USA > Maine > Knox County > South Thomaston > History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, A. D. 1605; with family genealogies, Vol. I > Part 2
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockland > History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, A. D. 1605; with family genealogies, Vol. I > Part 2
USA > Maine > Knox County > South Thomaston > History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, A. D. 1605; with family genealogies, Vol. I > 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 | 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
CONTENTS.
CRAP. XVI. Rev. E. Merrill missionary in 1813 & '14. --- North Parish affairs for 1815 & '16, Rev. J. Weston. - South Parish, Baker reclaimed, revival, &c -2d Thomaston Baptist church, p. 309. - Foreign Missionary Society. --- A late snow stormn. --- Celebration of Fourth of July. --- S. S. Wilkinson. --- School tax increased, vote on town division, p. 311. --- Clothing mills and clothiers. --- Oakum. --- Wolves. p. 312. -- Toll bridge. 1816. Store on town-landing, J. Faine, p. 515. --- Business at Mill River. --- Schs. Lavinia and Catharine. --- Dodge and Healey. Holland lace, tan- ning &c., G. Robinson. --- Vote on separation, Brunswick convention, William M. Dawes, p. 314. -- Season, death of Godding. 1817. Deputy collector's office and officeis. --- Rev. J. H. Ingraham. 315. --- Silver Grey Light Infantry. --- Pound. --- dram drinking in stores. --- Change in the sea- sons. 1818. Dr. Kellogg, J. Ruggles, p 316. --- Shipwreck of sloop Asa. --- Closing notice of Elder Baker --- p. 317. 1819. Death of Drs. Cushing and Dodge, p 318. --- Gloyd, A. Rice, --- buildings, &c. --- Meetings changed to April. --- Charitable society, p. 319. --- Separation, delegates to Portland Convention, and adoption of the Maine Constitution. 1820. First repre- sentative under it. --- Brick meeting-house, p. 320. --- Methodist Society, p. 321. 1821. Annual meeting, --- vote on workhouse. --- State election, --- licenses by town. --- Price of lime put up. --- Rev. S. Fogg ordained, Mr. Ingraham, &c., p. 322. 1822. Moral society. --- Death of D. Fales, p. 323. --- North Parish bell renewed, --- drought, &c. --- Prosperity, p. 324. --- Smuggler Fox, p. 325. --- Regimental muster. --- Fourth of July, --- cas- ualties, O. Robbins, Jr., Esq., and O. Fales. --- Mr. Ingraham and revival. --- Mrs. Swan's letters on Thomaston affairs, p. 326. 1823. G. Mellen, &c. --- Changes in the Knox family, settlement of the estate, &c., p. 329. --- More letters. --- Mellen's career, p. 334. .
CHAP. XVII. Remonstrance against division of County. --- Plan of town. --- State Prison, p 335. --- Parties, 4th July celebrations, p. 337. --- Post Office, --- suit for missing money, p. 338. --- Alpha society. --- first car- avan of wild animals, --- muster at Blackington's corner, p. 339. --- Light- ning, drought, cook-stoves, &c., Lunar rainbow, business, p. 340. --- Steamboat line. --- Death of Dr. Bernard and Col, Coombs. --- Temperance societies, p. 311. 1824. Weather, crops, &c., p. 343. -- Business, sail- making, pump and block making, watchmakers. --- George's Hotel, J. Copeland, Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. Hyler, p. 344. --- East Thomaston or Rock- land Post Office, its history down. --- Fire companies, Alpha Society cele- brate independence, p. 345. --- Visit of steamboat to the river. --- Muster and soldiers' rations. --- Mr. Ingraham's difficulties, council, &c., --- Cas- . ualties, p. 345. --- Death of Miss Paine, Mrs. Knox, &c., p. 347. 1825. Thomaston Bank, p. 348. --- Thomaston Register, p. 349. - - Independent Journal. --- School agents and books; Haynes. Cilley, Farley, Ludwig and his students, p. 350. --- Merrill. --- St. John's celebration, Gen. Lafayette, p. 351. --- 4th of July at Wessaweskeag. --- Muster. Thomaston Guarde, Last Thomaston riffe company, --- casualties, --- p. 352. --- Weather. dysentery, crops, Milo and other vessels. --- Business, Owl's Head light-house and keepers, p. 353.
