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]{ Brief historical Slietcl?
of tl^e
tTOWN»OF.VINALHAVEN,f
FROM ITS EARLIEST KNOWN SETTLEMENT.
•|-^
^Fdparcd by ©pdep ot fr^e H'^owr),
ON THE OCCASION OF ITS
Q|n1E: |-|J[NlDREDJh| y^^jMlNllVERSARy.
ROCKLAND, ME.
PRINTED AT THE FREE PRESS OFFICE.
1889.
INTRODUCTION.
In writing this brief sketch of the town, we are (owing
to the limited means at our disposal, and the short time
allotted us in which to prepare it,) compelled to confine
ourselves to such published references as can be most
readily obtained, and to such information, traditional and
otherwise, as can be gleaned from those who are now living,
and records that are easily accessible. No doubt many will
be disappointed that notice of their ancestors does not
appear here, but to those we can only say that we did the
best we could under the circumstances, and hope this brief
sketch, crude as it is, may be, may prove an incentive to
the town, or some enterprising individual, to take measures
for having published a more extended and complete work.
Nor can we vouch for the absolute correctness of all that
is herein written, but judging from the source of our
information, and by careful comparisons, we think that on
the whole it may be taken as authority. It is a lamentable
fact that scarcely a tradition even, exists here of events
that must have occurred during the first quarter century
of settlement here. The first settling of any country is
generally beset with dangers, a battle for subsistence, a
period of hardships, suffering and privations, and those
who first came here must have had their full share.
Coming as they did to a wilderness, with miles of old ocean
between them and other settlements, exposed at first to the
missiles of the Indians, and later to the indignities of the
British, their lot must have been a hard one. No records
of those stirring times have been preserved, at least we
have not learned of any. That the people displayed a
4 HJSTOKY OF VINALHAVEN.
military s[)irit, and were organized for their own protection
seems evident, but when such companies were formed, how
officered, etc., we have not been able to . ascertain. The
only evidence we have seen that a military organization
existed here previous to 1789, is a commission as Lieutenant
of Militia to James Calderwood, signed by John Hancock,
Governor of Massachusetts, dated 1787, the original of
which is now in possession of Kufus Calderwood. Many
of the settlers here were men of learning, some of whom
attained distinction in the war for independence. This
little work is not classed as a history in the strict sense
of the term, but that it may lead to further developments
is the sincere wish of those who have undertaken to compile
it.
DESCRIPTION AND POPULATION.
The town of Vinal Haven, in the county of Knox, State
of Maine, is situated in Penobscot Bay, and is the largest
of the group formerly called the " Fox Islands." The
village, (Carver's Harbor), is in about 44 N. latitude,
and is, by the route traveled, about 15 miles east from
Rockland. Its greatest length from N. W. to S. E.
extremity is seven and one-half miles, and about five miles
in width, but so cut into by Mother Ocean that no point is
distant more than one mile from salt water. According to
the survey made by Rufus Putnam in 1785, the island
contains about 10,000 acres, and there are several small
fresh ponds, namely ; Cedar, Otter, Folly, Long, and Round
Ponds. The climate of the place, surrounded as it is by
waters that mingle with those of every zone, and which
have a considerable effect in equalizing temperature, is
mild, compared with that more inland ; the mercury though
rauQ'ino- from 10 deg-rees below zero to 90 deg-rees above in the
shade, seldom reaches those points. There are numerous
small islands and ledges in the vicinity, which are often visited
by our sportsmen after sea-fowl, which are not so plenty as
formerly. These birds were very abundant in the early
days of settlement here, and was one source of supply upon
which the inhabitants relied for sustenance. One manner
of capturing them aside from the usual mode of shooting,
was called " duck driving," and was certainly novel and
exciting, though it would not be considered sportsman-like
in our day. A brief description of how it was done may
not be out of place here. For several days in the month
of August the birds could not fly, as they were then
shedding their feathers, a fact which was well known to
the settlers, and at such times a sufificient number would
6 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
get together in boats, and proceeding to the rendezvous of
the birds, would form a circle partially surrounding them,
and in that way they were driven into some cove or creek,
up onto the shore, where they were overtaken and killed.
Capt. Heuben Carver has informed us that his father was
one of a party tluu captured 2,100 birds in a single drive.
Granite, of which there are several varieties, is found
here in inexhaustible quantities, and is the principal
geological feature of the town.
It is said that at one time, bears, foxes, otter, and mink
were quite numerous here, but as the settlers multiplied,
and the land became cleared, those animals grew less in
numbers, until at present there is scarcely a vestige of
them to be found. The last bear killed here was shot b}-
William Vinal, Jr., and Silas Mills, in the swamp a short
distance to the westward of W. H. Vinal's residence. As
near as we can learn, it occurred about 75 years ago. An
occasional sly Reynard is all that remains of the specie that
caused Pring to give these islands th-e primitive name by
wliicli they are often called at the present time.
The population of the town in 1790 was 855, and in
1880, 2,855. The former included Noith Haven (set off
in 1846), Hurricane (set off in 1878), and all islands
within three miles. The combined population in 1880 of
the islands originally within the jurisdiction of Vinal
Haven was o,830. According to the Assessors' returns,
there were, on the first of April this year, 2,712 inhabitants
.in tills town, a loss since 1880 of 1-43.
DISCOVERY.
In the year 1603, Martin Pring, with two vessels, sailed
from England for the new world, and on the 7th of June
of the same year entered Penobscot Bay. He was well
pleased with the scenery of the bay, the excellent anchorage,
and abundance of fish in its waters. He probably landed
upon one of the ishmds in this locality to obtain water and
game, and seeing a number of silver grey foxes he named
HISTOKY OF VINALHAVP:N. • i
the group the " Fox Islands." This appears to be the first
reference in history to these islands up to the year 1603, It
is said that in the year 1556 Theret, a French explorer,
entered the Penobscot and landed in the vicinity of
Islesboro. He must have seen tlie islands to the southeast
of him, but if he did it does not appear that he made any
record of it. There are accounts of earlier visits to the
coast of Maine, but no mention is made of this particular
locality. To Martin Pring, then, belongs the honor of
having been the first to discover and name the " Fox
Islands." History records that he did not stay long in this
vicinity, but, sailing farther south, procured a valuable
cargo and returned to England. His dealings with the
natives appear to have been honorable, a fact of which is
not recorded of several of his countrymen who subsequently
visited these shores.
SETTLEMENTS, ETC.
It has been said that the first permanent settlement liere
was made in 1765, but by whom we have not been able to
learn. As will be noted, Francis Cogswell, of Ipswich,
Mass., is supposed to have been here as early as 1760, but
as we understand it,his was only a temporary residence. He
was probably attracted by the growth of timber near the
shore, and having erected a saw mill, he for several years,
in the spring and summer, manufactured into boards, etc.,
such as could be felled near the water. About 1760 there
were several who attempt^ed to establish themselves in tlie
north island, but were driven away by the Indians. It
appears that David Wooster was the first permanent settler
on the north island, having come there in 1762, and we are
also informed that a son of his was the first white child
born in town. About 1766 the Carvers came, and up to
the year 1775 a great advance in settlements was made.
The first year of the Revolution was a period of distress
for the inhabitants, says the historian. They were unable
to raise corn and grain sufficient for support, and there
8 • HISTORY OF VTNALHAVEN.
were few calls for wood and lumber, and with other
settlements petitions were sent to the Provincial Congress,
asking for food, ammunition and arms. All, or nearly all
of the settlers here were friendly to the cause of the
colonies, and during the war a number left here, some to
seek quarters less exposed and others to take up arms in
defense of their rights. All through the war the people
suffered much from the ravages of marauding Tories, who
went about in boats called " shaving mills " robbing them
of their crops and stores. During the occupancy of Castine
by the British, many of the inhabitants were compelled to
leave their families and to work upon the fort, and other
indignities were heaped upon them. After the peace, new
settlers began to arrive, and some of those who had left
during the war returned again. A meeting was held in
March, 1785, when it was voted by the inhabitants to
petition the General Court praying to be quieted in full
possession of the lots they occupied. It was also voted
that if the prayer of their petition was answered favorably
each man should stand by his buts and bounds, and no
landmarks should be removed. Following is a copy of the
petition and response thereto :
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
To tJie Honorable Senate ovd H()i(s(' (if Rei)rescntat'tv(;s hi General
Court assembled : —
The petition of th^ inhabitants of Fox Islands, in the
County of Lincoln, Humbly Sheweth that your Petitioners
of their Ancestors, did about twenty years since. Settle on
the small Island known by the name of the Fox Islands,
which was then in the State of Nature, and not claimed by
any Power, Potentate or Individual, in any other way than
the Crown of England laid claim to the whole Common-
wealth. That your Petitioners removed with their families
to the said Islands, which they divided into lots and have
cleared the Land in part. That when the British Troops
took possession of Bagaduce, the inhabitants of said Islands
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 9
(not choosing to be under the tyrany of the British King)
removed Avith their families, within the Protection of the
Commonwealth, and did serve during the Expeditions to
the Penobscot, bearing arms against the enemy ; but upon
the defeat of the Troops of this Commonwealth, the greatest
part of your Petitioners were obliged to abandon their
possessions to the Mercy of the enemy who came on to the
Island and burnt their houses, plundered them of all the
substance that they were obliged to leave upon the Islands,
and many of the inhabitants they (out of rev^enge) took
from their families and obliged them to work upon their
Fortifications at Bagaduce, and cruelly treated those who
sliowed any reluctance at it.
Your Petitioners are now peaceably resettled upon the
said Islands, have erected huts, until they can rebuild their
houses, and are determined, soon as circumstances will
admit, to erect a building for Public Worship, and to settle
a minister of the Gospel among them, and also to found a
Public School for the education of their children. The
Petitioners now entreat your Honors to take into your wise
consideration their peculiar ciicumstances and sufferings,
and quiet them in full possession of the said Islands that
the}' nv'iy enjoy privilege and Immunity with the rest of
their fellow citizens in the Commonwealth, and under that
government they ardently wish to be su[)ported in their
person and property. They tlierefore pray that your
Honors would relinquish any claims that this Commonwealth
may have to the said Islands, to all the inhabitants and
their Heirs and Assigns forever, and your Petitioners as in
duty bound will ever Pray.
(Signed) George White, i Attorneys for
John CaldeuWOOD, S t/tc Inliahltants.
whose names are as follows :
John Calderwood, William Vinal, James Stinson, James
Calderwood, Increase Leadbetter, Job Philbrook, James
Jewell, John Leadbetter, Anthony Coombs, Joseph Green,
10 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEK.
James Douglas, Thos. Brown, Maiy Coombs (widow),
Reuben Brown, Jeremiah Philbrooks, John Burgess, Increase
Leadbetter, Jr., Isaac Air3% John Smith, John Hambleton,
Israel Carver, Thaddeus Carver, Caleb Carver, Jona.
Foster, Sam'l Calderwood, Penelope Winslow (widow),
Isachar Lane, Wm. Cooper, John Burgess, Jr., James
Cooper, Ji'., Ephraim Perry, Benjamin Bobbins, James
Beveridge, Thomas Cooper, Mark Eames, William Bassick,
Cnshen Thomas (a minor), Thomas Beveridge, Joseph
Woster, Jr., James Cooper, James Heard, Joseph
Waterman, James Dunham, Anthony Dyer, John Perry,
Wm. Dyer, James Wlialing, Stephen Carver, Wm. Perry,
Justus Eames, Benjamin Kent, Archibald McMullen,
Nathl Woster, Jona. Bobbins, Benjamin Carr, Sam'l
Thomas, Thomas Gray, Sam'l Thomas, Jr., Joseph Woster,
Joel Philbrooks, Ebenezer Crabtree, Luthei' Leadbetter,
Matthew Beveridge (a minor), William Calderwood (a
minor).
A foot note added the information that one of them was
a negro.
In response to the foregoing petition, a survey was made
by liufus Putnam, and the following resolutions were
passed by the General Court :
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, /
In Sp:nate, March 11th, 1786. j
Whereas, it appears to this court from a survey and plan
of certain Islands lying in the Penobscot Bay, within the
County of Lincoln, called Fox Islands, taken by Kufus
Putnam in the year 1785, that said Islands contained
16,527 acres, (and that not more than one-half of said
islands is of any value) whereon were seventy-five settlers
before the first day of January, 1784; and wdiereas John
Calderwood and other settlers on said Islands have
petitioned this court for a grant of the same to tliem, their
heirs and assimis :
Therefore, resolved. That all the Islands belonging to and
composing the division of tlie Fox Islands, as described in
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 11
the aforesaid plan, viz.: Bounded westerly and northerly
l)y Penobscot Bay, easterly by Fox Island Bay (which
separates these Islands from the Isle au Haut and Deer
Island division of Islands) and southerly by the Atlantic
Ocean, be and are hereby granted and coniirmed, with all
the privileges and appurtenances to the same, belonging to
John Calderwood and the other settlers who settled there
before the first day of January, 1784, their heirs and assigns,
on condition that the said Calderwood and others interested
as aforesaid, appropriate (of good land) two hundred acres
for the use of the Ministry, and two hundred acres for the
use of a grammar school ; and that they pay into the
treasury of this Commonwealth within one year from this
date, on interest the sum of one hundred and eight pounds
in specie, for the expense of surveying the said Islands and
other charges, and also the sum of sixty-six pounds, seven
shillings, in consolidated securities of this Commonwealth.
Provided, that where any original settler has sold, or
otherwise disposed of his improvements to any other person,
the purchaser of such improvements, his heirs or assigns,
shall hold the same lands which such original settler would
have held by virtue of this resolve, if there had been no
such sale or disposition.
Sent down for concurrence.
Sam'l Phillips, Jij., Frcs'uTt.
In the House of Representatives, March 13th, 1780.
Read and concurred.
Approved, Akteaius Waiid, Spcaler.
True copy, — Attest : JoHX BowDOiN.
John Aveijy, Jr., Secirfanj.
MUNICIPAL.
The first meeting of which we have seen any record was
held March lltli, 1785, at the house of Benjamin Kent, on
the north island. Tliomas Beverage was chosen Clerk. It
appears that previous to this a petition had been sent out
12 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
•
to the General Court, by the settlers, praying for a grant
of the land which they then occupied, but at this meeting it
was voted to withdraw the first petition and present a new
one, and Capt. George White was chosen to forward it to
the General Court. The latter is probably the one known
as the Calderwood petition, and was exhumed from the
Massachusetts Archives by Dr. J. F, Pratt, and a copy is
printed on a preceding page. The meeting also voted to
raise the sum of twelve pounds to pay for forwanling said
petition. The same year a survey of the islands was made
b}' Rufus Putnam. A meeting was held in March, 1786.
Captain George White was chosen Moderator, and Abner
C. Lunt, Clerk. The resolve of the General Court,
relative to granting the land to the settlers here, Avas read
and accepted, and it was voted to pay Mr. John Yinal, of
Boston, the sum of thirty-six pounds for his sei'vices in
obtaining" leg-islation in their favor.
At the meeting held October 28th, 1788, Thomas
Beverage was elected Plantation Clerk, and Capt. Joseph
Waterman, William Vinal, Esq., and Capt. George White
were chosen Assessors. On February 2-lth, 1789, the
inhabitants voted that the Assessors employ Mr. John
Vinal, of Boston, to petition the General Court, in behalf
of tliis plantation for an abatement of taxes. At the annual
meeting in March, Thomas Beverage was chosen Clerk,
and Capt. Josepli Waterman, William Vinal, Esq., and
Stephen Carver, Assessors. Committees were appointed
to lay out roads on the South and North Islands.
TOWN MEETINGS.
Following is the act of incorporation.
Ax Act to incorporate the islands in Penobscot Bay
commonly called the North and South Fox Islands, in
the County of Lincoln, into a town by the name of Vinal
Haven.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 13
siuiie, that the ishands in the Penobscot Bay, in the County of
Lincoln, commonly called the North and South Fox Islands,
Ijounded as follows : Westerly and northerly on Penobscot
Bay, easterly on Fox Island Bay, which separates the
islands from the Isle of Holt and Deer Island, division of
islands, and southerly on the Atlantic Ocean, together
with the inhabitants thereon, be and they are hereby
incorporated into a town by the name of Vinal Haven ; and
the inhabitants of tlie said town are hereby invested with all
the powers, privileges and immunities which the inhabitants
of towns within this Commonwealth do, or may by law
enjoy.
