(written by permission of the Saint Croix Courier)
A STORY OF COURAGE
This story was written by Anita Grearson of St. George. She had presented it at a meeting honouring the woman of this area. Some editing has been done.
"Mary Pratt Goss was born in 1812, the daughter of James and Ann Pratt. She grew up in Second Falls. At the age of 17 she married John T. Goss, the son of John and Hannah Goss. Because John was not the eldest son, he would not be the heir to his father's farm and the lumber in the area was growing scarce. Therefore, they decided to move away. Leaving a comfortable home, family and friends to begin life anew in the wilds of northern Maine was not an easy decision for the couple.
In the spring of 1841 John went to the present Presque Isle, Maine where he agreed to purchase 75 acres of wooded land. He was given time to pay the cash payment of 25 cents an acre, the remaining 50 cents to be worked out as a road tax. He felled trees and built a log cabin before returning to Second Falls where the vegetables were gathered, and the fire wood cut. That winter he worked in the woods.
By this time, there were seven children and Mary was very busy cooking, washing, spinning, preserving, and tending the little ones. In spite of all the work, both found time to be active in the old Bonny River Church.
In early March 1842, their belongings were packed and they prepared to leave their familiar home. The last day and evening were spent with Hannah's sister and her children. The cousins spent the time telling stories of where they were going and what fun they had had in the past. They had a cake of maple sugar which had just been made so they cut it into pieces and divided it up saying, "Way up in 'Roostook' you'll have no maple sugar".
It took a week to reach Plantation F or Presque Isle. During their journey they stopped at the old Gould Tavern in Monticello, Throns Tavern in Westfield and as well pioneer homes, where words of cheer and encouragement were given.
On 27 March 1842 they arrived in Presque Isle. Among their assets were $6.25 and 7 children, the youngest being only two.
The previous year, John had marked the trees to show the way to the cabin. That was good because the snow lay deep on the ground and four-foot drifts made their journey to the cabin a hard struggle. Once there, John built a fire to warm them while Mary unpacked the handmade quilts and put them n the wooden bunks. The dishes were unpacked next and in honour of their first meal in their new home, the homespun white linen cloth was spread upon the board table. The provisions that had been prepared in good old Second Falls were taken from their boxes and baskets.
That spring the Goss family made gallons of the sweetest maple syrup they had ever made, which was very acceptable in the coming season for sweetening to go with the buckwheat fritters when for six successive weeks they were without flour.
During the summer John worked 16 and 18 hours a day clearing five or six acres of land while Mary and the children planted beans, corn and potatoes.
The first winter John worked in the woods leaving Mary alone in the log cabin with the children, the oldest being only thirteen. John was able to visit home only once in the five months and his wage was a dollar a day. That must have been a long, dreary winter for the brave mother. What hardships she endured, with no neighbour in sight or even the smoke of another cabin to be seen.
Wood and water had to be carried, the fire had to be kept burning all the time to keep them from freezing, meals prepared and sick children tended. How glad she must have been to see spring.
The following year saw more families settle in the area. John cleared 10 more acres and a son was born.
Mary had two more children, but none of these three lived beyond the age of 14. Although a frame house was built, and life became easier, Mary had many sorrows to be faced. She passed away in 1895, two years after her husband. She had lived to see many changes in Presque Isle and seven of her children marry and present her with many grandchildren.
Brief History of the Goss Family
A Goss Family reunion was held at Poland Campground, Lewiston, Maine on 01 September, 1885 and a Goss family history was read. It was compiled by William H. Boomer.
It was attended by John T. Goss who would have been 80 on 15 Sept. 1885. He was one of Presque Isle, Maine's earliest settlers, arriving there on 27 March 1842 with his wife and seven children. They had arrived from Bonny River, NB, near St. George. He said his grandfather, Thomas Goss, came to New York in 1756 with his wife and three children, Peter, Susan, and Theodore. John (father of John T.) Having been born at sea. This information was also autographed by Thomas B. Goss of St. George, NB. A copy of this history may be seen in the Library of Congress.
John Goss, born at sea, mustered out of the 84th Regiment of Royal Highland Emigrants in Windsor, NS on 10 Oct. 1783. He petitioned for land in 1785 and received a grant along the Magaguadavic River in Bonny River, NB. He died there in 1820.
He married Hannah Bliss Gibbs of Boston, MA. Their children were: John T., Peter, Phoebe, Alice, Hannah, Mary, Sarah, Priscilla, and Elizabeth. Hannah died at Bonny River in 1835.
Thanks to Anita Grearson for this information.