Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-22
gaay Aesusbss soutaaI.
LITcHFiEL0
Continued from page ~

very difficult to obtain definite facts of
the earlier settlers of Litch1eld The
records of the town go back to the organ
ization of the plantation of Smith1eld in
1898. Prior to that date we have to rely
largely upon tradition. just where the
first settlers come and where they located
in most cases is difficult to determine. l
find no records of deeds in the registry OF
deeds office by any inhabitant OF the
plantation of Smithfeld or the town OF
Litchfield, with one exception, prior 10
1900, SO 1 could get no aid from that
source. The settlers supposed that the land
belonged to the state of MASSACHUSETTS
and that they would not be called upon
to pay for the SOIL but 1t was subsequent
ly found that grants from the Plymouth
Company had been given to certain par
ties of the land they occupied and from
1907 to 1920 they were harassed by those
proprietors and paid to them large sums
of money to perfect their title. This Is
where the recording of deeds begins which
furnishes but little aid concerning the
occupants of the land thirty years or more
before 1t. "a.
Prior to its settlement it was frequently
visited by Andrew Jack, Nathaniel
Graves, Thomas Gray, Hugh Molloy and
others who came in pursuit of beaver,
otter, bears and other game. They built
shanties on the shores of the pond and
would stop two or three months every
year collecting furs. The first settlement
was made in the spning of 1879 by Eliph-
let Smith and BENZ; Huxley from New
Meadows" Brunswick. They did not
bring their families there until 1913 or
later. The next year Solomon Tibbetts
of Gardiner, built log house on the
shore of Cobbossee pond and moved his
family there; very near where few years
later Daniel Ring located. Soon after
Thomas and Benz. Smith, brothers, and
Barnabas Baker with a son Barnabas,
took up lots. They came originally from
Cape Cod but about 1864 had gone to
Nova Scotia and in IVA they removed to
Pownalboro now Dresden. They subse-
qucntly moved across the river some
where near South Gardiner, but prior to
this and taken up their land in Litchfeld
and were making clearings and building
their homes. They moved there In 1879
or 80; they came up the river in boats to
Cobbossee stream and proceeded up the
stream and pond to their clearings. A
plan made of six lots in 1776 by John
Merrill shows that BENZ. Hinkley had lot
No /, Eliphlet Smith lot No. 2, Barnabas
Baker No. g. Thomas Smith No. 4, BENZ.
Smith No. 5, Barnabas Baker Jr., No Is.
Many of the descendants of these early
settlers now live in Litchiield and vicinity
and have been prominent in social, poll
tical and religious affairs. Joseph Smith
the father of Eliphet Smith WAS born in
Ireland, but settled in Brunswick prior
to 174O. He had several other sons,
the brother, very soon after his brother
Eliphlet, moved to Litchfeld. While liV-
ing in Brunswick the Indians waylaid
one of the brothers at New Meadows and
killed him and two of the Indians were
killed by Joseph Smith, Sr. Eliphlet had
four children born In Brunswick: Sally,
who married Edward Cover; Martha,
who married Marlbury Palmer, John and
Joseph. John Smith, who was Il prom
inent man, and representative to Mas
sachusetts and Maine Legislature, had
ten children. OF these only one, Rev DR.,
Samuel X. Smith, who for nearly half a
century has been connected with Colby
University, is now living. DR.. Smith is
the father of President George William
Smith, recently elected to preside over
Colgate University, who is said to be the
youngest college president in the United
States VIM. C. Smith, another son, was
recently deceased. One of Williams three
daughters. Mrs J. r. Smith is one OF the
trustees of the Maine insane hospital and
the wife of Hon. Oramandal Smith.
The following accounts of Benz. Hlnk-
ley and descendants; Barnabas Baker
whose descendants have played prominent
part in the town the Smiths, who today,
as in the past are numerous among the
inhabitants of the town; Solomon lib
belts. Daniel King, Capt. Mort b, Berry,
who came from West Bath TO Gardiner in
1868, and who bore prominent part II
the affairs of what is now Kennebcc
county and whose descendants have since
taken active share in the affairs of the
towns where they have made their homes
the Springers, Jewels, Nickersons; Hutch
insons, Richardson's, the Pottcrs who
first located in the vicinity of the Plains,
William engaged in milling and was the
first person to own plow-a wooden one
in town.: Saul Coos the Meals; Lieut.
James Lord; Thomas Bouffee, the Hunt
ingtons; in fact 1t is impossible within
our space to give the complete list OF those
about each Of whom Mr.. Clason presented
abrIef biography. ts:at
In the office of the secretary of state al
Boston, he secured the names OF the peti
tioners, in Smithfeld plantation, VINO
asked that the plantation be made
town. These names probably include
those of nearly all the residents OF th'
plantation at that time. The petitions
were circulated In different parts OF tn
town, one in 1898 and the other the FOL
lowing year. The names of the petl
TONERS are:
Smithfield, May 16, 1893.
James Shurtleff, Jabez Robinson
Eliphalet Smith, Barnsbas Baker, Johl
Cotton, David Robinson, John ROBIN
son, Heman Smith, Thos Smith BENZ
Smith, John Smith Jr., Thoma
Smith, third BENZ. Smith Jr., Thos
Bunker Joseph Lambard, John smith
Samuel Smith, Thos. Smith Jr., Andrew
Springer, David Springer, Timothy Hall
Jas. Johnston, Thos. Cokhall, Isaac Hag
gett. Phillip Morey, William Sally, kober
Dunlap Elkanah Baker Abner Baker
Joseph Smith, Jr., Reuben Smith Jr
Reuben Baker, Edward Cover, Jane
Clark, David Clark, Samuel CLARK
pottar Rem