The Republican journal., 1877-07-12

Londonderry, was John Mitchell, who
had a young son also named John. 1t
was this son who sought out a new Local
ton at Belfast.
On his passage from Boston to Schoodic during
the summer of 1863, Mitchell visited Penobscot
Bay. and first looked upon the place where our
city now stands. then wilderness. the primcval
forest, which no civilized person had ever pcne-
traed, fringng the shores, and extending as far as
the eye could reach. a century of civilization
greatly changed the prominent features of the
landscape, The heights Of Bluehill and of Mount
Desert still lift their dim outlines in the east and
the waves OF the bay still glitter in the sunbeams
but field and orchard wharf and shipyard have
crowded OFT the forests. and busy trade has en-
cToached upon the curving lines of the once lonely
shores. 1t can we'll be imagined how forcibly the
varied scenery of the locality, and also its natural
resources, may have impressed the mind of so in
telhgent and discriminating man as Mitchell.
Learning at Fort Pownall that the land which
bordered upon our harbor was for sale, he com
municated the information to his friends in Lon
donderry. The result the formation of Il
community or proprietary as it was called,
Tor the purchase OF the township, then designated
only as "a tract on the southerly side of town
snip granted to Colonel Goldthwait.'
Among these men were the Pattersons.
the Alillers, the Cochranes, the HoustOns,
the Durhams, the Gilnores, the Browns
and others, progenitors of the present in
habitants Of those names Fifty pages
are by the author devoted to sketches OF
the proprietors. descriptions of the lands,
&c, including dispute with Gen. Knox
concerning 2OOO acres which the settlers
claimed, and which the General did not
think belonged to them. The dispute
waNed warm. and propositions for arbi-
tration were being discussed when the
Generals sudden death occurred. A leg
islative enactment afterwards gave the
settlers what they claimed.
The first building erected in he new
settlement was a saw-mill, by Mitchell,
on the Wescott stream, in 1863. James
Millel's first residence was a log house
between the rockingham house and The
shore, and the other settlers were at first
similarly lodged.
The first settlers were OF course. strangers to
the luXures of living For several years they de
pended for the means Of subsistence almost ex-
clusively upon their crops, and upon fishing aud
hunting. The rich newly burnt land produced a
plentiful supply OF cereals and potatoes Moose.
deer and even bears were abundant and the river
furnished salmon, Shad and alewiycS Groceries
could not be obtained nearer than truck house at
Fort Pownal Barley broth and slInp, the latter
composed of corn broken in mortar boiled, aud
eaten with milk, was favorte articles of food All
their clothing was home made: the wool being
carded, spun, and woven by themselves. The first
carding machine used on the Penobscot at
Bucksport, after the Revolution Several of the
proprietors were practical weavers: and linen pre-
pared from the flax raised here took the place of
cotton cloth They also made tow cloth as it was
summer In winter. the usual dress was rocking.
Llaue o. WOOL oie ana wnlte striped; Boots Were
shoes, with knit leggings. Bear skins frequently
were used instead OF blankets. All the cooking
and warming were done by the and OF fire on the
brlck hearth, or III the Dick oven. Pine knots or
tallow candies furnished the light Tor long winter
nights, and fire was klndled by flint and steel.
The Under box was an important feature III every
household There were no carpets, sofas, or mat
tresSes. Feather beds and pillows were Injuries
regarded as helfloomS. the subject OF requests by
VIII. Crockely, glass, ana TIN ware had not come
INTO general use \ rev pieces q china were re-
served Tor particular occasions Dut culinary and
eating vessels were OF non. wood and pewter.
PEWTER platters and bowls glstened III Il row on
the dresser OF every kitchen or llving-room The
houses had no pant. and several were without
containing few small diamond shaped panes of
slss ' M; Mno I were nes'royeu CURING 1he hFs'
tempt for shelter He substituted a thin sheep
All the or nbabtonts IF Re 2u we're IN ny com
Portable peeuniary circumstances. Their lands
from the demands of morteaarcs or td verse Claims
Yet glance at the inventories Of the estates of
ted were their domestic nonvcninncns and manner
of life.
The DeODle of Belfast Were, nv their
.
less lortullate lelgnpoIS considered 10 DC
wealthy The author SAWS
Benjamin Nesmith who was one OF the largest
tax PAYERS by his will dated July g. 1899 be
aueathed specifically to his wife .,one feather bed
bedstead and bedding also all the pewter and
pots" To his daughter Mary he beqtIeathcd
one feather bed bedstead and bedding one
square tape, enc eatable' one good char, one
kettle. tireshovel and tongs. one good milch
cow fw" sheep one r ease ct knITes ana forks ana
to be laid out to her TO buy silk gown and trim
l' Nv, ,' h ;1 n" r o 'n snu ustI
merates a SINGLE Garnet mirror clock hool, ni.
tnrr ar article of ornament ar luv,i,- ayn.,,tin,
81 LAST mod
This was at q time when in one of the
interior towns a man was called very rich
who could afford to have pork with his
beans every dav i'm the wear
III Is q curious TACT That the location OF
thn Insiness nnrtion of tbo ,,l,,e ,voo ,
" -
matter OF great difference of opinion with
tho cottlare
'iiN
Mitchell supposed that the principal settlement
would be on the eastern side of the harhor: and
although he owned lot No. 81. which now includes
portion Of the popnlons part OF the city, he Sc
lected AS his residence the beautiful and com
ons ESar He s o 'e KILL . e .e n"'n 81
be on the east side. NO, was the reply, lit will
sustained. The stone foundations of of his house
were visible until 1850 when Hiram Z. Pierce
T., +ho.o 1o., ,.,,...
nome toll