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HISTORY
TOWN OF GORHAM
]M A. I ISTE.
PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TOAYN,
BY JOSIAII PIERCE,
PORTLAND:
FOSTER & GUSHING, AND BAILEY & NOYES.
Printed by Foster & Cushing, over Casco Bank.
1862.
/
F
PllEFACE.
A praiseworthy desire has of late been manifested In
many towns In New England, to gather up the trustworthy
documents relating to the early settlement and progress of
our plantations, and to rescue from the oblivion to which
they are rapidly hastening, the records of the enterprise,
courage, and sufferings, of our early ancestors.
Such local statistics must be interesting to the citizens of
those places to which they relate, and valuable to historians
of our country, as furnishing reliable data to aid them In the
composition of their works.
I have devoted some time in Investigating the early settle-
ment of the town of Gorham, and ti'aclng its growth, till it
became, what it now is, one of the most populous, wealthy,
and important inland towns in Maine.
I have thought a historical memoir of the place Avould be
acceptable to its present inhabitants, and not wholly unin-
teresting to the people of our State generally.
"With these views, I have compiled the following pages,
and now commit them to the public eye.
In the preparation of this work, I have been much as-
sisted in gathering materials, by several gentlemen. M. G.
Hay den, Esq., Town Clerk, has at all times given me a free
15007S4
IV. PREFACE.
use of all the Town Kecords in his possession. I have
also received valuable aid from Hon. Frederic Robie. Es-
pecially am I indebted to Col. Hugh D. McLellan, who has
kindly furnished me with many historical facts and tradi-
tions, and loaned me his numerous and valuable family
manuscripts and traditional papers, from which I have gath-
ered many interesting facts.
J. PIEECE.
GoKHAM, Januarv, 1862.
G O R H A M.
CHAPTER I .
INTRODUCTORY.
"Within a few yeai-s a general wish has prevailed, to
gather up and preserve the facts relating to the settlement
and early progress of our town. The movement is credita-
ble to our citizens, and we regret that this interest had not
been earlier excited, while fuller records, and the actors
themselves in these proceedings were accessible.
In many of our towns all the early settlers have passed
away. The records of projirietors and plantations, in many
instances, been lost or destroyed. We can now only make
the best use we can of the materials within our reach, —
family records, grave-stone inscriptions, and floating and
oftentimes unreliable traditions.
The sea coast and islands of Maine had been discovered
more than a hundred years by Sebastian Cabot, before any
settlement was made by Europeans. After some islands
and a few places on the main land by the sea side, had been
occupied by Englishmen, another century went by before
permanent settlements were effected in the interior. There
were several causes for this ; the principal of which were,
the crrcater facilitv of obtaining; the necessaries of liviii";
6 IlISTOliY OF GORIIAM.
near the ocean, and the greater security from the hostile
attacks of the Indians and Canadian French. Thus Fal-
mouth (now Porthmd), and Scarborough, Avere settled a
full liundred years before the adjoining interior town of
Gorham. Falmouth was occupied by Englishmen in 1632,
and Scarborough as early as 1633. The first settler moved
into (iorham in 1736.
The town of CJorham embraces an area of somewhat more
than six miles square. Its contents, as is the case of most
of the early located towns in the State, exceeds the granted
quantity. The surveyors emjjloyed, a century ago, made
liberal allowances for waste land in the shape of ponds, bogs
and mountains. An allowance of one rod in thirty for swag
of chain, was also a general practice of surveyors, in laying
out new townships, between sixty and one hundred years
ago ; and such allowances were sanctioned by government
at that period. Hence most of the toAvns In Maine, that
were located during the last century, are found, on a strict
measurement, to contain a larger surface, than are indicated
by their grants or charters.
The territory of tlie town of Gorham is circumscribed by
an irregular figure of very unequal sides ; its longest side
is that on Presumscot river ; its shortest, the dividing line
between Gorham and Westbrook. The former beins: about
eight, the latter three miles in length. It is bounded
easterly by Presumscot river which divides it from the town
of Windham ; south-easterly by Westbrook ; southerly by
Scarborough ; south-westerly and westerly by Buxton ; and
northerly by Standlsh.
The surface of the town is what Is called a rolllno- coun-
try. In the northerly part Is a plain of considerable extent ;
but much the larger part of Gorham is hilly. The hills are
unifonnly of gentle and even ascent, being noAvhere preci-
pitous, or too steep for cultivation. Large and wlndln"-
INTHODUCTOTJY. 7
valleys are spread out 1)ctween the savcIIs of land, and tlie
Avliole is bountifully watered by springs and streams ; in a
few places the soil is sandy, but a clayey loam is the jire-
vailing soil. Fort Ilill is the highest eminence, and from its
summit can be seen most of the town and a large extent of
the surrounding country, and waters of the ocean ; its sides
are long slopes, easily ascended and covered with excellent
ftirms. Tlie town is not rocky : the northerly part contains
some granite, and limestone is found in some places. I'he
prevailing stone is argillaceous slate, laying in ledges. It is
believed tliat there is not so much as two acres of surface
in any one place unfit for cultivation. It is, without doubt,
one of the best agricultural townships in Maine.
Presumscot river washes its whole eastern boundary, and
affords, by its numerous falls, many eligible water privileges
for manufacturing purposes.
Stroudwater river traverses the southern section of the
town ; and Little river, rising in Buxton, within two miles
of the Saco, enters Gorham on its western boundary ; and,
after flowing in a very winding channel, affording many
mill sites, and forming and watering many fertile intervales,
it falls into the Presumscot river on the eastern side of the
town.
Formerly there was a fine groAvth of large j^ine trees in
the township, interspersed with ash, birch, beech, maple,
oak, hemlock, fir, spruce, elm and walnut trees ; the more
valuable part of the pine has long since been cut and can-ied
away. This town seems to have been first resorted to by
white men for lumbering purposes ; they came first for
masts, of which the noble pines that were numerous here
afforded a large supply. After saw mills were erected on
Presumscot and Saccarappa falls, logs for l)oards, Avhich
were easily floated down Presumscot river, Avere in de-
mand.
8 HISTORY OF GOrJIAM.
Gorham, tliough liaving within its limits places bearing
Indian names, was never, as far as is known, the residence
of any particular tribe of the natives. It was sometimes
occupied for aAvhlle as the camping ground of roving parties
of Indians, from the Ossipee, Pequawkct, Androscoggin,
and Sokokis or Saco tribes. These Avith the St. Francois
Indians of Canada, with whom the remnant of the Pequaw-
kets united after their signal defeat by Lovell, at Fryeburg,
in 1725, Avould make this town their summer residence, and
planted large fields of corn in some localities, and it was
their o-reat thorouo-lifare from Sebago Lake to Saco and
Scarborough. There are no traditions of Indian grants or
Indian claims of land in Gorham.
Several families from Canada resided here for some years
for the sake of easy access to the trading houses of the
English on the coast, Avhere they could barter their furs,
baskets and various trinkets, for such articles as they most
needed.
The early settlers of Gorham were greatly harrassed for
several years by the Canada Indians. Crops were destroy-
ed, cattle killed, a few white persons killed, and a few
carried aAvay captive to Canada. These annoyances contin-
ued till the French power passed away by the conquest of
Quebec by Wolfe in 17G9. That victory put an end to the
Indian depredations in this part of Maine.
The wars between France and England always drew into
the conflict the colonies of the two nations in North Amer-
ica. Hence the inhabitants of New-England had to be in a
state of warlike preparation at all times. For the first
century after the settlement of Massachusetts, her men
Avere freqvicntly engaged in military expeditions ; sometimes
against the French — sometimes against the Indians — fre-
quently against both combined. The colonies were poor,
and the Lecrlslatures of the same had slender means of
INTRO D U CTO 11 V. 9
paying the expenses of the military or remunerating the
soldiers except by grants of wild lands. INIost of the Pro-
vincial grants were therefore made for military services.
The township of Gorham was granted for such services.
Seven townships, of which this town was one, were granted
to the officers and soldiers, or their representatives, who
served in what was called King Philip's war, or the Narra-
gansett fight. The grant was made by the General Court
of Massachusetts ; first of two townships in 1728, and five
more in 1732. The number of grantees was 840.
10 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
CHAPTER II.
THE GKANTS.
BY THE GOVERXOR AXD COMPANY OF THE MASSACHU-
SETTS BAY, IN NEAV ENGLAND.
At a General Court for Elections held at Boston, 21th
of May, 1685.
In answer to the petition of William Bassett, John Lin-
eey, Robert Porter, Sen'r, and twenty-two more inhabitants
of Lyn, Jeremiah Swain, Samuel Damon, Samuel Lamb-
son, William Robbins, James Pyke, John and James Nich-
ols of Reading, Wm. Raymond, and five more of Beverly,
and Samuel Lincoln, and three more of Hingham, as on the
petition on file. The Court judgeth it meet to grant the pe-
titioners a tract of land in Nipmug country of eight miles
square for their encouragement, and others that were ser-
viceable to the country in the late Indian War, to a compe-
tent number who shall see meet to join themselves to them,
in order to the making of a Plantation or Township, provi-
ded it be laid out as not to interfere with any former
grants, and that an Orthodox Minister, on their settlement
of thirty families, be settled witlmi the space of four years
next coming.
A true copy of the original Records of the General
Court.
Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
THE GRANTS. U
Thursday, December 14, 1727.
On the petition of Samuel Chandler, Jacoh Wright, cfic,
in hehalf of themselves and others praying, as entered
July 1, 1727.
In the House of Eepresentatives. Resolved, That
Major Thomas Tilestone, Capt. John Alden, Mr. Edward
Shove, Mr. jSTathaniel Healy, of Newton, Mr. Samuel Chan-
dler, of Concord, John Wainwright and Ezra Bourne,
Esqs., (any four of whom to be a Quorum) be a Committee
fully authorized and empowered to survey and lay out two
tracts of Lands for townships, of the contents of six miles
square, of the unappropriated Lands of this Province, and
that the said lands be granted and disposed of to the per-
sons, whether officers or soldiers, belonging to this Province,
who were in the service of their country in the said^Narra-
gansett War, or to their lawful representatives, as a reward
for their public services, and in full satisfaction of the grant
formerly made them by the Great and General Court, and
forasmuch as it is the full intent and purpose of this Court,
that every officer and soldier who served in said War,
should have a compensation made them over and above
what wages and gratuities any of them have already re-
ceived ; that the said Committee give public notice in the
news-letters or otherwise, six months at least before the
time of their meeting, where and when they intend to
meet, so that every officer and soldier that served in the
said War, or the lawful representative of such as served
and are since deceased, may have an opportunity of enlist-
ing their names with the said Committee, who are hereby
ordered to take a list accordingly, and when and so soon
as the said Committee has received a complete list of the
names of such persons as have served as aforesaid, or their
legal representatives (which they are enjoined to do with
12 HISTORY OF GORIIAM.
all convenient speed) the Grantees shall be obliged to as-
semble within as short a time as they can conveniently, and
j^roceed to the choice of a Committee to regulate each
society, who shall pass such orders and rules, as will effec-
tually oblige them to settle sixty families in each township,
with a learned Orthodox Minister, within the space of seven
years from the date of the grant. Provided^ nevertheless,
that if the said Grantees shall not effectually settle the said
number of families in each township, and also lay out a lot
for the first settled minister, one for the ministry, and one
for the school in each of the said townships, they shall take
no advantage, but forfeit the said Grant, any thing to the
contrary contained notwithstanding.
In Council, read and concurred with the amendments.
A true coj)y from the original Records of the General
Court.
Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Saturday, June 15, 1728.
In the House of Representatives. In answer to
the petition of the soldiers that served in the Narragansett
War, Resolved, That Major Chandler, Mr. Edward Shove,
Major Tilestone, and Mr. John Hobson, (or any three of
them) be a Committee fully authorized and empowered to
survey and lay out two townships of the contents of six
miles square each, in some of the unappropriated lands of
this Province ; and that the said lands be granted and dis-
posed of to the persons, whether officers or soldiers, belong-
ing to this Province, who were in the service of their
country in the said Narragansett War, or to their lawful
representatives, as a reward for their public services, and as
THE GllANTS. 13
a full satisfaction of the grant formerly made them by the
Great and General Court, and inasnmch as it is the full
intent and purpose that every officer and soldier who served
in the said war, ^should have a compensation made him
over and above what wages and gratuities any of them
have already received. That public notice be given in the
news-letters, andjadvertisements posted up in every town in
the Province, notifying all persons that now survive, and
were in that fight, and the legal representatives of those
deceased, that they give or send a list of their names and
descents to the Court in their next Fall Session ; and when
such list is completed by a Committee then to be appointed
by this Court, the Grantees shall be obliged to assemble in
as short a time as they can conveniently, not exceeding six
months, and proceed to the choice of a Committee to regu-
late each Propriety, who shall pass such Orders and Rules
as will effectually oblige them to settle sixty families at least,
in each township, with a learned Orthodox Minister, within
the space of seven years from the date of the grant, Provi-
ded, nevertheless, if the said Grantees shall not< effectually
settle the said number of families in each township, and also
lay out a Lot for the said settled Minister, one for the Min-
istry, and one for the School, in each of the said townships,
they shall have no advantage, but forfeit their said grants,
any thing to the contrary herein contained notwithstanding.
In Council, read and concurred.
Consented to.
W. DUMMER.
A true copy from the original Records of the General
Court.
Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS,
Secretary of the Commomvealth.
14 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Friday, June 9, 1732.
A petition of Thomas Tilestone and others, a Committee
in behalf of the Officers and Sokliers in the !Narragansett
War, praying the revival of a vote passed by both houses
on their former petition, given in at the last Winter Session,
for enlarging the grant of Land formerly made to them in
consideration of their great services to this Province in the
said war.
In the House of Eepresentatives. Read, and in
answer to this Petition, Ordered, That such further grant
be made the Petitioners, as that every one hundred and
twenty persons, whose claims have been, or shall be allowed
of by this Court within four months of this time, may have
a township of the contents of six miles square, under the
same restrictions and limitations with these towns already
granted, and that the Committee formerly appointed to
lay out the Towns of the Narragansett Soldiers, be a Com-
mittee to lay out the land above granted, and the Province
be at the charge of laying out the same, but not of any
subdivisions to any particular persons.
In Council, read and concurred.
Consented to.
A true copy from the original Records of the General
Court.
Attest: . EDWARD D. BANGS,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Thursday, April 26, 1733.
A Petition of a Committee for the Narragansett Soldiers,
shewing that there are the number of eight hundred and
THE GRANTS. 15
forty persons entered as Officers and Soldiers in the late
Narragansett War, praying that there may be such an ad-
dition of Land granted to them as may allow a tract of six
miles square to each one hundred and twenty-seven men so
admitted.
In the House of Eepkesentatives. Read, and Or-
dered, That the prayer of the Petition be granted, and that
Major Chandler, Mr. Edward Shove, Col. Thomas Tiles-
tone, Mr. John Hobson, and Mr. Samuel Chandler, (or any
three of them) be a Committee fully authorized and cm-
powered to survey and lay out five more tracts of land for
townships, of the contents of six miles*square each, in some
of the unappropriated lands of this Province, and the said
lands (together with the two towns before granted) be
granted and disposed of to the officers and soldiers who
were in the Narragansett War, or to their lawful representa-
tives, as they are or have been alloAved by this Court, being
eight hundred and forty in number in the whole, and is in
full satisfaction of the Grant formerly made them by the
General Court, as a reward for their public services, and
the Grantees shall be obliged to assemble within as short
time as they can conveniently, not exceeding the space
of two months, and proceed to the choice of Committees
respectively to regulate each Proprietary or Township,
which is to be held and enjoyed by one hundred and twenty
of the Grantees, each in equal proportion, Avho shall pass
such Orders and Rules as shall effectually oblige them to
settle sixty families within each township, Avith a learned
Orthodox Minister, within the space of seven years from the
date of this grant. Provided, always, that if the said Gran-
tees shall not effectually settle the said number of families
in each township, and also lay out a lot for the first settled
Minister, one for the Ministrv, and one for the School in
IG HISTORY OF GORHAM.
each of the said townships, they shall have no advantage
of, but forfeit their respective grants, any thing to the con-
trary contained notwithstanding ; the charge of the survey
to be paid by the Province.
In Council, read and concurred.
Consented to.
J. BELCHER.
A true copy from the original Records of the General
Court.
Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Wednesday, February 2, 1736.
In Council, Voted, That Shubael Goreham, Esquire, be
empowered and directed to assemble the Grantees of the
township granted to the Soldiers under the command of
Capt. John Goreham, in the Canada expedition in 1690, in
such place, and on such time as he shall think fit, then to
choose a Moderator and Proprietors' Clerk, to agree upon
Rules, Methods, and Orders, for the division and disposal of
the said Propriety, in the most proper method for the
speedy fulfilment of the conditions of their grant, and agree
upon methods for calling future meetings.
In the House of Representatives, read and con-
curred.
-Consented to.
J. BELCHER.
A true copy from the original Records of the General
Court.
Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
THE GRANTS- 17
Monday, July 5, 1736.
In the House of Eepresentatives. Ordered, That
Shubael Goreliam, Esq., be, and hereby is, fully authorized
and empowered to assemble and convene, in some suitable
place, and, as soon as may be, the Grantees of the Narra-
gansett town, Number Seven, adjoining to Falmouth and
Presumpsutt Eiver, in the County of York, made to the
Narragansett officers and soldiers in the company under the
command of the late Capt. John Goreham, deceased, and in
answer to the petition of the said Shubael Goreham, Esq.,
that the said Grantees in such time and place, make choice
of a Proprietors' Clerk, and jiass such Rules and Orders as
may be agreeable to the conditions of the Grant, for bring-
ing forward the settlement of the township, and also to
agree on some regular method how to caU. Proprietors'
meetings for the future.
In Council. Read and concurred.
Consented to.
J. BELCHER.
A true copy from the original Records of the General
Court.
Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Durino; the administration of Governors Dummcr and
Burnet, the government of Massachusetts had been sparing
of the public domain. People were cautious of settling at
any considerable distance from the coast, while Indian wars
were raging or impending. About 1727, the government
began to favor the settlement of new townships, and the
3
18 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Governor recommended surveys and appropriations of land
for settlers. The first grants were Tor military services.
By making these grants the government effected two desir-
able objects. They paid the claims of meritorious officers
and soldiers, by lands, which they could more easily do than
make remuneration with money ; and secondly, they gave
strength and security to the jDrovince by settling new towns
with hardy, industrious and virtuous citizens.
The grantees of the town of Gorham were a portion of
the 840 Massachusetts, men and their heirs, who bore arms
in the Narragansett Expedition, as it was called, in 1675.
As the grant of the town of Gorham grew out of the
Narrao-ansett war, and as several of the lineal descendants
of those heroic men who fought in that terrible conflict, still
reside in this town, they cannot be supposed to be indiffer-
ent to the history of those exertions which secured safety to
their families and peace and plenty to their posterity. It
may not, therefore, be amiss in tracing the history of our
town to go back and speak of those events that gave rise to
its settlement.
THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 19
CHAPTER III.
THE NARRAGANSETT WAR.
The Narragansett war, or as it was sometimes called,
King Philip's war, he being the chief instigator and most
formidable leader, broke out in 1675. By some writers it is
denominated Paconoket war. Massasoit, a good friend to
the Plymouth settlers, had two sons named AYamsucket and
Metacomet. On their own request, the government of
Plymouth gave them the English names of Alexander and
Philip. Alexander died in 1662. Metacomet, or Philip,
was chief of the Wampanoags, of which Paconoket was a
branch or tribe.
Philip was an Indian of more than ordinary abilities ; a
man of sagacity, cunning, and unfaltering courage. He
formed a deep laid scheme to extirpate the English from
New England. To exterminate all the whites, and by one
blow, forever rid his country of her invaders. This was
the avowed object of Philip. Long and profoundly did he
meditate on his project ; he spared no toil, fainted under no
labor or privations. He visited numerous tribes, and by
his arguments and eloquence, breathed something of his
own dauntless spirit into their ferocious warriors. With
great secrecy he effected an extensive confederacy, and
united in his enterprise the Pocassets, Xarragansetts, Nip-
mugs, Connecticut River Indians, and numerous tribes of
the Abenaquis, or Eastern Indians. The Pennicooks of
New Hampshire ; the Ossipees, the Pequawkets, the Amer-
20 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
iscoggins, the Norrldgewocks, and some of the Canada
tribes entered into his scheme. War became inevitable, and
it commenced as most Indian wars have, by a small party,
who made a night attack on the people of Swansey, a thinly
settled town adjoining Mount Hope, Philip's headquarters,
now in the town of Bristol, Ehode Island. Nine English-
men were killed.
This occurred June 24, 1675. Other tribes immediately
commenced hostilities. The Nipmugs assaulted several
towns. In August, the Eastern Indians, on Saco and An-
droscoggin rivers commenced their murders, and by Decem-
ber they had killed about fifty English in Maine. Towards
Avinter Philip and his chief warriors returned to the Narra-
gansett country.
Though Philip had succeeded in persuading many tribes
to eno;ao;e in his scheme of exterminatino; the English in
America, he could not combine their forces so as to act in
unison. Neither Indian kings nor Indian councils, could
collect and keep together, for a long period, any considera-
ble body of warriors. Their braves had no pay except the
spoils or plunder of their enemies. They made no provision
for the clothing or subsistence of their soldiers. Their wars
were a series of skirmishes. The Indians are ramblers ;
their mode of fighting was to suddenly and furiously attack
an unprotected place, in small, skulking j)arties, who made
their assaults in the darkness of night, or from an ambus-
cade ; rush suddenly on their victims with yells and shout-
ings, committing enormous cruelties and rapid devastation.
These violent assaults soon ceased, and the savages retired
to celebrate their victory and enjoy their plunder, and then
plan for another attack in some other quarter.
The Narragansetts, though pretending to be neutral,
were known to be friendly to Philip and afforded him assist-
ance.
THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 21
Surrounded, as tlie colonists of Plymouth and Massachu-
setts were, by pretended friends and implacable enemies,
they perceived the necessity of uniting their strength with
that of Connecticut, in order successfully to resist their un-
relenting foes.
At that period, (1675) the whole white population of
New England did not probably exceed sixty thousand souls.
And every able bodied man, capable of bearing arms, was
commanded to hold himself in readiness to march at the
shortest notice. The three States determined to attack and
vanquish the Narragansetts, the most numerous and power-
ful of the Indian tribes. Rhode Island, though in the im-
mediate neighborhood, does not appear to have furnished
any troops. Massachusetts raised six companies of soldiers ;
Connecticut five ; and Plymouth two. The Plymouth com-
panies were commanded by Captains Pice and Gorham.
The Massachusetts and Plymouth forces were commanded
by Gov. Winslow of Plymouth. The whole number of
men composing the English army, was designed to be 1500 ;
but the whole Avhite army, actually mustered but 1127 men.
The Narragansett battle was one of the most memorable
ever fought with savages. The hardship and sufferings of
that fight have scarcely a jsarallel. The battle was fought
on the 10th of Dec, (old style, Dec. 21st, new style,) 1675,
the shortest day of the year. The day previous was ex-
tremely cold. Four hundred of the men, (more than one
third of the whole of the effective force,) were so frozen as
to be completely unfit for duty. The snow fell fast and deep ;
the soldiers marched all the preceding night through a tan-
gled and pathless wood ; they waded through the snow till
an hour after noon, and then reached the swamp in which
the Indians had collected, and formed their wooden fortress.
Tlie battle commenced immediately, and lasted six dread-
ful hours. The entrance to the fort was narroAV, and j)roved
22 HISTORT OF GORHAM.
the gate of death to many of our men. Never was there
a greater exhibition of personal courage. " Victory was
with the white men" ; but it was by no means a blood-
less one on the part of our fathers. Six brave Captains
fell on that day ! " Davenport, Gallop, Gardner, Johnson,
Marshall, and Sieley, led their companies through the nar-
row entrance in the face of death, and left their lives as
a testimony of their patriotism and courage !" Of Capt.
Gorham's company thirty were killed and forty-one wound-
ed. More than 700 Indian warriors were killed ; besides
many women and children were slain by the assailants, or
were destroyed by flames and suffocation in the burning fort
and wigwams — not more than 200 or 300 Indians escaped.
This fortress was in a swamp, called Pattysquamscut.
" Thus," says Bancroft, " were swept away, the humble
glories of the Narragansetts I The winter stores of the
tribe, their curiously wrought baskets full of corn, their
famous strings of wampum, their wigwams nicely warmed
with mats ; all the Httle comforts of savage life were con-
sumed ; and more, their old men, their women, their babes,
perished by hundreds in the fire."
The victory was complete. The power of the Narragan-
setts forever broken ! The Indians abandoned every hope,
but their feelino-s of hatred and reveno-e were not abated
or softened. Homeless and houseless, they sought to de-
stroy the houses and homes of the white men ! Without
shelter and without food, they hid in swamps, or plundered
exposed dwellings. Town after town in Massachusetts,
Connecticut and Rhode Island, felt their vengeance and
were destroyed. Men, women, and children barbarously
murdered, or led into terrible captivity. Within a year
from the Narragansett fight, the dauntless Philip was killed
by a faithless Indian, his wife and only son made prisoners ;
and that son, the innocent young Prince of the Paconokets,
THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 23
was sold for a slave in the Island of Bermuda. During
Philip's war about three thousand Indians were slain.
After the battle, which ended in the evening, our shatter-
ed army left the ground in haste, and in another dismal
and boisterous night, were obliged to wade eighteen miles
through deep snoAv before the wounded could be dressed, or
any one receive refreshment.
The place where this memorable battle was fought, was
on an area of about five acres, on an island in a very large
swamp, in South Kingston, Rhode Island.
The death of Philip, and the overthrow of the Narragan-
setts forever broke the power of the Indians in Massachu-
setts. Her soldiers had suffered terribly by these savage
wars. They had now conquered their implacable foes, and
achieved a great and enduring benefit for their country.
Massachusetts was poor, and could pay her meritorious
officers and soldiers but small wages. The days of pensions
had not yet arrived in Kew England ; the Colony had no
means of remunerating her warriors except by grants of
unimproved public lands ; she therefore resorted to that
mode of compensation.
The officers and soldiers, who survived the sanguinary
conflict with the Narragansetts, petitioned the colonial leg-
islature for a gi^ant of land.* The first petition, I find, was
that of William Bassett and others. On this petition the
General Court made a grant of " a tract of land in the
Nipmug country, of eight miles square," on certain condi-
tions to be fulfilled by the grantees. The Nipmug country
was in Massachusetts, in the County of Worcester. This
grant was made in May, 1685, within ten years of the
Narragansett war. I cannot find that this eight mile square
grant was ever located.
* See copies of the Grants, ante.
24 HISTORY OF GORnAM.
Whether the political troubles in the Province, at that
period, or the dissatisfaction of the grantees at the small-
ness of the grant, occasioned the failure, I know not ; but
I cannot find that any thing farther was done under that
grant.
The next movement of the Narragansett soldiers, of
which I find any account, is a petition entered before the
Governor and Council, dated July 1st, 1727. This peti-
tion was signed by Samuel Chandler and Jacob Wright, in
behalf of themselves and others.
In response to this petition, the General Court, by a Re-
solve, empowered a Committee, by them appointed, to sur-
vey and lay out two tracts of land, of the contents of six
miles square, of unappropriated lands of the Province, to
the persons who were in the service of their country in
the Narragansett war, or to their legal representatives.
(See Grant or Resolve, page 11.) This Resolve was passed
Dec. 14, 1727.
June 15, 1728, a Resolve was passed in answer to the
petition of the soldiers that served in the Narragansett war,
empowering Major Chandler, Mr. Edward Shove, Major
Tilestone, and Mr. John Hobson, or any three of them, to
survey and lay out two townships, of the contents of six
miles square, in satisfaction of the grants formerly made
the Narragansett soldiers. (See Resolve, page 12.) A pe-
tition for enlarging the grant was presented to the General
Court in 1731-32. June 8, 1732, an order was made that
every 120 persons, whose claims were, or might be al-
lowed within four months, may have a township of six
miles square. And such a grant was made by the Gen-
eral Court, April 26, 1733. This grant was passed, and
consented to by Governor Jonathan Belcher, April 26,
1733. .
It was found that 810 men, belonging to Massachusetts,
THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 25
carried arms in the Narragansett war. For these men,
and their heirs, the Legislature of that Province granted
seven townships ; two in 1728, and five more in 1732.
These seven townships were granted on the terms then gen-
erally imposed, viz : — The grantees were to meet within
two months, and organize each propriety, to consist of 120
persons ; to settle sixty families in each new town in seven
years ; to settle a Jeanied Orthodox minister ; to erect a
meeting house ; to clear a certain number of acres of land ;
and to reserve a certain proportion of the township for the
support of schools, the ministry, and the first settled minis-
ter. The grantees were required to meet and choose com-
mittees to superintend their general concerns and determine
the rights of the claimants. In accordance with these require-
ments, the ijrantees held a mectins: on Boston Common, on
the sixth day of June, 1733, at 2 o'clock, P. M., and formed
themselves into seven distinct societies, of 120 names each,
which should be entitled to one of the Narragansett town-
ships. Three persons were chosen from each society, to
make out a list of the grantees, and to assign the townships
to each company, and to assemble the grantees of the re-
spective societies to elect officers and manage their afiiiirs.
At this meeting it was voted, that one of the societies, con-
sisting of 120 persons, should consist mostly of proprietors
belonging to the towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth, Eastham,
Sandwich, Plymouth, Tisbury, Abington, Duxbury, and
one from Scituate. To this society, headed by the name of
Capt. John Gorham, was assigned township denominated
Narragansett, No. 7, which is now the town of Gorham.*
The seven committees (twenty-one men) met at Luke
Verdey's, in Boston, October 17, 1733, and assigned the
several townships as follows, viz : —
*For a list of the names of the Proprietors of Narragansctt, No. 7, see
appendix.
4
26 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Narragansett, No. 1, on Saco River, now Buxton, Me.
Narragansett, No. 2, at Wachuset, adjoining Rutland,
Mass.
Narragansett, No. 3, on Souhegan River, now Amherst,
N. H.
Narragansett No. 4, at Amoskeag, N. H.
Narragansett, No. 5, on Merrimac River, now Merrimac
and Bedford, N. H.
Narragansett, No. 6, called Southtown, now Templeton,
Mass.
Narragansett, No. 7, on Presumscot River, now Gorham,
Me.
The committee for the township of Narragansett, No. T,
were Col. Shubael Gorham, Timothy White, and Robert
Standfort. At that meeting, Deacon Jonathan WilHams,
of Boston, was chosen Treasurer of the whole Narragansett
Society or Grantees. At that time, 1733, but few of the
persons actually engaged in the Narragansett battle, were
livino;. The Q-rant was made to the officers and soldiers of
that war, or some one representative of some officer or
soldier. " The true intent and meaning of the grant was,
that the persons only, who were in that war, should be en-
titled to share in the grant."
And if such officer or soldier was deceased, then his legal
representatives were entitled to the benefit ; and when there
were diverse descendants of a person who had a right, they
should agree and consent it should belong to one only, viz :
to the oldest heir male, if such there be, otherwise the old-
est heir female, (if they please) shall hold the land, paying
to the other heirs, or descendants, such ^proportional part of
XIO, which was the supposed value of a right, viz : the
120 th part of the township, as such descendants or heirs
would be entitled to, if such lands descended accordinof to
the law of the Province, for the settlement of intestate
estates.
THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 27
This order was passed April 18, 1733. It was reported
to the General Court by Thomas Palmer, Chairman of the
Committee of both Houses, on the affairs of settlino- the
towns granted to the Narragansett soldiers, and consented
to by Gov. Belcher.
By the same Committee it was farther reported, and it
was ordered, that the seven years for settling said toAvnships
be computed from the first day of January 1734, to end
January 1, 1741.
A small grant of land, in what is now Gorham, had been
previously made by the Provincial Legislature of Massachu-
setts, to one Joseph Mallison of Boston. The grant was for
two hundred acres of land. Why the grant was made,
does not ajjpear ; probably, on condition of erecting mills at
what are now called Horsebeef Falls, on Presumscot River.
For many years the Falls bore the name of Mallison's Falls,
and they are so called in the Proprietors' Records. The
General Court ordered a survey and plan to be made of this
grant. Phineas Jones was the surveyor, and Nathaniel
Knight and Samuel Libby carried the chain. A plan was
returned to the Legislature, and the grant Avas then con-
firmed to Mallison. The tract is described as " two hundred
acres in the County of York, by Presumscot River, forty-
five rods above the upper part of the Fourth Great Falls
from the mouth of Presumscot River, about five miles above
the Great Fall at Saccarappa." This, I suppose, was the
first surveying of land in Gorham. Joseph Mallison con-
veyed this two hundred acres, March 16, 1733, to Gen-
eral Samuel Waldo, of Boston, for .£50 in bills of credit.
Neither Mallison or Waldo erected mills on this grant.
General Waldo seems to have wished to acquire as much
of the water power in this region as possible ; he owned
Capisic mill privilege, most of Presumscot Lower Falls, all
at Congen, and nearly all of Saccarappa Falls.
28 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
A few years later the proprietors of this township made
a grant of four hundred acres near Little Falls, where Fac-
tory village now is ; it was on Presumscot River, adjoining
to, and above Mallison's grant. The area was a parallelo-
gram, one hundred and sixty rods on the river ; its lower
side was five hundred and eight rods, its upper side three
hundred and one rods fi'om the river.
This grant was made to Governor Shirley, in these
words : — " Voted and granted to His Excellency William
Shirley, Esq., Governor of the Province of Massachusetts
Bay, his heirs and assigns forever, four hundred acres of
the common and undivided lands within said township."
" Voted, That Moses Pearson, Jno. Gorham, Esq., and
Joshua Bangs be a committee to lay out the same, pursuant
to said grant."
The Committee made their report December 20, 1743, in
the following words : —
" We, the subscribers, having been chosen by the pro-
prietors of Gorhamtown, as a Committee to lay out four
hundred acres of land, voted and granted to His Excel-
lency, William Shirley, Esq., have, agreeable to their vote,
laid out the same as within described.
Signed,
JOHN GORHAM,
MOSES PEARSON, } -^^^i^^^f^^rs'
JOSHUA BANGS,
Committee.''
The description of the plan was : —
"December 20, 1743.
Within these bounds is contained four hundred acres of
upland, lying on Presumscot River, and adjoining to the
land granted by the Great and General Court to Mr. Joseph
Mallison, as described in this plan, which I, the subscriber.
THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 29
have surveyed, by the desire of the Committee of Gorham-
town, so called, appointed by the Proprietors of said town,
to lay out said premises to His Excellency, William Shirley,
Esq.
WILLIAM POTE, Jr., Surveyor:'
This grant, I suppose, was made on account of some ser-
vice Gov. Shirley may have rendered the Proprietors about
their township ; or it may have been to gain the counte-
nance and good will of the Governor. Similar grants were
made in other townships to His Excellency, who was always
alive to his own pecuniary interests.
A shrewd historical writer says : — " Shirley was an en-
terprising man, and having mounted, (no matter by what
means,) to the Governor's chair, he saw in a young and
growing country, vast prospects opening before his eyes,
and he conceived great designs of aggrandizing himself,
his family, and his friends."
30 HISTOEY OF GORHAM.
CHAPTEE IV.
SUKVET AND LOTTING OF THE TO"\\T^SHIPS, — FIKST
SETTLEMENT.
The townsliip having been thus granted and assigned,
the grantees took measures to bring forward the settlement
of their lands. It was determined to make a survey of one
hundred and twenty lots of thirty acres each, for the first
division, to be followed by two other divisions, viz : the
second division of one hundred acre lots ; and the third
division of seventy acre lots. In all, two hundred acres for
each proprietor. Each right was to have one lot in all the
divisions. The first division of thirty acre lots, was made
as compactly as could well be done, on the pro]30sed two
roads, crossing each other at right angles. These lots were
made small, that the settlers might live near each other, for
the purpose of mutual aid and defence against savages.
The external lines of the town were run and marked in
1734. The thirty acre lots were surveyed, located, num-
bered, draAvn and confirmed to each right in 1735. Sever-
al roads were located the same year. A few lots, or rights
of land were sold prior to their location or numbering.
The first Deed I find on record, in York County Registry,
is that of Thomas Thornton of Dorchester, Massachusetts,
to Col. Shubael Gorham, of iLth undivided part of Nar-
ragansett No. 7. Said Thornton certifying that he was one
of the Narragansctt soldiers. The consideration named in
SURVEY AND FIRST SETTLEMENT. 31
the Deed was <£5, and was dated June 12th, 1735. Durino-
this year, Col. Shubael Gorham purchased several other
rights of 120 th part each, of Joseph Akers of Sandwich,
Elisha Hall of Yarmouth, John Maker of Harwich, Robert
Nickerson of Chatham, and several others. Col. S. Gor-
ham soon became a large proprietor, and of him many early
settlers purchased lots.
The township had now been prepared for settlers. As
yet, however, it was an unbroken wilderness, covered with
a magnificent growth of valuable forest trees. In May,
1736, the first trees were felled for clearino; land for aj^ricul-
tural purposes. John Phinney, a son of one of the con-
querers of the Narragansetts, a descendant of the Pilgrims,
a wanderer from the old Colony of Plymouth, disembarked
from his canoe on Presumscot River, attended by his eldest
son, fourteen years of age, with an axe, gun, and a small
quantity of provisions and ammunition, to select a spot for
his future home. Proceeding westerly nearly two miles
from the river, he chose a sunny, elevated lot, on the south-
ern slope of Fort Hill, and there that son, Edmund Phin-
ney, afterwards distinguished, not only in various town and
State offices, but as a Colonel of the Revolutionary army,
felled the first tree for clearing a farm. This was on a lot
adjoining what is now called Fort Hill road, formerly King
Street, about one mile northerly from the principal village
in Gorham. This land is now owned by Mr. Moses Fogg.
John Phinney, the first settler of Gorham, was a son of
Deacon John Phinney, of Barnstable, Massachusetts, and
was born in that town, April 8th, (old style) 1693 ; he
was consequently forty-three years old when he commenced
the settlement of Gorham. In Barnstable he had married
Martha Colman. There they had five children born. In
1732, he removed his family to Falmouth, (Portland) and
they had two children born in Falmouth. Capt. Phinney
82 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
removed to Gorliam in 1736, and in this town his three
younger children were born, viz : — Mary Gorham, Cohnan
and James. Mary Gorham Phinney, daughter of Captain
John Phinney and Martha, his wife, was born in August,
1736. Soon after her parents removed here ; she was the
first white chikl born in Gorham.
She married James Irish, father of Gen. James Irish.
They left numerous descendants. Mrs. Irish was a pro-
fessor of religion for seventy years, and during that long
period she adorned her profession by an exemplary life of
virtue and benevolence, maintaining the relations of daugh-
ter, wife, and mother, in an unexceptionable manner, distin-
guished for industry, kindness and hospitality. She died
in 1825, at the advanced age of 89 years, leaving behind
her a memory dear to many, and a character worthy the
commendation of all.
Cohnan Phinney, the second child, born in Gorham, was
killed by a falling tree, when about ten years of age.
James Phinney, the youngest son of Capt. John Phinney,
was born April 24, (old style) 1741 ; he lived till October,
1834, in the 94th year of his age, highly respected for his
integrity, capacity, and useful life ; intelligent, and always
cheerful and hopeful ; an eminent christian professor for 80
years. He retained his strong mental faculties, and died in
full possession of a sound mind and correct judgment ; and
what is still more rare, a tenacious and unimpaired memory
up to the age of 93 years. He rarely, if ever, forgot
important events of the town or nation, or erred in names
or dates. Mr. James Phinney enjoyed through his pro-
tracted life the confidence of his toAvnsmen, and held many
important municipal offices.
Capt. John Phinney lived in this town about two years
before any other white family ; his first dwelling house
was a few rods northerly from the place on which Moses
SUKVEY AND FIRST SETTLEMENT. 33
Foo-o-'s house now stands. Some Indian families liad wisx-
wams near by, and for two years Phinney's children had no
other playmates but young Indians.
For some years Capt. Phinney had to go to Presumscot
Lower Falls to mill ; he also transported his corn, salt, and
other provisions on a float, or small boat, up and down the
Presumscot River, carrying them round the Falls at Sacca-
rappa and Congen — or, as the place was then called, Amon-
Congen. There was no pathway through the forest to
Portland. In these fatiguing and dangerous journeys to
mill, he was frequently assisted by his oldest daughter,
Elizabeth ; she used to help her father carry his boat and
bags of corn^ or meal, round the Falls, and assist him in
rowing. Ehzabeth Phinney, afterwards married Deacon
Eliphalet Watson.
It is said that the second settler of the town was Daniel
Mosier, (now usually written Mosher.) Some say the sec-
ond family that settled in town was that of Hugh McLellan.
It is difficult to decide which of these tAvo was the second
settler. They came very near the same time. Daniel Mo-
sier* removed from Falmouth to this town in 1738. His
first ancestor in Maine was Hugh Mosier, of French origin.
Hugh Mosier owned land in Falmouth as early as 1640.
Daniel Mosier was the son of James Mosier, who died in
Gorham in 1734, at the age of 99 years and three months.
There are numerous descendants of Daniel, now residing in
town.
Hugh McLellan came from the north of Ireland, and
settled near where Asa Palmer, Esq., now lives, about a
quarter of a mile north of Gorham Seminary. Soon after
McLellan, WiUiam Pote, William Cotton, Ebenezer Hall,
* I find in early writings the name written Mosier, Mozier, Mozear,
and Mozliear. Mosier, I believe, was the correct way of spelling the
name.
5
34 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
EHphalet Watson, Clement Harvey, Bartholomew Thorn,
John Irish, John Eayr, Jacob Hamblen, Benjamin Skillings,
and others, moved into the town as settlers.
HARDSHIPS OF THE SETTLERS. 35
CHAPTEE V.
HARDSHIPS OF THE SETTLERS.
It required no small share of courage, firmness, and enter-
prise, to go into the wilderness and commence a settlement
at that period. Let us, for a moment, contemplate the sit-
uation of the Province of Maine at the time when Capt.
Phinney began the settlement of this town. There were
but nine towns and a few feeble plantations in Maine ; Port-
land, Saco, and Scarborough, were but just recovering from
their recent destruction by the Indians. A second line of
townships from the coast had just been located, and were
frontier places — all back of them was wilderness. The In-
dians, though nominally at peace, were restless, discon-
tented, jealous, and meditated revenge for past chastisements
and victories obtained over them.
In 1690, all the settlements east of Wells were destroyed.
In the Indian wars from 1703 to 1713, Maine lost one-third
of all her population ; and a large proportion of the personal
property was destroyed ; through extreme want and suffer-
ing, many persons were driven away, never to return. In
1724, the Norridgewocks were broken up ; in 1725, Capt.
Lovell and his company killed or dispersed the Pequawket
Indians at Fryeburg. In 1736, the whole population of
Maine was probably not more than 7000. In 1735-6 and 7,
the scarlet fever, or (as it was usually called) throat distem-
per, raged throughout Maine, and more than five hundred
36 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
persons died with that disease ; in some towns it was pe-
culiarly fatal ; in Scarborough, no one attacked with the
distemper recovered.
