590
REDLONS OF YORK, MAINE.
salt marsh in Scarborough, on "ye north side of Little river, called ye Rog-
ers Gore."
In 1742 the name of "Magnes Redlen appears with that of
his stepson, Ichabod Austin, on a petition to Gov. William Shirley, respect-
ing the settlement of lands in Narraganset No. 1, now in Buxton, Me.,
and he is supposed to have been a proprietor there at that date.
Magnus Redlon purchased extensive lands in Saco, bordering on the
river, and extending across Goosefair River, as proved by his will. He se-
lected a beautiful spot on Rendezvous Point,* close to the bank of the
Saco River, and within a few rods of the block-house there, for his dwell-
ing, and Folsum, the historian of Saco, says, "The house of Magnus Red-
lon on Rendezvous Point was fortified with flankers and stockades."
Here he lived the remainder of his days, and only a few years ago the
foundation of his chimney and the depression of the cellar could be seen
in his old river-field; but since, all traces of a dwelling have been obliter-
ated by the plough.
The name of Magnus Redlon stands on the records of the first church
of Saco as a charter-member. He made his will in 1766, and died in
the family of his youngest surviving son, in 1772, aged 78 years.
He was buried near his own house, by the side of his two wives,
but no stone can now be found to distinguish their graves from others of
Joshua Cheaver, of Boston, cordwainer. Abraham Townsend purchased in the
town of Saco, in 1728, land known as "James Gibbons' first division," and the same
year other lands of Joseph, Johu, and Gibbons Mace, of Gossport, N. H.; this last
was deeded to Abraham Townsend and Robert Edgecomb. Judith, wife of Abraham
Townsend, was the daughter of Robert Edgecomb; she had brothers, Robert and
Thomas, in 1733. Abraham, as above, died in 1746, and left his two sons, "Nathaniel
of Lynn, blacksmith," and "Abraham of Biddeford," and several sisters, one of
whom, Massie, was the second wife of Magnus Redlon. In the division of Abra-
ham Townsend's property Judith was styled "mother-in-law," consequently was
a second wife. Nathaniel Townsend, of Biddeford, son of Abraham, made his will
Sept. 29, 1778, and names "wife Margaret,' "Bethesda, wife of Jeremy Ridlon,"
and "Lucretia, wife of Thomas Deering." This will was witnessed by Rev. John
Fairfield, Josiah Fairfield, M. D., and Samuel Edgecomb. Nathaniel Townsend, son
of Abraham, 2d, married Judith Redlon, a daughter of Matthias Redlon, 1st, and
Sarah Townsend, sister of Nathaniel, married to Jacob Redlon, who was a brother
of Nathaniel's wife. Isaac Townsend, of Hollis, married Polly, a daughter of
Magnus Ridlon, the blacksmith, a sister of Magnus Ridlon, blacksmith, of Parsons-
field, of the Damariscotta branch of Redlons. Abraham Townsend, brother of
Nathaniel, last mentioned, emigrated to Ohio and settled near Cincinnati. There
was a Jacob Townsend and Isaac Townsend, brothers of Nathaniel, and one Daniel
Townsend sometime of Hollis, Me.
-
The author resided in Saco about two years during his work on this book, and
frequently visited the place where our ancestor spent the most of his days, and
walked along the rocky shore of the river where he and his sons had moved so many
years before. I there found a small off-shoot of an old apple-tree, growing in the
edge of the bushes, near where the house of Magnus Redlon stood, that was
laden with small, tart fruit, of which I ate, and I have no doubt the original tree
was one planted by our ancestor, and from which he ate apples more than a hun-
dred years ago. Rendezvous Point is a high promontory of land extending into
Saco River, and partly covered with old, scrubby pines and small hardwood growth.
Upon a rocky bluff, having almost perpendicular sides descending to the water,
stood the block-house, built during the Indian wars, and the remains of its founda-
tion could be distinctly seen in 1876, although overgrown with bushes, briars, and
rank weeds. This point commands a wide and extended view of the river up and
down, and, as the land recedes in the rear, of the inland country. In a little bay,
not far above, was the old ship-yard of Coffin & Deering, where many of the early
Redlons worked. While reposing in the shade of some large oaks, during my visit
there in 1880, I saw fishermen plying their craft in boats, just as the Redlons had
done on this river a hundred years ago.
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