USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 28
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4. Oliver Bailey Coburn, b. March 26, 1825 ; d. Dec. 25, 1832.
4 5 6 7 8 9
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER. 373
IV. Betsey, b. Dec. 13, 1798; md., Aug. 16, 1821, Asa Bailey, q. v.
v. * Reuel, b. July 17, 1802.
VI. Ozias Cummings, b. June 12, 1804.
VII. Mary Ann, b. Aug. 17, 1807 ; md., May 5, 1833,
(pub.) Job Morse ; d. Dec. 1, 1846. 2 chil.
JOHN BAILEY first settled on Bailey Hill, but afterwards removed to Industry and finally took the farm of his father-in-law, Joseph Norton. Mr. Bailey was an upright man, and a respected deacon in the Baptist Church. He md., Dec. 23, 1806, Betsey, daughter of Joseph Norton, q. v. She d. Nov. 9, 1842. He md. (2) April 20, 1847, Betsey Turner, widow of James Marvel. Mr. Bailey d. Nov. 21, 1861. Seven children :-
I. Rebecca, b. March 31, 1808; d. April 20, 1827 ; unmd.
II. * Elijah Norton, b. Feb. 1, 1810.
III. William Cyrus, b. March 9, 1813.
IV. * James, b. Dec. 16, 1814.
V. Mary Smith, b. about 1817 ; d. Dec. 13, 1872 ; unmd.
VI. Lydia Norton, b. about 1819 ; md., Sept. 3, 1843, Isaac Norton of Martha's Vineyard.
VII. Deborah Norton, b. in 1821 ; md. Jedediah Me- Keen ; d. Aug. 16, 1882. He d. May 1, 1885.
JAMES BAILEY lived first in Industry and afterwards upon a part of the homestead, where he died April 16, 1865. He md., April 4, 1820, Rebecca, daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Perham) Fletcher, who was b. in Westford, Mass., July 10, 1789, and d. April 11, 1879. Four children :-
29 30
I. Elizabeth Ann, b. in Industry, Feb. 20, 1821 ; md., May 20, 1848, David Sweatland, who was b. Sept. 15, 1818. 3 chil.
II. Joseph Grafton, b. in Industry, April 4, 1822 : md., Sept. 2, 1858, Susan H. Griffin. Lives in Danville, N. H. I child.
31
111. Rebecca, b. in Industry, Oct. 19, 1828 ; md., Oct. 31, 1850, Rufus Bartlett Smith, q. v. ; d. April 15, 1885.
IV. Martha Fletcher, b. in Wilton, May 31, 1821 ; unmd.
32 (9)
ASA BAILEY lived as a farmer on Bailey Hill, and also followed the trade of shoemaking. He md., Aug. 16, IS21, Betsey, daughter of Oliver Bailey, q. v. : she died April 20, 1844, and he md. (2) April 14, 1845 (pub.)
48
18 19 20 2I
(2)
22 23 24 25
26 27 28 (5)
374
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
Fanny Fogg ; she d. March 11, 1856, and he md. (3) June 25, 1871, Mary Sturdivant. Mr. Bailey d. April 3, 1874. Three children :-
I. George Washington, b. Sept. 25, 1823 ; md., Mar. 30, 1851, Drusilla Taylor. Lives in Industry. 8 chil.
II. Julia Ann, b. Aug. 26, 1826 ; d. Sept. 16, 1833.
III. Elias Hutchins, b. Feb. 22, 1833 ; unmd.
LUTHER BAILEY, son of Col. Oliver Bailey, settled in New Sharon, as a farmer, where he made his home for life. He md., April 10, 1808 (pub.) Rebecca, daughter of Abner Ramsdell, q. v., who d. Dec. 3, 1840. He d. May 24, 1869. Nine children :-
