1. JAMES-
b.c.1654 Ireland m. before 1680 MARGARET (2) WARREN d. 1736 Rollingsford, NH
Tradition says that James was taken prisonner on the coast of Ireland when a boy only 14 years old and brought to this country. Stealing young people, transporting them to America and selling them into servitude was common at the time. Many from Ireland and Scotland were forcibly taken from their beds at night by men dressed as English soldiers and compelled to go on board a vessel bound for America. The persons who practiced such a crime were called "Spirits". A royal order was passed against them in 1682. Gov. Simon Bradstreet conjectured in 1680 that there were then living 60 such Irish immigrants and 120 Scots who had been sold as "servants".(1)
Where and how James Stackpole lived before the year 1680 is not known. In April of that year he is first mentioned in the "Cochecho Province Rate" as taxed two shillings and one penny.(2) In December of the same year he is incidentally mentioned as hauling boards from Thomas Holmes' mill at Salmon Falls to Cochecho Point. In 1681 he was taxed in Dover four shillings and one penny and the following year his tax was eight shillings and two pennies. It was in 1680 that he signed a petition with the inhabitants of Kittery to King Charles II asking for abatement of taxes thus indicating a previous residence in that town.(3) The inventory of the estate of John Bready of Kittery 9 Oct. 1681 included the following: "due from James Stagpoole 22S".(4).
In 1680 he settled as a squatter in Dover, now Rollingsford, NH on land that had been granted in 1656 to Joseph Austin. None of the Austin family every lived here. The next lot north had been granted to Henry Tibbetts at the same time. James cleared a portion of both lots and built his house on that of Austin. Perhaps he had been there earlier but, probably his residence had been in upper Kittery now South Berwick previous to that date. On 20 May 1710 he received a deed from Thomas Austin, only son of Joseph Austin, who conveyed to him "for twenty pounds of current money all that tract of land granted to said Joseph Austin in 1656... lying in ye range of lots between St. Alban's Cove and Quamphegan" bounded south-east by the Newichawannock River, north-east by Henry Tibbett's hundred acre lot, north-west by Ralph Twombly's hundred acres and Thomas Hanson's hundred acres and south-west by a highway between this lot and Thomas Kenne's (Canney) hundred acre lot. The lot purchased contained one hundred acres of rich land. That the priced paid was only a nominal one is shown by the fact that only four years later 30 Nov. 1714 he sold forty acres of upland from this lot to William Frost for L120.(5)
A brook flowed through his farm which is still called Stackpole's Brook as it was in the old deeds. The location of James Stackpole's house is shown in 1709 in the return of the Sligo road laid out that year. Thus we see that James had built a house just north of the creek called Stackpole's Brook some time before the took a deed of the farm from Austin. April 20th, 1743 Samuel Stacpole sold to his nephew Joshua Stackpole a small lot of land five rods by eleven on which stood the house in which James was living in 1709 just north of Stackpole Brook and including a part of the present highway. Just east of it was the Landing Place and a bridge over the brook for the repair of which the town paid in the year 1800 "for plank for Stacpole's Bridge $5.44."
