declining j^ears with her son John Greenwood, at Hebron,
wliere she died October 27, 1801. Two ch ildren are cred-
ited to them at Newton, viz : —
'Borredell, b. Oct, 25, 1765, m. Feb. 1786, Capt. Simon^
Jackscn, ( Col. Michaels, Michael*, Edward^, Sebas%
Edward'.) Siivoa was a captain in his father's regiment
in the Revolution, and five of his father's brothetvC, and
four of his own were also in the service. Their cln'biren
born in Newton, w^ere — Borredell, b. March 7,1787.
Alexander S. b. June 5, 17S9. Charles A. b. Aug. 10-^
1790. ]\Iichael, d. young. Ann Maria S. b. June 13,
1792. He m. 2d. Sally Spring of Watertown, and had
Susan, b. Sept. 13, 1805. Sarah S. b. Nov. 8, 1809.
He died Oct. 17,1818.
"Alexander, b. Jan. 26, 1769, d. 1774. The death of this
boy was a sore affliction to his father, and his disappoint-
mi nt at the loss of the heir to his name and estate sought
relief in the formal adoption of one of his step-sons ; the
General Court perfecting the arrangement, in 1781, by
changing the name of Thomas Jackson Greenwood, to
Alexander Shepard. The solace was however of brief
diuation, for this promising young man was removed by
dccttli in 1783, while a Sophmore in Harvard College.
Madam Shepard was a daughter of Capt. John Jackson
Annals of Oxford. U
the largest tax-payer in Newton. The industrious accumu-
lations of his grandfather Dea. John, materially increased
by his father Abraham, and his mother's share in her fa-
ther Bisco's estate, mainly centered in him. He died Sept.
9» 1755' aged 73, demising to his dau. Elizabeth Greewood
£400. She m. ist, March 1748, John, son of Dea. Thom-
as Greenwood of Newton. Children :
*John, b. Sept. 2, 1750; with the Newton men who re-
tpoi.ded to the Lexiagton alarm.
^Elizabeth, b. Jan. 31, 1755, d. young.
3Thon a? Jackson, b. May 17,1757, adopted by Mr. S.
''Elizabeth, b. Feb. 17, 1760, m. Capen.
The father died in 1763, aged 39.
John Greenwood, ( John*, Thomas^ Johii% Thomas',)
the first settler of Hebron, and one of its most honored
citizens. His wife was Lucy, daughter of Isaac and Ru'h
( Bullard ) Whiltemore, born in Weston Mass., July 20,
1756, and died at Hebron, March 6, 1843. Mr. Greenwood
died April 6, 1807, and was buried near his mother in the
field near the homestead, where many dear friends and
neighbors likewise found rest. Their children were : —
'Alexander, b. Aug. 8, 1775, m. Polly Crown, May 23
1798. In connection with farming he was a land sur-
veyor and lotted several tov/nsliips. Greenwood was
named for him. He was Representative four terms,
and a member of the Constitutional Convention. He
removed to Mongon in 1822, where he was killed by
the falling of a tree in 1827.
='Borredell, b. Aug. 19, 1777, d. next year.
3john, b. Oct. 24, 1780, m. Marsena Hiaw of Paris Sep.
25, 1800. She d. May 4, 1833, he d. Aug. 25, 1844.
-♦Eonedell, b. Dec. 8, 1783, m. Alvin Turner of Hebron,
March 21, 1805.
sElizabeth, b.Oct. 6, 1785, m. John Bridgham 3d of Mi-
nct, Jub/ 4, 1804.
^Lucy, b. Sept. 17, 1799, m. Doctor Philip Bradford of
Turner January 18,1816.
^Anna, b. March 30, 1791, m. Samu^el Larrabee of Paris
P'ebruary 22, 1818.
^Thomas Jackson, b. April 7, 1794, m. ist ?»lartha Ful-
ler March 19, 1818, she d. Feb. 28, 1823. He m. 2d
Eliza S. Turner May 8, 1825. Both were of Hebron,
9Simon, b. Dec. 24, 1796, m. Rebecca Records of
Hebron, October 18, 1818.
12 Annals of Oxford.
'°Verres, b. May 8, 1800, m. Sally M. "Willis of Hebron
Feb. 5, '24. He d. Feb. i, '26, she d. May 10, 1827.
