by Mildred Lane Kendall, Janet Hamlin Owen Provencher, and John Lawrence Haldane

copyright 2002, Grand Memories Publications

Abijah Smith Paine (of whom above) was born 18 August 1806 to Abijah Paine and his wife, Hannah, per Sumner Maine Vital Records.

Records of his mother have been elusive and only family tradition gives her name as Hannah Reed. Her birth date is given as 11 December 1773 in the Sumner Vital Records, but her maiden name and place of birth are not recorded. Hannah died at Minot 1 February 1822 (Minot Vital Records), but again her maiden name is absent.

Abijah Paine, the father of Abijah S. Paine, was born to Jonathan Paine and Rebecca Clark at Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts on 18 March 1771. This date (but not the place or his parentage) is recorded in the Sumner Vital Records. The date, place, and names of his father and mother are recorded in the Harwich Vital Records. The death of Abijah is not recorded at Harwich or Minot and has not been found as of this writing.

As noted above, Abijah Paine came to Paris, Maine sometime before December 1793 when his first son was born. He moved the young family to Sumner between 1796 and 1799. He then moved to Minot sometime between 1800 (when he is enumerated in the Sumner census) and 1820 (when he is enumerated in the Minot census).

Jonathan Paine, the father of Abijah is recorded in several sources, including the Harwich Vital Records and Mayflower Society publications. He was born at Harwich 26 March 1739 to Joseph Paine and Hannah Huckins. One 1 March 1766, he married Rebecca Clark at Harwich.

Rebecca was born at Harwich 30 August 1738 to Rowland Clark and Lidea Dillingham. She died at Brewster, Massachusetts on 25 February 1831, "age 93" according to the Brewster Vital Records. Brewster was formed after 1800 from a portion of Harwich, so it is possible that she moved very little, if at all, during her life.

Joseph Paine was born at Harwich 29 March 1697 to Joseph Paine and Patience Sparrow. This is documented in several Mayflower publications as well as the Harwich Vital Records. He died at Harwich 26 June 1771, when his grandson, Abijah, was just 3 months old.

Joseph married Hannah Huckins at Harwich on the 24th of March 1719/20. Hannah was the daughter of Thomas Huckins and Sarah (Pope) (Hinckley) Huckins. She was born at Barnstable, Massachusetts 22 August 1699 and died after 18 June 1771, when the will of her husband was written.

Joseph Paine resided in the "Fourth Remove" of Harwich in 1726. He was chosen in 1750 to enforce a Harwich town animal-control ordinance.

The will of Joseph Paine of Harwich, yeoman, dated 18 June 1771 and proved 9 July 1771, mentioned wife Hannah; two grandchildren Edward Bangs and Hannah Bangs (both under 21, heirs of daughter Hannah Bangs, deceased; son James Paine (executor); daughter Sarah Paine (unmarried); daughter Lydia Paine (unmarried); son Jonathan Paine (of whom above); son Joseph Paine, Jr.; and son Samuel Paine. Inventory was taken 17 July 1771 and James Paine rendered an executor's account 13 April 1775.

The mother of Joseph Paine was Patience Sparrow, probably born at Eastham before 25 October 1675 to Jonathan Sparrow and Hannah Prence. She married Joseph Paine (the father of the above Joseph Paine) at Eastham on 27 May 1691 and then, after Joseph's death, married John Jenkins of Barnstable on 23 November 1713.

No birth record has been found for Patience Sparrow. Her parentage has been ascertained from a deed dated 17 May 1706, when Joseph Paine and his wife, Patience, sold their right in land "whether divided or undivided in the Township of Middleborough [Massachusetts] ... Which sd Right originally descended from our Honoured Grandfather Thomas Prence Esqr deceased Unto Our Honoured Mother Hannah Sparrow Daughter of ye above said Thomas Prence Esqr also deceased." She was further identified in the will of her father, Captain Jonathan Sparrow.

Joseph Paine, the elder and wife of Patience, was probably born at Eastham, the son of Thomas Paine and Mary Snow. He died at Eastham 1 October 1712.

No birth record has been found for Joseph Paine (the elder). His parentage is proven by the will of Thomas Paine, dated 12 May 1705, which mentioned his son Joseph Paine. Joseph Paine helped to establish the First Church at Harwich, 16 October 1700, where Patience was admitted to membership 22 June 1701. Joseph also served as Selectman and Town Clerk of Harwich.

