Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 13

Author: Ridlon, Gideon Tibbetts, 1841- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Portland, Me., The author
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > Maine > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 13
USA > New Hampshire > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 13

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).

Item-One trunk and small lumber -One small skine of beaver 00-10-00

L S. 11. 00-05-00

-One house and land belonging to it 05-06-00 -One cow 05-00-00 .. -One heffer calf . 05-00-00

-12 Swyne great and small 12-00-00

-One stear spoiled by ye woolfe 10-15-(*)

44-19-06

Richard Rogers, son of Thomas, purchased a tract of land about half a mile square, lying between Goosefair brook and middle line of the patent, in 1687, of James Gibbins; this he claimed, along with twelve acres of meadow given him by the town, lying on "the northeast side of Richard Cumming's" in 1714, being then of Kittery. In the court records I find the following : " Richard Rogers upon hue and cry out against him for felony, fled this Province, there having been a special warrant to Saco constable to seize him." He made his will in Kittery, Jan. 11. 1770, and mentions wife Sarah, and children Rebecca, John, Hannah m. to John Tydie, and Thomas Hanson, son-in-law.

PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

Richard Rogers, son of the preceding, made his will in Kittery, July 10, 1737, in which he names wife Eleanor, and children Thomas, Esther, Dorothy, Lydia, Richard, Sarah, and Mary, wife of Patrick Googins, to whom he con- firms the land already deeded to them at Saco which his father had purchased of James Gibbins.

John Rogers, probably son of the first Richard, made his will in Kittery, Mar. 9, 1746. May have been son of Thomas. Mentions wife Hannah, and children named George, John, Hannah, Mary, Margaret and Keziah. Inven- tory £2,436 : 16: 0.

John Rogers, born Sept. 15, 1756, m. Mary -, b. Jan. 28, 1759, and had nine children b. in Kittery. He removed to Parsonsfield, Me., where the tenth child was born. Issue as follows :

I. NATHANIEL, b. July 30, 1782.

2. POLLY, b. Sept. 3, 1784; d. Feb. 11, 1786.

3. ABIGAIL, b. Dec. 7, 1785 ; d. Nov. 18, 1786.

4. GEORGE, b. Sept. 3. 1787.

5. JOHN, b. May 28, 1790.

6. POLLY, b. Sept. 2, 1792.

7. SALLY, b. Nov. 10, 1794; d. Nov. 22, 1794.

8. JOSEPH, b. Dec. 28, 1796.

9. SAMUEL, b. July 23, 1799.

IO. HANNAH, b. Nov. 7, 1801.

Richard Cmmming was an early settler in Biddeford. He married Eleanor, daughter of Capt. Richard Bonython, before 1647, and after the death of her father moved over to Saco and settled near Little River. He was probably a Scotchman. His name appears on the records until 1674. He died in 1665. Left son Thomas, one of the administrators of his estate, and a daughter Elizabeth, who became the wife of her cousin, John Foxwell, and afterwards of John Harmon. Thomas did not live long.

Nicholas Edgecomb was a native of Plymouth, England, who, with his brother John, came to Kittery as early as 1636-7. The name of his wife was Wilmot. He settled on the Lewis and Bonython patent, but was left on the Scarborough side when the town line was established. He had fifty acres of land rented of Richard Bonython in 1639. Southgate remarks that he was a man of good sense and fair abilities, but had not enjoyed, or at least had not improved, the common advantages of education. His failing in this respect accounts in a good degree for the small part he shared in the early government of the Province. For full particulars see genealogy of the Edgecomb family in following pages.

Henry Waddock was one of the early settlers, and long a public-spirited and useful citizen. His house was at the lower ferry, on the Wells and Casco road. His son John was a leading townsman in 1674.

PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

Humphrey Scamman is said to have been a native of Portsmouth. He married Elizabeth -, whose family name has not been found. He came to Saco as early as 1679, where he received a grant of land and purchased 200 acres of the widow of Henry Waddock. He was accepted into the town as a regular citizen, June 12. 1680. He had a garrison house in which he lived on the east side of Saco river, where he kept the ferry and entertained strangers. During the Indian troubles he alternated between Saco and Kittery; was in the latter town in 1693, but four years later was captured, together with his family, and carried to Canada where he remained until the close of King Philip's war, about the first of 1699, when they returned to Saco. At time of making his will (1714) was " of Kittery." He died in Biddeford, formerly and now Saco, Jan. 1, 1727. He was a useful citizen who had been in town office. His posterity very numerous and allied with many families of respectability. (See Scamman family history in following pages. )

Lieut. William Phillips was settled on the Saco as early as 1660, and was extensively engaged in lumbering and became the owner of much timber land. In 1667, he sold half of Factory Island to C'apt. John Bonython for 800 pine trees, suitable for merchantable boards. His name is found in many of the early conveyances. He was a citizen of much influence, and won the esteem of the inhabitants. Tradition claims that a man was made to smart for saying that the horse of Phillips was " as lean as an Indian's dog." He purchased an extensive territory of Captain Sunday, the Indian chief, and in conveying a sixteenth part to his son Nathaniel, mentions a "mine being accounted a silver mine " about forty miles above Saco Falls of which he had sold sundry parts to gentlemen in Boston. He purchased of the Sagamore Fluellen, in 1661, a tract of land eight miles square, comprising nearly all of the towns of Sanford. Alfred and Waterborough. His house was below Saco Falls, on Biddeford side, which was garrisoned during the first Indian war, and in it, at a chamber window, he was wounded in the shoulder by an Indian during an attack there. He made heavy contracts with English merchants for the lumber sawed at his mills ; these were burned down by the savages, but evidently rebuilt, for he mentions his saw-mill in his will. and bequeaths the same to his wife and sons. He removed to Boston in 1675. and died there in 1683. Among his children were Nathaniel, Samuel, and William. He had no less than three daughters, whose husbands' names were John Alden, Zachary Gillam, and Ephraim Turner. The mother's name was Bridget.

Col. Tristram Jordan, son of Capt. Samuel, married Hannah, daughter of Capt. Ichabod Goodwin, of South Berwick, in 1749 ; lived in the old Pepperill house, and engaged in merchandising. He was remarkably successful in busi- ness, and paid the heaviest tax of any man in town in 1755; was captain of first company of foot raised on the east side of the river; represented county in General Court of Massachusetts in 1787. He had an estate at Deep brook

PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

to which he removed and where he died in 1821, aged 90. He was a man of great public spirit and reliability. Served as selectman twenty-one years. and town clerk twenty-six years. Timber for the frame of the first meeting-house in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was cut on his land, and carried by him on ship to that place. He was married three times, and had, with other issue, the following children :

I. ELIZABETH, m. William Vaughan of Scarborough.

2. SARAH, m. Nathaniel Scamman of Saco.

3. HANNAH, m. Capt. Solomon Coit and James Perkins.

4. OLIVE, m. Capt. Seth Storer of Saco.

5. MARY, m. Daniel Granger, Esq.

Col. Thomas Cutts was a native of Kittery in which town he served as clerk for William Pepperill. He early engaged in business there but failed of success. With one hundred dollars received from his father, he went down to Saco and opened a small shop in the room of a dwelling-house, and to husband his earnings cooked his own food. Possessing excellent business capacities he continued to extend his enterprises as his capital increased. In 1759, he purchased a share of Indian Island, and built there a small house in one end of which he fitted up a small store in which he lived and did busi- ness twenty years. He extended his investments to timber lands, milling, ship-building, and navigation, and for many years had an extensive lumber trade with the West Indies. At his store he became acquainted with the early settlers and business men in many townships round-about, and his dealings with them were so fair, and his favors to the needy so liberal, that the name of "Colonel Cutts" became household property for many miles away. He built a large and elegant mansion on the Island and retired to its cool and opulent rooms in 1782, and here passed the remainder of his active and useful life. His death occurred Jan. 10, 1821. His estate was estimated to be $100,000. His wife, to whom he was married Aug. 24, 1762, was Elizabeth, daughter of Dominicus Scamman, by whom there were eight children, all born in the small dwelling first built by Mr. Cutts.

