Tag Archives: Maine

Jacob DeCoster Jr. of Hebron, Maine

[Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of posts about the DeCoster family of Maine and Massachusetts. Eventually all the separate biographical sketches will be combined into one family lineage and published in book form.]

Jacob⁴ DeCoster (Jacob^3-2, Isaac¹) born 27 May 1774, likely Plymouth, Massachusetts;[1] died 29 July 1842, Hebron, Oxford County, Maine.[2] He married at Hebron, 20 December 1801, Susanna Row(e).[3] She was born in 1777;[4] died 15 January 1841, Hebron.[5]

In July 1814, when the British attacked Fort Sullivan at the eastern end of Maine’s coast, the citizens of Maine were propelled into the War of 1812. As the summer progressed, the British advanced down the coastline. Portland was considered to be the next target by September, and thousands of militiamen rallied to defend Portland. Jacob, with his brothers Samuel and Rogers, served in Capt. Isaac Bearce’s Company, Lieut. Col. Cyrus Clark’s 3^rd Regiment Massachusetts. They mustered at Hebron and served at Portland from September 13-24, 1814.[6]

Jacob resided, most likely, in Hebron in 1810.[7] By 1820, Jacob ruled over a household of nine members. The household included: two males under ten; three males aged ten to fifteen; one male over forty-five; one female under ten; one female aged sixteen to twenty-five; and one female aged twenty-six to forty-four years of age.[8]

In 1822, Jacob mortgaged a tract of land to the Hebron Academy.[9]

Know all men by these presents, that I Jacob Decoster Jun^r of Hebron in the County of Oxford and State of Maine Yeoman–in consideration of the sum of one hundred and two dollars paid by the Trustees of Hebron Academy in the County of Oxford–the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge–do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey, unto the said Trustees or their successors or assigns forever, a certain tract of land situated in said Hebron being a part of number four in the fourth range in the first division of lots in said town bounded as follows it being the land I bought of William Fogg beginning at the east corner of [?] and Benj^m Rowe’s land and adjoining E. Bearce’s Land, thence north forty five degrees east to Zac Rows land thence North forty five west on said Rows land thirty rods, thence south forty five degrees west to Simon and Benj^mRows land, thence South forty five degrees to the bounds first mentioned thirty rods.

To have and to hold the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Trustees their successors or assigns to their use and behoof forever, And I do covenant with the said Trustees or assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Trustees to hold as aforesaid. And the I will warrant and defend the same to the said Trustees their Successors or assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

Provided Nevertheless, that if the said Jacob Decoster, J^r his heir, executors or administrators pay to the said Trustees their Successors or assigns the sum of one hundred and ten dollars and interest annually, interest to begin the first day of next June and to be paid in three years from the first day of June next then this deed as also one certain note for the above sum bearing were state with these presents given by the said Jacob Decoster J^r to the said Trustees to pay the sum and interest at the time aforesaid shall both be void otherwise shall remain in full force—

In witness whereof I the said Jacob Decoster Jun^r have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two

Signed, sealed and Delivered

In the presence of us,
Caleb S. Barrows– Jacob Decoster Jun^r [Seal]
Rebekah Barrows–

Oxford ss. December 10, 1822 personally appeared the above named Jacob Decoster J^r and acknowledged this instrument by his [?] to be his free act and Deed. Before me Stephen Myrick Justice of the Peace—

Oxford , ss.–Received April 26^th 1824, and recorded from the original, pr.
Alanson Miller—Register.

Jacob’s family expanded to ten members by 1830. The household contained: two males aged five to nine; two males aged fifteen to nineteen; two males aged twenty to twenty-nine; one male between forty and fifty; one female ten to fourteen; one female aged twenty to twenty-nine; and one female aged fifty through fifty-nine.[10]

In 1836, Jacob sold land to Nathan D. Bearce.

