In November, 1848, he formed a copartner- ship with William Berry (afterwards judge of the Municipal Court), Berry & Jelleson, and carried on the grocery business until May 27, 1854, when he purchased his partner's interest and continued alone in trade until August, 1865. He then formed a part- nership with Ivory Goodwin, of Kennebunkport (Goodwin & Jelleson), and the firm remained in trade as jobbers of general produce until August, 1871. On Sept. 30, 1879, he associated with him William H. Bragdon (Jelleson & Bragdon) in the grocery business. Mr. Jelleson has been for many years connected with various local societies and prominently identified as a member.

He has been a member of the Laconia Lodge of Odd-Fellows since 1847. He is a member of the En- campment of Odd-Fellows, of Dunlap Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, of York Roval Arch Chapter, of the Maine Council, and of Bradford Commandery.

He has been a trustee for many years of the York County Five-Cent Savings Institution.

He has been somewhat active and influential in local politics; was assessor in 1854; represented the Second Ward of the city for one year as alderman. He was a member of the State Legislature in 1863; re-elected and served in 1864. In March, 1864, he was elected judge of the Municipal Court of Bidde- ford, and by re-election held the office for twelve years.

189

CITY OF BIDDEFORD.

styled husbandmen or planters. A few were mechanics. John Smith is mentioned as a carpenter. The inhabitants took up tracts of 100 aeres, of which Mr. Vines gave them leases on nominal or small rents. There is in existence a lease, given by Vines to Jolin West, of an estate formerly in the possession of Thomas Cole, including a dwelling- house, for a term of one thousand years, the annual rent of which was to be two shillings and one eapon. This lease was dated October, 1638. Another lease from Vines required the lessee to pay a rent-charge of five shillings, two days' work, and one fat goose yearly. Fishing was the most lu- crative employment, and a brisk trade sprang up at that early time with different parts of America, the West In- dies, and Europe. Pipe-staves and clapboards formed an article of export, and it was not many years before saw- mills were put in operation on the smaller streams, although long years elapsed before the capital and the ingenuity necessary to utilize the great water-powers were brought into action.

Mr. John Oldham, the associate patentee with Mr. Vines, was not among the settlers of Winter Harbor. He came to New England with a family of ten persons, and joined the Plymouth Colony in 1623. The next year he became involved, together with Rev. John Lyford, in a serious difference with the leading individuals of that colony, and received sentence of banishment. He returned in the spring of 1625, and being again expelled, was compelled to take refuge with his family at Nantasket, where he was joined by Mr. Lyford, Mr. Roger Conant, and others, with their families, who seceded from the Pilgrims on account of their peculiarly rigid principles. Soon after a company in Eng- land, intending to form a colony at Cape Ann, appointed these gentlemen to superintend it. They soon after com- meneed the settlement at Salem. Mr. Conant had the care of the planting and fishing; Mr. Oldham the management of the trade ; and Rev. Mr. Lyford was their minister. In 1628, Mr. Oldham went to England, and was occupied with a grant made him by Robert Gorges on the Charles River. The Massachusetts colonists complained much of his per- tinacity in defending his rights and title, notwithstanding their patent embraced the tract in question. A compromise, however, was made, and Oldham settled at Watertown, where he resided in 1632, in which year he was one of a committee of the eight towns of the colony of Massachu- setts Bay, chosen by the people to confer with the Governor and assistants on the subject of raising a public fund. This was the first representative body in the colony of Massa- chusetts, and the germ of the General Court, established two years after upon the same basis of representation. Old- ham, in 1633, was the pioneer explorer in Connecticut, and led the way for the first settlement in that part of New England. In 1634 he was one of the representatives from Watertown to the General Court. His adventurous and enterprising spirit at length brought him to a tragical end. In the summer of 1636, while on a trading expedition to the coast of Connecticut, he was barbarously murdered by some of the Pequod Indians.

