USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Bustins Island > History of Bustins Island, Casco Bay, 1660-1960 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
A tide mill was also in operation here, powering a grist mill, com- bined with a woodworking shop. Accumulated tidewater held by a dam ran this mill when the tide below the dam was low. This plant was later destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt. There was also a tide mill at Porters Landing.
Shipbuilding became an important industry by 1800. Some of the boats were built miles inland and hauled to the water edge by teams of oxen during the winter.
In 1812 the famous privateer, the "Dash," was built at Porters Landing by a Master James Brewer for Porter brothers. It was designed for greater speed than most vessels of its size. The Porters used the ship- yards for a period of twenty-five years or more. In 1834 Rufus Soule ac- quired the Porter properties. Many ships of four or five hundred tons were built here and used in the coastal trade. Yarmouth was another major shipyard where many large vessels were built.
10
The name Falmouth was changed to Portland in 1786 and after the war of 1812 became an important trading center. Wharfs and warehouses were built along the harbor shore and great schooners lay beside the docks. In 1820 Maine separated from Massachusetts and became a separate state.
One of the interesting features of Portland harbor is Fort Gorges built in 1857 under the direction of Jefferson Davis, when he was Secretary of War. It was considered one of the best types of harbor defense at the time of the Civil War. Originally it was called Castle Gorges and was built from the same plans as historic Fort Sumter in Charlestown Harbor. The fort never saw any action and was soon outdated.
Fort Gorges, Portland Harbor
Interior of Fort - 1959
Until the coming of the railroads in 1849, Porters Landing in Free- port was the dock for all freight going to Freeport Village. About a mile be- low Porters Landing on the road to South Freeport was the yard of Briggs & Cushing. Here the largest sailing ship in Freeport was built in 1878. She was called the John A. Briggs, a ship of 2,110 tons. She was constructed under the direction of a master builder, George Anderson, who was famous for his ability in such matters. The launching of this vessel was quite an affair. The Maine Central Railroad ran a special train, steamers brought crowds from Portland and the bay was full of sailboats. James A. Garfield, later to become president, was there to see the Briggs launched.
11
Perhaps one of the largest and busiest shipyards on the coast of Maine was the Soule yard at South Freeport. Two generations of Soules from 1839 to 1879, here launched large vessels which were famous around the world for their rugged and handsome build. This company was found- ed by Captain Enos Soule and later joined by his brother and sons, all sea- faring men. Twenty nine ships of various types were built here. The ship Paraminta, a vessel of 1,573 tons, was the last of the sailing ships to be launched in the Soule Yards in 1879, as it was seen that iron and steel would soon replace wood in ship construction.
The ship "Tam O'Shanter" built at South Freeport, 1875
"Tam O'Shanter" under sail - 1876
The ship building industry remained idle for many years, until World War I, when it was reactivated to build a few wooden Ferris Type steamers. Coal barges were built here during World War II.
All that remains today in evidence of the shipbuilding days are just a few old rotting piles of timbers in the mud flats, the last vestige of what was once a flourishing business, when the air was pungent with the scent of fresh cut timber and rang to the sound of the saw and mallet.
12
V
Other Nearby Islands
We have read how Cousins, Moshier, Lanes and Jewell Islands re- ceived their names. Some of the other islands that we might mention at this time are: Chebeague, French, Whaleboat, Eagle, Pound of Tea, Crab, Sow and Pigs, and Goose Islands.
Chebeague is one of the largest islands in Casco Bay. The name is an old Indian name which is thought to have meant cold springs, from the many springs the Indians found there on summer expeditions. At one time the First Church of Boston owned half of Chebeague. The island was then called Recompence. One of the oldest houses on Chebeague was built in 1762.
