The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-12-29

twenty-five years preceding the Revolution,
eleven distinct settlements We're made by emigrants
from its limits all of which are now influential
and important towns. Not the least unworthy
scion from the parent stock is our own city.
JOIN MITCHELL, THE FOUNDER OF BELFAST.
Among the first settlers of Londonderry, was
one John Mitchell. He brought with him from
Ireland. son OF the same name, then five years
old. The latter became duly apprenticed to
housewright. and as late lIGS, calls himself Il
joiner. He was skilled III the higher branches of
mathematics, and soon acquired high reputation
asia practical surveyor. In 1863, while the pas
sage from Passamaquoday, where he had been
making surveys Under the direction of Governor
| Barnard, he visited Penobscot Bay, Impressed
with the natural advantages of our harbor, and
learning at Fort Pownall, that the land upon which
| 1t bordered was for sale, he communicated the in
formation to his neigbols. The result OF his state
ments, was the establishment Ola community OF
proprietary as it called, for the purchase of
the township, then only designated "a tract on
the southerlv side of a township granted to Col
| Goldthwait, at lenobscot Fort Mitchell was the
| largest owner, and Is generally regarded rs the
founder of the town, although vote of The other
prorrietors in 1863, gives thirteen dollars to john
| Gilmore for discovering the land. He was, how
ever, active in promoting the settlement, and filled
various stations of honor, after it became mcorpor
ated. During the Il :volution. he removed to New
Hampshire, and died at Chester. in that state. in
| 1901.
PROPRIETARY FORMED AT LONDONDERRY.
On the fourth day of October. l,GS, the propre-
tors, thlrtyive in number held their first regular
meeting, at the house of David Craig. innholder,
at Londonderry. 1t was then voted to divide the
tract, which contained by estimate fifteen thou
sand acres, into ty-two rights or shares. Persons
were not admitted as shareholders simply upon
request, but the circumstances and standing of
each applicant were duly conSllereu One of the
first acts which appears of record, is ''that bind
ourselves that no one shall own right amongst us
that is unable to produce certi of good moral
character to the satisfaction of the community, and
of the gentlemen of whom we purchase A con-
tract for the land having been concluded with the
heirs Of General Waldo, for fifteen hundred
pounds, being at the existing value of money,
equal to twenty cents acre, Joseph Chadwick
WAS employed to make the necessary survey. This
he commenced in the fall of 116S, but did not
pete until the following summer. There We're
then no roads in this section but four wears pre-
yiously path had been run from Fort Point TO
Georges River, and desi signated by spotted trees.
The original deed bears date, August Doth, 1863.
1t is engrossed on a sheet of parchment twenty
seven inches by twenty-five. The names and resi-
dences of the grantees are as follows: Moses
Barnet, John Brown, Mathew Chambers, William
Clendennin, John Durham. James Gilmore,
Joseph Greg Samuel Marsh, Nathaniel Martin,
James MeGregore. James Mc(iregore, Jr., William
Mclaughlin, James Miller John Mitchell. John
Moor. John Morrison. Joseph Morrison, Mathew
Reed, John Steele and Alexander Stewart. all of
Londonderry John Cochran and Alexander Little.
of Boston; John Davidson. John Gilmore Robert
MelNane. John Tufts and Alexander Wilson, all
OF Wndham, Il town that had been separated from
Londonderry, in l.42; David Hemphl OF New
Duryport; James Mclaughlin. of Pembroke, n. II.
and Robert Patterson and William Patterson, of
Pepperellborough. now Saco. Several Of the pro
prietors did not settle here, but transferred their
rights to their sons, or to other parties The rep
resentaves of the fiftv-two rights divided their
interest into as many first division or harhor lots,
containing about one hundred acres each and hav
ing shore frontage of forty rods. \ highway four
rods wide was reserved across each lot, to be laid
ont when thought advisable; and one two rods
wide, WAS reserved for the inhabitants OH the side
line of every fourth lot, Many of these side lines
still retained and pprrppt1itp trDn, thp
walls which distinguish them, especially on the
eastern side OF the river. The variation ot the
magnetic needle during century, has somewhat
intertercd with their original courses. An lsSign-
mcnt of the lots took place at I.ondonderfy on the
eighth Of March, 1869, by drawing lots. Com
menrins at Halfway Creek, which is now within
the limits of Scalsport, No. drawn by John
Mitchell. and procee!in= around the i'ar'or No
-, at the mouth of Little River, came to the share
of John Tufts. No. 26 now occupied by Ambrose
Srout, reserved for the first settled minister.
Numbels 81, 81, 36, b and -, upon which the
thickly settled portion Of the city is built. fell to
James Nickels, John Mitchell, John Durham,
Robert Miller and James Miller. The second,
third and fourth division lots not drawn until
after the Revolution. Preparations for settlement
were moi made until the execution of the deed,
about which some delay took place. 1t has been
said that Mitchell erected sawmlli ON the Wescott
stream, before a single inhabant arrived. 4 vote
of the propretors passed at Londonderry, Decem-
Der !6 1863, granted him forty nine acres of land
near the mouth of that stream. provitted he builds
Il saw-mill there by the first of September next"
Persons may have been here temporarily during
| 1863. But no evidence exists of any permanent
occupation until the following year.
TUE FIRST SETTLEMENT.
| In May. 1910, the first immigration ot the new
settlers took place. A party of thirty or more re-
moved their goods from Londonderry to IIayerhili.
Here a gondola tloated them down to Newhuryport
where they embarked. After long passage in a
crowded vessel they oylully hailed the evenings
close. which ended the weary week, in Il harbor
which they supposed was their destination. But it
proved to be in Northport, six miles below, and
the name of Saturday Cove" which it still retains,
was given by them. ON reaching Belfast. some OF
the pilgrims were so discouraged at the gloomy
prospect that they did not even step foot shore.
but returned in the vessel Others, however
not so easily distressed, cast down, or put i'll de-
spair. With hopeful heart, James Miller and
wife, two and daughter, first landed, at the
foot of the Frothngham lot. On the ledge, just
above the shore their log hut was erected. Covered
with hemlock bark, the root was not imperviolIs to
water During rain Storm the children would
find refuge under table, while their parents We're
sheltered in the stone chimney corner. For many
years, the descendants Of Miller used annually to
repair to the rock, where the first landing took
place and duly celebrate the event:
1.-THE most OF those belonging to Belfast, went
ashore before Morrison and myself for their land
laid westerly of ours" wrote John Davidson. who
was one of the pioneers, ana the father of the late
Henry Davidson. The lots of Davidson and Nor
! rson were at the eastward of Moose Point. Their
goods were hurried on shore, and by great exer-
tions carried above high-water mark before
dark. Morrison was fearful of he lndans-tl,a
they would Kill us before morning., continued Day
idson, $50 we went two miles to John BarEet's, and
remained over night. As Morrson's land adoined
mine. we concluded to build one camp for Us both
The first day we put up the walls, and ON the next
covered the roof with bark. Our principal work
during the season. TO cut cord wood, and clear
the land for future use. As had no oxen, | had
to get the wood down to the shore my back"
Morrison was drowned in December of that year.
While returning from Odom's MILL at Sandy Point.