Richard Vines, the founder of the colony, was prominent in all the early affairs of the province, his settlement being made the chief seat of the government first established in

the country, and he himself a couneilor, magistrate, and deputy Governor for many years. He was a zealous adhe- rent of the Gorges government during the period of its continuance, and when it was superseded by the Rigby- Cleaves government, or that of the province of Lygonia, he bore an important part in the controversy till his retirement from the country, about the elose of the year 1645. Mr. Vines removed to Barbadoes, in the West Indies. It ap- pears from a correspondence with Governor Winthrop, of Massachusetts, after his departure, that he had become somewhat embarrassed in his private affairs. This circum- stance, together with the prospect of being subjected to the authority of his political enemy, Cleaves, probably induced him to remove. Great numbers of English planters flocked to the island of Barbadocs at that period, which was first settled only twenty years before, and yet, in 1650, con- tained a population of more than 20,000 whites, and a much greater number of blacks and Indian slaves. The in- habitants were chiefly royalists, many of whom left England on account of the predominance of the Republican party. Mr. Vines was a staunch Episcopalian, but it appears he was not unwilling to listen to religious instruction from a non-conformist, although offended by his covert attaek upon the rites and ceremonies of the English Church. The last year of his abode at Winter Harbor, he held the office of Governor by the election of the General Provincial Court. He had previously exercised the duties of that office before the arrival and after the departure of Thomas Gorges, by virtue of his commission as steward-general of the prov- ince. That his administration of affairs was acceptable to the people in general, may be inferred from the strong dis- approbation of the attempt made by Mr. Cleaves in Eng- land to injure the reputation of his government, expressed by many of the inhabitants.

TRANSFER OF THE PATENT.

Mr. Vines sold his patent before leaving the country to Dr. Robert Child. The following certificate of the trans- fer is annexed to the copy of the original instrument on record :

"I, Richard Vines, of Saco, gentleman, bave bargained and sold the patent above specified unto Robert Child, Esq., Doctor of Physick, and given him livery and seizen upon the 20th day of October, 1645, in presence of Mr. Adam Winthrop and Mr. Benjamin Gilman."

Dr. Child resided in Massachusetts several years, whence he returned to England. He received his medical diploma from the University of Padua, in Italy. He left Massachu- setts on account of the want of religious toleration in that colony, as did several others, whom the colony could ill afford to spare.

After the incorporation in 1653, by the commissioners of Massachusetts, the town made several grants within the Child's patent, assigning the lots to those who would im- prove them upon their own risk, without warranting the validity of the title. As they were left in doubt by not re- ceiving any intelligence from the patentee, they deemed it prudent to make the reservation in the grants,-"except any one can show a better title than the town hath." In 1656 three executions were levied upon the patent in satis- faction of judgments granted by the court of Salem to

190

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

Joseph Armitage, of Lynn, against Messrs. John Beex & Company, of London. Dr. Child probably sold the patent to them, but at what time we are not informed. Armitage came, and made his levies at Winter Harbor. A suit was brought against him by Thomas Williams and his neigh- bors, and he was arrested for " unjust molestation," they not being aware at that time that Dr. Child had transferred his interest in the patent. The dispute being referred to the decision of the General Court, was decided in favor of the inhabitants. But on the 11th of March, 1658-59, the patent was sold by the London proprietors, Messrs. Beex & Company, to William Phillips, of Boston, for the sum of £90, and possession given June 13, 1659, in presence of Edward Rishworth and William White .*

The old inhabitants being well pleased with this ar- rangement, entered into the following compaet with Mr. Phillips :

" A.D. 1659, 26 Sept. It is agreed and consented unto by Mr. W. Phillips, of Boston, of the one party, and Mr. Thos. Williams, R. Trustram, P. Hill, N. Buly, Sen., and Christopher Hobbs, of Saco, of the other party, that the said parties having leases and possessions of certain lands and meadows from Mr. Vines, in Saco, they shall freely forever hereafter enjoy the same, with all the privileges and profits contained in such their leases and possessions, both they and their heirs or assigns forever, for and in consideration of paying one day's work for each lease, if it be demanded within the year, and yearly. And as for all mines, one-fifth part shall belong to the State of England, and one-half of the rest to the said Mr. Phillips and his successors, and the other half to the possessors and their successors forever : To the which agreement the said Mr. Phillips doth bind himself, his heirs or assigns in the sum of six pounds sterling to each man herein expressed, in case it should so happen that the right and title he at any time hereafter recovered out of the hands of the said Mr. W. Phillips or his heirs or assigns. In witness hereto we have interchangeably set our hands the day and date aforesaid." (Signed by the parties.)

