The Life of Deacon Scribner

We know quite a bit about the life of Deacon David Scribner, my 2^nd great grandfather because of two documents written at the time of his death in 1890.  A memorial sketch was written by F. Ricker probably for David's memorial service.  Mr Ricker was very likely kin to David’s 1^st wife Islethera Howland whose mother had been a Ricker.  And a Brunswick Telegraph newspaper also carried a lengthy story at his passing titled “The Last of the Old Business Men of Topsham Gone”.

Mr Ricker begins his memorial with the following:

“At his home in Topsham, Maine, in the early morning of Sunday September 14, 1890 the venerable and beloved Deacon David Scribner passed to his final regard.  He was born in Waterboro, York County [Maine] on October 10, 1795, so that at the time of his decease, he lacked only about three weeks of being ninety-five years old.  His father, a Revolutionary soldier, and a very worthy man, died at 38 when David was less than nine years old.  The latter was the eldest of five children, and the only son … 

In some manuscript notes found among papers, Mr. Scribner speaks of the hard work endured to aid in the support of the family, and of the little schooling which he received in his youth, consisting of only a few weeks in the winter and even these were broken in upon by family cares.  From these adverse conditions … at not far from the date of his majority, in about 1816, without money, he traveled on foot from Waterboro to Topsham in pursuit of employment.  This he found without trouble in one of the many sawmills then in operation in the place.” 

The sawmill business where David found employment as a young man became just one of his business interests in life and he enjoyed success as a partner and owner of sawmills and lumber businesses in the area.  He also was successful with the D & D E Scribner Company an enterprise that used machinery to grind grain and flour.  They also milled grass seed, hay, straw and feed of all kinds, sold as Scribner’s Poultry Feeds. 

By 1834 David served as a Deacon of the Topsham Baptist Church, a position that he held for the rest of his life.  His belief that slavery was unjust and not a part of God’s plan led him to become active with local Underground Railroad efforts to assist former slaves moving north into Canada where they could live a life of freedom. 

David Scribner married Islethera Howland in 1821 until her early death in 1843 shortly after the birth of their 12^th child.  The next year he married Mary Ann Quint Whittemore, a widow with one young daughter.  Together David and Mary Ann added two more daughters to the family.  Six of David’s children died either in infancy or quite young, and only two actually outlived David.    

During all of David Scribner’s life he was a passionate reader of books. In his later years, his vision began to fail but not his keen mind.  David’s family and friends however always considered it a pleasure to read to him the best of current publications, histories, and biographies as he had a broad interest in religious, political and educational works.

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Key Individuals:

     Deacon David Scribner  (1795 – 1890)

     Islethera Howland Scribner  (1802 – 1843)  1^st wife

     Mary Ann Quint Whittemore Scribner  (1808 – 1887)  2^nd wife

Notes:

Deacon David Scribner (1795 – 1890) was the grandson of Samuel Scribner noted in my last blog post, The Letter Box – Samuel Scribner.

 – Jane Scribner McCrary

 

 

Samuel Scribner – The Letter Box

We have a wonderful summary of the life of Samuel Scribner, my 4^th great grandfather, thanks to an 1899 newspaper article called The Letter Box, published in the Lewiston Evening Journal, Lewiston, Maine, on Monday, February 27, 1899.  I will transcribe it for you in this blog post.

THE SCRIBNER FAMILY IN MAINE.

State Library of Massachusetts, State House, Boston.

Samuel Scribner was a member of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, from Waterford, Province of Maine, in 1789 and 1790, and a member from Waterborough, 1791.  At that time, the meetings of the Legislature were held in the Old State House, at the head of State street.

C.B. Tillinghast, State Librarian

A True Copy.

State House, January 27, 1899.

Samuel Scribner, born May 19, 1735, in Waterborough, Province of Maine in Massachusetts, and died Nov. 13^th, 1815.  Born, lived, died and was buried on the old original Scribner farm, and was the youngest of seven children, six of whom lived to grow to man and womanhood (four males and two females).  He was a great man; among other things that he “set on foot” was to get the Province of Maine set off from Massachusetts, as the State of Maine.  He also led off in getting the county seat of York county, moved from York (on the sea coast) to what is now Alfred; also getting a portion of the town of Sanford, set off for the town of Alfred, for the county seat in 1808.

