Children of Eliphalet & Mary (Woodman) Haskell

I am in the process of transcribing the vital records for the town of New Gloucester, Maine prior to 1892. Today I came across the original birth records for the children of my 4th great grandparents, Eliphalet and Mary (Woodman) Haskell as recorded by Jabez Woodman, who was the Town Clerk at that time. The following image is the page from the original record book, followed by the transcription

Transcription
[page] 68
Moses Haskell son of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife was born in New Gloucester September 8th Anno Domini 1777
Hannah Haskell daughter of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife was born in New Gloucester on the 12th of August AD 1779
Moses Haskell son of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife born in New Gloucester December 12th, 1780
Eliphalet Haskell son of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife born in New Gloucester Jan. 27th, 1782
Jacob Haskell son of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife, born in New Gloucester Octr 30th 1783
Polly Haskell daughter of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife, born in New Gloucester March 4th 1785
Amos Haskell son of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife born in New Gloucester March 26th, 1787
Bethulah Haskell son of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife born in New Gloucester Jany 25th, 1789
Stephen Haskell son of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife, born in New Gloucester Augt 4th 1792
Sally Haskell daughter of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife, born in New Gloucester July 11th, 1794
Peleg Haskell son of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife, born in New Gloucester July 22d, 1796
George Haskell son of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife born in New Gloucester Augt 25th 1798
Louisa Haskell daughter of Eliphalet Haskell and Mary his wife born in New Gloucester April 18th, 1800
Recorded March 18th, 1822, By me Jabez Woodman Town Clerk

My 3rd great grandfather is Amos Haskell.

Does anyone have any information on the name "Bethulah"? I have always thought this to be a female, but the Town Clerk listed this child as a son. I was unable to locate anything definitive based on a quick search on the internet. If anyone has further information, I would be happy to hear from you.


Source: A Book of Record of Births for New Gloucester in County of Cumberland Commonwealth of Massachusets from 1771 to 1865. Image taken from original record book on 12 Apr 2011 by William C. Haskell. Original record book located in Town Office, Town of New Gloucester, Maine.

© 2011, copyright William C. Haskell

Tombstone Tuesday - Reuben Merrill [Sr]

Cemetery: Pine Grove, Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine
Photo Date: 30 August 2009
Subject Name: Reuben Merrill
Notes: Father of Reuben Merrill and grandfather of Nathaniel Edwin Merrill. My third great-grandfather. Reuben Merrill [Sr] was born 2 Aug 1765, he married Clarissa Jones about 1794.
Transcription: REUBEN MERRILL/DIED/July 29, 1818, AE. 53.

© 2011, copyright William C. Haskell

Tombstone Tuesday - Reuben Merrill [Jr]

Cemetery: Pine Grove, Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine
Photo Date: 30 August 2009
Subject Name: Reuben Merrill [Jr]
Notes: Father of Nathaniel Edwin Merrill. My second great-grandfather. Reuben was born 27 Oct 1795 and married Frances Pope 14 Mar 1819
Transcription: REUBEN MERRILL/DIED/Nov. 25, 1890./AE. 95 yrs./At Rest

© 2011, copyright William C. Haskell

New Gloucester History - 150th Anniversary in 1924

The Town of New Gloucester, Maine was quite prominent in its early days. This town celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1924 and this interesting article in the Lewiston Journal Illustrated Magazine, August 30, 1924 edition describes the celebration activities. There is also a book titled The New Gloucester Centennial, September 7, 1874 by T. H. Haskell, originally published by Hoyt, Fogg & Dunham of Portland, Maine in 1875. This book documents the centennial celebration in 1874. A copy of this book can be found at Google Books. I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a copy of this book at an eBay auction several years ago. My copy is signed by the author -  it says "Hon Edwin Fox with regard of T.H. Haskell mch. 26, 1875".

 I grew up in New Gloucester and attended the 200th anniversary celebration in 1974. I was about 8 years old and I remember my Dad growing a beard for the "Brothers of the Brush" competition to see who could grow the best beard (he didn't win); and my Mom dressed up in a handmade colonial outfit and gave spinning and weaving demonstrations.Somewhere there are some pictures at my Dad's house - I need to try and find those and make sure they are labeled

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Old Traveling Salesman

This newspaper article was transcribed from an old newspaper clipping in Grace Ware (Holbrook) Haskell's scrapbook. The newspaper title unknown, but based on the death date of Charles A. Haskell, the date of hte article was about June 1931. Charles A. Haskell was the brother of my great-grandfather, Frank Owen Haskell.

