History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 17

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780

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At the July term, 1791, two boys, James Tool and Francis Hilton, one eighteen and the other sixteen years of age, were tried for arson, under a charge of having set fire to the dwelling-house of William Widgery, of New Gloucester, in the night, by which it was consumed with all its contents. One of the boys had confessed that they committed the erime to avenge themselves on Mr. Widgery for flogging them. They were defended by Chief Justice Parsons, who procured their acquittal on the ground that the confession was extorted, and there being no direct evi- dence against them.

In July, 1798, Jeremiah Pote, of Falmouth, was tried and convicted of the murder of his wife. The crime was committed in a fit of jealousy, and he was sentenced to be executed in August ; but the time was extended to Septem- ber on account of his sickness. He died in prison before the time appointed for his execution arrived. Ile killed his wife with a shovel, and was supposed at the time to have been intoxicated. This man Pote was the son of Gamaliel, and grandson of William Pote, who was admitted an inhab- itant of the town in 1728, and built the two-story house near Woodford's Corner, on the old road from Portland, in which Rev. Mr. Brown lived and died. William came from Marblehead, and had seven sons, named respectively Wil- liam, Samuel, Jeremiah, Gamaliel, Elisha, Thomas, and Greenfield .*

At the United States District Court in June, 1792, a trial took place against Skinner, et al., for being concerned in the slave trade. Judgment was rendered against the defendants for fitting out a ship and importing thirteen slaves. They were fined two hundred pounds for fitting out the ship, and fifty pounds for each of the slaves im- ported. John May, Esq., of Portland, was prosecutor, who received half the fine.

In May, 1808, Joseph Drew, of Westbrook, was tried for the murder of Ebenezer Parker, a deputy sheriff, by striking him a blow with a club on the head, of which he died in the course of a week. The court was held in the meeting-house of the second parish, and, after a long and laborious trial, he was convicted and sentenced to be hung. He was executed on a gallows erected on Munjoy Hill, July 21, 1808. Drew was a blacksmith, residing at Saccarappa. Quimby, a debtor, of whom the sheriff was in pursuit, had concealed himself in Drew's shop. Drew undertook to resist the process and protect his friend; in doing which, the crime was committed which cost him his life.

CHAPTER XIII.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

Topographical Description of the Coast-Light-Houses-Portland Harbor-Topography of the Interior-River Basins-Water- Power -Elevations-Scenery-Sebago Lake.

A DESCRIPTION of the physical features of Cumberland County embraces the topography of the coast and islands, as well as that of the interior. We shall be guided in our statements respecting the former by the accurate details of the United States Coast Survey, which furnishes all the information necessary upon the subject.

TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COAST.

The county has a peculiar coast configuration, being situ- ated upon Casco Bay, which occupies the entire space be- tween Cape Small Point and Cape Elizabeth, a distance of seventeen and three-quarters miles. Its eastern headland, Cape Small Point, is in latitude 43º 42' 7.5" north ; lon- gitude 69° 49' 54" west. Its western headland, Cape Elizabeth, is in latitude 48° 33' 53" north; longitude 70° 11' 45" west. Between these two capes the bay extends up into the land an average distance of about twelve miles. It is full of islands, and the shore-line of the main land is very much cut up by rivers and indented by long and deep coves. The whole number of islands in Casco Bay is one hundred and thirty-six. Very many are fertile and under cultivation, and nearly all are inhabited. Nearly every island lies northeast and southwest, which is the general course of Casco Bay and of all the rivers and coves con- tained within its limits.

A stranger, bound to Portland, falling in with the eastern shores of the bay, would recognize Cape Small Point as the rocky point crowned with fir, but bare of all trees or vege- tation from its wooded summit to the sea, towards which it slopes easily and regularly. A bare, rocky islet south of it is Glover Rock; the bare bluff-head a little to the west- ward is Bald Head ; the half-bare and half wooded istet seen up in the bay, to the northwestward of Bald Head, is Wood Island. West of Wood Island, Mark Island will appear, low, rocky, and crowned with fir. To the westward of Mark island, a tolerably high, partly wooded island, showing on its southwestern face a peculiar, white- looking surface, dotted with scrub-growth, is Ragged Island.

