USA > Maine > Somerset County > Skowhegan > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 21
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Canaan > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 21
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Bloomfield > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 21
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Starks > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 21
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Norridgewock > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
Efforts were made in 1795 to erect a bridge at Skowhegan, but the first bridge in Old Canaan, across the Kennebec, was chartered in 1808, for Isaac Beale and Wm. B. Shaw. It was to be of "Merchantable Boards," nailed one upon another so as to break joints, with wrought nails. When about eight courses of planks had been laid, the whole affair fell of its own weight, and the enterprise was abandoned.
The Skowhegan bridge is built from an island in the Kennebec to each shore, and thus con- nects Bloomfield and Skowhegan. It was first built by William Weston, Esq., of Norridge- wock, at a cost of $5,500, in the year 1809. With a few slight interruptions it has been kept open for tolls since.
Besides these there are several bridges in different portions of the five towns, as across the Wesserrunsett, Fifteen Mile stream, Lee- man stream, and other smaller brooks.
NEWSPAPERS. The Somerset Journal was
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established May 15, 1823, at Norridgewock, by Edes and Copeland. $2 per annum. In June, 1841, it took the name of the People's Press, and in 1845 it was removed to Skowhegan. During several months in 1843, it bore the name of The Working Man, and was published by H. P. Pratt, and W. D. Gould. The present publisher and editor, H. P. Pratt, has published the paper since the year 1844.
In August, 1828, the Democratic Somerset Republican was established at Norridgewock, at $2 per annum; the name was changed to The Skowhegan Sentinel, Dec. 12, 1831, and the office removed to Milburn. By A. Wyman and Son. In Oct. 1838, it was commenced by Littlefield and Hill, and Oct. 8, 1840, J. D. Hill published it six months, ending April 8, 1841.
In July, 1841, the Skowhegan Clarion was commenced by Moses Littlefield, the present editor and publisher.
The Family Physician and Literary Miscellany was established in December, 1847, by Dr. A. Angier Mann, and it ceased to exist at the end of one year. In May, 1849, the Physician and Down East Screamer was established, Dr. A. A. Mann editor and publisher.
The Kennebec varies considerably in closing and opening. The following seven years will give a fair view.
River closed.
River opened.
1819
Dec. 5
April 13
1820
Nov. 29
15
1821
30
11
1822
Dec. 7
March 27
30*
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1823
Nov. 14
April 9
1824
15 March 27
1825
Dec. 11
April 4
This refers to the condition of the river at Augusta. It opens later and closes earlier as we travel north.
Since 1786 the river has not been obstructed by ice after April 20th. The average for 45 years, was as follows : closing, Dec. 12th ; open- ing, April 11th. The most remarkable years were 1792, when the river closed up Nov. 4th, and did not open until April 1st; and 1832, when it closed Jan. 10, and opened April 13.
In 1843, opened April 22; 1844, April 13; 1845, April 22; 1846, March 27; 1847, April 25; 1849, March 30.
WEATHER, CASUALTIES, &c. - In May, 1779, there was a terrible tornado, which did im- mense damage throughout the entire State. The darkness was only relieved by constant flashes of most terrific lightning .*
In 1780, for forty days, thirty-one of which were in March, there was no thaw on the south side of any house. Teams passed over the walls in every direction.t
May 19, 1780, was the famous Dark Day. Time could not be ascertained by watches, common print could not be read without a light; birds retired to roost, and everything wore the appearance of night. This phe- nomenon was caused by a dense stratum of clouds.
* Williamson's History of Maine. + History of Danvers.
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The winter of 1784 was remarkable for its intense cold .*
In April, 1785, three feet of snow fell.t
March 13, 1787, there were five feet of snow in the woods .¿
August 26, 1787, at 4 o'clock, p. m., a ball of fire was seen, by most of the settlers of Maine, flying through the air, in a south-westerly di- rection, and it was heard suddenly to explode three times in quick succession. Buildings were shaken by the report, which was heard as far east as Frenchman's Bay, and as far west as Fryeburgh.
June 16, 1795, there was a great frost that cut down all vegetation.§
In the winter of 1795, Isaac Russell was killed near Skowhegan Falls, by a loaded sled passing over him. He left a wife and several children.
John Smith, Esq., Deputy Sheriff and Tax Collector for Canaan, attempted to cross the ferry. which previous to the erection of the bridge, was just above the Falls in Skowhe- gan, on a night in August, 1803. There was a strong freshet, and Mr. Smith, with his horse in the boat, found himself unable to manage it. He shrieked for assistance, and awoke David Parkman, who made every possible effort to save him, in vain. His horse leaped into the water and swam to the shore. The boat was swept over the cataract, and Mr. Smith was drowned. His body was found a few days af- terwards, on one of the islands.
* Williamson's History of Maine. ¡ Ib.
# Melzar Lindsay.
§ Workingman.
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June 10 and 11, 1823, there was a great frost, which froze the ground and destroyed beans, cucumbers, &c .* There was also quite a shock from an earthquake on the 10th .;
There was a severe drought in the latter part of July, 1823 .¿
Sunday evening, October 12, 1823, the dwel- ling house of Mr. John Whitman, of Milburn, was discovered to be on fire. The parents were attending a lecture. There were five children burned to death, aged 20, 19, 16, 12, and 6 years.
