How Gorham Got Its Name John Phinney

Special CommEmorativE IssuE Celebrating Gorham’s 275th Anniversary (1736-2011) Gorham Times NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID Vol. XVII No. IX —— Gorham, mE —— FrIday, may 27, 2011 —— a FrEE BIWeekly NewspapEr GORHAM, ME PERMIT NO. 10 How GorHam sPecIal Issue Got Its Name of tHe GorHam tImes Editedk and reprinted from 4/15/97 Gorham Times article k by Clark Neily Gorham Times Staff —————— —————— he editorial staff is dedicat- Ting this entire 24-page issue issue to Gorham’s 275th anniversary and the Gorham Founders’ Photo courtesy of the Gorham Historical Society Festival. You will find historical articles and pictures on the town . aErIal VIEW oF Gorham VIllaGE IN thE 1800’s. as well as a complete rundown of all the activities from May 27-30 planned by festival organizers. Photo credit Martha T. Harris The Gorham Times is proud JoHN PHINNey: BlazING tHe traIl (1693-1784) to dedicate this issue to the When entering Gorham town’s anniversary because of from route 22, this sign just how important history has greets passersby. been in shaping the personality of k Gorham. Gorham is a close-knit Edited and reprinted from 8/25/1995 article by Edna Dickey, based heavily on McLellan’s “History of Gorham” d —————— community that values everything the town has to offer from The he town of Gorham was Village to North Gorham. ohn Phinney was born in Tone of seven townships that form a miniature canyon. This issue is the result of a established in 1733 by the JBarnstable, MA in 1693, Some distance beyond this, and lot of hard work by many people Massachusetts General Court. and moved to Falmouth, ME in not within sight, is more ledge. in the past as well as our cur- These seven townships were 1732. He was married to Martha About 20 feet above the current rent editorial staff who have presented pictures and stories of known as the Narragansett Coleman and had a total of ten water level, on private property, children. is Phinney Rock, marked “John Gorham’s history. Thanks to all towns. The land in these towns of the townspeople who have con- Once in Maine, John’s goal Phinney, May 26, 1736.” A small was awarded to veterans, or tributed and to the advertisers their heirs and survivors, of the was to go to Narragansett # 7 part of this ledge was placed in who made the publication of this Narragansett war, also known as because his grandfather had Phinney Park, and dedicated at issue possible. King Philip’s War, which took fought in King Philip’s War and the bicentennial observance in The town has forged a wonder- place between 1675 and 1676. was therefore eligible for one Photo courtesy of the Gorham Historical Society 1936. Today, if you look past ful 275 years, and we look forward to the years to come as we con- The war was fought between of 30-acre lots in the township Phinney Rock near the cemetery tinue to make Gorham one of the of Gorham. On May 1736, John wall you will see the graves of colonial forces and a combined best places to live in Maine. s tribe of Indians, including the and his son, Edmund, paddled mary Gorham phinney, John Phinney, his wife and some Narragansett tribe, led by King up the Presumpscot River in a the eldest daughter of of their 10 children. s Philip. One of the Plymouth boat and turned into the mouth John phinney, was the first o —————— companies of the colonial forc- of the Little River, which was white child born Be sure not to miss phINNEy roCk es was commander Captain considerably deeper and wider in Gorham. the four-page insert —————— – found in the middle John Gorham, whose son was than the brook we know today. Born august 1739. married mr. James Irish. of this issue – entirely Shubael Gorham. Shubael was They eventually secured their boat to a ledge on the south side dedicated to the authorized, in an order from the Gorham Founders’ of the river, and used an ax to d Massachusetts General Court Festival being held on struggle through bush and woods She was the first white child to be dated July 5, 1736, to assemble Friday, may 27 through and convene a meeting of all the to the top of the hill, known born in this wilderness. The family monday, may 30. grantors and lots in Narragansett now as Fort Hill. They continued passed lonely days during the two the insert contains a Number Seven to establish con- along toward the south, very near years before other settlers arrived schedule of events for ditions for the “settlement of the to our own road, and were well in short succession – the Moshers each of the three days, Township.” The town derived pleased with what they found on and the McLellans. a map showing where Photo credit Martha T. Harris each