USA > Maine > Waldo County > Brooks > Sketches of Brooks history > Part 2
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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
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SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
Besides pacifying the old settlers, it was the studied policy of Knox to attract new ones. His widely published advertisements commend the patent for the fertility of its soil and the salubrity of its climate, the latter of which he attributes to the virtues of the balsamic firs. As an inducement to immigration, he commenced, at Thomaston, va- rious branches of business on an extensive scale, which gave employ- ment to a large number of workmen, and afforded a market for the products of the soil and forest. His elegant mansion, on the banks of the Gorges River, was built in 1795. Here, until his death, was dispensed that generous hospitality of which many eminent men, not only of this, but of foreign countries, partook. In honor of several officers who were his contemporaries during the Revolution, he gave names to the townships in his patent. Searsmont, before incorpora- tion, was called Greene; and Belmont, Greene Plantation, from· Gen- eral Nathaniel Greene; Monroe, Lee, for General Henry Lee; and Jackson, for Colonel Henry Jackson, of Massachusetts. For a short time, Troy bore the name of Montgomery, who fell at Quebec; Thorn- dike, that of Lincoln; Brooks, that of Washington; and Washington, that of General Putnam. Jackson alone preserves its original title. It is to be regretted that the others were not retained.
General Knox died in 1806. His extravagance of living, added to a failure of many speculative interests,-and, it is said, the losses of his wife at the card-table,-involved him in pecuniary embarrassments some time before his death. In 1798, he was compelled to mortgage that portion of the patent now comprised in Waldo County to his friends, General Lincoln and Colonel Jackson, to indemnify them for liabilities assumed as his sureties. This mortgage, containing a power of sale, was in 1802 assigned to Messrs. Israel Thorndike, David Sears, and William Prescott, of Boston, who foreclosed it. In 1809, they established an agency in Belfast for the better management of their lands, and appointed Phineas Ashmun, afterwards of Brooks, as their attorney. The latter was succeeded by William Moody, who from 1813 to his death in 1839, occupied the responsible position. Colonel James W. Webster was the last agent for this vicinity. Through these proprietors, many of the land titles in our county are derived; and their numerous deeds, "from survey and plan of Robert Houston," or Noah Prescott, have never been questioned. Belmont became the property of Samuel Parkman and Benjamin Joy, mer- chants of Boston. The latter also had a conveyance of a large por- tion of Troy.
Notwithstanding the immense domains acquired by General Knox, his estate proved insolvent; and a dividend of eight and a half per
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THE MUSCONGUS GRANT OR WALDO PATENT
centum was all that his unsecured creditors, whose claims exceeded one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, received. "Had he been per- mitted to attain the usual age of man, which his vigorous constitution seemed to render probable, the cloud that rested upon the latter part of his life would undoubtedly have been dispelled; and the rise in the value of his property would have enabled him to realize all his anti- cipations, and to have left his family in opulence." Mrs. Knox sur- vived her husband eighteen years, having been obliged to pass her widowhood in the strictest economy. The amount which Thorndike, Sears, and Prescott paid for the mortgage is not known. Under the direct tax law of 1815, the valuation of their unsold lands in Waldo County was one hundred and forty-eight thousand dollars. As an illustration of the price per acre, it may be mentioned that, a few years before, a part of the present town of Waldo, -- or "Three-Mile Square", as it was then called,-containing about six thousand acres, was appraised at only eight thousand dollars.
From this date, the history of the patent may be traced in a few words. The original mortgagees have long since passed away. Israel Thorndike, one of their number, who had a taste for agricultural pursuits, cleared, and for some time cultivated, a tract of twelve hun- dred acres in the town of Jackson, which he furnished with expensive buildings and choice breeds of stock. It is still known as the "Great Farm." His memory is preserved among us by the town which bears his name, as is that of David Sears by the towns of Searsmont and Searsport. All the lands were alienated excepting Brigadier's or Sear's Island, in Searsport, Maine, which was retained as a summer residence by the Sears family for many years.
WALDO COUNTY
Waldo County named in honor of General Samuel Waldo was a part of York County territory until 1760 when Lincoln County was established which included it until 1789 when Hancock County was incorporated.
It remained a part of Hancock County until February 7, 1827 when it was incorporated as the County of Waldo.
Incorporation of Knox County in 1860 took off from Waldo County the towns of Appleton, Camden, Hope, North Haven and Vinalhaven.