A tall granite light-tower, appearing to rise from the water, well to the westward of Ragged Island, is Half-Way Rock Light-House, built on Half-Way Rock as a guide for the bay to vessels going either to the eastward or westward. It shows a fixed white light, varied by red flashes. Far to the westward of Half-Way Rock will appear the high land of Cape Elizabeth, and ou a clear day the light-house may plainly be seen. Sometimes, but seldom, Portland Ilead Light-House is visible ; but owing to its insufficient height it is hidden by its background of trees, except when the sun shines directly upon it.

New Meadows River .- The shores of Casco Bay must necessarily be described in detail; and beginning at Cape Small Point and proceeding to the westward we come to the initial point of our county, or rather its eastern shore boundary, New Meadows River, which opens into the bay

* Willis' Ilistory of Portland.

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

between Horse Island, on the east, and Cundiz Point (the southeastern end of Great Island ), on the west. We enter this river and proceed up the tide-water to Howard Point, the head of navigation on its west branch, holding Harps- well, the most eastern town of our county, on the left hand. The most important island in New Meadows River is Se- bascodegan, or Great Island, the southern end of which presents a gently sloping, wooded point, backed by high lands, thiekly settled and under cultivation. This island forms the western shore of the river, from its mouth to Foster Point, five miles above. It is split into three low points. The westernmost, forty feet high, is called West Cundiz Point ; the middle, East Cundiz Point, and between the two is a narrow cove, known as Cromwell Cove. The easternmost point is called Fort Point, and between it and East Cundiz is Sandy Cove. Two hundred yards south from East Cundiz Point lies a low, bare islet, called Rogue Island, quite bold-to on its eastern shore. The true month of New Meadows River lies between this island and Bear Island, on the eastern shore. It is three-quarters of a mile wide and perfectly unobstructed.

Long Island lies in a north and south direction along the eastern shore of Great Island, and is a mile and three-eighths in length and quite narrow. At high water there is a pas- sage between Long and Great Islands for light-draught ves- sels, but it is bare at low water. Long Island is partly cleared and under cultivation. From Woodward Point northward the western shores of New Meadows River are undulating, of moderate height, and present an appearance of cultivated farm homes. About a mile above the point is Cushman's Wharf, where ship-building was formerly a considerable business, but the wharf and ship-yard are now deserted and fast falling into decay.

One mile and a quarter above Woodward Point, and about a quarter of a mile above Cushman's Wharf, the river divides, the main channel going off to the northeast- ward, close to the eastern shore, and on the western side a deep bay. bare at low water, called Middle Bay. Between Middle Bay and the main channel is a high, round hill, facing the southern end of the peninsula separating the two bodies of water. This is Iloward Point. Its crest and part of its sides are wooded. its shore is steep, and at its southern extremity is built a large stone wharf, for the use of vessels loading with stone from a large granite quarry, where formerly considerable business was done. Half a mile above this the river is spanned by a permanent bridge, and it is the head of navigation.

Quohog Bay .- Next westward of New Meadows River, on the coast-line of this county, is Quohog Bay. This bay is formed by a deep indentation in the southern shore of Great Island, and is an excellent harbor of refuge, although other- wise of no commercial importance. The entrance to it for vessels is between Yarmouth Island on the east, and Long Point, the southwestern point of Great Island.

Ridley Cove lies between the west shore of Cundiz Point and Yarmouth Island. It affords excellent anchorage, being from five to seven fathoms deep in any part of it. It is nearly a mile long and three-eighths of a mile wide. The northern side of this cove is bounded by two small islands, -Great llew Island and George Island. A small islet

ealled Bush Island forms the western boundary of a narrow but available passage, with not less than twenty-one feet of water, from Ridley Cove to Quohog Bay.

The land to the westward and northward of Long Point rises very gradually to a height of about eighty feet, and about a quarter of a mile to the northward a bluff-head eighty feet high extends into the bay. Behind this to the northward rise the high lands of Great Island, diversified with cleared and cultivated slopes, settlements, and thickly- wooded hills.

The channel west of Pole Island to Quohog Bay is eight fathoms deep as far as the north end of the island, and beyond that not less than four fathoms. The eastern chan- nel has five fathoms as far as the north end of Pole Island, and not less than four as far as Central Island .*

The Gurnet is a long and narrow cove contained between the southern part of Great Island and Orr's Island. There was formerly a strait or passage between Great Island and the northeastern end of Orr's Island, but it is now bridged, and all communication eut off, except for small boats. The Gurnet is two miles long, half a mile wide at its mouth, and gradually contracts, until at its head it is not a quarter of a mile in width. It is of no importance except as a har- bor of refuge in northerly storms, and little even then, as vessels prefer to run into Stover Cove or Harpswell Harbor, or to anchor on the northern end of Bailey Island.

