SOUTH BRIDGTON HISTORY
(This is an excerpt from the book, “Bridgton Maine-1768 – 1968”
by the Bridgton Historical Society)
A spacious and a goodly land
When once subdued by human hand...
These blessings and a number more
Which might be added to the score
Were made to serve the use of man
When first the world and time began.... Enoch Perley-l776
["From a poem written on birch bark (76 lines of couplets, sometimes not quite rhyming or scanning) which eulogizes the area's peace, quietude and natural resources, while numerous blessings me surround."]
Major credit for this chapter goes to Mrs. Ruth (Barnard) Sanborn of Fryeburg. The South Bridgton district at the southern end of the township grant was settled early, and home sites were taken up rapidly after the Revolutionary War. One pioneer was Mrs. Sanborn's great-grandfather, Daniel Barnard of Boxford, Mass., who was granted 70 acres of land "for services in the Revolution." Born in the South Bridgton Barnard home, Mrs. Sanborn graduated from Bridgton High School in 1899, and attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 1903-4. She married Frederick Robie Sanborn of Bridgton in 1905 and they had 10 children. In 1927 they moved to Fryeburg where Mr. Sanborn died in 1941. Mrs. Sanborn was 86 in August, 1967.
This account, originally presented to the Historical Society in 1955, was brought up to date by Mrs. Sanborn and Mrs. Emma Ntceros, and some additional data was included from Mrs. Fred Berry, Nancy Field, and Raymond Whitney. Mrs. Sanborn comments that she is "mindful of the many stories of equal interest which we may not have known, and the contributions of other pioneers and their descendants which could not be included."
In 1767 the Proprietors of Bridgton cleared a road from Pearsontown (now Standish) to Bridgton, passing through the towns of Baldwin and Sebago, the two then called Flint's Town. This was a rude trail through the forest only wide enough for someone on horseback, or to drive cattle through, ring-yoked. On this trail in 1776, some half mile from the present Sebago-Bridgton town line, Enoch Perley of Boxford, Massachusetts, 27 years old, built a log cabin and took up residence. Though a dozen men had preceded him, he was the first to settle in South Bridgton proper.
Asael Foster was one of these earlier pioneers. In 1772 he settled first in Hensborough, so-called, - later Pinhook and now Sandy Creek. He and Enoch Perley compete in the records for the honor of building the first frame house in the area. He and his descendants were later to play an important part in South Bridgton's history. Asael Foster's wife was the first married woman to come to Bridgton; they had 11 children. As this is the only point at which Asael is mentioned, it is here the story of Asael and the Bear must be added: it is one of the more enduring, and endearing, legends of the area. On the night in question, Asael had gone over to Denmark to see his lady-love and on his return he ran across a bear. Enraged at the intrusion, the bear attacked Foster who promptly climbed a tree. The bear as promptly climbed up after him, high enough to nibble at his heels. Foster kicked at him until the bear fell to the ground. The victim thought his danger might then be over, but the bear scrambled up again and renewed his attack. Between the struggles of man and beast, the tree finally broke and both fell to the ground. Fortunately Foster landed on top and in a nimble burst of speed, he outdistanced the bear in flight. In his terror he forgot his injuries until he had to cross a field of rye stubble, which served as a cruel reminder. Both heels were badly mangled from the fracas, and Asael carried the scars to his grave.
(History of Cumberland County, pg 219 relates that this experience happened to Asael's son, Capt Amos P Foster, who was visiting Miss Annie Knight in Denmark)
In the next five years, in the following order, came:
1776- Enoch Perley, from Boxford, Massachusetts
1779 - David Hale, from Templeton, Massachusetts.
1779 - Isaiah Ingalls, Andover, Massachusetts.
1780 - Robert Andrews, Boxford, Massachusetts.
1780 - Daniel Perley, Boxford, Massachusetts.
1780 - John Peabody, Boxford, Massachusetts.
1781 - Nathaniel Hale, brother of David.
1781- Phineas Ingalls, brother of Isaiah.
In 1781, Daniel Barnard, also of Boxford, bought land lying between Daniel Perley and Nathaniel Hale, but he did not settle there permanently for he had to return to Andover to care for his parents. These were all Revolutionary soldiers, accustomed to hardships and frugal living. They built log cabins and lived alone at first.
