Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 14

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 14
USA > New Hampshire > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 14

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).

FOUNDERS OF BUXTON.

Dea. Amos Chase was a native of Newbury, Mass., and came to Saco about 1734. Soon after the division of the Humphrey Scamman property in 1736, he purchased a part of the estate at the lower ferry and built a house

*BUXTON, derived from buck-stein or buck-stand-the place where the buck chased by hounds came to bay-is noted for its warm mineral springs and is a fashionable watering-place.

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there called an "ordinary." He kept the ferry several years. He attempted a settlement in Narragansett, No. 1, in 1741-2, but in consequence of the war in 1744, returned to Newbury. In 1753 he came back to Saco, and settled at the lower ferry. In 1763 he removed to the estate two miles above, where the great elms now bestow their generous shade, and there, according to the statement in the History of York County, "spent the remainder of his useful life." He was a petitioner as proprietor of Narragansett. No. 1, in 1742. He certainly had built a house there, as he sold a house lot with dwelling thereon to Capt. Thomas Bradbury in that township in 1746 ; was chosen deacon of the first Congregational church in Saco in 1763; was mod- erator of proprietors' meeting in Narragansett, No. 1. in 1772; on Committee of Correspondence and Safety for Saco in 1774 and 1776. In the history of Limington (History York County) it is stated that "in 1773 Dea. Amos Chase, from Newbury. Mass., a previous settler of Buxton," settled near the mouth of the Little Ossipee, where he commenced to build a mill that year. Hle cleared a farm, camping alone until after the war of the Revolution, when he moved his family and remained. He issued a warrant in Limington for the first town meeting in 1792; was chosen deacon of the Congregational church there in 1795. Woodman says he lived to be nearly one hundred years of age. He married Sarah, daughter of Samuel Cole, of Biddeford. Dea. Amos Chase died in Limington, Mar. 22, 1825; wife Olive died there Mar. 31, 1825.

I suppose the Lord buried this good man, as the place of his sepulchre seems not to have been known to any man. In the presence of such con- flieting statements as we have mentioned, and the uncertain traditions that have survived, one is left in the fog. There may have been two of the name who held the office of deacon.

Capt. Thomas Bradbury, son of Jacob Bradbury. of Salisbury, Mass., was born in 1699; married Sarah Merrill in 1724, and came to Biddeford about 1744. He was commander of the block-house on Saco river during 1748 and 1749. At the close of the Indian war. in 1759. he removed from Biddeford to Narragansett, No. 1, where he had purchased two lots of land of Amos Chase for {Goo old tenor. He was a man of sterling integrity, who became prominent in township affairs and was highly esteemed as a citizen. He died in 1775.

Lient. Thomas Bradbury, son of preceding, was born in 1735. in Salisbury, Mass., and married Ruth Page of that town (intention June 5. 1762) and settled in Buxton. He was a man of ability and prominence, who held office nearly all of his active life. He was a lieutenant in the Revolution, being in the expedition to Ticonderoga and Crown Point. He kept a journal during this service from Nov. 1. 1776, to Jan., 1777. He died Nov. 9. 1803.

Jacob Bradbury, Esq., son of Jacob and wife Abigail Eaton, was born

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in Biddeford, Apr. 22, 1744. He married Mary Goodwin and Catherine Flint; lived on his father's homestead on Beech Plain road in Buxton; was a man of strong mind, good judgment, and great candor; was of majestic and dignified presence. He was constantly in public office for more than thirty years and held the esteem of all who knew him. He was the first representative sent from Buxton to the General Court, and served with honor for several years. His last words were: "When I awake again I shall wing my way to immortal bliss to receive my crown of rejoicing." He then fell into a sound sleep from which he never awoke.

Ephraim Sands was born in Ipswich, Mass., Jan. 25, 1720, and was an inhabitant of Narragansett, No. I, as early as 1754. He was an expert hewer with the broad axe and was almost constantly employed at this occupation until an old man. It has been said of him that he could hew a long beam with a line straight and square. He was much in demand in building mills. At one time lived in the rear of the Brice Boothby house; united with the Con- gregational church in 1803, at the age of 84; spent last days with son James, where he died of old age while sitting on a stick of wood near the door, July 8, 1817. This was in the Spruce Swamp district. He was in his 98th year.

