The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-04-05
Early History of Freedom

T9 THE EDITOR OF The JOURNAL:
The first settlement of Freedom was in
the year 1895 by Stephen Smith and
his family of wife and seven children.
Mr.. Smith was born in York, Me-, the
son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Hodgdon)
Smith. He married Mercy Andrews
of South Berwick. The seven children
were by name James, Miriam, Joshua,
John, George, Stephen and Benjamin.
Stephen Smith came the year before
and located spot for a home and built
a log cabin, Is by "A feet, the first build
ing in town. The next year, 1896, his
two brothers, John and Joshua, joined
their brother and settled near by. This
honor of its first settlers. About 1901
Rev. Aaron Could John Brown,
Gideon and John Robinson, Bradstreet
Virgins and John M. Sinclair settled
on Beaver Hill and vicinity.
In 1902 Stephen Smith built framed
barn, covering the roof with long
shingles instead of boards. Though
the walls of the barn were uncovered
the barn was filled with hay the first
year. In 1908 he began a frame for his
house, 30 by SO feet, which he raised in
1904. The boards used he bought at
Jonathan Bartlett'S mill in Palermo
These were the first framed buildings
in town and were situated at South
Freedom, where Mr. Thurston now
lives. In 1905 MI Smith built a saw
mill on the Sheepscot river near his
home, though in the town of Montvllle
At what time Smithton became a
plantation is unknown, as the records
of that plantation have been lost, but
the writer finds that solomon Metcalf
was the Smithton plantation clerk in
1911 This township was surveyed and
the original plan drawn by Bradstreet
Virgins, a sworn surveyor OF land,
April ~, 1910 The writer has copy
in his possession. The greater part of
this township is in the Plymouth Pur-
chase, while the northern part is in the
Nelson Tract The southern portion
which is in the Plymouth Purchase,
was owned by the fifty kennebec
proprietors and subsequently fell into
the hands of Ruel Williams of Augusta
and Robert Hallowell Gardner of Gard
liner, Me, from whom the early settlers
obtained the title of their farms. That
portion lying in the Nelson Tract fell
into the hands of Winthrop and Llold
from whom the early settlers obtained
the title of their lands. At this time
this township was i'll three counties,
kennebec, Lincoln and Somerset,
though principally in kennebec. The
town line between this township and
Montville is established upon the Bal
lard line, being the dividing line be-
tween the Plymouth Purchase and the
Muscongus Patent.
In 1912 Smithton Plantation was
changed to Beaverhill Plantation and
((ptnhpr | :
that wear. The following officers were
elected: John Robinson, Modera tor and
Clerk: John Brown, John NJ. Sinclair
and Nathan w. Chase, Selectmen and
Assessors; Edward Could, Collectors:
William Sibley and John Cunningham
bondsmen for Collector
Beaverhill Plantation was incorpor-
ated into town by an act of the Mas
sachusetts General Court under the
name of Freedom, June II, 1913, and
was the 197th town of Massachusetts.
Maine was then a part OF that Com
monwealth until the separation in ls2o.
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In
the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and thirteen. An act to moor
porate the Plantation heretofore called
Beaverhill into town by The name OF
Freedom. Section list. Be 1t enacted
/ by the Senate and House of Represen.-
tatives in General Court assembled and
by the authority of the same that the
Plantation heretofore called Beaverh1l!
in the County of kennebec as described
within the following boundaries be and
the same is hereby incorporated into
town by the name OF Freedom, VIZ,
| ho of
erly on the town of MOntville, souther-
" on the town of Palermo and westerly
| on the town of Fairfax NOW Albion
and the said town of Freedom is hereby
| vested with all the powers and priv
leges and shall also be subject to like
duties and requirements as other lncOr-
porated towns according to the cons1i-
tuition and laws of this commonwealth.
Section End Be it further enacted
that any Justice of the Peace OF the
County of Kennebec is hereby author
lied to issue warrant directed 10 a
freehoder inhabitant of said town OF
Freedom requiring him to notify ana
warn meeting of the qualified voters
therein to meet at such convenient
time and place as shall be appointed IN
| the said warrant. for the choice OF such
officers as towns are by law required to
choose at their annual town meetings.
In the House of Representatives,
| June 10, 1918.
This bill having had three several read
| ingS passed to be enacted.
Timothy Bigelow, Speaker.
| In the Senate, June IL, 1878.
| This bill having had two several readings
| passed to be enacted.
F' John Phillips, President.
| Approved, June II, 1913.
Caleb Strong, Governor.
| Secretary's Office, June IL, 1878.
| A true copy, attest Alden Bradford,
| Secretary of the commonwealth.
| THE FIRST TOWN MEETING.
| The first town meeting was held al
| BENJAMIN Cummings, September 49,
1913. William Sibley was Moderator,
John Robinson, Clerk; John Brown;
John NJ. Sinclair and Nathan W.
Chase, Selectmen; Thomas Brown,
Constable; Abraham Cookson and
Reuben Abbott. bondsmen for the Con
stable; John Brown, John M. Sinclair
and Nathan w. Chase, Assessors; WILL
liam Sibley, Treasurer.
FREEDOM VILLAGE.
Where Freedom village now is wax
known in 1909 as Hussey's Mills; tha'
being the first mill built in town. a
few families had previously settlee
and it soon became small village
Originally the town line OF Montvlllt
extended through the village, crossing
| 49, ,+ roopo opd oOrnarjnp with Unity