USA > Maine > Hancock County > Swans Island > A history of Swan's Island, Maine > Part 9
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Mr. Benson again entered the service of the govern- ment at the breaking out of the war of 1812. He was at Bagaduce when the British took possession of that town. He had in his possession an old English rifle which he got at Castine at this time; it was highly prized by him, and he kept it until his death.
At the close of the war of 1812 he went to Marshall's island, which lies to the west of Swan's Island. It is a very valuable island to this day, being assessed at $10,000 by the State, and was, as we have seen, included in Swan's purchase. This island Mr. Benson leased to Swan's agent. He was the first settler there. He cleared the land and built a log house. Afterwards he built a timber house which has long since gone to decay.
He married Mrs. Mary Ross, widow of John Ross, who lived in Brunswick. She was a daughter of Thomas Kench, whom we have noticed as being the first settler in this town. Mr. Ross's father, Barton Ross, was a pioneer settler of Brunswick, and owned a large tract of
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land there. At his death he divided his property among his six children, one of whom was John Ross, whom we have mentioned. He built a house upon his lot, and reared his family. He sailed in a ship from Castine, at which place he married his wife, Mary Kench. Mr. Ross was lost at sea in 1817, while engaged in the West India trade. They had three children, whom Mrs. Ross brought to Marshall's island when she married Mr. Benson. These children were : John, born in 1812, Thomas, and a daughter Evelyn, who died unmarried. The children
of Mr. and Mrs. Benson were : Sarah, who mar- ried and lives in Charlestown, Mass .; Mary, who became the wife of Edwin Smith, and resided at Jamaica Plain ; Maria, who married a Mr. Wood, of Boston ; Jephtha and Judson, who were lost at sea; Freelan H., the only surviv- ing son, lives at Seattle, Wash. When Mr. Benson came to. Marshall's island he only leased the property, so he secured no title to it by his long residence there. He was dispossessed by Rufus B. Allyn, Swan's agent, in 1835, after which he removed to Brooksville, where he died at the age of ninety-eight years. After his death Mrs. Benson came to Swan's Island and resided with her children until her death, which occurred in 1874, at the age of eighty-two years. Marshall's island was afterwards sold to John B. Redman, of Brooksville, and Charles K. Tilden, of Cas- tine. It is at present owned by Oliver Lane, of Brooklin.
John Ross was born at Brunswick, and came with his mother to Marshall's island. His wife was Elizabeth, a daughter of Moses Bridges. They lived for some years on
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Calf island. He then bought a piece of land of Benjamin Stinson, and built the house where Hezekiah Holbrook now lives. Mr. Ross died in 1845, aged twenty-nine years. Their children were Julia, Evelyn, Emma, and some others who died young. Mrs. Ross, in 1848, married William Annis, who was born in Appleton in 1802. They resided here until 1855, when they removed to Deer Isle and bought the place near Stinson's Neck bar. They were the parents of several children who still reside at Deer Isle. Mr. Annis was drowned in February, 1872, while crossing the bar near his home. He was seventy years of age. Mrs. Annis was born in Sedgwick in 1818, and died at Deer Isle December 19, 1892.
Thomas Ross was born in Brunswick, and for several years after his mother married Jephtha Benson, he lived with his grandfather, Thomas Kench, at Brooksville. He is the only survivor of the family, and resides in Malden, Mass. His wife was Diana Norwood, of Mount Desert. He bought one acre of land of Silas Hardy, and in 1845 built the house which is standing near the shore below Hiram Stanley's house. When Joshua Sadler moved away, Mr. Ross bought all of his possessions - about one hundred acres, which includes all the land south of the road leading from No. 4 school-house to the point. In 1860 he sold his property here, and removed to Addison, where he bought a farm. Their children were : John, who married Fannie Wass, of Addison; he died of yellow fever while captain of a brig bound for San Domingo; they put in at Fortune Island, where he died and was buried ;
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Mary, wife of Oscar Evans, of Boston; Sarah, wife of George Haskell, of Boston; Ella and Malinda, who died young ; Charles, who was lost at sea ; Lizzie, wife of Samp- son Hewson; Laura, wife of Frank Hickson. The last two reside at Malden, Mass., and are the only surviving children. Mr. Ross at present resides in this town.
Silas Hardy.
