USA > Maine > Maine place names and the peopling of its towns > Part 55
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 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Eagle Lake, 1911
Eagle Lake lies in Aroostook County and was settled in 1840 by Sefroi Nadeau, a Frenchman, and Richard Woods, an Irishman. It was organized as a plantation in 1856 and incorporated as a town in 1911. It was frequented by the bald-headed eagle, hence its name. When Major Hastings Strickland set out in 1839 with his soldiers for the northeastern border of Maine, they encamped on the border of an unnamed lake. They were impressed by the flock of white-headed eagles flying over the lake and decided to name it Eagle Lake.
Owl's Head, 1921
Owl's Head, Knox County, was a part of South Thomaston until 1921, when it was incorporated as a town. It is a promontory, bearing a lighthouse, on the west shore of Penobscot Bay. It was given its name from a fancied resemblance to the neck and head of an owl when viewed from the north side. According to some writers Owl's Head received its name from Governor Thomas Pownal who visited Penobscot Bay in 1759 in the Province Sloop of War, "King George." He says in his account: "The sailors imagined it to bear a resemblance to an owl's head."
Cyrus Eaton in his History of Thomaston, Rockland and South Thomaston states that the origin of this word as given above could
522
hardly be true, since it had obtained currency early in 1757 and is mentioned in the Journals of Captains Freeman and Remilly. Some others assert that the name is of Indian origin and is expressed in their language by a perfectly synonymous word, Mecadacut.
When Owl's Head was visited by Champlain in 1605, it was called Bedabedec Point, the Indian word meaning, "Cape of the Winds."
This headland is a bluff point of trap rock extending far into the water. Owl's Head Bay makes up to and forms the harbor of Rockland on the north. The headland, which at the place where the lighthouse stands rises to the height of 81 feet 10 inches, has been from earliest white men's discoveries a noted landmark for seamen, as it had been before for the Indians. Going through Owl's Head Harbor we pass on the left Munroe's Island, which derives its name from Hugh Monroe who early settled and spent his days there and on Sheep Island. Then we come to Ash Point, a small island of that name, so called from trees which formerly abounded there.
Stephen Peabody from Middleton, Massachusetts, came to Owl's Head in 1767 and purchased six hundred acres of land, traded and farmed. The blacksmith of the place, other than armorers and gunsmiths, he moved to Oyster River in Warren. In 1770 John Ren- dell, an Englishman, after residing some years at Round Pond in Bristol, came with his family to Owl's Head; in 1786 Nathan Pills- bury, a Revolutionary soldier, came from Kittery, and married and settled at Owl's Head; Wm. Chapman, a Quaker or Friend, the first if not the only member of that denomination here, came from Scot- land and settled near the head of Owl's Head Bay; Benjamin Pack- ard, after having resided in Cushing and then in Union, came to Owl's Head and was living there in 1788. About 1795 Joshua Adams ar- rived in Owl's Head from Lincolnville, and worked for some years as a blacksmith.
Owl's Head Light was built in 1826 during the administration of President John Quincy Adams. The old white tower is only twenty- six feet high, but because of its situation the light can be seen sixteen miles at sea. It is situated in the extreme northeastern end of the town.
In 1852 a great improvement in the condition of Owl's Head Harbor was made by the Federal Government. Shipbuilding, having been revived at Owl's Head since 1850-51 by Captain Elisha Brown, was extensively carried on by him; a post office was established and he was appointed postmaster. In 1855 there were at Owl's Head twelve dwellings, two stores and one wharf. Two ships, one barque and three schooners were built that season; fishing and farming were also prosperous.
523
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To cite all the sources from which the material used in this book has been secured would be too mechanical, and tiresome to the extreme for both writer and reader. Its foundations were laid many years ago when I became interested in the Indian names and history of my home town, Mattawamkeag, situated at the confluence of the Mattawamkeag and Penobscot rivers, with the blue peak, often snow- capped, of Katahdin on the distant horizon. Nearer lay the old Indian burying grounds and the site of an Indian chapel, where the bell had called the dusky inhabitants to prayer. Small wonder that my ques- tioning and reading were of people and books where further informa- tion on the subject might be found.
As I became interested in my family background and learned that my father's people came to the Province of Maine in the early seventeenth century from Devon, England, and were loyal followers of Sir Ferdinando Gorges and the King, many of the names of towns in the southwestern part of our present state took on added signifi- cance from their location in England and again my reading provided further information of English and Maine towns bearing identical names.
Then came the wider interest in all Maine towns as the peo- pling of the interior continued. Lists of towns in the several counties as they were established became the basis of my study. Each year I visited more towns, to become acquainted with the history of the earliest settlers where possible through town records, through older people of the place and through the printed histories in the libraries.
One of my best sources through many years has been the pupils in my classes at the University of Maine. The courses in History of Education in Maine and the twenty-odd theses written on different phases of this subject by the students from their research opened to me a wider field of knowledge of our state.
The Extension and Correspondence courses of the History of Maine which I initiated and conducted for some time offered similar opportunities in wider reading and understanding.
My grateful appreciation is due to all the individuals who have played a part in this acquisition of knowledge which has become MAINE PLACE NAMES and the Peopling of Its Towns. Neigh- bors, friends, students, librarians, authors of books of Maine towns, some of whom lived in the early days, town clerks and other recorders- all deserve my heartfelt thanks for their helpful contributions which have made possible the writing of this book.
525
INDEX OF TOWNS, CITIES AND COUNTIES IN MAINE
Abbot
345
Bristol
72
Acton
108
Brooklin
520
Addison
90
Brooks
247
Albany (Township)
93
Brooksville
251
Albion
101
Brownfield
314
Alexander
94
Brownville
344
Alfred
89
Brunswick
128
Alna
510
Buckfield
378
Alton
110
Bucksport
376
Amherst
185
Burlington
163
Amity
418
Burnham 384
69
Androscoggin County
8
Byron
96
Anson
92
Appleton
348
Calais
115
Cambridge
110
Camden
86
Arrowsic
35
Canaan
421
Ashland
280
Canton
157
Athens
132
Cape Elizabeth
399
Atkinson
338
Caribou
515
Auburn
440
Carmel
431
Augusta
401
Carroll
276
Aurora
460
Carthage 134
36
Castine
114
Baileyville
387
Castle Hill
511
Baldwin
315
Centerville
481
Bancroft
284
Chapman
372
Bangor
423
Charleston
156
Bar Harbor
467
Charlotte
404
Baring
94
Chelsea
172
Barnard
353
Cherryfield
444
Bath
73
Chester
186
Beals
398
Chesterville
181
Beddington
109
China
428
Belfast
124
Clifton
514
Belgrade
144
Clinton
266
Belmont
121
Columbia
407
Benedicta
435
Columbia Falls
409
Benton
275
Concord
158
Berwick
55
Connor
262
Bethel
427
Cooper
343
Biddeford
61
Corinna
402
Bingham
329
Corinth
132
Blaine
282
Cornish
79
Blanchard
350
Cornville
491
Bluehill
507
Cranberry Isles
498
Boothbay
71
Crawford
273
Boothbay Harbor
71
Crystal
521
Bowdoin
240
Cumberland
105
Bowdoinham
237
Bowerbank
357
Cushing
241
Bradford
162
Cutler
345
Bradley
391
Bremen
130
Damariscotta
37
Brewer
381
Danforth
364
Bridgewater
176
Dayton 278
Bridgton
304
Dearborn
222
Andover
155
Buxton
Argyle
136
Aroostook County
8
Avon
99
Casco
Cumberland County
3
527
Deblois 359
Greenwood
382
Guilford 103
Hallowell 288
Hampden
90
Hancock
252
Dexter
249
Hancock County
5
Hanover
131
Dixmont
326
Dover
106
Harpswell
64
Harrington
91
Harrison
323
Hartford
188
Hartland
483
Haynesville
396
East Machias
14
East Millinocket
44
Eastbrook
457
Hersey
367
Hiram
433
Eastport
455
Eddington
221
Holden
174
Edgecomb
82
Hollis
93
Edinburg
136
Hope
415
Edmunds
347
Eliot
270
Elliotsville
355
Ellsworth
267
Embden
129
Enfield
448
Island Falls
5 17
Etna
512
Isle au Haut
114
Eustis
366
Exeter
184
Fairfield
438
Falmouth
52
Jefferson
270
Farmingdale
493
Farmington
490
Jonesport
328
Fayette
118
Flagstaff
236
Kenduskeag
38
Fort Fairfield
257
5
Kennebunk
24
Foxcroft
330
Kennebunkport
26
Frankfort
128
Kingfield
253
Franklin
272
Kingman
395
Franklin County
8
Kingsbury
356
Freedom
416
Kittery
47
Freeman
322
Knox
230
Freeport
83
Knox County
9
Frenchville
116
Kossuth
144
Friendship 416
200
La Grange
119
Lamoine
114
Gardiner
319
Garland
380
Lee
390
Georgetown
59
Leeds
98
Gilead 512
Levant
459
Glenburn 135
Lewiston
306
Gorham
192
Liberty
417
Gouldsboro
302
Limerick
126
Grafton
175
Limestone
502
Grand Isle
116
Limington
77
Gray
293
Lincoln
254
Greenbush
496
Lincolnville
215
Greene
203
Lincoln County
4
Greenfield
445
Linneus
137
Greenville
480
Lisbon
145
Houlton
388
Howland
231
Hudson
160
Industry
409
Islesboro
475
Jackson
227
Jay
264
Jonesboro
327
Easton
458
Hodgdon
352
Dresden
129
Durham 85
Dyer Brook
520
Eagle Lake 522
Hebron
424
Hermon
432
123
Detroit
122
Dixfield
322
Harmony
413
Dedham 170
Deer Isle 509
Denmark 139
Dennysville
Fryeburg
Lebanon
420
Fort Kent
260
Kennebec County
528
Litchfield
80
Northport
452
Norway 18
Livermore
308
Livermore Falls
309
Oakfield 450
Oakland
486
Old Orchard Beach
498
Old Town
33
Orient
461
Orland
378
Orneville
351
Machias
12
Machiasport
15
Madawaska
41
Madison
269
Otisfield
311
Madrid
149
Owl's Head
522
Manchester
172
Oxbow Plantation
516
Mapleton
519
Oxford
108
Mariaville
405
Oxford County
6
Marion
234
Mars Hill
422
Palermo
146
Palmyra
403
Paris
118
Mattawamkeag
39
Parkman
342
Maxfield
385
Parsonsfield
297
Mechanic Falls
506
Passadumkeag
31
Meddybemps
37
Patten
358
Medford
471
Pembroke
148
Medway
474
Penobscot
15
Mercer
217
Penobscot County
7
Merrill
371
Perham
261
Mexico
142
Perkins
394
Milbridge
472
Perry
228
Milford
167
Peru
143
Millinocket
42
Phillips
329
Milo
132
Phippsburg
224
Minot
317
Piscataquis County
8
Monmouth
208
Pittsfield
336
Monroe
272
Pittston
294
Monson
158
Plymouth
161
Monticello
277
Poland
425
Montville
120
Portage Lake
117
Morrill
256
Porter 325
Portland 75
244
Pownalborough
67
Prentiss
363
Presque Isle
117
Princeton 164
439
New Limerick
127
New Portland
76
New Sharon
154
Raymond
219
New Sweden 138
Readfield 374
107
Newburgh 478
Ripley
226
Newcastle 62
Robbinston
246
Newfield
442
Rockland
485
Newport
465
Rockport 503
134
Nobleboro
206
Roque Bluffs
123
Norridgewock
16
Roxbury
169
North Berwick
58
Rumford
313
North Yarmouth
53
Northfield
449
Saco
10
North Haven
453
St. Agatha
437
Lovell 214
Lowell
392
Lubec
130
Ludlow
178
Lyman
291
Orono
21
Orrington
191
Otis
353
Marshfield
450
Masardis
32
Mt. Desert
113
Mt. Vernon
263
Naples
149
New Gloucester
152
Prospect
Randolph
180
Rangeley
96
New Vineyard
154
Richmond
Newry
126
Rome
Moscow
147
Mt. Chase
515
Pownal
529
Littleton
361
St. Albans
103
Upton
177
St. George
429
Sagadahoc County
9
Van Buren
283
Salem
160
Vanceboro
368
Sanford
286
Vassalboro
290
Sangerville
333
Veazie 360
Scarborough
50
Verona
150
Searsmont
331
Vienna
146
Searsport
359
Vinalhaven
303
Sebago
29
Sebec
23
Wade
372
Sedgwick
205
Waite
370
Shapleigh
296
Waldo
234
Sherman
280
Waldo County
7
Shirley
168
Waldoboro
194
Sidney
88
Wales
141
Skowhegan
27
Waltham
166
Smithfield
449
Warren
195
Smyrna
133
Washburn
259
Solon
132
Washington
220
Somerset County
6
Washington County
4
Sorrento
151
Waterboro
300
South Berwick
57
Waterford
470
South Bristol
73
Waterville
477
South Portland
76
Wayne
213
South Thomaston
199
Webster
273
Southport
462
Weld
335
Southwest Harbor
468
Wellington
95
Springfield
446
Wells
49
Standish
202
Wesley
434
Starks
210
West Bath
74
Stetson
349
Westbrook
223
Steuben
211
West Gardiner
320
Stockholm
138
Westfield
179
Stockton Springs
111
Weston
354
Stoneham
500
Westport
463
Stonington
505
Whitefield
430
Stowe
166
Whiting
386
Strong
243
Whitneyville
393
Sullivan
373
Williamsburg
341
Sumner
242
Willimantic
189
Surry
100
Wilson
356
Swan's Island
370
Wilton
183
Swanville
383
Sweden
140
Talmage
369
Temple
182
Thomaston
196
Winter Harbor
469
Thorndike
339
Winterport
466
Topsfield
171
Winthrop
239
Topsham
70
Wiscasset
19
Tremont
122
Woodland
488
Trenton
207
Woodstock
495
Trescott
232
Woodville
481
Troy
133
Woolwich
65
Turner
299
Yarmouth
55
Union
406
York
48
Unity
411
York County
3
Windham
68
Windsor
102
Winn
362
Winslow
193
530
HECKMAN BINDERY INC.
JUN 94
Bound - To -Pleas® N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
:
1
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.