USA > Maine > Hancock County > Swans Island > A history of Swan's Island, Maine > Part 12
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disposed of until at this time none is owned here, and the fishermen have found new occupations.
Below is given a list of our successful commanders and the vessels they sailed. Most of them sailed the same vessels in different years, but to save repetition I have used the name of the vessel only once, giving the prefer- ence to the owner. Vessels owned wholly or in part in this town are in italics :
Capt. George Barbour, schrs John Nye and Queen of the West.
Capt. B. J. Staples, schr Golden Rule.
Capt. E. M. Staples, schrs Cherokee, Andrew W. Dodd and Petrel.
Capt. John S. Staples, schrs Joseph Story, Annie E.
Friend, Eliza R., John Somes, Vesta, Laura Belle and James Dyer.
Capt. W. Leslie Joyce, schrs Lillian M. Warren and Rambler.
Capt. Charles Staples, schrs Corporal Trim and Mianto- nomah.
Capt. Edwin Joyce, schrs Eliza K. Parkhurst, Henry L. Phillips, William H. Oakes, A. T. Giffard, Moro Castle and W. R. Crittenden.
Capt. William S. Joyce, schrs Esperanza and William D. Daisley.
Capt. Emery E. Joyce, schrs Highland Queen, Robert Pettis, Sir Knight, and F. H. Smith.
Capt. Andrew C. Smith, schrs Warren J. Crosby, Richard Lester, Annie M. Nash, Mayor Jones, George F. Keene and Henry Morganthan. .
Capt. Alvah Barbour, schrs William H. Cross and Emma,
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also passenger steamers Mayfield, Florence and Vinal- haven.
Capt. Hanson B. Joyce, schrs G. W. Reed, Lizzie Wil- liams, Alice, Willie F. Joyce, Solitaire and steamer Novelty.
Capt. Michael Stinson, schrs Lucy J. Warren, Charlotta Augusta, Franklin Pierce, Thomas Hunt, Amelia Cobb and Lizzie Poor.
Capt. William P. Herrick, schrs Pioneer, Amos Cutter, Rebecca S. Atwood, Cayenne, Augusta E. Herrick, and Effie T. Kempt.
Capt. Charles E. Sprague, schrs Vanelia, G. W. Bentley, Benjamin S. Wright, Charles Kelley, Annie Freeman, Georgie Willard and Hannah Stone.
Capt. Frank Sprague, schrs C. D. Oliver, Aeronaut and Isaac Chapman.
Capt. Leroy Smith, schrs Winnie Webster, Old Chad, Lucy W. Dyer, George W. Brown, and Fairy Frost. Capt. John C. Kent, schrs Sparkling Billow and Mary Amanda.
Capt. Daniel McKay, schrs Vanelia and Robert D. Rhodes.
Capt. James McKay, schrs Ellen Lincoln, Maud D. Witherell and Ellen F. Dority.
Capt. Edmond F. Bridges, schr Glad Tidings.
Capt. Reuben Stewart, schr D. D. Gyer.
Capt. William Stewart, schr Belle Haskell.
Capt. Llewellyn V. Joyce, schrs M. M. Chase and Lady Elgin.
Capt. Freeman Kent, schrs Nellie Woodbury, J. S. Glover and Hattie Western.
Capt. Herbert Holbrook, schr Maggie Powers.
Capt. Augustine Holbrook, schr D. B. Webb.
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Capt. Oliver Lane, schrs Alice M. Gould, Webster and Lalla Rookh.
Capt. John A. Gott, schrs Olive G. Tower, Isaac Rich and Daniel Simmons.
Capt. Emery K. Gott, schrs Maggie Willard, Abbie M.
Deering and George Gilmore.
Capt. Horace E. Stanley, schrs M. E. Torrey and Flying Cloud.
Capt. Hosea Kent, schr Parenthia Davis.
Capt. John Conary, schr John M. Plummer.
Capt. Leander Sprague, schrs A. E. Horton and John Pew.
