Monday, March 17, 2014

52 Ancestors: #11 Major Plaisted (1798-1887)



Major Plaisted, my second great grand aunt's husband, was born on this date in 1798 in Gorham, Maine, the sixth child of Andrew Plaisted and Molly (or Polly) Libby and their third son. His grandfather, Elisha Plaisted, was one of the original proprietors of Scarborough, and, legend has it, a wedding night victim (and subsequent escapee) of an Indian kidnapping.

Although there is no evidence of any military service in his life, he remained a single man until, at the age of 51, he took 22 year old Mary Gage Libby as his bride on June 6, 1849, probably in Gorham, Maine. Mary, born in Harrison, Maine, was the youngest of 7 children of Allison Libby III and Lois Cross.

In the 1850 census, he and Mary were living in Gorham on his father's homestead with his 87 year old father Andrew and his unmarried 47 year old sister Hannah.

Ten years later, in spite of an almost 30 year age difference, he and Mary had 5 children, John (10), Helen (8), Louisa (6), George (3), and Edward (1 mo.).

By the time of the 1870 census, the Plaisted family had increased by one, with the arrival of Alice just after the 1860 census had been taken. By that time, Major was 71 years old.

Another ten years found Major and Mary at home in Gorham with son George and daughter Alice.

Major Plaisted lived and farmed his whole life in Gorham, passing away on March 27, 1887. When the 1900 census was taken, his 72 year old widow Mary had moved in with their son George and his wife Elma, and their daughter Edna. Mary died on November 14, 1901.

Major and Mary Plaisted are buried side by side in the North Street Cemetery in Gorham, Maine.





Sources:

1850 U.S. Census; Census Place: Gorham, Cumberland,Maine; Roll: M432_250; Page: 293B; Image: 56, Major Plaisted.

1860 U.S. Census; Census Place: Gorham, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: M653_437; Page: 23; Image: 778; Family History Library Film: 803437, Major Plaisted.

1870 U.S. Census; Census Place: Gorham, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: M593_540; Page: 296A; Image: 66; Family History Library Film: 552039, Major Plaisted.

1880 U.S. Census; Census Place: Gorham, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: 477; Family History Film: 1254477; Page: 300D; Enumeration District: 034; Image: 0851, Major Plaistead.

1900 U.S. Census; Census Place: Gorham, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: 590; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0043; FHL microfilm: 1240590, Mary L Plaisted.

Libby, Charles Thornton. The Libby Family in America, 1602-1881. (Portland, B. Thurston and Co., 1881), pp. 90-91.

"Maine, Births and Christenings, 1739-1900," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4MX-7L6 : accessed 16 Mar 2014), Major Plaisted, 17 Mar 1798; citing Gorham, Cumberland, Maine; FHL microfilm 10930.

"Maine, Vital Records, 1670-1907 ," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2HV5-S16 : accessed 16 Mar 2014), Major Plaisted, 27 Mar 1887, Death; citing Maine, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 001205237.

Major Plaisted grave marker, North Street Cemetery, Gorham (Cumberland County), Maine; photographed by Pamela Schaffner on 7 August 2013.

Mary L. Plaisted grave marker, North Street Cemetery, Gorham (Cumberland County), Maine; photographed by Pamela Schaffner on 7 August 2013.

McLellan, Hugh D.. History of Gorham, Me.. Portland Me.: (Smith & Sale, printers, 1903, c1902), pp.722-723.








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