USA > Maine > York County > History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 87
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Among the present are Timothy B. Hussey, a prominent manufacturer and leader among the Friends, Samuel Buf- fum, George H. Wentworth, John Hall, who has been county treasurer and member of the Senate, and a leading man in public affairs generally, Charles W. Greenleaf, Joshua Hurd, and H. A. Butler. Mr. Butler, who has been justice of the peace since 1844, began his public life as a school commissioner of Berwick, at the age of twenty- one; has been a selectman for many years ; and in the State Legislature, as a representative of a Democratie constituency in 1864, voted to sustain the war measures of the republie.
PHYSICIANS.
George D. Staples, M.D., a native of Limington, and a graduate of Brunswick in 1838, practiced here; he came from Lebanon in 1846, and resided at North Berwick until his death, in February, 1878, at the age of seventy years.
312
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
Samuel A. Nash, M.D., a native of Raymond, graduated at Bowdoin College in 1869, at the age of twenty-nine, and practiced medicine in Scarborough until his removal to North Berwick, in 1872.
O. B. Hanson, M.D., was here a while in 1879.
J. O. McOrrison, M.D., graduated at Bowdoin in June, 1878, and succeeded to the practice of Dr. Staples on his decease.
L. F. Buzzell has also practiced medicine at North Berwick.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ISAAC VARNEY,
son of Thomas and Huldah (Hanson) Varney, natives of Dover, N. H., was born in Dover, Third month 24th, 1789. He was a direct descendant in the fifth generation from Humphrey Varney, who came from England about the year 1650, and settled at Dover, N. H.
His educational advantages were limited to the common school. llis father dying when he was quite young, he was apprenticed to Micajah Purinton, a hat manufacturer, of Dover, N. H., and for two years after attaining his ma- jority he worked at his trade in Portsmouth, when he removed to North Berwick, and formed a copartnership with Joshua Meader, for the manufacture of hats. This business relation continued but a few years, when he sold out and commenced the same business by himself, which he successfully carried on for several years, when he discon- tinned it and purchased an interest in the Lang Woolen- Factory, of John D. Lang and William Hill. He remained with them several years, when he sold to his partners. After building what is now the " Varney Block," in Dover, N. II., he retired from business. He married, Sixth month 2d, 1814, Miriam, daughter of Panl Rogers, of North Ber- wick. She died Third month 28th, 1855. Of his family of four children only two are now living, namely, Phebe M., born First month 1st, 1821, wife of Timothy Earle, of Valley Falls, R. I .; and Isaac 11., born Fourth month 12th, 1833, now resides at North Berwick, on the old homestead.
For his second wife he married, Third month 26th, 1857, Eliza P., daughter of Joseph and Sarah P. Tuttle, of Dover, N. H., the former of whom was for many years a minister of the Society of Friends at that place. In politics Mr. Varney was originally a Whig, but afterwards a Republi- can. Hle was never an office-seeker.
In religions faith he was a Friend or Quaker from birth, his parents both being of that faith .* Mr. Varney left a wife and two children to monrn his loss, and as inheritors of an easy competence,-the result of his industry and frugality ; and, what is richer still, the memory of wise pre- cepts, good examples, and a useful, busy, and blameless life.
WILLIAM HILL,
son of John and Eunice (Libby) Hill, natives of Eliot, York Co., Me., was born in Eliot, Second month 28th, 1799. His paternal grandfather, John Hill, was also a native of Eliot, and descended from one of two brothers who were of English birth, and emigrated to America during the early settlement of the New England States, one settling in New Hampshire and the other in Maine. His grandmother Hill was shot by an Indian while returning from church with her husband, both being on the back of one horse, this being a usual mode of traveling in those days. No ex- traordinary events mark the life of William Hill. From boyhood to old age his career has been one of activity, care, and usefulness.
