USA > Maine > Waldo County > Islesboro > History of Islesborough, Maine > Part 5
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64
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
The earliest physician of whom we have knowledge, that practiced in Islesborough, was Dr. John Payne. He was here from 1830 to 1840.
The next physician was Dr. Fairfield, who married Thankful Phillips. She was a daughter of Elder Thomas Ames. He came about 1840, practicing for several years. He was a surgeon in the war of 1812; served on board the private armed brigantine called the "Scourge."
Dr. S. D. Buzzell came here about 1852, practicing here a number of years. He was well advanced in years. He moved away. The date of his death and his age are unknown.
Dr. John DeLaski came here from Fox Island about 1857. He was a man of good education, and a skillful physician. He stayed only two or three years, then inoved back to Fox Island.
Dr. Moses Dakin came here, about 1860, from Hope. He was well advanced in years when he commenced prac- ticing here. He was here a number of years, and was respected, but somewhat eccentric.
Dr. Nathaniel Davis was here for a short time, and though a regular practitioner, was not popular.
Dr. L. W. Hammons moved here in 1885, meeting with fair success. Having a large family, he thought he could do better, and moved to Belfast in 1891.
CHURCHES AND MEETING-HOUSES.
Prior to 1790 the religious privileges of the town were few. Occasionally a minister came on to the island and preached a few Sabbaths. That year Rev. Isaac Case, Baptist pastor at Thomaston, came here and preached, and in 1791 he organized the first Baptist church. The inhabitants were for many years Baptists of the old school.
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65
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
In 1794 the town voted £20 a year to Thomas Ames as minister. In 1800 the town employed the Rev. Charles Thomas to preach. Mr. Thomas married Rachel Gilkey, Jan. 30, 1788, and lived on the island many years. Rev. Charles G. Porter in his memorial address at Winthrop, 1874, says that Mr. Case came here and settled, but I doubt if he brought his family here. In 1804 Mr. Case baptised forty-three persons, who were admitted to the church. The same year Thomas Ames was ordained pastor of the church, continuing until 1809, when he removed to Hope.
In 1809 Rev. Lemuel Rich was ordained pastor of the church. He was born at East Machias, Jan. 10, 1780. He married, while here, Grace, daughter of John Gilkey. Published Feb. 16, 1810. He was dismissed in 1819, and removed to Union or Hope, where he died in 1864.
About 1832 Rev. Ephraim W. Emery came. He mar- ried here Temperance, widow of Stephen Pruden. Pub- lished March 10, 1832. She was daughter of Benjamin Williams. He continued here until after 1834.
Rev. William J. Durgin was ordained pastor of the church in March, 1843. He died here Dec. 19, 1868.
In 1845 the church membership was one hundred and twenty-eight. Since this time many other Baptist minis- ters have preached here.
Many of the inhabitants came to meeting in their boats. They brought their dinners with them, and would remain till the afternoon service. Some came on horseback, their wives riding on behind, the children walking with their shoes in their hands, and when they got to church putting them on. The inen were dressed with long-tailed coats made of blue broadcloth, with bright brass buttons, with a ruffled shirt and a buff vest, a red handkerchief, part of which would hang out of their coat pocket. The
9
66
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
ladies were dressed with short waists and short skirts ; their feet covered with shoes, with a black silk bow or a buckle on top; a ruffle round the neck, and a head dress called a calaslı.
