Family:John Austin and Unknown (3)

John Austin's Wife

In his History of Farmington, Francis Gould Butler identified John Austin's wife's as "Jerusha" citing as proof a town record which stated, "Jerusha Asten died in Jesse Gould's house, October ye 6, A. D. 1804."^[1] But it could be that John Austin's wife was instead named "Sarah Andrews" because a "Mr. John Astin" and a "Mrs. Sarah Andrews" were married in Brunswick, Cumberland, Maine on 24 Nov 1764.^[3] This marriage record fits well with what's known about John Austin: from his military record we know that he was from Brunswick, and from his service in the French and Indian War we know that he would have been of marriageable age in 1764.^[2] Regardless of what her name was, Mrs. Austin was a noteworthy woman, Farmington's first midwife and doctor. Here's what Butler had to say about her:

Mrs. Austin, familiarly known among the early settlers as "Granny Asten," was a native of Cape Ann, and one of those rare women full of energy and capable of great endurance. As a doctress she rendered efficient service to the inhabitants for many years, and was largely employed in midwifery, a branch of medical practice in which she excelled. Few children were born in the township for the first fifteen years after its settlement, at whose birth she did not preside. Her field of visitation was mostly confined to the settlements on the river, occasionally, however, extending to what are now the towns of Stark and New Sharon, and also to Strong and Avon. When visiting her patients at a distance, she frequently went and came by boat; while at other times she would travel miles on foot, braving the merciless storms of midnight, and allowing no obstacles to prevent the accomplishment of her purpose.^[1]

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Butler, Francis Gould. A history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine: from the earliest explorations to the present time, 1776-1885. (Farmington, Maine: Press of Knowlton McLeary & Co., 1885)
   624.
2. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War: A compilation from the archives. (Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States: Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Wright and Potter Printing, 1896-1908)
   353.

   Austen, John, Brunswick. Return of men enlisted into Continental Army from Col. Jonathan Mitchell's (2d Cumberland Co.) regt., dated Dec. 10, 1777; joined Capt. Jenkins's co., Col. Francis's (also given Col. Samuel Brewer's) regt.; enlistment, 3 years; returned by Maj. Larrabee.

3. ↑ BRUNSWICK, MAINE, INTENTIONS OF MARRIAGE., in Putnam, Eben. Putnam's monthly historical magazine. (Salem, Massachusetts: Eben Putnam)
   6:247, as transcribed here.

   Mr. John Astin and Mrs. Sarah Andrews, both of Brunswick, Nov. 24, [17]64.