Will's Straits, leading into Harpswell Sound, are used as a cut-off for light-draught vessels, fishermen, and yachts. They are narrow and extremely crooked, but average six feet at low water. Mackerel Cove, a deep indentation on the southwestern side of Bailey Island, is also a good tem- porary harbor, with five or six fathoms at low water. It is a great resort for fishermen.

Moriconeag and Harpswell Sounds .- Next westward of the Gurnet are Mericoneag and Harpswell Sounds, which are formed by an arm of the sea extending in a northeast- erly direction for seven miles to the mouth of Stover River. On the east this arm of the sea is bounded by Bailey, Orr's, and Great Islands, on the west by Hlaskell Island and a long peninsula of the main land called Harpswell Neck. The southernmost part of this body of water is called Meri- coneag Sound; the northern part, from Stover Point to the mouth of Stover River, Harpswell Sound. Upon the summit of Little Mark Island, a bare and bald rock lying a few hundred yards southwest of Haskell Island, is built a square stone obelisk fifty feet high as a guide to vessels passing through the bay or bound into llarpswell. It is a conspicnons mark when standing in from sea anywhere be- tween Cape Small Point and Cape Elizabeth, and is known as Mark Island Monument. It was formerly painted in perpendicular black and white stripes, but long exposure to the weather has bleached the black and obliterated the white, so that it now has a uniform, dingy-gray color. Its geographical position is, latitude, 43º 42' 32" N .; longi- tude, 70° 1' 53" W.

The southeastern end of Harpswell Neck presents a reg- ularly sloping hill about one hundred feet high, cleared and thickly settled. The land is under cultivation, as, indeed,

# United States Coast Survey.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

is most part of the peninsula. On its southern side it sends off a long, low, roeky point, nearly three- quarters of a mile long and very narrow, called Potts Point. Between this and the northern end of Ilaskell Island is the eastern en- trance to a most commodious land-locked harbor called Potts Harbor.

Harpswell Neck is an irregular-shaped peninsula, about eight miles long, making off from the main land in a south- west direction between Ilarpswell Sound on the cast and Middle Bay on the west. Its shores are much indented by coves, the principal of which are Stover Cove or Harpswell Harbor, on the east side of the Neck, Clark Cove, Merri- man Cove, Widgeon Cove, Mill Cove, also on the cast side and of little importance, being nearly bare at low water. Long Cove, ou the northern side of Orr's Island, is about a mile and a quarter in length, and only about two hundred yards wide. Its shores are from eighty to one hundred and twenty feet high, and perfectly sheltered. On the south side is Lowell Cove, nearly a mile and a half long, and one- third of a mile wide at its mouth. It affords good anchor- age in from three to five fathoms.

Long Reach .- On the northern side of Great Island there is a long cove running to the southwestward, two miles and a quarter, with an average width of five hundred yards. This is Long Reach, and it nearly cuts Great Island into two parts. A strip of land seventy-five yards wide alone separates the head of the reach from another narrow and irregular-shaped cove, which makes in on the eastern side of the island abreast of Pole Island, and one mile and a half above Long Point. Long Reach has thir- teen feet at low water seven-eighths of a mile from its mouth.

Broad Sound .- Next to the westward of Mericoneag Sound is Broad Sound, extending to Middle and Maquoit Bays, which lie on the western side of Harpswell Neck. There is no commeree in either of these bays, but vessels of large size are often built there. Both afford good anchor- age, with from two to six fathoms at low water. Broad Sound is bounded on the north by Stockman and Whale- boat Islands ; on the east by Little Birch, Upper Flag, and Ilaskell Islands; and on the west by Stave, Ministerial, and Bates Islands, and a group of bare rocks and rocky islets lying south of Bates Island. The most prominent of these rocks is called the Brown Cow, or the Brown Cow of Broad Sound. Eagle Island lies in the middle of the sound.

Middle Bay is contained between the western shore of Harpswell Neck on the east and a number of islands of Casco Bay on the west. On the northeast it is bounded by the main land. The bay extends northeast, is over six miles long from Whaleboat Island to its head, and little over a mile wide at its mouth, the width gradually diminishing to half a mile at Scrag Island, where it unites with Mare Point Bay. The approaches to this bay from the westward are mainly through Luckse Sound, a wide and good channel contained between Long Island and Hope Island on the west, and Crotch Island on the east. The other islands of this portion of the sound will be described hereafter.

