Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 68

Author: Varney, George J
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Boston Russell
Number of Pages: 648

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Vinalhaven was incorporated in 1789; being named in honor of John Vinal, Esq., of Boston, who had aided the inhabitants in securing titles to their lands. The Fox Islanders, it is said, were early " noted for their humanity and benevolence to strangers."

There is a Union church in Vinalhaven ; but the Free Baptists are the principal society. The number of public schoolhouses in the town is twelve. The value of school property is estimated at $7,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $264,960. In 1880 it was $470,514. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 25 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 1,851. In 1880 it was 2,855.

Wade Plantation, in Aroostook County, lies on the Aroostook River, in the fourth range from the eastern border. It is bounded on the east by Washburn, north by Perham Plantation, and south by Castle Hill. The Aroostook River passes through the south- castern part of the town, and is here crossed by a bridge 60 feet in length. The surface is without any considerable hills or valleys. There is a good, loamy soil, yielding abundantly in wheat, oats and potatoes, which are the crops receiving most attention. The inhabi- tants are at present engaged almost exclusively in agriculture. There is here a sulphur spring, said to be the best in the State.

The town is 54 miles north by north-west of Houlton, via Wash- burn. It is 15 miles to the railroad station in Caribou. The settle- ments are on the river in the south-eastern part of the township.

Wade Plantation was organized May 2, 1874. It has a public library of 75 volumes. There are already three public schoolhouses, valued at $300. The population in 1870 was 76. The number of polls in 1880 was 24. The valuation in 1880 was $10,165, and the rate of taxation 16 mills on the dollar.

Waite lies in the northern part of Washington County. It is bounded on the west by Talmage, south by Indian Township, and north by Robbin's Plantation. It is 30 miles from Calais and 52 miles from Machias, on the Houlton and Baring Road. The nearest rail- road station is at Princeton, 8 miles distant. Tomah Stream runs southward through the midst. The other streams are tributaries of this. The underlying rock in the town is granitic. The soil is fertile ; but hay is at present found the most profitable crop, by reason of the demand for it by lumbermen. The forests in this town are princi- pally of beech and maple.

Waite was incorporated in 1876. It sent 13 men to the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, losing 4. It has two public schoolhouses, and the entire school property is valued at $2,000. The population in 1870 was 122. In 1880 it was massed with other divis-

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ions. The polls in 1870 numbered 32; in 1880, 48. The valuation in 1870 was $28,700. In 1880 it was $31,400. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 3 per cent.

Waldo lies near the centre of Waldo County; having Brooks on the north, Swanville on the east, Belfast on the south and Morrill on the west. The Passagassawakeag Stream runs southward through the western part, and the Wescot Stream through the eastern part. The Ames Ponds, in the eastern part of the town, are the principal bodies of water. Felspathic granite is the prevailing rock. The soil is alluvial, and hay is at present found the most profitable crop. Farm- ing is the almost exclusive industry of the inhabitants. It is on the Belfast and Burnham railroad.

Waldo contains about 11,600 acres. Waldo Plantation was or- ganized July 6, 1821, and consisted only of the so-called " Three Miles Square," or the "Six Thousand Acre Tract," which was set off on execution from the estate of Brigadier General Waldo, of Boston, deceased, to Sarah Waldo, administratrix of the estate of Samuel Waldo, of Falmouth, Maine, deceased. This tract was appraised at $8,000 by Robert Houston, James Nesmith and Daniel Clary, of Bel- fast. William Taggart and a Mr. Smith, from New Hampshire, made the first clearing in 1798, near the south-east corner, one hundred rods from the Belfast line. No family resided upon it until November 1811, when Henry Davidson moved in, continuing a resident 36 years. In 1800 came Jonathan Thurston, from Belfast, followed in 1805 by Josiah Sanborn, from Exeter, N.H. In 1809 Malcolm and Gleason surveyed the tract, dividing it into 60 lots, in 6 ranges of 10 lots each. In 1824, the plantation was enlarged by the annexation of 5,318 acres from Swanville ; and in 1836, a gore of about 150 acres lying between Knox and the "Three Miles Square " was annexed, which completed the township as at present constituted. Waldo was incorporated as a town March 17, 1845. There were, in 1880, one resident aged ninety- eight, and six who were between eighty and ninety years of age. The town has a free meeting-house for religious uses. The resident clergy- man is a Methodist.