The house of Peter W. Gould, in Norridge- wock, and all its contents burned, February 17, 1824.
March, 1825, John McGuire frozen to death ; aged 30.
A tavern belonging to Mr. Bangs, in Canaan, was burned, in May, 1826.
Tuesday, May 16, 1826, thermometer 96°; frost the next night.
Cyrus Kidder, aged 36, and Ellis Tobey, aged 22 years, were drowned in Martin stream, May 16, 1826. They had been washing sheep, and were bathing, when Tobey ventured be- yond his depth. Kidder endeavored to save him, and both perished.
The dysentery prevailed and proved very fatal, in 1827. 1
The dwelling house of Captain Eben Heald was burned in April, 1827.
In July, 1827, Adaline Joy, thirteen years
* Somerset Journal. + Ib. Į Ib.
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old, murdered Warren P. Taylor, aged three years. They were both paupers in the town of Starks, in the family of Andrew Lovell. - First capital trial in Somerset County.
In July, 1822, Peter Heywood, the first set- tler of Canaan, was killed by falling from a wagon, near Sawtelle's mills, Norridgewock.
In May, 1832, occurred the greatest freshet ever known on the Kennebec. It rained 70 hours, and the water rose so high as to flow over the roads in Norridgewock village. It rain- ed incessantly the whole time, and the damage on the river was immense, especially in Nor- ridgewock, Skowhegan and Bloomfield. Mills, bridges, and other property were destroyed to a large amount.
Malbon mills burnt, February 27, 1843; loss $3,000. Hon. Joseph Barrett suffered severely.
The " cold fever " raged in the winter of 1811, and proved very fatal.
The Piper family drowned on Death Rock,* about 1813. June 8, 1816, there was a very cold and bitter snow storm. The winter of 1816-17 was so very cold and the spring so backward, that the crops were very short. Grain was so scarce that hardly enough was raised in some parts of the State for seed. The Western fever had begun to rage, and in consequence of the backward season and the favorable ac-
* This rock was situated in the Kennebec, about one mile be- low the great eddy. It was so placed as to be invisible, and yet a boat was certain of being swamped by passing over it. Many persons perished by it. It was suddenly removed, either by ice or logs, and cannot now be found.
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counts from the West, it has been estimated that fifteen thousand people emigrated.
Friday, June 22, 1849, will be known as the hot day in Maine. According to a thermome- ter which had hung in one place in the shade fifteen years, it was the hottest day during that time. The mercury stood at 86 at 7; 96 at 10; 100 at 1; 102 at 2; 100 at 3; 99 at 4; 95 at 5; 92 at 6 o'clock. It was 131 in the sun. It was 103 at Dexter, and 102 at Bangor and Au- gusta. Nearly all labor was suspended.
Several days in April, 1825, the moon and stars were visible at noon-day .*
July 4, 1828, London McKechnie drowned, at Skowhegan Falls.
Joseph W. Stevens was drowned at the Skowhegan Ferry, Oct. 29, 1831, aged 24. He was thrown out of the Ferry Boat by the un- shipping of an oar.
Capt. Timothy Homestead, Nov. 2, 1831, was drowned below Skowhegan Falls, by the part- ing of a raft. Also, at Starks, Nov. S, - Gil- more.
The year 1831 is memorable as giving the best crop of wheat and corn ever known in Somerset County.f In the following winter a terrible mortality prevailed among sheep and cattle. A fly deposited an egg in the ear or nostril, from which a maggot was produced which destroyed thousands. The year 1832 is remarkable for the introduction of the Asiatic
* Hist. of Danvers.
t Melzar Lindsay, Esq.
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Cholera into this country. Many epidemics
prevailed this year in Maine. In the winter of 1835-6, hay was so scarce that some people were obliged to give their cattle flour. The deaths by starvation were very numerous. In the year 1838, the wife of Elder Jonathan Stewart, in Bloomfield, was killed by lightning.
Crosby Myrick drowned, Sibly's pond, Ca- naan, Nov. 28, 1839.
Albion Hayden, drowned, above Skowhegan Falls, June 24, 1840, aged 19.
Miss Mary Bigelow, 33 years of age, Bloom- field, killed by being thrown from a wagon.
Harriet W. Weston, daughter of Eusebius Weston, Esq., burnt to death, Sept. 30, 1842.
The body of a woman was found at Bloom- field, in the river, very much decayed, in the Spring of 1843. Jan'y 28, 1844, thermometer 38 degrees below zero.
July 15, 1845, Patrick Brown drowned at Skowhegan, 31 years of age.
The winter of 1847-8 was remarkably mild. Very little snow fell, and the weather was very warm. Small pox in Canaan, in the winter of 1845-6.
Williamson mentions January, 1810, and February, 1817, as being very cold, when the thermometer ranged during two days of each month, at 11, 15, and 16 deg. below zero. But February 15 and 16, 1849, it was 26 and 30 deg. below, besides several other very cold days. Probably no previous year within the memory of the " oldest inhabitant" had so many cold days in succession, as the year 1849.
