A history of Farmington, Me. from its settlement to 1846

Front matter

Qass.

Book

H I s T O i' \

Chapter II

First Exploration — The Exploring Party — Their Route — Indians — The party return and resolve to settle — Again repair to the ^' Great Intervale'^ in bateaux — Route — Commence Clearing — Reuben Colburn and his Associates — Electing of the Company — Kennebec Purchase — Survey — Conditions of Settlement — Mills.

The tract of land now comprised within tlie territorial limits of the town of Farmington was first explored, with a view of settlement, by Stephen Titcomb, Robert Gower, James Henry, Robert Alexander, and James Maodonnell, in the summer of 1776. They were piloted by Thomas Wilson who had previously explored the region as a hunter. The whole party were from Topsham in the county of Lincoln, and they came in canoes up the Kennebec, as far as Hallowell, which then contained but three or four houses and some fishstores. From Hallowell they proceeded by land over a bad road, through a very sparcely settled tract, to a Rumford Smith's, just above the present site of Lane's oil-mill, his being the last house. From this place they proceeded by a compass, a west-north-west course, supposing this would enable them to strike at or near the "Great-Intervale." They struck the Sandy-River at New-Sharon-Falls, near where the mills now stand — crossed the river, and traveled along its northern bank to Farmington-Falls, where they found two Indian camps, (Pierpole's and Phillips',) and some Indian-corn and potatoes growing.*

* They found a considerable tract of land cleared at the Falls, extending from the upper part of the present site of the village, down tlie river to the

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10 Indians — Adventures of the First Party.

From the Falls they proceeded up by the side of the river about one mile, to the south-east line of the farm known by the name of the Tufts-Farm, now owned by Samuel Daggett. Here they stripped some bass-wood bark, for a substitute for a chain, and commenced measuring off lots for farms, which they made one hundred rods in width. They measured off six lots, which they divided by lot among them. After prossecuting their discoveries up the river they concluded to return to Topsham, procure tools and return to commence clearing in two weeks from the time of concluding this agreement.

At the time appointed they prepared themselves with bateaux and came up the Kennebec to the Cobosseconte stream, (Now Gardiner,) — carried their bateaux round the falls, and followed the stream till they came to the Indian Great-Carrying-Place, which leads to Winthrop Great-Pond, passed up this pond to South-Pond, near Winthrop-Factory, carried to the pond near Readfield-Corner, proceeded up Bog-Stream to Greely's-Pond, and carried one mile to Crotchet-Pond. From Crotchet-Pond they carried two miles to a pond west of the edge of New-Sharon. The remains of a considerable Indian village and of a fort enclosing about an acre of land, were to be seen. The fort was situated near the center of the tract now covered by the Falls-Village. The Indian buryinif ground has since been discovered in digging the cellar to Thomas CroswcU's dwelling-house. A number of skeletons were found in an upright position. Tradition states that many years before, a boy by the name of Knights was taken in the town of Gorham, and carried to the Sandy-River, where he was kept through the winter. The camp of the Indians was on the "Great-Intervale." near the spot first improved by Mr. Titcomb. In the spring the boy was left with the squaws while the Indians again repaired to Gorham to obtain scalps and more prisoners. Young Knights found a M'ay of escape, and, passing within sight of the Indians, arrived in Gorham in season to give notice of their approach, which warning probably prevented an inhuman massacre. Tomahawks, arrow-heads and other Indian relics have been discovered in difierent parts of the toAvn.

Clearings Commenced — Company Formed. 1 1

Ridge in Chesterville and followed its waters down the Little-Norridgewock to Sandy-River.

They felled some trees on the lots they had before selected, and, after exploring the country to a greater extent than they had done in their previous tour, descended the Sandy-River to the Kennebec, and sailed down the Kennebec to their homes in Topsham.

From this time this company, with others, continued to make improvements in different parts of the town, till 1781, when the first families moved into it.

