Although the following story appears in other books, this version came from "Modern Maine" Vol. 2 page 248 by Richard Herbert. The story actually pertains to Edward3 Anderson and his son George4, and goes as follows:
"Little Sebago Lake once flowed into Big Sebago Lake thru Pettingill Pond, and the water level of Little Sebago was several feet higher than now, so that many present day cottages are built on what was once the lake floor. In the late 1700's the owner of a large sawmill [this was Edward3 Anderson] on the Pleasant River near Windham Hill in order to increase his water supply, cut through a ridge across Ditch Brook, the outlet of Collins Pond, into which Little Sebago now flows.
In May 1861, a heavy rainstorm and freshet wiped out the dam (now owned by George4 Anderson) and a good part of Little Sebago's swollen storage water washed through, erasing the village of Popeville, where the sawmill was located and most of the bridges below on the Pleasant and Presumpscot Rivers. When the dams finally were rebuilt, Little Sebago no longer flowed into big Sebago in its old channel, but Collins Pond and a much wider and deeper Ditch Brook became its permanent outlet. Hall Point and the Sand Bar Narrows above Hunger Bay on Little Sebago, now virtually chokes Little Sebago in two, except during springtime high water". Edward3's, son George4 was owner of the mill and house at the time of the flood so he ended up paying damages to all property owners down river.
Edward3 Anderson apparently had a liking for the military as he was made an Ensign by a board of three experts, chosen by the town on 7 Nov 1774, "to teach those who are so inclined to the Military Art". We find that during the first of the Revolutionary War, brothers, Edward3 and John3 both served during 1775 in a Coast Guard unit on Casco Bay with Capt. Samuel Knight's company. We also find in the Achives for Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors in the Revolutionary War a listing for: "Anderson, Edward, Windham, Lieut. in Capt. Sam Knight's Company, enlisted July 1, l775, service 6 mo. l6 da. at Falmouth, Cumberland Cty. Also a 2nd Lieut., Capt. Thomas Trott's (lst) Co. 4th Cumberland Cty. Regt. List of officers of Mass. Militia, com'd Sept 1777; Also lst Lieut., Capt Nathan Merrill's Co., Col. Jonathan Mitchell's Regt. Enlisted July 8 1779, disch. Sept 25, l779---Service 12 months, 17 days. Company detached from Cumberland Cty." In Samuel Dole's book, "Windham in the Past", Lieut. Edward3 Anderson is listed as having served 12 months, 17 days in the Revolutionary War.
Upon the death of his father, (Abraham2), Edward3 Anderson came into possession of the family farm and in 1770 he built a house on a site selected by his father. In 1790, he exchanged the home farm for his brother's (Abraham3 Jr.) property near Windham Hill on the Portland Rd. (at the brow of the steep hill, just south of Pleasant River).
Edward3 died in this large two story house. He carried on a lumbering business, giving employment to a large group of men. He was also much into public and military life, finally becoming a Colonel in the local militia.
©Copyright Robert E. Anderson 1996