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Feb. 23, 1843, the thermometer was 32 deg. be- low, and the wind a hurricane .*
PRICES. - Prices in 1779 : W. I. Rum, $26 per gall .; N. E. Rum, $20; Molasses, $20; Coffee, $3 per lb .; Brown sugar, $250 per cwt. ; Chocolate, $4 per lb ; Bohea tea, $26; Salt $45 per bushel; Indian Corn, $22; Rye, $30; Wheat, $45; Beef, $1,25 per lb .; Mutton, 80 cts; Butter, 2,33 cts .; Milk, 50 cts. per qt. ; Hay, $10 per cwt .; Iron, $150 per cwt. These prices remind us of those in California in the present year. The inflated paper currency of that day explains the extravagant prices. A Convention was holden in Concord this year, to take meas- ures to subdue the exorbitant prices, and Gideon Putnam of Danvers was posted in the " public newspapers," for breaking a resolution of the Convention. He sold some cheese at $1,50 per lb. ! These prices are explained when we remember that one dollar in silver or · gold, was equal to forty in paper.
A few years served to lessen prices consider- ably, as will appear by
Samuel Weston'st Justice Records. [The cur- rency was changed July 5, 1795, from pounds to dollars.]
Bryce Mclellan's store at Wesserrunsett, in 1784 :-
Rum, 6s. 8d. per gallon, 1s. 8d. per quart ; Molasses, 4s. per gallon ; Bohea tea, 12s. per pound ; coffee, 2s. per pound ; wheat, 8s. 9d. per bushel ; salt pigeons, 10d. per dozen; day's work, 2s. and 2s. 6d.
* Skowhegan Clarion.
t Eusebius Weston, Esq.
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Samuel Weston's store, 1787 :-
Corn, 6s. per bushel ; beans, Ss. per bushel ; wheat, Ss. per bushel ; peas, 8s. per bushel; cider, 1s. 6d. per gallon ; hay, 3s. per cwt. ; glass, £3 12s. per 100 feet. 1792- Corn, 5s. per bushel ; wheat, 6s. per bushel ; rum, 4s. 9d. per gallon ; wool-cards, 4s. each. 1795-Tea, 4s. 6d. per pound ; powder, Ss. per pound ; cotton, 4s. per pound ; brandy, 12s. per gallon ; W. I. rum, 16s. per gallon ; Molasses, 7s. per gallon.
The low value of paper money at the time this region was settled, introduced much incon- venience and trouble. In 1778, a pair of stock- ings or a shirt was $6, and a pair of shoes $7; and in Falmouth, in June, 1779, corn sold for $35 per bushel ; molasses, $16 per gallon ; wheat meal, $75 per bushel ; tea, $19 per pound. All the ordinary articles of use were forbidden to be carried from the State, for any purpose what- ever. One town voted in 1780, to purchase 1,780 pounds of beef, at $5 per pound .*
STATISTICS. - The wealth of the towns and their condition generally, may be learned in the following summary :
Value of real estate, $925,095 ; value of tax- able property, $1,324,186 ;+ State valuation, 1845, $950,606 ; value of real estate established by the Legislature, in 1841, $890,553 ; total acres of land, 88,646 ; covered with water, 1,428 ; occupied by roads, 1,782 ; waste land, 8,676 ; unimproved, 31,306 ; woodland, 13,519 ;
* Williamson's History of Maine, vol. ii.
+ It will be remembered that this is the amount returned to be taxed. It falls under the true value.
31
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pasturage, 12,679 ; natural meadow, 297 ; mow- ing, 11,169 ; tillage, 7,499 ; No. of polls, 1667; dwelling houses, 1,056; barns, 1,171 ; stores, shops, &c., 79 ; other buildings, 429 ; population in 1840, 7,480 ; State tax, in 1841, $3,184.21; 3 printing offices, all in Skowhegan.
It was intended to give a complete statistical statement of the towns for 1850, but the great labor of the undertaking, coupled with the con- sideration, that in a few months the census and valuation will be taken, by the assessors, pre- vented the effort. The reader can procure the account when published, and paste it in this volume.
It may in general be said, that the people of the towns pursue agricultural avocations in the main, but that manufactures are gaining ground. Tanneries, boot and shoe manufac- tories, an iron foundry, shovel-handle makers, machine shops, planing mills, carriage manu- factories, tin-ware makers, &c., are becoming prominent in the town. The statistics of 1850 will exhibit the actual condition.
A Record of a part of the Deaths of persons, aged 50 years and upwards, in the five towns :
Abraham Adams, June 27, 1843, 74, B .; Mrs. Adams, February, 1830, 91, N .; Mrs. Adams, 1811, 105, N. ; Abel Adams, September, 1844, 62, S'n ; Amos Adams, March, 1844, 98, N.
Lucy Booker, May 3, 1824, 58, S'n ; Lucy Bixby, Sep- tember 16, 1826, 59, N .; Moses Bickford, October, 1827, 93, S'ks; James Bigelow,* January 27, 1829, 87, ** B .; Humphrey Burrill, January 3, 183-, 81, S'n ; Ruth Brown, July 25, 1847, 94, S'n ; Thankful Blackwell, April 17, 1847, 75, N .; Mary Brown, August 11, 1847, 54, N .; Sarah Brown, September 11, 1843, 59, S'ks ; David Bunker, De-
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MISCELLANEOUS.
cember 27, 1844, 79, C .; Stephen Burgess, April 12, 1844, 76, N .; John Boies, March 17, 1833, 72, S'n ; Solomon Bixby, September 2, 1835, 72, N .; Mary Burt, May 30,- 1839, 76, S'n; Asa Brown, July 5, 1835, 55, S'ks ; Wm. Bray, January 7, 1835. 50, B .; Mary Burrill, December 25, 1844, 82, S'n ; Ellis Blackwell, July 29, 1848, 55, N .; Mrs. Blackwell, - 1838, 75, N .; Jabez Blackwell, - - 1838, 78, N .; Mrs. Bates, - 1834, 69, N.
