USA > Maine > York County > Kennebunk > Kennebunk history : not a history of Kennebunk but a few items in addition to and a sequel to "The village of Kennebunk, Maine" (revised to 1939) : a description of a few more old homes, a few biographical sketches > Part 7
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
I went to a Sunday School picnic in the old Factory woods about 1858. The book, "The Village of Kennebunk," gives per- haps a fairly good record of dams, bridges and mills, in the Vil- lage and need not be repeated. There have been several slides of the heavy trees on the bank of the river within two miles above the Village. The flowage of the Upper dam is up to the lower side of Jones' Intervale; from there to the foot of the dam
71
at Mitchell's are rapids and about 9 ft. fall. One hot afternoon in the summer of 1901, I was asked to level and estimate the fall from the Mitchell mill to the flow of the dam. The result was that a civil engineer was employed from Portland to survey the route. Mr. Andrews bought the land at the upper end and if his health had not failed there would have been an electric plant there.
Mitchell's Dam, Grist-mill and Saw-mill
I have no dates available as to when the dam was built. My impression is that Robt. Mitchell, son of Sam'l, the first settler, and Robert's son, Sam'l, were connected with it. I saw corn ground in the mill there about 1854. The mill was on the eastern side of the river and there was a footbridge across. About 1860, it was sold to Robt. W. Lord & Co. and converted into a Twine mill, making twine for his brothers to make nets for deep sea fish- ing. Mr. Lord moved to Kennebunk Depot as general manager. Additions were made to the building. A new dam was built not many years ago. The property was sold about 1920 to the American Net and Twine Co.
Named Cat Mill Before 1750
A short distance up the river are the granite arches of the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth R. R. bridge with a big sand fill above. This was built in 1840-41. It is now the Eastern Divi- sion of the Boston and Maine R. R. A little farther up are what was called the Middle Falls. A dam and saw-mill were built not earlier than 1714, nor later than 1735, and had been named the Cat-mill before 1750. There is no record of when the first bridge was built but probably soon after the mill was built as there must have been settlers all around. There are two versions of the name. I will give both and the reader can take his choice.
The workmen in the second mill on the falls were much an- noyed by graceless youngsters who were frequent visitors and who were in the habit of getting off coarse jokes and playing mischievous pranks. Suspicions had often crossed the minds of the mill-men that their dinner boxes had been meddled with and their suspicions were effectually confirmed one day when they found these boxes completely relieved of their contents. The
72
youngsters were then ordered to leave the premises and threat- ened with severe punishment if again found there.
One of the men was especially demonstrative, applying to them hard epithets and consigning them to regions where waves of fire and brimstone roll. Now this man had a cat to which he was much attached and which was almost idolized by his wife. On going to the mill the morning following the day of the disturb- ance, he found the lifeless body of this pet suspended from one of the beams. The stalwart man wept like a child, nor could his fellow workmen refrain from tears while witnessing the distress of their companion. Thereafter the mill was nicknamed the Cat-mill.
Another Version
The other version strongly favoring the superstitious notions quite extensively entertained at that time has been handed down. While the second mill built on these Middle Falls was standing and in operation, the night-hands were for a season frequently visited by a cat which was in the habit of sitting upon the logs when on the carriage and moving toward the saw. One night the mill-man, after warning the animal to leave, said to her: "Well, if you will not get off I will let the saw cut you." Un- mindful of this threat, as well as efforts to frighten her away, the cat kept her position until, coming in contact with the saw, one of her forepaws was cut off. The paw fell into the stream and the cat immediately disappeared. The next morning it was ascertained a woman of the neighborhood had lost one of her hands during the preceding night. Of course she was a witch and had taken the form of a cat and suffered mutilation in the manner just related.
From 1750 to 1850, we do not know much of its history, only that in the early 1800's it was what was called a Community mill owned by men who had bought or done work on the mill. I found a paper signed by many of them authorizing John Gilpatric to regulate the turns in sawing. This was in the early 1800's. In 1825, the Kennebunk Manf'g Co. of the Village endeavored to buy the shares, but were only partially successful. One paper said the mill was built in 1817. Under date of November 19, 1855, I found this: "Cat Mousam Mill. The dam was carried away by a freshet nearly 20 years ago. Joseph Dane and Oliver
73
Perkins are rebuilding the dam to hold flowage rights (good only 20 years). They have purchased the rights of nearly all of the original owners." They built a mill on or near the old site and did a large and successful business for more than 20 years. They sold to B. C. Jordan of Alfred, who also sawed much lumber. The mill was destroyed by fire, September 2, 1904. In 1905, the dam and water privilege was sold to R. W. Lord & Co., they buying for water storage basin for the Twine mill.