And be it further enacted, that William Vinal, Esq., is
hereby authorized and empowered to issue his warrant
directed to some suitable inhabitant of the said town of
Vinal Haven, directing him to notify the inhabitants of the
said town, to meet at such time and place as he shall
appoint, to choose such officers as other towns are
empowered to choose at their annual meetings, in the
months of March or April annually.
Tliis act passed June 25th, 1789.
A meeting was held December 15th, when Stephen
Carver, Anthony Dyer and Mark Fames were chosen
Selectmen to lay out roads on the North Island, and Israel
Carver, Thomas Brown and James Jewell for the same
purpose on the South Island. For labor on the roads it
was voted to pay three shillings per day for men, and one
shilling and sixpence for oxen, and also voted that roads
should be eighteen feet wide.
In the following description of town meetings, it should
be noted that they were held alternately each year on the
North and South Island, and a majority of the selectmen
were generally chosen in the same way. In the matter of
appropriations, each island raised its own school money
until about 1820, but we give only the total amount, with
a few exceptions. The tax collecting was always given to
the lowest bidder, and was paid from the town charges,
but we give it separate as an item of interest.
14 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
1790. — This year it was voted to hire two schoolmasters
for the ensuing year. Voted to hire Michael Brown to
teach school on the North Island, and the selectmen were
instructed to make a contract with Brown for salary.
The sum of four pounds eight shillings was raised to pay
assessors' salaries for the previous year, and ten pounds
was voted to defray town charges.
1791. — This year, James Stinson and Anthony Dyer
were chosen Church Wardens, and three pounds was
raised for town charges, and one pound for a record book.
At a meeting in May, three pounds six shillings was voted
to pay for collecting taxes ; eleven pounds to pay Michael
Brown for teaching school the previous year, and three
pounds to purchase a standard of weights and measures.
1792. — This year, Anthony Dyer and Stephen Carver
were chosen Church Wardens, and seven pounds was voted
for town charges. In May it was voted to hire a minister
for four months and sixteen pounds was raised for that
purpose. It was also voted to have the preaching at the
house of James Calderwood, on the South Island, and
Eleazar Crabtree and Samuel Thomas on the North Island.
1793. — This year, Mark Eames and Benjamin Daggett
were chosen Church Wardens, and eighteen pounds
thirteen shillings was raised for town charges. At a
subsequent meeting it was voted to raise thirty-six pounds
to pay Mr. John Vinal for past services as agent. Voted
to buy one and one-half acres of land of Joseph Waterman,
for a meeting house lot and burial ground.
1794. — This year Abel Whitman and James Calderwood
were chosen Church Wardens. Ten pounds was raised
for town charges, and four pounds for collecting taxes. It
was voted to divide the town into two districts, viz.: the
North and South Districts. Voted to hire a school master
for twelve months in the North District. At a later
meeting it was voted to raise forty-six pounds ten shillings
in the North District, to pay Michael Brown for teaching
school. The article relative to hiring a minister was
passed over.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 15
1795. — This year it was voted to pay tour pounds for
collecting taxes ; and Stephen Carver and James Stinson
were chosen Church Wardens. Fifteen pounds was raised
for town charges. At a meeting held in October, it was
voted to raise six pounds to pay for having a plan of the
town transcribed from a plan originally made by Rufus
Putnam, Esq.
1796. — This year John Day and Tliomas Brown were
chosen Church Wardens, and forty pounds was raised for
town charges.
1797. — This year it was voted to hire a minister, and
forty pounds was raised for that purpose ; sixty pounds for
town charges ; thirty-two pounds, nine shillings and
sixpence for support of poor ; and twelve pounds five
shillings for collecting taxes.
1798. — This year one hundred pounds was voted for
support of preaching ; two hundred pounds for schools ;
lifty pounds for town charges, and forty-eight pounds for
support of poor. James Glover and Ezekiel Burgess were
chosen Church Wardens, and it was voted that any balance
remaining from town charge appropriations of former years
be devoted to support of schools and preaching.
1799. — This year it was voted not to raise any money
for preaching. Jf^lOO was voted for support of schools ; $60
for town charges ; and f 140 to John Day for support of
poor the previous year. The collection of taxes was bid
off by Ebenezer Eames for -foO, and %'2F) Avas voted to
William Vinal, Esq., for past services.
1800. — This year it was voted to divide the town into
eight districts, four on the North and four on the South
Islands ; and the article relating to raising money for
preaching was negatived. It was voted not to raise any
money for support of schools on the North Island, but it
was agreed to engage a schoolmaster for the South Island,
and a committee of three, namely : William Vinal, James
Calderwood and Cyril Brown, were appointed for that
purpose. It was voted that each island draw their
16 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
proportion of all moneys in the treasury and that each
island repair their own roads. Voted to raise $200 for
repairs of roads on the South Island. The collection of
taxes was bid off to Mark Calderwood for 'f 30, and |230
was raised for town charges.
1801. — This year the following sums were raised : for town
charges, •li'200 ; roads, f 100 ; schools, 1320 ; collecting taxes,
$25 ; preaching on North Island, $60. The following matters
were carried : To pay a .bounty of three cents on crows'
heads ; not to engage a minister on the South Island ; not
to allow Matinicus to pay taxes to this town. At the
meeting in May, William Vinal, Esq., was chosen
Representative to the General Court, the first chosen from
this town.
1802. — Voted this year not to hire any minister, and
also to prosecute any person cutting down trees on the
town's land. $100 was raised for roads ; $150 for town
charges ; $280 for support of schools ; and $24 for
collecting taxes. No representative this year.
1803. — This year James Calderwood and Samuel Glover
were chosen Overseers of the Poor, and it was voted not to
hire a minister. Support of schools, $320 ; town charges,
$100 ; poor bills $51 ; ammunition for town, $70 ; collecting
taxes, $25.50 ; and school arrearages on South Island, $56.
1804. — This year the articles relating to hiring a minister
and building a meeting house were passed over. The
following sums were raised : Support of schools, $330 ;
town charges, $100 ; poor, $20 ; roads, $50 ; collecting
taxes, $23.25 ; and for weights and measures, $40.
1805. — This year it was voted not to have any school on
the North Island, and the article to raise money for preaching
was passed over. Voted to have schools on the South
Island and $230 was raised for that purpose. $150 was
voted for roads ; $125 for town charges ; $20 for support
of poor ; and $21 for collecting taxes. At the meeting
held for election of State officers Uriah Norton received
several votes for governor.
HISTOllY OF VINALHAVEN. 17
1806. — This year a motion was carried to pay a bounty
of ten cents on crows and bluejays and twenty cents a
head on eagles. Tliere was voted for town charges -^300 ;
c-ollecting taxes, $20, and for support of schools on the
South Island, >^'2'^0.
1807. — This year on the question of separting Maine
from Massachusetts, there were 84 votes against and none
for. Voted not to have any schools on the North Island.
The following sums were raised : Town charges, $250 ;
roads, $250 : poor, $20 ; collecting taxes, $28 ; and $260
for support of schools on the South Island. It was voted
to pay one shilling per hour for labor on the highway, and
the same for oxen.
1808. — This year the following amounts were raised :
For support of schools. North Island, $200 ; South Island,
$200; roads, North Island, $500; South Island, $200;
town charges, $250 ; and collecting taxes, $32. William
Vinal, Esq., was chosen Representative.
1809. — The appropriations this year were : Roads, $600 ;
schools, $400 ; town charges, $240 ; and collecting taxes,
$43. At the meeting in May, William Vinal was chosen
Representative.
1810. — This, as in previous years, the town's poor were
taken l)y individuals, at a stated sum per week. Voted
not to have a school on the North Island. Two collectors
of taxes were chosen, one each for the vSouth and North
Islands, the former to receive $28 and the latter $11. It
was voted to raise $240 for town charges, $600 for roads,
and $230 for schools on the South Island. Several
meetings were held in May, when the vote of the annual
meeting to raise $230 for schools on the South Island was
reconsidered, and it was voted not to have any schools this
year. William Vinal, Esq., was chosen Representative.
1811. — This year David Woster, Stephen Delano and
Ezekiel Dyer were chosen Assessors of Taxes, and it was
voted not to raise any money for the support of the gospel.
There were voted for schools $400 ; roads, $200 ; town
18 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
charges, -1150 ; and collecting taxes, •144. For labor on
the roads it was voted to pay twelve cents per hour for
men, twelve cents for oxen, twelve cents for ploughs, and
six cents for carts. William Vinal, Esq., was chosen
Representative.
1812. — Tliis year the following sums were raised : For
roads, -fSOO ; schools, •'1400 ; town charges, -ijfSOO ; and for
collecting taxes, $40. It was voted not to raise any money
for support of a minister. Cyril Brown was elected
Representative. At a meeting held on the 17th of July
!|100 was voted to purchase powder for the town. A
committee, consisting of Cyril Brown and William Vinal,
was chosen to confer with the towns Thomaston, Camden,
Islesboro and Lincolnville as to the expediency of petitioning
the government to send an armed vessel to cruise in
Penobscot Bay. A committee of safety was also chosen.
1813. — This 3'ear it was voted not to have any schools,
and $400 was voted for roads, $350 for current expenses,
and '$43 for collecting taxes. At the meeting in May
Cyril Brown was elected Representative, and a committee
was chosen to remonstrate against the removal of the courts
from Castine. At a subsequent meeting it was voted that
exempts form themselves into a company of militia. It
was also voted that the town make application to the State
government for sixty guns and a supply of powder. In
this, the second year of the war with England, our mariners
were greatly harassed by the enemy and the coast was so
beset by their war ships that it was unsafe for any vessel
to put to sea. In June or July an occurrence, of which
the Wliite Island was tlie scene of action and the settlers
of those islands the actors, will be of interest to the readers
of this little volume. The British schooner ^ FI3'," while
lying in the roadstead at Owl's Head, flying American
colors, had captured five or six coasters, two or three of
wliich managed to escape, by being run upon the beach,
after having received orders from the Britisher to get under
weigh and follow. Eaton, in his history of Thomaston,
HISTOKY OP VINALHAYEN. 19
etc., says : With her three prizes, the privateer stood out
of the harhor and stretched across the bay towards the
southern extremity of the South Fox Ishmds, where, in
one of the most romantic harbors (White Island) on our
coast, they all came to anchor. The sun had now set, and
a brisk northeast wind, which had been sweeping all day
over the water, had died away, leaving a long ground swell
heaving in upon this rock-bound and apparently uninhabited
island. In this secluded spot, in anticipation of uninter-
rupted security, (a small whale-boat only being seen to
enter the harbor), the privateer commenced putting on
board the Oliver (one of the prizes) the goods taken from the
other two prizes. But, by means of that boat, it afterwards
appeared, the inhabitants, notwithstanding the ominous
silence that prevailed, had been warned of their close
proximity to a British privateer, and, as soon as the dusk
of evening had begun to gather, men collected from every
nook and corner with musket, pusee, and fowling-piece,
ready to give her battle at early morn. At its coming, the
men of the privateer were busily engaged in finishing the
transfer of the goods, while the fishermen fi-om their well
selected positions were watching unconcernedly these
operations. " What'schooner is that ? " cried, at length, a
voice from the shore. " The Shear Water, of Baltimore ;
won't you come on board ? " replied the captain of the
privateer. "■ No ; but we invite you to come ashore."
" I'll see you d d first," replied the officer. This abiiipt
answer caused a simultaneous fire from the land in all
directions. The captain of the privateer fell at the fii-st
discharge, having two balls shot through his body. Taken
so completely were the officers and crew by surprise that
they sought safety below ; while their boat was ordered
ashore and captured. There they were, seventy-five in
number, driven from the deck ; and not a solitary being-
could show his head without being shot. But the inventive
genius of man, always greatest when put to the severest
test, was called into requisition, and one man, stimulated
20 HISTORY OF VTNALHAYEN.
by the dying injunction of the captain " not to be taken,"
volunteered his services to cut the cable. He accordingly
ventured on deck, and, by creeping along under the
hammock nettings, succeeded in accomplishing his object.
But while in the act of passing below the halliards of the
jib and mainsail, he dearly paid for his temerity, for the
bullet of some correct-sighted fisherman shattered his under
jaw. He fell, but succeeded in creeping below.
Changeable as fortune had thus far been to this luckless
vessel, a ra}^ of hope yet lingered among her crew, and an
attempt at escape was resolved on. To keep in check in
some measure the continual pelting which they were
receiving, it was proposed to open a fire from the main hatch ;
but, in the first attempt to do this, a well-directed bullet
grazed the beard and lip of the venturesome Englishman
and lodged in the combings of the hatch. The plan was then
abandoned as futile in the extreme. But a gentle breeze
and favorable current came to their assistance, and, by
hoisting the jib and mainsail and managing to steer the
vessel by means of a bayonet and musket thrust through
the sky-light, the3^ at length got out of harm's way, and
finally made their escape, leaving the brave and hardy
fishermen of Fox Islands the successful captors of their
boat's crew and the three prize vessels. The same writer
says that Captain B. Webb, who gave an account of this
adventure, was a prisoner witli four others on board the
privateer, and that subsequently they were given their
liberty, and landed on Matinicus rock.
1814. — This year a vote was passed not to allow minors
and men exempt from taxation to work on the roads, and
also voted not to raise any money for the support of the
gospel or schools. tflOO was voted for roads ; |550 for
town charges ; and |)38.50 for collecting taxes. At tlie.
May meeting it was voted not to send a representative to
the General Court.
1815. — This year the following amounts were raised :
Support of schools, $24:0 ; town charges, #500 ; roads and
htstory of vtnalhaven. 21
bridges, |400 ; and collecting taxes, $-47.50. It was voted
to pay for labor on the roads twenty-five cents per hour for
men, twenty-five cents for ploughs, and twelve and a half
cents for oxen. The article to raise money for support of
the gospel was negatived. No representative chosen this
year.
181(3. — This year it was voted to pay the same sum for
labor on the roads as the preceding year. Appropriations :
Roads, 1600 ; town charges, $350 ; schools, $400 ; collecting
taxes, $31 ; and $50 was voted to purchase ammunition.
At the May meeting there were fourteen candidates for
representative. Neither having a majority, the meeting-
was adjourned to the first Monday in May, 1817. In the
early part of September Thomas Beverage was chosen to
attend a convention held at Brunswick on the last Monday
of the same month. On the question of separating Maine
from Massachusetts there were given for the separation,
none ; against it, thirty-three votes.
1817. — The sums raised this year were : For support of
schools, $400 ; roads, $400 ; town charges, $500 ; collecting-
taxes, $24.75. In May Cyril Brown was chosen
Representative.
1818. — This year it was voted to pay four cents per hour
for labor on the roads, the same for oxen and ploughs, and
two cents for carts. $500 was voted for town charges ;
$400 for support of schools ; $100 for roads ; and $30 for
collecting taxes. No representative was chosen this year.
A special meeting was held in June, when the article
relative to building a schoolhouse in the southern district
was passed over.
1819. — This year it was voted not to raise any money
for support of the Gospel, and the poor were auctioned oft"
to the lowest bidder. A list of such as were disposed of
under this vote are given. The following sums were
raised : Roads, $500 ; schools, $430 ; town charges, $750 ;
and collecting taxes, $33.50. At the May meeting it Avas
voted not to choose any representative, and voted to assess
22 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
a tax on the Matinicus Island, and John Green was chosen
Collector for that island. A meeting was held in September
when Benjamin Beverage was chosen a delegate to' attend
a convention at Portland, for the purpose of forming a
State constitution, and in December the constitution was
voted upon. The number in favor was thirty-two, and
opposed two votes.
1820.— This year |4D0 was raised for roads ; .t400 for
schools ; !i<250 for town charges ; and 't29.25 for collecting
taxes. The poor were auctioned off to the lowest bidder,
and the article relative to selling unoccupied lands was
passed over. Thomas Waterman was elected Representa-
tive.
