CHAP. XVI. Rev. E. Merrill missionary in 1813 & '14. --- North Parish

affairs for 1815 & '16, Rev. J. Weston. South Parish, Baker reclaimed,

revival, &c. 2d Thomaston Baptist church, p. 309.- Foreign Missionary

Society. A late snow storm. Celebration of Fourth of July. --- S. S.

Wilkinson. School tax increased, vote on town division, p. 311.-

Clothing mills and clothiers.--- Oakum. Wolves, p. 312. Toll bridge.
1816. Store on town-landing, J. Paine, p. 313. --- Business at Mill River.
Schs. Lavinia and Catharine. --- Dodge and Healey, Holland lace, tan-
ning, &c., G. Robinson. Vote on separation, Brunswick convention,
William M. Dawes, p. 314. --- Season, death of Godding. 1817. Deputy
collector's office and officers. Rev. J. H. Ingraham, 315. --- Silver Grey
Light Infantry. --- Pound. dram drinking in stores. Change in the sea-
sons. 1818. Dr. Kellogg, J. Ruggles, p. 316. --- Shipwreck of sloop Asa.
Closing notice of Elder Baker 317. 1819. Death of Drs. Cushing

and Dodge, p. 318.--- Gloyd, A. Rice, --- buildings, &c. --- Meetings changed

to April.---Charitable society, p. 319. --- Separation, delegates to Portland

Convention, and adoption of the Maine Constitution. 1820. First repre-

sentative under it. Brick meeting-house, p. 320. --- Methodist Society,

p. 321. 1821. Annual meeting, vote on workhouse. --- State election,

- licenses by town. --- - Price of lime put up. --- Rev. S. Fogg ordained, Mr.

Ingraham, &c., p. 322. 1822.
1822. Moral society. --- Death of D. Fales, p.

323. North Parish bell renewed, --- drought, &c. --- Prosperity, p. 324.

Smuggler Fox, p. 325.--- Regimental muster. Fourth of July,
ualties, O. Robbins, Jr., Esq., and O. Fales. Mr. Ingraham and revival.
Mrs. Swan's letters on Thomaston affairs, p. 326. 1823. G. Mellen,
&c. Changes in the Knox family, settlement of the estate, &c., p. 329.
-- More letters. Mellen's career, p. 334.

---

---

---

P.

cas-

CHAP. XVII. Remonstrance against division of County. --- Plan of

town. State Prison, p. 335. --- Parties, 4th July celebrations, p. 337. ·

Post Office, --- suit for missing money, p. 338. --- Alpha society, --- first car-

avan of wild animals, --- muster at Blackington's corner, p. 339. --- Light-

ning, drought, cook-stoves, &c., Lunar rainbow, business, p. 340. --

Steamboat line. Death of Dr. Bernard and Col. Coombs. Temperance

societies, p. 341. 1824. Weather, crops, &c., p. 343.-Business, sail-

making, pump and block making, watchmakers. --- George's Hotel, J.

Copeland, Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. Hyler, p. 344.· East Thomaston or Rock-

land Post Office, its history down. Fire companies, Alpha Society cele-

brate independence, p. 345. Visit of steamboat to the river.

and soldiers' rations. Mr. Ingraham's difficulties, council, &c..

ualties, p. 346.--- Death of Miss Paine, Mrs. Knox, &c., p. 347. 1825.

Thomaston Bank, p. 348.--- Thomaston Register, p. 349.- - Independent

Journal. School agents and books; Haynes, Cilley, Farley, Ludwig and

his students, p. 350. Merrill. St. John's celebration, Gen. Lafayette, p.

351.---4th of July at Wessaweskeag. --- Muster, Thomaston Guards, East

Thomaston rifle company, casualties, --- p. 352. --- Weather, dysentery,

crops, Milo and other vessels. Business, Owl's Head light-house and

keepers, p. 353.

Muster

Cas-

CHAP. XVIII. 1826. Green & Foster. rope walk-Elliott, Metcalf,

&c. --- Mill River bridge widened --- lottery tickets. end of North Parish,

Universalists, 1st Cong. church, p. 354 Sabbath schools --- weather, dis-

eases, casualties, p. 356 --- Cleland; Bartlett, his death and that of Sprague

and Jennison The 4th at Mill River. 1827. Increase of business, p.

357. East Thomaston, its first law office. --- mails, small-pox, p. 358.

- Insanity, --- attempt at change in lime inspecting. Mechanic's Asso-

ciation. Aid to Greeks, Mr. Cleland, p. 359.--- freshet, &c. 1828. Town-

landing, Albee, &c. --- - Schools, p 360. Knox house, Commercial house,

Stimpson's or Mason's Hall, statistical account of the place, p. 361.