About this time another company came from the vicinity of Hallowell, to explore with a view of making a settlement on the Sandy-River, who, with the former company, formed an association in Hallowell, Dec. 17, 1777, known by the name of "The Proprietors of a Township on Sandy-River," now commonly known as the firm of ^'-Reuhcn Colhurn and his Associates.''^

At their meeting Ephraim Cowan was chosen clerk and arrangements were made for laying out a road to the township. James Cowan and Moses Aires were chosen a committee to petition to the General-Court for the road. The petitioners, however, failed at this time to procure a grant, in consequence of its having been supposed that the township would fall within the limits of the Plymouth-Claim.

In the following season, July 28, 1778, they had a meeting to "petition to the Plymouth-Company, but as doubts respecting the title were entertained, they concluded not to petition, but made arrangements to open the road laid out the previous winter, from John Stearns' land to the mill-stream on which Titcomb's-Mills now stand.

The meetings of the associates were generally holden at Amos Pollard's, in that part of Hallowell now

12 Kennehec-Purchase — Boundaries, ^-c.

Augusta, and their business was conducted by a clerk, treasurer and a committee of three, who were chosen annually, and their expenses were paid by assessments on the rights in the township.

After some verbal communications from Mr. Bowdoin, chairman of the committee of the proprietors of the Kennebec-Purchase from the colony of New-Plymouth, it was voted, at a meeting held on the 24th of May, 1779, to make some proposals to Mr. Bowdoin on condition that he would give warrantee deeds, and Mr. Weston was chosen to make the propositions.

It appears by a memorandum signed in Boston, Oct. 4, 1779, by James Bowdoin, Daniel Jeffries, James Hewing and John Hancock, and from an alteration annexed, dated at Boston, March 3, 1780, signed by Henry Allen, proprietor's-clerk, that the following arrangement was made with the committee of the proprietors of the Kennebec-Purchase, by Reuben Colburn and his Associates, viz: —

That the associates should cause a survey to be taken of all that tract of land west of Kennebec-River and north of the southerly line of Settler's-Lot No. 70, in the town of Vassalborough, now Sidney, and south of the mouth of Sandy-River, and extending westerly fifteen miles; viz: — The course of Kennebec-River to be taken, then, commencing at the mouth of Sandy-River, to run a due west course fifteen miles, there to make a corner marked K. 15 M.; thence southerly two miles; thence, varying the courses so as to conform to the courses taken on the Kennebec-River, until it strikes the Little-Norridgewock stream, there to be marked K. 15 M. to show that it is 15 miles from Kennebec-River, on a west-north-west course; and from thence to the first mentioned bound. The ponds and rivers to be

Lots — Conditions of Settlement. 13.

laid down on the field-book, together with the growth of timber on the land and the quality of the soil, and every thing of a remarkable nature, including the road laid out to the township which was to be surveyed from the rear of this tract of land, and the line of which was to commence at the junction of the Little- Norridgewock with the Wilson-Stream — from thence to follow down the Wilson-Stream to Sandy-River, thence down the river about half-a-mile, from thence a due north course until it should intersect the fifteen-mile-line running west from Kennebec-River, making the town about ten miles in its longest extent.

The township Avas to be laid out in lots of two hundred acres and two hundred and fifty acres, alternately, that is, first a lot of two hudred acres, then a lot of two hundred and fifty acres, next another lot of two hundred acres, and so on, through the whole town, except on Sandy-River, where all the lots were to be of equal extent — sixty rods on the river — and not to exceed one hundred and fifty acres; the whole to be laid out with as much equality as possible.

One of the one hundred and fifty acre lots was to b^; for the first settled minister, and one of the two hundred acre lots to be for the use of the ministry, both to be marked M. The one hundred and fifty acre lots on the river were to be marked, first, P. for proprietors, next S. for settlers, and so on, alternately, and the two hundred and fifty acre lots were to be marked P. for proprietors, and the two hundred acre lots, S. for settlers; fii'st laying out a lot on the mill-stream for encouraging the building of a grist-mill and a saw-mill for the accommodation of the inhabitants, not to exceed one hundred and fifty rods in width and to run three hundred rods back from the river, if there should be room.

