Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

LEMONT The history of the Lemont ancestor in Maine begins with a scene of hope, strength and devotion which has been many times repeated in the long generatons of this sturdy family. After days of cloudy weather the sun shines brightly on the city of Londonderry, Ireland. The wind, which has persistently blown from the sea, turns and beckons hopefully to all outgoing ships. It sings merrily in the rigging and tugs at the sails. And then the sturdy young John Lemont, just passed his eighteenth year, says a goodby to his father, Thomas, and mother, Mary. "I shall soon send for you to join me in America. Our Huguenot ancestors found a home of refuge in Londonderry; in this new land we shall have greater freedom and prosperity. God will be with us." The he takes Elizabeth LcLanathan by the hand, and the two kneel together to pray for help that they may soon meet again on a distant shore. They rise with faces full of love and hope. Elizabeth turns to her whirring wheel. John hastens to his waiting ship. Each knows the other will be true, no matter how many days may slip by. The letters of John Lemont tell that he safely reached Dromore, near where the city of Bath, Maine, now stands, and that there were earnest, God-fearing people there from the north of Ireland; that he has a goodly farm of four hundred acres, running from Dromore to the New Meadows river; that this was sold to William Butler, for he had found a place at Georgetown, which he thought would better please Elizabeth and his parents; and in a few years his letter says: "Here is the money to take you hither; come speedily; we shall all be so happy together." And again the sun shone brightly on Londonderry, and an outgoing ship started on a prosperous voyage. "It is just as John said it would be," spoke Elizabeth McLanathan, with the happy tears shining on her face. "Yes, he is a noble boy," smiles the mother. "And so wise for one of his years," adds the father. And they repeat their praises still more gratefully when they land at Georgetown, and see John's home amid the shaggy woods, the mill, which hums and buzzes incessantly, and the strong garrison house, where hey will be so safe if the Indians seek for their lives. "And you are building a vessel yonder," said Elizabeth, clapping her hands; "you did not tell us half you are doing. Her name - oh! John, it is Elizabeth!" Then came the joyous wedding-day and a happy married life of nearly forty years. The crops grew well, the mill brought much honest money, many vessels for the coasting and West India trade were built, and to the happy home came seven sons and five daugthers, all hardy and God-fearing, two of them living until almost a hundred years. The old minister stands by the bedside of John Lemont, when he looks for the last ime on the pleasant fields about his home, and says: "God has wonderfully blest you and yours. If I have the story aright, your grandfather, a noble Huguenot, came to Londonderry in 1670. There your father was born in 1678. He died here in Georgetown, Feb. 15, 1756. Your mother died here Nov. 5, 1743, at the goodly age of seventy-five years. You were born in 1704, and this is the good year of 1766, and your faithful Elizabeth is with you, and all your sons and daughters. You have ever trusted in God, held fast to hope, and worked well. Aye, John, I know what you whisper, ''Tis all of the Lord.' That is the lack of boasting which has been one of your noblest traits. I believe this will be handed down to your latest generation." [trans note: oh come on! A minister standing by a deathbed giving the person a rundown on his genealogy?!] This was a true phophecy. Though the members of the Lemont family have been constantly at work along many lines, less has been published about them than almost any other stalwart family of Maine. (I) The will of John Lemont was dated March 14, 1764, and probated May 13, 1767. In this he states that his beloved wife, Elizabeth, is to have charge of the bulk of his property; when the son, David, arrives at sixteen years he is to have charge of this. He states that he has already given to his sons, Benjamin and James, eighty acres of land each, and that he now gives these sons one-third of the sawmill standing on Whisgig creek, with one-third part of all privileges thereunto belonging. He carefully directs how ample provision shall be made for the rest of his children. Children: Elizabeth, Benjamin, Deacon James, Nancy, Sarah and Colonel John. (II) Colonel John (2), youngest child of John (1) and Elizabeth (McLanathan) Lemont, was born in August, 1740, in Georgetown, Maine, and died Oct. 23, 1827. He served in the Revolutionary war and was made a colonel of the First Regiment, First Brigade and Eighth Division of Mass. Militia, in 1788. He married Mary Robinson, of Portland, Maine. Children: Betsey, Mahetable and Captain John. (III) Captain John (3), youngest child of Colonel John (2) and Mary (Robinson) Lemont, was born May 22, 1774, and died Feb. 4, 1803. He was a very successful commander of vessels in the West India trade, and at one time, together with his brother Samuel Lemont, was taken a prisoner by the French. He was married Oct. 5, 1797, to Sarah Donnell, born Oct. 2, 1774, died May 8, 1864, a daughter of John Donnell. Children: Lavinia, Levi P., John Robinson, Alfred. (IV) Alfred, son of Capt. John (3) and Sarah (Donnell) Lemont, was born in Bath, April 5, 1808, and died in 1896. In early life he learned the trade of blacksmith, and followed that vocation in Bath thirty years, and then relinquished it and engage in ship-building. He constructed his first vessel, a schooner, in a yard north of Thomas Harward's, in 1835, and named her "Eliza Ann." She was employed in the coasting trade, and eventually was