Records from Bowdoinham's Past |
The following introduction by Eben Putnam was written in the summer of 1890:
"During a short visit in Bowdoinham on a genealogical search, the writer noticed a number of loose pages and apparently a part of an older volume of births, marriages and deaths than now in existence. At all events these pages (from the action of time and hard usage) are rapidly losing their value as records. Already many words and dates near the edges and in some cases the entire corners have been destroyed. Of these pages I made copies of as many as I had time, choosing those that were the worse for wear or the most likely to be lost. The town has within a few months lost by fire the first volume of Town Records, containing records from a date as early as -- if not earlier than -- that of the incorporation of the town in 1762. There is a copy -- in a later volume -- of a few of the earlier births, marriages and deaths; in another volume of births, marriages and deaths, commencing in 1812, there is a copy of the very earliest births and marriages brought forward from the first book of births. This latter book cannot now be found. The following is a copy of the first pages as entered by town clerk William Smith."
Record of David & Mary Purington's Children.
James S. Purington was born 17 Sept., 1759.
Hezekiah " 2 Oct., 1761.
Hannah " 9 March, 1764.
William " 2 Feb., 1767.
Elihu, " 18 April, 1769.
Thankful " 10 Aug., 1771.
Record of Abraham & Elizabeth Prebles Children.
Lucy, born 5 March, 1768.
Dorcas, " 22 Sept. 1769.
Abraham, " 17 March, 1772.
Rebeker, " 13 Feb. 1774."
The intentions of marriage do not commence until 1777. The first marriage recorded is that of Mr. Joseph Sedgley to Miss Abigail Coombs, both of Bowdoinham, 16 May, 1782.
The following list of births is taken from the loose sheets mentioned above and in the order picked up. A dotted line indicates a torn or effaced word, and a letter or word in brackets indicates a doubtful reading.
"[Bow]doingham Aprail ye 2 1786
A Record of The Births of William Whitmore Children.
Mary Whitmore was Born Febr 2 1793.
Sarah Whitmore was Born Novbr 27 1794
Augstus and Luca Whitmore Born July 21 1796
Francis Whitmore Born May 7, 1798
Atestt Stephen Whitmore town Clerk
John Whitmore Born Febrauary -- 20, 1800
Rebeker Whitmore Born October -- 23 180[7?]
Bowdoinham March ye 18 1797
"A Record of the Births of Zebulon Preble junr Children"
Jeremiah, b. 29 Dec. 1787.
Hannah, b. 27 Oct. 1789.
Martha, b. 6 June, 1792.
Dennes b. 12 May, 1795.
Sarah Perble b. 22 May, 1797.
James b. 4 Feb. 1801.
A Record of the Births of Hezekiah Purriton Children
Hezekiah Purrinton junr born march 21, 1784
Rachel Purrinton born Decemb 18 -- 1787
Sally Purrinton born April 9 -- 1790
Abraham Purrinton born Febry 23 -- 1792
Rebecca Purrinton born August 16 1795
Sinthey Purrinton born march 11, 1799
David Purrinton Born March 5 -- 1805
Atestt Stephen Whitmore town Clark."
. . . . . . ye first, 1775 . . . . . . .
. . . . . . Births of Steph . . . . . .
. . . . . Cutler Whitmore was . . . . .
. . . . Whitmore was born Sep . . . . . .
. . and William Whitmore, was born Jany 11 . .
. . neeis Whitmore was born Mar. 19, 1770."- - John Whitmore b. Nov. 25, 1771.
Nathan Wins Whitmore b. Aug. 22, 1773.
Benjamin Whitmore, b. July 12, 1775.
Mary Whitmore, b. 26 Oct. 1775.
Mary Whitemore, b. 26 Oct 1777
Kohday Whitmore, b. 9 Feb. 1779.
Sarah Whitmore, b. 12 Oct. 1782
Andrew Whitmore, b. 16 Sept. 1785.
"A record of the Births of John Springers Children."
John b. 26 Aug. 1786
Stephen Whitmore, b. 1 Aug. 1788
Andrew, b. 20 June, 1791.
Mary, b. 29 Jan. 179-.
Elizabeth, b. 1 Apr. 1795
Abigail, b. 24 Oct. 1802
Thomas, b. 13 Jan. 1804." . . . . The Births of . . . . . . . "
[Mary?] Purrinton b. July . .
James b. Nov . . . .
Martha b. March . . . .
Benjamin b. 23 Mar. . . .
"Joseph Wheeler who Mr. Purrinton took Born Septr ye 26, 17--."
"A Record of the births of Thomas Harward Children"
George, b. 7 Nov. 1775.
Mary, b. 8 Sept. 1777.
Hannah, b. 15 Aug. 1779.
Sarah, b. 14 Feb. 1781.
[L]etitia, b. 11 June, 1783.
Polly, b. 16 June, 1785.
William, b. 10 May, 1787.
