USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Dover-Foxcroft > Old Foxcroft, Maine : traditions and memories, with family records > Part 2
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The determined little migrating party experienced many hardships, the last fifteen miles being the most trying, but they reached the new settlement safely.
Eliphalet Washburn, son of Stephen of New Gloucester, was the first from Col. Foxcroft's native town, to come in and make an opening. This he did in the spring of 1807, on the farm later owned by B. T. Genthner. He was an ambitious youth, and being unemcumbered by wife or family, he deemed a barn essential to his prosperity, and in the fall of 1807, held a barn raising, the first in a township of seven fami- lies. Tradition says, that when Washburn had his frame ready, he walked to Bangor, ostensibly for an iron bar, and some cut nails for boarding. But upon his return, it was found, that, added to the above was a keg of New England Rum; the nails were suspended in a bag from the bar over his shoulder, and they had so rubbed against his back as to cause sores, the scars of which he carried through life. The iron bar is still in existence, as well as the barn.
The original, in Esq. Chamberlain's handwriting, is before me.
"Your Committee chosen at a former town meeting to ascertain when the first trees were fell in this town and the first settlement commenced, has attended to the duty assigned him and ask leave to report.
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The first trees were felled in 1804 on lot No. 11 in the first range, be- tween the burying ground and river, in 1805 there were two or three other pieces felled, in 1806 John Spaulding, Eleazer Spaulding and John Chandler, moved into the town with families and built each a log house, this year the first produce was raised and the first mills built, the mills were built by John, Eleazer and Seth Spaulding, in 1807 Samuel Cham- berlain, Ephraim Bacon, Joseph Morse and Timothy Hutchinson moved into the town with families and Eliphalet Washburn a single man, the first framed house was built in 1807 by Samuel Chamberlain & Ephraim Bacon, & the first barn the same year by Eliphalet Wash- burn, the first child born in town was born June 1806 a son of John Spaulding, and named after the proprietor Joseph E. Foxcroft but he died at the age of six years, the second was Sally J. Chamberlain born in August 1808 now Samuel Greely's wife.
In 1810 the number of inhabitants returned for No. 5 Range 7, now Foxcroft was 65 although it was not known to me that any person was ever here to number them.
SAMUEL CHAMBERLAIN, Committee.
FOXCROFT, March 10, 1838."
In 1808, Jesse Washburn of New Gloucester, an older brother of Eliphalet, commenced an opening on lot. No. 6 in the 1st. range, not far from his brother's location ; erected a frame house and moved his wife Phoebe, and their daughter, Sally aged two years to it. On Aug. 13, 1809, a son, Peleg was born. The second white boy-and he lived to good old age.
John Carpenter opened lot No. 13 in the 5th range, which he later sold to James Call of Dresden. While his brother, Nathan was hard at work on his lot, No. 14 in the 4th range; and Samuel Chamberlain had decided to make a permanent home on a farm purchased of John Towle, comprising Lots No. 13 and 14 in the 3rd range.
Early in June 1808, Capt. Joel Pratt, who had purchased of his brother-in-law, John Bigelow, lot No. 13 in the 1st range, arrived with his wife, Sarah (Jones) Pratt and three sons, Reuben aged five years, Nelson aged three years, and Seth Corbett less than one year of age. Capt. Pratt had already passed through one pioneer experience, among the rugged foothills of the Green Mountains at Clarksburg Vt., and well realized what he might encounter. A man of thirty-two years of age, of the best New England ancestry, over six feet in height, dark eyes and hair, clear cut features with a mien of iron determination, he inspired others with his thoroughness of purpose.
Mrs. Sarah .(Jones) Pratt and Mrs. Abigail (Tucker) Chamberlain were life long friends, and the Pratts became members of the Samuel Chamberlain family, until such time as Mr. Pratt could provide a house. The land had to be cleared, and logs hauled to the mill, and returned as boards. Joel Pratt was a carpenter by trade, his broad ax may still be seen, and by late fall had erected a log house, on the first knoll, now just west of the railroad tracks, on the highway to Guilford, and to the left
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near the Gray cemetery. The following year he boarded it in, over- lapping the boards, so that it resembled a clapboarded house.
In August 1808, while Mrs. Pratt was with her friend Mrs. Cham- berlain, the first white girl was born in the settlement, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chamberlain. She was named for her mother's friend and nurse, Sarah Jones Chamberlain.
After Mr. Pratt had completed his own house, and prepared, burned over, and fenced (by logs), a plot large enough for a garden the next season, he assisted Mr. Chamberlain, in commencing the erection of what proved to be for years, one of the most substantial and comfort- able homes, in the town of "old Foxcroft."
