all the inhabitants between them, were set off for a school
district, tlie Selectmen to establish the bounds.
Benajah Pratt Jr. was chosen Town Agent and Sam-
uel H. King was appointed to assist him in adjusting the
claim of William Wardwell for damages on account of the
road on Greely Hill ; and they were instructed to see if the
town of Hebron was not holden to pay their proportion of
the damages. ^ ^, _^ ,
Samuel H. King, Giles Shurtleff and Eleazer Holmes
were chosen a committee to examine the accounts of the
Selectmen. <- i td n
Alonzo King was appointed agent to take care of the l"all.
Voted to abate the tax of Simeon Staples.
Town meeting April 9th, Jacob Tewksbury, IModerator.
Voted to clear the three acres around the meeting-
house and that every man in town who pays a poll tax,
work one day in person or by a substitute clearing the land,
or pay one dollar. The several Surveyors to notify in then-
districts of the time, impliments to be used and to superin-
tend the work. It was voted that the rocks on the lot be put
into a fence on the south line, beginning on the road and
running back as far as the rocks will make the fence.
William C. Whitney, Winthrop B. Norton and Zebedee
Cushman were appointed to make suitable appropriation of
the land when cleared and fenced.
It was voted to discontinue the Whittemore road to
the Meadow brook and that Samuel H. King, Giles Shurt-
leff and Benajah Pratt be a committee to locate a road from
the new county road, commencing at or near the meeting-
house and running to the Meadow brook, in the best place
for a road.
Voted that all the inhabitants in town who pay taxes
shall give in their valuation under oath.
Voted that the taxes of Nathaniel Allen, Peltiah Ber-
ry, Hezekiah Farris, Richard Lamb, Jacob Grapes, Nath-
aniel Rowe, Stephen Richards, Payson Steadman and
Joseph Bartlett, for the 1829 be abated.
Timothy Jordan Jr, was allowed to expend his propor-
tion of the scnool money in Otisfield.
Voted that the Selectmen meet three weeks from to
day, to survey a new rout for a road on Pigeon Hiil,
46 Annals of Oxford
beginning at the Tarbox brook, so called, thence up the
hill in the best place.
Town meeting April 25th, Jacob Tewksbury, Moderator.
Voted that the Selectmen b e empowered to view and
locate a road at Meadow brook bridge on the Whittemore
road, northerly of the new meeting-house, to the No. 6 road.
Voted that $500. be expended on the highways, addi-
tional to the sum already voted, at the discretion of the Se-
lectmen.
The report of the Selectmen on the new school district
was accepted and it was voted that the district be No. 10.
Town meeting May 9th, Jairus S. Keith, Moderator.
Voted to accept the report of the Selectmen locating a
road from Meadow brook bridge to the No. 6 road, so call-
ed, and that the Whittemore road from the new county road
to the No. 6 road be discontinued.
Evidently the preceeding votes upon the subject had
failed to produce results, for at this meeting it was voted to
appropriate $150. to clear the meeting-house lot ; this vote
was subsequently reconsidered and it was voted that the
Selectmen should give a bond to the heirs of Andrew Crai-
gie, conditioned on the completion of the clearing the land,
to obtain the deed.
At the election of state officers, Sept. 12th, one hundred
and seventy-one votes were cast for Governor.
Samuel E. Smith (dem.) had 121
Daniel Goodenow (whig) had 49
John Anderson had i
For Senator, Jairus S. Keith had iii
For Representative to the Legislature.
Dan Perry had 120
Jacob Tewksburj^ had 48
At the same time a meeting was held, Alonzo King,
Moderator.
Samuel H. King, Jairus S. Keith and John Caldwell
were chosen a committee to get the complaint on the road
from George Robinson's to Zebulon Chadbourne's contin-
ued and to petition the County Commissioners to discontin-
ue the road.
The Selectmen reported the location of roads to accom-
modate Lemuel Crooker and others, Will am Ward well
Annals of Oxford. 47
and others. Their reports were adopted, and the Select-
men were authorized to expend $600. upon the highways.
