Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 18

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 18
USA > New Hampshire > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 18

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).

RICHARD FITCH,

EBEN. LORD,

JOSEPH LAKIN, JR.,

SAMUEL SCRIBNER,

DAVID BROWN.

The town was incorporated June 23, 1802, and named for Loammi Bald- win, one of the pioneer settlers. On August 30th, following, a meeting for town organization was held. Religious meetings were occasionally held at private dwellings, but no minister was settled until 1824, when Rev. Noah Emerson was induced to become the pastor of the Congregational church. The Methodists claimed a share of the ministerial fund, which not only resulted in an ecclesiastical quarrel -the most bitter sort of a quarrel that the devil ever instigated -but in a suit at law, in which the Supreme Court decided against the claimants.

The Saco river forms the southwestern and southern boundary of the town. Saddle-back mountain has an altitude of 2,000 feet ; on its side there is a remarkable, perpendicular, precipitous rock, estimated to be 400 feet in height, around which cluster many unfounded traditions.

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PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

FOUNDERS OF BALDWIN.

Hon. Josiah Pierce was born in Baldwin, Aug. 15, 1792; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1818, and in 1821 opened a law office in Gorham; was elected to offices of town trust ; was representative to the Legislature in 1834-5, state senator for three years, and president of the Senate. From 1846 to 1856 he was Judge of Probate for Cumberland county. In early life he was a writer of very good poetry, He died June 26, 1866, aged 73. His son of the same name was Secretary of Legation at Russia under Caleb Cushing. He has since been made a Baron and lives in England.

Eleazer Flint, descended from Thomas Flint, who was in Salem before 1650, came from Massachusetts and took up an extensive tract of land, from which some of the best farms were cleared. He was a "father of the town" and the name of his family was applied to the plantation. His descendants have been industrious, frugal, and much respected, and the venerable Eleazer Flint, now living, is a man of superior intelligence, whose homestead is a model of good order and agricultural prosperity.

Zebulon Larrabee, second son of William and Mary, was born in Scar- borough, in 1757, and came through the wilderness to Baldwin, then Flints- town, in 1782, and was one of the first settlers. He was a man of enormous build, weighing nearly three hundred pounds, and so strong that no two men in town could hold him down. He was found dead in his bed and was laid down in the family lot back of the mansion now owned by Timothy Brown. His two brothers, Joshua and James, came into the plantation at the same time and all were useful citizens. (See Genealogy.)

William Fitch and others of the name were among the early settlers of Baldwin, and the family has been prominent as one of progress and public spirit both in this town and Sebago, adjoining.

Joseph Lakin came from Groton, Mass., and was an early resident of Sebago, but was originally in Flintstown. He was ancestor of the Lakins of Harrison and Bridgton, Joseph, Jr., having died in old age in the former town.

John Burnell, John, Jr., and Samuel were among the founders of Baldwin. This family was descended from French ancestors, who spelled the surname Bernelle. Many of this connection still reside in town.

Ephraim Bachelder and Ephraim, Jr., were here early. They were descended from the Rev. Stephen Bachiler, who came from England and figured in the colonial history of New Hampshire. The family has been a prolific one in the southern towns of the Granite state; branches were early established in various sections of Maine, and many distinguished scholars and divines have borne the name. The descendants of the Baldwin family are industrious and full of energy. Some spell the name Bachellor and Bacheller.

Jacob Rowe, Joseph Pierce, Joseph Richardson, Ephraim Brown, David

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PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

Brown, Jacob Clark, David Potter, William Bickford, Isaac Fly, Chase Wiggin, Samuel Sawyer, Ebenezer Lord, and Samuel Scribner were early settlers in Flintstown, but some of these families were set off on land conceded to Sebago. Descendants of nearly all are now living in these and adjoining towns, and are among the best citizens and successful farmers.

HIRAM.

This township was first settled by Lieut. Benjamin Ingalls, a native of Andover, Mass., who came to the Great Falls on Saco river, in company with five others, in 1774. One of this number was Daniel Foster, a brother-in-law. These pioneers surveyed several lots, and the original record, in the hand- writing of Lieutenant Ingalls, with its quaint orthography. runs as follows :

"Sept. 5th 1774 then Daniel Foster and Abial Messer and John Curtis and Ebenezer Herrick and Benjamin Ingalls came up to the Great Falls on Saco Rivor the west sid and Laid out a Tract of Land for each of ous as follows viz:

" Begining [at] a maple Tree on ye River Bank against Bryants Pond So Called Running West 160 Rods then Runing Sowth 80 Rods then Running East to Saco River Ebenezer Herricks Loot N I Pine tree then By the Side of Herricks Loot & one for John C'urtis N 2 Pine tree So Rods down ye Rivor to a Read Oak Tree markt & then So Rods own the Rivor to a White Pine Tree markt 3.