Early in October, Joel Pratt moved his family to their new home. The house was a generous sized one story building, containing a large kitchen, with huge fireplace. It was used also as a dining and general living room ; a front parlor and two bedrooms on ground floor, with open loft above, which was later finished into chambers; and, whenever he could procure the material, Mr. Pratt sheathed the rooms.
From Chandler, he procured a few hens, for which he had provided a small house, within the log enclosure for his garden. This enclosure was for protection against wild animals.
Chandler and the Morses had succeeded in raising corn and grass enough, for them to feel justified in bringing in oxen.
In 1809 Capt. Chamberlain and Dea. Carpenter were each intent upon the erection of homes, employing Chandler, to haul logs to and return with lumber from the mill; while Capt. Pratt gave to each, as much assistance as he could, and not be away from his own home for too long a time.
The Spauldings and Blood had become discouraged by the many hard- ships connected with leaky dam, and the inability to obtain necessary machinery, and sold their interests to Timothy Hutchinson and one Hathaway. They too became discouraged and sold to Daniel Bullen. The Spauldings moved to Dover and gave attention to agricultural life. Later, in 1843, John Spaulding and wife returned to Foxcroft, making their home with their daughter Roxinda Bearce, on lot #3 in the 8th range. Mr. Spaulding d. Dec. 23, 1846. His wife Betsey d. Mar. 26, 1855 in Danville, Maine.
Isaac Bearce and his wife, Roxinda (Spaulding) Bearce, took care of her father and mother. The farm later was owned by Danville Oakes who m. Sybil, granddaughter of John and Betsey Spaulding.
Such an unsettled condition at the mills, curtailed the output of lumber, but fortunately the grist mill could do it's work for the 8 families in the settlement.
In Sept. of 1809, as Capt. Pratt's crops were ready for harvesting, misfortune overtook him, it at first seemed. Aroused from his sleep one night by howlings, falling and rolling of logs, Capt. Pratt jumped from his bed, seized his gun, opened his door, took aim as best he could
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by sound, and fired. Then a second and a third shot. All seemed quiet and he returned to bed. At daybreak he found that his crops had been ruined, and two bears were lying dead within the enclosure.
What a problem was his! There, in dense woods, his nearest neigh- bor being a mile away, at what is now the village. During the day, he visited the different settlers, but with little hope of getting wheat or corn, for each could hardly provide for his own family. Heartsick and weary, he returned at dusk to his home, and was shutting the henhouse door, when a voice from the river bank called, "Is that you, Capt. Pratt?"
"Yes, who are you?"
"I'm Carsley from Sangerville. Will you come over and help me on a frame for a barn?"
"Have you any wheat and corn or rye?"
"Yes."
""May I. have some in the morning?"
""Yes."
"Very well, I'll be over early."
And each was a man of his word. Capt. Pratt returned at noon with a bag of corn meal, and one half bushel of whole wheat, and Sarah, the wife, never knew, until years later, how near they came to starvation's door; though they had plenty of bear meat, and in time, two fine bear skins to keep them warm. Mr. Carsley needed the Captain's skilled assistance for some time, and the season's supply of wheat, rye and corn was assured. On Sept. 13, 1810, Capt. Pratt's fourth child, a son, Lawson, was born.
The fall of 1809, found that part of the Chamberlain house called the ell, near completion, and Capt. Chamberlain moved his wife and daughter to it. Settlers were slow to come in, and Col. Foxcroft was low spirited ; but in the spring of 1810, there came to the new settlement from Gilmanton N. H., a clear headed business man, of the soundest judgment in common affairs, Mr. Samuel Greely. He purchased a considerable amount of property, relieving Mr. Bullen of the mills, and placing his wideawake, energetic sons, Gilman and Daniel in charge. For each, he contracted with Capt. Pratt, to build a house.
Gilman had a wife and three children, whom he wished to move here. His house was located on the site of the present Chase Studio. The house is well remembered, abutting as it did to the sidewalk. It was a one-story weather-stained house without stone foundation, the sills resting on the ground. A kitchen, dining room, large living room and bed room were on the front. a door opening directly from the sidewalk into the kitchen and a second or front door from the sidewalk into a small entry between the living room and bedroom. From the entry stairs as steep as most ladders are placed, led to the loft, which, as I recall contained four or five small rooms; all but two, being lighted by a skylight. The kitchen extended through the house to the rear, and
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two bedrooms opened from the living room and one from the front bedroom. For several years the house was used as a tavern. In the living room of this house, the first town meeting was held and many successive ones.