In early life he went into the busy world to carve out a fortune for himself, and the principles of economy and industry, so well learned when young, have governed his life throughout. His educational opportunities in boyhood were limited to the common school. From the ages of six- teen to twenty-one he was an apprentice of Timothy Buf- fum, a house-carpenter of North Berwick, and for two years after reaching his majority followed his trade. He married (First month 25th, 1823) Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Hannah Buffum, of North Berwick. She was born Ninth month 18th, 1802, and died Ninth month 26th, 1859. Of his family of thirteen children only five reached manhood and womanhood, namely, Charles E., born Second month 27th, 1827, of Stamford, Conn .; William, born Sixth month 6th, 1832, died Second month 5th, 1848; Elizabeth A., born Fourth month 21st, 1838 (wife of Joseph D. Tay- lor, of Cambridge, Ohio) ; Mary R., born Third month 27th, 1839 (wife of William Hobbs, of North Berwick) ; Edward, born Fifth month 13th, 1840, of Brooklyn, N. Y. He mar- ried for his second wife Sarah M., daughter of Thomas K. and Sylvia R. Wilbur, of Dartmouth, Mass. She was born First month 28th, 1824, and died Twelfth month 27th, 1872. Immediately after his first marriage he removed to Great Falls, N. H., and resided in the first house erected in that place. He followed the business of machine-building until 1832, when, having purchased a half-interest in the " Lang Woolen-Factory" at North Berwick, he removed to that place. Since 1837, by an act of incorporation, the business relation has been designated as the " North Ber- wick Company." Mr. Hill is principal owner of the stock, and since 1859 has controlled the business, and successfully carried on this manufacturing interest.
Seemingly, his manufacturing interest not being sufficient for his business capacity, he has been for many years one of the leading agriculturists of York County, and connected with many other enterprises of a business character. He obtained the charter for the North Berwick Bank, now the North Berwick National Bank, established in 1860, and has been its president since. For several years he was president of the Dover and Winnipiseogee Railroad, of the Newichawannock Woolen Company, of South Berwick, and of the Great Falls Woolen Company, of New Hampshire. Mr. Hill's rare financial and business ability, his sound con- clusions of future results, and sagacity, have given stability to these various enterprises, and retained to a full extent the confidence of the public.
* He retained his faculties in a remarkable degree, and was capa- ble of transacting business until within a few days of his decease. Just before his death he said, " This has been a beautiful world to me, and I have enjoyed much in it. If it is my Heavenly Father's will to take me home, I cheerfully give up all."
Million seile
313
TOWN OF NORTH BERWICK.
In politics he was formerly a Whig, and became a Repub- lican upon the organization of that party. He has never sought political preferment in any way, although often ear- nestly solicited to accept office. Although nurtured under the influence and teachings of the Congregational Church, of which his parents were members, and his father a deacon for many years, he at the age of twenty-two became a member of the Society of Friends, and for fifty-four con-
ALBERT C. BUFFUM.
ALBERT C. BUFFUM,
son of Jonathan and Sally (Bassett) Buffnm, was born in North Berwick, May 25, 1818. His father, also a native of North Berwick, was born Feb. 21, 1776, and his mother, of Lynn, Mass., was born Nov. 1, 1777. They were married at Wolfboro', N. H., July 22, 1812, and reared a family of five children, two of whom are now living,-Albert C. and Joshua, born Sept. 26, 1820, a resident of New York City. Robert and Tamizin Buffum, the emigrants, came to America during the early settlement of the New England States, and settled at Salem, Mass. Joshua, a lineal de- scendant, came at an early day from Salem, and settled in the town of Berwick, near Salmon Falls. He married Sarah Estes, by whom he had children, Joshua, John, Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth, Lydia, and Hannah, all of whom but one married and reared families. Joshua, his son, married Patience Rogers, of Newbury, Mass. Their chil- dren were Jonathan, John, Aaron, Joshua, Jacob, Samuel, Sarah, James, Lydia, Patience, Eunice, and Dorcas. He settled on the farm upon which Albert C. now resides. He was a tanner by trade. Jonathan, the father of our 40
secutive years attended their annual gathering at Newport, R. I.
As a citizen he is universally respected, possessing a strong hold npon the affections of the people. Having passed the age allotted to humanity by the Psalmist, he yet enjoys gen- eral good health and the retention of all his faculties. In- deed, his is a vigorous old age, which is the inevitable re- ward of a temperate yonth and a discreet manhood.
LITTLE
MRS. ALBERT C. BUFFUM.
subject, in addition to farming, was a tanner and shoemaker. John Buffum, brother of Jonathan, married Lydia Estes, by whom he had five children, two of whom are now living, viz., Mrs. Maria Jones, of Brunswick, and John Henry Buffum, of Lynn, Mass. Albert C. passed his youth at home, and his education was limited to the common school, with one term at the high school at North Berwick. From the winter of 1839 to 1850 he taught school and worked on the farm summers. In 1840 he bought his uncle John's interest in the farm which he had owned since 1808, and took charge of the home-farm, his father residing with him till his death, Jan. 25, 1848. His mother died March 2, 1842. He married Oct. 27, 1848, Huldah S., daughter of Joshua and Hannah Hoag, of New Hampshire. They have no children.
In politics he was formerly a Whig, but latterly a Repub- lican. Has been selectman of his town two years.
