USA > Maine > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 127
USA > New Hampshire > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 127
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VII. OLIVE J.,6 b. Aug. 25, 1856; m., Feb. 28, 1884, Elijah Walker.
1157
STANLEY FAMILY.
VIII. SALOME V.,6 b. Sept. 27, 1859 ; d. Nov. 17, 1872.
IX. RANDALL L.,6 b. Mar. 3, 1862; m. Ida Bisby.
X. TOBIAS A.,6 b. Feb. 7, 1865 ; m. Adie F. Cook, Apr. 12, 1885, and has issue.
CHILDREN OF ELISHA AND MOLLY :
I. DENNIS,5 b. in Porter, June 1, 1805 ; m. Betsey Hill, Apr. 26, 1829, and lived some years in his native town. He d. July 4, 1885 ; his wife d. May 25, 1872, aged 66 years ; were buried at South Hiram. Children :
I. CHARLES H.,6 d., unmarried, May 19, 1860.
II. MARY A.,6 m. Henry Weeks; second, Erastus Cole.
111. LOVIE J.,6 m. Harrison Scribner.
IV. BENJAMIN R.,6 d. Aug. 18, 1834.
V. SARAH E.,6 d. Dec. 15, 1842.
2. SIMION,5 b. in Porter, Aug. 27, 1807 ; m. Nancy Brown, Apr. 20, 1834, and lived in Porter. Children : Adaline,6 m. James Gibbs ; Alice,6 died young.
3 IVORY,5 b. in Porter, Oct. 30, 1809; m. Miranda Hicks, and had issue : Mary,6 m. Levi Starbird; Ivory,6 d. unmarried; Oscar,6 m. - Bick- ford; Arteminta.6
HOSEA,5 b. Apr. 6, 1812 ; d. Jan. 10, 1815.
5. MARY,5 b. July 22, 1814: m. Jeremiah Ricker, Dec. 21, 1834.
6. MEHITABLE,5 b. Sept. 16, 1817; m. Jacob Boynton, of Brownfield.
7. ELISHA,5 b. May 28, 1820; m. Lucy Brooks, Dec. 19, 1839, and had Seth,6 m. Martha J. Weeks; Samuel,6 drowned; Emily, 6 m. Moses Stacy.
8. JOSEPH,5 b. Mar. 31, 1822 ; m. Mary A. Weeks, June 18, 1844. and is now (1895) living in Porter. He is a good townsman, who has served as selectman. Issue :
I. JOHN T.,6 b. May 4, 1845.
II. ALMEDA, b. Oct. 9, 1849 ; m. Abram Chapman.
III. GEORGE,6 b. August 28, 1853; m. Almena Mason and lives on the homestead.
IV. ANNETTE,6 b. Mar. 12, 1859 ; m. Frank Mason.
8. GEORGE,5 b. Sept. 16, 1824; d. Aug. 11, 1825.
9. SARAH,5 b. Mar. 17, 1827; m. William Weeks, Feb. 16, 1845.
IO. SAMUEL,6 b. July 11, 1831 ; m. Amsette Brown, Josephine Stacy, and Julia (Stanley) Redlon ; resides at Porter village. Issue : Mary,6 m. Orris Mason; Edward,6 m. Grace Storr.
SIXTH GENERATION.
CHILDREN OF REV. JOSEPH AND NANCY :
I. WILLIAM,6 b. July 9, 1825; m. Janette Aldrich, of Charlestown, Mass., Aug. 28, 1849. Issue.
2. LORENZO D.,6 b. Nov. 5, 1827 ; m. Olive D. Boothby, of Limington, and resides in Porter, where he has for many years kept a general store; was formerly a stage-driver. One daughter, Josephine B.,7 b. Sept. II, 1851, m. Dr. Alonzo Towle, of Freedom, N. H.
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STANLEY FAMILY.
3. JOHN,6 b. Apr. 15, 1830; m. Martha J. Fox, of Porter, Dec. 19, 1850, and keeps a general store at South Hiram. Children : Matilda,7 b. Jan. 11, 1853; Joseph IV.,7 b. Aug. 12, 1856 ; Alvin C.,7 b. Apr. 9, 1857 ; Emma,7 b. Oct. 24, 1858 ; Millie,7 b. Feb. 24, 1861 ; Nettie,7 b. Dec. 19, 1862 ; Nellie,7 b. Mar. 24, 1865.
