USA > Maine > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 132
USA > New Hampshire > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 132
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(+). Asbury, b. May 6, 1847; m. Sarah M. Durgin, Aug. 18, 1869 ; had Mand L., b. Mar. 20, 1874.
(5) Melinda F., b. Mar. 10, 1850; m. Gustave Smith, June 9, 1883 ; had one child.
(6). Maria J., b. Mar. 10, 1850 ; m. William A. Follett, Nov. 26, 1870; had three children.
(7). Urania, b. Mar. 31, 1853 ; m. John B. Abbott.
III. SETH, b. in 1815 ; d. in infancy.
IV. DOMINICUS, b. in 1817; d. an infant.
V. ELIZABETH, b. in 1820; d. June 22, 1840.
VI. ANN, b. in 1822 ; d. Nov. 27, 1840.
VII. HANNAH. b. in 1825 ; d. Mar. 22, 1846.
VIII. FREEDOM, b. Apr. 20, 1832 ; m. Mary Wakefield. He enlisted in the ist Maine Cavalry ; was taken prisoner while out foraging, languished long in Libby prison, was paroled, but d. Mar. 27, 1864, soon after reaching Annapolis. Md. Children :
(1). Hannah A., b. Dec., 1852.
(2). John H., b. Oct., 1854.
(3). Mary A., b. in 1856.
(4). Betsey J., b. April 6, 1859.
(5). Frederick, b. in 1861.
3. HEZEKIAH, b. Oct. 17, 1785 ; d. in infancy.
4. THOMAS, b. July 16, 1788; d. in infancy.
5. JOSEPH, b. Sept. 18, 1797 ; d. in infancy.
6. EDMUND, b. 1800; m. Mary B. Lasselle, and d. in 1846. leaving issue :
I. FRANCIS L., b. July 25, 1821 ; d. in Portland, Feb. 19, 1883, leaving : Eliza L., Emma M., Isabella L., and James IV., the three latter deceased.
II. GEORGE H., d. near Buttsville, Cal., on the ranch of Griffin Bros., of typhoid fever. He was a pioneer of Virginia City, Nev .; was a superior mechanic and artist, and much esteemed as an intelligent, upright, and worthy citizen. The services at his funeral were con- ducted by Dr. Stebbins, of San Francisco. Age about 46 years.
7. WEYMOUTH, b. July 6, 1803; m. Mary Goodwin, Jan. 25, 1835, and d. March 18, 1880. Issue :
I. LORENZO, b. June 12, 1836; m. Frances L. Tyler, and had Charles, b. June, 1863.
II. LEONARD, b. April 4, 1838 : d. Dec. 14, 1861.
111. SETH, b. May 4, 1841 ; m. Sarah M. Manson, of Hollis, and had issue as follows :
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WARREN FAMILY.
(1). Harriet E., b. June 9, 1865.
(2). Mary B., b. Feb. 5, 1870.
(3). Helen F., b. Feb. 4, 1872.
(4). Leonard M., b. Sept. 30, 1876.
(5). Sarah M., b. Aug. 15, 1880.
SALLY, m. Matthew Lasselle, and d. June 9, 1848 ; had a large family. 8.
Daniel Warren, son of Joshua, ist, was born in Biddeford, Aug. 11, 1765; m. Jane Hodgdon, of Scarborough, April 16, 1786; she d. March 20, 1807, aged 41, and he m., second, Nov. 22, 1807, Sally Smith, who died July 20, 1828, aged 50, and he m., third, Nov. 13, 1828, Sarah Lord, d. May 29, 1871, aged 85 years. He d. Apr. 16, 1845. He settled in Limerick. Children:
CHILDREN BY JANE:
I. HANNAH, b. Aug. 2, 1786; m. James B. Rand, and d. Feb. 9, 1854.
2. JOHN, b. Dec. 22, 1788.
3. DANIEL, b. Apr. 24, 1791.
4. ISAAC, b. Aug. 24, 1793.
5. MARY, b. Feb. 15, 1796; d. July 15, 1796.
6. SALLY, b. June 30, 1798; m. Ira Chandler, and d. June 3, 1882.
7. JONATHAN, b. Feb. 15, 1801 ; m. Sophia Heald, of Lovell, Me., Feb. 14, 1828, and had : Julia A. R., Miranda D., Jane H., Mary O., Virginia M., and Alferetta E. He d. Feb. 16, 1866.