Marquot Buy is included between Mare Point Neck and the main land. It lies northeast and southwest ; is three and three-quarters miles long, and about a mile and a quarter

wide at high water in its widest part. At low water the channel for vessels of six or seven feet draught is not over seven hundred yards wide, all the rest of the bay being oc- cupied by flats nearly bare at low water .* The entrance to this bay is between Mare Point on the east, and a low, bare point of the main land, called Little Flying Point, on the west. There are several islands off the mouth, and the passage leading to the bay is full of islands. The main land on the northwest presents the appearance of a hilly country, the slopes cleared and cultivated, and studded with houses near the summits, and the whole backed by woodlands cov- ering the erests of the hills. The land north of the head of the bay is high, in some places forming hills of one hun- dred and fifty and two hundred feet in altitude.

Freeport River .- The entrance to Freeport River lies between Moore Point on the cast, and Stockbridge Point on the west. Moore Point is the southwestern end of Wolf Neck. Stockbridge Point is the eastern extremity of a peninsula or neck of land making off from the main land on the western side. Several islands lie off the mouth of the river, the principal of which are Bibber Island, which guards the eastern side of the approach, and Great Moshier Island, which guards the western side. On the north side of Flying Point Neck is a large cove, into the northwest- ern part of which empties Little River, bare at low water throughout its length, and much of it occupied by salt meadows. Above Stockbridge Point a large cove opens on the western side of the river, between the north shore of Sta- ples Island and the main land. This is called Staples Cove, and is bare at low water. The western shores of Staples Cove are about eighty feet high, and slope gradually. Strout Point Village lies on the west bank of Freeport River about five-eighths of a mile above Stockbridge Point. The gen- eral course of the river is about northeast from Stockbridge Point to Bartol Island, a distance of a mile and three- quarters, but the channel is somewhat crooked. The principal business in Freeport River is the importation of lumber and ship timber, and the building of vessels.

At Bartol Island the river divides, one branch going to the northwestward, along the southeastern shores of Bartol, and the other running nearly north to a village on the west bank, ealled Bartol Point Village. This is the head of navigation.

Inside Passage .- There is an inside passage through Casco Bay, from Portland Harbor to Freeport River, which is commonly used by coasters when the wind or sea is un- favorable for an outside passage. This inside passage be- gins at Hog Island Ledge, upon which the large granite fort, called Fort Gorges, is situated, and runs in a north- easterly direction past Hog Island, Clapboard Island, Basket Island, Little and Great Chebeag Islands, Cousin Island, and between Great Chebeag and Littlejohn Islands, and joins the Lackse Sound Channel off Chebeag Point. The whole distance is nine miles from Breakwater Light to Chebeag Point. The water is always smooth, and the channel in most places wide and deep. Fourteen fect is the least depth at low water between Mackey Island and Fort Gorges.

# United States Coast Survey.

IHISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

Fogg Point, Cousin and Yarmouth Rivers .- One mile and three-eighths west of the entrance to Freeport River is Fogg Point, the eastern point of the common entrance to Cousin and Yarmouth Rivers. The entrance here is three- eighths of a mile wide between Fogg Point and Parker Point, which forms its western side. The land between Staples Point and Fogg Point is low and bare, with wooded slopes one hundred feet behind it. Fogg Point is one hun- dred feet high ; large flats extend from it to the southward as far as Cousin Island, there being no passage into Yar- mouth River between Fogg Point and Blaney Point. The proper channel leads between Sandy Point, the northwest- ern point of Cousin Island, and Drink water Point on the main land.

Cousin River is a narrow creek about three-quarters of a mile long, and having an average width of one-eighth of a mile. It is very shoal, having only three feet at mean low water.

Yarmouth River passes to the westward between Brown's and Parker Points, and is a quarter of a mile wide at its mouth. Its course is about west for three-quarters of a mile, and then turns abruptly to the northwest for about a mile farther, to Yarmouth Falls Village, situated on its west bank. The channel is extremely narrow, and bas but four feet at mean low water, or about thirteen feet at high water. The shores are moderately high, varying from twenty to sixty feet, mostly cleared and cultivated. The approach to Yarmouth River from Portland, or from the westward, leads between Clapboard Island and Prince Point on the main land.

