USA > Maine > York County > History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 92
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made. Some Indian implements and curiosities have been found upon the more frequented points.
The Indians formally relinquished their title through a deed made Nov. 28, 1668, wherein Captain Sunday, the sagamore, conveyed to Francis Small, the trader at Kittery, all the lands between the Great and Little Ossipee Rivers, lying between the Saco River on the east and the New Hampshire line, and since known as " The Five Ossipee Towns." For this large tract, supposed to be twenty miles square, the sagamore received two blankets, two gallons of rum, two pounds of powder, four pounds of musket-balls, and twenty strings of beads.
LAND TITLES.
Francis Small, the original proprietor, neglected to get his deed recorded, but sold to Maj. Nicholas Shapleigh, of Kittery, an interest in his title, previous to April 30, 1711, at which date he transferred his remaining interest to his son, Samuel Small. There is much doubt whether any great value was attached to either of these titles at the time, ex- cept as mere trading stock. The title having acquired value through confirmation of similar ones, the original deed from the sagamore, which was discovered among the papers of Francis Small by his descendants, in 1770, was recorded, and the heirs of Small and Shapleigh took formal posses- sion. On partition of the lands, under the subsequent deeds, Aug. 5, 1771, the Shapleigh heirs were awarded Par- sonsfield, Shapleigh, which was supposed to be included in the grant, and half of Limerick. The remainder went to the heirs of Small, for whom Joshua Small was business manager. Shapleigh having been found to be outside the limits of the grant, James Sullivan was offered the half of Limerick if he would defend all claims against it. This he did, bringing the case before the committee on eastern lands, who reported in favor of the proprietors, Samuel Shapleigh and forty-three others.
FIRST POSSESSION OF LIMERICK.
Mrs. Paulina Osborne, of Kennebunk, has in her keeping a piece of lead (8 by 10 inches ) which was found by her former husband, George Ford, of Limerick, about thirty- three years since, near the northern bank of Little Ossipee river. It was imbedded about eighteen inches in the ground, near a large pine stump. Upon one side are the following names :
"T. GILPATRICK.
" B. Nason, J. Cole,
S. Wingate,
J. Gilpatrick,
E. Allen,
J. Morrill,
0. Emery,
J. Sullivan,
E. Bradbury,
W. Cole,
J. Stimpson, B. Staple,
J. Staple.
" Anno 1772, May 15th."
332
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TOWN OF LIMERICK.
On the reverse side :
" Daniel Ridlon, olim animo possessidendi.
Witness : D. King, J. Wingate,
Limbrick."
Sullivan, whose name appears on this medal, was after- wards Governor of Massachusetts, who, with his associates above named, in this way indicated their ownership and possession of the territory afterwards called Limerick. The obverse side has a smoother, brighter surface than the other, evidently having once been long exposed to the atmosphere.
SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement was made in Limerick, about 1775, under James Sullivan, one of the proprietors, and after- wards Governor of Massachusetts. He appears to have entered vigorously upon the work of settling his half-town- ship, for Rev. John Adams, of Newfield, found 12 families in the plantation when he visited it in 1780. Part of them were Irishmen from Limerick, the native home of Sulli- van, and from them the place was known at that time as " Limerick." Other early settlers were from Saco, Bidde- ford, Berwick, Kittery, York, Kennebunk, Scarborough, and Newbury, Mass.
The first settler was Isaiah Foster, father of Ezekiel Foster. He made the first clearing on the W. B. Bangs place, two miles south of Limerick village, towards Stim- son's mill. John Wingate laid the town out, and had three 100-acre lots for his services. He settled on one of them, the Capt. A. N. Bradbury place, in a range which contained 160 acres to each lot. His three lots were all selected in this range. Thomas and Joseph Gilpatrick settled west of Limerick village, near District No. 1 school-house. James Perry settled in the northwest corner of the town, and James Miles settled near, with his house in Limerick and barn in Parsonsfield. Joseph Miles and George Perry joined this settlement next. Abijah Felch settled first at Felch's Corner, and was joined by Jacob Bradbury ; his old cellar may still be seen in the field at the corner west and south of the roads. Pennel Clark lived near the Perrys. A Mr. Irish settled east of the south end of East Pond on the knoll. These were the families visited by the Rev. Mr. Adams in 1780.