During the nineteenth century fortunes were made in the Stone Sloop trade by many Chebeague families, and many fine houses were built from Stone Sloop profits. These sloops were broad beamed sailing vessels averaging about 75 feet in length. They were engaged in the flourishing trade of hauling granite blocks from the quarries of Rockland and Vinal Haven, Maine, to many points on the coast. Wharves, breakwaters, light- houses and a great number of public buildings, including the Washington Monument, contain New England granite, furnished by "stone sloopers" of Chebeague.
During the 1870's, a stone wharf was built on the westerly side of Chebeague called Hamilton's Wharf or the Stone Wharf, and for several years it was an active port of call and trading center, for fishing craft of all kind. There was a general store on the point of land adjoining, and in later years a coal shed was erected on the outer end of the pier.
By 1900 Stone Slooping was on the wane, as the use of cement and concrete, as a building material, became more prevalent. Furthermore, the steam freighter had rapidly replaced the sailing vessel as an economical means of transportation. During the 1930's the last of these staunch sloops was decommissioned, marking the end of the stone sloop trade.
13
French Island was named for a man by the name of French, who first owned it. Then it came into the possession of a Judge Lewis of North Yarmouth, who acquired an interest in it about 1760. A later owner was a Bartol and in 1819 it was sold to a Charles Bibber. In 1833 all mining rights on French were sold to a Messrs. Mason and Coolidge. It is not known what mineral was to be mined, although alum has been mentioned. In 1892 French and Little French was purchased by a group including Ed- ward S. Everett, of the drug firm of Everett and Pennell in Portland. Later, his son Dr. Everett, became one of the owners of the island. Mem- bers of the Everett family still come to the island during the summer.
Bustins at one time was claimed to be the location of a mysterious lead mine. A man named Ransom, a Falmouth alchemist, claimed he could change the crude ore into silver. Salty Quincy, a respectable silver- smith, had tested the lead ore after it had gone into the alchemist's magical pot, and found it to be pure silver. Ransom did a flourishing business for a while, until some one discovered it was a hoax and Ransom mysteriously disappeared.
Whaleboat Island was called by that name because of its resem- blance to a whaleboat. On the extreme south easterly end, a few hundred feet off shore one may see cleft in the rocks at high tide, the shadow image of two men in a boat. There are two old cellar holes and stone walls attest- ing to early occupation of this island.
Eagle has been in ownership of the famous Admiral Peary family for many years. A summer home was built there by them.
Pound of Tea Island legend has it was purchased for a pound of tea.
Crab is a given name. A family built a house and lived on this island some time in the 1870's. Later, however, it was destroyed by fire. Re- cently, another cottage has been built there.
Little Bustins has been owned by a Soule family since the 1890's
Sow and Pigs Islands were owned early by a Cornelius Soule. About the time of the Civil War there was a family by the name of Chadwick who had their home there. There were several small children in the family, and it has been said that their life there was one of considerable hardship. Some of them contracted tuberculosis. Three small children died and were buried there. This island has been often referred to as "Kittoit" which was a contraction of Catherine (Kitty) and Hoyt. The Hoyt family lived here many years. The island is a picturesque one, and at high tide a small craft can easily navigate between the large and small island
14
3
H
N
The Goose and Goseling Islands are a very interesting group. Lower Goose island has several small coves. Early charts in 1776 indicate a farm house about mid-way, on the east side of this island. It has been said that this was the homestead of Alcot Stover who occupied the island prior to 1775; that his wife and large family lived here alone during part of the Rev- olutionary War. This location is plainly visible today. About 1835 the is- land was divided and came into possession of about 10 owners. The Law- rence family purchased one of these lots in 1921. Since then they have spent their summers there. Recently, a Soule family have built a cottage about mid-way on this island.
Jewell Island has for years been a favorite picnic and camping spot. It has been said that the famous Captain Kydd buried a chest of gold and other jewels under a large flat stone, somewhere on the island. As yet, no one has discovered it. About 1940 the U. S. Government built an extensive fortification on the island as a protection for Portland harbor, against enemy attack. Since then the towers, barracks and other equipment have been abandoned to the elements.