1821. — This year it was voted to pay 12 1-2 cents per
hour for labor on the roads, the same for oxen, and the
surveyors were instructed to procure carts and ploughs as
cheap as possible. Raised .^400 for roads ; -f 400 for
schools ; -tSOO for town charges ; and |'27 for collecting
taxes. Ezekiel Dyer was chosen Representative.
1822. — This year it was voted to re-district the South
Island, and two districts were constituted, making six in
all. Several bills against the town were presented and
allowed ; and voted for roads, f 400 ; schools, f 523.20 ;
town charges, $250 ; collecting taxes, #24.50. A committee
was chosen to consider the feasibility of establishing an
ale wive fishery on the North Island, for the benefit of the
town. A petition remonstrating against a division of the
town was not acted upon. Ezekiel Philbrooks was chosen
Representative.
1823.— This year #400 was voted for roads ; $520.20 for
schools ; $350 for town charges ; and $22.90 for collecting
taxes. It is presumed that the committee appointed at
the last annual meeting to consider the feasibility of
establishing an alewive fishery for the benefit of the town
reported favorably, for at this meeting another committee
was appointed and given discretionary power to act in the
matter. John Glover was elected Representative.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 23
1824. — This year a committee of three, namely :
Mahxtiah Luce, George Dyer and David Woster, were
chosen to superintend the alewive fishery, and it was voted
not to allow any of said fish to be taken this year. The
following sums were raised : Roads, >ii'400 ; schools,
$523.20; town charges, 1450; collecting taxes, 118.50.
At the annual election in Septeml)er, Ebenezer Calderwood
was chosen Representative.
1825. — This year there was voted for schools, -^524 ;
roads, $400 ; town charges, $650 ; collecting taxes, $24.75 ;
The alewive privilege was sold to Ethelbert Lindsay for
$16, for one year, with the understanding that he sell the
fish to the inhabitants of the town, at a price not exceeding
33 cents per hundred. At a subsequent meeting, the
selectmen were instructed to offer a reward of $20 for the
apprehension and conviction of the person or persons who
had destroyed the dam at the outlet of the fresh pond.
George Dyer was chosen Representative.
1826. — This year the sum of $650 was voted for town
charges ; $400 for roads ; $524 for schools ; and $35 for
collecting taxes ; and the article relative to paying the
poor bills semi-annually was passed over. At the annual
election, Rufus Calderwood was elected Representative.
1827. — This year, voted to improve the alewive fishery,
and a committee was appointed to superintend the same,
and constables were instructed to post certified copies of
warrants according to law. Voted that the treasurer have
for services one per cent, of all moneys paid to him, and
$650 was voted for town charges ; $525 for schools ; $400
for roads and bridges ; $27 for collecting taxes ; and $40
for repairing bridge at the outlet of Carvers' Pond.
Nathaniel Beverage was chosen Representative.
1828. — This year the privilege of taking alewives was
sold to Ephraim Luce for $2.50 ; and $523.23 was voted
for schools ; $400 for roads ; $450 for town charges ; and
$100 to build a bridge across Carver's mill stream ; for
collecting taxes on the South Island, $10 ; North Island,
24 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEK.
•t4. The assessors were instructed to take the valuation
this year. At the annual election John Carver was chosen
llepresentative.
1829. — This year the town voted to grant licenses to sell
spirituous liquors, and also to exempt those living- on
Green's, Lane's and Dyer's Islands from paying highway
tax. Raised •|!524 for schools ; -^400 for roads and bridges ;
•1600 for town charges : and -120 for collecting taxes.
Benjamin Cral)tree was elected Representative, having a
majority of two votes. A special meeting was called in
October to vote on the questions of building a bridge
across Vinal's Falls, and entering a protest to the
Legislature against the election of Benjamin Crabtree as
Representative. The contract for building said bridge was
taken by John Vinal for -fl-jQ, and there were in favor of
the protest twenty-one, and against, eighty-nine votes.
1830. — This year it was voted to pay the collectors two
per cent, for collecting, with the understanding that they
collect all of the taxes committed to tliem in one year from
date of commitment, otherwise they were to have nothing
for services. Voted to pay the selectmen and other town
officers seventji'-five cents per day. Raised- #600 for roads
and bridges ; 1523.20 for support of schools ; and |850 for
support of poor and other town charges. At the annual
election Perez Babbidge was chosen Representative.
1831. — This year the following amounts were raised:
Roads and bridges, -1600 ; schools, 1628.40 ; support of
poor, #650 ; and 120 to build a bridge across Old Harbor
Falls, and also $39 for collecting taxes. At the annual
election John Carver was chosen Representative, and the
selectmen were chosen a committee to remonstrate to the
Legislature against the removal of the courts from Castine
to Ellsworth.
1833. — This year Josiah Beverage, Benjamin Crabtree
and Samuel Young were elected S. S. Committee, and tlie
choosing of school agents was left with the several districts.
Voted $600 for roads and bridges ; $628.40 for schools ;
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 25
!|600 for town charges ; and i|45.50 for collecting taxes.
Joseph Wooster was chosen Representative.
1884. — This year there was voted for schools f628.40 ;
roads and bridges, -fBOO ; town charges, $500 ; collecting
taxes, -^41. All of the town's poor were taken to support
for one year by Samuel Young, for which he was to i-eceive
•f2o0. Francis McMuUen was elected Representative.
1885. — This year the town's poor were taken by
Benjamin Coombs to support, for ■'$264, and there was
voted for the support of schools 1628.40 ; roads and bridges,
$600 ; town charges, -1400 ; and collecting taxes, $41.50.
It was voted to pay constables $1.50 for warning town
meetings. At the September meeting, James Smith was
elected Representative.
1836. — This year there was voted for roads, $600 ; town
charges $600 ; support of schools, $628.40 ; collecting
taxes, $48. At the annual election, David Smith was
chosen Representative. The vote for shire town was,
Castine, 158 ; Ellsworth, 1 vote. In October occurred that
frightful disaster, which is still remembered by many of
our people, the burning of the steamer " Royal Tar." The
story as related to us by Mrs. Roxanna Dyer, whose husband
was captain of the Castine cutter " Veto," that rescued all
who were saved, is as follows : The Royal Tar was bound
to Boston from St. Johns, having on board a number of
passengers, and a caravan of wild animals. In the midst
of a severe gale (that was blowing off shore) while heading
for the thoroughfare, the steamer was anchored off Coombs'
Head. Captain Edward Waite, of Portland, who was a
passenger, was below at the time, but happening to come
on deck some time afterwards discovered that the ship was
on fire and that the crew had left in the boats. Captain
Waite managed to have the cable slipped and to hoist the
mainsail, and would probably have succeeded in beaching
the steamer had not the sail caught fire. The ship was
fast drifting seaward when the cutter arrived. About
sixty were saved, including those in the boats. Among
26 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
tlie passengers were sixteen women and twelve children,
and all but four of the former and one of the latter
perished. Captain Dyer cared for a number of the rescued
at his home on the North Island, expending one way and
another several hundred dollars for which he was never
reimbursed. In these days of frequent marine disasters
we get accustomed to such appalling recitals, but fifty
years ago an occurrence of this kind was talked over for
many days.
1837. — At the annuiil meeting there was voted for
support of schools $628.40 ; roads and bridges, -$600 ;
town charges, "1600 ; collecting taxes, i29. This year the
surplus revenue was divided among the towns in the State
by the Legislature, and it was voted that this town receive
its proportion of such money. Benjamin Crabtree was
chosen to receive it from the State Treasurer, and to
conform to all the requirements of the act, which shall be
obligatory upon the town. The management of said money
was left with the selectmen and treasurer, and in loaning
any of it they were not to charge more than six nor less
than five per cent, interest. At a meeting in May the
boundary lines of Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5 were re-established.
James Smith was chosen Representative. A meeting in
October voted -f 100 to build a new road in District No. 5*
1838. — This year there was raised for support of schools,
$628.40 ; town charges, $800 ; collecting taxes, $48 ; roads
and bridges, $600, and an additional $100 that was voted
at a previous meeting. It was voted to make a per capita
division of the surplus, so that each person should receive
two dollars. At the September meeting David Smith was
chosen Representative.
1839. — This year the territory from John Creed's cove
northerly to Otis Shaw's line was set off from District No.
4 and constituted as District No. 7, and there was raised
for roads $600 ; support of schools, $720 ; town charges,
$800 ; collecting taxes, $30. The articles in the warrant
relative to erecting gates instead of bars, and building a
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 27
bridge across Carver's mill stream large enough to allow
teams to cross were passed over. At a subsequent meeting-
it was voted that certain loans due the town from
individuals be paid to the treasurer to cancel notes held
against the town, and also voted not to pay the assessors
more than one dollar for services. James Smith was
elected Representative. On the question of amending the
constitution to make the terms of all judicial officers seven
years there were for, 136 ; against, 15 votes.
1840. — This year the town's poor were taken to support
by Samuel Young, for -f600. A vote passed, prohibiting
the treasurer from paying any further claims on account of
the surplus, unless b}' order of the selectmen. The vote
of last annual meeting, dividing District No. 4, was
re-considered, and a committee appointed to re-district and
report at a future meeting. There was voted for town
charges, 1800 ; support of schools, f 630 ; roads and bridges,
$600 ; collecting taxes,$39.50. At the September meeting
David Vinal was chosen Representative.
1841.— This year -$780 was voted for schools ; |700 for
town charges ; !f!600 for roads and bridges, and $50 for
collecting taxes. Two new districts were set off from No.
4, viz.: 8 and 9, and one from No. 3, viz.: No. 7. At the
September meeting, William Thomas was elected
Re})resentative ; and on the question of biennial elections
there were, for, 31 ; against, 116. It appears that this
year a number of citizens petitioned the county commis-
sioners, praying to have a town way laid out over the
tide waters of " Carver's Mill stream," and a town meeting
held in December appointed a committee to remonstrate to
the Legislature against said petition. A vote was carried
to instruct the representative from this town to use all
honorable means to restrain the Legislature from favoring
said petition.
1842. — This year the article relative to licensing retail
dealers of spirituous liquors, was indefinitely postponed,
and -f 600 was voted for roads and bridges ; |500 for
28 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
support of schools ; fSOO for town charges ; and -117.50 for
collecting taxes. At a meeting in May an additional sum
of |>280 was voted for schools. James Crockett, Jr., Avas
chosen Representative. At a subsequent meeting in
November 'fl25 was voted to remove school house in
District No. 4, and l|545 to Samuel Young for support of
poor.
1843. — This year the following sums were raised : -f 600
for schools ; -f 600 for roads and bridges ; $800 for town
charges, and 135.50 for collecting taxes. On the question
of setting off the North Island into a separate town, there
were in favor 62 ; against, 83 votes. Fifty dollars was
voted to repair the bridge at Vinal's mill. At the annual
election William Thomas was chosen Representative.
1844. — This year there was raised for town charges,
.1900 ; schools, -f600 ; roads and bridges, |400 ; and
collecting taxes, $*54. Green's Island was made a school
district. Dexter Farnam, of Islesboro, was elected
Representative.
1845. — This year the article in the warrant relative to
building a town house was passed over, and |<900 was
voted for town charges ; $780 for support of schools ; $600
for highways, and $40 for collecting taxes. At the
September meeting David Vinal was chosen Representative.
1846. — An article in the warrant relative to settino- off
the North Island, on the strength of a petition from James
Beverage, 2nd, and 178 others, was passed over.
Notwithstanding this action, the North Island was set off,
and incorporated June 30tli of this year. There was raised
for roads $600 ; schools, $780 ; town charges, $750 ;
collecting taxes, $41.21. At the September meeting
David Ames, of Fox Island, was elected Representative.
1847. — A meeting was held in March at which a
committee was appointed to settle the accounts, make a
division of the poor, etc., between this town and Fox Isle,
and at the annual meeting the report of the commiitee was
adopted. Raised for support of schools, $470 ; roads,
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 29
|)400 ; town charges, $400 ; collecting taxes, $20. Joseph
Boardman, of Tslesboro, was elected Representative.
1848. — This year there was voted for roads and bridges,
'f 500 ; town charges, 1500 ; support of schools, !|470 ;
collecting taxes, $S2. At the September meeting David
Smith was chosen Representative.
1849. — This year the following amounts were raised :
For support of schools, $410 ; roads and bridges, -1400 ;
town charges, $500 ; collecting taxes, $34. The contract
for building a bridge across Carver's mill stream was
awarded to John Carver, for $300. The piers (five in
number) of said bridge were to be 12 feet in length, and G
feet wide, built of stone. At a subsequent meeting the
bridge was accepted, and a sum sufficient to pay for it,
raised. For representative, David Ames, of North Haven,
was chosen.
1850. — This year there was voted for schools $470 ;
roads and bridges, $400 ; town charges, $350 ; collecting
taxes, $35.50. The article relating to setting off District
No. 6 into a separate town was passed over. For
representative, Joseph Boardman, of Islesboro, was chosen.
At a meeting held in November, William Vinal, Esq., was
chosen an agent to ascertain if the town was obliged to pay
a bill presented by the county commissioners for laying out
a road the previous year, and he was vested with power to
authorize the selectmen to settle said bill, or take measures
for defence in law.
1851. — The special act of the Legislature granting
permission to owners of land to erect gates across the town
roads was read and approved, and it was voted to have
open roads from the 20th of November to the 20th of
March. For schools there was voted $501 ; town charges,
$350 ; highways, $400 ; collecting taxes, $38.50, and $75
to build a bridge across the carrying place (so called).
The contract for building said bridge was awarded to F.
A. Hunt, for which he was to receive $73. No representa-
tive elected this j^ear.
30 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
1852. — This year 1)200 in money was voted for highways,
to be expended under the supervision of the selectmen ;
$501 for support of schools ; $400 for town charges, and
$44.50 for collecting taxes. At the September meeting it
was voted to abate the highway tax of those living on
adjacent islands. Elisha Smith was elected Representative.
1853. — This year the articles in the warrant relative to
establishing a liquor agency, and also to prosecute for
selling liquors contrary to law, were passed over, and $501
Avas raised for support of schools ; $350 for town charges ;
$400 for roads and bridges ; $40 for collecting taxes, and
$100 for building a bridge across Vinal's Falls. The
contract for building said bridge was awarded to F. A.
Hunt. Jonathan Woster, of North Haven, was chosen
Representative.
1854. — This year there was an article in the warrant to
see what method the town would take to build a town
house, but the meeting passed it over. For schools there
was voted $G2G ; roads, $400 ; town charges, $550 ;
collecting taxes, $G0 ; repairing carrying place bridge, $30,
and an additional $50 for roads in Districts 5 and 6. The
treasurer was authorized to obtain a loan of $100. Calvin
Fames, of Islesboro, was chosen Representative.
1855. — This year the following amounts were raised :
Support of schools, $752 ; roads and bridges, $350 ; town
charges, $750 ; collecting taxes, $55, and the treasurer was
authorized to obtain a loan of $125. At the September
meeting F. A. Hunt was elected Representative.
1856. — This year the matter of collecting money from
the town of Gouldsboro* for support of poor was left with
the town agent, and the question of building a bridge
across the Little Basin Falls was indefinitely postponed.
There was voted for town charges, $800 ; support of
schools, $752 ; roads and bridges, $400 ; and collecting
taxes, $43.25. Lewis Leadbetter, of North Haven, was
chosen Representative.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 31
1857.— This year $752 was voted for schools ; *750 for
town charges ; '$59 for collecting taxes ; -f 400 for liighways
and bridges, and #25 to build a road around Folly Brook
Hill. It was voted to buikl a town house, and -flOO was
raised for that purpose. The selectmen were made a
committee to provide a suitable location for said house.
At a subsequent meeting the contract for building town
house was bid off at auction to F. A. Hunt. His figures
were t|499.50. It was voted to open the town house for
religious, temperance and political meetings. Nelson
Gilkey, of Islesboro, was elected Representative.
1858. — This year there were ten collectors of taxes, and
the total sum voted for collecting was $22, and $752 was
raised for support of schools ; $450 for highways, and
$1,000 for town charges. At a meeting held in June it
was voted to pay Thomas Arey, of Gouldsboro' $100 per
year for the support of his father and mother for a term of
five years. At the same meeting there were four votes for
the license law of 1856, and twenty-six votes for the
prohibitory law of 1858. Moses Webster was chosen
Representative.