4. MOSES,6 b. May 16, 1833; m. Roxanna, dau. of Edward Blake, of Brownfield, Sept. 24, 1853; served two terms in the Civil war, being lieutenant and captain ; discharged for disability, Oct. 24, 1864. Chil- dren : Edward,7 now in New York, and Ella,7 m. first Roscoe Towle, now wife of William Ridlon, of Boston.
CHILDREN OF CAPT. JOHN AND NANCY :
1. ROXANNA, 6 b. Feb. 24, 1840; m. Moses Stanley.
2. JOHN, 6 b. Nov. 7, 1843; adopted son.
CHILDREN OF ISAAC AND SUSAN:
I. MARY A.,6 b. June 7, 1825 ; m. David Lord, Apr. 25, 1850.
2. SAMUEL,6 b. Mar. 13, 1827 ; m. Lydia Mason; second, - Williams ; lives in Rockport, Mass.
3 GEORGE,6 b. June 19, 1829; m. Lydia A. Smith, of Hiram, April 22, 1852, and has issue:
I. EUGENE,7 b. Jan. 23, 1853, m. Mary M. Norton, of Porter, and lives at South Hiram; millman. Children: Norris E.,8 Mertie A.,8 and Edna M.8
II. J. FREDERICK,7 d. young.
III. EDITH,7 m. Ira Garland, of Cornish.
4. SALLY,6 b. Oct. 30, 1831 ; m. Albert Lowell, of Hiram; d. Dec. 22, 1855.
5. MOSES,6 b. Feb. 18, 1834 ; m. Roxanna, dau. of Capt. John Stanley, and lives on his homestead farm. Issue: Arthur IT'.,7 b. Apr. 13, 1859; Susan A.,7 b. July 16, 1862 ; Sylvia,7 b. Feb. 3, 1865.
6. CLARK,6 b. Mar. 8, 1837 ; m. Meribah Linscott, of Porter, April 19, 1857 ; has a son, Charles,7 who is a school-teacher.
7. JULIA A.,6 b. Ang. 28, 1839 ; m. Henry Ridlon ; second, David Smith ; third, Samuel Stanley.
8. LYDIA,6 b. Feb. 6, 1842; m. Daniel Gould, 2d.
9. AMANDA, 6 b. Oct. 4, 1844; m. John Higgins Stanley.
IO. LUCRETIA H.,6 b. Apr. 28, 1847 ; m. Wyman Libby.
CHILDREN OF JACOB AND BETSEY :
I. WILLIAM,6 m. Emily Blake, of Brownfield, and lives in Lowell, Mass.
2. IVORY,6 m. Abby Fox and was buried at Keżar Falls.
3. MAJOR G.,6 d. Aug. 20, 1835, aged 7 years.
4. HORACE,6 born Sept. 14, 1832; in. Lydia J. McCrillis, April 5, 1855; farmer in Parsonsfield. No issue.
5. LAURA J.,6 m. Stephen Fox, of Porter, Nov. 4, 1855.
6. JACOB,7 d. Feb. 7, 1841, aged 2 years.
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STAPLES FAMILY.
7. SIMON T., 6 b. May 11, 1836; m. Abby F. Gould, June 2, 1859, and had :
I. LIZZIE O.,7 b. Sept. 14, 1860; d. Feb. 15, 1879.
II. PERCY G.,7 b. July 10, 1870; d. Apr. 1, 1871.
III. GEORGE E.,7 b. Jan. 18, 1876.
IV. FLORENCE M.,7 b. Oct. 3, 1886.
8. SUSAN E.,6 m. Daniel Mason, Sept. 6, 1857.
9. JACOB,6 b. June 6, 1845 ; m. Lizzie Saunders, Jan. 23, 1870, and lives in Hiram. Issue:
I. CORA M.,7 b. Mar. 14, 1872; m. Leslie Weeks.
II. NORA J.,7 b. Aug. 16, 1875.
III. FLORA P.,7 b. Apr. 25, 1884.
IO. MARY,6 m. Lyman Burbank, of Hiram.
