BACKGROUND

The Eveleth Ancestry of Kathleen Kilgallon Eveleth - This geneology ends with Jason Scott Eveleth (father of Kate)

5. NATHANIEL EVELETH, the eldest surviving son, chose to take up his father’s rights in New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Maine. In so doing he followed in a general trend, as the stagnation of the farm-based segment of the economy in Essex County occasioned many of the ambitious young to turn either to the frontier or the sea. In 1754, when he was 18, Nathaniel was at the building of Fort Halifax with Capt. Dakin, and the next season helped build the blockhouse in New Gloucester with Capt. Protor. On Feb. 16, 1757 he purchased for 7/3/3 pounds delinquent taxes, the right to Lot 25 in New Gloucester, and in 1761 obtained two further lots, numbered 14 and 16, of 75 acres each. Nathaniel married in North Yarmouth, Maine, the nearest established town, on 4 Jan., 1760, Sarah Mason. She was born in North Yarmouth 20 July, 1738, baptized 27 July, and was the daughter of Jonas and Mary (Chandler) Mason. They apparently settled in New Gloucester immediately though their first two children were recorded in North Yarmouth, as New Gloucester did not have a clerk until 1783. Nathaniel was collector for the proprietors from 1763 until 7 Sept., 1774, when the town was incorporated, and served continuously from that date until March 1816 as town clerk, and was also a selectman from 1776 to 1815. At his retirement as clerk the town meeting passed a resolution:

"Whereas, Nathaniel Eveleth, having declined being considered as a candidate for the office of town clerk, it is voted unanimously that the town tender to Capt. Eveleth their respectful acknowledgements and cordial thanks for this faithful and impartial services as town clerk from the act of incorporation of the town to the present day, and they wish him in his voluntary retirement in the evening of his days to be assured that he carries with him the ardent prayers and best wishes of the town for his health and happiness."

Besides these activities, Nathaniel farmed, and kept a tavern. At the start of the Revolution, he was made muster officer of the local Minutemen, an office he held until 1783, and in Sept. 1777 was commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant in the 4^th Cumber Regiment. He was promoted to Captain 1 June, 1783.

Sarah (Mason) Eveleth died in New Gloucester 23 April, 1772, and Nathaniel married for a second time(intention 12 October, 1886) Mary Glass, who was born in Duxbury, Mass., in 1751 and was the daughter of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Fredericks) Glass. She died 15 Oct., 1803, and he married for a third time 4 December, 1805 Sarah (Bartlett)(Wentworth)(Jordan) Arnold, born in Kittery 7 Dec., 1740, who was the daughter of Nathan Bartlett, and widow of John Wentworth, Clement Jordan, and Bildad Arnold (by whom she had a daughter). She survived Nathaniel as well, and died in New Gloucester 12 Sept., 1827.

After the death of his mother and younger brothers, Nathaniel disposed of his rights to the Eveleth lands in Gloucester, releasing his share to his sisters Abigail and Susanna. By his first two wives, Nathaniel had seventeen children, including ten surviving sons (and 64 grandchildren), who remained among the first citizens of New Gloucester for many years. The last male Eveleth resident in New Gloucester, Frank G. Eveleth, died in 1974, and Nathaniel’s numerous descendents are now scattered across the country.

Before he died, Nathaniel set up most of his surviving sons in land around him in New Gloucester. To the eldest, Isaac, went lot 14, totaling 75 acres, and to the youngest, the twins Moses and Aaron, the latter of whom succeeded his father as town clerk, went the home farm. Nathaniel died in New Gloucester 23 November, 1824, aged 88. He probably left a will, but the Cumberland County records have burned twice since that date.

The children of Nathaniel and Sarah (Mason) Eveleth were:

1. Isaac, b. N. Yarmouth, Me. 4 Oct., 1760 (see below)

2. Sarah, b. N. Yarmouth 26 march, 1762; m. New Gloucester 11 Oct., 1811 James Allen

3. Nathaniel, b. New Gloucester 23 March, 1764; d. New Gloucester 10 Fed., 1849; m. New Gloucester 7 Jan., 1790 Judith Parson, 11 children.

4. Jonas, b. New Gloucester 25 Jan., 1766; d. New Gloucester 21 Oct., 1851; m (1) 24 Nov., 1795 Abigail Eveleth; m (2) New Gloucester 23 March, 1797 Abigail Parson. 9 children.

5. Joseph, b. New Gloucester 30 March, 1768; d. New Gloucester 2 Oct., 1843; m. New Gloucester 18 Sept., 1797 Polly Babson. 4 children.

6. Elizabeth, b. New Gloucester 9 May, 1770; m. New Gloucester 15 Oct., 1822 Samuel Lane.

7. Mary, b. Gloucester 19 April, 1772; d. 19 June, 1772.

The children of Nathaniel and Mary (Glass) Eveleth were:

1. Mary, b. New Gloucester 30 Oct., 1777; d. in infancy.

2. Ezekiel, b. New Gloucester 30 Oct., 1777; d. 6. Nov., 1796

3. Andrew, b. New Gloucester 3 Jan., 1780; d. Bangor 10 Aug., 1858; m. ca. 1805 Thomaston Deborah (Chapman) Farr. 7 children.

4. Rizpah, b. New Gloucester 9 March, 1782; d. 15 March 1859; unmarried

5. James, b. New Gloucester 21 may, 1783; d. New Gloucester 27 March, 1857; m. Grey, Me. 29 Nov., 1804 Hannah Austin Cobb. 9 children

6. Perkins, b. New Gloucester 7 Sept., 1784; d. new Gloucester 18 Feb., 1864; m. New Gloucester 11 April, 1813 Lydia Collins True. 9 children.

7. John, b. New Gloucester 24 Oct., 1786; d. Windham, Me. 17 Sept., 1859; m. int. New Gloucester 14 Nov., 1824 Rebecca Merrill. 2 children

8. Moses, b. New Gloucester 26 Sept., 1790; d. New Gloucester 132 Sept., 1849; m. New Gloucester 5 June, 1831 Betsy Preble. 3 children.

9. Aaron, b. New Gloucester 26 Sept., 1790; d. New Gloucester 5 March, 1864; . New Gloucester 6 Dec., 1832 Deborah Rowe. 2 children

10. Mary, b. New Gloucester 26 March, 1794; d. 24 Jan., 1798