USA > Maine > Hancock County > Brooksville > Stories of Brooksville > Part 1
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REYNALOS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 1903
Stories of Brooksville Maine.
COLLECTED BY GRACE G. LIMEBURNER
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Limeburner, Grace G. M. (GRINDLE)
Stories of Brooksville. Collected by Grace G. Limeburner. [ Bangor , Me., 1924 ] 0. .
.... · Gilded on cover: A part of township no.3.
SHELF C .. XD Blank leaves at end for notes.
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PRESS OF THE SEELY PRINTING COMPANY BANGOR, MAINE 1924
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Consider and remember always that the books that shall be opened on the last day will contain genealogies in them and there shall be brought forth a registar of the genealogy of New Englands' sons and daughters.
-Stoughton
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STORIES OF BROOKSVILLE
STORIES OF BROOKSVILLE
The most southwestern town in Hancock County. Named in honor of Gov. Brooks.
At the time of its incorporation in 1817, it took from Sedgwick one eighth, and from Castine and Pen- obscot each one fifth of their taxable property.
In reading this book remember that what is now Brooksville was once a part of Ancient Pentigoet Majorbigwaduce, Township No. 3 and Penobscot.
INDIANS
What is now Brooksville was once a part of ancient Penobscot and the name given to that section by the Indians was Penobskeag, meaning "Rocky Place".
Bagaduce River, also recorded as Majorbigwaduce and Majobegvadeaux, means "Place of bad shelter".
Walker's Pond-Winneagwanauk.
Cape Rozier-Indian name was Mosekachick, meaning "Moose's Romp".
It is known that the Indians were here long before any white men had explored this section, but very little is known in regard to them. That on the shores of Lake Winnenagwanauk (Walker's Pond) they found a resting place for their dead, we know, and from various other things, the fact that they were here is proven beyond a doubt.
A note from "Massachusetts Archieves" reads as follows :
"Samuel Hawes was taken prisoner by the Indians in Penobscot Bay, April 20, 1758.
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"There is a story of a ship that once came into the harbor (now Buck's Harbor) at South Brooksville, and the crew killed by the Indians who lay in wait for them on the wooded shores. The bodies are said to have been buried on the shores of "Bet's Woodard's Cove."
A tribe called Etechemens are mentioned by some writers as being on the banks of the Penobscot about 1620.
Another writer mentions the Wawenocks as being inhabitants of this section.
On page 470, Vol. I, History of Maine, by William- son, we find The Abenaquis or Canabas, have for their nearest neighbors the Etechemens or Marechites about Pentagoet (or Penobscot).
We do not know what became of these people but history tells us that Captain Church came to Penob- scot in 1704, killed and took prisoners many Indians. Perhaps this was the fate of those whose campfires burned on our shores.
EARLY WHITE EXPLORERS
While James Rozier was probably not the first white man to visit what is now Brooksville, his name is recorded earlier than any other. He came to this country with Capt. George Waymouth's party. This was in 1605, and it was from this man that the Cape received its name, Cape Rozier.
Many years later Miles Standish of Plymouth visit- . ed Pentagoet and it is only reasonable to suppose that he visited that part of Pentagoet now called Brooks- ville.
John Alden, Jr., was a visitor at Pentagoet in 1696. He came to buy furs of the Indians. Beaver skins
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were especially desired. The upper and lower beaver dam out in the middle of our own town may have been where those beavers were caught. At that time 14 oz. of beaver skins were worth from 40 to 60 cents.
In 1766 Jonathan Buck and his son, Jonathan, Jr., visited the harbor (now Buck's Harbor) and the Cape. This man was the founder of the town of Bucksport. He came to America from England on the ship "In- crease" in 1635. On this ship was Thomas Blodgett and family, an ancestor of the Blodgett family of Brooksville.
Joseph Holt who later became the owner of the Isle of Holt was a member of Bucks's party. .
Other names are Arch Haney, William Roax, Holbrook and son Prince.
A Mr. Parker is also mentioned as being a member of one of these early exploring parties.
THE FIRST MILLS
It is recorded that James Rozier found a saw-mill at the Cape in 1605.
Sixty years later Jonathan Buck reports finding one there at Goose Falls.
On May 10, 1788, Col. Gabial Johnnet bought half of Holbrook Mills at Goose Falls, and the price paid was £210.