In religious faith he is a Quaker. Mr. Buffum enjoys the confidence and respect of the community in which he resides, and in business and social circles occupies a prom- inent position as an honest and upright citizen.
SOUTH BERWICK.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
SOUTH BERWICK includes the old settlement at Quamp- hegan Landing, or the parish of Unity, which was in- corporated in 1673, also known as Newichawannock, after the name given by the Indians to the Piscataqua River, from Quamphegan to the junction of the Coheco, Oyster, Exeter, and New Market Rivers, four miles below.
The town was formed, in 1814, from that portion of Ber- wick lying south of a line extending northeast from Salmon Falls. A small triangular part of York, north of Aga- menticus Mountain, extending to Baker's Spring, on the north, at the present angle in the cast line, was added in 1834. The town is bounded on the north by Berwick and North Berwick, on the east by Wells, on the south by York and Eliot, and on the west by Salmon Falls River, which separates it from the town of Rolinsford, N. H. It contains an area of 14,856 acres of land, more than 8000 of which are improved. The surface is moderately uneven in the north, and hilly in the southern and eastern sections. Butler Hill, east of the village, commands a charming pros- peet. The soil in the northern half of the town is mainly good. The southern half is more sterile and difficult of culture. The apple flourishes well, and some enterprising farmers are giving considerable attention to fruit-culture. Among them may be named Mark F. Goodwin, Esq., who has over one thousand trees. Deposits of good clay for brick are found, and granite is worked from ledges in the east.
SETTLEMENT.
The first explorers found the lands about the Great Works River a dense wilderness, where had been heard no sound of the woodman's axe. No sounds broke the stillness of the primeval solitudes save the musie of the waterfall and the scream of wild beasts or wild, fierce cry of the native savages, from whose wigwams, near Quamphegan Falls, unmarked trails led through the dense forests. The woods everywhere abounded with game, and the waters with fish, so that the first settlers could, after becoming somewhat schooled in the difficult art of wood-craft, provide for the necessities of themselves and their families until the ground began to yield a part of their support.
Quamphegan, the first point to which settlers were at- tracted, is a ripple or rapid a mile in length, and nearly covered by the inflowing tide. The name was given by the Indians, and incant " the place where fish are taken in nets." The Salmon Falls River was so named from the abundance of salmon taken in its waters. It is related that fishermen standing upon the rocks could spear them in great numbers. They had nearly disappeared by the commence- ment of the present century. Frost fish, alewives, and smelts were in great abundance below the Falls.
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A portion of the earliest settlers of Kittery were about the mouth of Great Works River, as were also many tem- porary occupants, who came for fish, and lived in rude cabins. The first occupation appears to have been without any regard for title, as, eight years previous to 1632, men are spoken of-but not named-as living at this point.
Walter Neal, agent of Gorges and Mason, made grants of all the lands in Kittery in 1632-34,* inelnding, of course, the northern part of the town, which embraced the lands of South Berwick at that time. Mr. Neal's residence was in Kittery-the present town-and at Strawberry Bank, Portsmouth, N. H., where he had five associates in carry- ing on the business of lumbering, fishing, and salt-making. Among these five were Humphrey Chadbourne and - - Gibbins, who both lived at Newichawannock [or Berwick] in 1631.+ Mr. Chadbourne is mentioned in his biography as dwelling a few years after 1631 at Strawberry Bank, Portsmouth, and removing to Newichawannock about the year 1638-40, when he settled at Great Works, on Chad- bourne's River, now Great Works River, in South Berwick.
Other settlers are also mentioned as being there seven years previous to 1631, among whom were Frost, Shapleigh, Heard, Chadbourne, Spencer, Broughton, Leader, Plaisted, and Wincoln. In 1643, Mr. Chadbourne purchased of Rowles, the sagamore, a tract of land which included a portion of the site of South Berwick village, and extended to the river, which was familiarly knowu as Chadbourne River. Mr. Thomas Spencer bought of Rowles a body of land between the Great Works and Salmon Falls Rivers. The title was given by the " townsmen" (seleetmen), who were authorized to grant lands, not to exceed 200 acres each, to the inhabitants. The grant reads, ---
" Kittery, the 7th of October, 1651, That whereas, there is a certain pareil of land with a fall of water at Newichawannock, called by the name of Swamp heyon, within the township of Kittery, which was improved hy an Indian Sagamore, Mr. Rowley, and sold by him to Thos. Spencer, of Newichawannick, and said Thomas Spencer sold sd. parcel of land and half the fall of water unto Mr. Thos. Brough- ton, which purchase and sale of sd. Broughton, made by Thos. Spen- eer unto him, is approved to he legal by the whole town of Kittery at a town-meeting there and then bolden. By me.
