USA > Maine > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 16
USA > New Hampshire > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 16
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136
123
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
perpetuated his name, but the daughters, who inherited his property, were married with members of the most respectable of the old Portland families.
Benjamin Mussey came from Newbury, Mass., to Falmouth, now Port- land, a young man ; was a hatter by trade. He married Abigail, daughter of William Weeks, in 1750, and settled in Myrtle street, near Temple, where his son built a block. Willis says: "At the commencement of our difficulties with Great Britain he took an active part in the cause of liberty, and acted on several important committees." He purchased land in Pearsontown, now Standish, in 1758, being lot No. 116 in the first division, adjoining the farm now owned by Thomas Shaw, Esq., which was No. 115. It appears from the records that he was moderator of a meeting in town in 1761, and his name appears in connection with nearly every subsequent meeting for many years. He was buried in Standish, on his farm, and the stone that marks his grave has the inscription : "In memory of Benjamin Mussey, who died Sept. 13, 1787, aged 66 years." His widow died June 4, 1815, aged 85. The old Mus- sey homestead was sold in 1867, and is now owned by Jacob Wadleigh. (See Genealogy.)
Theodore Massey, Esq., was the fifth child of the preceding. He was town clerk for sixteen years; selectman and justice of the peace many years; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Maine in 1819, and the first representative of the town in the first state Legislature. He died Sept. 5, 1825, aged 68 years.
Joseph Thorn and Joseph, Jr., were both in the company of Capt. Moses Pearsons at the siege of Louisburg in 1745, the latter being a waiter for the captain. If he was but 16 years of age at the time, his father, Joseph, Sr., must have been at least 37, making the date of his birth not later than 1708. He was in Pearsontown as early as 1754, for the proprietors voted him £40, Sept. 23, 1755, for his cow "killed at the fort last winter." He first settled on lot No. 38 of the first division, which he drew as his; it is on the old Portland road below Standish Corner, between the homesteads of Avery W. Marrett and the Cram place, now owned by Edwin Norton. He conveyed it to his son Bartholomew in 1762, and he deeded it to Benjamin Titcomb in 1776. Joseph, Sr., was buried on the fifteen-acre lot, the southeast half of No. 74, and a rough stone marked the spot many years ago; this was pulled up by a hired man who was plowing there, and thus every indication of the grave was obliterated. If he died about ISoo, as stated, his age was rising 90. (See Genealogy.)
Arthur McGill was in Pearsontown before 1760, and owned the corner lot eastward of the meeting-house, now the Marrett place, which was taken on an execution by Eben Mayo (merchant), of Falmouth, who conveyed it to Sargent Shaw in 1769. Parson Marrett bought it of Benjamin Titcomb about 1796, the place where the Marrett family still resides. But little can be
124
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
learned of this McGill, but the other persons in town of this name were probably his grandsons.
William McGill, one of the tallest men of Pearsontown, was a tax payer there in 1808. Ile lived near Pudding hill, where he died in September, 18441, aged 73. His wife, whom he married Oct. 7, 1797, was Mary Jones. He was a great hunter and shot the last wolf killed in Standish. John McGill was also a tax payer in 1868. From Standish records it appears that Ann McGill, of Standish, and Jonathan Bean, Jr., of Bethel, Me., were married Mar. 21, 1797. Bean was killed by an Indian in the Shadagee fight during the war of 1812. Mary McGill, of Standish, and Samuel Glossum, of Bethel were married Sept. 16. 1797. Hannah McGill married John Bean, of Bethel.
.
John Pierre, one of the early settlers, was born in Ipswich, Mass., but removed to Hampton, N. H., where he married Betsey Johnson, and where all save one of his children were born. He came to Pearsontown about 1762, when some of his family had reached maturity. Mr. Pierce entered the Revolutionary army and died at Boston. His widow married John Sanborn. John Pierce owned, in 1762, the upper part of the Josiah Shaw place, being lot No. 41. next to Daniel Cram's, now owned by Enoch Blake and nearly all overgrown with trees. The old cellar may still be seen : few persons know who lived there. The children of John and Betsey named as follows, but order of birth not known:
1. Jon, m. Mercy Thorn and Susanna Sanborn. He contracted to build a meeting-house near the Hasty farm in 1804, which proved his financial ruin, and nearly ruined his brother-in-law, John Sanborn. He d. Sept. 2, 1830, aged 85 years.