The first meeting-house was built wholly or in part by the town. It was occupied by the Baptists, and by the town for town meetings. It was begun soon after 1794, and completed in 1804. The building was thirty-seven by forty, two stories high, and but a single door. It was neatly finished inside and out. There were sixteen large windows. The porch was about sixteen feet square on the ground and sixteen feet high, divided into two rooms, and a stairway to go up into the galleries. The house was twenty feet posts, with a hip roof. It was placed nearly north and south, and the pulpit was in the north end, with winding stairs leading up to it. In front of the pulpit on the ground floor, was what was called the deacon's seat. The galleries ran around three sides of the house. Across the south side were the singing seats oppo- site the altar. The galleries were nine feet wide, with four rows of seats rising one above the other. The under part was plastered. It was finished with heavy inould- ings. The galleries were supported with heavy columns and finished with capitals. The work was done in a thorough and workmanlike manner. In 1794 the town raised fifty pounds to build the house, but it was not com- pleted till 1804, when they had their first meeting. Mr. Mark Dodge did the stone work, and laid the underpin- ning. Simon, his brother, worked with him. Capt. Stephen Pendleton and Noah Dodge loaned money to the town for the house. There was no steeple or chimney, and 110 means of warming the house were provided.
Tithing-men were chosen by the town, whose special duty was to enforce regulations for observing the Sabbath.
68
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
[Ground plan of the Second Baptist Meeting-House, built in 1845, with the names of the pew-holders.
Daniel Hatch
Prudence
Williams
James
Sherman
Minister
Pulpit
Church
Lorenzo
Pendleton1
Catherine
Sherman
Joseph
Boardman
I3
I4
I5
I6
42
4I
40
39
Daniel Hatch
12
I7
Dea. John Pendleton
Dea. Thomas Gilkey
38
43
Elisha Pendleton
John Gilkey
II
18
Dea. James Hatch
Roscoe Gilkey
37
44
Nelson Gilkey
Robert Trim
IO
61
Avery Gilkey
Elsie Pendleton
36
45
Thomas Williams
George Hatch
6
20
Eben Babbidge
Winsor Williams
35
46
Charles Pendleton
Emma Farrow
00
2I
James Hatch
Edwin Eames
34
47
O. F. Scott
Catherine Pendleton
7
22
Amasa Hatch
Benjamin Hatch
33
48
F. C, Pendleton
Emily Pendleton
0
23
Nathaniel Hatch
William Dodge
32
49
Judson Philbrook
Calvin Sherman
5
24
Luther Farnsworth
Charles Dodge
31
50
Justina Thomas
Joseph Pendleton
4
25
Simon Sprague
David H. Rose
30
5I
Anna Pendleton
Richmond Pendleton
3
26
Dolly W. Farrow
William Farrow
29
52
James F. Grindle
Jamies B. Adams
2
27
Henry Boardman
Noah Dodge
28
53
Emery Williams
Isaac Warren
I
54
Pyam Hatch
Door
Door
Door
Door
.
-
.EM
FREE BAPTIST CHURCH.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
69
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
The Free Baptists built a meeting-house at the northerly end of the town in 1843. Elder Ephraim Coombs was the first preacher there the same year.
[Ground plan of the Free Baptist Meeting-House, built in 1843, with the names of pew-holders.]
Philip Coombs
Ephraim
Coombs
Jonathan
Coombs
Silas
Bunker
Solomon1 Sprague
Lincoln
Coombs
Pulpit
I2 Benj. R. Redman
15 Alonzo Wyman
.36 George A. Warren
39 Judith Wyman
II Pillsbury Coombs
Austin Trim
35 George Warren
40 Benjamin Ryder
IO Philena Warren
I7 Wilson Coombs
34 Elizabeth Sprague
41 Thomas H. Parker
9 Isaac Burgess
18 Rathburn D. Sprague
33 Mary J. Warren
42 Edgar Bunker
8 John Veazie
19 Andrew P. Gilkey
32 William Veazie
43 Millard Parker
7 Martin Coombs
20 Emery N. Bunker
3I David H. Rose
44 Noah D. Rose
6 Gamaliel Pendleton
2I Pillsbury Coombs
30 Otis Coombs
45 Samuel Marshall
5 Henry Coombs
22 John Veazie
29 Solomon Coombs
46 George Dix
4 William Ryder
23 Joseph Grover
28 Solomon Haynes
47 Edwin Coombs
3 Stephen Knowlton
24
27 McFarland
18 Andrew Marshall
2
25
26 Jairus Coombs
49 Shubael Pendleton
T William Coombs
50 Simon Dodge
Door
Door
Door
Door
13
14
37
38
70
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
The following is a list of ministers or preachers in Islesborough, with the year in which their names appear on the records :
Rev. Thomas Amnes, 1789-1807.