Prince Point is a low, broad, cleared and settled cape, except on the summit, which is forty feet high, and occupied by groves of' trees. Behind it, to the northward, the land gradually rises to one hundred feet above high-water mark, and exhibits some of the finest farming lands in this vicinity under a high state of cultivation. Prince Point is seven- eighths of a mile west of Clapboard Island, and a mile and a hall' northwest of Mackey Island.

On the north side of Prince Point, a small cove, bare at low water, makes in about a quarter of a mile. Its northern point of entrance is Bartlett's Point, which has on its northern side a larger cove, called Mussel Cove. From this the shore takes a general northeasterly course two miles, to the entrance to Broad Cove. Three-quarters of a mile northeast of Bartlett's Point is a small creek or cove called York Landing, and one mile and one-eighth above this is Foster's Landing.

Hussey Sound runs between Peak's Island and Long Island. It has a deep, unobstructed channel, but in easterly and southerly winds there is a very ugly chopping sea, so that vessels bound to the eastward usually avoid it by pass- ing along the western shore of Long Island, through the inside passage.

Mouth of the Presumpscot .- The point of entrance to the Presumpscot River on the west is marked by Martin Point, -a long, narrow projection about sixty feet high, fringed with woods on its eastern end, and having upon its summit the large square building used as the United States Marine Hospital. Mackey Point is situated about six hundred and fifty yards northeast of it, and forms the eastern boundary to

the entrance from the bay. This point is about twenty feet high, and is cleared and settled. A drawbridge across the mouth of the Presumpscot River connects the two points. Above this, the river extends in a northerly direction to the village of Falmouth Corner, about two miles distant. Half a mile above Martin Point on the western shore of the river are situated the Casco Iron Works. This is as far as navigation for vessels usually extends, the principal trade being between this place and Portland.

Portland Harbor .- The city of Portland, which is the principal maritime port of the State of Maine, lies in lati- tude 43º 39' north, and longitude 70° 15' west. The harbor is one of the best on the coast. It is naturally di- vided into an Inner and an Outer Harbor. The latter is contained between a line joining Mackey and Great HIog Island on the northeast, Peaks Island on the east, House Island on the south, and the shores of Cape Elizabeth, from Spring Point to the breakwater, on the west.

Ilog Island Roads, properly so called, are contained be- tween Little Hog Island, Peaks, and House Island.

The Inner Harbor is formed by the waters of Fore River, which is an arm of the bay, running in a southwest- by-west direction between the peninsula upon which the city is built and the north shore of Cape Elizabeth. A bridge crossing the river, one mile and a quarter to the west- ward of the breakwater, forms the western boundary of the harbor. This bridge is called Portland Bridge, and connects the city with Cape Elizabeth. The Inner Harbor is a mile and a quarter long in a northeast and southwest direction, and at average high tide is about eleven hundred yards wide. At mean low water this is reduced to a width of about a thousand yards.

The northeastern end of the city of Portland is built upon a high hill, called Munjoy Ilill, the summit of which is one hundred and forty feet above sea level. On this hill stands Munjoy Observatory, a very prominent red tower, from which marine intelligence, such as the arrival of ves- sels, etc., is signaled. The breakwater, solidly built of granite, extends off from the extreme northern point of Cape Elizabeth in a northeast direction six hundred and fifty yards, and upon its extremity is built a lone tower, or Bug Light-House, which shows a fixed red light as a guide to vessels, to enable them to avoid Standiford Ledge, on part of which the breakwater is built. This light-house is called Breakwater Light. The light is red until past the break water, bound in, and then shows a faint red approach- ing to white, and so appears from the anchorage in the harbor.

Vessels bound to Portland from the eastward, and in- tending to pass through the bay, leave Seguin Island a mile and a half, and Cape Small Point about two miles to the northward, and steer W. \ N. for Portland Head Light. When off the cape a gray tower will be seen (if the weather be clear) bearing W. ¿ N., and distant about nine miles. This is Half-Way Rock Light-Hlouse, and will appear, until within two or three miles of it, as if standing in the water. It is built upon Ilalf-Way Rock, which is a bare, rocky islet, about sixteen feet high, situated in Casco Bay, seven miles and three-quarters E. & N. from Portland Ilead Light- House, and nine miles E. N. E. from Cape Elizabeth Light-

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History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 17

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 780

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780