8. MARY, b. Feb. 7, 1804; m. Abial Coffin, and had issue.
9. JANE, b. July 6, 1806; m. David Meserve, and had children.
CHILDREN BY SALLY :
10. SMITH, b. Feb. 21, 1809.
II. ELIZA, b. May 3, 1811 ; m. Warren King, and d. Feb. 5, 1870.
12. JAMES, b. Apr. 24, 1813.
13. PHOEBE, b. Dec. 22, 1816.
14. PETER, b. Dec. 22, 1816.
Benjamin Warren, brother of Joshua, Ist, was born Jan. 23, 1771; m. Eunice Weymouth, lived in Hollis, and d. Mar. 23, 1847. His children were named as follows :
I. JOHN, b. Feb. 18, 1798.
2. BENJAMIN.
3. STEPHEN, b. Dec. 12, 1800; m. Lovinia Young, of Waterborough, Nov. 24, 1821, and d. Feb. 25, 1873, leaving issue :
I. EUNICE, b. Aug. 20, 1822 ; d. Dec. 7, 1839.
Il. DR. FRANCIS G., b. March 4, 1828; m. Harriet N. Roberts, Nov. 1I, 1848; taught school; studied medicine with Dr. William Swasey, of Limerick; graduated from Bowdoin Medical College; practised in Pownal; settled in Biddeford, in 1855; graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, 1861 ; was surgeon 5th Maine Volun- teer Regiment in Civil war, during which he made more than 400 amputations; was mayor of Biddeford, 1872-74 and 1875 ; had a son
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WATTS FAMILY.
Frank, who graduated at Bowdoin Medical College, and is in prac- tice with his father. He was b. in 1851, m. Harriet J. Fogg.
4. JAMES, b. Jan. 30, 1803 ; m. Mercy Clark, Jan. 21, 1827; d. April 22, 1882. He lived in the " Warren neighborhood," in Hollis; was select- man and collector ; a man of quiet manners, honest, and straightforward. Children :
I. LYDIA A., b. Sept. 3, 1827 ; m. James Knight, Nov. 5, 1850. Three children.
II. SARAH, b. June 5, 1833; m. Rev. Jesse Warren, Nov. 25, 1866; d. Feb. 25, 1883.
BENJAMIN, b. May 6, 1834; d. Nov. 6, 1837.
IV. JAMES F., b. Sept. 19, 1839 ; m. Loantha C. Bennett, Apr. 26, 1863. Two children :
(1). Charles E., b. June 2, 1865; m. Carrie L. Hight, July 27, 1887. (2). Flora M., b. July 4, 1867 ; m. Fred C. Gilpatrick, Dec. 23, 1891.
5. OLIVE, b. Mar. 9, 1807 ; in., first, Simeon Goodwin, Sept. 29, 1833, and had John; second, James Kimball, of Hollis, and had Warren.
6. SARAH, b. Apr. 4, 1813 ; d. Feb. 25, 1831.
7. MARY, b. April 21, 1814; m. Theodore Littlefield, Nov. 21, 1850; d. Dec. 18, 1870.
Talatts Family.
This is a Scottish surname, but families of the name have come from England to America. JUDGE SAMUEL WATTS, of Chelsea, is mentioned by Farmer in connection with Henry, who came early to New England. HENRY WATTS settled at Blue Point in 1636, where he was living in 1684, rising So years of age. He was a member of the Assembly of Lygonia in 1648. His children seem to have settled in Falmouth, where JOHN WATTS was living in 1721. CAPT. SAMUEL WATTS, said to have moved from Falmouth to Jones- borough in 1769, had a daughter HARRIET, wife of Josiah Weston, who made a night journey to Machias to carry powder to the patriots for the capture of the British vessel " Margarette." She died in 1855, in her 97th year.
Capt. Samuel Watts, from Gorham, settled in Buxton, "Spruce Swamp neighborhood "; m. Mary Cressey and had eight children. He died Aug. 30, 1805 ; his widow died Dec. 18, 1834. He was a man of considerable ability, much respected. Issue:
I. DAVID, b. Sept. 15, 1787 ; d. Aug., 1788.
2. BETSEY, b. Nov. 21, 1788.
3. DAVID, b. Nov. 28, 1790.
+ POLLY, b. Mar. 28, 1793 ; d. July 26, 1866.
