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PPtP»|irf:l^'i^:\^V-' 11!. 


Book 


r\ 


'Od 


■Isttry    ©f   Imimiiry. 


msa?o:Ec'Y 


OF 


Tndustrj,     Maine* 


3M  THE  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  IN  1791. 


SECOND  EDITION, 


Impr^ovecl  and  Knlarged^ 


1869. 


PiKOWHK(JAN, 


ij  r 


BOUNDARIES  AND  EXIENT. 

Till'  town  of  Indiislrv  in  llic  ctiunty  nl'  l'"i;inlsliii  In  Maiiii'.  is  atimit 
iiiiii' mill's  ill  Iciiatli  IVoiu  iinilji  In  soiilli  mih!  ;i\fni"i'-<  almiit  tlii'iH' 
iiiilfs  in  lirt'atllli.  'IMu' I'tii'm  is  (jiiili'  irn"Mil:ir  :  tin-  conlral  |)orlii>n 
iiciii'.'-  iK'urlv  six  miles  w  iilc  Tlu*  tnwn,  uilii  llu-  :lll<lilion^  made  In 
it  since  (lie  lirst  inei)r|toi-al ion.  contains  alioni  twenty  one  tlioiisaiid 
ai-i-es  ineliniiii'j'  water  :  iluic  lieiiiL;'  a,  |ionil  in  the  wcsteily  )iait  ot 
llie  louii  of.ihoiit  six   liunilred  aere>. 

Tlu'  town  is  lioiinded  on  the  west  li\'  Kainiiii'jlon.  tlie  sliire  town 
ot'tlie  (•oiintv,and  New  Vinyard.  (hi  tlie  east  liy  An-on  and  Starks, 
iiiid  oil  tlie  soiitli  and  south  wot  li\  .New  Sliaion.  It  is  situated  mi 
tlif  liinht  (tf  land  in  a  lai'Li'e  curve  ol  llieSamlv  river  and  lielween 
that  viv«'r  and  the  Keiineliec  with  'feneralls  a  southern  and  ivesteiiy 
aspoft.  Tlu- streams  ri.-iiiL!  in  the  tow  n  run  ■  \  arioiis  courses:  mie 
runs  sontli  westi-rlv  and  enter,-  Samlv  river  in  tiie  nitper  part  nf 
Farmiugton  :  one  I'lom  the  [loiid  at  Allen's  mills  runs  a  southerly 
eour.^e  aud  enters  Sand\'  river  near  the  centre  of  New  Sharon  :  one 
eonsidi'rahle  sti'eam  vvhicii  passes  throii'jh  the  \illa'';eat  \\'esl"s  mill~ 
and  unites  with  a  hraiicli  hclow  ,  runs  a  southeasterly  course  hv  Saw- 
yer's mills  to  Sandy  river  at  tiie  laslerlv  pnit  of  Starks.  •'Uannock 
Hill"  is  a  noted  pnnnonloiv  in  the  smitherlv  part  of  the  town.  :>o 
iianu'd  hy  ;i  smveying  paiiv  under  llou.  Jniiife  North  ii>rnH'rly  i^t 
Augusta.  \vho  encam])ed  on  the  north  side  of  the  hill  in  ITSO  and 
haki'd  there  a  haiinock  t«ir  their  hreakla.-t  :  ()n  arm  in;'  at  the  pond 
iliey  watered  tlii-ir  pack  hoi'ses  and  prop«>sei|  the  uaiiie  ol  hor-c-|)ond. 
hut  put  .1  |treli\  to  it  and  called  it  •■|5nll  llor-e  I'oiid.'"  a  ~iihse(pient 
snrveym' called  it  ■•Clear  AN  ater  I'oiid. 

.Iiidge  North  l»y  his  Mir\ev  made  the  -oiiih-west  corner  of  what 
was  called  the  IMymoiilh  I'atent  on  a  -mall  hcach  tree  (at  the  north 
west  corner  ot  Farmiugton)  marked  ••K,  lo  m"'  to  denote  that  it 
was  lifteeu  miles  iVom  the  Kenneliec  liver.  .Nine  years  afterwards  al- 
ter the  close  of  the  war  iiv  a  ditfeieiil  c(ni.-lriici  ion  of  the  "lant  ot 
ihe  Plynujuth  I'atent  and  hv  agreement  vuth  anth<-ri;ie>  ol  .Ma->-a- 
chusetls,  Saumid 'I'iti-omli  a  noted  survevnr  maileihe  norih-wc-t  cor- 
ner, eiuhty  rod<  rv-i  of  the  north-east  cuinerol  k'.irmin'jlon  and  the 
boundary  of  the  Plymouth  L'atenl  v.as  thus  e-tabli-hed  near  the  wes- 
terly sida  ol  the  ])uud  now  called  Clear  V.'ater  I'ond. 


4  HTSTOin    <»r    INDl  >TKV. 

The  town  was  iiicorporateil  ou  tlu-  20tli  of  June  l.SO;}.  and  con- 
ikiued  hut  about  thirteen  thousand  a<'i'es,  consisting  oi'  what  wan 
called  the  remnant  of  the  Plymouth  I'atent  west  of  Staiks.  not  exceed, 
ing  nine-thousand  acres  and  the  tract  called  the  mile  and  a  half  strip 
or  Lowell's  ti-act  ahout  foin- thousand  acres.  Additions  were  madi^ 
from  time  to  time  froiu  all  the  adjoininsi  towns;  First  from  New 
Sharon  in  1«1.'»,  hy  one  lar;i;e  lot  from  the  north  corner  of  that  town 
includinj^  the  village  at  Alleu's  mills  and  \vAVt  oi'  the  pond  ;  then  in 
Kli"),  that  part  of  New  \'inyard  calle<l  the  gore,  near  two  thous- 
and acres.  In  1822,  one  lot  containing  ahont  four  huntlred  acres 
was  taken  Ironi  Starks  ;  iu  1823  two  lots  were  taken  from  Anson 
containing  three  Juuidred  and  twenty  acr«!s  :  In  1.S44  seven  thous. 
and  acres  were  set  ofi' froui  New  Vinyard  and  annexed  to  this  town. 
The  tide  then  turned  and  in  18r»()  three  farms  on  the  west  part  of  the 
gore  were  set  ort'and  annexed  to  Farmington  :  and  in  18i2  ahouj 
Jifteen  hundred  acres  were  set  otl  from  the  ~outh  point  of  the  town 
and  annexed   to  New  Aharon. 

Thus  eight  seperate  acts  of  the  Legislatuic  hir.e  licen  passed  to  fix 
the  boundaries  of  the  town  as  in  I. SOS. 

LAND-TITLES. 

The  title  to  (he  soil  and  iree  hold  of  that  part  called  the  Flymouth 
Patent,  was  derived  originally  from  a  grant  made  by  King  James  in 
1(J2'J  to  William  Pratlford  and  others  of  the  Plymouth  Council  iu 
Englaud.     The  original  grant  is  relered  to  as  follows,  to  wit  ; 

To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  Gi;f,f.tin(;."  "Where- 
as his  late  Majesty  King  James  the  first,  for  the  advancement  of  a 
a  Colony  and  Plantation  in  New  luigland  in  America  by  his  High- 
ness Letters  Patent  under  the  great  seal  of  Kngland,  bearing  date 
at  Wesfminuister,  the  third  day  of  Novembei-  in  the  eighteenth  year 
of  his  Highness'  reign  of  fjigland  ^;c.,  did  grant  unto  the  right  Hon- 
orable Ludoicirk,  late  Lord  Duke  ot  Lci>(>:i\  (h'tnuje^  late  Manpiis  of 
JinrluKjIuim,  Jd/iies,  MiiT(\n\i^(A' H<(i/iil/itii,  Tliomtis,  Earl  cA'  Animi/c, 
lioheif,VAiv\  oC  Waiiriil.  S'w.  Fi'iihiniinJa  < h'ori/i'fi  \ h\t .  ii\i<\  divers 
others  whose  names  are  expres^e(l  in  the  said  letters  patent  au<l 
their  successors,  that  they  sliould  be  one  body  politw  and  corporate, 
perpetually,  consisting  ol' forty  persons,  that  they  sliould  ha\e  per- 
petual bUfcession  and  one  <'f)miuon  seal  to  serve  lor  the  said  body  ; 
and  that  they  and  their  successors  should  l»e  in<  (»r|)oi  ated,  called  au<l 
kuown  by  the  name  of  the  Council  est/iiilislud  at  /'/(///io/z/A  in  the 
county  of />('(■«/<,  for  the  planting,  riding,  ordeiing  and  governing 
jV'';f.'  E'laland  iu  Aniertrn.     And  further   did    also,   grant    uuto    the 


'My<Sl'ff  (>      ^^( 


]ii>'i'i>i;v  Of  iNnisTKv.  o 

said  Pitsidout  aud  C'oiiucil,  and  their  sticressurs  forever,  uiidrr  tlif^ 
restorations  in  tlic  said  Ijottei's  J'alo.nt  cxpressetl  ;  all  that  part  and 
jtortion  ot'tlio  said  coiinliy  called  New  Kni.daMd  in  America,  situate, 
lying  and  I)eing  in  breadth  Ironi  irom  torty  degrees  of  northerly  lati- 
Inde  from  the  ecjuinoetial  line  to  lorty  eight  <legre( ■■;  of  the  said 
northerly  latitude  illclu^ively,  and  in  length  of  and  in  all  the  breadth 
afore.-;aid,  throughout  tl'e  Main  lamls  troni  .sea  to  sea,  together,  also 
with  all  the  Hini  lands,  soils,  grounds,  ereeks,  inlets,  havens,  ports, 
seas,  rivers,  islands,  waters,  fishings,  mines,  minerals,  precious 
stones,  ((tiaiiies,  and  all  and  singular  the  ciimmoditie.-<  and  jnrisdif  - 
Moiis,  both  within  the  said  tract  of  lainl  lying  upon  the  main,  as  also 
within  the  said  Islands  adjoining, 

Ti>  ha\e,  hold,  possess  ami  enjoy  tiic  same  unto  the  said  Council 
and  their  successors  and  assigns  j'orever.  t'tc.  That  sai<l  Council  of 
JMymouth  conveyed  a  tract  of  territory  liftecn  miles  wide  ou  each 
side  of  Kennebec  river  (I»eing  part  of  their  giant)  to  .Vntipas  Hoyd. 
Thomas  lUatlle,  Ed\var<l 'J'yng,  and  dolin  Winslow  in  H(!!,  fbnr 
hundred  pounds  {ahoiff  four  (ruts  ((fnl /In-"  niills  an  ncir)  who  form" 
ed  a  company  by  the  name  of '•77/''  I'loprivfor.^  <<l  tlir  /{'unrhrr  J'nr 
rlnisf  fruiii  flic  (dfi  (  'oldN'f  >>/'  N(  IV  /'li/iiiii"lli  \  ami  this  company  took 
possession  of  territory  on  the  Kennebec  thirty  miles  sfpiare  exercised 
acts  of  owneishijt  over  large  portimis  of  it  ;  ga\eaway  sonu*  portion 
to  settlers  to  encourage  settlements  and  conveyed  away  portions  to 
individual  mend)ers  of  the  company  and  to  settlers  from  time  to  time 
obtained  a  grant  from  Massachusetts  of  a  stiip  one  milo  and  a 
halt  wide  along  their  northern  Ixmndary  Ihiity  miles  long,  e(pial  to 
OIK'  and  one  qtuirtcr  of  a  townshi|»  and  of  oni'  township  called  I'lym- 
outh  six  miles  s<piare,  north  ofMoosc  Head  I^ake  to  ci'mjicnsate 
them  fur  lands  given  to  scttlcis.  In  tin-  winter  of  1>S1G  they  adver- 
ti.-ed  and  sold  the  remnants  of  their  lands  at  public  auction  in  Hos- 
ton  aud  voted  to  diss(d\  c  their  company.  The  settlers  on  the  I'Hteut 
in  Industry  in  various  wavs  aeipiiied  their  title  from  the  last  named 
I'roprietors  all  being  compelled  to  pay  a  high  price. 

That  part  of  the  sliip,  so-called,  which  is  within  the  limits  of  tliis 
town,  on  a  partition  oidered  bv  the  S.  d.  Court,  fell  to  I''rai\cis  ('• 
Lowell,  one  of  the  Troprietois  ;  and  ail  tlic  settlers  on  thi>  poilion 
of  the  town  deriscd  their  tide  from  Mr.  Lowell,  who  traced  Iris  title 
to  the  grant  from  3LissachusLits. 

I'crsons  \vho  had  no  properly  were  induced  to  ,-ettle  on  the  Patent, 
lor  the  r?asoir  that  no  agent  of  the  Propriet(Us  atlem]»ted  to  pre- 
\ent  them  and  because  at  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  in  tlii.«( 
town  the  title  of  the  propiietors  had    not  beeu  fully    established    aud 


1)  irrsToKY  OK  rNiasTiiV. 

many  tli(>u,^lit  tliLy  mi^lit  -aiua  title  l>y  i)0;',.t,. .-ion.  TIu-  titli-  to 
tin  strip  w  a.-.  ;'iMi.;i(kMC(l  ,uii(m1  awl  ('apt.  IVtcr  ^V(■st  m  ISO;),  an 
(>arlv  .-cttli  r.  nldaiiird  tVoiii  iMf.  I>u\\rl!  a  ilrcd  ol  hi-  mill  lot  liy 
))iir<-lia.-r,  lu'lng  tlu'  lii,-t  ,-rttlcr  in  Imlnstiy  w  lio  olitaimd  a  tith^  to 
lliflaint.  Tlif,  settlri>  on  the  .-trip  thru  inailc  an  rllint  to  pniclia>i.' 
all  Mr.  Lo\M'ir.-.  ri,i;lil,  cliosc  a  rommitli'c  of  tlircr.  Capt.  W^st.  J)an- 
i'.l  Luce  and  Sprowell  Norton,  who  contracted  with  Mr.  Lowell  lor 
the  vvhole  ol'his  tract  at  .^1,;'>7  1-L'  per  acre.  C'apf.  ^^'est  luul  paid 
(»i'  contracted  to  pav  a  dollar  an  acre  lor  the  mill  lot  :^()()  acI■e^. 
The  committee  expected  to  olitain  S|.,i(l  pel'  acre  ot  the  settlers  ioi 
sele<'ted  lots  wdiicli  they  imagined  would  pay  tor  the  whole  tract  .^o 
that  ihev  would  m't  the  ])oor  lots  lor  nothinii'  or  as  a  compensation 
lor  their  sei\  i<cs.  'I'hey  were  disap]iointed  in  their  expcctatrons. — 
It  was  not  in  the  power  of  one  ol'the  settler-  to  rai>e  the  mone\- 
when  it  IteriinK'  due  to  Mr.  Lowell  :  lait  l»y  the  aid  ol' some  I'liend. 
and  the  roijieaiaiicc  of  3L-.  JvoWell.  l'ourorli\e  ohtained  deeds  ol  a 
lot  or  hall  a  lot  ;  indepeiidenl  ol'the  contract  with  the  committee. 
.M'teiin  \ain  alteiuptini:  to  eiiloi'i'i'  the  contrai't  aiiainst  the  commit- 
tee. ^Ir.  Lowi'll  ol)tained  what  he  coiild.  and  then  let  them  ofl'  and 
sold  tor  the  nio-t  heconldi^et  :  irom  seventy  live  cents  t(j  a  dollar  and 
lil'tv  cents,  and  in  the  conrse  of  twenty  years  his  title  was  e.\tin^ni,-h 
cd.  Ill  some  ca-e.-  with  co.-l  to  himself  us  well  as  cost  to  the  st'tthn  •-. 
Capt.  West  was  worth  nioic  than  any  other  settler  in  town  when  he 
nudertook  the  a^e-iii'y  on  the  committee,  and  instead  of  makinir  iikjii- 
ev  l)v  the.  piirclia.se  he  was  driven  into  the  verp'  of  haiikr iiptcy.  Mv. 
J. lice  was  in  moderate  circumstances.  By  the  as.sistancc  of  a  broth- 
ei-  he  obtained  a  di-ed  of  his  lot  and  Mr.  Norton  was  a  yoiini;-  man 
without  propeitv  andlo;i\oid  Iroiilde  and  cost,  left  the  <-omitry. 

PLYMOUTH  PATENT  OPPOSITION. 

Much  opi>osition  was  made  in  dilVereiit  ]»lac(\s  w  ithin  the  limit.-"  ot 
the  I'lymoiith  Patent  in  several  towns  to  what  was  considered  the 
mijiist  or  exorbitant  demands  of  the  L'ro[)rietors.  The  settler.--  in 
pome  jilaces  disputed  the  riiilit  ol'the  i)roprietors.  Li  some  case- 
the  I'rojirietors  claimed  not  only  the  riiiht  to  the  soil  but  also,  claim- 
ed a  ri^lit  to  the  biiildiiiL:.-  ihei'con  and  improvements  ol'the    seltlei>. 

Altercations  and  lawsuits  vveii-  common  amoni:  the  oMer  seltlir- 
in  Keimebec  and  Lincoln  counties,  ^[any  settlers  had  served  theii 
coimtrv  faithfnilv  in  the  war  ol'the  IJevoluliou  and  were  turned  oti 
without  compensation  and  from  necessity  took  pos.-ession  of  wild 
Jaiid  whei-evcr  they  could  iind  a.  lot  uuoc(.-upied  ami  in  a  state  of  na 
tiire  ;  as  thev  were  permitted  and  invited  to  do.  on  land  of  the  .Stale, 
some  ol'the  I'ldprietors  of  the  riymonth  claim  were  Kn,!.^li.ihmen. 
uikI  .some  were  inri'^  who  lied  Irom  the  eoiintry  iliiriii'j' the  war.  and 
in  u  moral  ami  e((uitable  sense  had  forleited  their  estates:  and 
althoiiixli  the  S.  .1.  ( 'oiirt  had  inclined  to  establi.^h  their  title;  the 
decisions  and  jndLimenl  of  the  Court  were  .submitted  to  with  reliu-l- 
au^'c.       They  jirodiie<d  much  excitement  and  s<niie  oiitraiics.      These 


jii-rm.'v  111'  iMn  ^■|■|,■v.  / 

l>r<Hoe(]iu^>  at  Icii.ali  l)i(  aiiK  mi  u'l'iii-ial  tliat  the  Li-^i>latiin;  il.-nn- 
c-il  it  prmK'iit  to  intrrtcir  and  ))a>s((l  a  Kcs<il\i  aiitli(iri/.in:;  tlir  ,i|i- 
poiiitirK  lit  (il  CoiiMiii>sic)iiti>  toi  ({iiirtiii;:  radi  si-ttlcr  uii  laml-  i>t 
tliii  I'ropiittuis  ortliv  Kt'.uiR'lK'c  I*iirrlia.-f  in  liis  pos^csf^iuii  aiKlliilf 
to  diH'  liiimlird  a(r('>  laid  <»iil  >i»  a>  to  \<v  li'a>t  irijiiiioii-  to  adjoiiiiiiL' 
|.iiid>  and  mi  a.i  to  iiicliidi'  lii.>  iiiipicn  i  iiiciil,^  al  siuli  piict;.-  a^  llnv 
>lioiild  n|Ioi-.  ■  ~ 

COMMISSIONERS. 

lion.  I'ldi'L'  CotViM.  State  Trrasiinr  (a  di'criidaiit  of  ,>ii'  I'lioinafl 
('ofHii,  tlif  oiii^iiial  Piojiriclor  ot  llu'  Island  of  Naiitiickt't.  wliitsc^  ({(- 
(•(■nda!it>  down  to  (lie  tinif  ol  llic  K'cvolulion  cxarlcd  (|uit  mils  of  ftll 
|iiiicliasi'rs  of  real  f  state  out  ot  llie  taniily  line  ;  of  a  liiindied  poiiiid> 
of  beef  or  poik  or  olliei' e(|iii\ elenl  anniiHlly  wrtli  liigli  arislaoctrntir 
iKitioiis)  was  a[ipoiiited  iliainnan.  Ilctii.  Klijali  |{iid;rliani.  a  .liisti<r 
of  the  C.  ('.  I'lea>  and  Col. 'riioiiia-.  I)\\i;:lit  ot  Nortliaiiipton  a«<oii- 
ides,  all  lieinL:  of  lln>  old  seliool  puritan>  of  stii<t  iinheiMlini:  iiileuii- 
t\,  of  tile  patrician  L'rade.  with  in(caf*ildi-  opinions  as  to  tlie  litrlits 
ot  tree  liolder-  ;  with  no  ,syiii|)atliy  tur  tlespasseis  oi'  st^milfi-rs  as  thr 
sottlei.-  Merc  <alled. 

riic  sek'<(  ion  of  these  C'onuni.ssioiieis  \\  as  \ery  niifortiiiiat*'  lor 
tlie  settlers.  Tliey  had  no  personal  knowledLTe  ot  the  soil  tliov  were 
to  appraise,  and  had  no  co.ceplion  o|  the  hardships  a:id  privation  of 
the  selllcis  hy  whose  hard  lahor  ii't  only  the  lands  tliev  occirpird.  hnl 
."ll  in  the  yicinily  had  heeii  made  availaiilc  and  acccssihic  hy  im- 
provenieiits  and  roads  ;  nor  of  the  inipossihilify  of  raisiriir  moncv 
from  the  produce  of  the  soil  oi'  Irom  their  lalior  to  pav  thr  price 
demanded  hy  the  l'ro|»rielois. 

