USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine v.I, 1770-1875 > Part 1
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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
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J.h.Bufford's Sons Lith boston
HISTORY
OF THE
CITY OF BELFAST
IN THE
STATE OF MAINE,
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1770 TO 1875.
BY
JOSEPH WILLIAMSON. 15
v. |
" POSTERITY DELIGHTS IN DETAILS."
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
PORTLAND : LORING, SHORT, AND HARMON. 1877. KC
F 29 B42W73 V.I A78;671 Copyright, BY JOSEPH WILLIAMSON. 1877.
Cambridge : Press of John Wilson & Son.
PREFACE.
T 'HE design of writing a History of Belfast first seriously occurred to me in 1870, while preparing an address for the Centennial Celebration of that year. Since then the materials have accumulated which are embodied in the pres- ent volume. A delay of several months beyond the time at first specified for publication has been unavoidable. For this delay, the addition of several engravings and of two hundred and six more pages than were promised in the Prospectus will, I trust, be regarded as a sufficient apology.
Towns in New England, of which the existence began no farther back than a century, can have only short and simple annals. But Belfast -a community of but six thousand in- habitants, which, within the space of little more than its last decade, sent over eight hundred of its sons to engage in the conflict for THE UNION ; which, almost unaided, has built a railroad costing nearly a million of dollars ; which has twice had the larger portion of its business territory swept over by fire, and which is to-day more prosperous and enterprising than ever before - must present some features in its history of more than a local interest, as illustrating the characteristic energy and persistence of the American people.
To enumerate the many sources from which information has been derived, as well as all the instances of individual kind- ness which have lightened my task, would exceed the space assigned for this preface. I must not omit, however, to ac- knowledge my obligations to JOHN H. QUIMBY and EMERY BOARDMAN, late City Clerks, for allowing me unrestricted
iv
PREFACE.
access to the records and papers in their custody ; to Judge PHILO HERSEY, for valuable aid in preparing the various plans which the work contains ; and to HENRY L. KILGORE, whose skill as an artist has enabled me to present the most prominent portraits and engravings. Nor can I omit men- tioning the venerable WILLIAM QUIMBY, who, at the age of over fourscore years, with a memory remarkable for accuracy, has furnished an account of persons and incidents of the past which could not otherwise have been obtained. The " Annals of Belfast for Half a Century," by the Hon. WILLIAM G. CROSBY, which appeared in the " Republican Journal " during 1874-75, have been invaluable to me. The pleasing tribute to his native city contained in these vivid reminiscences of Mr. Crosby's long and honored life is one for which posterity cannot be too grateful.
With this introduction, the following pages are submitted to my fellow-citizens. Should they be favorably received, I shall be amply rewarded for my labor.
BELFAST, June, 1877.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
PAGE
I. PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE HISTORY
1
II. EARLY VOYAGES TO PENOBSCOT BAY . 20
III. THE MUSCONGUS OR WALDO PATENT 36
IV. FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT ON PENOBSCOT BAY 50
V. THE SCOTCH-IRISH.
59
VI. PROPRIETARY HISTORY
63
VII. PROPRIETARY HISTORY (concluded)
87
VIII. FIRST SETTLEMENT
113
. IX. MUNICIPAL HISTORY . 122
X. MUNICIPAL HISTORY (concluded)
151
XI. BELFAST DURING THE REVOLUTION
160
XII. BELFAST DURING THE REVOLUTION (continued)
168
XIII. BELFAST DURING THE REVOLUTION (concluded) 183
XIV.
INHABITANTS FROM 1784 TO 1880
191
XV. BUILDINGS .
205
XVI. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
222
XVII. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY (continued) : FIRST PARISII
257
XVIII. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY : SECOND CONGREGATIONAL SO-
CIETY .
276
XIX.
BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY
292
XX.
METHODIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY .
302
XXI.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY
308
XXII.
MISCELLANEOUS RELIGIOUS HISTORY .