1. Abner Ramsdell, b. in 1809.
II. Oliver, b. in 1811 ; md. Deborah Stephens.
III. Elmira, b. in 1813; md. Joseph Edes of Temple.
IV. Caroline, b. in 1815; md., April 2, 1836 (pub.) David Jennings, q. v. ; d. March 23, 187 1.
V. Hannah, b. in 1818; md. Follensbee; lives in Chesterville ; s. p.
VI. Jerusha C., b. in 1819 ; md. Samuel Adams ; d. July 21, 1850, s. p.
VII. Betsey, b. in 1822 ; md. Aaron Bragdon ; d.
VIII. Albert, b. in 1827 ; md. Fanny Stewart of Concord, Mass. ; d. June, 1865. Was a physician.
IX. Reuben, b. in 1833; md. in Minnesota, Lydia Manes, and is still living.
OLIVER BAILEY, JR., was a farmer, and first settled in New Sharon, and afterwards in the Bailey Hill neighbor- hood, where he died. He md., Nov. 27, 1808 (pub.) Lydia Coburn of New Sharon, who was b. Nov. 21, 1783, and d. Sept. 11, 1871. He d. Dec. 17, 1867. Two children :-
1. James Madison, b. April 3, 1809 ; md. Mrs. Abigail Dinsmoor; d. in Boston. 2 chil.
II. Thomas Jefferson, b. Feb. 2, 1811 ; md. Caroline Coburn of Dracut, Mass. ; d. in Dracut.
REUEL BAILEY md., Oct. 24, 1825. Mary, daughter of Eliphalet Jennings, q. 7. ; d. Sept. 8, 1856. She d. April 25, 1869. Two children :-
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1. Louisa M., b. Feb. 21, 1828 ; d. Sept. 1, 1847. II. Arvilla, b. Oct. 18, 1830; md .. Dec. 29, 1851. Augustus, son of Joseph Johnson, q. v .; s. p.
36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 (12)
45 46 (19)
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34 35 (II)
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
375
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OZIAS C. BAILEY lived as a farmer upon the homestead. He md., Oct. 26, 1828, Hannah, daughter of William Parker; she d. Dec. 17, 1836. He md. (2) Oct. 25, 1837, Ruth Steward of Bloomfield, who d. March 2, 1840. He md. (3) Sept. 23, 1840, Mary F., daughter of Bartholomew Parker ; she d. July 30, 1852. He md. (4) Nov. 5, 1853 (pub.) Mrs. Mary Perkins. He d. Sept. 23, 1872. Four children by first and three by third marriage :-
I. Elizabeth, b. June 25, 1830; md., Jan. 3, 1851, William Coburn. 2 chil.
II. Prudence Butterfield, b. June 19, 1832 ; md., Feb. 14, 1856, Alexander Mitchell. 3 chil.
III. Sarah Coburn, b. May 19, 1834; md., Jan. 30, 1862, Warren Ames. I child.
IV. Hannah Parker, b. Dec. 17, 1836; md., March 16, 1856, John Churchill ; d. March 23, 1862. 2 chil.
Third marriage :
v. Ruth Steward, b. Sept. 29, 1844 ; md., Dec. 10, 1867, Francis M. Williamson. 4 chil.
VI. Mary Cummings, b. July 8, 1846 ; md., Feb. 17, 1869, John A. Stover. 2 chil.
VII. Lucinda Quimby, b. July 17, 1852 ; md., Nov. 12, 1871, Samuel F. Fuller. He d. July 3, 1883. 3 chil.
ELIJAH NORTON BAILEY was a farmer, and a man of much mechanical ingenuity. He md., Nov. 4, 1834, Hannah Smith, daughter of Joseph Norton, Jr. He d. May 20, 1877. Three children :-
I. Albert Gallatin Norton. b. Dec. 11, 1836 ; md. Mrs. Mary A. Craig ; d. in California, Dec. 23, 1876.
II. Leonard Boardman, b. May 13, 1839; unmd. Resides on the homestead.
III. John French, b. March 22, 1841 ; enlisted in First Maine Regiment of Mounted Artillery, and d. in Alexandria, Va., Sept. 16, 1862.
WILLIAM CYRUS BAILEY acquired the trade of a cabinet- maker, but afterwards went into business in Farmington, and later in Milford, Mass., in company with his brother- in-law, Prentice Perley Field. He d. Jan. 30, 1874. Mr. Bailey was twice married : May 10, 1836, Mary Jane Stickney, who was b. Aug. 16, 1815, and d. Nov. 4, 1860. He md. (2) June 2, 1862, Mrs. Belinda Field, widow of Thomas Hiscock, Jr., who survives him. One child by second marriage :-
I. Minnie Carrie, b. Oct. 21, 1864.
49 50 5 1 52 53 54 55 (23)
56 57 58 (24)
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376
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
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JAMES BAILEY is a gravestone manufacturer residing at Farmington. He md., Feb. 8, 1843, Emily M. Ford, who was b. in Fayette, Dec. 6, 1818. Eight children :---
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I. Charles Corydon, b. March 1, 1844; d. April 6, 1844.
