HOLMANSTOWN

 TOWNSHIP NO. 1, NORTH SIDE OF THE ANDROSCOGGIN, IN THE DISTRICT OF MAINE, HAD BEEN PURCHASED BY COL. JONATHAN HOLMAN AND HIS ASSOCIATES IN 1789 FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SALE OF EASTERN LANDS.  IN JUNE 21, 1803, DIXFIELD WAS INCORPORATED AND THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA KEPT THE NAME OF HOLMANSTOWN UNTIL 15 YEARS LATER (1818).
 
IN 1802 ISAAC PARSONS, JEDEDIAH COBB, ABIJAH BUCK, JOHN GREENWOOD AND JOHN THOMPSON, WITH THE HELP OF PETER CHANDLER, BUILT A ROUGH HORSE-LAND ROAD FROM "ISAAC BONNEY'S WELL, IN THE TOWN OF SUMNER, TO THE PENNACOOK ROAD IN JAY".  THIS FOLLOWED THE RIVER, THE SAME TRAIL USED BY THE INDIANS AND THE EARLY SETTLERS.

ALMOST ALL THE EARLY SETTLERS WERE DESCENDANTS OF THE PILGRIMS AND PURITANS.  ALL OF THE EARLY CHURCH MEETINGS WERE HELD IN PRIVATE HOMES IN THE WINTER MONTHS AND IN THE BARNS AND FIELDS IN THE SUMMER.  AFTER THE SCHOOLHOUSE CAME INTO BEING FOLLOWING THE VOTE TAKEN IN TOWN MEETING HELD APRIL 6, 1818, THE SECOND TOWN MEETING OF THE NEW TOWN OF MEXICO, INCIDENTALLY) THE SUNDAY MEETINGS WERE HELD AT THE SCHOOL HOUSE.

AT THE MEETINGS VERY STRICT ATTENTION WAS PAID TO THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER.  SLEEPING DURING THE SERMON WAS A MAJOR DISMEANOR.  THE UTMOST DECORUM WAS OBSERVED BY YOUNG AND OLD GOING OR COMING FROM CHURCH MEETINGS.