Fryeburg, Oxford County, Maine

Address Book · Bibliography · Microfilm · Links

Granted to Colonel Joseph Frye of Andover, Mass., Mar. 3, 1762, (confirmed to him Feb. 24, 1763), upon his petition of Nov. 11, 1761. When part of the grant was found to lie in New Hampshire, an additional grant was made (petitioned for May 31, 1771, and finally confirmed Mar. 10, 1787), known as Fryeburg Addition. It was not included in the town when incorporated, but later incorporated as part of the town of Stow.

Surveyed by Colonel Joseph Frye, in 1762. Resurveyed by Joseph Frye, Jr., Mar. 1774 [Land Office Plans, 25:3]. Resurveyed (with Fryeburg Addition) by Nathaniel Merrill in 1794 [Land Office Plans, 21:13]. See also undated map showing settlers' lots [Land Office Plans, 24:13.5].

First known as Pequawket ("Pigwacket"), and as the Frye Tract.

Settled in 1763. John Stevens, Nathaniel Merrill, and Limbo, an African-American slave, are said to have spent the winter of 1762 here.

Incorporated Jan. 11, 1777, upon a petition drafted the previous fall.

Land annexed from Brownfield, Feb. 20, 1802, by petition of 1800. Barn on farm near Fryeburg in 1940

Land set off to Denmark, Feb. 26, 1813.

Land set off to Bridgton, Aug. 2, 1847.

Villages and locations: Fryeburg Center, Fryeburg Harbor, East Fryeburg, North Fryeburg, West Fryeburg.

Neighboring towns and townships: Stow, Lovell, Sweden, Denmark, Brownfield, Bridgton (in Cumberland County); and Chatham and Conway (both in Carroll County, New Hampshire).

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Address Book

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Bibliography

Barrows, John Stuart, Fryeburg, Maine: an Historical Sketch [Ancestry.com] (Fryeburg, Me.: Pequawket Press, 1938).

Gordon, William, History of Fryeburg: copied from William Gordon's writings, newspaper clippings, etc. ([Norway, Me. : G. W. Libby, 1933).

Mitchell, Harry Edward, The Town Register: Fryeburg, Lovell, Sweden, Stow and Chatham (Brunswick, Me.: H.E. Mitchell Co., 1907).

Souther, Samuel, The Centennial Celebration of the Settlement of Fryeburg, Me. (Worcester Mass.: Printed by Tyler & Seagrave, 1864).

Davies, Charles Stewart, An address delivered on the commemoration at Fryeburg, May 19, 1825 [Ancestry.com] (Portland Me.: J. Adams, Jr., 1825).

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Microfilm

Town and vital records, 1776-1891 (FHL US/CAN Film 10915): "Town records 1776-1787 contain minutes of town meetings, roads, taxes. Also includes family records listing births and deaths, list of members of the First Universal Christian Society, members of the Baptist religious society, marriages 1777-1842, intentions of marriage 1777-1844."

Town and vital records, 1776-1891 (FHL US/CAN Film 10916): "Town records 1788-1817 contain minutes of town meetings, roads. Also includes marriage records 1822-1826, 1845-1891; intentions of marriage 1822-1826, 1842-1891."

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