| Name |
Lemuel BURSLEY |
| Birth |
Abt 1773 [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Misc |
2 Jan 1797 |
Provincetown, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States  [1] |
| Free Mason |
- Membership in King Hiram's Lodge, Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts
|
| Misc |
25 Nov 1799 |
Farmington Falls, Franklin, Maine, United States [2] |
| Petition for Farmington Falls Social Library meetings |
| Census |
1800 |
Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States [3] |
- 1800 Census shows:
Males
0-10 = 1
17-26= 1
27-45=1
Females 17-26=1
|
| Census |
1810 |
Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States [4] |
| Religion |
2 Sep 1811 |
Farmington, Franklin, Maine, United States [5] |
| Universalist Church |
| Military |
1812 [6] |
| Land |
14 Apr 1814 |
Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States [7] |
- Land
Transcription by John Clarke Bursley:
DEED
Farmington, Kennebec,Maine
Apr 1814
#00290141 (Book 29,Pages 141-142)
Grantee: BURSLEY, Lemuel; Grantor: Gower, Edward et al
Know all men by these presents that I Edward Gower of Litchfield and I John Mayall of Lisbon and my wife Ann Mayall all of the county of Lincoln and I Robert Cofran and my wife Sarah Cofran of Vienna and I William Gower and I Elijah Norton and my wife Peggy Norton and I Elnathan Pope and my wife Rebeccah Pope and I Samuel Gower and I George Gower being all of Farmington county of Kennebec and I James Gower of Industry and I Henry Norton and my wife Hannah Norton of Newportland the county of Somerset being all of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being heirs of the estate of Robert Gower late of Farmington deceased in consideration of three hundred Dollars to the said Robert Gower and to his heirs paid the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge by Lemuel Bursley of Farmington county of Kenenbec Commonwealth aforesaid do by these presents give, grant, sell and convey unto the said Bursley a certain tract of land lying in Farmington aforesaid (?) being part of number fourteen in said town and bounded as follows, beginning at Sandy River being the full width of said lot sixty Poles (?) more or less, thence running south west of parallel lines between lot number fifteen belonging to Reuben Lowell, and lot number thirteen belonging to Reuben Lowell Jnr (?) and Samuel Eames one half the distance from the River to the Range Line so as to contain one half of said lot, containing seventy five acres (?), more or less; To have and to hold the before mentioned premises with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging to him the said Lemuel Bursley his heirs and assigns forever and we the before mentioned Grantors being all the heirs of the said Robert Gower but one and as such for our solace (?) heirs and assigns do covenant (?)and engage with the said Bursley to warrant and defend the before mentioned premises against the lawful claims and demands of all persons claiming _____ byor under us or our under our heirs (?) In witness whereof we the said Edward Gower and John and Ann Mayall and Robert and Sarah Cofran and William Gower and Elijah and Peggy Norton and Henry and HannahNorton James Gower Elnathan and Rebecca Pope and Samuel Gower and George Gower have hereunto set our hands and seals this fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Samuel Gower(seal)
July 16, 1814. Then the above named Samuel Gower acknowledges this to be his free act before me John Gower Js Peace
AttestJohn Gower Edward Gower (seal)
February9th 1815. Then the above named EdwardGower acknowledged this to be his free act, before me, John Gower J.P.
JohnMayall (seal)
AttestJohn Gower AnnMayall (seal)
February11, 1815 Then the above named John and Ann Mayall acknowledged this to be theirfree act, before me, John Gower Jus Peace
HenryNorton (seal)
AttestJohn Gower HannahNorton (seal)
Somerset ss February the 10th (?) 1815. Then theabove named Henry Norton acknowledged this to be his free act before me John Gower Jus Peace
William Gower (seal)
Elijah Norton …..
Peggy Norton …..
Robt Cofran (seal)
Sarah Cofran (seal)
Elnathan Pope (seal)
}
Rebecca Pope (seal)
James Gower (seal)
Attest John Gower
Joshua Sewall (?)
George Gower …..