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11. Edward Mellen, b. April 16, 1846; drowned in Sandy River, July 16, 1855.
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III. Fred Audubon, b. Aug. 30, 1849 ; md., June 1, 1878, Emma E. Saunders.
63 IV. Emma Louise, b. Dec. 3, 1851 ; md., Oct. 7, 1880, Frank A. Davis.
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v. Samuel Winfield, b. May 4, 1854.
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V1. Arthur Milton, b. March 13, 1857.
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VII. Walter Burton, b. Feb. 24, 1860.
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VIII. Jessie Maria, b. June 1, 1862.
Deale.
John Beale, from Hingham, Norfolk County, England, came with his wife, five sons, three daughters and two servants, to this country in 1638, and settled in Hingham, Mass. His second son, Jeremiah, married Sarah Ripley in 1652, and among their sons was John, who married in 1686 Hannah -. Among the children of John and Hannah Beale, was John, Jr., who married Deliverance Porter. One of their sons was John 3d, who was born Oct. 12, 1730. His wife, Rhoda James, was born Sept. 29, 1742. They were married July, 1772, and were the parents of four children. John Beale died Nov. 9, 1814, and his wife died Feb. 4, 1825.
I COL. DANIEL BEALE (vide page 295), eldest son of John and Rhoda Beale, was born at Hingham, Mass., July 23, 1776, and at the age of fourteen entered a store in Boston as clerk, where he remained until his majority. He then came to the Falls village in this town, and embarked in mercantile pursuits,-first as the partner of Ebenezer Jones, afterwards of William Gower, and lastly of Sylvanus Allen. He closed business finally at the Falls village in 1820, at which time he went into the lumbering business in New Brunswick. After several years Col. Beale re- turned to Farmington, and in the year 1831 went into trade with his son Daniel, at the Center Village. In the great fire of Aug. 7, 1850, his store was burned, and he retired from active business life. Col. Beale was an enterprising merchant, giving his undivided attention to his business, which was very large, and performing the entire work of the establishment alone for many years. In the war of 1812-14, he commanded the South Company of Infantry, and was drafted with a portion of his com-
,
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GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
pany for service at Bath, in what was called the "forty- days service," from Sept. 24 to Nov. 8, 1814. Col. Beale md., Jan. 24, 1802, Hannah Cole, daughter of Samuel and Susanna Brown. She was b. at Wellfleet, Mass., June 6, 1783; d. Feb. 22, 1869. His death occurred July 13, 1851. Six children :-
I. John, b. Nov. 24, 1802; md., Dec. 25, 1835, Maria P. Innet, who d. Jan. 25, 1878. Re- sides in Eatontown, N. J. 4 chil.
3
II. Daniel, b. Jan. 2, 1805; unmd. Resides in Farmington.
4 III. Julia Ann, b. May 4, 1807; md., Dec. 16, 1832, Jotham S. Graves, q. v.
5 IV. Angeline, b. April 19, 1809 ; md., Oct. 25, 1835, Amasa Corbett, q. v.
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V. Susanna, b. March 31, 1811 ; d. Sept. 9, 1811.
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VI. Lucy Wilde, b. Oct. 4, 1816 ; md., March 8, 1855, Marcus Q. Butterfield, q. v .; d. Sept. 29, 1868.
Belcher.
