USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Chronicles of Lincoln County > Part 4
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A trading post was established at ancient Koussinoc, now Augusta, and here the Pilgrims carried on a most profitable business trading with the Indians. At about the time of serious outbreaking of trouble with the French and Indians, in 1661, they conveyed the territory to Antipas Boies, Edward Tyng, John Winslow and Thomas Brattle for four hundred pounds. For nearly a century no further settlements were made along the Kennebec and in 1749 there were but two white families above Merrymeeting Bay.
During this year Edward Winslow, Robert Temple, Henry
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Laughton, Jacob Wendell, Thomas Valentine, John Bonner, Samuel Goodwin, John Fox and Joseph Gooch, heirs and assigns of Boies and his associates, met in Boston and organized a com- pany which they called "Proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase from the late Colony of New Plymouth." At a later date William and James Bowdoin, Thomas and John Hancock, Dr. Silvester Gardiner, Benjamin Hallowell and others became their associates.
Robert Temple, one of these proprietors, had, some thirty years previous, attempted to plant several colonies of his country- men from Ireland about the shores of Merrymeeting Bay, but the hostile attacks of the Indians drove nearly all these people, in a few years, to Londonderry in New Hampshire. There is excellent authority for believing that one of these settlements was made in Dresden and bore the name of Cork.
The Plymouth Company, having completed a map of their tract, voted to lay out their first township "on the neck of land between Kennebec and Eastern Rivers, opposite to Fort Rich- mond." Eastern River is a pretty, winding navigable tributary of the Kennebec, which divides the town of Dresden into nearly equal parts. Fort Richmond, built as an Indian defense and trading post about 1719, stood in the present town of Richmond on the west bank of the Kennebec opposite Dresden.
This first township was named Frankfort in honor of Count Henri Ehrenfield Luther, Aulic Councillor of State at Frank- fort-on-the-Main. He was one of those who acted as agents in Germany and other European countries for procuring emigrants to settle American plantations. The Plymouth Company, by giving them land, had induced a number of these emigrants and their families to settle here. Most historians have considered that they were Germans, but according to the late Charles E. Allen, the best authority on the history of Dresden, they were really French Huguenots, who had been driven from France into Germany.
In 1753 the Company built a fort within the limits of the town and in the vicinity of the old court house, about a mile above Swan Island. This they named Fort Shirley, after the Governor of Massachusetts, although it was sometimes known as Frankfort. At this early period there was only one county in
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
Maine, that of York, its limits including all the territory east of Piscataqua River. On June 19, 1760, two new counties were taken from York-Cumberland and Lincoln-the more easterly one, Lincoln, having for its shire town, Pownalborough, named in honor of the Governor of Massachusetts, and including within its limits the former plantation of Frankfort.
In 1761, near Fort Shirley, the Company built the large, rambling wooden structure, known to this day as the old Pownal- borough Court House. This building served not only for court purposes, but was the official residence of Major Samuel Good- win, the agent of the Plymouth Company. This old house is of great historic interest and is still owned and occupied by the descendants of the original proprietor who received his grant direct from the Plymouth Company.
Here the lawyers of that early period argued their cases and transacted their customary legal business. Many a conflict be- tween the Gardiners, Bayards and Quincys took place within these walls and here rang the eloquence of President John Adams, Judge Cushing and the Sewalls. In '1770 the famous Boston Massacre case was tried here and John Adams, lawyer for the defense of Captain Preston, travelled from Boston to Pownalborough on horseback, following a blazed trail. The able, eloquent and scholarly lawyer, John Gardiner, son of Dr. Silvester Gardiner, often appeared here clad in the wig and gown of an English barrister.
Jonathan Bowman, a cousin of John Hancock, soon located here as register of deeds. Soon also came Rev. Jacob Bailey, who was sent to Pownalborough by the "Society for the Propa- gation of the Gospel in Foreign Ports." Other eminent men who were frequent sojourners at this remote hamlet were Wil- liam Cushing, Charles Cushing, James Sullivan, Robert Treat Paine, William Lithgow, Francis Dana and James Bridges. Williamson says, "No town in the district before the Revolution was so distinguished for able and talented young men as Pownal- borough. Indeed, it would be rare to find at any time in so small a population so many refined and educated people." Charles Cushing, Jonathan Bowman and Jacob Bailey were classmates at Harvard, graduating in 1755. They were all here to welcome to the old Court House a fourth classmate, John
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Adams, when he came here to conduct an important land case in 1765.