Lime-kilns and wharves, first side-walks, ornamental trees. &c., p. 362.

Thomaston Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Post Office burnt.

Weather, p. 363. --- Casualties.
Casualties. 1829. Factory burnt. --- Fire company &

wardens. Temperance, p. 364. --- Marine disasters, weather, p. 365.-

Deer, fires, &c. Close of Col. Healey's business and decline of Mill

River. R. Elliott, sail-lofts, &c, p 366.

---

CHAP. XIX. 1830. Weather, loss of schs. Thomas, Fame, and Brad-

ford Census.--- Independence at East Thomaston, p. 367. 1831. Ste-

vens, Lowell; Cilley popular, Ruggles judge. --- Bridges rebuilt.. --- Rob.

inson and Singer, p. 368. Marble and business, Lime Rock Hotel, --

Weather and disasters --- 4th July at Mill River, p 369. 1832. Washing-

ton centennial birthday, debating clubs, &c. --- Thomaston Coal & Mineral

Company, p. 370. Weather, bridge, sea wall, Maintenance of poor, p.

371.--- Board of health --- Ruggles & Cilley parties, p. 372. The National

Republican, &c. 1833. Town-house, and place of meetings.

First Bap-

---

tist church in Rockland, p. 374. --- Lawyers, Abbots and Smith, p. 375.--

Store burnt, first reservoir, Severe winter, lightning. Mill River
bridge, 1834. George's Insurance Company, p. 376. 2d Light Infantry.
Chandler, Rockland Congregational Church, p. 377. --- Christian Tel-

escope, p. 378. --- Rockland Universalist Church, &c. 1835. p. 379. -- Se-

vere weather. - Superintending School Committee's report published. ---

Representatives, C. Pope, p. 380. --- Fair. Knowles's house burnt. 1836.

Poor-house built. -- Upper toll-bridge,-- Lime Rock Bank, p. 381. -- Limits

of militia companies. Cilley to Congress, sketch of him, p. 382.

p.

p. 399.

---

CHAP. XX. 1837. First Baptist church in West Thomaston. --- East

Thomaston Marble and Lime Rock Quarry Company, p. 384.--- Owl's

Head House and steamboat. The Recorder. -- Surplus U. S. revenue.

Fugitive slave, p. 385. Death of A. Austin. 1838. Hon. John Holmes,

p. 386.

Thomaston Theological Institution, p. 387.--- Night watches.

East Thomaston prosperity. --- Agricultural bounties. --- Thomaston Dry

Dock. Disaster at sea. --- Death of Cilley, and consequent proceedings,

p. 388.

E. Robinson, his successor, p. 394. - Death of Farley, p. 395.

CHAP. XXI. 1839 The East Thomaston Republican. --- Aroostook
war. Independence. --- Lime inspection project. --- O. R. bridge and sea
wall rebuilt, &c., p. 396. Beacon.--- Accidents at South and East Thom-
aston, small pox, weather. --- Road indicted, 4th of July, political excite
ment, p. 397.
Comet, lightning, &c. --- Deaths of B. Vose and H. Prince,
398. 1841. No licenses voted, temperance celebrations -- Bible Society,
West Thomaston Universalist church, East Thomaston high
Muster. ---Lightning,

school, J. Fogg, p. 400.---Young ladies' school.

fire in the State Prison, death of S. Partridge, p. 401. Drought, &c.,

Temperance celebrations at East Thomaston, J. Madigan, &c. --- Frigate

Missouri's visit. - Gales, p. 402. 1843. Deep snows, shipwrecks, &c.

Death of H. Prince, jr., and J. Holmes, p. 403.--- Houses burnt. ---

grip. --- Recording births, Clerk's bill. ---Thomaston Village Library As-

sociation. --- Independence, p. 404.--- Donation parties. --- Georgian, Kelief,

and Eastern Star Lodges of I. O. of 0. F.-- Town by-laws. 1844. High-

ways, dog-tax, &c., p. 405. Cold weather, drought, whale. --- Shipbuild-

ing. --- Thomaston Academy, p. 406. --- 4th of July. --- Houses burnt, brig

Maine, &c., p. 407. 1845. Business flourishing, lime statistics. South

Thomaston Post Office and masters. --- Death of S. Fales, p 408. Cas-

ualties, and fires. --- Choice of Representatives. Temperance Union, and

Club, p. 409. Sons of Temperance, Lime Rock, Kedron, Hyperion, and

Wadsworth divisions. 1846. Daughters of Temperance, &c South

Thomaston business, dam, and mills, p. 410.-- Mill River navigation,

side-walks, trees, Georges Canal, &c. --- Rockland Gazette, p. 411.--

Steamers, and coasters. --- Lime Rock Fire and Marine Insurance compa

ny. Mariners, Shibles, &c., p. 412. Lime and cask inspection.