Capt. Frank Gott, schr Ethel Merritt.
Capt. Hardy Stinson, schr J. G. Craige.
Capt. Reuben Joyce, schrs J. F. Chase and Alaska.
Capt. Roland Stewart, schr George Washington.
Capt. Fred Kent, schr Merrimac.
Capt. Otis Stewart, schr Bona Venture.
Capt. Willard Staples, schr Star of the East.
Making in all one hundred and twelve different seiners, of which thirty-four were owned here.
After the mackerel industry had become unprofitable, the class of fishermen who had been there employed turned naturally to some other branch of the fisheries. The most profitable inducement was held out in the lobster fisheries. Few of these fish had been caught previous to 1857. They were then very abundant, especially near the shore. They were of no value except as a fisher- man would occasionally catch some for use in his own family. Only the small ones were used as food; the larger ones were thrown away as unfit to be eaten. The
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superior quality of the lobster as a food began to be appre- ciated. So about the year 1857 a smack ran between Swan's Island and Boston, but she could not carry and dispose of in the market what three or four men at Swan's Island caught. Generally it was the older men, who were unable to go far from home, who were engaged in catching lobsters.
The difficulty of transporting live lobsters long dis- tances in sailing vessels, led to the establishment of can- ning factories at various points, one of which was built at Old Harbor. This somewhat stimulated the business. A large number of shore fishermen forsook their former mode of fishing, and turned their attention to catching lobsters for the factory. Prices were low and the supply was usually in excess of the demand. By 1870 prices had to be raised to secure enough for the canning factories, and by 1880 the supply had been reduced so much that the canning factories to some extent were abandoned. In- creased steamboat facilities made it practicable to ship live lobsters to the Boston market. In 1890 the demand had greatly exceeded the supply, and prices were conse- quently gradually raised.
At first only small boats were used, as lobsters could be caught in abundance near the shore. As they grew scarcer larger and larger boats were required to go farther from shore. Now the fishermen have a fine fleet of boats, valued from $100 to $600 each. O. B. Whitten, State commissioner of sea and shore fisheries, informs me that in 1876 there were one hundred and eighteen men
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engaged in the lobster fisheries some part of the year. The catch was 688,628 lobsters, valued at $56,008.14. In 1897 there were one hundred and forty-two men, who caught 740,967 lobsters, valued at $75,208.56. At the former date all sizes of lobsters were caught and sold, but now it is prohibited by law to sell any less than ten and one-half inches in length. In comparing the above figures it will be seen that there is not only an increase in the gross stock, but also in the catch.
The following is a report of the property engaged in lobster fisheries from this town, and is a conservative esti- mate :
Number of large boats, 139; valued at $20,850.
66 small « I33;
2,660.
lobster cars, 139; 66 1,390.
traps (estimated), 50 to a
man, at $1 each, 6,950.
Making the property so invested over $30,000.
The porgy fisheries for a time engaged quite a num- ber of our fishermen, and offered luring inducements to in- vest capital. They were chiefly valued for the oil they contained. Suitable vessels were built, expensive nets bought, buildings and wharves were erected to provide for trying out the oils. Although these fish were so abun- dant, yet they were so persistently followed and caught by hundreds of small steamers, as well as by boats and ves- sels of every description, that they suddenly disappeared from the coast, and have never returned. Many of our
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townsmen lost heavily by this failure, as many had in- vested nearly all their property in the fishing gear and property that was left useless on their hands. Some it took years of thrift, and others never recovered from these losses.
Shell fish have always been depended upon to supply the necessities of the fishermen when all other sources have been cut off. In fact, it is doubtful if any of these islands would have been settled had it not been for this un- failing source of food supply. The Indians utilized this means of subsistence, as is seen by the immense heaps of clam shells, often forming embankments many feet high. They are also found to considerable depth in the ground, thrown there by some convulsion in nature, or by the grad- ual settling, caused by the weight added on top. Itis said that during the greater part of one winter, owing to the severity of the weather, supplies could not be brought here ; the principal food during those weeks of isolation were clams and seabirds. This species of fish has the power of rapid propagation, as it is probable that several crops are hatched and reach maturity during the year. Shell fish have been constantly dug, from the time of the earliest settlement to the present time, without any signs of exhausting the supply.