Know all men by these presents, that I Jacob Decoster of Hebron in the County of Oxford and State of Maine in consideration of the sum of one hundred and ten dollars paid by Nathan D. Bearce of Hebron in the county and State aforesaid the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell, and convey unto the said Nathan D. Bearce his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract of land situated in said Hebron, being a part of lot number four in the fourth range and first division of lots in said town, being the land that I purchased of William Fogg, beginning at the East corner of Dimmick D. Rows land and joining Charles Bearce J^r land, thence North forty five degrees East to Zacheus Rows land, thence North forty five degrees west on said Row’s land thirty rods, thence South forty give degrees West to Dimmick D. Rows land, thence South forty five degrees East thirty rods to the bounds first mentioned.

To have and to hold, the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Nathan D. Bearce his heirs and assigns, to his and their use and behoof forever.

And I do covenant with the said heirs and assigns that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Nathan D. Bearce to hold as aforesaid; and that I will warrant and defend the same to the said Nathan D. Bearce his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In witness whereof I the said Jacob Decoster and Susannah wife of said Jacob hereby relinquishing her right of Dower—have hereunto set our hands and seals this the first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six

Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Willaim Sewell J^r Jacob Decoster [seal]
Susannah Decoster [seal]

Cumberland ss.—June 2^d 1838 Personally appeared the above named Jacob Decoster and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.—Before me,

William Sewell J^r—Justice of the Peace.
Oxford ss.—Received May 25, 1842 at 1 o’clock PM and recorded from the original.
By Alanson Mellen Register

Jacob sold eighty acres of land to his son Asa in 1838.[11]

Know all men by these presents, that I Jacob Decoster of Hebron in the County of Oxford, State of Maine, Yeoman.—in consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars paid by Asa Decoster of Augusta in the County of Kennebec Innholder the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Asa his heirs and assigns forever one lot of land lying in Hebron aforesaid, being part of the lot N^o six in the fifth range and first Division of lots in said Hebron bounded as follow. Viz, beginning at the South corner of said lot, thence running on the Southeasterly end line of said lot one hundred and thirty six rods to the Northeasterly side of the town road, running through said lot to a stake and stones, thence twenty three rods by said [?] to a stake and stone, thence running parallel with said line twelve roads to a stake and stone, thence Southeast parallel with the end line of said lot twenty seven roads to the Southeast side line of said lot to a stake & stones, thence one hundred and thirty six roads to the bounds first mentioned containing eighty acres more or less.

To have and to hold the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Asa his heis and assigns, to him & their use and behoff forever.

And I do covenant with the said Asa his heirs and assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Asa to hold as aforesaid; and that I will warrant and defend the same to the said Asa his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In testimony whereof We the said Jacob & Susanna wife of said Jacob in token of relinquishing her right of dower have hereunto set our hands and seals this seventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight
Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Solomon Decoster Jacob Decoster [seal]
Susannah [her X mark] [seal]

Oxford ss.–June 8^th 1838 – Personally appeared Jacob Decoster above named and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.–Before me,
Joseph G. Cole–Justice of the Peace.

Oxford ss.–Received June 8^th 1838 and recorded from the original.
Register.

On the same day, Jacob and his son George sold an additional lot of land to Asa.[12]

Know all men by these presents, that we Jacob Decoster of Hebron and George Decoster of Canton in the County of Oxford State of Maine Yeoman—in consideration of the sume of one hundred dollars paid by Asa Decoster of Augusta in the County of Kennebec Innholder—the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Asa his heirs and assigns forever a certain piece or parcel of land lying in Hebron aforesaid being part of lot N^o four in the sixth range of first Division of lots in said town, beginning at a stake and stones at the Southwest corner of land which have bargained to Isaac Ward and joining land of Adam Richardson line twenty rods to a stake and stones, thence Northwesterly forty rods on a line parallel with the line of William Cobb Jun^r land to a stake and stones standing on the bank of the river, thence Northeasterly twenty rods to a stake and stones at theNorthwest corner of Isaac Wood’s land, thence on the line of said Wood’s land forty rods to the bounds first mentioned, containing five acres more of less.

To have and to hold the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Asa his heirs and assigns, to him & their use and behoof forever.

