The "Founding Father of Sweden" in Oxford county, Maine. Samuel lived a full life and to a grand age of 91 years.
At age 17, Samuel join Capt Baldwin on ship "Rider-Rally" as a Privateer for the colonist in Jan 1783 re: the last year of the Revolutionary War. The Treaty of Paris was signed by the end of 1783. The ending of the Revolutionary War was not the end for Samuel however, his vessel was captured by the British Brig "Chatham". He was imprisoned and impressed into labor on the ship for one year. It docked in want we call Manhattan today in New York and there he made his escape.
Upon his honorable discharge he was given the rank of Lieut. When called upon for duty again in the War of 1812, he was given the rank of Col., a regiment of Oxford County Maine, which was his home at this time in his life.
After the Revoluntionary War, Samuel was given a large tract of land in Maine. In 1794, he arrived in a area that we call today Sweden, Maine. He started to clear his lumber on his land, he return several times a year to Burlington, Massachusetts for supplies. In 1796, his freind Benjamin Webber joined him and Samuel gave his freind some land for his assistance. Upon his last visit back to Burlington in 1796, he took his bride Esther Trull daughter of Capt John Trull and wife Esther Wyman of Tewksbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
Samuel and Esther were married in Oct 1796. Immediately after the marriage, they came by horse back together to their new land and log home in Sweden, Maine. They rode for 180 miles arriving within record time of one full day. They will have only 3 sons to live to adulthood. Three others die as toddlers/babies.
Samuel rewards Esther well for her true hardiness, with one of the most impressive home's in Sweden. It still stands today in all of its grand beauty with Kezar Lake in the back ground. It stand on the four corners of Sweden, as it is called even today. Samuel called his wife his true partner in life and when she died half of himself was gone, he went on say she was his equal! The home remained in the Nevers family until July 1951, it was purchased by a couple from New Jersey.
Samuel built the first school, meetinghouse, which still stands today on Rte 96. The first church he funded to be built still stands across the street from the Meetinghouse/school. Prior to his death in 1857 he also built the first brick schoolhouse in Sweden, which also still stands.
He served as a State Representative for Sweden in 1830, 1833, 1834, 1837. In 1823, he was apart of the Maine Separation Committee from Massachusetts. He was very proud he voted for the independence of Maine from Massachusetts. He was equally proud that he never missed a vote and that every President he voted for was the winner. He was the one of the first leaders of the Maine Democrat party.
He also served his town as the first suveyor, he built the first roads and bridges. He built the first Saw Mill, owned and ran it in addition to his growing Timber yard. His sons Samuel jr, Benjamin and William worked along side their father when of age. Samuel Jr was given the saw Mill, Timber Yard, home of his parents. The other properties were divided by the two sons.
The information on Col Samuel Nevers is well documented in The State of Maine Registers, The Lovell-Sweden Historical Society, Col. Samuel Nevers Memoirs, which his grandson William had published in 1860s.
http://www.archive.org/stream/memoirofcolsamue00neve#page/30/mode/2up
