FIRST PERMANENT SETTLER

 ISAAC GLEASON WAS THE FIRST PERMANENT WHITE SETTLER.  OTHERS HAD COME IN BEFORE HIM, REMAINED A WHILE TO CUT THE LARGER TREES AND THEN RETURNED TO THEIR FORMER HOMES CLAIMING THE CLIMATE WAS "TOO UNBEARABLE IN THE WINTER." GLEASON, FOLLOWING THE DIM, UNMARKED TRAIL THAT MEANDERED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE ANDROSCOGGIN, WAS STUNNED BY THE QUIET BEAUTY OF THE RIVERSIDE, THE BRISK, CLEAN RIVER AIR.  HE HAD FOUND WHAT HE WAS SEARCHING . . GOOD LAND.

SHORTLY AFTER GLEASON SETTLED, SIX MORE FAMILIES MOVED IN.  THEY SETTLED INTO THE HARD LIFE OF THE PIONEERS WITH FEW POSSESSIONS, NO MONEY.  THE NAMES OF THOSE SEVEN FAMILIES ARE AFFIXED TO THE OLDEST PETITION FOUND REGARDING THE TOWN OF MEXICO.  THE PETITION, ADDRESSED TO THE HONORABLE SENATE AND HONORABLE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IN GENERAL COURT ASSEMBLED IN NOVEMBER, 1808, ASKS THAT THE "COMMUNITY BY THE NAME OF HOLMANSTOWN ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER IN THE COUNTY OF OXFORD"  BE EXEMPT FROM TAXATION UNTIL "A MORE FAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCE, OR, AT LEAST ... GRANT THEM THE LIBERTY TO WORK OUT THEIR STATE TAXES ON THEIR ROADS UNTIL IN BETTER REPAIR.