Joseph Ellery Foxcroft, the Original Proprietor of the Town of Foxcroft, Maine Vol 1, page 150; SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY Joseph Ellery Foxcroft, the Original Proprietor of the Town of Foxcroft, Maine Read before the Piscataquis Historical Society by Judge Charles W. Hayes Joseph Ellery Foxcroft is a descendant in the sixth generation from Daniel Foxcroft, who was born in England, and was mayor of Leeds in the year of our Lord 1666. Daniel Foxcroft was a descend- ant of Robert Foxcroft, a resident of Foxcroft Shire in 1327, during the reign of King Edward III, Francis, son of Daniel, born November 3, 1657, settled in Boston, Massachusetts, As a merchant, and mar- ried October 8, 1682,Elizabeth, d/o Judge and Deputy-Governor Thomas Danforth of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He held a JOSEPH ELLERY FOXCROFT colonel's a commission, and was judge of probate. He removed to Cambridge, where he died December 31, 1727. He was pious and of the faith of the Church of England. Francis Foxcroft left nine children, one of whom was Thomas, Harvard College, 1714, who for many years was a distinguished and worthy preacher, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Boston. The ancestral line of the Foxcroft family, stretching back unbroken to 1327, is dotted all the way down with pious and and worthy names, names known and honored by England's Kings and England's people before the continent of America was fairly dis- overed. Thomas Foxcroft married Anna Cony, a sister of the wife of his brother, Judge Francis Foxcroft. They were daughters of "John Cony, a goldsmith of Boston. Reverend Thomas Foxcroft and wife, Anna, were the parents of the Reverend Samuel Foxcroft, first minister of New Gloucester, According to the records, in 1764, the proprietors of what is now the town of New Gloucester gave a call to the Reverend Samuel Foxcroft, a graduate of Harvard College, and son of the Reverend Thomas Foxcroft, then pastor of the Cbauncy Street Church in Boston, and settled upon him a salary of eighty pounds, and a settlement of one hundred pounds, "to be paid in boards, clapboards, shingles, and other things suitable for his buildings. When the town of New Gloucester was organized, it assumed the support, by taxation, of the Reverend. Samuel Foxcroft, who, by old town records, was "an able,learned, orthodox minister of good conversation, to dispense the word of God to them." He erected in 1765 quite a commodious residence which is now stand- ing and in a good state of preservation. It is the oldest ?house in New Gloucester. On March 1, 1770, he married Lucy, daughter of Captain A William and Elizabeth Allen Ellery of New Gloucester. She died March 25, 1783, soon after the birth of her youngest child. Of this union were born six children, the second being the subject of this sketch, Joseph Ellery Foxcroft Joseph Ellery Foxcroft was born March 10, 1773, married May 3, 1801 to Hannah, daughter of Benjamin Stone of Brunswick. Colonel Foxcroft, as soon as he reached his majority, SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE, HISTORY became a leading spirit in New Gloucester. In military and political affairs he was foremost. He was a merchant by trade, erecting a store near the Foxcroft mansion, where he carried on an extensive business with people for miles around. In 1800 we find him over-marching the ordinary bounds of business and exploring a township of land in the wilderness, his only access to it being on foot, and finding his way by compass and spotted trees. The township was number 5, R. 7, North of the Waldo Patent. It was run out by Samuel and Stephen Weston of Skowhegan, in 1794, and contained seventeen thousand, nine hundred and fifteen acres, and was one of the five townships of land given Bowdoin College at the time of its incorporation. Having explored the township in company with one Thomas Johnson of New Gloucester, on January 22, 1801, Colonel Foxcroft bought it of William Martin, Reverend Elijah Kellogg and Isaac Parker, all of Portland, a committee of the college, for seven thousand, nine hundred and forty dollars, or about forty-five cents per acre. The college imposed as a condition, the settlement of twenty-four families within a given period. By his efficiency and good management the families were secured and the township became his. He con- tinued to promote the settlement of the town, built mills and roads, and for many years visited and encouraged the settlers in every way, selling-them land on favorable terms. His lands remaining unsold up to 1827, were sold at auction July 4, 1827. The population increasing, the settlers sought incorporation, and, not because he was chief owner, but because of the esteem in which the inhabitants held him, they petitioned that the town should bear his name. Though not a professed disciple