Rev. Charles Thomas, 1800.
Rev. Lemuel Rich, 1810.
Rev. John Still, about 1810.
Rev. Enoch Stedman, 1817.
Rev. Samuel Macomber, 1825.
Rev. Ephraim H. Emery, 1831-'42, here again 1873-'76.
Rev. Varnum S. Rose, 1844-'65, born in Islesborough.
Rev. William J. Durgin, 1844-'67, died Dec. 19, 1868. Rev. John Clark, 1849-'56.
Rev. A. Ross, 1850.
Rev. D. Small, 1855-'56.
Rev. William Small, 1856.
Rev. Aaron Clark, 1857.
Rev. Edward Turner, 1858-'60.
Rev. James Small, 1861.
Rev. J. R. Bowler, 1861-'62.
Rev. C. M. Roades, 1866-'69, again 1872-'75.
Rev. N. E. Everett, 1870.
Rev. Jabez Fletcher, 1875.
Rev. N. A. Avery, 1879.
Rev. Ephraim Coombs, born in Islesborough, died 1872.
Rev. Joshua Pendleton, of Islesborough, died at Isles- borough.
Rev. Hugh R. Hatch, born in Islesborough May 20, 1865.
Rev. J. K. West, 1886, Free Baptist.
Rev. William A. Atchley.
Rev. David Haggett, 1877.
Rev. - MacMaster, 1865.
71
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
FRAGMENTARY HISTORY AND INCIDENTS.
In the war of 1812, when the English ships were in Castine, there was a neutrality established between the settlers on the island, on account of its situation. The inhabitants found a ready market for their produce. Everything that they had to sell brought good prices, and to a certain extent they reaped a harvest. They had but little land under cultivation, and their supply was limited. Their money being scarce, they would get together all that was possible to obtain, and carry it to Castine, and sell to the English ships. The neighboring towns hearing of this, would bring their produce over to the island, the island people carrying it to Castine as their own produc- tion; the English thinking Islesborough the garden of Eden. Their action on this occasion was not patriotic, but considering the hard times they had to get along, they were excusable in a manner; and in those days, as well as the present, they sacrificed principle for inoney. The neutrality was not carried out to the letter, in the case of Mr. Henry Boardman. He had a yoke of oxen, which the English wished to purchase for beef. On his refusing to sell the oxen they told him they would take them with- out paying for them. Discretion being better than valor the oxen1 were sold.
Upwards of seventy families were here in 1812 and 1813. Great hardships were endured in consequence of the high cost of the necessaries of life. Some, without doubt, would have entered the military or naval service, but on account of their insular situation they were not permitted to join either side. The inhabitants were not hostile to the United States government. The harsh and frigid re- alities of war were sensibly felt. Commerce was at all end, and hardly a coaster dared venture out of the harbor. The price of provisions was fabulous: flour twenty dol- lars per barrel ; molasses one dollar and a half per gallon ;
72
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
tea from two to three dollars per pound ; coffee forty cents per pound .*
Scarcely half a century has passed since the inhabitants would carefully rake up the ashes over the coals in their fire places, when retiring for the night, as they had no means of lighting their fires excepting by a flint and steel, which was kept in a tinder box. This process of getting fire was obtained with considerable trouble, so if their fire went out they would often go to their nearest neighbor and get a fire-brand or some live coals (in a box with a handle, which was made for that purpose). The first inatches were of lucifer or sulphur, ignited by drawing through sand paper. They were introduced here about 1839. Afterwards a match called locofoco became univer- sal, and at the present time when a person goes very early to a neighbor's house, he will often be greeted with "Did you come after fire ?"
