USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 36
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Mr. Eaton, in company with his brother, purchased the grist-mill and saw-mill, together with the privilege, which had been erected upon the mill-lot by Colburn and Pullen, and put in operation in November, 1781. They at once built a new dam, and put the mills, with their appurte- nances, in good order for milling purposes. The settlers assisted very generously by their labor in the furtherance of the enterprise ; for, as before they had frequently been obliged to go to Winthrop to have their grain ground, they hailed the erection of a grist-mill as the harbinger of better days. Mr. Eaton seemed very prosperous in his under- taking. He saw his broad acres teeming with luxuriant crops, and his flocks and herds increasing from year to year, while plenty smiled around him. The township was settling rapidly, and his mills were liberally patronized, but amidst all this prosperity he was restive and discon- tented ; he seemed to sigh for the sea, upon which and around which he had spent so large a portion of his life.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
So, with a view to gratifying this desire, he conceived the plan of building a vessel, and in the autumn and early winter of 1790-91 he laid the keel of a small vessel at what is now Farmington Falls, a point, following the course of rivers, some fifty miles from navigable waters. In the early summer of 1791 the vessel was completed and ready to launch. This little craft was christened the Lark. Tradition says the sails for the Lark were made from duck, spun and woven by Mrs. Eaton from flax grown upon the mill-lot, and that the rigging was made from flax by Jesse Butterfield. On the 14th of June, 1791, everything being in readiness, Mr. Eaton, as master, with a crew of three men, cast off from the shore, and the little Lark, impelled by the current, glided down the river like a thing of life, destined for the port of St. John, N. B.
During the voyage Mr. Eaton kept a daily journal, of which the following is an extract : "Journal with remarks upon it of a voyage to the eastward with the little Lark of Sandy River. Begun on the 14th of June, 1791. Left Sandy River, our crew consisting of four persons, viz. : Hugh Cox, Jacob Eaton, William Gower, and Ebenezer Jones ; left Tufts' Mills, our wives crying upon the bank, strange unwillingness, willing and not willing to part with their husbands. However, we proceeded down the river ; we got down to Jones' rips, where we had a hard spell getting down the rips. We got that night to Mr. Young's ; he was gone from home. We found four children, but they were almost naked. There was a sled walled into the house, which the children had for a bedstead. A little straw was laid between the sides for their lodging. He had on a leather jacket, and Mrs. Young was ordinarily clad : they lodged on straw. When Mr. Young came to strip himself to go to bed, we found he had little shirt on, and his wife less. The next day we proceeded down the rips."
The journal continues to the end of the voyage, narrat- ing with great minuteness the adventures of the party, and the difficulties experienced in passing Five-Mile Rips and Skowhegan Falls. It is written in a legible hand, but the ink is so pale as to render the reading somewhat difficult.
The writer is inclined to think that the parties named in the journal as constituting the crew should be regarded as partners in the enterprise, for upon one of its pages is a schedule of articles which each contributed to the outfit of the Lark, together with the general expenses of the voyage. The cost of the outfit amounts to £39 17s. 4d., and the general expenses to £4 17s. 11d., making an aggregate of £44 15s. 3d. It seems they landed at St. John, N. B., early in July, and commenced trading and
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GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
freighting between St. John and the numerous islands which dot the Bay of Fundy, occasionally making a trip up the river. Their business was attended with varying success until Friday, the 18th of November, 1791, when, in passing the Falls of St. John, and taking the tide at the wrong time, the little Lark went to the bottom of the Bay, and Mr. Eaton to a watery grave.
While a resident of the township, Mr. Eaton did much to develop its resources. The new settlers were always greeted with a smile at his house, with the latch-string upon the outside, and a cordial welcome waiting at the fireside. He md., Nov. 27, 1764, Elizabeth, dau. of Will- iam Thorn of Topsham, b. Dec. 29, 1740, O. S .; d. Mar. 15, 1804. Eight children, b. in Bristol : -
I. Sarah, b. Sept. 6, 1765; md., 1788, Ezekiel Lan- caster of New Sharon ; d. Oct. 4, 1839. Mr. Lancaster was b. in Rowley, Mass., in 1758; d. Oct. 16, 1836. 7 chil.
