The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-17
House Island.

The first adventures on the coast OF Maine
settled on the islands along the shore, not only
because they were convenient for the drying Of
their fish but for the safety. On the mainland,
and those islands which were connected with
the main land by the ice in the winter, the
wild beasts were troublesome and destroyed
their fakes and fish, Such was one of the con-
siderations that led to the early settlement of
House Island, and another was that it was in
central position where the trading yes
sells fitted up in Europe with goods of all kinda
visited the coast for trade, exchanging their
goods for fish and furs with the fishermen. For
many years this island was the storage point Of
the fishermen and when the traders arrived mo-
tice was given to the fishermen and they re-
ceiyed their supplies. No data is known when
the first trade commenced. 1t might have been
years before Cleaves & Tucker began at Spur
wink.
Joseph Phippin, sailor Of Boston, came to
Casco ON or before 1850. He built fish stages
for drying fish ON House Island and carried on
the fishing business at that place. He owned
boat and engaged in shore fishing and cured
his own fish. He was the first authentic resi-
dent Of the island that we learn of, and most
likely he soon removed to the ferry at Cape
Elizabeth, where he bought 100 acres, Sept
Both. 1850, which comprises the land upon
which that village now stands, but there must
have been previous settler, az in 1868 Samp-
son Penley levied an execution against Pbir-
pen upon one-quarter of the islands, half Of the
old house, and all OF the new house, together
with half of the stages. In March next he sold
l. IL s~x
1861, Nicholas White Of Caseo Bay, painter,
sold to John Breme for 60, three shiIlings, bis
interest in House Island, being one-quarter
part, with one-quarter of the house, reserging
liberty for Sampson PerIey to make fish on
said island during his life, and have the refusal
| OF purchase if Breme should sell; also find
conveyance made Nov. 10, 1868, Of one-quarter
| part Of House island, also one-quarter OF the
house standing thereon by VIM. Noreman,
| fisherman. Reference to the old house in the
| levy Of the execution leads me to think that
when Pbippen took possession there hsd been
another occupant and the conveyance of one
| fourth part each, lead me to think they inner
| tied it. Nicholas White was a settler on Cape
| Elizabeth, John Breme fisherman, and wit
| messed a deed OF a mile square OF land at Sac
| carappa by an Indian Sycamore TO George
Munjoy in 1866.
VIM. Noreman was an EDglishman and had
been brought before the court charged with
| having two wives, and ordered to leave the
| country. That order looked well on paper, but
| they could not afford TO lose an inhabitant, so
| he came to Casco Bay.
Mr.. Munioy continued the fishing business
| in more extensive manner until 1914, when
| he left suddenly for Boston not caring to try
| titles to his possessions with the Indians. In
1878 the Indians had possession and those OF
the whites that had not left or escaped were
| killed. Mr.. Kimball relates discovering a
| burying ground. At this late day we have no
| means OF learning to whom this belonged No
| mention of 1t is known to have been made by
| the whites, who were In the vicinity from 1924
| until 1915. 1t might have been the yard used
| by the fishermen, or it might have been the
| place used by the Indians TO bury their dead,
| which was the result OF the battle that kCapt
| Church had at Simonton Cove, which is near
| ly opposite, In which be claims victory, but
| was in such hurry to embark his troops that
| his dead laid unburied for more than a year.
| The Indians previous to the advent Of the
| whites were very imperfectly supplied with
| tools to dig many graves for their dead, and in
many cases they placed them In swamps when
| their rude implements would do the work A.
| live hunter, or warrior was of use to the tribe
| but a dead one they wisely concluded was Of no
use and therefore we do not find many Of their
| remains. In the earlier day of the first SETTLE
| ment there was no saw mill and consequently
no boards to make collins, and this may ac-
| count for there being no collins to protect the
! bodies from immediate contact with the earth,
30 other means were had. The depresslons
over the bodies indicate later date OF the bur
isl than back to the time OF the occupancy OF
tne Indians. These depressions by the action
| OF inc past COLLECTIONS of DEBRIS, the accnmula-
ton OF leaves, &C., would have naturally filed
up ana the ground would have been level, If
the remains dated back early.
S. P. MAYBERRY.