Silas Hardy came here in 1825, and bought Harbor island of Seth and Zachariah Kempton when they left this place. He was a son of Capt. Peter Hardy, jr., of Deer Isle, whose ancestors came to Deer Isle from Worcester, Mass. Mr. Hardy married Hannah Adams, a sister of John Adams, of Beverly. He traded for a few years in a store on Harbor island where Kempton Brothers formerly traded. He sold Harbor island to William Stinson, and bought of Joshua Sadler the point of land near the site of Swan's mills. Here he built a house and store, and did a large business. It was the only store on the island at the time, and, in fact, it was the first large store on the island. Others had traded here before, but they kept only a small stock of goods, such as fishermen's supplies. As his busi- ness grew he not only secured the trade of the island pop- ulation, but also did a brisk business fitting the large fleet which here found a market for its fish. He bought and cured a large amount of fish. He also did quite a business in ship- building ; the largest vessel he built in 1835, called the "Henry M. Johnson", which he built for parties in Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Hardy was one of the first justices of
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the peace appointed on the island, and nearly all the mar- riage ceremonies in those times were performed by him. He had acquired a good education, and was an excellent business man.
They were the parents of six children - three sons and three daughters. The sons were : Silas, jr., a car- penter, who resides in the West; he is unmarried; Thomp- son H., who was killed in the Civil war; Arthur W., who died at the age of twenty-three years. The daughters were : Mary E., wife of Oliver Lane, of Stinson's Neck, Deer Isle ; Emma and Effie J., who reside in Chicago. Mr. Hardy, sr., left here in 1847. He sold "the point " to Moses Bridges in exchange for a part of Marshall's is- land. This in turn he sold to Oliver Lane, the present owner. After leaving here, Mr. Hardy lived for several years at Winterport. During this time he sailed in a ship
between New York and Australia. From one of these voyages he did not return, and it was supposed that he died in Australia. His wife then went to Illinois with her brother, John Adams, where she now lives .at a very ad- vanced age.
John Adams.
John Adams came here in 1840 from Beverly, Mass. His wife was Lucy, daughter of Peter Hardy, jr., of Deer Isle, and a sister of Silas Hardy, with whom Mr. Adams came to work when Mr. Hardy began trading. He was a carpenter and worked at his business here and at Deer Isle. He afterward went to Winterport, and later removed to Illinois. Mr. Adams was well educated, and for a
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number of years taught school here, and often served as town officer. He died in 1885.
They were the parents of six children, as follows : Thomas J., who was a soldier in the Civil war; after the war he bought an orange grove in Florida ; he now resides in Indian territory ; Lucy J., who was a school teacher in the West; she was drowned while boating on Chrystal lake, Illinois ; Ellen, who is a teacher ; Mary A. and Zella, who are unmarried and reside in the West; Lulu, who died at the age of two years.
HARBOR ISLAND.
Harbor island forms the southern side to Old Harbor, and contains one hundred and forty-four acres. This seems to have been an attractive location for the earliest settlers, as many made this temporarily their home. It was first settled, as has been recorded, by Thomas Kench, near the year 1777. After Swan's purchase this island came into the possession of Joseph Prince, of Beverly, who remained until about the year 1800. In 1791 David Smith settled on this island, and while here Sarah, his daughter, was born in the year 1792, being the first white child born on this island. It afterwards became the prop- erty of Col. Henry Jackson, of Boston. He, however, probably never considered it as valuable property, and soon other settlers took possession of it. Dr. Thurston and a Mr. Bunker lived here for some years at an early date. Here they kept a small store of general merchan- dise. The other settlers will be noticed more in detail.
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Zachariah Kempton.
Zachariah Kempton came to Harbor island from Hampden, Maine, in 1821, and staid about four years. He, together with his brother, who came at the same time, built a house and store on Harbor island, and did considerable trading. They bought and cured fish and fitted out vessels. He soon brought his family here. His wife was Mary Evans, and they were the parents of five children - Frank, David, Zachariah, William and Jane. These children are all dead except Zachariah and William, who reside in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Kempton was a car- penter; he learned his trade of his father, who was a shipbuilder and one of the pioneer settlers of Frankfort. This Kempton family came to Frankfort from Plymouth, Mass., where they settled when they came from England. No member of this family is now living in New England except a niece of the subject of this sketch; she is the wife of Alfred H. Slatten, of Hampden Corner, Maine. Mr. Kempton died in 1844.
Seth Kempton.
Seth Kempton came with his brother Zachariah to Harbor island. He was a young man and unmarried. When he left this place in 1825 he settled in Hampden. His wife was Lucy Brown, of Orrington, by whom he had seven children - Seth, Zachariah, Harvey, Joseph, Lucy, Lucinda and Eliza. Joseph settled in Colorado, Eliza and Harvey in Iowa, whence Mr. Kempton's whole family moved in 1839. The other children settled in the western
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states, and none of them ever returned to the place of their birth. Mr. Kempton died in six weeks after his arrival in Iowa. The property on Harbor island belonging to the Kempton brothers was bought by Silas Hardy. After trading there a few years this property came into the pos- session of William Stinson. Hardy and Oliver Lane, Mr. Stinson's heirs, now own it.
