USA > Maine > The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Vol. II > Part 55
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t Norridgewock, (54th town,) is a name from the Indian Norridgwog, so much celebrated in History .- [See vol. I. p. 49, and 467.] The present is the shire-town of Somerset. The village is in the bend of the Kennebeck. Here the river is 650 feet in width and the water from 10 to 15 feet deep; over which is a good bridge. Six miles above is " Old Point," opposite to the mouth of Sandy river, where was the famous old Indian village. Here the water in the Kennebeck is quick and shoal, and only 60 rods wide .- MS. Let. of Hon. W. Preston.
# Greene, (55th town,) contains good land. There are in it three small ponds,-called Sabbatis, Bates and Berry ponds ; one meeting-house, and 4 mills. It was first represented in the General Court in 1806, by Luther Robbins, Esq. A post-office was established there in 1790 .- MS. Let. of Luther Robbins, Esq. 1820.
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THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1788.
Fairfield.
FAIRFIELD, so called, as being expressive of its fair aspect by nature, was incorporated June 18, by the name it had previously borne. It was settled about 1774 .*
Canaan.
CANAAN, incorporated June 18, embraced at that time, the present town of Bloomfieldt also. Its name was chosen, because it was conceived to be fertile and fair, like the land of promise. It was surveyed in 1773, and improvements were begun the next year. The place had been called ' Heywoodstown,' from Peter Heywood, the first settler.}
Nobleboro.'
NOBLEBOROUGH was incorporated Nov. 20, being previously known by the name of Walpole. The territory of the town was claimed, under the Brown right, and the title was pursued till 1765, by James Noble, who married the widow of William Vaughan. He and others were then dispossessed, though they did not abandon their claim. Vaughan either commenced or re- vived the settlement under Dunbar, about the year 1730. It did not increase rapidly, as there were in the plantation only 30 men able to bear arms, at the beginning of the Revolutionary war. Arthur Noble gave to the town its present name. He was the proprietor's heir. But the name was displeasing to the people, principally because of their antipathies towards all who were pro- prietary claimants. The first settled minister of the place, was Rev. Ebenezer Stearns, a calvinistic divine, who was ordained in 1768.6
* Fairfield, (56th town,) contained in 1790, 492 inhabitants. The first congregational church in this town, was gathered in 1815, consisting of 8 members. It is a large and excellent township of 42 square miles, lying 8 miles on the western bank of the Kennebeck.
t See Bloomfield, incorporated Feb. 5, 1814.
# Canaan, (57th town.) a part of the Plymouth patent, contains 28,000 acres. The plantation records commence in 1783. Of the different re- ligious denominations in town, there are about 180 of the ' christian con- nexion.' In 1784, Rev. Nathan Whittaker was settled, and dismissed in 1788 ; Rev. Jonathan Calef succeeded him in 1794, and tarried five years. The next minister was Rev. J. Cayford, who continued there from 1809 to 1813. There are in Canaan 2 grist-mills, 3 saw-mills, a fulling mill, and 8 bridges ; one is over Wessarunset river, and one over 15 mile stream. It was first represented in the General Court by Benjamin Shepherd ; and a post-office was established there in 1793 .- MS. Letters of A. Powers, Esq. 1821.
§ Nobleborough, (58th town,) contains about 15,500 acres. The con- troversy about the title was settled in 1811-14 .- See ante, vol. II, p. 250, note *- also notes to Boothbay, A. D. 1764, and notes to Bristol, A. D. 1765.
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OF MAINE.
CHAP. XX.]
