The Black Papers

Settlers on the Bingham Purchase in 1798

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Col John Black (1781-1856) was a son-in-law of General David Cobb (1748-1830), land agent for William Bingham of Philadelphia, to whom was sold about two million acres in ME by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1794. General Cobb's papers, many of which related to his administration of the Bingham purchase, came into the possession of Col Black when he became the land agent for the Bingham estate in 1820.

In 1796, General Cobb received a letter from the Treasurer of Massachusetts regarding the taxation of the inhabited but unincorporated lands in the District of Maine. At General Cobb's suggestion, a census was completed and this document is a result.

A List of the Settlers in Townships Numbers Seven, Eight, Nine, Eleven and Twelve taken by Paul Dudley Sargent July 1798, at the request of David Cobb Esqr by agreement of Thomas Davis Esqr late Treasurer of the Commonwealth.

No 7 [Hancock County]

Settlers Names Time of Settlement Age Number of Family  
Phineas Whitten 1767 58 10  
John Gubtail 1790 70 2  
Gowen Wilson Junr 1794 26 2  
George Whitacre 1796 25 3  

No 8 [Franklin, Hancock County]

Settlers Names Time of Settlement Age Number of Family  
Nathl Hardason 1763 62 7  
Jeremiah Bragdon 1762 62 5  
Stephen Clark 1770 50 6  
Judah West 1772 48 7  
The Heirs of John Ford 1765     died in the Army 1780
Moses Butler 1762 65 5  
Nathl Butler 1789 34 8  
Moses Butler Junr 1784 42 10  
David Scammons 1775 40 11  
John Bragdon 1780 37 6  
David Springer 1781 35 6  
Peter Butler 1781 37 7  
John Barnhawk 1784 33 7  
James Abbot 1784 33 7  
Jeremiah Bragdon Jr 1789 30 7  

No 9 [Franklin, Hancock County]

Settlers Names Time of Settlement Age Number of Family  
Jacob Springer 1793 32 8  
Ichabod Austin 1790 54 5  
Benjn Clark 1777 52 9  
Samuel Creace 1786     sold to S. Hardison and removed in 1791
Jonathan Ingals 1770     sold to Abnr Blaisdol who has it now in possn
John Williams 1787 34 4  
David Hooper Junr 1796 23 1  
Rubin Abbot Junr 1791 35 5  
David Hooper 1766 52 10  
Stephen Card 1789 47 8 purch of Jno Springer who settled in 1767
Paul Simpson 1792 65 9 purch of Jno Donald who settled
Abrahm Donald 1782 46 9  
Widow of Jno Johnson 1779 45 5  
Frederick Slider 1792 50 5 purchd of N Butler who purch in 1779
Thomas Uran 1792 27 4 purch of Jno Uran
Thomas Moon 1783     in the right of Joseph Martin
Stephen Hardison 1765 71 7  

No 11 [Cherryfield, Washington County]

Settlers Names Time of Settlement Age Number of Family  
Josiah Tucker 1773 61 4  
[blank] Archibald 1773 48 6 purch of Jno Lawrance
Robt Tucker 1775 48 6 purch of Dan Fickett
Ichabod Willey 1773 60 6  
Samuel Corson 1774 58 4  
John Willey 1796 22 1  
Saml Corson Junr 1782 37 10  
Ichabod Willey Junr 1791 30 5  
William Willey 1791 30 5 purch of Ben Wallace who settled in 1774
John Anderson 1786 52 7  
Willm Tucker 1796 24 2 formerly Robt Leighton 1791
Theodore Leighton 1773 60 10  
John Corson 1787 32 7  
John Lawrance Junr 1781 39 11  
John Jordan 1780 40 7  
William McKay 1796 34 2 purch of Rolph who settled on it in 1783
Gowin Wilson 1780 53 8  
John Small 1773 58   died in 1797 Tim. Small
Timothy Small 1794 25 4  
John Small Junr 1783 37 1  
Elisha Small 1781 38 10  
Ebenr Small 1788 40 11  
Joseph Leighton 1795 44 9  
Benj Ingersel 1796 40 6  
Widow Wakefield 1796 60 4 in right of [blank] Downs
Theodore Tucker 1793 26 1  
Moses Leighton 1797 30 5  

No 12 [Columbia, Washington County]

Settlers Names Time of Settlement Age Number of Family  
Samuel Leighton 1782 69 4 in right of Jno McDonald
Isaac Leighton 1785 34 6 in right of Jno Buckman
Moses Worcester 1781 53 7  
Parret Leighton 1795 29 4 in right of Moses Wooster Jr
Levi Parret 1797 [illeg] 3 in right of John Steel settled 1783
Bedfield Door 1792 25 4 in right of D Small 1781
Jonathan Door 1781 56 5  
John Nash 1782 42 10  
Jonathan Low 1792 45 7 in right of Nl Cocks 1786
Elisha Coffin 1783 40 4  
Phineas Leighton 1791 27 6 in right of Neheh Small 1778
Moses Worcester Junr 1788 30 6 in right of Nehh Small 1778
W Sherbo an African 1783 55 4  
John McCasland 1782 42 10  
Daniel Merret 1783 45 6  
Mathw Coffin 1781 43 11  
Joseph Tibbets 1783 50 8  
Willm Caleghan 1785 45 7 in right of Wm Hicks 1783
Richd Merret 1782 38 7 to Son
Wm Caleghan 1790     clames a lot in right of Elipt Ranalds
David Wass 1780 43 7  
Willm Ingersoll 1780 42 12  
John Archa 1788 42 14  
Francis Mathews 1795 26 4  
John Worcester 1796 23 1  
Daniel McKensey 1796 23 3  
Jona Drisko 1794 25 2  
Ebenr Nash 1792 29 4  
Isaac Nash 1786 36 10  
Abram Nash 1788 32 6  
Saml Drisko 1778 50 7  
Saml Nash 1785 38 2  
Willm Hacock 1796 24 2  
Joseph Nash 1796 23 3  
Nathl Cocks 1796 60 5  
Nathl Cocks Junr 1795 28 3 claimed by Isaac Nash
[blank] Ward Tenant 1796 70 2 in right of Robt Cates 1780
Elisha Kelley was on 1/2 1794      
Robert Allan 1797 23 3  
Benj Dorman 1794 26 2  
Ephraim Dorman 1797 24 1  

Nathaniel Denbow settled under Gowin Wilson on a lot in the year 1780 and Wilson continued to hold the lot by keeping a Tenant on said Lot until 1786 and still holds and occupys said Lot in No 11.

Joseph Wallace clames a lot in right of Buchanan not represented at what time he left said lot in 1786 No 11.

Alexr Camble clames in right of Daniel Rolf who settled in 1778 the settlement continued by Bickford but for how long is not ascertained No 11.

In Township No 8

Settlers Names Time of Settlement Age Number of Family  
Nathl Smith... 1776     sold to Nathan Jones
Thomas McFarland}

James McFarland}

and James Smith}

 1784     part of each of their lots laying in No 8 considered as one together

Sullivan September 29 1798, by Paul Dudley Sargent