They  were  rctpiircd  to  repair  to  Maine  and  examine  the  leirilorv, 
hear  the  parties  and  to  -late  the  term-  and  pi  ict  to  he  paiil  I»v  each 
settler  who  had  hceii  in  posse.>>ioii  ot  tin  land  dining'  one  \car  or 
more. 

Tlir  (  <immissioner.>  came  to  An;^n.-.ta  in  ( )e|oher  I.'^t):.'.  and  with- 
out "ieeiii::  a  sinide  lotto  In-  hy  tin  in  appraised,  as  appraisers  on  ex- 
niitioii  are  rerpiiied  'o  do: — they  L'a\e  nolice  to  all  person-  inter- 
ested to  meet  them  at  that  place  t<i  snitmil  their  ca«;e-  to  he  Ik  ard. 
Hilt  a  very  lew  in  lhi>  town  coidd  procure  (iind>  to  d»  trav  llif  ex- 
pense of  a  journey  to  Aiit^nsta.  and  twenty  ?eltlt'is  were  aide  to  rni?e 
lunds  in  moiiev  and  L'laiii  to  pay  an  aireiit's  expenses  to  ;;o  lor  tlirm. 
and  (.'apt.  William  Allen  weiil  a-  their  aL'enl.  One  -cttirr  hnndod 
him  one  silve;-  dollar  which  was  all  the  money  he  ;.'ot  from  them  to 
detiiiy  exj)oir-e.s.      ||c  snitmitted  lln-ir  cases  in  due  form.      Aw    suiiig 


>^  iiiSTOkv  (I!   iKDi  >ruy. 

<luostK»ii  ^vas  raised  abnut  uiy  right  to  he  heard,  1  atteudcd  personal. 
ly.  found  a  largo  crowd  about  the  door  at  Thoinat*'  Tavern  at  An- 
gn.=<ta,  aiul  after  waiting  some  time  1  \va.'<  admitted  without  the  t\'u\ 
of  counsel  or  witness.  I  wfts  met  hy  C.  Vaughau,  Es(i.,  tlic  Agent  of 
tlic  Proprietors  (who  was  assisted  by  Hon.  Janie*  Bridge,  an  eminent 
CoiinscHor,  and  Ruel  Williams,  a  yoinig  lawyer,  with  witnesses  to 
testify  for  the  Proprietors)  with  an  objeelion  as  to  my  ago  and  hav" 
injj  no  family.  I  satislied  them  that  1  was  oi  age  ;  they  still  objeet- 
^\\  that  I  had  not  been  in  p(jssPssion  and  ot  age  one  year  al  the  time 
of  the  passage  of  the  Kesolve  in  the  case;  and  after  consuming 
about  all  the  time  that  could  be  allowed  to  any  one,  which  was  lim- 
ited to  halt  an  hour,  the  Commissioners  decided  to  take  cogni/.ancc 
of  my  case  ;  an<l  1  retired  relying  on  the  honor  of  the  Commissioners 
to  )lo  me  justice,  urging  them  to  alHx  uo  higher  ]»rice  than  was  paid 
lor  lauds  in  the  atljoiuing  towns  purchased  of  the  State  ;  at  fntm  fif- 
ty ceuls  to  a  dollar  :  whcie  the  land  was  of  a  better  (juality  than 
mine.  In  Farmington  a  much  better  town,  the  State  affixed  the 
))ric!e  at  five  dollars  for  one  hundred  acres  to  the  liist  twenty  settlers  : 
1  was  one  of  the  first  twenty  on  tins'  tract. 

We  were  greviously  disappointed  with  the  appraisal,  which  wa,« 
from  one  huadred  aiul  twenty  five  dollars  to  two  hundred  and  twen. 
ty  five  for  a  hundred  acres  and  that  with  back  interest  and  to  br 
paid  in  IJoslon  in  a  limited  lime  with  interest:  and  then  the  agent 
demanded  two  dollars  more  for  each  deeil  and  payujcnt  in  speci?  or 
Boston  bills. 

The  Commissioners  made  their  appraisal  from  the  ap|)earance  o^ 
a  few  fertile  spots  or  gardens  on  the  '•beautiful  Kcniicbcc,"  and 
were  faring  sumptuously  at  Thomas'  well  furuishc<l  table  They 
were  notawarc  of  the  stubborn  luifure  of  the  soil  in  Industry  nor  of 
the  absolute  poverty  of  the  settlers  who  often  had  to  live  on  bread 
alone  for  days,  and  sometimes  to  make  a  diuucr  of  herbs  ;  1  was  pei- 
mitt«<l  to  see  roast  beet  on  their  table  at  Thomas'  but  was  not  able 
to  pay  for  a  dinner  with  them  and  uuule  my  dinner  on  hard  biscui( 
procured  at  a  store  for  (>m;  cen  r. 

Thirty-one  settlers  submitted  their  claims  to  the  (onimi'^siouers. 
all  were  greatly  disappointed  with  the  appraisal  and  otdy  eleven  of 
this  number  by  the  aid  of  friends  were  able  to  make  payment  accord- 
ing to  the  appraisal  and  not  more  than  six  from  their  own  resoiuces. 
Sonie  of  these  had  'o  sell  every  animal  of  stock  they  had  to  do  it. — 
Ten  others. prevailed  on  friends  to  advance  the  money  for  them  and 
take  the  deeds  for  their  security  and  to  give  them    time  to    purchase 


insToUV  (•!•  IMvf. T'.JV.  9 

ot  tlum  or  reducin  llicif  !ni>rl;^.i;:c-- .  riirii!ltri-  t(ju  jlMinloaid  their 
possessions  aud  left  tlio  town.  An  ic^c  cliipr-c'l  Ik  r<ii  r  (lie  litlc  nl'thc 
IVoprictors  or  non-proprirtor/-  was   oxl  iiiuui.  iicil. 

Apprnii^als  it' made  I)y  a  dury  tweul  v  ycai--  allrruard-  would  not 
have  exeecdod  one  dollar  uud  (wcniy-livc  ccnls  an  a.iir,  on  an  aver- 
age. My  lot  cost  uie  two  linudred  and  ;-e\('n  dollar,-  and  forty-two 
ceuts  in  1801:,  this  sum  with  animal  inlerest  would  ainoiiiil  to  more 
thau  four  times  the  amount  if  appraised  by  a  dniy  in  1.Sl'2.  1  was 
able  by  selling  niy  oxen  and  all  my  uram  and  by  approprialin,:;  my 
wages  for  tcaeliing  school,  to  raisi',  the  necessary  sum  within  ten  dol- 
lars and  Elijah  Fairbanks  of  Winlhiop  volnntariiy  lent  mi'  that  sum 
to  coinplete  the  payment.  I  then  look  look  a  leccipl  of  the  Treasur- 
er aud  demanded  my  deed  but  it  was  refused  for  some  time  till  I 
paid  the  two  dollars  re(juircd  by  the  aL';enl  laid  took  a  deed  without 
warranty.  But  to  give  credit  to  the  Agent,  C  Van^han,  Ksq.,  ho 
afterwards  put  i)rolitable  business  into  my  liaml'.  aial  through  hi:-, 
ageucy  1  made  a  purclisae  ol  a  large  tract  from  which  1  rcali/.ed 
several  thousand  dollars,  net  prolit  in  LSI  1  to  I.SOI  . 

When  the  Proprietors  of  the  Kennebec  I'nrclia-c  sidd  (he,  lemnant- 
of  their  land  in  industry  at  auction,  in  I.SKi.scnne  lot,-,  were  slrurk 
off"  as  low  a.s  fifteen  cents  an  acre. 

NEW  VINEYARD,  ANSON  AND  NEW  SHARON. 

The  title  to  those  parts  of  these  towns  \v!iich  liave  been  annexed  to 
Midustry  was  derived  fnnu  IMassachusetIs  al  u  price  varying  from 
twenty  five  to  seventy  live  cents  an  acre.  The  settler, ^  on  these  tracts 
aliuost  uuiforudy  })ur(diased  (lieir  lands  before  removing  (o  them  ; 
generally  being  able  to  pay  for  their  land  and  have  some,  spare  fund- 
to  pay  for  stock  and  to  begin  life  on  thei!niew  farms. 

THE  VINEYARD  GORE  LINES- 

The  tract  called  the  gore  was  [iiiiehased  of  the  land  agent  ot 
Massachusetts  in  170,9^by  dtmathaii  Know  lion.  lObenc/er  iS'orton  K:,<\. 
of  Farmington  ;  C'oriiilius  Norton  of  IMai'lha's  Vineyard,  ea,ch  taking 
one  quarter  and  by  Abiier  Norton  and  Daniel  Collins,  <(iie  eighth 
each  ;  During  the  winter  following  the  parlies  pro(  iae<l  a  snr\('y(M- 
an<l  jtrocecdeil  to  divide.  They  loniid  il  (o  l)e  oliO  rods  in  length  and 
4<S0  rods  wide,  they  exploi'cd  it  and  run  a  line  aero,  s  from  North  to 
South,  dividing  into  two  erpial  parls  and  llieii-  allhoniih  the  land  on 
the  southerly  side  was  no  belter  than  thai  <ni  the  northerly  side,  a,- 
Ihe  south  side  was  nearest  lo  ihc  settlemeiU  at  Sandy  river,  they  all 
agreed  to  make  the  north  sections  larger  ihan  the  olliers  and  that  the 
dividin^r  Hue  should  be  run  east  and  wesi  from  a  beach  tree  t\vo    rods 


south  <)('  t!u-  ci  uti  r.  !'>>r|.  I^Ikmi  Nni'ton  !!i,ikin_-  ;i'j(l  iir^in^  tlu- 
prnjxusitiuij  and  mII  on  tlic  s|h)(,  ii,L'r''i'<l  toiliau'  Itit.-  tor  cadi  <|uar(ir. 
31r.  Kiiowltoii  and  ('.  Xoitoii,  dri'W  the.  t\vi>  iioilli  s(ctioii>,  K.  Xov- 
toii  tlir  S.  W.  srrtioii  ami  Colliiis  and  A.  Xuvtoii.  tlif  south  cast 
section,  all  were  satistird  hut  tlic  one  who  drsiL;nat('d  the  staftini: 
})()iiit  w  h(M'oni|ilainL'd  that  f\  inurllmi  itml  ('.  \orlnii.  h.inl  ijul  imi  hiikIi  ; 
tliL'ir  lots  Itfin;^  t'onr  rods  widor  than  the  othrr  two,  that  he,  did  not 
intend  that  their  should  be  but  two  rods  diHeieiiee.  but  as  all  the 
others  were  satisfied  the  division  was  continned.  Ifowexerto  |ia( - 
itV  the  eoni|)lainant.  they  reliniiuished  to  him  their  liLiht  to  pu!- 
ehases  a  fragment  of  LTood  lainl  adjoinini:  the  pond. 

Mr.  Knonlton  stop[ied  with  u.>  over  ni^ht  the  next  winter  and 
amused  us  with  his  account  of  the  ]»nrchase  and  division  of  tlic  uoro, 
spottid  lines  and  cxjdoi'ations  and  mode  of  proceeding;",  reasons  itc. 
We  c'lnpiired  of  him  why  he  called  a  scjuare  tract  of  land  a  p;orc  ?  a  !« 
we  all  hail  aii  impression  that  a  ;,'ore  was  (piite  a  different  (i;^ure 
from  a  square.  "OIi.  he  said,  we  always  call  any  remnant  of  land  be- 
twccu  two  towns  <i  tjitfi'.  without  r<'i;ard  to  the  sliai)e."  Ho  remark- 
ed that  in  exphirin;;  a  new  i-oute  throu;,di  the  woods,  the  practice  wa> 
always  to  .l'o  aloiiL,'  the  ridires  of  the  hills  as  much  as  possibK-  where 
the  jiassage  was  not  so  much  obstructed  with  under  brush  aud  fallen 
trees,  as  in  the  \allevs.  'J'hat  the  first  route  of  a  load  from  NN'inthrop 
to  the  Sandv  ri\  er,  passed  over  the  hiL;he.«tl  hills  between  the  two 
j)la<'es  in  a  crocked  dii'e<-tion  fi'om  one  hill  tn  another,  that  the  route 
from  the  ri\er  near  Ks(|.  Helcher's  to  the  pore  in  like  uiaiincr  wa> 
made  by  a  spotted  line  from  the  top  of  the  hill  at  the  back  oiu' ot  the 
of  the  ri\er  lots  alon^'  the  highest  ridiie  to  the  centei'  ot  the  ;:iirc 
where  the  road  was  bushed  out  and  traveled  (till  Farminirlon  wa^ 
lueoi'jiorated.)  There  was  then  no  settlement  on  that  route,  a  di^- 
laucc  of  more  than  si-\  miles. 

FIRST  SETTLERS. 

The  tir.-t  .'eltlemeiit  within  the  limits  olW  hat  i.-  now  the  town  ni 
lndn-^tr\-.  was  niade  on  the.uore.  by  Abner  Norton  and  Daniel  Col- 
lins, in  1  )ec.  IT'.M.  The  path  fiom  the  ri\cr  scttleiiiient  was  Inished 
out  so  that  thev  coidd  ))ass  with  a  horse  sled  before  the  snow  became 
(hep:  and  then,  thev  went  with  snow  shoes  aud  ca,rrie<l  their  corn  to 
mill  on  hand  sleds. 

In  the  fall  of  I  7'.I2  mv  lather  settled  within  I  wo  miles  oftlniiioii  a 
route  from  the  riser  t(»  the  westerly  part  ofthotJore  which  was  bii>h- 
ed  onl  with  a  Inanch  route  to  Collins'.  Mr.  Collins  liopiently  called 
on  us  a-  he  passed.      He  was  a  irood  talker  and  amused  the  boy>  w  itii 


liloTi  •!;•,•  Ill-   IM.i  -ri;v.  H 

au  uccouut  i)t'lii.>  iulviuliiit ,  I'v  -ra  .nil!  I.md.  <i-  \m  !!  ii.  in  tin-  \voo(l.-, 
inakiug  hti;;;!!'.  ttc.  Ilr  ami  Mv.  Niulim  witc  iiric  riiHaniicf,  ami 
bi)th  li.iil  larL,'e  taiinlir,-,  mn.-tly  ilaiiLililri,-  wlm  iiitrniiairiril  in  tlii.-. 
and  otiicr  towns  ami  tlinr  (K'srvinlanl.s  I'orni  a.  \i'-y  i^'.-prctalile  nor- 
lion  ut'tlic  ( (tninimiity.  i\Ir.  Niiiton  liail  Inil  twn  .-uns.  'I'lic  nlde.-t 
bccarno  (jiiilc  wraltliy.  anil  ilicil  in  I''armin-li'ii,  n-|'(M't(i|  tor  imlnsd-v 
and  iuti'grily.  One  of  .Mr.  Cnllins'  sons,  and  alsn  a  .^on-in-law,  br- 
isunc  Mrtbodists  itrrarbcr.;  ami  mined  away.  'rin<  |»arrnt.i  of  both 
families  and  most  of  their  eliildren  weic  runsi-Unt  rhinrli  mondier.--. 
These  patents  were  treated  kindly  by  their  eliildren  in  tlieir  dceiinin" 
year?  and  all  li\eil  to  a  ltooiI  old  age. 

Cornelius  Norton,  -Jr.  eoniniciiecd  clearing  land  on  the  "-o re  soon  after 
iMr.  Collins  came,  but  being  a  single  man,  he.  did  not  make  the  jilace 
his  home  till  the  summer  of  IT'.M,  when  lie  married  iMargaret  ]!"lrliei. 
daughter  of  8.  IJclcher,  Es<(.,  and  commemed  houstr  kee|iinn'  in  his  lof 
house.  His  father,  Deacon  Cornelius  Norton,  moved  his  family  into  a 
log  liousc  on  the  gore  about  the  same  time.  He  was  J)eaeoii  of  a  Haii- 
tist  church  and  a  magistrate,  .sustained  a  good  reputation  as  a  peaeeabh  , 
prudent  man,  had  jiassed  the  meridian  of  life  and  from  the  iiiHrmities  of 
age  was  not  able  to  do  much  work.  He  was  exemplary  and  usel'nl  in 
sustaining  religion,  lived  to  old  age.  lu'loved  and  respected. 

Hi.s  son  C.  Norton,  Jr.  Es<(.,  settled  first  on  the  north  part  of  the  lot 
a  younger  brother  Ebciiczer  lived  with  his  tjitlier  about  eight  years  then 
exchanged  his  .situation,  and  Cornelius  took  the  home  place  and  had  the 
care  of  his  father's  business  in  old  age  ;  he  became  an  active  member  of 
society,  an  intelligent,  judicious  magistrate  and  town  ofHccr,  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Congregation,!  I  Clninh.  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six  years,  transmitting  hi.s  estate  and  reputation  to  his  children.  His 
son,  Clifford  ]>.  Norton  inherit.sthe  homestead  and  has  snci  ceded  to  the 
good  name,  fame  and  reputation  of  his  father  a.-  a  town  offncr  and  mag- 
istrate.     He  is  also  County  Commissioner. 

Ebenezer  Norton  was  a  pious,  good  man,  a  iiiemlicr  ot  I  lie  l>apti;  t 
Church,  respected  fin-  industry,  integrity  and  christian  char.icter.  He 
died  of  the  cold  fever  in  LSI  1.  Tlie  six  daughters  of  Deacon  Norton 
were  esteemed  among  the  fi)reniost  of  the  pi, ice.  'I'lie  oldest  m.irried  at 
Holmes  Hole.  The  other.-  married  in  L'.irmingfoii,  and  ,idiiiinin'r  towii.^ 
and  all  .settled  res})eetably. 

John  and  Ebenezer  Oakes,  step,-on.^  of  Mr.  Knnwltnii.  rmiimenied  on 
his  ipiartcr  of  the  gore  in  I  7'.I2,  Imilt  a  convenient  log  house  <ind  s|iciit 
the  winter  there  single  men. 