Among the most wealthy and influential members of the Kennebec Proprietors was Dr. Silvester Gardiner. His first grant comprised several hundred acres of land in Pownalborough, where he laid out a farm, erected houses and a sawmill and gristmill, and employed a sloop to run from Boston to the Kennebec in the summer and to the Sheepscot in the winter. The farmhouse which he built in 1754 is still standing in an excellent state of preservation.
Dr. Gardiner was a devoted adherent to his King, and a firm believer in the Christian faith as set forth by the Established Church of England. Through his influence a glebe lot of one hundred acres was granted by the Proprietors. He solicited sub- scriptions and himself contributed largely, and by November, 1770, the church was erected and sufficiently completed for the first service. This was the first church in this region and one of the earliest in Maine. Largely through the influence of Dr. Gardiner, Rev. Jacob Bailey had come here in 1760 as a mis- sionary sent by the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Ports."
In this frontier settlement by the untiring efforts and de- voted zeal Mr. Bailey gathered together the members of this early church. The first services were held in the Court House while he himself lived in Fort Richmond until the completion of his parsonage in 1771. For nineteen years of dangers and difficulties such as we can but faintly imagine did this sturdy representative of the faith minister among the people of these forlorn regions. But like many of his time he was a pronounced Loyalist and when troubles arose between the colonists and the mother country he remained true in his allegiance and as a con- sequence in 1779 was forced to flee with his family to Nova Scotia. He never returned and the little congregation which he had gathered soon dwindled and the church rapidly fell into a state of decay.
However, through the income from a fund procured from the sale of the ministerial lot, another Episcopal Church was organ- ized in Dresden and the present St. John's Church is the direct outgrowth of that early St. John's Church organized by Mr. Bailey so many years ago.
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In process of time the new towns of Wiscasset, Alna and Perkins (Swan Island) were carved from ancient Pownal- borough and the west parish of Pownalborough became the present town of Dresden, incorporated by that name in 1794.
1718-First attempt at settlement by Irishmen, plantation called Cork.
1722-Cork abandoned.
1750-Indian raid.
1751-Fort Shirley built where old Court House now is.
1752-Permanent settlement by French Protestants under Pro- prietors of the Kennebec Purchase, plantation called Frankfort.
1756-Episcopal church congregation gathered.
1760-Frankfort, the Sheepscot settlements (now Alna and Wiscasset) and Swan Island (Perkins) incorporated as Pownalborough.
1761-Court House built.
1765-Courts attended by John Adams and other distinguished men.
1769-Episcopal church built, Jacob Bailey, rector.
1777-Tory courts held, expulsion of Loyalists.
1779-Jacob Bailey expelled as a Loyalist.
DIRECTORY
STEAMBOAT LINE-Eastern S. S. Lines Inc. (summer) (Ken- nebec Line from Gardiner to Bath and Boston).
STAGE-Daily to Richmond.
POSTMASTERS-Dresden, John H. Mayers; Mills, Ernest Cate; Cedar Grove, Mrs. Clara Oake; South, Vesta P. Segars.
SELECTMEN-Mills, Lester Woodward; Cedar Grove, Alden Stilphen, Lawrence Southard.
TOWN CLERK-Richmond, John E. Hall.
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR-Mills, Geo. T. Cotton.
CONSTABLES-Cedar Grove, Burton E. Reed, S. P. Call; Mills, Geo. T. Cotton, Joseph F. Houdlette.
ROAD COMMISSIONERS-Richmond, Alfred Houdlette; Cedar Grove, Laforest Goud; South, Fred Carlton.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE-Cedar Grove, Fannie Pushard, Alden Stilphen, Alex Munsey. Supt .- Mills, Leslie A. Bailey.
HEALTH OFFICER-Mills, L. H. Dorr, M. D.
CLERGYMEN-Mills, Wm. L. Bradeen, Meth .; Harland H. Ryder, Epis .; West, vacant, Cong.
PHYSICIAN-Mills, L. H. Dorr.
NOTARIES-Charles G. Hall, Apr. 4, 1930; Fred M. Weeks, Feb. 7, 1930.
JUSTICES-John H. Mayers, Mar. 28, 1924; Wilbur F. Cate, Feb. 26, 1927; Leslie A. Bailey, Mar. 21, 1928.