Lieut. Robert Brooks, then of Biddeford, purchased land in Narra- gansett, No. 1, as early as 1738, but sold it in 1741 to Job Roberts, his wife's son by a former marriage. He had settled in the township as early as 1742. He was a soldier in the Louisburg expedition and was commissioned as "Robert Brooks, Gentleman," by Gov. William Shirley in 1744, to be lieu- tenant in the company of Capt. Ammi Rahamah Cutter. He became a mem- ber of the church in Biddeford, July 10, 1743. He was dead in 1746. His residence in Saco was a mile below the meeting-house (old) on the Ferry road, which was sold to Dea. Amos Chase and is now known by the great elms there.

Samnel Rolfe was born in 1719 and came to Narragansett, No. 1, as early as 1751. He purchased and sold land in town. His residence for many years was on the island in Saco river, below the old Smith bridge, since known as " Rolfe's Island." He was said to be the first town pauper. I think he, and others in town of the name, came from Falmouth.

Job Roberts was born in 1720, and was a child when his father died. His mother was married to Robert Brooks. He had land conveyed to him in Narragansett, No. 1, in 1741, by his step-father, and was settled there in 1751. He probably married Sarah Tarbox, of Biddeford, in 1745.

Lient. Samuel Merrill was born in Salisbury, Mass., Aug. 4, 1728, and married Elizabeth, a daughter of Capt. Thomas Bradbury. He settled at Salmon Falls, on land conveyed to him by his father-in-law, in 1753, and remained there during the remainder of his days. He was of a respectable family, was frequently selectman of the town, and filled many important posi-

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tions. He was an officer at the battle of Bunker Hill; probably saw his first military service as soldier under Captain Bradbury at the Saco river block- house. He commanded a militia company in Buxton. Many descendants have been men of mark, some of eminence. He died May 4, 1822, and his wife Jan. 18, 1820, aged about 93. He was buried in the churchyard at the Old Corner, but the grave-place is unknown.

Capt. John Elden was a son of John and Martha (Knight) Elden, and settled in Narragansett, No. 1, as early as 1750. He lived on the right-hand side of the road leading from Salmon Falls to U'nion Falls, where his children were probably all born. The cellar was to be seen not long ago. He was represented as " an active and enterprising man " His commission as captain is in the State House archives at Boston. He commanded a company at Bunker Hill. His company raised in 1776, for a short term of service, assisted in the fortification of Dorchester Heights on the night of March 4th of that year. Ile was prominent in town affairs, as the records show; was an owner in saw-mills. The place of his grave is not known by his descendants, but he and wife were probably buried in the old Pleasant Point burying-ground. lle died in 1793.

Capt. Gibeon Elden, son of the preceding, was born June, 1750. He held a captain's commission in the militia, and served in the army of the Revolution ; was long justice of the peace ; represented Buxton in the Gen- eral Court of Massachusetts; member of the convention that formed the constitution of Maine. He was a man of excellent executive ability and comprehensive judgment, who was called to many positions of trust by his fellow-citizens and acquitted himself with honor to himself and the satisfac- tion of those he served. He died Oct. 7. 1841.

Nathan Elden, Esq., brother of the preceding, was born March 21, 1752 : is said to have been the first white child who saw the light in town. He married Elizabeth Roberts and had issue; was a man of affairs, widely known for his business enterprise and probity. He built saw-mills at Moder- ation, and kept a general store there ; was known as " Squire Elden," being a popular justice : represented his town and county in the Maine legislature : latterly engaged in business at Buxton Centre, called Elden's Corner at that and after time. He died Nov. 14, 1811, and was deeply lamented.

Capt. Joseph Woodman, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth ( Longfellow) Woodman, was born May 31, 1715, and was married three, if not four, times. lle was an inhabitant of Narragansett. No. 1. as early as 1750, and became one of the most enterprising men in the plantation. He was a mill-builder and lumberman, prominent in town affairs and captain of the militia. He lived at Pleasant Point and was buried there, but his grave is not distinguishable. He hauled some of his lumber to Pleasant Point and rafted it to Saco, He built the first dwelling-house on Hollis side at Salmon Falls, and when the

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saw-mill was built on that side by Isaac Lane he boarded the men. He left the township with others at the time of the Indian troubles and settled for a while at Saco or Biddeford, where he was owner in a saw-mill. He probably did as much for the advancement of Buxton as any one of the earliest pro- prietors. He died in Hollis, leaving many descendants.