It contains twenty-five towns and one city. Area about 748 square miles.
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WASHINGTON PLANTATION
The first settlers were poor and labored under all the disadvantages of a new, unsettled country, and of settling in such a place.
At first they were destitute of trade and commerce, and had no roads except bridle paths through the woods. The nearest store was. at Belfast and only a few kinds of lumber found sale. Staves rived from oak or ash, oars for boats made from ash, shingles shaved from pine and cedar, were about all the kinds of lumber that found ready sale, and these at very meagre prices. Hay and potatoes were not worth marketing. The dependence for a livelihood was upon the soil, forest and the streams. Game, in those days was plentiful, and fish to be had for the catching, were great aids towards a living.
The produce and lumber for sale sought a market at Belfast, our sea-port. It had to be transported thither by oxen or horses on wagons in summer, and sleds in winter, a distance of ten miles if sold and delivered at the "Head of the Tide" or "The Point" or twelve miles if delivered at "The Beach". The routes from Dixmont, Jackson, Troy, Thorndike, Unity and a portion of Knox, lay through Brooks. and the long strings of teams from each place mentioned, together with those belonging in the town, formed often, processions varying from rods to miles in length, and was a lively and inspiring sight.
In the earlier times when the roads were newer and rougher, and the oxen the chief beasts of burden, and kept in large numbers, ox teams were about the only ones used upon the road. It was no light task to drive a four ox team loaded with lumber or bark, or produce to the "Beach" and back in a day. It necessitated starting long be- fore the sun was up even in the longer days, and being out till late the following eve. But then those were the days of creature comforts and liquid delight. Located along the road at convenient distances were places where the ardent was retailed, and it only cost about forty cents per gallon then, and a gallon would go as far in a family as a bushel of corn. How this was, we never could see unless it would keep them drunk as long as the bushel of corn would, other- wise, have lasted for bread. However, every place where the liquor was kept along the road was just the place to "bait" the team and go in to warm, rest and drink.
Later, as the farms began to get smoother, roads in better condi- tion, and as horses increased they gradually took the place of oxen
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on both farms and road, until oxen now are the exception, and horses the rule. We remember the long processions of horse teams that used to pass on the "Unity Road" the "Thorndike Road" and the "Belfast Road" when we were boys, for long before day the creak of the sled, the rumble of the teams, and the voices of the drivers would be heard until noon. On fair days almost an unbroken stream would flow toward Belfast, loaded with everything the farm produced, or the forest yielded, moving on to the market.
About two o'clock the tide, which had lulled for two or three hours; would set the other way, and the road would be full of returning teams, each carrying back something for which its morning load was bartered. A barrel of flour, lime, plaster, pork, beef, or molasses, cloth, hardware, crockery, groceries, all had something, even if nothing more than a little money in the pocket. Huge loads of hay and po- tatoes moved in day after day by the same teams, the proceeds going to help lift the mortgage from the farm on which they grew. Ship timber to be built into vessels of symmetry and beauty to plough the distant seas; grain to feed the stalled horse or cows of cities; timber and boards to build the hamlet and the town. All went over the road to the measured tread of nimble feet and the merry music of the bells.
It required nerve, muscle and endurance to rise at 3 o'clock each winter morn, take care of the team, get the load ready, harness, go to the city with the mercury perhaps 20° below zero, do the market- ing, feed the team, eat the lunch cold and with only a swallow of water for drink, pick up the things, load the goods that were to be taken back, return facing perhaps a biting wind, and nearly always a growing coldness as night came on, getting home about dark, the chores to do, team to be cared for, and another load looked out.
Modern methods of transportation has changed all this by opening a market at the door of every town where all the farmers have to sell, brings nearly or quite as much at the larger trade centers, and all the farmers need to buy is sold there quite as cheap and all of as good quality.
Perhaps in nothing else is the march of improvement seen to greater advantage than in this one thing-transportation. The first settlers bringing in a few groceries from Belfast upon their shoulder; next, on a rude litter or jumper along a blazed or spotted path; then by oxen; next by horses; the iron horse of railroad; now the automobile and truck and mail by air.
In 1875, John Wilson Lang, to whom the author is indebted for so much data, raised the query when speaking of transportation, "Will
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SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
the next fifty years behold as great a march in improvements and transportation and other things as it has in the past fifty", referring to the period of 1820-1870. Looking backward, then forward, even with the wonderful past to support us, who dare predict that there will be, and stake his reputation upon it? We will only say in the interest of humanity, we sincerely and devoutedly hope so. If Mr. Lang were living today, he could see the fulfillment of his wish.