A controversy soon after arose between the town and Mr. Phillips, which was referred to the General Court, whereupon the court appointed the following-named gentle- men a committee to effect a settlement, viz., Maj .- Gen. Humphrey Atherton, Thomas Savage, and Thomas Clarke. The committee made their award as follows :

"That the town of Saco shall have belonging to it all the land lying within the bounds hereafter mentioned, viz., from Winter Harbor to Saco River mouth, and from thence up along the river towards the Falls as far as the house of Ambrose Berry, and from thence a line to run on a square towards Cape Porpoise so far as the bounds of said Saco go that way, and so unto the sea, and so along the sea unto Winter Harbor, reserving out of this tract the sea-wall, begin- ning at a pond about half a mile southward from the mill commonly called Duck Pond, and running from the said pond to the mill, and from thence to the rock of land on which Roger Spencer liveth, with the marshes adjoining to the sea-wall, not exceeding forty rods broad from said wall; and also a neck of land commonly called Parker's Neck; also sixty aeres of woodland adjoining to an allotment late in the possession of Woodman Leighton, now in the possession of Lieut. Phillips : also sixty acres of land lying between Mr. Hitchcock's house and Saco River mouth, where Lieut. Phillips shall make choice of it in any land not in lease, which aforesnid tract of land so bounded shall be disposed of by the townsmen of Saco, either for commons or otherwise, as they shall see cause, unto which disposal of the aforesaid tract Lieut. W. Phillips doth consent. And all contracts made by any of the possessors of auy land within the limits of the patent in Saco, which did belong unto Mr. Richard Vines, with Lieut. Phillips are to stand good. And such possessors of land within the said limits as have not yet contracted for their land that they do possess, are to pay

the like proportions of rent which those do who have already con- tracted. And all other lands laid out within the limits of the patent of Mr. Vines, excepting that neck of land where R. Spencer dwelleth, which said neck is bounded by the sea-wall next it adjoining, to belong unto Mr. Phillips."

Mr. Phillips acquired soon after another title to his lands, by an extensive purchase from the Indian sachem Mogg Megone. The deed was executed in 1664, and recorded in 1669. The old lessees obtained a joint confirmation of their leases from the patentee and the selectmen of the town.

EARLY INHABITANTS.

People were admitted to be inhabitants by vote of the town ; so we find upon the town-book, March 15, 1665-66, Thomas Harris admitted ; also at the same time an order fining every housekeeper who absented himself from town- meeting 5s.

The first pauper mentioned is in the proceedings of 1669, when provision was voted for his support. In 1672 the selectmen were ordered to procure a new book for records, and Brian Pendleton requested to transcribe the records into it.

We will now make further mention of the early settlers.

Henry Boade was a resident but a few years. He re- moved to Wells, and became associated with Rev. John Wheelwright in laying out and allotting that town, in 1643. James Gibbins, the son-in-law of Mr. Lewis, one of the patentees of Saco, purchased the land occupied by Boade, and dwelt a short distance above the lower ferry.

Thomas Williams was a leading townsman for many years, filling various positions within the gift of his fellow- citizens. He was not successful in the acquisition of prop- erty, and towards the close of his life was assisted in his support by the town. No mention is made of his family, except his wife. Richard, his brother, early engaged in lumbering, was called the " clapboard cleaver," and died in 1635, possessed of clapboards on hand to the value of £164 &s. 4d.,-a large amount for those days. Peyton Cooke was associated with him in the business.

Robert Sankey, another name on the rate-book of 1636, was appointed provost-marshal in 1640. He died at Win- ter Harbor soon after, and his estate passed into the hands of Joseph Bowles, of Wells, who sold it, in 1659, to John Boaden.

Theophilus Davis was probably constable, as he is styled in the records of 1636 " officer for this place." Of Frost and Parker there are no records to indicate what became of them.

John Smith held a lease from Vines, dated 1642, of 100 acres, for which he was to pay an annual rent of 5s. In 1650 he assigned it to N. Buly, who was to enter upon it in 1652, and allow Smith one room in the house for two years after entrance. He held the office of marshal under Cleaves' authority, and was living in 1685, at the age of seventy-three.

