and for town charges.
^ The collection of taxes was struck off to George P.
Whitney at one cent and three mills on the dollar, and he
was chosen Constable.
Town meeting June 2d, Benajah Pratt Jr., Moderator.
Voted to raise $1,000. additional to that already raised
to meet the liabilities of the town.
At the election of state officers September loth, two hun-
dred and thirty-three votes were cast for Governor. ^
Annals of Oxford. 71
John Hubbard (dem.) had 150
Elijah L. Hamlin (whig) had 41
George F. Talbot (free soil) had 41
Micah J. Talbot had I
For Representative to the Legislature,
Ebenezer R. Holmes had 121
Samuel Crockett had 43
Leonard Caldwell had 38
William K. Staples had X
X850
Town meeting March 4th, 1850, John J. Perry was
chosen Moderator, and Dan Peny, Town Clerk, and
Treasurer.
Sebastian S. Smith, George P. Whitney and Charles
Durell were chosen Selectmen.
Edwin Mayberry, Nicholas C. Dinsmore and Jairus
S. Keith were chosen Superintending School Committee.
Ebenezer R. Holmes was chosen Town Agent.
William Tubbs was continued in charge of the Pound.
Voted to raise $600. for the support of the schools.
$1,600. for highways.
$800. for debts, town charges and the
support of the poor.
It was voted that all persons who prefer to pay their
highway tax in money, instead of work as usual, may have
a discount of fifty per cent if they pay the Treasurer before
the tenth day of June next.
The collection of taxes was struck off to Seth H. Faunce
at two cents and seven mills ; he being the lowest bidder
was chosen Collector and Constable.
Voted that the Selectmen cause a part of the land be-
longing to the town, back of the Centre Meeting-house, to
be fenced and prepared for a burying-ground.
At the election of state officers September 9th, one hun-
dred and eighty-one votes were cast for Governor.
John Hubbard (dem.) had 134
William G. Crosby (whig) had 33
George F. Talbot (free soil) had 13
Lot Morrill had Z
72
Aunals of Oxford
TOWN OFFICERS.
Abbott, Thomas *43
Bartlett, Ezra ,29 <35-6 *s8
Brown, Cyrus '44 *5o
Bums, John Jr. '35-6
Caldwell, John '34 '38
Cary, Thomas '38
Carman, Luther '35
Chaffin, Joseph '47 '49
Crockett, Samuel '30 '32
'34 *37 '43
Crooker- Seth '50
Dean, Abraham '49
Dean, Jacob '45
Downing, Amos '35
Durell, Charles '43
Dudley, Gilbert '50
Faunce, Seth H. ^42 ^47
Fogg, John W. '33
Gardner, John Jr. '24 '44
Haskell, Joel '45
Hayes Dennis ^;^6
Hilborn, Robert Jr. '2936-7
Hilborn, Robert 2d '31 '34
Holbrook, Heniy '31 '34
Holmes, Ebenezer R. '45 '49
Hood, Alfred '31-2 '36
Keith, Jairus S. '44
Kelley, Cyrus '46
King, Samuel H. '32
Littlefield, Samuel '32 ,36
Maddox, Henry *45-6
Marshall, John ^29 '30-8
Mixer, Joseph '31 '33
More, Elisha '29
Oliver, William W. '45
