Category: Steward

The Maine Bicentennial

5/26/2020

2020 - two hundred years of statehood for the State of Maine. On the 15th of March, 1820, the former District became the 23rd state in the Union. In August of that year, the 1820 census was taken. Here are my MAINE ancestors, and where they were at the time of statehood.

Jeremiah Brown - 5th Great Grandfather
Cornville, Somerset, Maine

Jeremiah Brown and Charlotte Lewis were married ca Mar 1820 in Cornville, but it is known that she had two children prior to Oct 1818 (one of them perhaps my 4th GGF Joseph Brown). The household now with 5 children in 1820 census, some may not be their own kin.
More about: The Family of Jeremiah Brown and Charlotte Lewis

Joseph Gray (abt 1787-aft 1874) - 5th Great Grandfather
Newfield, York, Maine

Married to Betsey Plaisted in Wolfeboro, NH in 1811, they first removed to Newfield, ME, and then went on to Athens, Maine soon after. My 4th GGM Elmira Gray is one of the females under 10 yrs of age - her sister Sarah is another, while a third, and the one in the 16-26 age range, is not known.
More about: Joseph Gray of Athens, Solon, and Brighton, Maine

Philip Levitt (Leavitt) Esq. (1774-1861) - 5th Great Grandfather
Athens, Somerset, Maine

With wife Mary (Pike) (1774-1826), they had ten children (according to Leavitt records), the numbers above showing several other persons also living with them. Philip was a cooper, and also ran a store and tavern, so is one of the "2" people engage in commerce (far right number), with five family members farming. My 4th GGF, Joseph Leavitt, was not yet 15 at the time of this census.

James Shattuck (1763-1830)
Solon, Somerset, Maine

Originally from Pepperell, MA, he arrives in Solon, ME between 1810-1820 with his 2nd wife Amy (Tarbell). Son Lovell Shattuck was 13 years old during this census, and is seen in the 10-16 yr column.
More about: James Shattuck of Pepperell MA and Solon Maine

John Steward (1740-aft 1840)- 5th GGF
Canaan, Somerset, Maine

Born in Lunenburg, MA, he was in Norridgewock, ME by 1787, when he married Abigail Whitcomb. Son Alaxis Steward, my 4th GGF, would have been 7 yrs old at time of this census.
More about: Duncan Stewart of Rowley MA and His Descendants to Maine

Henry Wyman (1762-1837) - 6th Great-Grandfather
Madison, Somerset, Maine

Henry and wife Sarah (Tuttle) married in Goffstown, NH in 1793, and soon moved to Madison, ME. He was a Rev. War veteran - a large family, though I haven't compiled a list of children yet. 3 persons in household were engaged in agriculture.
More about: Henry Wyman of Madison, Maine

Capt. James Brown (1760-1838)
Kittery, York, Maine

James Brown, with wife Sarah (Fernald), both 45+ years of age in 1820. One son, Elihu Deering Brown, was almost 20 yrs of age at this time, and would be one of the "2" in the 16-26 column.

Elihu Fernald (1763 - 1851)
Kittery, York, Maine

Elihu the only male left in the household, with wife Hannah (Chandler) (1765-1836), and three daughters. One those females being my 4th Great-Grandmother Jane C., 16 yrs old in 1820.
More about: Elihu Fernald of Kittery, Maine

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A Drive Through Somerset County, Maine

11/19/2019

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Though it ended up being a very cold and wet trip, I took time during my vacation in October 2019, and made a day-trip up to Somerset County, Maine, where many of my maternal ancestors had lived and where many of their burial places can still be found.

The first location was about three hours from home, and was the grave of my 5th Great-Grandmother, Abigail (Whitcomb) Steward. I had just recently found out that she was buried in St. Albans, in a plot with her son Randall Steward, so made this one a priority.