While the Belcher family is probably of Norman descent, as the name indicates, persons bearing the name have existed in England from an early period. During the reign of King Henry VIII., Edmund Belcher is found a resident of Guilsborough in Northamptonshire, and to his son, Alexander Belcher, Gentleman, was granted Northoft, a hamlet of nineteen houses. Early in the seventeenth century, four Belchers immigrated to America, viz .: Jeremiah, who settled in Ipswich; Edward, who was made freeman May 18, 1631, and became a resident of Boston; Andrew, who was the ancestor of Governor Belcher; and Gregory, who was an early settler in that part of Braintree now Quincy, and an original member of the first church of that place. It is not known what relationship, if any, existed between these immigrants. Gregory Belcher, who was the ancestor of the Farmington family bearing that name, came from Braintree to Boston in 1634, and took the freeman's oath in 1640. He was one of the committee appointed in 1654 "to Lay out the High waye through Dorchester Woods from Branntre Bounds to Roxbury bounds." He died Nov. 25, 1674, and his wife, Katherine, died in 1679 or 1680. They are known to have had eight children, of whom Josiah was born in 1631. He seems to have been a man of some prominence in Boston, and was one of the founders of the Old South Church. He married, March 3, 1655, Ranis, daughter of Elder Edward Rainsford, a merchant of Boston, and died April 3, 1683 ; his wife died Oct. 2, 1691. Of the twelve children of Josiah and Ranis Belcher, the eighth was Edward, who was born Jan. 19, 1669. In late life he purchased an estate at Stoughton and removed there, and
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378
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
died March 16, 1745. His widow survived him until March 5, 1752. Clifford Belcher, the youngest of the six children of Edward and Mary (Clifford) Belcher, married June 24, 1740, Mehitable, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Clap) Bird, and granddaughter of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Bird of Dorchester. He owned a large estate in ancient Stoughton, where he resided until his death, April 26, 1773. His wife was born Dec. 8, 1706, and died Feb. 20, 1779.
1 SUPPLY BELCHER, sixth child of Clifford and Mehitable (Bird) Belcher, was born in Stoughton, now Sharon, Mass., March 29, 1751, O. S., and there his early life was spent. He received a superior English education, and entered mercantile life in Boston. The outbreak of the Revolu- tion proving injurious to his prospects, he returned to Stoughton and purchased, in 1778, of one Jeremiah Ingraham, as the records tell us, a large farm lying on both sides of the Taunton road, in what is now the village of South Canton. Soon after he appears to have opened a tavern, which upon the map of 1785 is designated " Bel- cher's Tavern." Having suffered serious losses in com- mon with all the people of his State in consequence of the long struggle with Great Britain, Mr. Belcher resolved to begin life again, in a new country. Accordingly, in 1785, he emigrated to the District of Maine, and settled at Hallowell, now Augusta. Mr. Belcher's residence on the Kennebec River continued but six years, yet in that time he attained a prominent position in his adopted home. He was elected captain of the North Company of Militia at its organization, having previously held a captain's commission from General Washington.
In February, 1791, in company with John Church, he removed his family to the Sandy River township, where he purchased of Seth Greeley river-lot No. 24, east side, the same upon which the upper portion of the Center Village now stands. Mr. Belcher's superior education and knowledge of men and affairs, at once enabled him to take the foremost rank among the early settlers. When the incorporation of the town was under consideration in 1793, Capt. Belcher was appointed the agent of the town- ship, and as such proceeded to Boston, where he success- fully accomplished his mission in securing the necessary act of incorporation. He was elected first town clerk, and received the second justice's commission granted to a resident of the town. He also served the town as its first representative to General Court in 1798, again in 1801, and as the colleague of Nathan Cutler in 1809, and was elected selectman in 1796 and 1797. He taught the second school in the township, and for many years was a prominent teacher. Capt. Belcher, or Squire Belcher as
379
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
he was more generally known, also possessed no mean knowledge of medicine and surgery, and while without pretension to being a physician, yet rendered the settlers material aid in caring for those afflicted by accident or disease. Until Dr. Stoyell's arrival in 1794, no physician could be obtained nearer than Hallowell, and Squire Belcher's services were frequently called in requisition to set broken bones and administer the simple remedies then in use.
