Lt. Gideon Straw Jr

  General Notes:

áVR of Newfield, ME (NEHGS)

[House photo] http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091029/GJCOMMUNITY03/710299941/-1/SANNEWS01
"The main part of the house was built back in 1787 by Lieutenant Gideon Straw. He installed Indian shutters on the thirteen windows of the cape downstairs, pumpkin pine flooring in the dining area, wide board wainscoting, several fireplaces, and a coffin-corner staircase leading to the upstairs bedrooms. Coffin-corner staircases were built into the turn of the staircase in Victorian days and before, in order to maneuver a coffin down the steep staircase without too much difficulty. Straw, his wife Mary, and his family of nine children lived in the Newfield house for many years; his son, Daniel, remained on the property with his wife, Hannah Chadbourne. He died in 1890 and Hannah died in 1899. They are buried in the family plot across the street from the house. Mary, Cyrene and David were the unmarried children of Daniel and Hannah Straw and the last Straws to live in the house; all died in the 1920s. They were three of the ten children that Daniel and Hannah gave birth to in that house. Over the years, there have been a few changes to the large house, but the basic house structure remains intact. In 1790, an addition was added; and later, full bedrooms and baths were put in upstairs. Mrs. Fleming hired Sandy Howe to stencil a scene depicting the Newfield Village on the walls of the front staircase, and a greenhouse was added on the back off from the kitchen. "
also:
[http://www.strangeusa.com/ViewLocation.aspx?locationid=4587&desc=%20Old%20Straw%20House%20%20Newfield%20%20ME]
[ Legend has it that] "Hannah Straw, daughter of Gideon Straw, died during a violent snowstom (Which Happens in Maine) since the ground was frozen, unpenatratable, Gideon Straw was forced to bury her under the kitchen floor boards in the warmer, more pliable ground and the site was marked by a crude headstone. Now the halls of the Old Hannah Straw House are being haunted by her presence. foot steps in the halls at night. lights turning on when no one is around. appritions in the windows....supposibly it was Hannah Chadbourn's mother who passed away and was buried underneith the kitchen in 1826 Hannah Sanborn but she passed away in March 1826. aha! I'v found the missing link in this case. but not at all. she died in Limerick not Newfield.
now all the evidence has been collected, analized, and my conclution is. the never was a Hannah Straw, and she wasn't buried under the kitchen.
so there was a Gideon Straw, and even a daughter who was possibly a Hannah. but she did not die in the timeline of the story. the story altogether is false.

information on this line passed to me by Susan Strange of Maryland in Oct 1998. She is direct line descendent and gave me transcribed records of the family bible.Other sources include research of Don Higgins and York Co ME cemetery records.
Per Biographical Review of Cumberland Co. ME: he was b. in Nottingham, NH but reared in Epping, NH and at age 21 yrs went as a pioneer to Newfield, ME. Here clearing a farm he established a comfortable home and married Mary Robinson, a native of NH. The couple had 7 children.
Per 1800 census Gideon lived in Newfield, ME. After the death of his first wife he married Suzanna Doe on 30 Dec 1823. She was born c 1786 and died 11 March 1858. Both of his wives are bur in Newfield Cem.

COPY OF WILL
Gideon Straw of Newfield
Being weak in body, the improvement of 1/3 of my RE dur her nat life or long as she may remain my wid wishing her to make such agreement with exer as shall best tend to lessen the expense of setting off, dividing or fen--- her 1/3 part; I also give to Susan Straw all the furniture and bedding brought to my house after our marriage.
to my oldest son David R. Straw, 1 yoke of 6 foot oxen
To my second son Daniel Straw, all of my RE in Newfield comsisting of my homestead farm on which I now live, for a particular description of which reference to I had to 5 deeds, 1 from Ephraim Moulton, 1 from Robert Libbey, 1 from Bradbury Cilley, 1 from David Durgin and 1 from Thomas Smith, sd farm borders on the E by Limerick line, on the N by Enoch Straw's land, W by land of the heirs of Charles Trafton deed and others, S by land of Asa Piper subject to the improvement which I have above given to my wife Susan Straw. I also give to my son Daniel Straw all my PE including my books, except one large bible being my oldest bible and what I have given to my wife.
I order that there be furnished and delivered to each of my daus that they remain unm at my dec such like furniture, stock, sheep and clothing as I have provided for those that were married in my life time allowing those that I have frunished to be judges when this order is compiled with.
To my son David R. Straw, 1 feather bed and bedding and 1 large bible which have been excepted before.
To my daus that are married $1 each namely to Agnes Mason, $1; to Betsey Robinson $1; to Abigail Hastings $1. As I have heretofore furnished them -- their marriage, I think this is an eq share with what I may heretofore name, that is my wish that all the old furniture, beds and bedding be eq div between my 6 daughters except 1 bed and bedding for Daniel Straw.
To my sd son Daniel Straw, all the residue of my RE and PE
Appt my son Daniel Straw sole exer.
Dated: 5 June 1826
Signed with his signature
Witnesses: James Ayer, Moses Ayer, Elisha Ayer
In probate: 2 July 1838

Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection - age 73y

Find A Grave Memorial 76099447

Gideon married Mary Robinson, daughter of Captain David Robinson and Agnes Moore, on 25 Jul 1793 in Kingston, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. (Mary Robinson was born on 6 Sep 1772 in Brentwood, NH, died on 6 Apr 1822 in Newfield , York County, Maine and was buried in Trafton Cemetery Newfield, York County, Maine, USA.)

  Marriage Notes:

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Gideon next married Susannah Doe, daughter of John Doe and Mary Wiggin, on 30 Dec 1824 in Parsonsfield, York County, Maine. (Susannah Doe was born in 1785, died on 11 Mar 1858 and was buried in Trafton Cemetery Newfield, York County, Maine, USA.)

  Marriage Notes:

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