E+% Brown
GILMAN GREELEY'S HOUSE ON SITE OF CHASE STUDIO
Gilman Greeley's first wife was Hannah Sanborn, dau of Peter and Hannah (Scribner) Sanborn of Deerfield, N. H. and their three children, who came with their parents, in 1811, were, Gustavius Adolphus Sanborn, born Sept. 30, 1806; Gilman Philanthrapan, born Mar. 15, 1808 d. June 8, 1816; and Eliza Emmeline, born May 25, 1810. On April 25, 1813 after settling in Foxcroft, a third son, Frederick William was born. He d. Nov. 27, 1813.
Mrs. Hannah Greeley died Sept. 27, 1814 and Gilman Greeley married Betsey V. dau of James and Hannah (Carter) Thompson of Foxcroft. To them, on Jan. 31, 1816 was born a daughter, Hannah Sanborn.
Daniel Greeley's house was on the site of the Congregational Chapel, and in architecture, a duplicate of his brother Gilman's. It was moved onto the site on Green Street now the home of Edward Waugh.
Several years before its removal, there had been built, at right angles to the western end, a considerable projection toward the street, for a dry goods store. Mr. E. D. Wade was then the owner. He moved to Dover; but his store was still in old Foxcroft, in the present Masonic Block. Peaks and Cross, Dry Goods, succeeded to the Wade store. When the house was about to be moved, the projection was cut off, and moved to Lincoln Street, becoming the dental office of Russell Merrill and Son; later, Pearl's cobbler shop.
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Daniel Greeley's family consisted of his wife Sarah (Gibbs), daughter of Elisha and Silence (Harrington) Gibbs of Camden Maine, and eight children,-Marie aged nine years, Eliza Gibbs aged seven, Sophona aged four (1811) Sarah Ann aged two years (1813). Those born in Fox- croft were Elisha Gibbs on July 30, 1815, John Pitts on Dec. 7, 1817, Nancy Burns on Sept. 27, 1821 and Araminta Rovena on Mar. 3, 1825.
In 1810, a young man, William Thayer, whose father, Peter Thayer of Paris, had already purchased a lot, came to the new settlement and began an opening on his father's lot, No. 17 in the 5th range. He became contented, erected a small house and interested himself in public affairs. Later, on Feb. 26, 1816, he married Polly (Mary) Cushman, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Brown) Cushman of Minot.
The house which had been built by Chamberlain and Bacon was taken down in the early spring, and rebuilt upon the site of the present railroad station, and Mr. Bacon moved his family to it. On Aug. 27, 1811, their fourth child, Charlotte Ann, was born. The birth is re- " corded in Massachusetts as having taken place "at Pitiataquis #5 Range 7 now Foxcroft."
It was also in the spring of 1810 that the three Buck brothers came from Buckfield. Mr. Nathaniel Buck settled on lot #14 in the 5th range, erecting his house on the southeast corner of the lot. Later, a bridle path was put through his lot to the Thomas Wentworth farm and still later it became a town road and was extended some two miles into a dense forest, now, the "old Gray neighborhood."
Nathaniel Buck's family consisted of his wife, Sarah (Seabury) Buck and nine children.
Mr. Daniel Buck and his family located on lot #13 in the 4th range, the next on the east to Dea. Carpenter, but in 1822, it was taken for the "ministerial lot", and the Bucks moved to and cleared, the farm later known as the David Gilman place. Now owned by his great grandson, Willis Gilman. Daniel Buck's family consisted of his wife Rebecca Sawyer and two children when he came to Foxcroft. Five others were born in Foxcroft. Rebecca (Sawyer) Buck died in 1824 and Daniel Buck married Hannah Weston by whom he had seven children.
The William Bucks made an opening and built upon lot No. 15 in the 2nd range. His wife, Martha did not come to Foxcroft until the spring of 1812. Their children were, Delphina, born Feb. 7, 1814; John Carsley, born Sept. 28, 1815; Lucius, born June, 22, 1817.
Mr. Buck was not a successful pioneer and after several years of strenuous labor, with most unsatisfactory results, he sold his place to Capt. Chamberlain and the family left Foxcroft. The farm joined the Chamberlain homestead on the west and proved a valuable investment to Capt. Chamberlain.
It is probable that the James Call, who came in as early as 1811, purchasing of John Carpenter, the lot on which, he, Carpenter, com-
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menced an opening in 1809, was of the Philip Call family of Dresden Maine.