II. ADALINE,6 m. Loren Libby, of Boston.
12. ORINDA,6 m. Monroe French; d. in Hiram.
Staples Family.
Staples is an Irish surname and the families bearing it in that country are wealthy and distinguished. The present representatives in Great Britain are Sir Nathaniel Alexander Staples, Bart., son of the late Rev. John Molesworth Staples, rector of Lissane and Moville, County Tyrone, and his wife, Anne, dau. of the late Most Rev. Nathaniel Alexander, D. D., Lord Bishop of Meath, and nephew of Sir Thomas Staples, Bart., whom he succeeded as eighth Baro- net in 1865. Frederick John Staples, Esq., of Brashfield House, Bicester, Oxford, barrister and magistrate, born in 1844, is a man of eminence.
Peter Staples, Jr., of Kittery, made his will June 6, 1718, " being aged "; mentions wife, Elizabeth, and sons, PETER, JOHN, and JAMES.
Peter Staples, son of Peter, Jr., preceding, of Kittery, carpenter, “being sick," made his will Dec. 6, 1720; made provision for the maintenance of his "honoured mother." He mentions wife, Mary, and children named PETER, ENOCH, JOSHUA, ROBERT, MARY, ELIZABETH, ANNE, and GRACE, also brother JOHN; inventory, $1, 108 : 15 : 6.
Robert Staples, of Kittery, cordwainer, "expecting the time of my death is near," made his will Sept. 8, 1743. A clause reads as follows: "Whereas it hath pleased God to bless me and my wife with seven children, all of them daughters, and some of them very young, whom I must leave, under the prov- idence of God, to the care of my dear and loving wife, enjoining her with all love and faithfulness to nse her best endevors that all my children may be well instructed in the true principles of religion [and] the fear of God, the way wherein they should go that when they are old they may not depart from it." He wills that his wife, Hannah, purchase a "new Bible " for each of the seven daughters, but does not mention their names.
1160
STEELE FAMILY.
Robert Staples, of this family, b. in Kittery, Jan. 14, 1737; m. Betsey Kennard (who was b. in Kittery, Jan. 5, 1747, d. July 26, 1832,) and had issue, eleven children. Mr. Staples moved to Limington as an early settler, where he d. July 2, 1822, aged 85 years. I think the old Staples farm was in the part set off to Limerick, where grandsons now live. Issue as follows :
I. ENOCH, b. July 5. 1767, in Kittery ; d. Aug. 13, 1815.
2. ANNA, b. July 1, 1769, in Kittery.
3. BETSEY, b. July 1, 1771, in Kittery ; d. July 8, 1793.
4. JAMES, b. May 10, 1773; d. Mar. 12, 1855.
5. HIRAM, b. April 14, 1775 ; d. June 10, 1846.
6. NATHANIEL K., b. Sept., 1777 ; d. Jan. 30, 1872.
7. SHUAH, b. Aug. 11, 1779; d. Jan. 20, 1844.
8. LUCY, b. Nov. 11, 1781 ; d. Mar. 16, 1857.
9. SALLY, b. Nov. 30, 1783; m. Alexander Boothby, of Limington, April 2, 1812. (See Boothbys.)
10. WILLIAM, b. June 7, 1786; d. April 18, 1868.
II. MARY, b. July 17, 1791 ; d. May 7, 1874.
Steele Family.
They were of Scottish extraction. George and Henry Steele, probably brothers, were at Cambridge, Mass., in 1632; made freemen in 1634. Nine- teen of this name had graduated from New England colleges in 1828.
Peter Steele 1 came from Salisbury, Mass., previous to 1786 ; was a “ much married " man ; names of four wives: Mary, who d. in Apr., 1802; Molly, d. Dec. 26, ISII; Betsey, d. Sept., 1816, and Polly. The Steeles lived on the road leading from Dearborn's hill to Elden's Corner; on lot 9, range D), of the 2d division. Issue of Peter as followeth :
I. JACOB,2 born Nov. 29, 1786; m. Olive Gilman and had eight children ; wife d. Apr. 1, 1862 ; he d. Sept. 20, 1864. Issue :