SEDGWICK, previously Naskeag, was incorporated January A. D. 1789. 12, 1789, by this name, in memory of Major Robert Sedgwick. * Sedgwick. Captains Goodwin and Reed, and John and Daniel Black, began a settlement at Naskeag point in 1763, which gradually increased, even during the war of the Revolution. The General Court, averse to the claims and pretensions of original proprietors, pro- ceeded, in 1789, to quiet every settler on a lot of 100 acres, and thereby establish tranquillity and contentment.+
CUSHING was incorporated, January 28, and called by this Cushing. name in compliment to Thomas Cushing, Lieutenant-Governor of the State. Its plantation name was St. George ; and Cushing, now incorporated, embraced then the present town of that name. Its situation since the division is between the rivers St. George and Meduncook. The first settlers were emigrants from Ireland in 1733; who were induced to remove by a proclamation, which General Waldo's son published in Cork. The first child born in the plantation, of white parents, was Archibald Robinson, whose birth was in 1734.}
-Nobleborough is connected with Newcastle by a toll bridge across the Damariscotta at the Lower Falls; and two miles above by a free bridge. The inhabitants are generally calvinists. After Mr. Stearns, they settled Rev. Phineas Pilsbury in 1808. Elder A. Judson was settled over the 2d baptist society in 1819. There were then in town two meeting-houses, North and South, also nine mills. The town was first represented in the General Court, in 1806, by James Perkins. The Oyster banks in this town opposite to the upper falls are a curiosity. They consist of oyster shells from 12 to 15 feet in height .- See ante, vol. 1, p. 56 .- MS. Letter of Ephraim Rollins, Esq. * See this History, ante, A. D. 1654, p. 360.
t Sedgwick, (59th town,) is one of the David Marsh townships condition- ally granted in 1762, being No.4. It is bounded southerly on Edgemora- gan Reach. In 1817, 5,000 acres were taken to form Brooksville, leaving in Sedgwick 22,000 acres. There is in town one meeting-house, occupied by baptists .- In the church are 231 members. Elder Daniel Merrill was settled in 1791. He was the first representative to the General Court, in 1809. His successor in the ministry was Elder E. Tinkham. Post-office was established there in 1812 .- MS. Let. of Daniel Morgan and William Johnson, Esqrs.
# Cushing, (60th town,) was divided Feb. 7, 1803 .- See St. George of that date .- It now contains 8,600 acres. It includes Gay's Island. In 1819, Cushing had within it neither settled minister, lawyer, physician, tanner, tailor or shoemaker ; each being his own mechanic. The people are about 1-4th baptists, and the residue congregationalists .- They have one meet- ing-house, 75 dwellinghouses, and a social library of 104 vols. The town was first represented in the General Court, 1789, by Edward Kelle-
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A. D. 1789. ISLESBOROUGH was incorporated January 28, embracing Islesboro.' Long Island, Seven hundred acre Island, Job's Island, the Lime Islands, Marshall's or William Pendleton's Island, and Las- sell's Island,-all of which were then inhabited. The first set- tlements were commenced in 1769, by William Pendleton and Benjamin Thomas. The town contains 6,000 acres, and the in- habitants derived titles to their lands in 1801, from General Henry Knox .*
Bluehill.
BLUEHILL, f previously plantation ' number five,' was incor- porated January 30, and includes a 'Long Island' on its south- easterly side. A majestic hill 950 feet in height above the level of the sea, crested by a mass of grey curl-grained rock, in the centre of the town,-has given the town its name. Formerly covered with a growth of evergreen, it exhibited to the eye of the distant beholder, an appearance of dark blue. The first settlement was begun in 1762, by Joseph Wood and John Roun- dy. In 1772, a church of 14 members was embodied ; and in 1786, a meeting-house was built.}
ran, Esq., since then a senator .- MS. Letter from Cushing, 1819 .- Major Burton's fort was in this town. It was constructed of stone-a very strong fortress.
