Henry Lewis Linscott (1808 - 1885)

Born 1808 in Alfred, York, Maine, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Mar 1885 at about age 77 in West Baldwin, Cumberland, Maine, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Adam Smith [send private message]

Biography

Birth and Early Life

Rev. Henry Lewis Linscott was born in 1808 in Cornish^[1] or Alfred,^[2] York, Maine, USA to Noah Linscott and Sarah Unknown.^[3]

The family was in Amesville, Athens, Ohio on 7 August 1820. Henry would have been 12 years old. On the same census page with adjoining farms are grandfather Isaac Linscott, Uncle Isaac Linscott, Jr. and Uncle Amos Linscott,

Marriage and Family

Rev. Henry Lewis Linscott married Betsey Mariah Trafton in about 1835 probably in York County, Maine, as that was where he was living at the time.

Children of the Linscott-Trafton Marriage

1. Melville Cox Linscott born 8 December 1836 in Raymond, Cumberland, Maine, USA. He married 1)Sarah Maria Cole, called Minnie (1839-1871) on 7 June 1865 in Readfield, Kennebec, Maine. 2) Carrie Cole (1848-1883), Minnie's sister on 4 August 1873 in Manhattan, Riley, Kansas. 3)Edith E. Moyer (1863-1887) on 15 July 1885 in Wakefield, Clay, Kansas and 4)Mary Ellen Washburn (1861-1931) in about 1892 in Kansas. Melville died on 1 January 1925 in Milford, Geary, Kansas, USA.
2. William Henry Linscott born 19 May 1841 in Hiram, Oxford, Maine, USA. He married Mary Anna Evans (b. 1844) in 1876 in Maine. He died on 26 August 1907 in Gentry, Benton, Arkansas, USA.
3. Sarah E. Linscott born on 13 August 1844 in Maine, USA. Sarah never married. She died on 23 February 1885 in Baldwin, Cumberland, Maine, USA.

They were living on their farm in Shapleigh, York, Maine with all three of their children on 3 October 1850. Betsey's brother William Trafton, Jr. (20) was living with them and working as a laborer on the farm.

Later Life

Occupations

Henry was always a farmer, but late in life he was also a minister.

The first time he appears in a religious capacity is in the 1 June 1860 US Federal Census in Readfield, Kennebec, Maine when he gave his occupation as Elder in the Methodist Church. All three children were still with them and Melville worked as a school teacher. William and Sarah were students at the seminary.

Between June 1860 and July 1870 the family moved from Maine to Milford, Riley, Kansas.

By 1 March 1875, he gave his occupation as farmer in Ogden, Riley, Kansas. Melville was not on this census with them; however he has also established a farm in Kansas. Son, 34 year old William H. says that he too was a farmer and daughter Sarah a 32 year old school teacher.

He must have been ordained before 11 June 1880 Census when they have moved back to Maine and are living in Baldwin, Cumberland, Maine. Henry's occupation is given as clergyman. His father-in-law, William Trafton and daughter Sarah live with he and Betsey. The record says that Henry was disabled at the time.

Death and Burial

Henry died on 18 March 1885 in Baldwin, Cumberland, Maine, USA at the age of 72 years and 2 months. His wife Betsey returned to Kansas and moved in with their son Melville Cox Linscott as can be seen on the 1 March 1895 Kansas Census.

Buried at West Baldwin Cemetery, West Baldwin, Cumberland, Maine. Headstone is available.

Find A Grave Memorial # 115660495

Sources

• 1820 US Federal Census: Tally only. With his parents in Amesville, Athens, Ohio. 6 persons total. 7 August 1820. 2 males 10-15, 1 male 45 and over, 2 females under 10, 1 female 16-25 and transcriber left off the 1 female over 45 on the original record.
• 1850 US Federal Census on 3 October in Shapleigh, York, Maine. ^[4]
• 1860 US Federal Census on 1 June in Readfield, Kennebec, Maine. ^[5]
• 1870 US Federal Census on 19 July in Milford, Riley, Kansas. ^[6]
• 1875 Kansas State Census on 1 March in Ogden, Riley, Kansas. ^[7]
• 1880 US Federal Census on 11 June 1880 in Baldwin, Cumberland, Maine. ^[8]
• Maine, Death Records, 1617-1922 for Rev. Henry L. Linscott.
• Maine, Faylene Hutton Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1990, database with images, FamilySearch [1] : accessed 1 June 2016), Leonard - Little > image 3079 of 3469; Maine State Library, Augusta.
• Find A Grave.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Source: "Incorporation of Cornish, York, Maine"
2. ↑ Source: "History of Methodism in Maine"
3. ↑ The only real reference I have found that this was his mother is that on 13 July 1870 US Federal Census, she is a 97 year old widow living with her son Rev. Henry Linscott and his wife Mariah in Milford, Riley, Kansas. Many people have his mother as Miriam, but that would be problematic with this record available.
4. ↑ 1850: Linscott, Henry 42, farmer; Betsey 37, wife; Melville C. 13, son; William H. 9, son; Sarah E. 7, daughter; William Trafton 20, brother-in-law, laborer on the farm.
5. ↑ 1860: Linscott, Henry 52, farmer; Betsey M. 47, wife; Melville C. 19, school teacher, son; William H. 19, student at the seminary, son; Sarah E. 17, student at the seminary, daughter.
6. ↑ 1870: Linscott, Henry 62, farmer, head; Maria 57, wife; William H. 29, son; Sarah Linscott 97, mother.
7. ↑ 1875: Linscott, Henry 67, head, farmer; Betsey 62, wife; William 34, son; Sarah E. 32, teacher, daughter.
8. ↑ 1880: Linscott, Henry L. 72, clergyman, disabled, head; Betsey M. 67, wife; Sarah E. 37, school teacher, daughter; William Trafton 87, widower, father-in-law.