2. RICHARD, m. Dec. 12, 1788. Sarah, daughter of Jabez Dow. His death was caused by the overturn of a cart when returning from Portland, July 17, 1810; was collector of Standish at the time, Children: Susan, b. Nov. 29, 1789; William, b. June 7, 1792: Samuel, b. Aug. 10, 1795: Dolly, b. Dec. 31, 1800; Annice, b. Apr. 19, 1803. m. Reuben Brown, of Baldwin.
3. JouNsos, m. a widow (somebody) and removed to Portland ; had one son; d. in 1841, aged 75.
4. BETSEY, m. Mr. Graffam, of Portland, and lived to old age.
5. HANNAII, m. Waterhouse, of Portland, and lived to be aged.
6. MOLLY. m. Jonathan Lowell, of Standish, and had five sons and three daughters.
7. SARAH. m. York, of Baldwin.
8. SusANNA. m. Mar. 12. 1792. Moses Sanborn, of Standish, and reached the age of 85 ; three sons and three daughters.
Ebenezer Shaw, tenth child of Caleb, who was son of Joseph, son of Roger, was born in Hampton, N. H., Oct. 7. 1713; married Anna Philbrick. of that town, Nov. 19, 1738. His father was drowned before he was two
125
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
years of age, and he lived until his majority with Moses Pearsons, Esq. He was a mechanic, being carpenter, millwright, and cooper. He came to Pear- sontown, now Standish, in 1762. A tract of land comprising 200 acres was granted him by the proprietors; this included a mill privilege, and he built the first mill in the township. He also purchased of Thomas Morton, Apr. 4, 1763, the thirty-acre lot No. 42, on the "eight-rod road," below Standish Corner, between the lot deeded at the same date to his son Josiah, and the John Pierce lot, and descended to grandson, Eli. He died Mar. 13, 1782 ; his wife, Anna, died Dec. 12, 1804, aged 85 years, at which time there were in Standish thirty-four families of her descendants. She left nine children, eighty-two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Children born in Hampton :
