REDLONS OF HOLLIS, MAINE.
615
gers' farm, now owned by John Lane, where there is still an old
well and some other indications of a dwelling. If that was the site of
Abraham Redlon's house, some of the Ridlon family were not very defi-
nite in their description of his place of residence, for they said "Uncle
Abraham's house was on the hill, beyond Uncle Joe Ridlon's, on the old
road, and close to the first school-house." This traditionary account is
supported by an old document in my possession, in which is found the
agreement, drawn up and signed by the settlers, to build a school-house
"near the house of Abraham Ridlon." The "old road " ran back of the
present oak woods, and there are still plenty of men living who went to
school in the first school-house that was built there. In the year 1793
Abraham Redlon had three children to attend school there, according to
the petition before mentioned, which bears his autograph written that
year. Some of the family claim that Mr. Redlon once lived between his
brothers, Thomas and James, on the little knoll in the field of Stephen
Higgins, near the field-corner of Thomas C. Sawyer, which, if true, must
have been previous to his settlement above Bonnie Eagle Village, for he
was domiciled there when he sold and emigrated to Ohio in 1800.
Elder Witham, of Standish, Me., made a tour through Ohio, in the
year 1788, and purchased several thousand acres of land there. He re-
turned to New England the same year, and induced many families to go
back with him to settle on his land. The letters forwarded by those
who had accompanied Mr. Witham, when he came back to Maine the
following autumn, gave such a glowing description of the climate, soil,
timber, and water, that many families in Standish, Buxton, and Hollis
(then Phillipsburgh), emigrated to Ohio the next spring. Each family
was provided with a heavy covered wagon and two strong horses. Mr.
Redlon employed William West to go to Haverhill, Mass., and purchase
a large pair of horses; these were so broad across the back that Joseph
Decker (afterwards called the "Massachusetts Prophet ") stood upon one
of them and rode about the yard before Thomas Redlon's house. As
soon as Abraham Redlon sold his farm in Phillipsburgh he moved his
family into the house of his brother Thomas, and commenced making
preparation for his emigration. Old Mr. Tibbetts, Mr. Redlon's father-
in-law, was a shoe-maker by trade, and was making harnesses for the
horses, while his wife assisted Patience, her daughter, in making clothes
for the children. Matthias Redlon, Abraham's father, and Thomas, his
brother, built the body for the wagon. When all was ready the family
went down to Moderation Falls, and spent their last night with their aged
parents. At an early hour the next morning all the relatives and neigh-
bors came to Old Matthias Redlon's to see Abraham's family before they
left. It was a sad scene. The aged parents, brothers, sisters, and
cousins, were to look upon their kindred for the last time on earth. Each
moved forward and gave the parting hand; the children were handed
down from the wagon and kissed for the last time; the "goodbye" was
spoken amid falling tears, and the train moved away toward Salmon
Falls, where it was to be joined by other families. The friends that re-
mained behind, watched their departing kindred till out of sight, and then
returned slowly and sadly homeward.
The journey was a long and tiresome one. The emigrants left New
England in "flax-bloom time" (June), and did not reach their destination
until "roast-ear time" (September). When they reached western Vir-
ginia their horses had become badly chafed, and their shoulders were so