Perkins, Lewis '43
Perry, Benjamin F. '31 '37
Perry, Dan «3i '33
Allen, William S. ^42 '^6
Brown, Jacob D. 1834
Burns, John '48-9
Bryant, Alanson '44 '47
Burns, Nathaniel E. '45 '50
Caldwtll, Leonard '36 '50
Cary, Zachary '43
Chadbourne, Elon '33 '35 '44
Coy, Nathan '46
Crooker, Daniel '38
Crocker Jonathan '44
Cushman, Zebedee '29
Dean, Henry C. '29 '30 '33
'35 '38 *42 *44 '47
Dunn, James Jr. '38 '43
Dudley, Daniel '32 '48
Faunce, John H. '45 '48 *5o
Faunce, William '31
Fuller, Sullivan '42
Hackett, Daniel '42 '47-8
Hawke, Russell '46 '49
Hayes Edmund '33 ^45
Hayes, Richard ^42
Holbrook, Seth T. ,50
Holmes, Ebenezer '30 *32
Holmes, John S. '48
Keen, Seth ^36
Keen, Simon '43 '47
King, Alonzo '30
Lee, John *42 '49
Lunt, Joshua *48
Merrill, Joshua '30
Merrill, Mayhew C. '49
Mixer, Otis F. '38
Mussey, Alexander H. '35 '47
Perkins, Harrison G. '37
*46 *49
Perkins, Luther '35
Pratt, Benajah Jr. ^6
Annals of Oxford. 73
Prince, "William '30 Rawson, Artemas *48
Record, Chandler '37 '46 Rich, Hezekiah '37-8 '46
Rich, Jeremiah '44 Rich, Joseph '34
Rich, Reuben 2d '47 Richards, Benjamin *34 '36-7
Richards, John '29 '44 '47
Robinson, George '30 '38 '44 Rowe, Joseph '36-7 '48
Sampson, Nathaniel '44 Shurtlefif, Giles '29 '32
Smith, Daniel '31 '35 Smith, Sebastian S. '45
Staples, Andrew '32 '34 '42 Staples, William K. '49 '50
Taylor, Nathaniel '42-3 Tewksbury, Jacob '43
Thayer, Abner '48 Thayer, Arba '46
Thomas, Ichabod M. '42 Thayer, Isaac A. '43
<44 '46 '48 Thomas, Oliver '31 '33-4
Thomas, William '30 '32 '4^"3 '45 '5^
*37 ,49 Wardwell, William '37
Washburn, Isaac '42-3 Webber, David '29
Webber, Samuel '50 Welch, William F. '42
Whitehouse, Benjamin '33 Whitehouse, Benj. Jr. '48
Whitehouse, Daniel '50 Wilson, Joseph '46
Wright, Ezra '35 '38 '45 Wright, Samuel '47
Woodward, Caleb ^34 Work, Jonathan '49
^uri/egors of WtiQW^l^*
Abbott, Thomas '45-6 Allen, Isaac '47
Allen, William S. '31 '33 Austin, Thomas '46-8
<36 *38-<4i '48 Bartlett, Ezra '30 '33 '38
Bickford, Joseph '49 '43 '49
Briggs, Rufus '47 Brown, Cyrus *43
Brown, Jacob D. '34 Brown, Leonard '42
Brown, Samuel Jr. '39 '40 Bryant, Alanson '33 ^38 '48
Bryant, Orrin ,48 Burns, Ezekiel R. '43
Burns, John Jr. '34-5 Burns, John G. '39 '41-2
Caldwell, John '31-2 '36 '44 Caldwell, Leonard '31 *33-4
Caldwell, Aretas '41 Carman, Isaac B. '36 '41
Carman, Luther ^43 Cary, Thomas '40
Cary, Zachary '41 Carr, John '37 '41
Chadbourne, Elon '30-1 '37-8 Chadbourne, Samuel '44
Chesley, Moses '43 Crooker, Daniel '42
Crockett, Samuel '29 '31 Crooker, John '44 '48
'36 '38 '40 '42 '44 '49 Crooker, Jonathan '36 ^43
Crooker, Seth '42-3 Cummings, Isaac '49
Cushman, Eleazer '38 Cushman, William E. '47-8
Dean, Abraham '41-2 Dean, Jacob Jr. '36 '41
74
Annals of Oxford.