of the Saviour, yet the early inhabitants of the town were incited and encouraged by him to meet together for religious worship on the Sabbath, and hymn and sermon books were presented by him for their use. Without doubt, to his example and influence, the early establishment of the institutions of religion in Foxcroft may be greatly traced. He voluntarily in accordance with the reservations in his deed, set apart three lots of land, one for the first minister, one for the min- istry, and one for the schools. in Penobscot County records, Volume IV, page 47, may be found the following deed recorded: JOSEPH ELLERY FOXCROFT 153 Whereas the town of Foxcroft has taken that name with, out the solicitation or wish of, but as it is understood, in compliment to the Grantor hereafter mentioned 1, Joseph Ellery Foxcroft, in con sideration aforesaid and of one dollar to me paid, grant to the inhabitants of Foxcroft, for the use of schools forever, Lot No. 6, R. 5, containing one hundred acres. more or less. ---Provided, nevertheless, and it is hereby understood that if the inhabitants or their successors should hereafter take, or have imposed upon them any other corporate name than the present, then this deed is to be void. Joseph E. Foxcroft. Jan. 1, 1816. In 1806, Colonel Foxcroft was appointed postmaster of New Gloucester, which office he held until 1841, In 1807, he was chosen to represent his native tqwn in general court at Boston,, which duty lie performed so creditably to himself and his coil- stituents, that, for the last six years of Maine's provincial connec- tion with Massachusetts, he was re-elected without intermission. When Maine became an independent State, he was chosen a member of the convention for drafting the constitution and laying the foundation of its laws and body politic. , -While serving as a member of the Maine Constitutional Convention, he was a member of the committee on the constitution and was also a member of the committee on blank forms and returns of votes. In 1821 he was appointed high sheriff of Cumberland County, which office he held with honor and for a longer period than any other man has ever done. He was in this office in 1825, when General Lafayette was,-. welcomed to the State, in which event Colonel Foxcroft was a fore- most spirit. He was a contemporary and close friend of Governors King, Parris, Lincoln, Hunton, Kent and Fairfield, and of Senators Holmes, Chandler, Shapley, Dana, Ruel, Williams and Sprague. He was a member of the Massachusetts State Militia, and received his commission as colonel, April 23, 1811. The following was obtained from the Adjutant General's office, in Boston, Massa- chusetts: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. Boston, March 27, 1911. This is to certify that the following is a true extract of the Roster of Officers of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, relating to Joseph Ellery Foxcroft, on file in this office, Joseph Ellery Foxcroft of New Gloucester, (Maine) was commissioned Ensign in Fourth Regiment, Second Brigade, Sixth Division, August 28, 1797. Promoted and commissioned Lieutenant, October 18, 1798. Pro- 154 SPRAGUE'S J0URNAL OF MAINE HISTORY moted and commissioned Captain, June 20, 1804. Promoted and commis- sioned Major May 7, 1808. (Transferred to First Regiment, First Brigade, Twelfth Division.) Promoted and commissioned Lieutenant Colonel Com. mandant April 23, 1811. Rendered service in the War of 1812-14 at Portland, upon the call of the Governor to suppress a threatened invasion in 1814, from September 10th to September 24th, 1814. Honorably discharged April 22, 1815. WILLIAM S. SIMMONS, Lieutenant Colonel, Adjutant General. Colonel A Foxcroft early became a Free Mason, being one of the founders of the Grand Lodge of Maine. He was also repeatedly chosen a member of the State senate. From youth till old age he was constantly filling offices of trust, and seemed to guard the interests of his town as if they had been his own personal con- cern. It is only the truth to say that, whether a young man engaged in rescuing primeval wilderness from the dominion of the lords of the forest, and peopling them with the abodes of civiliza- tion and Christianity, or filling one of the first offices in the county, or legislating; for the interests of his native town in the mother state, or, after Maine had become a state, laying the foundations of her laws and policy, or still later sitting among her senators, we find him discharging all those duties with assiduity and faithfulness, and filling all those offices without reproach. In the latter part of his life he became much interested in religion and church affairs,: and was for several years a member of the Congregational Church of New Gloucester, and a liberal supporter of the same. Colonel Foxcroft carried on his farm in New Gloucester as long