Farmington: Franklin County's Shiretown

By Cindy Stevens, avid historian, member of Farmington Historical Society, second grade teacher at Mallett School
With images from Farmington Historical Society

Stephen Titcomb was instrumental in the settlement of the Sandy River Valley and the establishment of Farmington as a town. The History of Wells and Kennebunk, printed in 1875, documents Stephen Titcomb, Jr.’s birth to Stephen Titcomb, Sr. and Abigail Stone on October 3, 1752. The elder Stephen Titcomb had come to Kennebunk from Newburyport, MA. He operated a wood mill in Arundel and actively supported the colonists in the Revolution. This was Stephen Titcomb’s heritage as he prepared to establish a home in the wilderness in 1776.

At the encouragement of Thomas Wilson, Stephen Titcomb and four other residents of Topsham, Maine set out to explore the Sandy River Valley for potential settlement. The History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, 1878, confirms that famous hunter, Thomas Wilson, led a party consisting of Stephen Titcomb, Jr., Robert Gower, James Henry, Robert Alexander, and James McDonnell through the wilderness to what is now called Farmington. He had recommended this area recognizing the natural meadows, wide intervale and good hunting and fishing that the region offered. The party canoed up the Kennebec River as far as Hallowell, which was known as Bombahook at that time. This was a small village consisting of three or four homes and some fish stores. They then followed the trail to the last house, which was log and belonged to Mr. Rumford Smith. They followed a west-north-west compass route and crossed the Sandy River at about what we now call the New Sharon Village. After crossing the river they followed the northern bank to what we now call Farmington Falls.

According to accounts written by both Ben and Natalie Butler in their book, The Falls: Where Farmington, Maine, began in 1776 and in Thomas Parker’s, History of Farmington, the exploring party continued traveling north about a mile further up the river. Here they stopped and stripped some basswood bark to make a chain. Using a very large boulder as the corner, they measured out six lots and drew lots for ownership. Each lot was 100 rods long and extended 1 mile from the river. Stephen Titcomb’ s lot was the most northern of the six.

The group returned to their homes in Topsham to get supplies, axes, saws and other tools to begin the hard job of clearing the land. They came back to The Sandy River area two weeks later. This time they used bateaux to travel from the Kennebec River, through ponds and streams, until they reached the Little Norridgewock to Sandy River. The settlers spent more time exploring the area and felling trees to clear the land. They returned to Topsham a different way this time by following the Sandy to the Kennebec River and down to Merrymeeting Bay to their homes.

For the next five years the settlers continued to prepare their lots for their families. Other families became interested in the area and in 1781 eight families spent their first winter in the new settlement. Out of the six original explorers who marked out their lots in 1776 only two remained in the township. They were Stephen Titcomb and Robert Gower. The others sold their land to later settlers.
Stephen Titcomb was the first to prepare a home for his family. For over four years Stephen had spend his time clearing six acres of land. The Farmington Historical Society is in possession of a gunney sack, with Stephen Titcomb’s initials embroidered on it, that he carried as he traveled back and forth during this time.

Stephen built a log cabin for his family. In 1780 he planted and harvested corn, turnips and potatoes. He put the corn in a storage crib that he built and the potatoes and turnips in the ground.

Stephen Titcomb had hoped to move his family to their new home in the Fall of 1780 but had to wait until the birth of their first daughter, Hannah, who was born in November. Mrs. Titcomb’s father tried to convince them to wait until spring,warning them about the perils of traveling at that time of year, but Stephen Titcomb’s family set out in the middle of December for their new home. Mrs. Titcomb’s father tearfully told his daughter, “The child will die before you get there. Carry a spade to dig a grave for the poor thing.” This counsel was to prove false as the infant, Hannah, lived to the age of 79. When the baby was just five weeks old, Stephen and Betsey Titcomb set out for their new home. They would have to travel 70 miles into the wilderness in the winter. Stephen led oxen pulling a heavily loaded sled. Betsey’s brother went with them and he drove a horse-sled filled with beds and other furniture. Betsey, her young son and the baby rode in the sled. Another boy traveled with them and drove their three cows. They had just reached the last home in Readfield, belonging to Constant Norton, when a blizzard stopped them. Blinding snow and high winds forced the Titcomb’s to seek refuge with this family. Betsey Titcomb and her children remained with the Norton’s for four months until the trails were clear enough for them to continue with their journey.

Stephen left right after the storm and continued on alone on snowshoes. He spent the winter in his log cabin and as spring approached he tapped his maple trees and made maple sugar and syrup for his family.

Stephen Titcomb returned to Readfield to collect his family. He met Joseph Brown and Nathaniel Davis on their way with their families. When Stephen Titcomb and his family got to their lot they found that the corn crib had been destroyed by bears. His potatoes and turnips had kept well and the settlers used the potatoes for seed that year.

Other important facts are known about Stephen and his family. His son, Stephen Titcomb, Jr, was born Nov. 4, 1782 and was the first white child born in the valley. Stephen built his first barn in April 1785 and his framed house in 1788.

Stephen Titcomb lived on the farm for 59 years. Betsey died first, at the age of ninety, in 1839. In 1840 Stephen sold his farm and moved into Farmington Village with two of his daughters on Anson Street.
The Titcomb House burned down around 1945. Nails and part of a fireplace screen were recovered from the ashes.

The influence of the Titcomb family is apparent in Farmington today. Many of Stephen Titcomb’s descendants still live in the Farmington area and local landmarks, such as Titcomb Mt. Ski Area, are named after them. The Farmington Historical Society houses its collection of artifacts in the Titcomb House on Academy Street. This home was donated to the historical society by Stephen Titcomb’s, great, great granddaughter Peggy Titcomb.

Stephen Titcomb’s tale is one of hard work and determination. His dedication, along with other notable early settlers, resulted in the incorporation of Farmington as a town in 1794.

Sources:
The History of Wells and Kennebunk, printed in 1875
The Falls: Where Farmington, Maine began in 1776 by Ben and Natalie Butler
Thomas Parker’s History of Farmington

Second grade students in Mrs. Stevens’ class at W.G. Mallett School in Farmington have created this claymation movie depicting Stephen Titcomb’s story. They took 561 pictures in its creation and have been presenting it to other classes to support local history curriculum.