John Henderson of New Portland, Maine

HENDERSON

1. JOHN

b.c. 1765

On the 10th of Sept. 1812 John Henderson of New Portland purchased from the town for back taxes ($3.17) lot No. 19 (90 acres) and ¾ of lot No. 20 (67 acres) in Range H.(1) John then mortgaged lot No. 19 to Reuben Hill of New Portland for $150.(2) He then mortgaged part of lot No. 20 to Robert Hewey of Lisbon for $400 and lot No. 19 and 50 acres of lot No. 20 for $100 on the 9th of Aug. 1816.(3) He evidently paid off this mortgage and then re-mortgaged the property to Samuel Hewey of Lisbon on the 21st of Oct. 1817 for $425 (lot No. 20) and $100 (lot No. 19). (4)

John is listed in the 1830 Census for New Portland (but not in 1810 or 1820) along with (presumably) his wife, age 50-60, a male age 20-30 (probably John Jr.), two males ages 15-20, and a male age 10-15.(5)

A John Henderson is listed in the 1800 census for Thompsonborough (Wales) with one male and female ages 16-26 and one child less than 10 years old. Further research is needed to determine if this is the same John who lived in New Portland a few years later.(6)

Issue- all possible, but none proven!

  • 2I. JOHN- b.c. 1800, m.1. int. 18 Apr. 1825 New Portland, Alice McKenney of Madison (b.c. 1802, d. 30 Aug. 1850 Rockland), 2. 6 Dec. 1851 Rockland, CYNTHIA DAVIS (b. 20 Oct. 1828 Mount Desert, m.2. 21 Oct. 1859 Rockland, James Robbins (b.c. 1836, murdered 15 June 1879 Rockland)), d. 12 May 1855 Rockland
  • II. Martha- int. 9 July 1826, m. 3 Dec. New Portland, Joseph McKenney of Madison
  • III. Robert H.- int. 9 Sept. 1828 New Portland, Sarah Gould of Wales
  • IV. Bethiah- int. 14 Feb. 1830 New Portland, John Barnes of Kingfield
  • V. Mary- m. 8 Dec. 1839 New Portland, James Maxwell of Earl, NH
  • VI. Samuel- m. 1 Feb. 1840 New Portland, Lerena McPhelan of Orono, (m.2. 29 Apr. 1843 New Portland, Timothy Ricker of New Portland), adm. 1 Nov. 1842 New Portland. Samuel's estate was insolvent and he owed money to Robert, Thomas, William, John, and Wellington Henderson (? his brothers)(7). The link to John Sr. is also strong as Samuel was in possession of lots no. 19 & 20, range H(8). He is also linked by the above references in the probate records and also in the deeds to Wellington, William, and Charles T. Henderson all of New Portland.(9)
  • VII. Wellington-
  • VIII. Charles T.-
  • IX. William-

    Ref:

    (1) Somerset Co. Deeds- Vol. 4, p. 488
    (2) Ibid- Vol. 8, p. 165
    (3) Ibid- Vol. 7, p.118; Vol. 3, p. 384
    (4) Ibid- Vol. 6, p. 466; Vol. 17, p. 106 (5) 1830 Federal Census for New Portland-
    (6) 1800 Federal Census for Thompsonborough-
    (7) Somerset Co. Probate- Vol. 9, pp.231,237;Vol.11, p. 136; Vol. 12, pp.106,247; Vol. 14, pp. 273,393,397; Vol. 16, pp. 14-6, 270,287,362-3
    (8) Somerset Co. Deeds- Vol. 35, p.161, Vol. 38, p. 204
    (9) Ibid- Vol. 50, p.495, Vol. 56, p.510

    2I. JOHN-(JOHN 1)

    b.c.1800 ? Oldtown
    m.1. int. 18 Apr. 1825 New Portland, Alice McKenney of Madison (b.c.1802, d. 30 Aug. 1850 Rockland)
    2. 6 Dec. 1851 Rockland, CYNTHIA DAVIS (b. 20 Oct. 1828 Mount Desert, m.2. 21 Oct. 1859 Rockland, James Robbins (b.c.1836, murdered 15 June 1879 Rockland))
    d. 12 May 1855 Rockland

    John was a lime burner and moved to Rockland about 1844.(1) John was listed in the 1850 census for Rockland, as being a laborer, along with his wife, Alice, and his children Mary, Lincoln, Samuel and Eliza.(2)

    On the 5th of Jan. 1846 John and Alice Henderson of Thomaston loaned Isaac and Alice McKenney of Madison $650 and held the mortgage on their home in Madison, lot No. 2, of 105 acres. The agreement states that Isaac and Alice McKenney shall live there for their lives "and receive their support out of the proceeds of said farm, and to have one horse that is now on said farm with a sleigh & wagon at the disposal of said Isaac & Alice his wife. Also one cow & one Bull calf to be for the exclusive use & benefit of said Isaac & Alice. Also one yoke of Steers 4 years old past three cows & twenty five sheep are to remain on the farm for the benefit of said McKenney & wife until a mortgage running to John L. Tenner paid and then they are to be the property of said Henderson to be used for the support of said McKenney and Henderson. All the farming tools Plows Harrows Carts Sleds and every description of property now on the farm are to be the property of said Henderson…"(3) This mortgage was paid off on the 5th of June 1848.(4)

    After John's death, Cynthia married James Robbins who was also a lime burner and was listed in the 1860 census for Rockland with Cynthia and her children Francis and Henrietta.(5) James and Jacynthia are in the 1870 census for Rockland with her daughter Henrietta and next door to her sister Susan and her husband Franklin Bracy and their mother Elizabeth Davis. Cynthia's daughter Frances or "Fanny" was living a few doors away with her new husband Henry Eldridge and with her in-laws, Amos and Elizabeth Eldridge.(7) James was murdered in June 1879 by a prisoner, S. Haines, as he tried to escape from the city jail. James was the officer in charge.(6)

    Cynthia was living in Rockland at the time of the 1900 census with her grandson Charles Eldridge and his family

    Issue-

  • I. John W.- b. 29 Sept. 1829, d. 18 Nov. 1849 Rockland
  • II. Thomas- b. 14 May 1831, m. 2 Jan. 1848 Rockland, Elizabth Squirer
  • III. Lincoln L.- b. 6 July 1833, int. 12 Apr. 1853 Rockland, Catharine F. Dodge, d. 3 June 1889 S. Thomaston
  • IV. Mary S.- b. 14 May 1836, m. R.A. Harper
  • V. Samuel J.- b. 11 Apr. 1838, m. 15 Sept. 1861 Anne S. Campbell
  • VI. Elizabeth L.- b.c.1848
  • 2VII. FRANCIS E.- b. 15 Apr. 1851 Rockland, ME, m. HENRY ELDRIDGE (b. 24 Jan. 1840 Belfast, ME, d. 2 May 1910 Saco, ME), d. 26 July 1908 Kennebunkport, ME
  • VIII. Henrietta B.- b.c.1853, int. 11 Apr. 1870 Rockland, John Currey

    Ref:

    (1) History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston- Cyrus Eaton, Hallowell, 1865- Vol.II, pp.263-4
    (2) 1850 Census for Rockland- p.78
    (3) Somerset Co. Deeds- Vol. 58, p.401; Vol. 61, p.83
    (4) Ibid- Vol. 66, p. 245
    (5) 1860 Census for Rockland- p.67
    (6) Shore Village Story- A History of Rockland- Rockland Bicentennial Comm., 1976- p.81
    (7) 1870 Census for Rockland- Ward 3, p. 12

    Rockland V.R.
    Maine Bureau of Vital Statistics

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