Lieut. Joshua Woodman, brother of the preceding, was born in New- bury, Mass., Jan. 22, 1720, and married Alice Stimpson, of Biddeford, in 1749. He came to Biddeford as early as 1747, and was owner in a saw-mill there with his brother on Jordan's creek. He settled at Pleasant Point, in Narragansett, No. 1, in 1750, and was at one time the owner of about one- seventh of the township. He built a large, two-storied house, which was taken from him by execution and afterwards removed to Salmon Falls, where it was burned down in 1866; was a tanner by trade. His head was nearly crushed between a cart-wheel and a tree and his face permanently disfigured. He and wife were buried in the old churchyard at the Lower Corner, and their graves marked by rough stones which were lettered by their son Ephraim with the initials of their names. These are near the church. Lieutenant Wood- man was a citizen of some prominence, who was too much engaged in specu- lation and lost his property.

Nathan Woodman, brother of the two preceding, was born in Newbury, Mass., June 26, 1726. He married Olive, daughter of John Gray, Esq., who was the commander of Fort Mary in 1720. He resided on the paternal home- stead in Newbury until 1756, when he followed his brothers to Narragansett, No. 1, settling at the location known as Pleasant Point, where he had a tan- yard. When the "Factory Company" cleared the ground for a brick-yard below the great spring, his tan-pits were found. He served a long term in the Revolution and was a corporal in Capt. Daniel Lane's company from 1777 to 1780. He was a man of quiet, unobtrusive habits and never as much in office as his two brothers. He died at the home of his son Shubael, in Hollis, about 1812, and was buried in a graveyard near the river Saco, not far above "the bar." No stone marks his place of rest.

Dea. Timothy Hazeltine, son of Jonathan and Ruth Dow, was born in Haverhill, Mass., Oct. 9, 1720, and married, first, Ann Hancock ; second, 1762, Mrs. Ruth ( Wilson ) Stickney. He was chosen deacon of the Congre- gational church at its organization, March 16, 1763. He came to Narragan- sett, No. I, as early as 1752, and settled near the old meeting-house at the Lower Corner, where he lived many years, and it is supposed that the ordi- nation feast of Paul Coffin was served in his house. By many he was called "the good deacon Hazeltine." The town voted him an appropriation of £20 "more than had been voted " for his part in preparing the wedding feast. He seems to have been a man of sound mind, good executive parts, entirely trust- worthy. He spent his last days with his son at Shadagee, and was buried

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just west of the Isaac Eaton house, but his grave has been "plowed under." Great lleavens !

Dea. John Nason was probably born in Berwick, but was an early settler in Saco or Biddeford. He married Mary, daughter of Robert Edge- comb, of Saco, June 6, 1751, and moved to Narragansett, No. 1. about 1758 or 1760, purchasing land of Samuel Rolfe. He was on many committees chosen for town business; was town clerk many years until 1780, when he removed to Limington. He was chosen one of the first deacons of the Congregational church of which Paul Coffin was pastor, on the day of its organization, and assisted Timothy Hazeltine in preparing the ordination feast. I do not know when he died. He was remembered for "his integ- rity, respectable abilities, and unsullied christian character." He has left numerous descendants.

James Emery was probably born in Kittery, but came, when a young man, with others of the family, early to Biddeford. He was a soldier at the Saco river block-house as early as 1748, under Capt. Thomas Bradbury, and in 1750 under Capt. Jonathan Bane, whose daughter, Mercy, he married Aug. 24, 1751. In the record of this marriage she was designated "of the block- house," and here, as a soldier boy, he courted the merciful Mercy Bane. He purchased two lots, of his father-in-law, in Narragansett, No. 1, in 1757 and 1759, where he probably lived until 1765, when he sold both lots to James Gray. His grandson said he took up land and lived near Gorham line ; that he died at the age of 90. He removed to Hollis, with his son Joshua, where he was probably buried. The house, built on this farm, was about two miles above Bar Mills, and was afterwards owned by Winthrop Pease. He was a famous hunter and killed the moose for the ordination feast of Paul Coffin. He used to say : "Everything was ready for the occasion but the meat ; they had no meat and I took my dog and gun, went into the woods and caught a moose and a minister." He would walk three miles to God's house on Sal- baths when an aged man.