Thomas, b. 15 Mar. 1789.
John, b. 15 Oct. 1790.
Pegey, b. 5 Apr. 1793.
Oits, b. 19 Apr. 1795.
"A Record of the Births of William Whitmor[e] Child[ren]."
Stephen b. 5 Nov. 1793.
Hepzibah b. 13 Feb. 1796.
[Winchep Read] b. 2 May, 1798.
Mary Winchep b. 20 Feb. 17 [--].
Rachel b. 24 Nov 1801.
True Gliton, b. 23 May, 1805.
[E-n-lor] Sophronia, b. 2 Sept. 1807.
William b. 11 Feb. 1810.
Abigail Chamberlain b. 5 March, 1813.
Byram b. 22 May, 1815.
Dexter b. 1 Feb. 1818.
"A Record of the Births of Phineas Wiggin Children."
Polly b 30 Sept. 1788.
Samuel b. 26 Feb 1790.
Rebacah b. 23 Oct. 1791.
Rufus b. 29 Oct. 1792.
Preble b. 26 May, 1796.
"Children of Merrill and Hannah Wiggin."
Angeline Ingals b. 1 March, 1834.
Olivia Lucett b. 171 April, 1836.
"Departed this life Ralph Varnam Novr 2, 1815 at Bowdoin ham" [marked "error."]
Nancy Ann King Varnam daughter of Capt. Wariton S. Varnam & Betsy his wife b. Dec. 20, 1814. Nathan E. son of ditto born 31 March 1817. Solomon Eaton, son of ditto born 18 Nov. 1819.
"A Record of the Births of Nathan Hatches Children."
Mary, b. 4 March, 1788.
William, b. 4 Sept., 1790.
Prudence, b. 28 March, 1793.
Lydia, b. 16 Oct., 1795.
Nathan, b. 23 March, 1798.
[Cn]sthing, b. 9 March, 1802.
Stephen, b. 3 Jan., 1804.
"Theodoshus," b. 7 Feb., 1805.
"A Record of the Births of Jacob Hathorn's children:"
Jacob, b. 13 Sept. 1790.
Zenas, b. 24 March, 1792.
Eunece, b. 10 Feb., 1794.
Susanna, b. 10 March, 1796.
Benjamin, b. 8 Sept. 1799.
Josiah, b. 12 June, 1802.
"A Record of the Births of Wanton Stever Varnam Children."
Ruth, b. 13 Jan., 1797.
Abigal, b. 29 Aug. 1798.
Zibea, b. 1 June, 1800.
Wanton, b. 29 Sept. 1802.
Betssey, b. 21 Oct. 1803.
Wanton, b. 12 March, 1805.
Elizb. b. 27 Jan., 1807.
Rolen, b. 28 June, 1808.
Joseph, b. 24 July, 1810.
"A Record of the Births of Zenas Hatch Children."
Zenas Hatch, b. October 10, 1796.
Benj. Hatch, b. December 26, 1798.
Elijah Crooker Hatch, b. October 30, 1804.
Alden Hatch, b. May 3, 1808.
"A Record of the Births of Ebnezer and Abigal Macomber Children."
Phebe, b. Jan. 15, 1791.
Elinor, b. Mar. 15, 1793.
Salley, b. Oct. 20, 1794.
Rachael, b. Sept. 12, 1796.
Lydia, b. Aug. 17, 1798.
Jane, b. Apr. 7, 1800.
Jas. Roberson, b. Apr. 14, 1802.
Urial H., b. Jan. 24, 1804.
Loring, b. Dec. 28, 1805.
Hariet, b. March 9, 1808.
Caroline, b. Jan. 12, 1810.
"A Record of the Births of Samuel C. Coombs Children."
Hannah, b. March 14, 1790.
Lydia, b. Nov. 24, 1793.
Susannah, b. July 4, 1794.
James, b. Nov. 12, 1795.
Elizabeth, b. Jan. 14, 1801.
"A Record of the Births of Amasa & Lydia Ross Children."
James, b. Feb. 25, 1802.
Thomas, b. June 10, 1803.
Jane, b. Dec. 16, 1804.
Robert, b. March 23, 1807.
John, b. Feb. 6, 1809.
"A Record of the Births of Josiah & Sarah Colbey Children."
Lewis, b. Aug. 16, 1808.
"A Record of the Births of William Sampson Children."
Cassandra, b. Aug. 10, 1804.
Conor, b. June 10, 1808.
"A Record of the Births of Henry and Jane Fisher Children."
Asa, b. April 10, 1789.
Rachel D., b. March 30, 1791.
Jane, b. June 30, 1793.
William, b. Aug. 14, 1795.
Anna, b. Sept. 4, 1797.
Henry, b. March 6, 1800.
Jeremiah, b. May 16, 1802.
James D., b. April 16, 1804.
John W., b. April 23, 1806.
Loring, b. July 15, 1808.
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