USA > Maine > Hancock County > Gouldsboro > Historical researches of Gouldsboro, Maine > Part 4
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"MONDAY 16th .- This morning I went with Jones to view Mosquito Harbour Mill. This mill is built by Jones on (Francis) Shaw's part of Gouldsboro and I suppose belongs to the purchase from Shaw. Jones has been ejected by Shaw from the possession of the mill but they have referred whether Jones shall receive anything for the Mill more than the value of the Logs he has already taken from Shaw's land ; this Harbour (Winter) is beautiful and better adapted to the fisheries than any in the Country ; the Land good and the Mill well situated. I imagine that Jones' intention in bringing me here was to interest me in the settlement of this business with Shaw which he very much wishes to have done, so as to save five or six hundred dollars to himself for the Mill. If this business is to be settled in an amicable manner, I should think he ought to receive something. The Mill is new and in fine order ; returned to Jones's House at three o'clock.
"TUESDAY 17th .- This morning early, Col. Jones, Mr.
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Forbes, of Penobscot, and myself embarked in a small boat to Blue Hill with an intention to discover some Coaster bound to the Westward, on board of which I might embark for Boston. We arrived at Blue Hill at night where a schooner would be ready to sail in two or three days. I engaged this conveyance as it would be a certainty. Had I gone to Penobscot as I intended I should probably have been there detained a week and that an uncertainty ; now I am sure. Lodged this night at old Capt. Woods ; Jones and Forbes went to Robert Parker's.
"WEDNESDAY 18th .- Walked to Mrs. Robert Parker's with Jones and Forbes, who came to see me this morning, where we dined ; from thence we walked to the head of the Bay, where I left my company and went on to Mr. Peters with whom I lodged the night. This town of Blue Hill has the best Farms of any East of Penobscot and they will shortly supply ten times their number with the necessaries of life ; large quantities of Beef, Grain, Butter and Cheese are now exported from this little settlement; 650 bus. of Rye was raised this year from their Ministerial and School Lots, from sowing twenty-one and one-half bushels. This they have just sold for a dollar per bushel. A number of the Farmers have cut from twenty to fifty Tons of English Hay and Robert Parker has cut this year 100 Tons ; he has the best Grass and Grazing Farm I ever saw; indeed almost the whole of this Eastern Country admits of the same kind of improvement and Farmers are only wanted to effect it.
"THURSDAY 19th .- Walked with Mr. Peters over different parts of his Farm and to a neighbouring Farm among the Rocks, where their neighbors from three and one-half acres cuts twelve tons of English Hay annually ; his old wife, (the mother of John A. Peters) looks very neat
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and I bo't a tub of Butter of her. I took my Thanksgiving Dinner with Peters and with Parker and Forbes, who came to see me. I returned to Parker's House and from there to my old quarters at Capt. (Joseph) Woods at night, where I shall be at hand for the Schooner whenever she is ready. Col. Jones returned this morning to Gouldsboro. By Mr. Forbes, who goes to-morrow, I have sent a letter to Mr. Wilde at Warren, my Deed of Land on the Andros- coggin River, for him to get recorded, and to settle with the settlers for the same. Forbes was requested to deliver it to Mr. Parker for him to forward it.
"SATURDAY 21st .- Still at Capt. Wood's and reflect- ing upon the state in which I had left my Gouldsboro con- cerns. I am rather pleased with the review. The subject about which I was most anxious I have left in a tolerably good train, though not so well as I intended. I mean the log stealing business, but if it is executed as well as it is planned there will be a large saving out of his plunder. Mr. Townsley one of my agents in this business I make depend- ent upon the others ; I have no further dependence upon than his interest being so immediately connected with mine in the business. Capt. Hall on Mount Desert, and Major (Meletiah) Jordan on Union River, will be some check upon Jones, as he will be upon them. My other affairs are left with my son who is the Master of the. Family, and I have no doubt he will do well, having a Servant Man and Maid for the service of his Family.
