Hide Article Text (OCR)
Easton’s (Nowe: “ten WW. Hamor of West Eden, died Nov. 6th, 1910, at the 88 years, 7 yoenth and 10 days.” The last few years of his life were spent se clchins uni cobpieg and seconde of the Itland of Mt Desert end te compang all the importent events and interesting inaidente in the hinbory of the Ted ‘of Eden and the island in general..The work fille two large volumees, written in Mr. Hamor’s own hamil, and it was presented to the town shortly before the author’s death. It is a most valuable work and should be preserved by every person interested in Mt. Desert Island- Mr. Hamor followed throughout the original capitalization and orthography. From week to week THE TEs will publish extracts from these books, the following being the fortieth installment. ACCOUNT OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION (Continued) Prior to 1766 the northern part of the Island of Mount Desert was almost an unknown region, an unbroken wilder ness. No doubt, “The wild fox dug he hole unscared” and the Indian lover (if there was one here) wooed and won his dusky mate but however this may have been, we know that within the last one hundred and thirty years many pale face lovers have wooed and won their pale faced mates and in conse quence of this wooing and this winning we have met today to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the incor poration and organization of this ‘‘place of pleasure’ the Town of Eden and to fix some of its early history in the minds of the descendants of the noble men and women who made the first permanent settlement along our shores. I have found much difficulty in ob taining reliable data from which to compile the history which I present to you on this occasion. Among the sources of information from which I have drawn are the records of the Plantation and Town of Mt. Desert, the old records of Eden, the Bangor Historical Magazine and the recollections of persons now living, among whom are Capt. Eden L. Higgins, Messrs. Samuel H. Richards, John Peach, Edwin Young, Alden Hamer and many others. I shall limit my history today mostly to what occurred previous to 1830. The settlement of that portion of the Island of Mount Desert, which is now Eden, is so intimately connected with the settlement of the whole island that it seems necessary to commence the history of Eden more than thirty years before its incorporation. The first permanent settlement on Island of Mt. Desert was made at the head of the Sound, now Somesville, by Abraham Somes in 1762 and by James Richardson in 1763. Sir Francis Bernard in his “Journal of A Voyage to Mount Desert,’ says: “Oct. 7, 1762, we went up the river, at the end of the river we turned into a bay. We went on shore and in Mr. Somes’ log house; found it neat and convenient, though not quite furnished; and in it a notable woman with four pretty girls, neat and orderly.” From this time to 1796 settlements were made at most of the coves and harbors on the island. John Hamor, his wife, Mary Rodick, and five children David, John, Daniel, Mary and Sally, moved from Arundel (now Kennebunk port) in 1768 and settled at Hull’s Cove near where Millard J. Hamer’s house now stands. He was the first settler at that cove. After living there about a year, he started in a small vessel to go, some say, to Boston, some say to Arundel, and was never heard from after he sailed from Hull’s Cove—leaving a widow and five children, the oldest only twelve years of age. His widow was killed May 31st, 1814, by a large gate falling on her. Elisha Cousins, his wife, Bathsheba Hamor and three children, Ruth, John and Bathsheba came from Harpswell in 1769 and settled at Hull’s Cove on what is now the Walter M. Hamor farm. Simeon Hadley came from Hampstead, N. H., worked at Otter Creek a while, came to Hull’s Cove and married Olive Black, daughter of Josiah Black, and settled near the brook on the south side of O. H. Carpenter’s farm in 1770. The brook was called Hadley’s Brook. He afterward moved to Hadley’s Sand Point. Timothy Smalledge and his wife, Jemima, with one child, came from Naskeag (now Sedgwick) in 1768 or 1769 and settled on the hill north of Hull’s Cove. Levi Higgins and his wife, Bathsheba, Young, and two children, Nehemiah and Elkanah, moved from “ Eastham, Cape Cod, in 1769 and settled in a log house near the shore on the point north of Hull’s Cove, now known as Cape Levi. In 1773 Silas Parker and his wife, Abagail, came from Camden, N. H., and settled in a small log house near the northern end of the beach north of Cape Levi. The point north of this beach was called Parker’s Point and the cove at the beach was called Camp Cove. Josiah Black lived at Hull’s Cove prior to 1770 in a small house near the shore northerly of Mrs. Angelia T. Hamer’s brick house and was the first mettier on that lot. He afterwards moved to the north side of the cove. In 1787 or 1788 Samuel Hull and his wife, Charlotte, moved from Derby, Conn., and settled at Hull’s Cove on the point east of the brook. He subse quently built a house where the brick house now stands. The cove was named About the same time .Col. Cornelius Thomand his wife, Judith, settled the same lot. And the foot andre Neva Joseph Hopkins and his wife, Mary, and nine children, moved from Eastham to Hull’s Cove in 1789, lived a while in part of Levi Higgins’ house, then moved to Salisbury Cove and settled on the lot on which Frank O. Bowden now lives. He and his son, Joseph, were drowned by the upsetting of a boat in which they were bringing an ox from one of the Porcupine Islands. Job Stanwood was born in Gloucester, married