"Sept. 6th then Daniel Foster Abial Messer John Curtis and Ebenezer Herrick Layed out a Loot for Benja. Ingalls then Begun att a Pine Tree on the Bank of Sawco Rivor about Go rods above Hancock Brook Runing west 100 Polls to a maple tree markt IIII then Runing Sowth 600 Polls to a hem- lock tree IIII then Runing East to a Pine on the Bank of Saco Rivor att the mouth of a Littell Brook which Runs out of the medow Cald Woodsoms medow Laied out and Bownded as above for Benjamin Ingalls & we markt it

"Sept. 10th 1786 Mr Joshua Davis of flintstown went with me and Pre- ambed the Lines and Bownds of my Lott as above.

"July 15 1786 Mess Joshua Davis and Jess Walker went with me and Vewed the Bownds of my Land that I Laied owt in agust and Sept. 1774."

The above mentioned tract taken possession of by Lieutenant Ingalls was situated on the west side of Saco river, extending from the brook above Hiram Falls to a point above Ilancock's brook, and includes the whole plot where the village of Hiram Bridge now stands.

In 1790 Gen. Peleg Wadsworth, a native of Duxbridge, Mass., and a Revolutionary patriot, purchased a tract of land in the plantation of Massa- chusetts consisting of 7.800 acres, from which he cleared an extensive and valuable farm, where, according to a statement published in the Eastern Her- ald, Sept. 10, 1792, he raised more than 1,000 bushels of corn on burnt land at a place called Great Ossipee, about thirty-six miles from Portland. In

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1795 he built a house and settled his son, Charles L. Wadsworth, on this tract of land. On Feb. 27, 1807, the township was incorporated by the name of Hiram, in honor of Hiram, King of Tyre. General Wadsworth being a man of liberal education, wealth, and public spirit, who took a leading part in the affairs of the town, was regarded as its patriarch. In 1800 he built for him- self a country mansion here, the most stately and pretentious ever built in town, to which he moved in 1807. We cannot close our brief sketch with more appropriate words than the following, copied from an address prepared by Llewellyn A. Wadsworth, and delivered at the family reunion at Duxbury in 1882: "On a high plateau in the valley of the winding and silvery Saco, whose majestic cataract makes endless melody as its bright waters roll onward to the sea, set like a gem in its circlet of hills and mountains, the old ancestral Wadsworth mansion still stands. On an eminence nearly in the shadow of ' the forest primeval,' sleeps the honored patriarch among his kindred, well worthy of the eulogium upon his tablet: . He was a Patriot, a Philanthropist, and a Christian.'"

TRADITIONS.

Three Hills of Rocks .- Maj. William Phillips, who lived at Saco, purchased several tracts of land of the Indians; some of these extended back into the country thirty-five or forty miles. In a deed bearing date 1666, Cap- tain Sunday conveyed to him "three hills of rock" about forty miles back from the sea on Saco river. In conveying shares of this property Phillips designates "it as a mine commonly accounted a silver mine," and says he had sold divers shares to gentlemen in Boston. The early inhabitants were deceived by the glistening of the "isinglass," or sheets of mica, in the rocks" on the cliffs of the mountains and supposed these to be rich in deposits of silver. It has not been ascertained just where the three hills of rock were situated, and considerable speculation has been rife in relation to them. There are three eminences in Hiram about one-half mile above the great fall on the east side of the Saco, on the line between the counties of Cumberland and Oxford, which correspond with the somewhat indefinite description found in the various conveyances, and the distance from the sea. As these hills are comprised in a tract of 1,500 acres of land taxed to the heirs of Phillips in 1807, in Hiram, and being rocky, hilly, and almost unfit for farming purposes, and on the opposite side of the river from the other lands owned by Major Phillips, there are good grounds for the theory that these are the identical hills purchased because of their supposed value as mining property. Pictur- esque fancy beholds a group of speculative men with Major Phillips viewing these shining hills as the sunlight glinted upon the mica in the clefts of the rocks, while the owner discoursed upon their great value as he sold shares at

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PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

long range to gentlemen from Boston. But they were just such fools as have succeeded them during the nineteenth century.