Abigail, wife of John Steward
Died May 7, 1853 AEt 83 yrs

More about her and husband John can be read in a blog post I wrote in Jan 2019, on:

Duncan Stewart of Rowley, MA

I went north from here, to visit a Civil War soldier from the 27th Maine, who had settled in Dexter, Maine and was buried there in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. I then traveled southwest to Athens, Maine, making a stop at Mount Rest Cemetery.

While I probably have direct ancestors buried there, including perhaps my 5th Great-Grandparents, Philip and Mary (Pike) Leavitt (and possibly my 4th Great-Grandparents), there are no stones to mark their resting places. I did photograph all of the Leavitt stones there, some two dozen cousins. I have placed them on a cemetery page at the National Association of Leavitt Families (NALF) website, which can be viewed at:
https://www.nalfinc.org/cemeteries---athens-maine.html

Next on my list was the Jewett Cemetery in Madison, on Rt 43 (Horsetail Hill Rd). Two sets of 6th Great Grandparents awaited me there: Henry and Sarah H. (Tuttle) Wyman, and James and Emma (Tarbell) Shattuck. Henry's daughter, Sarah Wyman, would marry Lovell Shattuck, the son of James and Emma.

I have written about both of these couples in earlier blogs:
Henry Wyman of Madison, Maine
James Shattuck of Pepperell, MA and Solon, Maine

Slightly north of this location is the South Solon Burial Ground. I have several relatives buried here without stones, including my 2nd Great Grandfather, Charles Leavitt and his parents, Joseph and Lucy Ann (Brown) Leavitt. Charles' wife is here, as are Lucy's parents, Joseph and Lucy A. (Shattuck) Brown.

Alberta A. (Rowell) Leavitt (born Hannah B Steward), her stone being the only one in this plot. Her husband Charles, and maybe even his parents, could be buried in this same plot. If not, they're in this burial ground somewhere. Earlier write-ups:

Joseph Brown of Solon and Athens, Maine
Hannah B Steward, aka Alberta Ann Rowell

I drove west to get onto Rt 201, taking the road south back to Madison. I made a quick stop at Blackwell Cemetery to see another 27th Maine veteran (George A. Taylor, who also served w/ the 32nd ME). There were two other ancestors that I did need to by-pass, Sarah (Wyman) Shattuck in Solon Village Cemetery, and Thomas Steward in Sunset Cemetery, North Anson, as the day was passing by too quickly, and I REALLY NEEDED to reach that Dunkins in Skowhegan!

My last stop was the Old Bloomfield (or Bloomfield Weston) Cemetery in Skowhegan. The earliest settlers of "Old Canaan" are buried here, the spot where the meeting house once stood.

One of these early settlers is Mary (Ireland) Steward, wife of Daniel, who died on 30 Jan 1818, aged 79 yrs. After her husband died (he is buried in Fitchburg, MA), she came north to Maine with family.

Not an easy stone to photograph, with there being no sun out that day (well, until I was driving home, which is usually the way it goes). I'll return there again some day, and try for a better shot.

John and Mary are mentioned in my blog on:
Duncan Stewart of Rowley, MA and his Descendants to Maine

That being the last stop of my trip, I headed home. Perhaps the next one will be to Massachusetts, where I know of many ancestors buried there.

Looking forward to Spring!!

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Duncan Stewart of Rowley, MA and his Descendants to Maine

1/20/2019

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DUNCAN STEWART was my 9th Great-Grandfather, and lived in the towns of Ipswich, Newbury, and Rowley, Massachusetts. He was living in Ipswich, in the service of George Hadley, when he married ANNE WINCHURST, also a servant, in 1654. They moved to Newbury, Mass in 1659, and resided there for 30 years before going to Rowley, MA [Stewart Clan Magazine, Dec 1923].

A deposition by Duncan in 1698 said he was about 75 years old (so born ca 1623), though his death notice in 1717 (see below) claims it was thought he was about 100 yrs.