* Islesborough, (61st town,) it is said, has neither a rich man nor a poor man in it. They are farmers and fishermen. They own more than 400 cows. and raise about 1,000 bushels of wheat annually. They have a meeting-house and a baptist church of 49 members. Their first settled minister, Elder Thomas Ames, was ordained in June, 1794. Connected with Vinalhaven, their first Representative to the General Court was Thomas Waterman, in 1820. The air of these Islands is remarkably healthful .- Those on the western side of Long-Island form several excel- lent harbors, often frequented by coasters. The length of Long-Island itself is eleven miles ; upon the north end of which is a mill at the outlet of a small pond .- See vol. I. p. 71.
t The Indian name was " Collegewidgwock."-R. Dodge, Esq.
# Bluehill (62d town) is one of the second class of townships, condition- ally granted in 1762 and 1764, which bounded on Union river, the dividing line of the two classes. The town embraces four fresh ponds, whose out- lets run into a salt pond in the south part of the town, and form several good mill sites. In 1776, the plantation chose its committees of safety, in- spection and correspondence ; and the peoples' ardor in the cause of free- dom was not damped by the encampment of the British at 'Biguyduce ;- as they usually submitted to the dictates of prudence and remained quiet. The first English child born in town was Jonathan Darling, Oct. 17, 1765. A second meeting-house for congregationalists, was built in 1792 ; and Rev. Jonathan Fisher was ordained July 13, 1796. A baptist church was form-
543
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CHAP. XX.]
DEER-ISLE, deriving its name from the abundance of deer an- A. D. 1789. ciently found in its forests, was incorporated January 30 ; includ- Deer-Isle. ing Deer-Island, Little Deer-Island, and the " Isle of Holt." These, together with Sheep Island, which were all surveyed in 1785, were found to contain 16,876 acres, and to be inhabited, prior to January 1, of the preceding year, by 80 settlers, who were entitled to the bounty-lots of government. The earliest set- tlements upon these Islands were undertaken about twenty years before the survey. In 1785, a church was organized on Great Deer Isle, and Rev. Peter Powers ordained .*
FREEPORT, incorporated Feb. 14, previously called the Harra- Freeport .. seeket settlement, was the eastern part of the ancient North-Yar- mouth. The place was inhabited by settlers removing thither from the parent town, probably about 1750. One Means, living in the eastern part of the settlement, was killed there by the In- dians, early in the French war. In December, 1789, a church was gathered and Rev. Alfred Johnson settled, whose ministry was continued upwards of fifteen years.t
TRENTON was incorporated, Feb. 16, containing at that time Trenton. about 300 souls. It was first settled as early as the year 1763. It was ' township number one,' separated from Mount Desert by
ed in 1806 ; parish incorporated in 1813; and meeting-house built in 1817. In town, there is a school fund of $3,225 ; a social library of 445 volumes, and there are owned 2,000 tons of shipping. A post-office was estab- lished here in 1795 .- Bluehill Academy was incorporated in 1803; has $6,552 funds, and is flourishing .- MS. Letters of Rev. J. Fisher, Hon. A. Witham and E. Pinkham, Esq. 1820.
* Deer-Isle, (63d town,) contained, in 1790, 682 inhabitants .- See Re- solve, March 24, 1788 .- Rev. Mr. Powers died in 1799. Rev. Joseph Brown, a dissenting minister, settled in England, removed to Exeter, N. H. and thence to Deer-Isle, where he was reinstalled in 1809, and contin- ued till his death, in 1819 .- See ante, vol. I, p. 73-4.
t Freeport (64th town) probably derived its name from the openness of its harbor. It lies between Cozen's river, on the south-west, and Prout's gore, on the north-east. Harraseeket river is the only one in town-nav- igabie on the tide a league from the bay. Freeport was divided and Pow- nal incorporated in 1808 .- The successors of Mr. Johnson were Rev. Sam- uel Veazie in 1806, and Rev. Reuben Nason in 1810, both graduates of Harvard. The baptists have gathered a church and built a handsome meeting-house. There is another for universalists. In this town are six mills, besides a tide inill .- 4 Coll. M. Hist. Soc. new series, p. 176.
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A. D. 1789. Jordan's river ; a branch of which being salt tide-waters, stretches a league and a half into the town .*
Gouldsbo- rough.