5. SALLY, b. Mar. 29. 1795.
6. HANNAH, b. May 13, 1797.
7. EUNICE, b. Apr. 3, 1799: m. George Carll.
8. NANCY, b. Apr. 24, 1801 ; d. Aug. 26. 1852.
Talentworth Family.
Robert B. Wentworth, son of Ebenezer and Jane Merrill, was born in Buxton, Me., Jan. 18, 1827. He lived on the homestead and attended district school until he was fifteen years of age; he then left home and entered a printing office in Portland, where he remained until he mastered the business. He continued working at his trade in various offices in the state until 1848, when he caught the western fever and migrated to the new and promising state of Wisconsin-admitted to the Union that year-and continued his resi- dence there. He was state printer of Wisconsin from 1850 to 1852, and a member of the Legislature in 1857. He continued the printing business and published a newspaper in Juneau and Portage, Wis., until 1861, when, owing to ill health, he was obliged to leave his office for more active exercise in the open air. In 1862 he again established himself in business at Portage as a grain and lumber merchant and continued successfully for twenty-eight years. He is now occupied with his duties as president of the " Portage Hosiery Co.," and as vice-president of the "City Bank of Portage." Mr. Wentworth is a man of excellent business ability, conservative, and careful in his management. As a citizen he has manifested much public spirit being deeply interested in the development and welfare of his adopted state. He holds the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and has been called by them to serve in important posi- tions. In politics, he is a firm Republican and outspoken respecting the great national issues of the day. As a son of old Buxton, he has done honor to his birth-place. Mr. Wentworth m. Miss Lydia H., dau. of the late Rev. John Pike, of East Fryeburg, Me., and has issue.
deloodsum Family.
Tradition has ascribed to this family and name an Irish origin, and there are some documentary evidences and constitutional traits to support the assump- tion. Venerable members of the family claimed that the emigrant ancestor came from Limerick, Ireland, with the family of Higgins, and we find them intermarried after settlement in Berwick. I have not found the name in any book relating to Ireland or Irish families. I have thought that the original orthography might have been Woodson, which is an English surname, and the transition between the two would have been easy. Judge Woodman, who was good authority, claimed that the early settler came from Wales. I have found the name in old documents spelled Woodsom, Woodsome, and Woodsum.
Joseph Woodsum,1 "tailor," came early to Berwick; how early I cannot say. He probably died in that town ; evidently spent his days, like Dorcas of old, "making coats and garments"; probably learned his trade in the old country ; name of wife not known to me. From the number of his descend- ants he seems to have had several sons who reached maturity.
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WOODSUM FAMILY.
SECOND GENERATION.
I. MICHAEL,2 b. as early as 1725-6, came to Saco or Biddeford when a young man, and in the record of his marriage there with Elizabeth Dyer, Aug. 24, 1749, he was styled "of Berwick." He removed to the wilderness of Narragansett, No. 1, now Buxton, in 1756 or 1757. He purchased lot 22, of range D, in the second division, Sept. 18, 1758, and, I suppose, settled there. At a proprietors' meeting held Nov. 16, 1761, he was chosen on a committee to "open, clear, and exchange roads." In 1768 he drew lot No. 6, in range R. His farm was about one mile below Salmon Falls, on what was then known as "Woodsum's hill." It has been said that his dwelling, which stood on the left-hand side going down the Saco road, was two-storied ; but an aged man now living, who remembers the old house well, says there was a basement under the west end making it two stories, while at the east end it was but one story. The site was marked by a depression, where the cellar had been, only a few years ago. He lived to be an aged man; spent his last days with his son, who built on the opposite side of the road. Large family of children, as will appear.
2. JOHN,2 was a tax-payer in Berwick, in 1772, and was, undoubtedly, the progenitor of numerous Woodsums whose connections, in consequence of their failure to respond to my inquiries, I could not trace.
THIRD GENERATION.