I. MARY, b. July 19, 1763; m. June 24, 1788, Samuel Abbott, Esq., and had two sons. She d. Mar. 21, 1796.

2. FOXWELL, b. April 7, 1765 ; m. first, Aug. 2, 1789, Sarah, daughter of Col. James Scamman, who d. Aug. 1, 1806, issueless. He m. secondly, June 24, 1807, Hannah D., daughter of Daniel Page of Concord, N. H., b. April 24, 1784 ; d. Aug. 14, 1847. These had four children.

3. ELIZABETH, b. Dec 30, 1766; m. Jan. 9, 1785, to her cousin, Richard Foxwell Cutts, of Berwick. Ten children.

4. THOMAS, b. June 8, 1769 ; m. first, Jan. 31, 1802, Elizabeth Hight, of Berwick; secondly, June 2, 1807, Mary A. Cook, of Wiscasset. He had four children.

100

PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

5. RICHARD, b. June 21. 1771 ; m. Mar. 31, 1804, to Anna Paine, sister of President Madison's wife, by whom he had six children. He graduated at Harvard College, 1792.

6. SARAH, b. Mar. 24, 1774; m. Nov. 26, 1793, to Dr. Thomas G. Thornton, U. S. Marshal. Twelve children. Died Nov. 7. 1845.

7. DOMINICUS, b. May 4, 1778; m. April 23, 1832, Polly Chadbourne, who d. Dec. 16, 1853, aged 73. odd. No issue.

8. EUNICE, b. May 30, 1782 : m. Sept. 20, 1803, to Maj. Samuel Nye. of Harwich, Mass., an officer in the war of 1812, who d. at Saco, Mar. 4, 1826. She d. Oct. 26, 1853. Ten children.

Col. William Moody was a son of William P. and Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Scammon, b. in 1770. He had only the advantages of the com- mon school instruction. Like his father and grandfather, he was a practical joiner; was thrown upon his own resources when young. From 1804 to 1812 he represented Saco in the Assembly at Boston, and from 1812 to 1820, was an active and prominent member of the Senate; was delegate to the convention that formed the Constitution of Maine, in 1819 ; also made sheriff of the county that year ; was president of the first Senate of Maine: was a man of great usefulness, who was held in almost universal esteem. He d. Mar. 15, 1822.

Henry Board, whose name appeared in the book of rates, remained in Biddeford but a few years, having removed to Wells where he became associ- ated with Wheelright in the allotment of that town, in 1643. He sold out his estate to James Gibbins before mentioned.

Thomas Williams was a man of prominence for many years, and was called to fill important official positions in town. He was not successful in business and late in life was assisted by the town. He had a wife but no names of children appear.

Richard Williams, brother of the preceding, was an early lumber- man who was locally styled " Williams, the clapboard weaver." When he died, in 1635, he had in stock clapboards valued at more than one hundred and sixty-four pounds, at the time considered to be an enormous quantity. Peyton Cook was engaged in business with him. I find no mention of descendants.

Robert Sankey, whose name was on the rate book in 1636, was appointed provost-marshal in 1640. He died at Winter Harbor soon after and his lands were possessed by Joseph Bowles, of Wells, who transferred them, in 1659, to John Boaden.

Theophilus Davis was styled, on the records, an "officer for this place," in 1636, which was probably equivalent to that of constable. Was he ancestor of any of the Davis families early at Saco and Biddeford ?

John Smith, mentioned as another pioneer, received one hundred acres

101

PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

of land by lease from Vines, granted in 1642, which, in turn, he assigned to Nicholas Bulley, Gent, in 1650, who was to take possession in 1652, and per- mit Smith to occupy a room in the dwelling for two years. He was marshal under Cleave, and was living in 1685, at an advanced age.