The records of Shepardsfield plantation are not in the
office of the town clerk of Hebron, and he has no informa-
tion in regard to them. In the oldest book in his possession
there are the records of the proceedings of a meeting of the
freeholders and others, immediatly preceeding the records
of the first town meeting of Hebron, after its incorporation,
and are essentially as follows : —
To the Assessors of the plantation of Shepardsfield :
We the subscribers, being ten of the inhabitants of the
said plantation, request you to call a meeting of the free-
holders and other inhabitants of the said plantation, en
Wednesday the tweniy-eighth day of December current,
at the dwelling house of John Greenwood, at nine o'clock
A. M. for the following purposes, viz :
First. To chose a Moderator.
Second. To see if the inhabitants are of opinion to peti-
tion the General Court for an incorporation, also to see if
they will agree to petition the General Court to have their
taxes abated, and to act on any other business they may
think proper at said meeting.
Reuben Packard. Stephen Gurne^'.
Caleb Citshman. Zackeus Rowe.
JosiAH Churchill. Thaddeus Pratt.
Eben'r Drake. Ichabod Packari.
John Bicknell. Thomas Carman.
Shepardsfield December 19,1791.
00000
Agreeably to the foregoing request, the freeholders and
other inhabitants of the plantat on of Shepardsfield are
warned to meet at the time and place, and for the purposes
before mentioned.
John greenwood. )
James Donham. > Assessors of Shepardsfield.
Daniel Bullen, 3
Shepardsfield December 20, 1791.
December, 28, 1791.
Met and made choice of John Greenwood for Moderator.
Voted that the whole grant be incorporated, if any part.
Voted to be incorporated.
Voted to send a petition for the abatement of taxes.
Annals of Oxford. 13
Voted that a petition be drafted and laid before the plan-
tation, and that John Greenwood, Samuel Parris, William
Barrows, Samuel Robinson, and James Donham, be the
committee to draft the petition.
Voted that the districts for schools continue as they are,
which is as follows : —
First district, all on the south of Matthews Pond and in-
let as low as x\braham Dean's.
Second district, from that, all on the west of the middle
branch as high as William Steadman's lot.
Third district, from that, all on the west of said branch
up as high as Stephen Washburn's lot.
Fourth district, all east of said branch as far as John
Greenwood's and to the bridge near Isaac Cushman's.
Fifth district, all to the east of Bogg Brook.
Sixth district, all to the northerly of John Greenwood's.
Voted that Nathaniel Fuller, Gideon Eearce, Joseph Bar-
rows, Samuel Whittemore, Caleb Cushman, and Jesse Ful-
ler be a committee to take the bills of the school money.
Voted that the meeting be adjourned to this day a fort-
night at 9 o'clock.
January ii, 1792.
Met according to adjournment, the petition prepared by
the committee was read and approved, and it was voted
that Messrs. Asa Bearce, Adam Turner, and Bezaleel
Mirick be the committee to forward the petition.
Voted that the name of the town be Columbia.
"God made the country, and man made the town,
H'bal wonder, then, that health and -virtue— gifts
That can alone make sweet the bitter draught
That life holds out to all— should most abound."
CHAPTER II.
HEBRON.
The Shepardsfield petitioners were successful in part,
the plantation was incorporated Hebron, the 78th town,
March 6, 1792, but no reason appears for not complying
with their request to name the town Columbia ; perhaps
the General Court had in view the making a modern "city
of refuge". No action appears to have been taken in the
matter of abatement of taxes, but evidently this was not
their first appeal, for at a session of the General Court,
February 7, 1791, the plantation was in arrears for tax no.
5, £123, 19s. on tax NO. 6, £25, i6s. on tax no. 7, £12,
19s. 6d. on tax no. 8, £10, is. lod., and upon the petition
of the inhabitants, it was resolved, that they may discharge
themselves of the debt in the following manner, viz :
By applying the sums in tax 5 and 7 to the support of a
"Teacher of piety, religion and morality": a school Or
schools, and making and repairing roads, in such propor-
tions as the inhabitants at a meeting for that purpose shall
judge most conducive to their general good. x\k^o by pay-
ing into the Treasury of the Commonwealth the sums set
in 6 and 8 on or before the first day of January next.
The contention about taxes was finally settled in Gener-
al Court February 26, 1793, by resolve upon petition of the
Selecmen of Hebron, that the sum set in tax nos. 6, 8 and
9, amounting to £46, 19s. iid. be abated; Provided the
same be applied to the purpose of maintaining the public
schools in said town within one 3-ear from the first day of
April next, in such way and manner as the town shall
think best.
ACT OF incorporation.
An act to incorporate the plantation called Shepards-
field, in the county of Cumberland, into a town by the
Annals of Oxford. 15
name of hebron.
