USA > Maine > Oxford County > Peru > The history of Peru in the County of Oxford and State of Maine, from 1789 to 1911. Residents and genealogies of their families, also a part of Franklin plan > Part 29
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Nathaniel B., b. Nov. 6, 1869. m. Dec. 25, 1881. Bertha P., dau. of Benj. B. Wyman. Their children are Gerald B. and Esther. Mr. Woodsum continues a resident at the homestead in West Peru Vill. He served here as station agent several years, and later is bookkeeper for the spool mills at Dixfield. This is the only representative family of Rev. Mr. Woodsum of family name in town, 1910. Sterling integrity and exemplary deport- ment are still family traits in the third generation. Of the 11 children of Rev. Mr. Woodsum, Chas. B. only survives. He m. Pub., June 18, 1857, Priscilla M., b. May 1, 1836, dan. of Bowers Walton of Peru. They removed to Holliston, Mass., where their only child, Maurice Bertine, was b., Apr. 25, 1863. He took a business course of study. He m. in 1885, Mary H. Dow of Dover, N. H. They have two sons and a daughter. Wife, Priscilla M .. d. Aug., 1902. Albert G. Woodsum, m. Catherine Bragg, widow of Dr. Bragg of Hartford. Catherine Woodsum remarried a man by the name of Tinkham, a merchant at Mechanic Falls, where both elosed this life.
Family of Ansel G. and Rosannah (Woodsum) Staples in Can- ton. Mr. Staples was b. Apr. 23, 1832, m. Jan. 21. 1855. d. Jan. 20, 1908. Wife d. Feb. 28, 1898. They were leading active mem- bers of the Free Baptist church many years at Canton, and highly respected citizens. Each had taught several terms of school prior to their marriage. Children :- Mary A., b. Sept. 8, 1858, d. Oct., 1871 : Flora H., b. Jan. 3. 1863, m. Edward L. Bisbee in Canton : Mary Louise, b. Sept. 1, 1867, a popular vocal and instrumental teacher of music; Edith E., b. Feb. 1, 1873, m. Simeon B. Ellis in Canton.
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Wyman Family
Ancestors of the Wyman family as given by Rev. Windsor H. Wyman of North Abington, Mass .: Since your letter arrived, I have traced my own history back to Europe. I have before me nine names. Francis Wyman was b. in 1617, if I am rightly informed, and came to this country about 1630 or 1631. He had a son, Thomas, who was b. in 1671, and that Thomas had a son, Thomas, who was b. in 1697, and his son, Abraham, was b. in 1727 in Woburn, Mass. He had a son, Thomas, b. in 1770, and his son, Samuel Stillman, was b. in 1809, and his son, Elisha Smith, was b. in 1834, his oldest son, Windsor H., was b. in 1857, and his oldest son, Richard M., was born in 1892.
Abraham Wyman went from Woburn, Mass., to Winthrop, Me., now known as Readfield, and m. a woman by the name of Call. They had several sons. Daniel, the oldest, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, was a great Indian fighter and a hunter withal. On his seventieth birthday he killed two moose at one shot.
The second son, Thomas Wyman ,was b. in Winthrop, Aug. 10, 1770, and d. in Livermore, Feb. 1, 1825. He married for his wife, Susanna, dau. of Elisha Smith, who was b. in Readfield, July 17, 1775, and d. Mar. 30. 1825; both d. in Livermore, where they spent the greater part of their lives. Their children were 15 in number :- Eliza, b. in Livermore, Jan. 19, 1789; Sally, b. in Livermore, Dec. 27, 1790; Wm., 1st, b. in Livermore, Apr. 21. 1795, d. in infancy; Wm., 2nd, b. in Livermore, May 20, 1796; Nancy, b. in Livermore, Sept. 22, 1799; Thos., 1st, b. in Liver- more, Jan. 22, 1800, d. at the age of 14; Susanna, b. in Livermore, June 27, 1802, d. Dee. 19, 1825, in her 23rd year; Martin L., b. in Livermore, Mar. 20, 1804, d. May 27, 1825, at the age of 21; John C. 1st, b. in Livermore, June 18, 1805, d. June 19, 1806; John C., 2nd, b. in Livermore, Apr. 10, 1807 ; Sam'l Stillman, h. in Greene, Sept. 11. 1809; Elisha Smith, b. in Livermore, May 15, 1811, d. in Texas, Jan. 26, 1853 ; Henry Harrison, b. in Livermore, Sept. 10, 1813; Thos. Wyman, 2nd, b. in Livermore, Mar. 16, 1817: Benj. B., b. in Livermore. Oct. 1, 1821, d. May 9, 1829. 1829.
