USA > Maine > Waldo County > Brooks > Sketches of Brooks history > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
Gc 974.102 B79n 1788692
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 1879
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. 1788692
SKETCHES of BROOKS HISTORY
5032877
ERRATA
Page 18, line 12, for Loretta Arsenardt, read Loretta Arsenault.
Page 20, line 2, for Clifton P. Roberts, Jr., read Clifton Charles Roberts.
Page 22, the last three lines on the page should be read, as of 1875.
Page 26. line 22, for Dr. Muzzey, read Dr. Mussey.
l'age 33, line 28, for Main, read Maine.
Page 38. line 16, for Hiram N. Pilley, read Hiram H. Pilley. Page 41, lime 21. for $2.067.28, read $267.28. Page 60, line 23, for Albert Ames, read Elbert Ames.
, Page 62, line 5, for Albert Ames, read Elbert Ames.
Page 62, line 32, for Brazilian W. Lane, read Washington B. Lane.
Page 66. line 6, for Bullfinch, read Bulfinch.
Page 78, line 20, for Mariam Mitchell tenth child of Robert and Eliza Mitchell, read Miriam Hall tenthi child of Shadrack Hall, and Sarah Roberts Hall.
Page 79, line 17. for Munroe, read Monroe.
Page 79, line 26, for Munroe, read Monroe.
Page 82, line 17. for Blanfield. read Blandfield.
Page 83, line 4, for was reside, read who resided.
Page 83, line 8. for Albert E. Pilley, read Albert R. Pilley.
Page 85, line 12, for or, read of.
Page 92, line 36. for Fannie Merritt, read Frances Merritt.
Page 93, line 23, for Charles H. Ryder, read Charles W. Ryder.
Page 97. Class of 1917, Hervey Bowden, should be of class 1918.
Page 151, line 18, for 1868. read 1861.
Page 157, line 17, for T. T. Huxford, read T. I. Huxford.
Page 157, line 23. for C. W. Rider, read C. W. Ryder.
Page 160, line 12, for Albert R. Pelley, read Albert R. Pilley.
Page 162, line 24, for Munroe, read Monroe.
Page 162, line 26, for Hiram N. Pilley, read Hiram H. Pilley.
Page 164, line 38, for Abbie Hawks. read Abbie Hawkes.
Page 167, line 35, for March 24, 1824, read March 21. 1884.
Page 168, line 1. for Munroe. read Monroe.
Page 170, year 1373, for T. H. Gordon, read J. H. Gordon.
Page 172, year 1923. for A. S. Lowe, read A. J. Rowe. Page 184, line 13, for Albert G. Rose. read Augustus G. Rose, same in line 17.
Page 185. line 35. for 1824, read 1924.
Page 187, line 41, for Mutterfield, read Butterfield.
Page 206, line 4, for William S. Jones, read Willard S. Jones.
Page 234, line S, for Rev. F. H. Martin, read Rev. T. H. Martin.
--
The first house built in Brooks.
F Norwood, Seth Wademere, 1SS+- comp.
841122 Sketches of Brooks history, compiled by South W. Norwood. . 63 Dover, N. H., J. B. Page printing company. '1935] & p. 1., tt p. Illus. (ine), ports.) 231cm. Includes short biographies and genealogies. "References" : p. 122/199.
CHELF CAAC
1. Brooks, Me .- Hist. 2. Brooks, Me .- Biog. 3. Brooks, Me .-- Geneal. I. Title.
35-9035
Library of Congress
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CONTENTS
FOREWORD
While engaged in educational work in the Town of Brooks, it was my good fortune to be able to observe the sturdy character, rugged honesty, loyalty to duty, and devotion of the citizens to that which pertains to the best interests of the town. Especially noticeable was the lack of deception. Whatever was for the development of the com- munity met with approval. There might be differences of opinion as to the method, but never as to the principle.
From their humble homes they had reared families to go forth into the world to become loyal men and women-the greatest asset of a nation. When the country called its citizens to service, a unanimous response came from the citizens of Brooks, both as to the service of men and of money.
Having studied the children and their fathers and mothers, it was a natural desire to obtain greater knowledge of their forefathers, the occasion and the time of the settlement of the town, the early efforts and struggles of these men and women who had created from out of the forest a village beautiful.