14 Conditions of ^Settlement.

An exact plan of the town was to be made out, and the })lan, with the field-})ook to be returned to the clerk of the proprietors of the Kennebec-Purchase, by the tenth of the following May. The survey was to be at the expense of the associates, if they were admitted as settlers on certain conditions.

When the survey was completed, and the return made according to directions, the committee concluded to recommend to the owners to admit the applicants as settlers in the township. They were to obtain a written license from the owners, and, with such as might associate with them, each select a settler's lot, to which he was to be entitled after a residence of two years, with the condition that he should build a house not less than twenty feet square, and seven feet in the stud, clear five acres of land within three years, and actually live on the premises himself during three years, or in case of his death, his heirs or some one under them to complete the term of residence, — he or some one under him likewise to reside on the premises seven years longer, and work upon the ministerial lot, or on a house for the public worship of God, two days in a year for ten years, when required by the committee of the proprietors or their agent — and also two days each year on the public roads till the lands should be incorporated into a town; each one likewise agreeing to submit in public affairs to the decision of the majority of the settlers at any public meeting regularly called.

The settlers were to petition the owners, and the plan was to be made and returned by the 10th of May, 1780. It appears that the survey was completed and that returns were made, agreeably to directions, in June, 1780, by Joseph North, Esq.

But as it was considered somewhat doubtful whether

Division of Lots — Road and Bridge. 15

the town would fall within the limits of the Plymouth- Claim, no further measures were taken to obtain a title to the lands till after the Revolutionary- War, when the boundaries were settled between the State and the Plymouth-Company.

A front-lot and a back-lot making a right in the town, the settlers chose a committee to couple them according to quality, and draw them by lot, on the 17th of May, 1780. Some, however, who had commenced improvements on particular lots were excepted from this mode of division, and permitted to retain the lots they had before selected. The result of drawing the lots was recorded in the book kept by the clerk of the associates, and agreeably to a vote of the associates, all conveyances of lots were to be recorded by their clerk in his book, which was admitted as evidence in the trial of the action, "Simeon Pane vs. Thomas and Timothy Johnson," in the Supreme-Judicial-Court, at the October term 1816, by the court directing depositions to be taken of some persons who were present when the lands were divided and the lots drawn, and also that the deposition of Solomon Adams Esq. should be taken in jierpetuam identifying said book, and confirming the records of said book — he being the last clerk of the associates. This being done agreeably to the direction of the court, and the deposition recorded in the Registry-of-Deeds for Kennebec-County, and annexed to the book, it was directed that it should be lodged in the town-clerk's office for the use of the town, or any person who may have occasion to use it in defence of his title.

In July, 1780, measures were taken to lay out and open a road from the head of Chandler's-Pond to this town, and to build a bridge over the Little-Norridgewock stream, and in the year following a contract was made to

16 3IiUs — Proceedings of the Associates.

have one built over Wilson's-Stream. In 1782 a vote was passed to have the survey completed, as soon as might be, the side lines of the lots not having been run when the plan of the town was made, the lots only having been fronted on the river, with the corners of the back lots marked on the range lines of the first survey.

It was agreed by the associates, July 4, 1780, that Reuben Colburn and Stephen Pullen should build the mills at Sandy-River, upon their giving bonds that it should be done by the 1st of August, 1781, and that they should be kept in repair seven years.

The saw-mill was put in operation in November 1781, and the grist-mill in the following August. The first meetjng.of "Colburn and his Associates," held at Sandy- River, was on the 15th of October, 1783, <it the dwellinghouse of Samuel Butterfield, where their meetings were afterwards held as long as they continued to transact business in that capacity.

At this meeting they chose Samuel Bullen, moderator, — Nehemiah Blodget, clerk, — Peter Corbett, treasurer, — Reuben Colburn, Samuel Butterfield and Nathaniel Davis committee — who were empowered to finish the survey in the most convenient possible manner for the associates.

The next meeting was held on the 12th of May, 1785, which was organized by choosing Mr. Samuel Butterfield, moderator; — Solomon Adams was chosen clerk, Peter Corbett, treasurer, and Samuel Butterfield, Solomon Adams and Nehemiah Blodget, committee for that year.