The first inhabitants, after clearing a part of their land and building their log cabin, next provided themselves with a boat, which was indispensable to them. It was used for fishing, going to mill, to cross to the main land, to sell their produce and get their stores, and was used on Sunday to go to meeting ; not to attend divine worship or go to church, but simply to go to meeting. Some of the inore wealthy, about the year 1815, purchased horses, and the first six that were in Islesborough were owned by Ratlıburn Dodge, Jonathan Parker, Mighill Parker, Wil- liam Pendleton, John Pendleton and Joseph Boardman. They would ride on horseback, their wives sitting behind them on a pillion, when going to meeting or visiting some of the neighbors. The first carriage was owned by Rath- burn Dodge, and was called a "chaise."
*Williamson's History of Belfast, page 435.
73
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
When the first settlers came here the island was mostly covered with spruce, with a scattering of beech, birch and miaple. All that had ever been here to stop were the Tar- ratine Indians, who would visit the island in the summer. The waters abounded in fish and the shores in clams. The wild ducks were plenty in the coves, and on the shore hatched their young. The wild fox dug his hole unscared. The mink was plenty on the rocky shores, with none to molest but the Indian, who paddled his birch canoe along the shores a few weeks in summer. Tradition informs us that the salmon were so plenty that the first town poor protested against being served with salmon more than twice a week.
The island was taken up mostly in lots of one hundred acres. After felling the trees not more than one-third of the land was fit to cultivate, the residue being ledgy and swampy. The land that they could cultivate produced bountifully. One of their principal crops was potatoes, which they would ship to Boston, where they would get nine pence (121/2 cents) per bushel. The average price paid for their land to the proprietors was about one hun- dred and twenty-five dollars for each farm. They built their houses one story, with three rooms, bedroom and buttery on the ground floor. They had one chimney in the centre of the house, which would take ten thousand bricks to build. The fire-place in the kitchen would burn cord wood six feet long. «The kitchen was orna- mented with a pole hung from the ceiling used for drying pumpkins, herbs, clothes, etc., with a gun hung up on the partition. They used sand on the floors and cedar boughs for a broom.
The people were united, and would often club together and build a coaster, which their sons would often take charge of at the age of twenty years. Their money was principally Spanish milled dollars. Their hospitality was 10
74
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
unlimited, and the stranger found a welcome at their table. Honesty and plain dealing were characteristic of them. The children were brought up to respect the aged, always using the title "sir" to the men, and would take off their hats or make a courtesy. Their carriages were supported by thorough-braces for springs, and were so well inade that they would last for half a century. The first sleigh had but one thill, with tugs hitched to a whiffle - tree. Now the supposed inillionaire summer guest, with his span of horses and his barouche, rides the streets, while those who are native here, and "to the manor born," look on with an amused surprise which he hardly appreciates.
Mr. Mark Dodge owned an island in east Penobscot bay by the name of Beach Island, which he deeded to his son Joseph. He got Esquire Nash to make out the convey- ance. When he signed the deed he wrote his name in capital letters. "Why did you sign your name all in capitals, Mr. Dodge?" asked the justice. "Did you not know that Mark Dodge was a capital man, sir ?"
Jack Farrow was a dog that was a friend to every- body, and every one was friendly to Jack. He would go to church early Sunday morning with the man who had charge of the house, and lay by the stove through the service, and after meeting come home. One Sunday another dog came into church, and Jack pitched in for a fight. The deacon got up to put the dogs out, when an old lady rose and said, "Don't you put Jack Farrow out. He is all the one of the family that goes to meeting."