And we do covenant with the said Asa his heirs and assigns, that we are lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances; that we have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Asa to hold as aforesaid; and that we will warrant and defend the same to the said Asa his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In testimony whereof we the said Jacob and Susanna wife of said Jacob & George and Harriet wife of said George in token of relinquishment of right of dower of the said Susanna & Harriet have hereunto set our hands and seals this seventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.

Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Solomon Decoster                                                  Jacob Decoster [seal]
Parnel Irish                                                               Susannah [her mark] [seal]
George Decoster [seal]
Harriet Decoster   [seal]

Kennebec ss.—June 9^th 1838—Personally appeared George Decoster and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.—Before me,
Seth May—Justice of the Peace,
Oxford ss.—Received June 16^th 1838 and recorded from the original,
By Alanson Mellen

A few months later, Asa sold his father’s farm to his brother Jacob.[13] Then, Jacob leased the farm back to his parents for the remainder of their lives.[14]

Know all men by these presents, that I Asa Decoster of Augusta in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine–in consideration of the sum of Seven hundred dollars paid by Jacob Decoster Jun^r of Charlestown in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell, and convey unto the said Jacob Decoster Jun^r his heirs and assigns forever two certain pieces of land lying in Hebron in the County of Oxford, State of Maine being the same now occupied by Jacob Decoster Sen^r consisting of what was his farm & a piece formerly belonging to David Bicknell’s farm, being the same land that was conveyed to said Asa by Jacob Decoster & George Decoster by their dead staed June 7^th, 1838. Recorded in Book 54 page 250 & Jacob Decoster by his deed of the same state recorded in Book 54 page 214 to which deed reference is made for further description—

To have and to hold the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtances thereof to the said Jacob Decoster J^r Jun^r his heirs and assigns, to their use and behoof forever.

And I do covenant with the said Jacob Decoster J^r his heirs and assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances’ that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Jacob J^r to hold as aforesaid; and that I and my heirs shall and will warrant and defend the same to the said Jacob Decoster J^r his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In witness whereof I the said Asa Decoster have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.

Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Sam^l F. Brown Asa Decoster [seal]
Nathan Warner

Oxford ss.—September 18^th 1838 Personally appeared the above named Asa Decoster and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.—Before me,
Samuel F. Brown—Justice of the Peace.
Oxford ss.—Received February 6^th 1840 and recorded from the original.
By Alanson Mellen Register.

Know all men by these presents that I Jacob Decoster Jun^r of Charleston in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts in consideration of two hundred dollars paid me by Jacob Decoster of Hebron in the County of Oxford & State of Maine, yeoman, which I hereby acknowledge to have received do hereby let and lease to said Jacob the land, being the farm on which he now lives situated in said Hebron & the same that Asa Decoster has this day conveyed to me by his deed of this date to said the said Jacob & his wife Susannah.

To Have and to Hold to the said Jacob & Susannah his wife for and during their natural lives.

In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty eight.

Witness Sam^l F. Brown Jacob Decoster Jr. [seal]

Oxford ss. Sept. 18, 1838. Then the above named Jacob Decoster Jr. acknowledged the foregoing to be his free act and deeds. Before me Sam^l F. Brown Justice of the Peace
Oxford ss. Rec^d Feby 6 1840 and recorded from the original pr.
Alanson Mellen—Reg.

Jacob lived out the rest of his days, presumably on his farm in Hebron. Enumerated in 1840, still in Hebron, Jacob’s smaller household abutted his son Jacob Junior’s with two males fifteen to nineteen years of age; one male aged sixty to sixty-nine; one female aged ten to fourteen; and one female aged sixty to sixty-nine.[15]

Susannah died on January 15, 1841. Jacob survived her by a year and a half, dying on July 29, 1842. They were buried in West Minot, at the Riverside Cemetery.[16]

Known children (born Hebron, Maine) of Jacob⁴ DeCoster and Susanna Rowe were as follows:

13.     i.   PARNEL⁵ DECOSTER, b. 14 November 1802; m. David Bicknell and Orrin Irish; d. 1886.
14. ii.   GEORGE DECOSTER, b. 28 October 1804; m. Harriet Bicknell; d. 21 October 1879, Canton, Maine.
15.   iii.   SOLOMON DECOSTER, b. 17 January 1806; m. Cynthia Dunham; d. 2 September 1889, West Minot, Maine.
16.   iv.   HOWARD DECOSTER, b. 19 October 1808; m. Mary Ann Buck; d. 17 August 1881, Buckfield, Maine.
17.    v.   JACOB DECOSTER, b. 6 July 1811; m. Selina Record; d. 1889.
18.   vi. ASA DECOSTER, b. 13 August 1813; m. Martha Fullerton; d. between 1880-1900, likely New York.
19. vii.   FEAR DECOSTER, b. 5 June 1816; d. before 9 September 1818.
20. viii.   FEAR DECOSTER, b. 9 September 1818; m. Samuel Bicknell and Charles H. Goss; d. 14 June 1879, Paris, Maine.
21.   ix.   FEARING DECOSTER, b. 18 October 1820; m. Silence Packard and Joanna Conner; d. 9 February 1897, Brockton, Massachusetts.
22. x.   EPHRAIM DECOSTER, b. 20 November 1822; m. Lydia (Lilly) Heath; d. 6 June 1890, Boston, Massachusetts.

[1] Hebron Town and Vital Records, 1786-1893 [FHL microfilm 0,011,030/ FHL digital film 004,255,378], image 23/597; citing Hebron Town Record, 1700-1800, 13 [item 1]. While all the children of Jacob and Priscilla DeCoster are recorded in the town of Hebron, it is likely that the family was still living in Plymouth or Bridgewater, Massachusetts, when the children were born.

[2] Hebron Town and Vital Records, 1786-1893 [FHL microfilm 0,011,030/ FHL digital film 004,255,378], image 321/597; citing Birth & Death, 1700-1900, 5:79 [item 3]. Also, Find a Grave, digital image (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 September 2016), memorial page for Jacob DeCoster (1774-1842), Find A Grave Memorial no. 38,569,505, citing Riverside Cemetery, West Minot, Androscoggin County, Maine: the accompanying photograph shows a newer stone which is probably not original.

[3] “Record of Marriages by Rev. John Tripp, of Hebron, Me.,” Collections and Preceedings of the Maine Historical Society, Second Series, Vol. IV. (Portland: Brown Thurston Company, 1893), 436.

[4] Find a Grave, database and images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 September 2016), memorial page for Susanna DeCoster (1777-1841), Find A Grave Memorial no. 38,569,544, citing Riverside Cemetery, West Minot, Androscoggin County, Maine: the accompanying photograph shows a newer stone which is probably not the original. Much debate has been made over the use of the name Morse on Susanna’s stone. She died before Jacob so she would not have remarried after his death. Two possible reasons for the inclusion of the name Morse: it may have been her middle name or the individual who erected the newer stone may have made an error regarding Susanna’s maiden name.

[5] Find A Grave, Memorial no. 38,569,544, Susanna DeCoster; Also, Hebron Town and Vital Records, 1786-1893, image 321/597 [item 3].

[6] Brig. Genl. Gardner L. Pearson, Records of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia: Called out by the Governor of Massachusetts to Suppress a Threatened Invasion during the War of 1812-1814 (Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1913), 175.

[7] See note 15 from “Jacob Decoster of Maine and Massachusetts.”

[8] 1820 U.S. census, Oxford County, Maine, population schedule, Hebron, p. 218, line 18, Jacob Decoster, Jun^r; NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 37.

[9] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 24: 106.

[10] 1830 U.S. census, Oxford County, Maine, population schedule, Hebron, p. 34 (penned), line 1, Jacob Decoster; NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 50. The enumerator likely checked off the wrong age category for Jacob as he would have been 56 years old in 1830.

[11] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 54: 214.

[12] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 54: 250.

[13] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 59: 62.

[14] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 57: 348.

[15] 1840 U.S. census, Oxford County, Maine, population schedule, Hebron, p. 147 (stamped), line 12, Jacob Decoster; NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 146.

[16] Find A Grave, Memorial no. 38,569,544, Susanna DeCoster. And, Find A Grave, Memorial no. 38,569,505, Jacob DeCoster.