I. JOSIAH, b. Jan. 3, 1740; m. Mary Lamper ; d. Ang. 7, 1810.
2. ABIAH, b. Jan. 16, 1741 ; d. Apr. 10, 1762, single.
3. JOANNA, b. Apr. 4, 1743 ; m. Peter Moulton ; d. Jan. 16, 1834.
4. SARGENT, b. Oct. 23, 1745; m. Sarah Knight ; d. Dec. 3, 1823.
5. EBENEZER, b. Jan. 3, 1749 ; m. Sarah Wood and Salome Green, botlı of Gorham; d. Aug. 11, 1836.
6. ELIZABETH, b. Mar. 21, 1751 ; m. James Moody; d. May 27, 1816.
7. THOMAS, b. Oct. 10, 1753; m. Anna Wood; d. Oct. 20, 1838.
8. MOLLY, b. Nov. 7, 1755; m. Stephen Sanborn and John Mayall; d. Oct. 29, 1840.
9. MARGARET, b. Jan. 7, 1758 ; m. Daniel Bean, of Bethel ; d. in August, 1847.
10. JOSEPH, b. May 10, 1760; m. Eunice Bean ; d. Aug. 24, 1830.
Daniel Sanborn, son of Abner and Rachel (Shaw) Sanborn, was born at Hampton Falls, N. H .; married Jane, daughter of David and Sarah (Leavitt) Moulton, and died Jan. 14, 1786, aged 65 years. Jane, the widow, died Oct. 5, 1805, aged 85. These came to Pearsontown in 1764, and built a house of hewed timber, on thirty-acre lot, No. 19. When they arrived in the plantation there were no roads to Portland where Mr. Sanborn was for a time employed as a carpenter, and he carried his scanty stock of provisions on his back to his family. At one time a heavy fall of snow prevented him from going to his home at a time when he knew they needed food, and they were reduced to an allowance of three potatoes a day. Children :
I. DAVID, m. Miriam Elder ; d. in 1824.
2. STEPHEN, m. Mary Shaw; d. in 1779.
3. DOLLY, b. May 30, 1757 ; m. May 21, 1791, Theodore Muzzey ; d. in 1849.
4. JEREMIAH, d. unmarried Aug. 28, 1814. He was a Revolutionary soldier in the company of Captain Mabury, of Windham, Me.
5. EUNICE, d. unmarried.
126
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
6. MOLLY, m. Thaddeus Richardson.
7. SIMEON, m. Jan. 2, 1783, Hannah Ward, of Gorham; was a soldier of the Revolution under Captain Stuart, of Gorham. He moved to Bethel in iSoo, and he and his wife died there.
Daniel Hasty, son of William and grandson of Daniel Hasty, who came from Ireland and settled in Rye, N. H., thence removed to Scarborough in 1735, was born in Scarborough, Mar. 18, 1749; married Martha Mclaughlin, who died Oct. 24, 1804, aged 56. He died June 1, 1818. Hle bought of Clem- ent Meserve thirty-acre lots Nos. 3 and 4, near where the old academy stood, in 1771, where his grandson, James L. Hasty, now lives. He was selectman in 1786, 1790. 1801, and 1808 ; collector 1789, 1791, and 1806. Issue :
1. SARAN, b. Apr. 5, 1774; m. Thomas Cram and became the mother of Hon. Marshall Cram.
2. JAMES, b. May 3, 1776 ; d. unmarried in 1812.
3. WILLIAM. b. Mar. 3. 1778 ; d. in 1825.
DANIEL, b. May 3, 1780 : m. Susanna Dow, daughter of Jabez ; d. in 1863.
5. MARY, b. Dec. 20, 1782 ; d. single.
6. SAMUEL, b. Mar. 12, 1785 ; d. single Oct. 6, 1818.
7. HIRAM, b. Sept. 11, 1789 ; m. Mary, daughter of Simeon Moulton, and d. in 1866.
Maj. James Hasty, brother of Daniel, preceding, was born in Scar- borough, May 2, 1751 ; married Rachel, daughter of John Dean, Esq., and settled on the old Portland road below the farm of Doctor Howe, and nearly opposite the house of Daniel Cram, now the town farm. He died July S. 1835, aged 85 ; was selectman in 1807; collector in 1801. Children:
1. JOHN D., b. Oct. 13, 1784 ; d. single.
2. JOSEPH, b. Mar. 1, 1787 ; m. Ruth Mclaughlin, of Scarborough, and settled on Standish Neck. He had a large family ; d. in 1865, aged 78.
3. WILLIAM, b. June 18, 1789 ; m. - Fitch, of Baldwin ; d. Dec. 29, 1837.
4. JAMES, b. July 24, 1791; was a trader at Standish Corner many years ; selectman in 1822; town clerk twelve years ; suicide in 1844.
5. MIRIAM, b. Oct. 14. 1793; m. John Philbrick (son of Deacon) and was mother of Hon. John H. Philbrick ; suicide abont 1841.
6. AGNES, b. Jan. 15, 1796; m. William Mclaughlin and lived in Scar- borough ; was the mother of llon. Charles Mclaughlin, of Portland. He d. Apr. 11, 1837; she d. Jan. 12, 1884.