313
XXIII. EDUCATIONAL HISTORY . 319
XXIV. EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. - SCHOOLS
335
XXV. NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS . 347
XXVI. LAW AND THE COURTS . 363
XXVII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF LAWYERS
384
XXVIII.
PHYSICIANS AND SANITARY HISTORY
411
XXIX. MILITARY HISTORY FROM 1784 TO 1815 .
423
.
MILITARY HISTORY (continued)
444
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
XXXI. BELFAST DURING THE REBELLION . 464
XXXII. SKETCHES OF DECEASED SOLDIERS FROM BELFAST IN THE REBELLION . 500
XXXIII. CEMETERIES AND FUNERAL CUSTOMS
518
XXXIV. NECROLOGY .
XXXV. TRAVELLING, POST-OFFICE, HOTELS, &C.
525
583
XXXVI. ROADS 597
XXXVII. STREETS 625
XXXVIII. FERRIES AND BRIDGES . 645
XXXIX. STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION . 65.1
XL. RAILROADS AND RAILROAD PROJECTS .
667
XLI. INDUSTRIAL HISTORY 677
XLII. COMMERCIAL HISTORY 093
XLIII. FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT , 709
XLIV. ASSOCIATIONS AND SOCIETIES
742
XLV. THE TEMPERANCE REFORM . 749
XLVI. AMUSEMENTS 761
XLVII. CELEBRATIONS AND OBSERVANCES
775
XLVIII. VISITORS, DISTINGUISHED AND NOTORIOUS 793
XLIX. A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS . 802
L. SHIPWRECKS AND DISASTERS AT SEA 810
LI. BEASTS, BIRDS, AND FISHES
824
LII. METEOROLOGICAL AND PHENOMENAL.
833
LIII. STATISTICAL HISTORY 848
APPENDIX.
No.
I. MUNICIPAL OFFICERS, 1773 TO 1875 851
II. SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES 855
III. CIVIL OFFICERS . 857
IV. MILITARY OFFICERS 870
V. VOTES FOR PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR 878
VI. STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL TAXES . 881
VII. LIST OF VESSELS BUILT 884
VIII. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM BELFAST IN THE REBELLION . 888
-
GENERAL INDEX .
921
INDEX OF NAMES
. 980
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
PAGE
Engraving of Belfast from east
side of the River . Frontispiece
Fort Pownall, 1759 56
Heliotype of Petition for Incor-
poration, 1773 123
House built by James Miller, 1791 206
House built by Robert Miller, 1792. 206
Building at Nesmith's Corner . 207
Old Babel and buildings, corner Main and High Streets, 1825 212
House built by Boban P. Field, 1807 . 214
View of High Street, 1842 218
City Block 219
Hayford Block
221
Old West. Meeting House, 1792. 226
Old East Meeting-House, 1792 . 226
Parsonage House, 1797. 230
Unitarian Church, 1818 260 287 North Church, 1831 .
Baptist Church, 1837 297
Baptist Church, as reconstructed
1870. 300
Methodist Church, 1858 305
Universalist Church, 1839
809
Church at the Head of the Tide, 1847 . 314
School Houses on the Common . 345
Court-House 373
Old Stage Coach .
586
Eagle Hotel
592
Custom-House and Post-Office
700
Portraits, with Autographs.
Gen. Samuel Waldo . 44
Hon. Hugh J. Anderson 203
Rev. Ebenezer Price
230
Rev. William Frothinghamn 267
Col. Thomas H. Marshall . 508
Rev. Cazneau Palfrey, D.D. . 274
Hon. Nathan Read 552
Ilon. William Crosby 386
Nathaniel Wilson 554
Hon. John Wilson
392
Autographs.
John Mitchell
100 | Gen. Gerard Gosselin
.
443
Maps and Plans.
Clark and Houston's Map, 1796 10
Chadwick's Plan, 1768 (reduced) 66
Des Barres's Chart of the Har-
bor, 1775 120
Map of Belfast Village, 1805. . 209
Plan of Pews in West Meeting House, 1795 . .