At first clams were used for food and for bait in fish- ing. Later they were salted in barrels and disposed of in the markets of other seaports for bait. Since lobster can- ning has proved unprofitable, many of these factories are canning clams, there being a good market for all that can be produced. At present clams are being shipped in the
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shell to the Boston market. The income received in this town from shell fish during the year 1897 was $1,500.
A sardine factory was built at Old Harbor in 1895 by H. W. Joyce, which furnishes an excellent market for the abundance of herring, which are found more plentiful near this and adjacent islands than at any other place on the Maine coast. The income from this branch varies from $10,000 to $25,000 per year.
The fishing business will undoubtedly remain, as it has ever been in the past, the main industry in this town, as nature has placed this island in a sea rich with this re- source. Other industries, such as the granite works, ice- cutting, etc., may be substituted in part, but the products of the sea are more sought for every year, and while the compensation is adequate, our hardy fishermen can be re- lied upon to supply the market.
LOST AT SEA.
Lost ! Weary and tempest-tossed, Lost at sea ! The ship went down in the foam, And found a watery home, While the waves resistless roam Wild and free.
Lost !
Trials of fate were crossed, Lost at sea ! With seaweed and coral dressed, And hands crossed o'er his breast, In a wakeless, dreamless rest, Sleepeth he.
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Lost ! In ocean's foam and frost, Lost at sea ! And no tears fall o'er their grave,
But the restless ocean wave
Roams o'er monarch and o'er slave In its glee.
Lost !
The ones we have loved most, Lost at sea !
For they may not walk the shore,
When some long, long voyage is o'er,
And they, with us no more, Bend the knee.
Lost ! And pallid hands are crossed, Lost at sea !
And maidens' eyes are dim,
And mothers' eyes o'erbrim: As they sadly think of him In the sea.
Lost !
They are a mighty host, Lost in the sea !
And the waves say with their moan,
I am monarch - all I own - "Tis to me they all have gone - . Gone to me.
-S. G. Duley.
On July 7, 1814, Capt. David Gott and two sons, Charles and David, who went out from Gott's Island to the
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fishing grounds, were lost by the sudden capsizing of their boat. They had been fishing nearly all day with good success, and were returning when the boat was overturned by a squall, and as the boat was heavily loaded, it sank immediately. When this summer squall had rapidly passed away, no signs of men or boat were to be seen. The father, as well as the two sons, left large families, of whom but one survives at this time - Mrs. Hannah (Gott) Preble, a daughter of David Gott, who now resides in Sedgwick in her eighty-seventh year.
In 1829 Nathan Remick was lost from the schooner "Cornelia ", of which his brother, Capt. Reuben Remick, was master. They were returning from Boston where they had been with a load of lumber from Ellsworth. When about fifteen miles out from Cape Ann he had occa- sion to get into the boat that hung at the davits, when one end of the tackle unhooked, precipitating him into the water. The boat was at once lowered, but in the excite- ment her painter slipped from their hands, and the boat went beyond their reach, leaving those on board utterly helpless to render assistance. Mr. Remick supported himself in the water and conversed with the crew for some time. Although hatches, boards and everything movable were cast into the sea, none of them reached him. He soon became exhausted and the waves closed over him. He was about twenty years of age, and was to have been married on his arrival home.
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In 1831 Samuel Kent was lost while coming from Deer Isle in a sail boat. He had been there for Richard Warren, esq., to perform the marriage ceremony for his son Samuel and Mary Smith. He accidentally fell into the water, and as the wind was blowing and the sea was rough, it was impossible to rescue him.