first Hannah Byles in 1749, married second Martha Bradstreet. After second marriage he came to Cranberry Isles, lived there a short time, then moved to Duck Brook. I find no mention of Job Stanwood either in Mt. Desert or Eden records except a record of the births of some of his children and of his death which occurred July 27, 1776. Ezra Young and his wife, Constant, settled at Duck Brook prior to 1774. He was a Justice of the Peace and took a prominent part in public affairs of Mt. Desert and Eden. The Harpswell town record shows that Daniel Rodick and Betty Hamer were published Jan. 28, 1764. They moved to Bar Harbor in about 1769 and settled on the lot, part of which is now owned and occupied by John A. Rodick. Israel Higgins and his wife, Mary Snow, moved from South Truro, Cape Cod, previous to 1769 and settled near the shore east of Eddy’s Brook. Solomon Higgins and his wife, Bethiah Snow, settled about the same time on the lot part of which is now owned by Mrs. Mary T. Higgins at Eddy’s Brook. Thomas Walgatt and Eunice, his wife moved from Union River and settled back of Hull’s Cove in 1775. He after ward moved to Bar Harbor. About the same time Ebenezer Salis bury and his wife, Mehitable, came from Providence, R. I., and settled in a log house where William M. Roberts’ hotel now stands. He soon moved onto the hill northwesterly of Eddy’s Brook, then called Salisbury Brook. After living there a few years he moved to Salisbury Cove. There was a Mr. Burrell living at Cromwell’s Harbor in 1776, but I have been unable to learn anything of him except that a road was laid out ‘‘to Mr. Burrell’s at Cromwell’s Harbor.” William Lynam and his wife, Crosia, lived at Schooner Head in 1789. He was the grandfather of John S. Lynam, the proprietor of the Lynam cottages and hotel. Amariah Leland was born in Sherburn in 1710, married Ursula Lovett and settled at Leland’s Cove in 1789, near the shore on lot now owned by Mrs. Bowler. His son, Ezra Leland, who was about twenty years old at the time, came with his father. He married Sally, damor and settled on the place part of which is now occupied by Hiram J. Emery. John Thomas 4th married Elizabeth Peck in Providence, R. I., Oct. 18, 1744, and came with his family to Eden and settled at Bar Harbor previous to 1770. He and his son, John, with their families afterward went to Nova Scotia, lived there a few years, then came back and settled near the shore on the east side of North East Creek. Joseph Mayo and his wife, Ruth Snow, and four children, Gideon, Joseph Jr., Israel and Prince came from Eastham in 1778 and settled on the lot now owned by Arthur W. Richardson at Old House Cove. Mr. Mayo was a revolutionary soldier. About the same time Jesse Higgins and his wife, Priscilla Snow, settled on the lot now owned by Deloraine A. Hig gins and David Higgins settled on the lot now owned by Mrs. Allen at Spruce Point. Elkanah Young and his wife settled on the hill northeasterly of the town house at Salisbury Cove. The three last mentioned famlies came from East ham, Cape Cod. Robert Young married Martha Stan wood, widow of Job Stanwood, and settled near Duck Brook in 1777. Many of these families are represented here today by grandchildren. ORGANIZATION Feb. 16, 1776 the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a resolve authorizing unincorporated settle ments, to hold meetings, choose officers, and transact such business as towns were authorized by law to do and on the same day it was received and concurred in the Council. By virtue of the authority granted him by this resolve, Alexander Campbell, Enq., issued his warrant “dated at my dwelling at Naraguagus, the 12th day of March in the 16th year of His Majes ty’s reign, Anno Domini 1776” to Stephen Richardson, of the Island of Mount Desert, requiring him to warn and notify all the freeholders and other inhabitants of the said island and of the Cranberry and Placentia Islands to meet together at the house of said Rich ardson on Saturday, the 30 day of March, ‘instant, at ten. o’clock . before noon, to act on the following particular, viz. (iy Be choane a spaliernier; (2) to choose (Ft )choose. three, five, seve n Aine slab pero for conan ae Leland was required to render an account of what hay was cut and carried off the island last year.. At an adjourned meeting Ezra Young was chosen captain and Levi Higgin a lieutenant of the militia company. [Elisha Cousins, Amariah Leland and Silas Parker were chosen a committee to settle with Daniel Sullivan. Thus we see that the northern portion of Mount Desert was well represented at the organization of the plantation. Stephen Richardson, at whose house this first plantation meeting was held, lived at Somesville. The public business was carried on under the plantation organization until Feb. 2, 1789 when the House of Representatives of Massachu setts passed an act incorporating the Islands of Mount Desert, Cranberry Isles, Bartlett Island, Robertson Island and Beech Island, with the inhabitants thereof into a town by the name of Mount Desert; and authorized Gabriel Johannot, Esq., to issue his warrant to some principal inhabitant of said town, requiring him to notify the inhabitants therein to meet at such time and place as he should appoint, to choose such officers as towns are required to choose at their meetings in the month of March or April. This act passed the Senate Feb. 17, 1789 and was signed by the governor, John Hancock. By virtue of this act, Gabriel Johannot, Esq., issued his warrant, dated at Penob scot, March yo 17, 1789, to Abraham Somes, requiring him to notify a meeting of the