Joseph Perkins, Jeremiah Allen, Benjamin Keene, Ed- mund Hayes, William Boothby, and Benjamin and William Durgin were also early settlers who came previous to 1790.
The first intention of marriage recorded was that of James Miles and Sarah Pendexter, both of Limerick, July 22, 1782.
The first record of civil government in the town of Limerick is contained in the following order :
"To John Perry, a principal inhabitant of the plantation of Lim- erick, in the county of York, greeting. In observance of a precept from the Honorable Henery gardner, Esq., treasurer of the State of Massachusetts Bay, & Pursuant to an act or Law of said State made and passed Anno Domini 1761, intitled an act for laying & collecting tax in Plantations not in Corporated, you are hereby commanded in the name of the government and people of the Massachusetts Bay, New England, to Notify and Warn the in habitants of Said Planta- tion chusing freeholders to assemble & meet at your Dwelling house therein, on Monday, the 22 day of May Next, att ten of the clock in the forenoon, in order to choose a moderator & clerk, and also asses-
sors and collector, for assessing and collecting all such tax as the gen- eral assembly of said State has ordered to Be collected in said Planta- tion, since the year 1775 to the 29th day of December last, the Day of the Date of said Precept inclusive hereof; fail Not and make a true return of this warrant with your Doings thereon to myself on or Before the first day of June next. Given under my Hand and Scal at Wells, in the County aforesaid, ye 28 Day of February, Anno Domini, 1780. Nathal. Wells, one of justice of pease of said county.
"N. B .- The assessors are to Be sworn Be fore the moderator. If no meeting is warned the Person to whom the warrant is Directed will Be obliged to Pay all the taxes; if the inhabitants Neglect after being notified to Chuse assessors they are to Be appointed By the court of general sessions of the Peace."
Under this order a meeting was held ; Capt. Jacob Brad- bury chosen Moderator; John Wingate, Clerk ; Thomas Gilpatrick, John Wingate, and Isaiah Foster, Assessors ; and John Hodgdon, Collector. The assessors were voted " four shillings a day cach, which is equal to a bushel of corn," and the collector six pence a pound for collecting. In June another meeting was held at Capt. Jacob Brad- bury's inn, and it was voted that John Hodgdon, the col- lector, was authorized to levy only the taxes from 1775 to 1779. This burdensome tax was severely felt by the young colony, and a hundred acres of good land was set aside to fee a lawyer who could appear in their behalf and address the General Court. A question as to "what tenor" the law of 1761 required payment in was debated through the settlement in hopes of a partial relief.
A meeting, held in April, 1781, to provide one good and able bodied man to serve in the Continental army for three years, was adjourned twice, when finally the committee re- ported a man engaged for "one hundred and fifty hard dollars," three months' wages paid down, and six bushels of Indian corn per month. Bonds were given by the planta- tion for faithful payment. The soldier's name was Israel Jones. The next draft, in July, was for another soldier, and " three hundred and eighty-two pounds of beef, exclu- sive of hide, to be delivered on the hoof."
April 17th, William Durgin was chosen Collector; Isaiah Foster, William Durgin, John Perry, and James Perry, Surveyors of Highways.
