Uncover Limerick Historical Society's Fascinating Past

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The Hayes Sisters of Limerick, Maine

1. North Carolina connects with Limerick, Maine (Cindy)

The Hayes women research project all started with a phone call from Miss Collins, a researcher in Raleigh, North Carolina. Originally, she was only researching Esther Perkins Hayes but as time went by, more information was found that included Esther’s sister, Susan. I’ll take a moment here to thank and name the researchers who helped with sources for this presentation: Miss Collins (N.G.), Researcher, North Carolina, Todd Johnson, Brianna McCormick, Davelyn Hayes, Kathy Wright, Dave Dennison, Sarah Kinsley Choi and Adele Floyd.

1. Research on the Hayes Family (Sarah)

As soon as Cindy contacted me, I wanted to find out more about the Hayes sisters and their family.  Esther and Susan’s father, Levi Hayes, moved to Limerick from Berwick as a young man.  Although his father, Reuben, did not leave Berwick, Levi’s uncles, John and Benjamin Hayes, did settle and establish farms in town. Levi married Lydia Philpot in 1822.  She was born in Limerick, but her parents had also moved from Berwick shortly before her birth.

Levi was a carpenter and farmer.  The farm was probably located in the southwest corner of town on Range C, Lot 16, which appears to be near where Clark’s Bridge Road intersects Patterson Road today. Levi was frail his whole life, and died in 1843 at the age of 48, leaving Lydia to care for the farm and their eight daughters.  The girls were named: Sophia, Elizabeth, Esther, Lydia “Frances,” Clarinda “Clara,” Deborah, Sarah, and Susannah “Susan,” who was not yet one.  

Not much is known about this time, but we can piece a few things together.  The family stayed on the farm at least a few years after Levi died, because the farm is listed on the 1850 Census, and was run by Goodale Carpenter, a laborer who lived on the property with the Hayeses.  The farm was typical of the time.  Rye, Indian corn, and oats were raised on the 60 acre property.  The family had a horse, probably for transportation, 3 milk cows for dairy production, oxen to work the fields, 9 sheep and a pig.  The family attended the Congregational Church in town, and the girls went to school.

In the 19th century, there were about a dozen small schoolhouses spread throughout town, as well as the Limerick Academy in the village. It is likely that all the Hayes girls attended School #2, on Clark’s Bridge Road.  We know that some of them continued their education at the Academy as teenagers. We also know that five of the eight sisters married and moved away.

In 1848, the first of the sisters married and left home.  Elizabeth, the second oldest sister, married Henry Stevens, and moved to Waterboro. In 1854, the oldest sister, Sophia, married Otis Richardson, and also moved to Waterboro.  In 1856, Frances, the fourth sister, married Daniel Stimson, and they eventually settled in Minnesota.  In 1865, Deborah, the sixth sister, married Thatcher Burnham and moved to Parsonsfield.  The last of the sisters to marry, Sarah, married Benjamin Gowen in 1875.

Amidst all of this change at home, Lydia Hayes, sold the farm to her nephew, Samuel Philpot, and bought a house on Elm Street from Luther Moore, a prominent lawyer in town.  Here in the village, Lydia took in sewing for income and her unmarried daughters became teachers.  As the sisters reached adulthood, they would have been immersed in the events of the day, as the country catapulted towards civil war.  

For background, we know that in the 1830s, the Morning Star newspaper, an organ of the Free-Will Baptist Church, was published here in Limerick.  Eventually moving to Dover, New Hampshire, the publication became a mouthpiece for abolitionism.  Another newspaper, Zion’s Advocate, was a Baptist missionary newspaper published in Portland about the same time.  The Hayes sisters would have known about and perhaps read these papers.  Also, as active members of the Congregational Church, they would have learned about the American Missionary Association.  

1. Esther Perkins Hayes (Cindy)

Let me share with you a small portion of what I’ve learned about Esther Perkins Hayes.  Born in Limerick on October 14, 1829, Esther went to school in Limerick and eventually attended Limerick Academy. She traveled around the US as a teacher for 30 years. Esther taught in Indiana for 5 years and in the South for 18 years with the American Missionary Association.  Of these years, 2 were in Nashville, TN, 15 were in Raleigh, NC, and 1 was in Mcintosh, GA. The rest of her teaching career was in York County, Maine.  We also know that in 1888, she gathered data for the family history.  Ever the teacher, Esther was a noted bee keeper and wrote a paper for the bee keeper’s association of Cumberland and York Counties in which she informed others about how to successfully winter bees. 