Tristram  Haggett,  who  had  been  a  Ke\ oInfioiMry  .-oldii  r  under  Wasli- 
iiiL'ton,  endured  nmch  suffering  and  received  an  honorable  di,schar"e  a.i 
Ibllows,  viz.  : 


l2  inSTOIiYOF  IXDrSTKV. 

''By  liLs  Excellency  George  Washington.  Es((.,  General  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  force;-  of  the  United  State:;  of  America. 
•'These  cerliiy  that  the  bearer  hereof,  Tristram    Daggett,    soldier    in 

"the    Seventh    Massachusetts    Regiment,   having    faithfully  served  the 

""United  States  and  being  enlisted  ibr  the  war  only  is  hereby  discharged 

"from  the  American  Army. 

•'Given  at  Head  Quarters  the  eighth  diiy  of  June,  1  7So. 

G.  WASHINGTON. 
"JJy  hi.'s  Excellency's  comnnind  ; — J.  Tuimbull,  Jii. 

"ricgistercd  in  the  Books  of  the  lle^'t. 
■'The  above  Tristram  Daggett,  Soldier,  has  been  honored  with  a  badge 
"of  merit  for  five  year,-  faithful  service.  J.  ]?ROOKS, 

Lt.  Col.  Commandin;:  7th  Mass.  Res." 

This  document  he  bc(jueathed  (o  nic  and  is  now  in  a  frame   as  a   pic- 
ture in  my  possession. 

Mr.  Daggett  was  one  of  ;  ho  original  purchasers  of  the  township  of 
New  Vineyard,  purchased  by  subscribers  for  single  lots  and  drew  his 
hundred  acres  in  the  first  range  adjoining  the  Lowell  strip  east  of  the  New 
Vineyard  mountains,  and  was  the  first  to  commence  operations  for  a 
settlement  in  that  <(uarter  of  the  township.  In  June  ITDl  he  procured 
a  back  load  of  provisions  at  the  settlement  at  the  river,  now  Farming- 
ton,  and  went  to  the  gore  by  the  jtath  and  there  got  Mr.  Collins  to  pilot 
him  up  the  mountain  a  mile  to  the  town  line  which  had  then  been  newly 
run  and  plainly  marked  by  spotted  trees  with  the  corners  of  the  lots 
marked  and  numbered  on  the  line.  Thence  he  proceeded  'afoot  and 
alone"  with  his  pack  on  his  back  and  his  axe  in  his  hand  noticin;;  the 
numbers  of  the  lots  from  No.  lo  to  his  lot  No.  G,  the  corner  of  which 
lie  found  in  a  swamp,  but  on  following  the  check  lino  a  short  distance 
he  came  to  good  land,  made  a  temporary  camp  near  a  good  spring  of 
pure  water  which  issued  from  the  mountain,  covered  his  small  camp 
with  spruce  bark,  prepared  a  bed  on  the  ground  with  a  coat  of  hemlock 
boughs  with  small  twigs  in  the  room  of  feathers,  so  that  he  could  crawl 
into  his  camp  to  sleeji  and  be  protected  from  the  rain.  He  commenced 
cutting  down  the  trees  in  order  to  make  a  farm,  and  soon  made  an  fipen- 
ing  of  five  or  six  acres.  He  often  said  he  never  enjoyed  himself  better 
in  his  life  than  while  thus  employed  ;  that  he  slept  more  comfortably  in 
his  rude  camj)  than  others  could  in  beds  of  down  who  lived  in  idleness, 
and  fjucnchcd  his  thirst  from  the  spring  with  a  better  relish  than  any 
epicure  ever  enjoyed  over  the  choicest  wine.  None  but  those  who  have 
endured  fatigue  and  thirst  in  the  woods  can  form  an  idea  of  the  delicious 
treat  that  a  spring  of  clear  water  in  such  places  affords.  No  water  in 
open  fields  where  the  sun  shines  upon  it  bears  any  comparison  to  that 
found  in  the  woods  in  a  spring  issuing  from  a  hill.  Mr.  Daggett  built 
him  a  log  house  and  moved  into  it  the  next  year,  where  he    lived  three 


nisTOUY  or  inmhstt^v.  I'i 

years  and  then  sold  hiis  new  i'unu  to  Cliarlos  Luce   and   moved    to    the 
head  of  the  pond  on  the  Lowell  strip  now  Lidustry. 

Charles  Luee,  Levi  Butler,  Asa  Merry.  Henry  Norton  and  several 
others  eonimenoed  settlements  in  New  Vineyard  near  Mr.  Dairgeti's  the 
same  year  that  he  did,  and  Herbert  Ijoardinan,  Henry  Uutlcr  and  sons, 
Joseph  Smith  and  sons,  Nathan  Daggett,  Samuel  Daggett.  Benjamin 
]Jenson  and  others,  the  following  year. 

They  cleared  a  path  in  which  they  eould  pass  with  a  horse  sled  from 
Hein-y  Norton's  by  Charles  Luce's  to  David  Merry's  and  thence  through 
the  notch  of  the  mountains  to  Daniel  Luce's  (afterwards  called  the  Flint 
place)  and  to  the  settlements  on  the  Gore.  1'his  was  all  the  road  they 
had  for  three  years  to  get  out  to  the  older  settlements.  In  17'.)2  a 
path  was  made  from  the  centre  of  the  (J ore  along  the  top  of  the  ridge 
or  easterly  of  it  hy  what  is  now  the  Titcomb  place  to  the  river  and  in 
17'.>2  another  branch  was  made  through  the  westerly  part  of  the  Gore 
iiloug  by  the  Allen  place  and  intersected  the  other  at  the  Titcomb  place 
then  owned  by  Peter  Norton,  Sen.  By  these  routes  all  the  back  set- 
tlers went  to  mill  during  several  years,  and  many  had  to  carry  their 
grists  on  their  shoulders  in  summer  and  on  hand  sled  in  the  winter. 

The  business  of  going  to  mill  in  this  way,  ten  or  twelve  miles,  was  one 
of  the  hardest  of  the  tasks  of  new  settlers,  I  know  by  experience.  When 
a  l)oy  of  fourteen  [  often  went  to  Starling's  mill  live  miles,  and  once  to 
Wilton,  ten  miles,  with  a  half  bushel  of  corn  on  my  shoulder. 

Tristram  Daggett  often  passed  our  camp  in  \1\)2-^  with  a  bush- 
el on  his  shoulder,  or  two  1)ushels  on  a  hand  sled,  a  common  load; 
Simpson  White  was  noted  for  carrying  the  largest  loads,  and  I  ol'ten  saw 
him  with  a  bushel  and  a  half  on  his  back,  which  he  carried  tii'teen  miles 
to  mill. 

Mr.  Daggett,  with  his  hand  sled,  was  on  one  occasion  overtaken  by  a 
boy  on  herseback  who  lived  with  us  coming  from  mill,  and  prevailed  on 
the  boy  to  let  the  horse  drag  his  sled,  procured  a  long  wythe,  fastened 
one  end  to  the  sh^d  and  tied  the  other  end  to  the  horse's  tail,  took  his 
cane  to  steer  with  and  hold  back  going  down  hill,  mounted  his  sled  and 
was  dragged  several  mills.  The  owner  of  the  horse  scolded  them  fur 
abusing  the  horse.  Mr.  Daggett  being  a  sailor  as  well  as  .soldier,  made 
his  excuse  that  he  was  tired  and  oat  of  uind,  and  thought  the  horse  who 
had  better  wind  "could  take  him  in  tow  as  well  as  not."  "Tliat  he  did 
not  mean  to  al)use  the  horse."  He  well  an  honest  well  meaning  man 
worked  hard  as  lung  as  he  was  able  to  work,  made  a  good  farm  by  the 
jiond,  which  he  sold  to  David  Ijuce.  Sen.,  settled  on  a  lot  near  by  and 
then  una  small  lot  near  West's  Mill.  He  was  severely  afflicted  with 
sickne-^s  in  his  lamily  many  years.  His  wife  was  always  feeble.  She 
and  two  of  his  children  after  longsickne-^s,  died.  He  was  so  fortunate  as 
to  be  placed  on  the  pension  list  under  the  Act  of  fSl-S  then   under  Act 


14  lIl-roKV  OV   1M>1  -TKV. 

of  1.S2S,  and  at  last  iimlor  tli(^  Act  of  l.s;!i>,  wli'u-li  last  ho  roccivcil  as 
loiijf  aF  Idii^- as  ho  livcil.  llo  inanieil  tin- widow  of  S|irowell  Norton, 
and  ill  his  old  a<'e  moved  to  the  town  oi' I'arkiiiaii.  wlu'ie  he  died,  aiicd 
noaily  ninety  years.  Mr,  Daggett's  case  is  ^^tated  in  detail  as  a  spoci- 
nien  111  the  hardships  of  early  settlers. 

In  IT'.M.  Ansel  ?S^)rton  imrchased  tlie  I'arni  ol  -lohn  Oakes  and  lived 
on  it  till  he  died  in   IS  1(1. 

In  1  7'.t."i  David  J)avis  liecame  a  jieiiiianent  settlor  on  the  west  part  of 
the  (ioic.  IJe  snstained  a  good  reputation  and  was  possessed  of  a  good 
jiroperly.      His  family  were  much  respected  as  good  citizens. 

In  17'.)2  Daniel  Luce,  a  ]teaceal)le.  well  di!>;posed  man.  settled  in  New 
Vineyard  on  a  lot  adjoininu  the  (lore  and  in  1  7*M;  he  and  hik  son-indaw 
Benjamin  (!ottle.  removed  to  the  Lowell  strip,  lie  was  a  pious  maTi  a- 
well  as  his  large  ianiily.  and  all  united  with  the  different  churches  in 
the  ]dace.  Three  or  four  joined  the  Congregational  Church,  Deacon 
Cottle,  a  .'on-indaw  and  his  wile,  and  llowland  Luce,  son  of  i)aniel. 
were  Baptists  and  one  or  two  daughters  were  Methodists. 

A  new  road  heing  cut  out  from  Daniel  Collins'  to  Ilerhert  IJoardman'- 
Mr.  15.  moved  his  fnnily  from  the  river  settlement  in  Dee.  1  70r»  with 
hi-  furnitnie  on  an  ox  sled,  being  tin;  Hrst  ox  team  that  pass^ed  over  this 
road  to  the  north  of  Mr.  ('ollins.  [.  in  company  with  a  liridher.  on 
our  way  to  James  Mantor's,  who  lived  a  ndle  or  more  heyond  Mr. 
15(tardnian's  |da<-e.  with  a  package  for  the  relief  of  31r.  ^lantor,  who 
and  one  of  his  daughters  were  dangerously  sick,  on  the  route  overtook 
Es(|.  r>oardman  witii  his  team  moving  at  a  slow  ]taee.  the  snow  heing  a 
foot  deep  willi  no  track  and  the  road  extremely  rough.  We  ibllowed 
along  with  him  that  we  might  have  the  Iteneht  of  the  track.  In  passing 
the  steep  side  hill,  a  wing  oi'the  nioiuitain  south  ol' Butler's  Corner,  the 
rigging  Ity  which  the  load  was  secured  gave  way  and  let  off'  part  of  it, 
and  two  or  three  ))arrels  wi'ut  hounding  down  the  liill  among  the  Imshes. 
Estj.  B.  in  his  excitement  exclaimed.  ••There  they  go,  Isaac  and  Josh! 
Topsey  Turvey  !"  niiicli  to  our  anuisement.  After  some  delay,  he  re- 
covered his  stray  harri  Is.  readjusti'd  his  loa<l  with  our  assistance,  ami 
near  night  arrived  at  his  log  house,  I'Vom  that  place  we  founel  the 
track  hroken  out,  and  heforedark  arrived  at  ^Ir.  .Mantor's  and  found 
him  in  the  last  stages  of  the  disease  which  terminated  his  life  in  a  few 
days.  His  daughter  I'oUy  dietl  also  soon  aftei-.  IJe  expressed  his 
gratitude  for  the  kindne.-s  (d' his  friends  and  thanked  us  for  bringing  him 
a  little  wim?  and  a  few  articles  that  could  not  be  obtained  in  the  neigh- 
borhood.     We  stayed  there  that  night  and  returned  the  next  day. 

To  remunerate  ni\  I'ather  for  some  oi'the  articles  which  he  had  ]»ro- 
cured  of  (lapt.  West  who  then  lived  on  the  Kolfe  place  in  Farmington. 
!Mr.  Mantor's  elde-^t  ^on.  Benjamin  Mantnr.  assisted  my  father  in  cut- 
tini>;  down  two  acres  of  trees  for  Capt.  \Ve--t,  on  the  mill  lot  the  next 
year.  17yG. 


iii-i(i-v  t>r  iNKi  ~ri;v. 


1.') 


Mr.  IJourtlman  \va^  the  son  of  tlir  llt\.  Ainln'w  I'nindman  of  Cliil- 
niark,  IMartha'w  ViiicyarJ.  was  a  hlaiksiiiith  hy  traJc  ami  diuii-iL''  tli/ 
latter  part  ofhis  lifo  was  a  wortliy  majiistratc.  a --iKii'ssl'iil  laiimr  mul 
u  jxooil  fiti/,«n.  He  married  a  (laiiLrhter  of  i)a\i(l  Mcrrv  oi"  tlic  \  iiu - 
yard  whu  was  cstOi'iued  as  one  of  the  Ix-st  ol"  housewives,  industrious,  iu- 
telliiieut  and  pious.  No  one  in  town  was  more  ri'spccted  as  lonii'  as  slie 
lived,  and  her  memory  is  held  in  kind  rememlirance.  They  were  wortliy 
niend)ers  of  the  Methodist  Chunh.  Their  house  which  was  will  furnish- 
ed was  burnt  near  the  elose  of  tlieir  lives  with  all  its  contents.  Tiiey 
had  three  sons,  the  oldest  died  at  the  aL'e  of  twenty-one,  unmarried, 
the  second  son  married  jNIrs.  ll(»lihs  and  died  yonnii.  leaving;  two  child 
ren.  his  widow  afterwards  married  James  Davis,  now  (»f  Starks.  liotli 
thi'se  sons  were  esteeme<l  ;is  very  promisinii'  vouul^  men.  A  vhird  <on  i- 
livinir  in  Farminiiton,  an  enterprising  and  prosjicrous  trader.  Tluv  had 
one  daULditer,  Catherine,  who  nnirrit'd  Itichanl  lAissett. 

In  17!».S  Capt.  Peter  \\'est  Ituilt  a  house  on  the  mill  lot  and  moved 
his  family  into  it.  lie  was  an  t.'ccentric  man.  ](ossesscd  of  moic  than 
common  intellect,  a  carjienter  hy  trade,  married  a  daiuditei-  of  lion. 
•Shubael  ('ottle,  a  worthy  woman  of  Tishury,  Martha's  Vineyard.  He 
came  iVom  the  Vineyard  to  Sandy  river  in  ITlH.  settk^d  tirst  on  the 
Tohey  place  which  he  sold  and  moved  onto  thelloiti'  tlirni  now  I'aikir's 
and  ill  1  71H»  moved  to  llallowell,  wlu're  he  huilt  a  small  vessel  which 
he  nanii'd  IJonaparte.  in  honor  of  Napoleon,  and  thence  nio\t'd  to  In- 
dustry, where  he  built  mills,  ever  since  called  West's  .Mills.  He  wa- 
a  j)assionate  restless  man  and  when  exciteil  seemed  almost  insane.  Two 
oi'his  children.  John  and  Hannah  were  decidedly  insane,  also  a  I'rand 
daughter,  lie  had  three  other  sons  who  were  respectable  members  of 
(H-iety.  Two  of  them.  Shubaiil  and  William  settled  at  llallowell. — 
His  voungest  son,  I'eter,  inherited  the  homestead  and  owned  the  mills 
and  was  a  su«-cessful  trailer  many  yi^ars,  was  killed  bv  a  fall  from  his 
v.agon.  Cajit.  West  had  four  otlnn'  daughters,  one  married  I<rael  But- 
ler, one  JJenjaniin  Mantiu,  oni'  Abraham  II.^Villis  ami  one  Henry 
.Mantor,  all  were  esteemed  tor  their  good  ipialities  as  was  also  the  wife 
of  i'eter,  who  was  a  sister  to  Israel  Butler,  and  rai.«ed  up  la ige  families 
esteenu'd  for  their  intelligence  antl  talents.  The  grand  sons  (d'  (\ipt. 
\Vi!st  have  always  been  among  the  most  active  business  members  of  the 
comnnmity.  One  grandson  has  been  County  Commissioner  and  County 
Treasurer.  One  has  been  Town  Clerk  twenty-six  years  in  succession. — 
Others  in  ditterent  respectalile  town  oftices.  Kepre-entatives  and  other 
{)laces  of  honor  and  trust. 

(apt.  West,  amt»ng  other  foibles,  believed  in  witchcraft.  When  he 
l)uilt  his  saw  mill  there  was  some  defect  in  the  machinery  and  the  saw  did 
not  run  true.  Jle  tliought  the  mill  saw  bewitched,  and  told  me  he  had  no 
doubt  td'  it.  "But  he  said  lie  drove  the  old  hag  ott  by  threatenini!'  her  with 
a  hor.se  shoe,'' and  marked  v.iMi  (  b^iik  the  fviiu  of  a  lioise  shoo  on  the 
gate  of  the  saw. 


"-7i' 


in  lIlSToltV  <tv  IXDl'STUY. 

He  was  continually  on  the  move  and  failed  to 
acquire  a  large  estate:  but  was  reputed  to  be 
woi'tli  more  than  an\  other  man  in  town  when 
he  settled  there  in  ITDs,  1)eing  called  worth 
eight  hinidi'cd  dollars,  but  lost  all  l)y  a  injudic- 
ious contract  for  wild  land  made  with  Fi'ancis 
0.  Lowell,  and  in  liis  last  days  was  reduced  to 
the  \erge  of  bankruptcy,  lie  received  a  small 
pension  which  helj^ed  to  suj)i)ort  him  in  his  last 
years.  His  wife  was  a  worthy  woman,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  Cottle  of  Tisbury. 

In  179")  Samuel  Crompton  an  Englisliman, 
settled  on  the  lot  adjoining  New  Sharon,  Thomas 
Johnson  and  sons  and  Zoe  Witliee  near  Withee's 
Cornel',  I7i)()Natha'lWillard  and  sons  at  Thomp- 
son's Corner,  and  Jose])h  Badger  also  settled 
near  Stark s  line,  and  Archehius  Luce  on  tlie 
north  side  of  Bannock  Hill.  Li  1798  he  sold  to 
Jonathan  Knowlton,  Jr.  and  settled  on  the  Davis 
h.f.  In  the  hill  of  179r),  (^lpt.  William  Allen 
took  ])Ossession  of  three  lots  near  the  outlet  of 
the  pond,  and  I  cut  down  the  first  tree  on  what 
is  called  Allen's  hill,  in  Oct.  of  that  year.  Tlie 
next  vear  we  cut  ei!2;ht  aci'cs,  built  a  loo;  house 
and  on  the  last  day  of  April  17V)(S  moved  into  it 
fi'oni  Farmington.  where  we  lived  nearly  six 
years.  There  was  tlien  no  house  or  clearing 
within  two  miles  in  any  direction  and  no  road 
for  that  distance.  Jonathan  Bunker  from  Xan- 
tiickiit,  a  ro[)e  makei',  moved  in  on  the  road  east 
of  Bannock  Hill  in  1797  where  he  lived  hfteen 
years  :ind  then  I'cmoved  to  the  far  west.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  C'ongregational  Church 
and  a  good  citizen.  Capt.  JohnThomps(ni  mov- 
ed from  A'ienna  the  name  year,  and    in   1798 


nr^TORT  OF  IXDUSTKY.  17 

James  Thompson  from  Norritlg-ewock,  both  iovmerly  irom  New 
Ilamp.shire,  William  Ladcl  and  John  Stevens  from  Mount  Vernon, 
James  Eveleth  from  Wiscasset,  James  Winslow  a  carpentei-  and 
Alviu  Ilawes  from  Farmingtou,  Atkins  Ellis  from  Ilarwick  and  Ben- 
jamin Burgess  from  Martha's  Vineyard  in  17U0.  In  lyDO  Joseph, 
Ephraim  and  Samuel  Moody  and  John  Goodrich  irom  Shaplfigh, 
John  Marshall  &.  Sous.,  from  Lewistou,  and  David  IMaxwell  and 
Benjamin  Jewett  from  Wells.  James  Winslow  i'yom  Fanulngton, 
was  a  good  citizen,  and  was  worth  a1)ont  SGOO  ivhen  hv  came  here 
in  1799. 