The first ballot recorded for Governor was in 1788, when there were but eight votes cast. The town's stock of pow- der, ball, flints, and kettles was not completed until 1794. A circular powder-house, 8 feet in diameter and 8 feet high, was built of brick in 1817, and continued to be supplied with ammunition until the repeal of the old militia law and the abolition of the annual trainings, in which it went off in noise and smoke. The usual custom of furnishing rum upon the highways repairs was voted down in 1828. Town elections were changed from the Congregationalist meeting-house to Felch's Hall in 1833, and a town-hall was finished in the lower story of the Baptist meeting-house in 1834. The present town-house was built, in 1860, by C. F. Libby, of Portland, and C. Johnson, of Hollis, at an expense of over $10,000. It is of brick, 40 by 60 feet, three stories high, and is occupied by Masonic and Odd-Fellows' lodges and for town-hall and the town offices. It is one of the finest town buildings in the county.
In 1814 the town called meetings to raise soldiers; ap- propriated $600 to be used by the selectmen in the pur- chase of arms and munitions of war. Agents were ap-
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
pointed to superintend the collection of beef and bread for the militia, and to receive donations of grain. Timothy Meder was sent through the town to solicit donations of cheese, butter, etc., for the use of the soldiers, who were to march to the camps along the coast, and who were supplied with three days' rations on starting.
THE CAVE.
Among the places of interest pointed out to strangers is the cave, or, as it is more commonly known, the Bear's Den. This is located among the granite fields in the east part of the town, where James Staples, with five brothers, and Ed- ward Staples, his father, settled near each other previous to 1800. It was formed by the fall of a large shelving rock at the southern extremity of Strouts Mountain, which projected about 50 feet from the ledge and had a breadth of about 40 feet. The rock, from 3 to 4 feet thick, ap- pears to have fallen from its own weight, and so broken in its fall of 25 feet as to form a triangular passage at its base. A large bear was once found here and killed ; hence its name. Mr. Staples, who had nine careless sons, used to gather his tools in the fall and hide them in this cave over winter, to keep them from being lost and destroyed. Half a mile to the east a precipice of some 40 feet, beside an un- frequented road, is surrounded by high hills, which give to it a picturesque appearance. The wildest scenery in the county is between this point and Limerick village.
INCORPORATION.
March 13, 1786, John Wingate, Abijah Felch, and Jo- seph Gilpatrick were made a committee to make applicatiou to the General Court for the incorporation of the town. The act of incorporation was passed March 6, 1787. The first election was held at the inu of Capt. Jacob Bradbury, near Felch's Corner, the usual place of election for some years. April 2, 1787, Capt. Bradbury was chosen Mod- crator ; Abijah Felch, Town Clerk ; Capt. Jacob Bradbury, Joseph Gilpatrick, Thomas Gilpatrick, Selectmeu and As- sessors ; Amariah Lord, Treasurer ; John Wingate, William Hodgdon, Fence-Viewers; Amariah Lord, Joseph Gilpat- rick, Josiah Foster, Surveyors of Highways ; Asher Record, Constable; John Furnald, Jeremiah Gilpatrick, John Hodg- don, Tithingmen ; Corriel Staples and Thomas Lord, Hog- Reeves.
Selectmen's charges were made payable in corn at four and rye at five shillings per bushel.
CIVIL LIST. PLANTATION OFFICERS.
CLERKS .- John Wingate, 1780: Thomas Gilpatrick, 1781 ; Benjamin Johnson, 1782; Asher Record, 1783 ; Abijah Felch, 1784: Abijah Felch, 1784-86.
ASSESSORS .- 1780, Thomas Gilpatrick, John Wingate, Isaiah Foster ; 1781, Joseph Gilpatrick, Jacob Bradbury, John Wingate; 1782- 83, Abijah Felch, Asher Record, Peter Cushing; 1784, Joseph Gilpatrick, Thomas Gilpatrick, Capt. Jacob Bradbury ; 1785- 86, Capt. Jacob Bradbury, Joseph Gilpatrick, Amariab Lord.
TOWN CLERKS.