Whereas application has been made to this Court by
a number of the inhabitants of the Plantation called Shep-
ARDSFiELD in the County of Cumberland, to have said
Plantation with the inhabitants thereon incorporated into a
town, and the same being considered of Public utility,
Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives in General Court Assembled and by the authority of
the same, that the plantation called Shepardsfield in the
County of Cumberland, bounded as follows, viz :
Begining at a stake and stones near Thompson's Pond,
so called, seven miles and a quarter northwest from a beach
tree, in the head line of New Gloucester, which tree is
four miles northeast from the most westerly corner of said
New Gloucester, and from said stake and stones north for-
ty five degrees east twelve miles to a white pine tree,
thence north twenty degrees east three hundred and fifty
poles to a stake and stones, thence north seventy degrees
west four miles and a half to a beach tree, thence south
fourteen degrees east seven hundred and thirty six poles to
to a pine tree, thence south sixty eight degrees and a half
west five miles, thence north fourteen degrees west two
miles, thence south fifty four degrees west twelve hundred
and sixteen poles to a hemlock tree, thence south twenty
five degrees east seven miles and a half and twenty poles
to the stake and stones first mentioned, together with the
inhabitants thereon be and hereby art incorporated into a
town by the name of Heisron, and vested with all the
powers, privileges and immunities which tov/ns in this Com-
monwealth do or may by Law enjoy.
And b2 it further enacted that William Widgery Esqr.
be and hereb}' is impowered to malce out a warrant, direct-
ed to some principal inhabitant of said town to notify the
inhabitants thereof qualified by lav/ to vote in Town affairs
to assemble and meet at some suitable time and place in
said town to choose all such Town Officers as towns are
required by law to choose in the month of IMarch or April,
annually. March 6, 1792.
At the May session 1804, the bounds described in the
aoove act were reported '* vague and ancertain", and for a
remed}', so much of the act as relates to boundar}- lines
was repealed, and bounds were established as follows, viz:
16 Annals of Oxford.
Beo-ining at the most south westerly corner of the town
of Turner, from thence north twenty six degrees east on
the westerly line of said Turner to the corner between the
town's of Hebron and Buckfield, which was made by John
Jordan in the year 17S5, from thence north seventy degrees
west on the line run by said Jordan for the southerly line
of Buckfield, about five miles and one half to the easterly
side line of the town of Paris, from thence south fourteen
decrrees east in said side line to the south east corner of
Paris, thence south sixty eight degrees west, in the south-
erly end line of said town to the south west corner thereof,
thence north fourteen degrees west on the westerly side
line of said town two miles to a stake, thence south forty
four degrees west on the foot line of Norway to the easter-
ly line of the town of Otisfield ( commonly called the Par-
ker line,) thence south twenty five degrees east in said
Parker line about seven miles and one half to the northerly
side line of the town of Polarl^, thence north east on the
head lines of Poland and Ptlinot which was run by Amos
Davis to the north east corner of said JNiinot, thence south
easterly about one hundred and fifty rods to the first bounds.
Approved June 21, 1804.
FIRST TOWN MEETING.
Pursuant to a v/arrant of William Widgery Esq., one
of the Justices of the Peace for Cumberland county, dated
March 15, 1792 to John Greenwood, the freeholders, and
other inhabitants of the town of Plebron qualified by law
to vote in town affairs, assembled at the dwelling houye of
Mr. Asa Bearce, on Monday the 2d day of April 1792 and
made choice of Daniel Bucknam for INIoderator, and John
Greenwood, for Town Clerk. Other officers were elected
as follows : —
James Donham, ^
John Greenwood, > Selectmen and Assessors
Holmes Thomas, )
Asa Bearce, Tov^-n Treasurer.
John Bicknell, Constable and Collecfor.
Robert Snell, Samuel Craft, I\Iorris Bumpas, Nathan
Dudley, Isaac Wh^ttemore, Melladah Cobb, and Daniel
Bartlett, Surveyors of Highwaj-s.
John Washburn, John Caldwell, and Gideon Cushman,
Tythingmcn,
Reuben Packard, and Eliab Ricnmona, Waraens
Annals of Oxford. 17
Votes for State Officers were cast as follows : —
For Governor,
His Excellency, John Hancock Esq., had 48 votes.
For Lieutenant Governor,
His Honor, Samuel Adams, had 41 votes.
For Senator, William Widgeiy Esq. had 40 votes.
It was voted that in future the Constable warn town meet-
ings by posting notifications in three different places in
town, at least eight days prior to the time of holding said
meeting.