The Hancock Ponds. - These sheets of water, embosomed among the towering hills, derived their names from William Hancock, son of William, who came from Londonderry, Ireland, to Buxton. He had built a hunting camp near the larger pond and retired to that sylvan retreat to hunt and trap for the winter. Tradition, well supported by several reliable persons who lived at the time, makes one John Brown, a native of Scarborough, come to Buxton with a hand-sled loaded with valuable furs and wearing a coat known to have belonged to Hancock. He immediately went to Portland, where he disposed of his peltry, and disappeared to be seen no more. Search revealed the vacant camp and a spoon bearing Hancock's name, but neither his body, gun, nor traps were ever discovered. Hancock's brook furnishes the water power at Hiram Corner and flows into the Saco on the east side, opposite the town-house. It was known as Hancock's brook when the first survey of land was made. in 1774. No mention of this son was made in the will of William Hancock, Sr., made in 1769, but his name was found, with that of his brother John. in the inventory of the estate taken in 1770.

FOUNDERS OF HIRAM.

Lient. Benjamin Ingalls, the first pioneer, was born to Moses. and Maria Ingalls, in Andover, Mass., Aug. 1, 1728. O. S. He entered the British army and was captured at Louisburg by Sir William Pepperill in 1745. In 1761 he was commissioned as lieutenant. About 1765 he left the army and made voyages to sea. In 1774 he came to Great Falls on the Saco river. where he surveyed several lots of land, one of which he settled on ; this was at the bend of the river, and the cellar was to be seen not many years back. While living here his nearest neighbors were James Howard, in Brownfield. and Mr. Cookson, in Standish. In October, 1785, the "great freshet " swept away his house, hovel, and blacksmith shop. He then removed to Flintstown. now Baldwin, and settled near "Ingalls pond." He and his wife died in Hiram, at the home of C'apt. Charles L. Wadsworth, but were buried in Bald- win. (See Genealogy of Ingalls Family.)

Daniel Foster was the second settler of Hiram. He located not far from the bend in the Saco, and the hill in the road there was known as Foster's hill. He died about 1780, without leaving issue. It was the first death after the settlement of the town. His grave was in the pines by the road-side. near the Il. Wadsworth road, where a monument has been erected.

James Eastman was a soldier of the French and Indian war and served in the Revolution. He and his wife are remembered as they went from house to house among the farmers, when advanced in life, to dress the crop of flax.

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PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

His house was upon a slight rise of ground in a narrow field, now in the woods under the hill below the buildings of Artemas Richardson, and his lonely grave may be seen in the forest on a hill-side, some distance from where he lived. His age cannot be ascertained.

John Watson, said to have come from England with a brother who set- tled in Kennebunk, after serving in the Revolution, came to Hiram in 1778. His house, on the bank of the river, was swept away by the great freshet of 1785. He then built near where Walter F. Watson has resided since. His son John was the first male child born in town. Thomas, another son, was a justice of the peace. From this family the Watsons of Hiram are descended.

Daniel Boston, descended from an old family in York, Me., came early to Denmark, then a part of Brownfield, and opened a clearing not far from Saco river, on the southwest side of the three eminences known as " Boston Hills." In June of 1784 he moved to Hiram Hill, on the west side of the Saco. Crossing on a raft he lost his kettles and crockery. His house was built on the farm since called the "Craig place," where Llewellyn A. Wadsworth now resides. The clay used in building his chimney was carried in a basket on his shoulders a distance of a half mile up a steep ascent from the bank of the Saco. He finally removed to Vermont, where he died. (See Boston Genealogy.)

John Burbank came from Kennebunk in 1778; was an early school- master in Hiram; a soldier of the Revolution; settled on the farm in Hiram since owned by Nathan Kimball. His son Israel was the first postmaster of Hiram; his commission bears date Dec. 14, 1803; he was in the war of 1812. Asa, another son, was a lieutenant under Gov. Caleb Strong; his commission was dated Sept. 15, 1813 ; he died Oct. 26, 1858, aged 72. Sarah, his wife, died Oct. 30, 1865, aged 82. Their son John was an assessor in 1805.

John Clemons came from Danvers, Mass., some time in 1780. He was in Fryeburg in May of that year on the memorable "dark day." When he came to Hiram he tarried with the family of Capt. John Lane for a night. At supper time the children of the families were so numerous that not more than half could be supplied with gourd-shell bowls from which to eat. Mrs. Lane was equal to the occasion. Having an old chair with a concave leathern bot- tom she poured two quarts of bean porridge into it, and the hearty children gathered about this dish on legs and ate their supper. Mr. Clemons and his wife experienced many hardships during the early years of their residence in Hiram; for seven years she did not see the face of a white woman. (See Genealogy.)