CHILDREN OF MICHAEL AND ELIZABETH:
I. ABIATHA,8 son of Michael, was b. in Biddeford, as early as 1751-2; m., for first wife, Mary, dau. of Humphrey Atkinson, by whom issue. His second wife was Susanna, dau. of Job Roberts. He was collector of taxes in Buxton for a long term of years, having been chosen as early as 1793. According to Dennett's map he lived on range C, of the first division of lots, not far from Stackpole's brook; a soldier of the Revo- lution. He was one of the followers of Jacob Cochran, and meetings were held at his house in Limington, whither he had removed during the excitement, and where he probably died. He had issue as will ap- pear. (See Fourth Generation. )
2. ABIGAIL,8 b. May 25, 1755, in Biddeford, and was carried to Narragan- sett, No. 1, when small, upon a load of hay. She was m. to Joseph Woodman, of Buxton, Mar., 1773, who d. Oct. 15, 1824. She d. Dec. 26, 1838. She was a tall, stately woman with black eyes and dark com- plexion and perfectly erect even in old age. It was said by some of her descendants that she reminded them of a statue she was so stately and silent. She was of grave deportment, quiet, and prudent of speech. All her duties were conscientiously and faithfully performed. After the
NOTE .- Tilly Higgins was a trader in Berwick in 1744. He m. Mary, dan, of John and Mary Woodsum; made his will July 16, 1777 ; gave property to his sons John, Daniel, and Edmund, and wife. His daughters were Sarab and Ehzabeth ; grandsons, Tilly and Michael, children of dan. Mary, Mary Wentworth deceased.
Hannah Woodsum, of Berwick, b. Feb. 5. 1801; was m. to George Wentworth, May 17. 1826. and d. May 10, 1837. He m., second, Jemima Woodsum, Feb. 28, 1838. Sarah Woodsum, of Berwick, m. John Libby. Hannah Woodsum, of Berwick, in. James Libby, in 1782.
Abigail Woodsum, of Berwick, m. Patrick Goweu.
Emily Woodsum, of Berwick, m. Aaron Libby, in 1824.
Charles, son of Abijah Woodsum and Sally Spencer, of Gray, died in Baldwin, Me., July 15, 1892, aged 63. Children: Ann, b. Aug., 1864, and Daniel II., d. Jan. 15, 1874, aged 7 years.
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WOODSUM FAMILY.
death of her husband she sighed often, but seldom smiled. She wore "book muslin" caps, plaited and ruffled; a string of gold beads about her neck. Her habit when going abroad was of blue broadcloth, cut to fit her graceful form. Her character and manners were of a kind to command respect in the best society.
3 DEA. SAMUEL,8 b. as early as 1757, presumably in Narragansett, No. 1; m. Eunice Atkinson, May 28, 1783, and settled in Saco, not far from the Buxton line. He was a Revolutionary soldier; served in Captain Jeremiah Hill's company, having enlisted May 3, 1775 ; was drafted to go with Arnold to Quebec by way of the Kennebec and Chaudiere rivers. He served three years in the company of Capt. Daniel Lane, was at Ticonderoga, and at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. He was captured by the Indians in the state of New York and carried to Canada, where he remained until the war closed; then to the great joy of his friends he came home. His granddaughter informed me that he gained his liberty by "running the gauntlet." During his captivity he learned the Indian language, and was afterwards employed as interpreter. He died June 30, 1841, aged about 84 years; wife died Oct. 15, 1856. Children's names will appear under fourth generation.
4. JOHN,8 born about 1759, in Narragansett, No. 1; m. Sarah Bryant, of Pepperillborough, now Saco, March 19, 1782, Rev. John Fairfield offi- ciating ; was a soldier of the Revolution under Capt. Daniel Lane and his name appears on the pay-roll in 1778; enlisted "for three years or during the war"; was at 'Ticonderoga and at the surrender of Burgoyne. After his return he settled on a farm, since owned by James McKenney, in the northern section of Saco. He had a numerous family as will appear.
5. LUCRETIA,3 b. May 16, 1762, in Buxton ; was in. to John Cole, Oct. 18, 1781; no other information.
6. ELIZABETH,8 was m. to John Lane, Jr., Feb. 4, 1786.
7. MARY,8 m. Josiah King, of Saco, Feb. 18, 1790.
8. JOSEPH,3 was a Revolutionary soldier, but I have no knowledge of his subsequent history.
9. ABNER,3 b. Mar. 11, 1771, in Buxton; m. Sarah Berry, Rev. John Fair- field officiating, July 14, 1791. He built a house opposite that of his father, on the Saco road below Salmon Falls, where he lived until about 1825, when he sold out to Capt. Moses Davis. He cared for his parents in their old age. In early life Abner became a professor of religion and was an exemplary man held in respect by his townsmen; but he was swept from his moorings by Cochran and became an ardent supporter of his meetings. He exerted all his persuasive powers to induce his neighbors to embrace the "new fangled" doctrines, and blamed them because they declined to follow the new leader. He attended a service at his brother's house in Limington, after Cochran had departed from his old haunts in Buxton, and there beheld conduct that opened his eyes to the enormity of the system -of too revolting a character to be countenanced. After expressing to Cochran and his brother his abhor- rence of their conduct, he passed the night in a chair at the fireside. In the morning he returned to his home a wiser if not a better man; and
1211
WOODSUM FAMILY.