CHAP. XVIII. 1825. Green & Foster- rope walk - Elliott, Meterif, &c. --- Mill River bridge widened --- lottery tickets --- end of North Parish, Universalists, Ist Cong. church, p. 354 --- Sabbath schools --- weather, dis- eases, casualties, p. 356 --- Cleland : Bartlett, his death and that of Sprague and Jeninison --- The 4th at Mill River. 1527. Increase of business, p. 357. --- East Thomaston, its first law office. --- mails, --- small-pox, p. 568. -- Insanity, --- attempt at change in lime inspecting. -- Mechanic's Asso- ciation. --- Aid to Greeks, Mr. Cieland, p 359. --- freshet, &c. 1828. Town- landing, Albee, &c. --- Schools, p 360. --- Knox house, Commercial house, Stimpian's or Mason's Hall, --- statistical account of the place, p. s.i. --- Lime-kilns and wharves, - first side-walk -. ornamental trees ve., p. 502. -- Thomaston Mutual Fire Insurance Company. --- Post Other burnt Weather, p. 363. --- Casualties. 1829. Factory burnt. --- Fire company & wardens. --- Temperance, p 364 --- Marine disasters, weather, p. 36%). --- Deer, fires, &c. --- Close of Col. Healey's business and decline of Mill River. --- R. Elliott, sail-lofts, &c , p 306.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. XIX. 1830. Weather, loss of schs. Thomas, Fame, and Brad- ford. --- Census. --- Independence at East Thomaston. p. 367. 1831. Ste- vens, Lowell; Cilley popular. Ruggles judge. --- Bridges rebuilt .. --- Rob- inson and Singer, p. 368. --- Marble and business, Lime Rock Hotel, --. Weather and disasters --- 4th July at Mill River. p 369. 1832. Washing- ton centennial birthday, debating clubs, &c. --- Thomaston Coal & Mineral Company, p. 370, -- Weather. bridge, sea wall. --- Maintenance of poor, p. 371. --- Board of health --- Ruggles & Cilley parties, p. 372. --- The National Republican, &c. 1833. Town-house, and place of meetings. --- First Bap- tist church in Rockland, p. 374. --- Lawyers. Abbots and Smith. p. 375. --. Store burnt, first reservoir, --- Severe winter, lightning. --- Mill River bridge. 1834. George's Insurance Company, p. 376. --- 2d Light Infantry. --- Chandler, --- Rockland Congregational Church, p. 377. --- Christian Tel- escope, p. 378. --- Rockland Universalist Church, &c. 1835. p. 379. --- Se. vere weather. --- Superintending School Committee's report published. --- Representatives, C. Pope, p. 380. --- Fair. --- Knowles's house burnt. 1836. Poor-house built. -- Upper toll-bridge, -- Lime Rock Bank, p. 381. -- Limits of militia companies. --- Cilley to Congress, sketch of him, p. 382.
CHAP. XX. 1837. First Baptist church in West Thomaston. --- East Thomaston Marble and Lime Rock Quarry Company, p. 384. --- Owl's Head House and steamboat. The Recorder. -- Surplus U. S revenue. --- Fugitive slave, p. 385. --- Death of A. Austin. 1838. Hon. John Hohes, p. 386. --- Thomaston Theological Institution, p. 387. --- Night watches. --- East Thomaston prosperity. --- Agricultural bounties. --- Thomaston Dry Dock. --- Disaster at sea. --- Death of Cilley, and consequent proceedings,; p. 388. --- E. Robinson, his successor, p. 394. --- Death of Farley, p. 395.
