The Plimptons

 

Mr. and Mrs. Elias Plmpton

25 Mar 1795 - 15 Oct 1885                         12 Nov 1794 - 9 Oct 1886

Nancy Billings spent her youth in Sharon, Massachusetts.  Elias grew up on his fathers farm in Foxborough, Massachusetts.  Elias acquired his education in the town school, and at Wrentham Academy.  At the age of 16 he went to Walpole to learn the hoe-maker's trade of his brother Henry.  During his stay there the war of 1812 broke out. The Walpole Light Infantry, of which he was a member, was called into active service.    

Nancy Billings and Elias Plimpton were wed on 16 July 1820.  The next week, 28 July, the newly married couple embarked from Boston in a sailing vessel to seek their fortunes in the then new country known as "way down east." 1 August 1820 found them comfortably situated in their new home in Litchfield, Maine.

Here Elias had a flourishing business that manufactured hoes, which in years he broadened to include forks of all kinds.  The business was known as E. Plimpton & Sons.  He also had a mill to manufacture handles for his hoes and forks.

Elias held several offices in the town.  He was Clerk, Selectman, and Overseer of the Poor.  Elias was one of the first in the state to aid in enforcing the State Liquor Law to prosecute the rumseller, being appointed by the town one of a committee of five for that purpose.  His wife, with one of her friends, advocated and instituted the first Ladies' Temperance Society in the state, of which there is any record.

We again find them at the front in the Abolitionist cause.  He was one of the first in town to step boldly out and advocate its principles, but not alone.  His noble wife lent her support, and very early was elected one of the Vice Presidents of the Female Anti-Slavery Society of the state, which Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe was President.

source: Plimpton Genealogy published by Levi B. Chase, 1884

 

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