Eagle Island, summer home of Admiral Peary, discoverer of North Pole in 1909
15
VI
"The Bibbers"
We now arrive at a period of history when George Washington had 1797 just finished his term of office. On December 15, 1797, we find in our search the following deed recorded in Cumberland County Registry of Deeds: "Jeremiah Powell Estate by his widow, Sarah B. Powell of Boston, in County of Suffolk, sole survivor, executrix of last will and testament of Jeremiah Powell. In consideration of $300 paid by James Bibber of Free- port, County of Cumberland, the receipt where I do hereby acknowledge. Have and do by these present, give, grant, sell and convey unto him, the said James Bibber, his heirs forever, "Bustians Island," so called, formerly situated in North Yarmouth but now of Freeport, aforesaid containing by estimation eighty acres. This property was acquired by me through lawful inheritance." It is interesting to note that one of the witnesses to the deed was Josiah Quincy, the fiery orator of revolutionary days and father of the president of Harvard.
According to the vital records of Phippsburg, Maine, James Bibber was born on the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel in 1706. He came to this country about 1722. He lived briefly in Dover, New Hampshire, where he married Abigail Drew. James Bibber died in Harpswell, Maine, in 1773. Among their many children there was a son James Bibber born in Harpswell in 1753. James Bibber married Johanna Bailey and among their thirteen children, there was a son, Bailey Bibber, born 1782 and a daughter Susanne. James Bibber and Johanna bought Bustins Island in 1797 and with the help of members of their family, began construction of the farm house sometime about 1798. This is the house presently owned by the Donald Kitchin family. It is located on Lot 51, Section E, shown on the Wallace L. Sawyer Plot Plan of Bustins Island, 1946. (For references to lots on Bustins see page 20).
The Bibbers were rugged individuals. Oxen were used to clear the land, being either driven across on the ice or ferried over in a boat from Harpswell. A cellar hole was dug the length of the house, and the rocks and boulders that were plowed up in clearing the land were used to wall the cellar. From detail shown on the early charts about this time, the island appears to be mostly pasture, especially through the center section. Not much is known about the Bibbers' life here except that they made their livelihood farming and fishing for over fifty years.
16
09
The Oldest House on Bustins. Built by James Bibber about 1798 (Photo 1892)
1834
On March 12, 1834, we find a deed of James Bibber and Johanna to a John Johnson of Cumberland for $1,000. "Bustins Island, so called, con- taining eighty acres, more or less, also one yoke of oxen, three cows, one two year old heifer, and one yearling bull and twenty sheep, also all the farming tools, ploughs, harrows, chains, carts, sleds, pitch forks, shovels and hoes. This deed conveys all the buildings on same island "except" the house and lot owned by my son Bailey Bibber." John Johnson was a son- in-law of James Bibber who married his daughter Susanne. We do not know much about the Johnsons, although vital records reveal that he was a resident of Cumberland, Durham and Falmouth.
James Bibber died at the age of ninety in 1843. It was told by a great-granddaughter, that he and his wife Johanna, and one of the children are in a burial lot some where on Bustins. A number of years ago, Charles Guppy, an early resident of Bustins Island, pointed out three Bibber graves to the late Professor George Ramsdell. These are located at a point near the shore about one hundred feet easterly of the Ramsdell house, presently owned by the Robert Dennett family, situated on Lot 21, Section A.
The Bibber Cemetery on Bustins
17
-
Stover Farm House, built in the 1860's (Photo 1892)
In 1854, John Johnson and Susanne of Falmouth, in consideration 1854 of $1,500 paid by Elisha Stover, Jr. of Harpswell, sold "Bustins Island," containing eighty acres, more or less, also ten sheep, two heifers, and all the farming tools belonging on the place. Stover also received in the pur- chase another small island called Little Bustins, reserving, however, all wood on said last named island for Johnson. This conveyance did not in- clude the Bibber Farm House.
