Androscoggin County ME Archives Biographies.....Estes, Thomas 1784 - 1870
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 17, 2008, 4:27 am

Author: Everett S. Stackpole

   THOMAS ESTES was the son of Caleb and Lydia (Bishop) Estes, and was 
of the fourth generation from Richard Estes, the Quaker immigrant, who 
came from Dover, England, to Boston in 1684 and afterwards settled in 
Lynn, Mass.

   Thomas Estes was born in Durham, Maine, August 20, 1784, and died 
there October 16, 1870, on the farm which he purchased in the southern 
part of the town. He married Betsey Hayford Alden of Greene, Maine.

   He was a man of sound judgment and a prosperous farmer. Though his 
own early education was somewhat limited, he was a great reader and 
strove to give his children all the advantages possible in acquiring an 
education beyond the common school. He was a Justice of the Peace, 
performed the marriage ceremony, did conveyancing for his neighbors and 
townspeople, and held office on the board of selectmen. He represented 
Durham two years in the legislature.

   Attaining his majority during the administration of President 
Jefferson, he early became imbued with the principles of the Democratic 
party and adhered to that faith through all the mutations of politics 
until he died. He was a great admirer of Andrew Jackson who was his 
beau ideal statesman.

   He was born and reared a Quaker, but choosing to marry out of the 
society and thus incur its penalty he was "disowned," as was the custom 
in those days for such "worldly behavior." His religious sympathies, 
however, remained with the society of his Quaker ancestors, and long 
years before his death he again united with it. A Quaker from principle 
and love of peace- one of the cardinal tenets of that denomination-
while discountenancing disloyalty and rebellion, he did not look with 
favor upon Friends taking up arms and joining in the fratricidal strife 
between the States during the Civil war, believing such action on the 
part of Friends inconsistent with the fundamental teachings of the 
Quaker discipline. But he was a lover of the whole Union and did not 
countenance in any sense the secession. A man of sterling integrity, 
positive and honest in his convictions, and well informed on all public 
questions, he never shrank from political discussion.

   As a neighbor he was obliging and tolerant to those disagreeing with 
him. He was a temperance man from principle and habit. As a father of a 
large family—twelve children whom he lived to see grown men and women—
he was one of the kindest of men and indulgent in all that conduced to 
their temporal welfare and happiness. Somewhat stern in his manner, 
never playful nor frivolous, only a word or a look from him was 
required to command silence and obedience, whenever the boisterous 
children had their "little differences" as he termed it. His death 
occurred before that of any of his children, and he lived to see his 
youngest child nearly forty years and his oldest nearly sixty years of 
age. Being of a vigorous constitution like his ancestors, he 
transmitted the priceless inheritance to his children.

   Retaining his mental faculties in a remarkable degree to the last, 
he passed away in peace, with an unfaltering trust and childlike faith 
in the love and mercy of his God. He attained the ripe old age of 
eighty-six years, and was buried near where repose the ashes of his 
ancestors in the old cemetery near the Friends' meeting house at South 
Durham.

Additional Comments:

Part of Chapter IX.
A FEW OUT OF MANY

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF DURHAM, MAINE
WITH GENEALOGICAL NOTES.

BY EVERETT S. STACKPOLE.

PUBLISHED BY VOTE OF TOWN.

LEWISTON: PRESS OF LEWISTON JOURNAL COMPANY. 
1899.


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