From this record, taken from Thos. Wyman's family Bible, it appears that Samuel Stillman Wyman was the eleventh child of a family of 15 children, several of whom d. in infancy and early life. Eliza became the wife of Wm. Moore of Jay, and Nancy
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From High Street down Pigeon Street. First.on left the John C. Wyman, Sr., farm, where mica mine was developed around 1900.
ITHE FWI YORK PUH IN LIBRARY
TILD. Y CC! !! !! ! !! ) . ..
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became the wife of Peter Moore, a brother of William, of Jay also. Sally never married. William, the second, became a Baptist preach- er and married for his wife, Lucy Warren. He d. Dec. 10, 1868, in the town of Livermore, where he spent his life. To this couple there were born Thos. and William King, who married and lived in Livermore the entire period of their lives. They had two daughters, Amanda and Sarah. Amanda became the wife of Wal- ter Wing of Livermore, father of Geo. C. Wing of Auburn, and Sarah became the wife of Nelson White of Dixfield, now for sev- eral years living in retirement in Winthrop, Me. It may be there were other children, but I have no record of them. Both sons and both daughters of Wm. Wyman have passed on. John Calvin, the second, next in order of those who lived to mature age, m. Betsey Lyford of Livermore. In early life they moved to Peru. To them were born three sons and two daughters-Susanna, who became the wife of Albion Knox; Thos., who m. Nancy Piper ; Martin Luther, who still survives at an advanced age in the town of Rumford; John C., who now resides in Peru; and Betsey, who became the wife of Wm. Trask. Only two of this family remain. It appears that about this time Thos. Wyman and his wife moved to Greene, where Samuel Stillman, their eleventh child, was born. They moved back to Livermore shortly after this, where the rest of their children were born.
To Samuel Stillman Wyman were born three sons and one daughter that grew to mature age-Nancy, who became the wife of Andrew Jackson Churchill of Peru; Otis, who lives in the old homestead at Rumford, which was formerly Peru, now in his 78th year ; Elisha Smith, who also lived and d. in Peru, Sept. 14, 1892; and Stillman Gibbs, who, in his 71st year, is residing in North Abington, Mass. In addition to those who grew up, there was at least a pair of twins that d. in infancy. Henry Harrison m. Mary White. He spent the greater part of his life in Rumford, where he raised up a large family of children. These facts were taken, in a large measure, from the record in the old family Bible that was my grandfather's, Thos. Wyman. Some of the dates are considerably blurred, but for the most part I think you will find them correct.
W. H. WYMAN.
Rev. Samuel Stillman Wyman was b. in the town of Greene, Me., Sept. 11, 1809. June 17, 1829, he m. Mehitable, dau. of Frank
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Gibbs of Livermore and Phoebe ( Edes) Gibbs.of Chesterville. Me- hitable was b. Jan. 31, 1812. Rev. Samuel S. Wyman d. Mar. 25, 1889, and his wife d. Oct. 23, 1891. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1813, largely through the efforts of Robinson Turner, Sr. He labored in conjunction with several other local preachers in Carthage. Peru, Rumford, and other adjoining towns for over forty years. He performed a large number of marriages, always returning the marriage fee to the poor. He kept an open house to all callers through life. He championed the abolition canse in the days of its infancy. At a presidential election in the town of Peru, when there were but seven who voted that ticket, as he handed over his ballot he said, "Here is another vote for liberty."