. 227 Plan of Pews in First Parish .Meeting House, 1818 261 Map of the Burnt District, 1865 7:28 Map of the Burnt District, 1873 738
Hon. Wm. G. Crosby, LL.D . 400
Col. Alfred W. Johnson 40
The Author 406
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE HISTORY.
Situation. - Latitude and Longitude. - Dimensions. - Number of Acres. - Bound- aries. - Establishment of Bounds in 1812. - Portion of Town set off to Searsport. - Perambulation of Lines. - Hills. - Rivers and Streams. - The Passagassawakeag. - Wescott Stream. - Goose River. - Little River. - Rivulets. - Waterfalls. - Islands. - Description of the Harbor. - Sailing Directions. - Plans. - Maps. - Copy of Plan made in 1794. - Engravings. - Paintings. - Directories. - Geological Feat- ures. - Soil and Trees. - Indians and their Relics. - Localities mentioned in the History.
SITUATION AND DIMENSIONS.
T' HE City of BELFAST, in the county of Waldo, and State of
Maine, is situated at the north-west angle of Penobscot Bay, about twenty-six miles from its entrance,1 and about ten miles westerly from the mouth of Penobscot River. Its latitude is 44° 25' 29" north, and its longitude west of Greenwich is 69º 0' 19". This is the geographical position of the Methodist Church spire, as determined by the United States Coast Survey.
It is forty-one miles from Augusta, thirty-two from Bangor, one hundred and ten from Portland, and two hundred and thirty- two 86 from Boston.2 These are distances on the old post-roads : by railway, they are increased. As established in 1813, its northern line, from Belmont to Prospect, measured eight miles and a quar- ter. Its breadth is five miles three quarters and fifty-two rods. Originally, the shape of the township was nearly rectangular ; but, by a dismemberment of its south-eastern portion, in 1845, to form the town of Searsport, its base line was reduced about two miles,
1 Penobscot Bay may be said to begin at White Head on the west. - Coast Pilot, Gulf of Maine.
2 This is the exact distance from the old State-House in Boston to the post-office here, as measured in 1812 by an agent of the Government.
1
2
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
while the length of the northern line sustained only a slight dim- inution. The original area comprised twenty-three thousand acres, of which three thousand four hundred and seventy-one were in- cluded in Searsport, leaving nineteen thousand five hundred and twenty-nine acres.
BOUNDARIES.
Belfast is bounded northerly by Swanville and Waldo ; south- erly, by Northport and the bay ; easterly, by Searsport and the bay; and westerly, by Belmont and Morrill. In the original deed, the courses and distances of the township are given as follows : "Beginning at Half-way Creek (being the westerly boundary of Frankfort), westerly around the harbor called Passa- gassawakeag to Little River ; 2dly, from thence upward, by sundry turns in Little River, about as far as salt water flows, and crossing said river, to a black birch-tree, computed thirty-seven chains ; 3dly, from thence south, sixty degrees west, two hundred and twenty-three chains to a birch-tree; 4thly, from thenoe north, twenty-two degrees west, three hundred and seventy-two chains, equal to four miles two hundred and eight rods, to a rock-maple tree, one rod westerly of a quarry of stones; 5thly, from thence north, sixty-eight degrees east, six hundred and two chains, equal to seven miles and three quarters, to the westerly line of Frank- fort."