Joseph Smith owned a grist mill at Smith's Cove and the Wassons owned one on Shepardson's brook.
The Gray's owned a saw-mill at the head of the Bagaduce River, and this was sold to John Lee. Later this property was purchased by John Walker and a woolen mill was established here.
Simeon Parker built a saw and grist mill near North Brooksville as early as 1800.
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NOTES IN REGARD TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, SHOWING THAT IT TOUCHED BROOKSVILLE.
A petition to the Gentlemen of Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, June 11, 1775 and signed by at least three Brooksville men and several from the Sedgwick side of the river asked that on account of being at- tacked by the enemy help be sent to them.
They ask for bread, corn, molasses, coffee, salt, pork, sheep's wool, flax, shoes, and other clothing, powder and ball. They do not ask these for nothing but promise to pay in lumber when these distressing times are over.
Signed :-
John Billings Smith Woodard Jacob Orcutt and others.
Noah Norton, a Revolutionary soldier died in Brooksville, May 14, 1841.
Solomon Bolton, a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
John Billings, Jr., killed in the Revolutionary war in an engagement with the British at Castine.
Two of the daughters of Joshua Gray married men whose conduct was such during the Revolutionary war that they left the country for Nova Scotia.
Jane and Rebecca, daughters of Andrew Gray, lived in a family of Loyalists at West Brooksville. On one occasion some English soldiers from Castine who had been raiding the patriot inhabitants at Naskeag and had secured a large number of cattle and had driven them as far as West Brooksville and fastened them in
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the Tory's barn yard after which they drank quite heavily and then fell asleep in the kitchen. When all was quiet Rebecca crept down the stairs and safely made her way to the yard, unfastened and lowered the bars and slipped back to her room. Soon after the uneasy herd found the opening, went out and were scattered. The soldiers were inclined to suspect the girls, but both were found to be sound asleep.
The Bakeman house at the Cape was used as a hos- pital for wounded Americans during the Revolution- ary war in spite of the fact that Mrs. Bakeman was a Tory.
Note-A son, Frank Evens Bakeman was a ship- builder but his shipping was siezed by the British in 1814.
The British erected six-gun batteries near the home of Oliver Bakeman and at Henry's Point.
At the beginning of the Revolutionary war King George granted a tract of land at St. Andrews, N. B., to all Loyalists who wished to go there. The Penob- scot Loyalist Association was formed and nearly 200 people went to St. Andrews. At least three of these were Brooksville men. They were Matthew Lime- burner, Jacob Young, John Jones.
Judge Oliver Parker who died in Brooksville in 1818 was a Loyalist. He was a Massachusetts man but came here from New Brunswick after the war.
SIGNS, WONDERS AND GHOSTS OF EARLY DAYS
It was the common belief of many of our forc- fathers that the gold of Captain Kidd was hidden here and many a day was spent in searching for it.
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Three men were one day engaged in digging in a field on the North Brooksville road. When they had dug a hole several feet deep the spade of one of them struck something hard-believed to have been an iron chest. It was a clear, bright day, but, when the spade struck the hard object and one of the men called out "Here it is, boys !" immediately there was a flash of lightning, a crash of thunder and rain poured in tor- rents. The men dropped their spades and hastened to their homes.
Near Walker's Pond pirates of old are said to have buried their ill gotten gains and marked the spot with three stones. These stones, which are of a peculiar shape, have been found many times but before any- one can investigate they disappear.
Gold coins are said to have been found on the shores of Spirit Cove. Isreal Blake, one of the first land owners at the Cape, found, on going down to the shore one morning, a deep hole near the water's edge beside which there were several broken iron kettles. Through the early morning mists he saw a boat with three strangers in it going toward Castine. Later re- ports drifted back from down the coast of three strangers who, having drunk more than was good for them told wild stories of the gold they had found buried on the shores of Blake's land.
The Scotch settlers believed that the Brownies (or Broonies) of Scotland were to be found here and every night a saucer of milk was left on the doorstep for them.
One man found an ox dead in the pasture and it was believed that he was killed by Broonies because the housewife forgot to put the milk out the night before.
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Ald old deed requests that "Broony Hill", a part of a farm on the Bagaduce River, shall never be plowed.
Ghosts were common in those days. The old mill at Cape Rozier was haunted. Lights would appear there at the midnight hour and at 2 o'clock, "the hour when souls pass out," a headless man could be seen running across the old timbers and a hideous sound resembling the wild laughter of a thousand maniacs echoed through the night.