Soon after Enoch Perley arrived in the unbroken forest that covered the site of the later village, he wrote a poem on birch bark which described the possibilities of his new home. (poem is at the beginning of this article) He was the son of Thomas Perley, one of the clerks of the Proprietors, and Eunice Putnam, who was a sister to General Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame. In 1777 Enoch built a small frame house which now stands on the point of land at the south end of Highland Lake: it is the oldest frame house in Bridgton. That same year the Proprietors moved their records from Andover to Bridgton and Enoch Perley was appointed Clerk, a position he held until 1806 when all the land had been sold. To this house he brought his bride Anna Flint in 1778, and here his oldest child, John, was born on January 5, 1779.
That same year Enoch built a larger and more convenient house and moved his first house back for a tool house. Unfortunately the new house and its contents, including the town records, were destroyed by fire on October 2, 1780. The baby's cradle, carried to the barn the night before when they had been husking corn, was practically the only thing saved. This cradle and also the large tavern sign with E. Perley on it, showing that travelers were accommodated in his dwelling, were ultimately sold as auction antiques. When Mr. Perley built the third house, the one which the John Gygers now own, he decided to put it farther from his barns in case of fire, so it was built on the opposite side of the road.
As Enoch acquired livestock, he was much troubled by depredations from bears and built a bear trap on the hill back of his first house. This hill had been christened Parker Mountain after one of the original surveyors of the town. Adams Pond was named for another. Tradition says that four bears were caught in this trap - not enough! So he later had the iron bear trap made (now in the Perley house) which took care of eight bears. Without a doubt many were disposed of by him personally. His great-great-grand daughter, author of "Short As Any Dream," tells of his unarmed encounter with a bear and two cubs beside a wood road at dusk. Allegedly he strangled the mother bear with his garters! The industry and energy of Enoch Perley were phenomenal. It was said of him that whatever his hand touched was turned to some practical account. It was his proud boast that all he had to buy from outside his own domain was salt; his land produced everything else. He had five children: John, Thomas, Rebecca, Nancy and Huldah.
KEY TO SOUTH BRIDGTON
(Name of present owner/occupant italicized)
1. Enoch Perley (burned)
2. General John P. Perley (razed)
3. Enoch Perley-John Gyger
4. Lt. John Peabody, place of first church meetings, (burned)
5. Barker (the Old Parsonage)-Scott Foster
6. Powers-Gould-Knapp-Sanborn (store and post office)-Field
7. H. Murch-Bennett-Philip Douglas
8. Isaiah Ingalls-Rufus Warren-Berg (owns land)
9. Phineas Ingalls
10. Fitch-Berry-Long-Tubbs-Monroe
11. Thomas Smith-C. Berry-Donald Berry
12. Marshall Cram-Berry-Fullerton-Martin Almlov
13. David Hale-Alan Sawyer
14. R. Ingalls-Alan Sawyer
15. R. Barnard-P. Douglas
16. Jacob Stevens (original land owner)-Daniel Perley built first house in 1770 on south side of road;
2nd on north side;-Warren-C. Staples-Ernest Stevens-"Deertrees"
17. Daniel Barnard-"Deertrees"
18. G. Burnham-T. Ingalls (The Bramble Patch)-"Deertrees"
19. Nathaniel Hale-Berg
20. Nehemiah Choate-Charles Choate-Libby-Wallstrom
21. Spofford Ingalls-Willard Towne
22. Asa Ingalls-Raymond Whitney
23. Lt. Robert Andrews-Cleaves (birthplace of Gov. Henry B.)-Haley
24. Parson Joseph Fessenden (built I 834)-Karl L. Rankin
25. Dr. S. Knight-Victor Stevens
26. Dr. Jonathan Fessenden (I and II)
27. William Fessenden-Eichles
28. E. F. Fessenden (burned)
29. Asael Foster-M. Foster-Littlefield-Old Town Farm (now unoccupied)- R. DeBerry
30. J. F. Foster-Norman Towne
31. Sumner Foster-Norman Towne
32. B. F. Knapp's saw mill site
33. B. F. Knapp-Dunham-Funk
o - Old buildings gone
(O)- New building. old site .- Old building remains
5.