II. Martha, b. Apr. 11, 1770; md., Mar. 15, 1796, Joseph Fairbanks, q. v .; d. Sept. 17, 1842.
III. Hannah, b. Apr. 8, 1772; md., May 4, 1797, Joshua Perley. Removed to Ohio in 1801, and d. May, 1803. Mr. Perley was b. Aug. 7, 1770 ; d. Jan. 1, 1859. 3 chil.
IV. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 6, 1774; md., Feb. 6, 1795, Thomas Wendell, q. v .; d. June 17, 1843.
v. Robert, b. Feb. 16, 1776; md., Apr. 1, 1800, Rachel, dau. of Moses Starling, q. v. He removed to Portage Co., Ohio, where he d. Several children.
VI. Rachel, b. Oct. 10, 1778; md., Nov. 21, 1799, Jabez Gay, q. v .; d. Nov. 13, 1857.
VII. * Isaac, b. Nov. 10, 1780. VIII. * Jacob, b. July 12, 1784.
ISAAC EATON accompanied his brother, Robert, and brother-in-law, Joshua Perley, to Ohio in 1801, but re- turned in 1803, leaving a sovereign State where he had found a territory. He settled on a lot in the northeast part of the town, being the farm now (1885) occupied by Eugene Luce. In 1833 he sold his farm and removed to the Fairbanks village, where he spent the remainder of his life. He md., June 2, 1808, Mary Lyon of Readfield, b. Dec. 22, 1787. He d. July 31, 1867 ; Mrs. Eaton d. Aug. 31, 1862. Eight children : -
I. Emeline, b. Mar. 9, 1809 ; md., June 29, 1830, Nathan Goodridge of Industry; d. Apr. 25, 1878 ; he d. Oct. 1, 1871. 4 chil.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
II
II. Rachel Lyon, b. May 4, 1810; md., Jan. 31, 1842, Joseph Fairbanks, Jr., q. v .; d. Sept. 10, 1844, s. p.
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III. Mary Ann, b. Aug. 27, 1812 ; md., Dec. 25, 1837, William Reed of Strong; d. at Hennepin, Ill., Dec. 27, 1867. I son.
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IV. Greenwood, b. Sept. 15, 1815 ; d. in childhood.
v. * Eliab Lyon, b. Aug. 15, 1818.
VI. Susan Wendell, b. Jan. 12, 1821 ; md., Oct. 13, 1850, Truman A. Allen of Vineyard Haven, Mass. I son.
VII. Louisa Carsley, b. Dec. 31, 1822; d. Aug. 25, 1825.
VIII. * Horatio Greenwood, b. June 25, 1828.
JACOB EATON, JR., settled on a farm adjoining that of his brother Isaac, being the same now occupied by Hosea Bump, which he made his home for life. Mr. Eaton md., Feb. 16, 1805, Abigail, dau. of Joseph Bradford, q. v .; md. (2), Apr. 26, 1814 (pub.), Mary, dau. of Wendell Davis of New Vineyard. She was b. 1792 ; d. Aug. 16, 1858. Mr. Eaton d. Oct. 19, 1825. Six children : -
I. Lyman, b. Mar. 8, 1808; md. Resides in Orono.
II. Martha, b. Jan. 1, 1812 ; md. a Whitehouse ; d. Second marriage :
III. * Wendell Davis, b. Aug. 15, 1815.
IV. Mary Smith, b. Mar. 22, 1817; md., Nov. 5, 1839, John Bullen. 2 chil.
V. Eliza Ann, b. June 28, 1819; md., Dec. 8, 1840, Henry Beetle of Vineyard Haven ; d. July 15, 1872. 4 chil.
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VI. Abigail, b. May 10, 1822. Resides at Vineyard Haven. Unmd.
