of 1863 makes no mention of a dam or mills. Construction of a mill or mills occurred within the next four years because on November 26, 1867, David Cook leased fifty acres of land and mill privileges to Humphrey Brown. At the least, this transaction indicates the presence of a dam and one mill, probably a sawing operation. Six years later, Humphrey G. Brown transferred the 999 years lease to James Wall. Mr. Wall became the official leasee on April 30, 1873 and agreed to pay Humphrey G. Brown 462 pounds in four separate payments, the last installmant to be paid by December 1, 1877. The deed involved states that, “. . . the aforesaid Humphrey G. Brown hereby agree to transfer the lease which he now holds of said land and mills and the other buildings thereall erectedi’ The word “mills” indicates the presence of a grist and saw mill as the operation of a shingle mill rarely required a separate building. A man by the name of James Taylor lived at the site and probably

worked in the mills.

Meachan’s Atlas of 1880 lists James Wall as the proprietor of a grist and saw and shingle mill in Lot 26. The map of Lot 26 fails to note these structures, indicating only the presence of a dam. A possible explanation of this contradiction consists in the mills burning down precisely at the time of the census taking. At any rate, James Wall sold forty—seven and one-half acres to Abraham Wall on May 14, 1881 for $700.00. The deed fails to mention the mills, thus adding to the possibility of a fire. Five years later Abraham Wall sold the forty-seven and one-half acre property to Jane Cook but this deed also notes the transferral of both a grist and a saw mill. Jane Cook purchased the farm and mills on November 20, 1886, for $1,000.00. Jane’s husband, George Cook, probably ran the mills as well as working at David Rogers mills further up the Dunk River. Apparently the Wall family retained some hold on the property because when the mills are again sold, Anne Wall (widow of James) is listed as a co-owner with Jane Cook.

On March 31, 1894, Abraham Wall repurchased the farm and mills from Jane Cook and Anne Wall

for the price of $1,000.00. Among other things, Abraham acquired “. . . the mills and mill privileges and the right to back water upon the land adjoining the mill stream running through the said landsf’ Abraham Wall ran the mills for eleven more years before selling them and the forty-seven and one—half acre farm to Randolph Arbing. Mr. Arbing purchased the property on December 21, 1897, for $600.00. No records of the mills exist after this date. They must have fell into disuse around 1900 because none of the older members of the community remember their operation. Today not even their foundations remain.

\& xxx. -\ Early scene at Freetown Village. In background — MacCaull’s home, store and blacksmith shop, and Robert C. Auld’s store.

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