Capt. John Gott, sr., was lost in 1840. A fishing vessel, under the command of John Gordon, came into Old Harbor on its way to Green's Bank; being rather inex- perienced, Capt. Gordon sought the chaperonage of Capt. Gott on this voyage. After much persuasion, Capt: Gott, although near seventy years of age, agreed to ac- company him on this voyage, which proved to be their last. When a few days out a terrible gale arose, and the vessel was supposed to have foundered in it, as she was never heard from.
The schooner "Henry M. Johnson", built at this place by her commander, Silas Hardy, was on her first voyage, and had proceeded as far as Eggemoggin Reach where, on account of the storm, they anchored for the night. During the next day, Nov. 7, 1846, the vessel dragged her anchor and went ashore. Capt. Hardy, with his crew, consisting of Abel Staples, 2d, William Torrey and John Ross, took an anchor across the boat to carry it to windward so as to heave the vessel off. They had pro- ceeded but a short way when the boat was capsized in the boisterous sea, and two of the crew, Staples and Ross, lost
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their lives. Both were young men and married. Mr. Ross's widow afterwards became the wife of William An- nis, who was drowned while crossing Stinson Neck bar in February, 1872, at the age of seventy years.
Joshua S. Trask was lost in the Bay of Chaleur dur- ing the great gale of October 3, 1851. He was in the schooner "Henry Clay", commanded by Capt. John Walls. The vessel foundered in the gale, and all hands were lost. Mr. Trask was forty-four years of age; he left a widow and six children at this place.
During the same gale Capt. Benjamin Stinson lost his vessel, the " Fly", and Capt. David Smith, 3d, also lost the vessel he commanded -the "Liberator". They were caught in the Bend of Prince Edward's Island; the gale came up so suddenly and with such terrific violence that they were unable to get out of their dangerous location. They were driven with great force upon the sandy beach, but in such a location that no one was lost from either ves- sel, although the vessels were a total loss. They were both owned at this place.
George Smith was drowned while trying to rescue his brother near Buckle Island in August, 1855.
Gilbert J. Gott was lost at sea February 10, 1860, aged thirty-three years. He was in the schooner "Law-
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rence N. Dean ", and was on the homebound trip of coast- ing when the vessel was sunk during a snow squall, and was never seen again.
The schooner "Constitution", a vessel owned at this place, was commanded by Seth W. Staples. They had brought home three cargoes of mackerel from the Bay of Chaleur during the season. In the fall they took a load of salted mackerel and smoked herring from Whitmore's and started for Baltimore. Besides the captain there were on board John H. Staples, Daniel H. Babbidge and Allen Reed, all belonging here. On the evening of November 19, 1860, while running down the Cape Cod shore, when about southeast of Nausett light, a squall struck the vessel and capsized her. The captain attempted to save his life by lashing himself to the rigging. The vessel began to settle rapidly. Babbidge and Reed each seized a plank and sprang overboard. Reed alone was saved. Bab- bidge was undoubtedly drawn down by the suction when the vessel sank. Reed kept himself afloat for over two hours, when he saw the lights of an approaching vessel. They caught the sound of his cries, and although it was very dark, they succeeded in locating him, and took him on board in a nearly exhausted condition. This ves- sel was the " Isaac Achorn", Capt. Avery.
Ezra Torrey was lost from a small boat June 9, 1865, near the Otto Ponds. He had taken a load of lobster traps and lashed them upon his dory when the boat sud-
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denly rolled over; he was undoubtedly entangled in the gear so as to be unable to reach his boat; his body was not recovered; he left a widow and three children.
On Oct. 12, 1865, Benjamin S. Joyce was knocked overboard and drowned near Port Hood, C. B. He was with his father, Capt. Roderick Joyce, in the schooner " Highland Lass". He was seventeen years of age.