GOULDSBOROUGH, incorporated Feb. 16, was originally granted by Massachusetts to Nathan Jones, Francis Straw, and Robert Gould of Boston, who immediately settled it with lumbermen from Portland, Saco and other places in that vicinity. The town, so named in compliment to one of the grantees, embraces Stave, Jordan's, Ironbound, Porcupine, Horn, Turtle and Schoodic Islands, some of which are inhabited.+
Sullivan.
SULLIVAN, previously New-Bristol, or number two,i was in- corporated, Feb. 16, by that name, in honor of James Sullivan, afterwards Governor of the State. It embraces, besides main land, eight Islands, viz. Capital A, Bean, Dram, Preble, Brag- don, Burnt, Black, and Seward Islands. The town was origin- ally settled by three families, emigrating from York in 1765. Each settler since the revolution has been quieted on 100 acres, by paying $5 into the public treasury.§
* Trenton (65th town,) was confirmed to Paul Thorndike and others, June 21, 1785. The original grant was January 27, 1764 .- See Resolve .- At Trenton-point are the appearances of an old settlement, probably under- taken by the French.
t Gouldsborough (66th town) is situated between Frenchman's bay and Gouldsborough harbor, and contains 30,000 acres ; one third of which is too hilly or too rocky for the plough. In Gouldsborough there is a town-house; 5 saw mills, 3 grist mills and 3 bridges. A post-office was established here in 1792. The town was first represented in the General Court in 1814, by Mr. Shaw. This was for many years the residence of Gen. DA- VID COBB, who was one of Gen. Washington's aids in the Revolution ; twice Maj. General of the militia ; Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the county of Hancock; Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, and many years in the Council .- MS. Letter.
# One of the David Bean townships.
§ Sullivan, (67th town) granted January 27, 1764, was confirmed by the General Court, June 21, 1785, to the proprietors, upon payment of £1,250, in consolidated notes; quieting the settlers, building a meeting-house, and introducing 60 families within six years. In the Revolution, 40 families were reduced to 20 .- The Clam-shells, from 12 to 18 inches thick on the points projecting into the bay, cover several acres ; and on one of the Isl- ands they are six feet in depth. Another curiosity is the reservoir which fills at flood and empties at ebb, where is a toll-bridge 700 feet in length. There are in town 6 or 7 mills; and the people own 15 sail of vessels .- A post-office was first established in 1794. The town was first represented in the General Court by Paul D. Sargent, Esq. a Colonel in the revolution ; and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Judge of Probate, several years in the County of Hancock.
545
CHAP. XX.] OF MAINE.
MOUNT DESERT, incorporated February 17, embraces an Isl- A. D. 1789. and of that name, the largest upon the eastern coast; and also Mount De- Bartlett's, Robinson's, Beach, and the Cranberry Islands. sert. There is no place upon the seaboard of Maine, which is more noted than the Island itself of Mount Desert. It is said to con- tain 60,000 acres,-two thirds of which are mountainous and incapable of cultivation. This was the place where the French missionaries, Biard and Masse, A. D. 1609,* formed a tempo- rary residence. The re-settlement of this Island was effected in 1761, by Abraham Somes, who built a dwellinghouse near the head of the sound, which thence took his name The Cranberry Islands became inhabited about the same time, and John Robin- son settled on an Island, since called by his name. It was erect- ed into a plantation in 1776; and the inhabitants, during the war of the Revolution, suffered much, both from the enemy and for necessaries. After reserving to settlers their possessions, the General Court, June 23, 1785, and July 6, 1787, confirmed the residue of the Island to Bernard and Gregorie,t in undivided halves. The population at the time the town was incorporated, was about seven hundred.į
DURHAM, a part of the Pejepscot purchase, was incorporated Durham. Feb. 17; its plantation name being Royalsborough, or Royals- town, from Colonel Royal of Medford, who was a considerable proprietor. The first settler was Samuel Gerrish, who with oth- ers brought forward the settlement immediately, though slowly, after the reduction of Quebec.§
* See ante, A. D. 1609, 1613, p. 205-8-9. t See ante, A. D. 1785.