I. MARY,3 b. June 19, 1816.
II. ELIZA,3 b. Jan. 6. 1818; m. - Emery ; d. May 17, 1856.
III. JOSEPH G.,3 b. Nov. 10, 1819; d. May 21, 1884.
IV. SALLY,8 b. Mar. 29, 1822 ; d. Aug. 14, 1843.
V. CLARINDA H.,3 b. May 11, 1824; d. Aug. 8, 1825.
VI. CLARINDA,3 b. Jan. 21, 1827 ; d. Aug. 16, 1847.
VII. LEVI B.,3 b. Apr. 28, 1829.
VIII. JOHN B.,3 b. Dec. 3, 1831 ; d. Nov. 7, 1841.
NOTE .- William Boothby, of Limington, whose mother was a Staples, has a tall, urn-shaped basket, brought from Kittery to Limington by Robert and wife, that has been in use more than a century ; also a baby's dress, in perfect condition, worn by the offsprings of the Staples family in successive generations for one hundred and thirty-eight years. This little garment was skill- fully and daintily made from delicate, modestly figured fabric, and was fastened at the back by three hand-made cords, one at the neck, two at the belt.
1161
SWAN FAMILY.
2. ELIZABETH,2 b. Nov. 7, 1788.
3. SALLY,2 b. Apr. 29, 1791.
4. REBECCA,2 b. Aug. 17, 1796.
John Steele and Elizabeth were settled in Buxton before 1782. He died Sept. 17, 1835 ; his wife d. Nov. 13, 1856. Children :
I. MARY, b. Aug. 11, 1782.
2. CHARLOTTE, b. Apr. 13, 1785.
3. GUINNA, b. Sept. 23, 1787.
4. SALLY, b. Nov. 21, 1797 ; d. May 28, 1804.
5. RICHARD, b. Jan. 11, 1800.
William Steele and Nanne, his wife, had children, b. in Fryeburg, named as follows :
I. JAMES, b. Mar. 30, 1780; m. Jane Spring, b. in Bartlett, N. H., May 8, 1781. He d. July 6, 1836; wife d. Jan. 23, 1828. Dolly M. Pike, his second wife, was b. in Cornish, Sept. 15, 1793. A son, James IT'., b. May 28, 1836.
2. JOHN, b. Dec. 27, 1781,
3. RICHARD, b. Jan. 24, 1784, d. Jan. 26, 1795.
4. WILLIAM, b. Apr. 3, 1786,
5. SALLY, b. May 10, 1788.
6. JENNY, b. Apr. 4, 1790.
7. POLLY L., b. Mar. 11, 1793.
8. NANCY, b. Apr. 14. 1795.
Swan Family.
William Swan, a native of Bethel, b. Nov. 4, 1790; Betsey Howe, his wife, b. in Baldwin, May 1, 1792 ; settled in Denmark -western part of town -late in 1816. Their children were as follows :
I. JACOB H., b. Aug. 29, 1811; d. Jan. 29, 1812.
2. JOSEPH G., b. Oct. 2, 1812.
3. CALEB, b. Aug. 5, 1814.
4. JACOB H., b. May 29, 1816.
5. JOHN, b. Dec. 25, 1817.
6. DUDLEY F., b. Nov. 9, 1819.
7. HANNAH H., b. Sept. 4, 1821.
8. WILLIAM H., b. Oct. 18, 1823 ; d. Nov. 19, 1823.
9. PHINEAS W., b. Nov. 18, 1824.
IO. REBECCA W., b. Oct. 26, 1826.
II. JAMES O., b. Oct. 28, 1828.
1162
TIBBETTS FAMILY.
12. WILLIAM E., b. Feb. 27, 1830.
13. MARY S., b. June 27, 1833.
14. PAMELIA E., b. Sept. 27, 1835.
Symonds Family.