These images are from the "Copy of the record of deaths of the First Church in Rowley, Mass", showing the deaths of Duncan and his wife. Book found at [archive.org]

Duncan and Anne had 12 known children, as given in the Stewart Clan Magazine, Dec 1923 (Vol 2, pg 69), a clip of the page shown here:

The same list is given in the Early Settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts, pg 356 (orig printed in 1887; 1933 ed. here on archive.org), both articles submitted by the same author.

JAMES STEWART
born 8 Oct 1664 in Newbury, MA
died 17 Sept 1750 in Rowley, MA
Marr. 1) abt 1687, ELIZABETH ------, d. 1732
Marr 2) SARAH PRIME, 25 Jun 1733 [Rowley VR, pg 404].

James lived in Newbury through 1690, and is seen in Rowley by 1693. From 1709 to 1723, they lived in Boxford, MA, and afterwards returned to Rowley (living in the part of town which later became Georgetown). Wife Elizabeth died in Rowley, but was buried in Bradford on 28 Oct 1732.

Stewart Clan Magazine, Dec 1923 (Vol 2, pg 70)

Above image from the "Copy of the record of deaths of the First Church in Rowley, Mass" (pg 27)

SOLOMON STEWART/STEWARD
born 24 July 1698 in Rowley, MA
died 28 Feb 1758 in Lunenburg, MA
Married in Andover, MA on 28 Jun 1727, MARTHA FARRINGTON

Lived early in Rowley, then moved to Salem, MA prior to 1734 (the part of town that became Peabody). He then relocated to Lunenburg in 1737 [Proceedings of Fitchburg Historical Society, Vol. 4, pg 95-96].

[from the Proceedings of the Fitchburg Historical Society, Vol. 3, pg 264]
In the Lunenburg South Burial Ground:
Here lies buried the body of Mr. Solomon Steward, who departed this life Feb. 28th, A.D. 1758, in the 61st year of his age.
Mrs. Martha Steward, the wife of Mr. Solomon Steward, who died Nov ye 6th, 1777, in the 77th year of her age.
She was a virtuous wife, a kind neighbor, and a tender parents.

The children (and bio) of Solomon and Martha, as given in the Early Settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts [page 361: archive.org]

See also:
Worcester County Probate: Series A, Case #56063 "Solomon Steward", 1758
Stewart Clan Magazine, Jan 1924 (Vol 2, No. 7)

DANIEL STEWART/STEWARD
born 21 Nov 1734 in Salem, MA
died 2 Jun 1802 in Fitchburg, MA
Married in Lunenburg on 14 Mar 1757, MARY IRELAND

Salem VR, Vol. 1 (births), pg 322

Lunenburg VR, pg 97

The children of Daniel and Mary (Ireland) Stewart [Stewart Clan Magazine, Vol 2, No 9, pg 82]

The following was printed in the article "Fitchburg Soldiers in the Revolution" [Proceedings of the Fitchburg Historical Society, Vol. 4, pg 230]. This service is the same as his son Daniel, and I do not see two of this name in the Mass Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution. Daniel senior's may be an error, as the son filed a pension and his service documented.

Daniel is buried in the South Street Cemetery, Fitchburg, MA (Find a Grave memorial #51725531). Wife Mary (Ireland) went to Maine following her husband's death, to live with their son Daniel [Skowhegan on the Kenn, pg 1011], and is buried in the Old Bloomfield (now Bloomfield Weston) Cemetery (Find a Grave memorial #51726171).

JOHN STEWARD
born 18 Aug 1765 in Lunenburg, MA
died: unknown
Married ABIGAIL WHITCOMB in Norridgewock, Maine, 26 Feb 1787

from Skowhegan on the Kennebec, Vol 1, pg 176

From the Town Records of Canaan, Maine [Canaan VR 1776-1883, pg 19], the following family record of John and wife "Nabby" is found:

John and Abigail's children, as listed in the Stewart Clan Magazine [Jul 1924: Vol 3, No 1, pg 99], with a few spelling differences (incl Alaxus became "Alexis").