Jacob Decoster of Maine and Massachusetts

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[Editor’s Note: I have been working on the genealogy and history of the DeCoster family for over twenty years. The following piece is part of a larger manuscript that I hope to publish in the near future. The book will cover Jacob DeCoster and his descendants for three or four generations. Please check back regularly for my progress.]

Jacob³ DeCoster (Jacob², Isaac¹), born about 1746, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; died 4 August 1830, Hebron, Oxford County, Maine. He married (intention) at Plymouth, 28 July 1770, Priscilla Rogers, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Bartlett) Rogers.[1] She was born 7 July 1751, Plymouth;[2] died 3 May 1830, Hebron, Oxford County, Maine.[3]

Jacob appeared on the Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771 as a resident of Plymouth.[4] At that time, he had no taxable land, livestock, or goods.

An oft recorded tale states that Jacob “was a sailor on a vessel engaged in the coasting trade and was at Charleston, South Carolina, when the news of the battles of Concord and Lexington and the closing of the port of Boston was received there. The agent in Charleston would not let the vessel depart for fear of its being captured. Jacob DeCoster made the journey home to Bridgewater on foot. Tradition says he was nearly two months on the way.”[5] One of the Coercive Acts of 1774, the Boston Port Act, was passed by the British Parliament on 25 March 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party (16 December 1773). The battles at Lexington and Concord occurred over a year later on 19 April 1775.

Jacob enlisted for several terms of service during the Revolutionary War.

Private in Capt. James Allen’s Company, Col. Simeon Cary’s Regiment, pay abstract for rations and travel allowance (251 miles travel allowed) at a camp near New York, dated 9 August 1776.[6]
Nathan Snow’s Company, Col. Hawes Regiment, enlisted 24 September 1777, one month nine days on a secret expedition to Rhode Island, roll sworn at Plymouth.[7]
Packard’s Company, Col. Mitchell’s Regiment, 10 June 1778, 9 month term of service from arrival at Fishkill, New York. Jacob’s physical description was 5 ft. 6 in. with a dark complexion. Residence at Bridgewater.[8]
Private, Capt. Adams Bailey’s (late Capt. Jacob Allen) Company, Col. John Bailey’s 2^nd Regiment, enlistment 10 June 1778, discharged 1 February 1779.[9]
David Packard’s Company, Col. Cary’s Regiment, 22 July 1780, eleven days, marched to Rhode Island on an alarm.[10]

During the Revolutionary War, in January 1777, Jacob, his wife Priscilla, their child Jacob, along with Sarah Rogers (Priscilla’s sister), were “warned out”[11] of Bridgewater. Presumably Jacob provided sufficient security to the Constable as the DeCosters remained in Bridgewater for many years thereafter:

Plymouth SS. To the Constable or Constables of the Town of Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth, or either of them Greeting. —

You are hereby required in the Name of State of the Massachusetts Bay in New England forthwith to warn Jacob Decoaster and Priscilla his wife said to be inhabitants of Plymouth, Also Jacob their child and also Sarah Rogers as inhabitant of the fore said Plymouth — immediately to depart out of said Town of Bridgewater, and cease the same, or to give sufficient security to be allowed by us not to be chargeable to said Town of Bridgewater — Hereof fail not and make due Return of this warrant, with your doings there or, unto us or either of us as soon as you can. — Dated at Bridgewater January the 14^th 1777. — Ephraim Cary, Josiah Richards, Nath^l Reynolds, Selectmen.

Plymouth SS. January the 24^th 1777. By virtue of this warrant I have warned and the within named persons immediately to depart out of this Town of Bridgewater and to leave the same. — Abia Packard Constable

Recorded April 8 1777 & Recorded by John Cotton Cler.

Jacob resided in Bridgewater as late as 1790 where he was enumerated. His household consisted of one male over the age of 16, six males under the age of 16, and two females: presumably Jacob; his wife Priscilla; sons Jacob, Samuel, Chandler, John, Rogers, and George; and daughter Hannah. The youngest son, Thomas, may have been overlooked due to his young age.