as he lived, keeping hired help. He was always dressed in broadcloth, with white choker and tall bat and did not look as if he ever did any manual labor. Ile rode in a two-horse chaise, and had a covered sleigh, the only one owned in town at that time, Ilia was the only aristocratic family in town, yet his hired help was always invited to the table with him. He was not, so far as I can learn, a college educated man, but was educated in the Common schools at New Gloucester. He is described by an old gentleman, a resident of New Gloucester, as-"The most dignified, gentle, courteous man I ever met, straight as an arrow, very tall, and as a JOSEPH ELLERY FOXCROFT 155 ever colonel was one of the finest mounted and appearing officers ever seen in these parts. further said of him that as a man he was honest, upright ful, genial and courteous, ever bearing about him a halo ess that reflected the sunshine of a happy disposition wherever he went. As a neighbor he was kind and obliging, even to a fault, as a citizen lie was public-spirited, charitable and benev- olent; as a husband and father he was faithful, constant, kind and affectionate. Colonel Foxcroft died in New Gloucester, September 1, 1852. His funeral was held at his old home, the house in which he was born and in which he bad always lived, Reverend Horatio Merrill. officiating, and he was laid to rest with his ancestors in the family tomb at New Gloucester. Colonel Foxcroft's first wife died in 1806 and he mar ried November 9, 1809, Abigail Hammond of Boston, who died. in 1855. Three children were born to Colonel Foxcroft by his first wife Samuel, Hannah, and Joseph Ellery, Jr., who died in infancy, and one by his second wife, Abigail Catherine Mary. Hannah married Samuel E. Crocker whose son, Samuel It. Crocker, established the Literary World of Boston. The only descendants of Colonel Foxcroft now living are the children of Samuel Crocker, and the two children of Abbie Crocker Murray, now living in Canada,' and the son and daughter of Abbie Foxcroft Merrill, now living in California, and who had her marriage ceremony performed in Foxcroft in honor of the Colonel's founding of the town. Among the strong families of New England, the Foxcroft family was easily in the front rank. It was not wealth only, but culture, wide acquaintance, rich experience, clear judgment and farseeing sagacity, which made them foremost in an excellent sense of the word. For the material for the above sketch I am indebted to the History of Cumberland County, some clippings from the Lewiston Journal of March 20, 1909, and to the kindness of the Reverend E. B. Foster, formerly of this town, now of New Gloucester,_who lives in the parsonage directly opposite the old Foxcroft home, 156 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY also our president, Honorable John F. Sprague, who has furnished me some valuable data. The following are the children of the Rev. Samuel Foxcroft: 1. Elizabeth, b. May 27, 1771, married Nov. 16, 1794, Shubal Marsh. He was born in Hingham, Oct. 6, 1766, and died Sept. 5, 1859. She died Nov. 17, 1857. Their children were as follows: Thomas F., Shubal, Samuel, John, Elizabeth, Hannah, Joseph, Abigail and Joseph Ellery. II. Joseph Ellery, b. March 13, 1773, of whom more further on. III. Martha, b. Feb. 12, 1775; died unmarried. IV. Sarah, b. April 9, 1779; married Benjamin H. Mace, a physician. V. Lucy, b. June 21, 1779; married Joseph Thrasher. I She died March 3, 1815, the mother of several children. VI. Abigail, b. March 21, 1783; died June 28, 1809. The children of Joseph Ellery Foxcroft were: 1. Samuel, b. Aug. 1, 1802. 11. Hannah, b. June 19, 1804. Married May 19, 1829, Samuel Eastman Crocker of Portland. He was born in Conway, N. H., March 9, 1802. Their children were: Abby Hammond, b. Sept 1, 1832. Died May 9, 1866. Joseph F., b. Dec. 9, 1834. Died Nov. 20, 1854. Samuel Rolland, b. Jan. 17, 1837. Hannah Stone, second, b. June 4, 1841. Died Oct. 4, 1842. Mrs. Crocker, the mother, died at her father's home, New Gloucester, Aug. 4, 1842. III. Joseph Ellery, Jr., b. Dec. 11, 1805. Died in infancy. IV. Abigail Catherine Mary, b. July 23, 1812, by wife Abigail Hammond. She died unmarried. Samuel Foxcroft married in 1854, Salome, daughter of Caleb and Judith Haskell. She was born April 7, 1812, and died in Pomona, California, January 6, 1906. Mr; Samuel Foxcroft died in New Gloucester, August 8, 1882. Their only child was Abby Stone Foxcroft, born December 16, 1857, who married August 1, 1883, Frank H. Merrill in the town of Foxcroft. She died in Pomona, California, April 5, 1896, leaving two children, Joseph Foxcroft Merrill, born June 9., 1884, and Louise Foxcroft Merrill, born September 13, 1888, *************** Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society (c) 1997 * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.