MERCHANTS-John H. Mayers, M. M. Choate, general stores; South, Mrs. Chas. H. Segars, general stores; Mills, H. A. Bickford, drugs, medicines and general stores; Wilbur F. Cate, stationery; F. C. Goodwin, general stores; L. H. Dorr, druggist. West, Joseph F. Houdlette, general stores. Cedar Grove, Mrs. Clara Oake, Fred M. Weeks, Howard Chick, general stores; American Ice Co., F. E. Oakes, supt .; Herbert Barter, groceries.
MANUFACTURERS -- Mills, Chas. H. McDaniel, builder; U. R. Durgin, shingles; Melville Randall, machinist and auto repairing. West, John E. Hall, machinist and boat build- er; Frank S. Hall, builder. Cedar Grove, L. Rittall, boats; Wm. Rittall, boats and yachts, grist and lumber mills; L. H. Turner (also carriage work), smith. BARBER -- Mills, Will McDonald.
HALLS-Eastern River; Mills, Masonic; West, Pownalboro; Cedar Grove, Fred M. Weeks.
INSURANCE-Dresden Mutual Fire Ins. Co., Joseph F. Houd- lette, sec.
LAND SURVEYOR-John H. Mayers.
LIBRARY-Dresden Ladies', Mrs. J. W. Sheldon, librarian, 450 vols.
SCHOOL-Mills, Bridge Academy, Norris S. Lord, principal.
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
ASSOCIATIONS-P. of H .- Eastern River, No. 133, Thurs. Mills, Masons-Dresden, No. 103, Wed. on or before full moon. Eastern Star, Olive Branch, No. 156. M. W. of A .- No. 10,973.
BOARDING HOUSES, SUMMER-West, Hotel Densmore, W. W. Densmore; Grand View, B. F. Densmore; South, River View, Mrs. Chas. H. Segars; Maple Farm, A. J. Tibbetts; Mills, Dresden House, Geo. Pushard; W. W. Goud; Cedar Grove, Ashley House, F. M. Weeks; Hill Crest, Orrin L. Ham; Maple Inn, Edward W. Hall; The Maples, E. V. Moody.
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
EDGECOMB
Four miles S. E. of Wiscasset. On semi-daily stage-line from Wiscasset to Boothbay. Settled, 1774, by Samuel Trask and others. First called Freetown, from the generosity of the lawyer who defended the original proprietors from other claimants. Corporate name derived from Lord Edgecomb, a friend of the colonies. Church formed, 1783. Benj. Chapman, first minister, settled, 1801. Incorporated March 5, 1774. Included Westport until 1828. Population-1840, 1120; 1850, 1231; 1860, 1112; 1870, 1056; 1880, 872; 1890, 749; 1900, 607; 1910, 513. Valuation, 1860-Polls, 231; Estates, $197,225; 1870-Polls, 230; Estates, $202,428; 1880-Polls, 216; Estates, $189,440; 1890-Polls, 205; Es- tates, $185,170; 1900-Polls, 188; Estates, $179,664; 1910-Polls, 176; Es- tates, $200,181. 1920-Population, 428; Polls, 153; Estates, $230,191. South Newcastle postoffice discontinued and supplied from North Edgecomb.
E DGECOMB, in the southern part of Lincoln County, is situated upon the peninsula formed by the Sheepscot and Damariscotta Rivers, having Newcastle on the north and Boothbay upon the south. At the northwestern part it con- nects with Wiscasset by a bridge seven-eighths of a mile in length across the Sheepscot. West of the southern part is the town of Southport, a long island in the Sheepscot River. The surface of the town is moderately irregular, being varied both by alluvial gorges and by hills. The highest of the latter is known as Mount Hunger. Granite is the principal rock. Crystal Pond, near the centre of the town, has an area of about 100 acres; Matthews Pond, about 40 acres. A mineral spring in this town called the "Rosicrucian Spring," has become favorably known in some of our cities. The soil of Edgecomb is sandy loam in the uplands, and clayey in the lowlands. The crops are hay, barley, oats, and potatoes. Ice is a large product, there being two corporations and one or more individuals engaged in the business. The other con- siderable manufacture is brickmaking, which is carried on in many localities. A stream proceeding southward from a pond near the centre of the town furnishes two or more good powers, where were formerly mills, now fallen into ruins. Folly Island, at the northwestern side of the town, sustains the Edgecomb end of the bridge to Wiscasset, and on its southwestern point, com- manding the entrances to the harbor, is an octagonal blockhouse erected during the war of 1812. At the shore below is Fort Edgecomb, an elaborate work of masonry, constructed in 1808- 09. Its aspect as viewed from the water approaches, is quite
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
formidable. The passage between this island and Westport is known as "Hooper's Narrows."
