USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Boothbay Harbor > History of Boothbay, Southport and Boothbay Harbor, Maine. 1623-1905. With family genealogies > Part 3
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Southport > History of Boothbay, Southport and Boothbay Harbor, Maine. 1623-1905. With family genealogies > Part 3
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Boothbay > History of Boothbay, Southport and Boothbay Harbor, Maine. 1623-1905. With family genealogies > Part 3
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
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PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
77. OAK GROVE .- The name applied to the location and grounds of W. H. Reed, West Boothbay Harbor, on which the Oak Grove House stands, together with the store and post office. It faces West Harbor, southerly, while Campbell's Cove borders on the west. One and one-half miles from the Harbor steamboat landings.
78. OCEAN POINT .- The southern extremity of Linekin's Neck. Evidently the very spot of the ancient settlement of Corbin's Sound. It has two hotels, a general store, restau- rants and a summer colony of cottages. It is a regular land- ing of the Eastern Steamship Company ; has a summer postal service and is included in Boothbay.
79. OUTER HERON ISLAND .- Sometimes called Southern Heron. Contains about 150 acres. About six miles at sea from the Harbor landings. Obtained the name from the great number of herons observed there by the early visitors to it. A part of Boothbay.
80. OVEN'S MOUTH. - This name is taken from a double projection to the southward from the water passage connecting the two parts of Back River, in the form of coves, extending into the Dover district, so-called. The formation evidently suggested the name, which was well established by records as early as 1719. It forms a boundary on the north of Boothbay.
81. PARADISE POINT. - A small cape or point extending into Linekin Bay, at its northeastern extremity, near East Boothbay Village, at which place its mail is received. This point is wholly devoted to summer residences. Included in Boothbay.
82. PARISH LOT. - The lot on the hill easterly from Boothbay Center, originally appropriated to the early Presby- terian church of the town. Situated in Boothbay.
83. PIG COVE .- The cove extending westerly from Capi- tal Island into Southport.
84. PIRATES COVE .- Another name for Lobster Cove.
85. PLEASANT COVE. - A cove extending nearly two miles from the current of the Damariscotta River into the mainland of Boothbay, in a southwesterly course. One of the principal early settlements of the town was about this cove.
26
HISTORY OF BOOTHBAY.
86. PISGAH. - The name given the hill easterly from the village of Boothbay Harbor by the Rev. John Murray, when his parsonage was completed and he settled in it. It was as a name given to a country seat, and in line with the customs of the country from which he came. In his record book of mar- riages the place where the ceremony was performed is inva- riably given, and, if at the parsonage, is always "Pisgah "- never Mount Pisgah. He sometimes headed his correspond- ence in the same manner. The prefix has been attached to the name since Mr. Murray's time. This hill is a natural feature of great value to the village, affording a location for the standpipe to the water system as well as for the United States Weather Signal Station. It has an altitude of 184 feet.
87. POWDERHORN ISLAND. - Contains about three acres ; lies southwest from the Isle of Springs, and was sold by Mr. Swett with that island to the association.
88. PUMPKIN ROCK. - An irregularly shaped island of ledge, seven and one-half miles from the village of Boothbay Harbor, southeasterly. A part of Boothbay.
89. RAM ISLAND. - Northerly from Fisherman's Island, with a narrow channel of water between, lies Ram Island, five acres area, on which is located the Government light. North- westerly from the Isle of Springs are the two Ram Islands, one of four and the other of three acres. All are included in Boothbay.
90. REED'S ISLAND. - Situated easterly from Linekin Neck, where Little River opens from the ocean. Contains three acres. A part of Boothbay. Took its name from Ben- jamin Reed, who formerly owned it.
91. SAWYER'S ISLAND. - An island in the Sheepscot con- nected with Hodgdon's Island by bridge ; also bridged to the mainland of Boothbay Harbor, the center abutment of which bridge is the town line. It contains about 175 acres. There are several good farms, a hotel, general store, chapel, school- house and several residences. A regular landing of the Eastern Steamship Company. Takes mail from Trevett. It is part of Boothbay.
