Nathaniel Buck

A small group of hunters came up from New Gloucester in the Fall pf 1776 primarily looking for looking for lots to make a permanent residence. This group consisted of Abijah and Nathanial Buck, Thomas Allen and John Brown. The leader and moving spirit was Abijah Buck (born about 1742), the eldest son of John Buck. Nathanial was a younger brother to Abijah (born about 1750)Nathanial was called a "housewright" as he was quite skilled in woodcraft. He was also said to be an expert hunter. Abijah had prior interests in a 600 acre tract of land in the Yarmouth area, but then abandoned those plans for a settlement there after his hunting party went north into what is now Buckfield, Maine. The first person to make any improvements upon the land now known as Buckfield, was an Englishman named Benjamin Spaulding in 1776. On April 1st, 1777, Abijah Buck and Thomas Allen, moved with their families to "Bucktown" and later that month Nathanial Buck moved into "Bucktown" with his family. In 1779, John Buck, Jr. came with his wife and two daughters. The idea of a settlement in "Bucktown" was conceived, started and carried out by Abijah Buck. He wrote the petitions and and carried them to Boston making numerous trips. It is said that Nathanial Buck was a "man of extraordinary size and strength". One story is related that on occasion Nathanial carried on his back, from New Gloucester to "Bucktown", a bag of salt and three bushels of meal. It is also related that he "did not dare lay down his load for fear that he would not be able to place it back upon his shoulder". so to gain a little rest he would occasionally stop just to lean on some trees along the path.