Children of Rev. Sammel S. Wyman :- Nancy, b. Nov. 6, 1830, Peru, d. Mar. 26, 1903: Otis. b. Aug. 14, 1832, m. (1st) Pub .. Mar. 30, 1855, Mary A. Fuller; Elisha Smith, b. Ang. 13, 1834, m. Pub .. June 22. 1856, Matilda K., dau. of Robert and Betsey (Whitcomb) Barstow. d. Sept. 14, 1892: Stillman Gibbs, b. Dec. 12, 1810. m. Pub., July 22. 1862, Olive W., b. Dec. 9, 1839, dau. of Elbridge G. and Deborah K. Hall of Peru. Their dau., Ethel Frances. b. Jan. 31, 1865.
Children of Otis and Mary A. Wyman :- Ransom D .. b. Jan. 21. 1858. m. Mar. 12, 1880, Calista J., dan. of Peleg Oldham. He d. Feb. 14, 1901. Edmer Angusta, b. Sept. 20, 1861. She was an amiable, promising young lady. Having attained the qualifications of an instructor of youth, she began the labors of her chosen pro- fession and taught one term of town school, when her health failed and the rose of promise was nipped in the bud. She d., heloved and lamented by all, Dec. 2. 1882. Edgar Otis, b. May 5. 1872. m. Jennie Hopkins, dau. of John Hopkins of Peru. Mary A. Fuller was a member of Rev. S. S. Wyman's family from girlhood up to her marriage. She was a devoted Christian mother, highly esteemed by all. She d. Apr. 15. 1829, ac. 40 years, 41% months.
Otis Wyman in. (2nd) June 14, 1882, Emily Thompson of Rumford, b. Nov. 1, 1835. It was her province to care tenderly for dan., Edmer, during the last months of her sickness. Mrs. Wy- man was a woman of refinement, of Christian graces and high ideals. They lived happily in the bonds of matrimony over 14 years, till she was called to a higher life. Dee. 31, 1896.
Mr. Wyman m. (3d) Nov. 26. 1899, Gertrude E. Morton, b. Aug. 2. 1853, on Deer Island, N. B. (widow). dau. of Alexander T. and Rebecca J. Lord. Wife first m. George Morton. No issue.
W. H. WYMAN. Proprietor The Bay State Nurseries, North Abington, Ma-s.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ABTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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Children of Ransom D., son of Otis, b. in Peru :- Edna K., b. Mar. 23. 1884: Earl O., b. Apr. 20, 1887; Mary E., b. June 14, 1888; Georgia. Calista Wyman, widow of Ransom, m. (2nd) Christopher Reed of Rumford.
Children of Edgar Otis, son of Otis Wyman :- Earlon O., b. in Peru, annex to Runford, Sept. 18, 1892; Mildred, b. Sept., 1899: Thelma, b. Feb., 1901; Ransom D., b. Dec. 15, 1903; Don- ald E., b. Feb. 12, 1902. P. O., Dixfield ; occupation, farmer.
Children of Stillman Gibbs Wyman and their marriage :- Ethel Frances, b. Jan. 31, 1865, m. Dec. 1, 1883, Sidney Little- field. have dau., Theo E., res., Woodstock, Me .: Delia Augusta, b. Nov. 9, 1869, m. Sept., 1890, John E. Hathaway in Woodstock; Mabel M .. b. Apr. 14, 1872, m. Oet. 1, 1894, Harris L. Elliott at Rd. Falls; Wilma H., b. May 7, 1875. d. Oct. 15, 1825; Walton Gibbs, b. Mar. 15, 1885, res. with parents at North Abington, Mass.