Samuel Andrews settled on the west side of Saco river, near William Scadlock, where he cleared and fenced a four-acre field and built a house. He died before 1638, and Richard Vines confirmed to his widow, Jane Andrews, 100 acres of land, with privilege of cutting hay on the marshes near adjoin- ing, an acknowledgment of twelve pence to be paid at the feast of "St. Michaell the arkangell." This was confirmed by the selectmen in 1654.

William Scadlock was one of the early planters. He was active in colonial affairs until 1659. When the town lines were established his house was left on the Cape Porpoise side.

Richard Hitchcock was a settler at Winter Harbor. He was sergeant and commander of the train band. A point at the north side of the Pool long bore his name. He died in 1671, leaving a widow and children.

Ambrose Berry came to the plantation early and his name is of fre- quent occurrence on record. A boundary line mentioned in York records passed near his house in 1659, but we now have no means of knowing where said dwelling-house stood. The numerous families of the name in Saco, Bux- ton, and Limington were probably descended from this man. Persons of the name early in Kittery.

John West was a man of some importance in the settlement. His name appears first in 1638, when Vines gave him a lease of land and house, some time occupied by Thomas Cole, for the long term of one thousand years. The rent charge was "two shillings and one capon " annually. He is said to have moved to Wells, where he died in 1663. His daughter was wife of Thomas Haley, and to her children he left his estate to be divided between them three years after his decease, with the condition that their father "shall have nothing to do with it." Mr. West's name appears on record as selectman and in other positions of trust. The Wests now living in York county may be his descend- ants, or of the same origin.

Morgan Howell came over with Richard Vines among the earliest planters, and from the association of his name with lawsuits, as found in the court records, it appears that he was a man who proposed to defend what he considered to be his rights. His seat was near that of Scadlock. He became prominent in town affairs of Cape Porpoise, where he was living in 1653. There was a John Howell at Blue Point who was probably in some way related to Morgan.

Peter Hill was a member of the Assembly of Lygonia in 1648. His son Roger was a freeman as early as 1653, and was identified with many important transactions. One of his eight children was Dea. Eben Hill, who

102

PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

was for many years a business man well and widely known. Soon after his marriage, in 1705, he and his wife were carried captive to Canada, where they remained three years, and in consequence of the birth of their eldest son, Ebenezer, while there, he was afterwards called "the Frenchman " by those facetiously inclined. Mr. Hill's house was at the head of Ferry lane. Ile died in 1748, aged 69 years. His son Jeremiah married Mary, daughter of ('apt. Daniel Smith, in 1746. He was long justice of the peace, and his name is found on many old documents and old discolored letters now in my hands. He also served in the General Court several years. During the Revolution he enlisted a company and as captain led it to Boston. This company was at the surrender of Burgoyne, in 1777. After a year's service he resigned and came home: was at one time adjutant-general of forces sent to Penobscot river. He died Aug. 12, 1779. The descendants of this early family have been highly respectable and many of them conspicuous in various relations of life. (See Genealogy, farther on.)

Roger Spencer was a prominent business man among the carly under- takers. In 1653 he received grant of a mill privilege and is known to have been a resident in 1658. He obligated himself to build a mill within a year from the date of his grant and no doubt fulfilled his agreement. This was supposed to be the first mill in town. He gave security on one-half of the mill to Robert Jordan in 1658, and disposed of his other shares to Thomas Spencer and Thomas Savage of Boston.

Brian Pendleton was an active man in the settlement, who was iden- tified with real estate transactions at Winter Harbor, where, in company with Roger Spencer, he purchased of Robert Jordan a tract of land consisting of two hundred acres, since known as Fletcher's Neck. He bought Spencer's share in 1660, settled on the estate in 1665, and gave to the locality the name of "Pendleton's Neck." He was cordially in favor of Massachusetts juris- diction and received appointments from the commissions, both civil and mili- tary. He died in 1680, and left a valuable property to his wife. son, and grandchildren. A daughter married Rev. Seth Fletcher and had a son Pendleton brought up by his grandfather; to him he gave the Neck as far as Booth's mill and Wood and Gibbin's Islands.

