Benjamin Bickford (1743 - 1834)

Benjamin Bickford was born in 1743 in Dover, New Hampshire. His birthplace and date are stated in his second application for pension for his service in the American Revolution. One hundred twenty years earlier, in 1623, family founder John Bickford (1607-1676/7) arrived from Devonshire, England to help establish the settlement of Dover, New Hampshire and thus began the Bickford name in a "New" England. Since "old Dover" once encompassed parts of, or all, of the present towns of Lee, Madbury, Durham, Somersworth, Newington, and Rolingsford, it's probable his birth might have been in one of these "set off" communities. In his declaration for pension he says he presumes his birth is recorded in Dover. Lydia, his wife of about 73 years, was the daughter of Benjamin Stanton, Sr., and Eleanor Ricker, both of Dover. She was born in Jan. 1741 and died 6 May 1837 in Dearborn, (now Belgrade) Maine. She was 96 years and four months old! Very little regarding their early years has survived, or is known. They had seven children born to them between the years 1762 and about 1785. It is possible a child listed as being buried in Lebanon, Maine on 16 Jan. 1766, was also theirs. MILITARY & LATER YEARS: By June 1775 Benjamin and his family were living in Narragaugus, (Gouldsboro) Maine when he enlisted into the Massachusetts lien of troops defending the coastal region. (Now way Down East Maine). He was in Capt. Shaw's Co., under Col. Campbell's regiment and appears to have served for 5 months and 3 days. Although in his pension request he says it was for a full year. Solomon Tracy, a neighbor in Dearborn, says in an affidavit for Benjamin that he knew him well and served with him at Gouldsboro and thinks he was discharged "the same year the British burned Portland," which was 1776* Benn's first application for a pension in 1818 was rejected on the grounds that it wasn't an officially recognized Continental or Militia unit. Almost sounds like the government of today! His second application in 1833 was approved at $40 per year. It had now been 50 years after the official end of the war in 1783. Benj. moved to Dearborn in 1794 after auctioning off his farm in the Gouldsboro area. He seems to have been proceeded there by his son Abijah, who arrived about 1790. Where he was coming from we don't know. But eventually, all seven children and their families would take up residence in the Belgrade Lakes region on the edge of Kennebec County. They settled the towns of West Pond, Dearborn (now Belgrade and North Belgrade) and parts of Rome, Smithfield (in Somerset County) Sidney, Oakland and just kept going. Benjamin died in his 91st year on 30 Oct 1834 in Dearborn. In his will he mentions his wife, Lydia, dau. Elizabeth Stevens, and four of his sons; Abijah, William, Henry and John. Joseph and Ben Jr., had already died. He left his four sons $1 each and his estate to his wife, and then his daughter. Ben is buried at Ellis Pond Cem. in North Belgrade, Maine. We presume Lydia is nearby.

Benjamin's Revolutionary War monument is Dedicated on August 16, 1992 at Ellis Pond Cemetery in North Monmouth, Maine.

Ben's arrival in the area by 1794, chronologically known as Washington Plantation, West Pond, Dearborn, and finally Belgrade, was followed by several land transactions up until just a year before his death. The family settled in an area which was to become known as Bickford Hill. Descendants of Benjamin and his family still live in the area of Bickford Hill which is on Route 8 near Ellis Pond, now known as McGrath Pond.