Ehenezer Redlon, son of Magnus Redland, the Acadian, was born in "old York " in 1723; married Sarah Young, his cousin, and settled in Narra- gansett. No. 1, about 1751, on the right side of the road leading from the Haines' meadow to Shadagee, near where the graceful elm now stands on the rising ground above the site of the Goodwin house. In an old document it was stated that his house, in 1798, was not half finished; had six windows containing eighteen square feet of glass, and covered 890 feet of ground. The foundation of the chimney could be seen in 1882, and the ancient apple trec, once known as " Redlon's orchard," was then bearing fruit : since hewed down. Mr. Redlon entered the army of the Revolution and died in the ser- vice, May 5, 1777. His son Jeremiah and two maiden daughters lived on the place until old age. Jeremiah was a quaint, surly old fellow, who wore a

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coon-skin cap with the tail hanging behind, and made buttons for his home- spun clothing from pieces of sole leather.

Ebenezer Redlon, son of preceding of same name, born in 1757, mar- ried Sarah Hancock and settled at the Duck pond. He was a farmer and shoemaker; served in the Revolution under Capt. Jabez Lane in the 6th Massachusetts Foot regiment. He was once "taken to do" by Parson Coffin because he did not attend upon his preaching, demanding his reasons. The quaint old fellow looked out from under his rugged brows with serious expres- sion and replied: "I haven't any sixpence to get me a Sabba-day hock at Marm Garland's tavern." It was reported that some of the members of Cof- fin's church visited this public house for a glass of grog between the services, and Uncle Ned wished the minister to know it. His widow reached the great age of one hundred years and at the time of her decease, in 1856, her descend- ants numbered two hundred and seventy-three. The numerous branches of this family have universally retained the early form, Redlon.

Capt. John Lane, son of Capt. John and wife, Mary Nowell, was born in York, Me., July 4, 1734. He remained in his native town until maturity. At the age of twenty he was commissioned as a lieutenant under his father, and was in command of Fort Halifax, on the Kennebec, during the old French war, after 1756. He was an active patriot during the Revolution. He was appointed captain of a company of foot he had raised in 1775; was a com- missioner to treat with the Penobscot Indians and arranged the preliminaries of a treaty in the face of British opposition, and induced the Chief Orono and some of his tribe to accompany him to Cambridge, where the articles were ratified and have been strictly adhered to. He was then placed in command of Cape Ann Harbor. He was strong minded, possessed of true military genius and its important accompaniment, invincible courage. It was his glory to defend his country against every form of oppression. He lived in Brown- field after the war, near Ten Mile brook, and one or more of his children are buried in the woods there, near where he owned a mill. The evening before his death, which occurred July 14, 1822, in Buxton, he called his children around his bed and admonished them faithfully, charging them to live in peace with each other and their fellow-men, begging them not to mourn excessively for him. He had two brothers, Capt. Daniel Lane and Capt. Jabez Lane, who were in the army of the Revolution; all three were early settlers in Nar- ragansett, No. I, now Buxton. (See Genealogy.)

HOLLIS.

The original plantation of Little Falls included what is now Hollis, Dayton, and that part of Limington south of Little Ossipee river. The ter- ritory of which the plantation was formed was embraced by purchases made

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by Maj. William Phillips of the Indians. The land purchased of Mugg Heagon, son of Walter Heagon, sagamore of the Saco river Indians, in May, 1664- the deed witnessed by John and Mary Wakefield and recorded in 1669 is now nearly all embraced in the present town of Dayton: that bought of Fluellen, Hobinowil, and Sunday, chiefs of Saco and Newichawannock, em- braces the northern part of Hollis and part of Limington. Of the southern tract fifteen hundred acres were purchased by Edward Tyng: north of this Richard Russell of Charlestown, Mass., purchased two thousand acres, and adjoining this last mentioned, a tract three miles square was purchased by Maj. John Leverett. There was a tract lying on Saco river above Moderation Falls known as the College Grant, between which and the Dalton Right there was a "twenty-rod strip" that had been sold to pay taxes. The original deed by which eleven hundred and sixty-six acres, or one-half of the Dalton Right, was conveyed to seven of the early settlers, namely. Thomas Redlon. James Redlon, Ichabod Cousins, Daniel Field, Caleb Kimball, and John Bryant, is in the author's possession.

An attempt was made to establish a settlement near the fort in the southern part of the plantation as early as 1753 by John and Andrew Gordon, of Biddeford. These clearings were soon abandoned in consequence of trouble with the Indians. However, it is highly probable that some small patches of land around the fort stockades were cultivated annually for many years before a permanent settlement was effected. The Gordons served in the Canada expedition, and after the fall of Quebec returned to their claims and made some of the most valuable farms in town. These brothers should be called the first settlers of the plantation. John and Edward Smith were inhabitants near the fort in 1760.