In January, 1867, this town sustained one of the greatest losses of life that ever happened at any one time, in the loss of the schooner "S. J. Collins", owned here and commanded by Winthrop B. Lane. After the fishing season was over, several men with their wives and children made this coasting voyage a trip of pleasure. They took a load of freight at Bangor for New York, after which they took a load of corn at Hoboken, N. J., for Belfast and Bucksport parties. They started for home on Jan.
5. That night a storm and gale came on, and it is sup- posed the vessel foundered. The vessel's company were Capt. Winthrop B. Lane and wife Emily, who was for- merly the wife of Daniel H. Babbidge, who was lost at sea in the schooner "Constitution". Mrs. Lane had with her her two daughters, Lillian Babbidge, aged eight, and Grace Lane, one year old. The others were Simeon S. Reed, his wife Emily and daughter Alice, Joseph F. Reed, aged twenty-five, his wife Isadora, aged twenty- two, and Amos Staples. The whole party were young people.
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On November 6, 1869, Edward Warren Gott was lost from a boat near Buckle Isle. He was twenty-three years of age.
Eben Smith was lost from the schooner "Clara Smith ", of which he was mate, near the year 1870. They were on the voyage from New York to Havana. They had a deck-load of shooks, which was struck by a sea dur- ing a gale. Mr. Smith had just come on deck when the sea swept the deck-load from the vessel, taking him with it.
. Capt. John Freeman Gott was lost Nov. 29, 1875, aged thirty-seven years. He was commander of the schooner "John Somes" in which he had been fishing dur- ing the summer. He was bound from Portland "down east" for a load of herring. In trying to get into Booth- bay harbor they were struck by a squall which capsized the vessel and threw Capt. Gott overboard. He was an enterprising man, and was the commander of the first mackerel seiner from the island.
In December, 1876, the schooner "Modena B. Jer- auld", of Gloucester, Capt. Charles P. Mitchell, together with his crew of ten men, was lost on La Have bank. Among the crew was Byron D. Joyce of this place.
Adoniram J. Kent was drowned October 6, 1880, aged thirty years.
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Eugene S. Trask was drowned from a small boat June 15, 1881, aged twenty-two years. His body was subsequently recovered.
Reuben C. Bridges was lost in a dory on Middle Bank December 18, 1883. He was in the schooner " J. W. Campbell ", Capt. Colin Chisholm. He was twenty- four years of age, and was married just one month before he was lost.
Frank Sprague was drowned by falling overboard at the wharf at Hoboken, N. J., where they had just arrived from South America. He was mate of the schooner, and was superintending the spreading of an awning when the rope on which he was drawing broke and he fell into the water. Before assistance could reach him he was dead. This occurred July 10, 1891. He was thirty-eight years of age.
Hiram Colomy was lost October 10, 1895. He started to row out to Seal Cove to go around Irish point in a small boat. The gale had increased in violence, and the rain had made the boat slippery ; it is supposed he fell over- board in his effort to change his position. His brother, coming from Deer Isle, picked up his empty boat and towed her into Old Harbor.
Augustine Holbrook was drowned outside Old Har- bor in 1897.
CHAPTER VII.
SYNOPSIS OF THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS.
In 1834 the population of Swan's Island had increased to nearly two hundred inhabitants, and the settlers, having long felt the disadvantages of an unorganized place, thought that the time had come when the number of inhab- itants warranted an organization into some local govern- ment. Many local matters of considerable moment to the settlers were neglected by the State authorities; roads needed to be built and kept in repair, and, above all, some regular method was needed of furnishing instruction to the young. Concerning the first organization there is no record known to exist. It is supposed that the first record and those of the three following years were burned in a house where the records were kept that was destroyed by fire.
Whether a regular plantation form of government was incorporated according to the requirements of law, or whether the settlers merely met by mutual agreement and chose their officers without any formality, will probably never be known, as no record of their proceedings was made to the secretary of State. Whether this omission was the result of carelessness or not I do not know.