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ELIAB L. EATON lived for a time on the homestead farm, but removed to Manchester about 1858, where he now resides. He md., Feb. 20, 1851, Julia Wendell, dau. J. Leonard and Abigail (Wendell) Hackett of New Vine- yard, who was b. Oct. 27, 1828. Five children : --
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I. Louise Lyon, b. Jan. 4, 1852 ; md., Dec. 23, 1882, Abner C. Jewett of Augusta.
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Il. Hiram A., b. June 2, 1853.
III. Greenwood P., b. May 22, 1858.
IV. M. Abbie, b. Apr. 7, 1862.
v. Charles G., b. Feb. 2, 1866.
HORATIO G. EATON formerly owned and operated the saw-mill at Fairbanks' Mills, where he now lives. He md., July 25, 1850, Hannah R., dau. of Benjamin and
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GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
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Martha (Perley) Whitmore, b. in Strong, July 10, 1828. Five children : -
I. Aura Genevieve, b. Mar. 15, 1852.
II. Clarence Melvin, b. Nov. 8, 1853; md., June 11, 1880, Alice M. Chick of New Portland. Re- sides at Fairbanks. I child :
I. Florence Genevieve Eaton, b. Oct. 3, 188 1.
J11. Florence Emma, b. Sept. 25, 1857.
IV. Stella Marion, b. July 15, 1860; d. Dec. 17, 1869. v. Infant daughter, b. and. d. Oct. 3, 1871.
WENDELL DAVIS EATON spent his life as a farmer, first upon the homestead, and later upon the Alexander Hill- man farm. Here he d., June 8, 1867. He md., Dec. 29, 1842, Hannah S., dau. of Elihu Norton, who survives him. Four children : -
I. * Oliver Davis, b. Jan. 11, 1844.
II. * Jacob Elihu, b. July 23, 1845.
III. Mary Fletcher, b. Dec. 15, 1847 ; md., March 4, 1875, E. M. Preston. I child.
IV. Lizzie Norton, b. April 21, 1854; md., June 30, 1883, J. A. Tilton.
OLIVER D. EATON enlisted in the War of the Rebellion, and after his discharge went into business in New York City, where he resides. He ind., Nov. 13, 1864, Emilie F. Bulkley of New York. Three children :-
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I. Florence Emily, b. Jan. 2, 1866.
II. Elsie Bulkley, b. Jan. 10, 1869.
III. John Oliver, b. Feb. 24, 187 1.
JACOB E. EATON first lived upon the homestead, but removed to New Vineyard, and subsequently to Jay, where he now resides. He md., April 6, 1876, Ella M. Fales. Four children :-
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I. Lester Davis, b. July 28, 1877.
11. Clarence Ellery, b. April 20. 1879.
III. Arthur Garfield, b. Jan. 8, 1881.
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IV. Kenneth Fales, b. Dec. 24, 1882.
Fairbanks.
This name, formerly spelled Fairbanke, Farebancke, Fairbanck, Fayrebankes, and Fairebanks, is one well known throughout New Eng- land, and has been represented in all the principal wars since the settle_ ment of the country. The bearers of the name have exhibited a marked character of their own for integrity, industry, and economy, and have generally been good and patriotic citizens.
