Notes
Note N95 Index
John was the first Scribner to settle in Waterborough, moving there about 1770 from New Hampshire to do lumbering. According to THE HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck,1880), page 388: "The first settler was John Smith, who located near Waterborough Old Corner, in 1768. During the next two years, he was joined by seven other families: John Scribner, Robert Harvey, Alexander Jellison, Wm. Deering, Scammon Hodgdon, Wm. Philpot, and Wm. Nason. These men came from Berwick, Scarborough, and Somersworth, N.H., to engage in lumbering."
Along with his brother, Daniel, John served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Notes
Note N96 Index
Samuel and family moved from Raymond, New Hampshire, to Waterborough in September of 1764. One of the first Constables of Waterborough when the town was incorporated (March 6,1787), Samuel was the first Representative from Waterborough to the District Court of Massachusetts, 1789-91, and in 1794.
Perhaps his most noteworthy endeavor was being involved in the effort to have the Province of Maine set off as the State of Maine, which came to be in 1820. A sketch in the Lewiston, Maine, "Journal" of 27 February 1889 states: "Samuel Scribner was a great man. Among other things that he set on foot was to get the Province of Maine set off as a State from Mass. He also led in getting the County Seat of York moved from the town of York on the seacoast to what is now Alfred, Me. He also led in getting a portion of the town of Sanford set off as the town of Alfred as the York County Seat, in 1808. Samuel Scribner and two neighbors built on the original Scribner farm at Waterboro, Me., about 1790, a two-story building which was used for the alternate sittings of the York County Court until Alfred was set off as the permanent seat of the County. This building was also used for Town Meetings, for a school house, and for the First Baptist Church. An old record says, 'This house was built by Square Scribner, Square Burleigh and Square Warren.' "
Samuel enlisted July 1775 at Hollis, ME, and served 8 months in the Revolutionary War. He was about 40 years old when he enlisted and was a noble soldier.
According to his grandson, David W. Scribner, Samuel suffered a paralyzing stroke several years before his death. He lost the use of the left side of his body and was a cripple for the rest of his life (See Notes for DAVID W. SCRIBNER [50-i,160], below). Samuel is buried "in the old Scribner burying ground on the old original Scribner farm forming the Alfred line, at the head of Shaker Pond in Waterboro" (Letter from William Marshall Scribner to Abba Ella Knight in 1899). According to this letter, also buried there are Samuel's son, John, and John's son, Rowell.
Notes
Note N104 Index
Samuel was a private in the Massachusetts forces during the Revolutionary War.
In an upcoming book, EARLY FAMILIES OF ALFRED, MAINE, author and genealogist Fred R. Boyle presents information, based on some recently found documents, that "Samuel Moody purchased land in Industry from the Proprietors of the Plymouth Purchase, 31 May 1804, and withe wife Hannah, both of Lewiston, sold the land 23 June 1804." Boyle surmises that perhaps they were getting ready to move to New York State with their son, Joseph.
Notes
Note N105 Index
There are two equally compelling arguments for the parentage and dates for Scribner's wife, Sarah. The first comes from Sandra Ellis' article, "Scribner Moody," in MAINE FAMILIES IN 1790, Volume 4 [op. cit.] and The New Hampshire Genealogical Record [NHGR] Volumes 3 and 5 [op. cit.]. According to Ellis, Sarah's parents were William and Sarah (Bean) Smith, and that Scribner and Sarah were married before 9 December 1762 (page 188). Volume 3 of NHGR informs us that Sarah's parents were married at Kingston, New Hampshire 8 February 1738/39 (page 40). Volume 5 of NHGR tells that she was baptized at Kingston 28 June 1744 (page 111).
The second argument comes from Bernie MacBean's THE CLAN MACBEAN IN NORTH AMERICA, Volume 3 (where information provided by Patricia Caswell of Olathe, Colorado, is quoted on page 550), and Kathleen Hosier's book, KINGSTON NEW HAMPSHIRE EARLY FAMILIES, PATRIOTS & SOLDIERS [op. cit.], pages 8-10. Hosier's book refers often to official records of Kingston and New Hampshire. According to both books, Sarah's parents were Joseph and Hannah (Davis) Bean, Sarah was born 19 April 1740, and married first William Smith (although Hosier's book shows only his last name). Then,according to Caswell's information, Sarah married Scribner 12 September 1762.
In this present document, we are favoring the first argument.
Notes
Note N111 Index
Thomas was a member of the first Board of Selectmen of the Town of Brentwood, as well as a member of the Society of Friends.