It is, however, as a musician that Squire Belcher was chiefly known and is remembered. The town of Stoughton has always been famous for its interest in the art of music. The famous William Billings taught a class of music in that place as early as 1774, and soon after the Stoughton Musical Society was formed, which preserves its existence until the present time. The name of Supply Belcher is closely associated with that of Billings in the early musical history of that town. From old diaries we gather that " Belcher's Tavern " was a favorite resort for the musical fraternity. In company with another member of the Stoughton Musical Society, he visited the commencement exercises at Harvard College in 1782 for the purpose of enjoying the musical programme. As a composer of music, and as a performer on the violin, he is perhaps better remembered than as a singer. After settling in Farmington, he published, in 1794, a collection of sacred music known as the "Harmony of Maine," which con- tained several pieces of his own composition. Two of these, Archdale, and Hymn 116, are still sung, and are included in the Centennial Collection of the Stoughton Musical Society. When Hallowell Academy gave a public exhibition, near the close of its first year, in 1796, Squire Belcher was called from Farmington to conduct the music upon the occasion. In the language of The Tocsin, a paper then published at Hallowell, "the exercises were enlivened by vocal and instrumental music under the direction of Mr. Belcher, the 'Handel of Maine.'" The title of the " Handel of Maine " had been earned by Mr. Belcher through the publication of his collection of music.
Squire Belcher was the first choir-leader in town, and for many years led the music in the old church. The Rev. Paul Coffin, in his Journal, refers to "Squire Belcher's singers " who were called together and gave him an even- ing of "sweet music." Mr. Belcher married, May 2, 1775. Margaret, daughter of William and Margaret (daughter of John Johnson) More, a woman of unusual powers of mind, and of refined manners. She was born and educated in Boston. His death occurred June 9, 1836; Mrs. Belcher died May 14, 1839, of the age of eighty-three. Ten children :-
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
2
3
I. Abigail Doty, b. in Stoughton, Mass., May
II. Margaret Johnson, S 27, 1776.
Abigail md., in 1795, Dr. Aaron Stoyell, q. v .; d. Jan. 18, 1830. Margaret md., Aug. 25, 1794, Cornelius, son of Dea. Cornelius Norton, q. v. ; d. Sept. 30, 1839 ; he d. June 16, 1849. 8 children :
4 5 5 6
2. Harriet Norton, b. March 6, 1797; d. March 24, 1846; unmd.
7 8
4. Sophronia Norton, b. May 4. 1802 ; md. Benjamin, son of Rufus Allen, q. v .; d. May 25, 1856.
5. Clifford Belcher Norton, b. Dec. 10, 1805; md. Rhoda Weeks; d. Oct. 16, 1869.
9
6. Margaret More Norton, b. April 13, 1810; md. Levi Cutler ; d. Nov. 18, 1859.
10
7. Abigail Stoyell Norton, b. March 4, 1813 ; md. Seth Cutler ; d. April 10, 1844.
S. Lydia Claghorn Norton, b. Feb. 27, 1817; md., October 21, 1861, Levi Cutler.
I 2 13 1.4
III. *Clifford, b. in Stoughton, Jan. 17, 1778.
* Samuel, b. in Stoughton, July 18, 1780.
IV. v. * Bejamin More, b. in Stoughton, Aug. 4, 1782.
15 16
V1. Mehitable, b. in Stoughton, Oct. 17, 1784; d. Sept. 20, 1785.
VII. Mehitable, b. in Augusta, June 1, 1787 ; md., Dec. 13, 1808, Joseph Titcomb, q. v .; d. Feb. 16, 1838.
17
VIII. * Hiram, b. in Augusta, Feb. 23, 1790.
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IX. Martha Stoyell, b. in Farmington, Feb. 20, 1795 ; md., May 20, 1819, Thomas Hunter, q. v. ; d. April 8, 1876.
x.
Betsey, b. April 6, 1797 ; d. Sept. 27, 1804.
(12)
CLIFFORD BELCHER (vide page 297) came with his father from Augusta to the Sandy River valley when he was thirteen years of age. The journey through the wilderness in mid-winter was a perilous one, and five days elapsed before it was accomplished. The travelers suf- fered much from cold and fatigue, for their progress was
