The Portland daily press., 1883-01-23
Peaks Island and It's Early Names.

| Peaks Island and It's Early Names.
| The Island was originally covered with red
| and white oak, mixed with other hard wood,
the growth not very large being too much ex-
| posed. George Cleeves, John Winter and Rob-
ert Jordan, early settlers at Spurwink, claimed
ownership to nearly all that Joined them. Win
ter as agent of Trelawney and Goodyeare, built
q log house on the island and cleared off the
best of the growth for pipe slaves and continu-
ed constructive possession until 1857. Then
George Cleeves leased the island to Michael
Milton to be known as Michael island for six
ty years when there began to be contest as to
the ownership of the island. In those days the
value was not very large. Winter had skinned
1t of its most valuable growth, and being man
of too much sense to send good money by a
lawyer inventure for poor money gave up the
contest or rather abandoned the island.
Milton, I think, never lived on the island
but huit his first house after his marriage with
the daughter of George CIeeves, near the foot
of the present Park street in Portland then
known as the Point of Rocks.
After Millions death his widow in 1861 sold
her interest TO John Phillips Of Boston. He
gave it to his granddaughter, the wife of John
Palmer. George MuDjoy built stone house
on the island and erected fish house, fakes
and stages, and then it was known by some as
Munioy Island, and by others called Palmer's,
who occupied it.
Aug. H. 1876, the Indians made raid on
Falmouth, killed some of the inhabitants,
made csptives of others and the rest fed to
Munjoy's Island and Black Point. Among
those at Munioy's Island was George Bur-
ronghs, the minister, who escaped to Wells
where he preached for some time aud finally
was executed at Salem the pretence of
witchcraft Munjoy, previous to this time,
moved to Boston, having seen the stolm brew
ing, the Indians being taken captives slowed
upon the vessels and carried to Barbados
and sold into slavery under commissions is
sued by the Massachusetts government and
carried out by Richard Waldron OF New
Hampshire and John Hathorn of Salem and
others. We fad him there in 1874 stvled in
the assessors book as 'Lodger." Previous
to Sept. &c, 1915, the Indians destroyed the
stone house land seven persons in it," From
that time until the re-seJtlenent of the town
in 1718 it was abandoned. Still at several
times there were squatters on it, but on the
approach of danger they left. 1t was lonely
spot.
Neck and was settled as minister to the First
Parish. Soon aft ,r he began to buy up the
abandoned lands of the old pronrietors
and there arose litigation between him and the
new proprietorsf(so called) and he was nick
named "Peak Smith," by the contestants.
One of these suits was that of Thomas Smith
vs.. Benjamin Trott for land on the island.
Then or about that time it was called by some
Trott's Island and by Others Peaks Island in
derison of Parsop Smith.
Sergeant Trott was one of Capt Domicas
Jordan's company, brave soldier, and was in
command of portion of them for some time
scouting for Indians between the PresHmpscot
River and North Yarmouth and as far back in
the woods as the fort in New Boston Gray.
William Davis lived on the island at this time
and was the father of the first white child born
on the island Caleb POLAND and James Ten
nant were also inhabitants They attended
church at Mr.. Aliens at Cape Elizabeth not
having full faith in the practices under Mr..
until after the Revolution did the same. In
the time of the Revolution most if not all left
the island and lived at Cape Elizabeth.
At the time of the Incorporation of Portland
we find in addition to the description of the
Neck &c., with all the islands belonging to
| the First Parsh"-so indefinite at this day
that one will be hardly able to recognize which
| were the islands.
| In 1773 plan of the First, Second and Third
| Parishes was made in the interest Of the town.
| The islands are not included in that of the
| FIRST Parish In 1876 by order of the State
| plan of Portland was made and certified by the
selectmen and on that plan (f my memory is
| correct) they were not mentioned, is Peaks Is
| land within the city limits? If the citizens OF
| Peaks island should be Incorporated as a town
| l would suggest it take the name of Davis
| to perpetuate the name Of the first white
| child born in the town, or Nipauke, the Indian
name, which signifies Pond place or land.
/ which refers us to the pond which was ON
| the island in early days. s. T. M.