Dean, Henry C. '29 *30
'33-4 *36-8 *40-i *47-8
Dennin, Frederick '41
Drake, Alpheus '32
Downing, Amos '35 '45
Dudley, Nathan '48
Dean, John H. '46
Dean, Josiah '35 '39
Dennin, Simeon '50
Dudley, Daniel '33
Dudley, Gilbert '49
Dunn, James Jr. '34 '45
Durell, Charles '37 '47 '50 Edwards, Daniel '46
Edwards, Robert K. '49 Farris, George '44 '49
Faunce, Seth H. '40 '49
Francis, Sylvanus B. ^47
French, Joseph '48
Fuller, Ezra G. '44
Gammon, Jemerson '42
Hackett, Jacob M. *49
Haskell, Joel '45 '48
Faunce, William '29
French, John S. Jr. ^39 '40
Fuller, Sullivan '36-7 '42-3
Gardner, John Jr. '29-*34
*37-9 *43-4 '50
Hawkins, John F. '43
Hayes, Dennis '38 '41-2 '44 Hayes, Edmund ^29 '30
Hayes, Richard '44
Hawke, Russell '46-7
Holbrook, Henry '31
Holmes, Bartlett '31
Holmes, John S. '46
Jordan, Timothy '36
Keene, Joshua '35 '39
Keene, Samuel '49 '50
King, Alonzo *34
King, Samuel H. '31-2
Lane, Simeon '47
Libby, Thomas '32 '43
Lombard, Nathan ^42
Marr, John N. '40
'46 «5o
Hilborn, Robert 3d '32 '41-2
Holbrook, Seth T. '45 '50
Holmes, Ebenezer R. *34
<37 *40 '46
Hood, Alfred *3o ^36
Keene, Reuben '46
Keene, Seth ^45
Keene, Simon '38 '42
Knight, Thaddeus '50
Lennell, Luther '31 ^33
Littlefield, Samuel '32 '46
Lord, Nathaniel '49
Marriner, Lemuel '44
Merrill, Joshua '29 '35-7 '40 Mixer, Joseph '32 '42
Mixer, Otis F. '34 *37 '40 Morey, Caleb '41
*45 '48 Morse, Samuel '49-50
Mussey, Alexander H. '41 '49 Mussey, William '35
Nelson, Austin '36
Newhall, Samuel '40
Page, Moses '34
Perkins, Harrison G. '35
'37 '39
Pike, Robert '42
Pratt, Horatio '48
Nelson, Erasmus D. '35
Norton, Winthrop B. '29-30
'32-3
Perkins, Lewis '44
Perkins, Luther' 29 '30 '35 '42
Pratt, Benajah Jr. '37 '47
Record, Chandler '33
Prince, William '30-6 '48-9 Rich, Reuben 2d '47-8
Rich, Jeremiah A. -44-5 Richards, Samuel ^40
Annals of Oxford.
76
Richards, Benjamin '34 '39
*4i '47 *5o
Robinson, Samuel Jr. '29 '30
*43 '45
Rowe, Samuel A. '44 *47 '50
Rowe, Joseph '30 '35 '39
H2 H5-8
Russell, Joseph '37 '45 '48
Sanborn, Benjamin '43 -47
Shurtleff, Giles '31 '35 '37
Stanton. Woodbur}^ L. *49
Staples, David '43 '45 '47
Staples, Joseph '50
Somes, Silas P. '50
Swift, Samuel <3i *36
Symonds, Andrew J. '48
Taylor, Nathaniel '40 *49
Thaytr, Isaac A. '29 '30
'32 '48
Thomas, WiUiam '29 '32
*36 '41 '44 '46-7 '50
Walcott, Elbridge '43-5
Washburn, Isaac '40
Webber, David '32-4 '37-9
Webber, Samuel A. '50
Whitehouse, Benjamin '30
'36 '42 '44
Wilson, Joseph '38-9 '43 '46
Wright, Nathan '29 '33
«38 ^46-7
Woodward, Caleb '35
Young, Henry '49-50
Richards, Francis C. *SO
Robinson, Geo. »35 '40 ^43
Rowe, David <48
Rowe, John Jr. *37
Rowe, John 3d '38 '41 '43
Rowe, Timothy '45 '49-50
Rowe, Zebulon '40
Sampson, Reuben %6
Shurtleff, Adolphus '39 '47
Smith, Sebastian S. '45
Staples, Andrew '41 '45-8
«4i-2 *5o
Stone, Daniel Jr. '38-9 '45-8
Soule, Galen '30 '34 '36
'45 '49
Taylor, Joshua '36
Thayer, Arba '43 '49
Thomas, Geo. W. '34 '39 '42
Thomas, Ichabod M. '40
Thurston, John '38 '46
Verrill, Reuben '50
Wardwell, WilHam '37 '43
*45 '49
Webber, Henry R. '41-3 '46
Welch, William F. '37-40
Whitehouse, Daniel '50
Whitney, George P. '49
Wright, Ezra '35
Wright, Samuel '31 '39
*44 '46 '50
Work, Jonathan '49
JFteltr ©rtiicrs anb jFence Ftcbjers.