The inhabitants in all the new tOAvns, suffered greatly
from want of food, clothing, and comfortable houses ; while
dano-er from the Indians was constant and pressing. Fam-
ine, massacre, and captivity, threatened them continually.
It required men like the Puritans, to undertake and carry
throuo-h the hazardous enterprise of settling new towns
among savage beasts and savage men.
The early fathers of Gorham were persons of such char-
acters. The first settlers of our town were from a noble
stock ; the direct descendants of the Pilgrims. Almost all
the first inhabitants were from the old Colony ; nearly every
town on Cape Cod contributed one or more settlers for Nar-
ragansett. No. 7. The Grantees, Capt. John Gorham and
company, belonged to the following towns, viz : forty from
Barnstable — thirty-nine from Yarmouth — twenty-two from
Eastham — seven from Sandwich — three from Plymouth — six
from Duxbury — and one from each of the towns of Abing-
ton and Scituate — besides Captain Gorham, who was a
Yarmouth man. The wives and daughters of the first set-
tlers of Gorham, shared in all the toils and wants of their
husbands and fathers ; they used to labor in the field and
the forest, carry burdens, go to mill, gather the harvest
and assist in the defences of their households and their
property.
Our early inhabitants partook largely of the character of
their ancestors. They were a hardy, enterprising, virtuous
race of men ; of indomitable courage — unbending firmness
— uncompromising integrity — sober, industrious, frugal, and
temperate in all things. They were distinguished for endur-
ing fortitude and open-handed hospitality. They were not
eminent for attainments in literature or the sciences ; they
HARDSHIPS OF THE SETTLERS. 37
were not deficient In talents, but tliey had not leisure or
opportunity for the cidtivation of letters. They did all
they could do, and more than might have been expected of
them to do, in such times, and in their position. In their
humble dwellings in the wilderness, they had little leisure
for the study of books, had they possessed them. Their
minds were incessantly occupied in devising ways to obtain
sustenance and clothing for themselves and families, and in
providing means for defence against artful and revengeful
foes. Exhausted with labors, and worn with anxious cares,
they could not be expected to attend to the elegancies and
blandishments of older and wealthier communities.
They might at this day be called intolerant in their reli-
gious views and practices ; but they were in this respect,
like other sects of their age. Undoubtedly they were zeal-
ous for what they considered to be the truth. A stern and
somewhat severe morality prevailed among the Puritans ;
and it would have been strange if their immediate descend-
ants had not been somewhat like their fathers, folio win s
their advice, obeying their precepts, and living according to
their example.
Our Puritan fathers felt conscious that religion, virtue
and knowledge, were essential to good government, and the
permanent welfare of the community ; hence they spared
no pains to support the gospel, to inculcate morality in the
minds of their childi-en, and to provide means for their edu-
cation. At the very first meeting of the Proprietors of this
town, one of their first votes was to provide for preaching
and religious instruction. They never forgot the great and
momentous object for which the Pilgrims settled in New
England, — religious freedom and liberty of conscience.
They entered the wilderness for purity of religion ; to found
a religious commonwealth ; to raise up a pious race. Un-
like the Spanish adventurers in South America, they thirst-
38 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
ed not for a career of military glory ; they clierished no
extravagant ambition ! They looked not on immeasurable
landsj with the longing eye of cupidity ; they expected no
brilliant success, nor anticipated finding crystal streams
whose sands sparkled with gold ! They sought not the sun-
ny plains and exuberant verdure of the south ! They sought
not a clime gay with perennial ilowers, with a balmy atmos-
phere, or Italian skies ; they sought not a land of gold or of
spices, of wine or of oil. Other and purer wishes were
theirs ; they expected not a life of luxury or ease. Sanctity
of conscience was their great tenet ; " their religion was
their life." Rigorous was the climate, and hard the soil
where they chose to dwell. Here a countless train of priva-
tions and sufferings awaited them, privations and sufferings
that might have made the less brave and energetic quail.
Cold and hunger, and fear of midnight slaughter, or cruel
captivity by savage bands was their portion. Under this
load of evils, what but a firm belief in the sacredness of their
cause, and the consolations derived from the sublime truths
of Christianity could have sustained them. To their reli-
gious belief, their exemplary lives, their untiring persever-
ance and indefatigable industry, are Ave indebted for the
blessings of freedom, plenty, and knowledge now enjoyed
by our citizens. Great are our obligations to our brave
and virtuous fathers ; great also to our noble and heroic
mothers, who dwelt here in the middle of the last century.
Though we have often heard of their labors and sviffei'ings,
it is difficult fully to appreciate them. " Their misery was
great ! For months they had neither meat nor bread," and
often they knew not where to get food for the morrow.
Yet in all their wants and trials, their confidence in the
goodness of God was never shaken.
The first sixteen years after the settlement of Gorham,
were years of great anxiety and suffering ; at one time all
HARDSHIPS OF THE SETTLERS. 39
the provision the family of Capt. Phinney had, for some
days, was two quarts of boiled wheat which had been re-
served for seed.
At that period, all the towns in Maine were obliged to
erect and maintain garrisons, or forts, for places of refuge
against Indian attacks. These forts were constructed of
hewn timber, with palisades of large posts set deep in the
ground, closely together outside the timber, ten or twelve
feet high ; watch boxes were built on the top of the walls ;
the whole was bullet proof. The fort in Gorhara was built
on the 30 acre lot. No. 2, close to the old burying ground,
on what is still called Fort Hill, and wliich is the most
elevated land in the town.
The fort had two six pounder swivels placed at diagonal
corners, for the purpose of defence against the Indians, and
to be fired to alarm the adjoining towns of Buxton and
Windham, when savages were discovered in the vicinity.
The first meeting of the Proprietors was held at the house
of Capt. John Phinney, on the 24th of Nov., 1T41. Moses
Pearson was chosen Moderator, and John Gorham, Clerk ;
two days afterwards, (Nov. 26) the Proprietors voted,
" That a meeting house be built for the worship of God, in
said toAvn, 36 feet long, 20 feet wide, with 20 feet shed ;"
and fifty shillings on a right, (two hundred acres) was
voted, in order to erect said meeting house, and to clear a
suitable tract of land to set the same upon. On the next
Monday, at an adjourned meeting, it was voted, " That
twenty rods square be cleared on the west side of the way
called Kino' Street, in order for buildin<2: a meetino- house
thereon." So soon, and so liberally did the first settlers of
Gorham make provision for religious worship.
At the same meeting it was also voted, " That William
Pote, John Phinney, and Daniel Mozier, be a committee to
lay out a road through the woods, from the end of Gorham
40 ■ HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Street to Saccarappa mills. This road was what is now
called the old County Eoad from Gorham village by James
Phinney's, Benjamin Hosier's and the Tyng place, to Sac-
carappa. In 1743, at a Proprietors' meeting, held Feb. 16,
it was voted, " To raise sixpence on a right, to pay Daniel
Mozier, provided he look out and spot a road direct to
Black Point." At the same meeting, " 400 acres of land
was granted to John Gorham, in that corner of the town-
ship adjoining Falmouth and Presumscot River ; he, the
said Gorham, to finish or cause to be finished, the saw mill
and grist inill that he hath already begun in said township
on Little Eiver." These were the first mills erected in
Gorham.
INDIANS. 41
CHAPTE]^ VI.
IXDIAXS.
It Is not known tliat any Indian tribe ever had a perma-
nent location in this town. It is, however, certain that
many of the natives had a temj^orary residence here. When
white jieople first came liere, they found Indian wigwams,
cultivated corn fields, and well marked Indian trails from
Sebago Lake, Presurascot and Saco rivers. Indian imple-
ments, stone axes, chisels, arrow heads, have been plowed
up within a few years.. Gambo seems to be the only locali-
ty in town that bears an Indian name. Indian Camp Brook,
running by the Longfellow place, and Presumscot River,
are the only other names that remind us of the Aborigines.
Gorham was rather an Indian thorouo;hfare than a home.
Through this township they went to the sea shore in Scar-
borough and Saco, Avhere fish and fowl were abundant.
This township also afforded them good hunting grounds.
Moose, deer, bears, otters, beavers, and foxes Avere plentiful.
They furnished much of the meat, and their skins were val-
uable articles of trade for the first settlers. The Indians
had fishing stations on Presumscot and Little Rivers, where
salmon, shad, alewives and other fish, were taken in great
quantities at certain seasons of the year. The Indians that
frequented this town, when first settled, belonged mostly to
the St. Francois tribe, of Canada. Many of that tribe be
longed originally to the Androscoggins, the Pequawkets, and
6
42 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
tire Osslpees, who had been driven from this part of Maine.
Just before the fifth Indian war broke out, there were more
Indians than whites residing in this town ; they were not
then hostile to the settlers, though they were notorious
thieves and beggars. When war broke out these Indians
retreated to Canada, and joined the French, and being well
acquainted with this part of Maine, they became rangers
and spies, able and willing to lead their warriors and friends
to the feeble white settlements. During the war of 1745-
50, Indians Avere often seen and recognized by citizens of
Gorham, as those they had formerly known as neighbors.
It is related that at one time in a skirmish between some of
our settlers and a war party, one of the young Phinneys
encountered an Indian whom he knew, of about his own age,
who grew up in this town, with whom Phinney had often
played ; but now their meeting was hostile. A few hurried
words passed between them while preparing for a conflict.
They both fired, the Indian's ball just grazed Phinney whose
shot laid his savage antao:onist dead on the o-round.
At another time young William McLellan, (or young
Bill, as he Avas called,) while hoeing corn, discovered a
young Indian whom he had formerly well known; the native
was crawling stealthily to the end of the row of corn that
Bill was hoeing. McLellan had his gun in the field, but it
was some rods back, by a large stumps. Bill turned back
with his hoe, cutting down a weed or two, as if to hoe his
corn better ; he reached the stump and crawled round it so
as to interpose the stump between him and the Indian, and
then crept undiscovered to some bushes — the savage sup-
posing Bill was by the stump, silently crawled to it, and
raising himself cautiously was looking round ; Bill had a
fair aim, and calling to his former playmate, said, " you
no shoot young Bill this time," fired instantly and wounded
the Indian, who placed his hand over the wound, and ran
INDIANS. 43
for the woods, exclaiming, " Bill, you shoot him well this
time." The gun barrel with which young Bill shot the In-
dian, is now (1861) in the possession of Col. Hugh D. Mc-
Lellan of Gorham.
In 1745, what is called the fifth Indian war broke out.
Narragansett, No. 7, being a frontier town, was entirely ex-
posed to assaults from the savages ; the few inhabitants
were obliged to be on watchful guard day and night ; often
compelled to fly to garrison ; to labor with arms in their
hands ; their crops were injured or destroyed ; their fences
broken down ; their cattle killed ; their buildings burned ;
themselves killed or carried captive to Canada.
These aggravated and repeated distresses disheartened
some of the settlers ; they abandoned their houses and fields,
and removed to places less liable to attack. In Gorham the
settlers lived for years in a state of painful anxiety ; they
were prevented from cultivating their lands ; their mills
were burned ; and the distressed families, shut up in the
fort, were in danger of starvation ! At the commencement
of this French and Indian war, there were eighteen families
in this town ; nine of which moved into the garrison where
they were closely shut up for four years. They were in the
fortress seven years. Eleven soldiers were furnished by the
government of Massachusetts to assist in protecting the gar-
rison and procuring the necessaries of life.
Nine families removed into the fort, viz : those of Capt.
John Phinney, Jacob Hamblen, Daniel Hosier, Hugh Mc-
Lellan, Clement Harvey, John Eced, Edward Cloutman,
Jeremiah Hodgdon and Eliphalet Watson.
Those who left the town were William Bote, James Irish,
John Eayr, Caleb Cromwell, Ebenezer Hall, William Cot-
ton, Benjamin Shillings, and Benjamin Stevens. Of these
most went to Falmouth, a few to Massachusetts ; nearly all
of them returned to the town after the war closed, and set-
tled on their lands.
44 HISTOPwY OF GORHAM.
The 19th of April, (old style) corresponding to April 30
now, was a disastrous day to the little band of settlers in
Gorham. On that sad day, a family of the name of Bryant
was cut off by Indian cruelty ! The father and children
slain in a barbarous manner ! the wife and mother carried
away, heart-broken, into captivity, and two of the most
hardy and effective men, Eeed and Cloutman, taken prison-
ers, and marched through the woods to Canada. On that
morning there were four families that had not removed to
the garrison, viz : Bryant's, Reed's, Cloutman's and Mc-
Lellan's. Bryant contemplated moving the day preceding
the massacre, but concluded to defer it one day longer to
complete some family arrangement. They had an infant
but two weeks old ; the mother wished to have a cradle for
her little one, and said if the father would remain in their
dwelling that day and make the cradle, she would risk her
scalp one day longer ! That risk was a fatal one ! A party
often Indian warriors had entered the town unknown to the
inhabitants. Some of the savages had previously lived in the'
toAvn ; they knew the people and where they lived ; they
ascertained who had not removed to the fort. Their inten-
tion was to take the four families captive without alarming
the garrison ; for this purpose they divided into parties.
Early in the morning of the day before named, Bryant and
his eldest son went to a field to repair fences ; one of the
Indian parties came upon them, and as they were not able
to capture them, they shot Bryant and his son, as they en-
deavored to escape to the fort. The place where Mr.
Bryant was killed, is on the low ground st)uth of where
Nathaniel Hamblen now lives, and near the main road.
Bryant's house stood about fifty rods northerly of where
George Pendleton, Esq., lives, near where a town road
crosses Fort Hill road, about half a mile northerly from
Gorham Seminary. The savages then proceeded to Bry-
INDIANS. 4o
ant's house, and murdered and scalped four of his children !
They dashed out the brains of the infant against the stone
fire place ! The agonized and frantic mother, feeble and
powerless, had to witness the destruction of all that was
dear to her heart ! to leave her husband dead in the way,
and the mangled bodies of her loved and innocent children
in her desolate mansion, and with feelino^s of bitter ano-uish,
which none may describe, under the weight of her terrible
bereavement, go captive Avith the destroyers of all her
earthly happiness, through pathless forests, tangled swamps,
and over rugged mountains, to a people whose language
she could not understand, and Avho were her enemies and
the enemies of her people, kindred and friends !
Hugh McLellan's family lived near where Asa Palmer,
Esq., now resides ; Eeed lived on what is called the Miller
place, now owned by George Pendleton, Esq. ; Edward
Cloutman, (or Cloudman, as the name is now generally
spelled) lived on the Col. Nath'l Frost farm, a little above
Reed's, while Bryant's house was some thirty rods above
Cloutman's, and nearer the fort. All about half a mile
southerly of the garrison.
The following account of the Indian attack at Gorliam,
April 19, 1746, is compiled from a Manusci'ipt kindly loaned
me by Col. Hugh D. McLellan, who wrote it from the rela-
tion of Mrs. Abigail McLellan, some forty years ago. Mrs.
McLellan died about 1821, at an advanced age ; she was a
girl at the time of the massacre, living in her father's family,
and well remembered the terrible events she related : —
" All the families remaining; in Gorham had removed into
the fort during the winter and early part of spring, except
four ; they remained on their lands, hoping to get their
ploughing and sowing done, so they might raise some crops.
Capt. John Phinney, the patriarch of the settlement, who
exercised a fatherly care over the weak and feeble planta-
46 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
tion, was urgent to have all in the garrison ; he feeling cer-
tain that the Indians would be upon them as soon as the
ground was bared of snow. As the spring opened he en-
treated the settlers to make no delay about moving into the
fort, a place of comparative safety, and where they might
unite in defending each other. The forwardness of the
season increased his anxiety.
" On the evening of the 18th of April, the McLellan fam-
ily had completed their day's labor, and were assembled in
their log house ; they expected to complete their work in a
field the next day, and then designed to move immediately
into the garrison. The evening was pleasant and warm ;
their door was open, and their family dog reclining outside,
on the ground ; suddenly the dog growled and became excit-
ed, and acted as if he discovered danger ; the dog's conduct
alarmed the family, and they uttered the word, Indians I
The door was quickly closed and fastened ; their light was
extinguished ; the windows, small openings cut in the logs
of which the house was built, covered and fastened ; blan-
kets were hung around the fire place, so that no light
might be seen outside, few words were spoken, and those
in a low tone. There were four guns in the house, and
two male persons, (Hugh McLellan and his son William)
■capable of using them. And Mrs. McLellan was not much
inferior to her husband in streno;th and couratje. When
the McLellans had put their house in the best state for
defense their means offered, they had a milk-pan full of
gun-powder, and lead enough, but it was not in balls.
Here was work for female hands, and while Mr. Mc-
Lellan and William lay by the loop holes, each with one
gun pointed outside and another Avithin reach, Mrs. Mc-
Lellan was by the fire, behind the screen, with her little
daughter Abigail, melting lead in an iron skillet, and with an
iron spoon turning it into a bullet mould, and then making
INDIANS. 47
b<all cartridges. No one in the house closed their eyes
that night ! The tedious hours passed on ; the morning
came ; all was fair nnd peaceful Avithout, nor could any
indications of Indians be discovered, and the McLellans
concluded that the alarm of the dog was caused by some
wild animal. Mr. McLcllan decided to go to his work, and
finish it that day, and then go immediately into garrison.
They yoked their oxen, and he and his son went to his field,
charging Mrs. McLellan to keep the dog at home, to be
watchful, and on any alarm, to blow the horn. Before they
left the house, a neighbor, Mr. John Reed, came to borrow
a chain ; to him they made known their apprehensions.
Reed said he had seen nothing unusual, and did not think
the Indians were in the neighborhood ; no signs of them
had been seen, and he should finish his work before he moved
into the fort. Reed took the chain, put it on his shoul-
der and started for home. When he arrived at the brook
about a quarter of a mile north of Gorham Academy, (now
called " Tommy's brook) he was suddenly set upon by two
powerful Indians, who had secreted themselves in the bush-
es. Reed was brave and athletic, but was unarmed ; the-
two Indians overpowered him, bound him securely, and
took him to Canada. After the close of the war, he return-
ed home. The McLellan family owed their escape to the
capture of Reed, as the Indians who took him were on their
way to McLellan's house, but, having taken Reed, and there
being two men at McLellan's, it would have been hazai'dous
to have made an attack then. In their conflict with Bryant,,
the Indians had fired a gun and broken Bryant's arm ; he
attempted to get to the fort ; he reached the small brook
southerly of Nathaniel Hamblen's house, the Indians press-
ing hard upon him ; Bryant discovered, on the top of the
hill where Hamblen now lives, Mr. Daniel Mosier, with his
gun on his shoulder, coming towards them ; Bryant called
48 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
to Mosier to fire on the Indians, but Hosier was a long gun-
shot off, and did not know the number of Indians there ;
at that moment the nearest Indian sprang upon Bryant, and
Avith rapid bloAvs of the tomahawk, dispatched him before
Mosier was hardly conscious of what was taking place. He
returned to the fort and gave the alarm. Mrs. McLellan,
hearing the gun fired at Bryant, directed her little daughter
Abigail, about twelve years of age, to go to Mr. Bryant's
and enquire what the gun was fired for, but the child, being
afraid, secreted herself. When the mother discovered her
she again ordered her to o;o ; the distance was short and she
soon arrived at the Bryant house. She entered, and the
sight that presented itself to her astonished eyes paralyzed
her voice and limbs for the moment. On the floor lay the
four children in their blood ! They all fell under the toma-
hawk except the babe. The eldest daughter was alive ; she
called Abigail by name and asked for water, but Abigail
was stricken with horror and heeded her not ! instantly she
was flying home, nor stopped to look around. She reached
her father's house and fell prostrate at the door. Her mother
took her up, laid her on a bed, and immediately blew the
horn for her husband and son to come. Animation revived
in the girl, and she uttered the word "Indians !" and fainted
again. Mr. McLellan heard the horn and hastily ran home,
leaving his oxen in the yoke. Abigail, on recovering from
her swoon, related what she had seen at Bryant's house.
Mr. McLellan immediately put his house in a position to re-
sist a sudden attack or to stand a seige. Water was pro-
cured, windows and doors made close and fast. They knew
not the extent of the Indians' success, whether all the neigh-
bors were killed, or taken prisoners ; nor did they feel sure
of the safety of the fort ; but they determined to resist the
savages if an attack was made on their house. It was not
Jong before they heard the report of the alarm gun, (a six
INDIANS. 49
pounder at the fort) which was to give notice of the pres-
ence of the enemy in the neighborhood, and to warn all out
of the fort to watch against surprise. Capt. Phinney and
the other persons in the fort were apprised that the Indians
were around them by the report of Mr. Mosier, but they
knew nothing of their numbers, or the extent of their depre-
dations beyond the fact that Mr. Bryant was killed ; they
did not therefore deem It prudent, with their small force, to
leave the garrison. Bryant's house was but half a mile dis-
tant from the fort, but as most of the intervening space was
covered with a thick wood and bushes where the enemy
might lay in ambush and come upon them by surprise, or
shoot them from the thickets, they made the entrances to
the fort secure and kept a careful watch. Thus the day
passed, and none arriving at the fort, its inmates supposed
the four families remaining out were all either killed or taken
captives.
" The McLellan family maintained anxious watching all
that day and the following night. The next day, about
noon, men were seen coming over what is now called the
Academy hill, towards McLellan's house. At first sight
they Avere supposed to be Indians, but they proved to be a
scouting party going to the fort ; there were about a dozen
armed men from Falmouth, (Portland.) The alarm gun
had been heard, and they were thus notified that Indians
were about Gorham or Windham. At Saccarappa the
scouting party divided and part went to Windham. The
party for Gorham came to McLellan's house, where they
were joyfully received. McLellan's oxen, still yoked, were
found in the woods, near by where they had been left the
morning before ; what furniture they had was quickly load-
ed on a cart, and, under the protection of the scout, they
started for the fort. Near Bryant's house they met a party
from the /ort, who had ventured out that day to learn some-
7
50 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
thing of the extent of the mischief done by the savages.
The bodies of Mr. Bryant and his children were carried to
the fort and buried near by, with due f»ropriety." The
family of Reed was immediately removed to the garrison,
Avhere all the occupants remained for nearly seven years ;
where they were many times greatly distressed for food, and
scantily supplied Avitli clothing.
Cloutman's family had removed from the garrison some
days before the Indian attack. He had gone to his field to
complete some sowing of his grain ; he was there discov-
ered by the Indians ; they were very desirous of capturing
him ; they knew he was the owner of a very good gun,
which they greatly coveted and had often endeavored to
obtain. Cloutman was a powerful man, in the full vigor of
his muscular strength, in the prime of life. The Indians
thought his capture would be a heavy and discouraging
blow to the settlers in Gorham. There were eight Indians
in the party that captured him. Cloutman was alone in his
field, sowing wheat ; as soon as his back was turned towards
them, five of the savages ran towards him ; he discovered
them and ran for Mr. Bryant's house ; coming to the fence,
where he had a short time before placed brush, in trying to
leap over the fence he became entangled and fell back ; he
rose and tried a second time, but did not succeed ; then two
Indians sprang toward him ; Cloutman knocked them down ;
a third Indian he put under his feet ; two more savages
came up with guns leveled at his breast ; Cloutman then
surrendered. Had it not been for the brush that entan-
gled him, he would probably have saved himself and the
Bryant fiimily. As it was he was carried to Canada, and
was confined with about one hundred other captives, near
the mouth of the river Sorell. Cloutman was more than
six feet tall, and weighed 220 pounds. By his neighbors
he was called the Giant — more on account of his strength
INDIANS. 51
than his size. After arriving in Canada, he wrote his wife
a letter, which she received in September following, relating
the particulars of his capture. He informed her that they
took him, and Reed, and Mrs. Bryant, westerly, down the
stream near where Mr. Robert Files lately lived, and re-
mained concealed there all day. At night two Indians
approached the fort so near they could hear the voices of
the inmates. About midnight they waded Little River.
Mrs. Bryant being very feeble, Mr. Cloutman carried her
on his back over all the streams, and many miles besides,
where the travelling was bad. The second day they en-
camped on the banks of Saco River. They followed this
stream and passed through the notch of the White Moun-
tains, and thence proceeded northerly to Canada. When
they arrived there, Cloutman and Reed were confined in a
large building, under guard, with other captives ; but Mrs.
Bryant was sold for a domestic in a French family. The
able-bodied male prisoners were daily taken from the prison
and compelled to work on the French fortifications. Mr.
Cloutman and a Mr. Dunbar planned an escape by dig-
ging out under their prison walls. They had laid by a
part of their daily allowance of food to eat on their way
home, and were waiting for a favorable night to break out ;
but they were betrayed by an Irishman, who was going
with them. They were more strictly watched till cold
weather. About the first of November, Cloutman and
Dunbar escaped, on a stormy night. They were not missed
for two or three days ; then a large scout of French and
Indians went in pursuit of them, but did not find them. It
was supposed they were drowned in attempting to swim
across a bay of Lake Champlain, as the next spring the
skeletons of two men were found on the shore of the lake,
with their clothes tied to the back of their heads, and in one
garment was found a pocket compass, Avhich was identified
as one Cloutman had in Canada.
52 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
After peace was made, an Indian came to Gorham, and
called on Clontman's widow, and with a beaver skin wanted
to buy an axe. She would not sell him her axe. He then
went to Mr. Dennis Larry's house and traded with him.
The Indian told Mr. Larry, that he was one of the party
that captured Cloutman, and told how they did it. He
said, " Strong man Cloutman. He beat two Indians so
they died before they got to Canada." The Avidow of
Cloutman afterwards married Mr. Abraham Anderson, of
Windham, and she died In that town, December 1st, 1802,
aged 84 years. She was the grandmother of the Hon.
John Anderson, late of Portland, and Hon. Edward Ander-
son, of Windham, and Mrs. Ann Waterman, wife of Dr.
John Waterman, of Gorham. Edward Cloutman left a son
and a daughter ; the latter died unmarried. His son Timo-
thy married Katy Partridge. They left a numerous family,
who were respectable and useful citizens of Gorham, and
several of his descendants still reside in this town.
During the Indian war. Col. Edmund Phinney, then a
young man, was one evening about half a mile easterly from
the fort, in pursuit of cows ; he was fired upon by a party
of Indians, laying in ambush, three balls struck Phinney
and wounded him severely, he succeeded In keeping his gun
and reaching the fort ; his left arm was broken, and as there
was no doctor in the fort, the next day two men walked
through the forest with him to Portland, where the frac-
tured arm, and his other gun-shot wounds, were attended
to by Dr. Coffin.
Some years after the Indian attack In 1746, a young man,
Bartholomew Thorn, while going home to the fort one day,
was taken by the Indians, and carried captive to Canada.
He remained a year or two with the St. Francois" tribe, and
was then sold to a French gentleman at Montreal. Thorn
was treated kindly by the Frenchman, and was his master's
INDIANS. 53
gardener. He did not like this monotonous life, and after
seven years' absence lie returned to Gorliam. Previous to
his being taken captive, he was a noted hunter and trapper ;
he knew all the streams and lakes in Gorhara, Buxton,
Standish and AYindham. Thorn was well known to several
Indians, who resorted to those towns, and had an intimate
acquaintance with some of them ; he sometimes hunted with
them, slept in their wigwams, and shared their food. The
savages thought him a trespasser on their hunting grounds.
He would often remain in the forests weeks at a time, subsist-
ing on game. He was taciturn and cautious ; had a quick
eye and ear, a sinewy frame, and possessed undaunted cour-
age. The Indians accused him of not only tresspassing on
their lands, but of robbing their traps. There is a tradition
that an Indian, on one occasion, went to examine his traps
near the mouth of Little Eiver in Gorham, and he found the
leg of a large otter In his trap. On examination he discov-
ered that the leg had been disjointed by a sharp knife. The
Indian at once surmised that Thorn had taken his otter-
After an examination of his trap, and the ground and leaves
near by, he thought the trespass had not long been commit-
ted, and that the plunderer could not be far off. With In-
dian sagacity he discovered and followed the trail ; he had
not gone far when he discovered a smoke ; as he approached
he saw Thorn In the act of cooking some game, and near
by what he thought was the skin of his otter. The Indian
showed himself and told Thorn that he had stolen his otter.
Thorn replied that the otter was his own ; the Indian raised
his gun. Thorn seized his ; the Indian's gun missed fire :
instantly Thorn discharged his, and the next minute the
Indian lay dead on the ground. The caj)ture of Thorn was
the last Indian mischief done In Gorham. After about seven
years' absence. Thorn returned to this town, but the settlers
cleared up the land, and tliis made game scarce. Thorn
54 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
did not like to have so many neighbors, and in June, 1775,
he removed to what is now the town of Baklwin, and was the
first settler of that town, and his son William was the first
white child born in that place. Thorn for many years tend-
ed the first o-rist-mill in Baldwin ; he died in that town about
1820, being over ninety years of age. He continued to
hunt, trap, and fish, up to the latter years of his life.
It is said that one day, during this Indian war, that five
savages were killed on the Fort Hill road near the brook,
southerly of Nath'l Hamblen's house ; three of them fell by
the gun of William McLellan. At another time, when all
the men were out of the fort, working together, (as was the
custom for greater safety) an old dog at the fort, by bark-
ing and frantic gestures, awakened the suspicions of the
females in the garrison ; they closed the gate, and Mrs. Mc-
Lellan (the wife of Hugh) ascended to the watch box, and
carefully scanning the bushes and stumps in the vicinity,
discovered an Indian behind a bush ; she got a loaded
musket and watched at the port-hole. Soon the Indian rose
cautiously, surveying the fort. He stood in full view, Mrs.
McLellan fired, — her shot took effect. The men hearing
the report of the gun, came running to the fort to learn the
cause ; when told, they were incredulous, as they had not
seen or tracked any Indians ; but Mrs. McLellan insisted
-that she had killed, or desperately wounded an Indian.
The spot was examined where she said the Indian stood, a
pool of blood was found, and a trail of blood followed some
way into the woods. Probably his companions carried the
wounded Indian away. Mrs. McLellan lived to a great
age, and always asserted that she killed or severely wounded
the savage. While this Indian war lasted, the settlers of
Gorham were constantly harrassed by the savages, though
eleven soldiers were sent by Massachusetts government for
their protection. In the Avintcr when their footsteps could
INDIANS. 55
be seen in the snow, the Indians avoided the settlements,
because the rangers or scouts could track and follow them.
In the spring, summer and autumn, much of the exposed
property in this town was destroyed. Cattle, horses, and
swine were killed, and their growing crops in their fields
destroyed or plundered. This war of ambuscade, massacre,
and conflagration, kept the people in continual terror and
agitation ; nor did they feel secure till 1759, when Quebec
capitulated to the army of Wolfe, and France lost her em-
pire, and with it her influence over the savages in North
America.
iyii HISTORY OF GORHAM.
CHAPTEE VII.
PROGKESS OF THE TOWN.
After the termination of liostilities, and the fear of Indian
assaults was removed, most of the old settlers returned to
the places they had left. Many new settlers came, and im-
provements and buildings went forward. The last rej)airs
done to the fort were in 1760, when one shilling and four
pence per foot was voted to Hugh McLellan for stockading
the fort, with spruce, pine, or hemlock posts, thirteen feet
long, and ten inches diameter, with a lining of hcAvn timber
six inches thick. During the war, public worship was held
in the southeast bastion, or flanker of the fort. At a meet-
ing of the Proprietors, held at the fort, February 26, 1760,
*' Capt. John Waite, Moses Pearson, Esq., and Mr. Wil-
liam Cotton, were chosen a committee to consider of buikling
a meeting house, where to set said house, and how big to
build it."
At the same meeting it was voted to raise and assess on
the several rights of land, £QQ, 13s. 4d., towards building
a meeting house ; that meeting house was completed in
1761. In 1763, the first bridge over Presumscot River be-
tween the towns of Gorliam and Windham was erected.
The inhabitants increased, and in 1761, a movement began
for the pui'pose of an incorporation of the town. And at a
meeting of the Proprietors, held January 20, 1762, there
was an article in the warrant for calling the meeting, " to
PROGRESS OF THE TOAVN. 57
choose an Agent to oppose the petition of a number of the
inhabitants of Gorhamtown, who pray that the lands in
said town might be incorporated into a town, district or
parish, vested with powers and privikiges as in all like
cases." The incorporation of the town was strongly op-
posed by many of the non-resident proprietors, because they
apprehended their taxes would be nuich increased if the
town was organized.
The inhabitants increased rapidly, and the residents in
town pressed for an incorporation, and in 1764 the toM'nship
was estimated to contain 340 souls. The town was incorpor-
ated in 1764, October 24, by the General Court of Massa-
chusetts. It was the twentieth town incorporated in Maine.
The first town meeting was held in pursuance of a war-
rant from the Hon. Stephen Longfellow, at the meeting
house in Gorham, February 18, 1765 ; at which meeting
Capt. John Phinney was chosen Moderator, Amos Whitney
Town Clerk ; Benjamin Skillings, Amos Whitney, and
Joseph Weston, Selectmen, and Edmund Phinney, Treas-
urer. Not less than twelve town meetino-s were held that
year, viz: on Feb. 18th, March 12th, March 21st, April
29th, May 16th, May 30th, Aug. 1st, Aug. 10th, Aug.
20th, Sept. 2d, Dec. 12th, and Dec. 19th. Eoads and
bridges were needed ; town lines had to be run and settled,
and various other municipal affairs required attention. The
town was a local Parish, and religious and moral matters
claimed and received a large share of the consideration of
the settlers. The first inhabitants of Gorham Avere deci-
dedly a religious people. Springing from the old Puritans
of Plymouth Colony, when they emigrated they took with
them the Puritan faith, customs, manners, and religious
ordinances. It required men like the Puritans to undertake
and carry through the hazardous enterprise of settling new
towns among savage beasts and savage men.
Ki
58 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Such were the early settlers of Gorham ; they were a
hardy, enterprising, courageous, virtuous race of men and
women, distinguished for fortitude, temperance and open-
handed hospitality ; and above all, for their piety. They
were deeply conscious that true religion was essential to
good government, and the permanent welfare of the commu-
nity, they spared no pains to support the gospel.
At the very first meeting of the Proprietors in this town,
in a poor log house, surrounded by the forest, one of their
first votes was to provide for preaching and religious instruc-
tion. Their church system was Congregational ; they were
all, (or nearly all) orthodox Congregationalists, and were
zealous for what they considered to be the truth. A stern
and somewhat severe morality prevailed everywhere among
the Puritans ; they might at this day have been called intol-
erant in their religious views and practices, but they were
in this respect, like other sects of their age. They never
forgot the great and momentous object for which the Pil-
grims settled in New England, religious freedom and liberty
of conscience.
At that first Proprietors' meeting they voted, " That a
meeting house be built for the worship of God in said town,
36 feet long and 26 feet wide, with a 20 feet shed, and fifty
shillino-s on a rio-ht of land was voted in order to erect said
house, and to clear a suitable tract of land to set the same
upon."
At the next meeting it was voted, " That twenty rods
square be cleared on the west side of the way called King
Street, in order for building a meeting house thereon." So
soon, and so liberally did the first settlers of Gorham make
provision for religious worship. At that time, (1741) there
were not more than twelve or fourteen families in town. In
1764, the second meeting house was erected. In 1792, it
was voted, " To enlarge tlie house thirty feet to the south-
PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 69
ward." In 1797, it was voted, " To dispose of the old meet-
ing house and buikl a new one." In 1798, the Parish
gave " the Corner School Class the old meeting house,
provided the said Class would build a school house large
enough to accommodate the town to do their town busi-
ness in."
In June, 1797, the present meeting house of the First
Parish was erected. At the time of raising the frame, a
melancholy accident occurred — a part of the frame gave
way, and two persons — Doct. Nathaniel Bowman and James
Tryon — were killed. In 1828, this meeting house was en-
larged and altered ; the old square pews, with seats hung
with hinges, were removed, and long pews, with fixed seats,
introduced, and the galleries were taken away. Another
alteration was made in 1848 ; a new jDulpit and new slips, or
pews, without doors, were constructed — several new pews
added — windows, with large squares of glass, and aisles and
slips, completed — a chandelier and a clock were added.
Previous to this an organ was introduced ; since then gal-
leries have again been erected.
Before the incorporation of the town in 1764, preachers
were hired by the proprietors, aided by the voluntary con-
tributions of the citizens.
60 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
CHAPTEE VIII.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
The first clergyman employed in Gorliam was a Mr.
Benjamin Crocker from Cape Cod ; lie was hired for six
months at £3 10s. per week, and preached here from Febru-
ary 16th, 1743, to September following, when he was paid
<£60, old tenor, (45 shillings to the dollar.) Mr. Crocker
o;raduated at Harvard Colleo;e in 1713.
The correspondence with Mr. Crocker was by a commit-
tee ; their letter to him was as follows : —
" For the Rev. Benjamin Crocker at Ipswitch, per Capt.
Phinney :
GoRHAMTOAVN, SO called, Feb. 16, 1742-3.
Mr. Crocker, Sir : — We, the subscribers. Being this day
at a Proprietors' meeting, Chosen to get a minister to
Preatch to the Inhabitants for five or six months to Come,
and We are informed by Mr. Jno. Phinney that you signi-
fied to him you wold come and Preatch if We Desired It :
And these ai-e to Desier you to come and Preach there the
time above mentioned or Less time or as may sute your
conveniency, and We shall Ecadily pay you Reasonable
Demands, and must refer you to Mr. Jno. Phinney for partic-
ulars by Whome this comes. With expectation of your com-
plyance, we remain your humble Servants,
MOSES PEARSON,
WM. POTE,
WM. COTTON,
BENJA. SKILLINGS,
JNO. GORHAM.
ECCLESIASTICAL. 61
We, the subscribers, Engage to pay the sum of three
pounds, ten shillings. Old Tenor, for what time you may
preatch to the above Inhabitants, that is, so much per Sab-
bath as Sixty pounds will satisfy, there being so much voted
for that use.
MOSES PEARSON,
WM. POTE,
WM. COTTON,
JNO. GORHAM,
BENJA. SKILLINGS."
Then follows Mr. Crocker's account, thus :
" An account of what I received for preaching at Gor-
hamtown.
Of Mr. Cotton, _ - -
Of Mr. Pote,
Of Mr. Cobb, for Phinncy,
Of Mr. Pearson, - - -
Of Mr. Jno. Eager, -
Of Mr. Benja. Sldllins,
Of Mr. Benja. Stevens, -
Of Mr. McAllen, (McLellan?)
Of Mr. Jeremiah Hodgdon,
Of Capt. Gorham,
Of Mr. Pote, for boarding.
Of Mr. Cotton, - - -
Of Mr. Cotton,
Of Mr. Pearson, -
£
s.
B.
11
10
00
2
00
00
- 1
00
00
5
00
00
-
10
00
3
10
00
- 3
10
00
3
10
00
-
10
00
10
00
- 9
00
00
10
00
00
- 5
10
00
£56
00
00
4
00
00
£60
00 00
62 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Falmouth, Sept. 19, 1743.
Received of the Committee of Gorhamtown, sixty pounds
old tenor, which is in full for preaching at Gorhamtown —
I say received per me.
BENJA. CROCKER.
MR. LOMBARD.
In September, 1750, the proprietors of this town voted to
give Mr. Solomon Lombard a call to settle here in the
work of the gospel ministry; his salary was to be X53 6s.
8d. annually, and to receive the lots of land reserved for
the first settled minister, and the use of the parsonage land
during his ministry. Lot No. 57, first Division, being a 30
acre lot, now a part of the old Phinney farm, on Fort Hill,
where the family of George Hunt now live, was confirmed
to him and his heirs for one of the minister lots. Mr. Lom-
bard was a native of Truro, Cape Cod, and graduated at
Harvard College in 1723. He was ordained at Gorham,
Dec. 26, 1750 ; the first .settled minister of Portland, Rev.
Thomas Smith, preached the ordination sermon; one dollar
on each right of land in Gorham was assessed ($120) to
defray the expenses of the ordination ; the accounts of these
^expenses are curious, as showing what articles were deemed
necessary for an ordination dinner, the value of such articles,
.and the price of services. Some of these are as follows :
£ s. D.
1 Barrel of Flour, - - - 14 07 06
3 Bushels of Apples, - - - 2 08 00
2 Barrels of Cider, - - - 9 00 00
2 Gallons of Brandy, - - - 5 00 00
ECCLESIASTICAL. 63
£ s. D.
1 Bottle of Vinegar, - - - 05 00
29 Pounds of Sugar, - - - 8 14 00
1 Tea Pot, ----- 1 10 00
4 Gallons of Rum, - - - - 5 04 00
2 Bushels of Cranberries, - - 2 00 00
1 Pound of Tea, - - - - 10 00
1 " of Ginger, - - - 02 00
Two Cheeses, 6d. per lb ; 54 1-2 lbs. of Pork, 7d. per lb. ;
6 Candles, Is. ; 1 oz. of Nutmegs, 12d. ; 6 gallons of Mo-
lasses, 23s. 8d. per gallon ; 3 Geese, 3 l-2d. per lb. ; 4 oz.
Pepper, 6d. ; 8 Fowls, 36s. ; 1-2 bushel Onions, and 1-2
bushels of Potatoes.
Two bushels of cranberries to half a bushel of potatoes,
would at this day seem disproportionate, and the brandy,
rum, and cider, would hardly be expected at an ordination
dinner. The committee to furnish supplies were Enoch
Freeman, Samuel Moody and James Milk. Most of the
articles were purchased of Enoch Freeman. One person
was paid for eight days work getting up the stores, for
which he was paid £10 for himself, and X4 for horse labor.
John Irish was paid " <£1 5s. for bringing in the cow, and
10s. for killing the cow ;" the horse keeping, for 19 days
and nights, was X9 10s. OOd. Ten days work of women,
cooking, £5 00s. OOd.