Abijah Felchi, 1787-92; John Morrill, 1793-1800; Abijah Felch, 150I-3; Jacob Mills, 1804; Johu Burnham, Esq., 1805; Dr. William Swasey, 1806-30; William Swasey, Jr., 1831-34 ; Joseph
Howard, 1835-36; William T. Morris, 1837-39 ; Humphrey Pike, 1840; James Fogg, 1841-43 ; Edmund E. Sanborn, 1844 ; James Fogg, 1845-46; Nahum MeKusick (2d), 1847; Caleb B. Lord, 1848-49 ; Luther S. Moore, 1850; Winboin Adams, 1851-52; John Carr, 1853-54; James Fogg, 1855-57 ; Isaac B. Bean, 1858 ; Ira S. Libby, 1859-61; llorace H. Burbank, 1862; James H. Brown, 1863; Ira S. Libby, 1864; Frederick W. Libby, 1865-66; Fred. W. Swasey, 1867-68 ; Lorenzo D. Durrell, 1869; Luther B. Roberts, 1870; James H. Brown, 1871 ; Joshua Holland, Jr., 1872; Elisha F. Severance, 1873; Jobn C. Swasey, 1874-76 ; Henry E. Eastman, 1877; Frederick W. Libby, 1878-79.
SELECTMEN.
1787 .- Jacob Bradbury, Joseph Gilpatrick, Thomas Gilpatrick. 1788 .- John Wingate, Benjamin Johnson, George Perry. 1789 .- Abijah Feich, John Wingate, Joseph Gilpatrick. 1790 .- Abijah Felch, John Wingate, Benjamin Johnson. 1791 .- Benjamin Johnson, John Wingate, John Hodgdon, Jr.
1792 .- Capt. John Bradbury, Lieut. Penuel Clark, Ensign James Perry.
1793-94 .- Benjamin Johnson, John Hodgdon, Jr., Penuel Clark. 1795 .- Benjamin Johnson, John Morrill, Penuel Clark. 1796-97 .- John Morrill, Thomas Gilpatrick, Penuel Clark.
1798 .- John Morrill, Jacob Mills, Penuel Clark.
1799 .- John Morrill, John Hayes, Capt. John Baker. 1800-1 .- John Morrill, Penuel Clark, Daniel Feleb. 1802 .- Penuel Clark, Daniel Felch, Nathaniel Libby. 1803 .- Penuel Clark, Daniel Felch, Edmund Hayes.
1804 .- Capt. Daniel Felch, Lieut. Edmund Hayes, Lieut. Nathaniel Leavitt.
1805 .- Capt. Daniel Felch, Penuel Clark, James Small. 1806 .- Capt. Daniel Felch, Edmund Hayes, Jonathan Hill. 1807-8 .- Penuel Clark, Simeon Barker, Edmund Hayes. 1809 .- Penuel Clark, Simeon Barker, Jonathan Hill. 1810 .- Edmund Hayes, Simon Fogg, Nathaniel Libby. 1811-12 .- Edmund llayes, Simon Fogg, Jonathan Hill.
1813 .- Edmund Hayes, Simon Fogg, Jeremiah Gilpatrick.
1814 .- Jonathan Hill, Simon Fogg, Jeremiah Gilpatrick.
1815-17 .- Edmund Hayes, Jeremiah Gilpatrick, Joseph Stimson. 1818 .- Simon Fogg, Joseph Sedgley, James Stimpson. 1819-25 .- Edmund llayes, Simon Fogg, Jeremiah Gilpatrick.
1826 .- Simon Fogg, Daniel Perry, John A. Morrill. 1827 .- Simon Fogg, Daniel Perry, Ira Cole.
1828-29 .- Daniel Perry, Simon Fogg, Ira Cole. 1830-31 .- Benjamin Ilsley, Edmund Hayes, Charles Bean. 1832 .- Benjamin Ilsley, Ira Cole, Amzi Libby.
1833 .- Benjamin Ilsley, Amzi Libby, Joseph II. Gilpatrick.
