Norridgewock  Feb. 22, 1867

John H. Willard, Esq.

 Dear Sir,

Having amused myself during many years, collecting statistics and making sketches of the history of the towns in Maine in which I have lived; some of which have been published, all the copies taken up, altho a thousand copies of the "History of Norridgewock" were struck off, none can now be obtained, I had a call from Boston for a copy a few days since and a Book seller in Boston last year sent to me for 100 copies, I had none for him: I have prepared for a revised edition, if posterity sees fit to publish it.  Seeing your article in the Maine Farmer relating to the early history of Wilton, I thought that I might furnish something for your use from my manuscripts as I had from time to time made statistical extracts from the Census, Valuation and taxes in that town from 1800 to 1850 and noticed the unparalled increase of wealth and population compared with other rural towns; but on searching my manuscripts I could find nothing except an imperfect list of votes for Governor for sixty years.  The rest I have burnt up.

When I came to Sandy river in 1792 with my fathers family there were 85 families in what is now Farmington and soon found where they all lived and knew personally every man also in Chesterville; but have no knowledge of any one who then lived in what is now Wilton.

Josiah Blake father of Dr. I. L. Blake made a beginning on a new lot in June 1792 (in later years occupied by Adam Mott).   My father assisted Dr. Blake in cutting down the first trees on that lot and I got the impression that these were the first trees felled in Tyngtown, but I may not be correct.  Mr. Blake was regarded by us as one of the earliest settlers.  In 1793, Hon Jacob Abbott son opened the Coos road through Tyngtown: There were then ten or more settlers in that town

In the summer of 1794, Samuel Butterfield had put up a good mill in the town and I went there to mill ten miles.  I was then 14 years old took a half bushel of corn on my shoulder to Starling's mill five miles, could not get grinding there for want of water: another boy of my age agreed to join me and carry our grists to Butterfields, there was no direct road we had to go towards home half a mile to the river road then by the road two miles to Thos. Hiscocks, then turn a right angle and many crooks by a path rudely bushed out three miles to the mill.

When we got our corn ground it was near sunset we were tired and hungry Mr. Butterfield in a very kind manner invited us to stay all night and Mrs. B. very pleasantly furnished us with a good supper lodging and breakfast and kind wishes that we might get home safely with our loads: advising us to rest often.  We thought that the miller would never get rich by such customers.  I always remembered their kindness and recommended the miller and his mill, and afterwards often went out of my way to carry large loads of wheat to his mill.  He always recognized me and treated me kindly as long as he lived.

When he died, I felt grieved that in the order of providence, the law of descent took all his estate out of the line of his father's family.  He left an only daughter as his heir: she died in a few days leaving an infant child her heir; in a few days the child died and its father C. P. Morse was its lawful heir and he thus inherited the whole estate.

I from my first acquaintance have considered Wilton as the most prosperous town in Franklin County except Farmington.   When I some years ago spent a week in Dixfield and the mountainous towns in the upper part of Oxford, on my return through Wilton I was struck with the contrast.  The soil of the town is good and I have considered the Inhabitants industrious skillfull and enterprising.

The woolen factory under the management of Perham was a failure. I hope you will do the town and posterity the favor of collecting the History of the town and publish it in pamphlet form.

I am Dear Sir your obt Srvt

William Allen
AE near 89

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