"HUMPHREY CHADBOURNE,"
All wanting timber received a permit to cut it upon the common lands by applying to the townsmen. In De- cember, 1652, it was voted that all the marsh known by the name of the fowling marsh, lying above Birchen Point, shall be and remain common to this town forever. The boundaries of the common were further defined in 1656 to except the grants for mills at Great Works; and the " In- terest line," extending back two miles from Salmon Falls River, was established as the western boundary.
# Sullivan, pp. 127, 142-43.
t Williamson, i., p. 244.
314
RESIDENCE OFTHE LATE HON. J. H.BIRI FIGH SOUTH REDWITH ME
315
TOWN OF SOUTII BERWICK.
Richard Leader was granted, in 1650, "all the right to the privilege or mill-power on the little river known as Newichawannock, with the liberty and like property" in all timber not yet appropriated to any town or person. Ile immediately erected a large mill, carrying eighteen saws, and from the vastness of his operations gave to the river its present name of Great Works. In 1634 there was granted to him all the pine-trees up the little river, so far as the town bounds went, for the accommodation of his mill, " excepting Tom Tinker's swamp and the next great swamp above it on the east side." For the privilege of cutting all this pine timber he was to pay to the town an annual tax or royalty of £15 currency. In 1662 he was restricted by the town to a limit of one-half mile each side of his river.
For protection against waste, it was ordered, in 1656, that if any inhabitant should " fall any pipe-stave or clap- board timber, and let it lay unused up above one month," any other inhabitant might improve it as his own property. Long roads through the swamps were bridged with fagots, where are now dry and productive farms. A stamping- mill, for stamping out corn, is mentioned as the boundary in a deed drawn in 1654, and lots fenced with "palings" are also mentioned.
All doubtful adventurers were rigorously excluded from the town. In 1654 it was ordered that " no person or per- sons whatsoever shall be admitted into this town without a license from the selectmen thereof," and " if any inhabitant of this town shall receive any person into their house con- trary to the aforesaid order, that any such inhabitant shall give any security unto the selectmen as they shall require, to save and keep harmless the town from any such person so received." Later we see a notice to leave the town " or be dragged out, having had fifteen days previous notice !" In 1660, Thomas Broughton agreed to erect a mill on his lot at the Falls, and to saw for one half any logs the inhabitants might get upon the timbered lands above. It was to supply logs for this mill that Mr. " Chadbourne's Logging Camp," mentioned in the Capt. Sunday Ossipee deed of 1761, was made.
The names of many who were residents within the bounds of the present town in its earliest recorded history are found, by reference to the still earlier records of Kittery, to have been living upon the same lands some years before. Among those so mentioned, the oft-occurring signature of John Wincoll, surveyor, is found. He is the same John " Wincoln" referred to in published history, but the change of spelling is not accounted for, as he writes very plainly, and everywhere alike.
In 1650 there were within the town Thomas and William Spencer, Tom Tinker, James Heard, Wm. Chadbourne, James Warren, Daniel Hubbard, and Daniel Goodwin. Richard Abbott, John Taylor, Roger Plaisted, Daniel Ferguson, Wm. Thompson, and George Rogers bear names found a few years later in the Berwick records.
Wm. Gerrish was a resident in 1736; Thomas Abbott, in 1709. Joseph Abbott and Bial Hambelton were drawn on a jury in 1713. Joseph Hart is mentioned in 1716, and John Wade, at Major Hill's Landing, in 1699.
The names of John Hoord (Heard), Thomas Spencer,
and John Wincoll are found among the subscribers to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, Nov. 24, 1652.
Owing to dangerous incursions of the Indians, the hard- ships of a rigorous winter in an unbroken forest, and the prevalence of wolves and beasts of prey, there was but little advance on the frontier for many years. Humphrey Chad- bourne, Sr., is known to have said when seventy-five years of age there was then no house between his own and Can- ada. He died in 1666.
The whole attention of the few inhabitants seems to have been given to lumbering, and the forests were stripped with astonishing rapidity. Shingles and pine boards were legal tender "delivered at the landing, when the sloops ran," or were discounted by the merchants for store orders payable in rum, molasses, and the less-pressing necessities of life.
The settlement gradually but steadily increased in num- bers until the outbreak of Indian hostilities in 1675, the horrors of which are given in the history of the old town of Berwick.