EARLY SETTLERS OF BROOKS
In the early part of the year 1798 notices had been posted through- out the district of Maine that settlers were wanted in that section of Hancock County now Waldo County.
Apparently, as a result of these notices throughout the district which were read by the citizens of Buckfield in Oxford County, Maine, the first settlers of record located in Washington Plantation now Brooks. The territory now occupied by Brooks was originally the property of General Knox, and this section was mortgaged by General Knox to General Lincoln and Colonel Jackson. This mortgage was as- signed by them to Israel Thorndike, William Prescott and David Sears.
The proprietors, like the original owner and mortgagees, also saw active service in the Revolutionary War.
Joseph Roberts, Jr., who moved here in 1799, first selected a spot about a mile north of the village and cleared the land for the first home. The tract of land is now known as the Thorndike Place, for- merly owned by R. G. Edwards and later the property of Ezra A. Carpenter.
The original proprietors. Thorndike, Prescott and Sears, owning a large grant of land and wishing to secure the improvements made by Joseph Roberts, Jr .. exchanged with him for a large tract of land about a mile west of the first farm. Here. Joseph and his boys cleared up another farm and in a few years built a saw mill and a grist mill on the site where the "Page Mills" recently stood.
Joseph Roberts. Jr., was a natural mechanic and a manufacturer of woodenware. Some of his dishes are in existence now among his descendants. He taught his boys the wood-turning trade and the girls were taught spinning and weaving.
Tradition says, and it appears authentic. that Joseph Roberts, Jr., was promised five hundred acres of land from General Knox, but never obtained the land.
Mr. Roberts, without doubt, was in Brooks several years before his family moved. as his first wife. Esther Hamlin, died in 1800 in
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WASHINGTON PLANTATION
Buckfield. In 1801 he married Margaret Hall, daughter of Hatevil and Ruth (Winslow) Hall. A child, Nathan, was born February 2, 1802 at Buckfield, and as Benjamin, the second child of Margaret Hall and Joseph Roberts, was the first white child born in Brooks, February 1804, the date that his family moved to Brooks was be- tween 1802 and 1804.
. Joseph and his first wife, Esther Hamlin Roberts, had twelve chil- dren and 104 grand-children. Joseph and his second wife, Margaret Hall Roberts, had twelve children and 53 grand-children.
Joseph Roberts, Jr., was born in Brentwood, N. H., a town near the Massachusetts line, February 6, 1756.
The Roberts Family originally came from Wales, but this line of the Roberts came from the west of England.
Mr. Roberts died in Brooks January 10, 1843 at the age of 86 years nine months and. four days.
Joseph Roberts, Jr. was a nephew of Jonathan Roberts, Sr. He was the eldest son of Joseph and Hannah Young Roberts. He en- listed at Cape Elizabeth May 15, 1775, in the Continental Service, having run away for that purpose. His father went to take him back home but was persuaded to enter the army himself. Both saw ser- vice at Bunker Hill where they fought at the "rail fence". Joseph was at Copps' Hill when the British were forced to evacuate Boston. He was at Fort George and Fort Edward, and also in the Penobscot Expedition. His services at different periods extended to five years.
On his return from the war, he settled at Buckfield on a lot that is now the road from Federal Corner to the Chase neighborhood, so-called.
In 1818 he was given a pension of $8.00 but was dropped from the pension roll in 1820. It was restored by Act of Congress June 7, 1832, at $76.66 per month, commencing March 4, 1831.
Joseph was soon joined by his brothers, John and Jonathan Rob- erts, Jr., and Benjamin Cilley who was accompanied by his sons- Benjamin, Jr., Peter and Simon.
According to the census of 1790. Joseph Roberts, Jr., Jonathan Rob- erts, Jr., John Roberts, William Doble and James Jordan were res- idents of Buckfield. The census of 1790 gives seven in William Doble's family, four males and three females; James Jordan's family five males and two females; Joseph Roberts, Jr., seven in the family, three males and four females; Jonathan Roberts, three in the family, one male and two females; and John Roberts three in the family.
According to the tax list of 1800, William Doble had ten in the family; James Jordan eleven; and Joseph Roberts eleven.