On this small lot of land lived Joshua as a blacksmith. Here his widow Abigail was living in 1795. It seems that her youngest son Tobias inherited the property and he willed it to his son Ebenezer Stacpole in 1821. Jonathan Whitehouse who married Lucy Stacpole was then living in the house. Ebenezer lived here till about 1830 when he moved the house to St. Alban's Cove and the land was purchased from Tobias Stackpole by Samuel Hale on 10 Jan. 1831. The house was put in its new location in spite of the public protest of Mr. Roberts but, the location seems to be described in a deed from Daniel Goodwin to Aaron Stackpole 26 July 1765, 48 rods of land on the road from St. Alban's cove to Quamphegan, 17 rods from a stone near the brook that empties into the cove. The house is still in good condition and occupied. Originally the main entrance was in the middle of the southern side.(6)
About the time that the Indians came down on Salmon Falls in 1689 James moved to the other side of the river for protection and for several years kept an "ordinary" or tavern a few rods east of the old cemetery at Great Works on the spot where lived the Rev. John Wade and the Rev. Jeremiah Wise. The Court of Sessions at Yrok 4 July 1693 made the following record: "Lycence is granted to James Stagpole of barwick to sell by retaile beere, Cyder, rum, provision and lodging, he giving ten pounds bond to their Majesties to observe the laws in that case provided." The license was renewed annually up to 1698 and his place was called a "publick house of entertainment". A supply of ardent spirits at such places was the rule without exception. It is true that this as usual led to some disorders and James was complained of and once fined 20 shillings and admonished yet, his license was at the same time renewed. He bought the place where he lived in Berwick parish on 2 Nov. 1696 for £15 and sold it on 22 Nov. 1699 to John Wade, minister. At the later date he is called "James Stackpoll of Dover in New Hampshire, husbandman". The land was 3 1/4 acres, "near the meeting house" bounded on the southeast by the way going from the Great Works to the river, northwest by the burying place "with all the housing, trees, fences and Privileges pertaining thereto." The burying place still is used and is on the hill just south of the Great Works River.(7)
James Stacpole had grants of land in both Dover and Kittery. "April ye 11 1694. By the committee chosen by the freeholders of ye town of Dover for granting land, given and granted unto James Stagpole his heirs and assigns forever, fifty acres of land above Indigo Hill near Salmon Falls River, not intrenching upon any former grant." This grant was confirmed in town meeting five days later.(8)
The town records of Kittery declare that 16 July 1702 there were lotted and laid out to James Stagpole Senr 20 acres of land part of a grant made in 1694 to Gilbert Warren. Four acres of it were on the north side of the Great Works River, the rest on the south side extending to the York line, adjoining Warren's land. The land passed into possession of James Jr. and was bequeathed by him to his brother John. On 20 May 1728 John sold it to Gilbert Warren.(9) James Stagpole of Summersworth, yeoman sold to Thomas Wallingsford of Sommersworth, Gent. in May 1728 for £30 the 50 acres of land which had been granted to James Stagpole Jr. 10 May 1703 and which had been given to his father.(10)
On 23 Feb. 1726 James sold to Nathan Lord of Berwick "a certain grant of land containing fifty acres granted to me at a legal town meeting held at Kittery May the tenth 1703."(11)
A petition was dated 25 April 1715 by "The Inhabitanes that are Nerer ye New Meten house than ye old Cocheco Pint" asking to be assigned to the new place of worship which was at what is now Dover city. Among the petitioners were "Jeames Stagpool" and "fileon Stagpool". A footnote to the petition as given in the New Hampshire State Papers explains that the petitioners were "nearer ye new Meeting house at Cocheco than to the old on Dover Neck". The new church at Cocheco was erected in 1713 and the inhabitants of Sligo and vicinity were rated there, though it is certain that they often found it more convenient to ford the "Sluiceway" and attend church at the Great Works settlement.(12)