# Mount Desert, (68th town) was divided in 1796 ; when Eden was taken from the north part and incorporated into a town. The mountain is a land- mark for mariners, rising about 2,400 feet above the level of the sea .- Bass harbor is at the south end of the Island; and Somes' sound, which extends north to the heart of the Island, is navigable a league. About the pool on the western side of the sound, are the relics of ancient habitations. Possibly the station chosen under Madam Gourcheville was at the north- east harbor. There are two ponds in town, 5 miles by 1, and 2 by 1. There are in town 7 saw-mills, 4 grist-mills, and two meeting-houses. Ebenezer Eaton is a lay preacher to the congregationalists. First representative to the General Court, was Davis Wasgatt, in 1805. The first child born in the town was George Richardson, August, 1763, and the first marriage, Aug. 9, 1774 .- MS. Let. of Davis Wasgalt and D. Richardson, Esqrs.
§ Durham, (69th town,) lies north of Brunswick, and contains about 17,000 acres. There were in town, A. D. 1820, about 170 dwellinghouses ; VOL. II. 69
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THE HISTORY
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A. D. 1789. FRANKFORT, extending " from Belfast to Wheeler's mills," Frankfort. on Soadabscook stream, was incorporated June 25, and em- braced the present town of that name, Prospect, and the greater part of Hampden. It was the north-east corner town of the Waldo patent, extending beyond its north line. In the present town of Frankfort we find there were settled inhabitants, as early as 1770 ; for in 1773, there were twelve residing at Marsh bay ; one family at Oak point, and one where the village now is .*
Vinalhaven.
VINALHAVEN was incorporated by that name, June 25, in compliment to John Vinal, Esq. of Boston, who had been em- ployed, the preceding year, by the settlers, in obtaining legis- lative measures for quieting them upon their lots. The town embraces the North and South Fox Islands, and all the smaller Islands within three miles of their shores. The first permanent settlement, which was effected in 1765, increased to the fifth year of the Revolutionary war ; when the British, issuing from their encampment at 'Biguyduce, compelled these Islanders to leave their families and work upon the fortification ; sometimes killing their cattle and plundering them of their effects. To avoid ser- vility and abuse, numbers retired from their houses, some of which the enemy subsequently reduced to ashes. Returning after the peace, 72 of the inhabitants obtained, in 1786, from the government, deeds of their lots, in consideration of only £246 for the whole. These Islanders have been " noted for their hu- " manity and benevolence to strangers."+
and when the town was incorporated, about 700 inhabitants. Rev. Jacob Herrick was settled, and a church gathered in March, 1796.
* Frankfort, (70th town,) is at the head of winter navigation on Penob- scot. In the town are two heights, Mount Waldo, and Danforth's moun- tain .- Marsh river, is a commodious mill stream, emptying into Marsh bay, has two branches, viz. south branch, on which Prospect partly bounds, and the main branch. The first settlers were J. Treat, E. Grant, J. Kinna- kum, J. Woodman, P. King, S. Kenney, and E. Ide. "The first settlers " got their living by hunting moose, beaver and muskrat; and by fishing " in Penobscot river."-MS. Let. of Joshua Treat, Esq .- Frankfort was divided, and Prospect, and Hampden incorporated, Feb. 24, 1794. In 1790, the whole town contained 891 inhabitants.
t Vinalhaven, (71st town.) contains 16,527 acres. Between the two Fox Islands is a thoroughfare, as previously mentioned, about a mile in width, and a deep channel. The employment of the inhabitants is farm- ing and fishing. They own 700 tons of shipping. On the north Island, the baptists have a meeting-house and a church of 125 members. There are
547
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XX.]