Allen, Samuel '29-32 '34-7 Allen, William S. '39-40 '42
Andrews, Dennis B. '47 Bartlett, Daniel -31
Bartlett, Ezra '31
Boothby, Levi T. '44
Brown, Leonard '43
Bryant, Jonathan '31
Burns, John G. *45
Beals, Samuel '39
Brown, Cyrus '38
Brown, Samuel Jr. '39 '49
Bryant, Orrin '48
Burns , Nathaniel E. ' 43
76
Annals of Oxford.
Caldwell, Leonard '37
Gates, David '31
Chadbourne, Samuel H. '32
*34 '41 M9
Crockett, Samuel '37 '48
Cushman, Bartlett A. '49
Daniel, Andrew M. '47
Dean, Joseph '35
Dennin, Simeon '38
Dudley, Daniel ';^6
Elwell, Albion '47
Faunce, Aaron '42 '44
Faunce, James '^6
Faunce, Seth H. '35
Fitz, Ebenezer '44
Fuller, Sullivan '43
Gardner, John Jr. '42 '44 '47
Ha3'es, Dennis '36
Holbrook, Seth T. '46 '49
Holmes, Ebenezer R. '36
Holmes, John S. '48
Jackson, Josiah '30
Keene, Seth *38
King, Alonzo '32
King , Samuel H. '39-40
Libby, Simon '35
Lombard, John '48
Maddox, Benjamin '48
Marriner, Lemuel '37
Merrill, Joshua <37 ^40
Mixer, Otis F. «36-7 '43-4
Morse, David '34
Mussey, Alex'r. H. '32 '38
Nelson, Austin '33 '35 '37
Norton, Winthrop B. '30
Noyes, Josiah ^44
Oliver, William W. ^42 ^6
Perkins, Luther 2d '41
Perry, Dan '32
Pike, Prescott L. '40
Pike , Samuel '38 '40
Pingree, Luther F. '42
Prince, William '29 '37-8 '40
Carey, Thomas «38
Chadbourne, Elon '30
Chaffin, William F. <37
Crooker, Jonathan '45
Cummings, Isaac '49
Cushman, Levi '37
Dean, Jacob Jr. '34
Dean, Josiah Jr. '36 '40
Dinsmore, David '51
Dunn, James Jr. '37-9
Emery, Joseph E. '41
Farris, John '33
Faunce, Nathaniel M. '45
Faunce, Willian '29-31
Fogg, John W. '32
Gammon, Jemerson '32
Haskell. Joel '45
Hilborn, Hiram '29
Hilborn, Robert Jr. '35 '4c
Holmes, Eleazer A. '40
Jones, Abial M. '46
Keene , Joshua '43
Keene, Simon '37
King, Augustus '30
Lee, John '39
Lombard. Henry '30
Lombard, Joshua '47 '49
Martin, John '37
Merrill, Joseph E. '48-9
Mixer, Joseph '33
More, Elisha '29
Moulton, Ebenezer ^29
Mussey, William H. '37
Nelson, Emmons '38
Nelson, Erasmus D. '35 '37
Perkins, Joseph Jr. '30
Perkins, Luther '31
Perkins, William '38
Perry, John J. '34 ^i *44
Pike, Robert '45-6 *48
Pratt, Abiel '42 '48
Pratt,, Benajahjr. *37
Rich, Jeremiah N. ^44 '47
Annals of Oxford.