James and Philip signed a petition 25 April 1729 for a new parish in the north-east part of Dover. The petiton was granted and Somersworth was made a parish 19 Dec. 1730. Rev. James Pike was the first pastor of this church. He died here 19 March 1792 after a pastorage of 65 years. The church records were burned with the parsonage in 1812.(13)
In his old age James divided his homestead between his sons Philip and Samuel reserving a 3 acre lot of the southeast corner for himself. The deed to Philip was dated 17 Nov. 1732. It conveyed the northern part of his farm, 15 rods wide on the river and varying in breadth "to ye uppermost Corner or point of my land next to ye Meeting house... Excepting al ye old Apple trees yt I sot formerly which I do reserve dureing ye life of me & my wife for our own use." The lot contained 16 acres.(14)
On 20 April 1734 James, for "paternal love & affection", conveyed the southern part of his farm, 50 acres, to his son Samuel extending from the river towards the meeting house and bounded on the south by land of Thomas Hobbs with buildings thereon, "Excepting & Reserveing unto my Self out of ye premises ye House wherein I now live & ye land whereon it Stands & to extend from Ye House towards Capt. Wallingfords house by ye River & ye little field before my Dore adjoining to Thomas Hobbs land Being in al about two or three acres be it more or less & lying on ye South & South westerly side of ye Road yt leads from Thos Hobbss House to ye Gutter Behinde my own House", providing also that James and his wife Margaret should have half the produce of the land conveyed during their lives including "half of ye Syder yt may be made".(15)
James died in 1736 as shown by the inventory of his estate made by Nathaniel Perkins and Thomas Wallingford 12 Aug. 1736. Administration was granted to his son John of Biddeford 14 July 1737.(16)
In his old age James lived down by the river near the wading place which was at the head of Little Johns Falls opposite Chadbourne's mill. The spot is easily found by the bricks which the frost brings to the surface. It is probable that here he built a cabin before the year 1680 and that he returned to it in his declining years leaving the house north of the brook to his son Samuel. Five pounds was all the old shack was worth. His widow Margaret had the use of it till her death and then the house and three acres passed into the possession of Thomas Wallingford. The price paid for it was £120.(17)
The cemetery on the hill is the spot where rest four generations of the Stackpole family. There are good reasons for believing that the following persons were buried here: James and his wife Margaret (Warren), Samuel Stacpole who died in 1758, Philip Stacpole and wife Mercy (Thompson), Joshua Stacpole and wives Lucy (Baker) and Abigail (Hobbs), James Stacpole and wife Elizabeth (Pierce), Stephen Stacpole and first wife Esther (Warren), Philip Stacpole Jr. and wife Elizabeth (Tibbetts), and Anne (Grey) wife of William Stacpole.(18)
Issue-
Ref:
(1) History and Genealogy of the Stackpole Family- Everett S. Stackpole, p.55 (2) Collection of the New Hampshire Historical Society- Vol. VIII, p.16 (3) Ibid- Vol. IV, p.511; Mass. Archives- Vol.III, p.288 (4) York Deeds- Vol. V, pt I, fol. 14 (5) History and Genealogy of the Stackpole Family- Everett S. Stackpole, p.57 (6) Ibid- pp.66-7 (7) Ibid- pp.58-9 (8) Ibid- p.58 (9) Ibid (10) York Deeds- Vol. 31, p.100 (11) History and Genealogy of the Stackpole Family- Everett S. Stackpole, pp. 59-60 (12) Ibid- pp.62-3 (13) Ibid- p.63 (14) Ibid- pp.65-6 (15) Ibid- p.66 (16) Ibid- p.63; New Hampshire Probate Records- Vol. 14, p.284 (17) History and Genealogy of the Stackpole Family- Everett S. Stackpole, pp. 63-4 (18) Ibid- p.71
Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p.654 N.E.H.G.R.- Vol. 19, pp.55-6 Collection of the Maine Historical Society- Vol.IV, p.511
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b. 1680 m. ELIZABETH (4) BROWN living in 1767
John lived in York from about 1705 until 1717 and received three grants of land there.