Hardy Lane.
Hardy Lane came here from Deer Isle near the year 1835. He was the son of Oliver Lane, sr., and was born in 1820. He, with his brother Oliver, bought Harbor is- land of Silas Hardy. His wife was Livonia Stinson, by whom he had nine children. They were : Hannah, Sarah, Livonia, who settled at Deer Isle; Oliver, jr., who resides in Chicago; Silas, who bought a large farm where he now resides at West Gardiner; William, who lives in Seattle, Wash. ; Mary and Amasa, who are in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Lizzie, who lives in Brockton, Mass. Mr. Lane returned to Deer Isle in 1861. Mr. Lane was a candidate for rep- resentative to the legislature at Deer Isle in 1873. He re- ceived fifty-four votes to one hundred and eleven for Wil- liam Babbidge. He died in 1886, aged sixty-six years.
Oliver Lane.
Oliver Lane was born at Deer Isle in 1822, and, as before stated, bought Harbor island with his brother Hardy in 1835. The two families lived together for some years, when Oliver sold his part to William Stinson, whose wife,
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Elizabeth Lane, was an only sister of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Lane afterwards bought Marshall island. The former owner had been Swan, during whose owner- ship it was occupied by Jephtha Benson, later by Moses Bridges and Silas Hardy. About this time it came into the possession of Charles K. Tilden, of Castine, and Erastus Redman, of Brooksville, by whom it was mort- gaged to Boston parties. Mr. Lane bought it of these parties at an excellent trade, as the island is quite valuable, being assessed at about $10,000. Mr. Lane resided here until 1874, when he went to Sedgwick, where he now re- sides. His wife was Keturah Stinson, by whom he had five children - Hardy, Fred, Georgie, Vesta and John.
Robert Mitchell.
Robert Mitchell was born in Dublin, Ireland, March 28, 1790, and came to this country as an emigrant in 1814. After a long, tedious voyage of six weeks, they saw land through the fog, and anchored in Old Harbor. It was one of the old-fashioned emigrant ships, a poor sailer, and furnished still poorer accommodations to its passengers. There were three hundred and sixty emigrants aboard, most of whom were Irish. It was Sunday morning when they anchored. Many of the emigrants came ashore, some of whom were invited to attend a religious service held at the house of David Smith at the " north ". While here they learned that one of their countrymen, John Finney, lived on the eastern side of the island, and a large number of them went across the island to pay Mr. Finney a visit, and
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stayed with him over night. Mr. Finney's small house made it inconvenient for him to accommodate so large a company, but he was equal to the emergency. He had recently sheared his sheep, the wool of which he spread upon the floor, thus making a comfortable bed for them all.
Mr. Mitchell alone remained ; the others returned to the ship, which sailed the next morning for Portland. Mr. Mitchell never heard from any of the company after- wards. He was hired by Abel Staples, with whom he worked two years. In 1820 he married Mr. Staples' daughter, Judith. He bought land on Placentia, and went there to live. There was a log house on the island, and in this they began housekeeping. This island was then covered with a dense forest, much of which he cut off and
sold. The land thus cleared made an excellent farm. In three years he had built a frame house. They had a fam- ily of nine children, three of whom died young. Mr. Mitchell was an active member of the Methodist church. He died in 1861, aged seventy-one years. Mrs. Mitchell died twenty years earlier, aged forty-four years. The following are notices of their children :
George W. was born in 1822, and married Almira Stanley, a daughter of Joseph Stanley, of Steuben. He was for many years a sea captain. After a long voyage he arrived at Boston where he met a terrible death. He was walking on a railroad track when his foot caught in a frog, and to his consternation he saw a train approaching. He tried in vain to extricate himself, but finding it useless, he leaned as far back as he could in hopes of saving his
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life by losing his leg. But just then a train came rushing in the opposite direction ; he was struck, thrown high into the air, and came down crushed and lifeless. The Masons, of which order he was a member, sent his body home to Calais, where he was buried in April, 1879. He left a widow and three children. The widow and one child now reside in Calais.
Jane A. was born at Swan's Island in 1824. She mar- ried Benjamin Murphy, of Tremont, where she has al- ways resided. Mr. Murphy died in 1886, leaving his " widow with eight children. Mrs. Murphy, until her death, resided with her youngest daughter at Bass Harbor. She died in 1898, aged seventy-four years.