7. CHARLES, b. June 16, 1799 ; m. and had family; moved to Chio and d. there.
8. SAMUEL, b. May 18, 1801; m. AAbigail Broucher and had issue, three sons; d. in Michigan.
127
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
John Dean, Esq., son of Samuel and Rachel (Dwight) Dean, was born in Dedham, Mass., about 1742, where his parents kept a public house. His brother was the Rev. Samuel Dean, of Portland. Squire Dean first came to town in 1774 and put up at Shaw's tavern. His farm was on the old Portland road, near Gorham, adjoining Deacon Philbrick's, and is now owned by his grandson, John D. Higgins. When the tax of 1808 was assessed, he was the heaviest tax-payer in town, and for many years his property exceeded that of any other townsman. He was selectman in 1786; a justice of the peace many years. His wife Miriam died Aug. 25, 1791, aged 41. He married, second, May 18, 1793, Mary Jewett ; she died Aug. 25, 1812, aged 62. He died May 6, 1826, aged 83 years. Children :
I: RACHEL, m. about 1783 Maj. James Hasty.
2. JOHN, JR., d. unmarried in Boston, Apr. 29, 1829, aged 59; was a trader in Standish many years.
3. NANCY, d. Apr. 21, 1832, aged 60, single.
4. LUCY, d. July 3, 1851, aged 76, unmarried.
5. MIRIAM, m. Enoch F. Higgins, brother of the centenarian, Capt. Saul C. Higgins, of Gorham. He died Jan. 25, 1834. She lived till about 1885, and was 96 years of age. Her children were :
I. Harriet, m. Horatio J. Swasey, Esq., who was a well-known law- yer for many years at Standish Corner, and had five sons and a daughter.
II. Mary, m. Daniel Tyler; no issue.
III. John D., b. 1826; m. Marcia, daughter of William Paine, and lives on the homestead.
IV. Caroline, m. Lucian Hunt and lives in Gorham.
Philip Cannell came from the Isle of Man before the Revolution, with his wife Jane, and settled first in Portland. They removed to Pearsontown about 1770, and settled on a lot now owned by the family of Marrett, near Sebago lake; living only a few years here they went to thirty-acre lot No. 56, which was conveyed to them by the proprietors; the conditions required Can- nell to clear five acres and build a house, which house is now owned by L. W. Moulton. The place where Cannell first settled came into the possession of Parson Marrett, and is now marked by the cellar in the midst of a wood where trees more than two feet in diameter are growing. He died June 6, 1824, aged 81. Jane, his wife, died about 1826, aged 81. Children named as follows:
I. NANCY, b. on the Isle of Man; m. July 30, 1789, to Joseph West, of Raymond.
2. THOMAS, m. - Nason, of Gorham,
3. PHILIP, m. 1801, Rebecca Green; d. April, 1849, aged 77 years.
4. JANE, d. Aug. 30, 1855, unmarried, aged 80.
5. JOSEPH, went to sea and d. abroad.
128
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
6. ELLEN, m. about 1820 Daniel Ridlon, who afterwards settled in Porter, and had issue.
Dea. George Freeman, son of Joshua Freeman, who came from Barn- stable, Mass., to Falmouth previous to 1740, in which year he purchased the lot on the corner of Exchange and Middle streets, where he kept a store and tavern. George was born in 1739; married Martha, daughter of Joseph Thorn, and settled on the road leading from Standish Corner by the Parson Weston place. His grave-stone says: "Dea. George Freeman died Mar. 1, 1829. aged 90 years. Martha, wife, died Sept. 11, 1807, aged 69 years." Children:
