Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-18

VI VTIC UVLI.
SETTLEMENT or CUAI.

Thinking it might interest some Of your
readers to learn some of the facts relating
to the first settlement OF the town of China.
your correspondent being descendant of one
of the first settlers, takes the liberty to ask
you to publish some few facts and incidents
connected with that event.
In three years more, q century will have
passed since Edmund Jonathan and Andrew
Clark, settled in the Page neighborhood, on
the southwest side of the pond. In the same
year, 1913, Ephraim Clark and George Fish
settled on the east side of the pond near the
Fish Brook" so called. In 1875, Abraham
Burrill and Michael Norton located them
selves on the eastern shore of the pond, the
former on the farm now owned by Messrs.
Jackson, Prescott and Varney, and the latter
on the farm next south of the town house, one
of whose sons was the first male child born in
the then plantation. His name was Thomas,
who lived and died in the house near by the
town house. Some three or four years later
Josiah Ward settled on the farm now owned by
Messrs Moody, Clark and Davis. He it was
1t would be a noble act if the authorities of
the town would manifest their public spirit by
causing a suitable monument to be erected on
its ruins, thai the memory Of the fact might
be perpetuatcd. The township was surveyed
and lottod out in l774. by one John Jones
otherwise known as "Black Jones" The
territory from that time until its incorporation
was called Jones Plantation" 1t was in
corporatcd in l7I6, and took the name Of Har-
lem. The warrant for calling the first town
meeting under The Incorporation, was issued
by Fheneczer Farwell, Esq, of Nassalboro'.
The meeting was held at tie dwelling house
of Shubael Bragg on the southwest side of the
pond. At this meeting there were twenty nine
voters. Slubacl Bragg was chosen Modera-
tor. Edward Fairfield Town Clerk, Abraham
Burrill Ephraim Clark and James Lancaster
Selectmcn and Assessors, and James Chad
wick, Constable and Collector.
The northern boundary of Harlem was on
the north lines of John Crane On the east side
of the pond and Mr. Goddard's on the west side,
consequently the present site of China village
was then in Fairfax. In about Isl, or -
Japhcth C. Washburn Esq, who resided in
said village, conceived the idea that a new and
conv enient town might be carved out Of parts
Harlcm Fairfax and Winslow, and selected
for its name ''Bloomville" After fighting
down all opposition, he succeeded in getting
an act of incorporation granted, but adopting
the more celestial name of China. But good
old Harlem, which was left out in the cold,
not relishing the joke very well, soon after
renewed the fight with good deal Of per-
tinacity until at length her petition for annex
alton to China was granted by the Legislature,
since which time the name of Harlem has
has been known no more. When the writer
first saw China Village, there was only one
log house, where Mr.. Farnsworths house now
stands, andin 1904 Japheth C. Washburn erect
ed frame house and store. These at that
that time were all the buildings in the place.
The said house and store were destroyed by