1834 .- Benjamin Ilsley, Josiah C. Johnson, Joseph H. Gilpatrick.
1835 .- Amzi Libby, Henry Dole, Stephen Libby (2d). 1836 .- IIenry Dole, Stephen Libby (2d), Lot Wiggin.
1837 .- Abner Burbank, Joseph HI. Gilpatrick, Lot Wiggin. 1838 .- Abner Burbank, Samuel Harper, David Watson. 1839 .- Joseph H. Gilpatrick, Samuel Ilarper, Abner Burbank.
1840 .- Peter Fogg, James Bradbury, Sylvanus Hayes.
1841 .- Peter Fogg, Abner Burbank, Nahum MeKusick. 1842 .- Peter Fogg, Abner Burbank, Cyrus Fogg. 1843 .- Abner Burbank, Cyrus Fogg, Simon Walker. 1844 .- Abner Burbank, Samuel Harper, Cotton Bean. 1845 .- Peter Fogg, Joseph H. Gilpatrick, Simon Walker. 1846 .- Peter Fogg, Joseph H. Gilpatrick, Cotton Bean. 1847 .- Abner Burbank, Joseph H. Gilpatrick, Cotton Bean. 1848 .- Peter Fogg, Iliram Hayes, Peter D. Morrill.
1849 .- Peter Fogg, Hiram Hayes, Samuel Perry.
1850-51 .- Abner Burbank, Hugh M. L. Morris, Joseph W. McKenney. 1852 .- Joseph H. Gilpatrick, Aaron N. Bradbury, Horace C. John- son.
1853 .- Peter Fogg, Simeon S. Hasty, Philip Gilpatrick.
1854 .- Abner Burbank, Simeon S. Hasty, Philip Gilpatrick.
1855 .- Joseph II. Gilpatrick, Simeon Hasty, Abner A. Libby.
1856 .- Joseph H. Gilpatrick, Abner A. Libby, Aaron N. Bradbury. 1857 .- Peter Fogg, Simeon S. Hasty, Isaac Dyer. 1858 .- Joseph H. Gilpatrick, John T. Fellows, Oliver S. Hasty.
1859 .- Abner Burbank, Isaac Dyer, John Gray. 1860 .- Abner Burbank, Isaac Dyer, Ebenezer Day. 1861 .- Cyrus Fogg, Abner A. Libby, Ebenezer Day.
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TOWN OF LIMERICK.
1862 .- Joseph H. Gilpatrick, Simeon S. Hasty, Thurston P. Me- Kusick.
I863 .- Cyrus Fogg, Abner A. Libby, William B. Bangs. 1864 .- Abner A. Libby, William B. Bangs, Joseph W. Holland. 1865 .- Joseph H. Gilpatrick, Philip Gilpatrick, Ira S. Libby. 1866 .- Ira S. Libby, Luther Dole, John C. Hayes, Jr. 1867 .- Luther Dole, John C. Hayes, Jr., Ephraim Durgin. 1868 .- Jeremiah M. Mason, Horace P. Green, Benjamin A. Sawtelle. 1869 .- Ira S. Libby, Asa Libhy, Edwin Ilsley.
1870-71 .- Cyrus Fogg, Isaac Dyer, Philip Gilpatrick. 1872 .- Philip Gilpatrick, Joshua C. Lane, Simeon S. llasty. 1873 .- Joshua C. Lane, Winburn Adams, William B. Bangs. 1874 .- Horace P. Green, James Perkins, George W. Meserve. 1875 .- Edwin Ilsley, George W. Meserve, John M. Purinton. 1876-77 .- Jeremiah M. Mason, James Perkins, Elkanah S. Philpot. 1878. Joshua C. Lane, Moses L. Cobb, Wentworth Lord. 1879 .- Joshua C. Lane, Wentworth Lord, Leander B. Staples.
LIMERICK VILLAGE.