While a soldier at the fort at Winter Harbor John was captured by the Indians and carried to Canada. He ran into the pool and attempted to wade across but, one of the party named Wahwa who was well known to John pursued him crying out: "Boon quarter, John, boon quarter" meaning that he would spare his life. He surrendered and spent the winter at the foot of the White Mts. on the way to Canada. A petition of Lewis Bane 12 June 1712 by order of his excellency, exchanged four Indians taken in the expedition of the preceding winter for four English captives one of them being John Stagpole.(1) He "prays that £10 for each prisoner may be ordered out of the public treasury".(2) On 8 June 1714 "J. Stagpole, a soldier at Winter Harbor fort" who had been a prisoner 19 months was given £22.(3)
John moved to Biddeford about 1717 and bought several parcels of land near Cow Cove and the mouth of the Saco River having at one time over 200 acres of land. He was chosen constable of Biddeford in 1717 and the last meeting of the inhabitants on both sides of the river under the old name of Saco was held at his house 31 March 1717 and he was chosen moderator.(4)
His house stood on the spot where lived Ralph E. Jordan Esq. on the Pool Rd. near the old cemetery being a garrison for defense against the Indians. On 9 May 1723 four men were posted at the garrison of Mr. Stackpole in Biddeford.(5) A petition to the general court 9 Nov. 1723 is signed by Ebenezer Hill, John Stackpole and Nathaniel Tarbox.(6) They ask for protection against the Indians and say that "Mr. Stackpoles garrison is upon the Road and is a guard and security to the meeting house."(7) In 1727 he petitioned the general court for an allowance for services in taking: "Command of Twenty one men at Biddeford and marcht up Saco River in pursuit of the Enemy, which Continued for 9 days, & Soon after his return, on the first day of february following (1724/5) Yr Petr did by order of Col Westbrook march as Pilot from Richmond to Penobscot Town with Capt. James Heath."(8) It was ordered that £8 be paid him out of the public treasury. On this expedition with Capt. Heath a village of the Tarrantines, near Bangor, containing 50 houses was burned. From the journal of Allison Brown 11 May 1724: "Marcht from this place (Saco) takeing Mr. John Stackpole as pilot pursued to the Col. orders, about six miles up the river to ( ) bond creek where wee way layd and ambusht the river."(9)
At the winter session of the court, 1727/8, a petition was presented from John Stackpole in behalf of himself and several other inhabitants, against the tradinghouse being near the sea, and praying that it may be further removed from the town. The subject was referred to a commmittee, who reported in favor of removing the truckhouse to Salmon Falls on the west side of the Saco river now in Hollis.(10)
On 4 Jan. 1728 John and others had a grant from Arundel of 100 acres apiece on the Saco Road, a new road to be laid out from Wells through Arundel to Winter Harbor in Biddeford. Later that year 20 May 1728 John sold 20 acres of land in Berwick on the north side of the Great Works River and on the south side to Gilbert Warren for £28.(11)
John contributed £7 toward the building of the First Congregational Church in Biddeford and was one of the committee that called the Rev. Samuel Willard to be its pastor in 1729.(12) He was one of the selectmen in 1729, 1730, 1737-9 and in 1740.
Edward Sargeant sold to John 25 Nov. 1729 for L12 three acres of salt marsh in Biddeford at the Little River, "North- east corner at heap of stones on the upland adjoyning the river and downwards along the river on the east side to a stake by a small creek lying southerly thence on a north-east line to a slabb in a salt pond."(13)
In 1730 John was chosen messenger to hire a schoolmaster and not to excede £60 per annum.(14) "Pro. Massachusetts to James Woodside for wooding His Majesties Fort Mary from Oct. 1, 1730 to Oct. 1731... To Mr. Stagpole 6 cord wood 3/12... to 1 load hauld by Mr. Stagpole 10/."(15)
On 22 March 1730/1 John sold to William Russell 10 acres of land on the Little River in Biddeford adjoyning to the Arundel line for £30.(16) Later, 5 May 1731, John was involved in a land dispute with Samuel Harmon concerning land at the mouth of Pigstie or Mill Creek.(17)
John then purchased from Clement Hooper 10 Jan. 1731/2 for £10 a grant of 10 acres granted to Hooper by the town of Biddeford 9 May 1728.(18)
John bought another 30 acres of land in Biddeford 13 March 1732/3 from Samuel Cole Sr. & Jr. for £30 and then another 40 acres of land in Biddeford 12 Nov. 1733 from Thomas Emery for £30.(19) John then bought 2 acres of marsh from Dorcas Cox 1 Aug. 1733 for £14 next to the marsh he purchased from Capt. Sargeant of Biddeford.(20)
John sold to Joseph Dyer, Gent. for £4 seven acres of land in Biddeford 11 April 1763 which was part of the grant to John Briant 9 May 1728. The deed was witnessed by Rishworth and Abigail Jordan.(21) He sold more of the Briant grant to Jeremiah Hill of Biddeford for £4/13/4 on 17 Jan. 1744. The land consisted of 5 1/4 acres on the Little River. The deed was witnessed by Josiah Davis and Rishworth Jordan.(22)
On 25 Apr. 1759 John bought from his son Andrew 10 acres of land in Biddeford for £15.(23) He and Elizabeth then sold 16 acres of land in Biddeford and 1 acre of marsh to Rishworth Jordan of Biddeford, Esq. for £67. This deed was witnessed by John Stackpole Jr. and William Goodridge.(24) John & Elizabeth sold to James Stackpole of Biddeford 30 acres on the Little River in Biddeford for £67 on 2 Nov. 1757.(25) John sold more land to his son Andrew on the Little River on Oak Ridge for £100 for 80 acres 28 March 1755.(26)
John sold to Joseph Fletcher of Biddeford, laborer 3 acres on the west side of the Saco River at the Little River where Fletcher's lower mill stood for £5 on 23 May 1748.(27) He then sold to Matthew Lassell of Arundel, yeoman 100 acres in Arundel next to Stephen Averell's land on the Saco Rd. which had been granted to John by the town. He received £300 in old tenor notes 8 Dec. 1749.(28)
John was appointed the attorney for Andrew Symmes of Boston, shipjoiner and sold Symmes' land on the east side of the Saco River to John Brient & Joseph Edwell for £100 on 7 May 1748.(29) Elizabeth signed a deed in 1759.