By tracing the origin and progress of these plantations, rising A. D. 1789. to notice in such quick succession, we exhibit evidence of un- The corpor- common increase and improvement. But some commercial reg- ate towns. ulations were necessary to give prosperity and success to enter- prize ; and in proportion as the federative government progressed, the prospect widened, of seeing system and effect given to trade, which the coercive power of law only could accomplish.
dent of the
GEORGE WASHINGTON having been elected President of the George United States, was inaugurated, April 30, 1789, at New-York ; ton, l'resi- Washing- and the national government became constitutionally organized. United To regulate commercial intercourse, and the duties on tonnage States. and imposts ;- and to assume and fund the public debt, were among the first measures of Congress. The expenses of the Penobscot expedition were at length made an item of the na- tional debt ; and justice, equal and universal, was administered. In this age of sober habits, and improvement, the State Legislature passed one Act, which is worthy to be mentioned,-this was for encouraging the manufacture of beer, as a desirable and whole- some substitute for ardent spirits. To this generation in fact, is due the credit of patronizing temperance and economy, though commerce; navigation and trade, were its ruling springs of action.
also methodists. Rev John Lewis preaches on the South Island, and Rev. Samuel Macomber on the North Island. The town was first represented in the General Court in 1801, by William Vinal, a Judge of the Common Pleas, in the county of Hancock .- Here also are large beds of clam shells, found on the shores, about which there is no tradition. The silver grey foxes found on these Islands when first discovered, occasioned the name. None are seen there at the present time .- MS. Let. of Thomas Waterman, Esq. 1820.
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THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Counties of Hancock and Washington established and bounded -Shire-towns and terms-Maine District re-established-A Cen- sus-Collection of the Customs-District Court established- People on the eastern borders quieted-The lumber and fur trade -Nine towns incorporated-Objects of the people's enterprize- Death of Governor Hancock-Buckfield and Paris incorporated.
A. D. 1789. June 25. The Coun- ties of Han- cock and Washington established.
To the remarkable increase of municipal corporations, imme- diately succeeded measures to divide the County of Lincoln. Its present extent upon the seaboard exceeded forty leagues ;- it contained a large and wide spread population ; and public conve- nience required a division. The General Court therefore, by an act of June 25, 1789, established two new counties, HANCOCK and WASHINGTON ;- names borrowed from those of two men, the most eminent and popular in the Union.
Boundaries of them.
The divisional line between Lincoln and Hancock, commenc- ing on the margin of Penobscot Bay, at the north-east corner of Camden, proceeded westerly in the upper line of that town to its corner ; thence northerly to the north limit of the Waldo pa- tent; and "thence north to the Highlands ;" leaving to Lincoln the seacoast between New-Meadows and Penobscot bays, and all the opposite Islands .- The dividing line between Hancock and Washington, commenced at the head of Gouldsborough river east branch, and proceeded to the south-east corner of township number sixteen; and "thence due north to the highlands."* The eastern boundary of Washington County was drawn "by the river St. Croix ;" and thence north so as to include all the lands within the Commonwealth eastward of Hancock. Both Counties were bounded on the north "by the utmost northern limits" of the State; and to each County were annexed all the opposite Islands.
* See the act of the British government in 1763, by which Quebec was formed into a Province ; the Quebec Bill, passed Oct. 1774; the treaty of 1783 ; and the division of Canada into the Upper and Lower Provinces in 1791, to ascertain these " Highlands."
549
CHAP. XXI.] OF MAINE.
On the first day of May, 1790, the act took effect, and the two A. D. 1790. Counties became established ; Penobscot [now Castine] being May 1. the shire-town of Hancock; and Machias, that of Washington .* and terms of
Shire-towns The terms set for the Common Pleas and Sessions, were in June the Court. and September for both counties : but all matters happening in either, whereof the Supreme Judicial Court had cognizance, were to be heard and tried at their annual term in Pownalborough.
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