The meeting refused to take action on an article per-
mitting licenses to sell liquors, to be drank on the premises.
Town meeting Oct. 3d, Samuel H. King, Moderator.
A list of jurors prepared by the Selectmen was sub-
mitted and with some amendments, was adopted.
1832
Town meeting March 12th, 1832. Alonzo King was
chosen Moderator and Dan Perry, Town Clerk.
Alonzo King, Henry Ilolbrook and Isaac A. Thayer
were elected Selectmen.
Dan Perry was chosen Treasurer.
Jairus S. Keith, Alonzo King and Giles Shurtleff were
chosen Superintending School Committee.
Zebedee Cushman, Henry Holbrook and Samuel H.
King were chosen a committee to estimate the sum neces-
sary for town charges.
Voted $350. for town charges.
$442. for support of schools.
$2,500. for highways.
Alonzo King was chosen Constable and Collector and
it was voted that he be paid two and a half cents on the
dollar for collecting, he to do the constable business for
the town gratis.
It was voted to choose the Town Agent by ballot.
Samuel H. King was elected. He was authorized to
settle with the town of Hebron.
Samuel H. King, Ebenezer Holmes and Giles Record
were appointed a committee on the Selectmen's accounts.
Voted that the Selectmen procure a trunk for the con-
venient keeping of the Pall ; also a desk and trunk for
the Town Clerk's office.
The pauper auctioned last year at 80 cents per week, was
at this meeting struck off to Isaac Washburn, at $1.36 per
week, with same conditions.
Town meeting September loth, Samuel H. King, Mod-
erator, John J. Perry was chosen Clerk pro tem.
Samuel Crockett, Alonzo King and Joseph Mixer were
appointed a committee to receive proposals for building a
road from David Webber's, by Timothy Jordan Jr.'s to the
48 Annals of Oxford
Otisfield line. It was voted to raise $500, to make the road
and Samuel Crockett was appointed agent to superintend
the building of it.
Cyrus Shaw, Samuel H. King and Jacob Tewksbury
were chosen a committee to examine the bills in the Col-
lector's hands and see whose taxes ought to be abated.
Benjamin Whitehouse, Samuel Robinson, Caleb Wood-
ward, William Faunce and Cyrus Shaw wtre chosen a
committee to divide the time, to be occupied for divine serv-
ice in the new meetincr-house, between the several denomi-
nations of Christians in town.
It was voted that the Selectmen, Treasurer and Clerk
give licenses to innholders and retailers, to sell spirituous
liquors to be drank on the premises.
At the election of state officers, Sept. lOth, one hundred
and eighty-four votes were cast for Governor.
Samuel E. Smith (dem.) had 127
Daniel Goodenow (whig) had 57
At the Presidential election, November 5th, each partj^
cast two more votes.
Town meeting Oct. ist, Alonzo King, Moderator.
Zebedee Cushman and Winthrop B. Norton were author-
ized to make such repali's on Jamb bridge as are necessarj-.
The road laid out for the accom.modation of Wm. Ward-
well was accepted according to the Selectmen's minutes.
The arrangement with Mr. PeiT}- for keeping the Pound
was continued.
Voted to raise $350. for necessary purposes.
Town meeting Nov. 5th, Jairus S. Keith, Moderator.
Upon the recommendation of the committee, it was voted
that the different denominations of Christians shall occupy
the meeting-house as follows: — The Congregationalist
the first Sunday of each month, the Baptist the second, the
Universalist the third, the Methodist the fourth, and when
there are five Sundays, the fifth shall be for any denomi-
nation who shall give seasonable notice thereof by posting
the same on the meeting-house door.
X833
Town meeting March 4th, 1833. Samuel H. King was
chosen Moderator and Dan Perry, Town Clerk.
d
Annals of Oxford. 49
Alonzo King, Henry Holbrook and Benajah Pratt Jr.
were chosen Selectmen.
Dan Perry was chosen Treasurer.
Jairus S. Keith was chosen Town Agent, by ballot.
Giles Shurtleff, Jairus S. Keith and Alonzo King were
chosen Superintending School Committee.