At this meeting they took measures to settle with Joseph North, and Solomon Adams for the survey of the town, which had jDreviously been completed. Samuel Butterfield, Church Brainard and Solomon Adams were chosen a committee to dispose of lots on which tlie dividends had not been paid.

• This meeting was continued by adjournment to the first Wednesday of March, 1786, in the course of which period the proprietors closed most of their business; and made an assessment of one pound on a right for the repair of roads, to be paid in labor at four shillings a day, and chose Seth Greely and Church Brainard surveyors to see it expended, and make returns to the committee, and chose Samuel Butterfield, Solomon Adams and Samuel Bullen, agents on matters relative to securing their titles; but it does not appear that any thing decisive was done until February, 1790, or any records kept of the doings of the associates.

Chapter III

Stephen Titcomh — Joseph Brown — Nathaniel Davis — Enoch Craig — William Kannady — Solomon Adams — Nehemiah Blodget — Samuel Butterfield — Jonas Butterfield — Jonathan Knoiolton — Peter Corbett — Francis Tiffts.

We shall now trace the settlement of the town from the commencement in 1781, until the title was obtained in 1790, from the commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Stephen Titcomb Esq. as has already been stated, commenced making improvements on the farm on which Capt. Charles Gill now lives, in September, 1776, which he continued to enlarge until 1780, when he built a log-house, having before lived in a temporary camp. — That season he raised some corn, potatoes and turnips. Having secured his corn in a crib and his potatoes and

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18 Stephen Titcomh,

turnips in the ground, he returned to Topsham, from which he started with his family in the winter of 1781, intending to move immediately into this town, but on account of the depth of the snow he was compelled to stop through the winter at Constant Norton's in Readiield, near the spot now occupied by the brick school -house, his being the last house. He came up and got in his crop in the spring, and then went down after his family, and, on the road, met Joseph Brown and Nathaniel Davis, on their way with their families to the Sandy- River. He returned immediately with his family. The corn which, the fall before, he had secured in a crib, was destroyed by bears, while he was detained by the snow^ His potatoes and turnips having kept well, the forftier served for seed for the settlers that year.

The stock which Mr. Titcomb brought with him consisted of a yoke of oxen and three cows, which he provided for by pasturing them in the woods in the summer season and cut meadow-hay and raised oats for fodder in the winter.

The nearest mill at this time was at Winthrop where the factory now stands, about 30 miles distant, which subjected the earliest settlers to great inconvenience, as the road was bad, and most of them, as is commonly the case in new settlements, had no means of transportation. A saw-mill, however, was got into operation as early as November, 1781, when Mr. Titcomb went up with his team to haul in timber to saw for the running gear for a grist-mill. He stayed all night and sawed a thousand feet of boards in the evening, being the first boards sawed on the Sandy-River or any of its waters. The grist-mill was set in operation in the August following, which relieved the inhabitants of one of their greatest embarrassments.

Stephen Titcomh — Joseph Brown — NaihH Davis. 19

Mr. Titcomb built his first barn in April, 1785, and

his house in 1788, into which he moved in 1789

The Rev. Mr. Emerson preached the first sermon in the Valley of the Sandy-River, in Mr. Titcomb's log-house. Stephen Titcomb Jr., son of Mr. Titcomb, was born November 4, 1782, being the first white male child born in the town. He died Sept. 26, 1830.

Mrs. Titcomb was a native of Johnstown, Rhode Island. She died November 6, 1839, at the age of 90. Mr. Titcomb lived on the farm on which he first settled 59 years, and which he sold in 1840 to Capt. Charles Gill. On selling his farm he removed to the village, where he is now living at the advanced age of 93 years. He is the only survivor among the heads of the seven families who first spent the winter in the town.

