1846 Sampler Wrought by Sarah Ann Cheeney (1835-1895), then of Eastport, Maine

 Tilly Laskey, curator at Maine Historical Society, has sent along a link to the sales offering of a wonderful family record sampler wrought in 1846 by Sarah Ann Cheeney (1835-1895), then in Eastport, Maine.

https://www.antiquesamplers.com/samplers/cheeney,-sarah-a.htm

Sarah was born in Pembroke, Maine, on April 27, 1835 to George Cheeney and his wife Mary A., natives of Derry, New Hampshire, and Salem, Massachusetts, respectively.  George and Mary had married in Dennysville, Maine, on July 28, 1834.

Children listed on the sampler:

• Sarah Ann Cheeney, born in Pembroke, Maine, on April 27, 1835 [Sarah's gravestone gives her year of birth as 1836 but that does not reconcile with the birth of her next younger sibling]
• Emma Sophia Cheeney, born in Pembroke, Maine, on November 14, 1836
• George Alvin Cheeney, born in Robbinston, Maine, on January 12, 1839
• James William Cheeney, born in Eastport, Maine, on April 12, 1843
• Lemuel G. Cheeney, born in Eastport, Maine, on May 12, 1849

Sarah Ann Cheeney married George Kilborn, Jr., in 1858 in Boston, Massachusetts. She and George are buried in the Forest Dale Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.

If you have information on the Cheeney family, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Vintage Photograph of the "Lincoln House" in Washington County, Maine; presumably the Lincoln House in Dennysville

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Photograph, dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, of a house along the water, identified as the "Lincoln House in Wash. County Me".

Presumably "The Lincoln House" built in 1787 in Dennysville, Maine, along the Dennys River, by Revolutionary War General Benjamin Lincoln (1733-1810), a native of Hingham, Massachusetts.

In the map below, the "Hansom House" is a contemporary name for the "Lincoln House".

1908 letter from Walter E. Libby (1871-1934) at Logging Camp in Edmunds, Maine, near Dennysville; to sister-in-law Lucie (Mack) Libby in Deblois, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

1908 letter postmarked February 3 at 7pm at Dennysville, Maine, from Walter E. Libby (1871-1934) to, presumably, his sister-in-law Lucie C. (Mack) Libby (1885-1957), wife of his brother George Everett Libby (1881-1943), in Deblois, Maine. 

Note: George's gravestone gives his year of birth as 1885, but other records - birth, WWI Draft Registration card, etc. - give his year of birth as 1881.

Walter was working in a lumber camp, presumably in or near Edmunds, Maine.  Dennysville would have been the nearest post office.

Mentioned:

• Walter E. Libby (1871-1934), letter writer
• Lucie C. (Mack) Libby (1885-1957), letter recipient, Walter's sister-in-law, wife of George Everett Libby
• Harry
• Father, presumably widowed George Raymond Libby (1848-1925)
• Birt
• ? - perhaps George; if so, perhaps Lucie's husband George Everett Libby (1881-1943)

Transcription at the end of this post - if you have corrections and/or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Transcription

Edmonds, Feb 2, 1908

Dear Lucie

I will now try and answer your letter. We have some Snow here at last. I have been hauling logs three days. Harry went up home last night. I have  white horse and a black one. We have got seven Horses in here now and we had 26 men here, but Harry sent one Home and 9 more followed them.

I had a pretty bad foot last week. I had a lot fall on it but it is better now. Harry tells me that Birt wanted to come back. He did not make much by staying at home. How is Father's hand getting along?  I suppose ____ [George ?] makes things lively for you people now. Well, I must close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon.

Walter

1831 Document from Ecclesiastical Council at Robbinston, Maine, to Dismiss Revd. Calvin White; addressed to Gen. John Balkam, Postmaster and Deacon

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

1831 report from an ecclesiastical council held at Robbinston, Maine, to determine whether or not to dismiss Rev. Calvin White from his church there. 