Voted that the barn of Benjamin F. Perry be a Pound
and he the keeper.
Voted $400. for town charges and support of poor.
$440.40 for support of schools.
$2000. for highways.
The collection of taxes was struck off to George F. Truet
at two and a half cents.
Alonzo King was chosen Constable.
Voted to choose an additional Constable ; George F. Truet
was elected and it was then voted that the collection of
taxes be transferred to Alonzo King.
Winthrop B. Norton, Samuel H. King and Nathan Wright
were chosen to examine the accounts of the Selectmen.
Town meeting May 25th, Jairus S. Keith, Moderator.
It was voted that Luther Carman, Samuel H. King and
Zebedee Cushman make an examination of Jamb bridge
and if they conclude it necessary to rebuild, to receive pro-
posals for rebuilding.
Voted to accept the report of the Selectmen and locate a
road for the benefit of Joshua Lunt and Wm. E. Brooks.
Voted to allow the accounts of Benajah Pratt & Co.,
George Robinson, Benjamin Whitehouse and Benjamin
Richards, which had been rejected by the committee on
accounts.
Town meeting May 27th, Jairus S. Keith, was chosen
Moderator and Giles Shurtleff, Clerk pro tern.
The Town Agent was directed to confer with the propri-
etors of the land through which William Oliver and others
wish to pass and ascertain the expense of a road.
At the election of state officers, Sept. 9th, one hundred
and ninety votes were cast for Governor.
Robert P. Dunlap (dem.) 114
Samuel E. Smith (dis. dem.) 24
Daniel Goodenow (whig) 52
New elements appear in this election, the "Anti Ma-
sons" had a candidate for Governor, but he received no
50 Annals of Oxford
vote in this town. The state convention of the dominent
party was inharmonious, resuUing in tne renomination of
Governor Smith by the dissenters, and in this town four
meetings were required to elect Mr. Perry, the nominee of
the party, to be Representative in the Legislature. The re-
cord of the ballotings is as follows :
September 9th
Dan Perry had iii
John Caldwell had 25
Jacob Tewksbury had 50
September 13th,
Dan Perry had 75
Alonzo King had 50
Jacob Tewksbury had 37
October 21st,
Dan Perry had 83
Samuel H. King had 28
Jacob Tewksbury had 21
Alonzo King had 9
Robert Hilborn Jr. had 5
November nth,
Dan Perry had 102
John Caldwell had 38
Samuel H. King had 3
Jacob Tewksbury had 2
R. Rich and A. Gammon had three each. J. Lee and
Robert Hilborn Jr. had one each.
Town meeting Sept. 9th Jairus S. Keith, Moderator.
Voted to accept the report of the Selectmen, locating a
road from the county road to the river bridge. This road
had been debated at previous meetings and had been al-
ready built by Col. Samuel H. King across his land, from
near his dwelling-house on the county road, to the bridge
west front of the residence of Capt. Caleb Woodward, being
the road now known as King Street.
Voted to raise a committee to build a bridge where or near
the Jamb bridge now is, in such place and manner as they
think best. Luther Carman, Winthrop B. Norton, Samuel
H. King, Nathan Wright and Giles Shurtleff were appoint-
ed as that committee. Mr. King was, at his request, ex-
cused and John Gardner Jr. was chosen in his place.
Town meeting Sept. 30th, Jairus S. Keith, Moderator.
Voted to set off John Thurston to school district No. 5.
Annals of Oxford. 51
Voted that school district No. 9 in this town be a body-
corporate, with district No. 7 of Hebron and certain inhab-
itants of Minot, if they see proper to join.
It was voted that the Burns's and Rich's be set off from
district No. 3 and compose a school district, and that John
Burns be the Agent.
William Yeats was chosen Agent for district No. 10.
Voted to accept the report of the Selectmen laying out a
road from Jamb bridge, or where the bridge is to be built,
to the old county road.
1834
Town meeting March 3d, 1834, Jairus S. Keith
was chosen Moderator and Dan Perry, Town Clerk ; he
being absent, John J. Perry was chosen Clerk pro tem.
Alonzo King, Benjamin Whitehouse and Edward Par-
sons were chosen Selectmen.