Otis Wyman is a prosperous farmer on the Wyman homestead, that was, before the town line was changed, the last farm in Peru on the main road to Rumford. He has special endowments that have served him well along certain lines. Years ago he dealt in hops. Most of dealers became bankrupt. He always sold at the opportune moment to strike a balance on right side of ledger. Another feature of his genius: A casual look over a tract of tim- ber, without count, would enable him to estimate quite exaet the amount of lumber standing. It was the basis of negotiations in- volving several thousands of dollars with other parties. On his home farm he made a lump sale for three thousand dollars more than was first offered him. The average man gets beat unawares.
Windsor HI. Wyman was b. in Pern, Me., now Rumford, Apr. 14, 1857. He was the oldest son of Elisha Smith and Matilda (Barstow) Wyman. He was m. on his 23rd birthday, Apr. 14, 1880. to Mabel Frances Dearborn, dan. of John C. and Amanda F. Dearborn of Canton, Me. On Oct. 25, 1881, the first Mrs. Wyman passed away. On May 27, 1886, Windsor H. Wyman again mar- ried, this time Flora Alma MeIntyre, b. in Perham, Me., Feb. 26. 1864. She was the dan. of C'has. S. and Ella F. (Moody) McIn- tyre. To Mr. and Mrs. Wyman were born the following chil- dren :- Florence Mabel, b. in No. Abington, Mass., May 23, 1889, in Coll., 1910; Richard McIntyre, b. in No. Abington, Mass., Apr. 28, 1892, in Hebron Academy : Donald Dearborn, b. in No. Abing- ton, Mass., Apr. 27. 1898; Rachael Alma, b. in No. Abington,
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Mass., Dec. 21, 1903; and an infant, who lived but three days, b. May, 1902.
Other children of Elisha S. and Matilda K. Wyman :- Florence Edith, b. July 4, 1861. She was scholarly and brilliant, was fitting for school teaching, and following this vocation when failing health cut short her career. "So fades the lovely blooming flower"; d. Nov. 16, 1883.
Ozroe A., b. Mar. 9, 1868, was reared a farmer, attended the district school and became quite scholarly, was school teacher, and next a student in some of the higher seminaries, in view of a pro- fessional life. Having acquired a good business education, he final- ly chose nursery farming as more lucrative. He is nicely located and prosperous at Rockland, Mass. He m. Nov. 28, 1895, Alice C. McDonald, b. North Abington, Aug. 12, 1871, dau. of Alex, b. Nova Scotia, and Aurelia, b. Foxboro, Mass., McDonald, North Abington, Mass. Children :- Lester M., b. May 15, 1898 ; Lonise, b. July 26, 1900; Robert D., b. Jan. 3, 1904, d. Mar. 13, 1906; Elsie, b. Nov. 4, 1907. This man maintains the Christian char- acter and high standing of the Wyman family for many genera- tions. He helped to maintain religious service at the old meeting house in Peru several years after he left town.
Thomas Wyman the father of Rev. Samuel S., was a Baptist minister and one of the seventeen members who organized the first Baptist church in Livermore, over a century ago. Two of his sons. Wm. and Samuel, as stated, followed his profession. And coming down to his great-grandson, Rev. Windsor H. Wyman, we have an able representative in the pulpit, a graduate of Newton, Mass., The- ological Seminary, though he is engaged much of the time along industrial lines. As a business manager, single handed, he has no peers. He was born a genius. Penetrating and far-seeing, he was led to convert an old abandoned farm at North Abington, Mass., into blooming nurseries as a source of profit. The plant is named "The Bay State Nurseries," of world-wide fame. His keen eye of discernment was the first to observe the golden opportunity to supply all admirers of plants, flowers and shrubs with the prod- ucts of every climate. He has built up a thriving business in this line, of which he is proprietor. His wife, Mrs. Flora A., was a member of Edward Little High School, Anburn, before marriage and taught school in Peru, Dist. No. 7, in spring of 1886. She is re- membered as a fine lady, an able and efficient instructor.
1830. Dickvale from schoolhouse and cemetery at right to Wyman Mill. See Lovejoy farm up side of Mountain at right. Cleared 1821.
