The bachelor Bean brothers, John and Josiah, seemingly lived simple and uneventful lives on their farm into old age and were buried on the small plot on the property. But a look at the local newspaper of the time has yielded the discovery of a short period of much excitement for the brothers at the hands of a single woman – something they had to put the kibosh on.

The article published in the Ellsworth American on March 25, 1875 provides a titillating look into their lives:

“Ellsworth Police Court. PETERS, JUDGE.

John S. Bean, Compl’t, vs. Deborah M. Bean. Complaint for larceny and breaking and entering dwelling-house.

This was a very unique case, and the trial of it unfolded curious family incidents. There lived in Sullivan two brother Beans, as like as two Peas. They dwelt together in unity – together they inherited the acres of the paternal Bean – together they toiled with honest industry upon the farm of their fathers – together they kept bachelors’ hall in the ancestral home. There they lived year after year in peaceful serenity, and rural quiet. Thus they passed through youth, early manhood, and middle age, until more than half a century had gone by.

They were both bachelors. One is a bachelor now. The other mourns that he is not. Like liberty to the Roman poet, matrimony, though late, came to him at last. He met his fate in the fair Deborah, who was comely in person and energetic in purpose. She was duly installed in the dwelling of the brothers, and cooked, baked, washed, swept, sewed, and other household labor did perform for them. The harmony was disturbed, however, and the brothers were also disturbed.

Presently the Benedict made over to the bachelor his share of the lands and goods, and withdrew from the domestic circle to be a wanderer upon the face of the earth. Why he withdrew will never perhaps be known. Squire Wiswell hinted that it was because of the Xantippean proclivities of Deborah. Squire Emery repudiated that and declared that it was only the natural cussedness of the unregenerate man. Judge Peters said it made no odds in this case, and so he didn’t care what he left for.

After the departure of Benedict, the bachelor gently intimated to the woman that she was working too hard and needed rest, and ought to visit her friends. She said she couldn’t think of it, – that she was anxious to keep the work right up. He then intimated that there was no need of her doing anything more for him, – that he could get along without her. She thought he couldn’t – that he needed her to take care of him. He then entreated her to leave, but she replied, “entreat me not to leave thee.” He then told her she must leave, but she said she wouldn’t – that there was her home to which her husband had brought her, and there she should stay. He said he would put her out. She said he couldn’t.

Here was a dilemma. He was too gallant to lay hands upon the woman – and too kind hearted to use violence. He resorted to strategy – watching his chance when she was out, he shut the doors against her. She returned, undid the fastenings, re-entered and resumed her old place. At length the man appealed to the law, and caused her to be arraigned for the offence of burglary in the day time, and this was the case before the Court.

The woman’s counsel argued that she thought she was right, and so the criminal intent was lacking. The man’s counsel insisted that as she had done it after being forbidden, and did it knowingly, after having been informed of the ownership, she must be held guilty. Judge Peters said that as the act was done in broad day, and the woman had claimed a right to stay there, he could not believe that she had any felonious intent in her mind, and accordingly discharged her. Thus the parties were left in stata quo ante bellum and the problem of how to get that woman out of that house was left unsolved by his Honor.

We learned however that the Respondent on returning, cut the Gordian knot by vacating the premises, and leaving Mr. Bean to vegetate alone in his single blessedness.”

With a story like that, what can we find from additional research? For starters, Deborah White was born July 28, 1841 in Harrington, daughter of William and Elmira (Colson) White. She lived with her family, working as a housekeeper, until the age of 22, when she married Daniel Look Ramsdell in late 1860. They had two daughters, Julia, born 1861, and Mabel, born 1864, and lived in Addison. Daniel worked variously as a carpenter, farmer, and seaman, and was lost at sea in 1867, making Deborah a widow. Deborah then moved with her two daughters into the home of one of Daniel’s older brothers, Sullivan Ramsdell, and worked as his housekeeper.

Sometime between 1871 and 1873, she married Josiah Bean of Sullivan. It appears that her two daughters stayed with their uncle Ramsdell in Addison during this time. Josiah was born in 1814, which would put him close to 60 years old at the time of marriage, with Deborah being in her early 30s. In 1874, Josiah Bean left town for several months and paid for a notice to run in the Ellsworth American that read: “Notice. All persons are hereby forbidden from harboring and trusting my wife, Deborah C. Bean, on my account, as ample provision has been made for her, by me. Josiah Bean.” It can be surmised that she was running up a tab in his absence.

He returned at some point, and the divorce of Josiah and Deborah is recorded in April 1877 at the courthouse in Ellsworth. The 1880 census has Josiah living back at home with his brother John, this time with 46-year-old Hannah Lindsey as housekeeper. Josiah died August 10, 1891, and in his will left Hannah $100 “and the bed she sleeps upon at my house with necessary bedding.” His estate was worth over $9500, including $233.66 in cash on hand and $442.50 in gold. With the comfortable items in the estate, it is not hard to understand why Deborah would not want to leave.

Deborah is recorded on the 1880 census as divorced and living in Milbridge with her daughters. She died there on June 23, 1898, aged 57 of heart disease and mitral regurgitation (heart murmur). Her stone reads “Deborah M. Wife of Josiah Bean, Former wife of Daniel L. Ramsdell.” It is interesting that despite the brief marriage and divorce, Josiah is mentioned on her stone.

The headstone of Deborah (White) Ramsdell Bean in Milbridge.

Back to the old Bean farm, there is the question of the stone in the family plot for Judith Ash. Who was she and how did she fit into the family? In 1870, Judith Ash was listed as the housekeeper for the Bean brothers, with her age given as 58. She passed away on July 4, 1871 and was buried on the property in the family cemetery. According to her MOCA file, she had been the daughter of Robert (1763-1835) and Abigail Rolf Ash (1767-1837). Being the second youngest of her siblings, Judith cared for her parents into their old age. After their death, she moved in with the Beans, living with and taking care of them like family for over 30 years. For one so dedicated to the care of the home and its bachelor brothers, it must have been appropriate for her to be buried at the place she called home.    

Excerpt from the Ellsworth American, March 25th, 1875.

1891 obituary of Josiah Bean.