Ephraim Carson, February 23, 1832, 70, B .; James Clark, March 19, 1832, 61, B .; Mary Crombie, August 19, 1835, 75, N .; Eleazar Coburn, January 9, 1845, 68, B .; Hannah Chamberlain, June 29, 1840, 61, S'n ; Isaac Car- son, March 4, 1832, 62, C .; Lucy Crosby, April 15, 1839, 60, N .; Joseph Cushing, February 9, 1830, 61, B .; Seth Currier, January 3, 1842, 78, B. ; John Clark,* September 3, 1832, 80, N .; John A. Chandler, October 2, 1842, 54, N. ; Judith Cayford, January 15, 1842, 87, S'n ; Elizabeth Carson, February, 1828, 73, B .; Sally Chandler, Septem- ber 3, 1836, 58, S'ks ; Elizabeth Chase, January, 1848, 87, S'n ; Keziah Cushing, September 15, 1847, 76, B. ; Robt. Chase, August 29, 1837, 77, S'n ; John Connor, May 31, 1849, 70, S'n.
W. W. Dinsmoor, July, 1848, 62, N; John Davenport, April 12, 1826, 86, N .; Brooks Dascomb, November 27, 1842, 61, B .; Wigglesworth Dole, ** June 16, 1845, 67, B. ; Mary Dole, March 7, 1827, 85, B .; Elijah Dutton, Dec. 24, 1835, 70, S'ks; Reuben Dinsmoor, March 30, 1847, 61, N .; Ruth Delano, April, 1844, 89, S'ks ; Loomis Dyre, August 14, 1839, 85, S'n.
Joseph Emery, March 18, 1842, 84, B .; Benjamin Eaton, Mar. 24, 1839, 77, S'n ; Betsey Emery, May, 1839, 81, B .; Elizabeth Emery, May 26, 1838, 80, B .; John Emery, February 26, 1848, 94, B .; Hawley Emerson, January 6, 1844, 77, N .; Nathaniel Emery, May 7, 1824, 79, S'ks; Betsey Emery, May, 1839, 81, B.
Israel Fox, August 16, 1848, 65, S'n ; John E. French, January 8, 1831, 62, S'n ; Elizabeth Fairfield, December 30, 1827, 65, N .; John Frizzle, August 4, 1827, 64, S'ks ; Potter Fish, September, 1841, 81, B .; William Fletcher, February 8, 1800, 63, B .; Widow Fletcher, January 7, 1849, 98, B .; Nancy Freeman, April 17, 1845, 63, N .; Rebecca Fairbrother, August 20, 1839, 70, S'n; James Fairbrother, March 21, 1847, 80, S'n; Tamar Frizzle, De-
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cember, 1839, 53, S'ks; Joseph Frederick, March, 1822,' 80, S'ks.
Joseph Greenleaf, February 24, 1814, 57, S'ks; Peter Gilman,* October 3, 1834, ** 82, N .; Moriah Gould,* September 7, 1825, 71, N .; David Graffam, September 2, 1844, 51, S'ks ; Lucy Gould, January 3, 1846, 85, N .; Ze- bulon Gilman, October 17, 1826, 66, N .; Patty Goodridge, April 3, 1849, 50, C .; Sarah Green, December, 1844, 75, S'ks; Mary Goodridge, December 12, 1848, 60, C. ; Jere- miah Goodridge, April 27, 1844, 73, C .; David Green, May, 1846, 53, N. ; John Greenleaf,* June, 1846, 91, S'ks.
Phebe Heald, June 19, 1829, 79, N .; Elizabeth Heb- berd, June 24, 1828, 74, S'ks ; Josiah Heald, June 10, 1826, 67, N .; John Harlow, June 9, 1824, 54, N .; Benjamin Hilton, March 7, 1802, 62, S'ks; Lucy Heald, Dec. 23, 1846, 87, N .; William Hilton, August 17, 1841, 59, N .; Daniel Herrin, April 24, 1849, 50, S'n ; Peter Holbrook,* April 23, 1842, 88, S'ks ; Lydia Hartwell, April 1, 1837, 82, B .; Edward Hartwell,; March 30, 1844, 96, B .; Jona. Hebberd, Sept. 19, 1838, 85, S'ks; Daniel Homestead, May 11, 1838, 71, S'n; Catharine Heywood, October 12, 1844, 82, B; Hanson Hight, December 18, 1832, 72, N. ; Susannah Hilton, January 14, 1820, 75, S'ks ; Peter Hey- wood, April 3, 1803, 77, B .; Peter Heywood, Jr., July 17, 1822, 71, B .; Oliver Heywood, October 13, 1806, 78, B .; Betsey Herrin, December 5, 1839, 64, S'n ; Daniel Herrin, September 9, 1839, 101, Cl'n ; Alvan Howes, January 9, 1847, 72, S'ks ; Martha Holbrook, December 7, 1842, 81, N .; Betsey Hill, June 17, 1849, 69, N .; Mrs. Hagget, 1836, 80, N. ; Mrs. Hight, - 1847, 88, N.