Samuel Andrews died before 1638. He took up land in the western part of the town, near Little River, built a house, and inclosed 4 acres. After his death, Mr. Vines confirmed 100 acres to his widow, who afterwards married Arthur Mack worth, of Casco. William Scadlock, a worthy

# County Records.

Photo, by Sawtelle, Biddeford.

T3. G. Putter

BARNABAS E. CUTTER, son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Edmands) Cutter, was born in Newburyport, Mass., Feb. 11, 1813 ; married, in 1834, Sarah A., daughter of Nathaniel and Lydia (Scamman) Rid- lon, of Saco. She is of Scotch descent, and was born Oct. 30, 1815. Her father was a sailor, and was drowned in Saco River in 1817. Her mother lived to the ripe age of eighty-eight years and nine months.

Mr. Cntter came to Saco at the age of thirteen to visit his brother Abraham, and while here his father died, on account of which he never returned to his native place. He became a partner with his brother in the mason's trade in 1842 (A. & B. Cutter), from which time until 1860 the firm was engaged extensively in building in Saco and Bidde- ford. From 1860 to the retirement of Abraham

Cutter from the firm (1878), they were engaged in the coal business. Mr. Cutter has now associated with him in business Mr. John Quimby, with their office located at the old place on the island.

Mr. Cutter enjoys the esteem of all who are acquainted with him or have had business relations with him. He is known as a man of sterling in- tegrity and correct habits. He was superintendent of the Gaslight Company of Saco and Biddeford for eight years. He was one of the selectmen nnder the old town government, and at the time of the incorporation of Biddeford as a city held that office, since which time he has been alderman and council- man at different times. Of his four children Na- thaniel died in infancy, Frank died at the age of twelve, George B. and Hattie F. are living. (For an account of ancestry see sketch of Abraham Cutter.)

SIMON NEWCOMB

(Jesse Smith," Simon,6 Joshua,5 An- drew," Simeon,3 Andrew,2 Andrew1) is a lineal descendant in the eighth generation from Capt. Andrew New- comb, who emigrated from the west of England, Devonshire or Wales, to America in the first part of the sev- enteenth century. lle is found in Boston, Mass., in 1663, where he mar- ried his second wife, Grace, widow of William Rix. Ilc was at that time a master-mariner, and it is supposed he had followed this occupation from his youth. His descendants have taken part in the settlement and progress of New England, have been largely en- gaged in oavigation, in local and State legislation ; and many members of this large family were found patriotic to the country of their adoption, and fought in the war for independence, and in the war of 1812-14. The name was originally spelled "Newcombe."

Simon Newcomb was born in Hav- erhill, Mass., March 14, 183]. His father, Jesse S. Newcomb, born in Wellfleet, Mass., Feb. 7, 1792 ; mar- ried Sarah W. Atwood, of the same place, Sept. 20, 1815. She was born in 1797, and died about 1854.

Jesse S. Newcomb has spent most of his life on the sea, first as a sailor between America and Europe, and subsequently as a master-mariner on the coast of the United States. He was at sea during the war of 1812-14 ; was taken prisoner and carried to Halifax, where he was kept in con- finement for some three months. Ile quit the sea about forty years ago, and during the remainder of his ac- tive business life carried on farming in Haverhill, Mass., where he resides, in 1879, at the advanced age of eighty - eight.

Simon Newcomb, subject of this no-

tice, was seventh in a family of seven sons and five daughters; received a good common-school and academical education during his minority. As early as the age of twelve he began learning the shoemaker's trade, and for several years prior to reaching his majority worked as journeyman at his trade. He came to Biddeford in 1851, and in April, 1852, commenced man- ufacturing ladies' hoots by hand, which business he continues in 1879, having kept pace with the demands of trade and with the latest improve- ments known to the business. He used the first sewing-machine in con- nection with his business, brought to Biddeford, and possibly used in York County. He is the oldest shoe-manu- facturer in York County. Mr. New- comb is a practical shoe-manufacturer, and from his first beginning on the bench he has actively and successfully followed the business. His trade extends throughout New England, New York, and Pennsylvania, and his work is in popular demand wherever known.

Since his residence in Biddeford he has given little attention to politics, yet interested in all local enterprises tending to the prosperity of the city or the welfare of its citizens. He has officiated for two terms as a member of the City Council, serving the last term in 1877. He has been a director of the First National Bank since 1871.

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History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 53

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 730

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 730