Additional Notes & Sources

Incorporation of Cornish, York, Maine

From the book Saco Valley Settlements and Families, by Ridlon, G. T. (1895), pp. 136-37, we see that henry's parents and uncles were living in the area known as Francisburough (mislabeled as Framesburough in the 1790 Census and on which Isaac Sr. appears and which was incorporated as Cornish in 1794) in the years 1791-1794. Cornish and Alfred are neighbors and could easily be geographically mixed with one another. The included biography found in History of Methodism in Maine says Henry was born in Alfred, which corroborates nicely with this source:

[p. 136]

At the first plantation election, held at the house of Asahel Cole, only thirteen inhabitants were present, all coming on snow-shoes. It appears that Joshua Small, and others who lived in the Plantation of Little Ossipee, had petitioned the General Court for an act of incorporation to embrace the whole territory of Limington and Cornish, but the inhabitants forwarded a remonstrance in 1791, in which they endeavored to show cause "why the prayer of Joshua Small should not be answered concerning both Plantations coming into one Town." This document shows as one cause, that "the land of both Plantations is of great length, thirteen or fourteen miles at least, which will be very ill convenient for us to go to Town Meetings, and not only so, the land is very broken, costly, and hard to make good roads thereupon. W'e can't go to Town Meeting and come in one day to our homes"; another cause why the prayer should not be answered : " There is too large a tract of land for one Town, it is so broken"; another cause: "We cannot see that there will ever be a union together. This being the case, we should not be such good subjects to government." They said it would be a "hardship" for them to be set off to any town or plantation whatever, and prayed to be incorporated by themselves. Dated, " Francisborough, May the 10th, 1791." Plantation assessors, Noah Barker, Timothy Barrens, and Asahel Cole; clerk, Simeon Johnson. To preserve the names of the inhabitants at that time I subjoin the list of those who signed the remonstrance and petition, all in one :

[names included those of Isaac Linscott {this would be Sr.}, Joseph Linscott and Noah Linscott {both of whom are Isaac Sr.'s sons}]

[p. 137]

The following is a nearly complete list of the inhabitants of Cornish previous to the incorporation in 1794. Joshua Chadbourne and Joseph Seavey had removed, and Joseph Wilson had died in consequence of being frozen in a snow storm when on his way to Saco.

[names included those of Isaac Linscott {this would be Sr.}, Isaac Linscott, Jr., Joseph Linscott and Noah Linscott {both of whom are Isaac Sr.'s sons}]

Biography from History of Methodism in Maine

The following is from Stephen Allen's History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886. Published with the approval of the Maine and East Maine Conferences (1887), pp. 484-85.

HENRY L, LINSCOTT.

Rev. Henry L. Linscott was born in Alfred in 1808. In early life his advantages were very limited. He was converted at the age of nineteen, at a meeting held by Rev. G. G. Moore, in a school house in Alfred. He immediately became active in religious meetings, and soon received license as a local preacher.

He had an ardent nature, and was accustomed to give full vent to his emotions, in his public exercises. For years, he was known, in the region of his home, as the shouting Methodist preacher.

He was, for a short time, a student in Maine Wesleyan Seminary, but he had but little taste for school studies; he found "no glory in Grammar" to use his own language, and soon gave up student life.

In 1835, he was married to Miss Trafton, daughter of William Trafton, and, in 1837, he was received, on trial, in Maine Conference and continued ten years in the itinerant work, when he was compelled by failing health, to retire from active service and for thirty-seven years his name remained upon the list of superannuates. During these years of superannuation, he resided at Porter, Kent's Hill and other places, working with his hands and preaching as his health would allow.

For six years he lived in Kansas, but returned to Maine in 1877, and settled in West Baldwin. His health gradually declined, and in March 13th, 1885, he suddenly closed his earthly labors.

In disposition, Brother Linscott was impulsive, but kind-hearted; he was fervent in prayer, and ardent in exhortation, and successful in his work as a minister.

Acknowledgements

• Darlene Scott Kerr, wife of 2nd great grandson, Lt. Col. Michael Scott Kerr, created profile on 8 January 2014, added bio, sources and photo and finished on 15 July 2014.
• Thank you to the Estate of Katie Neola Smith, whose heirs graciously provided me with many beautiful family photos, letters and family information. Katie was the granddaughter of Melville Cox Linscott who was the son of the Henry who is the subject of this profile. The information gleaned from these enabled me to finally get this family together in the proper order and to put faces together with long known names.