The document was addressed to Reg. John Balkam, Postmaster, Robbinston, Maine.

Mentions:

• General John Balkam (1770-1832), Postmaster at Robbinston, Maine - short biography in The Bangor Historical Magazine, Volume 3, No. 10, April 1888

• Rev. Calvin White (1799-1884) at Robbinston, Maine, a native of Massachusetts and graduate of Monmouth Academy and Bangor [perhaps meaning Bangor Theological Seminary]. After his dismissal from Robbinston, Rev. White pastored in several Maine towns until he went to Massachusetts churches from 1841 to 1847, whereupon he returned to several positions in Maine; until again moving to Massachusetts in 1857, to a farm in Amherst. He married 1) Miss Mary Nye Dickson of East Machias in 1841; upon her death he married 2) Ellen Maria Nickerson of Boston, Massachusetts

• Rev. Wakefield Gale (1797-1881) of Eastport, Maine [who would himself part ways with his church in Eastport in 1835].  See other posts that feature 1828 and 1835 letters from or to Rev. Gale.

• Rev. Robert Crossett of Dennysville, Maine - Rev. Robert Crossette (1799-1872) - held the post in Dennysville for 12 years, until leaving in 1842

• Benjamin R. Jones, Delegate, of Dennysville, Maine - Benjamin Richards Jones (1776-1858)

• Rev. Aaron B. Church of Calais, Maine - Rev. Aaron Billings Church (1797-1857), graduate of Andover Theological Seminary; after his Calais post, Rev. Church pastored in Princeton, Illinois; he was the twin brother of Rev. Moses Billings Church (1797-1871).

• George Downes, Delegate and Scribe, of Calais, Maine - presumably George Downes (1794-1869)

Transcription - please leave a comment if you have corrections and/or can fill in the blanks

at Robbinston on the twenty sixth day of July 1831

At a council held in pursuance of Letters ___ from the Congregational Church of Robbinston to advise with regard to dissolving the Pastoral connection between the Revd. Calvin White with said Church & People.

Present as Members from the Church at Eastport Rev. Wakefield Gale; from Church in Dennysville Rev. Robert Crossett;  Pastor & Benjamin R. Jones, Delegate; from Church in Calais, Rev. Aaron B. Church, Pastor & George Downes delegate.

The council were called to order by Rev. W Gale. The Revd. Aaron B. Church was chosen Moderator & George Downes Scribe.

Prayers were offered by Revd. Gale. On Motion Rev. Robert Crossett it was voted that the meetings of this Council be private.

Voted to adjourn to 2 o'clock this afternoon.

The Council met. The communications of Revd. Calvin White to the Church asking a____ & also the Record of the Doings of the Church thereon & also the original call to Revd. Calvin White were read & after having fully heard the Parties & the evidence adduced by them 

It was voted unanimously that it is expedient to recommend a dissolution of the Pastoral connection between the Revd. Calvin White & his Church of People.

Voted that Revd. Aaron B. Church, Revd. W. Gale & George Downes be a committee to make report of the doings of this council to the Parties thereto.

The above named Committee made the following Report.

Whereas for various reasons the Revd. Calvin White has deemed it his duty to request his Church & People to unite with him in calling a mutual Council  to advise & assess in dissolving the Pastoral connection with them & whereas they voted unanimously to comply with his request. Therefore an ecclesiastical council has convened at Robbinston on the 26 July 1831 & in view of the considerations & facts which have been presented by the Pastor & by the Church of people, The Council are of unanimous opinion 

That it is expedient that the connection between Revd. Calvin White & the people of his charge cease at the expiration of the present year of his Ministerial Labors. And it is the desire & Prayer of this Council that the blessing of Almighty God may rest abundantly upon both the Parties concerned in this decision.

Which Report being read was unanimously accepted.

Voted to adjourn to the house of ___ [Joseph perhaps] Briggs in Robbinston at 8 o'clock P.M. of this day.

