1. WILLIAM MOORE

m. 1653 DOROTHY ______ (d. between 5 Apr. and 28 Oct. 1693 York, ME), d. of Joane DIXON q.v.
will 31 Mar.-12 May 1691 York, ME, inv. £159/7/0

It is probable that William came from Devonshire and may be either a son of Richard baptized 26 Oct. 1629 or a son of John of Ipplepen baptized 16 Nov. 1623. I would guess his father was John of Ipplepen as William did not name any of his sons Richard.(1)

William was a fisherman and a ferryman at Stage Neck in York and lived in Lower Town opposite Varrell Lane.

He was involved in court actions with Mr. Godfrey in Oct. 1651 and in 1653. He took the oath of allegience to Massachusetts 22 Nov. 1652.(2) William's grant of land from Edward Godfrey of 40 acres of upland and meadow was confirmed 20 Apr. 1655.(3) William was evidently not satisfied with the Massachusetts government as he did not sign the petition to Cromwell which referred to the complaints presented to the Protector by "some gentlemen of worth" (ie. Godfrey) for restitution of their right of jurisdiction and asked that they be not heeded, intimating that they are instigated by "professed Royalists whose breathings that way... have been so farre stifled."(4)

William was granted 20 acres in 1653 along with John Harker and in 1655 he and Philip Adams had 80 acres at Hull's Cove from Godfrey. In 1653 he bought more land from Henry Roby. He also had a town grant in 1674 and in the same year purchased Harker's islands inside Stage Neck from John Harker Jr.(5) In 1711 his son Thomas sold this island and 60 acres near Roger's Cove to William Pepperrell.

William was on the jury in 1655, 1678, and in 1691. He signed petitions in 1679 against the sale of Maine to Massachusetts and in 1680 to the King praying that they might be restored to his immediate authority as a Royal Province but, to no avail and the Massachusetts authorities declared themselves "the now Lord Proprietors of the Province of Mayne".(6)

In 1683 William complained that others were ferrying and was then given the monopoly and in 1684 he sued Arthur Beale for taking away benefits. William had a retail license in 1687 and was retailing without one in 1690.

Dorothy was the step-daughter of William Dixon and the daughter of his wife Joanne. In 1686 the court ordered the Moores to take their mother Joane Dixon to their home and maintain her out of the estate willed to her by her husband William Dixon. (8)