Voted that the Selectmen, Treasurer and Clerk license
proper persons to sell ardent spirits.
Jairus S. Keith was chosen Town Agent, by ballot.
Benjamin F. Perry was chosen Pound Keeper ; the Se-
lectmen to provide a suitable place for a Pound.
Dan Perry was chosen Treasurer.
Voted to raise $800. for town charges.
$440.40 for support of schools.
$1500. for highways.
Giles Shurtleff, Henry R. Webber and Alonzo King
were chosen Superintending School Committee.
The collection of taxes was vendued to Alexander H.
Mussey, at one cent and nine mills on the dollar.
Alonzo King was chosen Constable.
Giles Shurtleff, Samuel Robinson and Winthrop B.
Norton were chosen to examine the Selectmen's accounts.
Town meeting August i6th, Jairus S. Keith was chos-
en Moderator and to fill the vacancy occasioned by the re-
admittance of the Rev. Mr. Perry to the Methodist Confer-
ence, John Lee was chosen Town Clerk and Treasurer
for the unexpired term.
At the election of state officers, September 8th, two
hundred and twenty-two votes were cast for Governor.
Robert P. Dunlap had 157
Peleg Sprague had 65
52 Annals of Oxford
1835
Town meeting March 30th, 1835, Jacob Tewksbury
was chosen Moderator and John Lee was chosen Town
Clerk and Treasurer.
Jairus S. Keith, Benjamin Richards and Ebenezer R.
Holmes were chosen Selectmen.
Jairus S. Keith, Henry R. Webber and John J. Perry
were chosen Superintending School Committee.
Jairus S. Keith Town Agent.
The barn of Benjamin F. Perry was named for a Pound
and he the keeper.
Voted to raise $500. for town charges.
$441. for support of schools.
$1500. for highways.
The collection of taxes was struck off to John J. Perry at
two cents on the dollar ; he was chosen Constable.
The list of Jurors as revised was accepted.
Samuel H. King's report of the settlement made with the
town of Hebron was accepted and ordered placed on file in
the clerk's office.
Town meeting May 25th, Ebenezer R. Holmes was
chosen Moderator.
It was voted that Jairus S. Keith be an agent to help ex-
plore a route for a railroad from Windham or Gray as far
as the Great Androscoggin River near Rumford ; it was
further voted that the agent be allowed one dollar a day for
his services.
The article in the warrant called for action upon a propos-
ed railroad from Portland to Quebec.
Voted to raise two hundred dollars to pay the expense of
the agent and other town charges.
At the election of state officers, September 14th, one
hundred and eighty-three votes were cast for Governor.
Robert P. Dunlap (dem.) had 130
William King (whig) had 53
For Representative to the Legislature.
John Lee had 117
Samuel Ho King had 55
William S. Allen had 7
Benjamin Richards had 5
Jairus S. Keith had I
Annals of Oxford. 53
1836
Town meeting March 14th, 1836 Samuel H. King,
Moderator.
John Lee was chosen Town Clerk and Treasurer; he
being absent, Caleb Woodward was chosen Clerk pro tem.
Ebenezer R. Holmes, Benjamin Richards and Samuel
S. Allen were chosen Selectmen.
Giles Shurtleff, John J. Perry and Alonzo King were
chosen Superintending School Committee.
Samuel H. King, Town Agent.
John J. Perry, Collector of Taxes and Constable.
The arrangements for a Pound same as last year.
Voted to set up the support of paupers at auction.
Voted to raise $650. for town charges.
$441. for support of schools.
$1800. for highways.
April 24th, the limits of the Infantry Company of Oxford
were defined by the Selectmen to include the whole town.
Town meeting May 7th, John Caldwell, Moderator.
The collection of taxes was auctioned to Henry R. Web-
ber at two cents on the dollar and he was chosen Consta-
ble, (probably Mr. Perry declined to serve.)
At the election of state officers, September 12th, one
hundred and fifty-three votes were cast for Governor.
Robert P. Dunlap (dem.) had 112
Edward Kent (whig) had 41
At a meeting held on the same date, Ebenezer R.