June 21th 1816. Then the above named William Gower and Elijah and Peggy Norton, Robert and Sarah Cofran Elnathan and Rebeccah Pope, James Gower and George Gower acknowledged this instrument to be their free act before me John Gower Justice of the Peace
Kennebec ss Rec. Decr 9 1817 entered and compared with the original by,
John Harvey (?) Register
—
From the Farmington Chronicle 19 August 1875, p. 1:
“…[Lemuel Bursley Jr.] subsequently built the house now occupied by Mrs. Andrew Crosswell, on the lot adjoining on the south, for the accommodation of his parents, and in which they spent their declining years.”
From Butler’s The Falls, we learn that Andrew Crosswell’s home was built on lot no. 14, the same lot which Lemuel Sr. purchased from the heirs of Robert Gower (p. 44).
According to Butler's History of Farmington, "Robert Gower was one of the pioneers who explored the township with a view to settlement in 1776; and, in the mutual distribution of the land, received river-lot No. 43, east side...He d. Aug. 29, 1806." His twelve children included Edward, William, James, Margaret (md. Elijah Norton), Hannah (md. Henry Norton), Sarah (md. Robert Coffren), John, Samuel, Anna (md. John Mayall), Rebecca (md. Elnathan Pope), George.
According to Butler's History of Farmington, "Samuel Eames, in 1788, was the first settler on front-lot No. 13, west side, where he made some improvements, afterwards selling the front portion of this lot to Reuben Lowell, Jr. He subsequently erected buildings on the back part of his land, and resided there during life. Mr. Eames...was b. July 28, 1762; md. Sarah, dau. of Reuben Lowell, who d. Aug. 12, 1794; md. (2) Mar. 10, 1796, Thankful Hawkes of New Sharon...Eleven children..."
Old surveys were often measured using a Surveyors Chain. These were literally chains made up of 100 links. Each Chain was 66 feet long. Each link was 0.666 of a foot...or 7.92" To convert the distances on a plat measured in chains (abbreviate Ch) simply multiply the distance in chains by 66.
Another common unit of measurement was the Pole. The Pole is exactly what it sounds like; a wooden pole which was 16.5' feet long. To convert the distances on a plat measured in poles (abbreviated P) you must multiply the distance by 16.5 A Pole was sometimes called a "perch" on old surveys.
Vienna is approximately 13miles SSE of Farmington
Litchfield approximately 45miles S of Farmington
Lisbon approximately 50 miles S of Farmington
Industry approximately 8 milesNNE of Farmington
Newportland (New Portland) approximately 16 miles N of Farmington.
|
| Military |
12 Sep 1814 |
Hallowell, Kennebec, Maine, United States [6, 8, 9] |
| Ensign, Capt. Daniel Beal's co. |
| Land |
4 Jun 1816 |
Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States [10] |
- Land
Transcription of Deed by John Clarke Bursley:
DEED
Farmington, Kennebec,Maine
Jun 1816
#00290138 (Book 29,Page 138)
Grantee: BURSLEY, Lemuel; Grantor: Gower, John
}
Know all men by these presents that I John Gower Jr. (?) of Industry, county of Somerset ______, being an heir of Robert Gower late of Farmington county of Kennebec, Housewright Inconsideration of three hundred Dollars to the said Robert Gower and his heirs paid by Lemuel Bursley of Farmington county of Kenenbec Housewright / the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge/ do hereby give, grant, sell and convey unto the said Bursley and to his heirs and assigns a certain tract of land situated in Farmington aforesaid being one units(?) wide & eleventh post (?) of the tract (?) half of lot No fourteen on the southwesterly side of Sandy River bounded on said River thence Running of parallel lines the full width of said lot between lot number thirteen and lot No.fifteen owned by Reuben Lowell and Reuben Lowell Junior one half the distance from the River to the Range line so as to contain one half of said lot with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, To have & to hold the same to the said Lemuel Bursley and his heirs and assigns that I am lawfully seated(?) in fee (?) of the premises (?), that they are free of all incumbrances(sic) that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Lemuel Bursley And that I will warrant and defend the same to the said Bursley and his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claims and demands of any persons. In witness whereof I the said John Gower have set hereunto our hand and seal this twenty fourth day of June in the yearof our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen ---
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of John Gower (seal)
Elnathan Pope Polly Eames (?)