(1) New England Captives Carried to Canada- Vol.II,p.21 History of Biddeford and Saco- Folsom, p.219 (2) Provincial Laws- IX, 2451 (3) Mass. Archives- IX, 386 (4) History of Biddeford and Saco- Folsom, pp.204-5 (5) Mass. Archives- 38A, 24 (6) Ibid- 72, 133 (7) Ibid- p.134 (8) Ibid- p.302 (9) Ibid- 38A, 66 (10) History of Biddeford and Saco- Folsom, p.122 (11) York Deeds- 14, 126 (12) History of Biddeford and Saco- Folsom, p.225,229 (13) York Deeds- 16, 264 (14) History of Biddeford and Saco- Folsom, p.230 (15) Mass. Archives-Vol.244, p.279, doc. 464 (16) York Deeds- 14, 110 (17) Ibid- 14, 119 (18) Ibid- 16, 256 (19) Ibid- 15, 199-200 (20) Ibid- 16, 256 (21) Ibid- 38, 15 (22) Ibid- p.68 (23) Ibid- 35, 210 (24) Ibid- p.211 (25) Ibid- 33, 246 (26) Ibid- 30, 322 (27) Ibid- 29, 56 (28) Ibid- p.180 (29) Ibid- 27, 20
History and Genealogy of the Stackpole Family- pp.76-8
b. 1708 York, ME m. 30 Nov. 1731 Biddeford, ME, BETHIAH (12) YOUNG (d. 28 June 1785) d. 2 Dec. 1796 Biddeford, ME
John Jr. was granted 30 acres in 1728 on condition that he pay to the treasurer £4 and lived in the town five years.(1)
In Sept. 1729 J. Stackpole jr. was "granted the privilege of building a seat in the front gallery (of the church), leaving sufficient room for passing into the other seats."(2)
John Jr. was a selectman in Biddeford in 1746, 1750 and in 1751. He was then made deacon of the Congregational Church in Biddeford in 1754 in place of Deacon Wadlin.(3)
John was a lieutenant in the militia appointed by Gov. William Shirley in 1755 "for killing and captivating the Indian enemy". He had in 1755 command of soldiers enlisted for five months who scouted from New Boston (Gray) to Fort Shirley at Frankfort (Dresden), ME. His journal recounts the daily doings of the month of July in marching to North Yarmouth, New Gloucester, Brunswick, Cathance (Bowdoinham), Richmond, Fort Western at Augusta and Fort Halifax at Winslow, ME.