The American Missionary Association founded in 1846, was made up of whites, blacks, men, and women. The AMA was financially supported by the Congregational Church. In the mid 1860’s, the group began several schools throughout the South with the intention of helping to educate freed slaves and in 1867 finally expanded to North Carolina.  In that year, the Washington School in Raleigh, N.C. began as a school.  (The building later became a church.) The first principal of the school/church was Miss Esther P. Hayes followed by Mr. E. A. Johnson (one of her former students). Jumping forward to 1886 for a minute, Mr Edward A. Johnson, visited Limerick and gave a talk at the Congregational Church about the condition of the negros in the South. Imagine if you will what it was like for Esther to have a former student become the principal of the school and then to visit her home town and give a talk at her church.

Now, back to Raleigh in 1870. In June 1870, the Daily Standard of Raleigh, N.C. reported about the school.

“...yesterday we visited the Washington School under the care of Miss E.P. Hayes, and we were gratified to see the proficiency of the pupils. We examined all the classes and saw that she had not labored in vain. The number of “scholars” in attendance was listed as eighty-seven at the visit.”

While teaching in Raleigh the following piece was written about Esther:

“Miss Esther P. Hayes appeared before our board of county examiners yesterday as an applicant for a certificate to teach in the common schools of the county. She stood an excellent examination and was granted a certificate of the first grade. (meaning of the highest quality).

In 1879 at the end of the school year, this was written by F. W. C. about Esther as well:

“By invitation I attended the closing exhibition and concert of the Washington School and was much pleased at what I saw and heard. This school has been for twelve years under the management of Miss Esther P. Hayes and is under the auspices of the American Missionary Association. It has been aided by the Public School and the Peabody funds, but has been for the past session a private subscription school. There have been in attendance 123 pupils, and many of these students exhibited gratifying proficiency. The dialogues, and speeches were well rendered, and the spirit with which a number acted the parts assigned them was highly creditable to both teacher and pupil.”

We don’t know when Esther returned to Limerick, but her obituary mentions that she followed her teaching profession into the 1880’s. She died in Limerick on April 12, 1902 of pneumonia and is buried in Hillside Cemetery.  In November 1907, there was a dedication of the Esther P. Hayes memorial parsonage of the colored Congregational church of Raleigh, North Carolina.

1. Susannah Fogg Hayes (Sarah)

Susannah Fogg Hayes was born June 13, 1842.  As she grew and went to school, Susan decided to follow her sisters, Esther and Clara, into teaching.  As you have heard, Esther went to North Carolina with the American Missionary Association.  Shortly after, Esther wrote to Reverend F. P. Brewer of Raleigh and mentioned her sister, Susan.

“There are several places in N.C. not far from Raleigh where the colored people are very anxious to have schools but have no teachers.  They are willing to do something for the support of a teacher.  Now I have a plan to obtain a teacher for one of the schools.  I have a sister, an experienced teacher who would like very much to come.  I thought if you could do anything, and would tell me how much you can do, that I would try and beg enough from my friends at the north, to make up her salary and have her come as soon as possible.  Now I do not know how much I can raise, but if you can do anything towards the salary of a teacher I will try hard to get the remainder. Please let me know as soon as possible what you think of my plan.”

In 1866, the New England Freedmen’s Aid Society in Boston sent three teachers to start a school in Smithfield, North Carolina.  That first year the teachers enrolled nearly 300 students.  After various stops and starts, the American Missionary Association sent teachers to Smithfield beginning in 1867.  These early teachers were Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Bemis from Athol, Massachusetts, Adele Brewer, from Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and Susan Hayes, from Limerick.  Esther’s letter worked.

Susan left Limerick at the age of 26 and arrived in Smithfield probably in early 1868.  We know that she came after the Bemises who arrived in January 1867.  When Susan arrived, she bought a half acre lot for $50 from money she raised in the North.  At first, they moved an existing schoolhouse from a town property to the lot, but eventually, a two-room schoolhouse was erected.  (Susan would later sell the lot to the AMA for $1.)