CHAP. XXI. 1839 The East Thomaston Republican. --- Aroostook war. --- Independence. --- Lime inspection project. --- O. R. bridge and sea wall rebuilt, &c., p. 396. --- Beacon. -.- Accidents at South and East Thom- aston, small pox, weather .--- Road indicted, 4th of July, political excite ment, p. 397. --- Comet, lightning, &c. --- Deaths of B. Vose and H. Prince, p. 398. 1841. No licenses voted, temperance celebrations -- Bible Society, p. 399. --- West Thomaston Universalist church, --- East Thomaston high school, J. Fogg, p. 400. --- Young la lies' school. --- Muster. --- Lightning, fire in the State Prison, death of S. I arfridge, p. 401. --- Drought, &c., --- Temperance celebrations at East Thomaston, J. Madigan, &c. --- Frigate Missouri's visit. --- Gales, p. 402. 1843. Deep snows, shipwrecks. &c. --- Death of H. Prince, jr., and J. Holmes, p. 403. --- Houses burnt. --- Tyler grip. --- Recording births, Clerk's bill. --- Thomaston Village Library As- sociation. --- Independence, p. 404. --- Donation parties. --- Georgian, Relief, and Eastern Star Lodges of I. O. of O. F. -- Town by-laws. 1844, High- ways, dog-tax, &c., p. 405. --- Cold weather, drought, whale. --- Shipbuild- ing. --- Thomaston Academy, p. 406. --- 4th of July. --- Houses burnt, brig Maine, &c., p. 407. 1845. Business flourishing, lime statistics. --- South Thomaston Post Office and masters. --- Death of S. Fales, p 408. --- Cas- ualties, and fires. --- Choice of Representatives. --- Temperance Union, and Club, p. 409. --- Sons of Temperance, Lime Rock, Kedron, Hyperion, and Wadsworth divisions. 1846. Daughters of Temperance, &c --- South Thomaston business, dam, and mills, p. 410. --- Mill River navigation, side-walks, trees, Georges Canal, &c. --- Rockland Gazette, p. 411. --- Steamers, and coasters. --- Lime Rock Fire and Marine Insurance compa ny. --- Mariners, Shibles, &c., p. 412. --- Lime and cask inspection. -- Weather, peaches, and drought. --- Fire at East Thomaston, Resolution and Boston fire engines and companies, p. 413. --- Disasters, small-pox. 1847. Registry of Deeds, p. 414. --- East Thomaston Highways, Holmes Block, Eagle Hall, steam power and iron foundry. --- Toll bridge, and other casualties, p. 415. 1818. Division of Old Thomaston, p. 416.
CHAP. XXII. Thoma-ton, changes of boundary between it and Fast Thomaston. - William Butler, I. C. Robbins. - Catholic church. -- Poor house and farm. - Telegraph office, &c., p. 418. - E. O'Brien and A. P. Gould, p. 419. - Jordan & Webb block. -- Iron foundry. 1849. Post Of-
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xii
CONTENTS.
fice at Bank Corner. - Ten-hour system. - Unitarian church, Rev. O. J. Fernald, &c., p. 420. - Store burnt, p. 422. 1850. Lincoln Miscellany, Maine Sickle. - Deaths by drowning. - Fires, p. 423 1851. Fire and Marine Insurance company. - Steamer T. F. Secor - Grade system in schools, p. 424. --- Block for Washington monument --- Weather and cas- ualties. 1952. George's Bank, &c., p. 425 --- New streets, dwellings, ship- yards, relics, lyceum and lectures, p. 420. --- File, death of shipmasitis, &c. 1853. Increase of business, shipbuilding, new streets through Knox place, &c. --- Steam mill, decrease of line-burning, p. 427. --- Aid to New Orleans --- Maine law movement --- Lock-up built --- Lightning in snow- storin, comet, accidents, p. 428. --- Suicide. 1854 Lyceum --- The Thom- aston Journal and Lincoln Advertiser --- Business, shipbuilding, steam navigation company, and boat Gen. Knox, p. 429. --- State of Maine and Eureka Fire companies, &c. --- 4th of July, p. 430. --- Drought, fires, Wal- doboro' aid --- Plums and black knot. --- Singular surgical case, p. 431. 1855. Gathering at the Prison. --- Lectures, Know-Nothings. --- Barbers. --- New road to Rockland, p. 432. --- Buildings. --- New Shipyard, division of Knox estate, p. 433. --- Knox remains, and correspondence, p. 434. 1856. Mill River channel, &c. --- Lincoln Republican, p. 436, --- Lectures, Lincoln county fair. --- Casualties. 1857. p. 437. --- May-day, prices, financial panic. --- Union block, telegraph block. - - Pearls, deaths of E. & R. Robinson, p. 433. --- Teacher's convention, fireman's parade, lyceum, literary association and libraries, --- winter of tempests, wild cat. 1858. Shipbuilding depressed, p. 430. --- Old burying ground and Elm Grove cemetery. --- Methodist church and society, p. 440. --- Accidents, fire, gale,
Donati's comet 1859. Project of new county, p. 412. -- County of Knox. -- Natural History society. -- Storms, casualties, fires, &c. 1860. Visit of Gangooly, scientific excursion, p. 443. --- Industry of the place, &c., p. 444. --- The rebellion and its effects on the shipping of the place. --- Lieut. Gilman, p. 445. --- Patriotic movements here in Spring of 1861, p. 416. --- Volunteers in 4th Me. Regiment, p. 447. -- Cilley's company in Ist Me. Cavalry, p. 448. -- Volunteers in 2d Mounted Battery, -- in 20th Me. regi- ment, p. 449, -- in 21st Me. regiment, p. 450. -- doings at other calls of the President, -- volunteers in other corps, -- and in the navy, p. 452, -- gun- boat Kennebec. - Ladies' aid, p. 453. -- United States taxes, p. 454.
