Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-27
The Town of GOrham.
BRIEF SKETCH OF ITS EARLY History.

The town of Gorham embraces an area OF
rather more than six miles square Its long
est side is that on Presumpscot river; its
shortest, the dividing line between Gorham
and Westbrook - the former being about
eight and the latter three miles in length. Ii
is bounded easterly BY the Presumpscot river,
which divides it from the town of Windham /;
souhessterly by Westbrook sontherly By
Scarborough; southwesterly and westerly bv
Buxton.
The surface Of the town is what is called
rolling country. In the northerly part is a
plain of considerable extent, but much the
larger part of Gorham is hiliy. The hills are
uniformly of gentle and even ascent, being
nowhere precipitous or too steep for cultiva-
ton Large and winding valleys are spread
ont between the swells of land, and the whole
is beautifully watered by springs ard streams.
In few places the soil is sandy, but clayey
loan is the prevailing soil
Fort Hill is the highest emnence, and from
its summit can be seen most of the town and
a large extent of the surrounding country and
waters of the ocean, its sides are long slopes,
easily assembled, and covered with excellent
farms.
Gorham, though having within its limits
places bearing Indian names, never, so
far as is known. the residence of any partcu-
lar tribe of redmen. 1t was sometimes occu
! pied for while as the camping ground of
rowing parties of Indians from the Ossipee,
Pequake., Androscoggin and Sokokis or Sa-
CO tribes These, with the st. Francois
Indians of Canada, with whom the remnant
OF 'ne requahe's u,,'eu ai.er 'he sienai utIeat
oy Csp'' hnse"eh d, rryeoure III 100
"ouiu make .his 'o"n 'heir summer resiuence
ana plahted large neius Oh corn III some local
tues; ana IL was their great thoroughtare
rom oeoago laks 10 oaco ana scarborough
There are no tradltions or indian grants, or
Indian claims OF land in Gorham.
! G1rham was one Oh the seven townships
that were granted to the Massachusetts off1-
Gers ana soldiers or their representatives,
VINO served IN what was called hlng fhlllp $
war, or the Narragansett nght IN 1910. The
grant was made by the general court OF Mas
sachusetts; hrst, OF two townships IN l72o
and five more In lI32. Narragansett No.
was the name OF the township now called
Gorham
The first deed on record in York county
Registry IS that or Ihomas thornton OF
Dorchester Massachusetts, to Col. Shubael
Gorham of l20th undivided part of Nara
gansett No. I, said Thornton certifying that
he was one OF the Narragansett soldiers The
consideration named was five pounds and the
deed was dated June II, 1875. BY the pur-
chase of several other rights of l20th parts
Col. Gorham soon became large proprietor
and OF him many early settlers purchased
lots. From this enterprising man the town
took its name.
The first settler of Gorham was John
Phinney, born in Barnstable, Mass, April 8,
1893, (old style). He was forty-rhree years
old when he began the settlement of Gorham
HIS third enid, Mary Gorham Phinney, was
born in August, 1876. She was the first
white Child born in Gorham.
II is said by some that the second settler of
the town was Daniel Mosher, others say the
second family that settled in the town was
that of Hugh Mcclellan Descendants of both
men are now living in the town.
The hrst sixteen years after the settlement
OF Gorham were years OF great anxiety and
suffering.
At one time all the provisions the family OF
captain fhinney had was two quarts OF boiled
wheat which had been reserved for seed. Al
that period all the towns in Maine were
ooilged TO erect and MAINTAIN garrlsons OIL
forts, for places of refuge ageins, Indian at
tacks. These forts were constructed of hewr
timber with palisades of huge posts set deep
IN the ground closely together. outside the
timber ten or twelve feet high; watch boxes
were oulit on the top of the walls; the whole
was bullet proof. The fort IN Gorham was
oul4 on ~hat Is sun called Fort Hill.
Inc rst meeting OF the proprietors was
held at the house OF Captain John Phinney or
the 2+th OF November, l14l. AT meeting
OF Nov 10Th 1t was voted THAT meeting
house be built tor the worship of God in said
town SO feet long. 20 feet wide with 20 fee