I 1
I. Cornelius Norton, b. Sept. 25, 1795 ; d. Dec. 30, 1838 ; unmd.
3. Supply Belcher Norton, b. Oct. 6, 1799 ; md. Sarah Smith ; d. June 29, 1871.
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GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
necessarily slow, making one day only four miles, owing to the depth of snow and the lack of a good road. Mr. Belcher had previously purchased a farm in the center of the town, and here his son assisted him in the cultivation of the land until attaining his majority, when he found employment elsewhere. In farming and in trade, and by industry and perseverance, he acquired a large property. He was a man of simple habits and unpretending manners, possessed of excellent common sense and superior busi- ness capacity. He md., Jan. 27, 1811, Deborah Allen, daughter of Rev. Timothy and Sarah (Williams) Fuller, and granddaughter of Rev. Abraham Williams of Sand- wich, Mass. Mrs. Belcher was a lady of great mental power, and highly esteemed for her many virtues by all who shared her acquaintance. She was b. March 28, 1782, and d. in Belfast, March 1, 1865. Mr. Belcher d. March 15, 1832. Six children :---
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I. Caroline Williams, b. Oct. 18, 1812. A lady of much culture and intelligence, who, as a cousin of Margaret Fuller Ossoli, was closely associ- ated with that gifted woman as schoolmate and friend. She md., June 28, 1836, Hon. Nehemiah Abbott, a prominent member of the Waldo bar, and a representative to the thirty-fifth Congress; d. June 17, 1883. He was b. March 29, 1804; d. July 26, 1877. 6 children :
2 I 22 23
I. Caroline Belcher Abbott, b. April 10, 1837 ; d. Nov. 26, 1883.
2. Howard Abbott, b. June 23, 1839 ; d. May 20, 1859, while a member of Bowdoin College.
3. Emma Fuller Abbott, b. Nov. 17, 1841 ; md., Dec. 25, 1871, Lucius F. Mc- Donald of Belfast.
24
4. Clifford Belcher Abbott, b. March 23, 1851 ; is a student at Andover Theo- logical Seminary.
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5. Annie Gill Abbott, b. May 15, 1853; md., Oct. 20, 1878, Walter H. West of Belfast ; d. Oct. 8, 1884.
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6. Henry Fuller Abbott, b. May 14, 1855 ; d. Nov. 19, 1861.
II. * Samuel, b. Dec. 8, 1814.
27 28
III. Deborah Ann, b. Dec. 10, 1816; md., Dec. 3, 1840, Capt. Charles Gill, whose ancestors were originally called " Killpatricks," and who set- tled at Limerick about 1670; d. Feb. 24, 1845. 3 children :
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1
382
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
29
Charles Snelling Gill, b. Aug. 2, 1841 ; merchant and consul of Belgium at Boston, Mass .; md., Oct. 23, 1871, Mary Swift Forster of Charlestown, Mass. Their children are: Mary Forster, Rebecca Swift, Helen Parker. 2. George Fuller Gill, b. Feb. 5, 1843 ; a graduate of Dartmouth College, and a physician at St. Louis, Mo.
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3. Clifford Belcher Gill, b. Feb. 5, 1845 ; a graduate of the Naval Academy, and formerly lieutenant in the United States Navy ; now a stock raiser at Junction City, Kan. He md., Feb. 10, 1879, Sarah Stoddard, daughter of Richard Frothingham, of Charles- town, Mass. Their children are : Edna Cheney, Austin Goddard.
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IV. Clifford, b. March 23, 1819 ; graduated at Har- vard College in 1837. He was a successful lawyer in New Orleans, La., until impaired health compelled him to relinquish his pro- fession. He d. in Boston, Dec. 25, 1879, leaving a large estate ; unmd.
v. * Abraham Williams Fuller, b. Aug. 26, 1821. VI. * Timothy Fuller, b. Aug. 3, 1823.
33 34 (13)
SAMUEL BELCHER (vide page 297) in carly life acquired a good education, and became a school teacher of con- siderable celebrity. During the winter season he taught singing school for several years. In the autumn of 1814 he was stricken down by the "cold fever," which was prevalent that year, and died October 27th. He was a man of active business habits, and was distinguished for . his public spirit and private virtues. He was a kind husband, affectionate father, and constant friend. He md., May 13, 1806, Betsey, daughter of Stephen Titcomb, q. v .; she d. July 31, 1813. He md. (2) Sept. 8, 1814, Evelina, daughter of Jason D. Cony, q. v. Four chil- dren :-
35
I. Eliza, b. April 5, 1807 ; md., May 7, 1823, New- man T. Allen, q. v. ; d. Feb. 24, 1833.
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II. Margaret, b. June 9, 1808; md., Jan. 1. 1829, Soranus L. Brettun, who d. April 22, 1880. chil. ; all d. 3 III. Lydia Ann, b. Feb. 19, 1811 ; md., Feb. 12, 1829, David F. Hunter of Strong ; d. Oct. 10, 1871. Io chil.