PUBLIC LIBMARI
TILDIN FOUNDATIONS.
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John C. Wyman, m. Betsey T. Lyford, b. Brentwood, N. H., the dau. of Frank and Sarah (Tuck) Lyford, Livermore, Me. This was a Christian family, honorable and industrious. He d. Nov. 26, 1884, ae. 77 years, 61% months. His wife d. Sept. 24, 1892, ae. 85 years, 512 months. Their children :- Susannah S .. b. June 12, 1829, m. Albion K. Knox; Thomas, b. Mar. 23, 1831, m. Nov., 1853, Nancy C., dan. of Wm. Piper. He was a soldier, Co. H, 10th Me. war of 1861; d. Apr. 1, 1868. Martin Luther, b. Dec. 4, 1834, m. July, 1858, Tryphena Thomas, Rumford; Betsey Lyford, b. Sept. 30, 1836, m. Wm. H. Trask, Peru; John C., Jr., b. Mar. 15, 1838, m. Abbie F. Robinson, Pub., Mar. 19, 1866.
Children of Thomas and Nancy C. Wyman :- Clarence A., b. Oct. 8, 1854, d. Jan. 7, 1862; Josephine S., b. Ang. 19, 1857, m. Erastus T. Abbott, son of Erastus I. Wife d. Child, Alvah, d. Henrietta Adelia, b. Mar. 18, 1860, m. Job R. Morrill ; Francis L., b. Feb. 17, 1863, m. Mabel Rounds of Norway. They had three children. He was killed, fell from train of cars in Abington, Mass. Clinton M., d. June 16, 1862, ae. 2 years. Esther I., b. Aug. 19. 1867, m. John Harding of Milton PI. Res., Mass. Children of Francis L. are Harold L. Wyman, Leroy and John Francis Wyman in Norway, Me.
Children of Martin Luther and Tryphena Wyman, dan. of John Thomas of Rumford :-- Oscar Eugene, b. Sept. 24, 1857. They had five children. Willard is the only one living, 1909. Aroline Ardilla, b. Apr. 7, 1861. Children of John C., Jr,, and Abbie F. Wyman :- Thomas A., b. Apr. 30, 1868, m. May 11, 1889; Effie M. Gordon; Mary Etta, b. Feb. 11. 1870, d. ae. 10 months : Flora A., b. Feb. 3, 1875, m. Grafton B. Gordon : Florence, m. June 15, 1910, Herbert L. Shaw, ae. 24, of Buckfield. Children of Thomas A. Wyman :- Lester, d. May 18, 1895, ae. 412 months ; Ethel G., d. June 23, 1900, ae. 10 years, four months ; Guy, d. June 25. 1900, ae. three years, four months, 24 days.
Henry Harrison Wyman, b. Sept. 19, 1813, in Livermore, d. Mar. 29, 1883, Rumford, m. Apr. 20, 1836, Mary W., b. May 28. 1813, in Dixfield, dau. of Dea. James White. She d. Feb. 9. 1892. Carthage. Their children :- Eliza J., b. Ang. 9, 1836, m. Frank Richmond, Rumford, had three children. He d. She m. (2nd) John Burgess, Woodstock; both d. James Henry, b. June 3, 1838. m. Jane Bartlett, Jay ; had one child. Benj. Bradford, b. Mar. 5, 1840, in Peru, m. Mar. 16, 1865, Betsey Rolf, b. in Peru, Aug.