In 1856 Bailey Bibber and Dorothy of Harpswell mortgaged to David Coffin of Freeport, for $100, a certain tract of land with the house standing thereon, situated on Bustins Island. It was described as follows: "On the southeast by waters of Casco Bay, on the northeast and northwest by the land of Elisha Stover being same occupied by me for forty-five years past, and formerly owned by James Bibber, since deceased." In the follow- ing spring, David Coffin deeded the same property back to Bailey Bibber.
D
First U. S. Geodetic Survey Chart of 1860 showing Bibbers Island (Bustins) Note detail such as:
House; barn; tilled land area; boundaries and path across island
18
VII The Stovers, Merrills, Morses, Horrs and Swetts
1860
We think that sometime in the 1860's Elisha Stover, Jr., built the old farm house near our present store which has been sometimes called the old Merrill Farm House. There was also a large barn built about the same time on the hill nearby, on Lot 27, Section B.
The first United States Geodetic Survey Chart of 1860 shows minute topographic details on Bibbers Island, as it was then called, and clearly indicates that the Stover house was not built prior to this survey. Only the old Bibber house and barn are shown.
How did the name of Bustins Island become Bibbers Island on the Marine chart? A story has been told that, once upon a time a U.S. Geodetic Survey man was passing by in a boat. He called out to a man on Bustins, "What's the name of this island?" One of the Bibbers replied "This is Bib- bers Island!" And so it was recorded on the charts as such. However, the island has always been called Bustins Island.
1876
We do not know all the circumstances because early probate records were destroyed by fire, but Elisha Stover eventually acquired title to the en- tire island with all the buildings on it, including the old Bibber house. On March 8, 1876, we have reference to the following deed: Elisha Stover and wife Martha conveyed to Henry F. Merrill and Edwin L. Morse Bustins Island containing 80 acres with buildings thereon for $1,500.
1877
In the following year Merrill and Morse divided the island, Merrill taking the southerly end and a large section from the Bibber barn north- easterly, up to what is now the Golf Course, while Morse took the Bibber house and the lot in front on the shore and a strip of land extending across island, including the present golf area. In this deed, dated December 19, 1877, Merrill gave to Morse the following: "Beginning at the northwest corner of a barn, thence running northwesterly by a stone wall to the angle thereof, thence northeasterly by said wall to angle thereof, thence north- westerly again 840 feet more or less by said stone wall and pole fence to a tall pole placed in the ground, thence northeasterly to a large conical ledge in field and continuing the same course to the shore, thence westerly around the northeasterly end of said island to head of the gully at the head of the cove on said west side of the island, thence east a little southerly to the cen- ter of a large flat ledge in rear of said Morse house, thence north-easterly by the stone wall to place of beginning. Also a lot of land beginning at a spot- ted oak on the east side of said island, thence running northwesterly by a stone wall to the northwest corner of a barn and continuing southwesterly by a stone wall to an angle thereof, thence southeasterly along said wall to the shore to place of beginning, together with all the flats and appurten- ances to the above lots pertaining, reserving a right of way, two rods wide running from center of said flat rock northeasterly to land, this day con- veyed by said Morse to said Merrill. Also reserving a piece of land on which the easterly half of barn now stands."
19
D
Section D
21-A
21
20
Steamer waert
C
2
4 6 8 10 12|14
16
18
20
DE
54
55
50
60
-
3
5
7
9
11
415
37
58
58
Shit D
21
25
26
134
133
132
22
s
23
35
24
34
29
J-1
J
Q
Q
0
F
M
N
15
. St 6
26
1
36
Section
138
140
25
12
B
Section E
23
30
22
21
20
31
43
42
41
40
10
22-4
18
7
16
35
36
37
36
H
Brunord Float
5
Dection E
C
2
39-A
3P A
27 - B
H
Bernard Flest
t
12
C
27-A
27
26
25
24
10
8
6
4
2
Ships
AI.V.C.