Abraham Ireland, April 9, 1816, 79, B .; Meribah Ire. land, March 2, 1825, 83, B.
Maximilian Jewett, October 9, 1823, 82, B .; Sarah Jenkins, August 1, 1848, 55, S'n ; Fanny Jewell, January 9, 1842, 57, C .; Abagail Jenkins, February 8, 1835, 80, S'n ; Jos. Jenkins,* April 26, 1833, 80, S'n ; Betsey John - son, September 10, 1838, 67, C .; Rebecca Jewett, June 5, 1816, 70, B .; Sarah C. Jones, February 28, 1833, 71, N .; Thomas Jones, November 12, 1841, 75, N .; Lucy Jewett, May 14, 1844, 66, N .; Jeremiah Joy, March, 1847, 67, C; Timothy Jewett, July 1, 1833, 65, S'n ; Caleb Jew- ett, - 1835, 55, N.
Nicholas Kimball, June 27, 1827, 63, S'ks.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
Ephraim Lindsay, - 1831, 73, N .; Esther Loomis, October 5, 1835, 78, S'n; Rhoda Longley, September 21, 1848, 83, N .; John Laughton, T July 25, 1842, 82, N .; Sa- muel Lewis, February 21, 1842, 76, S'n ; Hannah Loring, September 20, 1841, 56, N .; Isaac Littlefield, June 24, 1846, 75, N. ; Jemima Longley, January 17, 1814, 82, N .; Zachariah Longley, June 1, 1815, 86, N .; John Laugh- ton, - 1786, 60, N .; Elisha Lambert, December, 1844, 85, N .; Samuel Loomnis, July 25, 1847, 63, S'n ; Pamelia Lambert, ** January 16, 1845, 78, S'n ; Sarah Littlefield, September, 1845, 78, S'n ; Nathaniel Lambard, ** June 29, 1837, 80, S'n.
Betsey McLellan, March 10, 1835, 69, B; Bryce Mc- Lellan, September 29, 1836, 74, B .; Lydia McIntyre, November 14, 1844, 84, B. ; Martha Miller, September 23, 1837, 73, N .; Phineas McIntyre,* March 4, 1838, 86, N .; Margaret Murray, May 1, 1839, 80, C .; Patty Moor, July 9, 1839, 69, S'n ; Benj. Moor,* May 15, 1826, 71, N .; M. Mc Phearson, March 13, 1842, 80, N .; Hannah Mason, April, 1842, 76, B .; Daniel Malbon, April 30, 1827, 52, S'n .; Betsey Malbon, May 22, 1842, 50, S'n ; Sally Malbon, March 8, 1815, 67, S'n; Thomas McKechnie, October 9, 1842, 80, N .; Jabez Morton, April 11, 1824, 83, N. ; Eunice Moor,tt November 8, 1822, 87, B .; Lucy McIntyre, Jan. 19, 1809, 76, B. ; James Malbon, July 25, 1847, 65, S'n ; Aphia Moore, August 2, 1843, 85, S'n; Nathaniel Malbon, June 3, 1847, 70, S'n ; James Malbon, April 20, 1808, 68, S'n; Tilly Mason, June 8, 1847, 87, B .; Mordecai Moore, August, 1840, 103, Clinton.
Abijah Nutting, October 26, 1827, 50, N. ; Benjamin Nutting, May, 1843, 62, S'n. ; William Nason, April 3, 1842, 64, C .; Mark Nuth, January 17, 1847, 77, B ; Dan- iel Nelson, ** February 27, 1837, 75, C .; Elisabeth Nutlı, July 16, 1840, 73, B. ; Mrs. Nay, October, 1846, 60, S'n.
Abagail Pratt, September 24, 1825, 58, B. ; John W. Page, February 2, 1846, 66, C .; Lucy Parlin, December 12, 1837, 76, N. ; Jonas Parlin, December 9, 1838, 80, N .; Polly Pratt, July 19, 1834, 55, B .; Lydia Pratt, July 14, 1840, 78, B. ; Elam Pratt, April 18, 1836, 84, B. ; Edmund Parker, * November 18, 1836, 75, N. ; Jesse Parlin, May, 1843, 50, N. ; Adam Powers, September 3, 1841, 61, C .; Margaret Parker, March 4, 1844, 88, N, ; Susan Palmer,
31*
366
MISCELLANEOUS.
September 9, 1827, 78, N. ; Daniel Parkman, * Novem- ber 4, 1824, 82, S'n; John L. Prescott, Dec. 25, 1825, 50, N, ; Hannah Parker, March, 1826, 52, S'n ; John Par- lin, March 25, 1806, 88, N .; Susan Perkins, September 21, 1836, 56, S'n; Mary Pratt, January 27, 1827, 76, B .; Micah Pratt, October 8, 1826, 67, B. ; Ruth Prentiss, De- cember 6, 1840, 89, B .; Thaddeus Prentiss, June 1, 1816, 65, B .; John Pooler, April 12, 1840, 62, S'n ; Isabella Pomeroy, May 10, 1844, 60, N. ; Elder Francis Powers, December 13, 1843, 72, N .; Mrs. Pratt, September 1845, 51, B. ; Jane Oliver, April 13, 1846, 75, S'ks ; Micah Pratt, August 24, 1839, 64, S'n ; James B. Oliver, April 20, 1846, 81, S'ks ; William Palmer, 1829, 75, N. ; Nathan Parlin, 1833, 78, N.