inhabitants of said township at the dwelling house of said Somes on Monday, the 6th day of April, 1789, “to choose officers and to act on all such business as shall be necessary to be done.” Voters were required to take and subscribe to the Oath of Allegiance before acting in the town capacity. The Oath was as follows: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Lincoln is. In the thirteenth year of the indepen dence of the United States of America, we, the subscribers, severally, do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, tes tify and declare, that the Common wealth of Massachusetts is, and of right ought to be, a free, sovereign, and in dependent state; and we do swear that we will bear true faith and alle giance to the said Commonwealth; and that we will defend the same against traitorous conspiracies and all hostile attempts whatsoever, and that we renounce and abjure all allegiance, subjection and obedience to the king of Great Britain and every foreign power whatsoever; and that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state or potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction, superiority, pre-eminence, authority, dis pensing or other power, in any matter, civil, ecclesastical or spiritual within this Commonwealth, except the authority and power which is or may be vested their constitution in the Congress of the United States, and that we do further testify and declare, that no man or body of men, hath or can have any right to absolve or discharge us from the obliga tion of this oath, declaration or affirma tion and that we do make this acknow ledgement, profession, testimony and abjuration, heartily and truly, according to the common meaning and acceptation of the foregoing words, without any equivocation, mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever. So help us, God. This oath was signed by 107 voters, 33 of whom belonged in that part of the town that is now Eden. At this meeting the following named persons who lived on the northern part of the island, now Eden, were chosen to office as follows: Ezra Young, moderator; Levi Higgins and Ezra Young, selectmen; Cornelius Thompson, constable; Nicholas Thomas, surveyor of highways; Ezra Young and Elkanah Young, surveyors of boards; Israel Higgins and Jesse Higgins, deer reeves; John Thomas, culler of slaves; Levi Higgins, tything man; David Hamer, hog reeve; and Ezra Leland, fence viewer As the town was very large in extent of territory and for other obvious reasons its division was agitated soon after its organization but the first action taken thereon was April 6th, 1795, when a vote was passed to divide the town and the selectmen were instructed to draw a line where it should be divided and report to the town at a meeting to be held the next May. There is no record of any report but at a meeting May 6th, 1795, ‘the town voted “to accept the report of the selectmen to divide the town.” Feb. 22, 1796 the legislature of Massa chusetts passed an act dividing the Town of Mount Desert into two towns and incorporating the northern part of said town, bounded southerly by a line beginning at the point north of Goose Marsh Falls, so-called, on the western shore of the island of Mount Desert, thence running an easterly course to the top of the tide at the head of the Sound; and thence southeasterly a seraint course, to the top” of the title Otter Creek; it being the eastern boundery of ald tdwie with’ the tabaie ‘tants thereon, into a separate town by the, mame aia then on to the Town of Trenton. This act was approved by the governor, John W. Dana, June 27, 1849, since which time mo changes have been made in the boundaries of Eden. By virtue of the power vested in him by the act of incorporation, Paul Dudley Sargent, Esq., issued his warrant dated at Sullivan, March 18, 1796, to Ezra Young requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of Eden to assemble at the house of Capt. Samuel Hull (who lived at Hull’s Cove) on Monday, the 4th day of April, 1796, at ten o’clock in the forenoon to choose such officers as towns are by law required to choose at their annual meetings, and to transact such other business as might legally come before the meeting. Mr. Young issued his warrant dated March 26th, 1796, notifying the free holders and others, inhabitants of Eden, to meet at the time and place aforesaid to choose a moderator and clerk,and other town officers as the law directs, and also to give in their votes for governor, lieutenant governor, senator, register of deeds and county treasurer. This meeting was held as warned and the following business transacted: Ezra Young was chosen moderator; Thomas Paine, town clerk; Ezra Young, Levi Higgins and Samuel Hull, selectmen; David Hamor, treasurer; Israel Higgins, constable; Thomas Walgatt, Ebenezer Salisbury, David Hamor and Joseph Mayo, surveyors of highways; Ezra Young and Elisha Cousins, surveyors of boards; David Hamor, surveyor of shingles; Henry Knowles, surveyor of slaves; Daniel Richardson and Daniel Rodick, fence viewers; Elkanah Young, sealer of leather; Timothy Smalledge, culler of fish; Stephen Salisbury, hog reever; Joseph Mayo and Ebenezer Salisbury, pound keepers; Joseph Mayo and Solomon Higgins, field drivers; Ebenezer Salisbury and Moses Walgatt, tything men. (To be continued)
Newspaper Details
Bar Harbor Times
Bar Harbor, Maine, US
Sat, Apr 10, 1915
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Pete M.
USA 04 Jul 2026
Other Publications Near Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor Mount Desert Herald
Bar Harbor Record
Bar Harbor Times
