The following excerpt is from the book, “The History of Durham, New Hampshire,” previously known as Oyster Bay Plantation, and is about the history of the founding families of that town, in this case, that of the Huckins family.

“Robert Huckins, born about 1620, signed the Dover Combination of 1640. He had a grant of 20 acres, lot 16, Back River, Dover, in 1642. William Beard gave him a tract of his own land in 1675, next to land of John Woodman.

“He was killed by Indians 24 July 1694. He had a son, James” ( Stackpole, Thompson, Merserve, 1913). A family history volume states that they burned his house down with him in it; he was about 74 years old.

“James Huckins was born about 1644. He married Sarah, daughter of Robert and Frances Burnham. He was a lieutenant constable in 1676, selectman in 1687. His wife made a deposition, 31 Dec. 1673, ‘about 19 years of age.’ He was slain by Indians (while working in his field), Aug. 1689. His widow was rescued by Major Church after a year’s captivity among the Androscoggin Indians” (Stackpole, et al, 1913), as were the children. The eldest son was 17 and escaped from the Indians overnight and returned to Oyster Bay to rebuild the home and mill that the Indians had burned down.”

I am a direct descendant of that 17-year-old’s youngest son, Joseph Huckins. I moved here from Connecticut in 1988, and, without knowing the history of Laurel Hill, moved into an apartment on Laurel Avenue in Auburn, Maine. — Donna Harrison.

RESPONSE: Thank you for sharing your family’s history. Sun Spots will clarify the connection between your account and the previously published account about the Native American settlement at Laurel Hill in Auburn. The year that Sarah Burnham Huckins spent in captivity was among the Androscoggin Native Americans at Fort Androscoggin located at Laurel Hill. The reinventedvermontabenaki.blogspot.com site states that these Native Americans were Abenakis.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The responses to my three inquiries have been immediate and always helpful. By 9 a.m. my phone starts ringing on the day my letter  is printed. Thank you. — Sue in Auburn.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Driving along Rt. 2 West from Farmington to Dixfield one can see about a dozen “windmills” atop the “mountains” of Carthage. The sight is awesome unless you are opposed to progress and would have opposed telephone poles back in the early 1900s.

My question is this: Obviously, someone or something is benefiting financially from this venture. Understood and accepted, but what are the folks in Carthage gaining from this venture and is there any benefit to the rest of us in the state of Maine? Not an easy question, but I noticed you have not been truly “pressed lately.” — Edmund Lewis, Farmington.

ANSWER: There must be a benefit for the town of Carthage since the town has a  new for-profit property owner paying property taxes.

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