On the same date of the passage of the act of incorpora-
tion of Hebron, the General Court in response to represen-
tations that the inhabitants of the District of Maine contem-
plated the formation of a separate government, resolved,
that in order that the real sense of said inhabitants may be
known on this important subject, that the Selectmen or
other town officers be authorized to notify the inhabitants
to convene on the first Monday of May next and give their
votes on the proposed separation.
The project of separation was agitated for many years be-
fore it was accomplished, and probably a spirit of non-re-
conciliation had been nourished since its absorption by the
Bay Colony, but this appears to have been the first notice
taken of the discontent by the General Court.
The names "Whig" and "Tory" indicative of political
party, practically disappear with the ending of the war.
The Congress of the "United Colonies" adopted articles of
confederation, borrowed money, organized an army and
navy, and finally submited articles of constitution, the a-
doption of which met strenuous opposition, and nowhere
stronger than in Massachusetts. The vindictiveness engen-
dered by the "Spirit of '76" subsided in shame, many of
the banished families returned, old party lines were obliter-
ated and social relations resumed. Political parties do not
create issues, but sometimes issues give birth to parties, as
was the case when the construction of a Constitution for
the United States became essential. The conservative ele-
ment urged the necessity of a strong central government,
as contemplated by the framers of the Constitution, and
were called "Federalsts", whilst the opposition contended
for a larger measure of individual liberty, and called them-
selves "State Rights" men, and later, "Republicans". But
the great question, whether the United States was a nation
18 Annals of Oxford.
or a confederacy was not finally decided until the <'War
for the Union". The unanimity of the election of state of-
ficers may not indicate the political preferences of the free-
holders of Hebron, for evidently there was not a full vote,
although when called together a few days later to take act-
ion on the question of separation but 55 votes were cast, a
number that would now be considered very small for a pop-
ulation of 530. The number of votes in favor of separation
were 38, and those opposed 17, and whilst it is understood
that the Federalists generally were against dividing the
state, personal considerations influenced votes on both sides.
At the May meeting the town voted to raise £100, for
the purpose of making and repairing roads, and £^0^ for
the use of schools.
It was also voted not to settle Mr. Jesse Porter in the
work of the Ministry but to pay the committee that hired
Mr. Porter, for nine sabbaths preaching last year.
May 23, 1 791 seven men and seven women united in or-
ganizing the Baptist Church ; regular service was naintain-
ed and occasionally preachers were employed, but they had
no pastor until Feb. 1799, when the Rev. John Tripp, of
Fairhaven was chosen, and continued their beloved minis-
ter until his death, September 16, 1847. For 13 years the
Church worshiped in private dwellings, and then for 16
in the Academy, which owes so much to its fostering care-
Soon after the settlement of Elder Tripp the establish-
ment of a classical school was made a subject of earnest con-
sideration, resulting in the erection in 1803 of a building
estimated in value at $1,400., including the land. Twen-
ty-one of the seventy shares were taken by Dea. William
Barrows, and the land was a gift from his brother Joseph.
The foresight of the people is manifest in this giving pref-
erence to a building for the school to that of one for the
church. With them a school-house was a necessity, a meet-
ing-house was a luxury. It is true that the house they built
was inferior to a modern barn, but it represented sacrifice
and from it and its successors have been graduated, each
year for nearly a century, young men and women, trained
in *' piety and virtue " for usefulness. Many towns have
become distinguished for farm products, busy mills and
volume of trade, but Hebron is renowned for the facil-
ities its Academy affords for the education of the youth.
By an act of the General Court passed February 10, 1804
Annals of Oxford. 19
there was '* established in the town of Hebron in the coun-
ty of Cumberland, an Academy, by the name of Hebron
Academy, for the purpose of promoting piety and virtue,
and for the education of Youth in such languages, and in
such of the liberal arts and sciences as the Trustees shall
order and direct". It was further enacted, that the Rev. John
Tripp of Hebron, Rev. James Hooper of Paris, Samuel
Paris Esq. of Hebron, Ezekiel Whitman Esq. of New Glou-
cester, Cyrus Hamlin Esq. of Paris, John Greenwood Esq.
of Hebron, Dr. Luther Carey of Turner, Dr. Jesse Rice of
Minot, and Mr. William Barrows of Hebron, " and they
hereby are nominated and appointed Trustees of the said
Academy, and they are hereby incorporated into a Body
Politic, by the name of The Trustees of Hebron Academy,
in the Count}^ of Cumberland, and they and their success-
ors shall be and continue a body politic and corporate by
the same name forever".