Jack Richardson was a Frenchman. He lived on an island known as Frenchman's Island. He was a very short and thick-set man. He would get a little too m111ch of strong drink, though in this respect lie was only follow- ing the example of many of the settlers. There was a minister by the name of Pullen, who went to visit Jack,
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75
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
and after showing him the evil of his ways he (Jack) promised to do better. So the minister left him on proba- tion, and would return and baptize him. When he came back to the island, and was ready to perform the services, Jack said, "Brother Pullen, let us take a drop of grog before we go into the water." "Oh, no, brother Richard- son." "You refuse to drink with Jack? Go to hell, then." There lived on the same island a inan and his wife named Nichols. There was born to them a boy and a girl. This being Jack's paradise, he insisted and had them named Adam and Eve.
Joshua Dodge was a salmon fisherman. He came from his nets one day and had twelve salmon in his boat. John Bowden, who was a town pauper, was on the shore when Mr. Dodge landed. "Them are nice fish, Mr. Dodge." "Johnny, I will give you one," said Mr. Dodge. "Oh, 110 ! I shall dirty my clothes if I take one home."
The hardships of some of the first settlers, in the Revo- lutionary war, were severe. The case of Esq. John Gilkey was peculiarly hard. He settled on the point where the light-house now stands, and from him the harbor derives its name. He had five small children, and but one cow. He was at work in the field, when a privateer boat came on shore and by force made him go with them in the boat, leaving everything just as it was. He was gone nearly three years from home, all of this time never hearing from his family, his wife having a hard time with her small children. One day a boat came, full of men, and took her cow and butchered it, she begging them with tears run- ning down her cheeks ; saying that it was all she had, and if they took her cow her children would starve. He was at last released, and landed on White Head, an island on the coast of Maine in the Mussel Ridge channel, where he started on foot and walked home, hiding in the daytime and walking nights. At Lincolnville he found an Indian
76
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
canoe, in which he crossed the bay, and at last got home. He received a pension from the United States govern- ment towards the last of his life.
One of our young men in charge of a coasting vessel, coming home from a trip, anchored in Sabbath-Day har- bor on a foggy night, paid out forty fathoms of chain, furled the sails, manned the boat and permitted the crew to go home. The captain went to see his sweetheart. There was very little wind in the night, but in the morn- ing the schooner was ashore on the beach at the head of the harbor. With some surprise the captain went to the schooner. Sure enough there were forty fathoms of chain in the hawse, but the anchor was on the bobstay.
There is a story of one of the old persons, who did not agree with his nearest neighbor; but when there was any stone work to do-laying cellar wall or building stone wall-they always worked together. One of them died suddenly, and the other began to lay up wall alone. He was laying up a cellar wall, when a passer-by said to him, "Don't you wish that uncle (mentioning his name) was here to help you complete the wall?" "Well, yes, if he would go straight back to Tophet as quick as the wall was laid up."
The use of ardent spirits was a source of more or less dissatisfaction among the people in early days. On one occasion a member of the church, who was in the habit of inaking too free with intoxicating liquor, was dealt witli by the church. The charge was proved against him, and he was to be suspended. The presiding minister said, "Brotlier, what have you got to say why you should not be expelled ?" "Well, I confess that I have done wrong, but the last time that I drank any liquor, you and I drank it together when we were in Providence."
ISLESBOROUGH SKETCH.
SHORE RAVINE, NORTH ISLESBOROUGH.
77
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
DESCRIPTIVE.
The points of interest on the island of Islesborough are numerous and varied. A great diversity of scenery greets the stranger when driving from Turtle Head to the south- ern end of the island. The scenery along the east and west bays is especially striking. Jutting promontories and headlands, stern ledges and boulders, beautiful beaches covered with sand and pebbles, and numerous coves, are observable on either side and along the entire length of the island. The east and west bays are dotted with sails of every description; schooners, yachts and steamboats lend enchantment to the view. The roads are fringed on either side with evergreens, and the houses are neat and modest. The landscape is one of fields and pastures. Away in the west are seen the mountains of Camden and Northport, and in the east Cape Rosier, Blue Hill, and Isle au Haut. No scenery, to my mind, is superior to that of the grand Penobscot bay from some of the points overlooking its eastern and western branches.