Philip Call Jr. and Deliverance (Wyman) Call had a son James, b. 1759 who, in 1786 m. Lydia Fitch. They had a large family but the records are obscure. I find that a son and daughter married and each settled at Levant, Me. A brother, James, may have accompanied them and through Moses Hodsdon, the surveyor of our township, who lived at Levant learned of this young settlement and come up here. The dates are conformable.
According to some old deeds, Mrs. Call's name was Hannah They had at least, one child, a daughter b. Sept. 9, 1821, named Eliza. If I am correct in the above, then we have another link connecting "Old Foxcroft" with Plymouth and the Pilgrims.
James I, King of Great Briton and Ireland, in 1620, renewed a former charter, and the Kennebec territory was included in that, which was the Plymouth Company's tract. All that territory, or tract, was con- veyed in fee simple to William Bradford and his associates. At our Augusta, a trading post was established, and it will be recalled that the Plymouth Company, for over thirty years, traded most advantageously in furs. Indeed theirs was an exceedingly prosperous business.
In 1661 a change was made, and the territory became the property of Antipas Boyes, Edward Tyng, Thomas Brattle and John Winslow, in whom and their heirs, title to the land remained, for over ninety years. The "Kennebec Purchase" was consumated, in which was included a tract of land thirty miles in width, with the Kennebec River for its center, and extending from Merrymeeting Bay to Norridge- wock. A Settlement commenced to be made and new counties devel- oped. Old York was cut into York, Cumberland and Lincoln; and Lincoln included all of the eastern District of Maine. Fourteen coun- ties, several of which we have been a member, first of Lincoln; then Hancock, with Castine as the shire town; then Somerset, with Nor- ridgewock as its county seat; then Penobscot, with records at Bangor; and in 1838 our own beloved Piscataquis, with scenery surpassing any, and a people reflecting the sturdiness and mental vigor of their emi- grant ancestors.
Dresden, of which, I believe, James Call was a native, was formerly a part of Pownalborough; prior to that, Frankfort Plantation, and the shire town of Lincoln. And to the old Pownalborough Court House, which it has been my pleasure often to visit, came all the citizens in Maine, from St. Croix to the Kennebec, to transact business.
Thus "Old Foxcroft's" pioneer of 1811, a native son of old Frank- fort, connects us with the Plymouth Company!
And the oft times emigrant ancestors, Gov. William Bradford, the Historian, the cultured Gov. Edward Winslow, and the beloved Dea- con of the "First Church" in Plymouth, founded by the Pilgrims in Scrooby, England, John Dunham, seem very real to us!
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James Call's name was last upon the Selectmen's list of voters for the year 1828, I am not able to learn what became of the family.
In the fall of this same year, 1811 Col. Foxcroft made a visit to the township, and so pleased was he, with the progress made, that he earn- estly cooperated with the settlers, in their desire to petition for an act of incorporation. He also urged them to hold meetings on the Sabbath, a suggestion eagerly endorsed by the people; and not long after, Rev. John Sawyer, the pastor of the Congregational Church at Garland, arranged to meet with them occasionally, and conduct religious serv- ices.
Nathaniel Chamberlain, a younger brother of Capt. Samuel Cham- berlain, had this year come with his bride, Patty (Martha) Streeter, of New Salem Mass., to this northern Hancock County wilderness. He had purchased considerable land, in that part of Plantation 3 range 6 (now Dover), whereon the business section of the village is located. He was a skilled carpenter and cabinet worker; and erected an attrac- tive little home for his bride, on the site of the present office building of George E. Howard and Son. While getting his own home in readi- ness they made their home with the Samuel Chamberlains; On October 8, 1810, to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chamberlain their first son, Calvin was born.
Mr. Nathaniel Chamberlain had for several years held a commis- sion as Justice of the Peace; and the inhabitants at once turned to him, to draw up a petition to the General Court at Boston, for an act of incorporation.
Nathan Carpenter, having harvested his crops and finished his house, was to go late that fall, to his home in Paris, Me., to return with his bride in the early spring. He carried the petition to Col. Foxcroft on his way home, to be approved, and forwarded to Boston. Early in March of 1811 he brought his bride, the accomplished Miss Susan Proctor of Hartford, Maine, to the young settlement. Born near Londonderry, N. H., she had received unusual religious and social advantages, and entered at once, into the progressive spirit of pioneer life. She re- ceived the hearty cooperation of her husband.
