-----Original Message----- From: Phil Baltzer <73250.3400@compuserve.com> To: CASWELL-L@rootsweb.com <CASWELL-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, February 27, 1999 11:25 PM Subject: [CASWELL-L] Simeon CASWELL >We have the following:> >>>>THE CASWELL FAMILY >One of the first families to settle in Otisfield, west of Crooked River, >was that of SIMEON CASWELL; born in Taunton, Massachusetts, in March 1763. >He was a son of Stephen Caswell of Taunton. His wife was Rachael Staples, >born in Taunton, August 16, 1766! > They moved to Minot, Maine, and lived there several years, changing their >residence to Otisfield in 1800.<< > >Where is Otisfield? go to the following site and type in "Harrison, Maine": www.atlas2.delorme.com/atlas.asp This should give you a map of the area in Maine that both Harrison and Otisfiled are located. It is about 30 miles NorthWest of Portland, Maine. WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED??? > >>>They had four children when they came here, the other children being all >born in Harrison.<< > >Where is "here" and where is Harrison? SEE ABOVE > >>>Mr. Caswell was a soldier in the War of the American Revolution, and a >pensioner at the rate of eight dollars per month. He died October 20, >1844. His widow died September 6, 1851.<< > >I have the following for his Rev. War experiences: THANK YOU!!!! > >Caswell, Simeon, Taunton. Private, Capt. Joshua Wilbore's co., Col. Josiah >Whitney's regt.; service, 1 mo. 23 days; company marched from Taunton to >Providence, R. I., agreeable to resolve of April -, 1777; also, Capt. >Wilbore's co., Col. John Hathaway's regt.; service, 23 > days, at Rhode Island; company drafted from Taunton, Raynham and Easton in >April, 1777. > >Caswell, Simeon, Taunton. Private, Capt. Ebenezer Dean's co., Col. Thomas >Carpenter's regt.; service, 1 mo. 4 days; company marched from Taunton via >Rehoboth and Bristol to Providence, R. I., and thence home. Roll sworn to >in Suffolk Co., Nov. 7, 1777. > >>>A letter still extant, written at Raynham, Massachusetts, adjoining >Taunton, " October ye 5, 1799" is a curious relic of those times in >possession of the descendants of Simeon, the pioneer. > >It is by Silas Shaw and Betsey Shaw, and addressed "To Mr. Simeon Caswell, >in Turner or near by". > >The language shows the affectionate style of addressing near relatives in >those times: "Most Loveing Sister and brother." > >In a letter dated "Augt ye 20, 1792," the same relatives, evidently a >brother-in-law and wife,say. "We have a little dfter (daughter), which we >have named Rachael after her ant... your loveing brother and sister tal >death."<< > >That is a GREAT letter! > >>>In an old Bible about one hundred years old--published in Boston in 1809, >inscribed on back of the title page. "The property of Philena Bray." >appears the family record<< > >What family record?? I WISH I KNEW!! THIIS TEXT WAS TAKEN IN ITS' ENTIRETY FROM THE "CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF HARRISON, MAINE" NO SOURCES WERE QUOTED. i ASSUMED IT MEANT THAT THE HISTORY "AS WRITTEN" WAS IN THE "BIBLE. To this E-mail, I am attaching notes regarding my GG Grandfather Hollis Hubbard Caswell. I have pictures of him and one of his Father Newall Nutting Caswell... I will be happy to exchange whatever information I have for whatever you can provide.... Taken from" The Centennial History of Harrison, Maine" published in 1909 by the Southworth Printing Company of Portland, Maine: Hollis, b. March 22, 1860; he succeeded to the estate and business of his father, and greatly extended it to include a store containing a vast quantity and variety of useful merchandise. He is a close attendant on his varied business concerns and applies his energies to constant extension of his trade. He married , 1st, Mary A. Rodick of Freeport, Me. Nov.1, 1883; she died Aug.3, 1888. (note...her stone in the Harrison Village cemetery indicates she died on 8/21/1888...not 8/3/1888 as indicated in thisaccount) He married 2d, Feb. 22, 1890, Edith L. Rodick of Freeport, sister of his first wife. Children by first wife: Bessie G., born Aug. 3, 1888. By 2d wife, Martha Elizabeth, b. Jan. 22, 1904 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////// Taken from MY FIRST SIXTY YEARS IN HARRISON , MAINE Written by Ernest E. Ward in 1966 "In 1891, Hollis H. Caswell bought from Howard L. Sampson the lot on which the Anchorage now stands and erected a woodworking shop run by water power near the site of the Harry Maxfield home. The following year he built a large store and grain mill, and also two large storehouses. It is interesting to note Mr. Caswell- who was an experienced carpenter- (with the exception of one man for three days to help frame the store) completed the entire building alone making the windows, doors and frames in his shop. Upon completion he opened a general store in the main building and a grist mill in the building now occupied by Harry Maxfield's filling station. This business he carried on for a number of years under the name of Hollis H, Caswell, later taking in his Son-In-Law Harry Chapman, as a partner under the firm name of Caswell & Chapman. Mr. Caswell sold his interest in the business in 1919 to Everett T. Chapman. The business continued under the name of Chapman Brothers when Everett Chapman sold his interest to his Brother Harry , who continued the business for a short time , selling out to Portland parties. It was closed out as a store. In 1939, the land a buildings were bought by the writer and the main store converted into an up-to-date restaurant seating fifty. The grain mill was converted into a filling station which was purchased by Harry Maxfield, together with the adjoining building which was remodeled by him into an attractive home. The dine and dance hall did not prove to be a financial success and in 1942 the building was again remodeled into a sixteen room house where I now reside. In 1946 a six room cottage, boathouse and garage was built on the premises." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Newspaper clipping for his death. Taken from my Grandmother (bessie Caswell Chapman's scrapbook) HARRISON'S OLDEST RESIDENT DIES AT 92 Harrison- March 8, 1953 HOLLIS H. CASWELL "Masonic funeral services were held Tuesday at Greene's Funeral Home for hollis H. Caswell, 92, this town's oldest resident, who died suddenly at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ernest Ryan, Malden, Mass, where he had made his home for the past eight winters. Mr, Caswell retired about thirty years ago after operating a grain and general store here for many years. He was born here, March 22, 1860, son of Newell and Elizabeth Gathercole Caswell. He was the holder of the fifty year medal of the Bridgton Masonic Lodge. He was a Past Noble Grand of Odd Fellows Lodge and a charter member of Woodloand Rebekah Lodge. Besides Mrs. Ryan, he leaves another daughter, Mrs. Harry Chapman, Harrison, six grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. Interment will be i Harrison Village Cemetary. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ADDITIONAL NOTES By Janice (Chapman) Charest I have copies of old Harrison Town reports dating back to 1898 which my Father, Clifford, had collected. The store was mentioned in the 1899-1900 report in itemized expenses for the "Town Farm". The town of Harrison paid H.H. Caswell $159.56 for grain and another $18.77 for drain tile. Itemized payments to H.H. Caswell continued through the 1911/1912 Town report. The first mention of the store as Caswell & Chapman was in the 1912/1913 report. Harry Chapman married Bessie Caswell on 1/1/1912, so it would appear that Hollis probably made Harry his partner as a wedding gift. The 1920 Town report shows the first mention of Chapman brothers which agrees with the account by Ernest Ward above. Payments in Town reports continued through 1930 and then no further mention. This would lend credibility to my Father's recollection that the store was lost in the depression to bankruptcy which was also confirmed by Eleanor Chapman Bennett in a recent conversation. Ernest Ward's account that it was "sold" to Portland parties is probably not quite true.