Pendleton Fletcher received valuable lands from his grandfather, as before intimated, and took possession about 1680. He was taken, with his two sons, by the Indians in 1698, and died while in captivity. Of the two daughters, one married Matthew Robinson, of Winter Harbor, and the other Samuel Hatch, of Wells. The son, Pendleton, was made captive by the Indians four times. His son, Pendleton, lived on the old homestead on Fletcher's Neck, and died there, April 17, 1807, aged 100 years. In the town and church records we have found the following genealogical fragments :

103

PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

CHILDREN OF PENDLETON AND HANNAH.

I. HANNAH, b. July 30, 1730.

2. PENDLETON, b. Jan. 12, 1732.

3. ABIGAIL, b. Dec. 20, 1736.

4. THOMAS, b. Oct. 24, 1739.

5. BRIANT, b. Nov. 6, 1744.

CHILDREN OF JOHN AND ELIZABETH.

I. ROGER, b. April 7, 1739.

2. STEPHEN, b. Aug. 15, 1741.

3. HANNAH, b. May 2, 1744.

CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN AND MARY.

1. JOHN, b. Sept. 10, 1819.

2. SARAH, b. May 29, 1823.

3. DIANA, b. Feb. 8, 1825.

4. MARY, b. July 8, 1828.

Bryant Fletcher to Anna Young (pub.) Mar. 15, 1748. Sarah Fletcher to Andrew Stackpole (pub.) May 1, 1779.

Samuel Fletcher to Mary Carr (pub.) Jan. 17, 1743.

Joseph Fletcher to Mary Smith (pub.) Aug. 18, 1743. Pendleton Fletcher to Lydia Joy (pub.) July 28, 178 1. Olive Fletcher to Robert Shepard (pub.) Oct. 26, 1782. George Fletcher to Sarah Savage (pub.) June 16, 1784.

Jonathan Fletcher to Abigail Joy (pub. Aug. 8, 1789.

Stephen Fletcher to Sarah Shepard (pub.) Aug. 24, 1793.

Abigail Fletcher to Jonathan Noles (pub.) June 27, 1794. Miranda Fletcher to Daniel Smith (m.) April 30, 1817.

Ralph Tristram was freeman in 1655, and may have been an inhabi- tant of the settlement at an earlier date. He was a useful member of society. His daughter Hannah became the wife of Dominicus Jordan, and from this union the name Tristram came into the Jordan family. Mr. Tristram died in 1678, leaving several children.

Abraham Townsend, descended from an old titled English family, was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and ability who took an active part in town affairs. He was one of the selectmen in 1721, and held the office

REV. SETH FLETCHER, ancestor of these families, preached for several years in Wells and one year in Saco. He removed to Southampton, Long Island, where he officiated two or three years ; thence to Elizabethtown. N. J., 1679, where he preached until his death in 1682. Ile is said to have left a very large and valuable library.

104

PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

for many years, the last time in 1743. Mr. Townsend filled other positions of trust and his name appears many times in town and county records. He was ancestor of all the Townsend families in the Saco valley, as well as branches in Ohio. (See Genealogy.)

Bachelor Hussey purchased of Pendleton Fletcher, in 1737. half of the Neck. Wood Island, and other proverty, for £1,400. He was descended from Christopher Hussey, who came to Lynn, Mass., in 1634, from England. Nearly all of the name have been members of the Society of Friends. He built a house on his land which his grandson, Christopher, subsequently occupied. Descendants remain in the vicinity.

Thomas Killpatrick, the ancestor of nearly if not quite all of the name, now spelled Gilpatrick and Gilpatric, came from the city of Colerain. in the north of Ireland, with wife, Margaret, and six children, about 1718, and sat down in Wells, where other children were born. He moved to Bid- deford about 1735, and the records show that the family were rigid Presby- terians. (See family history.)