Joseph Brown and Nathaniel Davis removed from Winthrop to this then uninhabited wilderness in May, 1781, being the first families who moved into the town, or this side of what is now Readfield. Mr. Brown settled on the farm now owned by John Brooks and Loring Sweet. Having made but little preparation for the accommodation of a family, Mr. Brown erected a temporary camp, which answered his purpose till he became able to build a more substantial one. Mrs. Brown whose maiden name was Mary Greely, was one of the six heads of families of the same name, and children of Greely, who

early settled in this town. They were natives of Haverhill, Mass. Mrs. Brown being lame and there being only a path bushed out along the river, was under the necessity of riding on horse-back, notwithstanding the man'y dangers of the road. Coming down a steep descent within a short distance of their destined residence, she was thrown over the horse's head at the risk of her life. Mr. Brown built his fiist house on the intervale where it was

20 Joseph Brown — Nathaniel Davis.

surrounded by water to a considerable depth in the great freshet of 1785, when the family had to make their escape in a canoe during the darkness of night, after which he built another log-house on the upland. He suffered severely by the loss of his crops in 1783 by a frost on the night of the 9th of August. He put up the first framed barn in the upper part of the town about 1787, the boards of which were fastened on by pegs — an invention not uncommon with the early settlers, and which answered a valuable . purpose. He erected his house in 1793.

Mr. Brown was born on the Merrimac-River in Mass. He served as a soldier in the French-War, in which he was made partially a cripple through life, by the lodgment of a ball in his leg, which was never extracted. He came to this place poor — himself and wife partially crippled, but by persevering industry and strict economy they soon became clear of debt and independent, but from circumstances mostly beyond his control, he subsequently became reduced in circumstances and his farm was sold to John Patterson, from Damariscotta. About 1796 he removed to Industry, (then Plymouth-Patent,) with his oldest son, Samuel Brown, where his wife soon after died, and the wife of his son likewise. The family having been broken up he was supported by the town of Industry, where he died about 1810.

Mr. Davis, who, as has already been stated, removed to this town with Mr. Brown, in May, 1781, and whose wife also was a Greely, settled on the farm now owned by Jacob Abbott Esq. His situation was similar to that of Mr. Brown, having made little or no preparation for the reception of a family. He however fitted up a camp which answered his purpose for a time. He afterwards erected a more substantial log dwelling. He subsequent-

NathH Davis — Jeriah Blake — Enoch Craig. 21

\y became insane, and, inclining to forsake the society of his family and betake himself to the forest, he made the little eminence just south of the present residence of Rev. Samuel Abbott his principal abode, it then being covered with a thick growth of spruce. He afterwards became quite rational.

About 1790 Jeriah Blake removed from Augusta into this town, with his family, and took up his residence with Mr. Davis and wife, — who had no children — where they remained till about 1793, when they removed to the farm now owned by Adam Mott, in Wilton, (then Tyngtown.) Mr. Davis moved to the "Upper-Town," now Phillips, where his wife died. He afterwards resided in the family of Mr. Blake in Temple. He was subject at times to partial insanity, and was afterwards supported by the town of Temple where he died. Mr. D's farm passed into the hands of Samuel Pool, who set up a tannery and continued business for some years. Mr. Pool was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and is, with his wife, still living, at an advanced age, in Mount-Vernon. Mr. Blake died at the residence of his son, John L. Blake, in Phillips, July 14, 1840, aged 89 years. He was an officer in the Revolution.

In June 1781, Enoch Craig, Robert Kannady, Calvin Edson and Gerret Burns came from that part of Hallowell now Augusta, for the purpose of viewing the country. Mr. Kannady had drawn a right in the town the year previous. Mr. Craig was a native of Wrentham Mass. He early enlisted in the continental service and served until 1780, when he left the army and came into this part of the country for the purpose of procuring land for a settlement — his brother Elias having been settled at what is now Augusta, They returned immediately, and in September Mr. Craig with

^ Enoch Craig — William Kannady.