The Proprietors and inhabitants of the town were A'cry
well united in desiring the settlement of Mr. Lombard, but
this unanimity did not long continue ; he and his parishion-
ers did not get along harmoniously. In March, 1757, twen-
ty-one of his hearers addressed a letter to the Proprietors,
requesting that Mr. Lombard might be dismissed ; in it they
say, " Our Rev. Pastor's conduct in the discipline of his
church, hath had such an evil tendency it hath weaned our
affections from him, and in a great measure spoilt his use-
64 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
fulness towards us." They also complain of liis setting
neighbors at variance Avith each other, and of neglecting
ministerial duties to engage in secular business for his own
benefit. In the warrant for a Proprietors' meeting, March
11th, 1767, one of the articles was " to enquire into the
grounds of the difference betwixt the Rev. Mr. Lombard and
the inhabitants of this town." A Council was called to en-
deavor to adjust the difficulties ; for years, however, these
difficulties remained unadjusted. Terms of separation were
finally agreed upon, and Mr. Lombard was dismissed in
1764. During Mr. Lombard's ministry there was a schism
in the church, and a Mr. Townsend preached here to one
section of the people, and from that party received a call to
settle. A Council of ministers was convened, but they re-
fused to ordain Mr. Townsend ; whereupon the part of the
church favorable to Mr. T., proceeded to ordain him ac-
cording to the Cambridge Platform. Parson Smith in his
journal, under date of April 4, 1759, says, " Mr. Townsend
was ordained at Gorham ; Capt. Phinney prayed before the
charge, and Capt. Morton gave it, and Townsend did all
the rest." In a memoir of the Honorable Jeremiah Grid-
ley, who was at that period Attorney General of Massachu-
setts, I find the following incident related : —
" About the year 1760, a Mr. Lombard, the settled min-
ister of the Gospel in Gorham, upon some uneasiness which
arose between him and the people of his charge, had a dif-
ficulty they could not settle ; they mutually agreed to dis-
solve the connexion, and the parsonage being valuable, and
under culture, he was to have its improvement until they
should settle another minister, and Lombard, who was a
gentleman of education, gave a bond in the penal sum of
two or three thousand pounds to Morton and Phinney, two
of the Elders, or Deacons, that upon their settling another
minister he would deliver up the parsonage. In the space
ECCLESIASTICAL. 65
of a year or two, an illiterate man (Townsend) received a
call to settle with them and become their minister. None of
the neighboring ministers or churches would assist in his or-
daination, and thereupon the church proceeded to ordain him
in the Congregational way, by the imposition of the hands
of Morton and Phinney. Afterwards, a suit was brought
upon the bond of Lombard at the Court of Common Pleas ;
the case was argued largely by counsel, and Mr. Lombard
added something to what his counsel had said, to show that
the man inducted to office was not tlie minister meant and
intended by the bond. The verdict was against Mr. Lom-
bard ; he appealed to the Supreme Court, then held at
York, and employed Mr. Gridley for his counsel ; Mr. Grid-
ley introduced a plea, reciting the grant of the township,
Avith the reservation of a parsonage for the use of ii pious ^
learned and orthodox minister, and averred that the town
had not settled such a minister. The counsel for plaintiffs
replied, that they had settled another pious, orthodox min-
ister, omitting the word learned. The answer was adjudged
insufficient, and judgment was rendered in favor of Lom-
bard."
Whether Mr. Townsend preached longer I cannot learn.
He died at Gorham, Sept. 22d, 1762. Mr. Lombard was
dismissed in 1764. He afterwards became an Episcopalian,
and united with a church of that order, and died at Gor-
ham in 1781, leaving numerous descendants, many of whom
now live in Gorham.
After Mr. Lombard ceased preaching in Gorham, he was
soon engaged in public business, and seems to have been a
very popular man. He was commissioned a Justice of the
Peace ; he was largely employed by the Proprietors of the
town, and in County business, acting on important commit-
tees, surveying and locating lands, and was frequently ap-
pointed a referee in difficult cases. He was the first Rep-
9
66 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
resentative of Gorliam In the General Court of Massachu-
setts, having been elected in 1765, the next year after he
was dismissed from his pastoral charge ; he was seven years
a Representative in the Legislature, twice a Delegate to the
Provincial Congress, a Delegate to form the Constitution of
Massachusetts, Chairman of the Committee of Safety and
Vigilance in the early days of the Revolution, afterwards
a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Cumberland
County, from 1776 to 1781, when he died. Mr. Lombard
was an active, industrious, useful man, a gentleman of learn-
ing, talents, and sound sense.
A Mr. Peltiah Tingley preached in Gorham in 1765-6.
He was invited to settle as a pastor, but declined the call.
Mr. Tingley subsequently became a Free Will Baptist, and
settled in Waterborouoh and lived to an advanced age. In
1765, £66, 13s. 4d. Avas voted for the support of the gos-
pel in Gorham, and several town meetings were held for the
purpose of devising ways to obtain continuous preaching in
the town.
MR. THACHER.
Mr. Lombard was succeeded, as the pastor of the Con-
gregational Parish, by the Rev. Josiah Thacher. Mr.
Thacher was a native of Lebanon, Connecticut. He was a
graduate of Princeton College, New Jersey. He preached
in Gorham, as a candidate twenty-four Sabbaths, and was
ordained here, October 28, 1767. He was to have <£100
lawful money as a settlement, and X80 per year while
he remained pastor of the Parish. The Parish and church
were nearly unanimous in their votes to settle Mr. Thacher
on these terms.
ECCLESIASTICAL. 67
Difficulties between Mr. Thacher and his parishioners
soon arose. Many became much opposed to him, and some
disreputable scenes occurred ; these conflicts exerted an un-
favorable influence on religion in the town, and led to many
uncharitable words and deeds. A new religious society,
called Baptists, (resembling the Free Will Baptists, but not
identical with that sect,) was formed in town. Also a so-
ciety of Friends, and a society of Shakers. ]\Iany people
would not pay the ministerial tax for Mr. Thacher's sup-
port, and suits were commenced to coerce payment. These
proceedings exceedingly irritated Mr. Thacher's opponents.
On some occasions he was forcibly prevented from entering
the meeting house to preach. Many town meetings were
held on this subject. At one of which it was voted, " That
Mr. Thacher should no moi'e hold forth or carry on in l^he
pulpit."
At a meeting held Nov. 29th, 1780, Mr. Amos Whitney,
Nathan Whitney, George Hanscom, Samuel Crockett, and
Prince Davis, were chosen " a Committee to wait on Mr.
Thacher and forbid his preaching any more in the meeting
house or any where else in Gorham, under the pretence of
being the town's minister, " as both church and town have
long since rejected him as their minister." At the same
meeting it was voted, " That if Mr. Thacher disregard the
warning from said Committee, and will continue to preach
and hold forth in the meeting house as minister, then in that
case, said Committee shall shut up the meeting house."
Mr. Thacher gave no heed to the warnino; of the Commit-
tee, but continued to preach. The Committee fastened up
the meeting house. Mr. Thacher and his friends, the next
Sabbath, by the aid of ladders, entered the meeting house,
and held the usual services. The Committee then souoht
legal advice, and were told that they themselves were tres-
passers and were liable to prosecution. Ilis o[)poucnts then
QS HISTORY OF GORHAM.
tried to persuade Mr. Thacher to resign. At a town meet-
ing held in February, 1781, Prince Davis, Capt. Samuel
Whitmore and Mr. Samuel Harding, were chosen a Com-
mittee to make proposals to Mr. Thacher, and settle the
conditions [on which his pastoral relations might be dis-
solved. This Committee went about their business, treated
Mr. Thacher in a gentlemanly way, and were met in the same
spirit. Their meetings were numerous, and the whole mat-
ter thoroughly discussed and weighed. The result was that
the town should pay Mr. Thacher £307, or secure the pay-
ment at a given time, and when that should be done, he
agreed to ask and receive a dismissal ; and he was dismissed
in April, 1781. Like his predecessor, Mr. Lombard, he
was employed almost imauediately in political life, and laid
aside the title of Reverend for that of Honorable ; he did
a large business as a Justice of the Peace ; was a Repre-
sentative from the town of Gorham to the General Court
eleven years, then Senator from Cumberland County, and a
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1784 to 1799,
the year he died. His death occurred Dec. 25, of that
year. Mr. Thacher was a descendant of Anthony Thacher,
who was among the early emigrants to New England.
CALEB JEWETT.
Rev. Caleb Jewctt was the next Congregational minister
settled in Gorham. He was a native of Newburyport,
Mass. ; he graduated at Dartmouth College in 1776. At a
town meeting, (the whole town being a territorial Parish)
held August 13, 1781, it was voted, " That Austin Alden
go to Newbury Port and request Mr. Caleb Jewett to preach
in this toAvn three months." And Oct. 15, 1781, " Voted
ECCLESIASTICAL. 69
unanimously to improve either Mr. Caleb Jewett, or Mr.
Joseph Littlefield as a candidate for pastor ;" and then
voted, " That Mr. Austin Alden wait on Mr. Jewett, and
invite him to preach six months." At a town meeting held
January 28, 1782, it was "Voted unanimously (except one)
to concur with the church in requesting Mr. Caleb Jewett
to settle in the work of the gospel ministry in this town."
And at the same time the town " Voted to pay Mr. Jewett
one hundred pounds salary, so long as he continue in the
ministry in this town." At the same time " Voted one hun-
dred and thirty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence
settlement for Mr. Jewett." This attempt to settle Mr.
Jewett failed. New negotiations were set on foot with Mr.
Jewett the next year, (1783.) The town voted in addition
to the sums before voted, to give Mr. Jewett twenty-four
cords of wood annually, to be cut and delivered at his door,
and to fence the Parsonage lots (a thirty acre lot, and one
hundred acre lot) for Mr. Jewett's use." Mr. Jewett ac-
cepted the call on these conditions, and was ordained pastor
of the Congregational Society, Nov. 5, 1783.
Like his predecessor, Mr. Jewett had many difficulties
with his church and parish. After a long negotiation about
the terms of his dismission, his final separation from his
people took place Sept., 1800. He resigned his connection
on the condition of the town's paying him a certain sum of
money, and exempting his property from taxation for a spe-
cified number of years. When the town passed these votes,
and they were sent to Mr. Jewett, he sent a written reply
to the town meeting, saying, —
" I accept your conditions and resign my ministerial of-
fice, and consider it my jubilee. Multum Guadio ! Gua-
dio 3Iultu7n! So I subscribe myself as one worn out in
the service of God, and yours. CALEB JEWETT."
Mr. Jewett died in Gorham, April 16, 1802.
70 HISTORY OF GORIIAM.
JEREMIAH NOTES.
The next Conjrreo-ational minister settled in Gorham was
Rev. Jeremiah Noyes ; he was a native of Newburyport,
and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1799, and was or-
dained at Gorham, Nov. 16, 1803. One condition of Mr.
Noyes' settlement was, that he should take a dismission
whenever two-thirds of the legal voters of the Parish, at a
legal meeting had for that purpose, should request it ; six
months notice to be given. During Mr. Noyes' ministry he
lived on amicable terms with his people ; there seems to
have been no fault found from any quarter, and he died,
very much regretted, January 15, 1807, aged 28 years.
ASA RAND.
Rev. Asa Rand succeeded Mr. Noyes as minister of this
Parish. He was born at Rindge, N. H. ; graduated at Dart-
mouth College in 1806, and Avas ordained at Gorham, Janu-
ary 18, 1809. He was to receive ^680 per year for four
years, and afterwards $600 annually. Mr. Rand was a
sedate, industrious man, a hard student, a strong, lucid
writer, and a solemn preacher. He was strenuously ortho-
dox in principle, uniform and inflexible in maintaining those
views which he deemed right, but never impetuous or rash ;
he was a gentleman of learning and abihty. In consequence
of bodily infirmity, he asked a release from his charge, and
was dismissed, by an ecclesiastical council, June 12, 1822.
During Mr. Rand's pastorate, 73 females and 21 males were
added to the church. After Mr. Rand's dismissal he edited
the Christian Mirror, then the Boston Recorder, afterwards
.the LoAvell Observer — subsequently he resided many years
ECCLESIASTICAL. 71
in Western New York, and now (18G2) lives again in NeAv
Eno-land.
TIIADDEUS POME HOY.
On the same day that Mr. Eand was dismissed, and by
the same Council, Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy was installed as
Pastor over the Congregational Church and Parish in Gor-
ham. Mr. Pomeroy was a native of South Hampton, Mass.,
graduated at Williams College, and studied theology at
Andover. He was first settled in the ministry at Randolph,
Mass., some years before he came to Gorham. He was a
man of exemplary diligence ; often out of health, but ever
industrious. While he was pastor here, a large number were
added to the church ; 72 in 1831. Mr. Pomeroy did much
to promote education, and was indefatigable in his efforts to
establish and endow the Female Seminary in this town.
Mr. Pomeroy was dismissed Nov. 24, 1839. He removed
to Pompey, in Western New York, and afterwards re-
moved to De Witt, near Syracuse, and engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits. He died there April 14, 1858, aged 76 years.
JOHN S. DAVENPORT.
Was the eighth settled minister of the First Parish in
this town ; he came from New York, and was a merchant
before he preached. He was installed at Gorham July 16,
1840, and was dismissed, on his own request, July 16, 1842,
Mr. Davenport came to the belief that the Apostolical form
of church government was Episcopal, and that no person
72 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
coiild be properly ordained except by a Bishop ; bence be
felt that it was wrong to be a Congregational pastor when
in fact he was an Episcopalian. Soon after bis dismission
from Gorham, be was ordained by a Bishop and preached in
Newburyport. Afterwards he was settled in Ogdensburg,
N. Y. ; being again dismissed, he returned to New York
and again engaged in mercantile pursuits.
AARON C. ADAMS.
Rev. Aaron C. Adams succeeded Mr. Davenport as pastor
over the First Parish here. He was from Bangor, Me., and
graduated at Bowdoin College in 1836. He was ordained
at Gorham, Oct. 5, 1842, and was dismissed in November,
1845. Ill health was the cause of his resigning his pastoral
relation. Mr. Adams was afterwards settled at West Bloom-
field in New Jersey. Subsequently he was settled at Man-
chester, New Hampshire, and, being dismissed from there,
he is again livino- in Maine.
JOHN R. ADAMS.
The tenth Congregational clergyman in this Parish was
Rev. John R. Adams, a native of Andover, Mass. ; he grad-
uated at Yale College in 1821 ; studied Theology at Divinity
College, Andover, Mass. He was settled firstly at London-
derry, N. H. ; then at Brighton, Mass., and thirdly in this
town ; he was installed in Gorham, June 4, 1847, and his
pastoral relation to this people wsls dissolved Dec. 1, 1858.
Mr. Adams is now (1862) serving as Chaplain to the Fifth
ECCLESIASTICAL. 73
Regiment of Maine Volunteers in the Fetleral army on the
Potomac.
STEPHEN C. ST KONG.
Is the eleventh and present Congregational minister of
the First Parish in this town ; he is a native of North Hamp-
ton, Mass., a grandson of Gov. Caleb Strong. Mr. Strong
graduated at Williams College in 1845 ; he studied Theolo-
gy in the Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
He was first settled at South Hampton, Mass., and being
dismissed from his parochial charge there, he was installed
at Gorham February 15, 1869.
The following is a list of Congregational clergymen, who
have been settled in Gorham, Avith the dates of their settle-
ment and dismission or death.
1. Solomon Lombard, ordained December 26, 1750, dis-
missed August 15, 1764.
2. Josiah Thacher, ordained October 28, 1767, dismissed
April 28, 1781.
3. Caleb Jewett, ordained November 5, 1783, dismissed
Sept. 8, 1800.
4. Jeremiah Noyes, ordained November 16, 1803, died
January 15, 1807.
5. Asa Rand, ordained January 18, 1809, dismissed June
12, 1822.
6. Thaddeus Pomeroy, installed June 12, 1822, dismissed
November 24, 1839.
10
74 HISTORY OP GORHAM.
7. John L. Davenport, installed Jnly IG, 1840, dismissed
July 16, 1842.
8. Aaron C. Adams, ordained October 5, 1842, dismissed
November 4, 1845.
9. John R. Adams, installed June 4, 1847, dismissed De-
cember 1, 1858.
10. Stephen C. Strong, installed February 15, 1860.
April 4, 1759, Mr. Ebenezer Townsend, ordained by one
division of the church ; Mr, Townsend died in Gorham in
1762.
For a few years after the organization of the Congrega-
tional church in this town, they had Ruling Elders ; they
were Edmund Phinney, Hugh McLellan, and Joseph Gates.
The following persons have been the Deacons : Stephen
Phinney, Eliphalet Watson, James McLellan, Austen Al-
den, George Lewis, Thomas Cross, Samuel Paine, James
McLellan, 2d, Thos. S. Robie, Nahum Chadbourne, Enoch
Cross, Marshal Irish, Edward P. Weston, Nathaniel Brown,
Horatio H. Merrill, Edward Robie, and Thomas Jameson.
The brick Vestry, or Conference House of the First Par-
ish, was built in 1826, principally by a liberal donation of
$500 from Deacon Thomas S. Robie.
ECCLESIAteTlCAL. 75
CHAPTER IX.
BAPTISTS.
The Baptists (Free Will) first came into notice in this
town during the pastorate of Rev. Josiali Thacher over the
Congregational church. These Baptists were by other peo-
ple then called Neio Lights. They had many preachers —
no one officiating long in Gorham. They were very earnest
men. A number of these, calling themselves Baptists, in
1780-1, afterwards became Shakers, some Friends, and some
Methodists. Samuel Brown, John and William Cotton,
James McCollister (McCorison,) Amos and Lemuel Rich,
Jacob H. Clements, some of the Freemans, were among the
earliest and most active members of the Baptist Society in
its early days in Gorham. Many became disaffected to
" the Standing Order," as the Congregationalists were then
called, and protested against paying Parish taxes, and prob-
ably some nominally joined the New Lights for the sole
purpose of evading taxation ; the larger part were undoubt-
edly conscientiously opposed to Congregational doctrines and
polity. The enthusiastic New Light chose to preach for
himself. He talked much against ministers being qualified
to preach by book learning, and disdained the idea of study-
ing for the ministry, contending that God would choose
and qualify his own preachers. Their numbers in Gorham
increased rapidly ; they held meetings, and leaders soon
showed themselves. They became much excited ; every one.
76 HISTORY OF GORHA^r.
who chose, became a public speaker, to exhort men and ex-
pound the Scriptures. They publicly denounced the paid
clergy. Their speakers were often vociferous, their meet-
ings sometimes disorderly ; their converts freuqently violent
in their gesticulations ; whirling around and swooning were
not unusual in their meetings. They were decided in their
opposition to finery or ornament in dress and fashionable
amusements. Like most sects in their early days, they had
their eccentricities ; but they were sincere and devout, and
time and " the sober second thought" moulded them into
an orderly and respectable religious society ; and so they
have remained.
The first Free Will Baptist church in this town was or-
ganized, and their first meeting house built at Fort Hill,
where they still have a house for worship. This denomina-
tion has two other houses for public worship in town, one
at Little Falls villao;e and one at White Rock neighborhood.
They have had many clergymen to preach ; and quite a
number of Free Will Baptist ministers have been natives of
Gorliam. Among the most prominent was Rev. Clement
Phinney, a grandson of Col. E. Phinney. Elder Benjamin
Randall, the father of the denomination in this country, oc-
casionally preached here ; so did Elder Weeks, Elder Jo-
seph White, Eider Jolui Buzzell, and others.
They tried year after year to induce the town to exempt
them from paying ministerial taxes ; they became so numer-
ous and powerful that the town at length listened to their
petitions. And .at a legal town meeting, held on the 14th
day of June, 1781, the following vote was passed : " Voted,
All the inhabitants of Gorham, avIio are of a different de-
nomination to the Congregational, are to be excluded pay-
ing any future charges towards supplying the Desk in Gor-
ham Meeting house, only upon bringing a certificate from
the heads of either of the opposite societies, in Gorham,
ECCLESIASTICAL.
77
called Baptists, in two months from this date." Within the
prescribed time, and on the town book is this record : " The
following is a list of the persons in Gorham, who call them-
selves Baptists, according to their own return, given in to
the Selectmen, agreeable to a vote passed the 14th of June,
1781."
"To the Selectmen of Gorham — Gents: — These may
certify, that the persons, whose names are in the following
List, arc in our opinion, cleared from paying to yo support of
ye Congregational ]Ministry in the town, both by law, and
agreeable to a vote of the town passed sometime in June
last, they attending our meeting, and desiring their names
to be entered in the certificate to yourselves."
Daniel Hebard, Pastor,
Andrew Crockett,
Elisha Strout,
Capt. Briant Morton,
Andrew Cobb,
Nicholas Cobb,
Jedediah Cobb,
Andrew Cobb, Jr.,
Daniel Cobb,
Nath'l Edwards,
Ephraim Plunt,
Peletiah Crocket,
Moses Hanscom,
Samuel Crocket, Jr.,
James Bangs,
Jno. Foy,
Jona. Freeman,
Cary McLellan,
Nathan Freeman,
William Cotton,
Nath'l Freeman,
Eben'r Morton,
Samuel Thomes,
Samuel Brown,
Joshua Harding,
Ebenezer Hamblen,
Barnabas Kich,
Lemuel Rich,
Josiah Whitney,
Samuel Harding, Jr.,
Gershom Hamblen,
Nathaniel Muckford,
Aaron Whitney,
William Monsou,
Ezekiel Rich,
Nath'l Stevens,
Joseph Whitney,
Jereli. Hodsdon,
Elders of the Ea'>tcru BapLlsL Church hi Gorham.
m
78 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
George Hamblen, Isaac Elder,
Caleb Lombard, John Carsley,
Capt. Hart Williams, Decker Phinney,
Daniel Gammon, Stephen Swett,
James Gilkey, Joseph Stone,
William Lakeman, Joel Sawyer,
Jona. Crocket, Calvin Lombard,
Jabez Morton, Barnabas Bangs,
James McCorison, Thomas Bangs,
Joel Rich, Lemuel Hicks,
William Files, John Silla,
Samuel Elder, Joseph Brackett,
William Marks, Benja. Stevens,
Eli Webb.
These persons were exempted from payment of ministerial
taxes for a few years, but others, who it was said did not
g;et certificates or Avho did not hand them to the Selectmen
seasonably, were still assessed, and the matter was again
brought into the town meetings ; and an article was in a
warrant for a town meeting in 1787, " To see what method
the town will take with sundry persons that think them-
selves aggrieved in paying ministerial taxes, and whether
-they will excuse a whole or a part of them ?" The town
<^hose Edmund Phinney, Esq., Austen Alden, George Lewis,
James Phinney, and Nathaniel Frost, to report on that mat-
ter at an adjourned meeting. This Committee held several
meetings and finally made the following Report : —
" We, the subscribers, beg leave to report to the town as
follows, viz. : We have met a committee of those called the
Anabaptist Society in Gorham, and heard all they had to
offer. Patiently and Candidly, and are of opinion that if any
person in Gorham of that Society, or of any different denom-
ination from the Congregational, who is a public Protestant
ECCLESIASTICAL. 79
teacher of Piety, Religion, and Morality, agreeable to the
Constitution, should produce a certificate, or List, to the
Town, of any number of persons, (Inhabitants of Gorham ?)
Avho are, in his opinion, conscientiously of his Society, and
do constantly attend upon Instruction, that in that case Ave
would recommend to the town to exempt all those persons
from paying to any Congregational minister in said Gorham."
The town passed a vote in accordance Avith this Eeport, but
it Avas too strict for those Avho Avished to use a Baptist name
merely to avoid paying a ministerial tax. The officiating
Baptist clergyman or teacher would not certify that those
persons, who only occasionally attended their ministrations
and in their daily life did not exhibit any decided religious
opinions, or lead Adrtuous lives, were " conscientiously of
their Society y
In a town meeting called in November, 1788, there Avas
an article in the warrant " To see if the toAvn Avill exempt
any person or number of persons in Gorham, (being of the
Baptist Denomination) from paying taxes to a Congrega-
ational minister in Gorham." And another article AA-as " To
see if the toAATi Avill vote that Mr. James McAllister shall be
discharged from paying any State, County, or Toaa-u taxes
in Gorham, on account of his being a Baptist minister."
The ToAvn Avould not consider these requests, but dis-
missed both articles.
In 1789, there Avas an article in a warrant for a Toaa'h
meeting, " To see if the Toaati aa-iII vote that the Baptist
Society be set off by themselves, in order that they may be
incorporated into a separate Parish."
The ToAA'n meeting dismissed that article.
In February 1790, a Petition, signed by George Thomes
and about 60 other male citizens of Gorham, Avas presented
to the General Court, praying to be incorporated into a sep-
arate Parish, stating that they had erected a house for pub-
80 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
lie worship, and had a public Teacher, and had assembled
and steadily kej^t up public worship for seven years, and did
not and could not conscientiously attend upon the instruc-
tions of the Congregational minister ; yet the Town of Gor-
ham assessed them, and distrained their property to support
the Congregational worship.
Notice was ordered on this petition, returnable at the
next General Court. To this petition the Town made no
objection, and the petitioners and their associates were made
a separate Parish. The following named persons have been
Free Will Baptist preachers in Gorham : — Daniel Hebard,
James McCollister, Samuel Hutchinson, Clement Phinney,
Andrew Rollins, James M. Buzzell, and some others.
ECCLESIASTICAL. 81
CHAPTER X.
y METHODISTS.
This now large and respectable denomination of Chris-
tians, was unknown in Gorham, till somewhere between
1790 and 1800. Rev. Jesse Lee is believed to have been
the first Methodist preacher that came into this part of the
State ; he passed through Gorham, and called on Rev. Sam-
uel Thomes, a Free Will Baptist Elder. Mr. Thomes in-
vited him to preach at the Fort Hill meeting house ; Mr.
Lee consented, and preached there a few times ; but Mr.
Thomes not agreeing with Mr. Lee with respect to church
government, thought best not to have Mr. Lee preach in his
church any more. This was prior to 1800. Mr. Timothy
Merritt, Asa Heath, and Rev. Mr. Hubbard, were early
preachers of Methodism in this town. Rev. Joshua Taylor
preached here as early as 1803. There was an article in
the warrant for a Parish meeting held in September, 1801,
" To see if the Parish will direct the Assessors to abate the
Parish taxes of those persons who have obtained certificates
from a Methodist Preacher." The Parish voted to dismiss
the article. At a Parish meeting held in April, 1803, it was
voted, " That when the Methodists produce a certificate to
the Parish Assessors, agreeably to law, they may omit tax-
ing such persons." Mr. James Lewis, a man higlily resjDCC-
table in abilities, character, and connexions, and of a good
property, about this time became a convert to the Methodist
11
82 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
doctrines and principles, and was admitted to the Methodist
church, bj Rev. Asa Heath. Mr. Lewis soon became a
preacher, and through a long life, was an earnest, zealous,
persevering minister of the Methodist persuasion, and prob-
ably did more than any other person to increase and estab-
lish Methodism in Gorham and the vicinity. He itiner-
ated extensively in this and adjoining counties, and was in-
strumental in turning many from profanity, dissipation, and
other vices ; his great fluency of speech, powerful voice,
and evident sincerity, gathered him large audiences, and his
kind, social qualities, made him acceptable wherever he went.
I am not aware that he was ever strictly a circuit preacher,
or had a pastoral charge over any local church. Mr. Lewis
was an ardent friend of temperance, and labored much and
successfully to promote the cause ; he was highly respected
by all religious societies. He closed his active and useful
life in Gorham, Aug. 20, 1855, at the age of 85 years.
The first Methodist Class formed in Gorham was in the
neio;hborho'od of the north meeting; house : Ebenezer Lom-
bard, afterwards a preacher, was the first class leader in
town ; he was appointed by the Rev. Timothy Merritt. The
Methodists have now two meeting houses, and two large
societies in Gorham.
It was not the polity of this denomination to have their
clergymen preach to the same parish or society longer than
two or three years successively, hence there have been a
large number of Methodist ministers stationed in this town.
Between 1803 and 1833, Alfred Metcalf, Joel Wicker, Philip
Munger, David Stinson, Samuel Thompson, Caleb Fogg,
Samuel Hillman, Enoch Jaques, Joel Winch, Eben'r Blake,
Benj. Bishop, Philip Ayer, Daniel Filmore, John Paine,
John Lindsey, John Adams, John Wilkinson, James Jaques,
Isaac Ames, Joshua Randall, John Lewis, Peter Burges,
Gilman Moody, Job Pratt, Melville B. Cox, John Shaw,
ECCLESIASTICAL. 83
Plilnehas Crandell, K. E. Schermerliorn, Aaron Sanderson,
Justin Spaulding, and Daniel Fuller ; and there has been a
stated supply of Methodist preachers since.
FRIENDS OR QUAKERS.
At the commencement of this century, there was a small
but respectable society of Friends in Gorham ; among whom
were Wm. Burton, Jedediah Cobb, William Cobb, Charles
Bangs, James Bangs, Stephen Harris, Decker Phinney,
John Horton, and Robert Estes, as prominent men. They
had a small meeting house, and kept up public worship.
The society has diminished, and but few of the denomina-
tion remain in town.
SHAKERS.
This denomination were never numerous in Maine. Sixty
years ago they had a small society in Gorham. Somewhere
about 1780, a man and woman of this persuasion, came from
New Hampshire to this town and held meetings ; many went
to hear their novel doctrines. A Mr. Brown, then living
near Avhat is now called West Gorham, became a proselyte ;
others soon joined him, and they formed a society ; Mr.
Brown became a leadino- man among them. Barnabas
Bangs and Thomas Bangs were Elders. They united their
means, purchased a large farm, and erected capacious build-
ings, where Capt. Nelson Merrill now lives. About 1810'
a part of the society removed to Alfred. About six or
eight years afterwards, the remaining Shakers sold their
84 IIISTOKY OF GORHAM.
possessions In Gorliam, and went to Poland and New Glou-
cester.
There have been, and still are, a few Calvinistic Baptists,
Unitarians and Universalists ; but they have never had
stated preaching, or a church organization in the place.
EDUCATIONAL. 85
CHAPTEK XI.
EDUCATION.
The people of this town have not been mattentive to the
subject of education. Before the incorporation of the town,
the proprietors and settlers made provision for schools. At
the first town meeting in March, 1765, .£40 was voted for
schools. At that period, only one public school was kept
in town. In 1768, the town " Voted to improve Mr. John
Greene as schoolmaster, till the money tax Is expended."
James Ross, a foreigner, taught a school here in 1770. The
first female teacher in town, was the wife of Thomas Wes-
ton.
As the population increased, larger sums were voted for
instruction ; even in 1778, when most of our men were in
the army, and many families were sorely pressed to obtain
the necessaries of life, £100 was raised for schools ; in 1793,
£200; in 1800, 1850; in 1809, $1000; in 1812, 11500;
and latterly, not less than $2000 annually have been voted
and paid out for the support of common schools in Gorham,
in addition to the town's proportion of Bank tax, which is
about $150 per year, and the amount paid for private
schools, is not less than $200 per year. There are twenty-
five school districts in town. Learning; has ever received
liberal encourajxement from the citizens of Gorham.
8(3 HISTORY OF GOKIIAM.
GORHAM ACADEMY.
How early the inhabitants of this town entertained the
idea of having an Academy, is not known ; but it is known
that some of the more enhghtened men conversed much
about the matter, for years prior to the time when an active
and systematic movement was made for that purpose. The
chief promoters of the Institution were Judge Longfellow,
Judge Gorham, Hon. Lothrop Lewis, John P. Little, Esq.,
David Harding, Esq., Doctor Dudley Folsom, and a few
others. In 1802, a petition, headed by Hon. Stephen Long-
fellow, in favor of the establishment of an Academy in Gor-
ham, was presented to the Legislature of Massachusetts.
Col. Lothrop Lewis was at that time the Kepresentative of
Gorham ; he was active and persevering in his efforts to
accomplish the objects of the petition. The, act incorpora-
ting the Academy and locating it in Gorham, passed the
House of Representatives, March 1st, and the Senate,
March 4th, and was approved by Gov. Strong, March 5,
1803. At that time there were but six incorporated Acade-
mies in Maine, viz : one in each of the towns of HalloweU,
Berwick, Fryeburg, Machias, Portland, and New Castle.
The Academy was to be for the education of both sexes,
in such lano;uaoi;es, and such of the liberal arts, as the Trus-
tees shall order and direct. The Charter provided that the
number of Trustees shall not at any time be more than fif-
teen, nor less than nine. The first board of Trustees were
Rev. Thomas Lancaster, Hon. William Gorham, Honorable
Stephen Longfellow, Rev. Elijah Kellogg, Rev. Daniel Mar-
rett. Rev. Caleb Bradley, Capt. David Harding, Jr., John
P. Little, Esq., Mr. Mathew Cobb, Hon. Woodbury Storer,
Doctor Dudley Folsom, Mr. William McLellan, Mr. James
Phinney, Mr. Samuel Elder, and Samuel Whitmore. All
of these fifteen Trustees arc now dead. The last survivor
EDUCATIONAL. 87
of the Corporate Board, was the Eev. Caleb Bradley, who
died June 2d, 1861, in the 90th year of his age.
The Trustees held their first meeting, June 1st, 1803, at
the house of Samuel Staples, innholder, in Gorham. Hon.
William Gorham was chosen President, and John P. Little,
Esq., Secretary, and David Harding, Jr., Esq., Treasurer
of the Board. On the 23d of June, 1803, the Legislature
granted half a township of land to Gorham Academy, on
condition that the sum of 83000 should be subscribed for
the use of the Academy within one year ; of this sum,
$2500 was subscribed by citizens of Gorham. The whole
$3000 was speedily secured. Subsequently the town voted
to raise $400 in aid of the Institution. Eight of our towns-
men gave $100 each. Mr. Thomas McLellan gave one acre
of land in the villao-e on which to erect the buildinos. This
lot was then valued at $350. The half township granted
by the Legislature, was located in what is now the town of
Woodstock, in the county of Oxford. Lothrop Lewis and
Matthew Cobb, were the conmiittee for locating and selling
the same. The grant was surveyed in 1806 by Gen. James
Irish. It was sold to James H. Chadbourne and twenty-
three others, mostly citizens of Gorham, for the sum of
$10,000.
In 1801, the Trustees made preparation to erect a build-
ing of wood, fifty feet long and forty feet wide, two stories
high, with a cupola for a bell. Mr. Samuel Elder contract-
ed to build the edifice. It is the same building now called
the old Academy. It was finished in 1806. On the eighth
of September, 1806, the ceremony of dedicating the Acad-
emy, and inaugurating the Preceptor, took place. A large
collection of people from this, and the neighboring towns,
assembled to witness the proceedings. The new Preceptor,
Mr. Reuben Nason, was duly installed ; he delivered an
Address appropriate to the occasion, which was printed at
88 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
the request of the Trustees. Mr. Nason was a native of
Dover, N. H., and graduated at Harvard University in
1802. He was a thorough scholar, especially in the Latin
and Greek languages, and Mathematics ; he was an able
teacher and attentive and faithfiil to the duties of his voca-
tion ; somewhat severe, but never revengeful ; and he has
been called by one of his most distinguished pupils, " that
sternly kind old many His scholars loved and respected
him. The Academy flourished under his guidance. Male
pupils were only admitted, and none under ten years of age ;
and the whole number limited to forty-five. Tuition was
two dollars per term of eleven weeks. The Bible was re-
quired to be read daily in. school, which was to be opened
and closed with prayer. The Columbian Orator and En-
field's Speaker were the principal reading books ; Murray's
Grammar, Walsh's Arithmetic, Webber's Mathematics, and
Morse's Geography were the chief text books in English
studies. No student was allowed to go out of town without
leave. They were required to keep the Sabbath strictly,
to attend public worship, and pass the remainder of Sunday
in their respective places of lodging. The salary of the
Preceptor was $600 per year.
The next year, the Trustees voted that the number of
pupils might be seventy, fifteen of whom might be females.
The admission of females into the Institution, as pupils,
was strongly opposed by many of the friends, and some of
the Trustees, of the Academy. How strangely times and
opinions alter. Within the period of fifty years, we have
seen this Seminary of learning — first exclusively composed
of male scholars, then both sexes admitted ; then females
alone taught here, and now again a school for both sexes.
The prosperity of the Academy was increasing — the
number of pupils enlarged — the price of tuition raised to
$2,50 per quarter, and an assistant teacher employed. The
I
EDUCATIONAL. 89
Trustees made some new rules. Scholars were prohibited
from attendino; music or dancing; schools.
Early in 1810, Mr. Nason requested to be released from
his engagement as Preceptor ; he having had a call to settle
in the ministry at Freeport. The Trustees released him,
and the school was suspended four months.
Doctor Charles Coffin, of Brunswick, was engaged as Pre-
ceptor ; he introduced several new text books ; new regu-
lations were made ; the restriction limiting the number of
female scholars was removed, and any number of young
ladies were allov,^ed to be pupils. A separate " Female
Department" was established, and Miss Ehoda Parker was
the first Preceptress in 1811. Her salary was $300 per
year. The productive funds of the Academy at this time
exceeded 811,000. After one year's teaching, Doctor Coffin
declined a farther engagement, he being offi^red $1000 a
year to teach in Portsmouth, N. H. Doctor Coffin did not
please his pupils, and he was unpopular — students feared,
but did not love him ; he always seemed to have an atmos-
phere of repulsion around him ; he had no words of en-
couragement for timid scholars.
Asa Redington, Jr., was Dr. Coffin's successor as Princi-
pal of the Academy. Mr. Redington was from Waterville.
He scraduated at Bowdoin College in 1811. He has been
a sound lawyer. State Treasurer, Judge of the District
Court, and Reporter of the Decisions of the Supreme Judi-
cial Court.
Mr. William White was the fourth Preceptor.
In September, 1815, Mr. Nason again took charge of the
Academy, and continued as Principal till August, 1834 ; he
then removed to Clarkson, New York, and died suddenly
at that place in January, 1835.
In 1834, Mr. John V. Beane became Preceptor. Mr.
Beane was a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1832.
12
90 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
His successor, Rev. Amos Brown, graduated in tlie same
class.
In 1828, ornamental trees were planted on the Academy
grounds ; the building was painted, blinds attached to the
windows ; a philosophical apparatus purchased, and a course
of lectures on Electricity was given. In 1833-4, an attempt
to connect a manual labor department with the Institution
was made. A mechanic shop and tools were hired. The
manual labor project was a failure. The experiment was
altogether unprofitable. A change now came over the
Institution ; the plan of the school was altered ; it was
determined to separate the male and female departments,
and erect a large brick edifice for a female boarding school,
and increase the number of teachers, both male and female.
Mr. Brown was elected Principal with a salary of f 750,
which was soon increased to $1000 per year. The Trus-
tees voted to attempt to raise $30,000 for buildings, appa-
ratus and the pay of teachers. The Rev. T. Pomeroy, then
pastor of the Congregational Parish in this town, was chosen
agent to canvass the Stateand solicit subscriptions ; he en-
gaged in the enterprise with energy, and more than $20,000
were subscribed. In 1836, the large brick edifice, four
stories high, was erected, and a learned and efficient corps
of Professors and Lady Teachers were employed. The
school was fully supplied with scholars ; several hundred
yearly attended. But the expenses had exceeded the means ;
of the $21,000 subscribed, not more than $7000 were paid.
The purchase of land, buildings, furniture, apparatus,
musical instruments, &c., had cost over $20,000, and had
absorbed, not only the donations, but all the old Academic
fund of more than $12,000. The tuition would not meet
the expenditures. This state of things greatly embarrassed
the Trustees. The Institution, however, was flourishing.
Rev. Amos Brown, now President of the Agricultural Col-
EDUCATIONAL. 91
lege in Western New York, was Principal. Rev. Franklin
Yeaton, and Rev. Thomas Tenney, were successively Pro-
fessors of Languages. Robert Douglass, Esq., Professor of
Scientific and Practical Engineering. Benjamin Wyman
was Teacher of Music and Penmanship. Miss Jane Inger-
soll was first Lady Principal. Miss Barrows and Miss Mc-
Keen were Assistant Female Teachers. , Miss Russell suc-
ceeded Miss Ingersoll, and there have been since many
accomplished female instructresses. The new Seminary
buildings were dedicated Sept. 13, 1837, when an Address
was delivered by Prof. Packard, of Bowdoin College, and
a Poem by William Cutter, Esq. An appropriate Ode Avas
furnished by*'C. P. Ilsley, Esq.
In 1847, Mr. Brown resigned his office as Principal, and
was succeeded by Edward P. Weston, Esq., who continued
at the head of the Seminary tiU 18G0. Then the school was
continued awhile by female teachers only, Mrs. Lord being
Principal. In 1861, the male and female departments were
united, and Mr. Josiali B. Webb is now at the head of the
Seminary, and conducting its instructions much to the satis-
faction of the Trustees and the community. Thousands of
scholars have been here instructed in literature, science and
religion ; many of them have become distinguished persons
at the bar, in the pulpit, and medical profession, in the State
Legislatures, and in the Congress of the United States.
92 HISTOKY OF GORHAM.
CHAPTER XII.
PROGRESS OF THE TOWN.
The Indian Avars were over. The dwellers in the gar-
rison left the old fortress, which was never to be again in-
habited. The settlers re-occupied their long abandoned
houses. Tiie fear of savage attacks was at an end. It was
no longer necessary to protect their dwellings. The settlers
went to work in earnest to clear and plant their fields, and
their labor was well repaid by abundant harvests. The
grazing capabilities of our lands enabled the owners to
largely increase their stock of cattle, sheep and horses. The
streams were bridged — new roads laid out and made safe
and convenient, new settlers flocked in, and the town was
thrifty. In 1742-3, Capt. John Gorham erected a saw mill
and grist mill on Little River, on the Fort Hill road, where
Whitney's and Merrill's mills now are. Those mills were
destroyed during the Indian troubles. In 1753, Enoch
Freeman, Solomon Lombard and Wentworth Stuart, built
new mills on the same place, at a cost of .£1738 9s. 8d.
The next year a new bridge was built over Little River just
above these mills, and the road to Pearsontown, (Standish)
cleared out and made passable with wheels. In 1764, John
Phinney, Hugli IMcLellan and Clement Meserve, cleared a
road from Gorhaui *Corner to Bragdon's mills in Scarbor-
ousfh.
PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 98
Several meclianics moved into tlic town. Joseph Pilkin-
ton is believed to have been the first blacksmith. He lived
about half a mile southerly from the Corner, near where
Mr. Samuel Edwards dwelt. John and AVilliam Cotton
were the first tanners in Gorham ; they came from Portland,
and were sons of Deacon Wm. Cotton who came from Ports-
mouth to Portland in 1732. The Gorham William w^as
born in 1739, and John in 1711. They have descendants
now living in town. In the early periods of the place large
flocks of sheep were kept. There are comparatively few
now. Formerly flax and peas were extensively cultivated in
town. The former has ceased to be raised, and peas now
form but a small part of our products. Our farmers early
paid attention to fruit trees, and Gorham made large quan-
tities of cider ; and though many apples are yet raised, but
little cider is manufactured. Severe seasons, and destruc-
tive insects have greatly diminished our fruit trees. Hay,
oats, barley, potatoes, and garden vegetables, are our chief
products. Few towns in the State, it is believed, raise and
sell as much hay as Gorham. Beef and pork are also largely
produced. Some branches of mechanical trade, that once
employed many hands in town, have ceased to exist, among
which are cooper work, cabinet making, pottery, soap mak-
ing, tin ware manufactories, clock making, and some others.
John Dickey was the first hatter w^ho carried on his trade
here. Joseph Hunt for many years manufactured many
hats. David Patrick was the first mason — and the first
house plastered in town, Avas James McLellan's, father of
the late Deacon James McLellan. The same house is now
standing and is owned by Miss C. Storer. The first brick
house is the one a little north of the Academy ; it was long
owned by Thomas McLellan, and afterwards by his son
Robert. It is said to be the oldest brick dwelling house in
Cumberland County.
94 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Gorhaui has never been distinguislied as a maniifacturino-
town ; yet various manufactures have been carried on in the
place. Lumbering in its different forms has always occu-
pied the citizens to a large amount in the whole. Carpet
making, for twenty years past, has employed many hands,
and $30,000 or $40,000 annually. Tanning and currying
has, for about the same number of years, been pursued ex-
tensively by Stephen Ilinkley and others. Hoes, curriers'
knives, and various other tools, were made by Mr. George
Hight, some years ago.
Mr. Elden Gammon has a machine shop, with water
power, where he manufactures lathes, planing machines, and
other heavy and nice implements. Boots and shoes are
made in considerable quantities in the two princijDal villages.