A young girl who lived on the "Ferry road"-farm now owned by Harold Chatto-had some money left her by her lover who was killed in the Revolutionary war. This girl came to her death in a mysterious manner and the people with whom she lived left town soon after.
The "Ferry" was at one time the usual crossing place between Brooksville and Sedgwick.
Four young men (one of them was Deacon Simeon Allen) were returning one night from Sedgwick when near the old deserted house they saw the shadowy figure of a woman bearing in her hand a lighted candle. They were young unimaginative men and one of them suggested that they follow the figure to the open doorway. They started to do this, when sudden- ly the figure disappeared, leaving only the light. This entered the house as though borne by an unseen hand and through the gaping windows they could see it pass from room to room. Simeon Allen, who had suggested the investigation, turned to the others and said, "Boys, this is no place for us. Let's go home." And it is said that they all agreed and very promptly too.
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Mrs. Mercy Gray, who lived near where the Bap- tist Church now stands, heard noises in her cellar. In- vestigation showed that what they had supposed to be the root of a tree and had been used as a lower cellar step or stair was really the thigh bone of a man. When it was removed and properly buried the noises ceased.
Signs were plentiful. It was bad to see the new moon through glass. To break a mirror meant a death in the family before the year was over and per- haps seven years of bad luck. If a bare-foot boy stepped on a rusty nail, the nail was greased and put away for a year ; this would prevent the foot from be- ing sore. If a baby was allowed to look in a mirror before it was a year old, it would not live to grow up. To hear the cry of the whip-o'-will was a bad sign. To enter the house by one door and go out by another would bring a stranger. To drop the dish cloth while washing the dinner dishes would also bring a stranger -to supper. If a sailor met a cat on his way to join his vessel, he would turn back and wait twenty-four hours.
It was near Parker's mills that "Old Man Snell- groves", a deserter first from English, then the Amer- ican army, shot himself. His body is said to have been buried at the "Four Corners" (Tapley's Corner), as it was then believed that the spirit of a person buried at four corners of the road would cause no more disturbance.
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EARLY RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
The Pilgrims called their place of worship a "meet- ing house", and on what few records we find to-day in regard to the religious organizations of our own town we find the words "meeting house", and not "church" used.
Some of the very early pastors that I find men- tioned are Seth Noble, who I think was only an occa- sional visitor here. Rev. Daniel Merrill preached in that part of Sedgwick, now called Brooksville in 1791. Mr. Merrill was evidently a teacher also, for -Lemuel Norton in his autobiography speaks of "two young men students" of Rev. Daniel Merrill, preaching at what is now West Brooksville. Mr. Norton also re- fers to a sermon in which Mr. Merrill pictured the miseries of Hell most profoundly.
Rev. Peter Powers is also mentioned as holding services in town. The sermons in those days were very long and the speaker was usually provided with a stone jug of rum, from which he drank occasionally during the service. These jugs were I think, a part of the church equipment for they were not the same shape as jugs used for other purposes. I know where at least three of these old jugs may be found in town to-day.
John Jones was "tithing man" at the old Methodist House. He carried a long staff with a knob on one end and a rabbit's foot on the other. It was his busi- ness to keep the congregation awake and in order. A young man from North Brooksville went to the Meth-
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odist church one evening and slipped into a seat be- hind a very pretty West Brooksville girl. The young lady turned around and smiled shyly. Mr. Jones was on the watch and he immediately rapped the young man sharply on the head with the knob end of his staff.
These old meeting houses were often very cold and the ladies carried small foot stones filled with live coals, to the services.
Hymns were started with the help of a "tuning fork." John Condon led the singing in the church at West Brooksville.
Later the bass viol was used. Simeon Parker played this instrument in meeting for many years.
We do not know when the first meeting house was ' built in town but the following names are signed to a petition dated in 1789, in regard to building a meeting house for Buck's Harbor and the Cape.
David Hawes
Samuel Wasson
Elisha Hopkins
Noah Norton
Thomas Kench
Benjamin Howard
John Bakeman, Jr.
Thomas Wasson
John Condon Edward Howard
Malachi Orcutt
Jacob Orcutt John Redman John Bakeman
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The building referred to was built a short time af- ter at Wasson's Hill.