The village of Limerick is built upon the top of a high ridge, in the centre of the town, at a point where a gap, containing some 200 acres of quite level land, breaks through the ridge, and is bounded to the north and south by the high close hills, while to the east and west the view is unobstructed for miles.
The place has been visited by two severe fires, destroying a part of the business in 1879. The present business in- terests are as follows :
General stores: J. H. Brown, established in 1866; W. Adams & Son, established by Winburn Adams, former clerk of Col. Morrill, in 1849 ; L. D. Durell, established in 1868; Perkins & Libby, since 1879; established by Edwin R. Perkins and A. M. Davis in 1878.
Groceries, furniture, flour, and produce : T. R. Swasey & Sons, established in 1875.
Watches and jewelry : John P. Fogg, since 1876, for- merly Bennett Pike.
Millinery and fancy goods : Mrs. J. P. Fogg, since 1876 ; established in 1869 ; Miss Emma R. Moore, since 1875.
Hardware: E. A. Sadler, since 1873; established by M. A. Brackett in 1866.
Blacksmiths : F. E. Townsend, established in 1876 ; J. G. Harmon, established in 1840.
Painter : Frederick W. Libby.
Custom shoes : Ira Clark, established in 1832; Isaac Emery, established in 1834.
Physicians : Wm. Swasey, E. F. Severance, S. O. Clark. Dentists : G. T. Merriman, established in 1879 ; D. R. Smith, established in 1877.
Lawyers : Luther S. Moore, Frank M. Higgins.
Hotel : Limerick House, C. B. Hill; erected by Robt. Cole in 1854, on the site of the old inn of Capt. J. Brad- bury, where the early town elections were held.
Tannery : Eastman Bros., established by D. A. Eastman. New engines and machinery added in 1870, giving it a capacity of 600 hides per week.
Postmaster : William Cobb ; mails daily by stage from the railroad at Waterborough Centre and East Parsonsfield. Auctioneer and land-surveyor : Abner Burbank.
The place contains, besides the business houses, 76 dwel- lings, 3 churches, and a fine brick town-ball building, 40 by 60 feet, and two and a half stories high, with two commo- dious halls and office-rooms for the town officers.
HOLLANDVILLE,
at the outlet of Holland Pond, is a manufacturing hamlet, containing two woolen-factories with their out-buildings, saw-mill, and shovel-handle manufactory. This business, which consists chiefly in the manufacture of blankets, was established by the Limerick Manufacturing Company in 1846, became the property of Joshua Holland, Esq., in 1857, and was increased from 1100 to 2700 spindles in 1870, with a capacity of 250 blankets daily. A small newspaper was established here, in 1877, by Wormwood & Holland, and soon after moved to Cornish village. There are 16 dwellings at this place.
WATER-POWERS.
Of the eight water-powers wholly within the limits of the town, the most important is that at Holland Factory, on Brown's Brook, which has a natural fall of 12 feet in 84, and is surmounted by a 12-foot dam. This furnishcs power sufficient to carry 2300 spindles constantly during the entire year. The stream is the outlet of three ponds in Parsonsfield, covering an area of 1120 acres. Good dams might be constructed at the outlet of either. One of these, improved in 1856 by the erection of a mill, has been a source of great profit to its owner, who has become one of the heaviest tax-payers within the town.
At Bradbury's Mill, eighty rods below, there is a fall of 2 feet in 8 rods, increased to 5 feet by a dam, and used by a saw- and shingle-mill.
The old Foster mill-privilege, a mile below, has a fall of 5 feet in 20 rods. The stream is here about 35 feet wide, inclosed by steep banks, and surrounded by an abund- ance of good stone for building. A power on Folsom Brook supports a grist-mill.
On Staple Brook, the old Jackson mill-privilege has a fall of 11 feet in 12 rods. Durgin's Mill is another power on the same stream.