Being surrounded by water, the thermometer does not rise so high nor fall so low by several degrees as on the main shore. There is a difference, in very cold weather, between the east and the west side, of two and three de- grees ; the north-west winds sweeping the westerly shore, and driving the snow in heaps, while the east side remains comparatively level. The southerly and easterly winds are mild in comparison with the northerly and westerly winds in the winter. Violent north-west winds were fre- quent in the winter months, lasting two or three days, with a change of temperature. The thermometer would often go below zero. For the last ten or twelve years the north-west winds have not blown with the same severity that they did formerly, and there has been a noticeable change in the climate in this respect.
78
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
In 1780 the winter was particularly severe. Travelers went on foot across the ice. The celebrated dark day occurred May 19.
1786-'87. Intense cold. Ice was formed in the bay so thick that when the water rose, rocks of large size were lifted from their beds.
1793. October 31, snow fell six or eight inches.
1798. Snow fell Nov. 16 and remained until April. The spring was early.
1810. January 19, cold Friday ; violent storm; change of temperature, forty-six degrees in fifteen hours.
1816. For the first time during a period of thirty-five years the bay was frozen over. The coldest summer on record in Europe and America. June II, ice froze one- fourth of an inch thick. July 5, ice froze the thickness of window glass. Corn was frozen in August so that it was cut for fodder. There was frost and ice every month in the year, and the farmer was discouraged. Some built brush fires around their corn-fields, and succeeded in rais- ing corn for seed. The inhabitants generally feared a famine, so great was the scarcity of food. They lived principally on fish, as there were no vegetables grown excepting potatoes, in sheltered localities.
1818. The bay frozen, and the people going to Castine and Belfast on the ice until March 23.
1821. Snow-storin October 19, snowing the whole day.
1823. June 9, heavy frost. Ice formed the thickness of window glass. Nothing in the history equal to the drought of that year, before or since. Rivers dried up, vegetation withered; cattle were driven for miles to water, and September 29 there was a considerable fall of snow.
1826. The thermometer in this locality twenty-four degrees below zero.
79
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
1828. The winter was the mildest ever known.
1829. Roads obstructed by heavy drifts. May 25, the thermometer in this vicinity indicated ninety-five in the shade.
1830. June 7, heavy frost. July 16, the thermometer ninety-two in the shade in the vicinity. July 18 and 19 it was ninety-six.
1832. April 28, a snow-storm which continued thirty- six hours.
1833. March 14, snow very deep. Nearly all the har- bors east of Cape Cod closed by ice.
1835. February 8, the bay frozen to the outer islands. Horses and sleighs crossed the bay until March. The longest continuation of severe cold perhaps ever known in the State by the white inhabitants. A great scarcity of hay. Mr. Benjamin Ryder went on the ice to Isle au Haut, from Fox islands.
1837. January I a snow-storm commenced, snowing five days that week. The drifts were very deep, and there was no traveling by teams for four or five days.
1839. April 18 (Fast Day) there was a heavy fall of S110W.
1840. April 27, rain and snow, and frost the first day of June.
1843. January 4, the coldest day for three years.
1844. January 27, coldest day for the winter. Ther- mometer twenty-five degrees below zero in Belfast. The bay frozen to the outer islands.
1845. April 26, a snow-storm. A total failure of the potato crop, on account of the potato rot.
1848. An open winter.
80
HISTORY OF ISLESBOROUGH.
1849. Extremely cold on February 16. Bay frozen, and so remained for ten days. Persons crossing the bay on ice-boats.
1850. April 13, a snow-stormn. Heavy fall of snow for the season of the year.
1853. February 13, the most severe storm of the sea- son. It is said that no storm had occurred on that date before for one hundred and two years.
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