In 1660, John Sanders, John Bush, and Peter Turbat purchased from an Indian Sagamore named Fluellen, the land now known as Lyman - an area of l4,25O acres.

The proprietors sold their title in 1668 to Harlackindine Symonds, who conveyed his right to Roger Haskins and 35 others. Under their proprietorship, the land was settled in 1767.

Who the original settlers were is not known for certain, but early records of deeds and such, mention the following: William Waterhouse, the schoolmaster, and his brother Jacob, from Kennebunk; Love Roberts and his son Peter came in 1775; Alexander Grant, l774 and his son Silas, 1779; Thomas Lord, 1776; Jacob Rhoades; Benjamin and Mark Goodwin, brothers; John Low, who for many years was chosen Moderator and Town Treasurer; John Burbank, who was aboard the Bon Homme Richard with John Paul Jones; Joseph Whitten; James and William Brock, 1789; Mark Ricker; Robert Cousens; Valentine Hill; and Gershom Downs - many coming previous to 1789.

The Town of Lyman was incorporated under the name of Coxhall on April 24th, 1780. An interesting bit of information from a Town History of the town of Kennebunkport, 1602-1837 refers to the town as Swanfield when Tim Dorman bought 500 acres in 1697. One other such reference was 1716.

The first town election was held on June 5, 1780 at the home of Alexander Grant. The following were elected: John Low, Moderator; Paul Chadbourne Town Clerk; Joshua Ricker, Elisha Littlefield, and Benjamin Goodwin, Selectmen and Assessors; John Low, Treasurer; and Lewis Martin, Constable.

In 1803, on February 25, the name of the town was changed to Lyman, in honor of Theodore Lyman, Esquire.

In l833-34, Town Meeting was called to "assemble around a big rock in front of the meeting house". The rock was subsequently known as "Meet-ing House Rock". Later the rock was demolished, and the stones were used to build the wall around the burying ground near the Congregational Church. This church was located on what is now called the Howitt Road.

In 1835, a Town House was erected at the east end of Kennebunk Pond. In 1878, the Town House was sold. Union Hall, now the Village General Store in Goodwins Mills, was used for town purposes.

Goodwins Mills, the only village in the town, was the site of one of the first mills. The mill was erected as early as 1782, and was almost continuously in operation until l947. After the 1947 fire, the saw-mill cut many logs from the fire swept land. This was the last time logs were sawed there. This building is now the recreation building of the Advent Christian Church.

Dayton's town line runs through the easterly end of the village, so the sawmill, shingle and clapboard mill, stove shop, and blacksmith shop, while all a part of the village, were really in Dayton. Goodwins Mills, bordering on Swan Pond Creek, was the trade center of town.

Within the 100 year period, 1780-1880, as well as the above mentioned businesses, there were two churches, Baptist and Methodist, a store, an inn, Masonic and Grange Lodges, and two resident physicians.

Among the earliest settled areas, was the area around the Chadbourne Cemetery on the South Waterboro Road. Living in this area was the Cousens family. Horace Cousens was born there in 1818. When he was in his early thirties, he left Lyman and settled in the Boston area, never returning to Lyman again. However, he thought enough of his hometown to bequeath it a provisional legacy of $20,000. Money from this legacy helped with the building of Cousens Memorial School on Route 35. The interest accrued yearly from the legacy is still used as part of our school funding today.

Where did the original settlers live? This is hard to determine after 200 years, but using today's landmarks, and the following map of graves, we do have some clues. Jacob Rhoades is buried on the Clarks Woods Road, across from Chet Smith's house. Samuel Emmons, the first male child born in Lyman is buried in the Community Cemetery on the old Kennebunk Road.

Thomas Murphy is buried in the cemetery by Spang's Mill. Pierce Murphy is buried across from the Walter Smith house on the South Waterboro Road. Joseph Roberts is buried in the family lot at the foot of Long Hill, South Waterboro Road. William and Jacob Waterhouse are buried in family lots near the Taylor farm on Route 111. Valentine Hill is buried behind Gagnon's Upholstery on the Hill Road. Peter Roberts is buried in the cemetery by Spang's Mill. John Low is buried in the Congregational Church Cemetery. John Burbank is buried on Route 111 at the Arundel line. Jeremiah Roberts is buried at the Chadbourne Cemetery on the South Waterboro Road. Captain Joseph White is buried in the Congre-gational Church Cemetery. James Sands is buried there also. Silas Grant is buried off the South Waterboro Road, just before the road to Camp Muscatawa.


The source of the preceding information was:

History of York County Maine. Compiled by W. W. Clayton. Philadelphia: Evarts & Pick, 1880, Lippincott Press.

Scanned from the Bicentennial book "200 years of Lyman…Southern Maine's Country Home Town " It was produced by the Lyman Bicentennial Committee in June 1980 for the celebration of the Lyman Bicentennial 1780-1980
Front Cover by Jean Duling.