I have heard that the Leatherboard Co. looked at this priv- ilege before they bought at the Village in 1876. If they had bought it would have changed conditions in the Village. Or if the Cummings Co. had come to the Village what would it be now?
Up the river, perhaps one-half mile below the Great or Flu- ellen Falls are what is called Varney's Falls. There is an 8 or 9 ft. fall that has never been developed. At the Great Falls is a natural stone dam. There were saw-mills there in the early 1700's, but not much record of them is available. After the Electric Railroad was built, a dam was built on the stone dam and an electric plant erected to furnish power for the railway, probably now transmitted to Sanford.
The Old Falls was a favorite place for picnics, 1860 to 1880. The lumber from here and the Cat-mill probably was hauled to Kennebunk and shipped. The next water power is above the Town line. (Whitcher's and the big dam are in South Sanford and Alfred.)
74
CHAPTER VII
The Story of the Furbush Twins and the Captivity of Their Mother by the Indians for About Twenty Years, and Some Record of who their Descendants Are The Stephen Harding Bridge Across the Inlet Near the Mouth of Kennebunk River, Named to Commemorate His Encounter with the Indians.
The Story of the Furbush Twins
The story of the Furbush Twins and descendants of the twins and where I think the log cabin was located and how I dis- covered the place. First the story as it was read by Mrs. Leslie B. Titcomb of Upper Alewive at a meeting of Rebecca Emery Chapter, D. A. R., of Biddeford in the winter of 1931 and printed in the Kennebunk Star of March 27, 1931.
"Early in the first part of the eighteenth century there lived in Wells, Maine, a man by the name of Furbish (or Fur- bush), a farmer. He made a clearing as it was called, builded a log hut, married a Miss Hobbs and commenced life in earnest. The Indians were troublesome, driving off their cattle, burning crops, etc., but as yet had not ventured very near the settlement openly. Two children, a pair of twin sisters, were born. While they were babies in the cradle their mother went in the milk yard one morning to milk the cows and was seized by an Indian. Her handkerchief was torn from her neck and jammed into her mouth to keep her from screaming so as not to arouse the neigh- bors. Her hands were tied behind her preparatory to carrying her away. Next a whoop was uttered to attract the husband's attention. He seized his gun and ran to the rescue of his wife only to be smitten down by a blow from a tomahawk and left for dead. They next ransacked the house taking what they wanted such as blankets, provisions, and omitting to kill or overlooking the babies in the cradle. They then set fire to the house which was seen by the settlers who immediately went to their relief. They found the man still lived, though senseless. They staunched his bleeding wounds, then went to the burning house and in the midst of fire and smoke they could see the cradle with its living household treasures in it. With almost superhuman efforts and
75
at the risk of their own lives, the cradle was drawn from the house.
The children were tucked so closely under the covers that they were still sleeping securely where their kind mother had placed them. Their names were Dorothy and Phebe Furbush.
"Dolly, as she was called, married John Dennett, our great grandfather. Phebe married Elisha Littlefield, my husband's grandfather. This written narrative I obtained from him in man- uscript form. Also Mother Littlefield has told me the story often and other incidents enough to fill a volume.
"After twenty years' absence the poor weary-worn mother to the little twin girls made her appearance at the same spot from which she had been capturd. But oh! how changed. In- stead of dense forest or high stumps around the door, beautiful meadows waved their golden grain. A good substantial log house covered the same cellar on which hers had formerly stood. As she stood gazing intently on the scene before her, the well with its tall sweep and the old oaken bucket caught her atten- tion. The same old well that she had helped her husband dig long years ago. Then turning to look for the little rivulet that flowed along at the foot of the hill on which the house stood even more changes met her view. A large saw-mill had been erected and immense piles of lumber with their uncouth dimen- sions adorned what was once the beautiful green hillside of her girlish fancy.
"But she thinking that her husband and children were gone from her sight forever, yet' knowing that the lands before her were hers by right, she gathered courage to knock faintly at the door. A modest, neatly dressed young woman came to the door holding in her arms a babe (the name of the babe was Joseph Littlefield; the mother of the child was Phebe Furbush Littlefield, who married Elisha Littlefield and lived on the home place). On seeing the babe all the mother nature was at once aroused and she cried out in bitterness of spirit: 'It is my child, give it to me, give me both of them.'