1859. — This year Leadbetter's Island was set off into a
district and $1,300 was voted for town charges ; $800 for
support of schools ; $450 for roads and bridges ; $58 for
collecting taxes, and $25 to repair the bridge across Carver's
mill stream. Harrison Beverage, of North Haven, was
chosen Representative. A special meeting was held in
December to choose a representative in place of Harrison
Beverage, who resigned. Lewis Leadbetter was elected.
1860. — This year it was voted to allow a discount of five
per cent, on taxes paid before the 20th of August, and
three per cent, on all taxes paid before the 20th of
November. Leadbetter's Island and adjacent land were
constituted as District No. 11. This town's interest in the
fishery privilege at North Haven was sold to H. C. Lane
for six dollars. $1,200 was voted for town charges ; $700
for schools ; $500 for highways and bridges ; $57 for
32 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
collecting taxes, and $25 for a bridge across Old Harbor
Falls. It was also voted to expend $25 of the money
voted for highways on said bridge. Andrew P. Gilkey, of
Islesboro, was chosen Representative.
1861. — This year there was raised for support of schools
$1000.20 ; town charges, $1000 ; roads and bridges, 1500 ;
collecting taxes, $68. At a subsequent meeting Isaac
Murch was chosen selectman in place of Willard Calderwood^
deceased. At the September meeting David Vinal was
elected Representative.
1862. — This year there was voted for schools $800 ;
roads and bridges, $200 ; town charges, $900 ; collecting
taxes, $49.37. By vote of the town the overseers of poor
were instructed to purchase a stock of cheap, wholesome
food, to be used for such of the poor as were not boarded
out by the year. At a special meeting -140 was voted to
repair the bridge at the Harbor, and 1300 for roads in
addition to the amount raised at the annual meeting. At
a meeting held July 26th to provide for filling the town's
quota ; it was voted to pay each volunteer a bounty of
■$100 when mustered into the service ; and a committee of
three, namely, David Vinal, Martin N. Hopkins and S. B.
Perry, were chosen to negotiate for and enlist volunteers.
Voted to give*three cheers for the first volunteer, which, a
little later, were given for James P. Mills. On the 27th
of August a vote was passed to pay each volunteer -flOO ;
twenty in cash and a note or town order for the balance,
payable in five years or sooner if the town so directs. Jesse
Sleeper, Jr., of South Thomaston, was chosen Representative.
1863. — This year the article relating to raising money
for State aid was passed over, and -f 1,600 was voted for
town charges ; -1800 for support of schools ; 1200 for roads
and bridges ; 173.50 for collecting taxes, and |30 to build
a bridge at Dyer's Island. At a town meeting held August
24th it was voted to pay $300 to every drafted man who
might be accepted by the United States, and the selectmen
were authorized to borrow money for the same. On the
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 33
4th day of September the town voted to pay a bounty of -f 300
to each drafted man or substitute, when mustered into the
U. S. service from this town. William Thomas, of North
Haven, was chosen Representative. At the town meeting
held November 21st, it was voted to pay $'200 to each
volunteer who shall be mustered in tlie United States
service from this town, and an additional $15 to each man
tliat enlists, or to any person that induces another to enlist,
and the selectmen were authorized to borrow a sum
sufficient for the purpose. Another meeting was held
December oth. It was voted to pay -IjIOO in addition to
the amount voted at the last meeting for volunteers
entering the service from this town.
1864. — This year it was voted totax dogs, and to raise
the amount required by law for support of schools. There
was voted for town charges, •'§'1,800 ; roads and bridges,
I IrOO : collecting taxes, 84.75, and !|oO to be expended on
the road between the town house and Carver's Harbor.
At the September meeting Reuben Carver was chosen
Representative. A town meeting was held November the
8th. It was voted to pay |300 to each drafted man or
substitute who shall be mustered into the service of the
United States from this town. A town meeting was held
January the second, 1865, to provide measure for filling
town's quota, under the last callof the President for troops.
The selectmen were authorized to hire a sum sufficient for
filling such quota, and that notes for said sum, of the
denomination of •*#25 and upwards, be issued by the
selectmen, payable in from three to five years, and said
loans were to be exempt from taxation. Robert L.
Crockett was chosen an agent to assist the selectmen in
hiring monej^ and enlisting recruits.
1865. — This year it was voted to raise the amount
required by law for support of schools ; ^2,500 for town
charges ; •1200 for roads and bridges ; $142 for collecting
taxes, and •l5l,400 for war debt. James Newhall, of South
Thomaston, was elected Representative.
34 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
1866. — This year the article in the warrant relative to
taxing small open boats, nets and lobster gear was passed
over, as was the article to have open roads from Carver's
Harbor to the Thoroughfare. Voted to set off John Vinal
and W. H. Vinal from District No. 4 and that they be
allowed to draw their proportion of school money. The
following amounts were raised : Town charges, (|2,500 ;
roads and bridges, $450 ; war debt, $8,000 ; collecting
taxes, 1192.50, and $100 to build a foot bridge over the
Little Basin Falls. For schools, the amount required by
law was voted. At the September meeting Simon G.
Webster was chosen Representative.
1867. — This year $2,000 was voted for town charges ;
$1,000 for roads and bridges ; $1,500 for war debt ; $187
for collecting taxes, and $75 for the bridge over Little
Basin Falls. A vote was taken in June on the act for the
suppression of " drinking houses, and tippling shops."
There were in favor, 18 ; against, 7 votes. James Newhall,
of South Thomaston, was elected Representative.
1868. — This year there was voted for town charges,
$2,000 ; schools, $1,500 ; roads and bridges, $1,000 ; war
debt, $1,000 ; and $243.50 for collecting taxes. It was
voted that persons chargeable to the town be employed
breaking rocks in the winter time. Hanson T. Carver, of
North Haven, was chosen Representative. Upon the
amendment to the constitution, authorizing a limited
reimbursement of war expenses, by loaning the credit of
the State, there were 301 votes in favor of and none
against.
1869. — This year a committee of three was chosen to
ascertain the probable cost of a soldiers' monument for this
town, and to report at next annual meeting. The
committee were John Carver, F. A. Hunt and S. G.
Webster. $2,500 was voted for town charges ; $1,700 for
support of schools ; $500 for roads and bridges ; $2,500 for.
war debt, and $200 for collecting taxes. At the September
meeting William H. Paige was chosen Representative.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 35
At a meeting held P'ebruary first, 1870, E. R. Graffamwas
elected Representative in place of W. H. Paige, deceased.
1870. — This year it was voted to allow a discount of
eight per cent, on all taxes paid on or before the first day
of August ; six per cent, on all paid by the 1st of October,
and four per cent, on all paid by the first of December, and
it was also voted to add six per cent, to all taxes remaining
unpaid after the first day of January, 1871. There was
raised for town charges •'12,500 ; roads and bridges, -1700 ;
war debt, •'$500 ; collecting taxes, -$145, and one dollar per
capita for support of schools. There was voted for a
soldiers' monument -"^SOO, and for widening the stone work
on Carver's bridge •i'lOO, John A. Emery, of South
Thomaston, was chosen Representative.
Representatives since 1870, with years of election:
1871 — Israel C. Glidden, Vinal Haven.
1872 — Simon G. Webster, Vinal Haven.
1873— Nelson Mullin, North Haven.
1874— Martin H. Kiff, Vinal Haven.
1875 — David H. Sawyer, South Thomaston.
1676 — Horace M. Noyes, Vinal Haven.
1877 — Bushrod H. Clay, South Thomaston.
1878 — Albert G. Beverage, Not-th Haven.
1879 — Levi W. Smith, Vinal Haven.
1880 — Joseph T. McKellar, South Thomaston.
1882— Levi W. Smith, Vinal Haven.
1884 — George F. Lewis, North Haven.
1886 — Thomas J. Lyons, Vinal Haven.
1888 — Robert A. Harrington, South Thomaston.
Following is a list of those who have held the office of
town clerk, treasurer, and selectman, each year for the past
century, the names appearing in the order given :
* resigned; t died.
1790 — Thomas Beverage ; Joseph Waterman ; George
White, Eleazer Crabtree, Samuel Young.
1791 — Thomas Beverage ; Joseph Waterman ; George
White, William Vinal, Stephen Carver.
36 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
1792 — Thomas Beverage ; Joseph Waterman ; William
Vinal, George White, Stephen Carver.
1793 — Thomas Beverage ; Joseph Waterman ; George
White, Stephen Carver, William Vinal.
1794 — Thomas Beverage ; Joseph Waterman ; William
Vinal, Stephen Carver, Anthon}^ Dyer.
1795 — Thomas Beverage ; Joseph Waterman ; *William
Vinal, Cyril Brown, Samuel Thomas, Benjamin Daggett.
1796 — Thomas Beverage ; Joseph Waterman ; William
Vinal, George White, Uriah Norton.
1797 — Thomas Beverage ; Samuel Thomas ; George
White, Uriah Norton, Thomas Beverage.
1798 — Thomas Beverage ; Anthony Dyer : Stephen
Carver, Uriah Norton, Thomas Waterman.
1799 — John Beverage ; Anthony Dyer ; Samuel Thomas,
Cyril Blown, George White.
1800 — John Beverage ; Anthony Dyer ; Cyril Brown,
George White, William Vinal.
1801 — John Beverage ; Anthony Dyer ; Cyril Brown,
George White, Cushing Thomas.
1802 — John Beverage : Uriah Norton : George White,
Cyril Brown, Cushing Thomas.
1808 — John Beverage ,•• Uriah Norton ; Cyril Brown,
George White, Cushing Thomas.
1804 — John Beverage ; Uriah Norton ; George White,
Cyril Brown, Cushing Thomas.
1805 — John Beverage ; Uriah Noi'ton ; William Vinal,
Stephen Carver, Cyril Brown.
1806 — John Beverage ; Uriah Norton ; Benjamin
Beverage, Cyril Brown, Stephen Carver.
1807^.Iohn I)everage ; Uiiah Norton: (3yril Biown,
Benjamin Beverage, David Wostcn'.
1808 — John Beverage ; Uriah Norton ; Cyril r>rown,
Benjamin Beveiage, David Woster.
1809 — lolni Beverage; Uriah Norton; Cyril Biown,
Benjamin Beveiage, Thomas Watei'man.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 37
1810 — John Beverage ; Uriah Norton ; Benjamin
Beverage, Cyril Brown, Thomas Beverage.
1811 — John Beverage ; Uriah Norton ; James Calder-
wood, John Vinal, Thomas Waterman.
1812 — John Beverage ; William Norwood ; Cyril Brown,
Nathaniel Beverage, Benjamin Beverage.
1813 — George Dyer ; Nathaniel Beverage ; Cyril Brown,
Samuel Young, Jr., David Woster.
1814 — George Dyer ; Nathaniel Beverage ; Cyril Brown,
Thomas Waterman, David Woster.
1815 — George Dyer ; Nathaniel Beverage ; Cyril Brown,
Benjamin Beverage, David Woster.
1816 — George Dyer ; Nathaniel Beverage ; Benjamin
Beverage, Thomas Waterman, Ebenezer Calderwood.
1817 — George Dyer : Nathaniel Beverage ; Benjamin
Beverage, Ebenezer Calderwood, David Woster.
1818 — George Dyer ; Nathaniel Beverage ; Ebenezer
Calderwood, Nathaniel Beverage, Zebulon Stanly,
1819 — George Dyer; Nathaniel Beverage; Benjamin
Beverage, Ebenezer Calderwood, Cyril Brown.
1820 — George Dyer; Samuel Thomas; Ezekiel Phil-
brooks, Benjamin Crabtree, Benjamin Beverage.
1821 — George Dyer ; Samuel Thomas ; Benjamin
Beverage, Benjamin Crabtree, Ebenezer Calderwood.
1822 — George Dyer ; Samuel Thomas ; James Babbidge,
Benjamin Beverage, Benjamin Crabtree.
1823 — George Dj^er ; Samuel Thomas ; Benjamin
Crabtree, Ebenezer Calderwood, James Babbidge.
1824 — George D3'er ; Samuel Thomas ; Benjamin
Crabtree, Ebenezer Calderwood, Josiah Thomas.
1825 — George Dj^er ; Samuel Thomas ; Ebenezer
Calderwood, William Vinal, Benjamin Crabtree.
1826 — George Dyer ; Ebenezer Calderwood ; Benjamin
Crabtree, Wilham Vinal, John Glover.
1827 — George Dyer ; James Thomas ; William Vinal,
John Carver, Benjamin Crabtree.
38 HISTORY OF VESTALHAVEN.
1328 — George Dyer ; Ebenezer Caldervvood ; John
Carver, George Dyer, Nathaniel Beverage.
1829 — George Dyer ; Ebenezer Caklerwoocl : Riifus
Caklerwood, Benjamin Crabtree, Willliam Vinal.
1830 — John Vinal ; Ebenezer Caklerwood ; George
Dyer, David Woster, John Carver.
1831 — John Vinal ; Ebenezer Caklerwood ; John Carver,
David Woster, William Vinal.
1832 — John Kent ; Ebenezer Calderwood ; David
Woster, Francis McMullin, John Kent.
1833 — Rufus Calderwood : Ebenezer Calderwood;
Francis McMullin, William Vinal, James Beverage.
1834 — Rufus Calderwood ; Ebenezer Calderwood ;
Francis McMullin, Joseph Woster, 2nd, James Beverage.
1835 — Rufus Calderwood ; Ebenezer Calderwood ;
Francis McMullin, Joseph Woster, David Woster.
1836 — Rufus Caklerwood ; David Wostei- ; Joseph
Woster, Benjamin Beverage, Reuben Carver.
1837 — Rufus Calderwood ; David Woster ; Benjamin
Beverage, Luther Calderwood, Rufus Calderwood.
1838 — Rufus Calderwood ; David Woster ; James Smith,
David Vinal, Perez Babbidge.
1839 — Rufus Calderwood ; David Woster ; John Carver,
Benjamin Beverage, James Crockett, Jr.
1840 — Rufus Calderwood ; David VVoster ; James
Crockett, Jr., Levi Dyer, Perez Babbidge.
1841 — Rufus Calderwood ; f David Woster, James
Crockett; James Crockett, Jr., Francis McMullm, Levi
Dyer.
1842 — Rufus Calderwood ; James Crockett ; Hiram
Woster, James Crockett, Jr., James Beverage.
1843 — Rufus Calderwood; Joseph Woster; James
Crockett, Jr., Perez Babbidge, Francis McMullin.
1844 — Rufus Calderwood; Joseph Woster; Perez
Babbidge, James Crockett, Jr., David Woster.
1845 — Rufus Calderwood ; Joseph VVoster ; Rufus
Calderwood, Francis McMullin, David Ames.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 39
1846 — Rufus Calclerwood ; Joseph Woster ; Francis
McMullin, Josiali Beverage, Lewis Leadbetter.
1847 — Rufus Calderwood ; James Fernald ; David
Vinal, Rufus Calderwood, Joseph Ginn.
1848 — Rufus Calderwood ; David Vinal ; Reuben
Carver, Ezra Calderwood, Isaiah Pierce.
1849— Watson H. Vinal ; David Vinal ; William Vinal,
John Carver, Ebenezer Calderwood.
1850 — Watson H. Vinal; David Vinal; John Carver,
Francis McMullin, Luther Calderwood.
1851 — Watson H. Vinal ; William Vinal ; Elisha Smith,
Rufus Calderwood, Joseph Ginn.
1852— Watson H. Vinal ; William Vinal ; Fitz A. Hunt,
Elisha Smith, Watson H. Vinal.
1853 — Watson H. Vinal; William Vinal; Joseph Ginn,
Ezra Calderwood, Elisha Smith.
1854— Watson H. Vinal ; William Vinal ; Watson H.
Vinal, Nathan H. Carver, Joel Philbrooks.
1855— Watson H. Vinal ; William Vinal ; Watson H.
Vinal, F. A. Hunt, Joel Philbrooks.
1856— Watson H. Vinal ; William Vinal ; Joel
Philbrook, F. A. Hunt, Seth Calderwood.
1857— Watson H. Vinal ; William Vinal ; Watson H.
Vinal, James Roberts, Rufus Calderwood.