Concerning the year of this organization I am in- formed by Benj. Smith, esq., who was present at that first meeting, and although but a boy he remembered distinctly
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not only the year (1834) but also the officers who were then elected. . I also find in the record of the meeting held in 1839 that it was voted to abate a tax on Benjamin F. Staples' bills for the year 1834; thus showing that an or- ganization must have existed at that time.
Swan's Island alone constituted this alleged plantation which started on its career in the spring of 1834 at a meet- ing held in the house of Ebenezer Joyce, where the fol- lowing officers were elected : Assessors, Benjamin Stin- son, Benjamin Smith and James Joyce; clerk, John Stockbridge; treasurer, Benjamin Stinson; collector of taxes, Benjamin F. Staples. No further record is found until that of the year
1838.
The assessors chosen this year were Augustus R. Staples, Edward Gott and Benjamin F. Stinson.
1839.
Met at schoolhouse in east district. Meeting was opened by prayer by Benjamin Stinson. The following officers were chosen : Benjamin Stinson, moderator and treasurer ; Benjamin F. Stinson, clerk ; Benjamin Stinson, Augustus R. Staples and James Joyce, assessors ; collec- tion of taxes bid off at auction at 3 per cent. by Thomas Sadler. Raised $90 for schools, $150 for roads, and $25 for plantation expenses. William Stanley and Levi Torrey were elected school agents ; Benjamin F. Stinson, William Fife and Joseph R. Torrey, school committee ; Asa Staples, John Stockbridge and Edward Gott, tything- men; William Joyce and Enoch Billings sextons.
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Voted to abate O'Maley's tax on Benjamin F. Staples' bill for 1834. Voted that no license be given to sell ardent spirits. Voted that the island be divided so that three- fifths of the voters shall be in the west district, and two- fifths in the east district. A road was laid out from John Stockbridge's to Thomas Sadler's house. The tax list this year contained fifty persons.
State election was held September 9, and the follow- ing was the vote : For governor, John Fairfield had 19 votes ; Edward Kent, I; for senator, Charles Jarvis, 19; representative to legislature, Allen Hopkins, 19; Amos Clements, I.
A meeting was called in the west district October 8. They voted to finish their schoolhouse, and raised $60 for the same. The work was set up at auction, and bid off by Edward Gott. School was to begin December 20, and continue eight weeks. Master's board bid off by Thomas Colomy for fifty cents per week. Wood furnished by Benjamin F. Stinson at one shilling per cord. East dis- trict voted to have two and one-half months' school in win- ter, and three months in the summer.
1840.
Augustus R. Staples was chosen moderator; James Joyce, clerk; Benjamin Stinson, Augustus R. Staples and John Stinson, assessors; Benjamin Stinson, treasurer. Voted to pay their taxes in directly to the treasurer. Raised $100 for schools, $150 for highways, and $20 for plantation expenses. Joshua S. Trask and Thomas Col-
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omy were elected school agents; Benjamin F. Stinson, Joseph R. Torrey and Joshua S. Trask, school committee. Voted to lay out a road from the highway to Asa C. Staples' house.
School meeting was held in east district October 14. Voted to begin school the first Monday in January. Mas- ter's board bid off by Ebenezer Joyce at $I a week. In the presidential election held this year the democratic electors had 41 votes, the whigs 3. State election, John Fairfield had 47 votes for governor; Edward Kent 2; representative to the legislature, Thomas Bunker 47 ; Amos Clements 2.
1841.
Augustus R. Staples, James Joyce and Joseph R. Torrey were chosen assessors. Raised $100 for schools, $30 for current expenses, and $130 for highways. Wil- liam Joyce and Benjamin Smith were chosen school agents; Augustus R. Staples, Benjamin F. Stinson and Moses Staples, 3d, school committee. Voted to abate the tax on grist-mill. State election, the vote cast was as fol- lows : For governor, John Fairfield 49; Edward Kent 3 ; representative to the legislature, Amos Allen, 48. At a school meeting it was voted to have two months' school. Board bid off by Moses Staples, 3d, at seventy-two cents a week.
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