In the early part of 1916 an opportunity presented itself. Having been invited to deliver the Historical Address at the 100th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town, this period became one of further study of the History of Brooks. Many of the earlier records had been destroyed by fire thus removing one of the most important sources of information, so any tradition that could not be verified authen- tically as having been passed down from generation to generation, or from family to family, or such other sources as would be considered reliable, has been omitted.
Though the History may be incomplete, if, in a small measure, it lays the foundation for someone at some future time to complete the work, this meagre effort will not have been without results.
To the citizens of Brooks-the town of homes, health and happi- ness-this volume is affectionately dedicated.
Portland, Maine
S. W. N.
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June 10, 1935
(wo wonton
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CONTENTS
Foreword
Introductory Pages " =
Errata
" "
Contents
"
"
List of Illustrations
Page
The Muscongus Grant or Waldo Patent
1
Washington Plantation
10
Brooks, The Town
36
District of Maine
45
Highways
55
The First House
60
Religious History of Brooks
67
Bench and Bar
82
Educational History
87
Medical History
102
The Colonial Wars
117
The Revolution
118
The War of 1812
123
The Militia
125
The Aroostook War
130
The Mexican War
136
The Civil War
137
The Spanish-American War
152
The World War
153
Committee of Public Safety
157
Postmasters and Mails
159
Societies and Clubs
169
Railroads
186
Manufacturers and Merchants
193
Newspapers and Newspaper Correspondents
207
Fires
209
Finance and Banking
213
Public Utilities
214
Agriculture
216
Amusements
231
Board of Trade
233
Band
235
Fire Department
236
ETMETINDEY-
Page
Three Quarter Century Club
237
Hotels
239
Halls
245
One Hundredth Anniversary
249
Citizens
273
Chronology of Events
279
The Edwards Family
286
The Huxford-Nesmith-McClure-McKeen Families
292
The Samuel H. Jones-Hawkes-Austin Families
326
Almon S. Forbes, Notes
346
Willis Everett Morse-Morse Memorial Building.
358
Merchants, etc.
367
Town Officers
381
Tombstone Inscriptions
398 422
References
Appendix (Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1930-1933) 423
Index of Names
429
Index of Places
445
Index of Subjects 450
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The First House Built in Brooks by Joseph Roberts, Jr .- Frontispiece.
Page
Benjamin Roberts, First White Child Born in Brooks 19
Nancy Cilley Roberts, Benjamin Roberts' wife. 19
Charles Henry Roberts; Stanley J. Roberts; Clifton P. Roberts; and Clifton Charles Roberts, Jr. 19
Clifton Charles Roberts, Jr.
20
Marshall Davis
24
Allen Davis 24
29
Samuel Whitney, and his signature
Governor William King
A View of the First Road South
Views of the First Road North.
A View of the First Road North
A View of the Second Road
A View of the Second Road over Lang Hill
A View of the Third Road
A View of the Fourth Road East
A View of the Fourth Road and Brooks Inn
59 59
A View of the New Bridge across Marsh River
59 61
The Old Ashmun Place
61
The "Huxford Place", so-called
61
A View of the Doble Lot
63
A View of the Lot where the First Trees were felled 63 63
The "Thorndike" Place
An Early Residence 64 65
A View of Brooks Village
A View of Marsh River, west. 65
A Birdseye View of Brooks 65
Union Congregational Church, Original and The Rose House 68 69
Ezra A. Carpenter
Union Congregational Church at Present 73
Rev. Eugene Edmunds Colburn 74
Rev. Lemuel Norton and wife 77
The Friends Church 78
Phineas Ashmun, and his signature 83
Hon. Woodbury Davis 84
Where Dr. Collier once lived
45 54 56 56 56 57 57 57
Governor John Brooks
Page
Fred W. Brown, Jr .. 85 .