The number of public schoolhouses is seven. The value of the school property in the town is $2,000. The population in 1870 was 648. In 1880 it was 664. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $144,218. In 1880 it was $146,923. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 13 mills on the whole valuation.

Waldo County is situated upon the western shores of Penobscot Bay and River. Knox County forms the southern border, Kennebec County the western, Somerset the north-western, and Pe- nobscot County the northern. Measuring from its extreme angles, this county is somewhat near a square in form, although the sides are swelled and broken in, making a quite irregular outline. Its largest side, and nine of the towns are upon the bay and river ; this extent of shore-line giving excellent maritime facilities. An open winter harbor may, with rare exceptions, be found anywhere on its coast ; while many spacious havens with good depth of water, afford the best of advantages for ship-building, commerce and the fisheries. The agri-

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cultural resources of the county are good, furnishing by far the larger number of inhabitants with occupation and support .*

Waldo County formed part of York County's territory until 1760, when Lincoln County was established, which included it until 1789, when Hancock County was erected ; this next held it until 1827, when, on February 7th, it was incorporated as the County of Waldo, and was named for Gen. Samuel Waldo. The erection of Knox County in 1860 took off from Waldo County the towns of Appleton, Camden, Hope, North Haven and Vinalhaven. In its present form, Waldo County embraces 25 towns and one city,-the latter being Belfast, the county capital. The population in 1870 was 34,640. In 1880 it was 32,468. The valuation in 1870 was $10,090,581. In 1880 it was $9,577,834.

There are no mountains in the county, strictly speaking, but there are several high hills which have been given the title. The surface is broken and uneven. In Prospect, Stockton and Frankfort, the view of the Penobscot River and valley from the high, rounded hills, almost equals the scenery of the Hudson. At Belfast, the harbor has often been called as beautiful as the Bay of Naples.

A history of Waldo County properly begins with an account of the Muscongus, or Waldo Patent. This grant, issued by the Plymouth Council in 1630, to John Beauchamp of London, and Thomas Leverett of Boston, Eng., extended on the seaboard between the Muscongus and Penobscot rivers, and comprised nearly 1,000 square miles, taking in the whole of the present county of Knox, except the Fox Islands, and of Waldo County, with the exception of territory now covered by five towns. No price was paid for this tract; it was thought that the set- tiement of the section would enhance the value of others. Success in the fisheries at Monhegan, and in other localities along the coast of Maine, hastened an occupation of the Muscongus grant; and in the spring of 1630, Edward Ashley and William Pierce, agents of the patentees, came with laborers and mechanics, and established a trading- house on the George's River, in what is now Thomaston. This settle- ment was broken up by King Philip's war, which terminated in 1678. After this the whole territory lay desolate for nearly 40 years. On the death of Beauchamp, Leverett became by law possessed of the whole grant ; and for several years he assumed its management. Through him the patent descended to his son, Governor John Leverett of Mas- sachusetts, and in 1714, to President John Leverett of Harvard College, the grandson of the latter, and the great-grandson of the original grantee. In 1719 peace was apparently restored, and Leverett entered upon measures for re-settling and re-organizing the patent. He parcelled the land into ten shares in common, and conveyed them to certain persons thenceforth called the "Ten Proprietors." These pro- prietors admitted 20 other partners termed the "Twenty Associates," among whom were Cornelius and John Waldo of Boston. The Twenty Associates afterwards transferred to the Waldos, 100,000 acres. Under their auspices, 1719-20, two plantations, which subsequently became the thriving towns of Thomaston and Warren, were commenced. This may be regarded as the first permanent settlement of the patent. In

* The remainder of this article is mainly extracted from Crocker and Howard's History of New England, being so complete and yet so succinct that any improvement upon it would be difficult. The author is Albert C. Wiggin.