Thomas Symonds was an early pioneer of Bridgton, and removed to Denmark in 1794. He was born in Danvers, Mass., Sept. 28, 1761 ; wife, Rhoda Knapp, was born in Dedham, Mass., Oct. 9, 1761. These had chil- dren as follows :
I. ELVIRA, b. Jan. 21, 1787 ; m. William Martin.
2. SALLY K., b. June 5, 1789 ; m. Alfred Benton.
3. OLINDA, b. Apr. 13, 1791 ; m. Nathan Barker.
4. JESSE, b. July 21, 1793; m. Elizabeth Jordan, of Raymond.
5. LUCY, b. Nov. 22, 1795 ; m. Ezekiel Bangs, Buxton.
6. SYBIL, b. April 25, 1798 ; m. Elisha Newcomb.
7. RHODA, b. Mar. 31, 1800-1 ; d. July 2, 1804.
8. HULDAH, b. Oct. 27, 1803 ; m. John Potter (?).
9. RHODA, b. Oct. 31, 1805; m. Frederick Bangs.
.All are dead at this date, 1893.
Saunders Family.
Jonathan Saunders, one of the early pioneers of Denmark, entered the township before 1800. He cleared his farm and built his home in the eastern section of the town, the farm now owned by Horace Gore. He was born in Billerica, Mass., Dec. 22, 1751, and d. Dec. 17, 1831. Children as follows :
1. ELIAS, b. May 30, 1801 ; m., first, Lucy Emerson ; second, Rebecca Newcomb; third, a Mrs. Lewis.
2. ELIZA, b. May 30, 1801 ; m. Jacob Witham.
3. HANNAH, b. Feb. 16, 1804; m. Simon Jewett and is now (1893) the oldest person in town.
Tibbetts Family.
This surname was derived from the occupation of tippet-making; a popular employment in mediaval days when this article of apparel was much worn by both sexes in the highest ranks of life, even by royalty itself. The family surname was spelled "Tippit " and "Tippett," for several generations after
1163
TIBBETTS FAMILY.
being applied as a cognomen, and is often found in such forms in old docu- ments. At one time the family in England had risen to a position of consid- erable prominence, as proven by the two coats of arms granted them; but for undiscovered reasons they lost their prestige and property, and are nearly ex- tinct in the male line. Several persons of the name came to the American colonies and to Canada, at an early day, and established families, the descend- ants being now very numerous and widely scattered. Many have reached a patriarchal age and few have died in middle life. The early generations were remarkably prolific, and descendants multiplied like thistles.
Conspicuous as a trait of character was precision; the exactitude with which everything undertaken by them must be done. There is no "half-way" nor "nine-tenths," known to them ; finished meant perfection, Their ideals were clearly defined and must be incarnated in the materialized forms. Good order, system, and tidiness were everywhere observable about their houses, farms, stores, or workshops. They were cleanly of person; if their clothes had an honest patch on them it was a clean one. High-tempered, obdurate, revenge- ful, they could never quite forgive one who had done them wrong. And they could retaliate vehemently ; even after long years of patient waiting they exulted when they "got even" with an enemy. Fearless, determined, unrelenting ; critically discriminating and apt to find fault; fond of argument, tireless in dispute ; caustic, aggravating, tormenting. Male or female, they would have the "last word " regardless of food or sleep, and would wait years for it. But they were tender-hearted and compassionate to the needy; they would divide and sub-divide their last crust with the poor; they hated oppression and in- trigue, and if contention was abroad their sympathies were always with "the under dog in the fight." High-minded and outspoken constitutionally, they were never afraid to "speak their mind."
When the savages pushed their bloody incursions into New Hampshire, members of this family were heroic defenders of their homes, and gave many a red-skin a through ticket to his "happy hunting-grounds." The name of one of these has come down to us as "Ephraim Tibbetts the Indian fighter, of Dover." Several were carried captive into Canada. During the war of the Revolution no less than thirteen persons of this name saw service; in the war of 1812, a whole platoon of them buckled on the armor and hastened to the seat of conflict; during the Rebellion the southern soil drank the life blood of many of the name.
Physically, there has been a marked resemblance in all branches of the family; certain peculiar characteristics almost universally prevail. A " Tib- betts' eye !" No other like it. In the "white" of this orb there was a tint of blue such as I have never seen in any other. When one of the name was excited to anger that eye was invested with a menacing, fiendish, infernal expression, that, when seen by one who had become the object of their dis- pleasure, was not soon forgotten. Then there was, and is, something inde- scribably peculiar about the check of a genuine Tibbetts; not in respect to "brass," which was doubtless there, but in formation, in muscular expression. The most prominent elevation of this was not on a line with the bridge of the nose, where it should have been, but away down by the end of it. When one smiled there was a movement right there on that Tibbetts' cheek that passes description: as old professors used to say: "Better felt than 'spressed."