A powder mill at Gambo Falls does a large, and it is said,
a profitable business. At Little Falls there was for many
years a cotton factory where sheeting and shirting cloths
were spun and woven. The mill was burned a few years
ago, and has not been rebuilt. Many of our settlers came
from the maritime towns of Massachusetts, and were accus-
tomed to the sea, and quite a number of the early citizens
pursued a sea-faring life, and Gorliam had a large number
of sailors and masters of vessels. We have no accurate
data by which to determine the number of the inhabitants,
or the amount of their property, till after the Revolutionary
war. From the number of polls and valuation lists of that
period, we may make, perhaps, a near estimate. Li 1772,
there were 195 1-2 polls, 506 sheep, 125 swine, 77 horses,
281 cows, 204 oxen, 395 acres of tillage land, 627 acres of
pasture, 853 tons of hay, and 4 slaves. The polls were
reckoned from 16 years of age ; till males were twenty-
one years old they were taxed in the poll lists to their pa-
rents or guardians, hence, in some instances, females (wid-
ows with minor sons) were taxed for polls ; for some reasons
PROGEESS OP THE TOWN. 95
certain men were not taxed for polls ; for instance, clergy-
men. So Mr. Ebenezer Mayo and Joseph Quinby were not
rated in the poll list, because they had erected mills in town.
Males over 70 years of age were not ordinarily taxed for
polls. In 1772, there were 57 males that had polls but no
property, 17 that had property, but no poll tax. Solomon
Lombard, Esq., William McLellan, Lemuel Rich, and Na-
thaniel AVhitney had each two horses ; 69 individuals owned
one horse each ; Joshua Decker was the only person in town
in 1772, that owned a horse and no other taxable property.
William McLellan owned two Negro slaves, and Jacob
Hamblen one. Forty-eight persons owned one cow each,
53 owned two cows each, 13 three each, 12 owned four
each, and three owned six each ; 74 men owned no cow, 64
men owned each a yoke of oxen, 16 owned 2 yokes, and
two owned 6 oxen each ; 127 men owned no oxen, 74 per-
sons owned sheep. Very few flocks of sheep exceeded 15
in number. Four persons cut twenty tons of hay, each ;
35 cut from 5 to 15 tons apiece ; 52 cut less than 5 tons ;
and 90 men cut no hay ; only one person, (John Harding)
is recorded as havino; twelve acres of land under tillage.
As to the population of Gorham in 1772, an approximate
census may be formed from the number of polls ; assuming
that there were as many females as males over sixteen years
of age, which was 196, and if we add. one half as many
under 16 years of age, we obtain about 580, or 600 souls,
as the population of the town in 1772. At the commence-
ment of the revolutionary war, Gorham contained about 850
inhabitants.
In 1772, the town voted 7iot to send a Representative to
the General Court on account of poverty. At that time and
long after, the towns paid their own Representatives.
In 1790 Gorham contained 2244 inhabitants.
" 1800 " " 2503
96 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
In 1810 Gorliam contained 2632 inhabitants.
« 1820 " " 2800 "
« 1830 " " 2988 "
" 1840 " " 3002
" 1850 " " 3088 "
" 1860 " " 3253 "
The property of our town has steadily increased since
the war of 1812. And the State valuation of 1860 shows
the amount of taxable property to be more than one million
of dollars, and is the fourth town in the County of Cumber-
land in the amount of its valuation.
PHYSICIANS.
More than thirty years elapsed after the settlement of the
town before any regular physician was permanently located
here. Doctor Stephen Swett was the first physician in this
place ; he was from Exeter, N. H., and was a prominent
man in municipal affairs in the time of the Revolution ; he
was surgeon of Col. Edmund Phinney's Regiment, and was
in several battles.
Doctor Jeremiah Barker was settled in this town as early
as 1780, and succeeded Dr. Swett. After practicing several
years in Gorham, he removed to Falmouth, afterwards to
Portland, subsequently he married the widow of Judge
Gorham, returned to this town and died here in 1835, at tlie
age of 84 years.
Doctor Nathaniel Bowman, who graduated at Harvard '
University in 1786, was tlie third physician in town. He
was a gentlemanly and popular man ; and, as has been before
stated, was killed at the raising of the meeting house in
PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 97
1797. The widow of Doct. Bowman died within three or
four years past.
Doctor Dudley Folsom, from Exeter, N. H., succeeded
Dr. Bowman, and had a large and successful practice for a
long number of years. He was a prominent citizen, and
much engaged in municipal affairs, one of the Trustees of
Gorham Academy, and for many years a Representative of
Gorham in the Legislature of Massachusetts ; he was" a man
of integrity and great private Avorth. He died in Gorham.
Doctors Charles Kittrege, Asa Adams, Wm. Thorndike,
Dr. Seaver, Elihu Baxter, Wm. H. Peabody, John Pierce,
8. W. Baker, Enoch Cross, Simeon C. Strong, Edward F.
Mitchell, William Wescott, Lewis W. Houghton, Phineas
Ingalls, Edward W. Anderson, have been medical practi-
tioners in Gorham, and Avere respectable and useful citizens,
all of Avliom have deceased, or removed from toAvn. The
physicians remaining in practice here at the present time, are
Doctors John Waterman, Alden T. Keen, Seth C. Gordon,
Nelson H. Carey, Frederic Robie, James M. Buzzel.
COUNSELORS AT LAW.
John Park Little, a native of Littleton, Mass., graduated
at Brown University, Rhode Island, in 1794, and opened an
office for the practice of law in Gorham in 1801. He mar-
ried Mary J. Prescott, a daughter of Judge Prescott, of
Groton, Mass., in 1804. Mr. Little was an industrious
man, faithful to the duties of his profession, highly respect-
ed for his moral and social virtues, having the full confi-
dence of his friends and tOAvnsmen ; he built the three story
house recently occupied by Mrs. Mary J. Lewis. jNIr. Lit-
tle died in Gorham in 1809.
13
98 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Peter Thacher, son of Hon. Josiah Thacher, began to
practice laAV in Gorham in 1805 ; he removed to Saccarappa
and died there.
Barrett Potter graduated at Dartmouth College in 1796.
He opened an office in North Yarmouth. After a short
time he removed to Gorham in 1805, and the next year he
left Gorham and removed to Portland, v^here he was a prac-
titioner for many years — was a Senator in the State Legis-
lature in 1822, President of the Canal Bank, and Judge of
Probate for Cumberland County from 1822 to 1816. Judge
Potter is still living in Portland at an advanced age.
Samuel Whitmore, Jr., was a native of Gorham. He
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1802, studied law with
Mr. Little, and practiced in Gorham a short time, and died
in this town.
Joseph Adams was a native of Sudbury, Mass. ; he grad-
uated at Harvard College in 1805, studied law with Hon.
George Thacher, whose daughter Sarah he married. Mr.
Adams commenced his professional practice in Buxton, but
soon removed to Gorham, and continued in the legal prac-
tice in this town till October, 1821, when he removed to
Portland, and died in 1850. Mr. Adams was a sound law-
yer, and an upright man, and possessed, in a large degree,
the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. For many
years he was County Attorney, and was a delegate from
Gorham to the Convention that formed the Constitution of
Maine.
Jacob S. Smith was a native of Durham, N. H. ; he
graduated at Harvard in 1805. After reading law with
his father, Ebenezer Smith of Durham, he opened an office
in Gorham village, and pursued his profession for forty
years ; he then retired from practice. He now lives on a
farm in this town.
Josiah Pierce, a native of Baldwin, and a graduate of
PROGRESS OF THE TOWN.
99
Bowdoln College, opened an office in Gorham in 1821, and
still continues in the profession.
Elijah Hayes was a native of Limerick, and read law with
Judge Howard, and commenced practice in this town in
1833, and had an increasing business till his sudden death
in 1846.
Thomas H. Goodwin, Henry P. A. Smith, Charles N.
Danforth, John AY. Dana, and Alvah Black, were lawyers
in this town for brief periods, and have all left the place.
John A. Waterman, a graduate of Bowdoin College, of
the class of 1846, opened his office here in 1850, and still
continues his legal practice in Gorham.
The Counselors at law in this town have nearly all been
educated, upright, public spirited men, and useful, worthy
citizens.
The following persons from this town have received a
collegiate education.
Stephen Longfellow graduated at Harvard in 1798
Samuel Whitmore, Jr. graduated at Dartmouth in 1802
Eandolph A. L. Codman
Bowdoin in 1816
Stephen L. Lewis
a i
1816
William McDougall
a «
1820
Charles Harding
(( (
1821
James Larry
a 4
1821
Stephen McLeUan Staples
a i
1821
Charles H. P. McLellan
(( (
1822
William T. Smith
(( (
1823
Thomas McDougall
a I
1824
William T. Hilliard
H i
1826
Seargent S. Prentiss
(( (
1826
John H. HUliard
(( (
' 182T
Francis B. Eobie
(( i
1829
Francis Barbour
a ^
1830
Jabez C. Rich
(( (
1832
100
HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Reuben Nasan, Jr.
John D. Smith
George L. Prentiss
WiUiam W. Rand
Edward Robie
Frederick Robie
Josiah Pierce, Jr.
John L. Waterman
Lewis Pierce
Thomas S. Robie
George W. Pierce
Oliver Libby
George B. Emery
Charles O. Hunt
graduated at Bowdoin in
1834
1831
1835
1837
1840
1841
1846
1846
1852
1856
1857
1859
1860
1861
MISCELLANEOUS. 101
CH APTEE XIII.
MISCELLANEOUS. — TO WX HOUSES.
For several years after the town was incorporated, town
meetIno;s were lield in the meetino; house of the First Parish.
Afterw^ards at the Corner school house. In 1815, a town
house was erected on Fort Hill, near where the old garrison
once stood. This building was the place of town meeting
for thirty years. In 1821, an union meeting house Avas
erected on a hill at the western part of the village. This
building was designed to be used as a place for public wor-
ship for any, and all religious sects. The Free Will Bap-
tists and Methodists principally occuj^ied it ; it was called
the " Free Meeting House ;" like most other union churches,
instead of being a bond of harmony, it was quite the re-
verse. The Proprietors of the building obtained permission
of the Legislature to sell it at auction. Hon. Toppan Robie
became the purchaser, and he offered to exchange it with
the town for the old town house on Fort Hill. The offer
was a generous one, and was accepted by the town, though
not without great opposition from some of the citizens in the
northern and western parts of the town. Many toAvn meet-
ings on the subject were held. Many contended that the
town house should be in the centre of the town, but a large
majority knew the territorial centre of the town would be a
very inconvenient place for voters to go to. After many
trials of strength it was repeatedly settled to have the Free
102 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
meetinfr house for the town house. It has been altered and
repaired, and makes a commodious and convenient place for
town meetino-s. In 1829, an effort was made to divide the
town by setting off the northerly part, and with parts of
Standish and Windham, form a new town, but the Legisla-
ture were averse to the project.
THE TOWN'S POOR.
For more than thirty years after the incorporation of the
town, no specific sums were voted for the support of the
poor ; each individual case of necessity was attended to by
the Selectmen, and the amount expended was voted at some
subsequent town meeting. When articles were inserted
in the warrants for town meetings, the town would vote
to dismiss them, and they would vote that the Selectmen
see to the circumstances of persons applying for aid, and
direct them to manage the pauper business as prudently
as might be. After awhile, the number needing assistance
becoming larger, it was the custom of the town to let out
the support of their poor to the lowest bidder, if the over-
seers of the poor thought the lowest bidder suitable to take
charge of the indigent. When the surplus revenue of the
United States was deposited with the States, and Maine hav-
ing distributed their several proportions to the towns, this
town voted to apply their portion to the purchase of a farm
for the poor, and the farm of Mr. John Hamblen on the
Gray road was bought for about $3000. Agricultural tools
were provided, and a Superintendent of the Poor Farm, and
of the paupers, was hired, and the paupers were thus taken
care of. But this method of using these fiinds was not
agreeable to many persons, who paid small, or no taxes ;
MISCELLANEOUS. 108
and after repeated town meetings, it was voted to distribute
the surplus revenue funds to each individual, and a commit-
tee was chosen to make the distribution ; it amounted to
something over two dollars for each man, woman and child
in Gorham. Since then most of the paupers have been kept
on the Huston farm, which the town rents of Mrs. Ruth
Huston, for about $165 per year, and a Superintendent
takes care of the poor there, and cultivates the farm. Many,
however, are partially supported, who do not go to the town
farm. The annual expense to the town, for the support of
their poor, is about $800 at the present period.
KOADS.
There are nearly three hundred miles of public highways
in town ; and as the nature of the soil, in most places, is
not well adapted to good roads, the expense of keeping them
in repair is a heavy item of taxation. Near $4000 per year
are expended on the roads and bridges.
The York & Cumberland Railroad passes through our
principal village, and affords a convenient and rapid commu-
nication with Portland and other parts of our State and
country.
The Oxford & Cumberland Canal runs through Gorham,
from Standish to Westbrook, and on to the sea. It was first
opened for the passage of boats in 1829.
104 HISTORY or GORHAM.
POST-OFFICE.
A Post-oflSce was established in Gorliam in 1797.
Samuel Prentiss was appointed Post-master, SejDt., 1797.
Samuel Whitmore, Jr., " " June, 1807.
Alexander McLellan, " " Dec. 5, 1809.
Isaac C. Irish, » " April 18, 1837.
Stevens Smith, " " Dec. 8, 1841.
James Irish, " " June 7, 1845.
Joshua B. Phipps, " " July 20, 1849.
Samuel W. Lord, " " June 20, 1853.
John Farnham, " " Dec. 1857.
Ebenezer W. Nevens, " " June, 1861.
A Post-office was established at West Gorham in 1829.
Simeon C. Clements appointed Post-master, Jan. 13, 1829.
Greenleaf C. Watson, " " Feb. 6, 1841.
Naaman C. Watson, " " Aug. 6, 1841.
Daniel B. Clements, " " May 17, 1844.
Thomas J. Hasty, " '^ 1860.
The first Inn-holder in this town was Caleb Chase in 1770.
Cary McLellan opened a public house in 1779.
Samuel Prentiss opened a public house in 1786.
Samuel Staples opened a public house in 1805.
At present there are four or five taverns in town.
There was a violent tornado, or hurricane, passed over a
portion of Gorham July 31, 1767. It commenced near Lake
MISCELLANEOUS. 105
Sebago, and swept over the nortli-eastcrly corner of the town
into Windham, near Loveitt's Falls ; its breadth was about
three-fourths of a mile, and it prostrated all trees in its course.
Ever since that event, that portion of the town has been
called "The Hurricane District."
In September, 178T, on a still, clear afternoon, several
loud, distinct reports were heard by many people of Gor-
ham, Standish, and Baldwin ; the noise was said to be as
great as that made by large cannon ; there were ten or twelve
of these reports. These noises greatly alarmed many of our
townsmen. The probability is that the sounds were caused
by the bursting of meteoric stones in the atmosphere.
CEMETEKIES,
The first grave yard in town was one near the fort on
Fort Hill, which is yet used for a place of sepulture. There
was also a small burying ground at the village, back of
where the shops of G. L. Darling and Jonas W. Clark now
stand. There never were stones with inscriptions there, and
nearly all traces of graves have disappeared. The principal
public burying place, of our early inhabitants, was at the
village, near the corner on South Street, now called the old
grave yard. This lot was given to the town by Mr. Jacob
Hamlen in 1770. In a town meeting held March 25, 1771,
the following vote was passed : — Voted, " That Solomon
bard, Esq., Capt. Edmund Phinney, Xathan Whitney, Na-
thaniel Whitney, Joseph Gates, Benjamin Stevens, Benja-
min Skillings, Eliphalet Watson, and Joseph Pilkinton, be
a committee to return the thanks of the town to Mr. Jacob
14
106 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Hamleii, for his generosity In giving to the town half an
acre of land for the purpose of a burying yard."
At a public town meeting lield in the month of April,
1771, the following address was publicly made : —
" An Address of Thanks of the Town of Gorham to Mr.
Jacob Uamlen for his Generous iiresent and gft to the
Toion of a Tract of Land for a Common Burying Place,
Pronounced hy Solomon Lonibard, Esq., Chairman of
the Committee that was chosen hy the Town for that pur-
pose the 2bth of March, 1771.
" Mr. Hamlen — This large Committee are commanded
by the Town of Gorham, to wait upon you, Sir, with an
Address of Thanks of the Town, for your free and generous
present made to the Town, of a parcel of land for a common
Burying place, where the people may bury their Dead out
of their sight. True it is. Sir, that the intrinsic value of the
Present made to the Town is not equal to the donations of
some of Greater Fortunes, who have built Hospitals and
endowed them, and have built Churches and endowed them,
and thereby have transmitted their names and Honor to
unborn Ages, yet notwithstanding this. Sir, the free and
generous Air and the Religious end for which you make this
gift to the Town, renders it a Great, Noble and Generous
Donation, where survivors may deposit their Greatest Treas-
ure, their dear Friend and Relative ; that provision be made
for depositing the dead, is as necesary as to make provision of
houses for the living to dwell in. By the Apostacy and fall
from God, Adam and all his Posterity became mortal. In
the day thou Eatest thereof thou shalt surely Die. Death
is entailed upon all Adams's posterity, and every one knows,
that as he Is born he shall surely die ; so that Burying places
not only are convenient, but absolutely necessary for the
dearest friend and relative while living, that gives the most
MISCELLANEOUS. 107
pleasing sensation of pleasure and delight, in converse and
communion with them, but when once cold Death embraces
this object in his arms, he or she becomes disagreeable com-
pany. That object that once delighted every eye, and
charmed every heart, and engrossed the strongest affection ;
when once the lovely corpse becomes shaded with the image
and picture of Death and corruption, all pleasing sensations
and delight are lost and gone, and the breast that once
swelled with Joy, now is charged with an insupportable load
of Grief, and his thoughts are employed where to deposit his
dead out of his sight. "When God visited Abraham and by
his afflictive hand had snatched from him a portion of his
very heart in the Death of his Dearly Beloved Sarah, she
who once by her beauty charmed him, and her becoming
mien greatly Delighted him. And her ready and cheerful
obedience and Affection for him gave her the highest place
in his heart of all Earthly objects, but upon this Event, viz :
the Death of Sarah, he was so far from Receiving pleasure or
Satisfaction from the presence of the Coi-pse, that it Excited
the greatest pain and uneasiness of mind, and seeks a place
to repose his Dead out of his Sight ; for we find recorded in
Sacred Writ, that Abraham stood up before his Dead and
Spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a
sojourner with you, give me a possession of a Burying place
with you that I may Bury my Dead out of my sight. Upon
which they Generously offered him the choice of their Sepul-
chres to bury his Dead. Upon which Abraham bowed him-
self to the people in Gratitude to them ; but this was not
what he was desirous of; but a piece of Ground that He
might call his own, that he might there without Trespass,
view the monument of his dying or dead friend, and there
empty his Breast overcharged with Grief in showers of
Tears over her Grave. For this purpose, he entreats the
sons of Heth to plead for him with Zoliar for the cave
108 niSTOEY OF GORHAM.
Machpelah at ye end of his field for as much money as it
was Avorth, where he might depose this once lovely Corpse,
and without Trespass or offence to any might visit and mourn
over. S', the same desire prevails in every man ; he desires
the liberty of visiting the Grave Yard, and see the little
hillock, the Rising Ground — the memorial of the dead, with-
out ground of complaint from any one, there to contemplate
the state of mortality, the irreparable loss Sustained, and to
weep over the Dead. There is, S'^, a secret pleasure in this,
as weeping for Sin yields comfort to the penitent, so mourn-
ing for the dead does yield satisfaction. This mourning is
not altogether a painful sensation. You, S'", have put it in
the power of the people in this place to visit their Dead as
often as their inclination excites them thereto. The Dead
Bodys are Deposed as Seed, as Seed sown for the Eesurrec-
tion. And probable it is that most of us may soon in a few
months or years mingle our Dust with those there buried,
until the Sound of the last Trumpet, arise ye dead, and come
to judgment. God in mercy prepare each of us for such an
event.
" And now, S', to conclude, we, the Committee do, in the
name of the town, wish, and pray that God in his provi-
dence may shower down into your bosom sevenfold of the
good things of this life in Recompense for your Charity and
Goodness, and in the world to come, may you be rewarded
with Life eternal, and that both you and we may be as happy
as to joyn the Great Assembly above. Angels, Arch- An-
gels, and the whole Church Triumphant in singing the Song
of Moses and the Lamb, where there shall be no more pain
or dying, no weeping for Departed friends, but fullness of
joy at God's Right hand."
A large and convenient burying ground near the village
was purchased and lotted out, some tliirty years ago, which
is now the principal cemetery. There are several other
MISCELLANEOUS. 10<J
public places for sepulture in to^^^l — at South Gorham,
West Gorham, Little Falls village, White Eock and at the
north part of the town.
110 HISTORY -OF GORHAM.
CHAPTEE XIV.
THE KEVOLUTION".
Scarcely had the mingled sounds of the French and
Indian war died away, and our citizens got quietly settled
in their industrial pursuits, when other, and ominous reports
from another quarter, burst u|)on the startled ears of our
people. Rumors of impending troubles with the mother
country came across the Atlantic, and deeply saddened the
hearts of the American Colonies. At that period our town
was peaceful and flourishing ; its resources were being rap-
idly developed. It was incorporated and organized with
judicious Municipal officers. Their prosperity was soon to
be checked by new national difficulties. The troubles be-
tween Great Britain and her transatlantic cMldren were as-
suming a serious asjject. The people of this town, ever
keenly alive in the cause of liberty and justice, entered ear-
nestly into the troubles with England. As early as Septem-
ber, 1768, a town meeting was held, and Solomon Lombard,
Esq., (the former pastor) was chosen " an agent to go to
Boston, as soon as may be, to join a Convention of agents
from other towns in the Province, to consult and resolve
upon such measures as may most conduce to the safety and
welfare of the inhabitants of this Province at this alarming
and critical conjuncture." Mr. Lombard was allowed eight
days for going to, and returning from Boston.
When the pride, ambition, and cupidity of the British
THE REVOLUTION. Ill
government led tliem to inflict on our land successive
wrongs ; when they attempted to violate the plainest rights,
and subvert the dearest privileges of the Colonies ; when
the Ministry of George III. had become deaf to the implor-
ing voice of mercy and justice, and the patriots of America
had determined to resist the unrighteous demands of Old
England ; when the blood of the good and brave had
moistened the fields of Lexington and Bunker Hill ; when
Charlestown and Portland were but heaps of smoking ruins ;
the freemen of Gorham did not prove recreant to the great
and sacred cause of Liberty. Our peaceful, inland town,
remote from invasion and the clang of arms, was awake and
active in the great concern. She contributed freely and
largely of her citizens and property to the general cause.
Our townsmen left their quiet pursuits to mingle in the
storm of war. She sent her sons north and south, and east
and west, to fight, and bleed and die ! She constantly con-
tributed more than her quota of troops for the Continental
army. Capt. Hart Williams commanded a full company
from Gorham in Col. Phinney's Regiment, and Capt. Alex-
ander McLellan led a large company, all except one private
from Gorham, under Gen. Wadsworth to Castine, (then
called Buygaduce) in the unfortunate Penobscot expedition.
A large number of Gorham men were also in the Machias
expedition. At one time every third man in this town, ca-
pable of bearing arms, Avas in the army. She had soldiers
in almost every battle of the Revolution. At the engage-
ment on Rhode Isljind, in 1778, Paul Whitney and Mr.
Wescott were killed. The energetic and brave Col. Ed-
mund Phinney led his Regiment to Cambridge soon after
Bunker Hill battle, and was among the first to march into
Boston after its evacuation by the British ; he conducted
himself with great activity, courage, and prudence ; he did
much to induce our townsmen to exert themselves to the
112 HISTORY OF GORIIAM.
Utmost to maintain the war. In an original letter now be-
fore me, dated in " Camp at Cambridge, May 26, 1776,"
writing to his father, the venerable John Phinnej, the first
settler, he says, "I am very well and in high spirits, and
hope to continue so, till every tory is banished this land of
liberty, and our rights and privileges are restored."
Capt. John Phinney was at that time too far advanced in
years to endure the fatigues of a campaign ; but his patriotic
feelino-s were warm and vigorous, and his sons and his
o-randsons went to the war. Besides Col. Edmund, and his
brother, John Phinney, Jr., (the first white man that planted
a hill of corn in Gorham) and his two sons, John Phinney
3d, and Ebenezer Phinney, were in the Eevolutionary army.
In the autumn of 1776, Col. Phinney marched from Cam-
bridge to Ticonderoga. Capt. Hart Williams' company of
Gorham men served three campaigns in the northern army,
and were engaged in the several conflicts with the troops
of Burgoyne, which resulted in that General's surrender.
Gorham soldiers were not only in the northern army, but
about thirty men from this town were at Rhode Island, and
many at New York and in New Jersey at the same time.
Philip Horr, of Gorham, who was a private in Capt. Traf-
farn's company of Col. Topham's Rhode Island Regiment,
was taken prisoner while rowing a boat from Rowland's
ferry to Bristol, with Col. Topham and two of his captains.
Mr. Horr was placed on board a British prison ship and
endured great sufferings ; his health was ruined. He served
twenty-eight months. Gorham men went whenever and
wherever their country called them. They left their homes
and firesides, dearer to them than life ; they endured the
fatigues and dangers of every campaign ; they parted with
their scanty, hard-earned bread, to feed their brethren in
arms ; they made constant and liberal provision for the fam-
ilies of absent soldiers. They wandered with Arnold on
THE REVOLUTION. 113
the wild banks of the Kennebec and Chaudierc ; they
marched with Gen. Greene over the hot sands of Carolina,
and the high hills of Santee. They died by the weapons of
the enemy — they died by contagious disease — they died by
the noxious air of prison ships — by the cold of winter, and
by the heat of summer. Those who remained at home de-
voted their time and talents to the cause by noble sacrifices
and patriotic resolutions.
In 1772, in response to a Circular from the town of Bos-
ton, a town meeting was called in Gorham to express the
sense of our citizens on " the Eights of the Colonies and the
several infractions of those rights." Solomon Lombard,
Esq., was chosen Moderator ; a Committee of Safety and
Communication, and to draw up Resolves expressive of the
sense of the town on the subject matter of the Boston Circu-
lar, Avas raised. The committee was composed of nine mem-
bers, who were Solomon Lombard, Esq., Capt. John Phin-
ney, William Gorham, Esq., Capt. Edmund Phinney, Elder
Nathan Whitney, Caleb Chase, Capt. Briant Morton, Jo-
siah Da\ds, and Benjamin Shillings. These were prominent
citizens, men of ability, calmness, energy and experience in
public affairs. The assembled freemen of Gorham then
voted to return thanks to the town of Boston for their
vigilance over our privileges and liberties ; the meeting was
adjourned one week. At the adjourned meeting, January
7, 1773, the following Preamble and Resolves were reported
by the committee and adopted by the citizens : —
" We find it is esteemed an argument of terror to a set of
the basest of men, who are attempting to enslave us, and
who desire to wallow in luxury upon the expense of our
earnings, that this country was purchased by the blood
of our renowned forefathers, who, flying from the unre-
lenting rage of civil and religious tyranny in their native
land, settled themselves in this desolate, howling wilderness.
15
114 HISTOET OF GORHAM.
But the people of this town of Gorham have an argument
still nearer at hand ; not only may we say that Ave enjoy an
inheritance purchased by the blood of our forefathers, but
this town was settled at the eocpe?ise of our own hlood.
We have those among us whose blood, streaming from their
own wounds, watered the soil from which we earn our
bread ! Our ears have heard the infernal yells of the sav-
age, native murderers ! Our eyes have seen our young
children weltering in their gore in our own houses, and our
dearest friends carried into captivity by men more savage
than the savage beasts themselves ! Many of us have been
used to earn aur daily bread with our weapons in our hands !
We cannot be supposed to be fully acquainted with the mys-
teries of Court policy, but we look upon ourselves able to
judge so far concerning our rights as men, as christians, and
as subjects of the British Government, as to declare that we
apprehend those rights as settled by the good people of
Boston, do belong to us ; and that we look with horror and
indignation on their violation. We only add that our old
Captain is still living, who for many years has been our
chief officer to rally the inhabitants of this town from the
plough or the sickle, to defend their wives, their children,
and all that was dear to them, from the savages ! Many of
us have been inured to the fatigue and danger of flying to
garrison ! Many of our watch boxes are still in being, the
timber of our Fort is still to be seen ; some of our women
have been used to handle the cartridge or load the musket,
and the swords we sharpened and brightened for our ene-
mies are not yet grown rusty. Therefore,
Resolved., That the people of the town of Gorham are
as loyal as any of his Majesty's subjects in Great Britain or
the Plantations, and hold themselves always in readiness to
assist his Majesty with their lives and fortunes in defence
of the rights and privileges of his subjects.
THE REVOLUTION. 115
Resolved, AVe apprehend that the g^c^•auces of Avhich
we justly complain, are owing to the corruptions of the late
Ministry, in not suffering the repeated petitions and remon-
strances from this Province to reach the Royal ear.
Resolved, It is clearly the opinion of this town, that it is
better to risk our lives and foi'tunes in the defence of our
rights, civil and religious, than to die by piecemeals in
slavery !
Resolved, It is cleovrly the opinion of this town, that the
Parliament of Great Britain have no more right to take
money from us, without our consent, than they have to take
money without consent from the inhabitants of France or
Spain.
Resolved^ That the foregoing Resolves and Proceedings
be registered in the Town Clerk's office, as a standing me-
morial of the value that the inhabitants of this town put
upon their rights and privileges."
These Resolves were signed by all the committee, and
passed without opposition.
At a town meeting called to consider the exigency of
public affairs, January 25, 1774, (which meeting was very
fully attended,) the following spirited proceedings were
had: —
" 1. Resolved, That our small possessions, dearly pur-
chased by the hand of labor, and the industry af ourselves,
and our dear ancestors, with the loss of many lives, by a bar-
barous and cruel enemy, are, by the laws of God, nature
and the British Constitution, our own, exclusive of any other
claim under heaven.
2. Resolved, That all and every part and parcel of the
profits arising therefrom, are also our own, and that none
can, of right, take away any part or share thereof, without
our free consent.
3. Resolved, That for any Legislative body of men under
116 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
the British Constitution to take, or grant liberty to take, any
part of our property, or profits, without our consent, is
State robbery, and ought to be opposed.
4. Resolved, That the British ParHament laying a tax
on Americans, iov the purpose of raising a revenue, is a vio-
lation of the laws of religion, and sound policy, inconsis-
tent with the principles of freedom, that has distinguished
the British Empire, from its earliest ages.
5. Resolved, That the appropriating this Revenue in
supportj^of a set of the vilest of the human race, in rioting
in luxury on our spoils, is an unprecedented step of Admin-
istration^and appears to us most odious.
6. Resolved, That the Tea Act, in favor of the East India
Company to export the same to America, is a deep-laid
scheme to betray the unwary and careless into the snare laid
to catch and enslave them, and requires the joint vigilance,
fortitude, and courage, of the thoughtful and the brave to
oj)pose in every constitutional way.
7. Resolved, That petitioning the throne carries a very
gloomy prospect, so long as his Majesty is under the same
influence that he has been for many years past.
8. Resolved, That other methods besides Petitioning are
now become necessary for the obtaming and securing our
just rights and privileges.
9. Resolved, That the measures taken by the town of
Boston in their several meetings to consult, debate, and ad-
vise, with regard to the tea arrived there, merits the esteem
and regard of all who esteem their rights worth jjreserving,
and will transmit their memory to unborn ages with Honor.
10. Resolved, That the unfeigned thanks of the Town
of Gorhara wait on the Committee of Correspondence of
the metropolis, and all the good People that shew their Zeal
for Liberty in their late Town meetings, and may our indig-
nation fall on all who are enemies to our happy Constitution !
THE REVOLUTION. 117
11. Itesolved, That we of this town have such a liigh
relish for Liberty that we, all with one heart, stand ready
sword in hand, with the Italians in the Roman Republick,
to defend and maintain our rights against all attempts to en-
slave us, and join our brethren, opposing force to force, if
drove to the last extremity, which God forbid."
After these high-toned resolutions were passed, the aged
Capt. Phinney made a motion, which was voted, " that if
any person of Gorham shall hereafter contemn, despise, or
reproach the former or the present Resolves, or endeavor to
prevent the force or effect of the same among this people,
he shall be deemed, held, and adjudged, an enemy to his
country, unworthy the company or regard of all those who
are the professed sons of freedom, and shall be treated as
infamous."
It was then voted that the following be accepted as a pref-
ace to the foregoing Resolves.
" When we contemplate the days of old, the years of an-
cient times, when the candle of the Lord shone around our
Tabernacle, and the Benign rays from the throne beamed
through the whole of our American atmosphere, which
placed a smile on every face and joy in every heart, and
each Individual sitting under his own Vine and Fig tree,
having none to annoy or make him afraid, enjoying the
fruits of his own industry. In this golden age mutual
Love subsisted between the mother State and her Colonies.
The mother extended her powerful arm to skreen and Pro-
tect her children from insult and ruin ; from their and her
natural enemies, who would have attacked them on their
watry frontier ; in return, the children have ever been obedi-
ent to the requisitions of their mother in raising men and
money to the enlargement of the British Empire to an
amazing extent, and this without complaint or even a single
murmur, although they thereby endangered their own bank-
118 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
ruptcy. But how are circumstances changed ? ' 0 tempora^
O mores /' the mother lost to her first love ! her maternal
affection degenerated into a cold indifcrency, if not a fixed
hatred of her children, as is too evident by the repitition of
one revenue act after another, and appointing Egyptian
task-masters, if not worse, or cruelly to extort from us our
property, without so much as to say, by your leave, that
they may wallow in luxury on our spoils, against every
principle of justice. Human or Divine ; And the Tools of
the Administration, among ourselves, have used every meas-
ure in their power to weaken our hands and subject us easily
to be dragooned in chains and slavery, not by dint of ar-
gument, but by the mere force of the power placed in their
hands by the Mother Country. These things bearing heavy
on our minds, and not altogether sunk below all human
feelings, We, una voce, came to these resolves."
Then follows a long letter to the Committee of Correspon-
dence of the town of Boston, filled Avith the same comjjlaints,
and strong expressions of indignation against the Eoyal
Governor or officers of Massachusetts and the towns among
us. And they say in closing, " We hope and trust that the
inhabitants of this town will not be induced to part with
their privileges for a little paltry herh drink.''^
The inhabitants of Gorham felt the full weight of the re-
sponsibilities resting on them, and bravely determined to be
faithful to their sacred trusts ; faithful to themselves, and
faithful to posterity. They avowed themselves ready at all
times to aid the cause of freedom. They kept up an able,
active, and vigorous Committee of Correspondence, com-
posed of men of wisdom, sagacity and firmness, such as John
and Edmund Phinney, William Gorham, Solomon Lombard,
Prince Davis, Josiah Davis, Bcnj. Shillings, Caleb Chase,
Samuel Whitmore, Nathan Whitney, and others. These
Committees of Correspondence and Vigilance, were estab-
THE REVOLUTION. 119
lished in nearly all the towns In the country, " and became
the executive power of the patriotic party," producing the
happiest concert of design and action throughout the Colo-
nies. James Phinney, son of Capt. John, was Chairman of
the Selectmen during most of the trying years of the llevo-
lution. Lieut, (afterwards Col.) Frost, was almost inces-
santly occupied in military services and offices, at home,
during the continuance of the war.
In September, 1774, Solomon Lombard, Esq., was elected
a Representative from Gorham to attend the Provincial
Congress, and a large Committee, of which Nathan Whit-
ney was Chairman, was raised, to draw up instructions for
the Representative. The instructions were as follows : —
" To Solomon Lombard^ Esq : —
Sir — Whereas you are chosen by the Town of Gorham,
to represent them at a Great and General Court, or Assem-
bly to be begun and held at Salem, on Wednesday, the
fifth day of October next. We desire you to observe the
following Instructions, viz : —
1st. That you be punctual at the time of the Court's
sitting, and there, so far as you may have influence, main-
tain and support, to your utmost, all our Charter, and con-
stitutional rights, and not give up one Iota or tittle of
them to any supposable poAver on earth.
2d. That you use your endeavors to obtain a vote of the
House, for the re- establishment of the former Charter of
this Province.
3d. After the General Court is adjourned, prorogued or
dissolved, we instruct you to joyn with the other members,
which compose the said Court, in forming themselves into a
Provincial Congress, to be held where by them, may be
tho' best, in order to Consult, Debate, and Resolve on meas-
ures proper to be taken and pursued by the People of this
120 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Province, in order to secure tliem in the enjoyment of their
Charter, and Constitutional Kights as Freemen, and as
Christians.
Lastly. Trusting in your fidelity and wisdom, we doubt
not but you'll pursue that course you may think best for
the general good, at this alarming and distressing period.
Wishing you success in all your undertakings, we are, &c.,
your humble servants.
By Order of the Town.
WILLIAM GORHAM, Town CUrhr
In the early days of our town, the voters often gave in-
structions to their Representatives on important questions,
and the Representative felt bound to act according to his
instructions. Mr. Lombard attended this Provisional Con-
gress, and was among the most earnest in resisting the policy
and acts of Parliament towards the Colonies. That Pro-
vincial Congress recommended to the several towns not to
pay the State, or Province taxes to Harrison Gray, the Roy-
alist Treasurer of the Province, and in accordance with that
recommendation, the people of Gorham, at a town meeting
held Dec. 1st, 1773, " Voted, That Capt. Edmund Phinney
be a Treasurer to receive the money that is, or may be due
from the several Collectors, or Constables of this town to
the Province, and transmit the same to Henry Gardner, Esq.,
of Stow, agreeably to the recommendation of the Provincial
Congress." From that time, the Royal Treasury received
no more revenue from the town of Gorham.
The Royalist Province Treasurer was incensed at the
withholding the town's proportion of the State tax, and
issued a peremptory demand for payment, whereupon a
Town Meeting was called January 5, 1775, and it was
Y^oted,, " That the Town will indemnify the Assessors,
Constables, and Collectors, of Gorham, in their refusing to
THE REVOLUTION. 121
make return to Harrison Gray, Esq., on his warrant, and in
paying the money to CoL Edmund Phinney, instead of Har-
rison Gray."
Voted^ " To lay out ten pounds in powder, balls, and
flints, to increase the town stock." They also voted to
adopt the association agreement of the Congress holden at
Phihidelphia in September, 1774.
Votcd^ " To choose a committee to take care that the
plans of the Continental Congress he exactly comjdied with.^^
They chose Capt. Briant Morton a delegate to the Provin-
cial Congress proposed to be holden at Cambridge. At the
same meeting, the tOAvn manifested its sympathy for the suf-
fering citizens of Boston, by choosing a large committee
" to see that a quantity of wood is got to Falmouth, to send
to the poor of Boston, by the last week in January."
The people of Gorham did not raise much com or grain
in 1774, and in April, 1775, an informal town meeting was
held, or rather a voluntary gathering of the citizens, who
chose a committee to procure breadstufFs ; and at a regular
town meeting, held May 4, 1775, it was
Voted^ " That whereas a quantity of Indian corn and
flour was purchased at Falmouth, by Messrs. Hugh McLel-
lan, Prince Davis, Joseph Gammon, Josiah Davis, and Dr.
Stephen Swett, are brought into this town, that the town
do establish the proceedings of said men, and receive the
corn and flour, and become liable to pay the sterling cost of
the same in Falmouth, and all reasonable expense in trans-
porting the same to this town."
Voted^ "That the Selectmen, with Mr. Cary McLellan
and Caleb Chase, be a committee to dispose of said com,
and receive pay for the same."
The people were poor, and many of them barely able to
obtain the necessaries of life. To prevent extortion, the
town found it necessary to limit the prices which traders and
16
122 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
sellers should not exceed. Many indispensable articles — salt,
corn, meats, shoes, and other things — were sold at prices
fixed by a committee raised for that purpose. Though sore-
ly pressed by the war, the patriotism of the town never
flagged. From the first to the last day of the Revolution-
ary struggle this town complied, and more than complied,
with all the requisitions of Congress and the Province, for
men, food, and clothing, for the army. At one time, the
town raised four hundred dollars for the purchase of beef,
and three hundred dollars to buy clothing for the army. At
one town meeting the inhabitants voted <£522 13s. 4d., for
soldiers' bounties for the Continental army. The town voted
$100 to each volunteer who would go to reinforce the army
of General Washington, and -$1500 was voted for 15 men
who volunteered, and <£100 lawful money was raised in a
single year to supply the families of absent soldiers.
The liberality of our citizens was not confined to our own
town. We have already mentioned the furnishing of wood
for the poor of Boston when the British army had posses-
sion of that place. When Portland was burned by a Brit-
ish fleet in October, 1775, the people of Gorham sent teams
and men to assist the distressed inhabitants of Falmouth in
saving their effects, and they removed many of them to this
town.
At a town meeting held May 20, 1776, the Freemen of
Gorham being generally assembled, " Voted, Unanimously,
that they would abide by, and with their lives and fortunes
support, the Honorable Congress in the measure, if they
think fit, for the safety of these United Colonies, to declare
themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain."
So early, and so constantly did the people of this town mani-
fest their attachment to freedom.
When the Declaration of Independence was issued, it
was liailed with joy by our people, unanimously approved.
THE REVOLUTION. 123
and copied in full on the town records, where it now re-
mains.
October 7, 1776, the town " Voted, That the present
House of Representatives, in conjunction with the Council
of the State of Massachusetts Bay in New England, by
equal voice, consult, agree on, and enact such a form of
Government, as on the fullest and most mature deliberation,
they shall judge will most conduce to the Safety, Peace,
and Happiness of the State, in all after generations and
successions."
Voted, " That the same be made public, for the inspection
and perusal of the Inhabitants, before the ratification there-
of by the Assembly."
The town kept a committee to hunt up and report to the
Town and State authorities, the names of all Tories, or per-
sons suspected of being inimical to the cause espoused by
the Colonies. The Committee never found or reported but
three men whom they considered Tories, and the town Voted,
" That Capt. John Stevenson be entered on the Selectmens'
List, as a person inimical to this, and the United States in
America." " Voted, That Mr. Mcintosh is ditto. Likewise
Adam Shalloon, ditto."
These votes were passed in May, 1777. At the next
town meeting, held June 19, 1777, it was " Voted to recon-
sider the vote passed at a legal town meeting on the 26th of
May last, wherein Capt. John Stevenson was judged by
this town Inimical to this and the United States of America."
After the peace of 1783, at a town meeting it was " Voted,
That no person, or persons, who have joined the enemy in
the late war against these United States, (otherwise called
Tories) shall be suffered to abide in Gorham." This vote
showed the temper of the town, but it was not fully carried
into effect. In after days, Hon. William Tyng, a distin-
guished Tory, came back and resided here till he died.
124 HISTORY OF GORnAM.
CHAPTEK XV.
GOEHAM SOLDIERS.
It would be difficult, if not impossible, to make a list of
all the Gorliam men who served in the Revolutionary War.
'Soldiers for the Continental army were sometimes furnished
by the town, on the requisition of Congress, and the towns
were called upon in classes. Thus on May 13, 1782, Class
No. 5, for Gorham, furnished Nathaniel Wing, a soldier for
three years. The class that was to procure the soldier, in
this case, paid him " $20 in silver and six cows, the cows to
be equal to cows in general." This agreement was signed
by Ebenezer Murch, William McLellan, and Prince Davis.