1. PHERE, b. Jan 13. 1761.
2. HANNAH, b. Sept. 5. 1762.
3. WILLIAM. b. July 10, 1764.
1 EDMUND, b. May 1, 1766.
5. CHARLOTTE, b. June 15. 1768; m. Elisha Hill, of Biddeford, Mar. 14, 1795.
6. REUBEN, b. May 6, 1770.
7. MARTHA, b. July 12, 1772: m. Joshua Emery, of Pownalboro, May 8, 1797.
8. NANCY. b. Sept. 15, 1774.
9. GEORGE, b. July 19. 1776.
10. DANIEL, b. Feb, 16, 1779; m. Hannah Davis and had issue.
11. EUNICE, b. Feb. 15. 1782.
1. George, b. Sept. 5, 1813.
11. Martha. b. Oct. 10, 1815.
111. William D .. b. Sept. 26, 1816.
IV. Leander, b. Dec. 19, 1819.
V. Lucy, b. Dec. 8, 1821.
VI. Lorenzo, b. Dec. 3, 1823.
VII. Isaac, b. July 28, 1826.
VIII. Ursula, b. Jan. 28. 1830.
IX. Hlester zł .. b. Nov. 27. 1832.
Clement Meserve was in the old fort on the Fort hill, in Gorham, during the seven years' Indian war which began in 1745. On April 16. 1755, eight men were hired to guard the fort in Pearsontown for two months; three of this number were Clement Meserve, Jr., John Meserve, and Joseph Meserve, brothers. They were probably living in town. Clement, Sr., lived on lot 3, near the old Standish Academy, where the Congregational church now stands, but sold to Daniel Hasty in 1771. John settled in the corner on the same side, and Clement, Jr., where the Standish town-farm now is. His son-in-law, Timothy Crocker, lived on lot No. 42, which was a part of the Josiah Shaw farm. Who Crocker was, or whence he came, is not known. Ile and the Meserves all removed to Bristol, Me., in 1771.
129
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
Joseph Butterfield was the first settler on Standish Neck, near the out- let of Sebago pond, before the Revolution. He purchased of Ebenezer Shaw, about 1775, thirty-acre lot * No. 109, opposite where "Uncle Thomas" Shaw now lives. He married Mary Harding, of Gorham, and they remained on the home-place all their days. He died Sept. 12, 1819, aged 78; wife died Sept. 3, 1830, aged 80. They were buried in the pasture, on lot 109, now in the forest, and probably Thomas Shaw is the only person living who can point out the exact spot. There were ten children; only two of the name in town at present.
Moses Richardson, with brothers David, Jonathan, and Thaddeus, who settled in Hiram, came from Newton, Mass., and settled on the road between the Corners and Sebago lake, previous to 1800. He had two thirty-acre lots, Nos. 101 and 102. His wife was Lydia Hall, of Newton. He died in 1794, and his widow married May 14, 1808, Ephraim Bachilor, of Baldwin; she died Nov. 12, 1823, aged 80. Children:
I. LYDIA, b. in Brookline, June 20, 1763.
2. ANN, b. in Brookline, June 5, 1765.
3. ELIZABETH, b. August 23, 1767.
4. MOSES, b. in Dorchester, Mar. 13, 1770.
5. MEHITABLE, b. in Newton, May 22, 1772 ; m. Oct. 20, 1792, Lemuel McCorrison, of Baldwin.
6. MOLLY, b. June 20, 1775, in Pearsontown ; m. Aug. 7, 1796, Boaz, son of Lemuel Rich, and moved to Exeter, Me.
7. SARAH, b. Dec. 6, 1776 ; m. Sept. 22, 1798, Joseph Butterfield, Jr., of Standish.
8. AARON, b. Sept. 1, 1779.
9. ABIGAIL, b. June 21, 1782 ; m. Dec. 12, 1802, Capt. Sylvanus Bach- ilor, of Baldwin, and d. May 11, 1849.
David Richardson, m. first Mary Hall, of Newton, Mass., and had nine children. By second wife, Hannah Mills, born in Standish, he had children as follows :
I. HANNAH, twins, b. Aug. 4, 1779.
2. ESTHER,
3. SARAH, twins, b. Apr. 27, 1781.
4 THOMAS,
5. NANCY,
6. LUCY, twins, b. Oct. 8, 1782.
7. WILLIAM, b. Sept. 14, 1784.
This family moved to Monmouth about 1806. In Standish they lived near the Corners, and their cellar may still be seen on the place owned by Almond Rand.
* The thirty-acre lots, to the number of 123, were 160 rods long and 30 rods in width.