27
PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
92. SHEEPSCOT. - A name contemporary in age with Pemaquid, Newagen, Damariscove or any of the other ancient localities in this region. Like Damariscotta it is a name that, to some extent, has usurped Boothbay's place in history. Sheepscot deeds extended even to the northern part of Cape Newagen Island at a very early day. Later the name, though continuing to apply to the river and bay, related to no settle- ment except that near the bridge in the western part of the town of Newcastle ; but the connection of a fact and a name fixed in the mind, where the-conditions have changed, is often misinterpreted by later generations. Some of the ancientry belonging to Boothbay is ascribed to Sheepscot, because it is regarded as enacted at Sheepscot, but the point of its enact- ment was from twelve to eighteen miles farther south than the Sheepscot settlement of to-day.
93. SOUTHPORT. - The incorporated town which includes Cape Newagen Island, formerly so-called, and other islands set off from Boothbay and incorporated as Townsend, February 12, 1842, the name being changed to Southport in 1850. It has a boat landing where all boats to and from Bath touch. It is bridged to the mainland of Boothbay Harbor, across Townsend Gut, about two miles west from the village. It contains three post offices, known as Southport, West South- port and Newagen, and a summer postal service at three of its island resorts. It has nine summer boarding houses and five hotels, three general stores, boat-building and ice works.
94. SPECTACLE ISLANDS. - They lie at a point in the Sheepscot about equally distant from Indiantown, Isle of Springs and Boston Island, and contain about one acre each. Their formation suggested the name which has been applied to them for many years. They are part of Boothbay.
95. SPRUCE POINT .- A point of land consisting of about three hundred acres, which divides the waters of Boothbay Harbor from Linekin Bay. The land rises gradually from all sides toward the center, with bold shores and good water all about.
96. SQUIRREL ISLAND .- This island surveys one hundred and thirty acres. It is owned by an association and is exclu-
28
HISTORY OF BOOTHBAY.
sively devoted to summer homes. It has hotel, store, restau- rant, church, casino, post and telegraph offices and library. Connected with Boothbay Harbor by submarine telegraph cable; takes water from the Boothbay Harbor system, by submarine pipe laid from the end of Spruce Point to the island. At its steamboat landing all steamers on the Portland and Boothbay Harbor line touch each way, and all steamers of the Eastern Steamship Company to and from Bath during the season. It is part of Southport, but has a charter conferring special privileges. A petition to Governor Andros in 1687 shows the name to have then existed.
97. THORPE ISLAND .- Situated in the Sheepscot, north- easterly from Trevett, between Barter's Island and the Booth- bay mainland. Contains about twenty acres. It is a part of Boothbay.
98. TIBBETTS ISLAND .- Situated in Back River, about two and one-half miles north of Thorpe Island. Contains about sixteen acres. Owned by George Adams, and now called Adams Island. A part of Boothbay.
99. TOWNSEND .- The name given by Colonel Dunbar to an indefinite territory situated between the Sheepscot and Dam- ariscotta Rivers, where he settled a colony in 1730. It was named in honor of Lord Charles Townshend, second viscount, of England, and father to Charles Townshend, who later was the chief figure in imposing the stamp and tea taxes upon the Colonies. When the name was dropped by the incorporation of Boothbay in 1764, it still clung to the harbor, and to this day the older element all alongshore refer to us as Townsend. In 1842, what is now Southport chose it for the new town name, but it was changed as heretofore noticed in 1850, and the principal reason assigned was the confliction which was caused by the sticking of the name of Townsend to Boothbay Harbor by the seagoing public. The letter "h" has seldom appeared in the spelling of the name in America.
100. TOWNSEND GUT .- The passage by water between the mainland of Boothbay Harbor and Southport. It alone retains the name, in part, once applied to the entire region.
29
PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
101. TUMBLER ISLAND .- A small island at the entrance to the inner harbor.
102. WADSWORTH'S COVE. - The most northerly cove extending from the Damariscotta into Boothbay territory. It takes its name from Deacon Wadsworth, who formerly lived there.
103. WALL'S POINT .- Named for Andrew Wall, who first settled there, and owned the entire point. It has grown by degrees to be known as Wallace's Point, which is clearly wrong. The proper name should be restored.