One of the First School Houses 90
Our School District No. 1, Winter Term, 1877 90
Brooks High School, Class 1915 94
Brooks High School 95
Lester H. Shibles 96
Lloyd T. Dunham
96
Dr. Jacob Roberts
105 105 105
Dr. Joseph H. Barrows
Dr. James M. Mussey
Dr. Alfred W. Rich 105
Dr. James Cochrane
107 111
Residence of Dr. Albert E. Kilgore
Dr. Norman R. Cook
Dr. Prince E. Luce
Dr. Edward J. Roberts
Lieut. Albert H. Rose
141
Capt. Andrew Derby Bean 150
Cheney Higgins
155
A. R. Pilley's residence for a time occupied by Phineas Ashmun and Location of First Post Office
159
Charles E. Lane
161
Charles A. Lane
161 161
Wallace O. Estes
161
Everett W. Brown
164
John Lane
165
Isaac G. Reynolds
165
Residence of Isaac G. Reynolds
165
Marcellus J. Dow, Abbie Lane Dow, (his wife)
182
Residence of Marcellus J. Dow
182
The Old Well on the Manter Place
183
Henry H. Webb
187
Leroy T. Goding
195
Michael Chase, Sr.
195
Roberts & Son, Mill
197
The Old Grist Mill
197
Plant of the Portland Packing Company 197
Staples Carriage Shop 199
Isaac Staples 200
John H. Gordon 200
.
Dr. Albert E. Kilgore
113 114 115 115 138
Col. George G. Davis.
Frank H. Lane
W Ln
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Page
Elva M. Ingraham
211
A Product of Our Orchard
Charles Dayton Woods
220 221
Frank H. Quimby and some of his dairy stock-Natalia Dorcas and Xena Bell
229
Brooks Square in 1877
Daniel Jones
Frank R. York
241 241 250
Edwin C. Holbrook
250
Ezra A. Carpenter
250
A. B. Payson
250 252
Tilton A. Elliott
252 256 256
Centennial Parade, Ezra A. Carpenter, Marshall
258
A Section of the Parade
258
A View of the Parade
258
The Parade, at the Railroad Crossing
260
Centennial Parade, Colonial Maids
260
Centennial Parade, The Oxen
260
Centennial Parade, The Log Cabin 262 262
A. E. Chase & Company's Float
262 263
Governor Oakley C. Curtis
263
Knights of Pythias' Float
266
Harry H. Hutchinson's Float
266
Colonial Girls-Historical Pageant
267
A Group of the Historical Pageant.
267
Photostatic Copy or Letter from Woodrow Wilson to the Citizens of Brooks, 1916 270
Photostatic Copy of Letter from Governor Samuel W. McCall of Massachusetts to the Citizens of Brooks, 1916
271
Otis W. Lane
273
Daniel Edwards and wife
28
Woodbury Edwards and wife
288
Residence of Daniel Edwards
290
Stephen V. R. Huxford 293
Capt. James S. Huxford 293
James M. Huxford 293
Lieut. Harry N. Huxford. 293
239
Daniel Plummer
Seth W. Norwood
A View of Brooks Square, 1916
Brooks Square
A. R. Pilley's Float
Hon. John E. Bunker
Page 295
Thaddius I. Huxford
Huxford Homestead
295
Former Residence of the late Samuel H. Jones 327
Samuel H., and Margaret B. Jones (his wife)
327 Ann Maria Jones Hill 327
Willis E. Morse, Gertrude B. Hanson, Emily S. Morse 358
James G. Morse 359
Morse Memorial Building 366
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SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
THE MUSCONGUS GRANT OR WALDO PATENT
James Sullivan in his History of the District of Maine, White's His- tory of Belfast, George J. Varney's Gazetteer of the State of Maine, Joseph Williamson's History of Belfast, Crocker & Howard History of New England and Drake's Life of Knox, each present a narrative in regard to the Muscongus Grant, which in itself, while varying in some detail, cannot be enlarged or improved upon, so from these combined sources, the Muscongus or Waldo Patent is presented.
The great Charter for New England was granted in 1620 by King James the First to Knight and Gentlemen known as the Forty Noble- men and styling themselves "The Council Established at Plymouth in the County of Devon". Members of that association were Sir Ferd- inando Gorges and the Earl of Warwick.
The instrument creating this grant is the most wonderful historical document, the foundation of which was laid for the subsequent con- veyances of territory in New England. This grant included all that part of America which extended from the 40th to the 48th degrees north latitude, taking with its boundaries the greater part of the then British possessions, all of the State of New York, parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and all of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa- chusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, and in addition, thereto, the vast country in the west comprising almost a million square miles.