The spring of 1811 had introduced three other settlers, John Brad- bury, his brother Moses, and his brother-in-law, Benjamin Hearsey. John Bradbury had purchased lot #15 in the 1st range Benj. Hearsey one half of lot #16 in the same range.
Moses Bradbury lived with his brother John. Also David Colby, a joiner by trade, came in from Norridgewock, having purchased of Samuel Greeley, one hundred acres, at what is now known, as New Sweden.
This gave to the young township 18 families; and five bachelors of sturdy loyalty and integrity, awaiting the passage by the General Court in Boston, of an act for incorporation, already presented to that august assembly.
THE BIRTH OF FOXCROFT
On Feb. 29, 1812, the act of incorporation for the Town of Foxcroft,; passed the upper and lower branch of the General Court of the Com- monwealth and was signed by the Governor, it being the second town to be incorporated in the present Piscataquis County.
A copy of the form of the Bill of Incorporation, as it was approved in the Massachusetts Council Chamber, is as follows:
"COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS'
In the year of our Lord, One thousand, eight hundred and twelve- An Act to establish the town of Foxcroft, in the County of Han- cock,-
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- tives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same that the township numbered five in the seventh range, North of the Waldo Patent, in the county of Hancock, be, and hereby is, established as a town by the name of Foxcroft, and by the following bounderies, viz., East by township number four in the same range, South by the river Piscataquis, * West, by number six in the same range, North by number seven in the eighth range.
And the said Town of Foxcroft is hereby vested with all the corporate powers and privileges, and subjected to the like duties and requisitions of other towns, according to the Constitution and Laws of this Com- monwealth.
Section 2. And be it further enacted that any Justice of the Peace for the County of Hancock, is hereby authorized, upon application therefor, to issue a warrant directed to a free holder and inhabitant of the said Town of Foxcroft, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabi- tants thereof, to meet at such convenient time and place, as shall be ex- pressed in said warrant, for the choice of such officers as towns are by law requried to choose, at their annual town meetings.
In the House of Representatives, Feb. 29, 1812.
This bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted. (Signed) E. W. RIPLEY, Speaker.
* Be it noted: The General Assembly of Massachusetts fixed upon the "river Pisca- taquis," as the boundary line of the Township, on the south. All land therefore, be- tween the Sebec line on the east and the Guilford line on the west, north of the "river Piscataquis" was Foxcroft territory. The first town meeting called for "Monday the six day of April instant at nine of the clock in the forenoon," at the house of Gilman Greeley, was declared illegal, because Eli Towne had not been "served." For a period of six years Mr. Towne kept a petition before the General Assembly asking that he be "set off" to Plantation #3, in the 6th range. In 1818 it was granted.
Sybil Towne, oldest daughter of Eli and Mrs. Towne was born March 1805, within "old Foxcroft's" incorporated boundary. In 1818 by order of the political Sovereign power her father's real estate fell under the jurisdiction of another Township-later Dover.
Thomas Towne, the grandfather, was a Revolutionary War soldier, and on the pension rolls after 1818. The two Townships, by the free act of each, are now united. Is not a very signal honor due the name of Sybil Towne?
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OLD FOXCROFT
In Senate, February 29th, 1812.
This Bill having had two several readings passed to be enacted.
SAMUEL DANA, President. Council Chamber 29th February, 1812. E. GERRY.
The inhabitants had decided upon the name "Foxcroft" as a compli- ment and honor to the proprietor for so many years, Col. Joseph E. Foxcroft. It was fully appreciated by him and he, not only grace- fully, but generously acknowledged it by presenting the new town, one hundred dollars to be expended for books, which he hoped might form a nucleus for a town library.
A strong and intelligent people, they were, forming themselves by industry and prudence. Each felt that he was commencing a family and a community. They were men of resources, who could and would do more than one thing. They had not the desire to become specula- tive. Land was to be cleared and subdued. They found exactly that which they expected, soil and toil; and with determination they reached forth.
Expression should also be given to a deep feeling of gratitude, veneration, and filial affection, for our women ancestors. While less conspicuous, their burdens and duties were fully as huge, and as effi- ciently carried. Sustained-by an unshaken faith, governed by a high sense of duty, and in a self-sacrificing spirit, they performed their tasks with quiet, persevering energy; thus molding the character of their sons and daughters, to honor and virtue, coupled with industry and thrift. These characteristics were not rare, or exceptional; but tended to establish a social standing, of the highest character and excellence.
Though the spinning wheel furnished the music of the home, and domestic manufacture took the place of literature and the fine arts, yet the quiet energy, and earnest maternal affection, constituted an ideal grace of the pioneer women.
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