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14, 1838, dan. of Elbridge G. and Deborah K. Hall of Peru. IIe was of Rumford race of Hall family, and wife was Hall of N. H. Dorrington, b. Nov. 21, 1841, m. Lucilla R. Howe, May 27, 1875. Dorrington Wyman enlisted in 4th Bat., Me. Vols., Feb. 9, 1865, was honorably discharged June 21, 1865. He d. July 18, 1893. Widow and children granted a pension. Martha O., b. May 22, 1843, did not marry. Nancy White, b. Oct. 22, 1845, m. Eliphalet Goodwin, Kennebunk, Me. Samuel S., b. July 31, 1847, m. (1st) May 1, 1869, Susie Crumbie, Mass. : m. (2nd) Marshall of Rumford. Have four children living :- Adelbert N., b. Dec. 24, 1851, m. 1880, Annie Safford, res .. Iowa, one child; Horace M., b. June 9, 1854, d. 1855 : Thomas E., b. Apr. 2, 1856, m. Eliza- beth Carney, he d. July 29. 1904; Rand W., b. June 10, 1868, m. Mary A. Gorman. had three children, one in Spanish War. Chil- dren of Benj. Bradford Wyman :- Bertha P., b. Nov. 9, 1870, m. Nathaniel B. Woodsum; Elbridge H., b. Feb. 12, 1823, m. Dora, dau. of Phineas Abbott, Rumford Ctr. Mr. Wyman's res. is at Diekvale. where he d. May 15. 1911.
York
Gustavus York came from Monmouth in 1840 and settled on the Fred Davenport farm. His wife, Attie, and their three oldest children, constituted the family then. Children :- George N., b. Monmouth, Jan. 17, 1833; Henry Albert, b. Nov. 8, 1836, went to Boston, m. Mary Madden, and d .; Samuel N., b. Oct. 1, 1838, m., 1868 to 1870, Dorcas Burgess (divorced). They lived in Dixfield, across the river from Peru Ctr. He left wife in two or three years. Edward Kent, b. Peru, Dec. 23, 1840, m. in Boston, last known; Gustavus A., Jr., b. July 17, 1843, res. in Revere, Mass .; Green- ville M .. b. Oct. 8, 1845, d .; Charles E., b. Aug. 24, 1848, went West. Many of the sons were more prosperous and better men than the parent, for the reason they did not inherit his intemperate habits. Mr. York resided in a small cabin above mentioned in Dixfield the last years of his life. He left farm in Peru around 1850. His younger brother came also from Monmouth. Charles N. York, b. 1820, d. in Peru, Feb. 8, 1875. m. Nov. 20, 1842, Philema, dan. of Zadoc Fobes of Peru. Wife d. May 22, 1871. This family were located off the main road, north of the Davenport farm. Children :- Betsey M., b. Nov. 19, 1843, m. James M. Gam- mon ; Chas. F., b. Dec. 28, 1844, d. Aug. 17, 1864; Judith B., b. Feb. 18, 1846, m. Pub., Dec. 19, 1862, Wm. Austin of Peru ; Sarah
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M., b. Jan. 21, 1848, m. Joshua R. Knox in Peru; James Pierce, b. Ang. 18, 1852, m. Feb. 15, 1877, Mary A., dau. of Daniel F. Haines ; Lilla A., b. Nov. 23, 1853, d. young ; Laforest Chandler, b. July 28, 1856, m. Lilla, dau., of Joseph Eaton ; Mary Etta, b. June 23, 1857, m. Wm. Rideout, res., Waltham, Mass .; Emily A., b. May 27, 1862, res., Cal., n. m .; Phoebe Frances, b. Sept. 28, 1864, m. Walter Wilcox, res., Waltham. This is a likely family of chil- dren. Their mother came of a Christian family. The types of a Christian mother are in evidence to the third generation.
Family of James P. and Mary A. York. Wife d. Nov. 12, 1882, ae. ?? years. Children :- Maud L., m. Emerson Oldham. Their dau., Angie M., b. June 14, 1902: Alton L., m. May 16, 1904, Florence M. Whittemore. Children :- Ellery O .; Gertrude A., b. Oct. 5, 1901. James P. m. (2nd) Apr. 15, 1887, Annie S. Lovejoy, "widow." Her maiden name was Robinson, of Andover, Me. Wife left husband.