Council Met according to adjournment & made report of their doings to the Parties concerned

They being present.

Voted to adjourn Sine Die

Signed Aaron B. Church, Moderator

George Downes, Scribe

A true copy of the Record of the above named Council

Attest George Downes, Scribe

If you have information to share on any of the men mentioned here, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Newspaper Clipping about Theodore Lincoln III of Dennysville, Maine, & the 6th Maine in the Civil War

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog.

Newspaper clipping about Major Theodore Lincoln, Jr., a Dennysville, Maine, native, and officer in the Sixth Maine.  

Note: Rather than Theodore Lincoln, Jr., I believe he was that man's son Theodore Lincoln III (1830-1865) as this Maine veterans cemetery record indicates. Many military records refer to him as a Jr.

Found in a journal of underlying handwriting pasted over with many clippings, presumably by someone sympathetic to the Union and with abolitionist leanings.

A transcription appears at the end of this post.

Theodore Lincoln III (1830-1865) was the son of Theodore Lincoln, Jr., (1800-1867) and Elizabeth Cushing Lincoln (1800-1877). Theodore III was the great grandson, as the article notes, of Benjamin Lincoln (1733-1810) was the celebrated Revolutionary War General to whom Cornwallis' second offered his surrender at Yorktown.

If you have information to share on any of the people mentioned above, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.  

Perhaps a reader will know if Theodore Lincoln III came home from the War in 1864 with lingering illness or injury, which contributed to his death in 1865.

Transcription:

SIXTH MAINE

This regiment, with 90 men, under command of Major Theodore Lincoln, Jr., also came in the Weybosset [a steam ship]. Major Lincoln is a great grandson of Major General Benjamin Lincoln of the revolution, to whom Lord Cornwallis surrendered. Major Lincoln has been with the regiment ever since its formation, entering it as Orderly Sergeant. He has passed through many severe battles, beginning at Yorktown, and ending with one of the last skirmishes before Petersburg. Of the original regiment of one thousand there are only about seventy left, and of these Major Lincoln is one. He has passed unwounded through his numerous battle, though repeatedly greatly exposed. Few of our young officers have rendered more effectual service, or shown a cooler and more determined bravery in action. He has the confidence of his men, and we trust there are higher military honors in reserve for him.

1907 Photograph of the Grand Jury Panel of Washington County, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

1907 photograph, measuring 5" by 7", of the members of the Grand Jury of Washington County, Maine, taken in front of the Calais Court House.

The names of the men appear on an accompanying paper, image below, but only as a list, not matching names to faces.

If you recognize any of these men from your family photographs or research, please leave a comment, in the hope that the men can eventually be identified by face.

Grand Jury for Washington County, Impanelled October Term, 1906.

In alphabetical order:

• George Pearson Bogue (1879-1950), East Machias
• Scott Philson Bradish (1873-1952), Clerk, Eastport
• Earl Leopold Bridges (1871-1907), Pembroke - died that year *
• Jotham Sewell Buzzell (1845-1926), Cherryfield
• George Evander Carle (1861-1939), Princeton
• Clement B. Donworth (1848-1937), County Attorney
• George B. Gray (1867-1913), Robbinston
• Samuel W. Hill (1858-1934), Machias
• Elisha T. Holbrook (1833-1911), Foreman, Vanceboro
• John Lincoln Norton (1855-1929), Jonesport
• Elden Noyes Palmer (1874-1964), Machiasport
• Walter Dyer Ramsdell (1869-1951), Harrington
• Lester Charles Selwood (1878-1941), Perry
• Edmund Burke Sheahan (1845-1919), Dennysville
• Nathaniel Allen Smith, Jr. (1878-1942), Edmunds
• George Albert Stanwood (1856-1932), Steuben
• John F. Tracy (1872-1946), Addison
• Robert Bunten Tyler (1846-1912), Calais
• Frederick Wallace [middle name Almar or Elmer] (1867-), Talmadge
• Frank Whalen, Lubec - perhaps Frank W. Whalen (1870-1943)

*  This photograph was taken in front of the Court House at Calais, Wednesday, April 24, A.D. 1907.  Juror Bogue does not appear in the picture, he having been unable to attend Court at the April Term on account of sickness.