104. WEST BOOTHBAY HARBOR .- That part of the town which the name indicates. Formerly called Haley.
105. WHITE ISLANDS .- Mere rocks having the appearance of islands, southeasterly from the Hypocrites.
106. WIDGINS .- This, in a sense, is the nearest a mystical name we have to deal with. It is mentioned in Hubbard's Indian Wars as being a settlement in flames, seen by looking shoreward from Damariscove, whence the settlers had fled for safety in 1676, from an Indian outbreak. It is enumerated in connection with Corbin's Sound and Cape Newagen, and is thought to have been a settlement on either Spruce or Mckown's Point.
107. WOOD ISLAND .- The northern end of Damariscove, which formerly was heavily wooded, and makes at high water the appearance of a separate island.
SAILING DIRECTIONS TO BOOTHBAY HARBOR.
Coast and Geodetic Survey Charts 313, 314, and 105.
FROM THE EASTWARD .- " Passing Ram Island Light-House, 1-8 mile off and heading W. 3-4 N., continue until Burnt Island Light-House bears N. W. 1-2 N., when, if at night, you will be in the white rays; by keeping inside of the white rays, and heading N. W. 1-2 N., you will be clear of all dangers ; continue until the light-house is distant 900 feet, when N. by E. 3-4 E. carries into the harbor. On this course give Tumbler Island a berth of 600 feet. Boothbay affords excellent anchorage, with good holding ground, and is much frequented. Mean rise and fall of tide, 8 3-4 feet."
30
HISTORY OF BOOTHBAY.
FROM THE WESTWARD .- " Bring Seguin Light-House to bear N. W., 1 1-2 miles, and Ram Island Light-House N. E. 3-4 E., and run N. E. 3-4 E. for Ram Island Light-House until the Cuckolds Bell Buoy bears N. N. W. 1-4 W., 1-2 mile. This course at night keeps within the white rays of Ram Island Light until past the red rays of Burnt Island Light, and when the latter light, showing white, bears N. by E. 1-4 E. change course to N. by E. 1-4 E. for Burnt Island Light; keep within the white rays until Ram Island Light opens out beyond Squirrel Island and bears S. E. 1-2 E., then run N. E. by N. until you have crossed the red and white rays of Burnt Island Light, giving it a berth of 900 feet, and enter the red rays ; then haul up immediately to N. by E. 1-2 E. for the harbor, giving Tumbler Island a berth of 600 feet."
That the reader may make a comparison between the accurate directions, which are given our seamen now (1904), and the more general ones, before our coast was defined by lights, whistles, bells and other signals, an extract is here introduced from Blunt's American Coasting Pilot, edition of 1804, thus giving the improvement of just a century.
"DIRECTIONS FOR TOWNSEND HARBOR.
"If you come from the westward and make Seguine Island, you must leave it on your larboard hand, give it a birth of about half a mile, and steer N. E. about 2 leagues, which course will carry you to Squirrel Island; if it is day time you will see two large rocks (called the Cuckolds) on your larboard hand, to which you give a small birth, and when you pass them you will make Squirrel Island, which you leave on your starboard hand, directing your course N. 1-2 W. about 4 or 5 miles. The entrance of Townsend is narrow, and there is a small rocky island that is very low which you leave on your starboard hand ; then you may haul to the N. E. or N. E. by E. but in a dark night and thick weather I would recom- mend to anchor under the lee of Squirrel Island."
LIGHTS AND FOG SIGNALS.
RAM ISLAND .- Established in 1883; tower of granite 20 feet high, from base of structure to center of lantern, 39 1-4 feet, white above; connected with shore by an open bridge. White dwelling on shore near the end of bridge. Bell on the northwesterly side of tower ; red-brick oil house 500 feet S. E.
31
PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
from light tower. It is 35 1-2 feet above mean high water and visible 11 1-4 nautical miles. This light is located on the northerly side of Ram Island, thus bringing it on the southerly side of Fisherman's Island passage into Boothbay Harbor from the eastward. The light is fixed red with two fixed white sectors ; and the fog signal is a bell struck by machinery every twenty seconds, a double and single blow alternately.