If any town did not furnish its quota of men, the same
was charged against the town ; if the town furnished more
than its proportion, the soldier was discharged, and a requi-
sition made on some deficient town. Thus the following
Resolve, touching this matter, was passed by the Legislature
of Massachusetts, Nov. 1, 1782 : —
" Resolve, directing the Treasurer to discharge the town
of Gorham from the deficiency of one man, and directing
Thomas Porter of Topsfield to procure a man in lieu thereof."
On petition of Thomas Porter and Stephen Longfellow,
" Resolved, That the Treasurer of this Commonwealth be,
and hereby is directed to discharge the town of Gorham
from the deficiency of one man, they stand charged with,
upon the Resolve of the 2d of December, 1780 ; and in
THE REVOLUTION.
125
order to prevent a deficiency in the quota of men, set on the
town of Topsfield by the aforesaid Kesolve ; it is farther
Resolved, that Thomas Porter of Topsfickl, one of said peti-
tioners, be and hereby is directed to procure one able-bodied
man to serve in the Continental army for three years, or
during the war, before the 10th day of Dec. next In case
of neglect or refusal, he, the said Porter, shall forfeit and
pay a fine of eighty-five pounds, thirteen shillings."
When the first conflict occurred at Lexino;ton and Con-
cord, a Gorham company of militia was already organized
and armed. The following is the Roll of Capt. Hart Wil-
liams' company in the 31st Regiment of Foot, commanded
by Col. Edmund Phinney, as returned April 24, 1775.
OTFICERS.
Hart Williams, Captain.
William JNIcLellan, Lieut.
Gary McLellan, Ensign.
John Perkins, Sergeant.
John Phinney, Jr., "
James Perkins, "
David Watts, Sergeant.
Silas Chadbourne, Corporal.
Enoch Frost, "
William Irish, "
Samuel Gammon, "
Thomas Bangs, Drummer.
Jeremiah Jones, Fifer.
PRIVATES,
Barnabas Bangs,
Joseph Weymouth,
Bickford Dyer,
Thomas Gustin,
Jeremiah Hodsdon,
Daniel Maxwell,
Thomas Pote,
John Parker,
Ezekicl Hatch,
Philip Gammon,
Ichabod Hunt,
Eben'r Mitchell,
Abijah Lewis,
James Irish,
Nathaniel Lombard,
Butler Lombard,
Owen Runnels,
Theodore Rounds,
126 HISTOKY OF GORIIAM.
Paul Whitney, Elisha Cobb,
George Robinson, James Jordan,
Joseph McDonald, Nepthalim Whitney,
Peletiali McDonald, Jonathan Sturgis,
George Hunt, Prince Hamblen,
George Waterhouse, John Whitney,
Daniel Whitney, Joseph McLellan,
Thomas Irish, Joseph Cressey,
John Melvin, Silvanus Brown,
James Morton, Solomon Green,
Joshua Hamilton.
Four of this company belonged to other towns, viz : —
Abijah Lewis, Buxton, eTames Jordan, Falmouth.
Theodore Rounds, Buxton. Joshua Hamilton, "
Silas Chadbourne, who was a Corporal in Capt. Wil-
liams' Company, became a Lieutenant in Col. Patten's Reg-
iment, and served to the end of the war, as did also many
other Gorham soldiers. ' Those who survived came home
poor ; the Continental bills, with which they were paid,
were so depreciated that seventy dollars of that currency
was worth but one in silver. Some of our soldiers came
home on foot from Hudson River, and were nine and ten
days in performing the journey. They begged their food
and lodo-ing; the whole distance. Several lived to an ad-
vanced age, and received pensions from Government, which
made them comfortable, and in a measure indemnified them
for early losses. A large number of Gorham men were in
companies raised chiefly in Falmouth, Buxton, and Scarbor-
ough. In April, 1776, tAventy-one Gorham men were pri-
vates in Capt. Paul Ellis' company, viz : — Ebenezer Murch,
Joshua Crockett, William Paine, Joseph McDaniell, Richard
Thurrell, Joseph Morse, Josiah Whitney, Moses Whitney,
Ephraim Jones, Samuel Brown, Simeon Brown, John Em-
THE REVOLUTION. 127
ery, Daniel Emery, Daniel Whitmore, John Haskell, Amos
Rich, Joseph Kounds, Henry Jones, Benjamin A. Jordan,
John Elder.
Many soldiers from this town died in the army, some in
the British prison ships, some escaped from the enemy by
shrewd management and darino; action.
At one time, Lient. Gary JNIcLellan, with about ten other
Gorham men, were in a privateer, and were captured by the
British Captain Mowat, and carried into New York, and
placed in a prison ship, where they suffered greatly by hun-
ger, disease, and want of suitable air and clothing. Colo-
nel Tyng, formerly Sheriff of Cumberland County, being a
Loyalist, was at that time, with the British army in New
York ; he found out our Gorham prisoners, and gave them
many things for their comfort. The British officers com-
pelled our men to get wood for their fires. On one occa-
sion they sent Lieut. McLellan, with J. Lombard, J. Simp-
son, and Wm. McLellan, Jr., (all Gorham men) to cut and
bring a boat load of wood to an English war vessel ; they
were under the guard of an orderly officer, and two armed
privates. They went some miles up the Hudson river, and
were proceeding to cut their wood. McLellan proposed to
the Orderly, that if he would permit him to go under guard
to a store, about a mile distant, he would buy some good
liquor ; the officer consented, and with a British soldier as a
guard, he went and purchased the spirit. McLellan took it
to their camp, and found means to make known his plan of
escape to Lombard, Simpson and McLellan, Jr. ; he cau-
tioned them to drink sparingly during the evening. The
evening came — the liquor was produced — they all drank.
The Gorham men feigned intoxication and sleep. The Brit-
ons drank till they were actually tipsy, and fell asleep. Mc-
Lellan and his friends disarmed their English companions,
took them to the boat, and rowed up the Hudson till they
128 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
got within the American lines, and then delivered up their
three prisoners, sold their boat, and came home to Gorham
on foot.
As the war proceeded the prices of goods became very-
high, while the paper currency continued to depreciate, and
it was almost impossible for the poor to obtain articles of
prime necessity. In November, 1779, the town " chose James
Gilkey, Lieut. Gary McLellan, and James Phinney, a spe-
cial Committee to fix prices of articles of consumption."
At the same meeting they " voted 20 per cent, bounty on
clothing, provided for the Continental soldiers." In 1781,
the town " Resolved to get this town's quota of beef and
clothing for the army, and those who furnish clothing, to
have twenty shillings for a shirt, twelve shillings for a pair
of shoes, seven shillings for a pair of stockings, and forty-
two shillings for a blanket."
THE REVOLUTION. 129
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PENOBSCOT EXPEDITION.
The unfortunate expedition to Penobscot, in 1779, proved
disastrous to the American arras. The failure of the enter-
prise was attributed to the obstinacy or treachery of Com-
modore Richard Saltonstall, of New Haven in Connecticut.
He had nineteen vessels of war in his fleet, mounting 344
guns. General Lovell, of Massachusetts, commanded the
land forces ; Gen. Peleg Wadsworth was second in com-
mand, and was undoubtedly the best officer in the American
army in that adventure. There were about one thousand
men on each side. On the 14th of August, a battle took
place at Castine, then called Buygaduce, (usually pro-
nounced Bagaduce.) The contest was short but decisive.
The Americans were beaten and dispersed. Our officers and
men fleeing across Penobscot Bay and river, landed at dif-
ferent places and took up their march, or rather flight,
towards the Kennebec, in small squads or singly ; they had
to travel through a wild, uncultivated country, eighty or
ninety miles. They suffered greatly from want of food, and
various exposures and privations. Some perished in the
forests on their way.
The town of Gorham shared largely in that expedition ;
and had her full share of the expense and sufferings. Capt.
Alexander McLellan led a Gorham comjiany. His soldiers
suffered severely in those eastern woods. Capt. McLellan
17
130 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
himself was seized with a fever, brought on by fatigue and
anxiety, and died on the fourth of October, a few days after
his arrival home. The following is a copy of a letter, (the
original is now lying before me, 1862,) written from Port-
land, at the time of his starting from that place to go to
Buygaduce : —
" To the Selectmen of GorJiam : —
Gentlemen : — I am obliged to carry off Austin Alden's
Drum, or go without one. I desire you to pay him for it,
as I think the Selectmen are obliged to find one for me ; I
think the Drum is well worth Ten pounds, ten shillings, old
way, as things went seven years ago.
y^ Hub! Serv*,
ALEX^ M^LELLAN, Capt.
Falmouth, July 15, 1779."
ROLL OF CAPT. ALEXANDER McLELLAK'S COMPACT,
In Colonel Jonathan IVJiitney's Regiment, in the Penobscot Expedition.
OFFI CER S.
Alexander McLellan, Caj^t. John Emery, Sergeant.
Ebenezer Murch, 1st Lieut. Daniel Whitney, Corporal.
Joseph Knight, 2d Lieut. Jeremiah Hodsdon, "
James Irish, Sergeant. Samuel Files, "
George Strout, " Joseph McDonald, "
Stephen Whitney, Sergeant. John Lakeman, Drummer.
PRIVATES.
Edmund Phinney, (Jr. ?) John Blanchard,
Benjamin Haskell, John Gammon,
Moses Hanscom, Samuel Murch,
THE REVOLUTION.
131
John Phlnney,
Nathaniel Bacon,
' "Wm. McLellan,
Lazarus Rand,
James March,
Richard Lombard,
Prince Hamblen,
John Parker,
Josiah Swett,
Peter White,
John Meserve,
William Murch,
Edward Wilson,
Zachariah Weston,
John Akers,
Benjamin Stevens,
Ebenezer Whitney,
Benjamin Roberts,
Charles McDonald,
Joseph Irish,
WiBiam Meserve,
Uriel Whitney,
Seth Harding,
Gershom Davis,
Daniel Whitmore,
Abner Jordan,
Moses Jordan,
John Elwell,
William Irish,
James Stubbs,
John Davis,
Samuel Rounds,
William Files,
Joshua Davis,
William Wood,
Abel Whitney,
Stephen Powell,
Asa Thurlo,
John Harmon,
James Huntress,
Samuel Whitney,
Isaac Chase,
James Watson,
Stephen Sawyer,
John Smith.
Joseph Jones,
The old soldiers of Gorham, who lived till after the United
States Pension Acts were passed, received quite an amount
of money in the aggregate, which greatly benefitted them,
as most of them had but little property.
The following persons in Gorham received the benefit of
the Pension Acts, viz : —
OFFICERS .
Capt. Oliver Hunt,
" Josiah Jenkins,
Lieut. William McLellan,
" Ebenezer Storer,
132
HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Capt. Joshua Swett, Lieut. Timothy Bacon,
Lieut. Silas Chadbourne.
PRIVATE
Isaac Whitney,
John Darling,
Stephen Whitney,
Allison Libby,
Jonathan Stone,
Zebulon Whitney,
Edward Webb,
John Watson,
George Waterhouse,
Thomas Irish,
Matthias Murch,
Daniel Whitney,
Edward Libby,
Moses Fogg,
William Files,
Prince Hamblen,
Philip Horr,
John Phinney,
Samuel Files,
Ebenezer Files,
James Morton,
Thomas Morton,
John Blake,
Joseph Blake,
Isaac Irish,
William Burton.
Ebenezer Storer, Esq., drew a treble pension, one as Lieu-
tenant, one as Paymaster, and one as Clothier of his Regi-
ment, having performed the duties of all said offices at the
same time. Lieut. Storer was a native of Wells, Maine ; he
was not seventeen years of age when he enlisted, April 17,
1776, as a non-commissioned officer in Col. Phinney's Regi-
ment. He served till December, 1776, and then received an
Ensign's commlsson in the 12th Massachusetts Regiment,
commanded by Col. Samuel Brewer ; served there till 1779,
when he was transferred to the 2d Massachusetts Regiment,
as first Lieut, and Paymaster ; this Regiment was under
Lieut. Col. Commandant Ebenezer Sprout, and continued
in that Regiment till the peace of 1783. Mr. Storer was
one of the society of the Cincinnati. He Avas highly re-
spected in our town, and was a gentleman of military tastes,
THE KEVOLUTION. 133
and polished manners, tie closed his useful life at Gorham,
January 20, 1846, aged 87 years.
MILITARY.
It is not possible to ascertain when the first military or-
ganization took place in this town. The settlers must have
had guns and ammunition when they came here, both as a
means of defense against wild animals and to procure meat
for their own living. Moose, deer, and bears, were numerous,
and for some years furnished the people with most of their
animal food. It soon also became necessary to defend them-
selves against savages. Their mutual dangers would lead
them to combine for their common safety ; a leader or com-
mander would then be necessary, and we find Mr. John Phin-
ney the acknowledged head or captain when there were not
more than twenty men in the township. Whether Captain
Phinney ever had a commission I have not learned, but it is
presumed he had one, as he ultimately commanded quite a
company of armed men, and made returns of his force.
Scouts in small parties were sent out to take or kill Indians.
These looked to Capt. Phinney for general plans and orders ;
and when in the Indian war, Massachusetts furnished this
township eleven soldiers for protection, they were placed
under Capt. John Phinney's command. There was a large
military company, over which Edmund Phinney was Captain,
previous to the commencement of the Revolutionary war.
Until 1789, there was but one militia company in Gorham.
During that year that company was divided ; a third com-
pany was formed not long afterwards, and since 1800, com-
panies of cavalry, light infantry and riflemen, have been
organized. When the militia system was changed, or
134 HISTOKY OF GORHAM.
rather abandoned, some twenty years ago, these companies
ceased to exist. Some five or six years since, a volunteer
company was formed, which was furnished with arms by
the State. They called themselves the " Gorham Light
Guard." This company languished and died, and their arms
have been surrendered to the State. The days of training
and general muster have passed away, and the only organ-
ized company in town is an efficient Fire Company in our
principal village, who work an excellent fire engine success-
fully. In the former part of this century, this town was the
place for Regimental musters, and sometimes a whole Brig-
ade convened at Gorham village, and passed two or three
successive days in military exercise. These musters were
the grand holidays of the year for our young people, and
the sellers of drinks, fruits, and confectionary. The moral
effect of these trainings and musters was never salutary.
They sowed and nourished the seeds of intemperance.
POLITICS. 135
CHAPTER XVII.
POLITICS.
The people of this town have always exhibited a lively in-
terest in State and National politics. In days of general party
excitement, they have not been backward in freely express-
ing their opinions of men and measures. Matters of Admin-
istration have sometimes been discussed, not only with
warmth, but with asperity and prejudice. Yet our citizens
have always been patriotic, always loved their country and
form of government. As long ago as 1765, when the Brit-
ish Stamp act was passed, our people took a deep interest in
that measure, and were unanimous in their condemnation of
the act. When the exciting scenes of our Revolution and
Independence occurred, our to^\Tismen entered into them
with earnest zeal. During those years, and through Wash-
ington's presidency, they were nearly aU united in political
opinions ; and when party lines were more distinctly drawn,
in the days of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, almost
all our voters were of the Federal party, and, though there
were animated contests, the Democratic ticket rarely had the
majority till after the administration of Mr. Monroe. When
the Constitution of Massachusetts was formed, it had few
opposers here. When Jay's Treaty with England was
negotiated, nearly all our townsmen were in favor of its
ratification. Mr. Jefferson's administration was strongly
condemned. Party spirit ran high, and nearly all Mr. Jef-
136 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
ferson's acts, even tliat wise and highly beneficial one — the
purchase of Louisiana — was strongly disapproved by the
dominant party in Gorham. The Embargo, especially, was
considered an atrocious act ; that It bore heavily on our com-
mercial people cannot be questioned. A town meeting was
held here, and our voters expressed a strong disapprobation
of the measure.
At a town meeting, held on the 29th day of August, 1808,
among other things, it was Voted, " That the Honorable
Stephen Longfellow, CajDtain David Harding, Jr., Captain
Silvanus Davis, Doctor Dudley Folsom, and John Park
Little, Esq., be a committee to prepare a petition to the
President of the United States, praying him to suspend the
embargo." That committee presented the following petition.
" To the President of the United States : —
The inhabitants of the town of Gorham, in legal town
meeting assembled, beg leave respectfully to represent that
they are fully aware of the Indispensable necessity of sup-
porting, at all times, the laws enacted by the government of
their choice ; under this impression, they have refrained
from expressing their most ardent desire to have the Embargo
removed. Although they are an agricultural town, yet their
proximity to Portland, the most considerable commercial
town In the District, has, for many years past, led them con-
siderably Into trade with the people there. Large quantities
of Beef, Butter, Lumber, &c., have been annually transport-
ed from this place to that, by means of which the Inhabitants
of this town have made a comfortable living, and have ac-
cumulated property, but, since the embargo has taken place
and commerce has been stoj)ped, they sensibly feel the inti-
mate connection there is between agriculture and commerce,
indeed they find it will be almost impossible for the former to
exist without the latter. Debts incurred by them previous to
POLITICS. 137
the embargo, which would have been discharged with ease if
commerce had flourished as formerly, they now find cannot
be paid at all because they cannot possibly obtain money
enough to discharge their taxes, which are continually ac-
cumulating ; the surplus of their agricultural productions,
and their lumber, are left to perish for want of a market ;
they therefore pray that the Embargo (which they think is
the sole cause of their distress) may be suspended, and that
your Excellency would do everything in your power to effect
so desirable an object."
The town voted that the Selectmen forward the foreo-oins:
petition to the President of the United States immediately.
Numerous petitions from other towns, where the Federal
party were in the ascendancy, were gotten up and sent to
the President for the same purpose.
Congress laid the embargo, Dec. 22, 1807, " to preserve
our neutrality, the Honor of our Flag, and the Rights of
sailors inviolate." England and France, by most unright-
eous and belligerent Decrees and Orders in Council, had
subjected neutral vessels to search, seizure, and confiscation.
England had impressed many American seamen, and held
them in galling bondage. She declared she would never
surrender the right of searching our vessels, and taking
from them any persons who had ever been British sub-
jects. We have lived to see her surrender that so termed
right.
There was a town meeting held on the 30th day of Jan-
uary, 1809, " for the purpose of considering the present dis-
tressed situation of our National affiiirs." Hon. Stephen
Longfellow, Doctor Dudley Folsom, Rev. Reuben Nason,
John P. Little, Esq., and Deacon Thomas Cross, were chosen
a Committee to prepare Resolutions to present to the town
at an adjourned meeting. The meeting was adjourned to
February 2d, 1809. The Committee then reported the fol-
18
138 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
lowing Resolutions, which were unanimously accepted by
the town meeting : —
" Resolved^ That we deem it a right vested in us by the
Constitution of our country, peaceably to assemble together,
and freely to express our sentiments of the measures of
government, and when grievances are felt to seek proper
redress.
Mesolvedf That we consider the present state of our coun-
try as calling loudly for the exercise of this right.
Hesolved, That we consider the measures of the National
Government, in relation to commerce, and particularly in the
several Acts Laying and enforcing an Embargo, oppressive,
unconstitutional, and threatening the most dangerous conse-
quences.
Resolved^ That we consider the prosperity of every class
of citizens, and especially in the northern States, as essen-
tially dependent on commerce, and those acts of the govern-
ment are arbitrary and oppressive, by which our intercourse
with foreign nations Is totally suspended, and our domestic
intercourse laid under such restrictions, as renders it. In all
cases hazardous, and in most instances, impracticable to pur-
sue it, while we fully believe neither our relations with for-
eign powers, nor national honor, nor wise policy, have de-
manded such sacrifices.
Resolved, That we deem it unconstitutional for Congress,
to whom is delegated only a power to regulate commerce, to
destroy it, or prohibit it by law, for an unlimited term of
time ; that we consider the property of Individuals by the
laws aforesaid, to expose to unreasonable search, seizure, and
forfeiture, excessive bonds required, and undue penalties ex-
acted, contrary to express provisions in the Constitution,
that exorbitant power over the Hves and fortunes of the
people, vested in Revenue and Military officers, and the dic-
tatorial power, with which the President Is clothed, are not
POLITICS. 139
consistent with the Constitution, nor the principles of a free
government.
Resolved, That we view with alarming apprehensions the
contemplated establishment of a Large Army in time of
peace, to be placed at the uncontrolled disposal of the Pres-
ident, while in history we trace the downfall of the liberties
of Greece, Rome, and almost every other free State to sim-
ilar measures, while in our own time we have seen how
much one man, with a soldiery devoted to him, has done
towards enslaving the world ; and while we consider the
dreadful purposes, which disguised ambition, even in those
who have made the highest pretensions to patriotism has
conceived and elFected, we cannot forbear to express our be-
lief that this measure is portentous and hostile to the Con-
stitution and liberties of our country.
Resolved, That we entertain a lively sense of the benefits
which the faithful administration of the government by
Washington and Adams, and their wise policy, were instru-
mental in procuring us, and that we consider the evils we
now endure in p, great measure occasioned by a dereliction
of the policy adopted and pursued by them.
Resolved, That we highly approve the patriotic and spir-
ited exertions of the minority in Congress, to preserve the
Constitution and protect the interest of the nation.
Resolved, That we view with approbation, the conduct of
those officers in the Revenue Department, Avho choosing to
sacrifice private emolument rather than be instrumental in
enforcing oppressive laws, have resigned their ofiSces, and
that we consider their conduct worthy of imitation.
Resolved, That, as we despair of obtaining redress from
the National Government, a respectful petition be presented
to the Legislature of this Commonwealth, praying that they
will adopt such measures as they in their wisdom shall think
best, to remove present grievances, and prevent those evils
which threaten our liberties and fortunes."
140 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Such a petition as recommended by the foregoing Re-
solves, and embodying similar complaints, was sent to the
Legislature of Massachusetts. But Massachusetts herself
could do nothing but protest, resolve, and petition. At the
same meeting the town chose a Committee of Safety and
Correspondence.
The continued agressions of the Eng-lish brought on the
war which was declared by the United States, June 18,
1812, against Great Britain. That war was as distasteful to
the Federal party as was the embargo. A majority of the
people of this town was strongly opposed to the measure.
Town meetings were held, and very decided Resolutions
were passed condemnatory of the war, and the administra-
tion of the General Government. They believed the war
unnecessary, and menacing ruin to themselves and posterity.
That the Government at Washington was weak, distracted,
and corrupt. Few Gorham men entered the army of the
United States in the war of 1812-15. Gov. Strong; de-
clined to place the State militia under United States' officers.
Some companies of soldiers were marched to Portland, for
the defence of that place, when an invasion was apprehended.
Gen. James Irish's Brigade were ordered to Portland, and
went there In 1814. The militia of Gorham, consisting of
four companies of Infantry, and one of Cavalry, composed
a part of said Brigade. These companies were commanded
by Captains Toppan Robie, Barnabas Higgins, Jacob P.
Bettes, and the company of Light Infantry, by Capt. Robert
McLellan. These troops did not long remain In Portland ;
some three months, the larger part not longer than fifteen or
twenty days ; this service, however, enabled many of these
soldiers to obtain Land Warrants under an Act of Congress,
passed a few years ago. The British did not land, but their
fleet hovered awhile near the coast, and gathered some sup-
plies from the islands. No injury was done to Portland,
POLITICS.
141
except the expense Incurred by the alarm. Many families
moved their most valuable effects to Gorliam for greater se-
curity.
The following is the Roll of Capt. Eobie's company that
marched to Portland : —
OFFICERS.
Toppan Robie, Capt., Nathaniel Hatch, Lieut.,
William Frost, Ensign.
PRIVATES.
Samuel G. Scribner,
George Knight,
Samuel Brown,
Ephraim Bragdon,
Isaac Coolbroth,
George Fogg,
Daniel Hunt,
Seth Harding, Jr.,
Josiah Jenkins,
Cotton Lincoln,
Lemuel Libby, Jr.,
James McLellan, Jr.,
David Burnell,
Perez Burr,
Nathaniel Crockett,
WiUiam Edwards,
Daniel H. Frost,
John Harding, 3d,
Seward Merrill,
Nathan Penfield,
Joshua Roberts,
Joseph Rice,
James Babb,
Luther Davis,
Joshua Freeman,
Nathan Hanson,
Gardiner Alden,
Nahum Lord,
Joseph Lombard, Jr.,
Moses Murch,
Samuel Paine,
Robert Harding,
Joseph Harding,
Elisha Irish,
Philip Larrabee,
Darius Libby,
Wm. McLellan, Jr.,
Samuel F. Mosher,
Alexander Phinney,
Lemuel Rice,
Caleb Seaver,
George Strout,
David Warren,
Edmund Gammon,
142 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Abner P. Towle, William Blanchard,
David Waterhouse, Uriah Gibbs,
John Hanscom, Samuel Roberts,
Daniel Fogg, Moses Rice,
Nathaniel Rice, Ai Staples,
John McQuillan, Thomas Worster,
John Farnham, Thomas S. Robie,
Levi Brown, John Rice,
John Cressey.
I have not been able to obtain the Rolls of the other Gor-
ham companies. The war of 1812, was terminated by the
Treaty of Peace of Dec, 1814. This town immediately felt
the influence of reviving commerce ; trade increased, and
wealth was augmented. The population of this town in-
creased but slowly, having no large manufacturing establish-
ments, and the land being nearly occupied for farming ; and
in the present mode of conducting agricultural pursuits, our
farms cannot well support more inhabitants. Although the
population has constantly increased, yet the increase has
been so light that we have but about one thousand more
£0uls than there were in town seventy years ago.
SEPARATION OF MAINE, ETC. 143
CHAPTEE XVIII.
SEPARATION OF MAINE AND OTHER MATTERS.
Maine being entirely disjoined from Massachusetts, it was
always more or less inconvenient for tlie people of the Dis-
trict to have a political connection. This evil was felt at an,
early period. At a town meeting held December 5, 1785,
it was Voted " That it is the opinion of this town that it
would be for the interest of the counties of York, Cumber-
land, and Lincoln," (the whole of the District of Maine)
"to be incorporated into a separate State;" and Edmund
Phinney, Esq., and Stephen Longfellow, Esq., were chosen
delegates to a convention, " to be holden at Falmouth (Port-
land) on the first Wednesday of January, 1786, to consider
of the expediency of a separate State." After some discus-
sion the convention adjourned.
At a town meeting in April, 1786, " Voted, to choose dele-
gates to the convention to be held at Falmouth in Septem-
ber next, to consider the grievances the inhabitants of the
Counties of York, Cumberland, and Lincoln, labor under,
and to adopt and pursue some orderly and peaceable meas-
ure to obtain relief;" this vote was 110 in the affirmative
and but two in the negative. Hon. William Gorham, Col.
Edmund Phinney, and Stephen Longfellow, Jr., Esq., were
chosen delegates. The Convention met in September, and
organized by electing Hon. William Gorham President of
the Convention, and Stephen Longfellow, Jr., Clerk. The
144 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
question of separation was earnestly discussed, but there ap-
pears to have been nothing farther done at that time. The
town again voted on this subject in 1792, 75 in favor of
separation and 16 against it. In 1793, Stephen Longfellow,
Josiah Thacher, and Gary McLellan, were chosen delegates
to a convention to consider the expediency of separation.
The question was again voted upon in 1795, when there
were 51 for the measure and seven against it. This small
vote would seem to indicate that the people in general felt
little interest in the matter, or had become wearied in their
efforts to make Maine a separate State. The affair was
revived with much spirit in 1815. The Massachusetts Leg-
islature had consented to a separation, provided that five
ninths of the votes in Maine should be in favor of it. A
large Convention of delegates assembled at Brunswick in
October. This Convention embraced many of the most
able men of Maine. The delegates from Gorham were
Lothrop Lewis, David Harding, Jr., and Samuel Stephen-
son. A constitution was formed and submitted to the peo-
ple, buf it failed of receiving the five-ninths of the votes
required for its adoption. The vote in Gorham, on this
trial, was 127 for separation and 180 against. In 1819,
another and successful effort was made to dissolve the polit-
ical relations between Massachusetts and the District of
Maine. A large and able Convention met in Portland to
form a Constitution. The delegates from Gorham were
Lothrop Lewis, James Irish, and Joseph Adams. The pres-
ent Constitution of Maine was then formed ; the vote in Gor-
ham was 183 in favor of separation and 95 against the meas-
ure, and the final vote on adopting the Constitution was 94
for it and one against it.
The vote in Gorham on the acceptance of the Constitution
of Massachusetts in May, 1780, was 47 for, and six against,
its adoption.
SEPARATION OF MAINE, ETC. 145
CTSTOMS AND MAXNERS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
Most of the settlers of Gorliam, like the pioneers in other
new places, Avere poor. Hard, continuous labor was requi-
site to supply ordinary food and clothing. Most, if not all,
of them lived in log houses, with few articles of furniture
or convenience ; their barns, or rather hovels, were small,
rude structures of logs, the roofs covered with bark, or at
best with long shingles, without boards. These shingles
were split from straight-grained Avhitc pine trees ; the pine
being the lightest, most durable, and easiest wood to work,
or manufacture, that grew in our forests. The hardships
the settlers endured were well calculated to bring forth and
mature vigor of body and mind ; exposed to mutual dangers,
and feeble when alone, they were compelled to assist each
other, and to watch and labor together, and thus neighborly
kindness and hospitality would of course be promoted ; they
were always welcomed to each other's houses and tables ;
and they loaned their food, implements, and animals, with-
out stint, or hope of pecuniary reward. They had few holi-
days. Independence Day had not yet come. The usual
Colonial Thanksgiving, near the close of the year, was their
chief festival. They made no account of Christmas, and
but little notice was taken of the King's birth-day. There
were some families who made extra cake, and had little par-
ties on May Election day. The raising of buildings, and the
annual militia trainings, were almost the only occasions which
called the young men together. Some autumnal husklngs
of the larger farmers called out the neighbors, and they were
usually seasons of hilarity and good cheer ; songs, stories,
and grog, were the customary accompaniments of the husk-
ing work ; when that was completed, a bountiful and good
supper followed ; when this was ended, the young men and
girls, who had assisted in preparing and serving out the
19
146 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
supper, indulged in rustic dances, performed to the music of
some tunes sung or whistled. Sometimes there were quilt-
ins; meetino;s of maidens who assisted in the makino; of the
quilt, and not unfrequently young men would gather in the
evening and have sports, plays, or dancing. There was but
little distinction on account of rank or wealth. The neigh-
borly calls of older women, or married ladies, were made in
the afternoon, singly or in small parties ; the visitors remained
to tea, or supper, and returned to their homes early. The
usual mode of conveyance, when sleighs could not be used,
was on horseback, and not unfrequently the good wife rode
on the same horse, seated behind her husband. On these
visits, females commonly had their knitting or sewing, work
with them ; all were too poor to spend much time in idleness.
In all the schools kept by females, the girls were taught
knitting and sewing, as well as reading and spelling ; once
a week, generally on Saturday, all the scholars were ex-
amined and instructed in the shorter Catechism. The dress
of our ancestors was plain, durable clothing, mostly home
made. The men and boys wore woolen frocks and breeches,
dyed with yellow oak or hemlock bark ; the females, short
loose gowns and skirts, of woolen, colored blue or red, with
checked blue and white aprons ; all manufactured at home.
Their table coverings and napkins, as well as sheetings
and shirting cloths, were made of flax, raised on their
land and spun, woven, and bleached by the mothers and
daughters.
They had few superfluities. Their chief agricultural pro-
ducts were corn and hay. Wheat, oats, rye, beans and peas
throve well ; peas, especially, were much 'used in making
pea broth or soup. It is said that the first crop ever raised
in Gorham, was one of peas. Captain John Phinney raised
on the first land he cleared, eighty bushels of jieas on a small
piece of land, in 1736. Mr. Phinney also raised, the same
SEPARATION OF MAINE, ETC. 147
year, several cart loads of watermelons ; these products were
grown on newly burned land. Potatoes were but scantily
cultivated for the first forty years. The principal bread was
made of a mixture of corn and rye meal, in about equal pro-
portions. Wheaten bread became common after a few years.
During many years, the settlers had but little animal food ;
their meat was nearly all obtained from the forest, and con-
sisted of the flesh of Moose, Deer, and some smaller ani-
mals. Moose and deer were numerous and easily killed.
They were found on the Gorham hills for thirty or forty
years after the first settlement of the town. It is said the
last moose seen in town, was on a hill east of Black Brook
road, near the land of Mr. Isaac Eichardson. Wolves
abounded, and much annoyed the settlers ; these animals
disapjjeared, as is usual, when the deer became extinct.
At some seasons of the year, salmon and other fish Avere
abundant in Presumpscot, Stroudwater, and Little Pivers.
Swine and poultry soon came into use. Samp, or hominy,
made of cracked corn, and well boiled, was a common dish,
as well as baked beans, and Indian pudding. Tea or coffee
was little used till after the Revolutionary war ; bread and
milk, or hasty pudding and milk, made the common evening
meal. Home-made beer was generally drank. After some
years, apples Avere plenty, and cider took the place of beer.
Flip, a compound of beer, rum, and sweetening, heated, and
caused to foam by the insertion of a hot iron, Avas a fashion-
able drink, down to the commencement of the present cen-
tury.
After the Pevolutionary Avar closed, the town increased
rapidly in population and material wealth. Customs and
manners, about the same time, underwent quite a change.
The facility Avith which imported articles could be obtained
produced many alterations in dress and Avay of living. Lux-
ury kept full pace Avith income. An improved style of
148 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
building Avas visible. Articles of dress, household furni-
ture, and food, that would by our first settlers been deemed
superfluities, soon became to be considered necessaries of
living. Returned soldiers, who had been in the army, (and
almost all the middle-aged men of our town were such)
brought home new habits and customs. The Sabbath was
less strictly observed ; the men were not so constant in their
attendance on divine Avorship ; there was a greater laxity of
morals ; intoxication and profanity were more ojjen and fre-
quent. Enterprise was stimulated and debts more freely
contracted. Many Gorham people were interested in com-
merce, and not a few of our citizens became mariners, and
we had skilful masters and mates of vessels, as well as ordi-
nary seamen, and several were part owners of ships. The
embargo nearly destroyed these pursuits and investments, by
forcing our seamen to engage in agricultural or mechanical
business, and latterly Gorham has numbered but few sailors.
There was a custom prevailing in most of our towns,
seventy years ago, when new people came to settle, or be-
come citizens, to warn them out of town, unless they pur-
chased real estate, or were reputed to be persons of property.
This course was taken to prevent such from becoming
chargeable to the town. They were warned to leave in a
specified time ; if such persons remained after the notice, the
town was not liable for their support, as they could gain no
leo-al residence. So late as 1790, the following Order or
Warrant was issued by the Selectmen, and acted upon, and
recorded with the return of the Constable on the Town
Records : —
|l. s. I Cumberland, ss.
To the Constable of the Town of Gorham, Greeting : —
You are in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts, directed to warn and give notice unto Moses Poland,
SEPARATION OF MAINE, ETC. 14f>
Levi Dyer, Seth Fogg, David Vickcry, Nathaniel Edwards,
Jr., Joshua Edwards, Ebcnezer Carsley, Jonathan Bragdon,
Moses Jordan, Alexander Stimpson, Malachi Waterman,
John Melvin, Joseph Young, Stephen Johnson, John Chase,
and Richard Hines, who have lately come into this town
for the purpose of abiding therein, not having obtained the
town's consent therefor, that they depart the limits thereof,
with their children and others under their care, within fif-
teen days. And of this Precept, with your doings thereon,
you are to make return into the office of the Clerk of the
town, within twenty days next coming, that such further
proceedings may be had in the Premises as the Law directs.
Given under our hands and seals at Gorham aforesaid, this
twelfth day of June, A. D. 1790.
JAMES PHINNEY, ) Selectmen
SAMUEL ELDER, V of *
STEPHEN LONGFELLOW, ) Gorham.
IKCORPOKATED SOCIETIES.— FREE MASONS.
In 1821, several Free Masons, residing in Gorham and
Saccarappa, met at Gorham, organized themselves, and pro-
cured a brother from Portland to deliver some Masonic Lec-
tures. A petition, signed by Reuben Nason, Daniel Thomp-
son, Samuel Stephenson, James Codman, Daniel Hunt,
James Haskell, Seth Webb, Archelaus Lewis, Nathaniel
Partridge, Benjamin Poland, Simon Cutter, Nathaniel War-
ren, Joshua Berry, Aaron Winslow, Timothy Bacon, Rufus
Rich, Henry Babb, George Small, Lewis Pease, John Bix-
by, Levi Tole, Luther Fitch, and John Warren, was pre-
sented to the Grand Lodge of Maine, for a Charter to erect
150 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
them and their associates, into a Lodge of Free and Ac-
cepted Masons. A Charter was granted under the hand of
Simon Greenleaf, Grand Master, January 10, 1822, bearing
the name of Harmony Lodge, being ISTo. 38 among the
Lodofes in this State. The new Loclo-e chose Kev. Reuben
Nason, then Principal of Gorham Academy, its first Mas-
ter, Capt. Daniel Thompson, Senior Warden, Col. Samuel
Stephenson, Junior Warden, Seth Webb, Esq., Secretary.
Harmony Lodge was incorporated a body politic by the
Legislature, Jan. 27, 1823. And it was installed in ample
form the next September, by the R. W. Simeon Greenleaf,
Grand Master of Masons in Maine. The Association flour-
ished till the anti-masonic frenzy swept over the country in
1827-33. Harmony Lodge, like many others then, yielded
to the blast, and ceased active operations for a season.
When the fanaticism died out, Harmony Lodge revived,
and became more vigorous than ever, and at the present
time it is in a state of great prosperity. A few years ago,
the Westbrook brethren, having become numerous, obtained
a Charter for a new Lodge at Saccarappa.
The following named persons have been Masters of the
Lodge in Gorham, viz : — Reuben Nason, Samuel Stephen-
son, Josiah Pierce, George L. Darling, before its suspension.
Since its revival, Josiah Pierce, William Silla, William
Burton, Merrill Thomas, Thomas J. Hasty, Jonathan I. Ste-
vens, and Daniel C. Emery, have been its Masters.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
There are three incoporated Mutual Fire Insurance Com-
panies in Gorham.
SEPARATION OF MAINE, ETC. 151
The Maine INIutual Fire Insurance Company was incor-
porated in 1828. Hon. Toppon Robie was its first Presi-
dent, and Jacob S. Smith, Esq., its first Secretary.
The Farmers' and Mechanics' Mutual Fire Insurance
Company was incorporated in 1839. Both these companies
have done a large business, and paid their losses promptly.
Each company has issued many thousands of Policies, and
paid out many thousands of dollars, which have greatly
benefitted the recipients who have suffered losses by fire.
At the present time, (1862) Charles Humphrey, of Yar-
mouth, is President of the Maine Mutual Company, John
A. Waterman, Esq., Secretary, and Dr. John Waterman
Treasurer. Eev. John E. Baxter is President of the Far-
mers' and Mechanics' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and
Josiah Pierce, Esq., its Secretary and Treasurer.
" The Gorham Farmers' Club" was incorporated in 1861,
with power to insure real and personal estate of farmers
against damage by fire.
There is an active and intelligent Fire Company in our
principal village, bearing the name of the " Relief Engine
Company, No. 1." They have an excellent engine, which
has done valuable service at fires.
TEMPEEANCE.
The Temperance cause has received much attention in
Gorham. Rev. James Lewis, James Smith, Esq., and a few
others, organized a " Total Abstinence Society'''' in 1822.
The Society grew rapidly, and a large number signed the
152 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
pledge ; and Temperance societies have ever since existed
in town. Many have been reclaimed from drinking intoxi-
cating liquors, and for many years very little alcohohc drink
has been sold.
BIOGRArniCAL NOTICES. 153
CHAPTER XIX.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES,
Joseph Akees was one of tlie early proprietors of Nar-
ragansett No. 7. He came from Sandwich, Cape Cod. Af-
ter living here for many years, the family removed to West-
brook, where their descendants now reside. John Akers,
son of Joseph, had a large family born in that town.
ALDEN.
Ansten Alden, a lineal descendant of John Aldcn, one of
the first emigrants from England to Plymouth, and the
friend of Captain Standish, was born in Marshfield, Massa-
chusetts, March 25, 1729. His wife, Salome Lombard, was
born at Truro, June 10, 1734. They were married at Gor-
ham in 1756, he having settled here in 1755. He made his
farm about half a mile from the meeting house, and this
place has ever remained in the family, and is the farm now
occupied by his great grandson, Henry Alden. Austen
Alden served in the French and English war at the time
Canada surrendered to the British. In 1761, he, with many
more New England soldiers, went to Halifax, Nova Scotia,
to erect fortifications. That was a hard service ; they had
hard usage and labored under a severe, and cruel, and exact-
20
154 HISTORY OP GORHAM.
ing English officer. Mr. Alden returned to Gorham in 1762.
In 1777, lie was first Lieutenant in Capt. Nathan Watkins'
company, and was an able and faithful officer. Mr. Alden
was one of the early Deacons of the Congregational Church
in this town. He was chosen Town Clerk of Gorham in
1778, and re-elected every year till his death in 1804. He
ever sustained an unblemished character.
Josiah Alden, son of Deacon Austen Alden, was elected
Town Clerk of Gorham on the decease of his father, and
was annually re-chosen till 1815. He Avas also Town Treas-
urer from 1806 to 1815, inclusive. Josiah Alden died Nov.
8, 1834, leaving several descendants. His son, Gardiner
Alden, who lived with him, died Sept. 8, 1831.
BACON.
The Bacon family came from Barnstable to Gorham.
Lieut. Timothy Bacon was a soldier in the Revolutionary
army ; he enlisted when only sixteen years of age. He be-
longed to the 2d Massachusetts Regiment, commanded by
Lieut. Col. Ebenezer Sprout, in Gen. Patterson's Brigade.
Mr. Bacon served through the whole of the war ; he was
with General Greene in the Carolinas, and at the surrender
of Cornwallis. Mr. Bacon also served in the war of 1812 ;
he then held a Lieutenant's commission. He was a man of
strict integrity, and possessed a high sense of honor. His
wife was Mary Irish, who was a grand daughter of Capt.
John Phinncy. Lieutenant Bacon was a revolutionary pen-
sioner ; he died at Gorham in 1849, aged 87 years. His
wife, Mary Bacon, died in 1846, aged 79 years.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 155
BANGS.
Some of the Bangs settled here soon after tlie occupation
of the town. They came originally from Cape Cod, but
may have resided in Portland before settling in Gorliam, as
they claim descent from the Bangs of Harwich. Barnabas
Bangs was a man of influence here before the incorporation
of the town, as were his sons Barnabas and Thomas, who
joined the Shakers, and removed to Poland in this State
where Barnabas became an Elder of that society. Charles
C. Bangs, now living here, and who has been Town Clerk,
is a son of Nathan Bano:s. Nathan Bang-s, now connected
with the Y. & C. Railroad, is a son of Joseph Bangs.
BLAKE.
The Blakes came from Barnstable. Nathaniel Blake and
Joseph Blake were both Eevolutionary soldiers and pension-
ers. There arc many of the name yet in town. Joseph
died at 83, and Nathaniel at 90 years of age.