was heard praying in his house as he had done aforetime. He visited the homes of his neighbors from which he had long absented himself, acknowleged that he had been deceived, and craved pardon for the hard words used against them, when they would not attend the Cochran "powwows." From this time, so long as he lived in town, he "was himself again." After the death of his parents he moved "down east," some say to Foxcroft, where he died.
FOURTH GENERATION.
CHILDREN OF ABIATHA, BORN IN BUXTON :
I. WILLIAM,4 b. Mar. 2, 1773; m. Thodolia Thompson, of Buxton, July 27, 1794; lived in Hollis; had eight children, of whom hereafter.
2. ABIGAIL,4 b. Sept. 15, 1775.
3. JOHN,4 b. April 20, 1778.
4. SAMUEL,4 b. Dec. 25. 1781.
5. SILAS,4 b. April 4, 1785.
6. ABIATHA,4 b. Oct. 12, 1786 (second wife) ; m. Lydia Hooper, of Lim- ington, June 4, 1812 ; Sally Spencer, July 18, 1816, and Betsey New- begin, Oct. 24. 1819. He had several children, b. in Limington, and some may be living. I do not find his descendants.
7. MICHAEL, 4 d. an infant.
8. MICHAEL,4 b. Jan. 7, 1791.
9. JOB R.,4 b. Nov. 2, 1791.
IO. LUTHER, 4 b. Oct. 25, 1794.
II. ABIGAIL,4 b. Feb. 14, 1797.
12. INFANT,4 b. and d. 1799.
13. DORCAS, 4 b. Sept. 5. 1800.
14. OLIVER,4 b. April 17, 1803.
15. THOMPSON, 4 b. Feb. 26, 1806.
16. HANNAH,4 b. March, 1808.
CHILDREN OF DEA. SAMUEL, OF SACO:
I. CAPT. JABEZ,4 b. Sept. 24, 1786; m. Eunice -, b. Mar. 10, 1792, and lived, I suppose, on the Dea. Samuel Woodsum homestead; d. Mar. 15, 1857. Children as follows :
1. JULIA,5 b. Sept. 25, 1815.
II. CYRUS, 5 b. Mar. 31, 1818 ; d. July 7, 1819.
111. STEPHEN, 5 b. Nov. 11, 1821; d. Nov. 12, 1821.
IV. CAROLINE,5 b. May 29, 1824.
v. JONAS T.,5 b. Oct. 15, 1826; now living on the River road in Saco.
V1. GEORGE R.,5 b. July 12, 1829.
VII. HARRIET,5 b. Jan. 31, 1833.
NOTE .- Simon, son of Simon (1805-1889) and Martha (Moore) Woodsum, grandson of Abner (1772-1856), who settled in Clinton, Me., 1820. From 1855 to 1885, Mr. W. was in Wisconsin, Minne- sota, and on the Pacific coast. He came back to Clinton, and now lives on the old Woodsum homestead ; wife was Martha Gudger. Five children, only one of them, Juy Marshall, living.
1212
WOODSUM FAMILY.
2. JOHN,4 m. Eliza Donnan, of Saco. He kept a livery stable in Saco many years; wife d. Dec. 29, 1838, aged 28. Children :
I. MARY E.,5 b. Mar. 20, 1828.
11. SAMUEL,5 b. Mar. 13, 1830.
IJI. MARTHA A.,5 b. Feb. 8, 1832.