BURNT ISLAND .- Established in 1821 ; white conical tower and white dwelling, connected by a covered way and porch. White pyramidal bell tower, 60 feet S. E. 1-4 S., and red-brick oil house 168 feet from light tower. The light is 61 feet above mean high water and is visible 13 1-4 nautical miles. This light is located on the southeasterly part of Burnt Island. It is a red light flashing every five seconds, with two fixed white sectors; and the fog signal is a bell struck by machinery a double blow every minute.
CUCKOLDS .- Established in 1892 ; white half-round stone pier, surmounted by half-round, white, brick fog-signal build- ing with high conical roof, shingled, natural color. White one-and-one-half story wooden dwelling attached to pier and fog-signal building on northwesterly side, protected on easterly side, to half height of first story windows, by a bulkhead extending from stone pier to outbuildings in rear of dwelling. This is a fog-signal station only. It is fitted with a Daboll trumpet, the signal being blasts of three seconds, silent inter- vals of seventeen seconds. If the trumpet should be disabled a bell is to be struck by hand.
HENDRICK'S HEAD .- Established in 1829 ; rebuilt in 1875 ; white square tower and dwelling ; pyramidal white bell tower, near water's edge to westward ; all connected by covered ways ; red-brick oil house 247 feet N. E. 7-8 N. from light tower. The light is 42 1-2 feet above mean high water, and is visible 11 3-4 nautical miles. It has a flashing white light every thirty seconds; its fog signal is a bell struck by machinery every twenty seconds.
WATER POWERS.
In Wells' Water Power of Maine, published in 1869, by a return of the board of selectmen of Boothbay, the town is
32
HISTORY OF BOOTHBAY.
accorded three water powers : first, the outlet of Adams Pond ; second, the outlet of Campbell's Ponds ; third, the Mill Cove stream. All these have had mills in the past, and, at Adams Pond, one still is in operation. Additional to these there was, in the early days, a mill on the stream which emptied into Pleasant Cove, owned by Benjamin Kelley.
In recent years a mill has been run at some seasons on the N. C. Reed place, a small power being furnished by damming the brook on his land. The stream from Echo Lake, which empties into Lobster Cove, also would furnish considerable power at some seasons ; and this was probably one of the con- siderations which caused several to settle at that particular place at the time of the Dunbar colonization. Situated as Boothbay was, being the southern end of a peninsula, which attained less than five miles at its greatest width, and less than seven miles to the north this width was narrowed about one-half, it seems little less than wonderful that provisions of nature were such that water powers existed, evenly distributed over the territory, to serve the colonists in their primitive wants,-to saw their lumber, grind their grain and work their wool and flax, thus covering the three great necessities of man, food, raiment and shelter.
GEOLOGY.
Three separate appropriations were made by Maine in the years 1836-7-9, for a geological examination of the State, to be conducted by Dr. Charles T. Jackson, Geologist to the State of Maine. Dr. Jackson held membership in several foreign mineralogical societies and stood eminent in his profession. The principal points of Maine were visited by him, and three annual reports were made. This work was published and is now very rare and much sought for by libraries and others. In the second report is found the following :
"The surf preventing us from exploring the islands around, we ran into Townsend Harbor at Boothbay. This place is one of the most frequented harbors on the eastern coast of the State, and is a favorite resort for invalids during the summer season on account of the purity of the air and the facilities for bathing in clear sea-water. This harbor is well protected from the swell of the sea, and has an excellent light-house placed at its entrance, upon Burnt Island.
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PHYSICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
"The rocks of Boothbay are not very interesting, being mostly coarse varieties of mica slate, gneiss and granite, the latter rock being found in veins traversing the gneiss. We next ran to Cape Newagen, which we found to be composed of gneiss rocks, the strata running northeast and southwest, and dipping to the northwest. There are also veins of granite of a light color intersecting the strata."
The report upon Boothbay and Cape Newagen is much the same as it appears relating to other parts of Lincoln County, as the county is now constituted. Edgecomb and Broad Cove, in Bristol, showed a more valuable granite than other points.
CHARTS, PLANS AND PUBLICATIONS.