In 1812, Jonathan Wilson and fifteen others represented to the selectinen " that the town boundary lines are very uncertain, and not established between the Waldo proprietors and said town, and that they are still liable to actions of ejectment." At the spring meeting of that year, William Crosby, John Wilson, and Bohan P. Field were chosen a committee to petition the Legislature to establish the lines, " so as to embrace the Fourth Division lots." Their action resulted in the passage of the following Act, which was finally approved June 16, 1813 : -
An Act to establish the Boundaries of the Town of Belfast, in the County of Hancock.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the boundary lines of the said town of Belfast be, and they are. hereby, established as follows : Beginning at the northerly corner of lot numbered fifty-four, in the fourth division of lots in said
3
PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE HISTORY.
town, at a marked hemlock-tree ; thence running south, by the town of Prospect, one mile one quarter and twenty-one rods, to Half-way Creek ; thence following the course of the channel of said Half-way Creek, to a ledge of roeks projecting from the side of Prospect, at the tide-waters of Belfast Bay ; thence, running south, into said bay, until said course intersects a line running due east from the mouth of Little River ; thence, running west, to the said mouth of Little River ; thence, by the town of Northport, up said Little River, following the course of its ancient channel, which includes the island in said river, within the town of Belfast, to a marked yellow birch-tree, standing on the west bank of said river, and at the south-easterly corner of lot numbered one hundred and two, in the third division of lots in said town of Belfast ; thence, by the town of Northiport, running south, sixty-eight degrees west, three miles one quarter and four rods, to a marked yellow birch- tree, at the south-westerly corner of lot numbered one, in the fourth division of lots in said town of Belfast, and commonly known by the name of Chadwick's Corner; thence, running north, twenty- two degrees west, by the unincorporated plantation of Greene, four miles three quarters and fifty-two rods, to a marked maple-tree, at the north-westerly corner of lot numbered twenty-six, in the fourth division of lots in said town of Belfast ; thence, by unincorporated lands, running north, sixty-eight degrees east, eight miles one quarter and fifteen rods, to the hemlock-tree first mentioned : pro- vided, however, that nothing contained in this Act shall be so con- strued as to affect the claims of individuals to the right of soil within said boundaries.
By the incorporation of Searsport, in 1845, " all that part of Belfast lying easterly of the westerly line of school district No. 12, and of the western lines of lots Nos. 2, 11, and 23, in district No. 18, and Nos. 23, 53, and 52 in the northern or border division of half lots," was set off, and included in the new town. Among the papers accompanying the original Act, there is nothing which shows the census or the valuation of the portion separated. The number of polls returned from Belfast in 1842 was eight hundred and two. The division reduced it to seven hundred and fifty-five. A multiplication of forty-seven, the difference, by four and one- third, which is about the ratio between polls and population, gives two hundred and six, the probable number of inhabitants set off.
4
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
PERAMBULATION OF LINES.
To prevent interference of jurisdiction, the Legislature of Mas- sachusetts enacted, in 1786, that the lines of towns should be run and their marks renewed once every five years, and that a record of the same be duly made. Under the laws of Maine, such perambu- lation, where stone monuments are erected, is required once in every ten years. This duty has been neglected by the authorities of Belfast ; and no later perambulations appear of record than those of the Northport line in 1832, and of the other lines in 1848.
HILLS.
The situation of Belfast may be called elevated, although un- marked by any lofty or precipitous hills. Along the shore of the bay and river, the land rises gradually, exhibiting an undulating sur- face, intercepted by an occasional rivulet. The Calderwood Hill, in the extreme south-west corner of the city, belonging to a chain which extends through Northport and Lincolnville to Camden, and the Hayford Hill, three miles northerly, near Belmont, are the highest elevations in our territory. On the eastern side of the har- bor, on the Swanville road, is a height of one hundred and eighty- five feet. According to Dr. Jackson's Geological Report, the sum- mit of Congress Street is one hundred and seventy-eight feet above tide-waters. From this point is a prospect of great extent and beauty. Passing over the populous part of the city, which occu- pies the declivity of the hill, the eye commands a view of Penob- scot Bay, having a width of twelve miles, with the lofty peaks of Mount Desert rising conspicuously beyond. On the south are seen the mountain ranges of Camden ; and, at opposite points, appear the hills of Montville and Knox, varied by wooded slopes and, cultivated intervals. Portions of twenty-seven towns and of five different counties are visible from this locality.
RIVERS AND STREAMS.
