HOLMES, Jonathan ~ 1821-1832 in Readfield ~ Chairmaker & Cabinet Maker

Jonathan Holmes was born about 1785, presumably in Monmouth, Maine where he came from in 1821 and bought 22 acres in Readfield - just steps from Bean's sawmill on the east bank of Bean's Mill Stream. He bought the property in Readfield from Milton Bean, whose father Joel O. Bean established a fulling mill, grist mill and sawmill at this location about 1803. Holmes' property was part of lot #200, and located on both the north and south sides of Old Kents Hill Road (current road name). On the east it was bordered by Bean's Mill Stream and the Joel Bean's Mill Pond at high water. On the west his neighbors were Alexander Morrison and land of Joshua Packard (lot#199). 
From looking at the 1820 Census in Monmouth it appears Holmes may have been a widower at that time. His occupation was chair maker. When he sold this same property in 1832 his occupation was cabinetmaker.  In 1830 his household consisted of a wife age 50-59 (name of wife was Sarah on the 1832 deed) and a total of six living in the household (1 female under 10-14; 2 females 20-29; and 1 male 15-19). Nothing else is known about Jonathan Holmes at this time, so if anyone has info please do contact me at crossings4u@gmail.com.

HANKERSON, William 1790 US Census Winthrop 1-2-3-0-0

William Hankerson was born in Boston, MA in 1755, the first of his parent’s children to be born in America. His parents were John and Dorcas (Wyman) Hankerson, they were married in England in 1749. William served in the American Revolution on the Rhode Island line. His father had moved to Maine before 1776, where he filed marriage intentions to Eleanor Craig in January 1776. Eleanor was d/o the miller and large landowner, James Craig of Readfield. Eleanor and John moved to Readfield as did Williams' siblings, Thomas Hankerson and sister Elizabeth, who married William Whitter of East Readfield. 

William m.1781 in Hallowell to 23year old Mrs. Martha Thomas, widow of David Thomas. William served in the Revolution and it appears that he joined his family here after he was done serving in the War. Martha died July 9, 1800 and he lived another 30years. William Hankerson acquired p/o lot #184 before 1782 on which he settled. We know this because a road was built from Maranacook Lake westward towards his house and that of Capt. Christopher Turner in 1782. In 1815 Hankerson signed over an undivided half to his son William, which was 100 acres on the W side of the road from the Peter Huntoon house (formerly that of Capt. Christopher Turner) to Kents Hill (Town Farm Road). The deed noted that William was living on said lot and he reserved two acres for himself.. 

Seven children of William & Martha Hankerson recorded in Readfield: 

1) Sally b.1783 m.1799 Samuel White - perhaps a son of Jeremiah White, tanner of Readfield 

2) John b. 1784 m,1810 to Mehitable Hutchinson of Fayette d/o Asa Hutchinson. They moved to Madrid, ME, 3 children. 

3) William b.1787 m.Thankful White, a d/o Jeremiah White, tanner of Readfield. William & Thankful lived in Readfield, 10 children

4) Hannah b.1789 m.Joseph Fellows of Livermore. They resided in Winthrop, 7 children

5) David b. 1792 I find nothing on him after 1818 when he sued someone for a debt owned to him. At that time he was living in Readfield. 

6) Arletta b.1797  nothing more known

7) George b.1798 m.1822 Celia Ann Atkins. They resided in Hallowell, 8 children

I. To Those Who Led the Way: Readfield, ME VR's 1768-1913; self-published by Dale Potter-Clark 2009; pgs.19-20
II. Ancestry.com, U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Database online.
III. Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp, Maine Marriages to 1875 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com.

IV. History of Winthrop by Eveett Stackpole; pub. 1925. Section on original roads in Winthrop and Readfield (before 1791)

V Kennebec County Registry of Deeds book 24 page 238

HANKERSON, Thomas 1790 US Census Winthrop 1-0-1-0-0

Thomas Hankerson was born in Boston in 1766, the son of John and Dorcas Wyman Hankerson. He married to Abigail Jackens in Pittston, ME September 21, 1790. They appear on the 1790 Census in Winthrop as head of household and one adult female. On the 1800 US Census this household includes 2 sons under 10 years old and 2 daughters under 10 years old in addition to the adult female. Ten years later Thomas Hankerson died. The following children were recorded as born in Readfield: 1) James b.1794 2) John b.1796 3) Nabby b.1799 4) Thomas b.1802

His brother William, sister Elizabeth, who married William Whittier of Readfield, and their father John and his second wife, Eleanor (Craig) also settled in Readfield.