Sarah Reid, July, 1842, 58, C .; Hannah Reid, April 3, 1827, 53, S'n; Mary Raymond, September 25, 1842, 52, S'n ; Temperance Richardson, September 5, 1841, 61, C .; William Rogers, April, 1842, 61, B .; Thomas Robin- son, ** April 22, 1839,* 84, S'n; Mary Robinson, Septem- ber 5, 1848, 88, S'n ; Nathan Rogers,§ April 23, 1829, 83, N .; Jona. Robbins, December, 1824, 75, N .; Lydia Ricker, April 28, 1842, 70, C.
Eleazar Spaulding, - -, 8-, N .; Phebe Spauld- ing, April 13, 1843, 84, N. ; Levi Sampson, December 20, 1813, 57, N .; Willard Sears, December, 1831, 86, S'n ; Philomelia Stoddard, October 29, 1842, 68, S'n ; Sally Steward, April 6, 1835, 80, B .; Solomon Steward, De- cember 20, 1843, 81, B .; Betsey Steward, August 1, 1845, 81, B .; Ephraim Swan, December 7, 1835, 72, B .; Han- nah Savage, August 25, 1840, 75, B .; Mary Smith, March 15, 1845, 58, B .; Nancy Steward, March 1, 1846, 55, B .; Richard Sawtelle, December 23, 1838, 70, N .; Sally H. Steward, April 29, 1847, 81, B .; Daniel Steward, ** Sep- tember 15, 1840, 82, S'n; Rachel Steward, October 18, 1839, 78, S'n ; John Smith, October 28, 1846, 67, B .; Le- muel Smith, October 1, 1831, 55, B .; Mary Sawyer, April 13, 1840, 84, B .; Joseph Sawyer, January 26, 1832, 81, B .; Lucy Steward, July 19, 1843, 76, B .; Luke Sawyer, July 5, 1841, 81, S'ks ; Fanny S. Sturgess, Aug. 26, 1844, 60, N .; Betsey Sheafe, January 17, 1840, 80, N .; Wm. Spaulding, December 6, 1844, 85, N .; Sarah Spaulding, October 4, 1843, 82, N .; David Sterry,* April, 1843, 88, S'ks; Olive Steward, March 12, 1848, 75, B. ; Mary Saw-
367
MISCELLANEOUS.
yer, April 13, 1840, 84, S'n ; Thomas Steward, December, 1839, 74, B. ; Mary Steward, April 29, 1847, 81, S'n; Wm. Spaulding,* December 6, 1844, 86, N .; Rhoda Squire, November 19, 1847, 75, S'n; Jonathan Steward, July 31, 1848, 79, B .; Otis Spaulding, December 8, 1848, 57, N .; Mary Sylvester, - - 1847, 87, N .; Daniel Smith, No- vember, 1829, 80, B .; William Sylvester, September 28, 1826, 60, N .; Benj. Steward, February 7, 1820, 59, B .; Mary Steward, January 30, 1818, 79, B .; Prudence Sampson, October 12, 1844, 82, B .; John Smith, May, 1849, 67, B.
Joseph Tarbell, * August 20, 1826, 70, N .; Asa Turner, August 25, 1821, 78, N .; Abagail Turner, April 16, 1823, 72, N .; David S. Trask, November 4, 1823, 57, N. ; Benj. Thompson, August, 1825, 78, N. ; Mary Thompson, April 19, 1842, 56, N. ; Asaph Thompson, March 28, 1844, 62, N. Mary Tozier, May 17, 1838, 60, N. ; Achsah Tinkham, August 4, 1847, 53, N. ; Mercy Trench, April 10, 1849, 93, N. ; Sally Tilton, February 5, 1835, 50, B. ; Stephen Tuck- erman, February 27, 1833, 50, N. ; Dr. Jesse Taylor, March 25, 1844, 50, N. ; Abagail Tilton, April 16, 1844, 83, N .; Mary Tozier, May, 1838, 50, N .; Rev. John Thompson, May 17, 1836, 71, S'ks ; Betsey Thompson, Mar. 7, 1846, 70, S'ks ; Moses True, October, 31, 1841, 62, S'ks.
Mary Vickere, February, 1838, 67, N. ; Joseph Vickere, September 3, 1838, 67, N .; Eliphalet Varney, January 20, 1840, 72, B.