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1726, one David Dunbar, who had obtained an appointment styling him " Surveyor-General of the King's Woods," became very aggressive. Samuel Waldo was sent to England to procure a revocation of Dun- bar's authority, and in the end succeeded. For this and other valuable services the 30 partners conveyed to him one-half of the whole patent. In 1744 he distinguished himself at the capture of Louisburg, and gained the title of General or Brigadier Waldo. After the accession of General Waldo to so large an interest in the patent, added to what he had inherited of his father's share, about 200,000 acres still belonged to the old proprietors. In 1734 General Waldo contracted with the Twenty Associates to purchase one-half of their shares, leaving them 100,000 acres. This arrangement was not completed until 1768. Gen- eral Waldo offered favorable inducements for European immigration, and in 1749, German colonists established the town of Waldoborough. Owing to his influence Fort Pownall, Stockton, was built at a time when no white inhabitant retained a dwelling-place upon the shores of Penobscot River or Belfast Bay. While upon a tour of observation to this portion of his estate, he died suddenly near Bangor, May 23, 1759, at the age of 63 years. A county, two thriving towns, and the lofty elevation of Mount Waldo perpetuate his name. The land descended to the General's four children, Samuel, Francis, Lucy and Hannah. The last named became the wife of Thomas Flucker, secretary of the Province. Flucker afterward purchased the shares belonging to Samuel. Lucy died without children, and her interest fell to the brothers and sisters. Flucker and Francis Waldo were Tories. They removed to England, and their property became forfeited to the State. In 1774, Henry Knox, afterwards a general in the Revolution, married Miss Lucy Flucker, the second daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Waldo) Flucker, and the grand-daughter of General Waldo. When the Rev- olution had ended, General Knox purchased four-fifths of the whole patent ; the remainder was the property of his wife. The territory was surveyed, the lines adjusted, and in 1792, General Knox took formal possession of his estate, which then contained only 9 incorpor- ated towns. He did much to induce immigration. Sometime before his death-which occurred in 1806-he became involved in pecuniary embarrassments. In 1798 he mortgaged that part of his domain now comprised in Waldo County to General Lincoln and Colonel Jackson, who had been his sureties. This mortgage was, in 1802, assigned to Messrs. Israel Thorndike, David Sears and William Prescott of Boston; and they foreclosed it. They established a land agency in Belfast in 1809. Many of the land titles in Waldo County are derived through these proprietors. It is not known what price was paid for the mort- gage by Thorndike, Sears and Prescott. The valuation of their unsold land in the county was in 1815, $148,000. The lands owned by the original mortgagees are now alienated excepting Brigadier's ur Sear's Island in Searsport,-which is the property of David and Henry F. Sears of Boston, great-grandsons of the first mortgagee. It was not until the year 1759 that a permanent settlement was planted in Waldo County. The British crown had secured and fortified St. John's River, and the enemy had no other outlet to the sea than through the Pen- obscot River. Governor Pownall of Massachusetts having called the attention of the legislature to the importance of establishing a forti- fication at Penobscot, an expedition, headed by the Governor, proceeded