And a standard Tibbetts' nose!" Upon this enormous facial appendage
1164
TIBBETTS FAMILY.
the old fellows were certainly entitled to a patent of nobility; it was the family sign manual. Of appalling prominence, wide at the end and spread out at the nostrils as if put on when hot. When a blast was blown upon this double- barreled horn it gave forth a " sartin sound," mellow, ringing, resounding, and far-reaching as a bugle. To hear a "Tibbetts' nose" was to remember the sound a life-time. I am not jesting; this is serious description. Those old veterans were proud of such a nose ; the larger the more pride. They cracked jokes about them and sometimes ornamented them with brilliant colors such as crimson or scarlet. Fair complexions and blue eyes have prevailed in the Tibbetts family: dark eyes and swarthy tissues were transmitted by mothers from other septs.
They were good story-tellers, had good stories to tell, were artful word-paint- ers, reveled in irony, and were seldom prodigal of truth. They possessed an inexhaustible fund of humor that was irresistible when in full swing. They feasted on a plate of sharp jokes and would laugh till the flood gates of their tears became unfastened.
An extract from the town records of Hollis is amusingly suggestive of what may have happened a good while ago. It reads as follows: "Voted that the select men shall agree with somebody to fetch Obadiah Tibbetts into this town and they have liberty to ty him." Liberty to tie him? But who could bell the wolf? That "somebody," if found, was invested with a very disagreeable commission. Who that knew the spirit of the family would covet the honor ? If the spirit of the vote was carried into execution we fancy there was a lively exchange of compliments and a lusty tussle. One might as well assume to bind the tiger in his native jungle. We do not think Obadiah was tied.
HENRY TYBBOT, shoemaker, Elizabeth, Jeremy, and Samuel embarked at London for New England in the " James," John May, master, July 13, 1633. HENRY TIBBETTS, aged thirty-nine, with his wife Eliza, aged thirty-nine, sister Remembrance, aged twenty-eight, and sons Jeremy and Samuel are said to have arrived at Dover, N. H., in 1635. In the list of passengers, Henry was styled "shoemaker." He supported the jurisdiction of Massachusetts in 1665. He received a grant on Dover Neck, called "home lot," in 1643, and a large grant "between St. Albans and Quampheagon"; was taxed in 1675, but in 1679, "Widow Tibbit " and son Jeremy were taxed in his stead. It was agreed by "Mary Tippit " and "Jeremy Tippit," her son, that her youngest son should live with his uncle Matthew Austin.
The Saco valley families of this name may be traced from the emigrant ancestor as follows : JEREMY,2 eldest son of HENRY,1 born in England, married Mary, daughter of Thomas Canney, and one of his twelve children, EPHRAIM 3 by name, married Rose Austin, and had, with other issue, AARON,4 who mar- ried Penelope -, and their son STEPHEN,5 who m. Alice Haines, of Buxton, settled in Scarborough. His wife died in 1816; he died at the home of his son SAMUEL,6 in Buxton, in 1817 ; had a large family, whose names follow :
I. SAMUEL,6 b. Dec. 13, 1750; m. Hannah Haines, his cousin, and settled in Buxton, where several of his children were married. His wife d. in 1817, and he is said to have moved to Eaton, N. H. He was a shoe- maker by trade, then called a "cordwinder," who for many years carried his bag containing his lap-stone and " kit" from house to house, where
NOTE .- Very full records of branches descended from Henry Tibbetts, with pedigrees of other quite distinct families of the name are in the author's possession.
JUDITH TIBBETTS.
GIDEON TIBBETTS.
1165
TIBBETTS FAMILY.
he cut and made "shews and pomps " for the whole family there domi- ciled. When Abraham Ridlon, who married his sister Patience, was about to remove to the " Western Reserve," he came to Hollis and made him a pair of heavy harnesses (fancy how they looked) for his journey.