BAKER
Daniel Baker, Esq., came from Somersworth, N. H., and
he lived to be 90 years old. He was at one period Town
Treasurer ; his son, Jacob C. Baker, was tAvo years Repre-
sentative of Gorham in the Lesjislature of Maine.
156 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
BRACKETT. — BRAMH ALL,
Joshua Brackett and Cornelius Bramliall, from Portland,
Avere early settlers in this toAvn. The families were connect-
ed. Kerenhappuck Brackett, widoAV of Anthony Brackett,
died in Gorham in 1822, aged 93.
BROWN.
Samuel Brown, the first person in Gorham who united
with the Shakers, came from Eastham, Cape Cod. The
name has ever been numerous in town.
BRYANT.
William Bryant came from Barnstable. As has been be-
fore stated, he and his children were slain by the Indians,
April 19, 1746. His widow, who was carried captive to
Canada, was there mai'ried and never returned-
BURNELL.
The Burnell family were early inhabitants. I have not
learned from what place they came — they were once nu-
merous here, but the name is nearly extinct. John Burnell,
who lived here prior to 1760, had nine children, most of
whom removed to Flintstown, (now Baldwin) where are
many of their descendants.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 157
BURTON.
William Burton was born in Little York, Virginia, in
1759. While a young boy, a Capt. Doane, master of a
coasting vessel, persuaded young Burton to come to Maine,
promising his widowed mother that he would return him to
her the next year ; Doane did not keep his promise, but
placed him at service. When the war with Great Britain
commenced, Mr. Burton enlisted, being seventeen years old ;
he served in many campaigns ; he was in the battle at White
Plains. After the termination of the war, he went back to
Virginia, but finding no relative except his mother, who had
married a second husband, he did not stay long, but re-
turned to Gorliam and lived with Capt. Ross, on the Tyng
place. He married a daughter of James Ross, a brother of
Capt. Alexander Ross. The Ross brothers were Scotsmen.
James Ross married a Dyer of Cape Elizabeth. Mr. Bur-
ton was one of the society of Friends or Quakers. Mrs.
Mary Burton died in 1831, aged 72 years. He died Sept.
24, 1841, aged 82 years ; he left one son, our townsman
William Burton, late one of our Selectmen.
GATES.
Joseph Gates was a citizen before 1764 ; where he emi-
grated from I have not been able to ascertain. Mr. Cates
was esteemed a man of ability, and one of the strong pillars
of the Congregational church ; he was one of the Select-
men in 1768, and on various Important Committees during
the war of Independence. Mr. Cates was a Deacon and
Ruling Elder of the church for many years. He died in
158 HISTOKY OF GORHAM.
1813, at the age of 90 years. His descendants still live in
town.
CHASE,
Caleb Chase came from Newbury, Mass. ; he was the first
licensed Innholder in town ; he was Town Treasurer in 1772,
and for several years held that office, and that of Town
Clerk. Mr. Chase was one of the Committee of Safety, In-
spection and Correspondence ; he left Gorham with his
family in 1778 or '79. His wife was Anna Whitney.
COTTON.
John and William Cotton came to this place from Fal-
mouth ; they were sons of Deacon William Cotton, and were
the first tanners in Gorham. Their tan yard was near where
Ezra Thomes lives. William Cotton and his wife Elizabeth,
had nine children, and their descendants now reside here.
COBB,
Several distinct families of the name of Cobb settled in
Gorham ; most of them came from Barnstable, Mass. Jede-
diah Cobb died here, Aug. 2, 1833, aged 91 years, and Na-
thaniel Cobb died Sept. 24, 1839, aged 90 years. William
Cobb was Selectman in 1820-21. But few of the name
now live in town.
IJIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 159
CHADBOURNE,
Lieut. Silas Cliadbournc came from Berwick, a young
man to pursue the occupation of a tailor ; he enlisted in
Capt. Hart Williams' company as a Corporal, and was in
Col. Phinney's Eegiment ; he was promoted to a Lieuten-
antcy and attached to Col. Patterson's Regiment, and served
through the war, and was a United States' pensioner during
t^e latter years of his life. He married Abigail Crockett,
of Gorham, and they had ten children, three sons and seven
daughters. The late Deacon Nahum Chadbourne was one
of his sons ; his daughter Rebecca married Gen. James
Irish. Lieut. Chadbourne died at Gorham, about 1825.
CRESSET.
The name is variously spelled, Creasey, Cresey and Cres-
sey. John Cressey came from Connecticut ; he married hi&
wife, Deborah Wadleigh, in Boston ; they had five childreuy
John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary and Noah. Joseph, the
second son, was born in Gorham in 1753. He Avas a pri-
vate in Capt. Williams' company, and marched to Cam-
bridge in 1775, with Col. Phinney's Regiment, and subse-
quently to Ticonderoga. He married Hannah Ashley, of
Connecticut, and their eldest son, Ebenezer, was born at
Pomfret, in that State, in 1779 ; they had seven children,
five sons and two daughters. Joseph Cressey died in Gor-
ham, in 1832, 79 years old ; his brother, John Cressey, died
in Buxton, January 20, 1842, aged 93 years.
IGO HISTORY OF GORHAM.
CROCKETT.
Several families of this name, came from Barnstable,
Mass. Samuel married first, Tabitha Hamblen ; secondly,
Elizabeth Fickett. By his first wife he had seven children,
and by his last wife three. His eldest daughter, Eunice,
was born in 1771, his last in 1790. Peletiah Crockett came
from Stratham, N. H., to this town about 1763. Jonathan
Crockett married Anna Dearborn ; they had six children
born between 1774 and 1778. Joshua Crockett was also
an early settler in this town.
CROSS.
Deacon Thomas Cross came from Bradford, Mass. He
was a worthy man. He lived on Fort Hill, where Moses
Fogg now resides. He had a large family. His sons, Jo-
seph, William, Thomas, Amos, and Leonard, all settled in
Portland. Leonard still survives. One of the daughters
married Capt. Enoch Preble of Portland ; another, Captain
Jonathan Stevens. Lucy married James Phinney, Sr., of
Gorliam ; Lois married Allison Libby of Gorham.
Deacon Cross died in this town in 1819, and his widow,
Lucy Cross, in 1821.
C A R S L E Y
John Carsley settled in Gorliam about 1700. He married
Anna Harding, and had eleven children.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 161
CLARK.
There were formerly several families of Clarks in this
town. Benjamin Clark lived here in 1778, Moses Clark, a
tanner, Morris Clark, from Stratham, New Hampshire, — he
had sons, John, Jacob, Joseph, and James, and a daughter
Mary. Jacob learned a carpenter's trade and was one of
the earliest settlers of Baldwin, in which town he died.
C L O U T M A N .
This name is now usually, spelled Cloudman. Edward
Cloutman, the first of the name in this town, was born in
Dover, N. H., Feb. 15, (old style) 1714. He was the sec-
ond son of Edward and Sarah Cloutman, whose ancestors
came from Scotland. He was a member of the Society of
Friends. When the second Edward became of age, he
came to Falmouth, (Portland) where he married Anna Col-
lins, daughter of Timothy and Sarah Collins of Philadelphia.
Mr. Cloutman was married in 1738, and went to live at
Presumscot Lower Falls, and tended the first saw-mill erect-
ed there, when the Indians burned the mill, in 1741. At
this place his son Timothy was born, the ancestor of all of
the name in Gorham. Edward took his wife and child,
with their small stock of furniture, placed them in a boat,
and paddled round Portland to Stroudwatcr. In 1745, he
came with his family to this town, and purchased the land
where Col. Frost lived a few years ago, now owned by
James Cressey. The next April he was taken by the In-
dians, as I have related in a former part of this work.
Cloutman's widow became Mrs. Anderson, and died in
21
162 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Windham, Dec. 1, 1802, aged 84. She was seven years a
resident in the Gorham Garrison.
Edward Cloutman's son Timothy married Katy, and they
had eleven children, viz : — Betty, born May 3, 1767 ; Nan-
cy, born May 7, 1769 ; Edward, July 5, 1771 ; Nathaniel
and Jesse, twins, born July 29, 1773 ; John, Feb. 20, 1776 ;
Mary, July 13, 1779 ; William, Sept. 16, 1780 ; Thomas,
Aug. 20, 1783 ; Solomon, Dec. 4, 1785, and David, Sept.
16, 1788. Timothy Cloutman died Oct. 22, 1829, aged 91.
His widow, Katy Cloutman, died March 24, 1832, also 91
years old. Their descendants are numerous. Their son
Jesse had twelve children. Jesse died in 1848, aged 75.
CLEMENTS.
Jacob Clements came from New Hampshire ; his first
Avife was Phebe Coffin. They had nine children, Eleanor,
Ebenezer, John, Jacob H., Elizabeth, Simeon C, Daniel
B., Samuel E,., and Mary C. All his sons but Samuel R.,
have deceased. Mr. Clements was thrice married ; he died
in 1849, aged 81 years.
CODM AN.
Capt. James Codman came from Portland. His first wife
was a Waite of Portland ; they had two sons, Frederick
and Randolph A. L. Codman. In his younger life, Capt.
Codman was a ship master ; his son Frederick was also a
sea captain. Randolph was a lawyer, and died in Portland.
Capt. Codman's second wife was Nabby Loring. For sev-
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 103
eral years Capt. Codman was a Representative from this
town in the Massachusetts Legislature ; he died in 1840,
aged 77. His son, Capt. Frederick, died in Baltimore.
DAVIS.
The Davis families came from Barnstable. Joshua Davis
lived here, and had eight children before the Revolution.
Prince Davis was an early settler, and had four sons and
one daughter*; the eldest son, Isaac, was born in 1762.
Sylvanus Davis came from Falmouth, Massachusetts. Al-
len Davis and Jonathan Davis lived here before 1800, and
had families.
D ARLI?^^G.
John Darling came from Barnstable. He was a soldier
of the Revolution, and his widow obtained a pension ; she
was Annah Lewis, dauo-hter of Deacon Georo-e Lewis.
Our townsman, George L. Darling, was their son.
E A Y E R
John Eayer was one of the first ten who settled in this
town ; he left the place on the breaking out of the Indian
war, in 1745, and never returned ; he probably soon died.
Just after the peace took place, his widow returned and
claimed the lot of land that her husband Avas entitled to as
164 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
a settler. The claim was allowed, and that is the last notice
I find of the family.
E D W A E D S .
Richard Edwards lived here before 1762. In a Province
tax, made in 1763, Mr. Edwards was assessed seven shil-
lings and eleven pence. His wife was Hannah Lothrop.
They had nine children. Our late townsmaft, Samuel Ed-
wards, was their third child, and was born in 1770. Sev-
eral of his children are now residing in Gorham.
ELDER.
Samuel Elder, the ancestor of the Gorham and Windham
Elders, emigrated from Ireland, and settled in Falmouth in
1730. His second son, Samuel, having learned the trade of
a house joiner, came to Gorham in 1773, and purchased of
Wm. Frost and others, heirs of Charles Frost, the lot on
which his son, Simon Elder, Esq., now lives, and pursued
his trade here. Mr. Elder was the contractor to build Gor-
ham Academy, and was one of its first Trustees. He died
in 1819. Mr. Samuel Elder was twice married ; his first
wife was Hannah Freeman, who had five children, Eunice,
Euth, Hannah, Betty, and Samuel. Samuel was born in
1781, and died in 1861. Mr. Elder's second wife was Mary
Grafi"am, by whom he had four children, Peter, Ruth, Si-
mon and Lois. Mrs. Marv Elder died in 1829.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 165
ELWELL.
There was a family of Elwells in this town prior to the
Revolution. I know not where they came from. Henry
and George Elwell are their descendants.
EMERY.
There were two families of the name of Emery here as
early as 1778, John and Benjamin. James Emery had a
family in town in 1786.
FARNHAM.
Simeon Farnham came here from Andover, Mass. His
wife was a Johnson of the same town. They had nine chil-
dren. Mr. Farnham built the large three story brick house
in the village, now owned and occupied by Mr. Jonathan
Dow, as a hotel. Capt. John Farnham, late Postmaster,
and now living here, was a son of Simeon.
FILES,
This name is said to have been formerly spelled Foyles.
William Files, the ancestor of all of the name in Gorham,
emigrated hither from York, Maine, about 1756. In 1757,
he, with Zephaniah Harding, also from Gorham, were in Col.
Munroe's Regiment of Rangers, and were in the terrible
166 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
battle at the head of Lake George, defending Fort William
Henry against the French and Indians, under the Marquis
de Montcalm. The fortress, though gallantly defended, was
obliged to capitulate on honorable terms. The capitulation
was shamefully broken. The Indians attacked our troops
as they were marching out of the Fort, after they had laid
down their arms ; a scene of merciless barbarity ensued ;
men, women and children were murdered with every species
of cruelty. The massacre continued into the forests and
in the defiles of the mountains, and for many miles the fugi-
tives were tomahawked and scalped. A miserable remnant
reached Fort Edward on the Hudson. Among those who
escaped were Mr. Files and Mr. Harding. During their
flight, it is said, Mr. Files was captured by two Indians, and
by his superior strength, he overcame them and escaped.
He and Mr. Harding were still followed by the savages, and
Files and Harding crept into a hollow log. The Indians
suspected they were there and kindled a fire at the hollow
end of the tree, but the cavity being very tight, the smoke
would not enter ; the Indians were foiled and went away.
Files and Harding, it is said, made their way to Maine
through the woods, suffering much from hunger and expo-
sure. Mr. Files was married in York, and had two children
born there, and seven more in Gorham. He died in Gor-
ham in 1823, aged 95 years, leaving numerous descendants.
In the Province tax of Gorham, in 1763, Mr. Files was taxed
7s. lid.
WiUiam E. Files, Esq., who represented the town of Gor-
ham in 1834 and '35, and was one of the Selectmen subse-
quently, was the son of Ebenezer Files, who was the eldest
son of William, the old Eanger. W. E. Files died in 1843,
aged 62, leaving a large family.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 167
FLOOD.
There was a family of this name in town prior to 1800.
Morris Flood had a large family ; I have not ascertained
their origin.
FOGG.
Jeremiah Fogg lived here soon after the Revolution. His
son, George Fogg, was born here in 1784. Daniel Fogg
came from Scarborough ; he was a house joiner. Our
townsman, Moses Fogg, was his son.
FOSTEE,
William H. Foster, who was Town Clerk from 1815 to
1832, came from Boston. He was a skilful cabinet maker,
and a respected citizen.
FROST
There were several families of Frosts here previous to
1760. In the Province tax bill for 1773, there were three
different Frost estates taxed. Some of them came from
Kittery. Charles Frost, who lived at Stroudwater, was a
large landholder here at the time of his death, and his heirs
sold several lots near the villao-e. Col. Nathaniel Frost was
an active, pious man ; he was very conspicuous in the Rev-
168 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
olutionary times ; he held many municipal and military
offices. Col. Frost lived about half a mile north of the
Academy, on the Fort Hill road, where his son Jeremiah
Frost afterwards lived, and which is now owned by Mr.
James Cressey. Col. Frost died in May, 1838, aged 90
years.
FKEEMAN.
Our earliest Proprietors' and Town Records show that
three Freeman families were in this town soon after the In-
dian wars. John Freeman, of Eastham, was one of the
Narragansett soldiers, and a grantee of this town. Nathan
Freeman and Jonathan Freeman came from that town.
Nathan had a family here as early as 1760. Some of the
name in this town came from Barnstable, and others, it is
believed, moved from Falmouth to this place They have
been reputable and prosperous citizens.
GAMMON,
Philip Gammon and Joseph Gammon were among our
early inhabitants. Daniel, Jonathan and Benjamin lived
here before the Eevolution.
GILKET.
The first person of this name in this town came from Ire-
land. Joseph Gilkey, the son of James, was born here in
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 169
April, 1751. James had live other children, viz : Rebecca,
James, Samuel, John and Isaac. Joseph had nine children ;
their posterity are living here.
GORH AM.
Capt. John Gorham Avas a Captain in the Narragansett
fight, and from him the town received its name. At the
time the Grant was made, 1732, Col. Gorham was not liv-
ing ; he was a son of Kalph Gorham and lived near Barn-
stable line. Capt. John's sons were John, (afterwards Lieut.
Colonel,) James, Jabez, and Shubael, all of whom settled in
Barnstable. Shubael Gorham Avas also a Colonel ; he was
chairman of the committee of the Narragansett Proprietors,
and did much to organize the Grantees and promote the
settlement of the town ; he purchased several rights of other
proprietors, and many farms in this town are held by titles
from him. Lieut. Col. John Gorham came here and erected
the first mills.
Hon. William Gorham came to settle here about 1760.
He was soon emj)loyed In municipal affairs. He was a prom-
inent man in the troublesome days of the Revolution ; hav-
ing been on the Committees of Safety, Correspondence, and
Vigilance, mos^ of their patriotic and spirited papers pro-
ceeded from his pen. He was Town Clerk in 1773, and for
several succeeding years ; several times a Selectman ; was
twice a delegate to conventions to consider the matter of
the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, he being
strongly in favor of the measure. He was President of the
Conventions. He was appointed Judge of Probate in 1782,
and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1787, and held
both offices till the time of his death, in July, 1804. Judge
22
170 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Gorham had one son, Francis Gorliam, born in 1775, who
died young. His only daughter, Fanny Tyler Gorham,
died in 1798. Judge Gorham was highly respected and
beloved, a man of strict integrity, public-spirited, and benev-
olent. His -widow married Doct. Jeremiah Barker. ,
GOULD.
Nathaniel Gould came from Ipswich, Mass., and was a
saddler and harness maker. His first wife was Elizabeth
Coffin, daughter of Rev. Paul Coffin, of Buxton ; she died
in 1794. Mr. Gould's second wife was Elizabeth McLel-
lan, who died in 1836. Mr. Gould died in Gorham, 1853,
aged 86.
GREEN.
John Green was the first School Teacher in Gorham.
Mr. Green was an Englishman by birth ; he had four sons
born in Gorham before the year 1769. Mr. Green was a
soldigr in the Kevolutionary army, and was wounded by a
musket ball passing through his cheek, in consequence of
which, he was honorably discharged about two years before
the termination of hostilities ; he then settled in Scarbor-
ough, and died there.
BIOGKArmCAL NOTICES. 171
HALL.
The Halls were early settlers. Ebcnezer Hall was one
of those who left the town in 174G, on account of the In-
dian war ; when peace came he returned. He had eight
children — 1st, Abraham, born in 1765 ; 2d, Bethshuah ;
8d, Isaac ; 4th, Dorothy ; 5tli, Isaac ; 6th, Ebcnezer ; 7tli,
Bethshuah ; 8th, Daniel.
There were several other families of Halls, and their pos-
terity are now in town.
HAMBLEN.
Bartholomew Hamblen and Eleazer Hamblen, of Barn-
stable, were both in Capt. Gorham's company in the Narra-
gansett battle, and were 'among the grantees of No. 7, in
1732. Jacob Hamblen was among the first of the settlers.
He and his family were in the garrison in 1746, and re-
mained there during the Indian war. His son, Joseph,
married Hannah Whitney ; they had — 1st, Jacob, born in
1756 ; 2d, Esther, 1758 ; 3d, Sarah, 1759 ; and 4th, Jo-
seph, in 1763. Joseph Hamblen, senior, died in 1763. His
brother, Daniel Hamblen, had four daughters, but no sons.
Jacob, son of Joseph, senior, married Elizabeth Watson ;
their children were Content, Eliphalet, Mercy, Joseph, Mar-
tha, James, and Jacob. Ebcnezer Hamblen came from
Barnstable, and had thirteen children bom in Gorham. Jo-
seph, the son of Joseph, had a large family. Our towns-
man, Nathaniel Hamblen, was one of his sons. Joseph, son
of Jacob, cousin of Nathaniel, was Representative of Gor-
172 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
ham in 18-31. He omitted the b in his father's name, and
his family wrote their name Hamlen.
H A N S C O M .
Two families of the name of Hanscom came from Scar-
borouo;h. George was the aiicestor of those now livino- in
town. The children of George and Abigail, were Moses,
born in Scarborough in 1759 ; Hannah, in 1761 ; John, born
in Gorham, May 19, 1763 ; Katherine, 1765 ; Joseph, 1774.
The George, whose wife was Eunice Whitney, had twelve
children, all born in this town.
HARDIJq^G.
The Hardings came from Barnstable, Cape Cod, and there
seems to have been several families who settled, having
none, or very distant relationship. Zephaniah, Joshua, Si-
mon, David and his sons, Elkanah and David, Jr., Samuel
Harding, Barnabas, Jesse and Seth Harding. Seth Hard-
ing, whose wife was Elizabeth Wilket, was in this town
about 1750. Their children were Samuel, Abigail, Martha,
Elizabeth, and Seth. Samuel and Elizabeth joined the
Shakers. Samuel was a master mariner, and died at sea,
1789. Joshua joined the Shakers. Zephaniah senior, mar-
ried first, Mary Davis ; their children were Priscilla, Thank-
ful, Nicholas, Barnabas and John. By his second wife,
Lucy, he had Lucy, Content, Elizabeth, Zephaniah, Samuel
and Joseph. Zephaniah was one of the soldiers at Fort
AVilliam Henry, when it capitulated to the French in 1757.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 173
It is said he was in the same company with Wilham Files,
and witnessed the horrid massacre that then took place.
Harding and Files escaped, as I have related before — the
Indians howling around the hollow tree in which they were
concealed. They suffered much in getting home ; having no
guns to kill game, they lived on berries and roots ; they
were greatly emaciated ; and were nearly a month in getting
from Lake George to Gorham. Both Files and Harding,
notwithstanding the hardships of their early life, lived to a
great age, and died at their homes in Gorham. To the end
of their lives they had a perfect hatred of the whole Indian
race.
Mr. David Harding, after he came to Gorham, lived with
his son Elkanah, near Gambo ; he died in 1828, aged 97
years. His son, David, in his younger years, followed the
sea, and was, for many years, master of a vessel, and later
in life, a merchant. Capt. Harding was one of the most
prominent and useful of our citizens ; he was one of the
original Trustees of Gorham Academy, and continued a
member of the Board during his life. He was also Treas-
urer of the Board. He was a Representative of this town
eleven years in the General Court of Massachusetts, and in
the Maine Legislature in 1820-21. Capt. Harding died
suddenly in 1831, of apoplexy, aged 69 years. He was twice
married ; his children (all by his first wife) were Thomas,
Betsey, Temperance, Robert, Stephen, David, Charles, and
Emehne. Thomas was the father of our townsman, Wil-
liam M. Harding, Esq. ; Betsey married TVm. H. Foster,
and had four daughters. Temperance married a Mr. Fenno.
Robert was a shipmaster and was lost at sea. David was a
trader. Charles graduated at Bowdoin College, and was
a lawyer, and died in Portland. Emeline, the youngest,
married Ebenezer Libby, and is the only surviving child of
Capt. David Harding.
174 HISTORY OF GORIIAM.
HARVEY.
Clement Harvey was one of the men who was in the fort
In the Indian war. Little is now known of his subsequent
life. Ills descendants write their name Meservey.
HATCH,
There were two families of Hatches settled in this town.
Asa, who married Rebecca Crocket ; they had two children,
Nathaniel, born in 1783, and Stephen, in 1786. Nathaniel
Hatch, and his wife Elizabeth, had four children, Betsey,
Hannah, Sally, and Nathaniel.
Joseph Hatch settled here about 1750, and had six chil-
dren—Ezeklel, born In 1754; Asa, 1757; David, 1759;
Mary, 1764 ; Ebenezer, 1767 ; Elizabeth, 1770.
HARRIS.
Stephen Harris, a member of the Society of Friends, had
seven children — Mary, born In 1786 ; William, 1788 ; Levi,
1790 ; John, 1792 ; Eebecca, 1795 ; Owen, 1797, and Na-
than in 1800.
HICKS.
Lemuel Hicks was In town before 1773. He married
Mary Eich ; they had two children, Elizabeth and Lemuel ;
BIOGRArniCAL NOTICES. 175
by his second wife, Susannah Frost, he had five ; several of
his posterity now reside here.
nODSDON.
Jeremiah Hodsdon lived here as soon as 1760. He had
a large family, but left town many years ago.
HIGGINS.
Joseph Higgins came from Eastham, Cape Cod. He had
one child, Joseph, born there in 1776, and in Gorham he
had Mary, born in 1778 ; Isaac, 1780 ; Barnabas, 1783 ;
Dorcas, 1785 ; Mary, 1787 ; Enoch F., 1789 ; Abigail F.,
1791, and Saul C. Higgins in 1794.
HUNT.
Ephraim Hunt and Ichabod Hunt came from .Cape Cod,
Ephraim married Abigail Cates. They had twelve chil-
dren. Our late respected citizen, Capt. Daniel Hunt, was
the fourth child of Ephraim and Abigail Hunt. Captain
Hunt was, for many years, master of a vessel, and sailed
usually from Philadelphia ; he married his wife there, the
widow Angelina Hastie. Her first husband was also a ship-
master. In the latter years of his life, Capt. Hunt kept a
hotel in Gorham village ; he died here in 1833, aged 58,
Mrs. Hunt and her three daughters removed to New Yorky
170 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
where she died a few years ago ; her maiden name was
Griffith.
Ichabod Hunt married Mary Stone ; they had eight chil-
dren born between 1780 and 1800.
Oliver Hunt and Joseph Hunt came from ]\Iilton, Mass.
Oliver was an officer in the Revolutionary army, and re-
ceived a pension. *' He married in Providence, Rhode Island,
where his first two children were born, Oliver and John.
In Gorham he had four children — William, born In 1792 ;
Hannah, in 1794; Nabby, 1796; Charles, B., in 1800. The
youngest son, Charles B., was the late Hon. Charles B.
Hunt, Representative from Gorham, in 1836 and 1837, and
subsequently, a Senator from Cumberland County in the
Leo-islature of Maine. Mr. Hunt was also a Trustee of
Gorham Seminary. Mr. Joseph Hunt came here and set
up his trade, being a hatter. He married Jane McLellan ;
they had two children, Jane and Joseph. Mr. Hunt died
in 1861, acred 81 : his widow and children survive.
HUSTON.
Simon Huston, and Elizabeth, his wife, had ten children —
David, born in Falmouth in 1762, the other nine, in Gor-
ham, viz : Elizabeth, in 1764 ; Eunice, 1765 ; Annah, 1767 ;
Simon, 1769 ; Mary, 1771 ; William, 1772 ; Rebecca, 1774 ;
Lydia, 1776 ; and Simon, 1779.
The younger Simon died without issue, and by his will
bequeathed to the town of Gorham, his valuable farm, for
the support of the Poor, the town to come in possession on
the decease of his widow. Mrs. Huston is yet living ; but
the town has rented the farm for many years, paying Mrs.
Huston $165 annually ; and the town paupers are there
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 177
kept comfortably, having a judicious man for Superintend-
ent. Corn, grain, hay and potatoes, are raised in considera-
ble quantities, most of the labor being performed by the
paupers.
IRISH..
Janies Irish emigrated from Roxfordshire, England, about
1710, and located himself at Falmouth, (Portland.) He
came to this town in 1738, and was among the first few
settlers. Mr. Irish had five sons and one daughter born,
before he removed to this place, viz : John, Joseph, Thomas,
James, William, and Miriam. He took his family here,
but when the Indian war broke out, Mr. Irish removed back
to Falmouth, being a place of greater safety. As soon as
the danger from the savag-es was over, Mr. Irish and his
family returned to Gorham, and re-occupied his land. Mir-
iam man-ied Gamaliel Pote, of Falmouth. John, Thomas,
and James, settled in Gorham f Joseph and William settled
in Buckfield. Most of these men had large families, and
several lived to be very aged. John, son of James, the
emigrant, had six children born between 1746 and 1760,
Thomas had ten children, viz : Susanna, Isaac, Benjamin,
Jacob, Amy, Abigail, Gamaliel, Deliverance, Mary, and
Elizabeth. Thomas Irish died In 1832, aged 98 years and
eight months. His daughter. Amy, who married Samuel
Burnell, of Baldwin, lived to be 91 years old. William
Irish married Mary McCollIster ; they had six children —
Thomas, Edmund, Margery, Dorcas, Miriam, and Sylva-
nus, born between 1766 and 1780. James Irish, Jr., mar-
ried Mary Gorham Phlnney, daughter of Capt. John Phln-
23
178
HISTORY or GORHAM.
ney. She was the first white child born in Gorham ; they
had nine children, viz : —
1.
Stephen,
born March 25, 1757 ;
died 1841, J
iged 84.
2.
"William,
"'i
March 12, 1759
" 1815,
" 5Q.
Martha,
Aug. 28, 17G1
" 1836,
" 75.
4.
Ebenezer,
April 5, 1764
" 1851,
" 87.
5.
Obadiah,
July 17, 1766
; " 1852,
" 86.
6.
Mary,
June 24,1768;
" 1846,
" 78.
7.
Patience,
Jan. 31, 1771
; " 1854,
" 83.
8.
Samuel,
April 8, 1773
" 1825,
" 52.
9.
James,
Aug. 18, 1776
; now livin
g at the
age
of 86 yei
irs.
James Ii-ish, the
father, died
in 1816,
aged 80 ; his widow, in 1825, aged 89 years. All the chil-
dren of James and Mary Gr. Irish, were married. Stephen
married Anna Bangs ; William, Sarah Murch ; Martha,
Stephen Whitney ; Ebenezer, Patty Morton ; Obadiah,
Mary Dean ; Mary, Timothy Bacon ; Patience, John Davis ;
Samuel, Martha Blake ; and James, Rebecca Chadbourne,
for his first wife — his second wife was the widow Louisa
Mason.
Hon. James Irish, now one of our oldest citizens, has lived
an active and enterprising life ; he has been much in public
life, and probably has held more commissions than any other
man in Gorham ; in the military line, holding nearly all the
ranks from a private up to a Brigadier General. In civil
life, he has been Selectman, Representative, Senator, and
Land Agent of Maine ; he was also a member of the Con-
stitutional Convention of this State, and has held many
other inferior offices.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 179
JENKINS,
Capt. Joslah Jenkins was an officer In :].e Revolutionary
army, and was in an engagement on Lake Cliamplain. He
also fought in the battle of Monmouth. He was a United
States' pensioner at the time of his death, in 1831, when he
was 81 years old. His wife was Prudence Davis ; they had
seven children — Sarah, two Marys, Aurelia, Nancy, Jo-
slah, and Katherine.
JEWETT.
Eev. Caleb Jewett was from Newburyport, and was set-
tled in Gorham in 1783. He was dismissed from his charge
in 1800, and died in this town in 1802. Mr. Jewett's resi-
dence was the house now occupied by his grand son, Henry
Broad. Mr. Jewett had four children — Jonathan, Martha,
Caleb, and Betsey.
JONES
Henry Jones came from Scarborough, and settled here
about 1757 ; he had four children — Jeremiah, Ephraim, Jo-
seph, and Lydia. Jeremiah Jones came from Boston to
Gorham ; he had one son, Jeremiah, born in 1778. Joseph
Jones, son of Henry, married Deborah Hanscom ; their
children were Henry, Moses, Samuel, John and Hannah.
There was also living here, in 1788, a William Jones, Avho
had four children, Sally, Wealthy, Hiram, and John.
180 HISTOEY OP GORHAM.
JOHNSON.
There are many of this name In Gorhara. Stephen John-
eon lived here before 1774. John Johnson, who had six
children, resided in town in 1784, and subsequently. I do
not know where they came from. Matthew Johnson came
from that part of Falmouth which Is now Westbrook ; his
sons were Thomas, William, John, and Samuel. Hannah
was his daughter ; she married a cousin, the late Captain
Robert Johnson, who was the son of Robert Johnson.
Most of the Messrs. Johnsons have been largely engaged in
farmlns;.
KEMP.
Ebenezer Kemp came here after the Revolutionary war,
from Groton, Mass. ; he died in this town in 1833, aged 88
years.
KNIGHT.
Capt. Joseph Knight removed from Falmouth to Wind-
ham, and from the latter town to this place. He had eleven
children — Lydia, born in Falmouth in 1761 ; Phebe, in
Windham in 1763 ; Nathaniel, in Gorham, 1765 ; Daniel,
1768 ; Joseph, 1771 ; Nabby, 1773 ; Joseph, 1775 ; Samuel,
1778 ; Morris, 1780 ; Winthrop, 1782, and Benjamin, 1785.
Capt. Knight died in 1797.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 181
L AKEM AN,
The Lakemans settled early In town. William, whose
wife was Hannah Doane, and their children — Mary, born
in 1756 ; Hannah, in 1758, and Josiah Harding in 1762.
Josiah Lakeman married Esther Cobb, and had Solomon,
Polly and Betsey. Solomon married, and had one son, Jo-
siah, and two daughters, Mary Ann and Martha.
L A E R T
Dennis Larry, the elder, emigrated from Ireland, and set-
tled in Gorham about the close of the Indian war ; he mar-
ried Patience Wooster ; their son, Stephen, was born in this
town in 1763. Dennis Larry died in 1807, aged 90 years ;
His wife, Patience, in 1809, 94 years old. Their son,
Stephen, married Abigail Hamblen ; their children were
Patience, John, James, Stephen, and Joseph. James grad-
uated at Bowdoin College in the class of 1821, and soon
went to Virginia, where he has since resided. Stephen
Larry, senior, died in 1838, aged 75 years.
LEWIS.
Deacon and Major George Lewis came from Barnstable,
Mass., where all his children were born. His first wife was
Mehitable Davis, daughter of Daniel Davis, Esq., Judge of
Probate, who died in Barnstable. His second wife, also a
Barnstable woman, was Desire Parker. Mr. Lewis' chil-
182 HISTOKY OF GOKHAM.
dren were — 1st, Lothrop, born in 1763 ; 2cl, Mehitable ;
3d, Ansel ; 4tli, Sallj ; 5th, Annah ; 6tli, Daniel ; Tth,
James ; Sth, George ; 9tli, Abigail ; lOtli, Caroline. The
family were highly respectable, and immediately took a
prominent place among our citizens. Deacon Lewis died in
Gorham, July 24, 1819, aged 79 years.
Probably no Gorham man ever stood higher in the esti-
mation of his fellow citizens than the Hon. Lothrop Lewis.
His morals were pure, his mind lucid ; of steadfast integrity,
correct behavior, obliging and courteous in manner, prudent
in words and action, distinguished for sound common sense,
and inflexibly just ; his mind was not brilliant, nor its oper-
ations rapid, but clear, persevering ; with a power of correct
discrimination, his conclusions were nearly always correct ;
he was popular in the town, county and State. Mr. Lewis
was much engaged when young as a surveyor of lands, and
in locating roads. He was the surveyor in locating the first
road from Standish throuo-h Baldwin to Bridgton. He was
often a referee in important and difficult cases. During his
life he held many civil and military offices, and discharged
the duties of all with fidelity, and to the acceptance of his
employers and the people. In the military line he rose to
the Colonelcy of a Regiment of Cavalry. In civil life he was
a Justice of the Peace, Deputy Sheriff, Assessor, Selectman,
Kepresentative of his town in the General Court of Massa-
chusetts and the Legislature of Maine. He was one of
Gov. Strong's Board of War in 1812-15. At the time of his
death, which occurred Oct. 9, 1822, he was Land Agent
of Maine, and died at Bangor in the discharge of his official
duty. Col. Lewis was twice married, first to Tabitha Long-
fellow, by whom he had two children, Stephen Longfellow
and Mary. His son was born in 1795, his daughter in
1796. Stephen studied law and settled in Athens, Somer-
.set County, Maine. He died nearly forty years ago, leav-
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 183
ing two daughters. Mary Lewis married Jacob S. Smith,
Esq. ; they had two sons, Lothrop Lewis and Samuel Long-
fellow. Col. Lewis' second wife was Mary J. Little, widow
of John Park Little ; her maiden name was Prescott, a
daughter of Judge Prescott, of Groton, Mass., By his sec-
ond wife. Col. Lewis had three children — Annah, Catherine,
and Elizabeth, all of whom have deceased. Annah and
Catherine died young. Elizabeth married, first, Stephen
M. Staples, Esq., and secondly, Hon. Hugh D. McLellan.
Maj. George Lewis' children were all respectable and useful
citizens. Ansel was a lumber surveyor in Portland. Dan-
iel was a Baptist clergyman ; he settled in Patterson, New
Jersey, where he died a few years ago. Of Rev. James, I
have spoken under the title of " Methodists." George was a
farmer in Bridgton, and was Major of a Regiment of militia.
Mehitable married a Mr. Crocker ; Sally married Captain
Ebenezer Peabody ; Annah married John Darling ; Abigail
married Capt. William Prentiss ; she was the mother of the
distinguished orator, Seargeut S. Prentiss.
LIBBT.
There have been many families of Libbys in this town.
They have written their names Libbee, Libbey, and Libby .
the latter is now the most common way of spelling the name.
Before the Revolution there resided here Joab Libbey, Jo-
seph Libbee, Reuben Libbee ; several others came soon after
the war. I believe nearly all of them were from Scarbor-
ough. At the present time, the name is common among us.
184 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
LINCOLN,
The Lincolns came to Gorliam from HIngliam, Massachu-
setts. Royal and John Lincoln were farmers. John was
also a master of a vessel several years. They had families,
but none of the name now live in town^
L O M B A E D .
There were three Lombards among the original grantees
of this township. Caleb and Jedediah, of Barnstable, and
Jonathan, of Tisbury, Mass. Some of their sons settled in
Gorham, and have descendants now in town. I have given
on a preceding page, some account of Rev. Solomon Lom-
bard, the first settled clergyman. He had several children.
His sons, Solomon and Richard, had large families ; Solomon,
Jr., had Richard, born 1761 ; Susannah, 1762 ; Hannah,
1764 ; Solomon, 1766 ; James, 1768 ; Lydia, 1771 ; Peter,
1772 ; Ephraim, 1773 ; Solomon, 1775 ; Mary, 1777 ; Sam-
uel, 1779. Samuel is still living, in the 83d year of his age.
Richard Lombard, son of Rev. Solomon, had nine chil-
dren— John, Paul, Joseph, Lydia, Ebenezer, Bethshuah,
Richard, Simon and Sarah. Ebenezer was the Class Leader
of the first Methodist Class gathered in this town. Both
he and his brother Richard, were Methodist preachers, and
itinerated extensively. Calvin Lombard had eight children.
He was one of the Gorham Minute men that went with Col.
Phinney to Portland, when the trouble with Coulson and
Capt. Mowatt occurred. There was great excitement ; about
six hundred men collected between meetings on Sunday.
Calvin Lombard went to the water side as near Mowatt's
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 185
ship as he could well get, and fired a brace of balls at the
ship, which penetrated deep Into its side ; the fire was an-
swered from a fusee on board. Mowatt wrote to Col. Free-
man to deliver up Calvin, assuring him that, otherwise, he
should fire upon the town. Lombard was not given up, but
returned to Gorham. Nathaniel Lombard and Butler Lom-
bard, were soldiers in Captain Hart Williams' company, in
1775. John Lombard was in the sea service of the United,
States in the war of the Eevolution, and he received a pen-
sion in the latter years of his life. He died in Gorham, in
1844, aged 85 years.
LONGFELLOW.
Stephen Longfellow, the first of the name here, came from
Portland in 1775. He had held many important town and
county offices while he lived in Portland. His father came
from Newbury, Mass., to Portland, about 1745. Mr. Long-
fellow died in Gorham in 1790. His son, Stephen, who was
one of the most distinguished and respected of our citizens
was born in Portland in 1750, and came here when he was
about twenty-five years old. He was largely employed as a
Surveyor, Selectman, and held various other municipal offices.
He represented this town, in the General Court of Massa-
chusetts, eight years. Afterwards he was a Senator of Cum-
berland County for several sessions, when he was appointed
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and held the office
from 1797 to 1811. He occupied a large farm that he
owned in the southerly part of the town, near Westbrook.
His wife was Patience Young, of York. They were mar-
ried in 1773. They had six children, viz : — Tabitha, born
October 9, 1774; Stephen, March 23, 177G ; Abigail, Jan-
24
186 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
uary 18, 1779 ; Anna, November 26, 1781 ; Katherine,
August 20, 1786, and Samuel, July 30, 1789. Judge
Longfellow died in Gorham in 1824, aged 74 years. His
daughter, Tabitha, Avas tbe first wife of Hon. Lothrop Lewis j
she died in 1807. Stephen, Jr., son of Judge Longfellow,
graduated at Harvard College, in 1798. He read law with
Salmon Chase, Esq., of Portland, and on being admitted to
the Bar, at once entered upon a large practice, and gained
an early and honorable distinction in his chosen profes-
sion. He stood in the first rank of the able counselors who
were his cotemporaries. Mr. Longfellow's industry, perse-
verance, and uprightness in all his pursuits, were remarka-
ble. He was modest and unassuming, but inflexible in pur-
pose and action. No man among us sustained a higher or
purer character. He held many important offices. He was
a member of the celebrated Hartford Convention in 1814,
and a member of Congress ten years later. After a pro-
tracted illness, he died in 1839, aged 73 years. Abigail,
the second daughter of Judge Longfellow, married Colonel
Samuel Stevenson, of Gorham. She still lives. Anna died
unmarried in 1811. Katherine died in 1804, at the age of
18. Samuel Longfellow, the youngest son, followed the sea
for some years, and then married and lived with his father,
had one daughter, and died in Oct., 1818. Col. Longfel-
low's widow married Judge Asa Redington.
McCOLLESTEK. — McC ORRIS ON.
William McCollester came from England, it is said. His
ancestors spelled their name McAllister. William, the
emigrant, settled here early ; his son was born in the fort, in
Gorham, March 7, 1750. His father, William, was taxed
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 187
in the Province tax in 1762 ; he then paid one of the largest
taxes in Gorham. James married Deliverance Rich when
he was seventeen years old; they had six children — Lem-
uel, born in 1767 ; Amos, 1769 ; James, 1771 ; Mary, 1774 ;
Patience, 1776 ; Betty, 1779. His second wife was Mary
Flood ; by her he had nine children, making fifteen in all.
Mr. McCollester w^as one of the earliest converts to the faith
of the New Lights, and became one of their most promi-
nent preachers. His education was very limited ; he was
earnest and vociferous against " book learning, and salaried
ministers." His meetings were very disorderly. After
awhile they become more sedate and systematic, and out of
the New Lights sprung the Freewill Baptist Society in this
town. Mr. McCollester changed his name to McCorrison,
and his numerous descendants so write the name, James
McCollester, or McCorrison, lived till 1820, and died at his
son's house in Standish, at the age of 70 years. When
young, James McCorrison was an expert hunter, which, in
those days, was a highly prized attainment ; many were the
bears, deers and wolves that he killed. In his old age he
used to relate a hunting feat performed by himself and his
brother-in-law. Rich, which he said was the occasion of
much scandal, respecting himself and his religious society.