In 1868, the American Missionary magazine published an article by Susan. She wrote, 

“As I enter my school-room, Sabbath mornings, and see the men, women, and children gathered there, so eager to learn to read the word of God, and remember that I am the only one to whom they can look for instruction, I feel that “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers few.”  The first morning of my Sabbath school, (March 1st,) there were 60 present; but each Sabbath the number kept increasing, until it was one hundred and seventy-five.  Old men and women with grey hairs, and tottering steps, come bringing their children, and children’s children, many of them walking five or six miles; and they don’t stay at home for a little cloud, or a few drops of rain.  I often see old men sitting down outside the door, and when I ask them if they are not coming in; and they say, “No ma’am; we doesn’t know enough; we can’t read, but just come to listen.”  I tell them they are just the ones we want, so we can teach them to read; and after a few words of encouragement, they come in and become regular attendants.”

The school at Smithfield needed to meet the needs of a diverse population.  It offered flexible times and evening hours to accommodate adults and working students. Attendance was optional, but most attended only on the Sabbath.  There were 12-13 teachers who taught the basics (reading, writing, and arithmetic), and Bible reading was held on Sunday afternoon.  They also taught temperance.  The school required students to pay a small tuition, and teacher salaries were supplemented by the AMA and the Peabody Education Fund.

Although Susan had hoped to make the education of Southern Blacks her life’s work, she taught in North Carolina for only three years.  The climate did not agree with her, and she suffered from fevers and ague (likely malaria).  Upon returning to Maine, she spent many years teaching in York County (schools unknown).  It was quoted in her obituary that, “she was successful, being thoroughly [sic] in method and highly conscientious in her efforts.”

In 1870, the state of North Carolina took over running the school, the name changed to the Lincoln School, and northern teachers left. From then on, the school was taught by Black educators. Today it is believed that there were over 160 freedmen schools in North Carolina, and the Smithfield School is the only one remaining in existence.

Susan returned home, but her constitution was not strong.  In her fifties, her health began to decline rapidly.  By 1899, she was confined to her house, then eventually to her bed, for about a year.  At the age of 59, Susan died on December 9, 1901 of fibroid phthisis (tuberculosis) in Limerick, and was buried in her family plot in Hillside Cemetery.

1. Gravestones  (Cindy)

After talking with Miss Collins from North Carolina and learning about Esther and Susan Hayes, I went to the Hillside Cemetery and found that Esther’s gravestone had fallen over and was in two pieces. Thinking I would have Esther’s stone set back in place, at my own expense, I went to a Selectboard meeting and asked if “just anyone” could go into the cemetery and fix a gravestone. After telling them about Esther’s stone, they suggested getting a cost estimate to repair Esther’s stone and some people in the audience recommended a person to ask. I also mentioned my friend, Cara Kent, and her connection with the Maine Old Cemetery Association and that I could contact her to see if she could recommend someone.

Cara suggested, and by email, introduced me to Judson Star at Maintain the Memory Gravestone Restoration and Cleaning. Judson and I met at the cemetery and took a look at Esther’s gravestone. He sent an estimate. Cara had mentioned a volunteer who might be interested in cleaning the stone and her name was Sarah Kinsley Choi. I also got an estimate from the other person who was suggested to me at the meeting. Now I had two estimates and 2 weeks later I attended the next Selectboard meeting. The best estimate was from Judson. I talked to the board for about 15 minutes explaining that other stones besides Esther’s were broken and fallen over and that some were veterans stones.  Selectboard member John Medici made a motion to have the Board accept an $800 dollar donation to repair Esther’s stone and expend $2,500 from the Town’s contingency fund to start repairing veterans stones. The board voted in favor of the motion.  John then amended his motion to increase the donation to $2,500 to match the Town’s $2,500. The amended motion passed!  Imagine that, $5,000 and I hadn’t even asked for any money. But now I had a project and the funds to get started.  I quickly got in touch with Judson and Sarah and we set a date to meet and prioritize which stones to repair and clean first. On the day Sarah, Judson and I met at the cemetery, John Medici arrived and then Howard Burnham showed up too. It was great to have so much interest!