Sarah B. was born at Swan's Island in 1826. She became the wife of Adam Reed, of Tremont. For many years he was a successful master mariner. He followed the sea until near the close of his life, when, on account of fail- ing health, he was obliged to abandon it. He died in Jacksonville, Florida, where he had gone for his health. Mrs. Reed at present resides in Oakland, Mass.
Judith S. died at the age of seven years.
Marietta B. was born at Placentia in 1836. She was the wife of Charles Mitchell, of Bass Harbor. Mrs. Mitchell died very suddenly in 1872, at the age of thirty- eight years.
Robert, jr., was born at Placentia in 1836. He mar- ried Mary J. Ober, of Tremont. He followed the sea and was mate of a New York vessel at the time of his death. They were anchored off Ricker's Island. The night was
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bright moonlight, yet a watch was kept on deck. Mr. Mitchell's watch expired at 3 a. m .; he went below into the cabin, called the captain, told him it was his watch, and then retired. The captain, only partially aroused, fell asleep again. While they slept a "river pirate" came aboard the vessel. He proceeded at once to the captain's berth, placed a revolver at his ear, and told him if he uttered a sound he would blow his brains out. The robber secured a watch, $39 in cash, and such other articles as he could readily obtain. He then backed out of the cabin, still keeping the captain covered with his revolver. The captain then whispered to Mitchell that a robber was aboard, when Mitchell came out of his berth, probably half asleep, and started up the steps behind the robber, who turned around and fired, the ball passing through Mitchell's body and into the deck. He never spoke, and died in a few minutes. His body was buried in New York. This happened in 1865, at the age of twenty-nine years.
Joshua S. Trask.
Joshua S. Trask came here from Stillwater, Maine, about the year 1825, and married Mary Staples. He then went to Long Island where he traded for several years, doing quite a business. Although the island was small and the inhabitants few, yet this was a resort for many fishing vessels, it being near the fishing grounds, and fur- nished a good harbor. It was from these vessels princi- pally that he received his custom. He afterwards came
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here and settled near the end of the point of land formerly owned by Washington Staples, now called Trask's point, where he built a house. He was a man of liberal educa- tion, and possessed a wonderful memory. His favorite study was history, French history being his favorite. He was a great admirer of Napoleon, after whom he named one of his sons. For several years he taught school here with good success. He was an active man in town affairs, and for many years was justice of the peace.
They were the parents of eleven children. Mr. Trask was lost in the Bay of Chaleur during the great gale of Oct. 3, 1851. He was in the schooner "Henry Clay", commanded by John Walls. The vessel foun- dered in the gale and all hands were lost. His age was forty-four years. Mrs. Trask afterwards became the wife of Philip Moore, of Gott's Island, by whom she had three children, none of whom reached adult age. Mrs. Moore is now dead.
The sons of Mr. and Mrs. Trask were : Capt. Or- lando, who married the widow of Byron Joyce, and lives near where his father settled; Napoleon B., who married Cynthia Staples ; he died at Sydney, C. B., in 1865, aged twenty-nine years; Lorenzo S., who lives at Tremont. The daughters were: Lucinda, wife of Enoch Moore, of Gott's Island; Flavilla, wife of George Moore, of Tre- mont ; Elmira; several other children died in infancy.
Jacob S. Reed.
Jacob S. Reed came here from Brooklin in 1845, and bought nine acres of land from the Joyce lot, which at this
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time was owned by William Joyce. Some years previous to his coming here he bought a small part of the lot of land he afterwards occupied, through which ran a large stream of water. This he dammed and it proved to be an excellent mill privilege. This was the place where Prince wished to locate a mill. Mr. Reed took down a mill which he had been running in Brooklin, and erected it over this stream. While at Brooklin his gristmill was first operated by wind, and later by horse-power. This was a rather expensive mode of manufacture, so he came here where he might utilize this water privilege. At this time a greater part of the bread was made from the flour of corn and barley which were raised on the island. William Joyce operated the mill several years; afterwards Mr. Reed came himself, bought more land and built a house, which is still known as the Reed house. Soon after this time manufactured wheat flour became cheaper, so less grain was raised here, and after a short time the mill was closed.
Mr. Reed was a man of marked individuality and sterling integrity. He was three times married. His first wife was Sarah, daughter of Moses Staples, 2d; she died in 1865, aged fifty-nine years; his second wife was Mary Harding, of Boston, who died in 1871, aged thirty-nine years; his third wife was Isabel S. Joyce, who died in 1888, aged sixty-eight years. Mr. Reed died in Scarboro where he went to live with his children. His death oc- curred in 1888, at the age of eighty-four years.