He acknowledged he did wrong and justly merited rebuke,
and he never ceased to condemn his own act, but he believed
the whole affair was the device of the Devil, to tempt him
from the path of duty, and he succeeded that time ; but he
used to add, that Satan was never able to entrap him again,
at least, not in that way. The story was this : — Mr. Mc-
Corrison had a large family ; they were out of meat. On
Saturday he went into the woods in quest of game ; he
traversed the forests nearly all day without any success —
an uncommon occurrence in those days. Night was near, and
he turned his weary steps homewards, hungry and depressed
io» HISTORY OF GORIIAM.
in spirit; lie looked ahead, and saw directly In lils path
what appeared to be a large deer ; the animal was so near
he felt sure of killing him ; he fired, but strange to tell,
the deer stood still and looked full on Mr. McCorrison ; he
stepped towards the deer which gave one bound and disap-
peared in the woods. It was too dark to follow him. Mc-
Corrison thought he found blood, and felt certain the deer
was wounded, and that he could not go far ; he marked the
spot, that he might find it again ; he determined to come
early in the morning, though it would be Sunday ; (Mr.
McCorrison was a constant advocate for a strict observance
of the Sabbath.) He meant to quietly secure his game,
and let no one know of the affair. Sunday morning came ;
he called on his brother-In-laAV, Rich, told him of his adven-
ture with the deer, the preceding evening, and requested him
to accompany him. Mr. Rich consented to go. They took
their guns, but agreed not to use them, unless it should be
necessary, to secure the wounded deer. Soon after arriving
at the place In the woods, where Mr. McCorrison had fired,
the evening before, a large deer made his appearance ; they
fired and brought him down ; they could find no mark of a
previous shot, so they continued to hunt for the missing
deer. Deer after deer were seen and killed by McCorrison
and Rich, but on none of them did they find any former
wound. They were excited by their sport, and continued to
hunt through the day. When it grew dark, they set out for
their homes, having killed eight fine deer, in their Sunday
hunt. Sucli extraordinary success in hunting could not be
kept secret ; it was soon noised abroad that two of the most
strict and prominent of the New Light Society had been
hunting and killing deer all one Sabbath day. Elder Mc-
Corrison was strongly reproved by his brethren, and he
never ceased to regret that violation of holy time.
BlOGIiAPIIICAL NOTICES. 189
Mcdonald
There were several families of McDonald in Gorliam prior
to the Revolution. Charles McDonald married Priscilla
Davis ; they had nine children born between 1762 and 1785,
viz: — Meribah, Susanna, Nancy, Simon D., Jacob, Charles,
Joseph, Mary, and Elizabeth.
Robert McDonald married Mary Kendrick, and had six
children — Samuel M., born 1771 ; John, April 15, 1773 ;
Robert, 1775 ; Abner, 1778 ; Miriam, 1782, and Bcnoni,
1785. John, who was born in 1773, was the Hon. John
McDonald, late of Limerick, the father of Hon. Moses Mc-
Donald, member of Congress a few years ago, and recently
Collector of the District of Portland.
Peletiah McDonald had two children — William, and
Eleanor. William is said to have been born at Fort Put-
nam, on Hudson's river, in 1779, his father being in the Con-
tinental army, and stationed at that port. Abner McDonald
had four children — William, Dorcas, Sally, and Enoch.
McLELL AN.
Hugh McLellan, and Elizabeth, his wife, were among the
first settlers of Gorham. They were born in the County of
Antrim, Ireland ; their family, it is said, were descendants
of Sir Hugh McLellan, of Argyle, Scotland, and that they
had been residents in Ireland, for nearly a century previous
to their emigration to America. Huo;h and his wife were
decided Presbyterians. They were somewhat related before
marriage ; she was a year older than her husband, and was
born in 1709 ; her father was Cary McLellan. Hugh's
190 HISTORY OF GOEHAM.
cousin, Bryce, and brother James, came to America before
Hugh. Bryce settled in Portland, and James in Saco.
Hugh and his wife, and their son William, then one year
old, sailed from Londonderry in 1733, and after a long and
dangerous passage, they arrived in Boston. On their
voyage they had another child born. From Boston they
came to York, Maine. Thence to Saco, and then to Fal-
mouth, and settled at Back Cove ; but on account of In-
dians they moved into Portland. When in Portland, Mr.
McLellan purchased a grantee's right of land, (200 acres)
in this town. Like most of the emigrants, at that period,
Mr. McLellan was poor, and it is said the ten pounds which
he gave was about all his property. He came to Gorham,
and, repairing a logging camp on his land, on the easterly
side of the Fort Hill road, opposite the brick house, he moved
his family here about 1740. They brought but little with
them — a cow, a horse, and a few household goods, with
their children, William and Abigail. They commenced
their living here very poor, but their land was good, and
they were robust, industrious, temperate and frugal. At
the time of the Indian massacre, McLellan and his fam-
ily removed to the garrison, and remained there about seven
years. When the war was past he re-occupied his land, and
became a prosperous farmer and lumberman. When the
Province tax of 1763 was assessed, Hugh McLellan had the
largest tax in town, and for many years his valuation ex-
ceeded that of any other citizen. He was a Ruling Elder
in the church ; an upright, conscientious man, hospitable
and benevolent.
The children of Hugh and Elizabeth were William, born
in Ireland, a daughter, born on the passage, and died young ;
Abigail, Alexander, Mary, Carey, Jane, Thomas and Martha.
William married Rebecca Huston, of Falmouth, in 1763.
He built a house about a mile from the village, on the Scar-
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 191
borough road, where he hved till his death ; he died in
November, 1812, aged 83. He was one of the first Trus-
tees of Gorham Academy. His wife died Oct. 13, 1823,
aged 81. Mr. William McLellan was a large landholder,
and owned mills and several slaves. One nefrro, Prince,
brought from Antigua, ran away and enlisted on board
Capt. Manly's privateer, where he remained about a year ;
was discharged at Boston, but came back to Gorham and
voluntarily returned to a state of slavery. Mr. McLellan
settled Prince on a piece of land, twelve acres, and a house
free during the life of Prince and his wife ; and ten acres of
pasture in fee simple, and made provision that Prince and
his wife, Cliloe, should receive a comfortable support out of
the McLellan family, during their lives. After the Pension
Law of 1818 was passed, Prince received a pension for life,
for services in Capt. Manly's vessel. Prince was supposed
to be over one hundred years old when he died.
Abigail McLellan married James McLellan, son of Bryce,
of Portland. He came to Gorham, and lived about half a
mile southerly of the village : his house had the first plas-
tered rooms in town ; the house is still standing, and is now
owned by Miss Catherine Storer. James McLellan was a
Deacon of the Congregational church in Gorham. He had
a numerous family. Alexander, son of Hugh, married Mar-
garet Johnson ; they had eight children born between 1766
and 1778, viz : — Jenny, James, Isaac, William, Nelly, Alex-
ander, [a second James, and Jenny. Carey was an En-
sign, and his brother William a Lieutenant, in Capt. Hart
Williams' Company in 1775, and went to Cambridge and
Ticonderoga with Col. Phinney's Regiment. Capt. Alexan-
der McLellan commanded a Company in the Penobscot
expedition, in 1779.
Cary McLellan, son of Hugh, married Eunice Elder ;
their children wei'e Mary, born in 1767 ; Eunice, 1769 ;
192 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Nancy, 1772 ; 2d Nancy, 1794 ; Gary, 1776 ; 2(1 Eunice,
1778 ; Alexander, 1780 ; William in 1782 ; Samuel, 1784.
Gary McLellan's second wife was Mary Parker ; tliey had
David, born in 1786 ; Sally, 1788 ; Betsey, 1789, and Tliom-
asin 1791. Gary owned and occupied the old tavern house,
now altered into a store, and occupied by Mr. Charles Eo-
bie, at the head of Main Street. Gary McLellan was taken
prisoner in the Revolutionary war, and confined in the Jer-
sey prison ship in New York harbor, as related on a preced-
ino- page, whence he escaped. He died in Gorham in 1805,
about 60 years old. His daughter, Mary, married John
Glements. Nancy married Samuel Staples. Alexander mar-
ried twice ; by his first wife, Ghloe Davis, he had Hugh,
Eunice, and Elizabeth ; by his second wife, Belinda Don-
aldson, he had Evelina, Ghloe, Belinda, Josiah T., and
Gharlotte. Alexander McLellan, Esq., was Postmaster for
many years ; his son, Hon. Hugh D. McLellan, now living
here, has held many civil and military offices ; he repre-
sented the town three years in the Legislature of Maine,
and was Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1847-8.
The children of Alexander McLellan, through both his
wives, claim descent from Rev. John Robinson, of Ley den,
Holland. Samuel McLellan, brother of Alexander, was
thrice married. His two first wives were Sarah and Rebec-
ca McLellan ; by them he had no children. His third wife
was Tabitha Flood ; by whom he had Sarah, Rebecca,
Abby, Martha, Ann, Simon E., Isaac, and Lewis. Jane,
the daughter of Hugh, the emigrant, was born in the fort,
in Indian times, in 1748. She married Hugh Patten, of
Topsham. Thomas, the youngest son of the eldest Hugh,
lived and died in the old paternal mansion, the brick house
north of the Academy ; he married Jenny Patterson ; she
w^as his cousin, and they had nine children — Hugh, Eliza-
beth, Robert, Polly, Benjamin, Jenny, Mary Ann, Thomas,
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 193
and John. Mr. McLellan lived in the two story brick house
built by his father about the commencement of the Revolu-
tionary war. It is now standing and in good repair, and is
said to have been the first brick liouse erected in the Coun-
ty, and that it was four years in building. Thomas died
in 1829, aged 75. Old Hugh, the patriarch emigrant, died
in 1787, aged 77 years ; his widow, Elizabeth, died in 1804,
in the 96th year of her age. She and her husband left high
reputations for piety and benevolence. Their posterity are
numerous. At the time of her death, the old lady had 234
livino^ descendants.
MANN,
Daniel Mann married Hannah Phinney ; they had two
children — Edmund, born January 12, 1793 ; Hannah, born
March 2, 1795.
Hon. Edmund Mann became a distinguished citizen. He
was many years one of our Selectmen. He represented this
town in the Legislature three years. He was one of the
Executive Council of Governor Dunlap, and subsequently
one of the County Commissioners for Cumberland County.
He died March 8, 1862. He was the father of our present
County Treasurer, Hon. James Mann.
MORTON.
The Mortons emigrated from Cape Cod. Capt. Briant
Morton, the most known of any of the name in this town,
was twice married. His second wife he married here, and
9A
194 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
they had two children — Jerusha and John. Capt. Mor-
ton was an active and influential man in the Kevolution.
>He was a Ruling Elder in the Congregational church in
1758-9. He was one of those who were opposed to Mr.
Lombard's ministry, and he and Col. Phinney ordained Mr.
Townsend. He was one of the earliest members of the Com-
mittee of Safety and Correspondence, in 1772. He was a
Delegate to the Provincial Congress, held at Cambridge.
He was the Representative of the town in 1775 and 1776.
In 1771, he was one of the most zealous of the Freewill
Baptists. Captain Morton died in 1793. His whole prop-
erty was inventoried at £142. 15s. OOd — £90 of which was
his real estate. Ebenezer Morton was here and married
before 1760. He had eight children, six sons and two
daughters. Jabez Morton was married in 1766, and had
five daughters and three sons. Thomas Morton had twelve
children — James, born in 1753, was the eldest ; Thomas,
Elliot, a second James, Major, Micah, and Randell. His
daughters were Hannah, Anna, Mary, Betsey, and Wealthy.
James Morton and Thomas Morton were Revolutionary
pensioners. James died in 1840, aged 87 years.
M O S H E R .
I have before spoken of the Mosier, Moshier, or Mosher
family, on page 33. They were among the very first set-
tlers, and they have continued the name. They early became
large land holders, and have ever been among our most sub-
stantial farmers. The Mosiers lived in Falmouth as early as
1640. James Mosier, supposed to have been the son of
Hugh, was the ancestor of all of the name in Gorham ; he
was living: in 1666. James was the father of Daniel, who
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 105
moved to Gorhara about 1738. James Mosicr, the son of
Daniel the settler, married Abigail Frost ; they had ten chil-
dren — Susanna, born June 17, 1759 ; Nathaniel, Oct. 21st,
1762 ; James, April 25, 1767 ; 2d Nathaniel, May 5, 1769 ;
Abigail, Sept. 1, 1771 ; Benjamin, January 30, 1774 ; Jen-
ny, Oct. 4, 1776 ; Betsey, March 4, 1780 ; Nancy, Nov.
18, 1782, and Daniel, Jan. 14, 1785. Benjamin, the 6th
child, is yet living at the age of 88 years, the oldest man in
town. His father James lived almost a century, being 99
years and three months old when he died, Oct. 2, 1834.
MUKCH.
There were four families of the name of Murch here be-
fore the incorporation of the town. Those of John, Sam-
uel, Walter, and Ebenezer. John had seven children —
Molly, William, Eunice, George, Samuel, Tabitha, and
Martha. Samuel had Eebecca, Edmund, and William.
Ebenezer, Jr., had seven children, one son and six daugh-
ters. Ebenezer Murch was a Lieutenant in Capt. A. Mc-
Lellan's Company in 1779. Matthias Murch was also a
Eevolutionary soldier and pensioner ; he died in 1842, aged
88 years.
NASON.
Uriah Nason settled in town about 1760, in the northerly
part of the town ; for some years his nearest neighbor was
three or four miles distant ; he and his family lived quite
secluded ; Mi's. Nason used to sav that sometimes she
196 HISTOKY OF GORHAM.
would see no woman for months. Mr. Nason had eight
children — Abraham, born in 1765 ; then William, Samuel,
Lot, Margaret, Abigail, Joseph, and Uriah. Uriah Nason,
senior, died in 1833, aged 91 years.
Ephraim Nason came here from Cape Elizabeth where his
first child Eunice was born, in 1785. He had born in Gor-
ham, Richard, Abigail, Eleanor, Ephraim, and Fanny.
NEWCOMB
Enos Newcomb was in town soon after 1780. By his
first wife. Thankful Morton, he had six children, and by his
second wife, five more. Mr. Newcomb died in 1843, at the
age of 85, leaving a numerous i^osterity.
PAINE.
William Paine, and Richard Paine, brothers^ were from
Eastham, Mass. In 1770 they purchased part of the one
hundred acre lot. No. 63, in Gorham. Richard was a black-
smith and William a shoemaker. William married Sarah
Mayo, of Eastham, where his first child, Mary, was born ;
his next, William, Jr., was born in Gorham, Dec. 29, 1770 ;
Thankful, in 1773 ; Samuel, 1775 ; Sarah, 1779 ; Hannah,
1781, and John in 1783. William, senior, served in the
Revolutionary army ; he died in 1827, aged 85 years. Wil-
liam Paine, Jr., married Hannah Cressey; their children
were Eliza, James and Charles. The youngest son, Charles
Paine, Esq., was Selectman for some years, and Represen-
tative in the Legislature in 1853-54. His father, William
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 197
Paine, died in 1852, aged 82. Deacon Samuel Paine died
in 1856, aged 81. Richard Paine married Thankful Hard-
ing for his first wife ; his second wife was Elizabeth Patrick.
Mr. Paine had seven children.
PATRICK.
Charles Patrick removed from StroudAvater village. His
wife was Mehitable Fickett ; their children were David,
Charles, James, Thomas, Eleanor, Stephen, Nancy, Chris-
tiana, Polly, and Margaret. Charles Patrick was a mason,
and did the first plastering in Gorham, being the house of
Deacon James McLellan, senior. Mr. Patrick died in 1830,
aged 85 years, leaving many descendants.
PE ABOD Y.
• Ebenezer Peabody was the son of Lieut. Ebenezer Pea-
body, of Boxford, Mass. He came to Gorham and married
Sarah Lewis, daughter of Deacon George Lewis, and had
four children born in this town — Kendall O., born in 1792 ;
Ebenezer, 1794 ; Louisa, in 1796 ; Caroline, in 1798. Pie
removed to Peterborough, N. H., and cultivated a farm, and
had four more children born there ; one of whom was our
late respected citizen. Dr. William H. Peabody.
Mr. Peabody was a cooper by trade, and while he resided
in Gorham, he often went to sea in that capacity. He died
in 1816 ; his widow, Sarah Lewis Peabody, died in 1849,
Mrs. Peabody was an estimable woman, of pure and exalt-
ed character, and a distinguished christian mother.
198 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
PHINNE Y.
On page 31-32, 1 have given some account of Capt. John
Phinney and two of his children. He was born in 1693,
April 19th. He died in Gorham, Dec. 29, 1780, aged 87
years. His wife, Martha Colman, died Dec. 16, 1784, also
aged 87. Capt. Phinney was not only the first settler of
Gorham, but he was the first in authority and standing for
many years. He was the general father and supervisor of
this town and its concerns. His mind was active, inquisi-
tive and discriminating. To him all the early settlers gave
deference. In fine, he was a man of sagacity, steadiness,
courage, and integrity.
Edmund, eldest son of Capt. Phinney, was born in Barn-
stable, in 1723. He came to this town with his father, and
felled the first tree for settlement ; he grew up a large, stal-
wart man, active and fearless. When about 24 years old,
he was severely wounded by a party of Indians. He was
accustomed to the use of a musket, and was an expert hun-
ter, and was skilful in all wood craft. He was a brave and
successful warrior in Indian conflicts. He had a decided
passion for military life. He held a Captain's commission
in 1772. In January, 1775, he received a Colonel's com-
mission, and in May of that year, he marched a Regiment to
Cambridge, and when the British troops evacuated Boston
the next year, Col. Phinney's Eegiment was the first of our
troops to enter the town.
In the Autumn of 1776, Col. Phinney and his Regiment
had a tedious march to Ticonderoga, and took part in the
military movements of the northern army in that and the
following year. After the surrender of Burgoyne, being
out of health, and having a wife and eight small children to
provide for, he resigned his commission and returned to his
I
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 199
farm, which is the one now called the Woodbury place, and
Col. Phinney's house stood where the Woodbury house is
now standing. Col. Phinney was also much in civil life.
Before the Revolutionary war broke out he was, for many
years, a Selectman, one of the Committee of Safety and
Correspondence, Delegate to several important political con-
ventions, a Representative to the General Court three years.
He was a ruling Elder in the Congregational church in
Gorham. He was a patriotic, noble man, of unsullied char-
acter, and generous hospitality. His integrity was never
doubted. He had eight children — Decker, born in 1752;
Sarah, 1754 ; Joseph, 1757 ; Betty, 1750 ; Edmund, 1760 ;
Stephen, 1763 ; James, 1768 ; and Nathaniel, in 1771. Col.
Phinney died in Gorham in December, 1808, aged 85 years.
John Phinney, Jr., son of Capt. John, planted the first
hill of corn planted in Gorham by white men. This he did
under the direction of his father, who bade him remember
it. John, Jr., had two sons in the army of the Revolution,
Ebenezer and John 3d, and he himself was also a soldier in
the same war. John Phinney, Jr., married Rebecca Saw-
yer ; they had seven children — Sarah, born in 1755; Re-
becca, 1757 ; Ebenezer, 1759 ; John, 1762 ; Martha, 1764 ;
Abigail, 1766 ; and Colman, in 1770.
James Phinney, youngest son of Capt. John, was born in
Gorham, April 13, (old style) 1741 ; he was not a military
man, but one of the most useful and respected men that ever
lived in the town, often Selectman, on Committees of Safety,
arbitrator in many difficult and important cases, strictly
honest and truthful ; he was ever trusted and beloved by
his townsmen ; he retained his intellectual powers to an ad-
vanced life ; even his memory was tenacious and ready when
he was 90 years old. He was an ornament to the town and
church of which he was a member for seventy-five years.
James Phinney was twice married. His first wife who
200 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
(lied in 1816, left no issue. His second wife was Lucy-
Cross, daughter of Deacon Thomas Cross ; by her he had
a daughter after he was 80 years old. Mr. Phinney's widow
is still living ; his daughter is the Avife of Capt. Thomas
E. Wentworth. Joseph Phinney, son of Col. Edmund,
married Susanna Crockett, and had seven children, one son
and six daughters. James Phinney, son of Edmund, mar-
ried Abigail Mosher. Mr. Phinney died January 13, 1860,
in the 93d year of his age. His son, James, grandson of
Col. Edmund, is at the present time, the Representative of
Gorham in the Legislature of Maine.
Elizabeth Phinney, eldest daughter of Capt. John Phin-
ney, married EHphalet Watson, one of the first settlers in
Gorham ; they had ten children. Sarah Phinney, another
daughter of Capt. John, married Mr. Samuel Leavitt of
Buxton. She has a daughter over 90 years of age, now
(1862) living.
PRENTISS.
Samuel Prentiss, the first of the name in Gorham, grad-
uated at Harvard University in 1771 ; his eldest son was
born in Cambridge, Mass.; his first wife had two children,
William and Dolly ; by his second wife, Rebecca Cook, he
had Hannah, Rebecca, Phebe, Joanna, Betsey and Francis.
I have not ascertained the exact year of Mr. Prentiss' com-
ing to Gorham. In 1770, he was licensed as an Inn-holder,
and in 1777 was appointed post-master, being the first in
Gorham, and he often held important municipal offices ; in
1800 he was one of the Selectmen. He died in 1815. His
son, William, came to Gorham with his father ; he followed
the sea, and became a skilful and successful sea-captain.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 201
He was a very active and enterprising man, and had the
confidence of his employers and of all who knew him. He
married Abigail Lewis, daughter of Deacon George Lewis,
and settled in Portland, where his three elder children were
born, viz : — William, Seargent S., and Samuel. The em-
bargo and the following war, by destroying commerce,
compelled our mariners to seek other employments. Capt.
Prentiss purchased a farm adjoining that of Major Lewis,
the father of his wife, erected a large house thereon, and
passed the remainder of his life there. They had five chil-
dren born in Gorham — Mary C, Abigail L., George L.,
Hannah, and Mary L. Capt. Prentiss' second son, Sear-
geant Smith Prentiss, was highly gifted. He became one
of the most celebrated counselors of law and eloquent ad-
vocates, ever known in the United States.
Rev. Doct. George L. Prentiss is now a distinguished
clergyman of New York city. William, the eldest, being
a merchant in the same city. Annah is the wife of the Rev.
Jonathan Steams, D. D., of Newark, New Jersey. The
widow of Capt. Prentiss resides now with her daughter,
Stearns, at Newark. None of the farailv remain in Gorham.
RICH
Lemuel Rich, the ancestor of the Riches in this town, was
from Truro, Mass. He came to Gorham with his sons,
Ezekiel, and Lemuel, Jr., and perhaps Amos, Zephaniah,
James, and Barnabas, were also his sons, as I find they were
residing in town before 1770. Ezekiel was born in 1738.
Lemuel, senior, died in 1791, near 90 years of age. Ezekiel
married Sarah Stevens, daughter of Benjamin Stevens, one
of the first Narragansett settlers. Ezekiel and his wife,
2G
202 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Sarah, had twelve children born between 1765 and 1789,
viz : — Ezekiel and Samuel, twins, Keuben, Elizabeth, Benj-
amin, Sarah, Jerusha, William, Mehitable, Peter, Eunice,
and Stephen. Lemuel Eich, Jr., had six children — Lem-
uel, Boaz, Samuel, Israel, Mary and Zachariah. Zepha-
niah had seven children — Jonathan, Ebenezer, Zephaniah,
Samuel S., Ephraim, Benjamin, and William. Amos Eich
married Eunice Woodman ; they had Moses, John Wood-
man, Sarah, Betsey, Lydia, Eunice, and Isaac. John Wood-
man Eich, our respected townsman, was born Dec. 25,
1785, and is now living on Fort Hill in Gorham. There
are very few of the name now in town.
ROLFE.
Daniel Eolfe, Daniel Eolfe, Jr., and Moses Eolfe, were
early settlers, and were assessed in the Province tax of
1763. They soon after left town.
ROBERTS.
Benjamin Eoberts was a citizen of Gorham when the
town was incorporated. He had eight children — Mary,
Benjamin, John, Jane, born in Falmouth, William, born in
Cape Elizabeth, and Susanna, Stephen, and Dorcas, in Gor-
ham. The family removed to Falmouth, now Westbrook.
There was a Joseph Eoberts lived here in 1782, and had a
family, and Joshua Eoberts and family, some of whose chil-
dren still reside in town.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 203
ROBIE
Toppan Robie, while a young man, came here before the
commencement of the present century. He was born in
Chester, N. H., and is still in a vigorous old age, of four-
score years. When first he came here, he was a clerk in
the store of Daniel Cressey — afterwards a partner in trade
with Sewall Lanca'ster, Esq. Subsequently, he and his
brother, the late Deacon Thomas S. Robie, carried on a
large and lucrative business, as retail merchants, for a long
number of years. Hon. Toppan Robie has filled a large
place in the affairs of Gorham, having by turns held nearly
every municipal office ; he was six years a Representative of
Gorham in the General Court of Massachusetts. In 1820
and 1821, he was Representative in the Legislature of Maine,
and since he was one of the Executive Council in Governor
Kent's administration. He has been married three times ; his
first wife was Lydia Brown, of Chester, sister of President
Brown, of Dartmouth College ; his second wife was Sarah
T. Lincoln, daughter of Capt. John Lincoln, of Gorham ;
his third wife, Ehza Cross, widow of Capt. "Wilham Cross.
By his first wife, Capt. Robie had a son and daughter ; by
his second, three sons. The youngest, Frederick, served as
Representative of the town, two years, and afterwards was
a member of the Executive Council for Cumberland County,
and he is now a Paymaster in the United States Army.
ROSS.
James Ross was from Stroma, Scotland -, he was a brother
of Capt. Alexander Ross of Portland. James was one of
204 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
the earliest school-masters in this town. His wife's name
was Hannah ; they had Sarah, born in 1766 ; Alexander,
in 1T69 ; Walter, in 1771 ; Olley, 1773 ; and John Matt, in
1778 ; this last son died in 1779. Hannah Ross, the widow
of James, died Oct. 19, 1833, aged 98 years.
S A N B O R H .
Joseph Sanborn resided here during the Revolutionary
war. He had two sons — Elisha and Samuel. Elisha mar-
ried Eunice Hanscom and had two daughters. The name
still exists in town.
SAWYER.
John Sawyer, David Sawyer, Jonathan and Stephen Saw-
yer, were early settlers. Joel Sawyer had four daughters —
Eunice, Polly, Betsey, and Dorcas. Jonathan Sawyer mar-
ried Martha Rich in 1764. They had eleven children ; five
sons and six daughters. The sons were John, David,
Barnabas, Jonathan, and Samuel. Zachariah Sawyer mar-
ried Susanna Skillings and had a son Levi. Toppan Saw-
yer had six children ; his twin sons, Thomas Jefferson Saw-
yer and James Sullivan Sawyer, were born in 1808.
SHAW.
Josiah Shaw married Tabitha Watson. They had eight
children ; seven sons and one daughter. The Rev. Benjamin
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES, 205
T. Shaw, a Baptist clergyman now residing in Liberty, is
tlieir son. Mr. Josiah Shaw was a saddler ; he also kept a
public house where Thomas S. Robie lived, now owned and
occupied by Mrs. Tyler.
SILLA.
John Silla had a daughter, Rebecca, born here in 1788,
and a son, David Silla, in 1789.
SMITH.
Ephraim Smith, Esq., came from Barnstable to Gorham
soon after the war of the Revolution. He had eight chil-
dren born in this town prior to 1798. Mr. Smith was one
of the disguised party that threw the tea from the British
vessels into Boston harbor, in 1773. He died in Gorham
January 13, 1835, aged 84 years.
Col. John Tyng Smith was the son of Rev. Peter Smith
of Windham ; his wife was Mary Duguid, born in Scotland.
She was a niece of Mrs. Tyng. They had seven sons and
no daughter. General Wendell P. Smith of Portland and
General Edward T. Smith of this town, are sons of Col.
John T. Col. Smith cultivated a large farm in Gorham ;
he was an excellent, upright, hospitable man, and had the
respect of his townsmen. He died in Gorham, Oct. 22,
1856, aged 85 years.
206 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
SKILLINGS.
Benjamin Skillings was in this town, among its first set-
tlers, when the Indian war of 1745 was impending ; he re-
moved to Falmouth (Portland) for greater safety. At that
time he had a wife and three children. He was the first
man that settled in Gorham westerly of Little Eiver ; he
returned to his farm about 1752. Mr. Skilfings had nine
children — Deliverance, born in Gorham, Oct. 15, 1741 ; Su-
sanna and Isaac, twins, January 22, 1744 ; John, born in
Fahnouth, March 2, 1746 ; Thomas, in Falmouth, May 8,
1748 ; Abigail, born in Gorham, March 30, 1753 ; Anna,
May 2, 1755 ; Martha, March 2, 1760 ; and Benjamin, April
2, 1763. Isaac, son of Benjamin, married Susanna Watson ;
they had Mary, Elizabeth, Tabitha, Susanna, Daniel, John,
and Joseph ; Mary was born in 1767 and Joseph in 1779.
Thomas, son of Benjamin, married Mary Burnell ; they had
nine children — Benjamin, John, Isaac, Thomas, Mehitable,
Betsey, Polly, Caleb, and Molly. Their descendants are
numerous.
SNOW.
Benjamin Snow was an early settler. The family have
not been numerous. Jane Snow died in 1837, aged 102
years.
STAPLES,
Samuel Staples married Nancy McLcllan and had six
children — Samuel, William, Stephen McL., Nancy, Eliza-
BIOGKAPHICAL NOTICES. 207
beth, and Albert B. Stephen McLellan Staples graduated
at Bowdoin College in the class of 1821. He was a teacher
awhile in Philadelphia, and afterwards a surveyor in Mexico
for some years. After his return to the United States he
married Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. Lothrop Lewis. He
lived but a short time and died without issue. Samuel
Staples, the elder, died in 1837, aged 71.
STEVENS.
Benjamin and Nathaniel Stevens were settled here before
the Indian war ; they retired to Falmouth in 1745 and re-
turned to Gorham in 1750. Nathaniel had a son Nathaniel,
born in Falmouth in 1741 ; Sarah, born in Gorham in 1744 ;
Mehitable, ^750 ; Abigail, 1753 ; Catherine, 1757 ; Benja-
min, 1763 ; Joseph, 1764 ; and Samuel, in 1766. Nathan-
iel, son of Nathaniel, married Elizabeth Sinclair ; they had
seven children. Benjamin married Amy Webb ; they had
Harry, John, Charlotte, and Amy.
STEPHENSON.
Capt. John Stephenson came from New York to Portland,
and had his house burned when Portland was destroyed by
Mowatt in 1775 ; he then moved to Gorham and had a large
farm, and built a large house, in 1771. He married Tabi-
tha Longfellow, a sister of Judge Longfellow ; they had
three sons — Samuel, Stephen, and William ; and two daugh-
ter— Catherine and Tabitha. Capt. John Stephenson died
Dec. 6, 1817, aged 76 years ; his wife, Tabitha, died May 23,
208 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
1817, aged 62 years. Col. Samuel Stej)lienson, son of John,
married Abigail Longfellow ; tliey had three sons — ^John,
Samuel L., and Stephen L. ; and six daughters — Ehzabeth,
Almira S., Ann L., Mary L., Catherine L., and Abigail C.
They have all deceased except Abigail C. and Stephen L.
Col. Samuel Stephenson died in Gorham May 23, 1858,
aged 85 years ; his venerable widow is yet living at an ad-
vanced age. Capt. Stephen Stephenson was master of a
vessel for many years. He resided in his latter days on the
farm where his father lived and died ; he had a large family
of sons, who have left town, and some of them reside in
New York, being industrious and useful men and respec-
table merchants. Capt. Stephen's davighter, Harriet, mar-
ried George Motley, Esq., of Lowell. Capt. John's young-
est son, William, died in Brooklyn, New York. Tabitha
Stephenson, daughter of John, married Jacob S. Smith,
Esq. ; her elder sister, Catherine, wife of Ebenezer Storer,
Esq., died in 1850, aged 76 years.
STONE.
Jonathan Stone married Damaris Elder. They had eight
children — Jonathan, William, Damaris, Solomon, Arche-
laus, Anna, Miriam and Eunice, born between 1782 and
1799.
STEOUT.
George Strout and Rebecca, his wife, had six children, the
eldest born in 1763 ; his youngest son, George, was born
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 209
April 9, 1780, and died in 1837. He was one of the Se-
lectmen of Gorliam at the time of his death.
Elisha Strout married Eunice Freeman ; they had six
children born between 1764 and 1778 — Simeon, Susanna,
Eunice, Dorcas, Elisha and Solomon.
STEWART.
Wentworth Stewart emigrated from Truro, Cape Cod.
He married Susanna Lombard, sister of the Hon. Solomon
Lombard ; they had ten children — Mary, born January 20,
1754 ; Susanna, May 21, 1757 ; Joseph, April 3, 1759 ;
Solomon L., February 13, 1762 ; Sarah P., June 28, 1764 ;
Dorcas, June 8, 1766 ; Susanna, April 1, 1768 ; Went-
worth, August 17, 1770 ; Solomon L., February 24, 1773,
and Anna, October 31, 1775. Mr. Stewart represented
the town of Gorham in the General Court of Massachusetts
in 1773—4 ; he was an officer in the Revolutionary army,
and died of the small pox, April 17, 1776, at Sewall's Point
near Boston.
STURGES.
Jonathan Sturges and his wife. Temperance, came from
Barnstable, Mass., about 1769, and settled on the farm
where his grandson, David Sturges, now lives ; their first
two children were born in Barnstable — Hannah, in 1766;
Temperance, in 1768. They had eight children born in
Gorham, viz: — James, 1770 ; Nathaniel, 1774; Abigail,
1776 ; David, 1779 ; Joseph, 1783 ; Sarah, 1785 ; Jona-
27
210 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
than, 1788, and Ebenezer, 1790. Jonathan Sturges died
May 11, 1834, aged 91 years, leaving numerous descend-
ants.
SWETT
Doctor Stephen Swett came from North Hampton. He
was the first physician that settled in Gorham. He came
in 1770. He entered the Continental army as Surgeon to
Col. Phinney's Regiment. Dr. Swett was patriotic, and
possessed great energy. He had children born before he
moved here, and six more born in this town.
Capt. Joshua Swett was in the army of the Revolution,
and a United States pensioner at the time of his death. He
had thirteen children — Clark, David, Eliza, John, Simeon,
Mary B., Hale, Sophia, William, Emore, Jesse, Rebecca,
and Joshua. Capt. Swett lived near Factory village, and
died there in 1851, aged 90 years ; he was the last survivor
of our Revolutionary soldiers.
THACHEE.
On pages 66, 67, 68, I have given some account of Rev.
Josiah Thacher's ministerial and political life in this town.
His wife's name was Apphia, they had ten children — 1.
Peter, born July 13, 1769 ; 2. Apphia, Aug. 19, 1770 ; 3.
Peter, Aug. 5, 1771 ; 4. Apphia, March 23, 1773 ; 5. Pe-
ter, July 21, 1774 ; 6. Mary, May 8, 1776 ; 7. Faith, Oct.
30, 1778 ; 8. John, Feb. 18, 1781 ; 9. Apphia, April 7,
1785 ; 10. Josiah, Jan. 21, 1789. Seven of these children
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 211
died in infancy ; John died a young man ; the third Peter
studied law with William Symmes, of Portland, and prac-
ticed at Saccarappa ; he bequeathed $2000, the interest of
which was to be annually appropriated toward the support
of a grammar school in that village. Peter died without
issue. The third Apphia married Rev. Reuben Nason, the
first Preceptor of Gorham Academy. Mrs. Nason left a
daughter, Apphia, who died young.
Hon. Josiah Thacher had a taste for agriculture and gar-
dening. He had, in his day, the best fruit orchard in town.
The house he built, and where he lived and died, is now
standing in the village, nearly opposite the Congregational
church, at the corner of High and School Streets. It is
owned by the heirs of Alexander McLellan, Esq., and Gapt.
Robert Johnson.
THOMAS,
Tufts Thomas became a citizen here about 1770 ; he had
four sons — James, born 1771 ; John, 1772 ; William, 1774,
and Isaac, 1777.
William Thomas, the son of Tufts, had five children —
Betsey, Merrill, Eliza, Samuel F. and Sarah L. Merrill.
Merrill Thomas, son of William, born in 1801, was for sev-
eral years, one of our Selectmen. William Thomas died
Feb. 25, 1860, aged 86 years.
THOMES.
There was a Thomas Thomes died in Gorham in 1790 ;
his wife, Mary, died in 1786. It is presumed they were the
212 HISTORY OP GORHAM.
parents of Charles Thomes, who lived at Fort Hill, and
died there in 1833, aged 83 years. Charles was a soldier
of the Revolution ; he was discharged at Peekskill, New
York, having no money but depreciated Continental bills,
then worthless ; he begged his food and lodging. He came
all the way home on foot and was nine and a half days per-
forming the journey. Charles Thomes married Anna Gray ;
they had ten children — Comfort, James, Susanna, Mary,
Job, Hannah, Martha C, Stephen, Joseph, and a second
Mary. George Thomes lived here in 1780 ; his wife was
Lydia Brown ; their children were Betty, Ezra, Mary,
William, Amos, Eunice, Mehitable, Lydia, Nancy — all born
before 1800. Mr. George Thomes died in 1821, aged 76
years.
TYNG
Hon. William Tyng, the only man of the name, as far as
I can learn, that ever lived in Gorham, was born in Boston
in 1737. " Col. Tyng was a descendant in the fifth gener-
ation from George Cleeves, the first settler in Portland."
When young he traded in Boston. In 1767 he was ap-
pointed Sheriff of Cumberland County, Maine, and estab-
lished his residence in Portland. In 1769, he married Eliza-
beth Eoss, daughter of Alexander Ross. She was born in
South Ronaldsha, one of the Shetland Isles, and was two
years old when her parents emigrated to America. Sheriff
Tyng espoused the Royal side, in the contest with Great
Britain. He was commissioned a Colonel by Gov. Gage in
1774. He became a confirmed tory, and had to flee the
country in 1778. He went to New York and remained in
the British army. His extensive property in Portland was
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 213
confiscated. While in New York he exerted himself suc-
cessfully to better the condition of the American prisoners.
Some of our Gorham soldiers received food and clothing
from Col. Tyng, when they were in a state of great desti-
tution. At the close of the war he went to Nova Scotia,
and was there appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Com-
mon Pleas. In 1793, Col. Tyng returned to the United
States, and settled on his wife's land in Gorham, in the
easterly part of the town. He erected a large and commo-
dious house, and there lived in easy circumstances, in quiet
retirement, taking no part in political life, receiving a pen-
sion from the British government. He was a dignified gen-
tleman, but an urbane and kind neighbor and townsman.
He was beloved and respected ; he never had any children.
He died Dec. 10, 1807, a little more than 70 years of age.
The Tyng name is now extinct. Mrs. Tyng was a refined
and hospitable lady. She was a decided loyalist, and never
could forgive Washington and his compatriots for being
rebels to their most gracious sovereign, George HI. The
English government continued a pension to Madam Tyng
during her life. She had no child of her own, but adopted
a Scottish niece, whose name was Eliza Heddle, who be-
came the wife of Rev. Timothy Hilliard ; they had two sons
and four daughters. The sons, WiUiam Tyng Hilliard and
John Heddle Hilliard, both of whom graduated at Bowdoin
College, and are now respectable counselors at law in Bangor
and Oldtown in this State. Mrs. Tyng died at Gorham in
1831, aged 81 years.
WARKEN.
James Warren and Samuel Warren became citizens about
1775. James married Martha McLellan. Their children
214 HISTOKY OF GORHAM.
were Samuel, Hugh, James, Alexander, and Martha. Sam-
uel Warren had six children — James, Sarah, Mary, Samuel,
Sophia, and David. David was born April 22, 1796. He
now lives in town. There was a Nathaniel Warren lived
here and had a son, John, born October 12, 1786.
WATEKHOUSE.
George Waterhouse married Dorcas Libby and had nine
children — PoUy, Joseph, George, Charlotte, Betsey, Isaac,
David, Simon and Sally.
Joseph Waterhouse had three children — Olley, Zebulon,
and Benjamin.
WATSON.
Eliphalet Watson was one of the first inhabitants of this
town ; he married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Capt.
John Phinney, the first settler. They had ten children,
viz : — John, born September 23, 1741, Martha, December
4, 1743, Susanna, February 1, 1746, Ebenezer, September
28, 1748, Colman, December 4, 1751, Elizabeth, February
11, 1753, Mary, July 12, 1756, Eliphalet, March 20, 1759,
James, August 3, 1761, and Daniel, October 11, 1763. Mr.
Watson was one of the families that moved into the fort
early in 1746, and they remained there during the Indian
war. Some of his children were born in the garrison. Mr.
Watson's farm lay directly west of Hugh McLellan's, and
easterly of Austin Alden's, about half a mile from the vil-
lage. Eliphalet Watson was a man very useful in town and
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 215
church. He was one of the first deacons in the Congrega-
tional Church, in Gorham ; he was distinguished for sound
sense, practical wisdom, industry, prudence, and honesty ;
he possessed firmness and courage, and was a pillar of
strength in the new settlement. He attained the great age
of 98 years.
John Watson, the eldest son of Deacon Eliphalet, married
Tabitha Whitney. They had ten children — Mary, Martha,
Edmund, Colman, IVIiriam, Tabitha, Molly, Sally, Green-
leaf C, and Desire — all born between 1775 and 1789. Mr.
John Watson died in 1834, aged 93 years. Ebenezer Wat-
son, second son of Eliphalet, married Anna Whitney, and
had nine children. The youngest child, Eliphalet, was born
in Gray in 1797, to which place the family had removed.
Colman Phinney, third son of Eliphalet, married Patience
Thomes, and had Mary, Stephen P., and Hannah. Elipha-
let Watson, Jr., married Zipporah Partridge, and had two
sons, Ebenezer and Nathaniel Partridge. James married
Mary Davis, and had one daughter. Daniel married Anna
Maxfield and had four children — Martha, Josiah, Hannah,
and Daniel.
Capt. Greenleaf C. Watson, son of John, and grandson
of the first Eliphalet, is stiU living in town.
WEBB.
Samuel Webb, an Englishman, the ancestor of aU the
Webbs in this vicinity, emigrated to Ehode Island in 1713.
In 1744 he moved to Boston, and soon after to Falmouth,
now Portland ; thence to Saccarappa, and the next year to
Windham. He was the first schoolmaster in Windham ;
his wife's father, John Farrar, being one of the original
216 HISTORY OP GORHAM.
erantees of Windham. Eli Webb, the seventh son of Sam-
uel, was born in Tiverton, Khode Island — was the first
Webb that settled in Gorham, on what is now called the old
Webb farm, near the powder mills. Eli's children were
Edward, Anna, Lorana, Mary, James, Ezekiel, Abraham,
and Seth. Eli Webb died in Gorham, October, 1827. His
wife died the year previous. Edward Webb, and his broth-
ers were grandsons, on their mother's side, of Edward
Cloutman, who was captured by the Indians in 1746. Seth
Webb, Esq., long one of our townsmen and selectmen, re-
cently died at Knox, Waldo County, aged 86 years. Ed-
ward Webb, son of Eli, married Sarah Bolton, of Windham.
Her father, William Bolton, was taken captive by the In-
dians in 1747. She died in Gorham in 1850, aged 89 years.
Edward Webb was a revolutionary pensioner.
I have now before me the original paper, of which the
following is a copy : —
« Falmouth, March 21, 1758.
Sir : — We do hereby signify that we are bound out in
quest of the Indian Enemy, on y® Province Encouragement,
for Captives and Scalps. Your humb^ Serv*^
Seth Webb,
elish'-Webb."