"Northyarmouth July 31st 1755
According to his Excelencies orders I have Kept As exact a Jornal of our Proseedings Which is as followeth as things Would ( ) Kept pr Me John Stackpole lieutt
July 3 Thursday Marched From Biddeford to Falmouth 4 Friday Marched to Northyarmouth Wheair I Red provisions 5 Satterday Marched to Newboston 6 Sonday Scouted Round the forte 7 Monday ( ) for Ammascogin camped in About two Mile of the ( ) 8 Tuesday Marched Down the River About Seven Mile Then Ammbushed the River Secretly Made No Descovery 9 Wednsday Retorned to Newboston Makeing No Discovery 10 Thirsday I Marched With parte of the men towardes Ammascogin So Rownd to New glostor So to Riols River And Retorned in Makeing No Descovery the Capt. With the Rest of the Men Scouted Rownd the forte Eachway Makeing No descovery No Way 11 Friday Sent ten Men After provision The Remaindor Marched to Riols River With Capt. ( ) to Search the proprietors provision 12 Satterday After the Retorn of the ten Men I Marched Down to Northyarmouth 13 Sonday I Kept Sabouth At Northyarmouth 14 Monday took Provision & Marched fore miles towardes Bronswick 15 Tues Marched to Bronswick Maid No Descovery 16 Wednsday Crosed the River Marched to Cathance threw the woods 17 Thirsday Marched to Richmond Maid No Descovery 18 Friday Twock provisions & at the Request of Capt. ( ) Mr Willard up to forte Westron Parte of the Men Marched for Newgloster 19 Satterday then with him to ( ) to garde up the ( ) 20 Sonday Retorned to forte Westron So to Richmon 21 Mon to Topsom 22 Tuesday to Northyarmouth the other Scoute got in to Newgloster 23 Wednsday went to Newboston Met the Men Retorning Left Son to garde the forte Marched the Rest to Northyarmouth Maid No Descovery No way 24 Thirsday toock provision And Retorned about fore Miles towards Newboston 25 Friday Marched up to Newboston 26 Satterday Marched towardes Ammascogin 27 Sonday Lay by Maide No Descovery 28 Monday Set our corse for Newglostor 29 Tuesd Caim in to Newgloster 30 Wednsday Scouted Round at Night Caim in to Newboston 31 Thirsday Marched Towardes Ammascogin So to North- yarmouth"(4)
John was listed on the muster roll 22 March 1757 as a Lieutenant and was paid £3/4 per month. He was in the service from 21 Feb. 1757 until 21 March 1757 and paid £3/4. He received 13/ of the commissary balance and was due £2/10/4... Charles Gerrish of Falmouth was Captain.(5) John Sr. & Jr. (actually Jr. & John III) were on the muster roll 9 March 1757 with Thomas Bradbury Captain.(6) Deacon John Stackpole Jr. was on a "list of names of those in the alarm list on the River in Biddeford where Thomas Bradbury is Captain 7 April 1757."(7)
(1) History of Biddeford and Saco- Folsom, pp.206-7 (2) Ibid- p.229 (3) Ibid- p.237 (4) Mass. Archives- Vol.38A, pp.170-1 (5) Ibid- Vol. 94, p.142 (6) Ibid- Vol. 96, p.89 (7) Ibid- Vol. 95, p.362
History and Genealogy of the Stackpole Family- p.87ff Saco Valley Settlements- Gideon T. Ridlon, p.1152
b. 14 Nov. 1732 Biddeford, ME m. 26 Dec. 1754 by Rev. Moses Morrill, ABIAH (5) HILL (b. 29 Apr. 1737, d. 25 Apr. 1808 Waterville, ME) d. 8 Sept. 1824 Waterville, ME
On 3 Nov. 1756 Robert Gray Jr. of Biddeford, husbandman sold to Nicholas Smith and James Stackpole of Biddeford, husbandmen for £93/6/0 1/16th part of a sawmill on the Saco River at Lower Falls on the west side of the river as well as 1/16th part of land for a mill.(1)
James is on the list of soldiers under the command of Capt. Thomas Bradbury, Lt. Theophilus Smith and Ensign Ebenezer Hill Jr. at Biddeford 7 Apr. 1757.(2)
James bought 35 acres in Biddeford on Oak Ridge on the Little River from Andrew and Mary Stackpole for £28 on 6 Apr. 1759.(3) He lived in that town until moving to Gardiner in 1774 where he kept the "Great House" an Inn that was built in 1761.