Some of the towns mentioned

Payments made by Robbinston, Maine, to Families of Soldiers and Sailors Serving in the Civil War

Many pages in a ledger listing the payments made by the Town of Robbinston, Maine, to the families of about 50 soldiers and sailors serving in the Civil War.  

Note: Some of the servicemen were born in Maritime Canada and may have returned to Canada after the War.  

The ledger, measuring about 13" by 8", contains 178 pages in all, about half full, not only listing the payments to families but also tracking other municipal business, including expenses for building the Phelps Bridge, bridges at Nash's and Low's, town officers' accounts, etc., in the 1860s up to 1872.

Most pages tracking payments to the families of men serving in the Civil War show one family individually, as you see above, in the case of the family of unmarried Frederick Stanhope (1846-1898).  These pages usually include the serviceman's unit as well as his family members' names and ages, and, in a few cases, information about service, battles and death.  

Alphabetized List - Click on a name to see a separate blog post on each, showing an image of his page in the ledger, along with further information on his life, family and service, with links to primary sources, when available.  If you have information on any of the men listed below, please leave a comment.

The number in parentheses after a name indicates a specific page in the ledger.

• Sumner Anderson (page 12), age 22; 6th Regiment, Company D - reportedly killed in the Battle of Spotsylvania on May 10, 1864
• Philip H. Andrews (page 45); 11th Regiment, Company B.  
• Benjamin S. Apt (1846-1906), (page 44); age 18; 31st Regiment, Company B.  
• George E. Bean (page 6); age 19; 3rd Maine Battery
• John M. Bean (1832-1905), (page 15), age 32; 6th Regiment Company F.  
• Samuel Boyden (abt 1828-1891), (page 24), age 35; 6th Regiment; Company G.  
• Albert Gallatin Buck (1822-1901) (page 7); age 41; 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, Company D
• Daniel Bugbee (page 55) - perhaps not a serviceman but rather Daniel Bugbee (1810-1875, North Dakota ?)
• Philip Caffrey (page 9), age 20; on US Gunboat Ossipee.  Could he be the Navy veteran Philip Caffrey (-1887) buried in the Hampton National Cemetery at Hampton, Virginia?
• Hugh H. Cameron (page 2), age 28; 9th Maine Regiment, Company E; mustered in October 1, 1864
• William H. Campbell (page 8); 11th Maine, Company G
• Thomas Chester (page 10), age 32; 30th Regiment; Company F
• William Embleton, age 41 (page 16); 15th Regiment; Company E.  Presumably the William Henry Embleton (1823-1873) who died in a fall to the rocks when building the bridge at Grand Falls, New Brunswick
• Henry H. Frost (page 27), a3-18ge 21; 1st Regular Heavy Artillery, Company D
• John T. Garnett (1843-1933), (page 6); age 21; 15th Regiment
• Rufus Gates (page 49); State Aid Account with Town of Robbinston - perhaps not a soldier and perhaps Legislator Rufus Gates (1816-1887)
• Allen T. Gow (1846-1893), (page 11); 31st Regiment, Company A.  
• Ebenezer D. Harlow (page 18), age 28; 18th Regiment, Company D.  Ebenezer D. Harlow (1836-1921), son of Jirah Harlow and Lydia (Johnson) Harlow
• Madison B. Hayman (1842-1923), (page 32), age 21; 6th Regiment, Company K. 
• John R. Hickey (page 3); age 39; U.S. Navy; transferred from 18th Regt
• Joseph Hinton, Jr. (page 25), age 22; 15th Regiment, Company K 