Weather, peaches, and drought.--- Fire at East Thomaston, Resolution

and Boston fire engines and companies, p. 413.--- Disasters, small-pox.

1847. Registry of Deeds, p. 414. East Thomaston Highways, Holmes

Block, Eagle Hall, steam power and iron foundry. Toll bridge, and

other casualties, p. 415. 1848. Division of Old Thomaston, p. 416.

CHAP. XXII. Thomaston, changes of boundary between it and East
Thomaston.· William Butler, I. C. Robbins.-Catholic church. ·Poor
house and farm.- Telegraph office, &c., p. 418. --E. O'Brien and A. P.
Gould, p. 419. Jordan & Webb block. -- Iron foundry. 1849. Post Of-

---

fice at Bank Corner.-Ten-hour system. - Unitarian_church, Rev. O. J.

Fernald, &c., p. 420. -Store burnt, p. 422. 1850. Lincoln Miscellany,

Maine Sickle.--Deaths by drowning. Fires, p. 423 1851. Fire and

Marine Insurance company. Steamer T. F. Secor- Grade system in

schools, p. 424. Block for Washington monument
Weather and cas-

ualties. 1852. George's Bank, &c., p. 425 --- New streets, dwellings, ship-

yards, relics, lyceum and lectures, p. 426. Fire, death of shipmasters,

&c. 1853. Increase of business, shipbuilding, new streets through Knox

place, &c.
Steam mill, decrease of lime-burning, p. 427.--- Aid to New

Orleans --- Maine law movement Lock-up built --- Lightning in snow-

storm, comet, accidents, p. 428. --- Suicide. 1854 Lyceum --- The Thom-

aston Journal and Lincoln Advertiser --- Business, shipbuilding, .steam

navigation company, and boat Gen. Knox, p. 429.- State of Maine and

Eureka Fire companies, &c. 4th of July, p. 430.--- Drought, fires, Wal-

doboro' aid --- Plums and black knot. Singular surgical case, p. 431.

1855. Gathering at the Prison. --- Lectures, Know-Nothings. Barbers.
New road to Rockland, p. 432. --- Buildings, --- New Shipyard, division

of Knox estate, p. 433.--- Knox remains, and correspondence, p. 434.

1856. Mill River channel, &c. --- Lincoln Republican, p. 436. --- Lectures,

Lincoln county fair. Casualties. 1857. p. 437.---May-day, prices,

financial panic. --- Union block, telegraph block. - - Pearls, deaths of E. &

R. Robinson, p. 438.--- Teacher's convention, fireman's parade, lyceum,

literary association and libraries, - winter of tempests, wild cat. 1858.

Shipbuilding depressed, p. 439. Old burying ground and Elm Grove

cemetery. Methodist church and society, p. 440. --- Accidents, fire, gale,

Donati's comet 1859. Project of new county, p. 442. -- County of Knox.

-- Natural History society. -- Storms, casualties, fires, &c. 1860. Visit

of Gangooly, scientific excursion, p. 443. --- Industry of the place, &c., p.

444. The rebellion and its effects on the shipping of the place. Lieut.

Gilman, p. 445. Patriotic movements here in Spring of 1861, p. 446.

Volunteers in 4th Me. Regiment, p. 447.-- Cilley's company in 1st Me.

Cavalry, p. 448. -- Volunteers in 2d Mounted Battery, -- in 20th Me. regi-

ment, p. 449,-- in 21st Me. regiment, p. 450. -- doings at other calls of the

President, -- volunteers in other corps, -- and in the navy, p. 452,-- gun-

boat Kennebec. -- Ladies' aid, p. 453.- United States taxes, p. 454.

CHAP. XXIII. South Thomaston incorporated and organized. -- Peti-

tions for changes, &c 1st Baptist church & death of Elder Snow, p. 455.

-R. R. company, p. 456. -- Road from Eastman's to Bartlett's. House

burnt. Vegetation. 1849 Votes on Constitutional changes, the political

year. -- Accident. 1850. Weskeag Bank projected, shipbuilding, masters

and ships, California emigration, p. 457. -- New roads, storms, losses by

death, p. 458. 1851, a quiet year. Hearse and house. -- Schools, &c.

1852. Owl's Head breakwater. -- Death of the town's first-born child. p.

459. 1853. Accident. -- Ingrahamville. 1854. Owl's Head Post Office.