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to the region, and began the construction of a fort at Wasaumkeag Point, now Fort Point, within the present limits of Stockton. It was while accompanying a detachment which had ascended the river a few miles above where Brewer now stands, and had taken formal possession of the county for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, that General Samuel Waldo dropped down in a fit of apoplexy, and soon after expired. The deceased general was buried at the " Point," with mili- tary honors and religious services, on the evening of May 25, 1759. A sermon, the first in Waldo County, was preached by Rev. Mr. Philips. The fort, completed July 28, 1759, was called Fort Pownall. Until the Revolutionary war a garrison was constantly maintained. General Jedediah Preble, with a force of 84 men, was first placed in command. Both in civil and military life he so distinguished himself as to in- scribe his name upon the page of history. He was the father of Com- modore Preble, a still more distinguished man. He died at Portland in 1807, at the age of 77. In 1763, General Preble resigned command of the fort, and was succeeded by Col. Thomas Goldthwait, a native of Chelsea, Massachusetts. He was paymaster in the expedition against Crown Point in 1755. While resident at Fort Pownall he was com- missioned as the first justice of the peace in this section. He solem- nized the first marriages on the river. In 1770 he was superseded by John Preble, son of the first commander of the fort. But Governor Hutchinson, a zealous royalist, coming into power the following year, he re-instated Goldthwait into his former officc. Being a Tory, Gold- thwait permitted Captain Mowatt, of the British sloop " Canseau " to dismantle the fort and take away its defences in 1775. This brought down upon him the wrath of the settlers. The next year all his com- missions were revoked, and Goldthwait joined the British forces. He was drowned during the Revolutionary war by the shipwreck of the vessel in which he had taken passage for Nova Scotia. In July, 1775, the block-house and all the wooden works were burned to the ground for fear that they would be occupied by the enemy to the prejudice of the neighboring inhabitants. The trading-house was kept up until 1777.

The remains of the breastwork of Fort Pownall are still to be seen about 25 rods from the water's edge, in front of the present great summer hotel called the Wasaumkeag House. Fort Point is the outer promontory of what is now the town of Stockton, but was the town of Prospect formerly. It rises quite abruptly on the south and east, some 00 or 70 feet from the sea, but on the westerly side a passage opens of easy ascent from the water's edge to the heights above. Looking down the eastern channel of Penobscot Bay, a long and fine sea-view is had ; while all the towns and villages from Bucksport round nearly to Owl's Head, are distinctly seen. On the old parade- ground a growth of trees-some 18 inches in diameter-now stands.

One of the first centennial celebrations ever held in this country was held at Port Point on the 28th of July, 1859. The number of persons present was estimated to be at least 8,000.

When it was found that the garrison at Fort Pownall afforded protection and security, the tide of emigration began to set in the direction of Waldo County. Between 1760 and 1772, all the towns washed by Penobscot waters between Camden and Bangor on the one side, and Castine and Brewer on the other, were penetrated by

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WALDOBOROUGH.

hardy ycomanry, designing here to make a home for themselves and their descendants. All the towns within the shore limits of the county, except Searsport, Stockton and Winterport, received acts of incor- poration between 1773 and 1812. Little did the men who erected Fort Pownall, or the men, who, under its protection, first settled the shores of the Penobscot, apprehend what marvellous changes the suc- ceeding century would witness.

Waldoborough occupies the middle portion of the east- ern side of Lincoln County. The town is longest from north to south. Its area is about 25,376 acres. Nobleboro' and Jefferson bound it on the west, Washington, Union and Warren, in Knox County, bound it on the north and east, Friendship lies on the south-east, and Bremen on the south-west. The southern portion of the town is penetrated by Broad Bay, an extension of Muscongus Bay ; and Medomac River passes through the town from north to south, emptying into Broad Bay. Goose River separates it from Friendship, on the south-west. The principal ponds within its limits are Medomac, and Little Medo- mac. Pemaquid and Duck Puddle ponds lie on the western, and Southern and Western ponds on the eastern border. The surface of the town is agreeably diversified. Willett's and Benner's hills are the highest eminences. 'Granite is the principal outcropping rock. There are many good farms in town, and the soil generally yields well when thoroughly cultivated. Hay and potatoes are the principal crops raised for outside markets.