Lucy Wood, June 3, 1834, 69, N .; Anna Whitcomb, June 1, 1823, 82, N .; Thomas Whitcomb, January 21, 1824, 88, N .; Nathaniel Withee, December, 1825, 60, N. ; James Waugh, ** December 17, 1825, 77, S'ks ; Jona. Williamson, March 24, 1826, 92, S'ks. ; James Waugh, January 17, 1826, 77; Henry Weeks, May, 1826, 63, B. ; Mary Witherell, September 8, 1827, 61, N .; Azubah Weston, January 6, 1829, 70, B. ; Thomas Whitcomb, June 11, 1829, 60, N .; Nathan Wood, March 26, 1830, 80, N .; Thomas Waugh, September, 1830, 79, S'ks .; Thomas Williamson, July 5, 1848, 62, S'ks. ; John Weston, November 12, 1842, 84, B. ; James Weston, November 18, 1842, 54, B. ; Mary Wyman, April 1, 1843, 54, N .; Aaron Wadsworth, May, 1843, 73, S'n. ; Bathsheba Waugh, June 26, 1841, 90, S'ks. ; Thomas Waugh, Feb. 19, 1843, 61, S'ks. ; Martha Waugh, September 26, 1843,
368
MISCELLANEOUS.
50, S'ks. ; Susannah Wood, June 25, 1844, 83, S'ks. ; Silas Wood,* December 17, 1834, 81, N .; Mary Wheeler, March 13, 1846, 52, N .; Solomon Whidden, October 4, 1841, 87, S'n .; Mary White, October, 1841, 76, S'n ; Oba- diah Witherell,* 1847, 99, N .; Joseph Weston,* March 22, 1838, 81, B .; Luke Withee,* April 26, 1844, 84, N. ; Charles Witherell, ** July 16, 1833, 68, N. ; Ruth Wines, March 16, 1838, 69, B. ; Isaac Weston, November 12, 1840, 59, B. ; Sally Willamson, August 3, 1836, 76, S'ks .; Stephen Weston, May 31, 1847, 77, S'n .; William Wilson, July 13, 1831, 80, S'ks. ; Samuel Weston, April 21, 1838, 51, S'n .; Anna Weston, December 24, 1845, 84, B. ; Ste- phen Williamson, November 13, 1840, 79, S'ks. ; Asa Weston, September 5, 1842, 54, B. ; Mary Weston, Janu- ary 26, 1840, 77, B. ; Eli Weston, October 14, 1846, 86, B. ; Nancy White, October 6, 1845, 84, B. ; Solomon White, April 21, 1837, 76, B .; Susan Wyman, May 1, 1833, 50, S'n .; Sarah Warren, April 13, 1840, 58, C .; James L. Wood, December 17, 1818, 62, S'ks. ; Oliver Wood, July 1, 1816, 86, N. ; William Weston, ** December 19, 1840, 77, B .; Elisa Webb, January 22, 1826, 80, B .; Lucy Walker, February, 1838, 51, S'n. ; Lucy Wood, June, 1814, 69, N .; John White, January 20, 1815, 87, B .; Mary White, September 15, 1793, 65, B. ; Sarah Weston, May 25, 1829, 70, B .; Sarah Warren, 1833, 83, N. ; Prudence Willard, May 27, 1847, 64, B .; -- Webb, September, 1840, 90, S'n. ; Mrs. Webb, November, 1848, 80. B. ; Mrs. Weeks, 1847, 80, N .; Phineas Whitney, 1832, 80, N.
Samuel Young, December 31, 1844, 80, S'n. ; William Young,* July, 1842, 89, S'ks .; James Young, May, 1846, 59, S'ks. ; William Youland,* July, 1838, 95, B.
Most of the foregoing names are taken from the Somerset Journal, People's Press and Democratic Sentinel, and Clarion. They are responsible for the correctness of many of the dates.
* The names in the foregoing list marked with an asterisk, were engaged in the Revolution.
t Mr. Dascomb was an honored and respected citizen, and held the office of selectman a quarter of a century.
¿ Edward Hartwell attained the age of 96, and many others
369
MISCELLANEOUS.
in the towns have reached almost that age. Hartwell was born in Lunenburg, and moved to Canaan, in 1780. Rev. Josiah Peet stated, in a funeral sermon preached at the funeral of Mrs. Mercy Trench, as a result of about thirty years of observation, that the proportion of longevity has been as follows : in Norridge- wock, 1 in 45 lives to the age of 70; 1 in 200 to the age of 80; and 1 in 1000 to the age of 100 years. It will be seen from the above list, that the average length of life, after the age of 50, is about 72 years.
§ Mr. Rogers was Judge of Probate for Rockingham County, N. H., and Marshal of the State, and was paying a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Jotham Fairfield, when he was taken sick and died .- Hon. John S. Tenney.
T John Laughton removed with his father and family to Nor- ridgewock, when he was ten years old.
** Daniel Steward was born in Lunenburg, Mass., and settled in Skowhegan, in 1784; James Bigelow was born in Weston, Mass., Jan. 28, 1742; Dea Wigglesworth Dole was born in Newburyport, Nov. 17, 1779 ; William Weston was born in Con- cord, Mass., in 1763 ; James Waugh was Town Clerk 28 years ; Charles Witherell was born Oct. 8, 1764; Pamelia Lambert had been midwife at the birth of 1400 children in Canaan and vicinity. Nathaniel Lambard was born in Gorham, Maine, in 1757, and came to Canaan in 1783. Thomas Robinson was a lieuten- ant in the American Revolution, and did good service for his country. The widow of Peter Gilman, Mrs. Martha G., cele- brated her one hundredth birth-day, in Norridgewock, July 12, 1849. She was born in Kingston, July 12, 1749, married Peter Gilman, April 5, 1775, moved to Norridgewock in 1792, and when she was one century old had had 9 children, 76 grand- children, and 140 great-grandchildren. She possessed good health and fine spirits.
ti Mrs. Eunice Moor was wife of Colonel John Moor, whom she married when widow of Joseph Weston. She was the second white woman who ever penetrated Somerset County, and she left 222 descendants.