383
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
38
IV. Hannah, b. July 14, 1813; md., Aug. 28, 1834, William H. Luce. Resides in Prairie Center, Ill. 6 chil.
(14)
MAJ. BENJAMIN M. BELCHER lived upon the homestead with his father, and was by occupation a farmer. He early became connected with the military organizations in town, and proved an efficient and popular officer. Of a social disposition, and possessing a talent for story-telling, he never failed of being an agreeable companion. He was elected one of the selectmen in 1822-23-24, and died very suddenly, while holding that office, March 15, 1824. His associate, Jeremiah Stinchfield, also died upon the same day. Major Belcher md., Nov. 15, 1810, Mary, daughter of Enoch Craig, q. v .; she d. May 6, 1815. He md. (2) Jan. 28, 1818, Sarah Smith, daughter of Nathan Backus, q. v. Five children :-
39
I. Enoch Craig, b. Sept. 11, 1811. At one time he commanded the North Company of Militia, and rose to the rank of brigadier-general. He d. Dec. 18, 1854 ; unmd.
II. Hiram, b. Oct. 25, 1812 ; d. March 15, 1814. Second marriage :
III. Hiram, b. March 2, 1819 ; d. June 27, 1869.
IV. Benjamin More, b. March 23, 1821 ; d. Sept. 22, 1845.
v. Sarah Margaret, b. March 2, 1824 ; d. March 23, 1833.
HIRAM BELCHER (vide page 277), son of Supply Belcher, was a life-long resident of Farmington, and well known in the legal profession throughout the county and State. His wife was Evelina, eldest daughter of Jason D. Cony, q. v., a lady of many excellent qualities, loved and respect- ed by a large circle of friends. After a long life of activity and usefulness, she died Feb. 20, 1883, leaving ten grand- children and ten great-grandchildren. Six children :-
44 45 46 47
I. * Hannibal, b. June 15, 1818.
II. Charlotte, b. Aug. 29, 1819 ; d. Nov. 25, 1834.
III. Abigail Doty, b. Feb. 18, 1821 ; md., Aug. 16, 1843, John L. Cutler, q. v. ; d. April 24. 1847. IV. Hiram Andrew, b. June 27, 1823; d. Sept. 6, 1825.
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V. Susan Evelina, b. March 29, 1825 ; md., Oct. 14, 1852, Joseph W. Fairbanks, q. v. ; d. Nov. 8, 1875.
40 41 42 43 (17
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
49
VI. Margaret Mehitable, b. April 9, 1828 ; md., Sept. 13, 1849, Alexander H. Abbott, q. v .; d. Oct. 1, 1863.
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SAMUEL BELCHER, eldest son of Clifford Belcher, was educated at Farmington Academy, and entered the office of his uncle, Hiram Belcher, as a student at law. He was admitted to the bar in Kennebec County on his twenty- first birthday, Dec. 8, 1835. He first opened a law office at Orono, where he remained a year or two, but subse- quently returned to his native town, entering upon a large and successful practice which has continued uninterrup- tedly to the present time. Mr. Belcher was elected town clerk in 1838-39-40, and under President Tyler's admin- istration was appointed postmaster, an office he filled acceptably until 1849. He was elected Representative to the Legislature in 1840-49-50, and during the last two years was Speaker of the House, having previously served as its clerk for four years. He was appointed Judge of Probate for the County of Franklin in 1852; elected County Attorney in 1862, and again Judge of Probate in 1879, holding this last office until Jan. i, 1884. Upon the organization of the Sandy River Bank in 1853, Judge Belcher was elected president of the board of directors. From 1845 until the Farmington Academy was merged in the Normal School, he acted as trustee for that institution. Judge Belcher is a man of scholarly tastes, an able lawyer, and a safe counsellor, and is beloved and esteem- ed by his fellow-citizens and associates at the bar. He md., May 9, 1837, Martha C. H., daughter of Asa Abbott, q. v .. Nine children :--
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