The following were his children: Allen G. and Lemuel, who live in Scarboro; Simeon S. and Joseph ;
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Emily, wife of Daniel H. Babbidge; he was lost in the schooner " Constitution" off Nausett light, Cape Cod, in 1860, at the age of twenty-eight years; after his death she married Winthrop B. Lane, of Deer Isle; Mrs. Lane was in the schooner "S. J. Collins" that was lost at sea in 1867, together with her two daughters, Lillian, aged eight years, and Grace, aged one year; Susan, wife of Ezra Torrey; he was drowned in 1865 ; Mary E., wife of Nel- son Stinson; they now reside in Harpswell; Sarah A. and Myra, who died young.
Abram Holbrook.
Abram Holbrook came from Deer Isle in 1836, and settled here on the place owned by Samuel Kent, and afterwards lived for a number of years on Buckle island. He never owned any property here. Later he returned to Deer Isle, and lived the remainder of his life at Webb's cove in that town. He was over seventy years of age at his death. His wife was Martha Morey, a sister of Elias Morey, jr., whom we have noticed. They were the pa- rents of eight children, as follows : Abram, jr., who married Abbie Herrick; Hezekiah, who married Angelina Smith ; after her death he married Parthanea Gott; these two sons reside here at present; Mary A., wife of Amos C. Beal, of Grand Menan ; Rosetta, wife of Benjamin Harvey, of Deer Isle; Susan, Henry, John and an infant died young.
Mr. Holbrook's father, Elisha Holbrook, came from Cape Cod and settled at Isle au Haut about the year 1800.
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There he married a daughter of Abiathar Smith. His children were : Abram, the subject of this sketch; Simon, who went away from home when a young man ; Daniel, who lived at Vinal Haven; he was killed by falling from a derrick used in hoisting stone, up which he had gone for the purpose of fixing a tackle; the daughters were the wives of Joseph Morey and afterwards Humphrey Web- ster ; of Samuel Black, and of a Mr. Hall who lived near Belfast; another daughter was reared in the family of Capt. Samuel Turner.
Alexander Kiff.
Alexander Kiff came here from St. George, Maine, in 1841, and lived in a house south of where Parker Bridges now resides. He married, in 1823, Susan Robin- son Gilchrist, of St. George, at which place they lived for several years. They moved to Gloucester in 1849. Mr. Kiff died there in 1883, aged eighty-two years; his wife died in 1891, aged eighty-seven years.
They were the parents of the following children : Eliza, born in 1827, who was the first wife of Seth Stock- bridge ; she died in 1865, aged thirty-eight years; Clar- issa, who is the wife of Eben Stockbridge; they reside in Gloucester ; William, who married, in 1853, Frances Tib- betts ; Nancy, who was the wife of David Elwell ; after his death she became the second wife of Seth Stockbridge ; she died in 1884, aged forty-seven years.
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Israel Conary.
Israel Conary came here in 1820, and settled on a lot of land known as "City point". His wife was Martha Gott. He afterwards moved to Black or Conary's island, where he lived some years; later he came back to this town and bought a part of the lot then owned by Joseph Gott ; he built the house where David Stanley now resides. After having reared their family here they moved to Blue- hill, where Mr. and Mrs. Conary died.
They were the parents of the following children : Moses, who married Mary A. Smith, a daughter of David Smith, 2d; John, who was lost at sea; William, who died unmarried ; Nancy, who was the wife of Hezekiah Morey ; she is the only one of the family now residing here; Am- aziah, who married Maria Malcolm, of Newcastle; Emma, who was the wife of Harvey Conary, of Deer Isle ; Joseph, who died unmarried at Staten Island, New York.
The ancestor of this Conary family, Thomas Conary, emigrated to this country from Ireland, and was the first settler on Conary's island in Eggemoggin reach. His first wife was a daughter of the ancestor of the Limeburner family, now living in Brooksville, by adoption. Mr. Limeburner came from Scotland before the Revolutionary war, and with him came, besides his own family, a son and a daughter adopted by him. The son, Cunningham Limeburner, died at an advanced age, not far from 1825, in Brooksville, and the daughter, Mrs. Conary, was his sister by birth. After her death he married a daughter of Mrs. Mercy Staples, and a sister of Moses Staples, sr., of
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this town, and by both marriages he had ten sons. Their descendants, most of whom reared large families, have settled in many towns in this section of the State.
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