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]{  Brief  historical  Slietcl? 

of  tl^e 

tTOWN»OF.VINALHAVEN,f 

FROM  ITS  EARLIEST  KNOWN  SETTLEMENT. 


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^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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