A Congregational Church was organized in 1793, Rev. Daniel Merrill. I have seen a paper from this church authorizing Thomas Limeburner and Ichabod Grindle to take the money in the treasury and go to Castine to purchase supplies for the Sunday school. Later this church was without a pastor for several years.
In 1826 the Congregational Society at West Brooksville seems to have been reorganized. The charter members of the new organization were:
Sarah Blake
Polly Dodge
Rev. Manning Ellis
Elias Shepardson
Mary Shepardson
Samuel Wasson
Mary Wasson
David Wasson
Mary Wasson
Rev. Manning Ellis was the pastor and at about this time he began to preach at the Congregational meeting house up river. The question of a suitable home for the pastor arose. The West Brooksville people wanted a parsonage built in that part of the town. The up river flock thought he should make his home up there. Whatever inducement it was that they offered Mr. Ellis it won the day and the house now owned by George Hart became the parsonage and Mr. Ellis and his family came there to live. The West Brooksville people were much disappointed and Mr. Ellis soon gave up his pastorate there.
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The Baptist meeting house near Walker's Pond is said to have been started as early as 1816, but it was not dedicated until 1837. The dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Nutter, text, Gen. 27-17. "This is none other than the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven."
John Tapley who at one time owned a part of the woolen mills and a house near the meeting house was very active in working for the completion of this new building, but he met with business reverses and at about the time that the building was finished he moved his family to Frankfort. He was a hard work- ing man with a family of little children but so inter- ested was he in the welfare of the new meeting house that when part way to Frankfort he sold his only cow which a neighbor was driving to his new home for him and giving the money to his friend he told him to take it back home and buy a stove for the new meeting house.
Later Mr. Tapley moved to Mathuen, Mass., where he was a deacon in the Baptist church for forty years.
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EARLY CONDITIONS
Before the grant of this township (No. 3) was con- firmed, 60 dwelling houses must be built, (18 ft. square, 7 ft. stud). Sixty Protestant families must settle in this township and each family clear 5 acres of land. There must also be a meeting house for the public worship of God, and within 5 years they must have a "learned and Protestant minister and provide for his comfortable support."
In Dr. Wheeler's "History of Castine", we read that until the year 1795 people living in this section re- ceived their mail only about once in two weeks. A Mr. Russell of Castine used to walk to the nearest post office at Wiscasset, and bring back the mail. It is recorded that he always carried it in a yellow silk handkerchief.
Letters from friends back home were not frequent but these courageous young pioneers were not dis- couraged. They had their social and educational af- fairs even as we do to-day.
There were quilting parties, chopping matches and husking bees.
In a copy of an old journal that I have seen mention is made of a ball and supper held at the home of John Lee. At this time John Lee was probably living near Brooksville corner.
Possibly some of the old fiddles and 'cellos found in our own attics furnished music for the dancing, and dancing in those days is said to have been a thing of statliness and beauty.
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Tucked away in somebody's china closet may be some of the very dishes that were used in serving supper. We know that the Jones family were there for the diary to which I refer belonged to their guest.
Did young John Condon sing while Nancy Wasson played the melodion ?
Did Josh Grindle walk home with blue-eyed Ruth Stanley, and Isaac Snow with pretty Polly Paine ?
With what seems to us very crude utensils our great grandmothers could prepare a meal that would put her daughters of to-day very much in the shade, and when great grand-dad was ready to put up the new barn and the neighbors for miles around came to the "raisin'", Grandmother gave them a supper of baked beans and brown bread, meats, several kinds of vegetables, fruit cake, quince preserves, Indian pud- ding, pumpkin and mince pies.
Rum played an important part in these festivities and old store bills show us that rum and molasses were the two items most frequently charged.
Many young men attended school in winter even after they had passed their twenty-first birthday.
In 1796 what was known as "School District No. 3", was at Cape Rozier and No. 4 was the remainder of what is now Brooksville. At this time $21.17 "school money" was allowed for District No. 4.
A meeting was held at Bucks Harbor in 1800 and another in 1806 to make some plans in regard to a school house. In 1817 two meetings for this purpose were held at the Cape and a vote was taken to build a school house between David Dyers and John Bake- man's, cost not to exceed $300, also to build another near John Redman's, cost not to exceed $100.
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There was at one time a school building near where Albion Closson now lives and later one was built near the Chapel on the North Brooksville road.
A school was held at West Brooksville during the winter of 1801-02. Singing and writing schools were held in the evening.
