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Pvt. Maine Artillery, Rev. War
*****
"Thomas Redlon was the third son of Matthias (and Rachel Edgecomb) and born in Saco, Maine. He married Martha (Pattie) Merrill, second daughter of Lieut. Samuel Merrill and his wife, Elizabeth Bradbury of Buxton, and settled in Saco on the Ferry Road where his first two children were born. In 1782, he united with relatives and brothers in "Little Falls Plantation" (Hollis) on tract of land called "Dalton Right". Also called Phillipsburg. He built a snug log house, chinked with moss and morter and warmed by a stone fireplace. First years...
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Pvt. Maine Artillery, Rev. War
*****
"Thomas Redlon was the third son of Matthias (and Rachel Edgecomb) and born in Saco, Maine. He married Martha (Pattie) Merrill, second daughter of Lieut. Samuel Merrill and his wife, Elizabeth Bradbury of Buxton, and settled in Saco on the Ferry Road where his first two children were born. In 1782, he united with relatives and brothers in "Little Falls Plantation" (Hollis) on tract of land called "Dalton Right". Also called Phillipsburg. He built a snug log house, chinked with moss and morter and warmed by a stone fireplace. First years of the settlement, they procured their subsistence by hunting and fishing; their groceries purchased with pelts and shaved shingles at Saco Falls, their nearest trading post, on foot or on horseback. Hay for livestock before they cleared their fields, was drawn from salt marshes in Scarboro on sled in winter. Times during summer most of the boys and men were absent cutting marsh has and stocking it for winter, while women at home watched the cows, grew crops, and "keeping the bears away". No mills near and corn was pounded into "samp" by hand. Almost as soon as their houses were up, Thomas built a "samp mill" by cutting down a large beech tree, in the stump of which he burned out a cavity that would hold about a bushel; over this he erected a sweep and powder which had a long cross-bar running though it, so adjusted that a man could stand on each side and the two work the sweep in reducing the corn to the coarse meal, then called, "corn-samp"; a laborious process and but little pounded at one time. "Redlon's sweep and mortar was the best in the neighborhood and could be heard from morning to night, as the neighbors gathered to dress their corn and took their turns at the sweep handles. But Mr. R., was gaining ground, and as soon as his farm produced sufficient hay, and feed for his family, this rude instrument gave place to the wheel and water power. He called his neighbors together one winter day and suggested they erect a mill next spring. "A rude schedule for the frame was drawn out, and before the snow was gone, the timber was cut, hewed, mortised, and ready to raise."
"Thomas yoked the oxen and with his eldes son, started across Sebago Lake to get the millstones which had been previously ordered of a stonecutter on the other side." Near Spring, ice not strong, and on their return, the father told Thomas Jr., to remove the chain from the stones; as they came near the southern shore, ice gave way and millstones sank to bottom but the team was saved. New millstones were ordered, water was too deep to recover the first set. Grist mill completed and ready for autumn corn harvest. From this time nearly all the inhabitants of South Limington and North Buxton had their grain ground at "Ridlon's Mill"; the farmers bringing theirs on horseback and the latter across Saco in boats.
"Next was need of a sawmill. Thomas and James were chosed to go down to Saco Falls and "view a good mill" for a plan. The sawmill was higher up the stream than the grist mill and the water was carried to the lower wheel by a long sprout. All the settlers were duly notified and promptly assembled at the house of "Uncle Thomas" and the new mill. "A barrel of rum was brought from Saco for the occasion. Songs were sung and Mr. Field made a speech. Thomas hoisted the gate and the great wheel commenced to move with a creaking sound, the saw began to rise and the astonished people shouted "There she goes! There she goes!" while the women clapped, and sang, children screamed and dogs houled! Merry days and the festivities of such occasions served to lighten toil and drive away care.
"There were times when the families of the Redlons were pinched for food before their mills were built and during the first years of their settlement at Little Falls. Sometimes the mothers would sit up with their children until midnight, waiting the return of their husbands from Saco, where they had gone to procure provisions and would then bake bread before going to bed to satisfy their hunger. At one time Thomas Redlon's family were out of food and he started early for Saco on foot to procure meal and groceries. When he reached Smith's (supposed to have been Daniel Smith, 1st, who lived near Smith's bridge) a woman hailed him from her door and asked him if he had any breakfast; and on learning his errand brought him a biscuit as large as his fist, which he put in his pocket and went forward. When he reached Saco Falls he could find no corn for sale and was obliged to go down past his old home at the "Ferry" to the vessel of colonel Cutts to fill his sack. Returning to the mill at the "Falls", he rested and ate his biscuit while his corn was being ground. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon he shouldered his two bushels of meal (minus the miller's toll) and with a bundle of salt fish under his arm and a keg of molasses in his hand, he started homeward. He stopped to rest several times and once put down his burdens and drank from a brook. It was a late hour when he reached home and he was almost dead with weariness and hunger, but his good wife Pattie was up and soon prepared him some food." Robert Martin mentions a similar experience and tradition proves that such was the lot of the early settlers frequently.
