USA > Maine > A gazetteer of the United States, comprising a series of gazetteers of the several states and territories. Maine > Part 11
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England. In former years, the business of the town was mostly of a commercial character, there being a large number of vessels owned here, which were engaged in the West India trade. But this trade is now nearly abandoned, and the navi- gation is engaged in the freighting, coast- ing and fishing business. Ship building has been carried on here to a great ex- tent, for about seventy-five years, and some of the finest ships in the country have been built in this place within the last few years. There is one large cotton factory in operation, and other privileges for large manufacturing establishments on the Kennebunk, and the Mousum, a pleasant stream which meets the ocean in this town. Kennebunk is a port of entry. It lies 25 iniles S. W. from Port- land, and 15 N. N. E. from York.
Kennebunk Port
Is situated on the N. E. side of the Kennebunk river. This town was for- merly extensively engaged in the West India trade ; but its navigation is now employed in the freighting, coasting, and fishing business. The extensive granite quarries here are likely to become a source of considerable business. The stone, bearing a strong resemblance to the Quincy, finds a ready market where granite is made use of in building. Thirty years ago, this town, and Kennebunk, on the opposite side of the river, were the most active and busy ports in Maine ; but the tide of emigration has carried off most of the young men, leaving a surplus of girls; so that whatever activity there now is in the place, is of a domestic cha- racter, not creating that noise and bustle incident to the operations of the other sex. Kennebunk Port lies about 4 miles S. E. from Kennebunk. This town and Kennebunk are much united in maritime pursuits, and both enjoy a good harbor for shipping.
Kittery,
A sea-port town on the N. E. bank of the Piscataqua river, being the extreme south-western boundary of the state, on the Atlantic, adjoining York on the N. E., and Elliot on the N. W. It is one of the earliest settlements in the province, or state, and had its share of trial and suf- fering with others of their days, from re- peated meursions of the Indians. The river or inlet, called Spruce creek, affords a convenient harbor for vessels usually employed in the coasting trade and fishe- ry, and formerly considerable trade was carried on with the West Indies from this place ; but at present there is little done iu the way of navigation, except in ship building and the fishery.
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Kittery Point was the residence of Sir William Pepperell, who commanded the New England troops in the celebrated ex- pedition to Cape Breton, in 1745, which resulted in the capture of Louisburg. It is divided from Portsmouth, N. H. by the Piscataqua. A bridge connects it with that place. Another bridge connects it with Badger's island, on which is the United States navy yard. Kittery lies 50 miles S. W. from Portland.
Lebanon.
This town is bounded W. by Salmon Fall river, on the line of New Hampshire. It is a large agricultural township, with some trade and manufactures. It lies 50 miles S. W. by W. froin Portland, and is bounded S. E. by North Berwick.
Lewiston.
Lewiston is on the E. side of Andros- coggin river, at the falls. The waters of that river descend 47 feet in the dis- tance of 12 to 15 rods, and produce a valuable hydraulic power. The town ex- tends on the river about 13 miles, and is connected with Minot by a bridge, at the foot of the falls, of 1000 feet in length. This is a township of good land, with some manufactures of woollen and cotton goods, and a number of saw inills. Lew- iston is 34 miles N. by E. from Portland, and 25 N. W. from Bath.
Liberty.
Liberty is watered by large ponds and small streains. Its soil is good and well cultivated. It is bounded on the N. by Montville, E. by Searsmont, S. by Wash- ington and Appleton, and W. by Patrick- town.
A short time since, a pine-tree was cut in Liberty, which measured 7 feet in di- ameter, at the stump. It had three branches. The tree was sound, and 10,610 feet of square-edged boards were made from it.
Limington.
This town is bounded on the S. by Lim- erick, and is watered by Saco river on the S. and W. The town has a good soil, very productive of hay, wheat and other grain. It lies 28 miles W. N. W. from Portland.
Lincolnville
Is on the W. side of Penobscot bay, 10 miles S. from Belfast, and 7 N. from Cam- den. This township has a good soil for grass, graiu, and potatoes. The town is well located for any branch of navigation.
Duck Trap is an excellent harbor, and a busy place in the coasting tride.
Litchfield.
An excellent township of land, plea- santly situated 10 miles S. W. from Gar- diner, and the source of some of the Cobbesseconte waters. Litchfield was formerly a part of Lincoln county. It is bounded E. by Richmond.