6.
x – Library:site of first church Brook I – from Adams to Holts Pond
y – Second and present church Brook II – result of canal dug by Mr. Foster, now overgrown
z – First schoolhouse; now private home Brook III – from Fosters to Holts Pond
In 1779 Isaiah Ingalls from Andover settled on the place known in recent years as the Rufus Warren place. Isaiah was 24 at the time. He was a practical land surveyor, and for many years spent most of his time in that pursuit: He was the first Town Clerk, was for many years an acting magistrate, and held other important offices in the town.
Phineas Ingalls of Andover came to South Bridgton in 1781. He was only 23 at the time. He was very popular with his fellow settlers, and from the time he came to Bridgton until past the age of 70, he held more offices than any other of his fellow townsmen. He was the first Town Treasurer, for many years Chairman of the Selectmen, the first Representative of the town to the Massachusetts Legislature, a member of the Convention for framing the Constitution of Maine, a member of the first Maine Legislature, ["The important and prolific South Bridgton Perleys account for a complicated genealogy which is not spelled out here at any length. The same is true of the Ingalls line. However much of this data has been gathered and organized by Blynn E. Davis and may be consulted in his files or those of the Bridgton Historical Society. ] and a member of the first Court of Sessions, an office he held until removed by age. He also was a Deacon of the First Church. He had served in the Army of the Revolution and drew a pension of $144 a year. He settled on the Denmark side of Isaiah Ingalls and at his death left a "handsome property" - a 400-acre farm, one of the best in town.
A short time later, Asa Ingalls, a brother of Isaiah and Phineas, settled on the south side of Choate's Hill, and later built the house where his great-great-grandson, Raymond Whitney, now lives. Two other brothers, Nathan and Francis, both settled in South Bridgton about the same time. In the winter of 1806-7, there were 27 pupils attending school in South Bridgton District #1 by the name of Ingalls-brothers, sisters, and cousins.
In 1779, three years after Enoch Perley, David Hale of Templeton, Mass., came to South Bridgton and settled on land now owned by Allan Sawyer. He was 30 years old at the time. Later he built a large square house on the west side of the road and a barn on the opposite side. The house was burned in the 1890's, the barn many years before. Nathaniel Hale, brother of David, came in 1781 at the age of 26 and settled above the Daniel Perley place. He was a man of feeble health which hampered him in taking active part in town affairs.
Daniel Perley, also a Revolutionary soldier, settled on land adjoining David Hale, a beautiful site overlooking Adams Pond, now the property of Camp Deertrees. While Cousin Enoch had an eye out for the heaviest timber stands, Daniel had beauty of setting in mind. He was 27 years old when he settled there and he occupied the place until his death. He built first on the south side of the road, in all probability a log house, and his children were all born there. In 1826 he built the large house now standing on the opposite side. His son Daniel moved there after his father's death, and his sister Lucy retained a life-long lease on the southwest chamber; she died in that room in 1874.
Lieut. Robert Andrews from Boxford, a veteran of Bunker Hill, settled in South Bridgton in 1780. He was 27 years old at the time and he never married. His house, built in the 1700's, still survives the years. The main house, more recently known as Pleasant Vista Nursing Home, is now a private residence, occupied by the Haleys. Andrews lived alone for some years while he cleared a farm, then with a larger house thought he might have a housekeeper to lighten his labors. The first one was his sister Ruth, who in a short time married Daniel Barnard. They both lived with Andrews until Barnard built his own house on the hill. Later, different nieces became housekeepers until they in turn married: this process became a community joke. Some years later Andrews built an ell onto his house so that he could have a family at hand. Thomas Cleaves and his family lived for some years in this addition, and their son. Gov. Henry B. Cleaves, was born there.
Lieutenant Andrews was proverbially honest and kind to those less fortunate than himself. For many years he loaned money to those in need - small sums by present standards, but doubtless or great service in the early days. At one time he owned all the land surrounding Adams Pond except that owned by Daniel Perley, another 1780 arrival. Many boys were named for Robert Andrews out of gratitude. As time went on, he presented a cow to each namesake, to whom his family then referred as a "cow relation." He will be longest remembered for the fund which he established for the "worthy and industrious poor," not those who were "indigent-lazy." A half century later, in 1892, the town bought in South Bridgton the Ithamer Littlefield farm for a "Town Farm" where paupers could be cared for. This superseded the old custom of "bidding off" their support, sometimes for as little as 60 cents a week. When the farm opened there were five paupers, ranging in age from 13 to 88 years - all males.