The restrictions in regard to the property were absolute, but this organization owing to the internal conflict was only of a few years' duration, and about 1635 abandoned all of their rights acquired un- der the grant.
Prior to the surrendering the Charter, the council of Plymouth mnade several grants of land. Those of which we are interested have an interest to the State of Maine, and since the memory of man run- neth not to the contrary, conveyances from this grant have as a rule been considered absolute.
Among these several grants was the Muscongus Patent, so named from the River Muscongus. A few years afterward it was styled the
THARD STDNOCIEUMA IHT TOFTAT OGJAW SO
.
2
SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
Lincolnshire Patent, named from the home place in England of one of the grantees and after a time the Waldo Patent.
The original document was for many years the property of the Knox family, and in 1833 or about that time while in the possession of the Knox family, the document was destroyed by fire. A copy is herewith ·presented which appears in the Registry of Deeds for the County of York, book 10, pages 236 and 237:
To all to whom these Presents Shall Come Greeting. Know ve y't ve coun- sell, established at Plimoth in ye County of Devon, for ye planting Ruling Ordering and Governing of New England in America for Divers good Causes, & Considerations them thereunto especially moving. Have given granted Bar- gained Sold Enfieffed allotted & Sett over & by these presents doe Clearly & absolutely give grant Bargain Sell alliene enfiefe allott & assigne & confirm unto John Beauchamp of London Gentleman, & Thomas Leverett, of Boston in ye County of Lincorn. gent their heirs associates & assigns all & Singular those lands Tenements. & hereditments whatsoever with ye appurtenances thereof in New England afors'd which are Cittuate. Lying & being within or between a place thence Commonly Called or known by ve name of Muscon- grus towards ve South on Southwest & a straight line Extending from thence directly ten leaugs-up-into ye Maine land & contains thence towards ve great Sea Commonly Called ye South Sea & ye utmost Limits of ve Space ten Leauges . . . on ye North & North East-of a River in New England afores'd. Commonly Called Penobscott Towards ye North & Northeast & ye great Sea Commonly Called ye westarn ocean, towards ye east & a strait and direct line extending from ve most westarn part & Point of ye s'd Straight line which extends fron Mecongoss afores'd towards ye South Sea to ve utter- most Northeram limmits of ye s'd ten leagues on ye North side of ye s'd River of Penobscott towards ve west & all lands & ground wood Soils River waters Fishings Herredittments Profitts Commodityes Priviledges Fraimchises-& Emoli- ments whatsoever situate Lying & being arising happening or Remaining or which Shall arise or Remain within ye Limmits & bounds afores'd or any of them together with all s'd land y't ly & be within ye Space of three miles within ye Space of s'd land & Pmisses or any of them to have & to hold all & Singularly ye s'd land teniments & hereditments & Pmisses whatsoever with ye appurtanances & every part & parcel thereof unto ye s'd John Beauchamp & Thomas Leverett their heirs associates & assigns forever to their only proper & absolute use & behoof .of ye s'd Jn. Beauchamp & Thos. Leverett their heirs associates & assigns forevermore to be holden ve Kings most Excellent Majesty & successors as of his manner of East-greenwich by Fealtie only & not in Capite nor by length of service yeilding & paying unto his Majesty his heirs & Suc- cessors ye fifth part of all such oare of Gold & Silver y't shall be gotton & obtained in or upon ye Pmisses or any part thereof.
In Witness whereof ye s'd Counsell established at Plymoth in ye County of Devon for ye Planting Ruling ordering and Governing of New England in Amer- ica have hereunto putt ye Common Seal ve Thirteenth day of March in ye first year of ye Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charls by ye Grace of God King of England Scotland France & Irland Defender of ye Faith & c. anno Domini 1629.
(Seal)
R. WARWICK.
Recorded according to ye Origanall Jan. ye 17th 1721. P. ABRA'M PREBLE, Regs.
3
THE MUSCONGUS GRANT OR WALDO PATENT
The Waldo Patent in area equalled that of several of the United States and included the whole of the present County of Knox. ex- cept Fox Island, and Waldo County except what is now the Town of Troy, Unity, Freedom, Palermo, Burnham and the greater part of Liberty. Later surveys added an extra portion of Penobscot County, and comprised nearly one thousand square miles.