The first plantation meeting of which any record has been found was held at the house of Capt. John Smith, Mar. 27. 1781. Measures were enacted for building of roads and the opening of schools. It was voted that a day's wages for a man and yoke of oxen on the highway should be four shillings. silver currency. Prices were set on shingles, clapboards, and staves. The collector was allowed nine pence for each pound collected.

For many years the settlement of the township was retarded in conse- quence of the uncertainty of titles, the boundaries of the original grants being a matter of dispute. In January, 1782, it was voted to defend all persons living within the supposed limits of Little Falls plantation against the oppres- sion of the constable of C'oxhall, who had evidently undertaken to enforce collection of taxes from some who lived on the "debatable land."

After the incorporation of the Little Ossipee plantation by the name of Limington. in 1792. commissioners were appointed by the court to adjust the question of boundary but they failed to agree, and the line between these two towns was established by the General Coart in 1803. Before the incorporation

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the plantation taxes were paid in corn, and a store-house was opened by the collector to store the "kind " brought in by the inhabitants. Hopkinson's Mill was the seat of government for the town until roads were built. Goodwin's Mills was the early business centre.

In 1790 the population had increased to about 600 souls. The town was incorporated Jan. 27, 1798, by the name of Phillipsburgh, in honor of the first white proprietor. At this time 2,000 acres of plains south of the Little Ossipee were annexed to Limington. In 1799 an appropriation was voted to John Young of one dollar each, annually, for making and keeping in repair two road gates for fifteen years. Eben Cleaves was elected sealer of "wates and masuers."

The name of the new town soon became a source of trouble, and a com- mittee of seven wise men was appointed to find a more appropriate designation. Of the name Phillipsburgh it was said : " It is too long to write, and too hard for the younger ones to pronounce." Grave charges these. In 1811 the unwieldy name was exchanged for Hollis. The town was often called the "Ropewalk " because of being long and narrow.

The early government seems to have been rather arbitrary, as persons not used to authority are apt to be when in office. In 1804, John Lane, of Fryeburg, entered the town with intention of abiding there, but was warned by the constable to leave with his children and all under his care within fifteen days, he having come within the precinct without consent of the town.

In 1814 it was voted that Elliot G. Vaughan, Esq., "may have the privilege of building a ferry-boat to ferry across by his house." Vaughan had lived for some time in a long, narrow house near the old "Smith's Bridge," and as that bridge was carried away by the great freshet of 1814, I suppose the ferry-boat was to be used as a substitute for the accommodation of travelers on their way to Portland. Here Vaughan kept a store in one end of his dwelling, where the women bartered a dozen eggs for a nip of tea; so says one old dame now living, who was then a little girl.

Until 1816, when the town-house was built at Salmon Falls, the town- meetings were for many years held alternately in the lower and upper meet- ing-houses. The following will show the orthography of some early officials:

1801. "Voted Mr. Elishar Hight to gow to the county Register of deeds and git a Copy of John Wood Esq Deed for to see if there be any resarve of roads in said Wood Deed."

"Voted that the selectmen shall agree with somebody to fetch Obadiah Tibbetts into Hollis and they have liberty to ty him."

"Voted to see if the town will agree with the school class above Salmon Falls bridge to build a school-house or town-house. Also to see if they will resk the powder house in the ruff of the same."

" Voted to build a town-house and school-house to geather."

" Voted to build the house down by Samuel T. Edgecombs."

"Voted to build a powder house as they build powder houses in other towns."

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FOUNDERS OF HOLLIS.

Andrew Gordon, descended from a distinguished Scottish ancestry through a branch of the family early settled in Newbury, Mass., was living with his parents in Biddeford when the plantation of Little Falls was opened for settlement, and was probably the first person who attempted to cut down the forest and clear land. He was at work there, near the boiling spring. as early as 1751, but was moved to leave his improvement on account of the threatened Indian war, and went in the Louisburg expedition. After the peace he returned and made one of the best of farmers. He was a large, powerful man, as fearless as a lion but prudent in time of danger. In old age he became dependent. and the town took measures to see if his children were possessed of means for his support. His brother John was also a very early inhabitant of the plantation.

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Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 14

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