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Arthur M. Griffiths
1928 to 2005
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Wales Plantation
School picture added in picture section. Check back often for more updates.
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Joan
Giving back
This site came about during the search for my ancestors. I had never been that much interested in history, had never read The History of Monmouth and Wales, by Harry H.Cochrane. Searching on my mothers side, I found that my grand mother was the daughter of George Washington Fogg of Wales. I thought the obituary must be a misprint as my grandfather was George Washington Jewell. Reading my grandfather�s obituary, I found that his mother was Clarina Thompson of Wales. In reading the history, I discovered that I might have grown up on the land that Jonathan Thompson, one of the first settlers, had lived. My search has taken me to: The State Archives, The Androscoggin Historical Society, The Monmouth Historical Society, and probate and deed research. Along the way I have met many interesting and helpful people. This
is my way of giving something back to the town where I grew up.
Chap. XLVIII
An Act to establish the town of Wales in the county
of Lincoln.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in General Court assembled, and by
the authority of the same. That the plantation called
Wales, as contained within the following described
boundaries, be, and hereby is established as a town,
by the name of Wales viz. North by the town of
Monmouth, East by the town of Litchfield, South by
the town of Lisbon, and West by the town of Greene,
and a corner of the town of Leeds. And the said town
of Wales, is hereby vested with all the powers and
privileges, and subject to all the duties and requisitions
of other corporate towns, according to the con-
stitution and laws of this Commonwealth.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That any Justice
of the Peace for the county of Lincoln is hereby em
powered, upon application therefor, to issue a warrant
directed to a freehold inhabitant of said town of Wales,
requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof,
qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at such con
venient time and place, as shall be appointed in the
said warrant, for choice of such town officers as
towns are by law empowered and required to choose
and appoint at their annual town meetings.
[Approved by the Governor, February 1,1816]
Courtesy of Mark Andrews
View Actual Document
The territory of Wales included the town of Monmouth prior to January 20, 1792. On this date the northern portion was set off and incorporated as the Town of Monmouth, Kennebec County. The remaining portion was organized as Wales Plantation in April 1803. The first town officers were Assessors - Joseph Small, Enoch Strout and John Andrews. Joseph Small was the clerk. The date of the first settler is not established for sure. Some say 1773 and others place it a few years later. James Ross was the first settler coming here from the Brumswick area about 1778.
Early settlers were James Ross 1778 from Brunswick. Patrick Keenan 1779, a blacksmith, Rueben Ham 1780 from Brunswick, Jonathan Thompson, his brother Alexander Thompson came in 1780 from Brunswick. Six new settlers came between 1780 and 1785 Benjamin and Samuel Weymouth, James, Stephen and Thomas Gray and William Remick. In 1791 Joseph Small from Limington, served as plantation clerk 13 years and town Clerk 19 years. Arthur Given came to Wales from Brunswick in 1798. He was the first postmaster and opened the first tavern in Wales. Joseph Maxwell1800 from Cape Elizabeth. He built the first grist mill on a small stream near his house. Thus, saving settlers from traveling 20 miles to get their corn ground. In 1850 there were 612 settlers. In the 2000 census there are 1,322 people with 468 households.
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Last updated: February 4, 2005