"SUNDAY 22d .- This morning very early with a brisk wind at N. E. the Schooner came in from Union River, I embarked on board of her and sailed from this place at ten o'clock; the gale kept increasing with rain and snow and the wind howling to the northward prevented our going up the Reach which we attempted two or three times and obliged
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us to come too off Naskeag Point just within the Reach where in the midst of a severe gale with snow and rain, we rowed out the rest of the day and the night following.
"MONDAY 23d .- Still at our mooring, the wind blowing a gale at N. W.
"TUESDAY 24th .- The wind the same as yesterday, but toward night coming more gentle we got under way at young flood and beat up the Reach as long as the flood lasted ; came too about four miles from our last mooring.
"WEDNESDAY 25th .- At day dawn this morning with a gentle wind at N. W. we got under way again ; beating and having passed the Reach the wind freshened upon us. We ran across Penobscot Bay, through Owl's Head Harbor, the Muscle Ledges, White Head and beat into Tenant's Harbor by ten o'clock at night, where we anchored ; fresh gale.
"THURSDAY 26th. - At Tenant's Harbor ; the wind blow- ing fresh and at N. W. ; at seven o'clock in the evening it came to the N,; we got under way, a fine clear sky and moonshine ; in the course of the night it blew very heavy, which obliged the taking in our light sails.
"FRIDAY 27th .- At daylight this morning we were off Cape Elizabeth, having run thirty leagues in the course of the night ; the day mostly calm, at night we were off Portsmouth.
"SATURDAY 28th .- Having continued under sail the night with gentle wind and fine moon, by sun rising this morning we were up with Cape Ann Light House ; between which and the half way Rock, by reason of calm, we con- tinued thro' the day. At seven o'clock the wind sprung up from the northward and at one o'clock in the morning we anchored off Long Wharf in Boston.
"SUNDAY 29th .- At the Dawn I was put on shore at Foster's wharf and walked to my old quarters at Mrs.
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Archibald's where to my great disappointment I found that my friend General Jackson in company with General Knox was gone to Philadelphia. After breakfast I called upon Mrs. J. C. Jones and Mrs. M. M. Hayes and intended to have called upon my old friend Mr. Russell but his sudden death the last night deprived me of that pleasure and ex- cited such painful feelings as prevent my ever calling upon the family. I dined at M. M. Hayes' and at ten o'clock retired to my quarters. (One of Gen. Cobb's daughters was ill and he went from home not to return until after the funeral. Her name was not mentioned in his presence.)
"MONDAY 30th .- This morning before sun rising I set off in a Hack for Taunton where I arrived at three o'clock, happy in seeing my family in health, after an absence of more than six months.
"TUESDAY, December 1st .- A fine pleasant day ; visited old friends around me ; went to see the new building de- signed for Academy and much pleased in seeing this child of mine in such forwardness for commencing useful instruction."
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195895 5160995
THE COBB MARSH.
E LEAZER ROSEBROOK, of Guildhall, Vermont, was one of Gen. Cobb's farm hands, aiding the General to turn stones into bread. He married Harriet, a daughter of Nahum Guptill and bought a portion of the " Marsh " of Gen. Cobb. Some years later his daughter Eliza, one of eleven children, served the Gen. as housemaid, receiving fifty cents in Winter and four shillings in Summer.
Jeremiah Tracy, son of Asa, worked seven years as the General's farm laborer. He bought the homestead and ten acres of Salt Marsh of Gen. Cobb. A two-story house had been built but had blown down in a severe gale. The new owner built a house of one story. On January 20, 1833, Jeremiah Tracy and Eliza Rosebrook were united in marriage and settled at the " Marsh." ever known as " the half-way house."
The life of this family is recorded as a sample of the duties of a wife and mother in early days.
Eliza Rosebrook in her two years service earned her wearing apparel and saved from the wages stated, enough money to buy the material for her table linen, bed clothes and spreads ; also her dishes aud the trosseau. The dress was what would be called crepon at this day ; a nice light
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HISTORICAL RESEARCHES OF GOULDSBORO colored silk, made yoke and belt (the buckle being ivory,) and skirt three straight breadths.