No land deeds have been found for Jacob in Plymouth County, either in Plymouth or Bridgewater.

The family moved north to Buckfield, Maine, prior to 1797; Jacob was recorded as a taxpayer on the 1797 Buckfield Tax list.[12]

On May 6, 1799, Jacob purchased 119 acres of land in Hebron:

Know all men by these presents, That I William Clark Whitney of Hebron in the county of Cumberland and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yeoman in my capacity as Attorney to Bossenger Foster of Cambridge in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth aforesaid Gentleman in consideration of the sum of two hundred and thirty eight dollars paid to me by Jacob Decoster of Hebron aforesaid Yeoman the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge – do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Jacob Decoster in my capacity aforesaid and to his heirs & assigns forever, one lot of Land lying in Hebron aforesaid being lot number eight in the seventh range first division of lots in said Hebron containing by estimation one hundred and nineteen acres be the same more or less reserving the privilege of a road or roads through the same if hereafter necessary.

To have and to hold the said granted and bargained premises, with the privileges and appertinances thereof, to the said Jacob Decoster his heirs and assigns forever, to his and their use and behoof forever. And I the said William C. Whitney in my capacity aforesaid for myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, do covenant with the said Jacob Decoster his heirs and assigns. That I lawfully seized in fee of the premises, that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Jacob Decoster to hold as aforesaid, and that I will warrant and defend the same to the said Jacob Decoster his heirs and assigns forever; against the lawful claims and demands of all persons claiming by or under me.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the sixth day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and inety nine.

Signed, sealed and delivered,
in presence of
Samuel Parris } William C. Whitney Attorney [seal]
Albion Parris }

Cumberland ss. May 6 1799 Then the above named William Clark Whitney acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed. Before me, Samuel Parris – Just. Peace.

Oxford ss. Received June 4^th, 1810. And recorded from the original, Joseph Russ, Register.[13]

The 1810 census for parts of Oxford County, Maine, was lost with the towns of Buckfield and Hebron included among those missing.[14] A land deed, signed by Jacob and Priscilla DeCoster in 1810, recorded them as residents of Hebron:

Know all men by these presents, That I Jacob Decoster of Hebron in the County of Oxford and Commonwealth of Massachustts Yeoman in consideration of the sum of one thousand dollars paid by Jacob Willis Bridgwater in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth aforesaid Yeoman the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Jacob Willis his heirs and assigns forever one lot of Land lying in Hebron aforesaid being lot number eight in the seventh range first division of lots in said Hebron containing by estimation on hundred and nineteen acres be the same more of less; reserving thirty two acres the westerly corner and the westerly side of the road leading from Thaddeuos Pratts to Buckfield line also the privilege of a road or roads through the same if hereafter necessary.

To have and to hold the afore granted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Jacob Willis his heirs and assigns, to his & their use and behoof forever. And I do covenant with the said Jacob Willis his heirs and assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises that they are free of all incumbrances, that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Jacob Willis to hold as aforesaid. And the I will warrant and defend the same to the said Jacob Willis his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons claiming by or under my & I Pricela Decoster do relinguish my right of dower to the above granted premices.

In witness whereof, We the said Jacob Decoster and Pricela wife of the said Jacob have hereunto set our hand and seals this first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten

The word containing interlined or creased before signed

Signed, sealed and deliver
in presence of Jacob Decoster [seal]
Rogers Decoster
Sam^l Parris Priscilla Decoster [seal]

Oxford ss. June 1^st 1810 Personally appeared the above named Jacob Decoster and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed Before me,

Sam^l Parris Justice of the Peace.
Oxford ss. Received June 4^th 1810 And recorded from the original
Joseph Rust, Register.

Jacob resided in Hebron in 1820. His household consisted of three individuals—one male over 45 years, one female between the ages of 26 and 45, and one female over 45 years.[15]

Priscilla died on May 3, 1830 and Jacob survived her by four months, dying on August 4^th. By 1830, in his early 80s and a widower, Jacob no longer maintained his own household. The household of his son Rogers, a fellow Hebron resident, contained one male between the ages of 80 and 90.[16]

The exact location of Jacob and Priscilla’s graves are unknown. According to tradition, “they were buried in the old burying ground in the vicinity on the road mentioned [Buckfield-West Minot Road].”[17]

Children of Jacob³ and Priscilla Rogers, births of all but the first were recorded in the town of Hebron. However, it is most likely that Jacob, Jr. and possibly Samuel were born in Plymouth and the rest were born in Bridgewater.