"At the sound of the well-known voice a shattered, prema- ture old man came hobbling to the door with the exclamation, 'It is my wife, my Olive, the dead has truly come to life again. The graves are opened.'
"The scene beggars description. There stood upon the same threshold the husband and wife, young no longer, each looking
76
intensely in the other's face trying to gather some faint resem- blance to the young husband and wife that had separated long years ago. The daughter also, who had heard the oft told tale of her mother's captivity and supposed death, was no less in- terested. After the first surprise and order could be restored, the neighbors came flocking into the house to hear of her won- derful escape from her captors. Strange as it may seem, she had lost much of her native language which she had not heard spoken for so many years.
"Her story was this: After tying her hands and stifling her cries for help by filling her mouth with her handkerchief, the Indians showed her a tomahawk and performed a gesture of scalping. This was done to scare her into silence. They had no thought of killing her. Her extreme beauty had saved her life. The old Indian chief who had planned her capture, was a widower of a few days with a little baby boy to care for, the mother squaw having died on their journey to the settlement, so this dark savage came to the conclusion it would be best to secure this fair white woman as a bride. The baby was brought to her by the inhuman wretch, whom she had seen prostrate her noble youthful husband to the ground, then had seen him set fire to the hut in which her own darlings were happily sleeping, face to face twins always sleep. The poor mother could not at first touch the little black thing but its cries soon brought her to her- self. She saw in it a deliverance from present death at least and accepted it as sent from Heaven, for hard as her lot seemed, still she could but believe that God was over all.
"As the settlers were trying to save what they could from the fire and all were busy, the Indians skulked back in the deep for- est, taking her along with them. They turned their faces west- ward and commenced their weary march through the wilderness, stopping by night only long enough to cook what little venison they could trap or otherwise secure on their way. After months of weary travel, over broad forests whose silence was never broken by the sound of human voice save the Indian whoop, and where railroads and canals now carry its thousands, crossing streams of water in canoes where steamboats now go but were then unknown to civilized nations, they at last reached the Great Lakes, their home.
"This then must be her future home. After she had learned some of their language, enough to understand what the old sav-
77
age meant, he came to her and demanded of her to become his wife. This she refused to do and preparations were made to roast her alive. Still she was firm. After frightening her all they could they released her to endure still other sufferings. But time wore on the aged chief fell in battle. His sons hunted for her and treated her kindly, but refused to grant her liberty.
"The baby boy (her adopted child) grew to be a man in stature obeying and loving her as a son. It was a bright spot in her existence. The Indian women revered her as something more than human. She taught them how to cook and nursed them when they were sick and was considered by them a sort of ma- gician, or medicine woman, as they called her. She might have been happy in her rude wigwam home if the one dreadful scene of her capture could have been obliterated from her memory. Her incessant longings for her own people at last took shape in a determination to escape.
"Dried venison was packed away for future use. Corn was parched, moccasins made, and such other preparations as she found to be necessary for an extended journey. One dark night in the spring when all around her were asleep she silently stole away. Traveling eastward toward the rising sun until she reached the Atlantic coast. Here she met with settlers who aided her by purchasing such trinkets as she had brought along with her. She at last found her husband on the verge of the grave, both daughters married and each holding in her arms her first born, each babe named for his grandfather. Dolly's child was Joseph Dennett. Phoebe's child was Joseph Littlefield.
"As it is of the Dennett progeny only you wish to know about I will drop the other branch of the family. John Dennett of Kittery married Dorothy Furbush of Wells, Maine. Their first home was in Kittery where Jos. Dennett, our grandfather, was born. Next he moved to Wells when grandfather was a babe."- Letter written by Mrs. Lydia A. Littlefield, wife of Cyrus H. Littlefield, living in Burlington, Iowa, to Wm. H. Dennett of Bos- ton, Mass., in 1875. Cyrus was born Nov. 7, 1818."
Dorothy Furbush, one of the twins, married John Dennett, June 26, 1754. They had a son, Joseph, and a daughter, Anne. Joseph was the ancestor of Elizabeth Dennett, who married Benj. F. Titcomb (Alewive), Anne married Nathan Clark (his second wife), my grandmother's stepmother. Nathan and Anne Clark
78
had a son Moses and he had a son James, who lived for a time in Kennebunk; he married Elizabeth Mendum. He started for California in the days of the gold fever and was never heard from. Mrs. Lydia A. Littlefield, who wrote the papers and was the wife of Cyrus H. Littlefield, was before marriage Lydia A. Dennett.
