NORTON, Peter 1-0-0-0-0

The Cornerstone Café is said to be the location of Peter
Norton Esq. law office. The building pictured at left was
the home c1800 of Dr.'s Samuel and George Currier - now the
Readfield Community Library.

Peter Norton, Esq. was born July 27, 1765 on Nantucket Island in MA, a son of Stephen and Sarah (Fosdick) Norton.  He, his parents and brother Constant were among the earliest settlers here. He appears on the 1790 US Census in Readfield as head of household and living adjacent to the Craigs and Josiah Mitchell as well as his father Stephen and brother Constant. He married Asenath Blossom about 1792. She was a daughter of Lieut. James and Bethia (Smith) Blossom of Barnstable, MA and Monmouth, ME.

Peter Norton was the first lawyer in Readfield. Tradition says that his office was located at Readfield Corner where the Cornerstone Cafe (formerly a garage owned by Enquist, McKenney, McCormick and others) was located. Tradition also relates that Readfield was named in honor of Peter and his mother who were very knowledgeable and great readers.

 In 1790 Peter requested exemption from ministerial tax - as did his father in 1776. This presumably because they were "not in sympathy with the Congregational Church which was formed in Winthrop (Readfield still part of at that time) in 1776. The Baptists and Methodists were gaining strides in Readfield - around 1790 as well.

On 9/26/1803 Sarah Norton and Stephen Norton were grantors in a property transaction to Peter Norton. On 2/26/1813 there was another from Stephen Norton to Peter Norton. He was named in his father's last will and testament which was probated 1/19/1796. He was named as co-executor with his brother Constant and also bequeathed five shillings (about $8.00 in 2013).

Asenath died 4/1810 – two days after their youngest child was born. He married a second time to Pamela Eaton Esty on Aug 7, 1811 in Hallowell. He died in 1856 in Readfield. I have not found Peter’s place of burial as yet but Norton family historian Beverly Norton Newton believes it is one of three large unmarked stones adjacent to the Norton tomb at Readfield Corner Cemetery.

Children of Peter and Asenath Norton born in Readfield:

1)      Harriot Rivers b.7/29/1792 d.4/25/1864

2)      Milford Philip b.1/23/1794 He moved to Louisiana in 1839 then to Texas where he died in 1860.

3)      Russell Blossom b.10/13/1796

4)      Jefferson Fosdick b.7/19/1798 d.2/9/1800

5)      Jefferson Fosdick 2^nd b.7/18/1800

6)      Harrison Bare b.7/8/1802

7)      Addison Sidney b.2/23/1804

8)      Emily Anderson b.11/25/1805

9)      Asenath Catherine b.4/5/1810

 Sources:

Kennebec County Registry of Deeds: Book 21 Page 232; book 12 page 270

Stackpole, Everett; History of Winthrop, ME with Genealogical Notes

Kingsbury’s History of Kennebec County

1879 and 1856 Maps of Readfield, ME

Clark, Potter Dale; To Those Who Led the Way: VR’s of Readfield 1768-1908; page 35; www.readfieldmaine.blogspot.com

Cochrane, Harry; History of Monmouth, Maine

www.ancestry.com; Potter-Boatman-Clark Family Tree

Clark, Dale Potter; To Those Who Rest in Peace in Readfield, ME: Cemetery listings and Inscriptions 1770-1980

Reflections of Readfield by Readfield Bicentennial Commission 1796