2. i.   UNNAMED CHILD⁴DECOSTER, b. Abt. 1771; d. 30 November 1771, Plymouth.[18]
3. ii.   JACOB DECOSTER, b. 27 May 1774; m. Susanna Rowe; d. 29 July 1842, Hebron, Maine.
4. iii.   SAMUEL DECOSTER, b. 15 August 1776; m. Sarah Bacon; d. 14 September 1830, Buckfield, Maine.
5. iv.   CHANDLER DECOSTER, b. 12 December 1778; m. Polly Anna Jordan; d. after 1860.
6.    v. JOHN DECOSTER, b. 19 March 1780; m. Elizabeth Harris; d. 2 May 1861, Buckfield, Maine.
7. vi. ROGERS DECOSTER, b. 24 February 1782; m. Elizabeth Rowe; d. 1867, Hebron, Maine.
8. vii. HANNAH DECOSTER, b. 7 October 1784; m. Benjamin Rowe; d. 17 December 1848, Sumner, Maine.
9. viii. GEORGE DECOSTER, b. 6 February 1786; d. 14 February 1804, Maine.
10. ix.   THOMAS DECOSTER, b. 10 August 1788; m. Chloe Turner; d. 4 March 1869, Sumner, Maine.
11. x.   SARAH DECOSTER, b. 27 May 1789 or 1790; d. 14 December 1875, Buckfield, Maine; unmarried.
12. xi. MARY DECOSTER, b. 27 or 29 May 1792; m. Elkanah Irish; d. 24 June 1865, Buckfield, Maine.

©2016 Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/02/jacob-decoster-of-maine-and-massachusetts/

[1] “Vital Records, indexes (1699-1893) – Plymouth, Massachusetts,” database and images, FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 11 September 2016), v. 2 (1755-1842): 135, image 73/275, Jacob DeCoster and Priscilla Rogers.

[2] “Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988,” database and images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 September 2016), image 45/3129, Priscilla Rogers, daughter of Samuell Rogers & Hannah his wife, 7 July 1751.

[3] “Maine Death Records, 1617-1922,” database and images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 September 2016), Priscilla Decoster.

[4] Bettye Hobbs Pruitt, ed., The Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771 (Camden, Maine; Picton Press, 1998); database, Harvard University (http://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~hsb41/masstax/masstax.cgi : accessed 30 October 2016), Jacob DeCoster.

[5] Alfred Cole, A History of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine: from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 (Buckfield, Maine: 1915), 573. The British closed the port of Boston.

[6] Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Boston: Wright & Potter Printing, 1896-1908), 4: 633.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

[11] “Warning out” was an early court action made by New England towns under the poor laws. This public notice allowed the town to disavow care of a new family or person moving into the town. Generally, the newcomers were not forced to leave but they could not expect the town to provide welfare should they need it.

[12] Cole, A History of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, 737.

[13] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association

(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 2 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 5: 302-303.

[14] “Maine Census Guide 1790-1850,” Maine Genealogy (www.mainegenealogy.net/census_guide : accessed 2 November 2016), 1810 Oxford County.

[15] 1820 U.S. census, Oxford County, Maine, population schedule, Hebron, p. 218, line 12, Jacob Decoster; NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 37.

[16] 1830 U.S. census, Oxford County, Maine, population schedule, Hebron, p. 35 (penned), line 24, Rogers Decoster: NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 50.

[17] Charles F. Whitman, A History of Norway, Maine: from the earliest settlement to the close of 1922 (Lewiston Journal Printshop and Bindery: Lewiston, Maine, 1924), 396.

[18] Plymouth Church Records, 1620-1859 (Cambridge: The University Press, 1920), 2: 400, Jacob Decost’s Child, November 30, 1771.