.S5L8 ' 1^- ^ >• ^art or the whole of the year, within the town. FIRST SETTLERS. '^^ But this meeting was not legally notified, and the doings^thereof were not carried out. Another meeting was callad, and money raised, to make and sustain highways at their expense. Grants of lots were made by the Proprietors, to such individuals as sought them, sometimes gratuitously, or for a small considera- tion, but of this we will speak in the details of the settlement. FipST SETTLERS. NAMES, LOCATIO.MS, AND TIME OF SETTLING. It will be apparent, that much difficulty would arise, in. ascer^ taining with accuracy the date of every beginning, after a lapse of three-fourths of a century, in which no memorandum of these events had been kept. With great pains however, some reliable dates have bsen rescued from oblivion. The Records of the Proprietors afford, here and there, a clue to them — the recollection of the aged, v.'hen corrobo- rated by some distinct event, has in some cases bsen relied on. When there is an an uncertainty, it is left hlank, preferring not to write, than to write at random. In many instances, I can only say previous to such a time, as I fix that date by some matter of record. These individuals, might have been for some time upon the soil, before the action of the Proprietors, which broughtthem into notice. As the West Parish has been a separate town (Acton) for more than twenty years, and as a history* of it has been already pub- lished, I have made no attempt to ascertain the settlement of that part. A i^ew allusions to it however will be unavoidable. The tifne of the frst settlement is established beyond a doubt; though earlier than others have fixed. The Chainmen who assisted in running out the township in 1773, afterward declared in a depo- sition still preserved, that the two families hereafter named, as the first settlers, were then settled thereon — and that they knew of no other within its limits. This accords with the statements which 1 had gSthcred from the aged, who could recollect the time of their own entrance. Timher, it has already been rcmarkcjd, was one of the first attractions which drew adventurers into these solitudes. As a proof of it, we have to state, that a Saw Mill, v/as the first building raised in town ; and the arts of civilization had a permanent introduction, for purposes of lumbering. In 1772, Mr. Simon Emery, of Berwick threw a dam acrDss the Mousam, at its egress from Long Pond, and erected a Saw Mill upon it ; and thus commenced operations, at the place still known as Emerifs Mills. * Fullerton's History of Acton. 18 HISTORY. OP SUAPLEIGII. In th# winter following, 1773, the first settlers, Joseph Jellison and his son Jose[)h, moved in, and settK?d at this place. A daughter of Mr. Jellison the elder, deserves to be honorably remembered, above all others as tho first settler. She accompa- nied her father when he moved the first load of his household cllects to his wilderness home. The next morning the father returned to Doughty Falls, to bring up more, leaving this daughter, with a small supply of provisions, and a dog for company, " to keep the castle," — intending to return the following day. But during the night a heavy storm of snow came on, the great depth of which prevented all traveling. The lonly daughter, aijout twelve years of age, was therefore compelled to remain sole occupant of that dreary aljoile, with no human being within five miles of her, till the snowy blockade could be broken. For two long weeks did she remain, in perfect solitude, save the company of her fiilhful dog, immersed in the depths of an almost unbroken forest, at the end of which her anxious friends, broke through and relieved her. She lived, it should be added, to be twice married, and to repro- duce herself in a line of hardy and daring descendants. In the spring of 1774, James Uavis and William Stanley, came with their families from Kittery, and settled on Stanley's Ridge. The next spring, 1775, Geo. Ham moved in, Jis\.hc fifth family, in the east part of the town. The circumstances