On Fogg Brook, the site of the old Fogg Mill is a fine location, with steep banks, and abounding in good building- stone. There is here a fall of 16 feet in about 80 rods. The old dam had a head of 11 feet. A mile below is a fall of 3 feet in 10 rods, formerly utilized by the saw-mill of Cole & Gilpatrick.
There are, besides these, several lesser powers, and on the Little Ossipee River, near the southeast corner of the town, an unoccupied natural fall of 4 feet in 20 rods, flow- ing between steep banks. At Stimpson's Mills, three miles above, a 2-foot fall in 20 rods is controlled by a dam of 7 feet bead.
CHURCHES. CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH.
At the annual meeting, March 13, 1786, the plantation voted $14 a month to be raised and paid to Mr. Abraham Cummings for preaching the gospel three months in this place, and that the plantation pay 8s. a week for one half the expense of his board.
Fifteen pounds were also voted for preaching the next summer. In a vote taken in 1788, it appeared that about three-fifths of the town were in favor of a Congregational- ist minister, and the remainder wanted a Baptist minister. It was then agreed that Mr. Thomas Archibald continue to
336
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
preach in the town three days more. A half-acre of land was bought of Carroll Staples, and a frame school-house inclosed during the same year. One half of this land was set aside for a burying-ground. The next year a town pound of logs, forty feet square, was built upon this lot, by Joseph Perkins, for 20} bushels of corn, equal to $10.123. Abraham Cummings preached in the school-house in 1786. In 1791, £30 were voted to be divided by the selectmen among each society. Joseph Hodgdon, Joseph Gilpatrick, and John Morrill were a committee for this church. A Congregationalist meeting-house was built in 1793, and the election was held in it in September of that year, and the Baptist society released from all further con- tribution for the support of this church and society. A fast was ordered, and measures taken to at once settle a minis- ter. Rev. Edmond Eastman became settled pastor on the organization of the church, July 5, 1795, and received as his settlement one lot of land,-number 7, range D,-close to the village, which had been reserved by the proprietors for that purpose, and £60 salary, with an annual increase until £80 was reached. The land is now a part of Lim- erick village. A committee was appointed to build him a house. In 1812 the meeting-house was moved on the town- lot, with the privilege of being used for town-meetings while it stood on the lot. From 1812 to 1820 there was no settled pastor, but the church was supplied with preach- ing part of the time.
Jan. 19, 1820, Charles Freeman, a graduate of Bowdoin College, was ordained and settled as pastor. He was a scholarly man, of deep piety, and endeared himself to the whole community. He continued pastor of the church till his death, September, 1853. Three months previous to his death, Rev. Albert Cole supplied the church as colleague pastor.
Rev. Albert Cole was installed pastor in December, 1854. Under this pastorate the church grew in numbers and iu- fluence. Hle resigned March 22, 1860.
Rev. Charles Packard was settled as pastor March 6, 1860, and was dismissed in October, 1864. May 1, 1865, Rev. Philip Titcomb commenced to supply the church, which he did till October, 1868. Rev. Thomas N. Lord began to preach as supply iu January, 1870, and is still a resident supply.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist residents of Limerick were awarded their share of tax and preaching as early as 1788. In 1796, Abijah Felch, Amariah Lord, and Jacob Mills were ap- pointed a committee to lay out the Baptist society's money raised for the support of the gospel. This sum amounted to 860. The Baptist Church in Limerick was formerly a branch of the church in Parsousfield, but through the efforts of Elder Levi Chadbourne it was organized into an inde- pendent church, Aug. 25, 1796, with 31 members. Eb- enezer R. Kinsman was ordained as its first pastor, Oct. 12, 1796, and preached until May 14, 1807. During his pastorate 42 were baptized and united with the church. After his resignation he continued to preach to the church part of the time for some years. From 1816 to 1827 was a season of spiritual drought, during which time no records were kept. The church had occasional preaching by dif-
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