"Thomas and his brother James were among the first in the Plantation to build frame houses and Thomas' was largest in town. Timbers were very large and of best pine; clapboards and shingles shaved by hand; chimney of stone so large "that one could sit in the corner and look out upon the stars of Heaven"; the rooms were partitioned with wide pine boards and very capacious, while hanging around the walls were the small farming tools. The fireplace over which the cooking was done was so broad and high that the crane would "swing over Pattie's head", and the wood six feet long could be burned. This dwelling stood on the same spot where the "Aunt Judith Ridlon house" now (1884) stands and the barn was between the house and the brook. When this old mansion was taken down, the beams were sawed into boards with which to cover the present house. He lived here until his wife died (about 1820-24). Thomas B. Ridlon of Bridgton was then living with his grandparents and remembers when his grandfather came down to the old barn, weeping and said, "Tommy, your grandmarm is dead"; he slept with his grandfather that summer, and said the old man groaned dreadfully as soon as he lay down upon his bed. The old house was becoming dilapidated and cold, and as the children had all married and settled in their own homes, a small house would do for "Uncle Thomas" and his two maiden daughters, Judith and Sarah, who lived with him at that time and the one since called the "Aunt Judith Ridlon house" was then built. He lived in his new house until 1830 - his death. He had been out to his plains lot for a load of wood and as he went between his steers to disconnect them from the sled, they became restless, threw him down and drew the load over him, killing him instantly. "This was a solemn day for the neighbors and as the sad news spread, the people left their work and hastened to the place. David Martin, a son-in-law and Samuel Ridlon, a grandson, unloaded the wood, and took the body to the house. Everybody in the community, for many miles around, came to Mr. Redlon's funeral. He had been a man of great influence and was widely known as an honest, reliable neighbor and citizen.
"More than six feet tall and so broad across his shoulders that he could lie on his back in a tem-cart and touch both sides at once; his hips were so wide that when walking he carried his legs far apart and made a double track with his feet. His weight was about 200 pounds but he was never fleshy; his frame gigantic and clothed with muscles that were strong as iron. No man contempory with him ever claimed to be his equal in strength, nor ever made an attempt to compete with him. His arms were so long that his hands reached his knees when walking; his neck was short and very thick; his head large and well formed, his forehead broad and high and in old age was very smooth and fair; his hair, which was worn quite long, was jet black and fell in curls around his neck; eyebrows exceedingly long and thick; eyes dark gray, deep set and small but remarkably sharp and expressive; cheekbones wide and prominent; nose short and round at the end; mouth and chin broad and his upper lip extremely wide and full. There was a peculiar, cool, determined expression always upon his face when undisturbed. Had great kindness of heart and generosity of disposition and a better neighbor could not be found; but when his temper was aroused he was like a mad tiger let loose and woe to the man or beast that stood in his way.
"He once called his dog and with gun on shoulder, started for "Deerwander" some four miles away to find larger game. Soon heard dog bark and saw a large bear in the forks of an oak. Taking good aim he brought him to the ground. No means but to drag it; twisting a kithe into bear's jaws, he took it over his brawny shoulders and started toward the Saco River. Going down hill he made good headway, but when he came to an ascent the bear was so heavy he was compelled to go backwards and pull him along a few feet at a time. He reached the bank of the River just as the sun was going down, left the bear on the ice and returned home, next morning he took a man with him and drew the carcass home and on weighing it, the stealyards indicated over 400 pounds.
"Once put his axe through a bear's skull when she poked her head out of her den at his barking dog. she had tow nice fat cubs and he had plenty of game.
"Once he fell from a mill frame into the falls on the Saco River and was carried under the ice. No one thought they'd see him before the ice left the River, but they saw him crawling out upon the thich ice below the falls! He returned to his work unharmed and the master millwright said, "Well, Thomas, I am glad it was you who fell in!" At this Mr. Redlon drew back his arm and would have dealt the master workman a blow, but he made haste to apologize by saying. "Hold! Hold! Thomas, I mean that no other man could have gone under and come out alive."
"He was once hanging a boom on the west bank of the Saco River, and in company with several others, was discussing some political question. Among those present was on Ed Rogers, a saucy Irishman and as Mr. Redlon had taken the ring of a heavy chain in his hand and was stooping down to put it around the boom stick, Rogers called him a liar. In an instant he sprung to the bank and with herculean strength struck at his antagonist with the chain. His son Thomas saw what was coming and pulled Rogers aside and just saved him from being killed. The chain cut a limb from a tree overhead as large as a man's thumb.
"Once his sheep were scattered by dogs. Heard a stray wether (castrated male sheep) at a barn in Limingon, he went and got it and when he could not lead it he carried it across his shoulders for nearly 9 miles, a feat few men could carry out.
"A soldier of the Revolution, 2 terms, Army. First enlistment in John Crane's artillery; 2nd under Col. James Scammon of Saco. He was at the fortification of Dorchester Heights and at the surrender of Burgoyne. He said when he reached the army the second time he had considerable money, but finding his Uncle, Daniel Field, and brother-in-law Daniel, very destitute, he divided with them. One of his company came home from the army sick and called at Mr. Redlon's house to tell his family "You will never see Thomas again, for I marched with him so far north that the north star was south of us and he has been going in the same direction six weeks since I came away." Mr. Redlon returned home a few days after. The heavy "Queen's - arm" gun carried by him in the army was long kept in the house of his son Thomas and Gideon T. Ridlon, author, fired it when a goy; but Gideon's father used the barrel to burn out bow-holes in his yokes and it was spoiled. The gun was long, clamped, and iron-trimmed and with it Mr. Redlon killed many bears and other wild animals after his return from the army.
"He was buried in the Old Ridlon Burying-ground on the hill beyond the homestead buildings of his brother James, but there is now (1883) nothing but small ledge stones at his grave to mark the place of his earthly rest. Died 1830. (Note: There is now a gravestone.) |