OLD TRAVELING SALESMAN

     Charles A. Haskell, who died at his home in this city on Wednesday at the advanced age of 83 years, was a traveling salesman in the days when traveling connoted greater physical difficulties than it does at the present time. The drummer had to sell goods in the old days just as he does now but persuading people to buy was a secondary consideration at the time that Mr. Haskell as a young man, took his sample case in hand and started out to cover Northern New England.
     How swiftly has come the improvement in transportation methods in this and other states is strikingly brought out by the fact that this veteran, whose days on the road covered a period of but little over half a century, was equally familiar with the stage coach and livery rig and with pullman cars and the automobile.
     Mr. Haskell was 17 years old when in 1865 he first went on the road. The railroad had come to Maine before that, but the accommodations it could offer to the traveler were extremely limited. One could then get down to Old Town by train, there was a road to Bath and the Grand Trunk was running up to Island Pond. But beyond that the horse had to be depended on and this form of locomotion while dependable was slow.
     Mr. Haskell had to go down the coast as far as Calais, up into Aroostook county, across Piscataquis and Somerset. He visited as many places as he did later when he could buy a chair in a parlor car or be swept from town to town in an auto, but he had to take much more time for it -- in the Winter frequently much more. As locomotion was slow so were the mails and frequently weeks elapsed when the salesman's house in Portland did not hear from him. But unless storms intervened he, with others like him, made his dates and the counting room here in the city knew that he was pretty certain to be back on time.
     It was the business of old time drummers to sell goods, but for many years those who followed this business formed the connecting link between urban and rural Maine and save for the weekly newspaper like the old Portland Transcript, were about the only connection there was. He brought the news of the business world, generally knew about politics and echoed the gossip of state and nation wide interest that had not reached the town corners.
     The traveling salesman of the old fashioned kind was also an advisor and instructor in business methods and many a country merchant owed his prosperity to the fact that he had these men to consult. Not all these travelers were like Mr. Haskell, who was sound and solid as a rock, but as a whole they exerted a profound influence upon the State and were a powerful factor in moulding the society of the commonwealth in the days when communication was vastly more of a proposition than it is now.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

New Gloucester's Big Ones!

Here is another interesting bit of history about the local New Gloucester and Danville, Maine fair. This article was found on the Google News site in the Lewiston Evening Journal, September 29, 1898 paper. The article is about the "Big Ones", cattle and other things worth seeing at the New Gloucester and Danville Fair. Looks like they grew some big cows, oxen and top-notch veggies back in the day!

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

New Gloucester Proprietors - Chapter 4

Here is the fourth chapter of New Gloucester Proprietors continued from my previous post. Lots of surnames in this article, including: Allen, Anderson, Bradbury, Brooks, Browne, Chandler, Deane, Ellery, Fairfield, Foxcroft, Fuller, Harris, Haskell, Hooper, Longfellow, Mason, Merrill, Milliken, Mitchell, Morrill, Noyes, Pike, Smith, Stevens, Stinchfield, Stirling, True, Tufts, Tyler, Warner, Willis, Woodbury. This article was written by Anson Titus in the June 27- July 1, 1908 edition of the Lewiston Journal Illustrated Magazine and was found on the Google News site.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Wordless Wednesday (almost) - Turnverein

My great grandfather Frank Owen Haskell was a member of a turnverein in Portland, Maine. He is the one in the lower right of the photo. I would be interested in hearing from others who might have information on this group.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

The Harris Family of New Gloucester

Here is some more interesting New Gloucester, Maine history and genealogy news from an April 12-15, 1911 article in Lewiston Journal, Illustrated Magazine Section titled "Maine Families, and their Genealogies". The article is about the Harris Family of New Gloucester. This article was found searching the Google News site. Surnames in this article include: Allen, Bacheldor, Bradbury, Cook, Davis, Foxcroft, Gower, Guptil, Harris, Harrison, Haskell, Hersey, Johnson, Megquire, Merrill, Otis, Parsons, Record, Roberson, Tobie, Tyng, Waterman, White, Witham, Yetton.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

New Gloucester Proprietors - Chapter 3

Here is the third chapter of New Gloucester Proprietors continued from my previous post. Lots of surnames in this article, including: Allen, Bradstreet, Chipman, Collins, Dennison, Foxcroft, Hammond, Harris, Haskell, Hayes, Herrick, Marston, Parson, Prince, Riggs, Sturgis, Thompson, Tyler, Ward, Warner, Whitney. This article was written by Anson Titus in the June 13-17, 1908 edition of the Lewiston Journal Illustrated Magazine and was found on the Google News site. Enjoy!

New Gloucester Proprietors - first page

New Gloucester Proprietors - second page

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Caleb S. Haskell - One of the Oldest Twins in the U.S.

Many of my Haskell ancestors lived in New Gloucester, Maine. I have found several interesting old newspaper articles in the Lewiston Evening Journal at the Google News site that provide some interesting glimpses into the past of this town. Here is an April 16, 1903 article about the death of Caleb S. Haskell  who had the distinction of being one of the oldest twins in the United States at the time of his death. 