of his entrance de- serve a brief notice. An old hunter by the name of Wales, had long pursued the business of the "Red Man" in those undisturbed forests. When he found that civilization was pressing in upon his beat, he selected a fine tract of settling land and felled a slight hedge around it, enclosing several luuulred acres, and laid claim to it as its first possessor. Upon his return to Kittery, he gave a flat- tering account of its superiorities, and sold it to Mr. Ham and four of his neighbors, for an amount of neat stock viilued at 6100 or more. Some of their neighbors, John Patch and James Sayward afterward followed Mr. 11am, and .settled upon it. Mr. Ham' had a large family, which afterwards settled in town; and bringing in workman, he cleared up a farm more rapidly than most"t)f his neighbors. One man in his employ, a Mr. Hammond, was acci- Selectmen. Selectmen 1796 Same, 1797 Same, r John Cook, 3/., 1798/ Aaron Hubbard, sen, T.C.,Jerem'iah"Emery,^ I Andrew Rodgers, T., "' / Aaron Hubbard, sen., M. 1799 j Joshua Brackett, T. C. i Andrew Rodgers, T. ( John Cook. 3/., 1800 s' Joshua Brackett, 7. C, ( Nathan Goodwin, T, John Cook, Nathan Coffin, Aaron Hubbard, John Cook, Joshua Brackett, Simon Ricker, f Same. Joshua Brackett, i John Barllett, \ Nathan Goodwin, j John Cook, \ Joshua Brackett, V Selectmen John Bartlett, j John Bodwell, sen., Jeremiah Emery, Aaron Hubbard', sen Same. Aaron Hubbard, sen., Jeremiah Emery, Nathan Goodwin, Same Selectmen. } Select'' n. Select' r John Cook, M., 1801 ^ Andrew Rodders, T. C, i Nathan Goodwin, T., r John Leighton, M., 1802 / Andrew Rodgers, T. C, Nathan Goodwin, T., r John Cook, M. 1803 .' Josiah P. Woodbury, T. C.,T)arIhig I'Wess' Aaron Hubbard, sen Jeremiah Emery, Daniel Fox, Jeremiah Emery, 1 Nathan Goodwin, Darling Huntress, Jeremiah Emery, Nathan (rood win, ]\Ioscs Folsom, Andrew Rodgers, Sclect''n. Selectmen. Selectmen. > ^wo,..., 1 .vvuuuuury.j. u.,iAarnng Huntress, { Nathan Goodwin. T. Zebulon (oilman, ' 1..A . ( '!''''" Leighton, M., John Bodwell, sen. 1801 . John Bodwell, Jr., T. C, Paul Garvin, ' Nathan Goodwin, T., Nathan Goodwin, 10A- f "I"''" Leighton, I\L, Jeremiah Emery, 180;W .ohn Bodwell, Jr., T. C, John Bodwell, sen. { Josiah r. Woodbury, T., Nathan Goodwin, Jeremiah Emery, J 1800 Same, Nathan Goodwin, ! John Leighton, j Selectmen. Selectmen. Selectmen. Select) INCORPORATION AND TOWN OFFICERS. 25 1807 Same, 1808 Same, 1809 Same, 1810 Same, 1811 Same, 1812 Same, 1813 Same, 1814 Same, 1815 Same, ( Aaron Hubbard, M., 1816 \ John Bodwell, Jr., T. John Leighton, ') Nathan Goodwin, > Selectmen. Moses Jellison, ) John Bodwell, Jr., \ John Leighton, > Selectmen. Moses Jellison, j Same. John Leighton, \ John Bodwell, Jr., > Selectmen. .Teremiah Emery, ) John Bodwell, Jr., \ Abraham Carroll, > Selectmen. Nathan Goodwin, ) Same* Same. Same. Same. John Bodwell, ) John Webber, > Selectmen.- Josiah P. Woodbury, T., Enoch Wood,, !Asa Merrill, M. John Bodwell, Jr. T. C, Asa Merrill, T., (Enoch Wood, M., John Bodwell, Jr., T. C. Josiah P. Woodbury, T., {Samuel S. Wood, M., John Bodwell, Jr., T. C, Darling Huntress, T., John Bodwell, Simon Ross' Samuel Heard, Same. Same. Selectmen. SJohn Leighton, M., Wni. Trufton, C, D. Huntress, T., S. S. COMMITTEE., Whiiing Stevens, SELECTMEN. Aaron Hubbard, Stephen PilIsbury,Eeuben Buck, John Bodwell, ' Wm. Trafton. 1821 S ame, 1822 Same, Wr 1823 ■ ( Wm. \ Wm. (D. Hi Mann, M.\ Trafton, C, untrcss, T., f Samuel Stacy, M. Wm. Trafton, C, D. Huntress, T., !Wm. Mann, M., Wm. Trafton, C, D. Huntress, T., John Bodwell, Simon Ross, Samuel Heard, * Same, John Bodwell, Simon Ross, John Bodwell, Simon Ross, Samuel Heard. Same. H. Buck, Wm. Trafton, Stephen Pillsbury,Elisha Bodwell. John Bodwell, Simon Ross, Samuel Heard, John Bodwell, Simon Ross, Same. Chas. Blanchard, R. Buck, Stephen Pillsbury,Wm. Trafton. 20 HISTOUY OF SHAPLEIQU. SELECTMEN. S. S. COMMITTEE. /■ Ariroii IlubbanJ, M., John BoiJwell, R. Buck, \H2C) J \V,n. Tniftoii, C, Simon Ross, VVm. Trafton, ' n. JluiitP-ss, 7'., Aaron Hubbard, E. Bodwell. Stephen IMllsbury.R. Buck, 1827 Same. Moses Hemming, Elisha Bodwell, Wm. Trafton, George Webber. {Aaron Hubbard, 3/., John Bodwell R. Buck, Wm. Trafton, C, Simon Ross, John Bodwell, Elisha Bodwell, T., Enoch Wood, (Jeorpe Wdbber. Enoch Wood, Wm. Trafton, 1829 Same, Simon Ross, Elisha Bodwell, Samuel S. Wood, Charles Emerson. At this period the town was divided ; the West Parish being incorporrted Acton. !Benj. Sayward, M., Simon Ross, Wm. Trafton, Wm. Trafton, C, Elisha Bodwell, Elisha Bodwell, Wm. Bragdon, T., John Webber, John T. Paine. fWm. Mann, il/., Simon Ross, John T. Paine, Wm. Trafton, C, Elisha Bodwell, Elisha Bodwell, Wm. Bragdon, T., John Rickcr, Wm. Trafton. f John T. Paine, M., John T. Paine, 1832 I Wm. Trafton, C. Same, Wm. Trafton, { Wm. Bragdon, T., Thomas Garvin. 1833 Same, Same, Same. J. T. Paine, M., J. T. Paine, 1834 ^ Elisha Bodwell, C, Same, Elisha Bodwell, ( Wm. Bragdon, T., Thomas Garvin. C J. T. Paine, M., Elisha Bodwell, J. T. Pulne, 1835 ^ Elisha Bodwell, C, John Ricker, Wm. Trafton, ( Wm. Bragdon, T., Wm Sayward, Joseph Gillpatrick. ( J. T. Paine, 711, Simon Ross, 183G ; Joseph Gilpatrick, C, Wm. Sayward, Same. f Wm. Bragdon, T., John Gowon, C John Crockett, M. Simon Ross, E. Bodwell, 1837 ; E. Bodwell, C, Wm. Sayward, Wm. Trafton, f Wm. Bragdon, T., John Itickcr, Ansel Gcrrish- C J. Crockett, M., E. Bodwell, E. Bodwell, 1838 ; E. Bodwell, C, John Ricker, Wm. Trafton, ( J'Jtham Ham, T., SamuerThing, John Gowen, ( Mark Wood, M., E. Bodwell, E. Bodwell, 1839 ; E. Bodwell, C, Samuel Thing,. Wm. Trafton, I Ivory Bragdon, T., Elihu Webber, Thomas (rarvin. {.lohn Crockett, M, Samuel Thing, J. Gillpatrick, K. Bodwell, C, E. Webber, E. Bodw.ll, Ivory Bragdon, T., Thomas Garvin, Thomas Garvin, INCORPORATION AND TOWN OFFICERS. 27 (J. Crockett, M., 1841 1 E. Bodwell, C, ( Ivory Bragdon, T. 1842 Same. { Elias Ham, M., 1843 ) Thomas Garvin, C, / Jotliam Ham, T., r Moses Good win, Jr., ill. 1844) E. Bodwell, C, ( J. Ham, T., ( John Crockett, M., 1845 ) M. Goodwin, Jr., C, ( Ivory Bragdon, T,, ( John Crockett, M., 1846 ) Moses Goodwin, Jr., C. ( I. Bragdon, T., iJohn Crockett, ill, E. Bodwell, C, T., ( J. Crockett, ill, 1848 } E. Bodwell, C, ( I. Bragdon, T., ( John M. Ham, ill, 1849 } E. Bodwell, C, ( Jotham Ham, T., John Crockett, ilf., 1850 •s met in roriland. Oct. 11— consisting of one from each corporate town in the State however small, and as many froni the large towns as they had sent of Representatives— to draft and suhiiut^to the people, a Const"itution. ^ , ^ , „ . _ . , , The Town of Shaplei^h sent '3- John Bodwell, J Leighlon, and Samuel Heard. Wm. King, was President of the Convention, and I^bert C. Vose. Secretary. • . , , On the l.st Monday of Dec. 1S19, the voters again assembled to act upon its adoption. . . In Shapleigh but 25 voted for it. and 132 agamst it. This may be attributed to the fact that two of tlieir delegates, owing to objec- tions against two of the provisions, voted agamst ii in the Conven- tion It was ratified however by a large majority in the btate. Ill March following, Maine was admitted into the Union by an Act of Congress — and thus the separation was consummated. The first election of Slate officers was held on the first Monday of April. This town cast her whole vote, 193, for Wm. Kmg, the first Gov- ernor Gov Kin" having been appointed a Commissioner of Span- ish Claims, vacate°d the ollice. The next year A. K. Parris. J. Win- rrate and E. White were the leading candidates. Mr. Parris was chosen. In this town he received 95 votes. Other.s 133 The next year the vote stood 193 for Parris, all others 29. For the next three years, Parris received the whole vole, with one or two ex- '^^In^lS-W and 8 the town cast its whole vote for Enoch Lincoln. This popular public officer died while Chief Magistrate of the State. In lS->9 J E Huntoon, an 1 S. E. Smith were the candidates for Governor. Iluntoon had 182, Smith ISO. Huntoon was ^^^830, S. E. Smith, 178 — J. E. Iluntoon, 67, and this denotes the relative strength ot the parties since. The Representatives to the State Legislature have been as follows : — 1788, Jenni.h, Emory, 1815 & 16,J P.Woodbury 1837, E. Bodwell 1802 John LeiiThton,' 1817 & lH,vld not to sendlc3d, b Webber on 2J 1805 John Lci.hton and 1^19 cV UO J Hudwell. ^%^^^^, J. I'. Woodbury. 