“Jeremiah Wadleigh Dearborn’s ‘A History of the First Century of the Town of Parsonsfield, Maine’ presents a detailed narrative commemorating the centennial anniversary of Parsonsfield, incorporated on August 29, 1785. Published in 1888, this work offers an exhaustive examination of the town’s development over its first hundred years, celebrated with significant ceremonies in 1885. The volume is meticulously organized into five parts, covering everything from centennial speeches and general town history to personal sketches, genealogies, and miscellaneous papers. Despite challenges such as limited funds and personal constraints, Dearborn delivers a valuable historical resource that captures the essence of Parsonsfield’s past and its community’s spirit, providing insight for both current residents and future generations interested in the rich tapestry of their town’s heritage.”
Part I. is chiefly made up of the papers that were presented in the order of exercises on the day of celebrating the town’s centennial, in addition to a short account of the preparation therefor, and the attendant circumstances of that occasion.
Part II. is the general history of the town for the first one hundred years.
Part III. Personal sketches.
Part IV. Genealogies. This part is far from complete. Much exertion has been made to render it more so, but we find it a difficult task to accomplish, and in many cases totally impracticable.
Part V. is made up of miscellaneous papers, many of which were received too late to appear under their proper heads.
Table of Contents
Speeches at the Celebration
- Address of Welcome by J. W. Dearborn, M.D.
- Oration by Hon. James W. Bradbury
- Agriculture of Parsonfield by John Tuck
- Schools of Parsonfield by Horace Piper
- College Graduates by Rev. Joseph Ricker
- Progress of Physics for a Century by Prof. C. F. Brackett
- Centennial Poem by Mrs. Isadore Merrill
- Lawyers of Parsonfield by P. W. McIntyre, Esq.
- Physicians of Parsonfield by J. W. Dearborn, M.D.
- Minerals of Parsonfield by H. L. Staples
- Parsonfield Seminary and its Students by Prof. G. H. Ricker
- Music and Musicians of Parsonfield by Prof. L. O. Emerson
- Progress of Christianity for a Century by Reb. R. H. Conwell
Part 2 – History of Parsonfield Maine
- Geography – Indians – Early Titles – Shapleigh Proprietors – Hunters and Trappers – Wild Animals – Homes
- Names and Locations – Address of H. G. O. Smith – Residents 1785 – Early Records – Petition For, and Acts of Incorportations
- Prospect – Houses – Food – Transportation – Roads – improvements – Crops and Business
- Town Business – Taxation – Census Returns
- Light and Heat – Drinking Customs – Coming and Going – Houses and Cows – Progress
- Churches and Ministers
- Survey – Plan – Military – Poor – Political
- Rambles about Town
Part 3 – Personal Sketches
- Thomas Parsons, Esq.
- Thomas Parsons, Jr.
- Capt. Thomas Bradbury Parsons
- Capt. Luther Emerson
- Joseph Pratt Emerson
- Professor Luther Orlando Emerson
- James W. Cook
- James W. Bradbury
- Albion P. Benton
- John Ames
- John Manning Ames
- William Dennett Dixon
- Pease Family
- Elisha Piper
- Jonathan Piper
- Capt. Tristram Redman
- Rev. Asa Dalton
- Rev. Joseph Ricker
- Harvey Moore Towle
- Harrison Gray Otis Smith
- Ira More
- John Merrill
- John Jay Merrill
- Simon Brown
- Samuel Lougee
- Gilman Lougee
- John M. Brown
- Dominicus Ricker
- Rev. Edmund Garland
- Elisha Wadleigh
- Samuel Pray
- Joseph Pray
- Deac. Elisha Wadleigh
- John Brackett
- Hon. John Brackett, 2d
- John Sanborn
- Luther Sanborn
- Hon. Charles F. Sanborn
- Horace R. Cheney
- Elisha Smith Wadleigh
- Edward C. Chamberlin
- George W. Benson
- Stephen A. Stackpole
- Alvah S. Libbey
- Dr. Samuel M. Bradbury
- John Garland
- Samuel Garland
- David Garland
- Tappan Wentworth
- Hon. Giles Merrill Wentworth
- Philip Paine
- Charles Smart
- John G. Smart
- Russell H. Conwell
- Godfrey Dearborn
- Jeremiah Dearborn
- John Dearborn
- Hardy Merrill
- Elliot Fernald
- Walter Neal
- Rev. Loring T. Staples
- Stephen Parsons
- Joseph Parsons
- Joseph S. Dearborn
- John Tuck
- Joseph F. Dearborn
- Simon Frost Dearborn
- Rufus McIntire
- Col. Simon Jordan Whitten
- John Bennett
- John Perkins Bennett
- John Bennett, Esq.
- Isaac Knapp
- Samuel Tuck
- Richard Banks
- John Banks
- Moses Banks
- Jacob Banks
- Benjamin Dalton
- Allen Garner
- Nathan Wiggin
- Samuel Wiggin
- Ebenezer Foss
- Eben Foss
- Maj. John Burnham
- Maj. James Cram
- Abner Kezar
- John Kezar
- David Mudgett
- John Mudgett
- William E. Moulton
- Isaac Marston
- Smith Marston
- Amos Blazo
- Chase Boothby
- Thomas S. Churchill
- Moses Davis
- John Fenderson
- Moore Family
- Lord Family
- Joseph Wedgwood
- John Bailey
- Jere Avery
- Harvey Page
- Richard Devereux
- David Johnson
- Jabez Towle
- William K. Doe
- Rev. Charles A. Hilton
- Col. Bartlett Doe
- Maj. Samuel Merrill
- John Moore
- Capt. Alvah Doe
- Hardy Lorin Merrill
- Asa B. Parsons
- David M. Parsons
- John Usher Parsons
- Samuel Weeks
- Maj. James W. Weeks
- Seth Chellis
Part 4 – Genealogies of Parsonfield, Maine
Ames, Banks, Blazo, Boothby, Brown, Burbank, Burnham, Buzzell, Cartland, Churchill, Colcord, Conner, Dalton, Davis, Dearborn, Devereux, Doe, Durgin, Dutch, Emerson, Fenderson, Fernald, Fogg, Garland, Granville, Hannaford, Hilton, Hobbs, Hodsdon, Kezar, Leavitt, Libby, Lombard, Lord, Lougee, Marston, Merrill, Moulton, Mudgett, Neal, Nute, Nutter, Palmer, Parks, Parsons, Pease, Perry, Piper, Pray, Rand, Randall, Redman, Ricker, Ridlon, Roberts, Sanborn, Smart, Smith, Stacy, Staples, Towle, Tuck, Wadleigh, Wedgwood, Weeks, Wentworth, Whitten, Wiggin, and Woodsom.
Part 5 – Miscellaneous papers
- Letter of Lauriston W. Small
- Deed of Capt. Sandy to Francis Small – Act of Incorporation
- Call for the First Town Meeting
- Extracts from Records
- List of Selectment from Organization of Town till the Present (1888)
- Names of S. S. Committee since 1820
- List of Native Teachers
- List of Names of Delegates and Representatives for a Century
- Senators, County Treasurer and County Commissioners