77
Richards, Benjamin *38 *^6
Robinson, Milton '47
Rowe, Samuel '44
Shurtleff, Adolphus '38 '41
Smith, Sebastian S. '43-4 '48
Staples, Cyrus *48
Staples, George '47
Soule, Galen '39
Taylor, William *40
Thayer, Isaac A. '33 '49
Wardwell, William '32 '37
Washburn, Isaac '32 '34 •;^6
Webber, David '38 '48
Welch, George W. '44
Whitehouse, Benj. '29-30 '42
Winslow, Amasa '37-8
Yeats, William ,36
Robinson, George *29 <43
Robinson, Samuel '32 '36
Russell, Joseph '38 '45
Smith, Lewis '46
Stanton, Woodbury L. *47
Staples, David '30
Staples, Simon '29
Taylor, Nathaniel '35
Thayer, Arba '48
Truet, George F. '35
Tufts, Joseph '52
Washburn, Jacob T. '34
Webber, Samuel '46
Welch, William F. '38
Whitehouse, Daniel '45-6
Work, Jonathan *^i
Cullers of l^oops anH $taves.
Brown, Cyrus '50-2
Cates, David *38-4i
Chaffin, Joseph '45
Chipman, William '31 '39
Faunce, James '50-2
Gardner, John Jr. '37-8
Lane, Jonathan '41
Libby, Thomas '35-6 '46
Lombard, Joshua '29-30
Lombard, Nathan '29
Rich, Renben '46-7
Rounds, Joseph '32-3
Soule, Galen '49
Whitehouse, Benjamin Jr. '
Carman, Luther '35-40
Chadbourne, Zebulon Jr. '44-
Chaffin, William F. '33-7
Dunn, James Jr. '34
Gammon, Jemerson '37-40
Hilborn, Robert Jr. '29-32
Keene, Simon '47
Lennell, Luther '30-4 '42-7
Lombard, John '49
Merrill, Mayhew C. '42-49
Rounds, John '34 ' 36
Sanborn, Benjmin '50
Soule, James '49
47 Yeats, William '33
$urv£2ors of ^abietr anti ^ift 3Lum&er,
Beals, Samuel '49
Brown, Leonard '38
Carman, Isaac B. '50-1
Chadbourne, Samuel '39-40
Chaffin, William F. ^'35-7
Durell, Charles *39
Bearce, Isaac '34
Brown, Orrin '40
Carman, Lnther '30-43
Chaffin, Joseph '46
Dean, Abraham '44
Dennin, Frederick '41 '48
78 Annals of Oxford.
Frost, John B. '47 Gammon, Abial '44-5 '49
Gardner, John Jr. *29-30 '33 Hackett, Daniel '41-9
Hayes, Dennis '36-9 '42 Hilborn, Robert Jr. '31
King, Alonzo '31 '33 Hood, Alfred '32-3 '37
King, Samuel H. '29 '31-2 Lombard, Joshua '47-8
'36-7 Marshall, John '29 '38-40
McKenney, Silas B. '39 Mixer, Otis F. '37-8 '47-8
Norton, Winthrop B. '29-30 Mussey, Pitt C. '33
Pingre, Luther F. '37 '39-45 Pratt, Benajah Jr. '34 -43 '45
Soule, Galen '44 Wardwell, William '32
Yeats, William '30-3 ,35-6 Woodward, Caleb *40 '42
*39-44 '46 Wright, Ezra '35-38
^Inspectors of BrtcJt antJ BrtcJt JSloulUs.
