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Note: According to the Centennial History of Harrison, Maine (p. 122), "*** in 1835, we find a case where one Samuel Willey agrees and promises comfortably to support, maintain, and provide for Abigail and Patience Hanscome, daughters of Mr. George Hanscome, late of Harrison, deceased, he to provide all necessary meat, drink, lodging, and apparel, and to defray all necessary expenses for their support in sickness and in health during their natural lives, pledging himself, his heirs, executors, or administrators to well and truly perform the conditions aforesaid, and mortgaging his farm to the town as security for the performance of the contract."
The Centennial History of Harrison notes that arrangements such as the forgoing was influenced by the town's desire to conduct business in such a way as to cost the town as little as possible. Although they virtually sold the services of those unfortunate people at auction the same as slaves were formerly sold, yet it was in accordance with the usages of the times.
According to Robert Hanscom (Editor, Hanscom Family Newsletter), Abigail never married and eventually went to live with her brother Lewis in Springfield, Maine. Abigail is shown in Lewis' household in the 1850 census but by 1860 Lewis was living alone.
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