Livermore,
An excellent township of land, on both sides of the Androscoggin river. There are three pleasant villages in this town, fine falls on the river, saw mills and other manufactures. It is bounded on the N. by Canton, E. by Fayette and Readfield, S. by Turner, and W. by Hartford.
Lubec.
Lnbec comprises a township of good land, lying at the north-easterly corner of the state, and contains a point of land ex- tending easterly on which West Quoddy Head light-house is situated, at the west- ern entrance into Passamaquoddy bay. This place possesses an admirable harbor for vessels of any draught of water; it is easy of access, and never obstructed by ice. There are also within the town a number of bays, coves, and several isl- ands. Grand Menan stretches off the mouth of the harbor on the E. 5 or 6 miles distant, and Campo Bello, another English island, lies very near, and pro- tects the harbor on the north. This town was taken from Eastport in 1811, and con- tained 380 inhabitants. Population, 1820, 1430.
Lubec, in common with Eastport, en- joys a very extensive trade with the bay of Fundy and the great waters of Passa- maquoddy bay. The village, or principal place of business, is beautifully located on a point of land jutting out into the harbor ; it makes a fine appearance, com- mands an active trade, and is flourishing in its navigation and fishery. It lies 3 miles S. from Eastport, and 31 S. E. from Calais, at the head of navigation on the St. Croix river.
Machias,
County town of Washington county. This was a famous lodgement of the In- dians. First settled, 1762. It was incor- porated in 1784, and was the first corpo- rate town between Penobscot and St. Croix rivers. It formerly comprised Mechisses. The village is situated on the east side of the west branch, and near the mouth of Middle river. It contains the county buildings, numerous saw mills,
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and has an extensive trade, particular'y in lumber. This is a pleasant and inte -. esting town. It is bounded on the E. by Whiting and Cutler. N. lat. 44- 3,. W. lon. 67º 22.
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Machins Port
Is the southern part of Old Machias, and extends northward to the union of the branches of Machias river. It has a great number of mills, and is very ex- tensively engaged in the lumber trade. It is a port of entry :- it has an excellent harbor, and considerable navigation in the coasting and fishing business. In this part of Old Machias the Plymouth Colony established a trading .house in 1630. It was subsequently occupied by the French for several years. Machias Port lies 200 miles N. E. from Portland, and 30 S. W. from Eastport.
Madawaska.
This town comprises the territory marked F. and K. on Greenleaf's map. It is bounded E. by the British province of New Brunswick, N. near the passage of St. John, across the line of the state, and W. and S. by a vast and fertile terri- tory between the Aroostook and St. John rivers ; at present it is but thinly inhabi- ted. This town was the place where the land agents of Maine were taken, by or- der of the British government, and im- prisoned at Fredericton, NN. B. It lies about 130 miles N. W. from Fredericton. N. B., and, by the treaty of 1812, at the N. E. corner of the United States.
Minot.
Minot is a large and excellent township of land, with three very pleasant villages. The Androscoggin passes its eastern bor- der, and Little Androscoggin separates it from Poland, on the S. This is one of the most flourishing towns in the state. Al- though agriculture is the chief business of' the people of Minot, yet its water-power is so valuable, that manufactures of various kinds are springing up with promising success. Minot is connected with Lew- iston, across the Androscoggin, by a bridge. It lies 35 miles N. from Portland.
Monmouth.
This is a fine township, and beautifully watered by some of the sources of the Cobbesseconte. The village is very plea- sant, and is the seat of a flourishing aca- demy. It is bounded N. by Winthrop, E. by Gardiner, S. by Wales, and W. by Leeds. There are in Monmouth a number of saw mills, an oil mill, and other manu- factures.
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Montville.
This is a beautiful and flourishing town, watered by some of the head branches of Sheepscot river. It is bounded N. by Knox, E. by Belmont and Searsmont, S. by Liberty, and W. by Palermo.
Mount Desert.
This town comprised the whole island of the same name, lying between French- man's bay and the waters of Bluehill bay, and Union river, until 1795, when the north part was set off, and called Eden.
This town has an extensive coast, and a number of excellent harbors. The peo- ple of Mount Desert own considerable navigation employed in the coasting trade ; and the shore fishery is a lucra- tive branch of business. The soil of the town is good, and abundantly able to sup- ply the inhabitants with bread stuff's. In 1-37, the ocean towns of Mount Desert and Eden produced 674 bushels of good wheat. We mention this fact, to show that there must be something, other than sea air, which causes that valuable grain to blight on the coast of New England.
New Gloucester.