Lieutenant John Peabody from Andover, whose wife was an older sister of Enoch Perley, came to Bridgton the same year as Lt. Andrews and Daniel Perley. He was 48 and had nine children when he moved to South Bridgton. Another boy was born in Bridgton, but four children died within ten days of a so-called throat distemper (diphtheria) in September, 1785. On land adjoining Enoch Perley's, John built a large house in 1784.
His brother had been a chaplain in the Revolutionary War, and John built a large room in his house with the idea of holding religious services there. Accordingly that same year the First Church of Bridgton was organized in the Peabody home, and religious services were held there for seven years. The first settled minister, Reverend Nathan Church, was ordained and installed July 5, 1786. John Peabody was elected Deacon to succeed Reuben Burnham, deceased. Marshall Cram said of him, "He was a man of sterling integrity, sound intellect and ready wit." He also had musical ability and sang in the choir. The historic Peabody house burned on April 14, 1928.
When the first Town Meeting was held (March 18, 1794) following the incorporation of Bridgton, several officers were elected from South Bridgton: Enoch Perley as Moderator; Isaiah Ingalls, Town Clerk; Phineas Ingalls, Treasurer; Robert Andrews, Chairman of Selectmen. David Hale was a Field Driver, and also one of the Tything Men; Asael Foster was a Hog Reeve; Enoch Perley a member of the School Committee. Eighteen pounds were raised for the support of schools, and the first school district was organized in South Bridgton. Ten families accounted for 70 children. School lands were sold in 1798 for $1,027.33. A militia was organized in 1792 under Ensign Isaiah Ingalls, Captain Andrews and Lt. John Kilborn.
From this time on the population increased rapidly. The Barkers settled on both sides of the hill that still bears their name. George Fitch settled on the hill above Phineas Ingalls, the highest spot in Bridgton where any private home stands. This is one of the few original houses remaining in South Bridgton, and is now owned by Mrs. Margaret Monroe. The barn, was raised without the help of alcoholic beverage' and was always known as the "Temperance Barn," which suggests that this was not the usual practice.
Dr. Jonathan Fessenden, of Fryeburg, came to South Bridgton and in 1818 built the substantial house on the corner of the road to Foster's Mill. He practiced there for some 20 years, when ill-health forced his retirement. He had a son, Dr. Jonathan II, who did not stay there long. Two Ingalls brothers, Theodore and Phineas II, who were also doctors, had begun practice in South Bridgton. At a later date, Dr. Thomas Flint Perley (1815 to 1889), grandson of Enoch, practiced medicine for some ten years in Bridgton before moving to Portland.
General John Perley was 50 years old when his father Enoch died. His title came from service in the militia, first in Massachusetts, then in the new State of Maine. He married Sarah Treadwell, of Groton, Massachusetts. He built the 15-room house opposite his father's house. It was not so pleasant a house, but larger and very imposing - much like the manor houses on Southern plantations. (This house has since been razed). He also was a successful farmer. The Columbian Sentinel, November 20, 1819, reports "A pear plucked this season from a tree belonging to Gen. Perley of Bridgton, Me., was found to weigh 24 ounces and a half." General Perley had nine children, but only five lived to maturity. His son Frederick graduated from Bowdoin in 1840, but a few weeks after graduation died of typhus fever. The class history said of him: "He was designed for the law. His standing in college was in the first rank."
Enoch's second son, Thomas, settled in what is now Naples, and built a house (where Fred Treadwell now lives) very similar to the Daniel Perley House; He had ten children, of whom only five reached maturity. He was generally referred to as Major Perley. This title also came from militia service. With so many of the old homes destroyed by fire, it is remarkable that several Perley houses are still intact.
A great deal of building went forward during this period: the Parson Fessenden house, where Reverend Emmet Rankin lived for many years, and now owned by Karl Rankin, former U. S. Ambassador to Greece, Yugoslavia and Formosa; the Marshall Cram house where Martin Almlov now lives; the Ashbel Cram house now owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Pierce .