BUXTON.

The Jand embraced within the present boundaries of this town was part of a grant by the General Court in 1728, to redeem a promise made to the soldiers who participated in the war with the Narragansett Indians in 1675, that if they "played the man, took the Fort, and drove the enemy out of the Narragansett Country, which was their great seat, they should have a gratuity in Land besides their wages." The conditions of the grant were as follows: The grantees must meet within two months from the date of this act of the Court for the purpose of organization. They were to settle sixty families in the township within seven years, build a meeting-house, settle a learned Ortho- dox minister, for whose support a portion of the lands should be reserved. A certain number of acres must be cleared within the time prescribed.

The proprietors held a meeting on Boston Common. June 6, 1733, where committees were chosen to make out lists of grantees and assign the townships. The " First Narragansett Township " was assigned to Philemon Dane and 119 others. The first proprietors' meeting was held at the dwelling-house of Capt. John Hale, Newbury Falls, Mass., Aug. 1. 1733. A committee consisting of Joseph Gerrish, Esq., John Hobson, and John Gains was chosen to select from the unappropriated lands of the Province a tract for a township. The township survey was made in 1733, and reported in 1734. The lots were laid out and a plan of the same submitted to a proprietors' meeting, Nov. S. 1738. These twenty-acre lots were drawn by the proprietors in the following Novem- ber. The sixty-acre lots were drawn Nov. S. 1738.

Appropriations were voted, bounties offered, and every possible induce- ment held out to encourage settlement and fultill the requirements of the grant.

105

PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

Clearings were opened and houses built as early as 1741-2. A petition to the General Court in 1742, and signed by eleven inhabitants of the township, stated that the proprietors had not, with the exception of the petitioners, complied with their obligation, and in consequence of being so few in number they were bearing burdens and suffering privations which they would not have submitted to by settlement had they not supposed the others would do as they had promised. These petitioners were at heavy expense, deprived of the public worship of God, without schools for their children, public building or needed fortifications, and were constantly exposed to danger for their lives and substance. A notice was served on the delinquent proprietors, which stimulated them to renewed exertions. Measures were at once enacted for building a meeting-house and mills according to original agreement. The reason assigned for the delay was "talk of a French war."

At the proprietors' meeting held in 1744, an agent was chosen to look after trespassers. Why? Because the inhabitants for fear of an Indian outbreak decided to abandon their homes and seek refuge in a more populous and better fortified locality. There is no record of another proprietors' meet- ing until 1749. Only two of the original settlers are known to have returned.

The long-dreaded war between England and France began in 1755, but the inhabitants of the town had become so numerous and well fortified that they decided to stick to the soil and meet the worst. They afterwards related in an address to the General Court that "we were under continual fears of the Indian enemy, and were obliged to keep watch and ward till the reduction of Quebec in 1759." From this time forward the settlement did rapidly increase, and in 1772, the town was incorporated by the name of Buxton .* This name, for Buxton in England, was suggested by Paul Coffin, but not, as has been stated, because his ancestors lived there.

In 1790 there were 335 men in town who had 91 dwellings and 156 barns. There were ten shops, two tanneries, three potash manufactories, three grist-mills, and seven saw-mills. At this time the farmers cut 1,546 tons of hay. They raised 5,432 bushels of corn, 1,357 of wheat, 1,349 of rye, 521 of oats, 482 of peas and beans, and 45 of barley. There were 1,084 oxen, cows, and neat cattle, 138 horses, and 307 swine. The town contained 16,224 acres of land. The first public school was opened in 1761-2, by Mr. Silas Moody.

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.

Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 13

Author: Ridlon, Gideon Tibbetts, 1841- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Portland, Me., The author Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Ridlon, Gideon Tibbetts, 1841- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Portland, Me., The author
Number of Pages: 1424