The  first  settlers  in  Industry  on  the  patent  were  .lose[)h  Taylor  and 
Peter  William  in  1792,  on  that  part  set  off  to  New  Sharon,  also  a- 
bout  the  same  time  Nathaniel  Chapman  who  was  a  Ivevolulionary 
soldier,  who  removed  to  Kingfield  where  he  was  jjlaeed  on  the  pen. 
sion  list  and  died.  The  ten  last  named  were  all  very  poor ;  Mr. 
Marshall  was  a  carpenter  and  had  four  sous  the  most  of  whom  ae. 
quired  a  good  standing  in  society  ;  one  was  a  Colonel  of  a  regiment. 
and  one,  namely  Alfred,  became  a  Brigadiei-  Cieneral  and  was  Ke])- 
resentative  in  Congress  and  held  otiier  ollices  of  honor  and  trust,  they 
all  left  the  place  after  a  i'cw  years. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  A  MILITARY  COMPANY. 

In  the  winter  of  1799,  the  number  of  families  in  the  settlement^; 
which  now  composed  a  pai't  of  the  towns  of  Industry  the  whole  of 
Mercer  and  part  of  Smithtield,  a  tract  of  territory  near  twenty  miles 
in  extent,  was  about  i'orty.  Representation  was  made  to  head-quar- 
ters by  ai'dent  patriots  of  adjoining  towns,  and  military  otllcers  who 
wished  to  extend  their  jurisdic^tion,  and  some  of  our  settlers  devoted 
to  rum  and  idleness,  that  the  number  on  these  plantations  was  suf- 
ficient to  form  a  company  in  the  militia  ;  and  lliereupon  orders  were 
issued  for  a  choice  of  officers  and  John  Thonqisou  was  chosen  Ca}i- 
tain,  Ambrose  Arnold  of  the  river  settlemenl,  I.icutcnanl,  and  Jal)c/: 
Norton,  Jr.,  Ensign.  At  a  meeting  for  the  choice  of  these  olfici-rsi 
my  father  proposed  the  name  of  Industry  lor  tlie  military  territory 
which  was  adopted  by  the  company,  and  when  llic  westerly  |»orlioii 
of  the  territory  was  incorporated  it  retained  the  name. 

When  the  company  was  called  out  on  the  fii'st  Tnesd;iy  ol'  May 
1799  for  training,  I  was  designated  by  Cajit.  Tlionqis()n  to  distrlbiile 
the  orders.  The  spring  was  cold  and  unusually  backward,  and  the 
snow  was  more  than  two  feet  deep  in  the  woods  and  no  road  in  any 
direct  course  from  one  settlement  to  the  other.  After  sjiending  one 
day  to  go  to  see  the  Captain  personally,   it  tool;  me  a    lull  day  to  go 


18  HISTORY  OF  I\l>rSTRY. 

from  my  father's  by  way  of  Farmington  Village,  Farmington  Falls, 
over  Cape  Cod  hill  in  New  Sharon,  to  Lieuteuant  Aruohl's,  a  dis- 
tance of  tweuty-four  miles,  ami  another  day  to  get  home  On  the 
fitlth  of  May  the  snow  was  so  deep  as  to  l)e  impassable  where  there 
was  no  track,  bnt  with  snow  shoes.  Some  went  on  snow  shoes,  I 
followed  the  only  track  to  get  from  home  to  the  place  of  training  near 
Withee's  corner,  by  going  tlrst  north  to  llinkley's  corner,  then  east 
to  Thompsom's  corner,  and  then  south  to  Withee's  being  four  times 
the  distance  iu  a  direct  line,  where  there  was  no  path. 

When  the  company  met  for  inspection  the  whole  number  wass  less 
than  forty  ;  ragged,  rude  and  luidiciplined,  a  considerable  portion  iu- 
tcm})erate  in  their  habits  and  too  poor  to  equip  themselves.  Not  one 
fourth  part  were  efjuiped.  The  visionary  project  of  organizing  the 
company  was  extremely  oppressive  to  those  liable  to  do  duty  and  the 
inhabitants  at  large.  The  time  spent  was  worse  than  lost  and  no 
beneiit  was  derived  from  our  military  trainings.  The  price  of  pow- 
der was  a  dollar  a  pound  at  llallowell,  and  the  cost  of  furnishing 
powder  for  town  stock  and  to  be  used  at  musters  exceeded  all  our 
other  money  taxes  for  several  years  to  say  nothing  about  the  cost  of 
rum.  All  in  these  times  were  in  the  liabit  of  drinking  on  public 
occasions,  especially  at  military  trainings,  and  many  of  course  would 
driuk  to  excess.  Nothing  short  of  an  over-ruliug  providence  pre- 
vented the  then  rising  generation  from  becoming  drunkards.  Not- 
withstanding the  unfavorable  circumstances  which  attended  the  first 
settlement  in  this  town,  a  religions  element  was  in  operation  iu  the 
commmiity  and  a  goodly  number  of  the  early  settlers  became  piuns 
The  first  military  ollicers  were  all  professors  of  religion.  Capt. 
Thompson  was  a  zealous  local  preacher  ;  Lieut.  Arnold  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  liaptist  church  in  good  and  regular  standing  and  much  res- 
pected ;  Ensign  Norton  was  a  methodist,  esteemed  for  liis  prudence, 
industry  and  piety. 

At  the  first  training  Capt.  Thompson  kneeled  down  on  the  snow- 
before  his  company  and  made  a  fervant  prayer  commending  his  men 
to  the  protection  of  Almighty  God,  and  entreated  for  wisdom  and 
discretion  iu  the  performance  of  hir;  duties. 

At  the  first  general  muster  at  Farmington,  one  of  the  Farmington 
companies  took  oftense  at  the  posting  of  the  conijianies  in  the  line, 
thought  the  company  degraded  by  being  assigned  a  lower  position 
than  they  were  entitled  to  ;  on  a  concerted  signal,  mutinied  without 
a  word  being  said  and  left  the  field.  Capt  Tlionijjson  being  extreme- 
ly ardentand  patriotic  in  all  his  movements,  immediately  tendered  his 
services  to  the  Field  Ollicers  to  go  with  his  Fiih:fn[f  company  and 
bring  bai'k  the  deserter'^  with    force  and    arm-;;    but    more    prudent 


IIISTOUY  OF  INDISTUY.  19 

couucils  pveviiiled,  ami  tlu'  (loiieral  and  Field  Ollicers  after  a  loug 
parley  provailtul  mi  the  deserters  to  come  hack  and  take  their  place. 
Tliere  was  so  nineli  time  spent,  however,  in  adjusting"  the  matter, 
that  tlie  line  was  uf)t  formed  and  inspected  and  the  ineu  treated  till 
the  day  was  nearly  spent  and  all  were  tired  and  disordei-ly. 

When  all  things  were  arranged  for  the  maneauvers  of  the  day,  the 
word  of  command  was  given  "to  form  column  on  the  right."  One 
of  the  captains  being  deaf  could  not  hear  from  a  distance,  eu((uired 
of  his  orderly  sergeant  "Look,  what  did  tlie  Col.  say?"  Look  replied 
^'■lo  tJie  ri(j]it  nh()>it  fucv,  (JiKinisseiJ ."  The  Captain  gave  the  word  ac- 
cordingly and  away  went  his  men  with  a  shout.  Here  then  was 
another  case  that  required  skill  and  explanation  to  restore  order. 

At  length  order  was  in  some  measure  restored  and  the  i-alions  be- 
ing all  consumod  the  regiment  was  dismissed  and  but  little  benefit 
derived  ;  but  few  left  the  field  any  wiser  than  they  came  an<l  mauy 
were  manifestly  worse  for  the  days  indulgence  :  which  was  the  re- 
sult, generally,  so  loug  as  all  were  inclined  to  drink  who  attended 
muster  for  more  than  thirty  years.  Eveu  after  the  temperance  rel. 
ormatiou  had  made  good  improvement  in  the  habits  of  the  commnu- 
ity,  rum  and  military  musters  coutinued  to  be  inseparably  connected, 
and  if  reports  be  true,  )nany  of  our  army  officers  were  a  disgrace  to 
our  natiouby  their  habits  of  intoxication  which  unlited  them  for  iluty 

^'^'^"   -'  STATE  AND  COUNTY  TAXES- 

To  increase  our  troubles,  a  State  Tax  was  laid  on  the  Plantation  of 
Industry  in  1802,  of  $44,  also  a  county  tax  to  near  the  same  amouut . 
The  Sheriff  Avas  directed  to  serve  the  warrants  on  some  priiu'ipal 
inhabitant  who  was  able  to  pay  the  amount  if  he  did  not  cause  the  tax 
to  be  duly  assessed.  Repassed  through  both  jiarts  of  the  jilantatiou 
and  told  me  he  could  not  tind  any  such  principal  inhabitant,  and  con- 
cluded to  leave  the  warrants  with  me.  Iliad  been  of  age  but  one 
year,  had  no  estate  except  the  produce  of  some  bin-ut  laud,  and  a 
remnant  of  a  few  mouths  wages  left  alter  purchasing  a  suit  of  clothes  ; 
for  fear  of  the  consequences  of  neglecting  my  duty,  after  due  inquiry 
I  procured  a  warrant  from  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  calling  a  plan- 
tation meeting,  aud  Nahum  lialdwiu  was  chosen  Clerk  and  first  as- 
sessor, and  Luther  Burr  and  myself  the  other  assessors;  Samuel 
Ilinkley  was  chosen  Treasurer,  and  a  plantation  tax  was 
raised  to  pay  for  powder  for  muster  and  for  other  expenses. 

The  meeting  was  holdeii  at  Lieut.  Arnold's  at  the  river  settlement 
and  all  the  ollicers.  exce])t  myself,  were  clioseu  from  that  settlement. 
The  next  year  the  voters  in  the    back  settlement    out-uumbered    the 


20  iiisTOin"  <H'  mnr^^TRY. 

otlier.s  and  cliose  all  the  ofl'iPers  iu  tlioir  section  although  none 
ill  that  section  were  so  well  ({iialitied  to  do  business  as  Mr.  Baldwin, 
who  was  dropped. 

( )u  takiiif^  the  valuation  iu  1S02,  no  settler  had  any  title  to  real  es- 
tate, and  Peter  Daggett  was  the  only  settler  iu  tlie  baok  sottlemeut 
who  had  a  house  ;  all  others  lived  iu  log  cabins  ;  his  house  cost  him 
$300. 

At  tlie  riautatiou  meeting  on  the  first  Monday  in  April  1803,  the 
inhabitauts  for  the  first  time  gave  iu  their  votes  for  Governor,  all  for 
Caleb  Strong,  except  three,  Avho  voted  for  GeiTy,  (these  voters  not 
knowing  the  christian  name  of  Mr.  Gerry)  and  the  return  was  made 
accordingly.  Tiie  next  year  our  Republicans,  as  the  supporters  of 
Mr.  (Jerry  were  called,  were  seasonably  furnished  with  the  Argus 
whicli  had  theu  been  established  as  a  Rejinblicau  paper,  were  then, 
as  ever  after,  prepared  to  give  their  votes  according  to  order,  and  had 
a  leading  majority  for  forty  years  of  about  two  to  one  except  one 
year.  The  other  party  was  for  many  years  known  as  federalists. — 
in  1^(1(1.  Strong  had  It),  and  Sullivan  3'.)  votes. 

INCORPORATION  OF  THE  TOWN. 

In  the  winter  of  1803  at,  the  request  of  James  Thompson,  our 
])lantiat ion  Clerk,  and  others,  I  prepared  a  petition  to  the  General 
CV)nrt  for  an  act  of  incorporation  of  that  part  of  the  plantation  lying 
west  of  Starks  iu  which  we  ascertained  there  were  more  than  fifty 
ratable  polls  and  stated  our  valuation  as  21  to  twenty  compared  with 
the  other  part  or  G-ll  of  the  whole  plantation  according  to  the  val- 
uation in  1800.  An  order  of  notice  was  obtained  and  published,  and 
on  tlie  20th  day  of  June  1803,  the  town  was  iucorjiorated  and  bound- 
ed, west  by  the  Vineyard  gore,  north  by  New  Vineyard,  east  by 
Starks  and  a  line  ruuning  south  from  S.  W.  corner  of  Stai'ks  half  a 
mile  to  New  Sharon,  south-west  by  New  Sharon  and  by  a  line  from 
the  north  point  of  New  Sharon  and  running  nortli  to  the  N.E.  corner 
of  the  Vineyard  gore.  These  lines  have  all  been  altered  siuce  by 
seven  separate  acts  of  the  Legislature.  Samuel  Prescott  Esq.  of  New 
Sharon  was  authorized  to  call  tlie  first  town  meeting  which  was 
holden  at  the  dwelling  house  of  William  Allen,  in  October  1800  wlieu 
James  Thompson  was  clioson  Moderator ;  William  Allen,  Town 
Clerk;  William  Allen,  Jr.,  Capt.  Peter  AV^'st,  D.aniel  Luce,  Select- 
men, Assessors  and  Overseers  of  the  I'ooi- ;  .lohu  Thompson,  Town 
Treasurer. 

The  law  tlu-n  required  all  over  sixteen  years  of  age  to  pay  a  poll 
tax  and  a  specific  ?um  to    be  set  to  each  poll,    which  by    the   rule  of 


HI'.TOKV  (»1    INDl  >ri;v.  21 

law  put  nioro  tluau  half  nf  the  lax  on  llic  poll,,  in  tins  towu,  wliirli 
bore  severely  on  poor  men  who  had  several  boy:-;  lialde  to  |niy  a  polj 
tax.  No  one  was  qualified  to  vote  unless  he  paid  two  thirds  as  nnieli 
tax  lor  his  estate  as  was  set  to  his  poll.  l\y  this  ride  there  were 
but  seven  legal  voters  in  town  afliiirs  in  LS05  in  the  whole  lov.n  ; — 
tour  of  whom  elaiming  to  be  repidjlicans  constituted  a  majority  and 
did  all  the  business  and  elected  all  the  town  oflicer.s,  I'rom  their  own 
party.  Complaints  being  made  the  rule  for  assessing  taxes  was  al- 
tered by  the  Legislature,  Hrst  so  that  but  one  third  part  of  the  tax 
should  be  set  to  the  polls  and  minors  were  exempted;  afterwards 
one  fifth  then  one  sixth  part  was  to  be  set  to  the  polls  and  in  no  case, 
not  more  than  one  dollar  of  any  money  tax  was  allowed  to  be  set  to 
the  polls,  and  the  residue  to  be  set  to  the  estates.  And  by  the  eon. 
stitution  and  laws  of  this  State,  all  persons  residing  in  any  town  three 
months  prior  to  any  election  or  town-meeting  (except  })au})ers  and 
Indians  not  taxed)  are  allowed  to  vote.  In  LSGl  provision  was 
made  to  set  one  sixth  part  of  each  tax  on  the  polls,  but  not  more 
than  two  dollars. 

MILLS,  ROADS,  (Sic, 

Henry  Norton  built  a  grist  mill  on  a  small  stream  in  1  7!}li-;  he 
had  to  carry  his  provisions  and  part  of  his  mill  irons  on  his  shotddcr 
through  the  woods  and  over  the  mountain  nearly  six  miles.  He  car- 
ried out  potatoes  for  his  men  to  eat  from  Abner  Norton's  wiien  they 
were  finishing  his  mill,  following  a  spotted  line  over  the  mountain.^ 
The  mill  proved  to  be  useless  for  want  of  water  and  lor  ^vaut  of 
suitable  gear. 

Rufus  Davis  built  mills  at  the  outlet  of  the  jiond  in  l.SOl,  now 
called  Allen's  mills,  which  ha\  e  done  good  business,  espei-ially  aflcj. 
the  same  passed  into  the  hands  of  InMijamin  and  Ncwnum  T.  Allen, 
('apt.  Thompson  built  mills  near  Starks  line  in  IHQ.j  -vvhicli  were  an 
accommodation  to  the  settleis  in  that  viciiii!y.  Capt.  West's  mills 
were  built  in  17'.><S  as  has  been  slated,  which  have  since  been  lebuilt 
and  have  done  good  business. 

A  county  road  was  laiil  out  in  1S02,  from  Walervillc  tliroii'^li  llie 
centre  of  Starks  to  Withee's  corner  in  luthntry,  thence  by  Wcek'';^; 
mills  to  Farmington,  and  the  next  year  a  branch  was  laid  out  from 
Withee's  corner  by  the  Allen  place  and  Allen's  mills  to  the  Vine- 
yard road  in  Farmiugton  at  Eulus  Allen's,  Iinmedialcly  after  the 
iirst  choice  of  town  officers  the  Selectmen  proceeded  to  layout  (lie 
other  principal  roads,  to  wit  :  from  the  corner  of  Anson  near  West's 
mills  to  AVithee's  corner  ;    from  Butler's  corner  to  Davis'  corner,  from 


22  Hl.-TOKY  (»1-    IKIH  ;.Ti;r. 

Thompsou's  corner  over  Bannock  liill  to  Ilinklcy's  corner,  and  from 
liutler's  corner  to  Daniel  Collins,  and  .some  other  short  pieces.  In 
1<S04  a  highway  tax  of  $800  was  raised  to  open  the  roails. 

Face  of  the  Country,  Soil  and  Productions. 

The  territory  now  comprising  the  town  is  hilly  and  a  i»orlion  ot 
it  mountainous  especially  the  Oregon  territory  or  that  i)art  taken 
from  New  Vineyard.  The  nali\e  growth  on  the  hills  was  Rock 
Maple,  Beach,  Birch,  Ash  and  Basswood  or  Linden.  In  some 
places  the  Rock  Maple  predominated.  The  soil  on  the  hills  is  gen- 
erally fertile  and  was  iinorable  to  tirst  crops  on  burnt  laad.  but  gen- 
erally very  stony.  Only  a  small  jtortiou  of  the  town  is  suitable  for 
tillage.  The  valleys  were  covered  with  a  mixture  of  hard  wood, 
hemlock  and  spruce.  In  the  swamps  there  was  some  ceder  and  a 
few  pines.  One  hundred  acres  on  the  point  which  extends  into  the 
pond  was  originally  covered  with  good  piue  timber  which  at  an  early 
day,  prior  to  the  settlement  of  the  town,  was  destroyed  by  lire.  The 
soil  in  the  valleys  is  not  so  good  as  on  the  hills,  is  very  stony  with 
few  exceptions. 