1^>•<{)2 this Society erected a Meeting House, at " the Corner," near the centre of this Parish — which was the first house of wor- ship in this part of the town. During the next year, 1803, a church was organized, its members having been previously coimecled with the Baptist church in the West Parish, Mr. Simonds supplied them for a season ; but though a Council was convened for that ob- ject, he was not ordained over them. Elder Delano of Lebanon, spent a part of his Sabbaths with this people, and had, for a season the care of this cliurch. In September 1818, Mr. John Chadbourne, who was first a Dea- con of the church, and then licensed to preach by it, was ordained over it and became its first pastor. He was dismissed at his own request in 1822, and moved into New Hampshire. He afterwards labored in Sanford and Iliram. Mr. Charles Blancharcl succeeded him and was ordained in 1823, and left in 1828. His labors were successful and increased the church. Rev. P. L. Fogg supplied them, IVom 1829 till 1832. Rev. .Jo- seph (4ilpatrick then labored with them from 1833 till 18-1 L Rev. John Hubbard supplied them from IN 13 till 1818. During his min- istry their house of worship was built over, and much improved in convenience and appearance. Rev. Noah Hooper then supplied the pulpit two vears. Rev. Leander S. Tripp commenced preaching with them in 1851 and is the present incumbent. Co nc^re Rational Sociely in Shaplei^h. Many of the first settlers ot the East Parish were in sentiment Congregationalists. But the materials for a church not being found here early, those who were firinly attached to it, worshiped with the church in the West Parish. As the land reserved for the support of the ministry was un- RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 33 sold, and unimproved, no exertions were made for some lime to se- cure Congregational preaching. No church nor society of this de- nomination was organized till the Baptist church had been employ- ing a stated ministry more than twenty years. It labored under other serious embarrassments, from the beginning. A certain in- dividual entered upon the land reserved for the use of the Congre- gational Ministry by the Proprietors, and used it as his own. As the Congregationalists were principally interested in these lands, they commenced a suit for his ejectment. While this was pending, many, apprehending a heavy bill of costs, united with the Baptist Society, so as to be beyond the reach of it. At length, the case, going up to a law term of the Supreme Court, was decided against the individual, but he being by this time insolvent, the plaintiff had to meet a large bill of costs. A Society was then incorporated, the Proprietors encouraging it. And in 1823 a small church was or- ganized, and Rev. Henry A. Merrill settled over it, the same day. He spent half of his time with the other Parish. A house of wor- ship was commenced at the Corner, and some were added to the church. Mr. Merrill received the lot of 150 acres reserved for the use of the first settled Congregational Minister ; but the Parsonage land then yielded nothing available. His support therefore was insuffi- cient, and finding many discouragements in his path, he left them in 1824. The same year, Acts were passed by the Legislature, authoring the Society 'to sell the Parsonage lot, and incorporating a Board of Trustees to hold the Fund, to invest it so as to produce an income and to expend it according to the design of the Proprietors. This was accordingly done, and $1650 received and invested. — The income of this was annually expended in temporary supplies, generally from neighboring pastors, but these yielded nc increase to the Church. Rev. Clark Cornish supplied them statedly one half of the time from 1831 to 1836. His labors resulted in some hopeful conver- sions and in a few additions to the church. After he left. Rev. J. Carruthers, I. Kimball and C. Parker, and others, labored with them for short periods. In the autumn of 1841, Mr. Amasa Loring, from Bangor Theo- logical Seminary, commenced laboring here. Encouragement attended his early labors and measures were taken to retain him. He was accordingly ordained over this church, June 15, 1842.