About 1850 a writing school was held in a building on Green's hill, near where Alvah Green now lives. The teacher was a young man from Deer Isle.
At the Harbor during the winter of 1854 one of the pupils at the writing school was a man over 60 years of age.
Most of our early settlers were young married men and with them came their strong-souled wives, and many times little children.
In a few cases, those people who came here from York or nearby towns came with ox teams, their families and household goods in the heavy carts, but most of these pioneers came by water. In 1786 a ves- sel coming from Boston charged six shillings for bringing an adult passenger and four shillings for a child .
Most of the new homes were built of logs, and the huge stone fireplaces would take a log four feet long. The settlers brought with them many household goods. We can find in town today many odd pieces of beautiful china that were once a part of a set owned by somebody's great grandmother who came here as a bride.
Highboys, bureaus and desks can also be found and I know of at least one family that has several fine wool blankets that were woven more than one hun- dred years ago. Beautiful homespun coverlets were in nearly every bride's outfit.
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One thing that was lacking in many of these very early homes was a clock. When eggs were to be cooked for breakfast they were dropped into boiling water and allowed to stay there while the cook sang :
"Is there ambition in my heart? Search, gracious God and see. Or do I act a haughty part? Lord, I appeal to thee. What e're thine all decerning eye Sees for thy creatures fit,
I'll bless the good-and to the ill Contentedly submit."
When eight lines were finished the eggs were de- clared done, but for those who liked them "hard boiled" the housewife allowed them to stay in the wa- ter while she sang:
"Oh may my days obscurely pass Without remorse or care
And let me for my parting hour From day to day prepare."
Around many old cellars in town today we find the remains of great great-grandmothers' flower garden, plants set out or seeds planted by those brides of long ago. There are hop vines climbing bravely over crumbling walls. There is catnip, sweet scented sage and caraway.
A sprig of caraway was taken to church on Sunday morning and was supposed to aid in keeping one awake during the long sermon.
The little pink cinnamon rose bush blooms year af- ter year beside the path now overgrown but once
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made smooth by many childish feet. The lilac and the tiger lily, too, were Grandmother's and the sweet old- fashioned pinks.
"Oh, they are voices of the past, Links of a broken chain,
Wings that can carry me back to times That cannot come again."
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SHIPS AND SAILORS
The "Bathia", first schooner built in this town, about 1820. Built just below Jones' Narrows at West Brooksville by Capt. Jeremiah Jones and named in honor of his wife.
The "David Wasson", second three-masted vessel to be built east of Cape Cod. Built at Wasson's wharf by Capt. Wasson and Capt. Jones. Owned by Bangor and Belfast people.
The three-masted "Lucy Francis", built at West Brooksville, named for Capt. Wasson's daughters. This vessel was under the command of Capt. Jeremiah Jones when she brought from Italy the statue of Daniel Webster that now stands before the State House at Boston. James Jones of Arlington, Mass., has a painting of the "Lucy Francis" that was made at Leghorn, Italy, by Henri Renauld. It bears the date 1858.
"John Limeburner", built just below the toll bridge, lost three years later near the Bahama Banks with a cargo of molasses from the West Indies.
"Essex", built at Snow's Narrows. This vesel was the first command of Capt. Robert Limeburner who later became commander of the "Great Republic."
Capt. Limeburner was born in Brooksville, Sept. 10, 1822 and was 18 years of age when he took command of the "Essex."
The "Phebe Ann", "Eliza Jane", and the "H. D. Grindle", built below the bridge by Capt. Richard Grindle. The "Centenian" was being built by Capt.
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Grindle at the time of his death in 1852. She was . sold and taken away to be completed.
"Augusta Gott", built below the toll bridge about 1862. Owned by Capt. Charles Gott, Allison Grindle, John Jones and others. Gilbert Grindle and Rufus Dodge, builders. Lost on her maiden trip, 30 miles southeast of the Georgia Banks. She capsized in a gale but righted herself. The masts were broken and the crew were on the wreck 31 days.
Their food supply was one small potato and 1-2 1b. of salt beef per day. Drinking water was obtained by spreading a piece of canvass on the deck in a rain storm. It was in December that they were rescued by the Bark "Azelia" of Boston, bound for Gibraltar. The crew was taken there. Some were sent home by the American Consul and others shipped from there to other ports. Crew:
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