Young
Henry Eben Young was a resident on Gowell hill in the forties. He m. May 14, 1841, Ann, dau. of Seth Roberts. Wife d. Aug. 25, 1852. Children :- Chas. H., b. Nov. 1, 1841. He studied for the medical profession. At close of war he was living at North Tur- ner. Patience, b. Oct. 18, 1843, m. John Paine in Jay, wife d .; Abigail, b. Dec. 25, 1845, m. Stephen Fletcher; Sarah Jane, b. Aug. 20, 1847; Georgianna, b. Feb. 22, 1850, m. July 3, 1870, Joseph B. Torrey in Dixfield. Writer recollects Emery Young in the family who played the violin. He and Geo. Walker played together at the speaking school in the Waite Dist., where pupils fitted for the exhibition at Meeting House. This family moved out of town not long after death of wife.
Death of former resident in Peru :- Comrade Thomas Farrar, d. in Canton, Ang. 30, 1911.
Indians
Originally the Indians of Maine were divided into two distinct nations-the Etchekins, who occupied the lands from the Penob- scot eastward; and the Abenaques, who held the territory between the Penobscot and the present New Hampshire line. The Ab- enaques nation was divided into four tribes, consisting of the So- kokis, who lived on the shores of the Saco river; the Wawenoes, whose grounds were east of Merrymeeting Bay; the Canibas, who
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occupied both sides of the Kennebec river from Merrymeeting Bay to Moosehead Lake; and the Anasagunticooks, who claimed the banks of the Androscoggin and the section irrigated by the chain of lakes that unites the waters of the Androscoggin with those of the Kennebec. These tribes were sub-divided into clans, after an Indian custom of giving the tribal name to the place occupied as a camping ground, or on the contrary of assuming the words used to signify some peculiarity of a location as the name of the tribe. Thus the Indians living near the falls of Teconnet, Waterville, were called Teconnets. The Anasagunticooks were originally a power- ful and warlike people. They once bore the reputation of being the strongest and most ferocious of all tribes in New England.
The first of their sagamores, whose name history has preserved, was Chogoando, whose signature, resembling a cross between a Chinese character and an Egyptian hieroglyphic struck by light- ning, appears on an Indian deed bearing the date of 1653, and conveying to Thomas Lake of Boston and Mr. Spencer of Charles- town, the historic lands east and west of the Kennebec. Another deed is on record, given by Worumbo, another sachem of the Anasa- gunticooks, to Richard Wharten, July 7, 1684, attesting his title to the lands formerly held by Thomas Purchase of Brunswick. Philip Will, a young Indian who was b. at Cape Cod, was taken captive by the French at the siege of Louisburg, when he was four- teen years of age, and living among this tribe of savages many years, finally became their chief. He measured six feet and three inches in height and was finely proportioned. The Anasagunticooks were many times saved from total extinction by his efforts. The prin- cipal encampment of this tribe was at Brunswick Falls (by them called Pejepscot) until the English immigrants forced them farther up the river. Jay Point or Canton Point became their rendezvous after leaving Pejepscot. The Indian name of this place was Roco- moco. It is well known there was a settlement of Indian wigwams at Canton Point. It has come down to us through Molly Ockett, dau. of Indian chief. that she had seen here five hundred Indians at one time. Here they gathered from all points along the banks of the Androscoggin and its tributaries to hold their grand councils, and here they met other tribes to plan expeditions of warfare.
This point possessed great advantages. It was too far back in the unexplored wilderness to be easily taken by the white settlers adjacent to the seacoast. It not only commanded a vast territory
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east, north to the lakes, and west, but held the key to three dis- tinet routes to the ocean. The first of these was down the Andros- coggin in the direct course to the confluence of the Kennebec ; thence through Merrymeeting Bay to the ocean. The second route, down the Androscoggin a few miles to Dead river, and up said river to Androscoggin pond, in the town of Leeds; thence by short portage in town of Wayne into Wilson pond: thence by portage to Cochnewagan pond, Monmouth Cent .; thence by the tributary and portage into Sabattus pond, and down the Sabattus river into the lower Androscoggin.
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