This is a pleasant and flourishing town, 23 miles N. from Portland. It is bound- ed on the N. by Poland and Danville, E. by Durham, and S. by Gray, and W. by - Raymond. It is well watered by Royal's river, on which are mills of various kinds. The soil of the town is very fertile, contain- ing large tracts of intervale. The first set- tlers were compelled to build a block house for their protection against the In- dians. In this building the people at- tended public worship for a number of years. This town has an abundant water- power, a school fund of $4000, and a so- ciety of about 150 of those neat and in- dustrious people, " whose faith is one, and whose practice is one." See Huy- ward's " Book of Religions."
New Sharon.
This town is watered on the N. W. side by Sandy river, and is bounded N. by In- dustry, E. by Mercer, S. by Vienna, and W. by Farmington. The soil is admirn- bly adapted to agricultural purposes.
Nobleborough
Lies on the east side of the upper wa- ters of Damariscotta river. It is a place of considerable trade. Many ships are built here, and a large number of vessels is employed in the coasting trade. The soil of the town is generally good, and
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considerable attention is paid by the in- habitants to agricultural pursuits. It is bounded W. by Newcastle, and E. by Waldoboro'.
Norridgewock,
Chief town of Somerset co. This town is situated on both sides of the Kennebec river. Its surface is diversified with hills of a moderate elevation, the soil various, but generally good and well cultivated. This town was formerly the site of the celebrated tribe of Norridgewock Indians. Their village was situated at the foot of Norridgewock falls, in the north-west part of the town, and the border of Madi- son. The tribe had a church, the bell of which was dug up a few years since, and placed in the cabinet at Bowdoin college. The tribe was destroyed by a party of 168 men, sent out from Massachusetts for that purpose, commanded by Capt. Moul- ton, on the afternoon of August 23, 1724. Among the killed was the noted Jesuit missionary, Ralle. A monminent was erected thie 23d of August, 1833, by Bishi- op Fenwick, to his memory. It is a plain granite pyramidal shaft, standing on a square base of the same inaterial, having the following inscription :-
" SEBASTIANUS RALLES, natione Gallus, e Societate Jesu missionus, per aliquot an- nos Illinois et Haronibus primum cran- gelanus, deinde per 34 annos Abenaquis, fide et charitate Christi verns apostolus, periculis armorum intentus, se pro suis oribus mori paratum swpius testificans, in- ter arma et cedes de Pagi Nunarantsounk Norridgewock, et ccclesic suc ruinus, hic in ipso loco cecidit tandem optimus pas- tor, die 23 Augusti, A. D. 1724. Ipsi ct filiis in Christo defunctis, Monumentum hoc posuit Benedictus Femrick, Episcopus Bostoniensis, dedicaritque 23 Augusti, .. D. 1833. A. M. D. G."
Norridgewock village is situated on the north side of the river, directly in the bend, 5 miles W. of Skowhogan falls. It is one of the most pleasant and delightful villages, especially in the summer, in the state. The main street is lined with or- namental trees, some of them venerable for age and magnitude, extending their long arms quite across the street, forming a beautiful avenue from cast to west. On the south side of the river, connected by a bridge, is a pleasant and rapidly increas- ing village.
The public buildings consist of a church and conrt-house, on the north side of the river ; and on the south, a female acade- my, and a free church at " Oak Hill," abont 5 miles from the village.
This section of country is remarkable for its luxuriant growth of the white pine. A few years since, one of these trees was
cut for a canoe. Its length was 154 feet, and it measured 43 feet in diameter.
Norway.
This is a fine township, watered by se- veral beautiful ponds and streanis. One of the ponds is large, very handsome, and discharges its waters into Little Andros- coggin river. Norway is bounded N. by Greenwood, E. by Paris, S. by Harrison, and W. by Waterford.
North Yarmouth.
This is a pleasant town on Casco bay, 10 miles N. from Portland. The town was first settled in 1640. In 1687, it was attacked by the Indians, and deserted by the whites, and was not resettled by them until 1725. It was incorporated in 1713. About 4000 tons of navigation are owned here, employed in the transportation of lumber and the fishery. There is a fine stream of water in the town, on which are paper and saw mills, and other manu- factories. The academy in North Yar- mouth is well founded, and is in a flour- ishing condition.
Orono.
This town lies on the west side of Pe- nobscot river, and is watered by Dead stream and a large part of Pushaw lake. The soil of the town is good, and borders on the Great Falls in Penobscot river, and contains between 40 and 50 saw mills, which manufacture a vast amount of lumber annually for the Bangor inarket. Orono is pleasant and uncommonly flour- ishing.