lost on Seal Rock, while trying to enter the harbor at Eastport, to which place she was bound, to load with plaster. In 1835 he began building ships at Winnegance, with Richard Morse & Sons, when he established a yard of his own in Bath, in which he continued to build vessels until 1865, when he relinquished the business, but continued to own interests in various vessels until the close of his life. He was connected with banks in Bath from about 1870 till his death, and was a director in the Sagadahoc National Bank and an incorporator in the Twenty-five Cent Savings Bank. His last years were spent in retirment on a farm at West Bath, where he had a finely located residence commanding a fine view of the beautiful Campbell's Pond. Here he passed in health and pleasant occupation the last years of a green old age. He married, Dec., 1836, Malinda, who was born in Wales, daughter of Benjamin and Lucy (Dunlap) Hodgdon. She died in 1882. Child: Aramede Snow, born Feb. 9, 1846, in Bath; married Feb. 15, 1866, Capt. Henry C. Tarbox, and lives in Bath. CROSS William Cross was one of the early settlers of Vassalborough, Maine. The name in now extinct in that town, but an old family burying-ground on Cross Hill contains the graves of the early settlers. William was born in 1770 and died in 1849, according to his gravestone. He may have belonged to the Ipswich family, though no connection is known. Children: 1. William Jr., born 1799, mentioned below. 2. Zebedee, born 1805, died at Vassalborough in 1853. Probably others. (II) William (2), son of William (1) Cross, was born in Vassalborough in 1799, died in Augusta, Maine, Dec., 1886. He married (first) Abigail Lewis, a native of Palermo, Maine, who died in 1852 in Vassalborough. He married (second) Clarissa Foster, who died in Augusta in 1895. He was a farmer, residing until 1860 in his native town of Vassalborough. He then moved to China, Maine, and again, during the Civil War, he removed to Augusta, maine, where he established a trucking business on his own account, continuing it successfully until obliged by ill health to retire from active business. He was a prominent member of the Baptist church of Vassalborough and deacon for many years. In politics he was a Republican. Children of 1st wife: William L., Sophia, Laurinda, George H., John W., Laurinda, Ann, Melissa, Emily, Sewall B. (mentioned below), Alonzo, Abby. Child of 2d wife: Alonzo B. (III) Sewall Black, son of Willilam (2) Cross, was born June 4, 1837, at Cross Hill, Vassalborough, died June 27, 1903, in Augusta, Maine. He received his education in the public schools in his native town. In his boyhood and youth he worked on his father's farm in Vassalborough. He learned the trade of tinsmith in Augusta and worked afterward as a journeyman in Biddeford, where he was living when the Civil War began. He enlisted in Biddeford in Company D, First Regiment, Maine Volunteer Cavalry, and re-enlisted in fifty-second company, Second Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps. He served through the whole war, and took part in many battles and engagements. Upon his return after the war he embarked in business as a tinsmith, in the tirm of Cross & Pinkham. After three years the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Cross opened a hardware store in Augusta, in the firm of Gould & Cross. Two years later this firm admitted another partner, and the name became Gould, Barker & Cross for two years, when Mr. Cross sold his interests in the business to his partners and bought a farm in Manchester, Maine. Besides conducting his farm, he worked at his trade from time to time. In 1887 he returned to Augusta and established a retail grocery busines, in which he was very successful. In 1892 he took his son, Hubert J. Cross, into partnerhsip, under the firm name of S. B. Cross & Company, continuing in this business until 1896, when both he and his son devoted their energies to the Glenwood Spring Water Company, which he organized and of which he became the president and trasurer. He married (first), Feb., 1861, Sarah E. Mitchell, born May 17, 1840, in Canaan, Maine, died April 26, 1869, at Augusta. He married (second) May 15, 1870, Abby F. Mitchell, born May 30, 1845, in Canaan. Children: Hubert J. (mentioned below), William M. and Olive P. (IV) Hubert Judson, son of Sewall Black Cross, was born July 19, 1871, in Augusta. He was educated in the common schools of Augusta and at the Dirigo Business College. He becams associated in the grocery business with his father, and after a time was admitted to partnerhsip by his father. When the Glenwood Spring Water Company was organized, he became a traveling salesman for the company. He succeeded his father in the offices of president and treasurer of the company. The other officers of the company are: Mrs. A. F. Cross, vice-president; Hubert J. Cross, Arthur E., Percival and L. P. Cross, directors. The Glenwood Springs yields ten gallons a minute and is highly medicinal in its properties, being a specific for rheumatism. The company also manufactures carbonated beverages from this water and has a flourishing business. Mr. Cross is a Republican in politics, and is at present alderman from ward three. He is a member of Bethlehem Lodge, Free Masons; Cushnoc Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Alpha Council, Royal and Select Masters; Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar; Kora Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Lewiston. He is also a member of Asylum Lodge of Odd Fellows; of the twin city council; of the United Commercial Traders; of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 964, Augusta. He is a prominent member of the Universalist church. He married Lottie Pearl, daughter of Leslie A. Dyer. Child: John Hubert, born June 16, 1902.