Brackett, Daniel '47 Burns, John G. '42 ^45
Carey, Thomas '37 '40-1 Carman, Luther '42-5 *49
Farris, George '43-4 Ford, William '52
Gardner, John Jr. '35 Hanson, William P. '37-40
Norton, Winthrop B. '32-3 Record, Chandler '34
Soule, Galen '37 '39 '42 '44 Rich , Reuben Jr. '41-2
'48-9 Smith, Sebastian S. '46-7
Tufts, Joseph '47 Wardwell, William '37 '39
Webber, H. R. '48 '40.1 '43-4 '46 '48-9
Webber, Samuel A. '42-6 Whitehouse, Benjamin '45
Surxre^ors of SEooti antJ Barfe.
Beeman, Stephen T. '44 Chaffin, Joseph '39 '41 '43
Dennin, Frederick '41 Durell, Charles '51
Faunce, Aaron D. '48-9 Jones, Abial M. '49
Knight, Thaddeus R. '49 Staples, William K. *52
Stevens, E. H. *48 Walcott, William '47
Scalers of Coal Basftrts.
Bums, Nathaniel N. '48 Chadbourne, Samuel ^49
Hall, Silas B. '51 Russell, Joseph '49
Smith, Sebastian S. '48
STitfjinipicn,
Abbott, Thomas '4.7 Burns, Tohn G. '4.0
Annals of Oxford.
79
Caldwell, John '33 ^39
Caldwell, William '29 '30
*3S *40 H2-3
Chadbourne, Elon '37
Chadbourne, Zebulon '47
Crooker, Daniel ^37
Dinsmore, David '49
Durell, Charles *45
Faunce, William '34-5 *38
Hi ;43
Hawkins, Henry '49
Hilborn, Robert 3d '30
Keith, Jairus S. '44
Lombard, Joseph '34
Mixer, Otis F. %i
Mussey, Pitt C. '29 '32-3
Norton, Winthrop B. '30-1*35
Perkins, Luther <36 '45
Perry, John J. '42
Prince, William '31
Rich, Jeremiah A. '44
Rowe, Joseph '29 ^^6 '43
Shurtleff, Giles '35
Taylor, Joshua '36
Welch, John H. <4i
Winship, Gershom '49
Caldwell, Leonard '32
'37 '51
Carman, Thomas R. '37
Chadbourne, Samuel '49
Chesley, Moses '51
Dean, Henry C. '47
Dunn, James Jr. '39
Faunce, Seth H. '33
Hackett, Daniel '45
Hayes, Edmund '42 '47
Hayes, Dennis '39
Hood, Alfred '37
Lee, John '47
Martin, James '44
Mussey, Alexander H. '38
Nelson, Nathan '31 '38
Perkins, Joseph Jr. '29
Perry, Dan '34
Pike, Robert '42
Record, Chandler '32
Robinson, George *45 *47
Sanborn, Benjamin '40
Smith, Daniel '35
Washburn , Jacob T. '45
Whitehouse, Benjamin '44
Yeats, William ^42
"Wmlk about Zion, and go round abomi htr I
Tell the lowers thereof.
Mark ye well her bulwarks.
Consider her palaces ;
Thatyt may tell it to the generation foUouiing.'
CHAPTER IV.
RECORD AND TRADITION.
►•e have evidence that Alexander Shepard was a Con-
:gregationalist and that Andrew Craigie was an Epis-
kopalian , but there is nothing showing that either of
them made requisition on the settlers as to their relig-
ious faith, liberty of conscience was allowed to all.
Prior to the formation of the Baptist Society in 1791 there
was no church organization ; then only fourteen out of a
population of about five hundred were united in its fellow-
ship. This however must not be construed as an indication
of the indifference of the inhabitants to holy things, for
probably, tht;re was not a home in the whole district where
the bible was not sacredly regarded as the "Word of God".
The people were poor, many bought their land on credit
and all expenses were reduced to the minimum ; political
and sectarian feeling was strong and the preaching in those
days was largely controversial, more of the sword than the
olive-branch. While the people generally accepted Luther's
theory "that a saving faith was not dependent upon good
works or a virtuous life", other issues were made prominent
and New England sentiment had so radically changed the
laws as to give to every person the right to organize a church
upon tlie principles dictated by their own conscience, and to
preach the gospel as they understood it. What wonder that
there are so many feeble churches when all know that only
through toleration and union cometh strength.
