Most people who live in Windham and Gorham are familiar with Mallison Falls (correctly called Mallison’s Falls), which is one of many falls on the Presumpscot River. Researchers have tried to find out where the name came from and in Josiah Pierce’s 1862 book about Gorham history, some light is shed.

Before 1733, 200 acres of land in what is now Gorham had been granted by the Provincial Legislature of Massachusetts to one Joseph Mallison of Boston. Why the grant was made does not appear in history books, but speculation by some historians is that it may have been on condition of erecting mills at what are now called Horsebeef Falls on the Presumscot.

For many years the falls bore the name of Mallison’s Falls, and they are so-called in the Proprietors’ Records. The tract is described as “two hundred acres in the County of York, by Presumscot River, forty five rods above the upper part of the Fourth Great Falls from the mouth of Presumscot River, about five miles above the Great Fall at Saccarappa.”

Joseph Mallison conveyed the 200 acres on March 16, 1733, to General Samuel Waldo of Boston, for 50 British pounds in bills of credit. Neither Mallison nor Waldo erected mills. Waldo seems to have wished to acquire as much of the water power in this region as possible; he owned Capisic mill privilege, most of Presumscot Lower Falls, all at Congin, and nearly all of Saccarappa Falls.

In the history of Windham, Mallison Falls is the site of the first sawmill in the town, presumably built by the Knight family. Later, the large woolen mill was built by the Robinson family. In its history, Mallison Falls was (and sometimes still is) known as Horsebeef.

How Horsebeef got its name will be another story.

Most people who live in Windham and Gorham are familiar with Mallison Falls (correctly called Mallison’s Falls), which is one of many falls on the Presumpscot River. Researchers have tried to find out where the name came from and in Josiah Pierce’s 1862 book about Gorham history, some light is shed.

Before 1733, 200 acres of land in what is now Gorham had been granted by the Provincial Legislature of Massachusetts to one Joseph Mallison of Boston. Why the grant was made does not appear in history books, but speculation by some historians is that it may have been on condition of erecting mills at what are now called Horsebeef Falls on the Presumscot.

For many years the falls bore the name of Mallison’s Falls, and they are so-called in the Proprietors’ Records. The tract is described as “two hundred acres in the County of York, by Presumscot River, forty five rods above the upper part of the Fourth Great Falls from the mouth of Presumscot River, about five miles above the Great Fall at Saccarappa.”

Joseph Mallison conveyed the 200 acres on March 16, 1733, to General Samuel Waldo of Boston, for 50 British pounds in bills of credit. Neither Mallison nor Waldo erected mills. Waldo seems to have wished to acquire as much of the water power in this region as possible; he owned Capisic mill privilege, most of Presumscot Lower Falls, all at Congin, and nearly all of Saccarappa Falls.

In the history of Windham, Mallison Falls is the site of the first sawmill in the town, presumably built by the Knight family. Later, the large woolen mill was built by the Robinson family. In its history, Mallison Falls was (and sometimes still is) known as Horsebeef.

How Horsebeef got its name will be another story.