The corporators organized June 6, 1804, choosing John
Greenwood president, in which capacity he served until re-
lieved by death. John Tripp was elected clerk and contin-
ued to act until his death, Sept. 16, 1847. William Barrows
was elected treasurer and held that office for nineteen years
but continued his membership in the board until his death
Nov. 22, 1837. The school opened Sept. 3, 1805 with be-
tween sixty and seventy students under the tutelage of Mr,
William Barrows Jr. assisted by Bezaleel Cushman, both
Hebron boys.
February 24, 1807 on petition of John Greenwood, in be-
half of the Trustees of Hebron Academy, the General
Court granted to the institution a half township, out of any
unappropriated lands. William C. Whitney, at that time
Representative, was most active in securing the grant and
it was afterwards located by him in what is now the town
of Monson. The sale of the land caused quite an exodus
from this vicinity. It was doubtless through the influence
of Mr. Whitney that a gift of 150 acres of land was made
the same year by Andrew Craigie, the largest land-holder
in the town.
Mr. Craigie's holdings in this town were mostly by pur-
chase from Simon Jackson, probably closing out the Shep-
ard estate in Hebron and as this history is compiled with
especial reference to that part of the town wherein the
Craigie lands were situated, a copy of his title is here given.
20 Annals of Oxford.
"Know all. men by these presents, That we, Simon
Jackson of Newton in the county of Middlesex and com-
monweahh of Massachusetts and the wife of the said Si-
mon Jackson, in consideration of Two Thousand pounds
lawful money of said Commonwealth, to us paid by Andrew
Craigie of Cambridge in the aforesaid state and county,
Esquire, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge,
do hereby give, grant, sell and convey to him the said An-
drew his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, the
following tracts or parcels of land lying in a place known
by the name of Shepardsfield or Hebron in the county of
Cumberland and commonwealth aforesaid, containing as
the said Jackson and wife do hereby warrant and engage,
thirteen thousand eight hundred and sixty acres at least ex-
clusive of the water or land covered with water therein con-
tained, it being a part of the same tract or parcel of land
which I, the said Simon Jackson, sold in my capacity as ad-
ministrator on the estate of Alexander Shcpard Junior, de-
ceased, to William Hunt Esquire of Watertown in the coun-
ty of Middlesex aforesaid, on the twenty-second daj'- of
April in the year seventeen hundred and ninety-three, and
the whole of which tracts or parcels of land I afterwards
purchased of the said William Hunt in my own right, ref-
erence to the deed of sale to the said William, and to said
William's deed of conveyance to me, being had, will fully
appear. The said tracts or parcels of land comprehend the
following lots lying in the ranges and divisions hereafter
mentioned, viz : —
Lot number ten in the second range, lots number eleven
and twelve in the third range, lots number two, three, four,
eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen in the fourth
range, lots number four, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and six-
teen in the fifth range, lot number thirteen in the sixth
range, lots number two, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
and eleven in the seventh range, lots number five, six and
seven in the eighth range, lots number two and three in
the ninth range, all in the first division.
Lots number four, nine and eleven in the first range,
lots number two, five, six, nine and ten in the second range,
lots number six, seven, eight and nine in the third range,
lots number three, four, five and six in the fourth range,
lots number two, three, four, five and eight in the fifth
range, lots number two, three, four and eight in the sixth
Annals of Oxford. 21
range, lots number two, three, four, five, seven, eight,
nine, eleven, twelve and thirteen in the seventh range, lots
number two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
eleven, twelve and thirteen in the eighth range, lots num-
ber two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, elev-
en, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen,
eighteen, nineteen, twenty and twenty-one in the ninth
range, and lot marked (Alex'r. Shepard boughtof J. Green
300 acres,) all in the second division.
Lots number eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen
and sixteen in the first range, lots number eleven, twelve,
thirteen and fourteen in the second range, lot number elev-
en in the third range, all in the third division.
Lots number three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,
ten and eleven in the first range, lots number three, four,
five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven in the second
range, lots number three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,
ten and eleven in the third range, lots number three, four,
and eleven in the fourth range, all in the fourth division of
lots in said Hebron. A plan of all which land and to which
reference is had is hereunto annexed.
Also all ponds of water and land covered with water and
all streams, rivers and water courses situate in said town of
Hebron or Shepardsfield and to us or either of us belong-
ing and all profit and privileges thereof.
To have and to hold the same to him the said Andrew
Craigie, his heirs and assigns, to his and their use and be-
hoof forever. And we do jointly and severally covenant
to and with the said Andrew Craigie his heirs and assigns,
that I, the said Simon, or we, the said Simon and Borredell
in her right, are lawfully seized in fee of the premises, that
they are free of all incumberances, that we have good