Holmes was chosen Moderator.
Samuel Crockett, Benjamin Whitehouse and Luther
Carman were appointed a committee to contract with some
person to repair the bridge at Craigies Mills and that the
Treasurer hire money to defray the expense.
Voted to lay out a road beginning on the town line, be-
tween Otisfield and Oxford, as near the shore of Thompson
pond as convenient. And when the new road shall have
been made and opened, the road over Greeley Hill shall
be discontinued.
At the Presidential election, November 7th, the dem-
ocrats cast 92 votes and the whigs 21 votes.
54 Annals of Oxford
183T
Town meeting March 13th, 1837, Samuel H. King
was chosen Moderator and John J. Perrj- was chosen Town
Clerk and Treasurer.
Benjamin Richards, John Lee and George Robinson
were chosen Selectmen.
Ariel P. Chute, Giles Shurtleff and Henry- R. Webber
were chosen Superintending School Committee.
Samuel H. King, Town Agent.
Same arrangements for a Pound as last year.
Voted to raise S1500. for town charges.
:?44Q. for support of schools.
S2500. for highways.
The collection of taxes was auctioned to Henn,- R. Web-
ber at t^vo cents on the dollar and he was chosen Constable.
Voted to leave the care of the poor with the Selectmen.
Jacob Tewksbur}-, Henrj' Holbrook and Henrj' R. Web-
ber were appointed to settle \%-ith Alonzo King and make
abatements on the unpaid bills for the tax of 1835.
Under the existing tariff laws and from the sale of public
lands there had accumulated in the Treasury- of the United
States a surpliis of public money in excess of the require-
ments of the national government; Congress therefore, by
an Act passed June 23d, 1S36, voted that the money that
should be in the Treasury- on the first day of Januarj- 1837,
reser\-ing five millions of dollars, should be deposited with
such of the several States, in proportion to their representa-
tion in Congress, as should consent to receive the same,
pledging the faith of the State for its safe keeping and the
payment thereof, whenever the same shall be required.
The State of Maine accepted the conditions March 8th,
1837 and authorized its distribution to cities, towns and or-
ganized plantations, with the right to use for the same pur-
poses as moneys accruing from taxation : also to loan the
same in such manner as they deem expedient, on receipt of
safe and ample security- therefor.
In consequence of the proceedings above mentioned, a
town meeting was held on the third day of April and John
Lee was chosen Moderator.
It was voted that the town receive its proportion of the
public money distributed by Act of Congress, and that John
Lee be agent for the town, to receive and receipt for the
Annfl-iR of Oxford. 55
same. It was also voted that GUes Shurtleff, Samuel
Crockett and Henrj- Holbrook be authorized to loan this
"Surplus", in sums of not exceeding one hundred, nor less
than t^vent^'-five dollars to one person, for one year, inter-
est at six per cent, payable in advance. At a meeting three
months later the town voted to distribute the third and fourth
installment of the "Surplus Revenue" coming to the town,
giving to each person their proportion, according to the
censu^ now being taken. John Lee was appointed to dis-
tribute the money.
Town meeting July loth, Jairus S. Keith, Moderator.
The proposition of John H. Welch to give the land on
which to make the road for the accommodation of Moses
Gammon and William W. Oliver, if the town \\-ill make
the fences, or he will give the land and build the fences for
$175.00, was received and the Selectmen were authorized
to accept the offer most advantageous to the town.
Voted to accept the report of the committee appointed to
settle with Alonzo King, and that tlieir powers be extended
to settle all the financial concerns of the town.
At the election of state officers September nth, two hun-
dred votes were cast for Governor.
Gorham Parks (dem.) had 141
Edward Kent (whig) had 59
For Representative to the Legislature.
John Lee had 106
William S. Allen had S3
John J. Pen-y had 30
Hemy R. ^Vebber had 3, John Caldwell had 2 and
Samuel Crockett, Ebenezer R. Holmes. Timothy Jordan
Jr. and Robert Hilborn Jr. had i each.
Second trial, October 2d. (Allen elected.)