. No price was paid for the tract and we are unable to ascertain that any consideration was requested, but according to the terms of the grant, one-fifty part of all the gold and silver ore found on the premises was reserved to King Charles and the premises at all times to be holden for his most excellent majesty by fealty.
A reading of the document will impress one with the reservations and on the other hand, the privileges of the patentees were complete.
It apparently was the purpose and intent of the Plymouth pro- prietors in surrendering this large territory without consideration to realize in value on its other holdings by the increase in value of that which they retained by the development of the land which they had released.
About 1630, in the spring of the year, Edward Ashley and William Pierce came with the purpose of extensively developing the territory. Accompanied by laborers and mechanics, they first established a trad- ing house at Thomaston which was located on the Gorges River. This settlement existed for only a brief period of time, having been terminated by King Philip's war which ended in 1678. After this, the territory was without operations and practically abandoned for exceeding forty years.
One of the original patentees by the name of Bauchamp was a merchant of London and was one of the company who sent over the Mayflower. He never came to this country and it appears that his affairs were conducted by his agents.
From the reading of the history and the early efforts of these patentees, it cannot be said that they were developing this territory for the purpose of profit only, but had higher aims which were to be the result of the development of the territory.
After a few years, Bauchamp died, and after his death Thomas Leverett of Boston, England, who came to this country in 1633 with John Cotton and others from the same place, assumed managership by right of survivorship, and who by law came possessed of the whole grant.
Leverett was the most leading citizen. He was chosen one of the first selectmen and elected a ruling elder of the Church, and was rec- ognized for his executive ability. He died April 3, 1650.
1
5
THE MUSCONGUS GRANT OR WALDO PATENT
navy. By force he drove the lumberers from the forest, the families from their homes, burned their saw mills, seized their timber and lumber.
The result of his activities were so detrimental to the interest of those settling under the proprietors, that it was found necessary to send Samuel Waldo to England to procure a revocation of Dunbar's authority. After considerable time abroad he, with great difficulty and with many delays, finally succeeded. There was much rejoicing among the settlers and the thirty partners realizing the value of Waldo's service, conveyed one-half of the whole patent as remunera- tion for the money and efforts that he had expended in obtaining protection of their rights.
Under this arrangement General Waldo having acquired so large an interest in the patent, it resulted in greater enthusiasm for his de- velopment. The old proprietors retained about 300,000 acres.
In 1734 Waldo contracted with the "twenty associates" to purchase one-half of their shares. The balance which the associates retained he agreed to set off in any portion of the patent which they should designate, the tract to be 51% miles on Penobscot Bay and extending thirty miles in the country. For over thirty years this arrangement remained uncompleted until 1768 when on making the survey it was found that for a distance of about twenty miles from shore the land encroached upon the patent. In order, therefore, to complete the claim, Montville, and a part of Liberty were added, which with Cam- den, Hope and Appleton made the requisite quantity and became the undivided property of the associates.
In 1773 one hundred thousand acres belonging to the Ten Proprie- tors were set off. This tract included Frankfort, Winterport, Hamp- den and parts of Swanville, Monroe and Bangor. At that time the north line of the patent was supposed or understood to extend above Treat's Falls in the latter township.
General Waldo offered fair inducements for European immigration, and it was through his means that in 1749 German colonists estab- lished the Town of Waldoboro. In 1752 he visited Scotland to en- courage immigration, and his liberal terms were accepted by a large number of settlers from that country.
In 1753-1754 his son, Samuel Waldo, styling himself by the high- sounding title of "Hereditary Lord of Broadbay", distributed circu- lars in the German language throughout Germany, inviting its citi- zens to take up land which was offered at merely nominal prices for the purpose of having it developed.
العالمية
6
SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
It was owing to the influence of General Waldo that Fort Pownall was built, when not a single white inhabitant dwelt upon the shores of Penobscot River or Belfast Bay.
While upon a tour of observation of this portion of his estate, he died suddenly near Bangor on May 23, 1759 at the age of 63 years. He was buried with military honors and religious services and en- tombed at Fort Point. This service was the first in Waldo County, preached by Rev. Philips. A county, two thriving towns and the lofty elevation of Waldo perpetuate his memory. .