1858— Watson H. Vinal; William Vinal; Rufus
Calderwood, David Smith, 3rd, F. A. Hunt.
1859 — Watson H. Vinal ; John Vinal ; Reuben Carver,
Elisha Smith, Willard Calderwood.
I860— Watson H. Vinal ; John Vinal; W. B. Calder-
wood, Elisha Carver, Moses Webster.
1861— Watson H. Vinal ; John Vinal ; Moses Webster,
Elisha Carver, fW. B. Calderwood, Isaac Murch.
1862 — Watson H. Vinal ; John Carver ; Reuben Carver,
Elisha Smith, Isaac Murch.
1863— Watson H. Vinal ; John Carver ; S. G. Webster,
Reuben Carver, Elisha Smith.
40 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
1864— Watson H. Vinal ; F. A. Hunt ; Simon G.
Webster, Elislia Smith, Jesse Calderwood.
1865— Watson H. Vinal ; F. A. Hunt ; F. A. Hunt,
James Roberts, E. P. Walker.
1866 — Watson H. Vinal; F. A. Hunt; James Ginn,
Jr., F. A. Hunt, Elisha Smith.
1867— Watson H. Vinal; F. A. Hunt; F. A. Hunt,
Elisha Smith, James Ginn, Jr.
1869— Watson H. Vinal ; F. A. Hunt ; William H.
Paige, VV. H. Vinal, L. J. Calderwood.
1870 — Watson H. Vinal ; F. A. Hunt ; John B. Carver,
Freeman C. Carver, James C. Calderwood.
1871 — Watson H. Vinal ; F. A. Hunt ; James C.
Calderwood, Freeman C. Carver, Otis Mills.
1872— Watson H. Vinal; F. A. Hunt; James C.
Calderwood, Freeman C. Carver, Otis Mills.
1873— Watson H. Vinal; F. A. Hunt; James C.
Calderwood, Otis Mills, Ezekiel Burgess.
1874— Watson H. Vinal ; F. A. Hunt ; Martin H. Kiff,
Calvin Smith, Martin N. Hopkins.
1875— Watson H. Vinal ; F. A. Hunt ; Martin H. Kiff,
Calvin Smith, Charles B. Vinal.
1876— Watson H. Vinal ; William B. Kittredge ; Martin
H. Kiff, Calvin Smith, Charles B. Vinal.
1877— Watson H. Vinal ; Calvin Smith, Mark Arey,
Thaddeus C. Creed.
1878— Watson H. Vinal; F. A. Hunt ; Charles B. Vinal, 1
Levi W. Smith, Daniel H. Glidden.
1879— Watson H. Vinal; F. A. Hunt; Levi W. Smith,
Daniel H. Glidden, David L. (Carver.
1880— Watson H. Vinal; F. A. Hunt; Daniel H.
Glidden, David L. Carver, Charles B. Vinal.
1881— Justin S. Hopkins ; F. A. Hunt ; David L.
Carver, Charles B. Vinal, Jonas Mills.
1882— Justin S. Hopkins ; F. A. Hunt ; Daniel H.
Glidden, Jonas Mills, Levi W. Smith.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 41
1883— Justin S. Hopkins; F. A. Hunt; Daniel H.
Glidden, Tliaddeus C. Creed, Jonas Mills.
1881— * Justin S. Hopkins, F. S. Walls ; F. A. Hunt,
Levi W. Smith, O. P. Lyons, F. B. Vinal.
1885— F. S. Walls ; F.A.Hunt; O. P. Lyons, F. V.
Crocker, F. B. Vinal.
1886— F. S. Walls ; F. A. Hunt ; O. P. Lyons, F. V.
Crocker, F. B. Vinal.
1887— E. W. Arey ; F. A. Hunt ; Fred J. Ware, Leroy
Calderwood, C. E. Boman.
1888— Daniel H. Glidden ; William V. Hunt ; Fred J.
Ware, Lerby Calderwood, C. E. Boman.
1889— Daniel H. Glidden; William V. Hunt; C. E.
Boman, C. H. Healey, J. C. Calderwood.
NOTICES OF FIRST SETTLERS AND EARLY
INHABITANTS.
Thomas Ginn was a native of Liverpool, England,
where he was born in 1762. When seven years old, he
with his parents, emigrated to this country and settled in
Maryland. He afterwards lived for some years in
Bucksport, Me., and came here about 1785. He was a
mariner, and ran a freighter between here and Boston. In
1786 he married Miss Sarah Young, of Old York, and the
same year built a frame house (which is standing at
present) on Green's Island. Mr. Ginn was the father of
ten children, only one of whom is now living. He died at
the age of 52 years.
Peter Smith came here at an early date, what year is
not known. He occupied a small tract, on Calderwood's
Neck, and was probably one of the very first to settle in
that part of town. It is said that after living there several
years he sold out to John Calderwood, and moved away.
Nothing more is known of him.
John Smith, son of the former, was one of the first
settlers here. He located on what is now called Roole's
Hill, and his tract contained about 320 acres. He married
twice, his first wife being a Miss Philbrook, by whom he
had six children. His second wife was Mary Calderwood,
daughter of John and Elizabeth Calderwood, and eight
children were born to them. He was one of those who,
during the Revolutionary War, was compelled by the
British to work upon the fortifications at Castine. Mr.
Smith used to relate that the English got but very little
benefit from his labor, as he would pound his axe on a rock
at every opportunity, so that it took him about all the time
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 43
to grind it. He was a noted sportsman, and many stories
are told of his exploits with the gun. There are a large
number of his descendants living here, some of whom are
past fourscore. During the last years of his life, he and
his wife lived with their son Levi, in the town of Knox,
Waldo County, where they died at a ripe old age.
James Roberts was born in Liverpool, England, in the
year 1770. When about nine years old he ran away from
home and shipped as cabin boy on a vessel bound to the
West Indies. About the year 1789 he met Captain Isachar
Lane, at Annapolis, N. S., with whom he shipped and came
here. He finally purchased Capt. Lane's place, (the
Roberts homestead) where he passed his life. In 1792 he
married Sarah Hall, of Matinicus Isle, and nine children
were born to them. Mrs. Susan Coombs, who now resides
in Wisconsin, was the youngest child and is the only one
living. He died at an advanced age, within a few rods of
where he first landed.
William Roberts, oldest son of the above, was born
October, 1792. He was married in 1815 to Susanna
Coombs, daughter of Anthony Coombs, by whom he had
14 children, several of whom are now living here. He
always lived on the old homestead, and was highly respected
by all who knew him. For a number of years before his
death, at each succeeding anniversary of his birth, his
descendants, of whom there are many here, would gather
at his home, and it was always a feast of pleasure for the
old gentleman as well as a day of enjoyment for those
present. He died March 26th, 1888, in his 96th year.
Doctor Theophilus Hopkins was born in 1757, and
came here from Starks, Me., about 1805. It is said that
he was a skillful physician, and was the first settled doctor
of whom we have seen any record. He was also an assistant
surgeon in the Revolutionary army. Doctor Hopkins was
married four times, his first wife having died in less than a
week after marriage. He at first resided on Calderwood's
Neck, but afterwards purcliased from a Mr. Conery the
44 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
place occupied by the late M. N. Hopkins. He was the
first of that name in town, and a number of his descendants
are now living here. He died in 1836, aged 79 years.
Francis McMullin was born on the North Island in
1796. He married Lavina Hopkins, a daughter of
Theophilus, and four children were born to them, all of
whom are living. He was prominent in town affairs,
having served several years as selectman, and also a term
in the Legislature. He was a carpenter by trade, and
lived on the place now occupied by Thomas Perry, where
he died, aged 61.
James Stinson settled on the place now occupied by
J. R. Merrithew. He was one of the seventy-two who
obtained a grant of their lots from the General Court in
1786. He was somewhat prominent in the early affairs of
the town, but we have not learned anything more
concerning him.
IsACHAR Lane was one of the early settlers here. He
married Susan Hall, of Matinicus, and lived on what is
now the Roberts homestead. While gunning on Malcolm's
Ledge an accidental discharge of a gun so mangled one of
his hands that amputation was necessary. He went at
once to Rockland, where the operation was performed by
Dr. Barnard. He afterwards followed the sea for awhile,
and then moved away from here.
Benjamin Lane, brother of the above, was born 1762.
He was probably a native of Massachusetts, and came here
after the Revolutionary War, His wife was Margaret
Hall, of Matinicus, and they had seven children. He
settled on Griffin's (Lane's) Island, which he purchased
from Thaddeus Carver. He died in 1842, his wife having
passed away five years before.
Joseph Lane, son of Benjamin, was born 1800. He
married Abagail, daughter of Joseph Arey, and four
children were born to them. He settled on the place now
owned by Capt. Emery Smith, where he carried on quite
an extensive business curing fish, etc. About 1834 he
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 45
began furnishing outfits for fishing vessels, the first one
here to start this branch of the business. He died 1871.
His wife survived him a few years.
Timothy Lane, brother of the above, was born in 1805.
He married Rebecca, daughter of William Smith, and they
had six children born to them. He resided on Lane's
Island, and about 1850 commenced curing fish and
furnishing outfits. He carried on a large business, and at
one time was owner in from twenty to twenty-five vessels.
He accumulated a considerable property, and in 1865 paid
the largest tax ever assessed against any one person in
town, amounting to $1,328.73. Besides this, the firm of
Timothy Lane and Sons paid -1238.95. He died in 1871,
aged 6Q years. His wife died in 1888, aged 81 years.
Samuel Pease was a native of JMartha's Vineyard, and
probably came here about 1790. In 1798 he married Miss
Jane Rich, and eleven children were born to them. He
was a fisherman, and resided near the Old Harbor. Isaiah
is the only child of his now living here. He died aged
about 80.
Havilla Pease, brother of Samuel, came here about
1790, and in 1793 married Abagail Norton. He lived on
the place now occupied by J. R. Merrithew, and sometime
afterwards resided in Rockland.
Thomas Pierce was probably a native of Provincetown,
and came here about 1796. He was a fisherman, and
resided near the Old Harbor. Two of his twelve children
are now living. Mrs. Sally Arey, wife of the late Capt.
Mark Arey, resides here, and one other in Aroostook
County. He died aged about 79.
Isaac Arey was a native of Cape Cod, and in the year
1770, while on his way to Mount Desert, with his wife and
one child, he put into what is now called " Arey's Harbor,"
and being pleased with the surroundings, he bought a tract
of land, comprising about 700 acres, for the sum' of -fiSO,
from a man named Wheeler, who was then living there.
46 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
He lived for a while at the head of the harbor, but
afterwards moved onto the island now owned by Smith
Hopkins. He is said to have owned the first horse ever
brought to this town, Mr. Arey was drowned while
crossing to Isle au Haut in a small boat. Mrs. Arey was
a skilled midwife, and had been called to Isle au Haut,
and it was while going after her that he lost his life. He
was the first of that name to come here. His grandson,
John Arey, is the oldest person of that name in town. His
age is 86.
Thaddeus Caeveu was born December 7th, 1751. In
1766, when 15 years old, he came here from Marshfield,
Mass., with his father and an elder brother. The father
and brother left here sometime after, but Thaddeus
remained. He worked for Francis Cogswell, of Ipswich,
Mass., who at that time had a double sawmill here on the
site of the present polishing works. In 1776 he bought
Cogswell's interest here, which consisted of seven hundred
acres of land, sawmill, etc., and for which he paid two
liundred and sixty pounds. He married Hannah Hall, of
Matinicus, and ten children were born to them, only one
of whom is now living. He died in 1832, aged 81 years.
John Carver, oldest son of Thaddeus, was born April
12, 1793. He lived until his death on the old homestead,
which is now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. H. S. Hopkins.
He at times was engaged in fishing and coasting. Once,
while fishing off shore, his vessel was run down by a
coaster. Captain Carver was below at the time, and barely
escaped with his life. One man named Reuben Brown
was drowned. He was also prominent in town affairs,
having served several years on the board of selectmen,
besides representing his townsmen in the Legislature. He
married Rhoda Arey, second daughter of Ebenezer Arey.
They- had 13 children, nine of whom are now living. He
died in 1877. His wife survived him several years.
• HISTORY OF VESTALHAVEN. 47
Reuben Carver, son of Thadcleiis, was born August
27th, 1797. When 23 years old he married Hannah
Calderwood, daughter of James Calderwood, who at that
time owned the late Jere Hall estate, near the carrying
place. He built a log hut on the site where now stands
the late Moses Webster residence, and after living there
six years he erected the house where he now resides and
which has been his home ever since. Mr. Carver's has
been a busy life. He early engaged in trade, but about
1826 commenced building vessels, which has been his
principal occupation, though largely interested in other
business, such as lumbering, curing dry and smoked fish,
running sawmills, erecting buildings, etc. At one time he
and his brother John built a lime kiln near where the post
ofifice is now located. It was the first and only one ever
built in town, but it did not prove a paying venture. He
was several years one of the board of selectmen, postmaster
six years, and has served one term in the Legislature. He
is now in his 92nd year, surrounded by relatives, who
attend to his every comfort. His wife died in 1856, and
two years later he married Mrs. Diana Coombs, of Belfast.
Some four years ago she died. There were nine children
born to him by his first wife, and all but one are now
living.
Anthony Coombs came here from Pemaquid Point
about 1775, and purchased what is now called Coombs'
Neck, and settled there. Whom he bought from is not
known. It is said that he first occupied himself in cutting
a passage through the woods from his hut so that he could
see the thoroughfare. He afterwards built a frame house
where his grandson, B. R. Coombs, now resides. It is one
of the oldest houses in town. His wife was Anna Stinson,
daughter of James Stinson, who is mentioned in this work.
Fourteen children were born to them, two of whom,
Anthony and Sylvanus, were twins.
48 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
John Caldekwood. The Calderwoods are said to be
of Scotch origin but emigrated to Ireland at an early date,
where John was born February 15th, 1725, and the same
year his parents emigrated to this country and settled in
Londondery, N. H. In 1850 he was in Warren, Me.,
where he purchased a farm. He married Elizabeth
McCurdy, a lady of superior intellect, and to them thirteen
children were born. In 1769 he sold his place in Warren
and came to this town, settling on the North Island, near
where the Baptist meeting house now stands, but soon
after (1770) exchanged with Major White for a lot on the
" Neck " (so called) on the South Island to where he
removed and built a house, where his grandson Jonathan
now resides, and where he lived at the time of his death in
1808. He was the first of that name to come here, and his
was probably the first frame house built in this town.
John Vinal was a resident of Boston, Mass., and it is
not known that he ever visited this town, but we mention
his name because of his relations with the early settlers
here. Being a man of influence, he was employed by the
inhabitants to obtain legislation for them from the General
Court, and it was also in compliment to him that the town
received the beautiful name by which it is known.
William Vinal, son of the above was born in Boston,
in 1762, and was among those who settled here previous to
1786. He owned a large tract of land here which he
purchased from a Mr. Philbrooks, and he also owned land
on the North Island where he lived several years. His
first wife was Peggy Woster, by whom he had three
children, John, William and David. (The latter enlisted
in the United States service in the war of 1812, and died
in the hospital at Burlington, Canada, in 1814.) His wife
died in 1791, and seven years later he married Penelope
Dyer, and they had two children, Peggy and Charlotte.
He was a man of decided ability and was a justice of the
peace as early as 1785. It was under his warrant that the
first town meeting was held. He was also a member of
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 49
the board of selectmen ii iiuniber of years, and in 1801 was
elected to the General Court, the first representative from
this town. In later life he was a judge of the Court of
Common Pleas for Hancock Co. He died at his father's
house in Boston, January 21st, 1821. His real estate here
was divided between liis two sons, John, born 1788, and
William, Jr., born 1789. John married Susanna Carver,
and they had five children (two are living, Watson H. and
William). He lived on that part of the estate where his
son W. H. Vinal now resides. He died January 25th,
1838. William Vinal, Jr., who for many years was known
as 'Squire Vinal, was a prominent figure in town affairs,
having held several positions of trust. He was justice of
the peace, and at the time of his death was town treasurer.
His wife was Sally Carver, by whom he had nine children.
Three are living, George at Rockland, Me.; Charles B,
and John here. His residence was on the north side of
Vinal's bridge, where he died January 23d, 1859.