But one plan of Boothbay is known to have been made, which is supposed to have embraced the entire town, including the islands. This was the work of Dr. Daniel Rose, and bore his name, though the appropriation designated John McClin- tock as the contracting party with the town, and references show that it bore date of December 15, 1815. A reference to it in John Swett's deed of Thirty Acre Island, in 1816, from the State, shows that section to have been included. Another reference to it in a deed of the farm lately owned by W. C. Clisby, near O. M. Delano's, being the property owned by members of the Alley family in early times, shows that place to have been marked on the plan "Lot No. 52." Inquiry has failed to unearth this plan, or even to find any person who remembers having seen it. The numbering of the lots com- menced at Cape Newagen and went north.
The United States Geological Survey charts issued in 1893 are very accurate in the matter of mapping the locality, cover- ing in a comprehensive manner the general contour of the territory, including the ponds, streams and roads. The Coast and Geodetic Surveys made by the Government are very full and complete.
No work specially treating of the Boothbay region has ever been published. There are disconnected articles and references, widely scattered, which relate more or less fully to certain features, which may properly be termed incidents in history, but nothing general or connected has ever appeared. It was in recognition of this fact that the present work was prompted.
1
34
HISTORY OF BOOTHBAY.
SOIL AND TREES.
The soil on the elevations throughout the region is shallow and of gravelly composition ; in lower lands it is also gravel mixed with clay, tending, on the Damariscotta side, to a clay suitable for brickmaking. The uplands are early lands, as a rule, and the valleys when properly cultivated are productive. Nearly all the various trees of the State are found within the limits of this territory, but soft woods largely predominate.
1151704
CHAPTER II. ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS.
T HE purpose of this chapter is to give some of the leading characteristics of the native inhabitants who occupied these lands before the advent of the Europeans. Something in the way of description of that race, their modes of living, num- bers, divisions into tribes, and where, in our immediate vicinity, are the plainest designated points of their occupancy. The con- test between savage and civilized life for supremacy in this ter- ritory will not be presented, for that more naturally belongs to the story of the struggles, the victories and defeats of the colo- nists, extending over a period of nearly a century and a half.
The Indian inhabitants of Maine were divided into two great confederacies ; the Abenaques and the Etechemins ; and the Penobscot River was the line of demarcation.' The Abena- ques dwelt westerly and the Etechemins along the banks and east of this river. The former were divided into four large tribes ; the latter into three.2 The Sokokis, the smallest tribe among the Abenaques, were settled upon the Saco River ; and their principal abode was Indian Island, just above the Lower Falls, also a settlement in the present town of Frye- burg and another on the Great Ossipee. The Anasagunticooks dwelt along the Androscoggin River, on the west side, from its sources to Merrymeeting Bay ; their principal resort being at Pejepscot, now Brunswick. The Canibas lived on the Kennebec River, from Norridgewock to the sea, and Kennebis, the paramount lord of the tribe, lived on Swan Island ; but there were several other points along the river where settle- ments of some size were indicated, notably at Norridgewock and Teconnet, now Winslow. The Wawenocks occupied the remaining space between the two great rivers, Kennebec and Penobscot, their principal settlements being on the Sheepscot and Damariscotta, of which more particular mention will be made.
1. Will. Me. I, 463 : 1 Kendall's Travels, p. 61; Heckewelder, p. 109.
2. Parkman's Jesnits. p. 321 ; Will. Me. I, 465.
36
HISTORY OF BOOTHBAY.
Among the Etechemins the Tarratines were the most power- ful and we shall have more occasion to notice them hereafter than the others ; they lived along the Penobscot, one settlement being at the mouth of the Kenduskeag, where Bangor now stands, another three miles above, on the west side of the river, nearly opposite the present village of Eddington Bend ; their principal resort, however, was on the peninsula of Major- biguyduce, now Castine ; and if Capt. John Smith did not err, probably they had one settlement on the west of the Penobscot, between that river and the mountains, in the vicinity of where Camden stands to-day. The smallest tribe of the Etechemins was known at an early date and often referred to as the Open- angos, but later as the Passamaquoddys or 'Quoddy tribe ; they have lived around the waters of Passamaquoddy Bay and the Schoodic River. The last and most eastern tribe was known as the Marechites. They bordered upon the Micmac territory of Nova Scotia, and were the least intelligent as well as the least known of the Maine tribes. They lived along the St. John River and had two leading resorts, one at the mouth of the Madawaska and the other some eighty miles farther down, at Meductic Point.
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