(I) Clement Messervy,
whom tradition makes to have come from the Isle of Jersey to America, was a taxpayer in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1673, took the oath of allegiance in 1685, and had a seat in
the meeting house in 1693. Later he lived in Newington, New Hampshire. On August 6, 1710,
he conveyed the homestead in Newington to his son Clement. Both he and his wife died
previous to 1720. He was very probably son of John Messervy, of Gorey, Grouville,
and of Mary Malcolm, his wife, and his supposed ancestry is traced some generations in
Jersey. His wife's name was Elizabeth. No list of the children of Clement, the immigrant,
has been found and we only know positively that Clement (2) and John were his sons because
so called by him in deeds, in I705 and I710; but as the same documents: speak of
"other sons, and daughters," and as tradition has always made three branches of
the family, in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, the assumption seems warranted
that he had: Aaron, Clement, Daniel, John, Elizabeth, Mary and Jamison.
(II) Clement (2), son
of Clement (I) and Elizabeth Messervy, was born probably in Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
about I678 and was in William Redford's company of militia in 1696. On July 15, I726, he
and Daniel Moody, of Stratham, New Hampshire, purchased of William Cotton, of Portsmouth,
one hundred acres of land at Black Point, Scarborough, Maine, and in 1729 they bought one
hundred and fifty acres more adjoining. He evidently removed to Scarborough soon after the
purchase of Cotton, and was admitted to the first church of Scarborough, August 11, 1728.
He married, September 24, 1702, Elizabeth Jones. The marriage was solemnized by Rev. John
Pike, in Portsmouth. They both led the covenant, and were baptized in the church at
Newington, March 10, 1723, when Mrs. Meserve joined the church, and was admitted to full
communion. She died and he married (second) August 14, 1738, Mrs. Sarah Stone, who
survived him. He died (probably) in 1746, in Scarborough. His will dated, February
18, 1740, describes him as "Joiner, aged of body." His will was proved
November 5, 1746. The inventory returned by Elliott Vaughan, Daniel Fogg and Samuel
Sewall, appraisers, amounted to £896 15s. 7d. His children, all born probably in
Portsmouth or Newington were Clement, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, John, Abigail, George, Peter,
Daniel and Joseph.
McLillan's "History of Gorham"
says: "Of the dwellers in the fort on Fort Hill during the seven years' Indian war
commencing in 1745, was one Clement Meserve, or as the name was often called
"Harvey." On consulting the best authorities written or read we have come to the
conclusion that the Meserves of Scarboro and Gorham came from Dover or Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, where the name appears to have been quite common. There was, a
Lieutenant-Colonel Nathaniel Meserve, of the New Hampshire troops, who distinguished
himself in the Louisburg expedition in 1745; he is said to have been of the same family
that came to Maine, and a brother to the Gorham Clement. Southgate, in his history of
Scarboro, says Clement Meserve was in that town in I725; that he was a joiner by
trade."
(III) John, third son
of Clement (2) and Elizabeth (Jones) Meserve, was born March 21, 1700. He married Jemima
Hubbard, by whom he had: John, George, William, Clement, Joseph, Thomas, Dorothy, Abigail,
Mary (died young), Mary.
(IV) John (2), eldest
child of John (I) and Jemima (Hubbard) Meserve, was born in 1738. He married, in 1762,
Abigail Small, by whom he had: Joseph, Benjamin, Samuel Small, John (died young), John,
Abigail, Dorothy and Annie.
(V) Joseph, eldest son
of John (2) and Abigail (Small) Meserve, was born in 1763. He married, in 1788, Mary
Stone, and they were the parents of Rufus, Joseph (died young), Joseph, Benjamin, Solomon,
Abigail, Tabitha, Mary and Lydia.
(VI) Captain Benjamin,
fourth son of Joseph and Mary (Stone) Meserve, was born in 1805, died in Livingston. He
married, in 1830, Hannah Anderson, daughter of Abel Anderson. The only issue of this
marriage was Albion K. P., whose sketch follows.
(VII) Dr. Albion Keith
Paris, only child of Benjamin and Hannah (Anderson) Meserve, was born in Limington, June
8, 1833, and died at his home in Portland suddenly, September 15, 1904, of cerebral
apoplexy, esteemed, respected and honored by the people among whom he lived. Nathan Gould,
secretary of the Maine Historical Society, wrote of him: "Dr. Meserve was a man who
was sincere, serious and conscientious and did right simply because it was right, hating
shams. He had few intimates and was of few words, gaining his standing by the character of
his life. With his patients he was not only their physician, but also a valued friend. He
had good understanding, the mind of an investigator, and was thoroughly conversant with
the subjects that make up life, always willing to adopt the latest methods when convinced
of their merits. Work was his pleasure and he made a success of his material affairs, all
being done without ostentation."
Dr. Albion K. P. Meserve was educated in
the common schools and Standish Academy, and graduated at the Medical School of Maine in
1859. He first practiced medicine in Standish, but shortly afterwards he moved to Buxton,
where he lived until 1881, when he moved to Portland, where he afterwards resided. He was
interested in the welfare of the community and assumed his responsibilities in life. He
served as president of the Maine Medical Association, secretary of the United States
Pension Examining Board, chairman of the Board of Health, of Portland, secretary of the
Maine State Board of Registration of Medicine, and was a member of the National
Consideration of Examining and Licensing Board. He was a charter member of the Maine
Academy of Medicine and Science, member of the Board of Consulting Physicians and Surgeons
of the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary, and was active and gave freely of his time to the
charitable work of that institution. He was a member of the Maine Historical Society, and
was vice-president of this society from 1889 until his death, being deeply interested in
the work of the society, and in the subject of family history. He represented the town of
Buxton in the legislature, and was the supervisor of schools of that town; was a member of
the Congregational church there, and of the Williston church in Portland, in both of which
he served as superintendent of the Sunday schools.
Dr. Meserve compiled the Meserve
genealogy, and a history of Standish, Maine, both of which are in manuscript. He
contributed, in other ways, much historical and genealogical knowledge, which remains with
us. The Vital Records of Buxton were copied by his eldest son, annotated by himself, then
bound and presented by him to the Maine Genealogical Society's library. Dr. Meserve was
industrious and did good work the results of which are the cherished heritage of the
family and friends. At the time of his death it was said of hint: "The community has
not only lost a valued and respected citizen, a kind and true neighbor, but as well a
skilled physician, the church a faithful member, and his associates a sincere
friend."
Dr. Albion K. P. Meserve married, June 10,
1857, at Freedom, New Hampshire, Mary M. Johnson, only child of Thomas and Dorothy (Libby)
Johnson, of Gorham. She was born in Gorham, February 1, I836. Thomas Johnson, son of
Matthew and Hannah (Johnson) Johnson, married (first) Mary Hamblin; (second) Dorothy
Libby, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Libbv. Mary M. Johnson was the only child of this
second marriage. Mrs. Meserve is a lady of education and refinement and an artist of
recognized ability. The walls of her handsome home in Emery Street are decorated with many
pictures in oil, the product of her skill. To Dr. and Mrs. Meserve were born two sons: Dr.
Charles Albion, who (died February 1, 1892, aged thirty-three years, and Lucien W., born
October 5, 1869, married Geneva Adams, and now resides in Westbrook and is engaged in
conducting a poultry-farm.