John Burgess was probably a native of Cape Cod,
Mass. The time of his coming here is not known, but it
must have been previous to 1785. He settled on what is
now Dyer's Island, but years afterwards moved to Belfast,
Me., where he died, aged 91. Of his children, two are
known to have resided here, Ezekiel, who died on
Matinicus Isle, aged 75, and Edward, who, it is said, died
at Belfast at an advanced age. Capt. Thomas E. Burgess,
of the schooner P. M. Bonnie, plying between here and
Belfast, is a grandson of Ezekiel.
Joseph Green was the first to settle Green's Island,
and is said to have come there not far from 1768. His
father, David Green, was killed by Indians at the siege of
Louisburg, in 1745, and his stepfather, Ebenezer Hall, was
killed by Indians on Matinicus Isle, in 1757. He married
Dorcas Young, a sister of liis lialf brother, Ebenezer Hall,
Jr.'s, wife, and they had fourteen cliildren born to them.
He took up the whole of Green's Island, but gave part of
it to one Eben Pierce in order that he might have a
50 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
neighbor. Pierce some years later sold his interest to
Joseph Ginn, whom we have noticed. Mr. Green and his
wife were past fourscore when they died.
Cyril Browx came here at an early date, probably
from Rhode Island. He was long a prominent man in
town affairs, was several years one of the selectmen, and
also represented the town in the General Court. His
place was in the vicinity of Brown's Head Light, which
probably derived its name from his. Several of his
grandchildren are living here. He lived to an advanced
age.
Uriah Norton was one of the early settlers here. He
came from Cape Cod. His place was located at the
thoroughfare, and until the last two or three years
occupied by Geo. D. Hopkins. He was a trader, and had
a small store on his place. He was honest and upright,
and was for a number of years town treasurer. He had
two daughters, one of whom married a son of Dr. Hopkins,
and Geo. D. Emery, Jr., and the late M. N. Hopkins were
children of theirs. Mr. Norton died 1811.
THE NORTH ISLAND.
The North Island was probably permanently settled
before the South Island, and for a number of years their
population was greater. In 1784 there were 68 tax payers
on the North Island, and their tax amounted to X103, 13s.,
5d., while the South Island had but 42 tax payers and their
total tax was X32 Os. 2d. We regret not being able to
give a more extended account of those who settled the
North Island, as many of them were men of prominence in
town affairs, but the brief time at our disposal for the
preparation of this work compels us to confine ourselves to
such information as we could hurriedly obtain.
Thomas Winslow was born in Old York in 1729, and
it is said was here as early as 1760, remaining but a short
time. He returned again in 1765 and settled on what is
now the Samuel Carver farm. The Widow's Island was
also included in his tract.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 51
Caleb Carver was among the first to come liere, and
his lot, containing about 200 acres, was located in the
northeast part of town. His business was principally
farming.
Benjamin Kent came here from Marshfield, Mass.,
when a boy. An apple tree he brought with him and
planted here is still standing, and has withstood the
elements for more than a hundred years, some seasons
bearing 25 bushels of fruit. He was a farmer, and his
place joined that of Cashing Thomas.
John Newbury was born in Newbury, Mass., and came
here in 17G8, settling in the northeast part of town. He
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was once
taken prisoner, but escaped fi'om his captors. His
occupation was farming, fishing and boat building. He
died about 1832, at the age of 95 years.
Benjamin Carr was a native of Wellfleet, Mass., where
he was born in 1738. He came here when about 30 years
old, and settled on the northeast side of Pulpit Harbor.
He was a farmer and his place contained about 500 acres.
Jonathan Robbins came here in 1766 from Dedham,
Mass., and settled on what is called Indian Point. He
was a well-to-do farmer and a worthy citizen.
William Banks was a native of Rhode Island, where
he was born in 1726. He came here at an early date, and
for a time lived on Eagle Island . He was a soldier in the
French and Indian War, and while in the service had a
very severe attack of smallpox.
JosiAH Hastings was among the first to come here.
He settled on a large tract in the vicinity of Fresh Pond,
but sometime afterwards sold his place and moved to Hope.
CusHiNG Thomas was born 1769 in Marshfield, Mass.,
and came here with his father and brother Samuel, about
1789. His place was wliat is now the Henry L. Smith
farm. He was deacon of the Baptist church, and led the
choir several years.
52 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN,
James Glover came here when a young man. He was
born in Marshfield, Mass., in the year 1751. His phice was
in the vicinity of Southern Harbor, and his occupation was
farming.
Thomas Waterman was a native of Marshfield, Mass.,
where he was born in 1740. He was here in 1760 but did
not remain long-. Returnino- ao-ain in 1765, he settled in
the vicinity of Iron Point. His lot contained about 400
acres. He also took up what is now called Stimpson's
Island.
David Wostek was a native of England, and was born
1732. He emigrated to this country when about 12 years
old, and in 1762 settled here. He took lip land on the
southeast side of Southern Harbor, where he settled.
Mark Ames was born in Marshfield, Mass., in 1742 and
came here about 1765. He took up land about midway
between Pulpit Harbor and Crabtree's Point. His time
was employed farming, fishing and building boats. We
have information that his son Benjamin was ordained
Baptist minister at this place in 1809.
Justice Ames, a brother of the above, was born in the
year 1744. His place included what is now called Pigeon
Hill. He was a farmer and boat builder. His second wife
was the Widow Orr, whose husband was killed in the
Revolutionary War. It is said that he was one of the
party that in 1813 attacked the British cruiser " Fly '"near
the shores of the White Island.
John Lindsay was a native of Old York, where he was
born about 1735. He came here in 1765, but did not
remain long. Selling his place to Capt. Crabtree, he
removed to Thomaston (now Rockland). His son George
was afterwards proprietor of the Lindsay House, Rockland.
William C()0peii was born 1740, in Marshfield, Mass.,
and came here at an early date. He is said to have been
a very eccentric man. He at first settled near the head of
Southern Harbor, but afterwards removed to the .extreme
northeast part of the Island.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 53
Captain Thomas Beverage was a native of Topsham
and was born 1750. He came here when a young man
and settled near the southeast part of Pulpit Harbor
stream. He was a very intelligent man and was engaged
in farming and logging.
Benjamin Robbins was born in Newbury, Mass., in
the year 1741. He was one of the early settlers, and
owned what is called the Oak Hill farm. He was a farmer
and boat builder and was often engaged hunting and
trapping.
Richard Heath was born 1711 in Harpswell, Me.
The date of his coming here is not known. His lot was
what is now the Thurston farm. He lived here a few
years and then returned to his native place. He was a
man of intelligence, a thorough-going church member.
He was at one time a land serveyor and also a soldier
in the Revolution.
Stephen Carver belonged in Marshfield, Mass., and
was born there in 1710. He was one of the early settlers,
and was noted for his piety. He lived on what is now the
W. O. Waterman farm.
Archibald McMullin was a native of Dedham,
Mass. He was born about 1756. He came here in 1781,
and settled on a lot which he purchased from his
father-in-law, Jonathan Robbins. He was a soldier in the
Revolutionary army and was with Washington at Valley
Forge.
Michael Bowen was a native of Cork, Ireland, and
was educated in the Dublin University. When a young
man he emigrated to this country, and afterwards joined
the Colonial forces in the war for independence. He
served with distinction during the war and was promoted
to the rank of major. After peace was declared he settled
here. His business was farming and teaching school. In
1790 he married Sarah Carr, who survived him. The first
teacher in town of whom we have seen any record was
John O'Brien, who was employed as such by Mr. Beverage,
64 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN,
by whose aid he escaped from the British service. He was
here but a short time. Aside from this, Bowen appears to
have been the first school teacher in this town and the only
one for several jea,rs after his coming here, his engagements
alternating between the North and South Islands. He was
well educated, and his pupils made rapid progress under
his tutorage. It is said that he was a great lover of rum
and that when any of the boys in his charge had advanced
as far in mathematics as the " Rule of Three," they were
obliged to furnish him with a gallon of his favorite beverage.
John Brown came here in 1760. He was a native of
Marshfield, Mass., and was born in 1740. His lot joined
Caleb Carver's on the southwest side. He was a carpenter
and blacksmith.
Bethuel Luce was born in Martha's Vineyard in the
year 1730. He was a soldier in the French War, and came
here in 1765, bringing with him his three sons Maltiah,
Elijah and Uriah. His was the lot known as the Luce and
Hooper farms. He was engaged farming, fishing and
curing fish.
James Heard came here about 1766 and took up a lot
joining that of Bethuel Luce and Benjamin Carr. Years
afterward he moved away, so we have been informed, to
South Thomaston.
George White was a native of Georgetown, and we
have been informed, settled on " Calderwood's Neck " on
the South Island, but about 1770 exchanged with John
Calderwood for a lot on the North Island, where the
Baptist meeting house is now located. He enlisted as a
private in the war for Independence and was promoted to
the rank of major. He was highly respected for his
sterling qualities, and was one of the first board of
selectmen.
Samuel Thomas was born in Marshfield, Mass., 1741,
and came here at an early date. He purchased from one
Rufus Candish a lot of land located between Kent's Cove
HISTORY OF VtNALHAVEN. 55
und the Cubby Hole (so called) where he settled. He was
by trade a carpenter.
William Dyer was a native of Marshfield, Mass., where
he was born in 1739. He came here previous to the
Revolution, and settled on a lot, part of which is now North
Haven village. His occupation was farming and lishing,
and he is said to have been an expert at shooting sea-fowl.
Benjamin Dyer, brother of the above, was a native of
Marshfield, Mass., and came here with his brothers. He
settled on the lot adjoining Capt. Joseph Waterman's, and
extendino; to the east shore of Southern Harbor.
Anthony Dyer, brother of Benjamin, settled on the
lot now known as the Crockett and Cabot farm. His
occupation was farming. He was also prominent in town
affairs.
Captain Eleazer Crabtree was a native of New York
State, and was born 1738. He was here in 1760, but the
Indians being troublesome he was obliged to leave. He
returned again in 1784, and settled on a lot at the head of
Southern Harbor. He also bought of John Perry the lot
known as Crabtree's Point. He was a master mariner and
shipbuilder. In 1804 he was cast away on the coast of
Ireland, the vessel (ship Lucy and Nancy, built here by
him the year previous) becoming a total loss. Capt.
Crabtree and crew were picked up by a passing vessel and
landed at Liverpool, England. He was one of the first
board of selectmen, and was well advanced in years when
he died. His grandson, E. C. Crabtree, Esq., is living
here.
John Perry was born in Duxbury, Mass., in the year
1741, and came here about 17(J4. He settled on what is
now Crabtree's Point. He also took up a lot between
Perry's Creek and Seal Cove on the South Island. His
first wife was a Miss Woster, and after her death he married
a widow named Perry. He was father of sixteen children.
About 1779 he was living on the South Island where he
cultivated a small patch of land. He was one of those who
56 HISTORY OF VIKALHAVEN.
suffered from foragers during the occupanuy of Castine by
the Britisli. One day a party of these foragers Linded at
his phice and were helping themselves to his corn, etc.,
thinking probably that one man alone would not dare
resent their actions (it is said there were fifteen of them),
but Perry secured his guns and selecting a favorable spot
shot two of the party and then fled into the woods. The
rest of the party pursued him, but he evaded them by
hiding in an old hollow tree. He remained in his hiding
place about forty-eight hours and when it appeared that
the coast was clear he hurried to the shore, sprang into
his dug-out and paddled to Owl's Head. From there he
went to Boston. He returned here shortly after, and
when it came to the British strenuous efforts were made to
capture him, but without success. Several times he came
near falling into the hands of the enemy, but always
managed to escape. Once, while picking up some birds that
he had shot in the vicinity of Crockett's River, he was ordered
to come ashore by some British who happened to be there.
He answered that he would as soon as he gathered all of
the birds. His would-be captors stood carelessly watching
him, a fact which he probably noticed, and while pretending
to be getting ready to go ashore he suddenly and with all
his might paddled in the opposite direction. A shower of
bullets followed him, but he escaped unharmed. He is
said to have been a man very small in stature but full of
pluck and endurance. He at one time owned a farm in
Northport, but in his declining years resided here. He
died at the age of ninety-three. Mr. James Smith, now
living here, and Mrs. Roxanna Dyer on the South Island,
are grandchildren of Perry's, and both are past fourscore.
MATINICUS ISLE.
Matinicus seems to have been regarded as an integral
part of this town, though it does not appear to have been
included in the act of incorporation. Taxes were assessed
upon its estates by this town, but whether it was done by
HISTORY OF VLNALHAVEN. 57
direction of the State, petition of its inhabitants, or an
assumption of authority, we have not learned. In 1794
there were seven resident tax payers, and the total tax was
£5 13s. 4d. In 1801 it was voted not to allow Matinicus
to pa}^ tax to this town, and in 1819 it was voted to assess
a tax on Matinicus. This is all the reference we have seen
to the municipal relations between the two islands. The
iirst permanent settler was Ebenezer Hall, who came to the
Island about 1751. His wife having died, he married the
Widow Mary Bloom Green, who resided at Pemaquid and
who had one son named Joseph. Hall had two daughters
and a son by his Iirst Avife. The daughters he brought to
the Island, having put his son to learn a trade. For the
first two years his relations with the Indians (who were
often in that vicinit}^ egging and fowling) were friendly
but having burnt over the Green Island (a small island
north of Matinicus) in order to laise a better crop of hay
for his cattle, and being warned by the Indians not to do
it again, as it interfered with their egging and fowling, he
paid no attention to the warning but did burn it again,
which seems to have excited their anger. He also appears
to have bothered them in their sealing and fishing. The
following is an extract of a letter to Governor Phips from
four Penobscot Indians, in behalf of their tribe. It is dated
April 25th, 1753, and was furnished to us by Mr. J. F.
Calderwood, of Warren :
Brother, you did not barken to us about the Englishman
on the Island, he hunts us in our seiling and fishing, its
our livelihood and others too, for what we get we bring to
your Truck Master, we don't hinder him from fisliing ; 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,
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.
58 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
(Signed) fCosEMES,
J MODOBT,
'\ Chebnood,
( mugdumbawit.
They did not remove liiiii in two months, as threatened,
but in June, 1757, a party of them made their appearance
on the island, and finding Hall absent they retired to a
distant part of the island to await his return. He returned
unobserved by them, and when it became known that he
was at home they immediately laid siege to his house.
The siege continued several days, when they finally
succeeded in killing him. The boy Joseph Green made
his escape through a back window and hid in some tall
o-rass, where he remained until after the Indians had left.
He was on the island two or three days, when he was taken
off by a passing fishing vessel. Mrs. Hall and the two
daughters were taken captives by the Indians, and it is
said that the mother and daughters were separated at some
point on the Penobscot and never afterwards met. Mrs.
Hall was taken to Canada, where she was eventually
ransomed, sent to England, and afterwards returned to
Portland. In July, 1765, she married Mr. Chipman Cobb,
and about 1775 moved to Gorham, where she died at the
age of 89. Hall's son, Ebenezer, married Miss Susannah
Young, of Old York, and moved to the island about 1763.
There were fifteen children born to them, all of whom
lived to marry and raise families. The Carvers, Lanes
and Roberts are descendants of Hall's on the maternal side.
Joseph Green married a sister of Mrs. Hall's, and
afterwards applied to Hall for a share of the island. Mr.
Hall would allow him but a small portion on the west side,
which he refused, and then moved to Green's Island, as
previously mentioned. The seven resident tax payers in
1794 were : Ebenezer Hall ; Ebenezer Hall, Jr., who
married a Miss Calderwood of this town ; Abraham Young,
whose wife was a sister to Mrs. Hall, and who moved to
the island about 1765 ; Jonathan Allen, who was an officer
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 59
in the Revolutionaiy army; Josepli Young, son of
Abraham, mairied Peggy Tolman ; John Crie, native of
Scotland, majried Polly Hall, daughter of Ebenezer, Sr.;
and Jeremiah Tolman.
