Uriah, the oldest son of Revolutionary War soldier Levi Foss, married Dec. 16, 1779, Sarah Goodrich, who was born Aug. 24, 1759.They resided in Peperellboro, where to them were born three sons,--Levi, Cyrus, and Daniel, the last two being twins. Sept.7, 1782, he and his son, Levi, were baptised in the First Church in Scarborough, and on the same day both he and his wife joined the church. In the spring of 1786, with his little family, he left Peperellboro--now Saco--and came to the plantation of Littleborough--now Leeds--where he had bought a tract of land,said to contain 400 acres, on which was a heavy growth of pine.It was situated on the east bank of Dead River and at that time was within the limits of the "Livermore Grant," but subsequently was included within the boundary lines of Leeds. On this vast tract of wilderness land he built a log house and hovel where later he erected a fine set of more modern biuldings, being the same now owned and occupied by a grandson, Walter Payson Foss. In the fall of 1785 he had visited this spot, effected the purchase and made a cut-down. When he came with his family the following spring, not unlike many of the early settlers, a temporary stay was made at the home of "Father Thomas," whose latch-string was always out and whose aid in preparing the first clearings for the harvest and constructing the new homes in the wilderness, was generally sought and freely given. Mr. Fossproved to be a valuable citizen and in later years, as may be learned by consulting the list of town and church officers, was a man who commanded the confidence and esteem of the people.He was a ship-carpenter. After having built his log house on this lot and made arrangements for the comfort of his young wife and children, he went to Bath, where he worked at his trade until he earned money enough to pay for his land. It may be remembered, at that time there were no well-kept highways--all about was wilderness. This sturdy young man walked to and from his work, making monthly visits to his home forty miles distant, guided in his travels only by spotted trees. He left his wife in care of Thomas Stinchfield, his nearest neighbor--three miles away. It was a brave woman who staid alone in that cabin home. The forests were alive with wild beasts, and Indians were often seen, but never molested this lone woman, who always treated them kindly whenever they came to the cabin.Both Mr. and Mrs. Foss were very benevolent, kind-hearted people, ever ready to do a kindness and lend a helping hand to new settlers as they came. They were staunch Baptists of the strict old school. At that time five counties only constituted the Province of Maine, and Kennebec extended nearly fifty miles north of its present boundaries, including the town of Phillipswithin its limits. The fine pine lumber on his farm proved a small fortune to this man, who selected it with judgment and foresight. Dead River served him well as a means of transporting it to the mill and market. This remarkable river is seven miles in length and forms the connection between the Androscoggin Lake and Androscoggin River. Its current varies,sometimes flowing into the lake and at other times into the river.Along the western banks farms were later taken up by David Berry, Daniel Parcher, Shephard Cary, Peletiah and John Gould,Samuel Leadbetter, Isaac Pratt, Gilman Moulton, and others,most of whom had large families. A brother and sister of Mr.Foss. Capt. Phineas and Hannah, came to Leeds early, married,settled and spent their remaining years there. Hannah married Isaac Boothby and further mention of her may be found in the family of Mr. Boothby. Capt. Phineas lived near his brother, on the opposite side of where the highway was later built, so near that they could converse with each other while standing on their individual door-steps. With the elapse of time it was deemed necessary that a road be opened to connect this region and up-country settlements with the sea-port town of Falmouth (Portland). The route was a much agitated question. The county was divided in regard to the matter, the eastern settlers favoring one route, while those in the western portion desired another. While the controversy waxed furious, Augusta men took the opportunity to push the matter of opening a road which should connect this region with the head of navigation on the Kennebec. In this scheme were they aided by Deacon Elijah Livermore and Capt. Fish, who represented the proprietors of the Livermore Grant, and succeeded in procuring the laying out and constructing of a road, beginning at the terminal point of a road from Augusta to the eastern boundary of Wayne, near the Craig Bridge; thence through Wayne over Beech Hill to the Androscoggin River to a point a short distance