The river Passagassawakeag is properly an estuary or arm of the sea, as far as its eastern terminus above City Point. The western or main branch has its source from ponds in Morrill, Knox, Waldo, and Brooks. Furnishing power for several mills in the last two towns, it enters the north-west corner of Belfast, near Morrill, crossing the road at Poor's Mills, about four miles from the court-house. Thence, pursuing an easterly and somewhat
5
PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE HISTORY.
tortuous course, fed by two brooks near John Q. A. Davidson's, it flows by the old Job White Mill; and three hundred rods fur- ther down is bridged at the Head of the Tide, where Coch- ran's Mill formerly stood. From this point to the old tannery dam was formerly an almost continuous fall. Salt water flows above Marsh Creek, - a small inlet which here joins the river. Before the erection of the Point bridge, in 1839, scows ascended as far as this point. Below the railroad bridge, there is a suffi- cient depth of water at high tide for large schooners. From the wharves at City Point to the upper bridge, a distance of nearly a mile, the river expands to a width of three hundred yards, and has a depth in the channel at mean low water of from five to eleven feet. At the Narrows, where the upper bridge crosses, there is a width of about two hundred feet. From here to the east or lower bridge, the distance is one mile. A few rods above the latter, the indentation of the bank forms a basin, making the width from shore to shore about three-eighths of a mile. The depth of the channel between the two bridges at mean low water varies from six to fourteen feet. It is one-fourth of a mile from one end of the lower bridge to the other ; and the channel is at the draw, near the western shore. Opposite Sandy Beach, or Lewis's Wharf, is the deepest water, being from twenty to twenty-four feet at mean low tide. The river diminishes in width at this point, and from thence gradually expands to five- eighths of a mile across from the foot of Allyn Street to Patter- son's Point.
The Wescott stream, which joins the main river opposite City Point, has its source in Hurd's Pond in Swanville, and Ames's Pond in Waldo. A fall of twenty-one feet at its outlet supplies the mills of Joseph H. Kaler. Here John Mitchell erected a saw- mill in the first year of the settlement.
Goose River, which empties into the Passagassawakeag, on its eastern side, directly opposite the wharves, flows from Goose Pond in Swanville, six miles distant. This pond contains thirteen hun- dred acres, is of great depth, and has a large water-shed draining into it. It is also fed by springs from the bottom, which give a steady supply of water during the entire year. From the outlet of the pond, where there is a substantial stone dam, the river pur- sues a conrse nearly parallel to and within a few rods of the old Bangor road to Mason's Mills, formerly Little's Mills. Thence, crossing the road at Kelley's axe-factory, and the Searsport or
6
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
Shore road, at about one hundred rods from tide-water, there is a fall of one hundred and eighty-five feet, affording ten water-powers, several of which, occupied for various manufactories, are described in another chapter. Near the lower bridge, a grist-mill, a fulling- mill, a trip-hammer, and a tannery were once maintained. No traces of them now exist. Fifty rods from the mouth of the river, Hiram E. Peirce, the owner of the premises, has built a stone dam, three hundred feet in length and thirty feet high, furnishing a water-power of two hundred horse capacity. At the foot of the dam, the tide-water is thirteen feet deep, allowing vessels of that draft to come directly to the mills, erected during the present year (1874).1
Little River joins the harbor at the Northport line ; and from its mouth for nearly a half mile, or, in the language of the original deed, " about as far as salt water flows," it forms a portion of our western boundary. One of its sources is in Belmont, near Hall's Corner ; another is near the Wadlin Hill in Northport. It is fed by Little Meadow and other brooks which cross Belmont Avenue. Where it is intersected by the back road to Lincolnville, Stanley's or Wilson's Mills were formerly situated. Further down were Robbins's Mills : and, three hundred rods below, Peirce's Mill, afterwards owned by Edward Perkins, once stood. Near the mouth, James Nesmith had a grist-mill before the present century. Now there is not a single mill upon the whole river, which is of much less capacity than a few years ago.