As early as 1635 the name of Richard Fairbanke appears on the town
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
records of Boston, and in 1639 he is appointed the first postmaster of Boston; he is also recorded as a land-owner in the Boston Book of Possessions. According to family tradition, he was the brother of Jonathan Farebancke, the emigrant ancestor of Nathaniel and Benjamin Fairbanks, who came to Winthrop in 1766-67. Jonathan Farebancke emigrated from Sowerby, near Halifax, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, in 1633, and probably resided in Boston until 1636, when he became an early settler at Dedham, Mass., and one of the sixty-eight original grantees of land in the town. During that year he began the erection of a large and substantial house, which still remains as an ancient landmark, and is known as "the Old Fairbanks House in Ded- ham." Jonathan Farebancke died Dec. 5, 1668. His will mentions " wife Grace," "eldest son John," "second son George," and other children. John married, March 16, 1641, Sarah Fisher, and died Nov. 13, 1684. His wife died Nov. 26, 1683. From George and his wife Mary, the Vermont family of this name (of which Thaddeus Fairbanks, the inventor of Fairbanks scales, is a member) traces its descent. Joseph, the seventh child of John and Sarah Fairbanck, was born May 10, 1656, and died June 14, 1734. The Dedham records show two children born to him and his wife Dorcas: Dorcas, born March 14, 1686, who married, May 20, 1714, James Humfery of Dorchester; and Joseph, born April 26, 1687, who married, May 3, 1716, Abigail Dean. Joseph, the eldest son of Joseph and Abigail Fairbanks, was born in Dedham, May 21, 1717. He spent the greater portion of his life in Massachusetts, but with his wife Frances came to spend their last days with their sons in Winthrop. Benjamin, the eldest, settled in the eastern part of the town, and became a prominent citizen. He served through the Revolutionary War, and was familiarly called " Captain Ben." He was born Nov. 20, 1747 (Dedham town records), and married, Oct. 29, 1772, Keturah, daughter of Joseph and Deborah Luce of Martha's Vineyard, Mass. He died May 23, 1828, and his wife died April 7, 1807. Their son Joseph, of whom mention is made below, was born July 24, 1774. Nathaniel, a younger brother of Benjamin Fairbanks, was also an early settler of Winthrop and a soldier in the War for Independence. He was identified with the history of the town for many years, and was much employed in public affairs. He held various offices of responsi- bility and trust, and repeatedly represented the town in the General Court of Massachusetts. His second wife, who was the daughter of Jacob and Anna Chipman of Halifax, Mass., was born Jan. 11, 1767, and died August 23, 1855. He was born July 15, 1754, and died March 27, 1838. They were the parents of four children: Columbus, Franklin, Susan, and George. The two latter are still living.
I JOSEPH FAIRBANKS (vide page 296), the eldest child of Benjamin and Keturah (Luce) Fairbanks, came to the township in 1792, when only eighteen years of age, and
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER. 469
" took up" a part of back-lot No. 28, east side, now owned by the Norton brothers. Here he cleared land, erected buildings, and set out the first orchard in the settlement. He subsequently sold his farm to Timothy Smith from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., and purchased the Eaton farm on the west side of the river. In 1808 he removed to the north part of the town, and built the mills known as Fairbanks' Mills. Col. Fairbanks was a man of energy, and actively prosecuted any enterprise which he under- took. In addition to milling and mercantile pursuits, he cultivated farms, not only in this town, but also in Free- man and Berlin. He dealt largely in buying and selling stock, frequently driving cattle to the City of Quebec for sale, before the Canada road was opened.
He held various offices in the militia of the State, and commanded the first regiment in the War of 1812. Col. Fairbanks was selectman in 1817-18-19-20-21, treasurer in 1815-16-17, representative to the General Court of Massachusetts, as the colleague of Nathan Cutler, in 1819, and senator from the Kennebec district to the legislature in 1823-24. His death was caused by falling from his wagon, Sept. 12, 1831, while driving from Augusta to Farmington with a load of merchandise.
He md., March 15, 1796, Martha, dau. of Jacob Eaton, q. v., who d. Sept. 17, 1842. Seven children :-
I. Joseph, b. Feb. 14, 1798 ; was selectman in 1824- 25-26-36-39 ; was also captain of the North Company of Infantry, and exerted a salutary influence in promoting the cause of tempe- rance among his soldiers. He had charge of the grist-mill at the Fairbanks village for nearly forty years, and well deserved the soubriquet of " honest miller." He was distinguished for his genial disposition and uncompromising integrity. Md., Jan. 31, 1842, Rachel Lyon, dau. of Isaac Eaton, q. v., who d. Sept. 10, 1844 ; md. (2), Nov., 1851, Martha, dau. of Abel and Martha K. (White) Sampson of Temple, who d. March 16, 1881, aged 69 years. He d. Jan. 8, 1871 ; s. p.