James purchased lot No.5 (5 acres) in Gardinerstown from John Denny of Gardinerstown for £13/6/8, 4 April 1778.(4) He then bought lot No.4 (also 5 acres) from Lydia Burrill of Boston for £30, 29 April 1778.(5) On 2 March 1779 he purchased lot No.8 (5 acres) from James Cocke of Hallowell for £33.(6)
James then began buying land in Winslow beginning with lots No.18 and 19 (300 acres), 22 Dec. 1779 purchasing it from "John Fargusson of Winslo Cordwinder" for L200.(7). He then bought lot No.20 and one half of lot No.21 from James Huston of Winslow, yeoman for No.80, 2 Feb. 1780 and lots No.31 and 32 (300 acres) from James McDonald of Winslow, yeoman for L£,000 on the 28th of the same month.(8) The next year (12 Feb. 1781) James purchased lot No.17 (100 acres) from Michael Thornton of Sebestoocook, yeoman for £500.(9)
James then sold his holdings in Gardiner beginning with lot No.18 which he sold to David Berry of Pittstown, Gentleman for £18/18/0, 16 Dec. 1782.(10) He then sold lots No.4 and 5 to William Barker of Pittston, yeoman for £45, 16 Dec. 1782 including all buildings and fences.(11) James then moved to that part of Winslow which is now Waterville 9 March 1784 where he was a general trader.
James then began selling sections of his vast holdings in Winslow beginning with 50 acres on the Sebastoocook River to Daniel Spring of Pownalborough for £40, 15 Feb. 1785.(12) James retained the right to land lumber on the front of the lot for the next three years. He then sold 100 acres to John Lewis of Winslow for £45, 13 Dec. 1785 and then part of lot No.17 (50 acres) to his son Samuel Stackpole for £60, 16 Nov. 1786.(13) James then sold lots No.18 and 19 (300 acres) to William Howard of Hallowell, Esquire for £135/8/2 payable in one year with interest, 2 June 1787.(14)
James was commissioned Captain by Gov. John Hancock 25 Oct. 1787 and his resignation was accepted 6 Feb. 1795.(15)
James then sold more land to his son Samuel adjoining Samuel's lot No.17 for £45 reserving a 5 acre lot on the north side of the road for himself 15 Jan. 1789.(16)
Evidently William Howard did not make his payments since James sold lots No.18 and 19 for a second time to Elijah Hall of Falmouth for £300, 23 July 1792.(17) James then sold 10 acres of land lying between son Samuel's and Elijah Hall's land to his son James Jr. of Winslow, trader for £30, 25 March 1794.(18)
From the diary of Martha Moore Ballard 17 July 1795: "Clear and very warm mrs Kinney here informing me her Dagt was very ill last night I gave her some Bread meat Chees milk string Beans and Soap to Convey to her - Sally Came home at 10h morn all well at her Dads except mr Kimballs infant - Capt. Stackpols Lady, mrs Greely and mrs Dingle here."(19)
(1) York Deeds- Vol. 36, p. 31 (2) Mass. Archives- Vol. 95, p. 361 (3) York Deeds- Vol. 36, p. 32 (4) Lincoln Deeds- Vol. 1, p. 358 (5) Ibid- p. 357 (6) Ibid- p.382 (7) Ibid- p.381 (8) Ibid- pp.450-1 (9) Ibid- p.452 (10) Ibid- Vol. 3, p. 30 (11) Ibid- Vol. 7, p. 44 (12) Ibid- Vol. 1, p. 572 (13) Ibid- Vol. 3, p. 252; Vol. 1, p. 595 (14) Ibid- Vol. 3, p. 209 (15) The Centennial History of Waterville- Edwin Carey Whittemore, p. 127 (16) Lincoln Deeds- Vol. 8, p.25 (17) Ibid- Vol. 5, p. 341 (18) Ibid- Vol. 4, p. 316 (19) Diary of Martha Moore Ballard- MS at Maine State Library
History and Genealogy of the Stackpole Family- pp.95-6 James Stackpole's Diary- MS at Waterville Historical Society