In about 1879, an enterprising member of the Libby family was fresh out of
school and looking for something to do. He persuaded a wealthy relative,
Charles Libby, Esq. (among others) to stipend him in his quest for the origins
of the Libby (or Libbey) family in America. The compiled results are an
impressive tome tracing the family lineage from 1602 to 1881. Those of us
in the family who are aware of this book, value it as a means to understanding
our family's place in American history. And it is from this work, and the
two volumes that followed in 1993, that I draw my information for this
page.
Charles Libby (the original compiler's name as well as his benefactor's) determined that the first Libby to establish a home in the colonies was a John Libby, born in England around 1602, who came to America about 1630. We like to refer to him as the "Immigrant". He apparently came from the area around Cornwall or maybe Kent. Sailed out of Plymouth at any rate, probably on the Agnes, a ship which was part of an expedition mounted by a Robert Trelawny, to establish "fishing camps" along the coast of Maine.
The Immigrant had 12 offspring: John, James, Samuel, Joanna, Henry, Anthony,
Rebecca, Sarah, Hannah, David, Matthew, and Daniel. No doubt the long, cold
Maine winters and the need for lots of help around the homestead conspired
to bring forth this sizable brood. (Which is fortunate for me, because I
am descendent from Matthew, the 11th born; so I'm glad that they didn't call
it quits at 6 or 7.)
Anyway, John Libby lived out the eighty years of his life at Black Point, Maine (eventually to become known as Scarborough,) working his land, acting as Constable of the town at one point, and generally minding his own business. What with raising 12 children (born of two wives), and fighting off hostile Indians now and then, he undoubtedly was a very busy man.
Matthew was born in Scarborough in 1663, the 11th offspring of the Immigrant. He built his house with an upper story that projected out over the first. This allowed for protection against attack, because they could shoot down through the floor around the first story walls. Nifty, huh? He and his wife, Elizabeth Brown, had 14 children. 14 kids! Jeez.
Lieut. Andrew Libby, who apparently fought in the French war, was the seventh
born of Matthew and his wife, and was born in Kittery in 1700. He came back
to Scarborough (We Libbys were big on Scarborough.) and became "one of the
largest farmers in the town" according to the genealogy. I don't know if
that's meant as a commentary on his personal worth or his personal girth.
Probably the former. He married Esther Furber and they had 11 children. (I'm
starting to think that the Libbys were on a mission to populate the state
of Maine all by themselves.)
Andrew Libby, 1st son of the lieutenant, was born in 1732, in Scarborough
(of course!). He married Miriam Burns, who was born on the passage over from
Ireland. He moved to an area known as Gray to "settle his boys" and lived
at Dutton Hill. He and Miriam had (ready for this?) ELEVEN children. Eleven
more little Libbys to grow and play and work and start their own Libby families.
Zero population growth was not a big consideration back then.
Yikes! Another Andrew. Well, you find a name that works, you stick with it, I guess. (Plus with all these darn Libbys being born, you're bound to have re-runs every now and then.) Anyway, this Andrew was born (guess!) in Scarborough, in 1771. He married Sarah Cummings of Gray. He and Sarah died within about a month of each other in 1855. That makes him 84 when he passed on. He and Sarah only had eight kids. Relative slackers by early Libby standards. Maybe if he'd lived a little longer...
Elias Libby (now that's a cool name - Elias.) was born when his father, Andrew,
was about 25 years old, 1796. In April of 1821, he married Elizabeth Hawkes,
of Windham. So here you have Elias and Elizabeth; that sounds good together,
I think. They lived in a little house he "hauled over from the neighboring
farm," presumably with the neighboring farmer's permission. According to
the genealogy he later built a brick house and the little wooden house became
the porch. (No mention of a straw house or any big, bad wolves.)
Ebeneezer!!! I love it. I have an ancestor named Ebeneezer! Anyway, Ebeneezer was born in 1822, (the book doesn't say where, but I'm betting Scarborough!) the first of nine young ones that Elias and Elizabeth begat, and married Marietta Messer. He graduated from college at Waterville in 1852 and became a Freewill Baptist clergyman. (I don't know much about Freewill Baptists; they sound interesting, though.) He preached around quite a bit and died 16 years later in Windham. He and Marietta had only seven children.
Fred Elias Libby, born in 1864 in Oxford, Maine; represents a kind of milestone in my personal recollection of my family. Although I have no memory of him personally (he died the year I was born, 1952); I do recall hearing stories told of "Old Gramps" and therefore he seems more real to me than those that came before him. He lived the latter part of his life in South Portland, Maine; in the house I knew as my grandparents' house.
His legacy, as family lore tells it, is that as the master carpenter and cabinet maker that he was, he built and installed all the cabinetry, doors, doorways and stairway railings in what was to become known as the Maine Medical Center. (When I was born there, it was called the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary; I don't know what they were calling it when he did his work there.)
The only one of four children born to Fred and his wife Dagma to survive to adulthood, was my grandfather, Carl. (Yipes! That was close; we almost lost a whole line of Libbys, myself included!)