The islands belonging to Waldoborough are Upper Narrows, Hog, Poland's, Hadlock, Hungry, Otter, Jones', Garden, and several smaller. The principal village is at the mouth of the Medomac River, a little south of the centre of the town. The productive establishments here consist of an iron foundry, an oakum mill, a carding and cloth-dressing mill, a grain-mill, saw and planing-mills, marble and granite yards, a pottery, ship-yards, furniture and moulding-mills, a door, sash and blind factory. a carriage factory, etc. Waldoborough is on the Knox and Lincoln Railroad, 28 miles from Bath and 16 from Wiscasset. There are some fine buildings in the village, and several handsome residences. Many of the streets are set with shade trees, consisting of maple, clm and horse-chestnut, some of them a hundred years old. There were built in Waldoborough collection district in the year ending June, 1880, eight vessels, having an aggregate tonnage of 5,064.02.

Waldoborough was included within Muscongus, or Waldo Patent. It was first settled between 1733 and 1740, by Scotch-Irish and German immigrants, brought in chiefly by the influence of General Waldo. Shortly after the latter date the town was attacked by the Indians, the buildings burned, and the inhabitants tomahawked or carried away captives. In 1748, immediately after the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the settlement was revived. In 1752-53, Samuel Waldo, a son of the general, visited Germany, and succeeded in obtaining about 1,500 set- tlers from that country. A large part of these settled on the western side of Broad Bay; but in 1763-4 the lands on this side were claimed by Drowne under the Pemaquid Patent, and Massachusetts finally made Medomac River the western boundary of the Muscongus Patent. The settlers were therefore obliged to buy of Drowne the lands that had been assigned them by Waldo. Very soon after this

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claim was satisfied, the Brown claim was extended over the same territory ; and about three hundred of the settlers, disappointed and discouraged, sold out their property and emigrated to South Carolina. Yet there still remained a large and flourishing colony, of about 80 families which in 1773 was incorporated into a town named in honor of its founder. Conrad Heyer, the first male citizen of Waldoborough, was born in Broad Bay plantation in 1749, and died in 1856, at the age of 106 years, 10 months and 9 days, He served in the Revolutionary war, and was wont to relate his adventures in that struggle with much zest. Waldoborough was made the shire town of the county in 1786, and thus remained until 1880, when the courts were removed to Wis- casset. The town was first represented in the General Court in 1780, by Jacob Ludwig, a citizen of German extraction.

On the arrival of these German Pilgrims a Lutheran church was at once organized by them, and in 1762 a minister, the Rev. John M, Schaeffer, was settled. His successors up to 1820, were Rev. Mr. Croner, Rev. R. B. Ritz, and Rev. Mr. Starman. The churches are now two Congregational, two Baptist, and four Methodist. There is a small circulating library, and a library of about 1000 volumes, belong- ing to the Waldoborough Library Association.

The "Lincoln County News," is brisk, vigorous and independent, and withal gives due attention and fair treatment to the affairs of the county. It is edited and published by Samuel L. Miller, Esq. Thurs- day is the day of publication.

The town has twenty-two public schoolhouses ; which, with other school property, are valued at $14,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $1,164,382. In 1880, it was $1,135,023. The rate of tax- ation in the latter year was 22 mills on the dollar. Waldo National Bank and Medomac National Bank, located in the village, each have a capital of $50,000. The population in 1870 was 4,174. In 1880, it was 3,759.

Waldo Patent. See article on Waldo County.

