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Come meet Rev. Thomas Roby, installed as pastor of the original Otisfield Meetinghouse in 1797 and dismissed six years later for his “objectionable behavior”.

OTISFIELD — On Saturday, October 1, the Otisfield Historical Society is sponsoring a guided tour of Bell Hill Cemetery, our town’s oldest cemetery. Our program begins with a history of the original Meetinghouse, built in 1797, but due to its dilapidated condition, was abandoned and replaced with the present day Meetinghouse, completed in 1839. Come meet the Rev. Thomas Roby, installed as the Meetinghouse’s pastor in 1797 and dismissed six years later for his “objectionable behavior”. You will meet George Peirce, Otisfield’s first settler, who in 1775 arrived in the howling wilderness that became Otisfield. You will also meet Julia Ann Patch, granddaughter of Benjamin Patch, our town’s second settler. A copy of Julia Ann’s 1824 sampler will be on display.

We will highlight three additional families influential in shaping the beginnings of Otisfield. The Knight family members were hard-working masons, carpenters, and blacksmiths. David Ray, arriving in 1779, was active for 25 years in town governance and built his home, grist mill, and sawmill on what is now the Rayville Road. Nathan Nutting, Jr. whose family, first arrived in 1796, served as architect and master workman of our present-day beautiful Bell Hill Meetinghouse.

Tours will begin at 2 p.m. and will last about an hour. Tickets will be limited and the cost of $5 per person (children free) will be collected at the gate. To reserve your ticket, email us at otisfieldhistorical@ gmail.com or call 207-423-1218.

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