A histoiy of Methodism says that the first Methodist ser-
mon preached in town was at the house of John Caldwell
in 1794 and that soon after a class was formed of his fami-
ly and a few others and that meetings were regularly held
in his house or in the school-house. A second class was
Annals of Oxford. 81
formed in 1805 on Pidgeon Hill ; these classes were includ-
ed in the Paris and Poland curcuits. In 1809 Rev. Dan
Perry, a member of the New England Conference, having
been compelled to locate on account of a physical injury,
settled in this town and from that time until 1834 supported
himself and family upon his farm. He frequently preached
Sundays and officiated at most of the weddings and funer-
als. The denomination held their meetings with considera-
ble regularity in the Centre Meeting-house after it was fin-
ished but they had no meeting-house of their own until 1861.
Early in the nineteenth century the Congregationalists in
the east part of the town joined with those in Minot in the
organization of a church and building a meeting-house at
West Miuot which was known, prior to the formation of the
church at Craigies Mills, as The Church of Hebron and
Minot ; subsequently. The Church at West Minot.
**Pursuant to letters missive from a number of individuals
in the vicinity of Craigies Mills, in the town of Hebron, an
ecclesiastical council convened at the house of Alfred Hood
on Wednesday the 31st day of May 1826, to take into con-
sideration the expediency of forming a Congregational
Church of Christ in this place.
Present by representation the following Churches :
Gorham, by Rev. Thaddeus Pomroy.
Otisfield, by Rev. Josiah G. Merrill, William Spurr and
Samuel Anderson.
Gray, by Rev. Samuel H. Peckham, = Young and
Joseph Merrill.
Minot, by Rev. Elijah Jones and Dea. Samuel Pool.
Hebron, by Dea. Eben. Dunham and Dea. Moses Allen.
Paris, by Rev. Joseph Walker, Dea. Caleb Prentiss and
Isaac Bolster.
Organized by choice of Rev, Thaddeas Pomroy, Moder-
ator and Rev. Elijah Jones, Scribe.
After examination it was voted that the following persons
be organized and constituted into a church.
Mr. Jonathan Muzzey. Mrs. Militiah Muzzey.
Mr. Pitt C. Muzzey. Mrs. Harriet Rowe.
Mr. Alfred Hood. INIrs. Hannah Hood.
Public exercises at the school-house at two o'clock.
1 Prayer by Rev. Henry A. Merrill.
2 Administration of the covenant and fellowship of the
churches by Rev. Josiah G. Merrill.
82 Annals of Oxford.
3 Sermon by Rev« Thaddeus Pomroy.
4 Baptism by Rev. Samuel H.Peckham. (Martha Clark
and Charles Addison, children of Pitt C. Muzzey and
Hannah Angelina, child of Alfred and Hannah Hood
were baptised.)
5 Administration of the Supper by Rev. Joseph Walker
and Rev. Elijah Jones."
After the public exercises they returned to the house of
Alfred Hood and Mr. Pitt C. Muzzey was elected Deacon.
Letters of recommendation were filed by Jonathan, MiHtiah
and Pitt C. Muzzey, and Hannah Hood from the church in
Ward , Mass. and by Alfred Hood and Harriet Rowe from
the church in Otisfield.
October 29th, Esther Maria, dau. of Pitt C. Muzzey was
baptised by Rev. Amasa Smith.
September 2d, 1827 Rev. James P. Richardson baptised
Hiram Bradbury and Cyrus, cliildren of Harriet Rowe ; the
30th instant, he baptised Joseph Gardner, David Whiti-
more, Timothy and Hannah Austin, children of Eliza Rowe
a member of the church in Albany.
December 15th, Winthrop B. Norton and Dorothy his
wife were received by letter from the Second Church in
Portland. Missis Susan and Maiy Rowe, by letter. Mrs.