A railroad between Bangor and the village of Stillwater in Orono, and Old- town, was opened for travel in 1836. It is 12 miles in length, and cost $350,000. The Penobscot river at Oldtown, above the falls, is 40 feet higher than at Ban- gor. The village of Stillwater is four iniles below Oldtown.
Above the falls, on the river, and about a mile above Oldtown, near the mouth of Dead stream, on Oldtown Island, is the Indian Settlement. This settlement is very pleasantly located, and secure from approach except by boats or canoes. It contains a number of framed honses, and a neat chapel with a bell.
In 1837, John Neptune, the lieutenant- governor, and other officers of the Penoh- scot tribe of Indians, finished taking by families a very particular census of all who belong to the tribe, for the purpose of a just and equal distribution of the an- nuities and other moneys paid to them. It was found that the families in all were 95-the list exhibiting the head of each family by name, and the number of indi-
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viduals each one contains, annexed there- to. The whole number of souls in the tribe was 362. Their officers are, a gov- ernor, lieutenant-governor, a colonel, four captains, one 'squire, and one deacon. In religion they are Catholics. Several of them can read, and a few can write, thongh in a poor hand.
The whole tribe is divided in politics, and on some occasions party spirit rages with almost as much warmth as among the pale faces, though generally better tempered. No affair of honor, or rather of murder, has ever been known to dis- grace these savages.
The tribe own, collectively, all the isl- ands in the Penobscot river, beginning with that of Oldtown, where their village is, and including all up as far as the forks, several miles above the Mattawam- keag, many of which are exceedingly pleasant and fertile.
The Indians are not poor, having sold some of their lands to advantage. To such a remnant, however, is this tribe re- duced-a tribe anciently and formerly called the Tarratines, who could bring into the field more than 2000 warriors, and who claimed the lands on both sides of the Penobscot river from its sources to its mouth.
Paris, '
Chief town, Oxford county. Paris is well watered and supplied with mill pri- vileges by Little Androscoggin river, on which are several mills in the town. The soil is excellent, although in some parts uneven and mountainous. The principal village is well built, pleasantly located, and the seat of considerable business. Paris lies 40 miles N. by W. from Port- land.
Parsonsfield
Lies at the N. W. corner of the county, and is bounded W. by the state of New Hampshire, and N. by Ossipee river. It is 36 miles W. by N. fran Portland, and has Newfield on its S. It was first set- tled, 1774. The surface of the town is rough and hilly ; but the soil, though hard, is productive of good crops of hay and grain.
There are many thrifty farmers in this town, and good specimens of iron ore, zinc, and crystallized quartz are found here. In this place is an incorporated seminary for the education of males and females. The institution is under the di- Tection of the Free-Will Baptists, and is in a flourishing condition.
Phipsburg.
This is a maritime town at the mouth of Kennebec river, on the west side. It
consists of a peninsula of land of abont 15 miles in length, and fromn 2 to 4 miles in width, lying between Kennebec river, on the E., and New Meadows, or Stevens' river, on the west, and extending from Small Point, the eastern boundary of Casco bay, to the town of Bath on the north. It contains a U. S. fort, and Se- guin and Pond islands, on which are light-houses.
Phipsburg was taken from the ancient town of Bristol, in 1816, and named in honor of Gov. Phips, who was born in Bristol.
Gov. Phips lived in the wilderness of Maine till he was eighteen years of age, and was then an apprentice to a ship- carpenter four years. He went to Bos- ton, and learned to read and write. He chose to seek his fortune on the sea, and had the good luck to discover the wreck of a very valuable Spanish vessel on the coast of Hispaniola, and by the aid of the British government succeeded in fishing up plate, pearls and jewels, amounting in value to £300,000 sterling, with which he sailed to England in 1687. He ob- tained by his enterprise £16,000, and the honor of knighthood. He returned to Boston in 1600, and commanded the ex- pedition against Port Royal, which place he captured. When the new charter of Massachusetts was obtained, he was ap- pointed the first governor under it. He arrived at Boston, as governor, in 1692. In 1694, in a dispute with the collector of the port, Sir William so far forgot his dignity as to descend to blows. He was removed from office, and returned to England. He received assurance of be- ing restored ; but before that event hap- pened he died, in 1695, aged 44.