Where  the  prevailing  growth  was  hard  wood,  even  where  it  was 
so  stony  that  places  could  scarcely  be  found  lor  a  hoc  to  enter  to 
jdant  corn  on  burnt  land,  the  first  crop  of  corn  or  wheat  was  sure  to 
be  good.  Corn  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  bushels  or  more  to  an  acre 
the  first  year,  and  wheat  or  rye  the  second  year  at  the  rate  of  twenty 
bushels  and  acre  and  sometimes  more,  and  tlien  when  properly  seed" 
ed  down  a  good  crop  of  clover  seed  could  be  obtained  the  third  year, 
and  good  crops  of  hay  for  several  years  till  the  stumps  decayed  so 
that  the  ground  could  be  broken  up  with  a  plough.  But  little  prolit 
could  be  derived  from  ploughed  laud  as  it  required  a  strong  team  and 
much  labor  to  make  it  i)roductiyc  on  account  of  stones.  The  land 
when  subdued  and  well  seeded  down  affords  the  best  of  pasturage 
and  makes  the  business  of  raising  sheep  more  productive  than  tillage. 

Although  good  crops  of  corn  was  raised  by  the  early  settlers,  they 
c(ndd  not  get  their  surplus  jiroducc  to  market  without  great  expense. 
In  order  to  procure  necessary  stores  for  family  use,  salt  and  otlier 
things  they  were  subject  to  much  fatigue  and  cost.  1  will  illustrate 
by  a  case  or  two  of  my  own.  My  father  liaving  raised  a  good  crop 
of  corn  the  first  year  that  he  lived  in  town,  prepared  a  load  of  ibrty- 
tive  bushels  for  market  to  pay  for  leather  for  shoes  and  to  procure 
necessaries,  having  bought  one  yoke  of  oxen,  he  procured  another 
yoke  on  condition  that  he  would  pay  at  Winthrop,  lifteen  shillings  in 
grain  for  the  hire  of  them  ;    got  all  things  in   readiness    on  Saturday 


III.^IOKV  (M     INDIMKV.  23 

ill  .lauuary  17U0  lor  an  curly  shut  ou  Muuday  muniiug  for  a  wcek'a 
jaiiut,  and  I  was  designated  teamster.  Tlic  boys  were  called  uj> 
early  and  oue  sent  two  miles  I'or  tlie  liire<l  oxen,  and  before  dayliirht 
appeared  I  started  with  my  load.  Tlie  roads  being  rough  and  the 
track  narrow,  my  i'atlier  went  with  me  f'oin-  miles  to  Col.  FairI)aMk'.s 
near  the  Titcomb  place  in  Farmington  to  pry  u\)  tlie  sled  when  it  run 
off  the  track.  We  arrived  at  Col,  F's  before  sunrise,  let  the  oxen 
rest  and  cat  half  an  hour,  re-laid  the  load  on  the  sled  and  s(juared 
up  and  made  all  secure,  I  then  proceeded  alone  ;  the  road  being  liet- 
ter,  crossed  the  river  opposite  Farmington  ^  illage  and  arrived  at 
Lowell's  in  Chestervilie  soon  after  noon,  fed  my  oxen,  eat  my  cold 
dinner  with  a  tumbler  of  cider  to  wash  it  down;  stopped  an  hour 
and  started  again,  got  to  Perry's  at  sun-set  and  put  up,  having  driv- 
en nineteen  miles,  bought  a  i)int  ot  milk  and  ate  bread  and  milk  for 
supper;  got  a  warm  breakfast  and  started  again  at  sun-rise,  drove 
seventeen  miles  to  AV'iuthrop  where  I  discharged  ten  bushels  of  corn 
from  my  load  to  pay  the  tanner  for  our  winter  stock  of  leather,  tried 
to  sell  my  load,  but  no  one  would  buy,  and  had  to  go  three  miles  fur- 
ther to  leave  another  portion  of  my  load  for  ox  hire  ;  on  a  cross  road 
I  was  directed  wrong,  and  found  myself  at  the  end  of  a  wood  road 
in  the  dark,  could  find  no  suitable  place  to  turn,  but  with  much 
trouble  I  got  my  sled  turned  by  taking  m}'  forward  oxen  with  the 
chain  to  one  corner  of  tlie  sled  and  starting  the  sled  off  and  tlien  start- 
ing the  oxen  on  the  tongue,  then  first  one  yoke  then  the  other  a  little 
at  a  time  till  I  got  turned  ;  after  half  an  hour  thus  si)cnt.  I  at  len'Mh 
got  on  the  right  track  and  having  traveled  twenty  miles,  arrived  at 
Farbanks,  my  j)lace  of  deposit,  stopi)ed  over  night,  and  as  my  team 
was  beat  out  1  accepted  an  invitation  to  stop  a  day  to  rest.  On  the 
fourth  day  I  started  early  and  drove  to  llallowell  by  noon,  carried 
hay  and  bated  my  oxen  in  the  street,  sold  my  corn  for  four  shillings? 
got  ten  dollars  in  money  and  the  rest  ib  goods,  and  started  fin-  home 
without  entering  any  l)uildiug  in  the  place  except  the  stores,  and 
drove  to  Carlton's  by  flaylight,  eight  miles;  the.  next  day  to  Low- 
ell's twenty-two  miles,  and  on  the  sixth  day  in  the  afternoon  got 
home  tired  and  hungry  with  about  four  dollars  in  money  after  ))av- 
ing  expenses,  and  ten  dollars  in  necessary  family  stores,  salt,  i^c. 
the  proceeds  ot  my  load  of  corn  after  paying  the  tanner. 

Not  being  entirely  discouraged  with  marketing,  a  year   (u-  two  af- 
terwards I  ventured  again  with  an  ox  team  by    way  f)t    Vienna,    ar 
rived  at  the  Forks  on  the  second  day  before    night,  put  up  my    team 
at  Cummiug's  and  went  to  Augusta  on  foot  to  try  the  market  as  corn 
was  a  drug  at  Hallowell,  but  could  do  no  better    there,    returned   to 


24  IIISTOIJY  OF  INUL'JTKY. 

Ciiminiu|;.>'  mukiii'^  twcuty  eight  inilc;-;  Inivcl  that  <hiy.  The  next 
(hove  into  llallowcll  .sold  my  eoru  at  sixty  ceutt;,  two  thirds  iu  goods, 
letiirned  to  Mount  ^\n■uou  at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  having  driven 
twenty  i'our  niilca  and  traveled  four  miles  extra,  to  recover  got)ds 
left  at  the  .store.  On  the  i'ourth  day  dro\  e  to  Farmington  Iiill  and 
the  tilth  day  home  before  noon,  with  little  money  left  after  paying 
cx))enses  but  had  learned  a  good  le.s.son  and  determiueil  not  to  go  to 
market  again  that  distance,  with  an  ox  team.  We  after  that  manag- 
cn  to  keep  our  produce  at  home  till  called  for  by  .settler.s. 

Povciiy  liowcvc]',  ol'tt'ii  compelled  Hew  settleis  to 
(•;iii'y  llieii"  ])i(»(lu('e  to  iiiai'ket  as  ,'.oon  ;is  it  was  har- 
vested A\  itliout  counting  the  cost,  and  some  were  sure 
to  sell  themselves  shoit  .'it  a  low  pfice,  and  befoi'e  tlie 
next  ciop  came  lo  maturity  wei'c  com])elled  to  1)ny  at 
a,  high  ))iice  for  the  support  of  their  families. 

^Nl.'in}'  e\pe(lients  were  resorted  to  in  our  early  days 
to  ]aise  spending  mone}'  l)esides  working  out  by  the 
(laA.  ]\Iaple  sugar  was  a  staple  article  and  lai'ge  <pian- 
tities  \vere  made  by  some  families  yeai-l}'.  I  made 
nim^  hundred  poimds  one  season  by  m}^  own  labor 
without  any  assistance.  I  have  carried  maple  sugar 
on  horseback  to  Augusta  to  market.  Some  made 
shingles,  some  l)a.skets  and  some  l>rooms  to  sell.  The 
boys  found  profit  seve]'al  years  in  digging  ginsing  at 
half  a  dollar  a  ])ound,  till  it  Avas  all  collected.  The 
main  dependence  of  most  of  the  early  settlers  during 
the  first  year  was  hiring  out  ])y  the  day  to  farmers  iu 
older  places,  two  to  four  or  six  miles  distant.  A  crop 
of  corn  was  generally  rai.sed  the  second  year,  tlieu 
grain,  then  their  new  land  was  seeded  down  so  that 
they  could  get  hay  for  a  cow.  The  cows  lived  in  tlie 
Avoods  on  bowse  during  the  summei',  and  corn  stalks 
and  meadow  hay  winter.^.  After  two  or  three  years, 
those  who  were  industrious  and  prudent  generally  })g- 
gan  to  emerge  from  ])overty  and  Avant  and  advanced 
more  rapidly  for  three  or  four  succeeding  years  while 
clearing  uj)  new  land,  than  afterwards,  when  they  had 
to  break  u])  their  ne^v  land  Avith  the  ])lough,  the  soil 
being  generally  stony  and   hard  to  subdue. 

All  at  first  had  to  work  hard  and  fare  hard.  Many 
had  to  live  })rincipally  on  corn  bread  and  j)otatoes    the 


HISTOUY  OF  1M)1>THY, 


first  year  with  no  meat  ('xcej)t  pork,    and  Init    little    of 
that. 

Schools. 

There  wei-e  no  schools  of  any  note  Ix-t'oro  tlie  iiicoi- 
j)0 ration  of  the  town.  An  old  maiden  lady  was  em- 
ployed occasionally  a  short  time  to  teacth  cliihiren  their 
letters  and  to  spell  ont  short  words.  Her  schot)l  was 
kept  one  month  in  my  barn.  She  did  what  she  conld 
"to  teach  the  yonng  idea  how  to  shoot"  l)nt  was  <|nite 
incompetent.  I  visited  her  school  on  one  occasion  and 
she  had  a  small  class  advanced  to  woi'ds  of  three  syll- 
ables in  the  spelling  book  and  when  they  came  to  the 
word  "anecdote''  she  called  it  a-neck-dote  and  defined  it 
to  be  food  eaten  between  meals. 

When  the  first  town  school  was  put  in  operation  the 
master  was  quite  deficient  everyway.  When  a  boy 
hesitated  at  the  word  "biscuit"  the  master  prompted 
him  rashly,  "bee  sqnit,  you  rascal"  J^ut  during  the 
second  year  a  portion  of  the  town  nnited  with  a  dis- 
trict in  Farmington  which  extended  from  the  Vineyard 
gore  to  the  Titcomb  place  more  than  four  miles.  The 
school  was  kept  in  a  log  school  house  noar  where  Mosh- 
er  lives,  by  Samuel  Belchei*,  a  competent  teacher, 
and  our  boys  made  good  progress.  The  master  l)oard- 
ed  with  us  a  part  of  the  time  two  miles  from  the 
school  house.  When  the  road  was  not  broken  out  they 
had  to  get  l)reakfast  by  caudle  liglit,  in  oider  to  be  at 
school  in  season.  The  town  ever  afterwards  manifest- 
ed a  commendable  interest  in  the  su])port  of  schools 
and  the  youth  of  the  town  have  l)een  Avell  taught  and 
a  large  number  of  skillful  teachers  liave  been  raised  up 
wdio  have  found  employment  in  some  of  (he  best  of 
grammar  schools  and  ares})ecta])le  num]>er  havi- oljtain- 
ed  a  Colle^re  education  and  become  distini^uished  ay 
Clergymen,  Lawyers  and  Teachers  in  distant  j)laces. 

I  had  no  opportunity  to  attend  school  but  one  month 
after  I  was  twelve  years  old  till  1  was  twenty-t\vo  ;  but 
having  learned  to  read  when  wo  were  Aoung,  our  boys 
derived  great  benefit  from  a  small  Social  Libi-ary  which 


2(3  HISTORY  Ol    INDUSTUV. 

we  joined  at  Farmingtoii  Falls,  altliough  at  the  dis- 
tance, ol'teii  miles,  1  attended  the  meetings  eveiy  month 
to  leluin  my  l)ook  ;  conforming  sti-ictly  to  tlie  regula- 
tions l>y  returning  all  books  every  four  weeks.  On 
one  occasion  being  pressed  with  work  in  the  month  of 
June,  after  hurrying  off  my  work  I  took  an  early  su]> 
per,  went  on  foot  by  a  spotted  line  with  a  liorse  load 
of  corn  to  Weeks  Mills  and  thence  ]»y  a  j-oad  through 
New  Sharon  to  Farmington  Falls  to  exchange  a  book 
and  do  some  errands.  On  my  return  night  overtook 
me  and  a  thunder  cloud  came  up  Avhen  I  got  withiji 
two  miles  of  home  so  that  could  not  keep  the  track 
with  the  horse,  I  therefore,  l)efore  it  C(^mmcnced  rain- 
ing, coming  to  a  large  fallen  tree,  1  ciawled  under  it 
and  encam])ed  for  the  night;  l)eing  fatigued  I  slept 
([uietly  till  day-light  and  then  got  home  before  the 
family  were  up. 

We  often  took  long  jaunts  on  moon-light  nights  in 
the  winter  six  or  seven  miles  to  attend  singing  school, 
taught  by  S.  Belcher  Esq.,  where  the  good  old  tunes 
of  Sherburn,  Majesty,  Victory  and  other  tunes  were 
lekeaised  and  sung  with  spii-it  and  animation,  more  caj)- 
tivating  than  the  most  splendid  modei'n  tunes  or  con- 
c(rts.  Tlie  school  usually  closed  at  nine  and  after  a 
little  con^iatulatiou  with  i)ur  associates  we  returned 
home  delighted  with  our  excursion  although  it  might 
be  near  midnight  when  we  got  home. 

Religious  Meetings. 

Although  there  were  many  things  that  were  rej)re- 
hensilile  among  the  early  settlers,  all  were  j)oor,  lum 
drinkinu;'  was  common,  many  were  intemperate,  some 
were  vicious  and  quarrelsome  as  well  as  drunkards,  and 
there  was  no  regular  preaching  for  some  time.  Still  a 
religious  clement  prevailed  a  considerable  ])ortion  of 
the  inhabitants.  Several  of  the  early  settleis  had  a 
short  iunv,  before,  experienced  religion  and  several  who 
had  long  been  esteemed  for  their  l>iety. 

Baptists.  Keliirious  meeting's  were  first  holden  on 
the  gore  at  Deacon  Norton's  by  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist order.     Several    of  that  denomination  came   from 


lllSTOliV  Ol-  TNDrsTliV. 


Martha's  Vineyard  and  Settled  ill  tliat.  vicinity.  Kev. 
Jesse  Lee,  a  noted  Methodist  })reacher  in  liistonr 
through  Maine  in  the  fall  of  1794  was  advised  to  call 
and  preach  at  the  Deacon's,  Imtlindinu^  the  f;iniily  sick 
he  passed  on  a  mile  farther  to  Daniel  Lncr's  in  New 
Vineyard  ;  afterwards  in  December  of  the  same  yeai', 
Rev.  Sylvanns  Boardman  visited  the  Deacon  and 
])reached  the  first  sermon  that  was  ])reachc(l  in  town. 
The  Baptist  thus  took  precedence  of  all  other  religious 
denominations  and  as  early  as  170S,  wei-e  ori;-anize(l  in- 
to a  church  and  connected  with  the  J>owdoinliani  as- 
sociation consisting  of  fifteen  or  twenty  mend)ers,  and 
were  supplied  with  preaching  every  fourtli  sabbath  by 
Rev.  Oliver  Billings,  of  Fayette,  for  several  years,  and 
occasionally  l)y  Elder  Boardman,  Elder  Hooper,  Elder 
Frances  and  others.  John  Spencer  settled  in  the  cor- 
ner of  Anson  near  West's  Mills,  priiached  several  years 
part  of  the  time  in  this  town,  but  some  inijiutations  res- 
pecting his  moral  charactei-  ini])ared  his  success.  Af- 
ter eight  or  ten  years,  Elisha  Bobbins,  a  ]>ious  young 
man,  who  was  much  esteemed,  settled  in  town  and  was 
licensed  to  ineach,  but  died  in  1809.  L<'vi  Young,  Jr. 
took  his  place  asa  jireacher  being  illiterate  and  con- 
scious of  his  want  of  (pialification,  he  after  a  short  time 
relin([uishcd  his  post. 

In  the  fall  of  1808,  Elder  Jason  Livennore  from 
Ilallowell,  spent  two  months  in  the  town,  during  the 
progress  of  a  revival  which  was  more  extensive  than 
any  revival  had  been.  lie  baptised  twenty  or  more, 
most  of  Avhom  united  with  the  Baptist  church.  Ad- 
ditions were  also  made  to  the  other  branches  of  the 
church.  The  Baptists  then  took  measures  to  hav(^ 
more  preaching  than  they  had  Ix^foie,  and  employed 
Mr.  Oliver  Peabody  statedly  for  a  year  or  two,  and 
Elder  Hooper  of  Paris  and  Elder  Cain,  of  Clinton, 
preached  occasionally.  The  number  of  members  then, 
exceeded  fifty. 

1813-11,  Eldei-  Thomas  ]\b»iTill  was  em])1oyed  stat- 
edly at  a  salary  of  Eighty  dollars  a  year.  After  two 
years  he  left  and  went  to  Prospect.     Elder  J^oardmau 


28  Hi.-Tor.Y  OF  iKDrSTin'. 

of  Now  Sharon  then  took  n  tathcrly  over-siglit  of  the 
chiircli  and  preaclied  to  them  occasionally  as  long  as 
he  lived.  By  the  minntes  of  the  Bowdoinhani  Asso- 
ciation it  appears  that  fifty-two  were  returned  as  nieni- 
beis  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  the  year  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  nine  ;  part  however  I'esided  in  adjoining 
towns.  About  1854,  a  second  church  was  formed  in 
the  east  part  of  the  town  and  Starks,  consisting  of  a- 
bout  twenty-five  members,  under  the  care  of  Kev.  l)a- 
tns  T.  Allen  (since  deceased)  and  in  1855,  lie  v.  T. 
Brownson  was  installed  over  the  church  in  the  Avest 
part  of  the  town,  consisting  of  about  thirty  members, 
fra  Emery,  Esq.,  and  Franklin  Norton  of  Farmington 
(now  dead)  were  the  deacons.  Not  having  been  able 
to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  statistics  of  either  of  these 
churches,  the  members  are  stated  l)y  estimates  only. 

Cornelius  Norton,  Ebenezer  Norton,  Benjamin  Cot- 
tle, Josiali  Butler,  Bartlett  Allen,  James  Davis,  Alvin 
Smith,  Rowland  Luce,  Tristram  Norton,  Abner  C. 
Ames  and  Ira  Emery  were  prominent  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  most  of  their  wives,  Init  nearly  all 
are  dead.  It  is  reported  that  the  number  during  the 
last  twenty  years  has  diminished  more  by  deaths  and 
removals  than  increased  by  accessions. 

The  Baptists  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  to\vn 
to  the  ])resent  time  have  sustained  a  respectable  stand- 
ing, embracing  some  of  the  best  men  in  town,  who  have 
manifested  a  commendable  interest  to  sustain  })reach- 
ing  and  to  promote  the  best  good  of  the  town. 