2. TIMOTHY,6 is said to have been a lawyer.
3 EPHRAIM,6 b. in 1754; m., first, at Rochester, N. H., Dec. 17, 1777, Eunice, dau. of Obadiah and Elizabeth (Robinson) Tibbetts, by whom one son; second, at Rochester, Dec. 4, 1783, Esther, dau. of Elijah and Lovie (Drew) Tibbetts, by whom issue; resided at " Rochester Plains." He d. Oct. 21, 1836, aged 82. Of children hereafter.
4. JEDEDIAH,6 was a tanner at Rochester, N. H.
5. AARON,6 is said to have lived in Saco.
6. STEPHEN,6 m., at Rochester, N. H., Oct. 16, 1788, Mehitable, dau. of Elijah and Hannah (Furbush) Tibbetts. He m. a second wife named Fabyan, in Scarborough, and had a numerous family, as will afterwards appear.
7. RUTH,6 m. to Ezekiel, son of Elijah and Lovie (Drew) Tibbetts, and lived in Rochester, N. H.
8. PATIENCE, 6 m. Abraham Ridlon and lived at Deerwander, now in Hollis, some years; then they removed to the north section of the town and cleared land near where Orin Davis has since lived, above Bonnie Eagle. In ISoo they went to the "Western Reserve," Ohio, but both died in Indiana. These left a very numerous posterity now scattered through the Western states, some of whom have inherited from " Aunt Pashunce" a "Tibbetts' nose" and a "blue-white eye."
CHILDREN OF EPHRAIM:
GIDEON TIBBETTS,7 only son by first wife, b. April 21, 1780, at Rochester, N. H .; m. Judith, dau. of Gideon and Abigail (Bunker) Walker, of Water- borough, Me., Dec. 6, 1806, and settled at "Shadagee," on the bank of the Saco, in Buxton. He built a small house and store at the road-corners, near where the Isaac Eaton house now stands. I think the house known as the "McCann house" was remodeled from the original Tibbetts' building. He continued in trade here, doing a snug little business, for several years. This was when "Smith's bridge" spanned the Saco at the foot of "Hancock's hill," on the old Portland and Limerick road. At this time "Shadagee " was a considerable hamlet. where " Uncle Tut" Eaton, Dea. Timothy Hazeltine, Magnus Ridlon, and Gideon Tibbetts constituted the government. Here travelers called to "bait" and "wet the ropes," and many an old-fashioned "spree " was carried on at the Tibbetts' store. "Uncle Mag" and " Uncle Tut" took kindly to the "little brown jug," and while living neighbors their old noses gradually took on color like a pure meerschaum pipe. While in trade here, Mr. Tibbetts brought a monkey from Portland which afforded him much amusement for a time, and he was wont to tell in old age the tricks "Jack " played. When the season for selling ribbons had passed, to keep them from fading by exposure to the light, a large box of these delicate wares were put away in the store chamber. "Jack" found these, fastened one end of each piece inside and threw the spools from the window. When going to his business in the morning, Mr. Tibbetts saw, to his surprise and displeasure,
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TIBBETTS FAMILY.
a hundred streamers, representing more hues than the rainbow, flying in the wind; "Jack," meanwhile, dancing and chattering, in great glee, upon the ridge-pole. This grave offense was passed over without corporeal punish- ment; but when, a few weeks later, while his mistress was frying meat for breakfast in the open fire-place, he added sundry ingredients to her cooking, he tasted the keen edge of his master's broad-axe, and his body found a bed in the mellow loam by the river-side.
While in business at Shadagee he constructed a large, high-sided market- wagon in which he shipped his goods from Portland. For this he purchased a horse of commensurate size and strength. This wagon was a new inven- tion, an innovation which relegated all ordinary vehicles to the shade; it excited as much curiosity in the community as if it had been a chariot of Solomon. There was nothing like it anywhere in the country, and being much on the road, when hired by families who were moving, it became widely known as the "Tibbetts' wagon." From this originated a popular proverb which was in vogue for many years in the Saco valley. The carriage became the synonym of all that was great and powerful, and the expression "as big as the Tibbetts' wagon," was frequently heard as a descriptive quotation. The force of a statement made by Jim Field, when big Sam Tarbox came to West Buxton, was well understood by the old men of the time. As he was seen approaching a group of by-standers Jim asked who that was. Said Uncle George Lord : "That's Sam Tarbox." "Well," replied Jim ; " he's as big's the Tibbetts' wagon."
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