Ship-building, mills, sail-loft, cigar-making, &c. 1855. Business at

Wessaweskeag and Owl's Head. -- Bridge widened, p. 460.-- 2d Baptist

church. -- House burnt. 1856. Other fires, store, post-office, barn, and

dwelling destroyed, p. 461. -- Severities of the winter. 1857. Weather,

and losses by storms and fire. -- Free lectures. 1858.
Free lectures. 1858 Vote on the Maine

liquor law, p. 462. -- Depression of shipbuilding. 1859-60. Methodist and

other denominations. -- Industry of the place, p. 463. -- physicians, lawyers,

taverns. -- Patriotic rally and efforts, 464. -- Volunteers in the 4th and 2d

Maine regiments, 2d Battery and 1st Cavalry, p. 465. -- Bounties, and vol-

unteers in 19th and other regiments. -- Co. G. of 28th regiment, p. 466. ·

Draft of 1863. -- Volunteers in other regiments and the navy. -- Taxes, &c.,

p. 467.-- Close of Volume 1st., p. 468.

HISTORY

OF

THOMASTON, ROCKLAND AND SO. THOMASTON.

CHAPTER I.

SITUATION, TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.

樂

THE territory to whose history the present work is particularly devoted, constituting the original town of Thomaston, from which South Thomaston and Rockland have since been separated, is most advantageously situated between the western entrance of Penobscot Bay on the east and St. George's River on the west, in the county of Knox, and State of Maine. It lies, according to the observation of Dr. C. T. Jackson, made in 1838 at the house of Hon. J. Ruggles, in 43° 56′ 12′′ North latitude, and according to Capt. G. Prince,* nearly in 69° 2' West longitude; containing about 20,950 acres of various but generally fertile soil. Its surface is agreeably diversified; in some parts, gently undulating; in others, hilly and mountainous; and in yet others, especially in South Thomaston, broken and rocky, exhibiting strong marks of the ancient and long continued warfare, during the geologic ages, between land and water, cliff and billow, internal heat and external glacier. Approached from the ocean, the first object which attracts attention is Owl's Head† in

*This gentleman makes the latitude to be 44 deg. 5 min 45 sec. at the residence of C. Prince, Esq, whilst Sullivan, in his Topographical description of Thomaston, 1794, puts it down as 44 deg. 20 min., and Holland, as 44 deg. 8 min.

This name, so descriptive of the object, is said, by a writer in the Belfast Republican Journal of Dec. 16, 1853, to have been first given by Thos. Pownal, who was governor of the Province from 1757 to 1760; but this could hardly be. as the name had obtained currency early in 1757 and is mentioned that year in the journals of Capts. Freeman and Remilly, as will appear under that date. By others it is asserted that the name is of Indian origin, and expressed in their language by a perfectly synonymous word, Mecadacut.

South Thomaston· a bluff point of trap rock extending far into the water, with its commodious Owl's Head Harbor on the south, and its more spacious Owl's Head Bay, which makes up to and forms the harbor of Rockland on the north. This headland, which at the place where the light-house stands rises to the height of 81 feet, 10 inches, has been, from the earliest discoveries, a noted land-mark for seamen, as it had been, before, to the Indians. Its excellent harbor is a common refuge in storms for vessels both from the Penobscot waters and the more eastern shores; some hundreds of which frequently take shelter here, and their passing sails in fair weather are often too numerous for the light-keeper to enumerate and record. The passage through, however, from Owl's Head to White Head, is a dangerous one to strangers, on account of sunken ledges.

Owl's Head Bay or Rockland Harbor is capacious, deep, and sufficiently safe from storms except those from the east, from which it might easily be defended by an artificial breakwater. This harbor with its shore-built city, canopied by day with the terebinthine smoke and illuminated by night with the brilliant fires of its innumerable lime-kilns, presents a pleasing appearance from the water; and, seen from the oak-crowned heights in its rear, is full of magnificence and beauty, said, by some, to be second only to the far-famed bay of Naples. On the right of the beholder in the latter situation, stretches a wooded promontory abruptly ending in Owl's Head, with its light-house tower,

"White as the angel wing of hope,

Firm as the rock from which it springs

in front, and terminating the distant view over the bay, rises a line of picturesque islands; and to the left, stretching calmly and fearlessly out into the ocean, is the verdant peninsula of Jameson's Point; whilst still farther to the north the view is closed by the bald and rugged brow of old Megunticook in Camden.

Approached by the river of St. George's, as was done by the first discoverers and by all who visited the territory for many generations afterwards, the land directly in front of the beholder appears sitting gracefully upon the waters, slowly rising and crowned with the majestic Madambettox to welcome his approach. Here, in an elevated but comparatively level situation, with its fine air, elegant houses and churches, and its abundance of shade trees, fronted by the mansion of the late Gen. Knox conspicuous ever even in its decay, stands