John Lee had 106
William S. Allen had 6S
John J. Perry had 35
Henry Holbrook had i
Town meeting November nth, Jaims S. Keith, Mod-
erator. Adjourned to the tavern-house of Robert Pike.
Voted to raise $iSoo. to pay the debts of the town.
Samuel Crockett, John Gardner Jr. and Benjamin
Whitehouse were appointed a committee to superintend tlie
the finishing of Pike's bridge.
56 Annals of Oxford
X838
Town meeting March 5th, 1838, Jairus S. Keith
was chosen Moderator and John Lee Town Clerk and
Treasurer.
Benjamin Richards, Isaac A. Thayer and Henry C. Dean
were chosen Selectmen.
Jairus S. Keith, John J. Perry and Ebenezer R. Holmes
were chosen Superintending Schocl Committee.
Jairus S. Keith, Town Agent.
Voted that Joseph Wilson's stable be a Pound and he the
keeper.
Voted to raise $2000. to defray town charges and make
or keep in repair bridges.
$441.40 for support of schools.
$2000. for highways.
The collection of taxes was auctioned to Seth H. Faunce
at one cent and six mills on the dollar and he was chosen
Constable.
Voted not to join with Norway and Paris in the purchase
of a farm for the poor.
Town meeting April 30th, John J. Perry. Moderator.
John Lee and Henry R. Webber were appointed a com-
mittee to collect and distribute the first and second install-
ment of the "Surplus Revenue"; one half before the first of
June, the remainder before the first of September, assum-
ing that all notes will be paid ; they will divide the receipts
among those entitled to receive the same, first paying all
the expenses therefrom. The report of the Treasurer of the
State shows, on account of the "Surplus", two payments to
the town of Oxford on the 12th day of April 1837 of $747.
48 each and on the nth day of July, following, one pay-
ment of $453.04, making a total of $2248.00.
Nathan Wright, Samuel H. King and Ebenezer R.
Holmes were appointed a committee on the accounts of 1837,
and the Selectmen of 1837, the committee on all others.
William W. Oliver was set off from school district No. 3
to district No. 4, and Seth Keen from No. 2 to No. i.
Same date a Representative to Congress was elected to
fill the vacancy caused by the death of Timothy J. Carter.
Virgil D. Parris had 145
Zadok Lonor had 66
Annals of Oxford. 57
At the election of state officers September loth, two
hundred and fifty-six votes were cast for Governor.
John Fairfield (dem.) had i68
Edward Kent (whig) had 88
Same day a meeting was held, Leonard Caldwell was
chosen Moderator. The report of the Selectmen, laying
out a road commencing at the road leading by the house of
Ichabod M. Thomas to Hebron, for the accommodation of
Leonard Donham, was accepted and thirty dollars damage
was awarded, half to Thomas Donham Jr. the balance to
Benjamin Donham.
John Gardner Jr., Samuel Crockett and Dennis Hayes
were appointed a committee to examine the bridge over the
Little Androscoggin river, near Woodward's mill, and as-
certain whether it will be best to repair the old or build a
new bridge. Adjourned to the iSth instant.
Adjourned menting, Jairus S. Keith, Moderator.
Voted to build a new bridge over the Little Androscoggin
river near Woodward's mill, at or near the place where the
old one now stands, on the same plan as the one near Josh-
ua Merrills. It was voted that the bridge be completed
within thirteen months from this date, and Samuel Crock-
ett, John Gardner Jr. and Jairus S. Keith were appointed
to superintend the construction.
1839
Town meeting March nth, 1839, Jairus S. Keith was
chosen Moderator and John J. Perry, Town Clerk and T'r.
Isaac A. Thayer, Samuel Crockett and Thomas R. Car-
men were elected Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor.
Jairus S. Keith, Town Agent.
The arrangements for a Pound, same as last year.
Voted to raise $441.40 for support of schools.
$1500, for highways.
$1600. for town charges and bridges.
The collection of taxes was auctioned to William Ward-
well at one cent on the dollar, he was chosen Constable.
Voted that each school district choose their own agent
and that each district call a meeting forthwith and return