John Bucknell came from Fryeburg to Hiram with his son Simeon in 1785. In 1792 Simeon built the house where his son Andrew since lived and died. The latter was constable for twenty-five years; was captain of the militia ; so was Simeon.

Lemuel Howard came from Brownfield in 1785; married Hannah,

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daughter of John Clemons, and settled on the farm since known as the William Cotton place. His son John was an officer in the war of 1812.

John Ayer was living in Hiram as early as 1787, where Jacob Buck since lived. He built the first grist-mill in town ; it was on " Thirteen Mile brook," just above the old "red mill." He and Capt. Charles Wadsworth built the first bridge across the Saco in Hiram, about 1805 : sometimes held religious meeting.

John MeLucas came from Hollis or Buxton in 1787, and settled opposite Henry B. Fly's lane. He was a soldier of the Revolution. Mr. McLucas was a man of giant strength. At one time, in the presence of General Wadsworth, he requested one son to guide the plow and another to ride on the beam: he then put the chain over his shoulder and drew the plow through the ground powerfully. The astonished General, who had called on McLucas to hire him for farm work. exclaimed : " Bless me! bless me! I wouldn't have such a man in my field." Five of his sons enlisted for the war of 1812 in one day.

Timothy Cutler had a grant of land in 1788, consisting in part of a portion of Mt. Cutler, which was named for him. His house was where George W. Osgood has since lived.

William Gray, a Revolutionary soldier, went from Hollis to Hiram, and settled below the fall in 1793. He was a blacksmith, as was his son of the same name who was in the war of 1812. Mr. Gray moved to Cornish.

James Fly came into town in 1794, sitting down on the well-known Marshall Warren place. He was a soldier of the French and Indian war; probably connected with the Fly family, early inhabitants of Scarborough. Mr. Fly was also a veteran of the Revolution. Henry Fly owned the powder horn he carried in the colonial service, upon which his name was carved. Elder James Fly was of this family.

Capt. Thomas Spring settled in Hiram in 1794: at that time brought six children; built his house where Marshall Spring has since lived. He was with Montgomery in the assault on Quebec; in the Revolutionary war; with Arnold on the Plains of Abraham, and with Washington in the battle of White Plains; was the first to open a public house in Hiram. (See Genealogy.)

John Pierce, an honored and public-spirited resident of Hiram, came in 1794; was one of the early town officers. Ile was connected with the distinguished family of Baldwin. The Pierces now living on the homestead are descended from this carly settler.

William Storer, descended from the old Wells' family of this name, came in 1795. Ile, too, was a soldier of the Revolution. His house stood where the grave-yard now is. The children lived to old age and were respected. His wife was Sarah, daughter of Joshua ('hadbourne.

Capt. Charles L. Wadsworth settled in town in 1795. He was the eldest son of General Peleg; was one of the first captains of the militia; held

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several town offices. He died in 1848, aged 72, leaving a large family, of whom four sons settled in Hiram. Of "Captain Charlie " many quaint stories are told. He was an owner of extensive timber land; sometimes rode a mule on his excursions among the lumbermen; this animal is said to have carried him safely over the Saco by night on a bridge stringer ; an event the rider did not know of until the following day when the workmen making repairs dis- covered the print of the shoe-caulks in the stringer.

Marshall Lewis was among the early settlers. He came from Fryeburg and lived opposite where the Joshua Sargent barn stands. His wife was a daughter of Daniel E. Cross. Mr. Lewis served in the artillery company of Capt. Rufus McIntire, in 1812, and was killed in the battle of Oswego. His widow toiled hard to bring up the children. At one time of scarcity their stock of provisions was reduced to a small quantity of bran. The eldest of the six children was the wife of Col. Charles Wadsworth. (See Genealogy.)

BRIEF MENTION.

Jonathan K. Lowell, a Revolutionary soldier, came from Baldwin at an early day, and settled near where William A. Storer has lived. His son of the same name married Mary, daughter of Lemuel Howard, and was ancestor of those who bear this name in Hiram.

William Cotton came from Cornish to Hiram as early as 1799, and settled on land among the mountains where his son Lemuel afterwards lived. His wife was a daughter of Lemuel Howard. He was one of the veterans of 1812, and the progenitor of families of the name in town. Several members of this family are buried in a pretty little grove on a knoll near the old Cotton homestead.