Ensign Joseph Paine of Harwich died intestate and on 27 January 1712/13, widow Patience Paine was appointed administratrix. The inventory, dated 16 November 1712 and taken by Thomas Freeman, Thomas Crosby, and Chillingsworth Foster, amounted to £497-8s-7d and listed the housing, building, and meadow at £325 with a piece of woods land at £20. Distribution of the estate was made 14 April 1718, to the widow and ten children, named as sons Ebenezer and Joseph, daughter Hannah Russell and her husband Phillip Russell, son Richard, daughters Dorcas, Pheby, and Reliance, sons Thomas and Jonathan, and daughter Experience Paine.

The mother of Patience Sparrow was Hannah Prence, born in Plymouth, Massachusetts before 12 December 1634 (the date of her mother's death). She died at Eastham, Massachusetts before 23 November 1698 (when her husband, Jonathan Sparrow, married again). She married first (13 February 1649 at Eastham) Nathaniel Mayo (1627-1661). She married Jonathan Sparrow between June 1667 and September 1671.

No birth record has been found for Hannah Prence. Her parentage is ascertained from the will of Thomas Prence, Esq. who named his daughter Hannah.

No record has been found for Hannah's marriage to Jonathan Sparrow, either. The sale of land of "our honoured Grandfather Thomas Prence Esqr. deceased " 17 May 1706, by Joseph Paine and his wife Patience and Richard Sparrow, children of Jonathan and Hannah Sparrow, led to the identification of Hannah's second husband. Hannah is last referred to as the widow Mayo on 5 June 1667, when the court ordered Lt. Freeman either to purchase or hire land granted to Gyles Hopkins, Jonathan Sparrow, and the widow Mayo. She must have married after that date and before 11 September 1671, when Jonathan Sparrow and his wife Hannah acknowledged a deed.

Jonathan Sparrow was born in England about 1633/34 and he died at Eastham 21 March 1706/7, age 73. He was the son of Richard and Pandora Sparrow. He married first (1654) Rebecca Bangs, who died after July 1665. He then married Hannah (Prence) Mayo.

Deacon Jonathan Sparrow served as ensign and captain in King Phillip's War and also as Constable 1656, Grand Jury 1666 & 1679, as Town Council 1675, Collector of Minister Rate 7 June 1670, a Selectman 1671 through 1686, Representative 1673-1687 when the government was interrupted by Sir Edmund Andros.

The will of Jonathan Sparrow, date 10 March 1706/7, probated at Barnstable 3 April 1707, named his three sons, John, Jonathan, and Richard Sparrow; three daughters, Rebecka, Lydia, and Patience; "the children Capt. Samuel Freeman had by dau. Elizabeth," Benoney Gray, grandchild John Sparrow, grandson Jonathan Sparrow, as well as William Freeman and Lydia Godfree who were to have "one half of their mother's part."

The parents of Hannah Prence were Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster.

Thomas Prence was born probably near Lechlade, Gloucestershire, England about 1600. He died at Plymouth 29 March 1673 and was buried 8 April 1673 in his 73rd year. Called "Esquire," he was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Todlerby) Prence.

On 3 June 1657, Thomas Prence was again elected Governor of the jurisdiction of New Plymouth and he served until his death.

Thomas Prence died in 1673. Plymouth church records state "a very awfull frowne of God upon this chh & colony in the death of mr Thomas Prence the Governor in the 73d yeare of his Age: when this colony was in a hazardous condition upon the death of Govr Bradford, the lott was cast upon mr Prenc to be his successor, God made him a repairer of breaches & a meanes to setle those shakings that were then threatening, he was excellently qualified for the office of a Governour, he had a countenance full of majesty & therein was well as otherwise was a Terrour to evill doers, he was very amiable & pleasant in his whole conversation & highly esteemed of the saints & acknowledged by all; In the time of his sickness the chh sought by Fasting and Prayer, but God would not be intreated any longer to spare him, but he dyed on March 19: & was honourable interred, April 8."