northerly of Strickland's Ferry. Thus the settlers of this section of Leeds were left out in the cold. "Uncle Uriah," though busy working on his farm, had no idea of being side-tracked in that way. When the new road was completed,he thought it time to be in evidence. He drew up a petition to which he obtained the signatures of his two neighbors, Thomas Stinchfield and Robert Gould, presented it to the County Commissioners and obtained a road about six miles in length, beginning at Dead River, near the house of Stinchfield, and terminating at the Augusta Road near Strickland's Ferry. This, together with the road that had been built from Farmington to Greene,entering the town at Beech Hill, passing along the western shore of the lake and so along by Lothrop's Corner and over Quaker Ridge, gave them extra accommodation of travel and pleased the Portland faction. The Augusta men railed long and loudly, but "Uncle Uriah" calmly enjoyed his victory. New settlers took advantage of these facilities for travel. Brothers Stinchfield,Gould and Foss had a great many guests, and especially in spring and fall when the people in the back country were laying in supplies and hauling their products to market. For, strange to relate, most of the new comers and old were "Good Baptist Brethren." In 1820 Mr. Foss was instrumental in having another road laid which crossed his farm. This was a county road leading from the Androscoggin River north of North Turner Bridge, by the house of Benjamin Woodman, through North Leeds to Wayne. After years of prosperity, the old family mansion was built--still standing with its yellow coating of paint, as were all those built in that region in "ye olden time." While working on the road in June, 1824, Mr. Foss dropped dead near his home. His widow survived him seven years, dying in 1831. Previous to his death he had settled two of his sons,Levi and Cyrus, on the northerly portion of his large domain,and after his decease the remainder was divided equally between two younger sons, Walter and Ruel. Uriah Foss was born in Pepereliboro, March 6, 1760, and died of heart disease in Leeds, June 16, 1824. He was of English descent. Sarah Goodridge, his wife, was born Ibid (?)Aug. 24, 1759, and died in Leeds Jan. 28, 1831. She was of Scotch ancestry. They were married Ibid. Dec. 16, 1779 and buried at the Robert Gould Cemetery.
Uriah, the oldest son of Revolutionary War soldier Levi Foss, married Dec. 16, 1779, Sarah Goodrich, who was born Aug. 24, 1759.They resided in Peperellboro, where to them were born three sons,--Levi, Cyrus, and Daniel, the last two being twins. Sept.7, 1782, he and his son, Levi, were baptised in the First Church in Scarborough, and on the same day both he and his wife joined the church. In the spring of 1786, with his little family, he left Peperellboro--now Saco--and came to the plantation of Littleborough--now Leeds--where he had bought a tract of land,said to contain 400 acres, on which was a heavy growth of pine.It was situated on the east bank of Dead River and at that time was within the limits of the "Livermore Grant," but subsequently was included within the boundary lines of Leeds. On this vast tract of wilderness land he built a log house and hovel where later he erected a fine set of more modern biuldings, being the same now owned and occupied by a grandson, Walter Payson Foss. In the fall of 1785 he had visited this spot, effected the purchase and made a cut-down. When he came with his family the following spring, not unlike many of the early settlers, a temporary stay was made at the home of "Father Thomas," whose latch-string was always out and whose aid in preparing the first clearings for the harvest and constructing the new homes in the wilderness, was generally sought and freely given. Mr. Fossproved to be a valuable citizen and in later years, as may be learned by consulting the list of town and church officers, was a man who commanded the confidence and esteem of the people.He was a ship-carpenter. After having built his log house on this lot and made arrangements for the comfort of his young wife and children, he went to Bath, where he worked at his trade until he earned money enough to pay for his land. It may be remembered, at that time there were no well-kept highways--all about was wilderness. This sturdy young man walked to and from his work, making monthly visits to his home forty miles distant, guided in his travels only by spotted trees. He left his wife in care of Thomas Stinchfield, his nearest neighbor--three miles away. It was a brave woman who staid alone in that cabin home. The forests were alive with wild beasts, and Indians were often seen, but never molested this lone woman, who always treated them kindly whenever they came to the cabin.Both