Phebe Furbush married Elisha Littlefield, probably about the same time as Dorothy. They had a son, Joseph, who mar- ried Rebecca Edes. Joseph and Rebecca had a daughter who married Joseph Gilpatrick, Jr., of Biddeford. Their grandson had a paper describing the raid (the same as the one Mrs. Tit- comb read). That helped me trace the location. I learned that he was descended from Nancy Littlefield. She was a reltive of Mr. I. Hobbs Storer of the Branch. He told me that the old Lit- tlefield place was on the Branch River just above the road lead- ing from the Branch to the Sanford road about one-half mile above the R.R., and on the Kennebunk side of the river. He said that he had seen ruins of an old mill there years ago. I think that there is no doubt of the location.
Children of Joseph and Rebecca Edes Littlefield: Esther, married Daniel Tripp; Paulina, married Daniel Day; Sallie, mar- ried Edmund Lord; Effie, married Louis Proctor; Mary, married Nathaniel Hobbs; Nancy, married Joseph Gillpatric, Jr .; Sam- uel, married Olive Clark; William, married Eunice Perkins; Elisha, married - -; Cyrus, marred Lydia Dennett.
Descendants are now living in Wells and Kennebunk and can trace their ancestors if interested. I can give further de- tails if desired.
Garrison House at Gooch's Beach
Stephen Harding, who married Abigail Littlefield, moved to the eastern part of Wells about 1702 and settled near the mouth of Kennebunk River. He built a Garrison house on the site of the Seaside House, Gooch's Beach. The story of his adventures with the Indians is told in an interesting manner in Mr. Rem- ich's history.
In 1937 the road by the Rogers estate was straightened and graded and a new concrete bridge built across the inlet and it has been named the Stephen Harding bridge in memory of his encounters and escapes from the Indiang.
79
This is on the extreme eastern corner of the town. The story of the capture of Mrs. Furbush and her captivity by the Indians is on the northwest corner of the town. We place them in the same chapter.
80
CHAPTER VIII OLD BUILDINGS
The First Congregational Church (Unitarian)-The Second Con- gregational, Dane Street-The Other Churches of the Village -School Houses-The Barnard Tavern-The Old Brick Block-Its Annex Which Was the First Mousam House- Its Orthography-The Clark Mansion-Dr. Sam'l Emerson House-The First Parsonage at the Landing-The Kings- bury House The Kimball House (now P. O.)-The Lexing- ton Elms-The Parsons House, Residence of Judge Bourne -Moses Savery-The Mason Block-Sargent-Ross Block- Ross Block-I. O. O. F. Block-The Taylor Home, Summer Street-The Wallingford House-Washington Hall-Town Hall-Jefferds Tavern-Ocean Bank-Public Library-War- ren Block and a Section of Main Street.
Mr. Wm. E. Barry wrote about 1900 a description of several old houses for the use of the High School. Architecturally de- scribed, it did not give details of location and owners. We give his history and the other details that we can obtain. The book, "The Village of Kennebunk," gave a history of some of the old houses. I have not repeated unless other facts were available.
The First Congregational Church (Unitarian)
The first church was at the Landing a little below the Mc- Culloch house and was built in 1749-50. It was a rough struc- ture, 30 ft. long, two stories. In 1752, it was voted to enlarge by adding 12 ft. to the length. The church was incorporated June 14, 1750. In 1772, the Parish voted to build a new church, 56 x 46 ft. with a porch in front on the west side of the County road near James Kimball's, with 46 pews on the lower floor, 24 in the gallery. This was so far completed that it was voted November 26, 1773, "That the Worship of God be hereby removed from the Old to the New Meeting House." The lot on which it stands was given to the Society by Col. Joseph Storer for as long as there is a church on it. This building was used with some few changes until after 1800. There were horse sheds
81
near the western corner and at right angle to the house and a horse block between them and the road for the accommodation of those riding horseback.
January 30, 1803, "Voted to add 28 ft. to the length and erect a belfry. The building was sawed in two. The rear half was moved back 28 ft., the space filled in and a new roof end to the street. The next year, 1804, the belfry was completed and a Paul Revere bell hung. It was one room until 1838 when the galleries were floored across.