Miranda Cleveland, by letter from the church in Mansfield
Mass. and Widow Sarah A. Allen, by profession. The fol-
lowing day, Ethan Norton, Sarah Adams and Ellen Eliza-
beth, children of Sarah Allen were baptised ; likewise Ed-
ward Payson, child of Alfred and Hannah Hood.
March 23d, 1828 Henry Chase Dean and Celia his wife,
also Mrs Rebecca Rowe, were received by profession.
Same date Rev. James P. Richardson baptised Charles,
Celia, Polly, Timothy and the 25th of January 1829, Bet-
sey, children of Henry C. and Celia Dean. March 8th, he
baptised Merrill Jordan , Juda and Harriet Sophronia, child-
ren of Mrs. Rebecca Rowe. August 29th, 1830 John Rowe
and Mary his wife were received by letter and on the same
date William Alexander, child of Alfred and HannahHood,
also Alexander White, child of Capt. Henry C. and Celia
Dean were baptised by Mr. Richardson.
Up to this time, by the aid of the pastors of neighbor-
ing churches, meetings appear to have been held with con-
siderable regularity, but there is now an interruption, meet-
ings were surely held, but no records are in the hands of the
Annals of Oxford. 83
clerk. A note in records of a meeting March 6th, 1836 says
"According to tradition, Dea. Pitt C. Muzzey was dismiss-
ed in the autumn of 1833 to the church in Monson." The
church therefore was evidently without a deacon for about
three years. The publications of the denomination show
that Rev. James Gooch, born in North Yarmouth, was em-
ployed by the Maine Missionary Society to supply the
church of Hebron and Minot for a few months. He was or-
dained at West Minot December 25th, 1828 and was the
pastor of the church there until November 26lh, 1834. ^^
December he was engaged as stated supply by the church at
Craigies Mills and in 1839 ^^ removed to Patten to supply
the church in that town. In 1845 he returned to Oxford or
Minot and died March 24th, 1848, aged 47. His wife was
Hannah, daughter of Col. Isaac Crooker of Minot.
January 30th 1836 a meeting was held in the school-house,
Jairus S. Keith was chosen Moderator and A. G. Fobes,
Secretary. A letter from Mr. Ariel P. Chute, dated Jan.
20th, 1836, proposing conditions to become pastor etc. was
received and it was voted to accept the conditions, and that
Jairus S. Keith and Winthrop B. Norton be a committee to
write to Mr. Chute.
Jairus S. Keith was chosen Treasurer of the Society.
March 6th, Rev. Joseph Walker preached and baptised
Lowell Austin, child of Pitt C. Muzzey.
March i6th. In accordance with letters missive from the
Congregational Church in Oxford, an ecclesiastical council
met at the house of W. B. Norton Esq. to ordain Mr. Ariel
P. Chute as pastor of the church and society.
The following churches were represented.
Winthrop, by Rev. David Thurston and Peleg Benson.
South Paris, by Rev. Joseph Walker, Giles Shurtleff and
Elisha Morse.
Poland, by Rev. Thomas Williams and Zadok Allen.
Waterford, by Rev. J. A. Douglass and Daniel Green.
Otisfield, by Rev. J. P. Richardson and John Hancock.
Also, Rev. Samuel Johnson, General Agent of the
Maine Missionary Society.
Rev. David Thurston was chosen Moderator and Rev.
James P. Richardson, Scribe.
After making the necessary examination, the council
being satisfied, voted to adjourn to the meeting-house and
proceed with the ordination.
84 Annals of Oxford.
The service commenced at twelve o'clock with reading
the Scripture and Prayer by Rev. Mr. Douglass.
Sermon by Rev. Mr. Thurston.
Ordaining prayer by Rev. Mr. Williams.
Charge by Rev. Mr. Johnson.
Right hand of fellowship by Rev. Mr. Walker.
Address to the church and people by Rev. Mr. Rich-