Besides the usual housework in Gen. Cobb's home, Eliza, the maid, milked six cows, did the spinning and weaving. Eliza, the mother, had her own looms in the ell chamber and for the seven children that in due time com- posed the family, she wove cloth from cotton warp colored blue and yarn filling red. The summer suits were drilling for the boys and the three girls each season had one new calico dress, also a pair of fifty-cent slippers. In the Fall Mr. Foster Hill of West Gouldsboro (a well known shoe- maker) went to repair boots, make a new pair of cowhides for the girls and long legged boots for the boys.
On Sunday the family with many others attended Divine service at the old Town House, Gouldsboro, starting in the morning with their lunch (there were two services) and slippers and stockings in their hands in Summer, until the "Old Pound" was reached (where now stands Fullington Whittaker's house.) Here they sat down, dressed their feet and entered the place of worship on the opposite side of the road. After service the rear of the Pound was again utilized as a dressing room, whence the girls proceeded homeward on nature's sandals.
The Cobb-Tracy house is about half way from Prospect Harbor to Gouldsboro and has always afforded kind hos- pitality to many a wayfarer even to the present day.
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GOULDSBORO POINT.
JONATHAN Tracy came to old Falmouth, now Portland, J in 1742-3, from Preston, Conn. The first of August, 1762, he moved to Gouldsboro, Maine, induced by the proprietors by offers of free grants of three lots of land for himself and one for each of his sons. Jonathan Tracy's place was at Gouldsboro Point where now is held the annual August picnic of the multi-numerous family. Jonathan Tracy was a well educated man. He died at Steuben, Maine, 1796, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lydia Leighton. His son, Asa, settled on the adjacent Eastern lot where Isaac, his son, lived for 92 years on the place, seldom going away and content to work industriously on his farm.
Isaac Tracy proved the falseness of the assertion "farm- ing does not pay," as not only did he make a living from our rocky Gouldsboro soil but left money besides. If the young men of to-day would work as industriously as our forefathers the desolate places in town would miraculously turn the stony soil into bread.
In Capt. Dan'l Sullivan's Co. of volunteers against Major Bagaduce, July 28, 1779, were Jonathan Tracy, Lieut., wages 24£ per mo., mileage 7£ ; Asa Tracy, Privt., wages 21£ per mo., mileage 7£; also Peter Godfrey, Wm.
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Shaw, David and Sam'l Joy, but these men lived at the village.
In Capt. Sullivan's 6th Reg. Militia, Oct. 1780, for pro- tection of Frenchman's Bay were Francis Shaw, Priv't. 16s wages and Benj. Ash, Corp'l. 4£ 8s, Gouldsboro.
The first schoolhouse was built about 1766, so near as the estimate can be made, and the present at the Eastern side in 1870. About one hundred inhabitants constituted this community twenty-five years ago, but now only thirty comprise its number.
On the shore of Jonathan Tracy's homestead was built the T. R. Hammond, 1857. A piece was taken by Mr. William Workman the father of our masons, by trade. Afterwards Mr. Workman sold his interest for a horse and carriage, exhibiting his keen sense of humor by saying, "I have the reins in my own hands."
The two modern schoolhouses unused now for lack of pupils, have each a destiny, the Western being the home of the men at Chicken Mill while the Eastern is to form the Bunker's Harbor seat of learning.
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THE HAUNTED HOUSE.
F RANCIS SHAW'S son William in 1795 obtained from John Lane, a London merchant, of the firm of Lane & Frazier, all the land in Gouldsboro village not sold, and Gouldsboro Point. We understand John Shaw, son of Francis, and Col. Jones' son-in-law lived at the Point as did also Francis Shaw Jr. and several younger Shaws. (The land here was bought by William Bingham and others for the proposed city about 1780.) But three large houses were erected in 1776 so near as dates can be obtained, and in the one remaining, lived Francis Jr. After his decease, the home was occupied at intervals by several families.