CHAP. XXIII. South- Thomaston incorporated and organized. -- Peti- tions for changes, &c -- Ist Baptist church & death of Elder Snow, p 455. -- R. R. company, p. 456. -- Road from Eastman's to Bartlett's. -- House burnt. -- Vegetation. 1819. Votes on Constitutional changes, the political year. -- Accident. 1850. Weskeag Bank projected, shipbuilding, masters and ships, California emigration, p. 457. -- New roads, storms, -- losses by death, p. 453. 1851, a quiet year. -- Hearse and house. -- Schools, &c. 1852. Owl's Head breakwater. -- Death of the town's first-born child, p. 459. 1853. Accident. -- Ingrahamville. 1854. Owl's Head Post Office. -- Ship-building, mills, sail-loft, cigar-making. &c. 1855. Business at Wessaweskeag and Owl's Head. -- Bridge widened, p. 460. -- 2d Baptist church. - House burnt. 1856. Other fires, store, post-office, barn, and dwelling destroyed, p. 461. -- Severities of the winter. 1857. Weather, and losses by storms and fire. - Free lectures. 1858. Vote on the Maine liquor law, p. 452. - Depression of shipbuilding. 1859-60. Methodist and other denominations. -- Industry of the place, p. 463. -- physicians, lawyers. taverns. -- Patriotic rally and efforts, 464. -- Volunteers in the 4th and 2d Maine regiments. 2d Battery and Ist Cavalry, p. 165. -- Bounties, and vol. unteers in 19th and other regiments. -- Co. G of 28th regiment, p. 466. -- Draft of 1863. -- Volunteers in other regiments and the navy. -- Taxes, ye., p. 467. -- Close of Volume Ist., p. 468.
HISTORY
OF
THOMASTON, ROCKLAND AND SO. THOMASTON.
CHAPTER I.
SITUATION, TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.
THE territory to whose history the present work is particu- larly devoted, constituting the original town of Thomaston, from which South Thomaston and Rockland have since been separated, is most advantageously situated between the western entrance of Penobscot Bay on the east and St. George's River on the west, in the county of Knox, and State of Maine. It lies, according to the observation of Dr. C. T. Jackson; made in 1838 at the house of Hon. J. Ruggles, in 43º 56/ 12" North latitude, and according to Capt. G. Prince,* nearly in 690 2' West longitude; containing about 20,950 acres of various but generally fertile soil. Its surface is agreeably diversified ; in some parts, gently undulating ; in others, hilly and mountainous ; and in yet others, especially in South Thomaston, broken and rocky, exhibiting strong marks of the ancient and long continued warfare, during the geologic ages, between land and water, cliff and billow, in- ternal heat and external glacier. Approached from the ocean, the first object which attracts attention is Owl's Headt in
* This gentleman makes the latitude to be 44 deg. 5 min 45 sec. at the residence of C. Prince. Esq , whilst Sullivan. in his Topographical descrip- tion of Thomaston, 1791, puts it down as 44 deg. 20 min., and Holland, as 44 deg. 8 min.
+ This name, so descriptive of the object, is said, by a writer in the Belfast Republican Journal of Dec. 16, 1853, to have been first given by Thos ... Pownal, who was governor of the Province from ITS7 to 1760; but this could hardly be. as the name had obtained currency early in 1757 and is mentioned that year in the journals of Capts. Freeman and Remilly, as will appear under that date. By others it is asserted that the name is of Indian origin, and expressed in their language by a perfectly synonymous word, Mecadacut.
VOL. I. 1
2
HISTORY OF THOMASTON,
.
