Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-01-30
r the Ellsworth American
A Histor setch of Iroubouud Island.

BN SAMUEL " CtrtNFs.
George Chilcott born Nov %. 1856,
was reared on farm with his father and
mother in the west Of England, When
about eighteen or twenty years old he en-
listed a. soldier In the army and was sent
out to some of the British West India Ia
lands zone OF the Bermuda Islands prob
ably Daring the American revolution
they received orders to join the British
forces in Connecticut, who With others.
were then fighting TO put down What they
called rebellion against Hing George, the
Third However in due time victory
perched upon the banner, Of our beloved
country George Chilcott now made up
III mind TO leave the army, choosing ra,h-
er TO risk his chance in the wlds Of Amer
ica for living, tnan to continue any long
er in the British army
He commenced his wanderings IN
north-asterly direction. came into the dis
trct Of Maine, and finally arrived at Crorn-
wells Harbor, Mt. Desert. where he found
ready employ with Mr. Wa-gatt with
whom be worked OH the farm for quite q
length Of time
4 number Of years previous to this,
Young lady from ki,;ery. Me, whose name
VA Elizabeth Alien, came to Gouldsboro,
Me. where She became the wife Of Mr..
Bunker To them were born six children.
three sons and three daughters namely
Isaac, Mark Philip, Polly. Hannah, and
one who married Mr Everett. Mr. Bun
ncr died and his widow married a Mr
Clemens and they had one son named
James. At The time that George Chi.cou
came to Cromwell's Harbor Mrs. Clemens
time they formed an acquaintance, and
some time about the year l7-6 or they
were married, aud 70 them were born t"o
sons, George and John. George was born
in l-os and John about 1890.
Mr. Chilcott now began to think that it
was ABOUT time for him To strike out for Il
fam. Accordingly he visited Ironbound
Island in Frrnchman's Bay, which WAS
.
covered with old-growth wood, such as
/ yellow and gray birch, beech and rock ma
pie, : ruce and FIR, and some htmlock :;
aud he concluded that land supporting
such heavy growth Of wood was strong
land and would make a good farm, and
IN this respect he was not dlsappoint-
ed He was full of resolution and pluck,
snd liked hard work. and was just the man
for the situation.
He looked over the premises and having
selected the west end of the island 10 make
a farm, he cleared spot, built a log house,
and about the year Of 1870 he moved his
family into it, aud thereby becoming, l
suppos the first actual settler on Iron
/ bound Island He commenced burning
ana clearing land and to plant and SOW
and drill in row, and hope from heaven q
blessing" and the land produced ahund-
antly. He soon began TO raise stock, and
enough to i've them. He had an excellent
wife to help hlm in his enterprise. BY in
dustry, honesty and economy they enjoyed
prosperity.
In the summer of 1906 the writer Of this,
from Steuben, (then about two and one
half years old was landed on lronbound
Island in Frenchmans Bay. in charge Of
his foster mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Chilcott.
At that time they had built new house,
also barn 35x45 feet square, had cleared
off some twenty five or thirty acres OF
land, and cut about twenty tons Of hay
they had yoke Of oxen, two or three cows
and lot of young stock and quite flock
Of sheep. They raised potatoes, wheat
barley, oats, rye and garden vegetables
enough to supply all their needs. A year
or two previous to this they had the mis-
fortune to lose their youngest son, John,
then about fourteen or fifteen years old
and as far as known he was the first white
man buried on Ironbound Island.
Somew here about the year of 1903 OF
1904, Philip Bunker above mentioned was
married. cleared off two or three acres OF
land on the east end of Ironbound, built a
log house, and had been living few years
there, when Barnabas Young of Eden, Me.
visited the island, bought Philips claim
and betterments, and about the year OF
1908 moved his family there, consisting OF
his wife and four children. two sons aDd
two daughters; both families lived in the
log house for awhile until Philip got site
somewhere else. Mr.. Young soon got
him a good farm underway, and in due
time built new house. and also barn
reared large family of children and spent
the remainder of his days on the island
During the year above mentioned George
Anderson from Eden, came on and com
menced to make him home in the middle
of the island, but he did not stay there but
a few years James Beverly afterward.
lived on the same lot for awhile and he
moved of. Sometime during the year 1911
or 1912, William Leland from Kennebec
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