Edgecomb was originally settled in 1744 by Samuel Trask and others, in "several places." After living undisturbed upon their lands for ten years under a possessory claim, three men from Boston appeared and challenged their title to them in virtue of an Indian deed. The new claimants surveyed several lots next the Sheepscot and numbered them. The Indian deed was found to have no definite boundaries, no possession had been taken under it, and the matter savored strongly of speculation. When made acquainted with these facts, a gentleman of the bar in Boston undertook the defence of the settlers without fee or reward, and the three claimants abandoned their claim. In compliment to the lawyer's generosity, the plantation took the name of Freetown, which it retained until it was incorporated as a town in 1774. The name was given by the General Court in honor of Lord Edgecomb, who, at this crisis, was distinguished as a friend to the American Colonies. The island of Jeremi- squam (now Westport), was included in the corporation, but was held by the "Wiscasset Proprietors" who compelled the set- tlers to purchase of them. The island was set off in 1828. Soon after 1800 there was again difficulty in regard to the squat- ters' rights as the lands were supposed to be involved in the "Tappan" claim (see Newcastle). But though this town escaped it was embraced in the Resolve of Feb. 25, 1813, for quieting the squatters, and the lots were surveyed and deeds given the settlers by Jeremiah Bailey and Benjamin Orr, commissioners appointed by the executive for the purpose. By these deeds, the commonwealth quit-claimed its right to the land for 1312 cents per acre.
A church was first formed in Edgecomb in 1783. Rev. Ben- jamin Chapman, the first settled minister, was installed in 1801. He died in 1804, and was succeeded in 1807 by the Rev. Samuel Sewall. About the time that Mr. Chapman was settled, Tim- othy Cunningham, a resident of the town, of the Freewill Bap- tist persuasion, was made elder of that society. Moses Davis, Esq., was the first representative of the town in the General Court. He was also a member of the convention by which
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
Massachusetts ratified the Constitution of the United States. Among later citizens worthy of note were Isaac Pool and Rufus Sewall, Esqrs., and Captain John Chase.
The town has a library association possessing a library num- bering upwards of 300 volumes. The Congregationalists and Methodists each have a church in the town. Edgecomb has seven public schoolhouses, and the school property is valued at $3,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $202,428. In 1880 it was $189,440. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 11/2 per cent. The population in 1870 was 1,056. In 1880 it was 872.
DIRECTORY
STAGE-On stage line from Wiscasset to Boothbay Harbor, daily in winter and twice daily in summer; from East Edgecomb daily to Newcastle.
POSTMASTERS-Edgecomb, Mrs. Fannie E. Stone; North, Ellen F. Clifford; East, Abbie Dodge.
SELECTMEN-North, Frank E. Somes, Frank Haggett, Edward Darling.
TOWN CLERK-Wiscasset, Irving L. Davis.
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR-Wiscasset, Irving L. Davis.
CONSTABLES-Wiscasset, Irving L. Davis; North, Frank Wil- liams.
ROAD COMMISSIONERS-Newcastle, Frank M. Dodge; North, Thomas Hutchins; Norman Sherman.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE- North, Frank E. Somes, Harold D. Hag- gett; Newcastle, Charles E. Doe. Supt., Dresden, Leslie A. Bailey.
HEALTH OFFICER-F. C. Stone.
CLERGYMEN-J. A. Stephens (Sheepscot P. O.), Meth .; North, F. W. Hovey, Cong. and Bap.
JUSTICE-Eben Chase, Jan. 3, 1929.
MERCHANTS-Mrs. Fannie E. Stone, general stores. North, W. H. Clifford, general stores; Geo. E. Huff, Enoch C. Huff, Earl Parker, lumber. East, John Burnham, W. C. Williams, general stores.