1
130
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
Joseph West, of Raymond, married Nancy Cannell, born in the Isle of Man, July 30, 1789: settled near Sebago Lake, and his farm was where the Lake House now is. He died in the Canada war about 1813 : none of the name now in town. This family was connected with William West, who settled in Hollis and by a daughter of Capt. Stephen Bean had Edwin and Charles. The Wests of Cornish and Parsonsfield are of this family. Many were known by their kinky hair that resembled the wool of a negro. Children :
1. ELEANOR, b. Oct. 9. 1789: m. Samuel Weeks, of Standish ; d. 1864.
2. JOHN, b. Dec. 9, 1790; m. Oct. 10, 1812, Abigail York, of Standish.
3. SUSANNA, b. July 11, 1792; m. - Chick of Limington.
4. THOMAS, b. Oct. 16, 1794; m. Sarah McGill.
5. JANE, b. Aug. 6. 1796: m. --- Berry.
6. EUNICE, b. Mar. 12, 1799; m. Sargent Lombard ; d. 1885.
7. MARY, b. Apr. 26, 1801 ; m. - Wiggin, of Baldwin.
8. LYDIA, b. Aug. 13, 1805; m. John Smith.
All had families.
Dr. Isaac S. Tompson, son of Daniel Tompson who was killed in the battle of Lexington, Apr. 19, 1775, a distant relative of the Rev. John, the first minister, came from Reading, Mass. He was a hard, intemperate char- acter ; a small man who rode horseback and carried his medicines in saddle- bags. It has been related that he once told his drunken companions, while on a spree at the tavern, that if they would hang him by the neck he " wouldn't kick." They forthwith procured a rope and hung him up until nearly dead. "Squire " Dean happened to come in, cut him down, and saved his life. As soon as he recovered speech he said : "Well, I didn't kick." At another time he and his associates told how they each wished to die; some one way, some another. All died suddenly. Captain Tappan died in his sleigh at Sacca- rappa, on his way to Portland, in January, 1804. John Marean came home drunk on a cold night, and being cross his wife shut him out of doors. He lay down in the snow and became so chilled that death soon followed, in February, 1804. Marean and Tappan married sisters, Lois and Dolly Bean, and "lived neighbors." Doctor Tompson's death was peculiar. Being sick at one time he said he wished to " live one more year." A year from that time he roused his wife from her slumber and wished to relate a singular dream. She said she would wait until morning, but she found him dead at the dawn. The stone over his grave has the inscription : " Isaac Snow Tompson, born June, 1761, died June. 1799. First Physician of Standish." Some one should have added, as a warning to those who pass by. " Rum did it."
Dr. Ebenezer Howe. In the old cemetery at Standish Corner there is a stone with this inscription: " In memory of Dr. Ebenezer Howe, born in Sturbridge, Mass., April 21, 1773, and departed this life at Standish, Me., June 4. 1841, in the full and firm belief in which he had ever lived of the
131
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
universal salvation of all mankind." Doctor Howe succeeded as the second physician, and probably came to town about 1800. There are many stories about his eccentric ways and speeches. A young woman in an adjoining town, in a fit of laughter, dislocated her jaw. Doctor Howe was sent for and drove with all haste to the farm-house. As he drew rein he saw the girl standing on the door-stone with her mouth wide open. Climbing down from his gig he ran to the door and chucked her under the chin with his fist, instantly putting the jaw into place. He then drove away without a word. But the girl bit her tongue nearly off when her teeth came together and could never forgive the combative old doctor. He married Catherine Spring, born in Standish. None of this family in town. Of his children we find the following :
I. ELIZA, b. Sept. 24, 1802 ; m. - Spring.
2. MARSHALL S., b. Jan. 12, 1804. He was an officer in the regular army many years and d. in Kentucky about 1878. His son Albion was killed in the Modoc war in 1873.