Methodists.  On  the  first  of  Dec.  179-1,  Kev.  Jesse 
Le(^,  a  Methodist  preacher,  as  has  been  stated,  on  his 
way  from  Sandy  river  to  Anson,  passed  through  tlie 
gore  with  an  intention  to  2)reach  at  Deacon  Norton's, 
was  prevented  by  the  sickness  of  the  family  and  went 
on  and  preached  at  Daniel  Luce's  who  then  lived  in 
New  Vineyard,  being  the  first  sermon  preached  in  that 
town,  lie  planned  a  circle  for  succeeding  preachers, 
and  the  next  year  llev.  Enoch  Mudge  and  Rev.  Elias 
Hull  were  appointed  preachers  the  on  Readfield  circuit 
visited  tiie  new  settlement  on  the  Cirore  and  preached 

C  5f  (  fT" 


niSTORY  OF  IN'DUSTHY.  '20 

at  A}>ner  Norton's  occasionally.  In  the  conrsn  of  the 
year  Mr.  Nort<^n  and  liis  wife  and  one  or  two  of  his 
cliildren  with  ])aniel  Collins  and  S(jme  othei's  nia(h' 
a  ]M-ofession  of  religion,  united  in  a  society  and  were 
torined  into  a  class.  The  class  increased  and  Metho- 
dist pi-eaching  was  furnished  once  in  four  weeks  at  Mr. 
Noi'ton's  or  Mr.  GoHin^'  for  many  years.  After  a  few 
years  another  class  was  formed  at  Esq.  Boardnian's, 
and  in  1798  anotlier  at  Capt.  Thompson's  Avho  was  li- 
censed as  a  local  ])reaclier  and  officiated  with  manifest 
success  till  the  iniirniities  of  age  prevented.  lie  was  a 
zealous  advocate  of  the  cause  of  religion  and  devoted 
to  the  church  of  his  choice.  He  \vas  esteemed  for  his 
piety  while  he 'belfeved  and  had  muclj  influence  over 
the  intemperate  portion  of  th«^  citizens  as  well  as  with 
all  good  men.  lie  was  a  good  citizen,  was  Town  Ti'eas- 
urer  several  years,  Representative  in  the  Legislature 
and  once  a  Senator  for  the  county.  He  had  a  good 
wife. 

In  lsO'2,  John  (lower,  Esq.,  moved  into  town  from 
Farmington,  was  licensed  as  a  local  ])reaclier,  was  suc- 
cessful in  foi-niing  a  class  in  the  hnver  |)artof  the  town, 
and  preached  occasionally  during  many  yeai's,  till  he 
])ecame  incapable  hy  reason  of  disease  on  the  lungs. — 
He  was  a  man  of  much  firmness  and  decision,  of  a  be- 
nevolent disposition,  of  strong  mind  and  of  strict  integ- 
rity, a  successful  citizen  highly  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  an  acting  Justice  of  the  IVaee,  and 
Selectman  for  many  years,  and  once  a  Kepresentative 
in  the  Legislature.  He  closed  a  well  spentlife  in  i«4r) 
agt.'d  sixty-five  years.  His  two  sons  inherit  many  of 
his  gooil  traits  of  charactei*  ;  }»oth  have  moved 
aw\'iy. 

A  class  of  Methodists  was  formed  at  West's  mills 
whej-e  the  society  ei-echnl  a  meeting  house  and  built  a 
small  parsonage.  Peter  West,  Jr.,  was  for  a  long  time 
identified  as  a  prominent  member  and  did  much  to  sus- 
tain the  cause  of  religion,  but  failed  to  secure  the  good 
will  of  all  the  community,  had  some  jiersonal  difficulty 
with  one  oi-  two  and  left  the  society  and  joined  anoth- 
er church  a  short  time  befoie  he  died. 


IIISTOKY  Ol'  INKUSTnY.  30 

V 

Daniel  Collins,  Jr.  who  was  raised  up  on  the  Gore, 
l)ecame  a  professor  of  rt^ligion,  joined  tlie  ehiss  and 
was  several  years  a  li(;ensed  jireaeher. 

John  Allen  (my  l)rotlit'r)  who  in  his  youth  was  the 
rudest  boy  in  tlie  i'amily  cxpeiienced  relij^^ion  at  a 
camp  meeting'  in  i,s24  wlien  tliiity  yeai-s  old,  after  a 
reguhir  probation  was  admitted  to  tht'  Maine  Conl'ei-- 
ence  as  a  reg'ular  pi'eacher  and  preached  statedly  till 
IXGU  is  extensively  known  as  "Cam])  meeting  John."-— 
lie  was  so  zealous  at  first  that  we  thought  he  would 
not  hold  out  to  the  end,  hut  has  exceeded  our  exj)ec- 
tations. 

Henry  lUitler  experienced  religion  when  young,  was 
admitted  to  the  Maine  Confei-ence,  and  for  sevei-al 
years  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  ])reachei'.  He  tlied 
young  and    was  much  lamented. 

The  iMethodists  in  this  town  under  these  and  other 
agencies,  l»y  tlu^  gracious  intiu-position  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence ac([uire(l  a  }>redominating  inHnence  in  the  town 
and  have  no  (hjubt  contributed  assentially  to  the  good 
order  and  i)i'os])ei'ity  thereof.  The  "number  in  the 
Society  in  i.s.H  was  one  hundred  and  sixty  and  fifteen 
more  on  probation."  Some  belonged  to  the  adjoining 
tows  of  Starks  and  Anson.  By  the  last  returns  the 
number  had  fallen  off  considera))ly  of  late  years.  Rev. 
Daniel  Waterhouse  Avas  the  preacher  in  charge  in  I8(;t>. 
Mem])ers,  one  hundi-ed  thirty  eight,   pi'obation,  four. 

Coi/(jre(/(itiomi//stH.  About  the  time  of  the  first  set- 
tlement in  this  town,  Judith  Luce,  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
Luce  went  to  live  with  Samuel  Sewall  in  Farmington, 
and  while  residing  with  that  excellent  family  she  ex- 
pei'ienced  I'cligion,  united  with  the  church  and  after- 
wards married  John  Trask,  a  )»i'other  of  Mi's.  Sewall, 
and  removed  to  hei'  father's  in  this  town.  Jounthan 
Lunker  a,  y*)ung  man  living  at  that  time  neai-  Mr. 
SewalTs,  experienced  religion  uiuler  tlie  teachings  of 
Mr.  Sewall  and  llev.  JoHalhan?  Sewall  as  did  Mr. 
Trask,  tlu^y  endiraced  fully  the  creed  of  their  patrons, 
and  ever  afterwards  manifested  a  child-like  regai-d  for 
these  good  men.  Mr.  Bunk(U'  married  in  1797,  and. 
moved  into  this  town.     These   three  persons  were   the 


IITSTOIJY  OF  IXl>T'STi:V. 


germ  of  tlio  Congregational  cliiircli  in  tliis  to\vii.  Un- 
der the  intluence  of  his  (L-iuglitei-,  Trask  and  lier  luis- 
band,  Mr.  Luce  and  two  or  tliree  sons  having  cxjx'ri- 
enced  religion  wei*e  induced  to  join  this  elmrcli.  Wil- 
liam Allen,  Thomas  i'^lint,  Sanuu^l  3Iason,  William 
llemiek  and  llufus  Viles  united  and  on  the  twenty- 
first  of  e/anuaiy  1802,  wer(^  organized  into  a  church 
(with  some  female  members)  and  liev.  Samuel  Scwall 
as  a  missionary  ^vas  at  fii-st  appointed  to  take  the  sjiec- 
ial  charge  of  the  chuich.  Both  the  llev.  Jomvthau^ 
Sewall  and  the  liev.  Samuel  Sewall  always  treated  ;l/i\ 
Trask  and  his  wife  and  Mr.  Bunker  as  tiieir  children, 
often  visiting  them  and  frequently  preached  at  tlieii' 
houses  as  long  as  they  lived  in  town. 

Rev.  JoUiain  Sewall  in  his  diary  states  thai 
lie  preached  two  hundred  and  ten  sermons  in 
this  town  during  liis  ministry.  Some  ^of  the 
original  members  moved  away,  seA'eral  ha\'e 
died.  Some  additions  were  made  from  time  to 
time.  Cornelius  Norton,  Jr.,  Es([.,  Jacol) Hayes, 
Zebulon  Allen,  Sylvanus  Allen  were  ])roininent 
members,  but  are  all  dead.  Pelaliah  Sliorey, 
also,  who  is  living. 

This  Church  has  not  l)ecn  able  to  sustain 
preaching  for  any  length  ot  time  statedly,  ilex, 
Aklen  Boynton  was  once  settled  over  them  for  n 
year  or  two,  also  Rev.  Thomas  Smith,  ilex.  Josiah 
Tucker,  was  emi)loyed  one  or  two  years  a  ])art 
of  the  time  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burnhani  has  re- 
cently spent  part  of  his  time  with  them.  The 
number  ofmembers  has  seldom  exceeded  twenty, 
including  females.  The  intluence  of  this  church 
has  always  had  a  good  etfect  on  society.  Sev- 
eral were  among  the  foremost  in  every  good 
work  in  town. 

Hai'rison  Allen,  by  unweared  etforts  oldained 
a  CoUegate  and  Ministerial  education,  was  ad- 


f)2  HISTORY  Ol'   IXOUSTRY. 

mitted  to  tlie  cliurcli  in  Farmington,    and  died ! 
at  his  post  in  Mississippi,  as  a   Missionary   to 
the  Choctaws  in  1831. 

Tlivee  of  Jacob  Hayes's  sons  graduated  witli 
honor,  at  Bowdoin  College.  Stephen,  the  eld- 
est is  a  Congregational  preacher  in  Massachus- 
etts ;  one  was  drowned  in  Lake  Ontario  ;  all 
were  talented  and  highly  esteemed. 

Thus  notwithstanding  that  many  obstacles 
and  unfa^oral)^e  circumstances  attended  the 
early  settlers,  their  children  were  placed  under 
the  influence  of  religious  instruction  in  early 
life  and  generally  imbil)ed  religious  principles 
aiul  a  high  regard  for  religious  institutions,  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  of  all  denominations, 
Avho  visited  the  place,  often  going  on  foot  six 
miles  to  the  place  of  religious  meetings  on  the 
sabbath,  and  in  tlie  order  of  Providence,  gener- 
ally ac(iuire(l  habits  of  morality  and  good  order, 
many  of  whom  by  Divine  Grace  have  been  res- 
cued from  the  dominion  of  vice  and  come  for- 
ward, usefid  and  worthy  meml)ers  of  the  church 
and  State. 

Boys  innured  to  toil  and  hardship  while 
young,  came  on  Ihe  stage  prepared  to  emerge 
fi'oni  degrading  ])overty  and  ignorance,  to  sur- 
mount all  diflieulties  and  to  take  a  rank  in  so- 
ciety credital)le  to  themselves  and  to  their  town, 
and  to  act  well  their  part  in  life,  and  to  trans- 
nut  a  good  name  to  the  succeeding  generation. 

This  town  has  furnished  its  full  proportion  of 
Senators  and  Keijresentatives  to  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  ;  with  a  full  <piota  of  Militia  Offi- 
cers up  to  a  Brigadier  General;  and  when  the 
town  Itelomi'ed  to  the  County  of  Somerset  from 


IIlsTOSY  OF  INOrsTP.V. 


1809  to  1S3S,  it  was  reniarked  tliat  this  town  fui'iiish- 
ed  less  business  for  the  conrts  than  any  other  to^vn  in 
the  county  of  e(|nal  population  and  that  her  Jurors 
were  distinguished  for  their  intelligence  and  disci'etion. 
Her  Kepresentatives  and  Town  CHYicei's  liavc  with  feu- 
exceptions  been  professedly  pious  men  and  members 
of  the  diffei'ent  brandies  of  the  chui'cli  in  good  and 
and  reo^ular  standing*. 

By  examining  the  statistics  and  i-eeords  of  tlie  town 
it  will  be  seen  tliat  the  town  oftice  s  from  the  ])egin- 
ing  were  managed  with  the  utmost  frugality  and  econ- 
omy. The  town  officers  were  always  attentive  to  their 
duties  and  were  satisfied  with  a  snudl  com])ensation  foi* 
many  years.  The  pay  of  the  Treasurer  for  ten  years  or 
more  was  two  dollai's  a  year,  and  the  bills  of  the  Se- 
lectmen who  were  also  assessors  and  ovei'seers  of  the 
poor  averaged  from  six  to  eight  dollars  each.  It  is  jn-e- 
sumed  that  no  other  town  in  the  State  was  ever  organ- 
ized and  managed  with  so  small  a  tax  as  this  town  was 
for  town  charges  during  the  first  twenty  years  ;  and  it 
was  admitted  by  all  who  had  an  opportunity  to  know, 
that  no  town  was  ever  served  more  ftiithfully  ;  inso- 
much that  portions  of  the  inhabitants  of  all  the  adjoin- 
ing towns  for  these  and  other  reasons  petitioned  for 
and  obtained  annexation.  But  during  the  last  twenty 
years  the  to^vn  has  lost  a  number  of  its  most  efiicient 
residents,  some  by  death  and  others  by  removals  or  be- 
ing set  off  to  other  towns  and  the  population 
has  tallen  off  twenty  per  cent  in  numl)er  and  the  en- 
tei-prise  and  prosperity  of  the  town  have  materially  de- 
clined. 

Census  and  Statistics. 

Katal)le  polls  70* 

123. 
IGl. 

'•  IGlf. 

'•  LSI. 

"  I'JO. 

"  187. 

*  Polls  over  1(5  years  at  iirst. 

tl'olls  over  21  years   ofaae,  in    1802,  Polls    overK*    years    were 
t.ikeii. 


lu    1802. 

lulialiitaiits 

170, 

1810, 

'^ 

r,t;2. 

1820, 

'' 

778, 

•  1830, 

" 

S02, 

1840, 

'' 

103G, 

1850, 

Cl 

1041, 

1860, 

847, 

84 


HISTORY  Of  industry. 


State  Valuation  and  State  Taxes. 


In 


1802, 
1812, 
1821, 
1831, 
1841, 

iir>o. 

I860, 


Valuation 


1803, 
1810, 
1820, 
1830, 
1840, 
1850, 
1860, 
1868, 


Town  tax     $30. 

"  80. 

**  50. 

200. 

'^  400. 

700. 

1,000. 

2,000. 


S4,000. 
7,680. 

38,201. 

49,231. 
139,067, 
147,545. 
180,096. 

Taxes. 

School 


State  tax 


S24,00. 
56,00. 
100,52. 
349,68. 
4U,82. 
296,99. 
283,87. 


SOO. 
100. 
100. 
330. 
400. 
500. 
560. 
620.25 


Highway 


S800- 
800. 
1 ,000. 
1,500. 
1.500. 
1.500. 
1,500. 
3.00U. 


County  Commissioners. 

1839,  Benjamin  Allen,  three  years. 
1860,     Clifford  li.  Norton,  six  years. 

Senators. 

1833,     Rev.  John  Thompson. 
1850,     Newman  T.  Allen. 

Representatives. 

1819,  James  Davis . 

1822,  John  Gower,  Esq., 

1824,  Rev.  John  Thompson. 

1828,  Ezekiel  Hinkley. 

1830,  James  Stanley,  Esq., 

1833,  Benjamin  Mant or. 

1834,  Benjamin  Allen. 
1836,  Cornelius  Davis. 
1838,  Francis  Meader. 

1840,  Benjamin  Luce. 
1845,  Truman  A.  Merrill. 
1848,  Clifford  B.  Norton. 
1853,  Hiram  Mantor. 
1860,  Albert  Shaw. 

Selectmen. 
The  following  have  served  as  Seleetnieii. 

Years. 
1803,  AVilliam  Allen.  Jr.,  7.  1835,  George  Wiiislow, 

1803,  Peter  West,  1 .  1836,  Natluui  Goodricli, 
180S.  Daniel  Luce,  1.  1838,  Newman  T.  Allen. 

1804,  Nathaniel  Willard,  1.  1840,  John  Gihnoro, 


Yen  vs. 

< . 
4. 
4. 


^I^;T<■)UY  OF  INDCSTRV. 


1804,  Levi  Cireeiilief, 

1805,  .loseph  Cliesley, 
1805,  James  Kveleth, 
1805,  Thomas  Johusou, 
180G,  Josiah  Butler, 
1800,  Henry  Smith, 
lSOr»,  Abraham  Johnson, 
1808,  John  (Jower. 
181o,  Bartlett  Allen, 
1815,  Nehenuah  Howes. 
181G,  Cornelhis  Norton, 
1817,  James  Davis, 
1820,  Jabcz  Norton, 
1820,  Daniel  Shaw, 
1822,  Corueilus  Davis. 

1822,  Ezekiel  Hinkley. 

1823,  John  Thompson, 
1827,  Benjamin  Allen, 

1830,  Ebenezer  Swift, 
1832,  Samuel  Shaw, 
1832,  Phiiieas  Tolmau, 
1832,  Clifford  B.  Norton. 

1831,  Obed  Norton, 
1835,  Samuel  Patterson, 


1 

1. 

1. 

1. 

i). 

2. 

2. 

14! 

8. 

2. 

7. 

•>. 

2. 

2. 

1. 

4. 

1. 

C. 

1. 

2. 

1. 
22. 

T. 

■> 


.1840,  John  (lower,  Jr,. 
1842,  Charles  Wiuslow, 
1842,  Datus  T.  Allen, 
1842,  Francis  Header, 
1845,  Hiram  Mantor, 
1845.  George  (iower. 
184!),  Albert  Shaw, 
1850,  Oren  Daj;-,ii-ctt. 
1850.  Daniel  Hilton. 
1853,  Betcr  W.  Willis. 

1853,  Ira  Emery,  dr.. 

1854,  James  Cutts, 

1855,  David  l^atterson, 
1859,  John  W.  Mantor, 
185!:).  Benjamin  N.  Willis. 
I859,  Andrew  I^helps, 
18G0,  Oliver  Stephens. 
18G0,  dames  Norton. 
18G1,  James  A.  Snell. 
18G1,  John  Willis, 

18G5,  C.  M.  Clreeuwood, 
18G7,  Josiah  Emery, 
18G8,  Geor^tre  IMantor. 
18G8,  (leorse  W.  Johnson. 


1803,  William  Allen,   Sr., 
1805,  dames'  Thompson. 
1808,  Josiah  Butler, 
1800,  Silas  Daggett. 

1810,  Bartlett  Allen. 

1811,  Samuel  Mason, 

1812,  James  Davis, 

1  827,  Newman  T.  Allen, 


Town  Clerks. 

Years. 

2  1831,  Zaehariah  Withee. 

3.'  1834,  Clifford  li.  Norton, 

4.  1835,  Asaph  Boy  den, 

1.  1837,  Franeis  Caldwell. 

5.  183c),  Charles  Norton. 
1,   1841,  John  West, 

7.   1843.  Peter  West  P.ntler. 


1803,  James  Thompson. 

1804,  Peter  West, 

1805,  John  Thompson, 

1809,  Silas  Daggett, 

1810,  James  Winslow, 
1812,  Sylvamis  Allen, 
181G,  Cornelius  Davis, 

1820,  William  Remick. 

1821,  James  Stanley, 
1832,  Ira  Emery, 
1834,  Peter  W.  Willis. 
I.s35,  (.leor'/f  Hobby. 


Town  Treasurers. 

Years. 

1.  1838,  William  Conforlh, 
1.  1842,  Nathan  (loodrioh, 
3.  1843,  Jaeob  Hayes. 

1.  1844.  Benjamin  Allen, 
3.  1851,  Newman  T.  Allen. 

2.  1853,  Albert  Shaw, 
7.  1854,  Elijah  Manter, 

1.  1,S55,  Andrew  Tibbetts, 
S,  185G,  Nelson  C.  Luee, 

2.  185!),  James  Elliott, 
1.  ISC,;;.  Mark  Emerv. 


Years. 
1. 
1. 
2. 
2. 
2. 

2. 

2G. 