Kennebec ss June 24th, 1816. Then the above named John Gower acknowledged this instrument by him submitted to be his free act and____ before me.
Elnathan Pope, Justice of Peace
Kennebec ss Recd December 9, 1817 entered and compared with the original by,
John Harvey (?) Register
Industry is approximately 8 miles NNE of Farmington
|
| Census |
1820 |
Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States [11] |
- Males
0-10 - 2
10-16- 1
16-18- 1
18-26- 2
26-45
45 and > -1
Females
0-10 -4
10-16- 1
16-26
26-45- 1
45 and >
|
| Religion |
1829 |
Farmington, Franklin, Maine, United States [12] |
- Assessor, First Universalist Church of Farmington and Vicinity
|
| Census |
1830 |
Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States [13] |
- Males:
Under 5: 0
Five and under ten: 1
Ten and under fifteen: 0
Fifteen and under twenty: 0
Twenty and under thirty: 2
Thirty and under forty: 0
Forty and under fifty: 0
Fifty and under sixty: 1
Females:
Under 5: 0
Five and under ten: 1
Ten and under fifteen: 2
Fifteen and under twenty: 2
Twenty and under thirty: 1
Thirty and under forty: 0
Forty and under fifty: 0
Fifty and under sixty: 1
|
| Land |
14 Jun 1839 |
Franklin, Maine, United States [14] |
- Sale of residence (Lot 14), See deed 4:5 in which Lemuel Bursley Jr becomes guarantee for Elisha Bass, in amount of $1500, due in three installments. Notes paid in full August 1840.
|
| Census |
1840 |
Farmington, Franklin, Maine, United States [15] |
- 1 JUN 1840, Males:
60 and under 70 - 1
Females:
15 and under 20 - 1
60 and under 70 - 1
|
| Land |
9 Jan 1840 |
Farmington Falls, Franklin, Maine, United States [16] |
| Census |
10 Aug 1850 |
Farmington, Franklin, Maine, United States [17] |
| Death |
15 Nov 1854 |
Chesterville, Franklin, Maine [1, 18, 19] |
| Obituary |
23 Nov 1854 |
Farmington, Franklin, Maine, United States [20] |
- Died.
Chesterville. - Nov. 15th, Mr. Lemuel Bursley, aged 81 years.
Mr. B. Was esteemed bye all who formed his acquaintance. He fulfilled the duties devolving upon him as citizen, neighbor, husband and father as a christian-and his end was peace.-Though his pains were severe during many months of sickness, he endured thermal with christian patience - being perfectly reconciled to his lot. His frequent expression while exercised with excruciating pain “How good the Lord is,” gave evidence that he had support from above in his conflicts. May his examples of sobriety and uprightness bye followed by all.
|
| Obituary |
19 Aug 1875 |
Farmington, Franklin, Maine, United States [21] |
- Thursday, August 19, 1875
Page 1, Columns 6-7
Local Reminiscences
By Rev. J. S. Swift
Chapter XXV
The Col. Lemuel Bursley
The death of Col Bursley, on the 11th of July, at his residence at Farmington Falls, has been announced in the CHRONICLE, but some additional reminiscences of a citizen who has led a life as useful and exemplary as was his, ought t be made a matter of permanent record.