There were times in which the settlers were suffering with hunger, cold, and the privations of frontier life, and a less courageous and hardy race would have abandoned their new homes for a safer and more populous district. Bears and wolves were continually destroying the growing corn or stealing from the sheepfold, and the settlers were compelled to hunt those marauders for their extermination and the protection of life, as well as for the meat furnished for the table. Wives and daughters shared in the hardships of out- of-doors life, and this developed that hardihood and bravery which made them able consorts of their brave husbands when war came, and stimulated them to deeds of daring which will never be forgotten.
A meeting-house was erected in 1702, and a Rev. John Wade, employed as minister of the town, preached here. The parish was divided in 1751, and a second meeting- house built on Blackberry Hill.
In 1706-7 the towns were reunited.
In 1790 a meeting was called "because the town was so large it was inconvenient to be governed, and impossible to be properly assessed" by one board; therefore it was voted the south parish be incorporated into a separate town, and a petition was addressed to the General Court. The old parish line was the proposed boundary. This was voted down afterwards, and a second meeting prepared a petition, which their committee surreptitiously held until after the assembling of that body.
A third attempt was made in 1813, and resulted more favorably.
INCORPORATION.
The town of South Berwick was incorporated Feb. 12, 1814. A petition of leading citizens addressed to William Hight, Esq., justice of the peace, asking that an election be called, was signed by the following names of leading cit- izens : John Cushing, Micajah Currier, Ichabod Butler, Nathaniel C. Norton, Robinson Palmer, Thomas Leigh, Nathan Lord, Nathan Nayson, Timothy Ferguson, J. R. Chadbourne, Bartholomew Nayson, Edmund Higgins, Jr. The first election was held at the South meeting-house, in South Berwick village, March 14, 1814. There were 232 votes polled.
316
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
Benjamin Greene, Esq., was chosen Moderator ; Nathan Nayson, Town Clerk ; Benjamin Greene, Samuel Nichols, Simeon Lord (2d), Selectmen ; Samuel Butler, William Harvey, Collectors and Constables ; James Stanley, Samuel Park, Bracket Palmer, James Grant, Jr., Tythingmen ; Nathaniel Nayson, Jonathan Brown, John Shorey, Na- thaniel Garland, Jonathan Chase, Joseph Emery, Ebenezer Goodwin, Stephen Chase, Rufus Twombley, Thomas B. Park, Asa Shorey, John Plaisted, Surveyors of Lumber ; Josiah W. Seaver, Treasurer; Jeremiah Bradbury, Town Agent ; Samuel Nichols, Sealer of Leather; Nathaniel Nayson, Clerk of the Market ; Jedediah Goodwin, William Hight. Three stave-cullers, ten surveyors of wood and bark, and ten surveyors of highways were chosen. Benja- min Greene was elected the first representative of the town to the General Court. May 9th of that year a resolution was adopted in town-meeting, asking that the town be re- stored to its former limits as a part of the old town. A similar resolution was passed in the old town the same year.
VISIT OF LAFAYETTE.
In 1824-25, when the Marquis de la Fayette visited this country, he was received by a delegation of the most prom- inent citizens of Maine on his entrance to the State through this town. The party breakfasted at Mrs. Sarah Frost's inn, on the old Frost Home, in the present village, and an address of welcome was delivered there by Judge Benjamin Greene. Hon. William A. Hayes also participated in the reception. The marquis also called upon Mrs. Olive Cush- ing, whom he had known in Boston during the war. The old Cushing mansion, which is still standing, is the resi- dence of her descendants, the family of H. H. Hobbs, Esq. On this occasion there was a grand parade of the school children of the town.
WARS.
The town of Berwick, which was organized to include this present town, records the patriotism of all her original towns, the main settlement of which is now South Berwick.
The Indian troubles began about 1675, and the settlers suffered untold hardships and dangers. The Berwick sketch comprises the early history and sufferings endured at this period, to which the reader is referred. When the Louisbourg expedition was decided upon, large numbers vol- unteered for the enterprise. During the Revolution two full companies went from Berwick, under the command of Capt. Philip Hubbard and Daniel Wood. The commission of Capt. Hubbard, signed by John Hancock, remains in possession of descendants of the family in town. Capt. Wood receiving promotion to major, Ebenezer Sullivan, a brother of Gen. John, succeeded to the command. Sev- eral hardy sailors from this town shared in the exploits of John Paul Jones upon the ocean. Among them now re- membered were Ichabod Lord and Aaron Goodwin, de- scendants of whom are worthy citizens of the town. Goodwin and seven others at one time were captured, taken to England, and imprisoned. They effected their escape by digging under the wall, made their way to the coast, seized a small boat, and crossed to France.
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