The will of Governor Thomas Prence, dated 13 March 1672/3, mentions his "loveing" wife; "seaven Daughters: Hannah, Marcye, Jane, wife of Mark Snow, Mary Tracey, Sarah Howes, Elizabeth Howland, and Judith Barker; grandchild Theophilus Mayo and Grandchild Sussanna Prence, the Daughter of my deceased son Thomas Prence." In a further supplement or addition, dated 28 March 1673, he mentions "my son, Mr. John Freeman," Lydia Sturtevant, and daughters Elizabeth Howland, and Jane. The will and addition were proved 5 June 1673. The inventory was dated 23 April 1673.

Patience Brewster was born in England about 1600 to William Brewster and his wife Mary, whose surname has not been found. She died "of pestilent feaver" at Plymouth before 12 December 1674.

Patience married Thomas Prence 5 August 1624 at Plymouth.

William Brewster, his wife, Mary, and their daughter, Patience all arrived at Plymouth on the Mayflower in 1620.

Inez Alice Elwell was born 25 Oct 1898 in Paris, Maine. She married the Rev. Robert Haldane, Sr. 9 on May 1927 at Bethel, Maine and died 16 Dec 1970 in Portland, Maine. They had one son, Rev. Robert Haldane, Jr., born 12 April 1928 at Rumford, Maine and one daughter, Elizabeth Bradshaw Haldane, born 1932 at Errol, New Hampshire.

Inez and her husband served churches in several places in Maine and New Hampshire including Ashland, Madison, and Portland, Maine and Errol, New Hampshire. Rev. Dr. Robert Haldane, Sr. died 16 March 1988 at age 86 in Dade City, Florida. He is buried with his wife in Portland.

Rev. Robert Haldane, Sr. & Inez Alice Elwell, 1952

Rev. Dr. Robert Haldane, Jr. married Marian Jennie Jordan (born 15 February 1928, an identical twin) on 15 August 1948 at Bangor. She died 12 March 1995 at Tampa, Florida. Marian was a descendant of the Rev. Robert Jordan, one of the earliest settlers of Maine. Their children: Robert III (born in Skowhegan, Maine; married; four sons; living in Jackson, Michigan), John Lawrence (of whom below), Mark Thomas (born in Beverly, Massachusetts; married; 1 son; living Mesa, Arizona), Patricia Jeanne (born in Jackson, Michigan; married, no children, living in Jackson, Michigan) and Karen Inez (born in Jackson, Michigan; married; 1 daughter; living in Los Angeles, California).

Robert and Marian served churches in Milbridge and North Anson, Maine, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, Jackson, Michigan, and Los Angles, California.

Rev. Robert Haldane, Jr. & Marian Jennie Jordan, 1994

Elizabeth Bradshaw Haldane married Robert Jefferson Sawtelle of Waterville, Maine, a Mayflower descendant through the Soule family and a descendant of Martin Luther. They had four children: David Michael (married, no children), Kenneth Alan (one son, one daughter), Janis Elaine (one daughter, two sons, one granddaughter), and Scott Robert (one son), all living in 2002. Elizabeth and Robert have lived in Westbrook for over 40 years. Their children all reside in Maine.

Robert Jefferson Sawtelle and Elizabeth Bradshaw Haldane, 2002

John Lawrence Haldane, this editor and the great-grandson of the "Aunt Maidie," who was a major source of information in this history, was born at Skowhegan, Maine. Like his grandfather and father, John attended Bangor Theological Seminary, graduating with his Master of Divinity in 1977. John was ordained in the Congregational Church and served churches in Stonington, Maine and Pittsford, Michigan.

He married his college sweetheart, Laura Jean Gramer, in 1974 at Howell, Michigan. They have two sons, Christopher John (Chip) and Timothy Russell. Chip graduated the University of Michigan in 1997 and married Beth Anne (Gervase) Dotson in 1998. They live in Chandler, Arizona.

Tim is single, graduated Arizona State University in 2001, and resides in Mesa, Arizona.

John and Laura reside in Mesa, Arizona.

More Chapters:

Part I:  A History of the Town

Paine Pioneers

PART II: Horse and Buggy Days

Comments, corrections, and inquiries are welcome.  You may contact John Haldane at: FatherJohn@grandmemories.com

www.grandmemories.com or http://grandmemories.homestead.com/