Mr. Bursley belonged to a worthy family. His father, Lemuel Bursley, sen., was among the early pioneers who located their future homes on the banks of the Sandy river. He selected a lot on the western side of the river, about a mile and a half above Farmington Falls, and cleared the farm and erected the buildings on the place which was, we believe, occupied by Mr. J. Allen at the date at which the County Map was published. He came from Barnstable, Mass., - was a carpenter by trade, became a successful farmer, and on his farm successfully trained a large family of children, and led a useful, exemplary and religious life, till increased age induced him to sell his farm, accept the care of his son, Col. Bursley, and remove to the Falls. Eleven out of thirteen children of the Bursley family lived to become heads of families, and all led honorable and useful lives. - Silas settled on a farm in Guilford; Barnabas followed the occupation of a carriage maker in Sangersville; John, who with Col. Bursley, were the only sons who located permanently in Franklin county, died on his farm in Chesterville, something more than a year since, and Benjamin located himself in Minnesota, as a carpenter. Of the sisters of Col. Bursley, Eliza was married to Mr. I Bailey of Dorchester, Mass.; Mary, to Rev. E. G. Page, well known as a Free Baptist minister throughout this section of the State; Abby died at Farmington Falls in 1874, following shortly after the death of her husband, Mr. Barlow Dyer, long one of the most respected citizens of New Sharon, but who had, in the years of declining age, retired to Farmington Falls; Savina (sic) was married to a Mr. Adams of Dorchester, Mass.; Martha to a Mr. Gove, a shipbuilder of Boston, and Lurena to Wm. Shaw, a Boston merchant.
This brief introduction of one of the pioneer families of Farmington prepares the way for a more particular allusion to the late Col. Lemuel Bursley, with whom we had a more or less intimate acquaintance running through a period of nearly thirty years.
During his minority Mr. Bursley assisted in managing the homestead farm, and perfected the joiner’s trade, in which occupation he became conspicuous as more than ordinarily skilful (sic) workman. Some thirty-eight years ago (1837), having previously married Miss Sophronia Haskell, of New Gloucester, who now survives him, he permanently located himself at Farmington Falls, in the house he made the neat and tasteful residence in which he died. He subsequently built the house now occupied by Mrs. Andrew Croswell, on the lot adjoining on the south, for the accommodation of his parents, and in which they spent their declining years. His reputation as a skilful (sic) mechanic sometimes called him away from home for temporary periods, and once he was induced, by the late Judge Sherburne, to go as far as Minnesota to erect a fancy residence. Some twelve years of the earlier part of the period of his residence at the Falls he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, gaining the confidence of the community by his gentlemanly demeanor, and accommodating habits as a retail trader. The confidence the community gave him the rank of Captain of cavalry in the militia, and subsequently elevated him t the rank of Colonel. In the years 1846 and 1847 he faithfully and crepitably (sic) represented Franklin in the Senate of our State. In the facilities for education he possessed no advantages over his youthful contemporaries among the farmers of Franklin, but either then or subsequently, or in both periods, he better improved the advantages he did possess, and he became a thorough English scholar, a not forward or ostentatious, but an agreeable speaker, and well versed in historical and general, and particularly in political literature. He set the example of systematic diligence in business before the whole community, and to those more intimate with his domestic habits he was known to be equally systematic and persevering as a student. He read much, and read for instruction - not for mere amusement. During many years of his life we knew him as an active politician, but one conspicuous for the gentlemanly deference which he habitually manifested to all who differed from him. Whatever political friends or political opponents might say or think of the intrinsic character of his political convictions, all knew that he could not be induced to swerve from those convictions for emolument, or the sake of being on the popular side.
In a momentary examination, a few days since, of the valuable library which is among the legacies left to his family we could not avoid being forcibly struck with the fact that the selection was so characteristic of the man, or with the suggestion that the judicious selection of the library may have had much to do with the tastes and character of the man.
But we must not bring this sketch to a close without a reference to the character of Col. Bursley in a more important point of view, a view rendered important by the power by which his example will he is dead, and by the way in which his works, in common with those of others who “die in the Lord,” will follow, according to the teachings of Revelation in everlasting fruitage. The question now to ask is not whether he ought not to have done more, or whether the writer or reader might not heretofore have done much more for the general good than we have. He was very far from claiming what all who intimately knew him will unhesitatingly concede, that he was preeminently a philanthropic, public-spirited man. But such he was. Not merely in the common relations of life, but religiously. He was not a fanatic, a wild enthusiast, or in any regard a bigot- but he was a Christian. We do not know that he ever allied himself to any church organization. He was nominally a Restorationist, but he was a praying man and lived and died under the sway of the regenerated emotions which are the salvation of fallen humanity, He publicly confessed Christ by the example of profound respect for the teachings and institutions of Christianity. He died in an unwavering trust in God, and faith in a glorious immortality. Knowing that the messenger from the unseen world was approaching he set his business and household relations in order, selected the hymns, and suggested other arrangements for his funeral, and waited calmly through the fading eclipse of earthly light for the moment of the nursing of celestial light upon the enfranchised soul.