He and two neighbors built, on the old original Scribner farm, in Waterboro, a two story building (in about 1790) which was used for alternate sittings of York county courts, until Alfred was set off and the permanent seat of the county there.  That built by “Square Scribner,” “Square Burleigh,” and “Square Warren” [Squire?] was also used for town meetings, school house, and the first Baptist church.

He married Sarah Bucknell, of Somersworth, N. H., April 10^th 1764.  She was born July 29^th, 1745; died Dec. 29^th, 1829, and buried at Harrison, Maine, in the old Scribner-Burnham burying ground, by the side (east) of Nathaniel Burnham and his two wives; only a split rock as a headstone.  Nine children were born of this wedlock (of whom two died in infancy, viz: John, born 1764; Edward, 1766; Samuel, 1768; Elizabeth, 1770; Alice, 1772; Abigail, 1775; Ebenezer Hall, 1789.  (Mary and David died in infancy).

Said Scribner, in 1775, did honorable service in the War of the Revolution.  See Archives Division, Secretaries office, State House, Boston, Mass.

One line of the Scribners who have come down from the Warrior and Legislator; viz: Samuel Scribner, who was born May 19, 1735;  died Nov 13, 1815;   born, lived, raised a large family, died and lies buried on the “old Scribner farm,” in Waterborough, Maine.

[The author then records the names of individuals from five generations presently alive in 1899 when this article was written, descending from the line of Samuel’s eldest son, John.   Note:  Our Scribner line descends from Samuel’s second son, Edward.]

Five generations born in 91 years; “still live.” 

Attest, 

Wm. Marshall Scribner

Boston, Mass., January 1899

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Key Individuals:

     Samuel Scribner  (1735 – 1815)

     Sarah Bucknell Scribner  (1745 – 1829)

             Edward Scribner  (1766 – 1804)

 

Notes:

1)  Samuel enlisted in July 1775 at Hollis, Maine, and served 8 months in the Massabesic Militia Company.  Later in 1778, he was a Private in Captain Webster’s Company, Col. Nichol’s Regiment, and General Whipple’s Brigade of New Hampshire Volunteers.  Samuel participated in the Expedition to Rhode Island in August 1778.  He was about 40 years old at the time.  For more information on our direct ancestors involved in the Revolution, see the recent series of blogs titled Ancestors Who Fought in the Revolution posted on March and April 2022.

2)  About 20 years before Samuel died he had a stroke that left him severely disabled.  My 2^nd great grandfather, David Scribner (1795-1890) was Samuel’s grandson and David wrote that “… it was a “good farm in Waterborough on which my father was born and died in 1804 at the age of 38.  A few years before his [Edward’s] death my Grandfather had a paraletic shock to which he lost the use of one side of his body and was a cripple for the rest of his life.  Some 20 years [earlier] – he had given his farm to my father and my father was to maintain the old folks and when my father died my mother was left with four children, a fifth was born after his death … and no means for support except what we could raise on the farm.” 

Samuel died in 1814 at the age of 80, eleven years after the death of his son Edward. Sarah, Samuel’s wife, lived another 15 years; she died in 1829 at the age of 84. 

3)  Waterborough, Massachusetts was incorporated in 1787.  Note that Waterborough was originally part of Massachusetts, and then later known as the Province of Maine, and subsequently as the state of Maine.  In 1819, Massachusetts agreed to allow the Province of Maine separation from Massachusetts with the ability to seek statehood.  In 1820, Maine gained statehood.  Also, the spelling of Waterborough changed in 1895 to Waterboro.  Thus, I apologize for the confusion that all makes in recounting the location names over time in the 1800’s.

4)  While we have some specific information on Sarah Bucknell, the wife of Samuel Scribner, that includes her birth, marriage and death dates, we have never been able to find any documentation as to the names of her parents.  Though there is strong speculation that Sarah’s father was Samuel Bucknell and her mother, Sarah Whidden.

5)  Here is the image of the full article, not a good one, but provided here if you are interested. 

- Jane Scribner McCrary