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
MANUFACTURERS-Geo. E. Sherman, F. M. Trask, carpenters; S. D. Sherman, contractor and builder. East, Cushman Page, bricks; F. M. Dodge, granite; James R. Brown, lumber. North, Irving Davis, S. F. Somers, smiths; F. G. Greenough, contractor and builder; Thomas Cunningham, Frank Haggett, carpenters; C. E. Haggett, sawmill; Cas- well Bros., boat builders.
INSURANCE Co .- Edgecomb Mutual Fire Ins. Co., F. W. Sher- man, sec.
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
JEFFERSON
Twenty miles N. E. of Wiscassct. On daily stage-line from Augusta to Waldo- boro. Settled in 1770. Part of the former Ballstown. Incorporated the 166th town Feb. 24, 1807. Population-1850, 2225; 1860, 2122; 1870, 1821; 1880, 1590; 1890, 1391; 1900, 1155; 1910, 1030. Valuation, 1860-Polls, 474; Es- tates, $404,908; 1870-Polls, 416; Estates, $420,003; 1880-Polls, 448; Es- tates, $459,237; 1890-Polls, 375; Estates, $511,550; 1900-Polls, 322; Estates, $446,591; 1910-Polls, 343; Estates, $434,947. 1920-Population, 914; Polls, 287; Estates, $525,915. -
J EFFERSON is situated in the northern part of Lincoln County, on ponds forming the heads of Damariscotta and Dyer's Rivers and Great Meadow Brook. The chief of these is Damariscotta Lake, which separates the town from Nobleboro, and the Great Bay, a continuation of the lake lying wholly in the northeastern part of the town. About the head of this pond is some very pleasant scenery; and a sail the length of the lake is charming. Dyer's Long Pond lies in the centre of the town, and sends its waters through the town of Newcastle to Sheepscot River. Pleasant Pond lies on the western border, partly in the town of Whitefield. Damariscotta Lake, including Great Bay, has an area of about 10 square miles; Long Pond 1.20 square miles, and Pleasant Pond, 1.10 square miles. There are several smaller sheets of water.
The surface of the town is hilly. The principal occupation of the people is agriculture. Jefferson is 24 miles from Augusta and 20 miles from Wiscasset. Newcastle adjoining on the south has the nearest railroad station.
The town was settled a few years previous to the Revolu- tionary War. John Ball, John Weeks, Ezra Parker, Jonathan Fish, Jonathan Eames, Jonathan Linscott, Joseph Jones and Thomas Kennedy were the first settlers. Jefferson was origi- nally included with Whitefield in the territory known as Balls- town, from the first settler, who came in 1770. Many of the first settlers came from Boothbay and Woolwich. The town was included in the "Brown Claim." There were difficulties between the proprietors and settlers, which were adjusted by referees, and titles obtained from Massachusetts in 1814. The price paid by those who settled before 1784, was 13 cents per acre; by those who settled later, 30 cents.
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
DIRECTORY
STAGES-On stage line from Waldoboro on M. C. R. R. to Cooper's Mills (Whitefield) on W. W. & F. Ry .; from Damariscotta Mills (Nobleboro) on M. C. R. R. to South Jefferson and to Bunker Hill.
POSTMASTERS-Jefferson, H. G. Hoffses; South, Larissa Clark; Bunker Hill, Alice Moody.
SELECTMEN-F. W. Bowden; North Whitefield, E. W. Mc- Curda; Fred Castle.
TOWN CLERK-A. D. Ramsey.
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR-G. A. Hoffses.
CONSTABLE-W. B. Tibbetts.
ROAD COMMISSIONERS-James Moore; South, Arthur Fish; Bunker Hill, Marshall Moody; East, Judson Andrews. SCHOOL COMMITTEE-North Whitefield, John MacDonald;
Mrs. Delbert Andrews, Charles Leadbetter. Supt .- Wal- doboro, R. L. Sheaff.
HEALTH OFFICER-J. E. Odiorne, M. D.
CLERGYMEN-Delbert Andrews, Baptist; South, E. L. Sampson, Baptist.
PHYSICIAN-F. W. Jackson.
NOTARIES-Horace T. Weeks, Jan. 20, 1927; H. A. Moody, May 12, 1927; H. A. Clark, Feb. 10, 1929.
JUSTICES-A. D. Ramsey, Oct. 31, 1924; Samuel T. Jackson, Jan. 3, 1929.