II. Robert Eaton, b. July 14, 1800; md., Nov. 29, 1821, Mary Bangs ; d. April 19, 1871. Settled in Phillips.
III. Hannah, b. July 5, 1802 ; d. Sept. 2, 1804.
IV. Abigail, b. July 31, 1804 ; d. March 25, 1822.
V. Shepard, b. Aug. 31, 1806 ; d. Feb. 10, 1826.
VI. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 2, 1808 ; md., October, 1833, Allen Bangs ; d. Sept. 28, 1850.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
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VII. Rachel Gay, b. Sept. 27, 1812 ; md., Sept., 1833, Jeremiah Butler, Jr., q. v. ; d. Jan. 25, 1850.
JOSEPH WOODMAN FAIRBANKS (vide page 302), third son of Columbus and Lydia Wood Fairbanks, was born at Winthrop, Nov. 16, 1821. His father (b. Nov. 7, 1793 ; d. Sept. 7, 1882) was the son of Nathaniel and Lydia (Chip- man) Fairbanks, and a much esteemed citizen of Winthrop. His mother (b. May 22, 1797 ; d. May 10, 1859) was the daughter of Seth and Agnes (Woodman) Tinkham of Wiscasset, and granddaughter of Joseph and Agnes 'Tink- ham of Middleborough, Mass. Mr. Fairbanks md., Oct. 14, 1852, Susan Evelina, dau. of Hiram Belcher, q. v., who d. Nov. 8, 1875. He md. (2), Oct. 25, 1876, Henrietta F. S., dau. of Samuel and Florena (Sweet) Wood of Winthrop, and granddaughter of Elijah and Sally (Clifford) Wood. Five children :-
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I. Infant daughter, b. July 4, 1854 ; d. July 4. 1854.
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II. Mittie Belcher, b. Aug. 24, 1855.
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III. Emily Talbot, b. July 6, 1857 ; d. June 7, 1861.
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IV. Charlotte Belcher, b. June 5, 1859.
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V. Wallace Joseph, b. Jan. 19, 1868 ; d. May 3, 1874.
Flint.
In tracing the genealogy of the families of this name, it is found that . four immigrants came to this country prior to 1650, viz .: two brothers, Thomas and William Flint, who settled in that part of Salem now Dan- vers ; and Thomas and Henry Flint, also brothers, one of whom settled in Concord, the other in Braintree. Dr. Thomas Flint of Farmington was the sixth in descent from Thomas of Salem, through a line of sons each of whom received the name of Thomas. Thomas Flint the ances- tor came to America, as tradition reports, from Wales in Great Britain. He was among the first settlers of Salem, and a land-owner in 1654. He died Apr. 15, 1663. His wife's name was Ann, and of their six children, Thomas, the eldest, lived upon the homestead. His name was identified with the military organizations of the day, and he was regarded as a man of prominence and influence in the community. His first wife was Hannah Moulton, who died Mar. 30, 1673, leaving two children. He afterwards married, Sept. 15, 1674, Mary, daughter of William Dounton, and died May 24, 1721. Thomas, their eldest son, was born Aug. 20, 1678, and married, Jan. 6, 1704, Lydia Putnam. Among their children was a son, Thomas, who became a resident of North Reading, and an original member of the church in that town. His wife was Priscilla Porter, and they were the parents of six sons and five daughters. He died Jan. 24, 1775. His wife died Apr. 28, 1774. Thomas, the eldest
Joseph U. fairbanks.
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GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
child, was born in North Reading, Mass., Oct. 8, 1733. He was a physi- cian by profession, and served as a surgeon in the Revolutionary War. He married, Sept. 16, 1762, Lydia Pope, and in 1770 removed to Noble- boro, where he died.
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THOMAS FLINT (vide pages 282, 295), eldest son of Dr. Thomas and Lydia (Pope) Flint, was born in North Read- ing, Mass., Oct. 4, 1767, and came to the Sandy River valley in 1787. He was a prominent settler, and is re- corded as the first merchant in the township. He md., Aug. 2. 1792, Sarah Bassett, dau. of Ebenezer Norton, q. v., who d. Aug. 4, 1833. His death occurred Feb. 18, 1854. Nine children : -
I. Thomas, b. May 18, 1793 ; enlisted as a drummer in the war of 1812, and d. in New York State, Nov. 5, 1813.
Il. Sally Norton, b. Oct. 20, 1794; md., July 11, 1816, Fayette Mace ; d. Oct. 29, 1875. He d. Oct. 28, 1870, aged 75 years. 8 chil.