Asa Osgood, a Revolutionary soldier, early made his home on the farm since owned by Royal Clark, and was head of the family of this name in Hiram.

John Tyler and his brother David, before 1800, lived on the Stephen Ridlon place near "Tyler hill," so-called. The family moved away near the close of the century.

Josiah Mabry came from Windham, and succeeded the Tylers on the Ridlon farm. He had first settled near Hancock's pond. From Hiram hill the family removed to the place where they have of late resided. They prob- ably came in before 1800.

Gen. Peleg Wadsworth came to live on his land in Hiram, Jan. 1, 1807. He erected his mansion house in 1800. Stephen Jewett, of Cornish, was the carpenter employed, and Capt. Theophilus Smith, of the same town, the mason. This house is standing as a monument of good material and thorough workmanship that have stood the wear and tear of 94 years. (See account of town settlement.)

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Capt. Edmund Skillings came to Iliram before 1800, and lived below John Spring's.

Philip Corey came about the same date and settled on the Enoch Tread- well place at South Hiram.

Moses Gould and Aaron lived on the Harrison Scribner farm as early as 1800. About fifty acres of second growth wood, some graves there, some cellars near, are evidences of the early existence of a homestead.

James Gillmore lived where Alexander Brazier has lived latterly, in 1805.

Dea. Edward Richardson, from Standish, was living in Hiram in 1810: was settled on the hill east of Bryant's pond, where John L. Kimball has since lived; a member of the Freewill Baptist church ; twelve children.

Dea. Ephraim Kimball came to town about 1810, settling on the side of Tearcap hill, near the Mabry place.

Col. John Warren came from Gorham, Me., in 1813 and purchased the farm where his son Nathaniel afterwards lived. Major Nathaniel, father of the Colonel, came a few years later and domiciled near. He was a soldier of the Revolution. (See Genealogy.)

BROWNFIELD.

Brownfield was formed from three grants of land conveyed by Massa- chusetts to C'apt. Henry Young Brown in recognition of his services in the French war. The condition of these grants, which comprised 8,544 acres. mostly included in Brownfield, required him to settle thirty-eight families in the township by June 10, 1770; and in three years thereafter he was to see that a minister was settled there. The first clearing was opened in 1765; the settlement organized as " Brownfield plantation " in 1787. In 1799 a petition was sent to the General Court, signed by twenty-four men, asking for the incorporation of the township. to be called Dover; but when it was incor- porated, in 1802, it was named in honor of the principal proprietor. The population in 1812 was less than goo, but of this number twenty-five entered the army; of these, four died in the service, and two of the eighteen who returned were wounded.

The first settled minister was Rev. Jacob Rice, who came in 1806 from llenniker, N. H., at the earnest request of friends who had known him before coming from that place to the new plantation. He was a graduate of Har- vard, 1765; was a man of much literary ability, an able preacher, who was universally beloved by those with whom he associated. Another early min- ister was Rev. Tillius How, a son of Eliakim How, who moved from Henniker to Brownfield about 1800. He was graduated at Dartmouth, 1783; died in Fryeburg in 1830.

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PLANTATION AND TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.

Joseph Howard was appointed postmaster in Brownfield in 1803, and held the office about thirty years.

The first mills in the town were built by Capt. John Lane on "Ten-Mile brook," so-called. A mill was built on Shepard's river (named for one Shep- ard, an early hunter) by those who owned the land near it, - Bean, Miller, Webster, Merrill, and others.

Master Simeon Colby was the first school-master in the single district and was held in great respect ever after.

In 1806 a petition was forwarded to the General Court for the incor- poration of a Baptist society, and signed by twenty-eight of the inhabitants, which contained the following: "We your Petitioners Inhabitants of the Town of Brownfield and Pleasant mountain Gore respectfully represent, that being convinced that Religion is a matter of the greatest importance and Immediately concerns every one of the human race, and being fully convinced that every society ought to be regular and observe such rules as will promote the cause of religion and good order in the same, and believing that the peo- ple called regular Baptists are the most Scriptural, in their doctrine, discipline and mode of worship, of any denomination of Christians in this our day, and feeling ourselves willing to help support the above named order according to our several abilities, we therefore pray, that your Honors would incorporate us and our estates and such others as shall hereafter join with us into a society by the name of the 'Baptist Society of Brownfield and Pleasant Mountain Gore,' with all the privileges, powers and immunities to which other Societies of a like nature in this Commonwealth are entitled, and as in duty bound will ever pray." Signed :

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Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 18

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