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SKETCHES OF BROOKS HISTORY
Shadrack Hall has been reported as having been the second settler in Brooks. He married Sarah Roberts. They first settled in Buck- field, but removed to Brooks in 1802, but a study of the census and tax list of Buckfield would support the supposition that Joseph, John and Jonathan Roberts, Benjamin Sr., Benjamin Jr., Peter and Simon Cilley of Buckfield followed by John Young. William Doble, William Kimball, Nathaniel Emerson and James Jordan were in Brooks prior to the arrival of Hall.
. In 1804 Robert Huston of Belfast in a report to General Henry Knox in reference to the settlers in the Plantation of Washington now Brooks, reports; "Joseph Roberts, Jr., wants a new agreement; Jonathan Roberts, Jr., deceased, his widow desires an agreement; John Roberts a new agreement; John Young a new agreement; William Doble a new agreement; William Kimball being absent; Shadrack Hall a new agreement; Nathaniel Emerson would pay part of the rental due and wished a new agreement; James Jordan appears to be indifferent about holding the lands."
While the records up to this time support the suppositoin that Shadrack Hall was not the second settler, the agreement entered by Hall at this date adds some evidence that if not the second settler, he was among the very earliest.
The report of Robert Huston would appear to be authority that in 1804 there were but nine heads of families in Brooks. Between 1802 and 1804, Joseph Roberts, Sr., father of Joseph Roberts, came to Brooks for a time. From this date, settlers in most part who are related to the early settlers commenced to locate in Brooks. They came from Windham, Gorham, Kittery Point, Sanford, Green, Stan- dish and Buckfield, Maine.
Prior to 1816 Brooks was known as Washington Plantation, named in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States.
The census of 1790 shows Peter Cilley, William Cilley, Webb, Clary, Calvin Fogg. Benjamin Cilley, Fobes, Leathers and Jenkins, all of Buckfield, common names at Buckfield in 1790, and, later prom- inently identified with Brooks History.
Referring to the copy of the petition of the inhabitants of the Plan- tation of. Washington afterward the Town of Brooks for incorpora- tion, John Wilson Lang, in 1875 in an article in the "Maine Farmer", states. he is unable to state that the petition contained all the names of the voters at that date, but that it did contain the majority and principal ones. From the population and number of polls in 1816, it
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WASHINGTON PLANTATION
would appear that all the voters did not join in the petition, without doubt, being absent from the town.
The petition of Phineas Ashmun and forty-seven others, dated April 20, 1816, was presented to the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The petition was ordered to be printed in the Columbian Centennial June 12, 1816. The Act of Incorporation on parchment was signed by Timothy Bigelow, speaker of the House; John Phillips, president of the Senate; and John Brooks, Governor. These papers are on file in the Archives Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The records of Washington Plantation and the Town of Brooks were destroyed by fire in 1836, so information is not available as to when the Act of Incorporation was received and adopted by the inhabitants.
Below is presented a copy of the petition of the inhabitants of the Plantation of Washington, afterward town of Brooks, for incorpora- tion. Whether or not it contained all the names of the then loyal voters of the place cannot be told, but it contains the majority and principal ones. Forty-eight names appear. It is a document that, retrieved from the musty archives of the past, possesses much of in- terest to the community :
"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the General Court. assembled.
The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of the Plantation of Washington in the County of Hancock and Commonwealth of Massachusetts showeth that they experience many disadvantages and inconveniences in not being incorpo- · rated into a town for many of the laws of this Commonwealth enjoyed by in- corporated towns, which we deem beneficial to our interest, prosperity and good order and which in our present capacity we cannot avail ourselves of their good effects and advantage and as we do pay our proportion of State and County taxes we conceive there can be no injury of our being put in a capacity by an act of incorporation we may avail ourselves of those laws which may tend to promote the interest of the inhabitants of our plantation. We, therefore, pray that your Honors do incorporate the said plantation into a town by the name of Brooks with all the privileges enjoyed by other incorporated towns. As in duty bound shall ever pray."
Washington Plantation, April 20, 1816.