This notice, I suppose, was given in order to obtain the
bounty offered by Massachusetts for Indian scalps. It was,
I think, addressed to Enoch Freeman, Esq., because he was
at that period Colonel of the Eastern Regiment, and had the
superintendence of Indian Scouts. This notice was found
among the papers of the late Judge Samuel Freeman. Sev-
eral men went out as scouts from this and other towns in
the county ; usually four or five men formed a scout, some-
times a larger number ; and some men received considerable
sums as scalp money. Rev. Thomas Smith, first minister
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 217
settled in Portland, in his diary, published by Judge Free-
man and Hon. William Willis, under date of June 18, 1757,
says : — " I received X165 and 33s. of Cox — my part of scalp
money. ''^
WESCOTT,
There are many of this name in town. Reuben Wescott
had seven children born between 1785 and 1798, viz : —
John, Reuben, Peggy, Sally, Eleanor, Polly, and Betsey.
Nehemiah Wescott married Eleanor Nason ; they had John
and Betsey. James Wescott married Hannah Morton ;
they had four children — James, born 1793 ; Almira, 1795 ;
Anna, 1800, and Charlotte, 1802.
WESTON.
A hundred years ago, there were two families of Wes-
tons in this town — those of Thomas and Joseph. Thomas
Weston had three daughters — Patience, Anna, and Abagail,
born in 1751, 1756, and 1760. Joseph Weston married
Catherine Mosher; they had James, Joseph, Zachariah,
Thomas, and Sarah — all born before 1768. Mr. Joseph
Weston died in 1770. It is a long time since any members
of these families have lived in Gorliam,
28
218 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
WHITMORE,
Capt. Samuel Whltmore was a prominent man in town
previous to and during the revolution. He was a man of
great decision of character, and executed promptly whatever
he undertook. He was very patriotic and had a strong dis-
like of tories. It is related that, about 1774, there being
suspicions that Richard King, Esq., and a Dr. Abiathar
Alden, of Scarborough, were tories, Capt. Whitmore, and
about forty more of the ardent " Sons of Liberty," deter-
mined to make Mr. King and Dr. Alden take an oath of
allegiance to the American cause. Capt. Whitmore and his
volunteers went to Scarborough, and finding Alden, they
made him kneel on a hogshead and swear " a recantation
oath" ; thence proceeding to Mr. King's house, they called
upon him to declare his political creed, and he read a state-
ment of his views upon the troubles between the Colonies
and Great Britain. Some of the expressions in the state-
ment not being up to the spirit of the Gorham men, they
made Mr. King kneel down and erase tlie offensive words.
The act was wholly unauthorized and unjustifiable. It was
not uncommon in those exciting times to compel men to re-
nounce their opinions, and not a few loyalists were even
tarred and feathered. Civil war always produces evils of
the kind. In our present unhappy civil strife, men are ar-
rested and thrown into prison, oftentimes without knowing
what they are arrested for, without the forms of law or
any investigation ; printing presses are destroyed, property
wasted, and other atrocities committed in the name of pat-
riotism.
Capt. Whitmore married Mary Whitney and they had
twelve children — Lydia, Mary, Dorcas, John, Patience, Eliz-
abeth Ross, two Samuels, Joel, Sarah, Joanna, and Eunice —
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 219
all born between Aug. 5, 1765, and June 25, 1788. Capt.
Samuel Whitmore died Dec. 21, 1808 — the same month and
year that his friend and military comrade, Col. Edmund
Phinney, expired. Both did much to promote and secure
our national Independence.
Col. Samuel AYhitmore, Jr., son of Capt. Samuel, was
born in Gorham, March 26, 1780. He was a boy, and young
man of much promise. He graduated at Dartmouth Col-
lege in 1802, with honors. He read law with John Park
Little, Esq., of Gorham, in 1806 ; he opened an office in
his native village with a bright prospect of success. He
was gentlemanly, and very popular ; he was chosen Colonel
of the regiment of militia in this vicinity, and was a brilliant
young officer as well as lawyer. The hopes and expecta-
tions of his friends were suddenly extinguished by his early
death, which occurred Aug. 27, 1808, about four months
before his venerable father died.
There was a Daniel Whitmore in Gorham. His wife was
Anna Hill ; they had five children — Rebecca, Joseph, Simon,
Mary, and Hill, born between 1783 and 1794.
WHITNEY.
There were many inhabitants of the name of Whitney
before the revolution. They came from York, Maine, to
Gorham. Amos Whitney and Nathan Whitney were prom-
inent and influential men here before the town was incor-
porated. Amos Whitney was the first Town Clerk of Gor-
ham, and one of the first Board of Selectmen, and was, for
many years, annually re-elected. Amos, and Elder Nathan
Whitney, were both much employed in the religious affairs
of the town. They were many times on important commit-
220 HISTORY OF GORHAM.
tees in the lievolutionary days ; they were sagacious men,
and of unquestioned integrity. There were eleven officers
and soldiers from Gorham, of the name of Whitney, in the
army of the Revolution. There were four Whitneys in
Capt. Hart Williams' company in 1775. Paul Whitney
was killed at the battle on Rhode Island. Isaac Whitney,
Stephen Whitney, Zebulon Whitney, and Daniel Whitney,
were pensioners of the United States. Amos Whitney mar-
ried Sarah Payne and had three children — Elias, Jotham,
and Ruth. David Whitney's wife was Hannah Brown.
They had seven children — Susanna, Jesse, Joshua, Daniel,
Hannah, Thomas, and Nathan, born between 1755 and 1769.
Abel Whitney
Owen Whitney
Asa Whitney
Daniel Whitney
Uriel Whitney
Timothy Whitney
Stephen Whitney
Micah Whitney
Phineas Whitney
Zebulon Whitney,
Zebulon married Joanna Stone ;
Abigail, Happy, Mattie, Rufus, Eli, Eunice, Hannah, Tab-
itha, and Almira, born betwen 1775 and 1798. EH, yet
living, was born August 16, 1786. ,
had
10
children.
a
9
((
a
11
((
a
10
a
a
6
u
a
5
a
a
2
a
a
4
a
a
4
a
a
9
a
e ;
their nine children were
WILLIAMS
Jeremiah Williams married Deborah Whitney ; they had
eight children — Martha, Mary, Peter, Susanna, Lydia, Dan-
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 221
iel, Joseph, and Hannah. Mrs. Deborah Williams died
December 16, 1851, aged 92 years and eight months.
Capt. Hart Williams was one of our most prominent men
in the early days of the town. He held many municipal
oflSces. He commanded the first company of soldiers that
marched from Gorham to Cambridge in 1775 ; from there,
he marched to Ticonderoga in Col. Phinney's regiment. He
was an able and meritorious officer. Capt. Williams died
in 1797.
YOUNG
Joshua Young and Joseph Young, came from Welfleet,
Mass., about 1775. They had families ; few, if any, of the
name, now reside in town.
Note. — In compiling the foregoing biographical notices, I have designed
to say nothing of families, the heads of which came into this town after the
commencement of the present century. Nor have I named all who were
inhabitants before that period ; to have so done, even if desirable, was not
practicable. For nearly thirty years after a settlement was commenced,
there were no records of births, deaths, or marriages, except such as were
made in private family memoranda. After the incorporation of the town
in 1764, many families took no pains to have their births or deaths recorded.
The old family records that once existed, are no longer to be found. Much
labor and research have been taken to have this Mstorical work accurate,
and though not by any means full or perfect, I trust it may preserve many
facts and data that may prove useful, and be of local interest.
APPENDIX.
A.
A LIST OF THE NARRAGANSETT GRANTEES.
BARNSTABLE.
Mary Dovenour,
Jacob Hinkley,
Jolin Carman,
George Lewis,
John Hathaway,
Joseph Higgins,
Samuel Bryant,
Richard ElUngham,
Samuel Childs,
Samuel Barman,
Samuel Linnell,
Dr. Matthew FuUer,^
Samuel Fuller,
Thomas Fuller,
Increase Clap,
Joseph Taylor,
John Doncan,
Bartholomew Hamblin,
Eleazer Hamblin,
Thomas Huckins,
John Phinney,
Joseph Bearce,
Samuel Hinkley,
Samuel Allyn,
Samuel Davis,
John Lewis' Heirs,
Caleb Lombard,
Joseph Gorham,
Josiah Davis,
Ebenezer Goodspeed,
Ebenezer Clap,
Lot Conant, /
Jedediah Lombard,
Samuel Cops,
Joseph Blush, (or Blish,)
John Howland, ,--
John Clarke,
Shubael Gorham, Jr.,
Joseph Crocker,
John Goodspeed.
224
APPENDIX.
YARMOUTH.
Samuel Barker, (or Baker,)
Eichard Taylor,
William Gray,
WiUiam Chase,
Capt. John Gorham,
Thomas Baxter,
John Thatcher,
John Hallitt,
John Matthews,
Thomas Thorton,
William Gray,
Samuel Hall,
James Maker,
James Claghorn,
Joseph Hall,
Samuel Hedge,
Nathaniel Hall,
Joseph Whilden,
Samuel Thomas,
William Baker.
Jonathan Smith,
Samuel Jones,
Richard Taylor,
Thomas Felton,
John Gage,
William Follen,
William Gage,
Ananias Wing,
John Crowell,
John Chase,
Henry Golds,
Richard Lake,
Jabez Gorham,
Henry Gage,
Telverton Crowell,
John Pugsley,
Daniel Baker,
Jonathan White,
Samuel Baker,
EASTH AM,
Timothy Cole,
Jeremiah Smith,
Jonathan Green,
Joseph and Samuel Doane,
Thomas Paine,
Jedediah Higgins,
Eliakim Higgins,
Joseph Downings,
Benjamin Downings,
John Freeman,
Jonathan Sparrow,
John Knowles,
Samuel Atkins,
John Doan,
Thomas Midford,
Daniel Doan,
John Walker,
John Myi-ick,
Nathaniel Williams,
Josiah Cook,
Joseph Harding,
Grcorge Brown,
APPENDIX. 225
SANDWICH
Jonathan Morrey, Samuel Gibbs,
Samuel Toby, for his uncle, John Lewis,
Nathaniel Wing, James Atkins,
Jehosaphat Eldridge.
PLYMOUTH.
William Ring, Peter Tinkman,
Thomas Savery.
DUXBURY.
Robert Barker, Stephen Sampson,
Robert Sandford, Thomas Hunt,
Thomas Bonney, Thomas Standish.
TiSBUBY — Jonathan Lombard. Abington — William Harrage.
SciTUATE — Timothy White.
The present inhabitants of Gorham know but Uttle of the brave men,
who purchased, by their sufleriugs and heroic deeds, the fertile lands we
now possess. Not all of the foregoing named grantees were in the Narra-
gansett fight — many of them, were the sons, brothers, and more distant
connections of the soldiers and officers. Conflicting claims, were present-
ed, by heirs and legal representatives ; to settle those rights, the Commit-
tee of the grantees had recourse to the Governor and Council of Massa-
chusetts, as appears by the following petition : —
" To his Excellency, Jonathan Belcher, Esq., Captain General, and Com-
mander in Chief, in and over Ms Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts
Bay of New England, &c. To the Hono'''« the Council and Representa-
tives now sitting, April 7, 1741, humbly sheweth Shubal Gorham Esef. in
29
226 APPENDIX.
Behalf of several of his Neighbors, aud at their requests, That Whereas
the General Court, sometime since made a Grant of Land to the Soldiers
of JSTarragansett Fight, so call'^ & a List of the Names of such was ac-
cordingly taken ; But so it was in the jierfecting or Taking said List, By
mistakes of the Clark, or Scribers, the names of some was wrong Entered
viz: in said List is entered Kichard Tayler, alias, and Richard Tayler's
heirs, whereas the latter should have been Jn" Tayler's heirs, there not
being two Eichard Taylors in said Company, but there was one John Tay-
lor. And another viz : Entered William Grey, for his Father Will™' and
Will™ Gray's Heirs ; There not being two WUl™ Gray's in said Company,
but that there was one Edward Gray. And another Entered Joseph Cro-
ker, whereas it should have been Josiah Crocker. Your Memorialists well
knowing their mistakes to be so, aud that there was no such person as Jo-
seph Crolver of Barnstable in said Company, and s'^ service, But that there
was Josiah Crocker in said Company ; and that their several heirs have car-
ried on the charges of Bringing on the settlement, aud performed the order
of Court Accordingly. Wherefore your memorialist in behalf of his Neigh-
bours, humbly moves that an order of this Court may be so, that the Names
of the said Jolm Tayler, Edward Grey & Josiah Crocker, may be entered,
and that their several heirs may accordingly Enjoy the Wrights of their
said Ancestors, and your Memorialist in their behalf, as in duty bound shall
pray.
SHUBAL GORHAM.
Ain-il 8, 1741.
In the House of Representatives, April 10, 1741.
Read & ordered that y® prayer of The Petition be Granf^- and the mis-
takes mentioned are allowed to be rectified.
Sent up for Concurrence .
J. QUINCY, Speaker.
In Council, April 10th, 1741.
Read and Concurred. I. WILLIARD Sec'y-
Consented to. J. BELCHER.
At a Great & General Court or Assembly for his Majesty's Province of
the Massachusetts Bay, held by adjournment on the 10th of April, 1734.
April 18, 1734. Thomas Palmer, Esq., from the Committy of Both
Houses, on the aflairs of settling the Towns Granted to the Narragansett
Soldiers, Gave in the following Report, viz: The Committy, to whom was
referred the Affair of the Narragansett Claimers, are of Opinion that the
APPENDIX. 227
Consideration of admitting such Chiiius, as heretofore, omitted presenting
or proving their Claims, shoiikl be referred to the Session of tlie General
Court in May next, That the True Interest & Meaning of the Grant made
of Land, to those, that were in the Narragansctt war, was that the persons,
who were in that war onlj^ should be entitled, and if alive, whosoever put
in the Claim, and if deceased, then Ms Legal Kepresentatives were entitled
to the Benefit Thereby in such way as was Consistent with the Conditions
and Limitations of Settlement, &c., upon which said Lands were Granted,
and which was never supposed a Deceased Claimer's Heir (in ordinary
cases) could or would receive, where they were more than one, on the Con-
ditions of the Grant. But where there were diverse descendants of a per-
son, that had a right. They would agree and consent it should belong to
one only. But whereas in some cases by reason of an Evil Mind, and Tur-
bulent Disposition, and in others by reason of Minority there is a Great
Difficulty. We propose that it be Resolved and Ordered, that where the
person is deceased, who was in the service, the Grant shall be and Belong
to his Legal Representatives, in the Following manner viz: That the
Eldest heir Male (if such there be, otherwise the Eldest Female) if they
please, shall hold the land, paying to the other descendants, or heirs, such
proportionable part of Ten pounds, (at which we judge a Right ought to be
valued) as such descendants, or heu-s woiild be Entitled to in the Lands, if
such Lands descended according to the Law of this Province, for the settle-
ment of Intestate Estates. And also to pay what Charge any of said de-
scendants, may have been at to prove or bring forward such Claim. And
if any dispute shall happen about the person and charge, the Settlers or
Grantees in Each of the Towns shall fix and settle it by a major vote. The
Committy is further of Opinion that the seven years for Settling the Town
Granted to the Narragansett Claimers, as well the two first as The Two
Last be Computed from y^ first day of June next.
In the name, and by the Order of the Committee.
THOMAS PALMER.
Consented to. J. BELCHER.
B.
PUBLIC OFFICERS.
Delegates to the Provincial, Congbess. — 1774, Solomon Lom-
bard ; 1775-6, Bryant Morton; 1777, Edmund Phinney; 1779, Solomon
Lombard, to form State Constitution.
228 APPENDIX.
While belonging to Massachusetts the town had four Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas, viz: — From 1776 to 1781, Solomon Lombard; from
1784 to 1799, Josiah Thacher ; from 1789 to 1804, William Gorham ; from
1798 to 1811, Stephen Longfellow.
Judges of Probate. — William Gorham, from 1782 to 1805 — twenty-
three years. Since Maine became a State, Josiah Pierce, 1846 to 1856 —
ten years.
Senators utstder Massachusetts. — Josiah Thacher, Stephen Long-
fellow, Lothrop Lewis, James Irish.
Senators in Maine Legislature. — Josiah Pierce, three years — Pres-
ident of the Senate 1835-6 ; Charles Hunt, two years ; James Mann, two
years.
Hugh D. McLellan was Speaker of the House of Kepresentatiyes in
1847-8.
Executive Councilors. — Edmund Mann, of Gov. Dunlap's Council;
Toppan Eobie, of Gov. Kent's Council ; Dominicus Jordan, Governors
Fairfield's and Kavenagh's Council ; Frederick Eobie, of Gov. Wash-
burn's Council.
Edward P. Weston, Superintendent of Common Schools, 1860-1-2.
Daniel C. Emery was Sheriff of Cumberland County in 1856.
Edmund Mann, and Jeremiah Parker, County Commissioners.
John A. Waterman, County Treasurer, 1857-8.
James Mann, County Treasurer, 1862.
Lothrop Lewis, James Irish, and Joseph Adams, were delegates to the
Convention that formed the Constitution of Maine.
Kepresentatiyes to the General Court under Massachu-
setts.— 1765, Solomon Lombard ; 1766, voted not to send a Kepresenta-
tive ; 1767-68-69, Solomon Lombard ; 1770, voted not to send a Representa-
tive; 1771, none; 1772, voted not to send a Representative, on account of
the poverty of the town ; 1773, chose Wentworth Stewart, on condition
that he will serve without any exiDcnse to the town, which Mr. Stewart
agreed to ; 1774, voted not to send a Representative ; 1775, Briant Morton ;
1776, Caleb Chase ; 1777, Briant Morton, chosen in July, the town having at
the May meeting voted not to send a Representative ; 1778-79, Edmund
Phinney ; 1780, Solomon Lombard ; 1781, voted not to send a Representa-
tive; 1782, Stephen Longfellow, Jr. ; 1783-8^85-86-87, Josiah Thacher;
1788, Edmund Phinney; 1789-90-91, Josiah Thaclier ; 1792, Stephen Long-
fellow and Josiah Thacher ; 1793-94, Stephen Longfellow ; 1795, Josiah
APPENDIX. 229
Thacher; 1796, Stephen Longiellow; 1T97, Josiah Thacher; 1798-99 and
1800, Stephen Longfellow ; 1801-2, Lothrop Lewis ; 1803, Lothrop Lewis,
chosen unanimously; 1804-5-6-7, Lothrop Lewis; 1808, Lothrop Lewis
and David Harding, Jr. ; 1809, David Harding, Jr., and Dudley Folsom;
1810-11-12, Lothrop Lewis, David Harding, Jr., and Dudley Folsom;
1813-14-15, James Codman, David Harding, Jr., and Toppan Robie; 1816,
Samuel Stephenson, David Harding, Jr., and Toppan Robie ; 1817-18, Da-
vid Harding, Jr. ; 1819-20, Lothx-op Lewis, Toppan Robie, and Joseph
Adams.
Representativbs to the Maine Legislature. — 1820-21, James
Irish, David Harding, Jr., and Toppan Robie; 1822, Lothrop Lewis;
182.3-24, Seward Merrill; 1825, Samuel Stephenson; 1826-27-28, Clark
Dyer; 1829-30, Edmund Mann ; 1831, Joseph Hamblen, 3d; 1832-33, Josiah
Pierce; 1834-35, William E. Files; 1836-37, Charles Hunt; 1838-39, Caleb
Hodson ; 1840, Robert Johnson, Jr. ; 1841, Robert Motley ; 1842, Jeremiah
Parker ; 1843-44, Daniel C. Emery ; 1845, Jeremiah Parker ; 1846-47-48,
Hugh D. McLellau; 1849-50, James Mann; 1851, Jonathan Hanson; 1852,
no election — winter sessions changed to summer ; 1853-54, Charles Paine ;
1855-56, Jacob C. Baker; 1857-58, Joshua E.Hall; 1859-60, Frederick
Eobie ; 1861-62, James Phinney.
VOTES nq- GORHAM FOR GOVERNOR IN MASSACHUSETTS.
1780 — John Hancock, 55 ; James Bowdoin, 2.
1781— John Hancock, 26.
1782— John Hancock, 15.
1783 — John Hancock, 33 ; Benjamin Lincoln, 20 ; James Bowdoin, 1.
1784 — John Hancock, 44.
1785 — Thomas Cushiug, 53; Benjamin Lincoln, 1.
1786 — James Bowdoin, 27 ; Thomas Cusliing, 19.
1787— John Hancock, 103 ; James Bowdoin, 6.
1788— John Hancock, 94.
1789— John Hancock, 116.
1790— John Hancock, 90.
1791— John Hancock, 98.
1792— John Hancock, 81.
1793— John Hancock, 87.
1794— Samuel Adams, 92 ; Wm. Gushing, 3 ; Elbridge Gerry, 1.
1795— Samuel Adams, 85; Elbridge Gerry, 4; Wm. Cushing, 1.
280 APPENDIX.
1796 — Samuel Adams, 88 ; Elbridge Gerry, 6 ; Increase Sumner, 14.
1797 — Moses Gill, 48; Increase Sumner, 20; Elbridge Gerrj', 1.
1798 — Increase Smnner, 81 ; Moses Gill, 1.
1799 — Increase Sumner, 89; Moses Gill, 1.
1800— Caleb Strong, 46; Moses Gill, 41 ; Elbridge Gerry, 41.
1801— Caleb Strong, 102; Elbridge Gerry, 41.
1802— Caleb Strong, 105 ; Elbridge Gerry, 27.
1803— Caleb Strong, 137.
1804— Caleb Strong, 162; James Sullivan, 63.
1805— Caleb Strong, 164; James Sullivan, 90.
1806— Caleb Strong, 194 ; James Sullivan, 99.
1807— Caleb Strong, 158 ; James Sidlivan, 126.
1808— Christopher Gore, 257 ; James Sullivan, 58.
1809— Christopher Gore, 230 ; Levi Lincoln, 90.
1810— Christopher Gore, 244; Elbridge Gerry, 114.
1811— Christopher Gore, 176 ; Elbridge Gerry, 99.
1812— Caleb Strong, 284; Elbridge Gerry, 115.
1813— Caleb Strong, 291 ; Joseph B. Varnum, 88.
1814— Caleb Strong, 311 ; Samuel Dexter, 92.
1815— Caleb Strong, 259 ; Samuel Dexter, 139.
1816— John' Brooks, 257; Samuel Dexter, 112.
1817— John Brooks, 203 ; Henry Dearborn, 79.
1818 — John Brooks, 173; Benjamin Crowningshield, 99.
1819— John Brooks, 191 ; B. W. Crowningshield, 116.
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR AFTER MAINE BECAME A STATE.
1820— William King, 223; Scattering, 10.
1821— Ezekiel Whitman, 138; Albion K. Paris, 92.
1822— Ezekiel Whitman, 87; A. K. Paris, 71.
1823— A. K. Paris, 108.
1824— A. K. Paris, 129.
1825— A. K. Paris, 137; Enoch Lincoln, 11.
1826— Enoch Lincoln, 275 ; Scattering. 1.
1827— Enoch Lincoln, 135.
1828 — Enoch Lincoln, 357 ; Scattering, 16.
1829— Samuel E. Smith, 218; Jonathan G. Hunton, 211.
1830— Jonathan G. Hunton, 283 ; Samuel E. Smith, 269.
1831— Samuel E. Smith, 256 ; Daniel Goodenow, 254.
1832— Samuel E. Smith, 279; Daniel Goodenow, 272.
APPENDIX. 231
1833— Robert P. Dunlap, 257 ; Daniel Goodenow, 256.
1834— Robert P. Dimlap, 298 ; Peleg Sprague, 281,
1835— Robert P. Duiilap, 252 ; William King, 200.
1836— Robert P. Dimlap, 256 ; Edward Kent, 201.
1837— Edward Kent, 291 ; Gorham Parks, 268.
1838— Edward Kent, 343; John Fairfield, 297.
1839— Edward Kent, 308; John Fairfield, 308.
1840— Edward Kent, 35G; John Fairfield, 287.
1841— Edward Kent, — ; John Fairfield, 285.
1842— John Fairfield, 276 ; Edward Robinson, 240.
1843 — Hugh J. Anderson, 238; Edw. Robinson, 129; Jas. Apple ton, .31.
1844— H. J. Anderson, 298 ; Edward Robinson, 272.
1845 — H. J. Anderson, 214 ; Freeman H. Morse, 146 ; Sam'l Fessenden, 42.
1846— John W. Dana, 225 ; Da\id Bronson, 166 ; Sam'l Fessenden, 60.
1847 — -John W. Dana, 167 ; David Bronson, 108 ; Sam'l Fessenden, 27.
184S^John W. Dana, 222; E. L. Hamlin, 164; Sam'l Fessenden, 124.
1849-^ohn Hubbard, 228; E. L. Hamlin, 140; G. F. Talbot, 104.
1850— John Hubbard, 238; Wm. G. Crosby, 204; G. F. Talbot, 86.
1851 — No election.
1852— John Hubbard, 243 ; A. G. Chandler, 168 ; Wm. G. Crosby, 150.
1853— Albert Pilsbury, 190; W. G. Crosby, 189 ; A. P. Morrill, 92; E.
Holmes, 73.
1854— A. P. Morrill, 268; A. K. Paris, 241 ; Isaac Reed, 47; S. Gary, G.
1855— A. P. Morrill, 327 ; Samuel Wells, 329 ; Isaac Reed, 20.
1856— Hannibal Hamlin, 415 ; Sam'l Wells, 291 ; G. F. Patten, 23.
1857— Lot M. Morrill, .366 ; M. H. Smith, 246.
1858— Lot M. Morrill, 383 ; M. H. Smith, 310.
1859— Lot M. Morrill, 383 ; M. H. Smith, 255.
1860— Israel Washburn, Jr., 438 ; E. K. Smart, 315 ; Phinehas Barnes, 5.
1861— Israel Washburn, Jr., 381 ; John W. Dana, 187 : Charles D. Jame-
son, 56.
TOWN CLERKS.
1764 to 1769, inclusive — Amos 'Whitney, six years.
1770-71 — Wentworth Stuart, two years.
1772 — Amos "Wliitney, one year.
1773-74-75 — William Gorham, three years.
1776-77— Caleb Chase, two years.
1778-1804 — Aiisten Alden, twenty-six years.
232 APPENDIX.
1804-1815 — Josiali Alden, eleven years.
1815-1832 — William H. Foster, seventeen years.
1833-34-35-36— William B. Harding, four years.
1837-38 — Eben Preble, two years.
1839-40-41 — Kussell Linnell, tliree years.
1842 — Charles C. Bangs, one year.
1843-44 — Eben Preble, two years.
1845 — Kussell Linnell, one year.
1846-47-48 — ^William B. Harding, three years.
1849-50-51 — John Wingate, three years.
1852-53 — William B. Harding, two years.
1854 — James W. Davis, one year.
1855-56-57 — Samuel F. Bacon, three years.
1858-59-60— E. W. Nevins, three years.
1861-62— M. G. Hayden, two years.
SELECTMEN.
1765 — Benjamin Skillings, Amos Whitney, Joseph Weston.
" Benjamin Skillings, Amos Whitney, Briant Morton.
1766-67 — Benjamin Skillings, Amos Whitney, Edmund Phiuney.
1768 — Hugh McLellan, Edmund Phinney, Joseph Cates,
1769 — Edmund Phinney, Amos Whitney, James Gilkey.
1770-71 — Edmund Phinney, James Gilkey, Barnabas Bangs.
1772 — Solomon Lombard, Edmund Phinney, Nathan Whitney.
1773 — Edmund Phirmey, James Gilkey, Samuel Whitmore.
1774 — Benjamin Skillings, Nathan Whitney, Prince Davis.
1775 — Edmund Phinney, Prince Davis, William McLellan.
1776 — William Gorham, Prince Davis, James Phinney.
1777-78 — James Phinney, Andrew Crockett, Sainuel Harding.
1779 — James Phinney, James Gilkey, Andrew Crockett.
1780 — James Gilkey, Andrew Crockett, William Cotton.
1781 — Edmund Phinney, William Gorham, Stei)hen Longfellow, Jr.
1782 — Edmund Phinney, Stephen Longfellow, Jr., William McLellan.
1783 — James Phinney, Prince Davis, William McLellan.
1784 — James Phmney, Stephen Longfellow, Jr., Austen Alden.
1785 — Stephen Longfellow, Jr., James Phinney, Cary McLellan.
1786 — Stephen Longfellow, Jr., James Phinney, Austen Alden.
1787 — Stephen Longfellow, Jr., Austen Alden, Decker Phinney.
1788 — Austen Alden, Decker Phinney, Nathaniel Frost.
APPENDIX. 233
1789-90-91— Stephen Longfellow, Jr., Samuel Elder, James Phinney.
1792-93 — Stephen Longfellow, Jr., James Phinney, Decker Phinney.
1794-95 — Stephen Longfellow, Decker Phinney, Josiah Alden.
1796-97-98-99— Lothrop Lewis, Decker Phinney, Josiah Alden.
1800 — Lothrop Lewis, Josiah Alden, Samuel Warren.
J. Alden excused, and Samuel Prentiss elected.
1801-2-3-4 — Lothrop Lewis, Samuel Warren, Decker Phinney.
1805-6-7-8-9-10— Lothrop Lewis, Samuel Warren, Edmund Phinney, Jr.
1811 — Lothrop Lewis, Edmund Phinney, Jr., Thomas McLellan.
1812-13-14 — Lothrop Lewis, Edmund Phinney, Ji'., David Harding, Jr.
1815 — Toppan Robie, William McLellan, Samuel Warren.
1816-17 — Lothrop Lewis, William McLellan, Toppan Robie.
1818 — Toppan Robie, Da\id Harding, Jr., Edmund Wescott.
1819 — David Harding, Jr., Toppan Robie, Matthew Johnson.
1820— Lothrop Lewis, James Irish, William Cobb.
1821 — Lothrop Lewis, William Cobb, Nathaniel Phinney.
1822 — Lothrop Lewis, Nathaniel Phinney, Seward Merrill.
1823 — ^Nathaniel Phinney, Toppan Robie, Simon Elder.
1824— Seth Webb, Toppan Robie, Simon Elder.
1825 — Edmund Mann, David Harding, Jr., Simon Elder.
1826— Edmund Mann, Seward Merrill, Seth Webb.
1827 — Edmund Maun, Seward Merrill, Samuel Staples, Jr.
1828— Edmund Mann, Seward Merrill, Levi Hall.
1829 — Edmund Mann, Seward Merrill, James Irish.
1830 — Edmund Mann, Joseph Hamilton, 3d, Benjamin Skillings.
1831— Edmund Maun, Clark Swett, Robert Johnson, 3d.
1832— Seward Merrill, William Silla, Robert Johnson, 3d.
1833— Seward Merrill, William Silla, Daniel C. Emery.
1834— Edmund Mann, William Silla, Toppan Robie.
183.5 — Toppan Robie, Benjamin Skilliugs, Daniel C. Emery.
1836 — Daniel C. Emery, George Strout, Josiah L. Swett.
George Strout resigned.
1837 — Josiah Pierce, Joshua L. Swett, Benjamin Skillings.
1838 — Josiah Pierce, Joshua L. Swett, William E. Files.
1839 — Benjamin Skilliugs, Simon Elder, Charles O. Libby.
1840 — Benjamin Skillings, Simon Elder, Charles O. Libby.
1841.— -Edward Scamman, John Sturgis, Charles O. Libby.
1842 — Hugh D. McLellan, Simeon C. Clements, Joseph W. Parker.
1843— Hugh D. McLellan, Jacob H. Clements, Joseph W. Parker.
1844 — Hugh D. McLellan, Jacob H. Clements, Joseph W. Parker.
1845 — Jonathan Hanson, John Sturgis, Edward Scamman.
1846 — John Wingate, William Warren, Robert Johnson, 3d.
1847— John Wingate, William Warren, Daniel C. Emery.
30
234
APPENDIX.
1848— Daniel C. Emery, Merrill Thomas, Joseph M. Plummer.
1849— Merrill Thomas, Charles Paine, Joseph M. Plummer.
1850— Merrill Thomas, Charles Paine, Joseph M. Plummer.
1851 — Merrill Thomas, Charles Paine, Daniel Hall.
1852 — Merrill Thomas, Charles Paine, Freeman Harding.
1853 — Freeman Harding, William Merrill, Jr., Theopliilus Dame.
1854 — Edward Scamman, Daniel C. Libhy, Joshua E. Hall.
1855 — Edward Scamman, Freeman Harding, Joshua E. Hall.
1856 — Edward Scamman, James Phinney, Jr., Joshua E. Hall.
1857-58 — James Phinney, Jr., Charles Moulton, Zebulon Whitney.
1859— Marshall Irish, Merrill T. Files, William Burton.
1860— Merrill T. Files, William Burton, Isaac E. McLellan.
1861 — Isaac E. McLellan, Samuel S. Waterhouse, Edwin Coburn.
1862 — Edwin Coburn, Samuel S. Waterhouse, Moses Fogg.
c.
MISCELLANEOUS.
VITAL STATISTICS.
If the length of years to which its citizens arrive, be a just criterion of
the healthfidness of the town, it will, by that test, be found that Gorham is
a place of great salubrity ; and that, in that respect, it will compare favor-
ably with other towns in New England. The annual average of deaths for
the last fifty years, has hardly exceeded one per cent, of the population.
Many of our first settlers and revolutionary men attained a great age.
Capt. John Phinney, the first settler, died in 1780,
His wife, Martha, also lived to be . . -
Their son, Col. Edmund Phinney, died December, 1808, "
John Phuincy, Jr. died May 3, 1815,
James Phinney died October 18, 1830,
Martha Gorham Irish, (Phinney) died 1825, -
Elder N.Whitney died 1804, - . . .
Susannah Cobb died 1804, . - . .
Dennis Larry died 1807,
His wife, Patience Larry, died 1809,
aged 87 years.
87 "
85 "
((
83 " •
it
94 "
((
89 "
it
95 "
it
95 "
it
90 "
ii
94 "
APPENDIX.
235
Mr. J. Haynes died 1811, ----- aged 90 years.
Mrs. Stone died 1812, " 90 "
Elder J. Gates died 181.3, " 96 "
Prince Davis died 1819, " 96 "
Kerenliappiicli Braclcett died 1821, - - - - " 92 "
Jedediali Lombard died 1820, - - - - " 92 "
WiUiam Files died 1823, " 95 "
Catherine Cloudman died March 24, 1832, - - "91 "
Thomas Irish died August 14, 1832, - - - - " 94 years 8 mos.
Uriah Nason died May 13, 1833, - - - - " 91 "
Hannah Boss died October 19, 1833, - - - - " 98 "
Jonathan Sturgis died May 11, 18.34, - - - " 91 "
Jedediah Cobb died August 2, 1833, - - - - " 91 "
James Mosier died October 2, 1834, - - - - " 99 years 3 mos.
John Watson died October 26, 1834, - - - - " 93 "
David Harding died 1828, " 97 "
Deacon Eliphalet Watson died 1828, - - - - " 98 "
Jane Snow died March 5, 1837, - - - - "102 "
AbigaU Nason died March 5, 1837, - - - - " 98 "
Col. Nathaniel Frost died in May, 1838, - - - " 90 "
Capt. Nathaniel Cobb, died Sept. 24, 1839, - - - " 90 "
Betty Patrick died March 2, 1841, - - - - " 90 "
Nathaniel Blake died February 28, 1843, - - - " 91 "
Thomas Clay died January 9, 1846, - - - - " 96 "
Mary Frost died February 14, 1849, - - - - " 91 "
Hannah Blake died February 24, 1849, - - - " 90 "
Deborah Blake died February 18, 1850, - - - " 96 "
Elkanah Harding died August 27, 1850, - - - " 91 "
Capt. Joshua Swett died April 20, 1851, - - - " 90 "
Deborah Williams died December 16, 1851, - - "93 "
Sarah Harris died March 3, 1852, - - - - " 97 " .
Andrew Plaisted died November 27, 18,55, - - "93 "
Benjamin Chamberlain died December 25, 1855, - - " 94 "
Ann Libby died December 28, 1855, - - - " 93 "
Daniel Baker died June 10, 1856, - - - - " 90 "
Nancy Swett died October 15, 1858, - - - " 92 "
Widow Sturgis died September 9, 1859, - - - " 92 "
James Phmney died January 13, 1860, - - - " 93 "
PoUy Hamblen died March 7, 1860, - - - - " 93 "
Anna Harding died February 14, 1861, - - - " 93 "
Besides the foregoing, there died in Gorham since 1830, ninety other per-
sons between the ages of 80 and 90 years.
236 APPENDIX.
THE PRESENT WAR.
In the present sad and deplorable civil war, the men of Gorham have not
been heedless to the call of their country. Company A of the 5th Regi-
ment, and Company K of the 9th Regiment of Maine Volunteers, were
enlisted in this town, and were composed of Gorham men and others from
towns in Maine.
Company A, under Capt. Josiah Heald, marched fi*om Gorham in June,
and the Regiment left Maine, June 26, 1861. Capt. Heald and Company
were in the disastrous battle of Bull's Run, July 21, 1861.
Capt. Colman Harding marched from Gorham with his Company, K, of
the 9th Regiment, Sept. 18, 1861. Capt. Harding, on the organization of
the Regiment, was elected Lieut. Col., and Lieut. Thomas E. Wentworth
was promoted to a Captaincy. This Company went to South Carolina and
assisted in the taking and occupying Hilton Head.
For this present war Gorham has furnished the foUovvring commissioned
officers : —
CoLMAN HaPvDING, Lieut. Col.
Frederic Robie, Major.
Edward A. Sc Amman, Major.
Josi^VH Heald, ,Capt.
Thomas E. Wentworth, Capt.
Henry R. Millett, "
William Merrill, Lieut.
John S. Merrill, "
Chester B. Shaw, "
Daniel M. Phillips, "
Stephen M. Eaton, "
Frederic Speed, Adjutant.
Rev. John R. Adams, Chaplain of 5th Regiment.
Rev. Joseph Coley, " 12th "
Doct. Seth C. Gordon, Ass. Surgeon, 1.3th "
and a large nmnber of non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates.
1
WILD MEN.
About 1788, there was a general belief in Gorham, that certain strange
men were wandering aljout this town, Scarborough and Westbrook. They
were called " Wild men." Between the months of July and October, it is
APPENDIX. 237
asserted, there were seen iii the fields and In the woods, human beings
ragged, and having long shaggy hair and beards, picking berries, green
corn and peas. Upon discovering any other person, they would run away.
Sometimes they were seen going out of barns early in the morning. Cows
were frequently found to have been milked during the night in yards. A
Miss Webb, rising very early one morning, said she saw one of the wild
men going out of her father's yard, and one of the cows had been milked.
Mr. Barnabas Bangs was looking for his oxen in a pasture where there were
many trees and bushes, and he came suddenly upon one of these men sit-
ting upon a log, eating a dead robin. Mr. Bangs asked him why he did not
go to some house and cook his bird? The fellow rose, and brandishing a
large jack knife, replied, "I will let you know the reason." Mr. Bangs,
being unarmed, speedily left the place. Two boys, Ebenezer Hall and
Israel Hall, were one day pickmg blackberries, and saw two of these wild
persons coming towards them ; the boys being frightened concealed them-
selves in the bushes. The boys said one of them was a woman, and that
they were white people. It was said that a man in the vicinity of Brag-
don's Mills, near the line of Scarborough, being one day out in the woods
with his gun, came upon one of these men, who was eating a yoimg pigeon.
The Scarborough man pointed his gim at him, and told him he would shoot
him if he did not tell him who he was, and from whence he came. The
strange man said he was one of twenty-five sailors, the crew of a large ves-
sel that was cast away on the coast. No such shipwreck was known by our
citizens to have happened. Two brothers, Abraham and Eli Webb, were
one night driving a team with a load of boards from Saccarappa to Stroud-
water, and they said they had a fair view of five of the Wild men in a field
by the side of the road ; they were picking green peas. It is said that the
last time these wild men were seen was in Scarborough, near Gorham and
Buxton lines, when a Mr. Libby is said to have counted fomleen of them,
in a grove of yoimg pine trees. Not much importance is to be attached, I
suppose, to the foregoing relation, yet there is no doubt that the people of
Gorham and the adjacent towns, fully believed that such men were seen;
that they were foreigners, mysterious persons. Some supposed them pirates,
others, that they were a company of the Acadians, or neutral French, who
had been expatriated from Nova Scotia. But who they were, where from,
or what became of them, seems never to have been ascertained.
This account was given me in writing, some years ago, by an aged and
intelligent gentleman of Gorham, who was a boy of ten years of age when
these strangers were said to have been seen. My informant fully believed
in the truth of the story.
i
238 APPENDIX.
On page 59 mention has been made of the fall of a part of the frame of
the meeting house, and the killing of Doct. Bowman and Mr. Tryon. The
occurrence produced a profound sensation in this and neighboring towns,
and was the occasion of bringing out several poetical effusions, or " verses,"
as they were called. Thomas Shaw, of Standish, wrote a ballad. The fol-
lowing lines were composed by Capt. Daniel Eldiidge of Gorham. It is
a specimen of the rustic rhyming of that day.
" They who in morning meet.
All pleasant, fair and gay ;
They may behold a dreadfid scene
Before the close of day.
Unseen dangers hang around
All in our prosperous way :
May send oiu' bodies to the tomb,
Before the close of day.
Great numbers went with one consent,
To Gorham did repair.
To rear a noble house to God,
To preach and pray in there.
And when the frame was rais-ed high.
Great joy then did abound:
A di-eadful scene soon came to view.
One half fell to the ground.
How shall I paint the dreadful scene.
My notes they are too 16w,
For want of skill, and not of will,
In Poetry to show.
6
What ! must my pen be silent then,
Because I can't command ?
No : I wiU trust, who am but dust,
The Lord shall guide my hand.
A brace gave way, that fatal day.
The Jin also did fall :
And men were hurl-ed in the air, —
Not time on God to call.
I
APPENDIX. 239
8
To hear the women's mournful cry,
Would melt a tender heart ;
' Mj' husband, son, or Mend is dead
And in Eternity'
9
There two did meet an awful death.
By the rubbish they were slain ;
While wounded men were crying out,
Distressed with grief and pain !
10
For Doctor Bowman they did cry.
His help they did implore,
But Bowman he had passed away,
Not to be seen no more.
11
Now Doctor Bowman's loss we feel.
His usefulness, no more ;
No more kind offices he'll do,
To help relieve the poor.
12
As he showed mercy here below,
Oh ! may he mercy find ;
And may he join the angels' notes
In shining worlds on high.
13
Young Tryon, in the bloom of life,
Did bow his head and die —
Oh may his soul forever dwell,
With Christ, the Lord on high.
14
To hear Mrs. Tyron's moumfiil cry
Would melt a tender heart —
' My son is wounded, he must die.
We must forever part.' "
ERKATA.
On page 7, 10th line from top, read " Micaceous" for Argillaceous.
On page 33, 7th line from bottom, read " 1834" instead of 1734.
On page 69, 4th line from bottom, read " Gaudio" instead of Guadio.
On page 97, 10th line from bottom, read " Lunenburg," instead of Lit-
tleton.
'Jj —
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