III. William Read, b. Oct. 25, 1796; md., July 9, 1823, Electa Weston. Resides in Anson. 10 chil.
IV. Eliza Smith, b. Sept. 25, 1798 ; md., Oct. 1, 1821, Brilsford Pease; d. Oct. 9, 1882. 9 chil., all d.
v. Lydia Pope, b. Aug. 16, 1800; md., Dec. 23, 1823, John W. Norton ; d. Apr. 15, 1859. 6 chil.
VI. Clarissa Norton, b. June 8, 1802 ; md., July 20, 1859, Henry McKeen.
VII. Aurelia, b. July 5, 1804; md., May 4, 1830, William S. Gay, q. v .; d. Jan. 7, 1855.
VIII. Deborah Norton, b. June 10, 1806 ; md., Sept. 16, 1830, Simon Bixby; d. Apr. 11, 1876. He was b. Sept. 11, 1803, and d. May 11, 1862. 10 chil., all living.
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IX. Mary, b. Dec. 13, 1808 ; d. Dec. 13, 1808.
Gay.
The descendants of Peter Gay are able to trace their ancestry to John Gay, the immigrant ancestor, who was made a freeman at Dedham, Mass., in 1635. Samuel, his eldest son, was the father of Timothy Gay, who, with his wife, Patience Lewis, was a resident of Dedham, Mass., in the early part of the eighteenth century. David Gay, son of Timothy, was born Nov. 6, 1707, married, Mar. 12, 1735, Hannah Talbot, and died in 1794. His wife, a daughter of George and Mary (Turel) Talbot, was born May 12, 1712, and died in 1790.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
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PETER GAY, the fourth child and second son of David and Hannah (Talbot) Gay, was born in Stoughton, Mass., June 27, 1743. He was in the French war, 1760, and resided in Stoughton until his removal to Meduncook, now Friendship, in 1782. He moved into the Sandy River township with his family in 1787. Previous to this he had purchased of one Pullen lot No. 35, west side, and immediately began preparations for the reception of his family. Mr. Pullen had derived his title to the lot from Colburn and his associates, and when Mr. Gay found that the township was claimed by the State of Massachusetts, and would probably vest in her, he feared lest his own title to the land, derived indirectly from the Plymouth Patentees, would be disputed. He therefore sought relief from his dilemma by resorting to the right of petition to the General Court; and the petition, written by his own hand, is preserved in the Massachusetts archives.
Mr. Gay was by trade a blacksmith, - the first to estab- lish himself in the township, -and he followed this calling together with farming for many years. The rapidly in- creasing population gave him the opportunity of carrying on the business to a considerable extent, and it proved of great use to the early settlers. He built the first framed barn in his section of the township in 1790. Mr. Gay was three times married : Dec. 5, 1765, to Hannah, dau. of William and Keziah (Vose) Smith, who d. Apr. 7, 1776; he md. (2), the same year, Mary Payson, who d. May 14, 1794; he md. (3), Aug. 10, 1794, Mrs. Abigail Pease Spooner, who d. Nov., 1808. . He d. Aug., 1815. Seven- teen children : -
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I. Infant son, b. Feb. 13, 1767 ; d. in infancy.
II. * Elisha, b. in Stoughton, Mass., Apr. 30, 1768.
III. * Jabez, b. in Stoughton, Oct. 11, 1770.
IV. William, b. in Newburyport, Sept. 17, 1772 ; md., Oct. 16, 1799, Elizabeth Spooner, who d. June 25, 1845 ; md. (2), May, 1847, Rhoda Hardy. Settled in Farmington on front-lot No. 25, west side. He was esteemed as a good citizen and zealous Christian, and was a highly re- spected member of the Methodist Church for more than half a century. He d. Dec. 11, 1856; s. p.