• Frank E. Johnson (1843-1909), (page 34), age 21; 6th Regiment; Company K.  Frank Ernest Johnson.
• George E. Johnson (page 17), age 27; 18th Regiment, Company D
• William H. Johnson (page 38), age 21; 15th Regiment, Company A
• William Johnson (page 22); 1st Artillery, Company M.  Possibly the William P. Johnson who is shown as having deserted in March 1865 - though there may be another explanation
• Thomas N. Kerr (page 31), age 29; 6th Regiment, Company K; discharged for disability April 18, 1864 with rank of corporal
• George L. Laskey (page 39); 7th Regiment.  George L. Laskey (1844-possibly 1867), was "transferred to the Invalid Corps Sept. 7, 1863". This record, from Maine, Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918, gives a birth year of 1844 but no death year.
• Frank R. Leach (page 26), age 23; 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, Company D.  Franklin Rodney Leach (1840-1912)
• Frederick Leighton (page 30), age 20; 15th Regiment, Company K; re-enlisted March 1864
• Samuel Leighton (page 29), age 24; 11th Regiment, Company D.; enlisted in October 21, 1864 at Belfast, Maine
• Henry P. Low (page 33), age 22; 1st Maine Battery
• James E. Merry (page 13), age 46; 6th Regiment, Company F; discharged for disability 18 Dec 1864
• Benjamin C. Morrell (page 23), age 24; 1st Regiment Cavalry; Company D; discharged November 20, 1864.  Presumably Benjamin Charles Morrell (1840-1911)
• James Morrell (page 20), age 25; 18th Regiment or 1st Heavy Artillery, Company D. Did not survive the war; Ebenezer D. Harlow named guardian of his child.  Presumably the James "Morrill" buried in the Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Dinwiddie County, Virginia
• John E. Morrell (page 40), age 21; 11th Regiment, Company F. "Enlisted Novr. 7 /64"
• Maine, State of (page 51); State Aid Account with Town of Robbinston
• Simon O'Brien (page 48); State Aid Account with Town of Robbinston - perhaps not a serviceman
• George Phelps (1840-1923) (page 1); 1864, First Maine Battery, 24 years of age.  George Nelson Phelps
• Q?  Name partially erased - James Qu?
• Curtis Robbinson [sic] (page 36); 31st Regiment, Company A.  He was Curtis Robinson (1846-1865)
• Samuel Ross (page 28), age 29; 11th Regiment, Company D, Mustered in 21 October 1864 at Belfast, Maine.  Samuel L. Ross (abt 1832-1914)
• Samuel S. Seeley 2d (page 14)
• Frederick Stanhope (page 35); 18th Regiment, Company M.  Presumably Frederick Stanhope (abt 1844-1898)
• George A. Stanhope (1839-1919), (page 19), age 24; 18th Regiment or 1st heavy artillery
• Levi Pierce Stanhope (1840-1922), (page 4); age 26; 9th Maine Regiment, Company A
• Edwin Stanton (page 41); 1st Artillery. "Joseph Stanton died 21 Feb. 1864 at home. Edwin S. was killed in front of Petersburg June 18 /64"
• Charles E. Taylor (page 37), age 25; 6th Regiment, Company G. "Wounded 7th Nov. 1863 at Rappahannock & soon died". 
• John Taylor (page 21); 6th Regiment, Company G.  "Nurse in a regimental hospital", in the book Maine at Gettysburg, published Lakeside Press in 1898.  Possibly this John Taylor (abt 1835/6-1904) 
• Thomas Trimble (1846-1914), (page 43); age 19; 31st Regiment, Company A. "enlisted Feb 26/64
• James William Tucker (page 5), age 19; 3rd Maine Battery
• Joseph E. Tucker (1846-1912), (page 42); 3rd Battery.  Joseph Edwin Tucker (1846-1912)  
• Elisha Vose (1841-1896), (page 9); age 22; Company E of First Maine Cavalry
• Lyman Vose (1839-1929), (page 9), age 24; Company E of First Maine Cavalry