How it began and why you're here...

Readfield, Kennebec County, Maine was originally incorporated in 1771 as part of Winthrop. Twenty years later residents voted almost unanimously to separate from Winthrop, and Readfield became incorporated on March 11, 1791. Welcome to this web site where you will meet the courageous men and women who founded our town.

Monday, July 1, 2013

PAGE, Robert, Esq.

This is an excerpt from John Lane and Jere Page homesteads and mills on Beaver Brook in East Readfield. Follow this link FMI and / or to purchase the entire 12 page study.

Robert Page, Esq. or “Squire Page” as he was often called - came to Winthrop between 1767 and 1782.[i] He became the owner of significant amounts of property in several towns in addition to Readfield. Robert had sons Samuel, Jere and Jonathan. One source says that he also had a son Robert, Jr. but I have not found additional documentation of that.[ii]  Robert also purchased parts of lots #137 and #212 (at Factory Square) from James Craig in 1805. One of those acquisitions included 16 acres, the grist mill, house and barn adjacent to the grist mill[iii] – the same house[iv] we saw on the Factory Square Readfield History Walk on 10/11/13 and now under historical preservation (11/2013) by Mr. Robert Bittar.[v] Robert Page gained other holdings as well but they are too numerous to mention.
Robert Page lived on “Smith Hill” on the South Road and his land abutted the east shore of Lake Maranacook. The Samuel Greeley farm (later that of C. Willis Brown) and Jedediah Bourne homestead (later St. Andre) were originally part of Squire Page’s farm. On the Bourne farm a vein of slate was found and worked around 1840. From there most of the slate gravestones in East Readfield Cemetery were quarried.[vi]
Robert Page, Esq. was named as one of the prominent farmers in the annals of Kennebec County for his eminent services in the early days of this county’s development. He was a trustee of Hallowell Academy in 1791, and he owned property in what we know now as downtown Hallowell. That was auctioned off after his death by his son Jere – administrator of his estate - as were most of his other holdings.[vii] Robert Page was also one of the first three selectman voted in by Readfield townspeople in 1791. He also served as town treasurer in 1794.[viii] Over the years he was the moderator at town meetings, was on the school committee and a member of the General Court. He was also the first Justice of the Peace commissioned in Winthrop. In 1788 he was designated the rank of Colonel in the militia.[ix]
 
In 1832, seven years after Robert’s death, Elias Gove, Jr. bought the entire Robert Page, Esq. homestead farm (at auction) for $180. It was described as the undivided farm plus 20 acres of woodland. John Smith, Marcia Dutton (Robert’s daughter) and Jere Page signed off. It was described as bounded west by Rouse Bourne; south on land of Samuel Greeley; easterly on land of Francis Hunt; north on land of Jonathan Whittier; 180 acres. A small barn and el past the home reserved for (could not make out the name).[x] Robert Page’s wife Abigail (Brown) lived with their son Jere after Robert died.[xi]
 
There were seven children in all – three died as young adults. 1) Samuel b.1775 d.1804 m. Abigail Page, his 1st cousin and daughter of Simon. She died in 1803. Both are buried in East Readfield Cemetery; 2) Sarah b.1781 d.1804 also bur. East Readfield 3) Marcia b.1783 d.1863 m. Samuel E. Dutton of Hallowell and they moved to Bangor. 7 children; 4) Jeremiah “Jere” b.1787 d.1864 m. Margaret Johnson 5) Jonathan b.abt.1787 d.1805 bur. East Readfield 6) Abigail b.1792 d.1866 m. Dr. Isaac Case, son of Rev. Isaac and Joanna Case of East Readfield. They moved to Levant in Penobscot County, ME. 7 children; 7) Robert, Jr. – He is mentioned as one of Robert Page Esq. son in History of Kennebec County but I have found nothing else about him. Perhaps this is the same one (from Hanover, NH) who was the clerk with whom Jere made land transactions in Clinton, ME in 1827?


[i] Kingsbury’s History of Kennebec County page 892 gives 1767 as his date of arrival; Stackpole’s History of Winthrop page 535 gives 1782 (after Revolutionary War) as date of arrival.
[ii] Ibid page 892; There was a Robert Page from NH serving as land agent when Jere Page and other family members made land transactions in the Clinton area. I suspect he may be this son.
[iii] Kennebec County Registry of Deeds Book 24 Page 504 Robert Page to my son Jere, yeoman. Land he bought from James Craig, deceased being part of lot #212 and #137 and part of the lot Robert Cornforth lives on. Containing about 16 acres and all the buildings thereon (grist mill, house and barn). Privilege of stream of water for any who use reference to Craig’s deed dated 11/18/1805 Book 9 Page 53.
[iv] http://readfieldhistorywalks.blogspot.com/2013/10/factory-square-history-walk-additional.html accessed 11/5/2013
[v] Kennebec County Registry of Deeds Book 25 Page 504 4/2/1817
[vi] Kingsbury and Deyo, History of Kennebec County (New York, H.W. Blake & Co., 1892),  page 908
[vii] Kennebec County Registry of Deeds various
[viii] Kingsbury and Deyo, History of Kennebec County (New York, H.W. Blake & Co., 1892), pages 906-907
[ix] Stackpole, Everett; History of Winthrop with Genealogical Notes by Keene; pub. 1925 and reprinted 1994; Heritage Books Inc. Bowie, MD; pg 535
[x] Kennebec County Registry of Deeds  Book 76 Page 387 10/11/1832
[xi] 1830 US Census one female age 70-79 living in this household.

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