This part of the Point was a veritable Garden of Eden, the Shaws taking great pride in gardening, especially Richard Shaw, a bachelor brother. well remembered by our older inhabitants as a typical French gentleman, and an expert gardener.
Mr. Shaw forbore riding in a carriage for fear of an accident but, starting out in later life for his annual visit to relatives and friends at West Gouldsboro, was persuaded to ride by his brother Charles who was on the way with a staid old nag. The steed became frightened, threw Monsieur out, causing brain injuries from which he soon died.
Summer tourists call the deserted old mansion haunted,
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but this tragedy of a member of its owner's family is the only one related, so we think the shadows of pleasure seekers are the visions in the deserted home now owned by parties in Cherryfield.
THE FIRST GOULDSBORO TOWN HOUSE.
T HE DATE of erection of the first town house is unknown. For years this square, weather-stained building was the scene of all public gatherings. The pews on either side were closed with a high door as entrance, and fortunate the child whose father's pew had a window, one of the nine 7x9 avenues of light.
The centre of the house contained a double row of the clear pine pews, nature's tint. In front was the pulpit, six feet from the floor, at the base the choir's seat, where for years Amos Guptill with his tuning fork began the hymns of praise.
The house was high posted and in the upper part was a room where the records were kept. Not only was this place for town business and divine service but for the use of the singing master and as a theatre. It was burned September 23, 1883.
The first church in Gouldsboro was built 1872, burned in 1883. In 1884 the present Methodist church was built on the site of the old town house. In 1886 a few rods distant the Union Church was erected. The date of erec- tion of the old school house is unknown. Location in front of Mrs. A. W. Hill's house. A singing school was held there for several winters. One teacher was A. K. P. Moore of Steuben. Thither came boys and girls from the "Pond" and "Cove" on nature's conveyances.
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A few members of "Uncle Amos' " choir were pupils of the singing schools, including Mrs. George Whittaker and daughter Elvira, Ransom Rolfe and wife, Hiram Rolfe, Josephine and Mary Jane Guptill.
The first orchestra in town was composed of Messrs. J. D. Wood and G. C. Gouldsboro, violins ; William Eaton, cornet and S. G. Wood, bass viol. Teams were scarce and when the service of the orchestra was engaged at Steuben for a Fourth of July ball, the veteran fish peddler, Wyman Bunker, conveyed it thither in his cart, and came to the "Point" for the night. He not appearing at 5 A. M. the "orchestra" walked to the "Point" and found Wyman just arising.
EARLY PASTORS.
M INISTERS who preached in the Old Town House at Gouldsboro were: John Richards (the first settled minister) ; - Jaques, (married H. M. Sowle in 1829) ; A. F. Barnard; Seth Beal ; Benjamin Hilton; Moses Palmer ; Bruce ; Asahel Moore ; Hiram Chase, (married H. M. Sowle the second time in 1846); Mace Clough ; Elliot B. Fletcher ; Roundy ; Jesse Harriman ; Robert Gross ; Edwin A. Helmershansen ; Otis Jenkins ; Harry W. Latham ; C. C. Long.
These are a few of the very oldest.
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->PLAN- OP THE
TOWN HOUSE AT - GOULDSBORO+ DESTROYED BY Fire Sept. 23, 1883. DATE OF ERECTION UNKNOWN.
N SHAW
BARNEY HILL
GEO. WHITTAKER
WM. SOY
HANDY
CUPTIL
SPURLING
DEA SUMNER
JOEL MORE
M. 4. GUPTIL
EBENEZER WOOD
CHUIR
.
MARSHALL HILL
DANIEL LIBOY
ISAAC TRACY
FOSTER JONES
777
RANSOM ROLF
OBIJAH JONES
DREN PERNALD
COL. FRANCIS TAFT
GEORGE WHITTAKER, JR.
WILLIAM ROLF
DRAWN BY E.E. SODERHOLTZ From A Sketch by N.H. SOWLE Supposed To be more or less Incorrect BEING A SKETCH FROM MEMORY Jany IM: 1904.