3. GREENLEAF, b. Apr. 5, 1807 ; m. Mary Dennett and d. in Somerville in 1873.
4. MARY ANN, b. Jan. 11, 1811 ; m. Simeon Clement of West Gorham; d. Jan, 25, 1887.
5. ALBION K. P., b. Mar. 25, 1813. He was a soldier in the Union army that crushed the Rebellion and is living.
6. LEANDER M., b. July 18, 1815; d. young.
LIMINGTON.
This was a part of the extensive tract purchased from Captain Sunday, the Indian sagamore of Newichawannock, by Francis Small, of Kittery, Nov. 28, 1766, for two blankets, two pounds of powder, four pounds of musket balls, twenty strings of beads, and two gallons of rum. The original deed, lost for many years, is now in the possession of a descendant of Small. The validity of this instrument was confirmed by the Massachusetts commissioners. The Indian signature was a turtle. The tract, known as "Ossapee," embraced all the land between the Great Ossipee, the Saco, the Little Ossipee, and Newichawan- nock rivers, being twenty miles square, comprising about 256,000 acres. The section now called Limington was known as the plantation of Little Ossipee. The earliest settlement was begun in 1773, Dea. Amos Chase being, so far as known, the first pioneer. He built a cabin on the east side of the township, where he found a waterfall, and there put up the first mill in the town. The hamlet clustering about this locality has since been called "Chase's Mills." Jonathan Boothby, a staunch supporter of Paul Coffin's church in Buxton, is said to have been the second to pitch in this plantation. He camped here alone in 1774, and worked on his clearing at Pine hill. After the Revolution,
132
PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
he moved his family to his log-house, and commenced life in carnest. Settlers from Saco, Scarborough, and Buxton soon followed. John Mac Arthur, a native of Perth, Scotland, settled on Barvel creek in 1775. Joshua Small, the prin- cipal proprietor, settled in the township about this time, and engaged in tanning on the creek just mentioned. The town of Limington was incorporated in 1792; first town-meeting was held in a school-house, Apr. 2, 1792, under a warrant issued by Amos Chase. The first selectmen were Capt. Robert Boody. Capt. Nicholas Edgecomb, and Samuel Sawyer. Two thousand acres lying southeast of the Little Ossipee river, mostly plains, were taken from the planta- tion of Little Falls and annexed to Limington, Feb. 27, 1798. The surface of the town was much broken and rocky, and the early settlers must have been inspired with a tough kind of resolution to hew out farms from such a forbidding wilderness. The pioneer families suffered the usual deprivations of new settlements, which have been described elsewhere. Persons bearing the following names were living in town in 1792 :
JOHN B. ARDWAY,
JOHN ANDREWS,
JOHN ALLIS,
WILLIAM ANDERSON,
JOSHUA ADAMS,
JOSIAHI BLACK,
JONATHAN BOOTHBY,
DAVID BOOTHRY,
JOSHUA BRACKETT,
ABRAM BRACKETT,
REUBEN BRACKETT,
SAMUEL BRACKETT,
RICHARD BERRY,
JAMES BERKY,
SAMUEL BERRY,
ROBERT BOODY,
AZARIAH BOODY,
ELISHA BRAGDON,
WILLIAM BRAGDON,
DANIEL BRADBURY,
AMOS CHASE,
EPHRAIM CLARK,
EBENEZER CLARK,
NATHAN CHICK,
EPHRAIM CHICK,
ANDREW COBB,
ISAAC DYER,
DANIEL DYER,
EZRA DAVIS,
JOHN DOUGLAS.
NICHOLAS DAVIS,
CAPT. NICHOLAS EDGECOMB,
NICHOLAS EDGECOMB, JR.,
ROBERT EDGECOMB,
WILLIAM EDGECOMB,
ELIAS FOSS,
Jon Foss, JOHN Foss,
GEORGE Foss,
CHARLES FOGG,
JOSEPH FOGG,
DANIEL FOGG,
GEORGE FOGG,
MOSES FROST,
ISAAC FROST,
JAMES GILKEY,
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.