Mr. and Mrs. Foss were very benevolent, kind-hearted people, ever ready to do a kindness and lend a helping hand to new settlers as they came. They were staunch Baptists of the strict old school. At that time five counties only constituted the Province of Maine, and Kennebec extended nearly fifty miles north of its present boundaries, including the town of Phillipswithin its limits. The fine pine lumber on his farm proved a small fortune to this man, who selected it with judgment and foresight. Dead River served him well as a means of transporting it to the mill and market. This remarkable river is seven miles in length and forms the connection between the Androscoggin Lake and Androscoggin River. Its current varies,sometimes flowing into the lake and at other times into the river.Along the western banks farms were later taken up by David Berry, Daniel Parcher, Shephard Cary, Peletiah and John Gould,Samuel Leadbetter, Isaac Pratt, Gilman Moulton, and others,most of whom had large families. A brother and sister of Mr.Foss. Capt. Phineas and Hannah, came to Leeds early, married,settled and spent their remaining years there. Hannah married Isaac Boothby and further mention of her may be found in the family of Mr. Boothby. Capt. Phineas lived near his brother, on the opposite side of where the highway was later built, so near that they could converse with each other while standing on their individual door-steps. With the elapse of time it was deemed necessary that a road be opened to connect this region and up-country settlements with the sea-port town of Falmouth (Portland). The route was a much agitated question. The county was divided in regard to the matter, the eastern settlers favoring one route, while those in the western portion desired another. While the controversy waxed furious, Augusta men took the opportunity to push the matter of opening a road which should connect this region with the head of navigation on the Kennebec. In this scheme were they aided by Deacon Elijah Livermore and Capt. Fish, who represented the proprietors of the Livermore Grant, and succeeded in procuring the laying out and constructing of a road, beginning at the terminal point of a road from Augusta to the eastern boundary of Wayne, near the Craig Bridge; thence through Wayne over Beech Hill to the Androscoggin River to a point a short distance northerly of Strickland's Ferry. Thus the settlers of this section of Leeds were left out in the cold. "Uncle Uriah," though busy working on his farm, had no idea of being side-tracked in that way. When the new road was completed,he thought it time to be in evidence. He drew up a petition to which he obtained the signatures of his two neighbors, Thomas Stinchfield and Robert Gould, presented it to the County Commissioners and obtained a road about six miles in length, beginning at Dead River, near the house of Stinchfield, and terminating at the Augusta Road near Strickland's Ferry. This, together with the road that had been built from Farmington to Greene,entering the town at Beech Hill, passing along the western shore of the lake and so along by Lothrop's Corner and over Quaker Ridge, gave them extra accommodation of travel and pleased the Portland faction. The Augusta men railed long and loudly, but "Uncle Uriah" calmly enjoyed his victory. New settlers took advantage of these facilities for travel. Brothers Stinchfield,Gould and Foss had a great many guests, and especially in spring and fall when the people in the back country were laying in supplies and hauling their products to market. For, strange to relate, most of the new comers and old were "Good Baptist Brethren." In 1820 Mr. Foss was instrumental in having another road laid which crossed his farm. This was a county road leading from the Androscoggin River north of North Turner Bridge, by the house of Benjamin Woodman, through North Leeds to Wayne. After years of prosperity, the old family mansion was built--still standing with its yellow coating of paint, as were all those built in that region in "ye olden time." While working on the road in June, 1824, Mr. Foss dropped dead near his home. His widow survived him seven years, dying in 1831. Previous to his death he had settled two of his sons,Levi and Cyrus, on the northerly portion of his large domain,and after his decease the remainder was divided equally between two younger sons, Walter and Ruel. Uriah Foss was born in Pepereliboro, March 6, 1760, and died of heart disease in Leeds, June 16, 1824. He was of English descent. Sarah Goodridge, his wife, was born Ibid (?)Aug. 24, 1759, and died in Leeds Jan. 28, 1831. She was of Scotch ancestry. They were married Ibid. Dec. 16, 1779 and buried at the Robert Gould Cemetery.
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