This 160-year-old land transaction made on February 21, 1856 is rather straightforward. A piece of land in Lyman, York County, Maine was sold by Nathaniel Hill (1776-1857) to his daughter, Deborah Hill (1807-1863). Deborah, a single woman, purchased the land for $500.00. 

      The family probably enjoyed some stature as Nathaniel Hill served in the House of Representatives for the County of York in 1827.* Information found on Find-a-Grave, suggests Deborah and her sister Margaret (1820-1854) never married. This land transaction might have been an attempt by Deborah's parents Nathaniel and Margaret Townsend Hill (1780-1864) to ensure Deborah held property. Yet, the effort was relatively short-lived as Deborah died only seven years after the sale.

    Margaret and Deborah were buried near their parents in the Hill-Elwell Cemetery in York County, Maine. That sentence should actually be restated. Nathaniel's wife and the sister's mother, Margaret Hill, was buried near her husband and daughters, for they all pre-deceased her. 

    The relationship of the other signatory on the document, Justice of the Peace Daniel Hill 2nd (1802-1863), to the family was unclear until I came across this webpage, which clarified much of the Hill family genealogy. Credit goes to the anonymous genealogist who made the page, but I am not sure who to credit or the context in which the page exists (you'll see what I mean if you try clicking any of the links on that webpage). Regardless, if the information in this genealogy is correct, Daniel Hill 2nd was one of Deborah's brothers. His gravestone, as shown on Find-a-Grave, is interesting in that it denotes him as Daniel Hill 2nd. He also signed this document using the "2nd." In fact, the handwriting of the document is apparently Daniel's with the one exception of Nathaniel Hill's signature.  

       The recitals on the document provide a discussion of boundary properties to pinpoint the location of this land. One parcel belonged to Granville Lord Hill (1809-1891) who was a farmer. Originally, I mistook the "L" in the middle initial as an "S." After comparing the middle initial to others in the text, I realized my mistake. Once I used "Granville L. Hill" in a search, his dates and middle name surfaced.**

     As far as Doughty Falls is concerned, for a fun but somewhat biased (dated?) history, browse this 23 August 1912 edition of the Lewiston Evening Journal which provides a colorful background. The following description of Goodwin's Mills was found in a near-contemporary (1880) history:

This, the only village in the town, was the site of one of the first mills, erected as early as 1782, in a heavy growth of white pine, and since almost continuously in operation. It is now a neat little cluster of buildings with church and store, and surrounded by smooth, rolling farms and thin groves of pine, oak, and maple....*** 

    The last person mentioned is that of Benjamin Kimball. Out of curiosity, I performed a cursory search for Benhamin and came across the following passage, which I find amusing. I do want readers to be aware, that I am not entirely sure this is referring to the correct Benjamin Kimball.

Thomas Kimball-early settled in the part of Bradford now known as Groveland (His descendants have been numberous in that part of the town. One branch of this family emigrated to the vicinity of Fitchburg, Mass. Another went to Fryeburg, Me., and still another to Bridgton, Me. The descendants of Thomas Kimball have been prominent in public affairs.Benjamin Kimball went to Bradford to live near his wife's father; his family was thrifty and multiplied exceedingly, and occupied the land, until at one time it was said that everyone in Bradford was named Kimball except one man, and his name was Kimball Farrar. Benjamin's descendants followeed the Merrimack river northward, and they are the most numberous of the Kimballs in the Merrimack valley.****

     One hundred and sixty years ago, Deborah Hill became a land owner. Hopefully, a family member or area historian can flesh these people out even more. Until then--Best, Pat

*Douglas, F. Resolves of the Legislature of the State of Maine, 1827. Printed by Thomas Todd, Printer to the State, Portland. p. 533

**Not to confuse the issue, but in case the mistake in middle name is not mine alone and has been repeated, the search for Granville S. Hill  turned up a man that was approximately 48 by the time of the 1850 census. The MooseRoots link also denotes persons in the household associated with Granville S. Although their names do not correspond with those found on the above document, these might prove to be extended family members, so I have included the link (on the census). 

***Clayton, W.W. History of York County, Maine: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Higginson Book Company, 1880. page 357

 ****Morrison, Leonard Alison. History of the Kimball family in American, from 1634 to 1897: and of its ancestors the Kemballs or Kemboldes of England; with an account of the Kembles of Boston, Massachusetts 1897 From a scan provided by the New York Public Library