— The old Meeting House which had never been completed, was tak- en down and a small neat place of worship provided on a better lo- cation. Gradual accessions were made to the church, but it still remained small and feeble. At length death and removals preyed upon it, so that Mr. Loring was compelled to leave the field of his ' early toils and trials. He closed his labors with them m December 1848. Rev. Levi Loring supplied them during the year 1850, but hey are now vacant. o4 JIISTORY OF 6HAPLEIGH. Methodist Society at Emery's Mills. Iiinerant Methodist preach- ers visitciJ this part of the town, and some became connected with this denomination. In 1N:2N a house of worship was erected and a congregation permanently established. For a while, they went on prosperously — but the business of the place declining, and other adverse events reducing their numbers, many of them removing to other places — in 1841 they ceased to hold public worship. Free- Will Baptist Society, Ross Corner. The commencement of this dates back to 1818. Their House of Worship was built in 1818. A large portion of its meml^crs reside in the adjoining town of Waterboro'. Their meeting house is well located so that a large congregation might easily gather there — but fur long peri4,— and closed up in 1S30. Then Mr. Pike resumed n for a season. Col. Jotham Alien commenced trade in this plac; in 1S39. His busmess was extensive. In 1851 he sold out to Abraham Coffin— who rdso sold out to Samuel Lord, who has since sold out to Ed- mund Warren. Otis Ross has recently been engaged in trade here Timmbh/s 3m/s, or Shapleigh Iron Works. This place is on both banks of the Little Ossipee, partly in Shapleigh and partly in Newfield. As early as 1799, Jos. & Wm. Linscott, erected a Saw mill here. Sometime after a Saw and Grist mill were built on the Newfield side by Home & Twambly. Trade was commenced here in 1826 by Benjamin Pillsbury. Simeon Towie did business here in this line for a short time;~likewise Daniel Lewis. A bed of Iron ore was ciscovered upon the banks of the Little Ossipee, about a mde above this place on the Shapleigh side. In 1836, this was pur- chased by Huse & Co., and an expansion blast furnace erected, tor convenience of location this was on the Newfield side. While this operated it greatly increased the business of the place. But the ore bed proved to be small and the business unprofitable, there- fore after a few years it was abandoned. The building and water power are now employed as a Box-making establishment, and a Hat manulactory. In 1844 a small Woolen Factory was put 'n\ operation here by J Hargraws & Sons, who still continue to run it. PHYSICIANS. Dr. Ciiarles Powers, of Greenwich, Mass., established himself at the western bordernear Milton Mills, as early as 1791, and practiced with low as they can be purchaseil at any establishment in Saco. NEATLY REPAIRED, AT THE EAST END OF FACTORY ISLAND, SILK, SHAWL, DRESS GOODS AND CARPET HABIILTON & CO., ^ lUilisb, ifrtiub, ^tnnaii an^ '^wmim prn (j3ooi)5, '^ CARPETINGS, FEATHERS AND WOOLENS, ({ 3 K A C T () K V IS I. A X V . JAMES G. ROLLINS, E i)i-Ar,i:ii IN ?llfi)icint,s,(!"hciuif:il'i.lliTt >tuff5, 5 antii Articles, lt)trfiinuri), c 3 PA.TEHT MKDIGI.HEIS, FOREK^M UEE.CHES^ CIGARS, LOZENGES, Atc.^c, ^». all iAc^okiOiOAVi)^ & U a n v^^^^—D n p n P.^=^=-P n ^ -zzri^znS ^^. -^o^ .^^ '^^ -^-f. ^•^0^ •^•- '■°'^' :^^: Vo.' ^^^:'- %/ : '"••' .v^ ... <-. .^^^"v (^^ "*<» ^^ y\ ■■^/ /%. ^^ ^v ■■■■ •x..-t.^>-../;«*x::,'"'V--- * ti* • 6^^ « V V* '»^(^o^r^ ay A. • '^-^.r5 ^ .^^ HECKMAN BINDERY INC. -^ -^:^i;^* ^ -^ O, -o , A^ -•* .^0 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 995 684 9 '