event is being its name from John and Shubael the southerly slope. They built There were also Indians scat- their camp near a large basswood tered in the area; their villages held, information on Gorham. The first home built in Greg Cuffey stands tree, worn down with age, and bearing names of the headwaters the Founders’ Festival the town of Gorham was built by before phinney rock committee, and pho- Edmund felled that tree, the first in the area – the Ossipees, the John Phinney in 1736. while thumbing through tographs from other It is interesting to note that tree in town felled for the pur- Androscoggins and the Pequokets. “Bi-Centennial history town anniversaries. the direct descendants of three pose of settlement. They contin- The children played together, and of Gorham, maine the insert can easily be of the original and most active ued clearing and in June planted for the first seven to eight years, as 1736-1936,” compiled separated from the rest proprietors of the Gorham crops of corn, peas and watermel- new families moved into the settle- and edited by Walter h. of the issue, making it Township, namely the Phinneys, on. They also erected a log cabin ment, all was peaceful. Johnson, which Cuffey portable to bring to Aldens and Hamblens, are serv- and made preparations for their Today, if you stand on the used to accurately identify the festival as an informative guide. ing or have recently served as family to move to Gorhamtown. bridge over the Little River on this first historic spot in the township of Gorham. o elected officials of the Town of On August 13,1736 the eighth Route 114, and look downstream, Gorham—a lasting influence. Phinney child, Mary, was born. you will see ledges on both sides d 2 | Gorham Times 275th Commemorative Edition | May 27, 2011 This Page Sponsored by —— 200 NarraGaNsEtt street, Gorham —— wwW.moodysCollIsIoN.Com —— (207) 839-2500 —— HIstorIcal eveNts IN thE toWNk oF Gorham (1736-2011) 1733 Narragansett #7, one of the seven townships granted by the 1812 Money raised for purchase of fire engine. General Court of Massachusetts to those who fought in the 1814 The first public library in Gorham located in Nathaniel Narragansett War. Gould’s house on Main St. 1736 First settlers, Captain John Phinney and son Edmund landed 1819 Gorham voted in favor of separation from Massachusetts. on southerly side of the Little River. Gorham had four senators and 15 representatives in the First child born in Gorham: Mary Gorham Phinney. Massachusetts Legislature. 1738 Hugh McLellan and Daniel Mosher came to town. 1821 Free Meeting House built on College Avenue, now USM Art 1741 November 24-26 Proprietor’s meeting voted to build a meet- Gallery. ing house for the worship of God. Committee appointed to 1822 Paul Revere Bell installed in First Parish Meeting House lay out a road to Sccarappa (Westbrook), and General Court tower. Cast in Canton, MA by Joseph Revere, son of Paul granted money to erect a fort. Revere. Inscription on bell reads Revere-Boston. 1742 First oxen, first sawmill (John Gorham) at Little River, and 1827 Ellen Gould Harmon, a co-founder of the Seventh Day first preacher hired for six months. Adventist Society, born on Fort Hill Road, November 26. 1744 Fort built on Fort Hill. 1835 William J. Woodbury purchased from Benjamin Phinney a this statue of an american 1745 Eighteen families in town. piece of land upon erected a palatial mansion so distinc- tive and elaborate that it came to be known asåWoodbury’s Indian used to be in the Meeting house on Fort Hill and grist mill burned by Folly town square until it was Indians. 1837 Gorham Female Seminary dedicated September 13.The fol- stolen and never recovered. 1746 Ten families in town. Some moved away because of threat- lowing year, this Seminary was separated from the Gorham ened by first Indian attacks. Five children born to families in Academy. d the fort. 1841 Free Baptist Meeting House erected at Little Falls. 1750 Black tongue disease broke out in fort, 25 persons afflicted, four died. 1843 First North Gorham School House (little red schoolhouse) is erected. Women called upon to defend the fort. Eleven soldiers provided by General Court to assist in defense. 1846 Work begun on York Cumberland Railroad, Portland to Rochester. First train 1851. 1754 Bridge over Little River erected. Road cleared for wheels to Standish. 1866 Monument in memory of those who perished in the Civil War is dedicated and located in front of the old Town House on 1757 Jacob Hamblen was first tavern keeper. College Avenue (presented to the Town by the Honorable 1761 Edmund Phinney instructed children in his kitchen.

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