Yenr, 


36  HISTORY  OF  IXr»rSTRY. 

Qualification  of  Town  Officers. 

Our  earl 3^  settlers  had  not  the  advantages  of  an  ear- 
ly education  wliich  their  children  now  eiijo}^  and  were 
not  skillful  accountants,  it  is  therefore  not  so  strange 
that  mistakes  were  sometimes  made.  At  t]i(^  annual 
meeting  in  1804,  Capt.  West  having  served  as  Select- 
man the  preceediug  year  presented  an  account  for  fin- 
ger hoards  as  he  called  them,  the  account  was  not  al- 
lowed as  the  same  were  not  well  made  and  he  was  drop- 
ped from  the  list  of  Selectmen  for  i-e-election  :  but  the 
town  was  unwilling  to  offend  him  as  he  paid  a  higher 
tax  than  any  other  one  in  town,  and  to  gratify  him  he 
was  chosen  Town  Treasurer;  on  being  notified,  he  le- 
plied,  "I  thank  you  gentlemen,  I'l  accept,"  and  the  first 
claim  that  I  pay  will  lie  Peter  West's,  for  "finger 
boards." 

Capt.  Thompson  having  served  three  years  as  Town 
Treasurer  as  successor  to  Capt.  West,  declined  a  re-elec- 
tion the  fourth  year,  and  as  a  reason  said  "he  could  not 
afford,  it"  the  office  run  him  in  debt  every  year." — 
"He  paid  out  more  than  he  i-eceived."  He  was  request- 
ed to  present  his  account  and  it  shoukl  l)e  allowed  :  lie 
replied  that  he  "kept  no  account,"  "that  he  had  made 
no  account  of  debt  or  credit  during  the  three  years." — 
Being  regarded  as  an  honest  patriotic  man  the  town 
heard  his  verbal  statement  and  allowed  him  a  small 
sum  (with  which  he  was  satisfied)  and  chose  a  man 
who  had  been  a  sea  captain  in  his  stead  and  directed 
him  to  keep  an  account  of  his  doings.  Tlie  next  year 
the.captain  brought  in  his  account  entered  in  a  Treasury 
Book  and  declined  a  re-election  because  his  book  would 
not  tell  the  truth,  that  he  had  charged  all  the  bills 
paid,  and  entered  all  the  orders  he  had  drawn  on  col- 
lectors to  pay  bills  with  :  that  he  had  done  all  the  bu- 
siness by  orders  and  bills,  had  not  received  or  paid  a 
dollar  in  money  on  the  town's  account,  Init  his  book 
shew  a  considei'able  balance  due  to  him  Avhich  he  knew 
was  not  the  case- 

These  are  specimens  of  some  the  early  doings  in  the 
Treasury  Department  of  the  town, 


III^TOUV  Ol"  INDL'.-iTlU".  ,         37 

Survey  of  the  Lands. 

Settlers  liad  taken  possession  of  tlie  lands  without 
any  regular  survey.  In  September  1802  a  survey  of 
their  lots  was  made  l)y  Lemuel  Perham  under  the  in- 
spection of  Isaac  Pillsbury,  of  Ilallowell,  the  Proprie- 
tor's Agent,  and  Samuel  Prescott  and  Frances  Mayhew 
of  New  Sharon  were  agreed  upon  as  chairmen  to  run 
out  a  lot  for  each  settler  agreeable  to  a  resolve  of  the 
(xeneral  Court. 

The  survey  was  commenced  at  Thompson's  corner  and 
proceeded  south  on  a  range  line  and  the  lots  were 
numbered  and  marked  on  that  line  from  one  to  nine. 
They  then  returned  to  the  place  of  beginning  and  pro- 
ceeded west,  laid  out  two  lots  on  the  rear  of  the  sec- 
ond range  and  then  extended  north  and  then  south 
from  Hinkley's  corner  till  t\venty-four  lots  vvere  sur- 
veyed. 

On  the  third  day  I  took  my  first  lesson  in  surveying 
with  the  surveyor.  We  commenced  at  a  small  beach 
tree  a  few  rods  south  of  where  George  Hobbs  house 
stands  and  made  and  marked  corners  for  three  lots, 
No.  25,  2G  and  27,  run  west  thirteen  rods  and  marked 
the  north-east  corner  of  my  lot  No.  28,  ran  to  the  pond 
marked  corners  of  No.  20  and  30,  then  run  across  No. 
25  and  round  No.  31  and  2G  back  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning so  acurately  as  to  hit  the  corner  tree  ;  demou- 
tstratiijg  clearly  to  my  mind  his  skill  and  practical  use 
of  the  compass  and  the  careful  measurement  made  by 
the  chaii^men.  He  thus  proceeded  from  da}^  to  day 
till  he  laid  out  a  lot  for  each  settler  numbering  from 
one  to  sixty  four. 

Samuel  Cromptou's  lot  was  No.  47  by  New  Sharon 
line,  a  good  lot  on  which  he  made  a  good  farm  and 
i-aised  up  his  family.  When  he  commenced  Avorkiug 
onit  in  170-1,  he  had  a  little  money  sufficient  to  pur- 
chase his  provisions  for  a  year  and  until  he  raised  corn 
on  his  burnt  land  and  had  money  to  pay  for  some  hired 
help.  He  was  an  honest,  blunt  Englishman,  was  indus- 
trious and  prudent  ;is  long  as  he  lived,  a  man  of  integ- 
rity, punctual  to  all  of  his  engagements  and  accumu- 
lated property.     One  of  his  sons,   George,   became   a 


ju-<i'i>i;v  en    jMu  ,.ti;y. 


man  oi'  hiioiiic.s.s  aiul  was  n  Deputy  Slicnrt'  several 
years. 

Ill  18lU,  (.'a])t.  rerliaiii  eoiii]>]eteil  tlie  survey  of  the 
unsettled  lots,  numbered  them  hy  the  alplialnit  A.  to 
S,  nineteen  lots. 

Ill  1802,  Cornelius  Norton,  Jr.,  surveyed  and  s})otted 
the  Lowell  strip. 

Sketches  of  Early  Settlers. 

Thomas  Johnson  was  a  soldier  of  the  Uevolution  and 
afterwards  a  sailor.  lie  came  from  ]\[artha's  Vineyard 
to  Sandy  river  in  17O0,  where  he  made  some  stop,  ex- 
])lored  the  land  on  the  Patent  and  commenced  clear- 
ing, in  1771  moved  on  lots  No.  13,  took  up  lots  No.  ,vj 
and  10  udjoining,  and  No.  37  a  mile  distant  for  his  sons. 
He  had  a  lai'^e  family  and  was  poor  Imt  managed  to 
mak(!  a  living.  He  was  nnable  to  do  much  labor  on 
account  of  his  age  and  did  not  accu^iiulate  much  i)rop- 
erty  ;  sold  out  in  1809  to  Ichabod  Johnson  Avho  came 
fjom  Vermont  and  moved  to  Farmington,  and  was 
])laced  on  the  pension  list  under  the  act  of  1818,  and 
died  soon  aftei'.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Timothy 
Smith  of  the  Vineyard,  possessed  of  good  talents  wliiclL 
she  communicated  to  her  sons.  Mr.  Johnson  was  a 
peaceable,  still  man.  He  had  seven  sons  who  all  set- 
tled in  Farmington,  where  by  their  mothers  Avit  and 
political  tact  and  jierseverence,  they  for  many  years 
obtained  a  greater  influence  than  any  other  tamilyin 
toAvn  and  were  promoted  to  offices  of  trust  and  profit. 
Timothy,  the  second  son  became  a  worthy  preacher  of 
the  gospel  of  the  Fi'eewill  Baptist  order,  Avas  a  success- 
ful trader  and  was  Post-master  many  years.  Thomas 
Avas  a  colonel  of  the  militia  ;  Abraham  Avas  a  selectman 
and  captain  in  Industry  ;  Joseph  Avas  a  Deputy  Sher- 
iff, then  trader,  IJepresentative,  Counsellor  and  Sheriff 
A  grandson  has  filled  the  most  important  offices  un- 
der the  Governor,  at  Augusta,  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Ilepresentatives  L'nd  Senator  and  Mayor  of  that  city, 
namely,  AVilliam  T.  Johnson,  son  of  William  T.  John- 
son Avho,  settled  in  Madison  at  first,  afterAvards  in  Farm- 
ington. 

Nathaniel  Willard  and    sons  settled  on^  lots    No.  o, 


in>iOKv  oi  iMnsruv.  39 

14  and  l-»  at  Tlioinpsuii's  curiici',  they  came  iVoni  Dun- 
stal^le  N.  II.  lie  was  a  brick  layer,  was  called  an 
honest  man  but  old  and  not  energetic,  he  was  Select- 
men in  1805  and  died  the  next  year.  His  two  sons 
Samuel  and  Levi  who  settled  in  town  were  not  succes- 
t'ul.  Levi  embaiTassed  himself  by  military  office's,  re- 
moved to  New  Portland  where  he  died,  and  Samuel  be- 
came charii-eable  to  the  town. 

Zoe  Withee  was  a  llevolutionary  soldier  and  ac- 
([uired  hal)its  in  the  war,  unfavorable  to  prosperity, 
came  from  Londenderry  in  IN.  H.  on  lot  No.  38,  With- 
eels  corner.  He  experienced  religion  under  the  influ- 
ence of  Capt.  Thompson  joined  the  Methodist  class  re- 
formed his  habits  and  ever  after  sustained  a  fjood  rei>- 
utation  ;  with  the  assistance  ol  an  industrious  family 
lie  made  a  good  living  and  cleared  up  a  good  fiirni,  ob- 
tained a  i)eusiou  under  the  act  of  1818.  One  of  his  sous 
has  Ijeen  a  trader  and  a  selectman  in  town,  and  Town 
Clerk  two  years. 

Archelaus  Luce  settled  first  on  lot  No.  is,  on  Bannock 
Hill  sold  his  possession  to  Jonathan  Knowlton,  Jr.  in 
1798  and  moved  to  lot  No.  27,  Davis's  corner.  In  180« 
he  sold  to  James  Davis  and  moved  away.  He  came 
from  the  Vineyard,  was  a  hard  working  man,  honest  in 
his  dealings,  but  of  a  roving  turn  and  did  not  accumu- 
late property  to  pay  for  land. 

Knowlton  being  unable  to  pay  for  his  land  sold  his 
possession  to  D.  Stoyells  of  Farmington  who  obtained 
a  title  to  it  and  sold  to  Jacob  Hayes,  who  came  from 
Berwick  in  180'J,  and  soon  after  w\as  married  and  lived 
on  the  lot  several  years,  then  swapped  with  John  Pat- 
terson and  moved  to  the  south  side  of  the  hill  where  he 
made  a  good  farm  ;  was  i)rosperous,  made  money  by 
keeping  sheep  of  an  improved  breed,  raised  up  an  ex- 
cellent family,  gave  three  sons  a  College  education,  was 
very  industrious  and  2)rudent  and  esteemed  as  one  of 
the  best  citizens  of  the  town  ;  he  died  in  1853,  leaving 
a  good  estate  to  his  decendants. 

John  Patterson  came  from  Damariscotta  first  to  Farm- 
ington, thence  to  lot  No.  32,  in  1806  which  he  sold  to 
Sylvanus  Allen,  who  sold  to  his  son  Freeman,  who  sold 


•10  UISKJUY  Ol-    IXDLSTKV. 

to  AVitlu'c  and  Withee  to  Simeon  Williams.  Patter- 
son moved  to  the  adjoining  lot  wliicli  be  sold  to  Mr. 
Hayes  by  exchange.  He  was  not  prosperous.  He 
had  several  sons  and  daughters  who  came  forward 
with  a  good  reputation  and  accumulated  good  estates 
and  sustained  themselves  by  the  influence  of  a  good 
mother  who  was  esteemed  for  her  piety. 

Capt.  William  Allen,  was  from  Martha's  Vineyard, 
and  came  first  to  Sandy  river  settlement  in  1792,  and 
thence  to  this  town  in  l79S.  He  had  been  a  clothiei-, 
trader  and  sailor,  was  unsuccessful,  came  to  this  place 
poor  witii  a  large  family,  did  not  own  so  much  as  a 
cow,  had  to  hire  one  and  was  embarrassed  with  debts. 
He  made  profession  of  religion  soon  after  he  came  here, 
and  by  the  aid  of  Divine  grace  and  the  blessing  of  God 
acquired  a  good  reputation  and  by  hard  labor  with  the 
aid  of  a  jirndent  good  wife  obtained  a  comfortable  sup- 
jiort  for  his  faniil}^  After  the  boys,  six  in  number 
wei'e  able  to  earn  their  livings  liis  four  daughters  Avere 
industrious  and  all  Avere  brought  up,  and  the  sons 
were  a1)le  to  render  him  all  necessary  assistance  in  old 
age.  Although  he  never  acquired  much  property,  he 
indulged  a  good  hope  of  an  inheritance  in  the  Avorld  to 
come.  His  wife  died  in  1831  aged  75  years  ;  she  was 
an  excellent  mother.  He  died  in  1842,  aged  almost 
87  years.  The  family  have  all  removed  from  the  town ; 
three  of  the  sons,  Truman,  Harrison  and  James  are 
dead,  also,  all  liis  daughters.  Love  (xower,  Jane  Eob- 
inson,  Deborah  Men-ill  and  Clementina  (Jook.  The 
sons  obtained  title  to  the  land  he  occupied  lots  No.  30 
and  44,  also  lots  No.  2G  and  28,  from  the  Proprietors. 
The  two  oldei'  sons  were  oftt;n  Selectmen,  and  he  and 
one  son  several  times  Town  Clerk.  The  oldest  son  re- 
moved to  Norridi^'ewock  where  he  has  sustained  vari- 
ous  offices  of  trust  and  prolit  and  was  twelve  yeais 
Clerk  of  the  Courts. 

Fj'ancis  Meader  settled  on  lot  No.  24,  which  passed 
into  the  hands  of  his  son-in-law  James  Eveleth,then  to 
to  Hinkley  and  Trafton,  and  is  now  owned  by  Rack- 
leff.  Mr.  Pleader  "was  from  Nantucket,  a  carpenter,  a 
Revolutionary  soldier  and  a   pensioner  when    he   died 


IllSTOUV  OK  INDl  >ri;v.  1  1 

aged  87  yeiiis,  at  $9G,  a  year,  was  a  ([ui(!t  })caceabk; 
man,  who  had  no  enemies,  was  al\\^a\s  ratlier  poor,  and 
left  no  estate. 

William  Ladd  came  from  Mt.  Vernon  in  1798,  settled 
iirst  on  the  Meado/  lot  No.  22,  then  on  lot  No.  21.— 
His  habits  were  bad,  was  always  poor  and  moved 
a\va}'. 

Alvin  Howes  came  irom  Farndn^ton,  formerly  from 
Harwick  and  settled  on  lots  No.  45,  was  a  successful 
farmer,  did  not  sell  or  change  his  residence  till  he  died 
1850,  leaving  a  decent  property  to  his  children,  he  was 
an  honest,  moderate  man  of  strict   integrit}'. 

Atkins  Ellis  came  from  Harwich  and  settled  in  lot 
No.  35,  in  lsOu.  He  had  been  a  Revolutionary  soldier, 
was  extremely  })oor  and  his  large  family  often  suffered 
for  bread,  ^vas  never  able  to  pa}^  for  land,  ga\e  up  his 
possession,  moved  to  lot  L.  and  then  to  Ri])ley,  w^as  a 
peusioner  under  the  Act  of  Lsi.s,  at  $9G,  a  year,  and 
died  in  old  age. 

Joshua  Pike,  an  honest  good  citizen  came  tVom  Salis- 
bury and  settled  in  the  Badgei'  lot  No.  51,  where  he 
lived  to  old  age,  and  then  went  to  live  with  a  daugh- 
ter where  lie  died. 

Elisha  Luce  settled  on  lot  No.  o-"»  in  i.soo,  sold  to 
Jonathan  Goodridge  v.dio  came  from  Lewiston  in  lyoi. 
Mr.  Goodrich  was  a  blacksmith,  made  a  good  living  had 
but  one  son,  Nathan,  wdio  has  acquired  a  good  estate, 
and  is  esteemed  as  one  of  the  best  of  citizens,  is  a  Meth- 
odist, has  often  been  a  Selectman,  and  has  served  a 
regular  course  of  militia  otlicers  u[)  to  Bi-igadier  General ; 
his  father  was  the  first  Postmaster  in  town  had  sever- 
al daughters  esteemed  for  good  habits,  and  all  married 
well. 

Samuel  Stevens,  a  cooper,  took  ])ossession  first  of  lot 
No.  12,  and  then  lot  R,  was  not  able  to  pay  for  land 
and  moved  away  ;  he  was  a  soldier  and  become  a  Ilev- 
olutionar}'  pensioner  befoi-e  he  died  ;  Ik;  was  intem])er- 
ate. 

Paul  Bradbury  and  two  sons  came  from  New  i/anip- 
shireand  settled  first  on  lot  No.  3,  east  side  of  Bannock 
hill,  and  then  on  No.  54,  by  Starks  line;  thoy  were 
moderate  kind  men  and  rather  })oor. 


42  ll[.->JX>i;V  i>V   INDI  STKV. 

J;ic<>1>  ^Latlifws,  a  rudo  sort  of  a  man  came  iVoiii  ^It. 
Vci'uon  and  setilod  uii  lot  No.  1),  in  ISOU,  niarj'ied  a 
daughter  of  Zuc  Withee,  and  after  a  fcAV  years  sold  tu 
Moses  Totman  who  came  from  New  Sharon.  Mr.  Tot- 
man  was  wortli  some  pro])erty,  was  a  slioe-maker,  im- 
proved his  farm  and  i^ained  projicrty  and  brought  up 
iiis  family  well ;  his  oldest  son,  Phineas,  moved  to  Pis- 
cata(piis  county  where  he  lias  a  good  reputation,  has 
been  a  senato'r  for  that  county,  and  is  much  respected. 

This  sketch  may  serve  as  a  specimen  of  the  early 
settlers  on  the  Patent. 

The  lots  iminbered  41,  42,  48,  4',),  oO,  '>!,  51),  (U,  G2,  Go,  G4,  G7,  GS,  part 
oi'  70  ;iud  part  of  II.  I.  M.  1\  aud  IJ.  coiitaininj^  1500  acres  were  set  oil"  and 
annexed  to  Kcw  Sharon  in  iy5'_',  being  a  very  valnable  partoi"tlie  town. 

The  settlers  on  the  Lowell  strip  were  mostly  from 
Martha's  Vineyard,  Avere  possessed  of  some  ^estate, 
ranked  higher  in  the  valuation  list  than  the  Tuhabi- 
tants  and  were  generally  of  a  higher  grade  iii  society. 
James  Stanley,  from  Berwick,  William  llemick  and 
Samuel  IMarston,  from  Tamworth,  N.  7i.,  and  Daniel 
Shaw,  John  llemick  and  sons,  and  some  other  from  N. 
//.  settled  on  the  strij),  proved  to  be  valuable  citizens, 
who  added  much  to  the  reputation  of  the  town. 

Gilman  7/iltou,  a  blacksmith  and  John  i/uston,  set- 
tled on  the  sti'ip,  were  not  so  respecta1)le,  and  their 
families  became  chargeable  to  the  town  ;  rum  ruined 
them. 

Deacon  Cottle,  an  early  settler  was  a  man  of  strict  in- 
tegrity aud  much  esteemed  ;  he  ^vas  a  shoe  maker  and 
made  an  honest  good  living  ;  he  had  no  sons,  but  a 
number  of  daughters,  who  where  well  Ijrought  up  and 
married  well. 

Jabez  Norton,  who  settled  on  the  strip  in  171)5,  was 
esteemed  a  good  man,  was  quite  aged  and  gave  u])  the 
care  of  business  to  his  son  Jabez  Norton,  Jr.,  They, 
as  well  as  Deacon  Cottle  Averc  from  the  Vineyard.  Mr. 
Norton,  Jr.,  \vas  one  of  the  1)est  of  men,  a  jiious  Meth- 
odist, mild  and  conciliatory  in  his  manners,  conscien- 
cious  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  a  friend  aud  admir- 
er of  all  good  men.  lie  made  a  good  farm  and  sup-' 
ported  his  father  and  mother  on  it  in  their  old  age,  was 
industrious  and  prudent,  was  persuaded  to  take  a  mil- 
itary commission    aud  Avas  promoted  to  be  a   captain, 


lll.-l'iKv   (M      IMM-IKV.  4o 

lull  (I'h!  111)1  jKii  take  ()|-  incline  (<>  (lie  \  iriMus  iiahil  m> 
coininou  witli  military  ufHccrs,  of  tieatini;*  iiiinse'll"  us 
well  as  bis  men,  Avitli  intoxicating  lic^uoiat  military 
trainings.  At  an  election  of  field  otHceiv,  at  Starling's 
tavern  in  Farmington,  Cai)t.  Noi-ton  was  an  elector  and 
while  the  others  w^cre  anxiously  discussing  not  only 
the  ([ualificatioDS  of  the  candidates,  but  the([iiality  al- 
so, of  Starling's  li(|Uor,  with  some  noise  and  tumult,  lie 
took  no  })art  with  them,  Init  took  a  seat  in  a  remote 
corner  of  the  room  and  struck  a  Methodist  tune  in  a 
melodious  voice  and  sung  that  beautiful  hymn  as  fol- 
lows : 

Je.sus,  id  lliy  comraaud, 
1  launch  into  the  deep 

And  leave  my  native  laud, 
Wlierc  sin  lulls  all  asleep. 

For  this  I  would  the  Avorld  resign, 

And  sail  to  Heaven  with  thee  and  thine. 

Thou  art  my  pilot  wise, 
My  compass  is  thy  Avord, 

My  soul  each  storm  delics. 

While  1  have  sucli  a  Lord  :  ^ 

I  trust  tliy  t'aitlihdness  andpfwer, 

To  save  me  in  the  trying  hour. 

Though  rocks  and  quicksands  deep. 
Through  all  my  passage  lie, 

Yet  Christ  will  safely  keep 
And  guide  me  with  his  eye  : 

My  anchor,  hojjc  sliall  firm  abide, 

And  every  boisterous  storm  out-ride. 

With  faith  1  see,  &c.,  to  the  end  oftlic  Hymn. 

The  noise  in  the  bar-room  immediately  subsided,  and 
all  listened  attentiv^ely  to  the  singing,  and  he  was  re- 
( [nested  to  repeat  it,  showing  conclusively  the  influ- 
ence of  music  by  a  pious  man,  when  surrounded  with 
the  most  unfavorable  circumstances  to  quiet  a  tumult. 
The  singing  had  a  good  effect,  and  the  election  came 
off]ieaceably  ami  satisfactorily. 

The  settlers  on  the  Gore  and  on  that  ])art  of  New 
Vineyard  wliicli  has  been  annexed  to  Industry,  as  has 
Ijeen  stated,  wei'c  nearly  all  from  Martha's  Vine}'ard, 
and  paid  for  their  land  before  they  went  upon  it,  and 
had  some  funds  to  start  with  and  -were  respected  for 
their  good  moral  character  and  christian  virtues. 

Many  of  them  were  sailors,  and  ^verc    not    farmers 


41  llirjToKV  Ol    INDLSIKI. 

wlicii  tlu'3^  came  to  Maine,  but  the  must  of  tliem  suc- 
ceeded in  making  a  good  living,  and  althougli  subject 
to  much  inconvenience  for  A\^ant  of  roads  at  iirst,  Avere 
generally  prosperous.  They  soon  found  it  to  be  uiore 
profitable  to  make  pork  for  uiarket  than  to  carry  their 
corn  fo]"ty  miles  to  market.  Some  years  there  was  a 
competition  among  them  m  raising  hogs  and  making 
poi'k.     Thefi-hogs  averaged  400  to  500  pounds. 

^Vfter  their  new  tarms  were  subdued  and  seeded 
dow^n  to  grass,  they  turned  their  attention  to  raising 
neat  stock  and  horses,  and  more  recently  to  raising 
sheep  for  which  their  stony  hills  are  well  adapted,  and 
some  have  grown  rich. 

idore  than  half  the  early  settlers  who  came  into  the 
town  prior  to  ijsio,  were  migratory  and  continually 
moved  away,  some  of  wdioni  Avere  the  most  influential 
and  worthy  iidiabitants.  James  Stanley  moved  to 
Fai-mington,  James  Davis  to  Starks,  Samuel  Marston  to 
New  iS'haron,  James  Thompson  to  western  ^Yew  York, 
Bartlett  Alleu  to  Holmes'  Hole,  AS'ylvanus  Allen  to 
3antncket,  William  Ivomick  to  Dover,  Daniel  ^S^haw  to 
Bangor,  Jabez  Aorton  to  Aroostook,  Thomas  Johnson 
to  Farmington,  all  of  whom  have  been  town  officers, 
aiul  also  Jbsiah  Butler  and  Charles  Aorton,  to  Aor- 
ridgewock.  The  two  first  named,  iS'tanley  and  Davis, 
had  also  been  Representatives,  and  many  others  who 
Avere  in  good  standing,  and  others  of  less  note  and 
many  who  Avere  poor  or  worthless. 

Henry  Smith  moved  to  Hallo  well,  Asa  Coiiant 
lived  ill  town  two  years  and  moved  to  Temple, 
VYilliam  B.  Davis  to  Dover,  Jacob  Matliews  to 
St.  Albans,  Humplirey  Clark  to  Alfred,  John 
Coffin  to  Shapleigh,  Jonathan  and  Ebcii  AYil- 
liamson  to  Starks,  James  Atkinson  to  Mercer, 
Jonathan  Bnnker  to  west  New  York,  also  John 
Thompson  2d,  Tristram  Daggett  to  Parkman, 
Mathew  Benson  to  Madison.  Daniel  Beedy  to 
Pliillips,  Peter  Beedy  to  Kingsbury,  Arclielaus 
Luce  to  George's  river,  Atkins  Ellis  to  Ripley, 
John  Patterson  to    Madison,    Levi    Willard  to 


IirSTOr.Y  OF  INDUSTRY.  '  4.") 

New  Portland,  Samuel  Loolc  to  Georgetown, 
Natlianiel  Chapman  to  Kingiiekl,  S:c.,  Jolm 
Goodridge,  all  the  Moody's,  William  Ladd,  and 
otliers  of  the  poorer  class  moved  away  after  li\- 
ing  in  town  a  few  years,  such  as  Samuel  Long- 
ley,  EHsha  Chesley,  Aaron  Whitney,  liobert 
Luce.  More  than  one  hundred  families  who 
once  had  a  residence  in  the  town  moved  away, 
the  most  of  whom  are  dead.  Abraham  Page 
came  from  Farmington,  and  settled  lirst  at  the 
head  of  the  pond  two  years,  then  on  lot  No.  29, 
three  years,  then  near  Kufas  Allen's  in  Farming- 
ton  two  years,  and  at  last  on  one  acre  of  land 
on  lot  No.  27,  near  Davis'  corner,  where  he  died. 
He  built  a  small  log  house  in  which  he  lived  at 
each  of  these  places  and  always  depended  on 
working  out  to  support  himself  and  famil}',  ^\'as 
a  stout  active  man  to  work  for  others  but  had 
no  coui'age  to  work  for  himself  he  said  because 
he  was  such  a  poor  paymaster.  His  habits  were 
temperate,  accomplished  a  great  amount  of  hard 
woi'k,  lived  to  an  old  age,  and  was  always  poor, 
Avas  of  a  peaceable  disposition,  and  might  ha^'c 
accumulated  a  good  estate  by  a  proper  api)lica- 
ti(ni  of  his  energies.  No  man  in  tlie  country 
C(ndd  use  an  axe  or  a  scythe  with  better  etfect 
than  he  could  and  always  received  the  highest 
wages.  He  often  cut  down  an  acre  of  trees  in  a 
day.  He  had  no  s1<ill  to  manage  business  or  to 
plan  or  execute  worlv,  but  by  the  day.  Sevei'al 
others  made  two  or  three  removals  before  leaA- 
ingthe  town. 

The  settlement  of  the  town  \v;'..s  commenced  under 
very  nnfiivorable  circumstiuices  on  account  of  the  gen- 
eral poverty  of  all  and  want  of  intelligence  and  de- 
moralized habits  of  many,  but  l)y  the  interposition  of 
Divine  Providence,  remarkable  success  attained  tlio  of 


■40  iiisT<)i;v  or  iM>rsTT;v. 

forts  of  a  pious  few,  and  of  those  wlio  were  well  dis- 
posed so  that  ^vhell  tlie  town  liad  been  incoi'])orated 
twelve  years  there  were  more  professedly  pious  per- 
sons in  town  in  proportion  to  the  nnml)er  of  inhalji- 
tants  than  there  were  in  the  adjoining  towns,  setth^d 
under  more  favorable  circumstances  and  the  reputation 
of  the  town  for  industry,  so])riety,  prosperit}'  and  good 
management,  was  worhty  of  commendation.  Tiie  town 
affairs  were  managed  with  unusual  fidelity,  and  town- 
meetings  were  conducted  m  an  orderly  and  correct 
manner, •and  attracted  the  attention  of  the-  other  towns 
and  induced  many  worth}'  citizens  to  settle  in  the 
town,  and  settlers  on  portions  of  all  the  adjoining  towns 
sought  and  obtained  annexation  by  six  seperate  acts  of 
the  Legislature,  until  within  twenty  years  past,  when 
the  tide  of  pros[)erity  turned.  The  establishing' of  the 
town  of  Farminfrton  as    the  shire    town     has    induced 

o 

some  of  the  most  enterj)rising  men  of  the  place  to  re- 
move to  that  flourishing  town,  some  have  gone  to  oth- 
er places  of  business.  Young  men  have  gone  to  the 
far  west  in  pursuit  of  wealth,  and  some  to  California 
for  gold  ;  two  portions  of  the  territoi'y  have  been  set 
off  and  annexed  to  adjoining  towns,  and  the  last  cen- 
sus and  valuation  shows  quite  a  dimminution  of  per- 
sons and  estates :  and  the  accessions  and  remaining 
])opulation  are  not  so  energetic  and  prosperous  as  be- 
fore these  depletions  and  the  efforts  of  the  present  in- 
liabitants  seem  to  l)o  in  some  nu;asure  paralized. 

It  is  hoped  however,  that  as  ^'there  is  a  tide  in  the 
affairs  of  men'"  that  the  tide  of  emigration  luay  ere 
long  turn  and  that  l)usinessmay  revive  and  prosperity 
l)e  revived,  and  that  the  former  good  name,  fame  and 
reputation  will  be  restored. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  town  have  all  passed  off 
the  stage  and  the  ])resent  actors  are  strangers  of  an- 
other generation  or  of  a  third  generation,  who  know 
nothing  of  the  privation  and  hardships  of  their  ances- 
tors wiio  penetrated  the  wilderness  and  subdued  the 
fai-ms  and  prepared  for  the  comforts  they  enjoy.  Miiy 
succeeding  generations  act  well  their  part,  Ije  industri- 
ous, temperate  and  prudent,  make  higher  and  higher 
attainments  in  everything  thai     enfible.s    them  in    life, 


niSTOiiv  oi'  iNi<r<Ti!v.  47 

and  2')i'f'P''irfc'S  them  for  endless    tVlccit}-   in   tlu'    life    to 
come. 

W.    x\LLEN. 

A  IJst  of  fJiP    i'ofct's  in  liidtfsfr}/  in    fSO'i. 


Allen,  William, 
Allen,  Jr.  William. 
Allen,  rjartlett 
liradbury,  Paul 
Brown,  Joseph 
lirown,  Samuel 
Bunker,  Jonathan 
Burgess.  Beujamiu 
Conaut,  Asa. 
Collins,  Lemuel 
Collins,  Jr.  Lemuel 
Chapman,  Nathaniel 
Cottle,  Benjamin 
Crompton,  Samuel 
Collin,  John 
Daggett,  Tristram 
Daggett,  Peter 
Ellis,  Athens 
P^veleth.  James 
( ireenleaf,  Levi 
HoAves,  Alvan 
Johnsou,  Thomas 
Ilosten,  John 
Johnson.  James 
Johnson,  Abraham 
Knowlton,  Jonath;in 
Ladtl,  William 
Luce,  Daniel 
Luce,  Jr.,  Daniel 
Luce,  llowiand 


Luce,  Truman 

List  of    rofct's  in 

Allen,  Benjamin  GoodricltrJ,  Nathan 


Marshall,  John 
Moody,  Joseph 
Moody,   r]phraim 
IMathew,  Jacob 
Norton,  Jabc/C 
Norton,  Jr..  Jabez 
Norton,  Sprowel 
Page,  Abraham 
Pike,  Joshua 
Kobbins,  Ammuel 
Ivobbins,  Jr.,  Annnne! 
Ivobbins,  Elijah 
Stevens,  Ebenezer 
Stevens,  John 
Stevens,  Samuel 
Thompson,  John 
Thompson,  James 
Thompson,  "id,  John 
Williamson,  Jonathan 
Williamson.  Ebenc/.er 
Webber.  John 
Winslow,  James 
Withee,  Zoc 
Willard,  Nathaniel 
Willard.  Samuel 
Willard,  Levi 
Witham,  Peter 
West,  Jr.  Peter 
West,  Peter 
Jewett,  Benjamin 


(CI) 


Allen,  Sanuiel  B. 
Allen,  Charles  A. 
Allen,  Datus  T. 
Allen,  Ephriam  U. 
Allen,  Albert 
Ayers,  Stephen 
Bradbury,  John  S. 
Bradbury,  AltVed 
Bradbury,  Moses 
Boyden,  Asaph 
Butler,  Peter  W. 


(4()odi-idge,  Charles 
( roodwin,  Alon/.o 
i latch,  David 
Howes,  John 
Hayes,  Charles 
lliggins,  Barna   A. 
lliggins,  -fohn  C. 
Hilton,  Daniel 
Howes,  Lot 
Johnson,  Henry 
Jolui-:on.  Geoi''>e  \V 


Norton,  William 
Norton,  Hiram 
Norton,  Sanuiel  11. 
Norton,  Horatio  ( i. 
Norton,  Clitford  B. 
Oliver,  James 
Oliver,  Thomas  ]\L 
l*atterson,  David 
Batlerson,  AVesley  'i 
Binkham,  Cortes 
Perkins,  James  W. 
Palmer,  Keuel 


-:i^^ 


4s 

Bryant,  James 
Bryant,  (Jihnan 
Bryant,  ^\'ni.  M 
Bearcc,  Silas 
Brown,  Jolui 
Combs,  Francis 
Collins,  Josepli 
Collins,  .Jr.,  .Iose])Ii 
Collins,  Obed  N. 
Coutbrtli.  Bateman 
Confortli.  William 
Con  forth,  Jr.,  AVm. 
Confortli,  Warren 
Caswell,  Snlmon 
Davis,  Cornelins 
Doyen,  Abbott 
Daggett,  Isaae 
Daggett,  Francis 
Daggett,  2d,  Saranel 
Daggett,  John  J. 
Daggett,  ^Vm.  II. 
Dntton.  Josiah 
Dnrrill,  Hiram  I). 
Emery,  Ira 
Phnery,  Jr,  Ira 
Edwards,  Brice  S. 
Edgcomb,  James 
Eveleth,  Benj.  (L 
Eveleth,  Josejjh 
Eveleth,  Jr.  Joseph 
Elliott,  James 
Frost,  John 
•Fogg,  Asa 
Folsom,  Daniel 
Folsom,  Jr.,  Daniel 
Folsom,  AVilliam  Q. 
Frederic,  John  W. 
Fassett,  Bichard 
Fish,  Elisha 
Gardiner,  Beuel 


iiisTonv  oi'  iNin:>-i 

Jolmson,  Nathan  8. 
Johnson,  William  F. 
Johnson,  Zebediah 
Jefferies,  Ceorge 
Knowles,  Ezekicl 
Kennedy,  Andrew 
Lnee,  Bowland 
Luce,  Moses  iM. 
Luce,  Elisha 
Luce,  George  W. 
Luce,  Wiuthrop 
Luce,  Luther 
Luce,  Jr.,  Luther 
Luce,  David 
Luce,  Newall 
Luce,  Nelson  C. 
Jjuce,  Jessie 
Luce,  William  TI. 
Luce.  Jr.,  Wm.  II. 
Luce,  2d.,  Wm.  IF. 
Luce,  AYarren 
Luce,  Joseph 
Look,  Davis 
Leaver,  Joseph 
I^eaver,  John 
Lewis,  William 
Lewis,  William  (L 
Ivowe,  Daniel  C. 
J^owe,  Herbert 
McLaughlin  llichard 
Miller,  George 
Mosher,  John 
Mantor,  John  W. 
Mautor,  Elijah 
Mantor,  Henry 
IMautor,  George' 
i\[autor,  riiram 
Mautor,  AYarren 
jMantor,  f Tames 
Mantor,  Asa  M. 
Mantor,  John  P. 


Goodwin, ["John  H 

Greenwood,  ThaddeusMiller  Jacob 

Greenwood,  Hannibal  Merry,  David 


Gray,  Obed 
George,  Albert  S. 
Gilmore,  James 
Gilmore,  David 
(i  eunings,  Kufus 
(181)   ' 

Given  under  our  hands,  August  9,  1855. 
David  Pattcrsou,  Albert  Shaw,  Selectmen, 


Norton,  Obed 
Norton,  Obed  AV. 
Norton,  Trestrau 
Norton,  Benj.  AV. 
Norton,  James 


Palmer,  Daniel  B. 
Packliir,  Henry  B. 
Racklilf,  J.  Sumner 
IJacklilf,  Samuel 
Rogers,  Thomas 
Ivogers,  Thornas  S. 
Shorey,  Peletiah 
Snell,  James  A« 
Swift,  Ebenezer 
Swift,  Jr.,  Eljenezer 
Storer,  Philip 
Storer,  Peter  M. 
Spinney,  John 
Shaw,  Samuel 
Shaw,  Albert 
Smith,  Ebenezer 
Smith,  Elijah  B. 
Stevens,  James 
Stevens,  Oliver 
Tolman,  Moses 
Tolman,  John 
Tolman,  AVilliam 
Tolman,  Aaron 
True,  J.  Bartlett 
Tibbetts,  Andrew 
Tibbetts,  Benjamin 
Taylor,  Daniel  H. 
A'iles,  Leonard 
Allies,  John  IT. 
Viles,  Joseph  B. 
A'^iles,  Dennes  II. 
AA^eeks,  Philander 
Webster,  Isaac 
AYhittien,  Lssachar 
AVhittien.  James 
AYillis,  Peter  AV. 
AVillis,  Benjamin  II. 
AVillis,  AVarren  N. 
AVatson,  Simeon 
AVoodstock,  Alexander 
AVelch,  AVilliam 
AVelch,  Phillip 
AVithee,  Zachariah 
AVithee,  Daniel 
AVithee,  AVilliam 
AViUard,  Ilaskall 
AV^hituey,  Charles 
Yeaton,  James  S. 
Yeaton,  Jonathan 

Signed,   C.  B.  Norton,