Phipsburg has considerable trade and navigation. Ship building is pursued, and fishing is a source of profit. There is no better site for fishing establishments on the coast. It is a very pleasant town, and an agreeable location to court the sea breezes in summer.
Pittston.
Pittston is a pleasant town on the east side of Kennebec river, opposite to Gar- diner. It is a flourishing town, of good soil, and has several ponds and mill streams, and a considerable business in the lumber trade. It is bounded E. by Whitefield, and S. by Dresden.
Poland.
Poland is situated on Little Andros- coggin river, 6 miles above Lewiston falls. It is 26 miles N. from Portland. This is an excellent farming town, with good mill privileges, several ponds, and a pleasant village.
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A family consisting of about 70 of that curious people denominated " Shakers," reside in Poland. They possess about 600 acres of choice land. They are attached to the society at New Gloucester, about a mile distant. Their village is on a beautiful eminence. To say that their village is neat and handsome, and that their lands and gardens are well improved, would be superfluous.
Portland,
Chief town, Cumberland co. This beautiful city lies upon a peninsula, at the western extremity of Casco bay, in N. lat. 43º 39' 26", W. lon. 70° 20' 30". Its length is 3 miles from east to west, and the average width is three quarters of a mile ; containing about two thousand two hundred acres of land. The settle- ment of this neck of land was commenced as early as 1632, by two individuals from England, George Cleaves and Richard Tucker, who purchased the whole tract in 1637, of Gorges, the proprietor. For the first forty years the settlement made but little progress, and it was entirely de- stroyed in the Indian war of 1625. In 1650, it was revived under more favorable auspices, the government of Massachu- setts having some years previous to that time extended her sovereignty over this part of Maine. It had scarcely begun to gather the fruits of prosperity, before it was again doomed to a second entire overthrow in 1600, by the remorseless enemy, who spared neither dwellings nor their inhabitants.
The territory lay waste after this, until about 1715, when a new attempt was made, and the foundations of the present city were laid. The inhabitants, in the early period of the settlement, suffered much from the privations which awaited them in this their remote wilderness. The Indians were still hanging about them in an unquiet state, and cecasional- ly visiting them with rapine and blood.
After supplying the first necessities of their condition, the people turned their attention to the lumber business, the ma- terials and the facilities of which, were abundant about them. In about 20 years from the resettlement, it became the principal port on the coast from which the English navy was supplied with masts aud spars. They were transported in large ships owned abroad. Manufactured lumber was sent to the West Indies and to the colonies on the continent.
At the commencement of the revolution- ary war, there were owned in Portland 2555 tons of shipping. The population was about 1900, occupying two hundred and tlurty houses : there were two religions societies, one congregational, the other =
episcopalian, and the place was marked by enterprise and prosperity. But it wag destined a third time to be prostrated by the ravages of war. In 1775 it was bom- barded by a British fleet, by which catas- trophe 136 of the principal houses were destroyed, together with a new court house, the episcopal church, and the town house, to the loss of the inhabitants of over £54,000.
From the close of the revolutionary war, to the year 1807, the growth of the town was almost unexampled. The amount of tonnage, which in 1789 was but 5000 tons, had increased in 1807 to 39,000, and the amount received for du- ties had advanced from $8000 to $346,000. During the restrictions and war, the town suffered severely. It had been sustained principally by foreign commerce, which those disastrous times wholly prostrated. After the peace of 1815, the old channels of trade were revisited, and new ones opened with still increasing success. Portland probably enjoys a larger com- merce with the West Indies, than any other port in the Union. In 1830, the quantity of shipping was 43,071 tons ; in 1832, there were owned in this port 412 vessels, employing 2700 seamen ; in 1834, the tonnage of vessels belonging to the port was 51,433 tons, and in 1837, 53,081 tons. There arrived in one year 484 ves- sels, exclusive of coastwise arrivals from ports north of Cape Cod, of which 163 were from foreign ports, and 321 were coastwise. By our statistical tables it will be seen that the district of Portland contains a large amount of tonnage, most of which is owned in this city.
The population of Portland has ad- vanced rapidly ; in 1790 it was 2240; 1800, 3704; 1810, 7169, and in 1820, 8521, exclusive of foreigners.
Portland was connected with Fal- mouth until 1786, and commonly went by the name of Falmouth Neck. In that year it was incorporated and received its present name. In 1832, a charter for a city was obtained, and a goverment, consisting of a mayor, seven aldermen, and twenty-one common council-men, was duly organized under it in April of the same year.
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