Bibliography:
1790 and 1800 U.S. Census Readfield
To Those Who Led the Way: Readfield, ME VR's 1768-1913; self-published by Dale Potter-Clark 2009; pg.19  

HANKERSON, John 1790 Census Winthrop 1-0-2-0-0

John Hankerson was born in England about 1725 and immigrated into Boston where he married to Dorcas Wyman on October 23, 1749. She was born in Woburn, MA in 1726 and she died in 1767 - soon after their youngest child was born. John filed intentions to marry Eleanor Craig in Hallowell, ME in January 1776 and they were married March 6, 1776. He appears on the 1790 US Census in Winthrop as John “Harkerson” – neighbors on either side are Samuel “Stephens” and Paul “Macfason”. His sons Thomas and William are living nearby as well. John died in Winthrop around 1790. Children (we know of) were born in Boston: 1) William b.1755 d.1830 2) Elizabeth b.1759 d.1805 She married to William Whittier in Hallowell, Maine. They lived in Mt. Vernon where she died in 1805 3) Thomas b. 1766 d.1810

GREELEY, Moses

Moses father Joseph Greeley was a mill operator in Haverhill, MA and his children numbered ten.  Moses was born in Haverhill, MA in 1711. He married to Mehitable Page and they were parents to eight children – three of them sons. Moses - the middle son - was accidentally shot by his brother Seth at a young age. The other two migrated to Maine with their father.  With them came their sisters 29 yo Mary (married Joseph Brown), 26 yo Mehitable (married Nathaniel Davis), 13 yo Susanna (m1 Joseph Davenport m2. Capt. Perkins Allen) and 20 yo Judith (married John Huston). 

In 1761 Moses, 24 year old Seth and 11 year old Joseph, came to Fort Western (now Augusta.) By the spring of 1762 they had built a cabin on the east- side of the Kennebec River, and in 1765 Moses received a grant for the 250 acre Lot#24, adjoining the Fort. Sometime before 1770 they removed to Winthrop (then called Pondtown) where Moses and Joseph signed the petition to incorporate in December of that year. Seth purchased 

Lot#10 on the west shore of Cobbossee. Joseph and Moses settled on Lot #135 on the east shore of Maranacook, (in the part of Winthrop that later became Readfield - refer to the 1791 map of Readfield on this web site.) 

This country was so newly settled there were no churches here at that time and according to the Greeley family history Moses was a religious man. He often could be found preaching a sermon when people assembled. He also liked to entertain folks with his singing, reading and performances on the bass violin.

 In 1783 Moses moved on again – this time to Sandy River where he married his second wife at age 85. Moses lived in Phillips until his death at 95 years of age. It is said he was well cared for by his son who lived nearby.  His daughters Mary, Mehitable, Judith and Susanna all moved with their husbands and children to Sandy River also. Son Seth went west to Ohio in 1818 where he died. Joseph returned to this area and died in Belgrade in 1824. I can think of no truer pioneer spirit than this family must have had.

Sources:

1. Greeley Genealogy, Maine State Library
2. History of Kennebec County
3. Readfield, Maine Vital Records
4. ME Families 1790, ME Genealogical Society, Vols. 5 & 6
5. Marriage Notices from Maine Farmer 1833-1852 by Young
6. History of Winthrop by Everett Stackpole, 1923
7. 1790 Maine Census

GREELEY, Joseph

Joseph Greeley was born 22 May 1765 in Kingston, Rockingham, NH a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Dudley) Greeley. He married 1786 in Readfield to Sarah Wyman d/o Henry Wyman. Joseph and Sarah Greeley carried on the Wyman farm. According to the Greeley family history, about 1812 Joseph headed to Bath, Maine to enlist in the War and was never heard from again. None of the children were married at this time and seven were under the age of seventeen. Following Joseph’s disappearance the second child, Henry, carried on the Wyman / Greeley family homestead and raised his family of seven children there. Henry Greeley’s daughter Sarah married to Elias Gove and they carried on this farm after Henry. Their oldest child, Samuel Greeley settled nearby on South Road.
Children of Joseph and Sarah Wyman Greeley:
1. Samuel b.10/31/1787
2. Henry b.8/25/1789
3. John b.12/15/1790
4. Sally b.2/10/1795
5. Betsey b.12/2/1796
6. Joseph Jr. b.11/29/1798
7. Gorham b.12/16/1801
8. Greenlief b.6/29/1804
9. Rebecca b.10/24/1806

GRAY, John

 

John Gray house as it looks in 2013. Notice how the front of the house faces the old road that has long since been discontinued. See ROADS and TRAVEL in EARLY READFIELD on this web site FMI about that road. This was once called "Gray's Corner" as noted in several old deeds related to this area.

John Gray married Mrs. Sarah Blanchard of Vassalboro in 1773. They were married in Hallowell and their first three children were born there. He came to Winthrop in January 1779 and bought 100 acres - the northern half of lot #68 - from James Craig. He paid the sum of Five Pounds Sterling. His and Sarah's children were:
1) William b.1774 2) Frederick b.1775 3) Sarah b.1777  4) John b.1779 5) Mary b.1781

In 1800 Gray sold his house and 118 acres "north part of lot #68" to Nathan Kimball of Buxton, ME for $1,400. John Gray moved to Kingstown, ME (later named Joy then Troy) where he died sometime after 1820.

Nathan Kimball sold this property to Thomas Thurston in 1815; it then went to his son Stone Thurston and it remained in the Thurston family until 1904 when it was sold to Lawrence and Julia Harris. Their only child Lawrence Harris inherited it in 1936 - he was the founder of Harris Baking Co. in Waterville. The Harris family sold it to Gerard Poulin in 1958 and after that Charles and Janet Ritzi owned it.

This property went all the way to Maranacook Lake - no doubt there are some remains down there somewhere of James Craig's log cabin on "the old road round Chandlers Mill Pond" from long, long ago.

See John Gray's testimony on behalf of a neighbor Mary (Mrs.) Moses Wheeler dated 1814.