Carl Clarence Libby was born in - you guessed it - Scarborough, on January 17th, 1893. He married Lillian Nielsen in 1915. They resided all their lives in South Portland. In fact, they lived next door to me and my family, in the house that was originally Fred and Dagma's. It was built over the carpentry shop and right in front of the mill. My grandfather was known to everyone in the neighborhood as "Pop" Libby. He was a bit on the cantankerous side; but with all the mischief my brother and I and all the kids on the street visited on him, it's not all that surprising. But despite the trespassing we committed, the windows in the mill that we broke, and our unauthorized frolicking in the sawdust bins, "Pop" persevered and ruled his mill with an iron fist.
My fondest recollections of my grandfather center around the camping trips he would take my brother and me on about every other weekend in the summer. We would pile into the custom made camper he had fashioned on the chassis of a Cadillac hearse and head up to Sebago Lake for the weekend. (I'm not making this up. It was beautiful. The camper portion had all the comforts of a Winnebago, and the cab had red leather upholstery and walnut dash. I also remember the "suicide knob" on the steering wheel to assist in the turns. Pop had had a partial stroke and needed a little extra leverage. Somehow I still recall the clear acrylic knob over a picture of Marilyn Monroe in one of her classic poses.) He was not the most congenial man for a little kid to be around, but he gave me the opportunity to appreciate the outdoors at a very early age. I thank him for that.
Richard Mortensen Libby (11-7-1-8-2-1-6-4-1)
Well, here's what I know. My father was born on March 25th, 1916. He died sometime in the mid 1970's. Without going into a lot of detail, suffice it to say that I don't remember much about my Dad; he was either out to sea with the fishing fleet, or down the coast or wherever. He and my Mother split up when I was about two and well, let's just say he didn't pester us a lot by coming around too often after that. I find it hard to believe he had that in mind when he adopted my two older sisters and started a family with my Mom in 1948 when my older brother was born; but, truth be told, he never took the time to tell me his side of how it turned out that way. So there you go. Let's move on.
Hiram Avery Libby (11-7-1-8-2-1-6-4-1-4)
This would be me. Boy, could I go on in fascinating detail about my life growing up in South Portland, Maine. My friends on Stanley Street. My school years at Frank I. Brown, Simon Hamlin, and SPJHS. I could entertain you for hours with tales of my mother's courageous move out to California when I was 13. Or my high school years at James Lick High School in San Jose, CA. And what would you give to hear of my intriguing and varied career, that started out with me as a grocery clerk and has launched me into my current job as a software solutions salesperson plying my wares to the consumer package goods industry? Probably as much as you would give to hear colorful stories about my numerous marriages and all the wonderful places I've lived (Maine-California-Colorado-Missouri-California).
So instead, let me cut to the chase. I live in the California redwoods, near enough to walk to the beach and far enough from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley to preserve sanity (somewhat). I am employed by the ACNielsen Company, purveyors of fine market research data to consumer goods companies and retailers.
For those of you genuinely riveted by this portion of the narrative, I enjoy
hiking, biking, reading, beer, fooling around with this web page and beer.
Especially craft brewed beer.
********
But of all the things about me, the best are not about me, at all. But like all proud parents, I take credit for them. I am referring, of course to my sons, Hiram II (or Guy, as we tagged him and he prefers) and Nick.
Hiram "Guy" Avery Libby II (11-7-1-8-2-1-6-4-1-4-1)
My eldest son was born in San Jose, California on Oct. 2, 1970. He has been a source of pride from the very earliest age, right up to the present. He attended James Lick High School and Evergreen College. Guy has always possessed a great sense of honor and duty to his family, friends, and community. He currently holds down two jobs - one as a security officer at Valley Medical in San Jose, and another as a reserve deputy for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.
Nicholas Phillip Libby (11-7-1-8-2-1-6-4-1-4-2)
Also born in San Jose. Nick was born on November 12, 1971. He has a sensitive nature and a heart as big as all outdoors. And speaking of the outdoors, that is where Nick is most comfortable, and currently makes his living. He is a professional landscaper (landscapist?), and is working towards owning his own landscaping business one day. He also attended James Lick High School and lives in San Jose.
But wait, there's more...
Nicholas Brandon Libby (11-7-1-8-2-1-6-4-1-4-2-1)
Yes, it's true. The twelfth generation of Libbys on my branch of the tree has arrived. Born on March 30, 1997; "Little Nick" is about as cute as a Libby can get and spends his time practicing important noises and scampering around the house. More on him later. Watch for exciting pictures!
Rebekah Keona Libby (11-7-1-8-2-1-6-4-1-4-2-2)
Yipes! Another little Libby has landed. Born June 16, 2004. She's so new, there's not a lot to write about. More on her later.
Well, that's about it for Libby's in my family, 363 years of it in this country, from 1636 to 1999. Guess it's time for me to pick another branch and shake it to see what kinds of nuts fall out!