33
29
28
X
H
H
32-1
5
3
30
23
15
B
H
Z
Public Landing
7-A
50
2 4
52
Richardson Flest .
BE
50A
51-A
IS
17
19
32
33-14
28
29
30
3/
130
St.M
VUI 1
135
C
E
R
150
D
28
K-I
K
27
33
H
14
G
C
13
H
32
37
139
Community 22
5
20
3
22-7
B.f. V.C.
25A
-
37-B
10
16
14
H
N
-
92-0
=
33-C
7
5
3
1
B
51
Casco Bay
A
Plot Plan of Bustins Island by Wallace L. Sawyer - 1946 Section E Center (at one time property of Morse) separates former Merrill Holdings, Section A from B, C, and D. All lots are now privately owned except lots held by the Bustins Island Village Corporation.
16
17
13
A-1
A
Sectionc
D
136
137
21
A-2
*
4
17
6
37. E
H
26-1
H
ST. A
1-4
Z
=
35
27
20
E
Casco Bay
N
3
4
2
5
7
9
2
12
13
1
6€
1
22
124
23
-
67
7.
123
118
25
116
21
114
113
/12
110
145
164
16
120
109
10 8
5
0
12
165
156
157
15%
159
160
117
115
2
/22
155
15€
70
72
74
76
78
82
84
90
44
100
102
D
68
13
76
77
79
81
83
85
87
89
1 98
1
85 97
89
103
E
1
96%
84 F
82E
ection E
32
74
73
72
7/
70
68
i
.... A
64
63
62
H
6
F
E
I-1
54
46
45
44
B
C
D
43
42
41
10
39
38
10
12
×
24
22
20
18
16
1
3
5
7
50€
z
A
SCALE 1-100'
JUNE 1,1946
Information for this plan was taken from plans of M. N. Skalfield Brunswick, Me. Oct. 1921 of the Sweet holdings and from plans of E. C. Townsend Freeport Me. 1892, 1903, 1912 of the Merrill holdings
A
------ Original dividing live of Merrill and Surett holdings --- Proposed Roads and Let's
--
---- Danced Lot ======= Thered Roadway
+ 1855
Wallace & Sawyer Haverhill Massachusetts
82
83
Section A
30
7
70
77
76
75
37
678
ST. V
67
B. I.V.C.
SIA
61
64
58
57
56
53
52
50
19.
51
28
2
4
6
S
PLOT PLAN
B
25
OF
23
21
19
17
A
80 D
8IC
21
29
31
33
36
A
85
84
80
175
3PR
1
55
48
47
26
8
13
BUSTINS ISLAND MAINE
12.5
26
0
163
1 19
162
DIVc
A
24
1 ---
--
- -
,
14
SecT. E
Golf Course B.I.V.C.
6
0
30
A
21
Bithard Rock July 20, 1814
9./757
Little Butin Base Bay. July 12, 1993. V
Sketches by Mary F. Sawyer 1893 - 1894
22
A deed of a similar nature was conveyed by Edwin L. Morse to Henry F. Merrill the following spring, which contained the southerly end of the island and a large plot of land on the northeast side starting near Lot 1, Section A, to the present golf course, dated March 7, 1878. Some of these stone wall boundaries are visible today.
Henry F. Merrill came from Wolf Neck. His father was Josiah W. Merrill who had built and lived on the farm presently owned by F. W. Banter on Wolf Neck. Josiah was a ship joiner and skilled cabinet maker in the Briggs & Cushing shipyard. He had five children: Henry F .; Josiah P .; William G .; Sarah and Sophia. Henry F. had been in the Civil War and was held for sometime imprisoned at Andersonville, Georgia. When he was released he was in poor physical condition, having contracted small pox. He resided with his family for a few years until he bought Bustins Island, in 1876, with Morse and lived in the Stover place, while Morse lived in the Bibber house.