Wales lies 6 miles east of Lewiston, and midway of the eastern side of Androscoggin County. The town of Greene lies on the west, the two being separated from each other in the southern half by Sabattus Pond. Monmouth bounds it on the north, Litchfield on the east, and Webster on the south. The size is four by four and one-half miles, com- prising about 7,844 acres. The surface is undulating, except at the south- east there is a broad hill known as Oak IIill, and at the south-west the considerable eminence called Sabattus Mountain. This point was occupied in 1853-54 as a station of the coast survey. On the south- eastern side of the northern spur of the mountain is a low cave which extends back about fifty feet from the entrance. Its width is much less ; and in no part of it can a full grown man stand erect. The rock in which it occurs is a mica-schist highly charged with iron and sul- phur. The cave is an extensive fissure formed by the water from rains and melting snows washing through a crevice. It was discovered early in the settlement by a hunter, from a bear of which he was in pursuit taking refuge in it. Both at this and other points on the east- ern side of this spur, good specimens of red ochre are found. From top to base of the eminence, between the spurs, are found rich speci-

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mens of iron ore, which have been traced to a crumbling bowlder of the drift period in the saddle of the mountain. At the foot, on the western side, lies Sabattus Pond, of which but a small portion is in the town. The name of pond and mountain is derived from an Indian, who about the date of settlement spent much of his time in the vicinity. The soil is good and the industry of the town is almost wholy agri- cultural.

The Androscoggin division of the Maine Central Railroad passes from north to south at the extreme western side of the town; and Leeds Junction is at the north-eastern angle. There is a post-office at this point. Wales post-office is about two miles south of this. The other post-office is East Wales. There are no considerable villages ; and the manufactures are small. For the first twelve or fifteen years after the settlement the inhabitants were compelled to carry their bags of corn on their shoulders through the broken woods a distance of nearly twenty miles to have it ground. Joseph Maxwell built the first grist- mill at about the year 1800. Later B. C. Jenkins built a saw-mill near Oak Hill; and about 1842 Benjamin Vining built on a small stream near his residence. The titles to land in the town were derived from the old Plymouth Company. The territory of the town together with that of Monmouth was known prior to 1792, as this Plantation of Wales. At the date mentioned Monmouth was set off ; and in 1803 the remainder was organized as a plantation under the old name; choosing as its first officers, Joseph Small, Enoch Strout and Joseph Andrews. The act of incorporation as a town was granted by the General Court in 1816. In 1852 a small portion of Leeds was annexed to Wales. The first settler appears to have been James Ross, who came from Brunswick in 1778, and located on the western side of Sabattus Mountain. About 1780 came Reuben Ham, Jonathan and Alexander Thompson, also from Brunswick. Benjamin and Samuel Waymouth, the Greys, and William Rennick settled before 1785 ; John Andrew, in 1788 ; Joseph Small and Bartholomew Jackson, in 1791 ; Joseph Murch and John Larabee, in 1792; Daniel and Ebenezer Small, in 1793. Joseph, son of Daniel, was taken prisoner by the Indians in 1758, and was car- ried to Quebec where he remained a prisoner until that place was cap- tured by General Wolfe. The Jenkins brothers settled in the north- eastern part of the town, and James Clark and James Wilson in the north-eastern part, in 1793. Captain Enoch Strout, who came from Limington in 1796, was a soldier in the Revolution, and the first militia captain chosen in town. Simeon Ricker, who came about 1790, was also a Revolutionary soldier. Luther and Wentworth Lombard moved from Gorham to the town. Obed Hobbs, Simons Gatchell, Benjamin Tibbetts and Elijah Morton came about 1796; William and Arthur Given, in 1798; John and James Witherell, Joseph Maxwell, Rufus and Daniel Marr Benjamin and William Fogg, about 1800; Nathaniel Chase, in 1805; Anthony Woodside and William Swett, about 1806; Josiah Libby came in 1807. Later he kept a public-house, and was a major in the militia and town officer for many years. James Taylor, son of a Revolutionary soldier, was himself a soldier in the war of 1812, and two of his sons were Union soldiers in the war of the Rebel- lion. James Hodsdon came in 1815, settling on Sabattus Mountain. Samuel Libby, who removed to Wales in 1824, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Benjamin Sanborn came into town about 1849, and Jona- than Reynes, in 1843.

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Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 68

Author: Varney, George J Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Boston Russell Number of Pages: 648

Author: Varney, George J
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Boston Russell
Number of Pages: 648