Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-10-21
fnF thv EllsN urth American
Reeds Pond.


have been requested by several friends,
some of whom have lately purchased land
bordering on the bank. Of Reed. Pond 10
give some traditional incident. or remini.-
oenees Of The pond. The origin Of the name.
of The beautiful green island. that deck
ana add 10 It, beauty. Ny father moved
70 th, ouile, Of TIN. pond in ISL |
vas a, the time ten y.srs Of age there
vtre only seven families living at what !.
nov called Reeds Brook when nv parent.
moved there. and the oni, intercourse for
carving goods. with Ells~orth village. or
sny place. vas by boats on Union river
There was a FOO, path on the western side OF
the river where per-ons travelled occasion
ally, and some time. with horses. Nv
father built the first mill and dam s, the
outlet Of the pond The same wear he
moved there. At that time the pond va,
surrounded, a. far as the eve could extend.
b, Wild forest, even the banks 10 the
~stcr were covered with a splendid growth
Of pine. spruce. maple. ash, oak and other
noble forest trees.
Reeds Pond is about eight miles long,
including whs, is called the upper pond /;
the two parts are connected BY narrows
about two miles long and half mile wide
where 1t leaves the main pond. and not
more than twenty rods at the entrance OF
the upper pond. The main pond is from
three TO four miles wide There are, per-
haps, bu, few ponds, il any, in eastern
Maine, where The water is so pure as il is
IN Reeds Pond. | will give the names Of
some of the islands and the origin Of their
names. In former article published in the
AMERICAN, gave the Indian name of this
pond, viz; Marlassic. also the origin of the
present name, Reeds Pond. The island on
the south side. near the mouth of Boggy
Brook, known as Cow island, derived its
name from COW, stolen by two men and
carried TO this island. Mr.. George Brimmer
living near the place where Brimmer' S
bridge now is, missed one fall young
COW. After considerable hunting he
found her tracks in path that led to a
place on the pond called Maddox's sand
beach; there he found that the COW had
been butchered and carried away in a canoe.
Two men were known to be making shingles
on this island, and they were suspected, as
they had been caught several times in spirit
ing away sheep. Mr.. B. with two other
men wen, TO the island, where they found
the hide, head and horns of the COW. The
shingle-makers confessed the crime and
settled with Mr.. b. without being prosecu-
ted. The island ever after was called Cow
island well recollect what Mr.. b. said TO
my father soon after: Poor devils, they
looked so poor and were SO humble, lie,
them of easy
Black Island on the north side of the
pond derived its name from negro called
Black Jo shall have to digress little
and introduce Black Jo, as he became quite
a noted character with the early settlers.
He came to Ellsworth from Demerara, in a
vessel owned by Benjamin Joy and Benjamin
Miliken. Black Jo was found several days
after the vessel left the port slowed away
in the hold. 1t was supposed the COM
mander, Capt. Smith, knew he was on board
as be was short of seamen, two Of his men
having died in Demerara. Mr.. Joy me,
the vessel in Boston, where she was dis
charged Of her cargo. Capt. Smith gave
10 (as now shall call him) good charact-
er for honesty and industry, and advised him
to 60 with Mr.. Joy to Ellsworth, (which he
dld) as he dared not take him in his vessel
as she was loading for another voyage to
Demerara. 10 came TO Ellsworth with Mr.
| Joy and remained with him most all the
time for thirty years, until his death. Jo
became very much attached to Mr.. Joy and
his family. Several attempts were made to
coax him away from Joys, but they always
failed; he was very faithful and looked up.
on the Joy house as his home. 10 was Z
giant in size and strength; be could lift and
carry as much as two common men. ! Will
give an encounter be had with bear about
year after he came to Ellsworth. Mr.
Joy sent 10 to put bell on one of his oxen
which had been left of when the oxen wer,
put into the pasture. 10 took the bell and
went to find the oxen; the pasture va,
large and circled round . low, swamp,
piece of ground. with thick growth Of
small trees. A foot path led through j,
that shortened the distance to the uppe,
part of the pasture. 10 went this way and
when abou, half way through the swamp b.
came suddenly upon bear. lying on the
ground with two cubs. She arose upon bel
feet and sprsng at him. The bell which Je
had vas made Of steel and weighed Eve Of
six pounds, to which vas fastened . strong
leather strap and proved IN exceedingly
good weapon in the strong hands Of Je. fos