THE FIRST MINISTER WAS JOHN RICHARDS THE LAST, ERWIN BLOOMFIELD.
COUNTY ROAD.
H. M. SUWLE
TILSYON DUNBAR
ROBERT NEWMAN
GOULDSBORO VILLAGE.
A RECORD of a good land deal here has come to our notice : William Shaw of Quincy, County of Norfolk, Mass., deeded, in consideration of $5 paid by David Cobb of Gouldsborough, west side of Bay one hundred acres, taken up and improved by John Walker, late of Gouldsborough deceased, as a settler in town. Said David Cobb bought of John Walker son of said John W. deceased.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Shaw have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of January A. D. 1800.
WILLIAM SHAW.
Signed, Sealed and delivered in presence of us :
THOMAS COBB,
L. S
JOHN BLACK.
This land is now known as Haydn Guptill's place.
Ship building was quite an industry and even now vessels are repaired extensively at the landing and a number of scows have been built lately. The first vessel built at the yard was the schooner H. D. Leighton, in 1847. Henry Leighton was the builder.
The Gulnare was built by Luther Stevens, and John Moore was captain. The Oddfellow was built about 1850,
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Clement Young was the first captain, but Capt. Nahum Rosebrook soon after took command. The brig Zoarra, was built in 1852, Luther Stevens, builder. The brig Whittaker, Capt. Joseph Handy, in 1854, and the Orozimbo, brig Handy and Alruccabar. The latter was partly owned by Mr. Wm. Guptill of Gouldsboro. Capt. David Cole went with her to Baltimore with a load of lumber and from there was chartered to go for a load of guano. The guano country being in rebellion, the vessel obtained but thirty tons. Six stevedores' names were on the ship's paper so that upon the failure of the charter party, it took 3-4 of what the vessel sold for, to pay the cost of the voyage. The Orozimbo is owned in Eastport. In 1859, the J. C. Haraden brigs, Ruby and Chastelain were built. The Condor was built for Capt. Horatio Allen and the Ponvert in 1863 ; Sherman Smith was the master builder and Rufus Allen, captain. The brig Sullivan, was built in 1866, Jesse Perry, captain, and the Altoona, in 1869. Thos. Fitzgerald was the captain.
In 1884, the Willard and Wilson and Lizzie May, schooners; in 1885, the Lizzie and Annie; in 1890, the Seth Wyman ; in 1892, the Lida F .; in 1895, the Hattie Loring.
About seventy-five years ago two vessels were built at Truxton, Fernald's shore, by Joseph Stevens : the Joseph and Shibboleth.
From 1878 to 1880 there was a big mining boom. A number of buildings still stand as sentinels to untold wealth.
T. S. Dunifer's stave mill and Wm. Guptill's shingle mill are veteran sawyers on the stream. The nucleus of lumbering now is at Chicken Mill where there is material for two million staves and a quantity of long lumber, owned and operated under the direction of Messrs. Harvey and
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Emery Dunbar of Sullivan. The kiln wood and some paving swell the industries.
The pupils in Dist. 7, number eleven, in No. 8, sixty- seven. A good schoolhouse was erected about twenty-five years ago in each district. The date of the old ones not known.
More than half a century ago at the fall of a certain eve's dew, one of the young men in the northern section near the stream, set forth to call home the cattle. Not having his predecessor's rod (Aaron) he believed his old musket a good stay in time of doubt and uncertainty.
Thus armed he strode along when Hark !! What's that sound ! ! What means those tracks !!
A moment later, he espied close at hand, Bruin himself ; a huge bear indeed !
The weapon was aimed at the beast's heart and fired. Not killed but wounded Bruin rushed toward his assailant and struck Ash's arm a heavy blow. Then occurred the worst personal combat between man and beast in Gouldsboro.