July 25th and 26th were the first days that Judson, Sarah and I started to work in the cemetery and the first stone restored was Esther P. Hayes’. Then Judson and Sarah started repairing and cleaning the veterans stones that we had prioritized in both Baptist and Hillside cemeteries. Judson also did some training with Sarah on how to repair some stones with epoxy and clamps and re-setting stones in a base of pea stone. I was back and forth between the cemetery, cleaning stones, and covering shifts in the library.  In keeping with the generosity of this community more funds were donated from multiple people, bringing our total to over $8,000.  We’ve been able to have Judson work at the Hillside cemetery for 8 days repairing, cleaning and restoring over 20 gravestones. We have a balance of just over $200 remaining in the cemetery gravestone restoration fund, with the hope of raising more money to repair additional gravestones.

1. Questions
   

Sources

The American Missionary, American Missionary Association, various dates.

Ashley, S.S, E.P. Hayes, P.L. Spencer, Wm. H. Spencer, Law Peoples, and Fisk P. Brewer to Col. Jacob F. Chur, Com. of Bureau of R.F. and A.L. of N.C., Raleigh, NC, 7 Nov 1868.

“Limerick,” Biddeford-Saco Journal, Friday, 15 Sep 1899, page 1.

“Limerick,” Biddeford-Saco Journal, Friday, 18 Apr 1902, page 2.

“Death of Susan F. Hayes: Many Years Was a Teacher in York County Schools,” Biddeford Weekly Journal, 20 Dec 1901.

Collins, N.G., research and transcription, North Carolina, 2025.

First Congregational Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, official history (https://www.fccraleigh.org/church-history-2)

Hayes, Esther P. to Reverend F. P. Brewer, Raleigh, NC, Letter.  AMA Archives, Amistad Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.

Hayes, Lydia (Philpot) to Samuel B. Philpot, Warranty deed, 3 May 1858 (York County Courthouse, Alfred, ME).

Jackson, Drew, “First Black school in Johnston lives quiet life on Fourth Street,” The News & Observer, 16 Feb 2017.

Johnson, Todd, presentations on the Smithfield School & Edward A. Johnson, (todd.johnson@johnstonnc.gov).

Maine U.S. Death Records, 1761-1922 (Ancestry.com).

“Miss Esther P. Hayes,” The News & Observer, Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina, USA, 22 Oct 1876.

Moore, Luther S. to Lydia (Philpot) Hayes, Warranty deed, 16 Sep 1859, (York County Courthouse, Alfred, ME).

The News & Observer, Apr 15, 1879, Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina, USA. 

Philpot, Samuel B. to Louisa A. Swett, Mortgage Deed, 12 Dec 1863.  (Book 278, Page 364, York County Courthouse, Alfred, ME).

“Miss Susan F. Hayes,” Portland Daily Press, 24 Dec 1901.

Richmond, Katherine F., John Hayes, of Dover, New Hampshire, a book of his family, Tyngsboro, Mass., 1936.

“Bee Keeping,” Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME, Thurs., Aug 29, 1889, p.2.

“The Washington School,” Raleigh Times, Raleigh, NC, Tues. Apr. 15, 1879, p. 1.

“To Dedicate E.P. Hayes Memorial Chapel Sunday,” Raleigh Times, Raleigh, NC, Wed. Nov. 27, 1907, p. 8.

Taylor, Linda Maule and Jane Lougee Bryant, Limerick Historical Notes, Limerick, ME, 1975.

Taylor, Robert L., Early Families of Limerick, Maine, Robert L. Taylor, pub., Danville, ME, 1984.

U.S. Federal Census, Population and Non-Population Data, various years.

“Miss Susan Hayes whose death…” Weekly Record, Biddeford, ME, 27 Dec 1901.

“Limerick,” and “Limerick Village,” York County Atlas, Philadelphia, Pa: Sanford, Everts & Co., 1872. 

York County wall map,  J. Chase Jr. and J. L. Smith & Co., 1856.

Written by Cindy Smith and Sarah (Kinsley) Choi for the Limerick Historical Society Cemetery Walk, Baptist Society Church, October 19, 2025.