Orrin Moulton, a poor farmer's life

 

Like many people, many of my ancestors were farmers or laborers and lived probably a middle-class life for the times they lived in.   Some were better off than others, but most of them worked hard all their lives to provide for their family. Then some like my ancestor, Orrin Moulton was a farmer and laborer his whole life and had little to show for all life's work besides his family.  This is his story.

Orrin D. Moulton was born on November 13, 1836 in Maxfield, Maine, as the first child of Robert Richardson Moulton and Mary Weymouth.   There are other dates of his birth depending on the source.  Orrin's death certificate lists his age at death as 60 years old which would place his birth year as 1839.  His gravestone gives birth year as 1829 and death as 1893 [both incorrect].  These dates would have come from family members and not from Orrin himself.  Orrin’s date of birth comes from the vital records of Maxfield, Maine which listed the dates of birth for residents who were eligible for military registration during the Civil War.  One list gives his date of birth as November 3, 1836 and another list as November 13, 1836.  The later date seems to match what most family descendants have recorded and his mother's Civil War Widow’s pension also stated that Orrin was born November 13, 1836.  

In 1850, Orrin Moulton age 15 was living with parents in Maxfield, Maine where his father was a farmer.  He is listed as attending school within the past year as well as most of siblings.  It is not known how much further he went in his education as there is a family story that Orrin had to drop out of school to support his family.  This family lore may be confused with another relative as Orrin’s parents were living and still attending school at age 15 at this time was a good success when others his age were not able to attend school to help with their family’s farm or find work to support themselves or their family.  As the oldest son, Orrin would have been expected to help his father with the family farm as early as possible and it would be the only trade he would know.

 

                                               Colorized tin-type photo of Orrin in the 1860s

He was in no hurry to leave home as “Oren D. Moulton” age 24, a farmer was still living at home with his parents and siblings on the 1860 census of Maxfield, Maine.  However, life would change for Orrin and his siblings within a few years.   In 1862, Orrin D. Moulton of Maxfield and Miss Emma Thompson of Orneville were married at Orneville, on November 16, 1862 by Sina Wentworth, Justice of the Peace.  It is not known how Orrin meet his wife from a neighboring town, but he may have doing farm labor for others in the area to begin making his own money and either worked with Emma’s brothers or possibly worked for her father.  Orrin’s sister, Abigail Moulton eventually married Emma’s brother James Thompson in 1866, providing a close relationship between the two families.

But tragedy would also come to Moulton family in the same year of 1862.  Orrin’s father Robert enlisted in the Civil War in January 1862.  The company being transported to Mississippi where Robert became ill and then as the company was transported to Louisiana where Robert had typhoid fever, he was put on a ship for New York in October 1862 but died on the passage. Suddenly his mother was a widow with no husband to support her and her youngest children.  In 1863, Orrin signed a deed with five of his oldest siblings giving up their interest in their father's estate to their mother, Mary Moulton, ensuring she would have a place to live without having to sell and divide whatever money between herself and her husband’s heirs.  With no inheritance, Orrin would have to make it financially on his own.

Orrin’s in-law’s Rufus and Temperance Thompson also did not come through the Civil War in a good financial place.  Orrin’s brother-in-law, whose name was Orrin Thompson had been the main support for his parents.  Temperance Thompson’s Civil War Mother’s pension stated her husband had been disabled and not able to work to support the family and they relied on their son for support.  Orrin died in 1864 in Georgia from chronic diarrhea.  This would result in Orrin’s in-laws relying on a small pension from their son’s service and no money for a dowery for their daughters or any means of financial support for any of their children.

On May 27, 1865, Mary Moulton sold to Orrin D. Moulton of Maxfield, Lot 3, 4th range in Howland for $100.  However, he did not keep the property long as Orrin D. Moulton of Orneville sold for $100, the same lot to George E. Call of Lagrange, deed dated January 9, 1871 with his wife, Emma Moulton giving up her Dower rights.  Her signature does not appear on the deed and Orrin only made his mark on the deed.  Orrin was never able to buy property again.

In 1870, Orren D. Moulton, age 35, farm laborer was living in Lagrange, Maine with Emma Moulton, age 22, and 3 children.  By 1880, Orin D. Moulton, age 48, listed as working with hay press and was living in Orneville, Maine with his wife, Emma L. Moulton, age 32, keeping house, and 5 children.  Orrin either rented homes that were available on the farms where he worked or nearby homes in the area.  He never was able to afford his own home.

Nothing else is known about Orrin after 1880 until 1899 and sadly things had not improved for Orrin in his later years.

                                   From the Piscataquis Observer, issue of October 12, 1899

                                Piscataquis Observer, issue of October 19, 1899

Orrin died on October 15, 1899 in Orneville, Maine from diabetes according to his death certificate.  I am not sure what standards the above article used to measure his "easy" death.   He was buried in Orneville Cemetery, Orneville, Maine.

His widow, Emma appears on the 1900 and 1910 census records living with her youngest son, Charles Moulton.  The story of Orrin dropping out of high school to support his family was likely his son Charles.  The 1940 census listed Charles as only attending school until the 5th grade around 1890.  Charles being the last son at home probably was needed to start finding work to help his parents if the article about Orrin's failing health over a number of years is correct.

Emma (Thompson) Moulton died April 11, 1912 in Orneville, Maine and buried with her husband.

                                            Piscataquis Observer, issue of April 30, 1914

A reunion of their descendants was formed in 1926 called the Moulton-Thompson Reunion.  The last reunion was in 2019 as due to the Covid pandemic in 2020, it was cancelled.

 Orrin D. Moulton and Emma L. Thompson had the following children:

1.    Eldora Anne Moulton was born on August 25, 1863 in Orneville,  Maine. She died on March 3, 1941 in Orneville, Maine. She married Nelson Ellis on March 25,  1881 in Bradford, Maine.

2.    George Henry Moulton was born on February 8, 1867 in Maxfield, Maine. He died on September 7, 1931 in Atkinson, Maine.

3.    Iva Beatrice Moulton was born on December 2, 1872 in Orneville, Maine. She died on December 18, 1910 in Atkinson, Maine. . She married 1) Llewellyn Cobb in 1891. She married 2) Henry Bragg Paine on May 27, 1894 in Atkinson, Maine.

4.    Edwin Rufus Moulton was born on April 25,  1873 in Orneville, Maine. He died on January 10, 1944 in Bangor, Maine. He married 1) Huldah Jane Badger on November 25, 1893 in Orneville, Maine,. He married 2) Elizabeth Crowder on January 4, 1913 in Brewer,  Maine.

5.    Nancy Emma Moulton was born on April 21, 1877 in Orneville, Maine. She died on December 24, 1935 in Bangor, Maine. She married 1) Lot Alexander Hall on October 27, 1899 in Milo, Maine. She married 2) Fred Davidson Morton on April 30,  1909 in Exeter, Maine.

6.    Charles Prescott Moulton was born on April 2, 1881 in Orneville,  Maine. He died on May 19, 1972 in Orono, Maine. He married Emma Leona Paine on April 11,  1904 in Atkinson, Maine.