In the death grip of that monster Aaron Ash grasped the bear's tongue and with Herculean strength strove to choke him. He did not succeed, but managed to escape from his clutches, and badly lacerated he returned home. The next morning his brother-in-law went to the scene of action, found Bruin much exhausted and shot him. Thus Samuel Joy brought home the trophy of that awful struggle.
Three pioneer settlers at "The Bay" were Samuel Libby, Hilliard Sowle and Thomas Gubtail.
The first post office in Gouldsboro was established April 22. 1796, Thomas Hill postmaster. But we are informed the residents went to West Gouldsboro for the mail.
The local lodge of our prominent state order, the Grange,
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was organized April 24, 1901, with nineteen members. It now has more than one hundred members.
The captains of the sea from the "Point" were Nahum Rosebrook, David Rosebrook, John Shaw, Nathan Tracy, Edwin Tracy, deep sea men ; Joseph Haraden, John Moore, David Walls, Nathaniel Shaw, Jesse Perry, coasters ; from Gouldsboro, Jesse Perry 2nd, Simeon L. Tracy, Freeman G. Tracy, deep sea men; Sherman Spurling, William Fernald, Stillman Coffin, coasters.
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THE LIBBY FAMILY.
TOHN LIBBY came from England and settled in Scar- 1 boro, Me. From there, Samuel, one of his four sons, came to Gouldsboro and settled, attracted by the large amount of salt hay and fine lumber. Here, his first wife having died, he married again, his second wife's family name being Leighton. Her christian name is not known.
Four children were born to them, the eldest, Polly, being the first white girl born within the present limits of the town. Mr. Libby's only son, Joseph, born in 1765, married in 1799, Bathsheaba Gibbs of Rochester, Mass.
Joseph then built a house on the present site of the Libby homestead. Of their six children, Daniel the eldest remained in the old home. He married, in 1826, Mary Ann Whitaker. To them were born six children, three of whom still live at the old homestead. :
H. M. SOWLE.
H TILLIARD M. SOWLE came to Gouldsboro from New Bedford, Mass., in the year 1825, at the age of 22, for the purpose of running a store for his Uncle, Thomas
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Mayhew, a wealthy New Bedford sea-captain. The store was situated just above where W. L. Guptill's carding and shingle mill now stands.
In 1829 Mr. Sowle married Abagail Wilson and afterwards he bought the house and farm belonging to her father, Gowen Wilson, who then moved to Cherryfield. The house was the same in which he lived for more than fifty years and which stood, one of the land marks of the town, until a few years ago.
A few years after his marriage Mr. Sowle bought out his uncle's interest in the store and started in business for himself in a new store which he built where Ira Shaw's store now stands. In 1844 Mrs. Sowle died, leaving four children, and in 1846 Mr. Sowle married Flora Whitaker, who still lives at the old homestead. Of their four children three are still living.
Mr. Sowle was appointed town clerk in 1837. The first two entries in his record are as follows :-
Gouldsborough February 27th 1837. Then appeared Ephriam W. Taft and took the oath prescribed by law to serve as Post Master.
Before me, H. M. SOWLE, Justice of the peace.
March 6th 1837. Then personally appeared Nahum Jones and made oath that he killed or caused to be killed one Bear within this State.
H. M. SOWLE, Justice of the peace.
In the same record is a list of 253 marriages which Mr. Sowle performed. That is not a complete list as there are a great many marriages which are recorded in the town books and not in his.
Mr. Sowle was postmaster for twenty years and was steadily engaged in trade from the time he came here until his death in 1882.
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THOMAS GUBTAIL,
T HOMAS GUBTAIL (as recorded in the town records, Vol. 1,) was an active townsman. Many times his house was opened for town meetings prior to the erection of the first town house. He came from Berwick in the earliest days of the township and married Sarah Wilson in 1768.
Gen. Cobb was a frequent caller at the Gubtail farm. The children were : Thomas, Marshall, Lucy, Amos, George, Millard, Curtis, Wilson, Nelson, Mary Ann. The farm is now occupied by William, Everett and Emerson. The latter's house is over Thomas Gubtail's cellar.
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