Josiah P. Merrill, Henry's brother, owned a profitable machine shop business in Freeport and his younger brother William G. worked for him. In 1883, Josiah P., William G. and their father, Josiah W. Merrill, acquired most of Henry's interests on Bustins, although Henry continued to reside on Bustins for many years, where he kept a cow, a horse and other farm ani- mals in the old barn.
Fred Dillingham, a nephew of Henry, tells us that when he was ten or twelve years old, he and his brother used to row over from Wolf Neck and fish near the shore of Bustins Island. He said that one could easily catch a good batch of cunners and flounders in those days. They used to visit Uncle Henry, who was staying there with a fisherman in 1880.
The Morse family came from Bunganuc, Maine, at the head of Maquoit Bay. There were several children, one of whom was born in the old Bibber house. A descendant tells us that they had a nice garden there, with cows, sheep and other animals. The Morses resided on Bustins for about four years as Morse's property went back to Stover in November of 1880.
1881
In 1881, Elisha Stover conveyed Morse's half of the island to Henry Horr. The Horrs came from one of the islands near Portland and occupied the Bibber farm house. There were five in the Horr family: Henry, Cath- erine, his wife, and three sons, William, Jake and Levi.
23
Victor Coffin, a resident of Flying Point, who had fished and lobster- ed around the bay with his father in his boyhood, tells about the Horr fami- ly. He said, "They had a fishing sloop. Sometimes they would be gone several days at a time. During the winter on the island they would live on whatever they had stored in the house cellar, such as cabbage, turnips, potatoes and pickled pork."
It is also told by Mr. Coffin that one of the Horr boys started to build on a location, which is now the golf course, on the end nearest Goose Island. The cellar hole was about half dug when they excavated some Indian bones. That quickly ended the digging in that locality. He next chose a place on the west side. Levi, it is understood, built part of the Charles B. Henderson house which stands at present on Lot 15, Section E. The other two Horrs built nearby. These houses were typical of fishermen's houses on the Maine coast with just one or two rooms. They lived there with their wives for a few years. However, during the middle nineties, Coffin said he helped one of the families move out. In a year or so one of these houses burned and later the other was moved and added to Levi's. There are two cellar holes in evidence today, all that remains of where two of these establishments formerly stood.
Another old house in this locality is the one presently occupied by the Hightower family on Lot 7, Section E. It was known for many years as the Old Fisherman's Cottage, on the west side or in more recent years "The Birches". An old letter, written by the Kelsey family revealed that it was built in the 1880's and occupied by a Chadwick family for several years.
Soon after the Henry Horrs' took up their residence in the Bibber 1885 Farm House on Bustins, arrangements were made to teach school in the old home. In an early Town Report of Freeport, 1885, we have the fol- lowing information: "George H. Hughey, a teacher, reports that there are fourteen scholars on the various islands belonging to this town. My pre- decessor, Mr. Burr, established a school in the house of Henry Horr on Bus- tins Island. There has been a winter term only. We visited it at the first of the season, but owing to the bad storm, it was not visited at the close."
In 1887 John Hackett was the teacher with eleven pupils. About 1888, a school house was built. This is the little building which is located next to the community house and is now used to house the generator, for the com- munity building.
24
The Two Horr Cottages, West Side - 1892
"The Birches" - 1888
25
Rear view of the Swett (Bibber) Farm House - 1912 School taught here 1885 - 1888
1891
On August 31, 1891, Benjamin E. Swett bought all the Horr proper- ty except the house lots occupied by the Horr sons on the west side. Mr. B. E. Swett came from Brunswick, Maine, where he had been active in busi- ness. Mr. Swett and family rented the old farm house from the Horrs the previous year, and liked it so well that they decided to buy. Besides Mr. Swett there was Amanda, his wife, and two daughters, Margaret and Evelyn.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.