The rivulet which supplies the tannery of Small & Houston, on the upper bridge road, was formerly quite a large stream. It has its source in marshy land near Grove Cemetery. On North- port Avenue is the Morrison Brook, once crossed by a log bridge, but now diminished to a small size.2
1 Since the above was written, this privilege has been leased on a long term by Messrs. Hazeltine & Bickford, who are preparing to improve it for.extensive manu- factories.
2 The lines of Bryant are applicable to all the streams in this vicinity : -
" Before these fields were shorn and tilled, Full to the brim our rivers flowed ; The melody of waters filled The fresh and houndless wood ;
And torrents dashed, and rivulets played,
And fountains spouted in the shade.
Those grateful sounds are heard no more ; The springs are silent in the sun ;
The rivers, by the blackened shore, With lessening current run."
1
1
7
PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE HISTORY.
There are no natural ponds in Belfast, and but two islands, - " Negro Island," near City Point, and a small one in Little River. The latter is quite conspicuously designated on Chadwick's plan.
DESCRIPTION OF THE HARBOR.
The following description of Belfast Harbor is taken from the " Coast Pilot," Gulf of Maine, published under the direction of the United States Coast Survey, in 1874, pp. 341-343 : -
Brown's Head is about two miles and three-quarters above Saturday Cove. This head, which forms the south-western promontory of Belfast Bay, is high, steep, rocky, and wooded ; and there is a settlement here called Brown's Corner. This is almost exactly opposite to Turtle Head, the northern extremity of Long Island, the distance between them being a little over four miles.
Belfast Bay is the north-western arm of Penobscot Bay, as Penobscot River is its north-east arm. It is about three miles wide at its mouth, but rapidly contracts in width to about eight hundred yards at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River, now more commonly known as Belfast River. The north point of en- trance to the bay, which is known as Sawyer Point,1 and some- times as The Beaver Tail, is cleared, gently sloping, bare of trees, and under cultivation ; and there are groups of houses on the higher lands, at some distance back from the shore. It is com- paratively bold. From this point, the north' shore has a course nearly west-by-north for about a mile and three-quarters, to the mouth of Belfast River. It is of moderate height, gently sloping, entirely under cultivation, and well settled.
The west shore has a course about north-by-west to the southern limits of the city of Belfast, and partakes of the same general character as the north shore, being entirely cleared and cultivated, and thickly settled. The course of Belfast River is about north- west-by-north, with an average width of about a quarter of a mile. Its shores are cleared, cultivated, and thickly settled. The city of Belfast is built upon the west bank, at its mouth. The usual anchorage is off the Steamboat Wharf, or off Commercial Wharf, which is the first large pier to the southward of the former; but
1 Repeated inquiry has failed to elicit any authority for this designation or for that of Beaver's Tail.
8
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
vessels may anchor anywhere after passing Goose River Point Ledge.1
DANGERS IN APPROACHING AND ENTERING BELFAST HARBOR.
1. Coming through West Penobscot Bay .- In approaching this harbor, the first danger met with is Steele Ledge, which will be easily recognized by the large, square stone beacon upon it. This beacon is thirty feet high, of the natural color, and is sur- mounted by a pole and barrel. The ledge lies off the north shore of the bay, a little to the westward of Sawyer Point; and the beacon is placed on top of it. When near the beacon, a red spar buoy will be seen a little over one hundred yards to the south- ward. This is on Harbor Shoal Ledge, and bears from Steele Ledge beacon south-by-east, distant one hundred and twenty-five yards. The bnoy is placed in ten feet water on its southern end, and is to be left to the northward, as there is no passage between it and Steele Ledge.
About half a mile to the north-westward of this buoy will ap- pear another red spar buoy. This is on Goose River Point Ledge, and is not in the way of vessels, unless they are standing across the harbor on a wind. This ledge lies off Goose River Point (on the east bank of Belfast River), and bears from Steele Ledge bea- con north-west half north, half a mile distant. It is not possible to cross the line between the two, as the shoal water extends from the buoy to the beacon.
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