Phineas Ashmun Joshua Perry Thos. I. Cram Isaac Roberts Jacob Roberts John Cates Peter Silley Wm. Silley James Roberts
Barzilar Brown
Joseph Cram
Ezekiel Webb
James G. Davidson Simon Silley Abner Ham Ebenezer Stickney
William Dwelley Sam'l Getchell
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Samuel Bowen
Henry Sherman
Daniel Brown
Isaiah Roberts
Nathan Fowler
Daniel Clary
Daniel Roberts
Samuel Roberts
Jotham Roberts
Azariah Edwards
Nathan Wiggin
Samuel Jones
Timothy Thorndike
Wm. Doble
Paul Hanson
Joseph B. Crary
Luther Brown
Nicholes Hamblen
True Prescott
Calvin Fogg
Robert Thompson
Cyrus Sherman
Joseph Roberts
Abner Sawyer
Shadrack Hall
Benjamin Silley
Luther Fogg
Nath'l Wiggin
In the house of Representatives June 7th. 1816. Read and committed to the Committee on the Incorporation of towns to consider and report. Sent up for concurrence.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
In Senate, June S. 1816.
Read and concurred
JOHN PHILLIPS, President.
Read and committed to the Committee on the Incorporation of Towns.
Sent down for concurrence.
JOHN PHILLIPS, President.
In House of Representatives Nov. 23, 1816.
Read and concurred.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
From the entries in the treasurer's book, in the possession of Ed- win H. Rose of Brooks, it would appear that Washington Plantation was incorporated about April 5, 1813. A copy of the original records is here shown.
Town Treasurer's Book including the Entries since its first incor- poration as a Plantation. (This on fly leaf). (Top of Page 1)
THOMAS L. CRAM Treasurer of Washington Plantation
1813 April 5 to cash rec'd of Samuel E. Jones, Collector $13.00 1814 April 4 to cash rec'd of Samuel E. Jones, Collector $21.00
$34.00
(This on opposite Page 2)
1813 April 5 By paid Luther Fogg, his acct .. $ 7.00
1814 April 4 By cash paid Timothy Thorndike, in part. $ 5.00
This is an exact copy of top of Page 1 and 2 in above book. The book is in the possession of Edwin Hale Rose, Brooks, Me.
VOL. V, LAWS OF MASS. 1816-18, Chap. LXXVI, P. 325.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen.
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An Act to incorporate the Plantation called Washington into a town by the name of "Brooks".
SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same. That the plantation here- tofore called Washington lying in the County of Hancock, as described within the following boundaries, with the inhabitants thereon, be and are hereby in- corporated mto a town by the name of BROOKS; beginning at a stake and stones in the north west corner surrounded by four beach trees marked, thence north eighty-seven degrees, east three miles, and one hundred and forty-nine rods to a beach tree marked; thence South twenty degrees west three hundred- and seventy-five rods to a hemlock tree marked; thence South seventy degrees east three miles and two hundred and twenty rods to a Spruce tree marked; thence South fifty-five degrees west four miles and two hundred and thirty nine rods to a birch tree marked: thence South sixty eight degrees west two miles and one hundred and forty nine rods to a rockmaple tree marked; thence north three degrees west six miles and six rods to the place of beginning. And the inhabitants of the said town of Brooks. are hereby vested with all the powers and privileges, and shall also be subject to all the duties and requisitions of other corporate towns according to the Constitution and laws of this Common- wealth.
SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, that Phineas Ashman Esq., be, and he is hereby authorized to issue his warrant, directed to some suitable person an inhabitant of the said town of Brooks, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof, to assemble at such convenient time and place in said town as shall be expressed in said warrant. for the choice of such town officers as towns are by law required to choose at their meetings in the months of March or April annually.
In the House of Representatives. December 7, 1816. This bill having had three general readings passed to be enacted.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
In Senate. December 9, 1816. This bill having had two general readings passed to be enacted.
JOHN PHILLIPS, President.
December 10, 1816. Approved-
J. BROOKS.
The first selectmen of the Town of Brooks were Phineas Ashman, Luther Fogg and Jonathan Roberts, Jr.
FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN BROOKS
BENJAMIN ROBERTS, the second child of Joseph and Margaret Roberts, had the honor of being the first child born in the Town of Brooks. He was born February 4; 1804. He had the distinction of dying in a rebel prison during the Civil War. On August 16, 1843, he married NANCY CILLEY, who was born April 1, 1827, and died in Brooks.
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Benjamin Roberts was a millman by trade and farmer by occupa- tion. When recruits for the fourth Regiment were called for, he left everything and enlisted in Company I, on December 5, 1863. The following spring he was taken prisoner at a point near Richmond, Va., was taken to Libby prison and from there to Salisbury, N. C., where he died of starvation November 23, 1864.
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