The 1840 census for Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, showing the John Steward household, with a male aged 70-80, a female aged 70-80, along with a female, aged 20-30, and a male, aged 5-10. This is surely John and Abigail, with daughter Malora (she didn't marry until 1841). The youngster could be a grandson

ALAXIS STEWARD
born 4 Dec 1812 in Canaan, Maine
died 15 Jul 1885 Otter Tail, MN
Married in Milburn, ME on 10 Mar 1835, CHARLOTTE (HARNDEN) REED

For Alaxis, who was my 4th Great-Grandfather, his story can be found in the following blogs I have previously written about him and his family:
- Alaxis Steward, son of John
- Alaxis Steward, from Maine to Minnesota

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Alaxis Steward, son of John

11/26/2018

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"Next to Last" - Week 48 of the 52 Ancestors Challenge

ALAXIS STEWARD, my 4th Great-Grandfather, was the son of John and Abigail "Nabby" (Whitcomb) Steward, the "next to last" child born unto them in Canaan, Maine. His name can be seen in many records with numerous spellings, from Alaxus, to Alexis, Alaxses, Alexis, etc.

From the Canaan, Maine town records [Bk 1776-1883, pg 19: on Family Search], "Alaxus" can be seen near the bottom of list, born December 4th 1812.

The same list of children can be seen in the July 1924 Stewart Clan Magazine [link: Vol. 3, No. 1, pg 99]

He married CHARLOTTE (HARNDEN) REED, the daughter of John and Lydia (Hersey) Harnden, and widow of Orrin Reed [Harnden also written as Harding, Harden, etc], at her home in Milburn. Intents were filed on 22 Jan 1835, and they were married on 10 March 1835 [see Skowhegan VR for early Milburn records, incl Book OR-1, pages 18 for intents and pg 31 for marriage].

Skowhegan VR: Bk OR-1, pg 31

He is seen here in the 1840 Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine census, listed near his father John Steward. Some of the numbers likely belong to the Reed children of former widow Charlotte, as only Lydia and Thomas would have been born by 1840.

They had the following known children, as seen in the Skowhegan census records, 1850-1870:
i. Lydia H. Steward, b.ca. 1836; d. 24 Apr 1904
ii. Thomas Steward, b. ca 1838; d. 22 Oct 1897 [bur Sunset Cem, North Anson: Find a Grave entry]
iii. Phineas P. Steward, b. 17 Mar 1841; d. 11 Dec 1911 [bur Wadena, MN: Find a Grave]
iv. Deborah B Steward, b. 3 Nov 1842; d. 6 Jan 1908; Marr William H White [bur Southside Cem, Skow]
v. Lucius Steward, b. 26 Aug 1844; d. 7 Nov 1900 ["Luceus" on grave: Find a Grave]

1860 Skowhegan, ME map

They lived in Skowhegan through the 1870 census, and then Alaxis and Charlotte, with sons Phineas and Lucius, went west and settled in Minnesota. Their story can be found here, in an earlier blog entry:
Alaxis Steward, from Maine to Minnesota
Thomas Steward, Alaxis' son, also has his own page, my 3rd Great-Grandfather

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Father's Day

6/17/2018

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HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

For this post on Father's Day 2018, I thought I'd share some photographs of the fathers in my family tree. Some have had blog pages written about them, and links are provided for the earlier postings.

(left) Great-Grandfather William H. Pridham (1881-1934) with daughter;
(right) This MAY be Isaac C. H. Pridham (1847-1924), my 2nd Great Grandfather (William's father), with other Pridham family members [photo in with other pictures of this family]
I wrote about them back in 2014 on this blog page: The Pridhams of Puddle Dock

5 generations of my Dow family in four photos: my son and I; my dad and I (on Pest Island in the Piscataqua River); my dad and Papa; Great Grandfather John T Dow and his family at Thanksgiving (1919)

See also my pages: "John T Dow of Portsmouth, NH" and "Same Name"

My Great Great-Grandfather, John Knight, with his family (along with an unknown man in the middle, perhaps a hired hand), probably on the rented farm out on Fox Point in Newington, NH