Though flaming no merely denominational fraternity with the late Col. Bursley, the writer of this sketch claims the privilege of recording his convictions in the language of warm and positive expression. For in the death of Mr. B. he has lost a friend and supporter- an assistant in his life work. He ever contributed his share pecuniarily in support of the institutions of the sanctuary; he was an efficient teacher in the Sabbath School while his health and other circumstances permitted, and preached - regardless of the paltry excuses which too many of his remaining neighbors render on account of weather, etc. - each succeeding Sabbath while health permitted - by his punctual and attentive presence in his pew. For years he thus preached by the sanctioning utterances of his presence, and for many years he assisted his pastor, though of a different denominational name, in the oral utterances of sanctuary. Yes, often has the anticipation that Col. B. was to be one of the few unfailing listeners imparted vigor to the guidance of the pen in preparations of the study, and the fulfillment of the expectation has as often inspired additional help in using orally the studied words of the gospel teaching. On whom within the radiance of Farmington Falls shall mantle one of Franklin’s worthiest citizens fall? Who by following in the track of his example will prepare the way for some recorder of reminiscences to do equal, though imperfect justice to his memory?
|
| Burial |
Farmington Falls, Franklin, Maine, United States [19] |
| Person ID |
I2449 |
Stanwood Family |
| Last Modified |
2 Oct 2021 |
| Family |
Lavina SPENCER, b. 1780, Provincetown, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States d. 4 Aug 1858 (Age 78 years) |
| Marriage |
4 Feb 1797 |
Provincetown, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States [1, 23, 24] |
| Children |
| | 1. Silas BURSLEY, b. 22 Feb 1801, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 29 May 1871, Guilford, Piscataquis, Maine, United States (Age 70 years) |
| | 2. John Spencer BURSLEY, b. 18 Feb 1803, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 8 Jan 1873, Chesterville, Franklin, Maine (Age 69 years) |
| | 3. Barnabas BURSLEY, b. 16 Jan 1805, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 8 Jan 1883, Sangerville, Piscataquis, Maine, United States (Age 77 years) |
| | 4. Elizabeth G BURSLEY, b. 9 Jan 1807, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 4 Apr 1888, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts (Age 81 years) |
| | 5. Lemuel BURSLEY, b. Jan 1809, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 11 Jul 1875, Farmington, Franklin, Maine, United States (Age 66 years) |
| | 6. Benjamin BURSLEY, b. 17 Dec 1810, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 26 Apr 1881, Santiago, Sherburne, Minnesota, United States (Age 70 years) |
| | 7. Abigail N BURSLEY, b. 1813, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 1874, Farmington, Franklin, Maine, United States (Age 61 years) |
| | 8. Mary G BURSLEY, b. 4 Jul 1815, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 26 Aug 1884, Richmond, Sagadahoc, Maine, United States (Age 69 years) |
| | 9. Lavinia S BURSLEY, b. 28 Nov 1816, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 13 Nov 1872, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States (Age 55 years) |
| | 10. Martha H BURSLEY, b. 1819, Farmington, Kennebec, Maine, United States d. 7 Mar 1859, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts (Age 40 years) |
| | 11. Lurena BURSLEY, b. Abt 1825, Maine, United States d. 30 Dec 1856, Brooklyn, Kings, New York (Age 31 years) |
|
| Family ID |
F418 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
8 Dec 2024 |
The Stanwood Family
Abt 1773 - 1854 (81 years)
