LANE, James 1790 U.S. Census Winthrop

James Lane (Jeremiah, Andrew, William) was one of Readfield’s earliest settlers. He chose a lot on Kents Hill (near a spring) when he and his brother Ephraim came here in 1771 from their hometown of Hingham, Massachusetts. They came to Fort Western by boat up the Kennebec River, and then by blazed trail through the woods to Readfield. Here, James first met Eunice Chase who was visiting Gideon Lambert, a blacksmith formerly of Martha's Vineyard. Lane got to work and immediately began to forge a place for his new home. For two years James worked to clear his land, build a log cabin, and to plant corn. He bought a pig at Fort Western and carried it to Readfield in a sack. Once the corn was harvested, and the pig slaughtered and salted down, he figured he had prepared a home fit for a bride. He returned to Massachusetts that winter where he found and courted Miss Eunice at her family home in Tisbury. When Lane returned to Readfield the following spring the cabin had been broken into by Indians and the corn and pork was all gone. James had to carry all of his supplies from Fort Western until the next harvest came in. In spite of this hardship Eunice was not swayed. Upon her return to Maine she and James were married by General James Howard at Fort Western, on August 3, 1774. She was not yet 16 and James was 25. Indians continued to be “plentiful” at that time, according to the Lane family history, and they used to camp near James Lane's spring. The Indians never hurt James and Eunice, but bears destroyed crops and killed livestock - in fact James slew one with his ax one time when it tried to kill his pig. Eunice was four months pregnant with her first child when James went to serve in the Revolutionary War. Read below for names of his children and more.

The following is most of the Lane genealogy as recorded by Frank Lane in 1921. Since then additional information has been discovered and is available but I have not made corrections or changes. It is here exactly as he wrote it. What I have added are pictures that correspond with some of his story.

James Lane came to Winthrop in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, now Readfield, Maine, from Martha’s Vineyard, MA via ship to Hallowell and through the forest, then practically unbroken, to the Kents Hill section and cleared land and erected a small log cabin by the spring in the present pasture near the corner of the farm now owned by Guy Williams. He raised a crop of corn and a pig that summer, probably 1776 or 1777, and after harvesting the crop and salting the pork he returned to Martha’s Vineyard and was married to Eunice ___ who was 17 at the time. In the spring they left for their new home in the wilderness and must have been greatly disappointed upon reaching it as some Indian band, which sometimes camped near the spring when in the vicinity, had broken into the cabin and stolen all their pork and corn. When one remembers the nearest settlement was Hallowell it can be seen this was a serious loss as all supplies had to be brought over blazed trail from there until another crop could be raised. Eunice Lane was said to be at home on horseback and frequently made the trip to Hallowell. After one of these trips she had a willow stick for a riding whip and upon dismounting she stuck it into the damp earth where it sprouted and grew into a large tree, the stump of which I was shown when a small boy. She also was a lover of flowers and it is said the field of daisies in that vicinity spread from seed of hay chaff which were in her chest of supplies. In the summer of 1778 James Lane enlisted in the Revolutionary War and served until three days before the birth of their first son, Valentine, when he received an honorable discharge. The following record was copied from the records in Springfield, MA Public Library:

James Lane, Winthrop, list of men raised in Lincoln County to serve with guards over troops of Convention, Magazines and Public Stores under General Heath, as returned by Brigadier General Charles Cushing dated Pownalbourough, August 20, 1778. Enlisted July 6, 1778 from Col. Joseph North, 2^nd Lincoln County Regiment. Also private in Capt. Berry’s Company. Col. Jacob Gerrish Regiment of Guards enlisted August 1, 1778. Discharged Dec. 24, 1778, Roll dated at Camp at Winter Hill.

 

The Porter Trefethern house (mentioned below). Built by Lewis Lane

on P Ridge Road, Kents Hill. Pictured here as it appeared about 1960.  

 

A few years later he built a larger log cabin higher up the hill near the spring in the present orchard where he lived many years. He then erected a frame house and dug a well, the site of which is a few rods north of the present house. This house was moved onto its present site and now is the ell of the present house which was built by his grandson, Lewis Lane and now occupied by Porter Trefetheren. The following partial copy of the original deed was taken from the Registry office in Augusta, Maine. Page 354, Kennebec copy of Lincoln Grants, Lot #198 July 10, 1788.

Antippas Bayes, Edward Thyng, Thos. Brattle and John Winslow, Proprietors of all said land on Kennebec Rive, aforesaid, and all legal proprietors thereof. At our meeting held in Boston July 10, 1778 have voted, granted and assigned to James Lane of Winthrop in the county of Lincoln and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Husbandman Lot #198 of Proprietors Plan made by John Jones, surveyors April 7, 1771 on condition that James Lane build a house 20ft. square seven ft. stud and clear and bring to bring to tillage five acres of land within three years. Attest: Henry Alline, Proprietors Clerk

The Jennie Lane farm on P Ridge Road (mentioned below). Pictured here c1960.

 

This lot consisted of what is the present Trefethern farm, part of the Palmer farm, the farm of Jennie E. Lane and the orchard owned by Charles Folsom, and pasture owned by Henry Brown on the road between Kents Hill and Readfield opposite the place owned by Mr. Sawyer. This lot consisted of about 200 acres and was one mile long running north and south and 100 rods wide. James Lane lived on this farm until he died July 26, 1819. He lived to see the forest give way to two villages nearby, Readfield and Kents Hill and the founding of Maine Wesleyan Seminary by Luther Sampson and others at the latter place. He was survived by his wife Eunice, who lived until January 29, 1842 age 83yrs. Both are buried in the family plot in Kents Hill as are also James, Jr., Valentine Chase and Orson.