IV. MARTHA A.,5 b. Nov. 8, 1833.
V. MALINDA,5 b. July 15, 1836.
VI. CHARLES,5 a barber in Boston.
VII. FREDERICK,5 living in Maryland.
MOSES,4 b. Oct. 14, 1791 ; m., first, Sally P. Marshall, of Saco, Jan. 30, 1816, who d. in 1830; second, Sally Hanson, of Waterborough, who d. Feb. 9, 1858. He kept a grocery store in Saco; was killed by the cars on the Maine Central R. R. in Fairfield, Me., Mar. 25, 1866. His children were as follows :
I. ISABELLA,5 b. May 20, 1816.
II. MARY J.,5 b. Feb. 17. 1818 ; m. to Daniel M. Owen, of Saco, in 1842 ; afterwards to - Adams.
III. MARTHA H.,5 b. Nov. 27, 1823.
IV. SALLY H.,5 b. April 7, 1826.
v. ABIGAIL H.,5 b. Dec. 20, 1833.
VI. SUSANNA M.,5 b. Mar. 30, 1835.
VIJ. ELIZABETH,5 b. Sept. 18, 1837.
VIIJ. FREDERICK M.,5 b. Nov. 11, 1838.
4. APHIA,4 m. Samuel Storer, blacksmith, of Saco, and had two sons and five daughters.
5 POLLY,4 m. Jeremiah Gordon, of Hollis; their intention recorded May 26, 1818. Two or more children.
6. EUNICE,4 m. Capt. Robert Cleves, who d. at sea; second, Augustus Adams; both d. in Portland.
CHILDREN OF JOHN, OF BUXTON;
I. ELIZABETH, 4 m. June 6, 1802, John
2. STEPHEN,+ b. Feb. 9, 1787 ; m. Eunice -, b. May 10, 1789, and lived in Saco for many years. He removed to Effingham, N. H., and built a grist-mill there. He also cut the canal there; was a capable man, who acquired considerable property. Children, b. in Saco, as follows :
I. JOHN D.,5 b. Mar. 22, 1810; in. Hannah Watson and lived at Effing- ham Falls, where he raised a family. His son, Alonzo F.,6 b. Nov. 8, 1832, m., Nov. 8, 1855, Emma R. Carsely, of Harrison, and resides in Parsonsfield with two children: Annie C.,7 b. 1859, m. Charles S. Leavitt, and Eugene A.,7 b. July 6, 1866.
II. MARY,5 b. Nov. 8, 1812.
SALLY,5 b. May 16, 1816.
IV. STEPHEN,5 b. Mar. 15, 1820.
v. BETSEY S.,5 b. Dec. 19, 1821.
VI. BETSEY,5 b. Oct. 6, 1823.
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WOODSUM FAMILY.
3. RUFUS,4 b. Feb. 27, 1788 ; m. Nancy McKenney, of Saco, and removed to Hartford, Me., where he d. Oct. 30, 1859. Two daughters.
4. REV. WILLIAM,4 b. Mar. 1, 1792 ; m. Rosanna, dau. of Benjamin Wood- man, of Buxton, Me., and had a numerous family. He settled in Peru, Me., and became a minister in the Freewill Baptist denomination; trav- eled and preached the gospel more than forty years; organized a church in Peru more than sixty years ago, which is now in a prosperous condi- tion ; was a man of good natural ability, who became profound in his knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. He was a very useful man and faith- ful to every obligation. He d. July 22, 1872 ; his wife d. Oct., 1862.
5. OLIVE,4 m. Joseph Child and lived in Hartford, Me.
6. LUCINDA, 4 m. William Child ; lived in Hartford, Me .; had family.
7. SALLY,4 m. - Marston.
CHILDREN OF ABNER, OF BUXTON :
I. LEVI.4 2. ABNER.
FIFTH GENERATION.
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM, OF HOLLIS:
I. SUSANNA,5 b. Jan. 8, 1797.
2. HUMPHREY,5 b. April 15, 1799.
3. DRUSILLA,5 b. May 9, 1801 ; m. Cyrus Libby, Nov. 4, 1824.
4. PETER,5 b. March 7, 1803 ; m. and settled in Waterborough, where he raised a family of seven children ; hanged himself.