STATE TAX.
1781
1786
1791
1796
1810
1820
Norridgewock, £37.10 £116. 5
£9.7.10 $73.61 $86.66 $98.67
Canaan, 67.10
170.18.9 13.9. 6
86.67 101.33
65.90
Starks,
64.00 81.33
Bloomfield,
114.00
The above taxes were levied on six per cent. of the property. - Rev. J. B. Felt.
370
MISCELLANEOUS.
POPULATION.
1784 1793
1810
1820
1830
1840
Norridgewock, 240 427
880 1454 1710 1865
Canaan,
420 448 1275 1470 1076 1379
Starks,
828 1053 1471 1559
Bloomfield,
889 1072 1093
Skowhegan,
1006 1584
660 875 2983 4866 6335 7480
The population for 1850 will be about 9,000.
PLATES. The reader will be delighted with the elegant stone engravings contained in this volume. They are from the hands of those ex- perienced and faithful artists, J. H. Bufford & Co., Boston. The views of Old Point, and of Skowhegan and Bloomfield, were drawn by Miss Abby Daggett, of Skowhegan, and their admirable fidelity reflects great credit on their authoress. The view of South Norridgewock was drawn by the skilful pencil of Maj. King, son of the first governor of Maine, who is about finishing a magnificent panorama of the Ken- nebec River, for European and Southern exhi- bition. He is a superior artist, whose works are his best praise. The two beautiful views of Norridgewock village were daguerreotyped by J. H. Williams, Esq., whose excellent pic- tures meet universal approbation.
ERRATA. Page 56, insert and between Vincent and Jaques ; p. 60, line 16, for are read were ; p. 81, last line, for bears read bear ; p. 112, last line, for or read and; p. 124, for brother read cousin ; p. 128, Abraham Smith thinks William Oakes was born a few days before him; Smith was born in
371
MISCELLANEOUS.
Bloomfield, and Oakes in Skowhegan ; p. 129 for Solomon read Salmon ; p. 137, line 11, for Ezekiel, read Elhanah ; ibid, after Daniel Smith, read on James H. King's farm ; ibid, Daniel Steward set- tled first on Pratt farm ; p. 147, for Hezekiah, read Sherebiah ; p. 156, line 7, for on, read at, or below ; p. 159, line 15, for Jonathan Marden, read Rev. J. Merrill; p. 172, line 20, for Selma, read Salmon ; p. 184, line 13, insert female between second and child; p. 204, the last paragraph should be on p. 219 ; p. 230, insert " Ebenezer Russel, 1836," between 1835, and John S. Tenney ; in 1811, 12 and 13, Eleazar Coburn was representative from Canaan; in 1810, Canaan did not send ; in 1806, 7, 8, 9, Bryce McLellan was represen- tative ; Arthur Spaulding was representative in 1834, and not William Allen ; p. 249, probably Lee preached in Norridgewock before Stebbins. There are other errors doubtless, incident to the haste with which the work has been hurried through the press, which may be hereafter found, but which will be pardoned by the can- did. The "Indian fright" is quite differently related by different persons. Tradition has many tongues. It is said that several hunters came in and reported Indians, - that Samuel Weston, Isaac Smith, and Oliver Wilson were chosen to go out and reconnoitre, that Wilson fired, and then gave the war-whoop, and that the settlers retreated to Great Island, determined to fight the Indians to the last. Pease refused to go to the fort. This may be a version of the same, or another story.
INDEX.
GENERAL HISTORY.
Indian History,
7
General Description, &c.,
103
History of Canaan, 116
History of Norridgewock,
178
History of Starks,
255
History of Bloomfield,
279
History of Skowhegan,
295
Roads,
313
Graveyards,
314
Revolutionary Soldiers,
319
Schools,
325
Attorneys,
328
Physicians,
333
Military,
324 340
College Graduates,
Citizens entitled " Honorable,"
341
Associations, &c.,
343
County officers, &c.,
345
Bridges,
349
Newspapers, Ice,
353
Weather, Casualties,
354
Prices,
360
Statistics,
361
Deaths of Aged People,
362
Population,
370
State Tax, -
369
Description of Plates,
370
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Congregationalists,
162, 235, 277, 288, 311
Christians,
174, 307
Universalists,
174, 253, 309
Methodists,
175, 249, 274, 308
Baptists, Freewill,
176, 252, 276
Baptists, Calvinistic,
176, 247, 249, 278, 291, 294, 312
Unitarians,
251
Protestant Methodists,
278
PLATES.
Frontispiece, Râle's Monument.
View of Oosoola, 102
178
View of Bloomfield and Skowhegan, 294
. 102
Fancy Sketch, - Mogg Megone, ·
.028
Two views of Norridgewock,
352
பாட்டு
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY REFERENCE DEPARTMENT
This book is under no circumstances to be taken from the Building
form 410
APR 1 8 1927
3563
LENOX LIBRARY
AUCTOR
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Bancroft Collection. Purchased in 1893.
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