South Thomaston-a bluff point of trap rock extending far into the water, with its commodious Owl's Head Harbor on the south, and its more spacious Owl's Head Bay, which makes up to and forms the harbor of Rockland on the north. This headland, which at the place where the light-house stands rises to the height of 81 feet, 10 inches, has been, from the earliest discoveries, a noted land-mark for seamen, as it had been, before, to the Indians. Its excellent harbor is a common refuge in storms for vessels both from the Penobscot waters and the more eastern shores ; some hundreds of which frequently take shelter here, and their passing sails in fair weather are often too numerous for the light-keeper to enum- erate and record. The passage through, however, from Owl's Head to White Head, is a dangerous one to strangers, on ac- count of sunken ledges.
Owl's Head Bay or Rockland Harbor is capacious, deep, and sufficiently safe from storms except those from the east, from which it might easily be defended by an artificial break- water. This harbor with its shore-built city, canopied by day with the terebinthine smoke and illuminated by night with the brilliant fires of its innumerable lime-kilns, presents a pleasing appearance from the water; and, seen from the oak-crowned heights in its rear, is full of magnificence and beauty, said, by some, to be second only to the far-famed bay of Naples. On the right of the beholder in the latter situa- tion, stretches a wooded promontory abruptly ending in Owl's Head, with its light-house tower,
" White as the angel wing of hope, Firm as the rock from which it springs ;"
in front, and terminating the distant view over the bay, rises a line of picturesque islands ; and to the left, stretching calmly and fearlessly out into the ocean, is the verdant penin- sula of Jameson's Point ; whilst still farther to the north the view is closed by the bald and rugged brow of old Megunti- cook in Camden.
Approached by the river of St. George's, as was done by the first discoverers and by all who visited the territory for many generations afterwards, the land directly in front of the beholder appears sitting gracefully upon the waters, slowly rising and crowned with the majestic Madambettox to wel- come his approach. Here, in an elevated but comparatively level situation, with its fine air, elegant houses and churches, and its abundance of shade trees, fronted by the mansion of the late Gen. Knox conspicuous ever even in its decay, stands
3
ROCKLAND AND SOUTH THOMASTON.
the beautiful village of Thomaston, acknowledged by strangers to be one of the pleasantest places in Maine.
To the S. E. of this, lie the green farms of South Thomas- ton, whose principal village, though not far distant, is con- cealed from view by a high ridge of land, and situated on a beautiful stream of its own, called the Wessaweskeag.
When first explored, the region was, for the most part, covered with a heavy growth of timber ; varying in different localities from the stately pine to the oak, the ash, elm, and hemlock. Some eminences were covered with the denser foliage of the beech, maple, and birch, whilst the swamps and low grounds formed almost impenetrable thickets of fra- grant spruce and fir.
The principal elevation, and only one dignified with the name of mountain, is that mentioned by early writers as Madambettox, Mathebestick, or Methebesec,* as differently pronounced by the aboriginal tribes, and at present known, from its different occupants, as Dodge's or Marsh's Mountain. Its height above the sea-level reaches 558 feet; it is situated in the northern part of Rockland, and commands a magnifi- cent view both of sea and land. The soil especially on the top and western slope is very fertile, being derived from the decay of the micaceous and other slates of which the moun- tain is mostly composed. The plumbago and black oxide of manganese found here have been frequently mistaken for coal, of which, however, there are no real indications.
By far the most important and extensive mineral in the place is the lime-stone ; which, notwithstanding the immense quantities it has been yielding for a century past, still seems absolutely inexhaustible. The principal mass or bed of this mineral extends from George's River near the State Prison in a N. Easterly direction, through Thomaston and Rockland to Jameson's Point and Chikawauka Pond. It is said to be about a mile in width, cropping out in various places, and dipping or inclining to the horizon at an angle of some 45º or more. Another extensive and parallel bed containing the Meadow quarries, lies N. W. of this, and others, less known,
* Massabesec means, according to Judge C. E. Potter, in Vol. IV .. Me. Hist. Coll. much-pond-place ; - Massa, much ; nipe, pond, ni omitted and s put in for sound's sake; and auke, place. But, according to Mary, daughter of the old Penobscot chief Neptune, it is formed by combination and contraction as follows : - Mid, great. om, am, or um, suckers, which, with the besee or betticks, according to Potter. would make it mean Great- sucker-pond-place, implying that the pond was named first. and its name transferred to the adjoining mountain. Medomac and Medumcook are probably of kindred origin and signification.
HISTORY OF THOMASTON,
make their appearance in South Thomaston at the Marsh, on the Brown lot, and at Ash Point. Wherever found, it lies between strata of taleose, micaceous, and argillaceous slates ; which, except where interrupted and broken through by trap, form the foundations upon which the diluvial denosit of greater or less depth rests. Granite also in some places makes its appearance ; a good quarry of which in South Thomaston has been worked to some extent on the McLoon farm near the E. bank of the Wessaweskeag, a specimen of which may be seen in the Cilley monument at Elm Grove Cemetery. It is still more abundant on the neighboring islands; from one of which, Dix Island, large quantities have been exported, and known at New York and other places as Rockland granite, being usually carried in Rockland vessels. Other minerals of less importance, such as iron ore, plum- hago, beautiful crystals of quartz, calcareous spar, sulphuret of iron, and garnets, are found in different localities.
The only lake or pond of any magnitude in the whole ter- ritory, is that known in early times as Madambettox Pond, later as Tolman's, and more recently as Chikawauka Lake. This is a deep, pure, crystal sheet of water, 210 acres in ex- tent, situated one-half in Rockland, and the other half in Camden. It is much resorted to by sportsmen, anglers, and parties of pleasure. It constitutes a never failing reservoir, furnishing an inexhaustible supply to the river that is its out- let, and to the city whose enterprising citizens have conducted its purifying waters to almost every dwelling.
. The whole tract is well watered, not only by the St. George's river, ocean, and bay before mentioned, but by numerous brooks and larger streams, the principal of which are the Wessaweskeag and Mill Rivers.
The natural features of the Wessaweskeag stream, make it stand forth pre-eminently as a tide-water power, unrivaled in the State, especially if we take into consideration the capacity of the pond, and the shortness of the dam. From the old mill site, near where the bridge crosses the stream, the pond extends in length quite two miles; in full tides forming an arca of between three and four hundred acres. A hard hornblende granite or sienite ledge forms the bed of the river from above the old mill site to below the bridge, with a tolerably even surface which prevents the possibility of its gullying out, -a circumstance of the highest importance in a mill site. A dam of 70 or 80 rods catent, running to a point on the E. side of the river, would form a capacious ebb or waste pond into which factory mills might empty their
1
ROCKLAND AND SOUTH THOMASTON.
5
expended waters, while the great pond above was being re- plenished twice in every 24 hours by the flood tides of the ocean. The flow of the tides in the river is usually from six to twelve feet ; giving an average head of water of nine feet. This river is never affected by freshets; being, aside from the tide waters, an insignificant, shallow, and sluggish stream. It rises in the borders of Rockland, running south through the Great Marsh to the bridge and wharves in the present village of South Thomaston, thence S. Easterly a mile and a half to the ocean waters of the Muscle Ridge channel. Near Cherry-tree Point, at the mouth of the river, is a safe anchor- age in four fathoms ; as well as another less than a quarter of a mile from the lower deep hole inside the mouth of the river, where large -vessels lie afloat as safe almost as in a dock. Vessels drawing twelve feet of water will float at the village wharves in a full course of tides. About a half mile below are the Narrows, resembling those of the St. George's River, and which are a place of some interest from the rapid rush of waters at half tide. There is no regular run of fish in this river; but bass and sea-shad are caught sometimes in large quantities, and occasionally a few alewives; which, in early times, with salmon, shad, herring, smelts, whitings, and eels, were abundant.
Mill River, one of the principal branches of the St. George's, lies within the limits of the ancient town, traversing what is now Rockland and Thomaston. Its main branch issues from Chikawauka Pond, runs a tortuous but generally S. Westerly course, meeting the tide waters at the dam below Mill River. Bridge in Thomaston. It is navigable for vessels of 150 tons and drawing not more than eight feet of water, as far as Blackington's wharf, a little below the dam. About a mile above the bridge it receives the Northern Branch, which, rising near Madambettox mountain, passes through Muddy Pond, and, receiving some smaller streams near Sherer's saw, stave, and shingle mill, takes a general south- erly course to its junction in the present town of Thomaston below N. E. Clark's mill, formerly Jacob Ulmer's, and re- cently purchased by the Rockland Water Works Company. Mill river, fed by so large a pond, holds out well for its size in time of drought and has many valuable mill sites, nearly all of which are or have been in one way or another im- proved, but have been lately purchased also by the same Company to avoid litigation for damages, occasioned by its use of the Chikawauka water. This stream, now seldom frequented by alewives, is supposed to have formerly abounded
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