Matinicus organized as a plantation 1 840.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Probably many of the earl}^ settlers here were religious
people, but we have not learned that for the first quarter
of a century any measures were adopted by them to secure
the services of a preacher of the Gospel. In 1785 the
General Court directed that religious teachers be employed
half the year, for the destitute plantations in Lincoln
County, to be paid from the State tax collected from the
inhabitants. As the people here had suffered severely
during the Revolution, it is to be presumed came under
that category, and were favored with a portion of such
teachings. The first action taken in religious matters by
the settlers was in 1792, when the town voted sixteen
pounds to hire a minister four months. In 1797 forty
pounds was raised, and in 1798 one hundred pounds for
support of preaching. Since the latter year it does not
appear that any aid was given by the town for religious
purposes, except that for several years church wardens
and tithing men were elected at town meetings. The first
clergyman's name appearing on the town records is that of
Rev. John Haines, who solemnized marriages in 1805.
The North Island seems to have been ahead in religious
matters, for about 1805 the Baptist Church was organized
there, and in 1808 a meeting house was erected by them,
which is still standing. Their first settled preacher was
Rev. Nathaniel Haines. We have not been able to learn
at what time the Methodist Church was established here,
(South Island), but it appears that their teachers were the
spiritual guides of the inhabitants up to the year 1835.
About this time, Mormonism was preached here, and it is
said held sway for several years, during which time a
60 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
iiuml)er of the leading members of the hitherto prevailing-
faith were converted to its ranks. Rev. Ephraim Whitney,
a Methodist clergyman, preached here in 1841, and was
followed by others of the same persuasion until about the
year 1860. During all the preceding years, so far as we
can learn, no attempt had been made to erect a place for
public worship, the meetings having been held in the
several schoolhouses and at private residences. In the
early part of the year 1860 a niimber of prominent citizens
formed a society, the object of which was to build a
meeting house. A code of by-laws were adopted, and a
building committee, consisting of Reuben Carver, Timothy
Lane and Moses Weljster, were chosen and authorized to
borrow sufficient funds and go aliead with the work. It
was also decided that the new building when finished
should be a Union meeting house. The building was
completed the same year, at a cost of $2,850, and the pews
were appraised at a sum sufficient to cover the cost of the
house. The trustees of tlie building were David Vinal,
Ezekiel Burgess, Elisha Carver, Chancy Noyes and
Nathaniel Ames. The first three have been laid away
from earthly labors. The Free Will Baptist Church was
organized here in 1863 by Rev. W. H. Littlefield, (who
was. subsequently their pastor for several years), and since
that time up to the present year the pulpit as a rule has
been supplied by preachers of that faith. The Uni(m
society was organized February 12th, 1863, and its first
officers were James Roberts, chairman ; and David Vinal,
Secretary ; S. G. Webster, David Vinal and Benjamin
Lane, Executive Committee. This society virtually
controls the preaching at Union Church, and among its
first members were such well known names as Timothy
Lane, John Carver, David Vinal, Moses Webster, S. G.
Webster and John De Laski. There has been no settled
pastor here tlie past year. A meeting was held April 5th,
1889, when, in order to raise funds for support of preaching
the original pew holders consented to have their pews sold
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 61
for one ye;ir. Sonietliiiig over -fSOO was I'ealized from the
sale, and the executive committee, namely : T. G. J^ibby,
H. M. Noyes, and J. A. Babbidge, were authorized to
negotiate for the services of a clergyman. Several were
brought here on trial, and the society at a meeting held
May 28th, (1889), voted to accept the services of Rev.
Warren Applebee, at a salary of f|l,000 a year, and the use
of tlie parsonage. Mr. Applebee is a Congregationalist
minister, and we understand, the first of that faith to
preach in this town. The only other religious society in
town are the Second Advents, whose church was organized,
about seven years ago, and two years ago their chapel was
built. Their pulpit is supplied by laymen, with an
occasional preacher from abroad. There are also a few
Catholics, whose spiritual wants are attended to by the
resident pastor at Rockland, Maine.
SOCIETIES.
There is probably not a town in the State of the same
population, with as many organizations, that are any better
supported than those in Vinal Haven. Nearly all of those
we shall mention are in existence at present, and have a
substantial membership.
MASONIC.
Moses Webster Lodge, so named in compliment to the
late Hon. Moses Webster, was organized January 17th,
1868, by E. E. Wortman, D. D. G. M. The charter
members were : George Roberts, Charles Littlefield, E. L.
Roberts, Edwin Lane, A. A. Dolham, Eben Roberts, H.
K. Webster, James Thompson, W. E. Avery, J. F. Talbot,
Moses Webster, W. H. Paige, W. H. Paige, Jr., James
McDonald, E.- H. Lyford, Smith Hopkins, Ezekiel Burgess,
E. R. Graffam, F. C. Carver, B. J. Richards, J. D. Arey,
Michael Carlin, J. R. Merrithew. The first officers
appointed by the G. M. were George Roberts, W. M.; W.
E. Avery, S. W.: Charles Littlefield, J. W. Tlie first
62 HISTORY or VINALHAVEN.
meeting was held on the upper floor of the hiulding now
occupied by A. P. Green, and others, but afterwards a hall
was fitted for their use in the same building, where their
meetings were held for Jabout twelve years. The Masonic
block was built in 1879, at a cost of 111,615.12, and the
lodge moved into their new quarters in January, 1880.
The present n)embership is 170.
Atlantic, R. A. Chapter, was instituted June 14th, 1876,
with seventeen charter members ; J. B. Courrier, H. P.;
John A. Miller, Treasurer; E. A. Mudgett, Secretary.
DeValois Commandery, K. T., was instituted October
14th, 1886, with twenty-four charter members. The first
E. C. was Frederick S. Walls ; Calvin B. Vinal, Treasurer,
and Charles Littlefield, Secretary. The present membership
is tliirty-eight.
1. (). o. F.
Star of Hope Lodge was instituted November 23rd, 1874,
by F. M. Laughton, M. W. Grand Master, and the charter
members were : John Lowe, A. A. Beaton, M. H. Kiff,
William H. Johnson, and John A. Miller. The first
officers were : A. A. Beaton, N. G.; John Lowe, V. G.;
M. T. Fitzsimmons, Secretary, and John A. Miller,
Treasurer. The lodge held their meetings for several
years in the hall over M. H. Kiff's store. They finally
purchased the building, with the one adjoining, and in
1885 both were united, and a fine hall arranged on the
upper floor. The total cost of the building was about
#8,000. This lodge has paid in benefits about 1^4,000, and
up to the present time 207 members have been initiated.
Island Home Encampment was instituted July 26th,
1883, with seven charter memberr. The first officers were :
A. A. Beaton, C. P.; Everett Mills, S., and J. S. Black,
Treas.
Canton Vinal Haven, Patriarchs Militant, was mustered
April 25th, 1889, a wai'rant having been obtained by
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 63
thirty-four members of Island Home Eiieampmeiit. The
first ofhcers were : Fred Hinckley, Captain ; C. E. Boman,
Clerk ; Everett Mills, Accountant.
TEMPERANCE.
Granite Lodge, I. O. G. T., was organized February 2nd,
1866, with twenty charter members, and Reuben T. Carver,
was the first W. C. T. This was at one time the banner
lodge of the State, having had upwards of four hundred
members.
Saint Joseph's C. T. A. S. was organized in the latter
part of 1874, and was successful for a time, but finally
disbanded. M. Maker was President, and John Murphy,
Secretary.
Vinal Haven Reform Club organized in 1875. M. H.
Kiff was the first President. This club flourished for
several years.
There have been at different times several juvenile
temperance societies, but none exist at present.
G. A. R.
Lafayette Carver Post was granted a charter November
26th, 1881, and there were twenty-four charter members.
Henry C. Day was the first Commander.
Thomas G. Libby Camp, Sons of Veterans, was instituted
December 10th, 1887, with seventeen charter members.
James H. McLitosh was Captain.
Woman's State Relief Corps organized December 18th,
1883, with thirty charter members. Mrs. Celeste Carver
was the first President.
LABOR SOCIETIES.
Rock Bound Assembly, K. of L., was organized January
30th, 1885. There were twenty charter members, and T.
J. Lyons was the first Master Workman.
61 HISTOKY OF VINALHAVEN.
Viiiiil Haven Biaiicli, (j. C. N. U., organized February
lOtli, 1877. Alexander Davidson was the lirst President.
Lapsed in 1879, and re-organized in 1887, with Fred J.'
Ware, President.
Vinal Haven Branch, Paving Cutters' Union, organized
May 21st, 1888, with seven charter members. George
Bettie was the first President.
INSURANCE SOCIETIES.
Ishmd City Lodge, K. of H., instituted September -1th,
1878, and there were nine charter members. George
Roberts was the first Dictator.
Subordinate Council No. 307, United Friends, had their
charter granted March 26th, 1888. There were forty-six
charter members, and Mrs. Emma Roberts was the first
Chief Councilor.
VINAL HAVEN LIBRARY AND BEADING ROOM.
The idea of establishing a reading room here was first
suggested by the late Governor Bodwell, and upon his
proposal to furnish free, a room with all necessary fixings^
a collection was taken up among the workmen and others,
and something over $100 raised to purchase reading-
material. A citizens' meeting was held August 11th, 1887,
when John Lowe, T. G. Libbj^ F. V. Crocker, T. J. Lyons,
J. A. Babbidge, Alexander Davidson and O. P. Lyons were
elected Trustees, with T. J. Lyons Librarian. At the
annual town meeting following, the amount of money
allowed by law was raised to purchase books for a free
public library, and in 1889 a similar amount was voted.
The library has a fine selection of books, is well patronized,
and it is hoped has become one of the fixed institutions of
the town.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
65
WAR EXPENSES AND LIST OF SOLDIERS.
The total expenses of the town for war purposes,
exclusive of interest, was 138,322, or nearly one-lifth of
the value of property as fixed by the State valuation, and
the amount received from the State was $9,341.67. The
number of men who were paid a bounty, and for whom the
town was reimbursed by the State, 132, and the total
number of men furnished by this town was, as near as can
be ascertained, about 180
enlisted that were residents of the town
Following is a list of those who
Arey, Richard R.,
Arey, Rufus, 2nd,
Arey, Hiram F.,
Arey, Benjamin,
Arey, William H.,
Arey, Robert E.,
Allenwood, Ephraim F.,
Burns, Geo. W.,
Brown, Freeman,
Brown, Thomas,
Brown, Joseph,
Bradstreet, Hiram M.,
Brewster, Robert,
Burgess, Benjamin,
Bray, Francis E.,
Colburn, Stephen S.,
Carver, Francis S.,
Carver, Reuben T.,
Carver, Lafayette,
Conway, Orrin T.,
Coombs, Isaiah,
Carver, George S.,
Conway, John M.,
Creed, Henry E.,
Calderwood, James C,
Colby, George,
Coombs, George E.,
Clayton, John R.,
Calderwood, Luther J.
Calderwood, Eben S.,
Carnes, William,
Creed, William R.,
Coombs, Lewis H.,
Coombs, John,
Colby, Warren,
Carnes, Simeon,
Carver, William E.,
Colby, James,
Carver, Thaddeus C,
Douglas, Chester R.,
Dyer, Thomas A.,
Dyer, Freeman,
Dyer, Daniel,
Dyer, James C,
Dyer, Melzer T.,
Duncan, Daniel,
Dunphy, Alexander,
Dushane, Francis,
Garrett, Silas A.,
Garrett, Freeman F.,
Gavett, Samuel A.,
Graffam, Joseph F.,
66
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
Gray, William C,
Ginn, David R.,
Ginn, James, Jr.,
Green, Israel,
Hall, Timothy,
Hall, George,
Hopkins, Henry S.,
Jacobs, George T.,
Kittredge, William W.,
Kiff, Martin H.,
Littlefield, Ivory C,
Lane, Rodney,
Linnekin, Robert E.,
Myrick, Rinaldo,
Mills, Flavious,
Mills, Stephen,
Mills, Elisha,
Mullin, David S.,
Murch, Isaac,
Mcintosh, Henry,
Mcintosh, James H.,
Myrick, Martin V.,
Mills, James P.,
Mills, Cyrus,
Mullin, John,
Mills, Willard C,
Mills, Albion,
Norton, Jonas,
Norton, Joseph H.,
Norton, Paris,
Norton, Vincent,
Neal, James,
Orne, Amos,
Pierce, Freeman G.,
Pierce, Horatio B.,
Pool, George,
Rooney, David,
Robbins, Oliver W.,
Roberts, Eben,
Roberts, Edgar L.,
Roberts, Edwin R.,
Roberts, Joseph J.,
Smith, Levi W.,
Slater, John,
Shirley, Christopher,
Sanborn, James,
Swears, Charles,
Smith, Franklin,
Smith, Charles V.,
Twitchell, Isaac J.,
Tewilliger, Gilbert,
Tobin, Manford,
Vinal, Reuben,
Vinal, Woster S.,
Vinal, Calvin B.,
Vinal, John,
Webber, Abel,
Webber, Franklin,
West, Samuel,
West, William T.,
Young, Lorenzo,
Young, Alexander,
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
67
NAMES OF THOSE FROM THIS TOWN WHO WERE KII^LKD
OR DIED IN THE SERVICE.
Murcli, Isaac, Lieut., Smith, Charles V.,
Carver, Lafayette, 2iid Lieut., Sanbor, James,
Colburn, Stephen,
Carver, Thacldeus C,
Shirley, Christo[)her,
Hall, George,
Calderwood, Eben S.,
Brewster, Robert,
Gavett, Samuel,
Webber, Franklin,
Coombs, George,
Conway, Orrin T.,
Bray, Francis E.,
West, Samuel,
Conway, John M.,
Coombs, Isaiah,
Brown, Freeman,
Tobin, Manford,
Young, Alexander,
Mills, Flavious,
Roberts, Eben,
NAMES OF THOSE, AS NEAR AS WE COULD ASCERTAIN,
WHO WERE IN THE WAR OF 1812.
Steward, Cushing,
Steward, Charles,
Ingerson, Josiah,
Arey, James,
Vinal, David,
Philbrooks, Daniel,
Brown, Cyril, Jr.,
Merrithew, Roger,
Wooster, Joseph,
Thayer, Lemuel,
Thayer, Samuel, Jr.,
Grant, William,
White, Matthew,
Pendleton, Alexander,
Lewis, Samuel, Jr.,
My rick, Paul,
Are}', Eben, 2nd.
I
68
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
A LIST OF PERSONS RESIDING IN TOWN WHO WILL BE
AGED 80 YEARS OR MORE, SOMETIME DFIMNG THE
PKESENT YEAR.
Reuben Carver,
Mrs. Phebe Daily,
Elislia Smith,
Thaddeus Smith,
William Banks,
Samuel Smith,
Mrs. Mary Bradstreet,
Mrs. Sarah McKellar,
Mrs. Clementina Brown,
Timothy Dyer,
John Arey,
Mrs. Sally Norwood,
Phillip Arey,
Mrs. Jane Calderwood,
Mrs. Susan Dyer,
Mrs. Rebecca Rider,
Mrs. Jane Collamore probably, 82
Mrs. Clarissa Arey,
Mrs. Roxanna Dyer,
Aaron Merrithew,
Mrs. Josie Ann Merrithew,
Mrs. Emily Poole,
Isaac Lawry,
James Carver,
Mrs. Lucy Crockett,
92 y
ears.
August,
89
ii.
March,
88
Cl
October,
86
Li
November,
86
ik
May,
86
l(
June,
86
(C
October,
86
(I
June,
86
i(.
May,
86
u
December,
84
il.
March,
84
a
May,
84
a
May,
84
(.i
July,
82
u
September,
82
;(
April,
82
u
81
n
September,
81
1.1,
April,
81
a
October,
81
ii,
September,
81
(I
March,
80
ii.
Octobei-,
80
ii
October,
80
li
June,
1889
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 69
INDUSTRIES.
Mills. — We have not been able to ascertain at what
time the first mill was built here, but judging from what
information we have received, it must have been as early
as 1760. It was a double saw mill, erected by Francis
Cogswell, of Ipswich, Mass., on the site of the polishing
mill now occupied by the Bodwell Granite Co. Mr.
Cogswell, previous to this, had undertaken to erect a mill
at the Basin Falls, but after expending several hundred
dollars, was obliged to abandon his purpose. In 1776,
Cogswell sold his plant to Thaddeus Carver, and a few
years after the mill was destroyed, probably fell down. It
was rebuilt about 1840, by Reuben Carver, and later a grist
mill was added. After the war, this mill was sold to Mr.