Here is my transcription of the article

ONE OF THE TWINS IS DEAD
Caleb S. Haskell, Was One of New Gloucester's Oldest Citizens.
A Sister Survives Him, Aged Eighty-nine Years.
They Had the Distinction of Being the Oldest Twins in the United States.
     NEW GLOUCESTER, Me. April 16 (Special). -- Caleb S. Haskell of this town died early this A.M. after a short illness. He was stricken on Wednesday with acute kidney trouble. His family was hopeful of his recovery until Monday, when new complications developed.
     Wednesday he showed a marvelous revival of strength. But the power to hold this new condition failed rapidly and he lost his hold gradually on life, passing away quietly as one going asleep. This was just six days after taking his bed.
     Mr. Haskell in personal characteristics was a most affectionate and cherished husband and father.
     By reason of his age and his keen mental faculties Mr. Haskell was considered an authority on local history. Throughout the village he was known for his kindness of heart and benevolence to the poor and suffering.
     Mr. Haskell is survived by a twin sister, Mrs. Judith P. Bradbury, now living in Roxbury, Mass. Before Mr. Haskell's death, they had the distinction of being the oldest living twins living in New England and probably in the United States.
     They were born in New Gloucester, Aug. 14, 1814. Their parents, Caleb and Judith Collins Haskell had 12 children of whom 10 grew to maturity. Five of them were black-eyed and five blue; five right-handed and five left-handed. Their father, who lived to the ripe age of 91, had a twin sister who reached the age of 87.
     Caleb S. Haskell always was a resident of New Gloucester, except for a short time when he worked at the mason's trade in Boston, and was employed in the construction of the Boston custom house. He worked as a carpenter considerably and also devoted much attention to farming. Feb. 10, 1840, he married Martha P. Rowe, a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Pierce Rowe of New Gloucester, who survives him. Both Mr. and Mrs Haskell were for many hears members of the choir of the New Gloucester Congregational church. Mr. Haskell never found it necessary to use glasses. He always totally abstained from the use of both tobacco and intoxicants. Of their three children the only one living is Newell P. Haskell, deputy collector of internal revenue with headquarters in Portland.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Tombstone Tuesday - Charles Alfred Haskell Cemetery Plot

Cemetery: Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
Photo Date: 13 November 2010
Subject Name: Charles Alfred Haskell Family Cemetery Plot
Location: Lot 171-172, Section U, Area 397

 There are six people buried in this plot, including Charles Alfred Haskell, his wife, Mary Sophia (Foye) Haskell, Louise F. Haskell, Nellie Marie Haskell, Dr. Alfred W. Haskell, and Julia M. Foye. Charles Alfred Haskell was the son of my great great grandfather Alfred Haskell and the brother of my great grandfather Frank Owen Haskell.

The large monument has "HASKELL" on the front and no other information on any of the other sides. The transcriptions of the small stones from left to right, are as follows:

JULIA M. FOYE/1855 - 1922
ALFRED W. HASKELL/1876 - 1951
NELLIE M. HASKELL/1876 - 1951
LOUISE F. HASKELL/1873 - 1962
MARY S. HASKELL/1846 - 1935
CHARLES A. HASKELL/1848 - 1931

Alfred W. and Louise F. Haskell were children of Charles A. and Mary S. Haskell. Julia M. Foye was the sister of Mary S. (Foye) Haskell. I'm not sure where Nellie M. Haskell fits in to the family. I have not found her living in the Charles A. Haskell household in the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 or 1930 censuses.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Tombstone Tuesday - Jabez C. Haskell

Cemetery: Pond Cemetery, New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Maine
Photo Date: 8 November 2009
Subject Name: Jabez C.and Lucinda (Purinton) Haskell

Transcription of Gravestone #1: JABEZ C. HASKELL/DIED/June 27, 1875/AE. 76.
Transcription of Gravestone #2: LUCINDA/wife of/Jabez C. Haskell/Died Sept. 11, 1852,/AE. 45 yrs. 7 mos./[epitaph illegible]


Jabez's gravestone death date conflicts with the New Gloucester Vital Records which includes the following entry: Jabez C. Haskell died January 27th, 1875 aged 76 years.

Lucinda's gravestone death date matches the New Gloucester Vital Records provides the following entry: Mrs Lucinda Haskell died Sept 11, 1852 aged forty-five years.

The New Gloucester Vital Records also provide the following marriage record: Joined in Marriage Mr Jabez C. Haskell and Miss Lucinda Purinton both of New Gloucester Dec 2, 1827.

Gravestone #1 - Jabez C. Haskell

Gravestone #2 - Lucinda Haskell

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Tombstone Tuesday - Cotton Owen

Cemetery: Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
Photo Date: 4 Nov 2006

Transcription: OUR FATHER/COTTON OWEN/DIED/Feb. 22, 1865,/AE. 80.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Marriage Announcement

Marriage Announcement for Ellen Hart True and Edward Clinton Robinson, 8 October 1890

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Gilman Manse (continued)

Here is another image of Gilman Manse, Yarmouth, Cumberland County, Maine. The text on back of this image says "this picture was taken some years previous to 1883".

My grandmother's notes say that this house was built in 1771 by Parson Tristram Gilman, the 3rd minister of the First Church in North Yarmouth from 1769 - 1809. Parson Gilman was a graduate of Harvard and was ordained in 1769 at the Old Meeting House. He came from Exeter [New Hampshire] and was for 40 years a commanding influence in the parish. He brought up 9 children in this house.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell