USA > Maine > Knox County > Matinicus Isle > Matinicus Isle, its story and its people > Part 2
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Wm Dummer.
Boston, Mar. 21, 1726
Capt. John Gyles.
1Ibid. pp. 357-8.
2Documentary History of Maine, vol. X, p. 363.
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The next settler on the island of whom we have any knowledge, and the first permanent one, was Ebenezer Hall. He lived originally at what was called the Back Cove in Falmouth (now Portland). He afterwards moved to Small Point and then to Pemaquid. He finally settled on Matin- icus in 1750, or thereabouts. He brought with him his wife (his second), his son Ebenezer, by his first wife, then about 15 years old, his stepson, and two younger children (girls). He came here for the fishing and at different times undoubtedly furnished employment for numbers of men.
From very nearly the beginning it would seem that Hall had trouble with the Indians. From time immemorial, members of the Penobscot tribe of the Tarratine Indians had been accustomed to visit the island for the purposes of fishing, sealing, egging and fowling, and it is very evident that the new settler caused them much trouble and dissatisfaction, and that they clashed upon several occasions. It is not apparent by what right Hall claimed the island -- whether he bought it, or acquired it by grant, or just took it-but claim it he did, and also the right to govern it as he pleased.
In 1754, James Clark made affidavit before the Governor and Council, that in the summer of 1751, he was employed on the island by Hall and lived with him. Sometime in the summer two Indians came upon the island, and Hall, aided by his son, shot both of them and buried their bodies in his garden.1
Concerning this episode, the following will prove of interest :
A Paragraph of a letter2 To Dr Gardiner dated in Frankfort in Kennebeck river Decemr 26, 1753.
"There has a very Bad affair happen'd here (as I'm informed) .
"There are Two Indians killed on Montinicus Island by the man that was Order'd of from it a few Days Ago."
"One Wright came up & informed Capt Lithcow of it & Said he knew the Two men that saw it Done-& help'd to bury them there, & Their Guns, but he wou'dnt tell their names-The Indians are ignorant of it at present But when they know it, they will revenge themselves, I am afraid, & we may Look out (for we are but Weak) If this be true, I think, Such Villains ought to dye without pity."
"It is said the man that Did it is now at Small Point."3
1History of Bristol, p. 304.
2Documentary Hist. of Maine, vol. XII, p. 235.
"In a petition to Governor and Council, dated May, 1741, Ebenezer Hall styles himself an "inhabitant of Small Point," Documentary History of Maine.
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Hall, it seems, had twice burned the grass on Green Island, in order to improve the hay crop, which he used to feed his cattle. The Indians objected to this and warned him to desist. He paid no attention to their warning and the outcome was the following letter' sent by four repre- sentatives of the Penobscot tribe, to Gov. Spencer Phipps, dated April 25, 1753.
"Brother you did not hearken to us about the Englishman on the Island; he hunts (hurts) us in our sealing and fishing; its our livelihood and others too for what we get we bring to your Truck masters. We don't hinder him from fishing; If you don't Remove him in two months we shall be obliged to do it ourselves. We have writ to you before and have had no answer, if you don't answer we shan't write again, as its our custom if our letters are not answered not to write again. * * * *
We salute you and all the Council in behalf of the Penobscot. Tribe.
Cosemes. Noodobt. Chebenood. Nugdumbawit.
It is evident that the Governor did not remove Hall as requested, but it would seem that he was ordered off by some one (see letter to Dr. Gardiner) to which order he paid no attention. He continued his residence there until 1757. In the early part of June, of that year, while Hall was absent in Portland, and his son, Ebenezer, was away on a fishing trip, a band of Indians made their appearance on the Island, bent on mischief, and the day following his return, attacked the house. It is not evident whether this attack was a culmination of the feud between Hall and the Indians, or whether it was instigated by the French, who had offered a bounty for the scalp of every white man killed. It is quite probable that it was a combination of both circumstances.
The siege of the house continued for several days, the Indians resolved upon Hall's death, and Hall determined to sell his life as dearly as possible. The Indians pursued their customary tactics-endeavoring to set fire to the house, etc. Hall, who was undoubtedly a brave man, with the aid of his wife and stepson, who was then twelve years old, resolutely defended his little household, but to no avail. On June 10, while Hall was standing near the door, parley-
1Mass. Archives, 32, p. 353.
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ing, he was shot by one of the enemy who was hidden from sight. He was instantly killed. The survivors, with the exception of Joseph Green, who in the excitement escaped through a back window, were now at the mercy of the besiegers.
After wrecking the house and destroying the property, the Indians took Mrs. Hall and four children into captivity. They were taken up the Penobscot as far as what is now Bangor. Here the mother was separated from her children, whom she never saw or heard of afterwards. Mrs. Hall was then taken through the wilderness to Quebec. Here, one Capt. Andrew Watkins became interested in her, and paid her ransom. She sailed thence to England, and from there to New York, from which place she proceeded to Falmouth. It is said that she made the latter stage of her journey on foot. This woman who had suffered so much, was destined to pass her later years in some degree of com- fort, although the uncertainty as to the fate of her children was a saddening influence. In July, 1765, she married Chipman Cobb, and removed to Gorham about 1775, where she died at the age of eighty-nine years.
Joseph Green, the son of Mrs. Hall by her first husband (David Green, who was killed at Louisburg in 1745), was at this time a lad of twelve years. After escaping by the window, he remained hidden until the Indians disappeared. Imagine the predicament of this young boy, alone upon this island with the scalped body of his father, and his mother and sisters carried off by the Indians! He finally suc- ceeded in attracting the attention of a vessel that was passing the island, which proved to be a schooner from Fox Islands, commanded by Capt. Robert Thorndike. The skipper came ashore and helped to bury the slain man, and then took the boy to Fox Islands. From there the boy was sent to Bristol. He afterwards served as sentinel at Fort Frederick, under Capt. Alexander Nickels, from August 14 to September 30, 1759.
Green afterwards married Dorcas Young, a sister of Ebenezer (step-brother to Green) Hall's wife, and returned to Matinicus after its resettlement in 1763. He was dis- satisfied with the part of the island which Hall offered him, and removed to and took up what is now Green's Island,
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lying south of Carver's Harbor, where he and his wife lived to a ripe old age. Fourteen children were born to them.
In connection with the death of Ebenezer Hall and the capture of his family, the following documents will be of interest :
Falmouth, June 17th 1757
The 6th Inst in ye Night there came ten or twelve Indians on Muntinicus Island, on Tuesday Morning they attempted to brake open Ebenr Hall's House, but Hall perceiv'd them and knock off a board from ye Roof, to prevent their firing the House wc some of them were Endeavoring to do at ye same Time, and Hall fir'd thro' a Loop Hole and said he had kill'd One, but they return'd ye Fire, and so continued ye Engagement till Thursday following about 12 o'Clock, when as Hall was raising his Head over a sort of Breast work he had prepar'd for ye Purpose to get a shot at ye Enemy, they sent a Ball through his Head and kill'd him dead on ye Spot, & then his wife call'd out for Quarter, whereupon Hall's son in Law who gives this Acco jumpt out over ye wall of ye House and Hid in the woods, and thereby Escapt and ye Indians took said Hall's Wife, one Benja Mortgaridge1, and five Children and Carry'd them off; the Next Day ye Young Lad that gives me this Acco says he paddled about two Leagues off in the Bay in a Float, and was taken up by a small Fishing Schooner belonging to Brunswick the next Day a Saturday, the said Schooner Went on Shoar on sd Island & found said Hall scalpt, and bury'd him, this Young Lad is about fifteen or sixteen Years Old & says they kill'd several of his Father's Cattle Empty'd ye Fether beds and carry'd off ye Ticken and every thing Else they cou'd in said Hall's fishing Boat, he further says a Day or two after his Father was Bury'd, the Skipper he was board of went into Madumpkook where the Indians had Engag'd one Jacob Elwell's House in ye Night sot fire to it, but a sudden Rain, put it out
taken from Joseph Green's own Mouth the young lad above mention'd
P Enoch Freeman.
To the Honble his Majesty's Councill May it Please Your Honours I thought ye Accot Inclos'd of the Destruction of mr Hall's Family at Muntincus wou'd not be disagreeable to Your Honours and therefore have inclos'd it as I just now took it from the mouth of ye Young Lad that made his Escape2;
I am Your Honour's Most Obedt humble Servt
Enoch Freeman.
Falmouth June 17th 1757.
Mary Hall's Petition, January 14, 1760 :
To His Excellency Thomas Pownal Esq. Capt. General & Com- mander in chief in and over the Province of Massachusetts Bay, the Honble his Majesty's Councill & House of Representatives in General Court assembled.
1 Benj. Mortgaridge is also named by Mary Hall as one of the prisoners taken. Her list is on file in the Mass. Archives. Mortgaridge's identity is not known.
2Documentary Hist. of Maine, vol. XIII, pp. 82-3.
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The Petition of Mary Hall resident at Falmouth in the County of York humbly sheweth-
That in the Month of June 1757 the Indians beset the House where her Husband and She lived at a place called Mintinicus in the County of York which he resolutely defended for Several Days but on the Tenth day of said Month her Husband was killed, the House broken up & rifled, your Petitioner and four Children carried away Captives, first to Penobscot where She was Seperated from her Children and has not seen nor heard any Thing of them Since; from Penobscot your Petitioner was carried to Quebeck where having tarried some time, She interceded with one Capt. Andrew Watkins a New England Gent then a Prisoner there to pay her Ransom, which he did, to the best of remembrance Two Hundred and about Fifteen Livres, then She took Passage for England, from thence to New York & thence to this Place having in ye whole been absent about Eighteen Months & having undergone great Hardship during sd Time.
Your Petitioner is now called upon by the Widow of the said Wm Watkins for her Ransom Money, and having nothing to pay it with, nor any where to put her Head, nor any Thing to Subsist on Humbly beseeches the Compassion of your Excellency & Honours, that said Ransom Money may be paid by the Province, and your Petitioner also granted such further Relief as to your known Wisdom & Goodness shall seem meet-And as in Duty bound will ever pray
Mary Hall1.
On November 4, 1755, less than two years before his death at the hands of the Indians, Ebenezer Hall deeded to his son Ebenezer (see Lincoln Records), who was then about twenty years of age, his schooner named the "Chance," twenty-five head of cattle, houses, goods, chattels, etc., situated on the Island of Matinicus.
It will be remembered that at the time of his father's death, Ebenezer the younger was absent on a fishing trip. Upon his return he found the house and property destroyed or stolen, while the family had disappeared, he knew not where. He proceeded to Boston with his fish, and on the way, put into Old York for a harbor. There he became acquainted with Susannah Young, whom he married a short time afterwards. They lived at Pemaquid for a few years, and then, in 1763, removed to Matinicus, with several small children, and took up their inheritance. Here they lived for a couple of years, the only family on the island.
It was probably during the winter of 1764, that they made a visit to the old home at York. When it became time to return to the island, Mrs. Hall, because of the loneliness, the desolation, and her fear of the Indians, refused to go
1Journal H. of Rep. Mass. Archives, Vol. XI, p. 236.
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unless accompanied by another family. Thereupon her sister, Phoebe, with her husband, Abraham Young, and several children, determined to accompany them. They all arrived in 1765, and the Youngs settled on the site of the house now occupied by Miss Henrietta Ames. The Hall homestead was situated near where stands the Henry Phil- brook house, now owned by Orrin Burgess.
Here now, for many years the two families resided, without neighbors of any kind. Who can tell of the hard- ships, the struggles, the loneliness, the heartaches of these early years? Think of it, ye modern matrons-in these solitudes, one of these women bore and reared a family of fifteen children, the other a family of thirteen-read it and weep.
The next family to arrive, of whose coming there is any definite record, was that of Alexander Nickels, Jr. His father deeded to him the northern half of the island in 1783. Following is a copy of the deed1 :
"Alex'r Nickels of Bristol in the County of Lincoln and Common- wealth of the Massachusetts, Esq., in consideration of divers good causes but more especially of a certain Bond with a certain condition delivered to signed and sealed by my Son, Alex'r Nickels of said Bristol, yeoman," conveyed "one half part of a certain Island known by. the name of Mintinicus, and all the Cattle and Sheep now on said Island lying about fifteen Leagues Easterly from Pemaquid Point, said half part being the most northwardly part of said Island, which part is set off by Metes and Bounds, which Bounds is described in a certain Deed given by Eben'r Hall, living on said Island to me and surveyed by Thomas Boyd, surveyor, and also laid down particularly in a certain Plan made by said Boyd accord- ing to said Survey."
Title to be defended from all Persons claiming by or under me and also from all Persons claiming by or under said Eben'r Hall. Deed dated 31 January, 1783.
In the census of 1790, Alexander Nickels is listed as the head of a family of five persons. Listed also in this census were James McDaniel, with a family of five, Amos Andrews with five, Benj. Young with six, and Jonathan Allen with six. In the census of 1800, these names are all absent. With the exception of Allen, who was a resident tax payer in 1794, no record has been found showing that any of them owned land here. The time of their arrival is not definitely known. They were probably temporary dwellers, leasing property and engaged in fishing. The census of
1Lincoln Records, Vol. 17, Folio 225.
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1790 gives Matinicus ten families with a total population of fifty-nine.
By this time some of the children of the two original settlers, Hall and Young, had reached a marriageable age. John Crie, a native of Scotland, in his travels happened upon Matinicus. He and Mary, a daughter of Hall, became mutually attracted. They were married in 1786, and their union marked the beginning of the next prominent family of Matinicus. Isaiah Tolman with his family, followed the Cries. He purchased the Alexander Nickels place, in 1790. Following is a copy of the deed1 :
"Alexander Nickels of a Place ( being an Island) called Mentin- icus in the County of Lincoln and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, yeoman, in consideration of the sum of two hundred and forty pounds lawful money paid by Isaiah Tolman of Thomaston in the County of Lincoln" conveys "a certain Tract or Parcel of Land lying on the Island of Mentinicus aforesaid, which said Island though now said to be in the County of Lincoln is within the Lines that describe the County of Hancock, being the Northwesterly end thereof containing one hundred and forty acres more or less, with an House and Barn thereon bounded as followith, to wit, beginning at the Southwesterly side of said Island at a remarkable Chasm in the Rock being a small Creek at the Shore and a large crevice in the Rock, from thence running a straight Line Northeasterly Across said Island to a High Rock in the Bank at the Northerly end of a sandy Beach, thence Northerly Westerly and Southerly round by the shore to the Bounds first mentioned, together with the privilege of an open way two rods wide from said Land across said Nickels' other Land to the Landing place at the Cove or Harbour, in said Island."
Deed dated 21st April, 1790.
Isaiah Tolman was born in 1721. He moved from Stoughton, Mass., in 1769, and took up five hundred acres around what is now Chickawaukie Lake, in Rockland and Camden. He also had extensive holdings elsewhere. It is said that at one time he could start at the seashore, in Rock- land, and walk to Warren and not set foot an anybody's land but his own. And he disposed of all this desirable property and settled on Matinicus! Query-why ?
In 1794, there were seven resident tax payers on the island. The total tax was £5, 13s., 4d. The names of the taxpayers were Ebenezer Hall, Sr., Ebenezer Hall, Jr., Abraham Young, Jonathan Allen, Joseph Young, son of Abraham, John Crie, and the published list names Jeremiah Tolman, but this is probably a mistake and should be Isaiah.
1Lincoln Records, Vol. 25, Folio 255.
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Marriages on the island were now becoming quite common, and during the next dozen or fifteen years, most of the second generation had chosen their life partners, and started families of their own. Not to be outdone, and just to prove that matrimony held no terrors for him, Isaiah Tolman, then over seventy-five years of age, was united to his third wife, in 1796. Two children were afterwards born to them, one of whom died in infancy. The other grew to maturity and married.
According to the census of 1800, there were twelve families residing on the island with a total population of fifty-three. The personnel had changed somewhat from that of 1790. With one exception the families bore the name of Hall, Young, Crie or Tolman. This exception was Nathaniel Fernald, and he had married Patience, a daughter of Ebenezer Hall.
In 1810, the names were identical, but the number of families had increased; likewise the total population. These were now fifteen and ninety-five respectively. To each of his children who were willing to remain on the island after their marriage, Ebenezer Hall donated a small farm, and at this time all five of his sons and two of his daughters had married and were living here. The other daughters had removed elsewhere with their husbands, five of them to Vinalhaven. All four sons of Abraham Young and two of his daughters had married and were living here; likewise two sons and two daughters of Isaiah Tolman.
The tract of land known as Harbor Point is situated along the shore of the harbor and constitutes the only available, accessible, adequately protected, and really safe shore front; and practically all of the wharves and fish- houses used by the fishermen in their industry, are situated here. In 1811, Ebenezer Hall deeded this land in an un- divided state, to his five sons, all of whom were living here at that time. Since then these five shares have been sold and re-sold, divided and sub-divided, re-resold and re-sub- divided, and so on ad infinitum. Today it would be a dif- ficult task to enumerate the different owners with their number of "shares" and parts of shares.
The decade between 1810 and 1820 witnesses another familiar Matinicus name added to the list. Benjamin
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Condon, with wife Ruth, came from Lincolnville, and pur- chased the Nathaniel Fernald place. Of his sons: James married Elsie Burgess, Joseph married Fannie Hall, Ben- jamin married Hannah Crie, Seth married Sallie Young; and his daughter Ruth married William Young. Two of his sons, and his daughter remained, raised families, and died here. The others removed at a later period. According to the census of 1820, the number of families then living here was sixteen, with a population of one hundred and five. The names were still Hall, Young, Crie and Tolman with the addition of the Condons and of Jacob Smith.
During the next decade the familiar names of Burgess, Philbrook and Ames take their places on the rolls. Ezekiel Burgess and Joseph Ames, with their families, were new- comers during this period. Alexander Philbrook also ar- rived, and took to wife Matilda, daughter of Isaac and Eunice Tolman. The census of 1830 lists twenty-five fam- ilies, including two at Criehaven and one at the "Rock," with a total of one hundred forty-five. Growing, you see.
The next name to be added was that of Samuel S. Abbott. He was here in 1835, and in 1840 he was keeper of the "Rock" Light, at the head of a family of ten. Population at this time: twenty-four families, one hundred ninety- two souls. Still growing.
The last of the old familiar names, that of Norton, was added in 1847. In that year Jonathan Norton, from South Thomaston, married Harriette, daughter of Isaac and Eun- ice Tolman, built a home and raised a large family. His brothers, William and Frederick, arrived at a later period.
In 1850, the population had increased to two hundred and twenty, and in 1860 and 1870, to two hundred and seventy-six, and two hundred and seventy-seven, respect- ively. These years marked the peak in the number of in- habitants. Since then each census has shown a gradually diminishing total. In 1880, it was two hundred and forty- three; in 1890, it was one hundred and ninety-six; in 1900, not including Criehaven, it was one hundred and eighty- four ; in 1910, it was one hundred seventy-nine, and in 1920, it was one hundred and forty. Who can tell what 1930 will record ?
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From a very early period to the present time the pop- ulation has been comprised chiefly by the descendants of the foregoing families, who have married and intermarried for several generations, forming a genealogical labyrinth which is difficult to follow. Of course, there has been an infusion of some new blood. Vinalhaven with which Matinicus was affiliated for many years has always proved an unfailing source of supply for the youth of the island when marriage was contemplated. Then, too many an unsuspecting "schoolmarm" sojourning here for a brief period, has become captivated with some enterprising young islander and has chosen to cast her lot in this isolated community.
In addition to the bona-fide settlers who remained here, raised families, and became integral parts of the community, there have been others who came, tarried a while-perhaps a few months, perhaps a number of years-and then, for one reason or another, folded their tents and disappeared.
Of all the original large families, the Youngs and the Ameses are the two which have held their own to the present day. These families may look well to their laurels, however -the Thompsons, a comparatively recent acquisition, are now in the running. While there are representatives of most of the other families still living here, a large propor- tion of their descendants have removed to other places.
From all the evidence it would seem that in the early days there existed an intense rivalry between the Youngs and the Halls, and concerning this, the following interesting story is contributed by a descendant of both parties.
"In the course of time a dispute arose between old Hall and old Young as to which of them should be "king" of the island. After innumerable clashes, they agreed to settle the matter, once for all, in the following manner. At a stated time they were to go together to the highest point. of Mount Ararat and shout. To him who could shout the loudest was to be awarded the kingly sceptre. All was carried out as arranged. Old Hall was given the first trial, and the welkin rang with his effort. He settled back with an air of duty will done, and a smile of self-satisfaction. Then old Young stepped forward and with no seeming effort, lifted up his voice in an ungodly yell. For a moment Hall was speechless with surprise, and deaf from the con-
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cussion of sound, but he soon recovered his poise, and like a good sport, acknowledged for all time, the supremacy of the Young blood-in all matters pertaining to hollering."
Until the year 1840, Matinicus was considered as a part of Vinalhaven in so far as its residents paid taxes to that town, and had the privilege of voting there. Also, their marriage intentions were published there, and marriages recorded on the Vinalhaven town books.
Matinicus was not included in the act of incorporation when Vinalhaven was made a town. It does not appear by what authority that town levied taxes upon Matinicus, but it is probable that this community felt the need of some such "big brother" and was by its own desire recognized as a part of its nearest constituted government.
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