Chaney Noyes, and about 1873 or '74 the whole site
(except the grist mill, which is still owned by Mr. Noyes)
was purchased by the Bodwell Granite Co. The first grist
mill in town, it is said, was erected by Mr. Thomas
Beverage, on Pulpit Harbor stream, but at what time we
have not learned. There was at one time a grist mill at
Arey's Harbor, occupied by Benjamin Coombs. Mr. John
Calderwood erected a saw mill near the carrying place (so
called) maybe as early as 1775, and a grist mill was
afterwards added. There was a saw mill near the head of
Crockett's River, built by Benjamin and Sylvanus Coombs,
wdiich was occupied for a number of years by Mr. John
Whitmore, of Deer Isle. William Vinal, Sr., erected mills
at Mills Creek and Vinal's Falls. The latter was occupied
by John and William Vinal after their father's death.
Fishing Industry. — It is doubtful if, for at least the
first quarter of a century, the early settlers here engaged
to any extent in curing fish for the market. Fish were
plenty and literally swarmed the waters, but the chief
difiiculty was in obtaining salt, an article most of which
used here at that time was of home manufacture.
Salt-works Avere estal)lished at several places in town,
namely : At Indian Creek, Calderwood's Neck, Dodge's
70 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
(Smith's) Point, The Basin, Oak Hill (North Haven) and
probably at other points. Salt was made by boiling
sea water, of which only a small per cent, is salt. It was
a slow and tedious process, as it required al)Out four
hundred gallons of water to make a bushel of salt. But
as years passed on, the population increased and more
frequent intercourse was established with the outside
world, the fishing industry grew, until in 1820, it is said
that 700 tons of shipping were owned in town, most of
which were engaged in the fisheries. P^or many years this
l)usiness was the chief support of the inhabitants, and at
any one time there were stands for curing hsh at Indian
Creek, Carver's Cove, Arey's Harbor, Coombs' Head,
Smith's Cove, Thoroughfare, Bartlett's Harbor, Northern
Harbor, Crockett's Cove, Leadbetter's Island, Creed's
Cove, Carver's Harl)or, and Lane's Island. In the palmy
days of fishing, it is estimated that the amount of fish
cured at those yaids exceeded seventy-five thousand
quintals. The business of curing the fish, until about 1870,
was conducted on the per centage plan ; that is, the
fishermen would pay a certain per cent, of their earnings
for curing. At one time from 75 to 100 vessels were
owned here, and engaged in the fisheries ; and four
freighters were almost continually employed carrying fish
to Boston. Up to the year 1860, this industry held its
own, and even through the first years of the war. At the
close of the war and until 1870 there was a falling off, and
for eight years after there was comparatively little fishing-
done. In 1878, Edwin Lane and T. G. Libby commenced
buyijig and curing fish for the Boston and Gloucester
markets ; the first year handling about 3,000 quintals.
Their business has increased each j^ear, until in 1888 they
cured about 18,000 quintals, besides manufacturing some
350 barrels of fish oil, and curing about 14,000 pounds of
liake sounds. Their fish find a market not only in Boston,
but all through the west, and even in the West Indies.
About 1879 F. M. Brown located at the Sands, started
HISTORY OF VTNALHAVEN. 71
buying and curing fish, and for several 3^ear8 carried on
(^uite an extensive business. In 1881, H. V. Lane, J. H.
Sanborn and F. S. Walls, in partnership commenced
business on Lane's Island. They cured from 6,000 to
8,000 quintals each year, until 1885, when they discontinued
business.
Lobster Fishing is an important brancli of this
industry, as it furnishes employment for many of our
people, though lobsters are not so plenty as in former
years. Until within a few years the fishermen found a
ready sale for their catch at the local factory. In 1884
Messrs. Johnson & Young, of Boston, erected a large
lobster pound at the Basin, and from eighty to one hundred
and fifty thousand lobsters are stored there annually, and
are bought mostly from the fishermen hereabouts. They
are taken out in the winter months and shipped to Boston,
where they bring from $5 to -114 per barrel of 140 pounds.
Lane & Libby, J. H. Sanborn, and R. T. Carver buy large
quantities of lobsters each year, which they send away.
There are several fish weirs about the Island, in which
thousands of bushels of herring are caught. They are sold
to fishermen for bait, and also to canning factories on the
coast. The weir at " Wreck Ledge " was built in 1884 by
R. R. Arey and George Roberts, and in 1886 the one at
Lane's Island was erected by John Rogers and F. M. Lane.
CANNING FACTORIES.
The lobster canning business was first commenced in
this town about 1847, by Messrs. Johnson & Hamlin, of
Boston. The factory was located near the steamboat
wharf, and was owned by Mr. William Smith. The above
firm continued business for several years, and were followed
by Rice and Carker, of Boston, and later by Wells and
Prevost, of N. Y. This factory was destroyed by fire just
after the war, and has never been rebuilt. About 1866 a
large factory was built at the Reach, and was occupied
several years by Shenck and Romaine, of New York ; then
72 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
by U. li. Dudley, of New York, and last by J. W. Jones,
of Portland, Me. This building was demolished two
years ago. The large factory owned by Lyford & Ginn
was built in 1884, and large quantities of lobsters, clams
and mackerel were put up by them, but for several years
past the premises have been vacant. It is to be regretted
that this industry has been allowed to die out here, as it
furnished employment for many hands.
SHIP BUILDING.
This business, in former years, was carried on quite
extensively here, and besides the numerous small craft
there were many of quite large dimensions. The ship
Lucy and Nancy was built at the head of Southern Harbor
(North Island) in 1803, by Captain Eleazer Crabtree, and
later there were vessels built by Joshua Thomas, James
Fernald, William Vinal, Jr., Mark Calderwood, and others.
In 1826 Captain Reuben Carver built the schooner
Plymouth Rock for parties in Boston, and since that time
twelve others (one a brig) have been constructed by him,
the last one being the schooner Island Home, built in 1866.
GRANITE QUARRYING.
It is not known at what time the quarrying of granite
was first commenced here, but from the most authentic
information obtainable, operations were first begun in 1826.
This year a man named Tuck, of New Hampshire, quarried
a cargo of stone at Arey's Harbor for a Massachusetts
prison, and chartered the schooner Plymouth Rock, (a
vessel built the same year by Capt. Reuben Carver), to
carry it to Boston. Two years later Capt. Nelson Spear,
of Rockland, Me., quarried a small cargo at Dyer's Island.
This, with probably an occacional small job for local
purposes, was the extent of the business until about 181:6,
when work was begun on Leadbetter's Island by the
Messrs. Carlton. Work was commenced on East Boston
quarry in 1849, by Joseph Kittredge and Enoch Carlton,
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 73
and the next year Joseph and his brother, William B.
Kittredge, continued work at the same place. Moses
Webster came here in 1851, and in 1852 he, with the late
Gov. Bodwell, and S. G. Webster, operated the East
Boston quarrj. At the end of the year S. G. Webster
retired from the firm, and the former two continued in
business under the iirm name of Bodwell and Webster,
until the Bodwell Granite Company was organized.
About 1853, Joseph Kittredge and S. G. Webster opened
what is now called Diamond Rock quarry, and contniued
in business there for about six years. The quarry on east
side of Kittredge Hill (so called) was opened by Wm. B.
Kittredge and S. G. Webster in 1860, and they operated
there in partnership for about eleven years. At the same
time the quarry on west side of the hill was opened by
Joseph Kittredge, Samuel Clay and Ezekiel Sargent. In
1863, work was commenced on Dyer's Island by Garrett
Coughlin, Edward Russell and James Sprague. After
Sprague retired from tlie firm Messrs. Bodwell and
Webster obtained an interest and work was continued
there until about 1875. The Harbor quarry was first
operated by Thornton Webber, the year we have not
learned. Other quarries that have been worked but on
which nothing is being tlone at present are the Wliarff
quarry, in Mills District ; Carver and Graffam quarry, in
Zion, (so called) ; Dogie Point and City Point quarries,
owned by the B. G. Co.; and the John S. Hopkins quarry,
on Granite Island. The quarries on Hurricane Isle were
tirst started in 1870 by Gen. Tillson, Garrett Coughlin,
John Hogan and Patrick McNamara. The Bodwell
Granite Co. was incorporated in 1871, and since that time
some immense contracts have been filled, some years
employing from twelve to fifteen hundred men, with a
monthly pay roll of from $45,000 to -1560,000. The most
notable contract completed by this company (though but a
cipher compared to others from a pecuniary standpoint)
was the General Wool monument, erected at Troy, N. Y.,
74 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
which was quarried and cut in the year 1878, the length
of the shaft alone being 60 feet, and weighed in the rough
about 185 tons ; probably the largest granite shaft ever
quarried in this country. The monument contains seven
stone, the bottom base measuring 17.6, 17.6 by 2.0. It
was shipped from here on the barge Jemima Leonard,
August 16th, 1879, and weighed when on board, including
foundation, about 650 tons. For several years past the
firms of Booth Bros., J. S. Black, Kittredge and Smith,
and J. P. Ambrust have engaged in the manufacture of
paving blocks, giving employment to about 125 men, and
many thousands of these stones are annually shipped from
here.
NET BUSINESS.
An important branch of industry, here, and one that in
past years has furnished employment in almost every
family, is knitting horse nets. This business was begun
about 1848 by James Fernald, first on a small scale ; later
a factory was erected, and the business conducted for
several years by Benjamin Lane. From about 1852, until
1867, this industry was carried on successively by John
Carver, his son Thaddeus and daughter Josephine. The
dwelling houses now owned by Israel Green and Lewis
Hopkins were built by Mr. Carver, and first used as net
factories. This business was taken up by Mr. E. L.
Roberts in 1867 and has been conducted by him ever since.
The nets are all made for the American Net Co., of
Boston, Mass. At one time knitting and weaving nets
was carried on the year round, employing more than four
hundred persons, but at present not so many are employed
and nothing is done during the summer months.
ADDITIONAL SETTLERS.
(Settlers of whom we have learned since placing first
installment of this work in the printer's hands.)
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN. 75
Inckea.se Leadbettek, Jk., came here I'roni Massachu-
setts about 17G7, aud took up a hirge tract in vicinity of
Crockett's River. He married Elizabeth Calderwood, and
they had thirteen children. About 1788 he removed to
the town of Leeds, where he died.
John Leadbettek, brother of the above, was one of
the early settlers. He owned the place now occu[)ied l)y
William Lawry, which he purchased from his brother
Increase. In 1780 he married Miss Mercy Brown. His
second wife was the Widow Lucy Pool. He lived to a
very old age.
Increase Leadbettek, father of the above, came here
about 1769, and resided with his sons. He was by trade a
blacksmith.
Thomas Bkown, familiarly known as Doctor Brown,
was born in Wellfleet, Mass., and came here about 17 07.
He owned the land now occupied by Isaiah Pease and
others. He married three times and had a family of
twenty-one children. His occupation was farming and
fishing.
Israel Carvek came here in 1700, from Marshtield,
Mass., and settled on the place now occupied by James C.
Calderwood. Samuel Carver, residing at North Haven,
and James Carver living here, in his eightieth year, are
grandchildren of Israel.
Samuel Young came here from Cape Cod. He was
one of the early settlers here, and occupied the place now
owned by his grandson, James M. Young. He was
probably the first of that name to come here. He died
aged 63.
Job Philbkooks was born in 1729, probably in
Biddeford, Me. About 1744, when 15 years old, he was
taken by the Indians, and carried to Canada, but was
ransomed, and settled at Job's Island, in Penobscot Bay.
• He came here some years afterwards, but nothing more is
known of him, probably did not remain long here. Two
of his sons settled here, Jeremiah, who married Sarah
76 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEK.
Leadbetter, daughter of Increase, settled on the east side
of Crockett's River, and Joel, who settled near Poole's
Hill, in the Eastern District. Joel, after living here a
number of years, moved away to Ohio. During the
Revolutionary War, Jeremiah removed to Bath, where he
remained until peace was declared, when he returned.
Joel Philbrooks, living here at present, is a grandson of
Jeremiah.
We cannot appropriately close this work without
noticing one who, though not among the first settlers, Avas
so intimately connected with the upbuilding of this town :
Moses Webster was born in Pelham, N. H., November
ITtli, 1817, and at the age of twenty-four married Lydia
M. Baker, of Manchester. He first learned the shoemaker's
trade, and in early life became a granite cutter. He came
here in 1851 and commenced business on the East Boston
quarry. Durino- his thirty years of residence here, he
took an earnest part in everything that served to advance
the interests of tlie town and its people. He served
several years as one of the selectmen, was one of the
Legislature in '59, and State Senator for Knox County in
'73 and '74. Mr. Webster was a descendant of John
Webster, who came from England in 1684. He died
January 15th, 1887, aged B9 years, his wife and one
daughter, (Mrs. F. S. Walls) surviving him.
MISCELLANEOUS.
There is a tradition here that many years before the
first settlers came a party of fishermen were killed by
Indians, on a ledge near the Old Harbor, and that they
were afterwards buried on a small island near by. We
have tried to learn when this tragedy might have occurred
but have been unable to do so. The only reference in history
that we have seen which might justify this tradition, was
when the Indians in 1724 raided the coast, taking 22
vessels, eight of which were captured in the vicinity of
this island.
HISTORY OF VINALHAVEK. 77
There are large beds of clam shells near the Basin Falls
about which there is no tradition, but they were probably
made b}' Indians who came here at certain seasons, and as
the place mentioned is a romantic spot, made it their
camping place.
The schooner Greyhound was built in 185;"), and in
August of the same year commenced running as a packet
between this place and Rockland.
The Carver block was built by Reuben Carver in 1857.
The first steamboat to ply between this place and
Rockland was the " Pioneer." She was placed on the
route in June, 1868.
The Vinal Haven Band was organized in the fall of
1870, and on the National Independence Day following
headed the procession on a wagon drawn by 72 yoke of
oxen.
The first fire engine in town was the Lion, an ancient
relic brought here in '70. In the early part of '71 the
"■ Ellsworth "' was purchased by a local company, and in
the latter part of the same year the fine hand engine
(named here the E. P. Walker) Putnam was bought by a
local company. The latter engine was afterwards sold in
Marlboro, Mass. In 1888 the town purchased the steam
fire engine " Reuben Carver," and the total cost for engine,
ladder truck, hose, hose cart, etc., was '14,989.61. The
Vinal Haven Volunteer Fire Dept. was organized in June
of the same year.
The John Carver Cemetery Association was formed in
May, 1871, with F. A. Hunt President. The Trustees
were F. A. Hunt, Moses Webster, Charles Littlefield,
James Ginn, Jr., and Benjamin R. Richards. The total
cost of this cemetery to the association, for land, fences,
etc., was #1,726.00. The original survey made 121 lots,
but some more have since been added. The first interment
was Mrs. Rachel Smith, wife of William Smith, and the
second one (buried same day) Miss Alvira McKellar.
78 HISTORY OF VINALHAVEN.
At a special town meeting held October 18tli, 1878, it
was voted to purchase the building now used as a Town
Hall. The price paid was 'tl,300.
The first nevv^s paper published in town was a non-political
sheet, named the " Wind." It was commenced January
5th, 1884, and the proprietors were O. P. Lyons and C. H.
Healey.
The Granite Hotel was destroyed by tire March 30th,
188(3, and the E. F. Allenwood House January 16th, 1888.
REFERENCES.
In compiling this brief work we have availed ourselves
of information contained in Eaton's excellent histories of
Warren, Thomaston and Rockland; Williamson's valuable
History of Maine ; Hosmer's History of Deer Isle, and
other printed works. We are also much indebted for
valuable information to Dr. J. F. Pratt, of Chelsea, Mass.;
J, T. Calderwood, of Warren ; E. C. Crabtree, of North
Haven ; Reuben Carver and many others of this town, to
whom we here express our sincere thanks.
O. P. LYONS. ^
L. W. SMITH, I Centennial
T. G. LIBBY, }
GEORGE ROBERTS, | CommUtee.
D. H. GLIDDEN, )
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