They had nine children according to town records entered April 2, 1806:

Valentine b. 12/27/1778 d.4/31/1787 age 9yrs. Killed by tree falling upon him and buried home lot.
Anna b.5/3/1782
Abraham Chase b.7/19/1784
Serena b.12/6/1786
James, Jr. b.5/2/1789 d.3/20/1812 aged 23
Eunice Chase b.5/16/1791 m. BenjaminCarr, Jr.
Valentine Chase b.10/8/1794 d.4/14/1809 aged 15
Orson b.11/15/1796 m.3/3/1822 Mary Bean
David Merry b.7/26/1801

Orson Lane, 8^th child of James and Eunice Lane, married Mary Bean. She was known by everyone by her nickname “Polly” and is recorded in town records as Polly Bean. She was the daughter of Joel Bean who at that time was the wealthiest citizen of Readfield and ran a sawmill at the foot of Kents Hill toward Readfield. The marriage is recorded March 2, 1822. They resided on the original homestead where Orson engaged in farming and to buy cattle. He died when 46 years of age Feb. 4, 1842 leaving a large family and his widow lived to be 64years of age lived with her son Lewis Lane on the home place until her death. She and her husband were buried in the old family lot on Kents Hill. Seven children were born to Orson and Mary Bean Lane according to records entered at Town Clerk’s office January 15, 1834. The three youngest children were not entered at that time but are probably on another page. As it is now there were ten children in all as follows:
Sarah Elmira b.7/19/1823 m. Sylvanus Nickerson and moved to Holyoke, MA. Children Jennie Edward Wm. Veb.
Amelia Ann b.4/19/1824 m. Burnam, 2^nd m. Iria Paine Res. Dixfield and Canton
James Lane b.4/29/1826 m. Fifield or Lyons? Lumber business, Grand Rapids, Michigan or Chicago, IL
George M. b.1/27/1830 m. Ellen Maddocks, Residence present Lane farm at Kents Hill.
Mary J. b.1/12/1828 d. 1845 at Kents Hill
Elisabeth b. 5/23/1831 m. Horace Macomber 2^nd m. Sylvanus Blanchard Readfield, ME
Octavia b.10/4/1833 m. Stephen Welch, East Boothbay, ME children?

Columbus b.? Took up homestead of government and died at Hastings, Neb. No children

Adaline b. ? m. Moses Berry, homestead of Govt. and died at Junietta, Neb. Children?
Lewis b.? Carried on home farm at Kents Hill and built present main part of the house. Sold farm and moved to Wales, ME and ran a brickyard afterwards going to Redlands, California. Died there, Two children, Lillian Gertrude, Charles.

George Lane house on Lane Road, Kents Hill as it appeared in 1999.

Currently the home of Elmer Elvin.

George M. Lane, fifth child of Orson and Mary Bean Lane married Ellen Maddocks, daughter of Nathaniel Maddocks of Chesterville, Maine who was a Sergeant in the War of 1812. Soon after their marriage George Lane purchased the farm owned now by his son George N. Lane and spent the rest of his days there, except while in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was known as one of the best breeders of Hereford cattle in that vicinity, taking many blue ribbons at the State and County Fairs each year. The children born to George and Ellen Maddocks Lane, died 18__ are recorded at the Town Clerk’s office at Readfield as follows:

Mary Ella b.5/12/1857 d. Kents Hill 1911?
Emma Jennie b. 1/27/1859 Res. Kents Hill not married
Emery Orson b. 12/8/1860 m. residence Chesterville, ME
Frank H. b. 11/1/1862 m. residence North Jay, ME
Carrie L. b.2/3/1866 m. Charles Ward residence Randolph, ME
Cora L. b.2/3/1866 m. Leon Stevens residence Sulphur Springs, FL
George Nathaniel b.10/27/1863 m. Josie M. Durkee residence Kents Hill
Charles Maddocks b.10/28/1874 m. Mrs. Lill Woodman residence Dixfield, ME or Canton
George Nathaniel Lane, seventh child of George M. Lane and Ellen Maddocks Lane, married Josie May Durkee Derry, NH. She was the daughter of Albert and Josie Barrows Durkee, formerly of Tunbridge, VT where all their children were born. (Rather extensive section omitted from this document re Durkee of Vermont ancestry but available as a pdf upon request to crossings4u@gmail) George and Josie Lane live on the place formerly owned by his father one mile from Kents Hill and about ¼ mile from the original James Lane homestead and has greatly improved the farm and built a two story house. They have five children:
Frank Clark b. Boston, MA 8/31/1891 residence 179 Prospect St. Cambridge, MA (author of this genealogy)
Georgia May b. North Jay, ME 1/21/1896 residence Kents Hill and Portland, ME
Ralph Emery b. North Jay, ME 2/14/1898 residence Kents Hill, ME
Carroll Nathaniel b. Kents Hill, ME 10/9/1900 residence Kents Hill, ME
Josephine Ellen b. Kents Hill 6/12/1902 residence Kents Hill, ME

Note: After writing the above the author found the birth of Eunice Chase in the vital statistics of Tisbury, Martha’s Vineyard Page 24, viz; Eunice Chase, daughter of Valentine and Eunice b.3/18/1759 also Abraham son of Valentine and Eunice Chase b.12/9/1756 thus accounting for family names. In Hallowell marriages, Vol IV, Page 34 is the marriage of James “Lain” and “Mrs. Unis Chace” 8/3/1744(?) and while this record upsets some traditions it is not doubt the record of our James and Eunice. Many parties in those days were married at Hallowell after disembarking from the ship that brought them here.

Carr records published by Edson Carr