I. RICHARD,6 b. Feb. 14, 1833 ; in South Boston.
II. WILLIAM,6 b. Jan. 20, 1837 ; deceased.
III. CHARLES,6 b. Sept. 7, 1840; in Lebanon, Me.
IV. ORNVILLE,6 b. Apr. 14, 1844 ; deceased.
V. JOHN H.,6 born Feb. 4, 1846; resides on the bank of Little Ossipee river in Limerick; farmer; has children.
VI. ANDREW J.,6 b. May 12, 1847.
VII. ANNIE L.,6 b. Dec. 30, 1851.
5. JACOB,5 b. Dec. 26, 1806.
6. ANNA M.,5
7. CATHERINE,5 S twins, b. Dec. 15, 1809.
8. POLLY, 5 b. Nov. 9, 1812.
John Woodsum,8 said to have been a son of that John who was a tax- payer in Berwick, in 1792 ; by others said to have been born in Buxton; set- tled in Harrison, Me., about the beginning of this century. He cleared a farm on the north cant of the " Hobbs' hill," and built his house on the road leading from the "Old Baptist meeting-house," at Harmon's Corners, to the "Woodsum neighborhood "; it being the homestead of Seth Keen and Charles Hardin subsequently, but destroyed by fire while owned by the latter. Mr. Woodsum was a builder by trade, a capable man who could make anything of wood from a bow-pin to a barn; was first surveyor of lumber in town. He m. Rebecca Kimball before coming to Harrison. He d. in 1820, aged 49 ; widow survived many years. Names of children and descendants follow :
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WOODSUM FAMLIY.
I. POLLY,4 b. in 1797 ; m. Libeus Caswell, of Harrison, Oct. 24, 1820, and had a large family.
2. DAVID,4 b. Oct. 14, 1801 ; m. Eliza (Walker) Howard, widow of Joshua, and built a house and ample farm buildings upon an elevation command- ing a wide and pleasing prospect at the head of Anonymous pond, in what has since been called the "Woodsum neighborhood." Here he cleared a large and pleasant farm, extending his fields from year to year. He was a frugal, judicious manager ; erected his own buildings, laid stone-work with precision, and constructed farm implements in a neat and substantial manner. "Uncle David," as he was everywhere called, was an original character whose quaint sayings will not soon be forgotten. He sometimes "improved" on Sabbath after the sermon. Being lame he carried a heavy, crooked cane which he carved from a deformed sapling, for which, he said: "I sarched the woods all day." With this staff he demonstrated when speaking in public-sometimes. On one occasion the pastor had preached an impressive sermon from the pathetic words of our Saviour about the hen gathering her chickens. "Uncle David " was deeply moved; to him the figure was perfectly familiar and of great interest. Rising slowly in his seat he raised his heavy cane above his head and opened his "testimony" after this fash- ion : "My brethren, did ye ever see an old hin out'n the field with her brude ? Well, ye see she'd see a hawk come scalin' along an' she'd qutter-r-r ; then every leetle chick would dive 'nunder her wings quicker'n scat; an' if the leetle creeters was all runnin' round in the grass an' that ole hin found a wor-rum she'd make a kind o' cooing noise and them leetle fellers 'd be there quicker'n lightenin', sir. That Jesus, he knowed all 'bout it and so do I, sir. A hin then was jist like a hin now. What !"
At another time he alluded to the unreliable condition of his mem- ory as he advanced in years, and gave those who heard him to under- stand that premeditation was of no advantage whatever to him. To illustrate this infirmity in its relation to exhortation in the prayer-meet- ing, " Uncle David" struck an attitude and holding his hands together as if he held a small box between them he said: "My brethren, when I was comin' down 'cross the field I fixed me exhortation up all nice and put it in me leetle box an' clapped the kiver on. Well, ye see when I riz up I felt pretty bold, but when I took the kiver from me leetle box there wasn't nothin' in it; not a single thing, sir." There was much dramatic action during this speech that cannot be described on the printed page. His movements were very amusing, and yet his testi- mony, associated with so much earnestness, was impressive. It was a habit with him to begin his remarks with the old proverb: "Those who know nothing fear nothing," following with the statement : " My breth- ren, I want to tell ye jist what ye all know, and then ye'll believe I'm tellin' the truth." "Uncle David " had a massive, elongated jaw, upon which grew a thick, grizzled beard. He used to say: "I tell you, sir, I can raise the most all-killin' set o' whiskers of any man in town; if you don't b'leve it jist come up next fall 'n' see, sir." Well, fall came and with it an enormously wide and tangled pair of whiskers on the old man's face. He had cultivated this crop with considerable care and had, in appearance, become a model patriarch. But let us see the sequel. He was one day burning some straw in an inverted hogshead
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