The Ingalls and Perleys were in different political parties and for that reason violently opposed the marriage of Clarissa Ingalls to John Putnam Perley. They were married anyway in 1840, and went to live in the old squire's house. About the same time, Laura Ingalls married Edwin Fessenden, son of Dr. Jonathan Fessenden. Tbey built on the crossroad between the Bridgton-Sebago road and tbe road to Fosterville. It was an attractive house with beautiful elms in front. Subsequently, Eli Harmon and his wife Fidelia lived there. The buildings were burned some years ago and the road discontinued. Edwin Fessenden was the grandfather of Lothrop Fessenden, who married Edith Bennett.
Phebe Beach, a niece of Parson Fessenden's wife, married a man by the name of Frizell, of whom the parson and his wife strongly disapproved. The Frizells lived in Sebago or beyond. Phebe had a little girl, Mary, whom the Fessendens kept with them much of her life, for they felt she had insufficient food and care at home. On one occasion they refused to let Phebe take Mary back home. Phebe bided her time and when the opportunity came she took her child and made what speed she could with horse and wagon over the hills to Sebago. She was pursued and at a point somewhere near the Hillside Post Office, the horse stumbled and fell. They were thrown out and the race was lost. For many years the hill was called Beach Hill. The Fessendens evidently kept the child, for on the Fessenden's monument she is referred to as adopted.
The Cumberland County History gives the date of the arrival of Ebenezer Choate as 1800, at the age of four years. At the age of 20 he left Bridgton, and in 1826 he bought a farm in Naples where his son Charles was born. Charles' mother was Eliza Barker, who was related to the Albert Barker who lived on Portland Street for many years. Charles married his cousin, Mary Choate, and they lived on the Nehemiah Choate place on Choate's Hill, where Mrs. Lucien Libby recently lived. Across country on the road leading off the Portland Road, not far from the present Blue Goose cabins, was the home of Leander Choate, a brother of Nehemiah. The two brothers built a road of their own between the two farms. At the time that Arthur Sanborn owned the Choate place, the road was traveled with horse and wagon. The Choates were fine people who usually kept to themselves, but no one could know Charles Choate without being impressed by his intelligence and integrity.
On the hill opposite the Choates were two families, the Dearborns and the Ushers. It was called Dearborn Hill for many years. John Usher's daughter was the wife of Horatia Ingalls, who lived where Fred Towne now lives.
Among other early houses, or remodeled versions thereof, which remain, four mav be mentioned. The old Stevens home site, overlooking Adams Pond originally belonged to Jacob Stevens, second settler in the town. He received a grant of land at this spot when he built his first saw mill at the outlet of Stevens Brook in 1768. However, finding his house too distant from his mill, he sold it two years later to Daniel Perley, who built his first house on the south side of the present road. With improving fortunes and a family ultimately totaling nine children, Daniel felt the need for larger quarters and in 1826 built across the road. That house, now owned by Camp Deertrees, came down through the second Daniel Perley, then Abner and James Warren and in 1865 to Charles Staples, a returning Civil War veteran. Thus on both sides of his family, Ernest Stevens arrived at the old homestead: via his maternal grandfather Charles Staples, and his great-great-grandfather, Jacob Stevens. This house, with its fanlight doorway and approach through double rows of maples, retains much of its original stately beauty.
The old Kilborn homestead and the Burnham Road were built by Jesse Kilborn (father of A. B. and grandfather of the late Carl, Sr. and Will). In it were said to' be same of the timbers from the old, perhaps the oldest, school building in that part of town. As enlarged and remodeled by the Weinberg’s, "Middle Hill" skillfully combines old and new to give both beauty and livability.
The Fullerton home, now owned by the Almlov’s, was built by Marshall Cram. Mrs. Cram journeyed to' England to' bring back to her new home these additions: some hardware, linden tree seed and the idea of folding window shutters. The linden trees are now gone, but the house still stands, with what was a blacksmith shop near by. The house came down through Albert Berry, his daughter Fanny B. Ingalls, and her daughter Marion Hague, to Capt. George C. Fullerton who sold in 1964 to' Martin Almlov.
The Berry place originally combined parts of two' houses which Thomas Smith moved to the site. However Mrs. Smith disdained the result and refused to live there, saying if she couldn't have a better establishment, she wouldn't have any. It was then sold to' Colby Berry and from him came down through son Fred and his wife Clara ("Elderberry") Spurr to' their son Donald, present owner. This house is further identified now by a prized trophy - the old SOUTH BRIDGTON sign which hung on the narrow gauge railroad station.