Second Congregational, Dane Street
It was dedicated October 7, 1828. It was a very different looking building from what it is at the present time. There was a big square box belfry with spire. The entrance steps extended nearly across the front end of the building up to about the sec- ond story; entrance hall was nearly level with the galleries which were on three sides of the church. From the back the floor sloped toward the pulpit as in a theatre. Singers were on the opposite end from the minister. It was entirely remodeled in 1869. The front stairs outside and the belfry were removed and a new tower and spire built. Side galleries were removed and the floor made level. New pews. An addition was built back of the pulpit for organ and singers.
Vestry built in 1860 and enlarged in 1906.
Baptist Church, Main Street, dedicated October 15, 1840. Vestry built, 1873. Sunday school rooms built in 1937-8.
Methodist Church, Portland St., dedicated July 28, 1868. Scandinavian Church, Hall Street. 1893.
Catholic Church (St. Monica's), Storer Street. 1904.
Christian Science Church, Summer Street, the Capt. Chas. Thompson house, bought 1935.
School Houses .
In the Yard of the First Parish 1797
Union Academy, Dane Street (Private) 1833
Swan Street Schoolhouse 1856
Grove Street Schoolhouse 1884
High and Grammar, Dane Street 1870
High and Grammar, Remodeled 1898
82
High and Grammar, New Building 1921
High and Grammar, Upper Storer St. 1938-39
The Nathaniel Cousens School 1934
See description of these buildings, pages 62-3-4 of "The Vil- lage of Kennebunk."
Barnard Tavern
The Barnard Tavern was built, if the record is correct, in 1776. A Portland paper says that in the year 1787, Portland's first regular mail coach, drawn by two horses and driven by the old post rider, Joseph Barnard, was put into regular service. By an Act of Congress this coach was licensed to carry passengers. The coach left Portsmouth, N. H., and arrived in Portland on the third morning. In 1788, there were three mails a week in summer between Boston and Portland, and one a week in winter.
Business directory of 1820 says: "Kept by Rachel Barnard, widow of Joseph Barnard." Later occupied by Timothy Frost, Col. Wm. L. Thompson, and for a long time the farmhouse of Daniel Curtis. Sold to and renovated by Wm. Day, who now owns it.
Barnard is the old street going east. Portland Street of later date. This tavern is the second house from the intersection and is between the two streets.
History of the Old Brick (by Mr. Wm. Lord)
The Brick block or store in this Village which was burned December 3, 1869, was built by Waterston and Pray in 1806 on land they had bought of Joseph Storer. It was 47} ft. long, 40 ft. wide, 3 stories high and was the first building built of brick in this town. At that time it was called the Brick Store. The building of the store was considered a great event.
When Waterston and Pray moved to Boston in 1815, they sold the store to John U. Parsons for $3,000.00. The woodwork was burned out Aug. 3, 1824. The standing walls with the lot was sold at auction, August 18, 1824, to Isaac Lord of Effingham, N. H. Mr. Lord rebuilt the wood work, repaired the walls and divided the lower story for two traders or firms to transact busi- ness. York Lodge of Masons had a hall in the third story, 1814- 1824. Outside stairway on the eastern end. May 8, 1845, Mou-
83
sam Lodge, I. O. O. F., was instituted in the third story and was there until 1858. The Lodge also had an entrance from the third story of the Annex (then built).
The hall was used from 1858 to 1866 for lectures, entertain- ments and various purposes. June 8, 1866, Salus Lodge of Good Templars was instituted and they occupied it until the fire of 1869. After the repairs of the building it was occupied by Mr. Lord's sons, James and Isaac Lord, general merchants; succeeded by Edwin C. Frost; after his death, November 20, 1867, by Na- than Dane, Jr.
The western end was occupied by Maj. Barnabas Palmer, who also kept the Post Office there. He was succeeded by the Misses L. K. and J. Wells, millinery. On the second floor were the law offices of Edw. E. Bourne and Wm. B. Sewell. When the Ocean Bank was organized, May 25, 1854, Mr. Sewell re- moved his office to his house and the bank occupied the front cor- ner room in the second story with an outside stairway and en- trance on the western end.
In late 1824 or early 1825, an annex was built on the east- ern end of the Old Brick by Daniel Wise, Jr. The wall next to Main Street was brick, the rest wood. The first story was used as a store by Wise & Bodwell. A hall was finished for the Ma- sons in the third story.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.