MERCHANTS-Geo. F. Weeks, cattle; Forrest H. Bond, horses, sleighs and carriages; W. J. Greenwood, A. H. Tibbetts, butchers; F. E. Linekin, carriages and harness; Bond Bros., general stores; G. A. Hoffses (also dry goods), groceries; Mrs. A. A. Skinner, millinery; Herbert Bond, stoves and tinware. South, H. A. Clark, groceries; A. C. Boynton, lumber. Damariscotta Mills, Ernest B. Weeks, real estate and timberlands. Bunker Hill, Mrs. Alice Moody, gro- ceries.
MANUFACTURERS-Jas. Y. Meserve, J. H. Ames, lumber; Her- bert Bond, undertaker; Edgar Bond, mason. Bunker Hill, Fred Hussey, smith. South, Alden C. Boynton (saw mill and grist mill), lumber and staves; Erskine Bros., lumber.
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
North Whitefield, O. P. Hilton smith and lumber. Coop- er's Mills, John Gould, mason.
BARBER-South, W. F. Hemenway.
HALLS -- Masonic; Grange. South, Erskine, J. K. Erskine; I. O. G. T .; Grange.
INSURANCE-Jefferson Farmers Mutual Fire Ins. Co., H. T. Weeks, sec.
LIBRARY-East, Free Public, W. B. Ladd, librarian.
OPTOMETRIST-H. A. Moody.
SCHOOL-High, Mrs. Lydia P. Kitchen, principal.
STOCK FARM-Jefferson Farms, Inc.
ASSOCIATIONS-Masons-Riverside, Wednesday on or before full moon; Eastern Star, Riverside, first Thursday, Lake View, No. 179, first Thursday. A. O. U. W .- Lakeside. G. A. R .- Wm. C. Hall, No. 106. Jefferson Cornet Band-L. W. Castle, leader. Knights of the Maccabees, Thursday. P. of H .- Willow, No. 366, Saturday. Vil- lage Cemetery Association, C. C. Tilley, president. South, I. O. G. T .- Jefferson, No. 261. P. of H .- Jefferson, No. 197.
HOTELS-Beach Farm Inn (summer), M. J. Kennedy, prop .; Meserve House, F. O. Meserve; Sunset Lodge and Camps (summer), J. E. Morrisette.
BOARDING HOUSES-Cora B. Jones; Hill Top Farm (summer), Mrs. S. Hodgkins, prop .; Mrs. R. G. Linscott (summer). CAMPS-Wawanock (girls), Delbert Andrews; Damariscotta
Camp (boys), Delbert Andrews; Camp Manuel Riding School, Mrs. Armstrong, prop.
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CHRONICLES OF LINCOLN COUNTY
MONHEGAN
Monhegan Island, situated nine miles S. E. from Pemaquid Point Light, and sixteen miles from Boothbay Harbor. Is about one mile wide and two and one- half miles long. Has a revolving light and Daboll trumpet. Mail and passenger packet leaves Monhegan every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for Boothbay, re- turning same day. Mail daily during June, July, August and September. Popu- lation -- 1870, 145; 1880, 133; 1890, 90; 1900, 94; 1910, 120. Valuation, 1860-Polls, 46; Estates, $23,740; 1870-Polls, 42; Estates, $24,345; 1880- Polls, 39; Estates, $10,305; 1890-Polls, 36; Estates, $11,516; 1900-Polls, 30; Estates, $22,824; 1910-Polls, 39; Estates, $69,453. 1920-Population, 133; Polls, 52; Estates, $96,530.
1 N 1621, history records that Monhegan Island was an Eng- lish plantation. Today, three centuries and more later, it remains a plantation, but of American government. In the ocean, ten miles from nearest mainland it stands, one thousand acres in area, one hundred and sixty feet high. Could it be lifted from its base which, it is claimed, at one point is four hundred and twenty feet below sea level, it would present itself as a mountain nearly six hundred feet in height. Rich in tra- dition and romance, this wind-swept island bears unquestioned evidence of historic activities. Referred to by Waymouth in 1605, the headquarters of Captain John Smith in 1614, a winter refuge of the famished voyagers of Rocroft in 1619, it has been of inter-continental importance for centuries, pre-eminent in the history of Maine, if not New England. It was here, upon this island, that Samoset, the sagamore who greeted the Pilgrims at Plymouth, learned from the voyagers who stopped there, phrases of the English language.
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