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V. Keziah, b. Sept. 29, 1774; d. in infancy.
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VI. Peter, Lb. in Stoughton, Mar. 27, 1776.
VII. Seth, S
Peter md. Betsey Merriam; d. in Augusta in 1872. Seth d. Oct. 24, 1778.
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GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
Second marriage :
VIII. David, b. in Stoughton, Jan. 27, 1777; d. in Canada.
IX. Hannah, b. in Stoughton, May 19, 1778; md. March Gay ; d. in Raymond,
Azubah, b. in Stoughton, Apr. 18, 1780 ; md., Nov. x.
28, 1799, Reuben Jones ; d. Sept. 23, 1857.
XI. Lydia, b. in Stoughton, Nov. 5, 1781 ; md., Jan. 7, 1802, Joseph Frederic of Stark ; d. Feb. 18, 1849. He was b. May 10, 1776; d. Mar. 24, 1862.
XII. Freedom, b. in Meduncook, July 15, 1783 ; md., Dec. 29, 1806 (pub.), Elizabeth B. Norton ; d. in Indiana, Sept. 3, 1815.
XIII. Anna, b. in Meduncook, Jan. 20, 1785 ; md., Sept. 26, 1804 (pub.), Jonathan Judkins ; d. in Can- ada. XIV. Keziah, b. in Meduncook, Dec. 26, 1786; md. John Fredericks ; d. in Monmouth.
XV. Mary, b. Apr. 28, 1788 ; md. Joel McIntyre ; d. in Bloomfield, Aug., 1819. XVI. Seth, b. Oct. 25, 1790 ; d. Mar. 4, 1792. XVII. Jesse, b. June 1, 1792 ; md. Mary Sprinke; d. in Indiana.
ELISHA GAY, in company with his brother Jabez, came into the township in 1786, previous to his father's coming. He was then but a young man of eighteen, and found employment as a laborer by the month. About 1790 he purchased front-lot No. 9, east side, where he began to make improvements. Later he purchased other land ad- joining, the whole making one of the largest and most valuable farms in town.
Mr. Gay was a practical land-surveyor, and in early life found considerable employment in the adjustment of con- troverted lines. He also lotted the town of Freeman. In religious views Mr. Gay was a Freewill Baptist, and was a man sincerely respected for the worth of his char- acter.
He md., Mar., 1797, Sarah Jones, b. in Fairfield. Oct. 9, 1774 ; d. Jan. 11, 1830. He md. (2), Jan. 7, 1836, Anna Sanderson ; d. Apr. 4, 1842. Seven children by first marriage : -
I. Hannah Smith, b. Jan. 24, 1798; d. Nov. 21, 1823, unmd.
II. * Edward Jones, b. Aug. 9, 1801.
III. Marhon Graves, b. Sept. 24, 1804 ; md., Dec. 28, 1823, Holmes Mayhew ; d. June 5, 1825.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
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IV. * William Spooner, b. Apr. 11, 1806.
v. * Hiram, b. Feb. 18, 1811.
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VI. John Wesley, b. Nov. 9, 1814; d. Mar. 8, 1876, unmd.
25 VII. Freeman, b. Aug. 9, 1817 ; md., Apr. 30, 1845, S. Augusta, dau. of Jabez Gay, q. v. Lives at Joliet, Ill. 4 chil.
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JABEZ GAY came into the township with his brother Elisha at the age of sixteen, and like him found employ- ment among the settlers. About the year 1791 he pur- chased back-lot No. 16, on the west side, the same now owned by his grandson, Elmon J. Dyar, and there began to make improvements by clearing the land and erecting buildings. He soon became a large and successful farmer, and was moreover a man of steadfast integrity, inflexible, yet just, and distinguished for his good sense. He was appointed quartermaster-general upon the organization of the militia in town, a position he continued to hold under various administrations until about 1815. With Hon. Nathan Cutler he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention which met at Portland in October, 1819, and was elected first representative under the new Constitu- tion in 1820.
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