.
Upon the death of General Waldo, the patent descended to his four children. Samuel, the eldest son, inherited two shares; Francis, Lucy-who married Isaac Winslow of Roxbury an ancestor of the U. S. naval commander distinguished in the recent rebellion by des- troying the Alabama; Hannah, wife of Thomas Flucker, secretary of the Province. Flucker, whose daughter became the wife of General Knox, afterwards purchased the shares belonging to Samuel. Mrs. Winslow died without children and her interests descended to the re- maining brothers and sisters.
At the commencement of the Revolution, as Flucker and Francis Waldo were tories, they removed to England and their property be- came the property of the State.
In 1873-1874 Henry Knox, afterward a general in the Revolution, became engaged to Lucy Flucker, the second daughter of Thomas and Hannah Waldo Flucker and the grand-daughter of General Wal- do, and they were married during the following year. Her father, a loyalist, was much opposed to the match and as strong in opposition as were the Knox friends in favor.
After the declaration of peace, General Knox gave his attention to the interests which his wife owned in the unsold portions of the patent which was one undivided fifth.
In 1791, having been appointed agent or administrator of the es- tate of her father, who was styled in the Records of the Probate Court of Suffolk County "an absentee, late of Boston, deceased", he sold at auction the two-fifths derived from Samuel Waldo to Oliver Smith of Boston. The latter sold to Colonel Henry Jackson, who, in 1792, transferred to General Knox for $5200. Knox bought of others heirs and owners the two-fifths which belonged to Mrs. Win- slow and Frances Waldo, the daughter and son of General Waldo, and thus, in his own right became the owner of four-fifths of the patent, the remaining fifth belonging to Mrs. Konx.
As the boundaries of the patent were indefinite it became necessary for the commonwealth and for all concerned to ascertain its exact
1 السلع
7
THE MUSCONGUS GRANT OR WALDO PATENT
limits. ¡ Accordingly, the Legislature took measures for an accurate survey and passed a resolve confirming to the owners a tract equal to thirty miles square according to the original Charter providing they relinquish all claims outside of such bounds. This survey es- tablished the head-line on the northern border of Thorndike, Jack- son, Monroe and Frankfort, thus dividing into two parts the tract formerly released to the ten proprietors and leaving about 42,000 acres within the Waldo Patent. But, it was soon ascertained that a portion of the contemplated thirty miles square comprised Palermo, Unity and Freedom which belonged to the Kennebec Purchase which had an older title than the Muscongus Patent. As indemnity for this deficiency, Massachusetts assigned to the Waldo owners the pub- lic land in four townships north of the original land, being the present City of Bangor and the towns of Hampden, Hermon and Newburg. By the reservations of one hundred acres to each actual settler, the amount thus set off was about 40,000 acres.
General Knox took formal possession of his estate in 1792. The patent then contained only nine incorporated towns. Many of the earlier settlements had been much retarded by British aggressions during the Revolution. or altogether abandoned. The roads were few; and, between Thomaston and Penobscot River, a bridle path, indi- cated by spotted trees, furnished the only facility for travellers. But little attention was then bestowed upon agriculture, the principal re- source of the inhabitants being wood, which was sold at the store for seven shillings a cord. In many of the plantations, great anxiety was manifested about land titles. "It had been customary, during the war", says Eaton, "to take up wild lands, on the express or implied understanding that a title would be given whenever the ordinary price was paid. This practice in the absence of the proprietors, had been continued from necessity during the war; and many persons had erected buildings, and made valuable improvements on lots to which they had no right than by possession." Although a condition in the confirmation resolve of Massachusetts required Knox to quiet the claims of actual settlers, and although he took all equitable and ju- dicious measures for that purpose, yet he did not escape some of the difficulties which always occur in a change of landed proprietors. He found over five hundred lots occupied by "squatters," or persons with- out title, some of whom he ejected: to others he paid money for a relinquishment of their betterments. To obtain possession of Briga- dier's Island, which was occupied by seven persons, who had divided the land into as many farms, and had felled the woods around the shore, he was obliged to pay three thousand dollars.
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