William; Kamiady came up and felled some trees on the farm on which Joseph S. Craig now lives, and that known as the Heath-Farm, on which Mr. Kannady settled. They found some bark peeled, of which they constructed a camp., Mr. Craig sowed two bushels of winter-wheat in the fall of 1782, which was all winterkilled*. He sowed the same ground with spring-wheat in 1783 and planted some corn which was all killed by the great frost in August. In 1785 he suffered considerable damage by the great freshet which flowed his hovel to a considerable depth and injured his grain. Mr. Craig continued to make improvements, and added to his farm already begun upon, the lot immediately above.. He erected a superior log-house near the intervale. In the winter of 1789 he went to (now) Augusta, with Dorothy Starling his intended wife, for the purpose of being married, where they had previously been published, (there being no person nearer than that vicinity qualified to solenmize marriages.) He erected his. framed barn about this time, but his house was not raised till 1795 or 1796. He possessed the universal confidence of his townsmen and was elected one of the first selectmen, in which office he served some years, and subsequently to the office of town-treasurer, and to other responsible offices, all of which he filled with fidelity. He died December 10, 1835, aged 77 years, and his wife February 2, 1829, aged 66 years.

William Kannady, as has been stated, commenced on what has since been called the Heath-Farm, in 1781, where he soon made a permanent settlement, and erected a log-house on the first rise from the intervale. He lost his wife in January, 1788, who was the third adult that died in the town. Mr. Phillip Davenport, who lived near where Fairbanks'-Bridge now stands, lost a

William Kannady — Solomon Adams, 23

«child a few days before, and they were both buried in what is called the Old-Burying-Ground, near the Center-Bridge. This was the first biirying-ground in town.

Mr. Kannady was afterwards married to Sarah Smith. They accompanied Mr. Craig to Hallowell for that purpose. He continued on the farm on which he first begun until 1792, when he sold to Benjamin Heath from Freetown, Mass. who set up and carried on the blacksmithing business in connection with farming, for some years. About 1817, he sold and removed with his sons to what is now Salem, and built the first mills in that place, where he died in 1826.

Mr. Kannady removed to what is now Temple, and, after a number of removals he again settled in this town, where he died in 1820, aged 67. His wife is still living.

Solomon Adams, formerly of Chelmsford, (now Lowell, Mass.,) having served in the war of the Revolution, from the commencement until near 1781, in the course of that year came to the Sandy-River for the purpose of settling. He made some improvements on the farm on which Benjamin Adams now lives and built a log-house. At this time he brought his provisions from Chelmsford by land to Boston, from thence to Hallowell by water and from there to this place on horseback. He lost his barn by fire, with all his effects in 1788. He erected his first framed house in 1787, and married with Hannah Butterfield about the same time. He was a practical surveyor, in which capacity he was of great use in the then new country. Mr. Adams held various offices in the militia, was early commissioned as justice-of-the-peace, was chosen town-clerk, treasurer and selectman, in all of which offices he served for many years with credit to himself and to the interest of

24 Nehemiah Blodget — SamH and Jonas Bnttetjield.

the town. He was killed in Vienna by being thrown from his carriage, November 4, 1833, at the age of 75 years. His wife is still living on the same farm, and draws a pension from the U. S. for the services of her late husband in the war of the Revolution.

Nehemiah Blodget begun on the farm known as the Brown-Farm, in the lower part of the town, now owned by Daniel Beale Jr., — in 1780, where he made a permanent settlement and built the first framed house in this town, about 1785. The same house has since been fitted up and now stands on what was a part of the Tufts-Farm, a little east of its former location. Mr. Blodget sold to a Mr. Ditson. Capt. Samuel Brown settled on this farm in 1801, and erected new buildings. He died in 1811. His widow Susannah Brown is still living at the advanced age of 94 years. Mr. Blodget soon left the place and little is known of his history.

Samuel Butterfield and Jonas Butterfield, removed from Dunstable, Mass., to this town in November 1781, and brought their families in a wagon. They came through Lewiston to Monmouth over a new road, where there was but a spotted line the spring before. Samuel Butterfield settled on the lot now owned by Moses Butterfield. Having no buildings erected, he set up four crotches on which he laid poles and covered them with elm bark, which answered a valuable purpose for a dwelling-house for some years, with the addition of a small framed building, being the first of the kiud put up in the town. These buildings were occupied by Mr. Butterfield until he built what was long called the Butterfield-Red-House, about 1789, (now white and occupied by Moses Butterfield. Mr. Butterfield built the brick house now owned by James Butterfield, in 1800, the first brick building erected in the town. Mr. Butterfield was one of the three who purchased the