Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-10-01

REV. o. II. FERNALD, d. u.

/ REV. o. II. FERNALD, d. u.
4hr. Editor:-I a former paper gave
your readers an outline history Of the
Millikens of Mt. Desert, with a tradition
ary origin as penned by the hand of Capt.
Isaiah Ober late of Sedgwick, whose
mother was of that branch of the family.
In this article | would call your atten-
ton to the early history of the family as
taken from The Collections of the Maine
Historical Society" vol g.
In the early part of the seventeenth
century, two brothers. Andrew and Arthur
Alger, wishing 10 own their homes and
leave competence to their children, emf
grated from Dunsten, Eng, settling at
| first on Strattons Island, west of Port
land, but about 1861, they bought large
tract of land of the Indians residing near
them, and retained their possession of it
| by virtue of this title. There were living
on the land friendly Sycamore. his
squaw. son and daughter, all of whom
are mentioned in the deed of transfer.
!
! from the records word for word:
"l9th September, 1859. The declaration
| OF Jane the lndean of Scarborough con-
| cering lands. This aforesaid Jane alias
| Uphannum doth declare that her mother
namely Nagaasqua the wife of Waekwarr-
| awaskee Sycamore, and her brother name
| ly Cgagoguskitt and herselfe namely l-ph-
| annum Coequaly hath sould unto Andrew
/ fn brAt Ar,b
| Tract of Land beginning att the mouth of
We river called blue Poynt River, where
| the river doth part, and soc bounded along
| with the River Oawasscoage In Indean
and soc up three score poole above the
| falls. on the one side. and on the other
| side bounded up along with the northern
most River that Dreaneth by the great hill
| of Abram Jocelyns and goeth northyard
| bounding from the head vt River South
| West and to the aforesaid bounds
namely three sCoore pooles above the
Falls
This aforesaid Uphannum doth declare
that her mother and brother and shee hath
already III her hand received full salts.
faction of the aforesaid Algers for the
| atoresd the Land from the beginning of
the world to this day, provided on condi.
tlons that for time to come from yeare to
yeare yearly, the aforesd Algers shall
peaceably suffer Uphannum To plant in
Andrew Ayers field soc long a. Uphann
aud her mother Neguasqua doe both live.
and alsoe one bushl: of corn for ackuow-
ed@ement: every year so long as they
both shall live, tphann dothe declare
that We bargain was made in the yeare
1901 unto which shee dothe subscribe,
the mark of Uphannum " X
In 1874 the indean Jane" made sec
ond acknowledgement of this sale which
i thus Recorded Note vt this sayle of
ve Land Recorded in pa III written ex-
pre- ~sed, sold to Andrew and Arthur Alger
hy these lndtans, was sold to We said
Ayers them yr htyrs, executors admin
lstrators and assigns forever a. is owned
by Uphann: Alias Jane this p of May
1874, in presence of
WILLIAM PHILLIPS
SETH FLETCHER"
The Algers gave their tract of land the
name of DnRSteH in remembrance of their
native town in the county of Somerset
shire, England. This name became cor
rupted to ''Dunstou" and finally to "Duns-
tan" A part OF The territory retains the
name to this day. The land was very pro-
ductive and the proprietors soon became
large farmers.
strange fatality attended this ener-
getic and enterprislng family. Andrew
and Arthur were killed by the Indians, the
latter Of whom was childless.
Andrew, however had three sons, of
whom Andrew, Jr., was killed by the
Indians Sept 2l, 1859 and Matthew died
,f -,
Ager the third and only remaining son,
married Mary Wilmot, by whom he had
two children, John, .Ir., and Elizabeth
This daughter, Elizabeth, afterwards be-
came the wife Of John Milhken of Boston
At the death OF her father, John Alger,
Mrs. Mlllken came into possession of
large part Of the Alger estate
In l7l9. Mr. Milliken moved to Scar
claim
Mr.. Mlliken became at once an ex-
tensive and thriving farmer. From a let
ter written by him in l74G, he saws II
have cleared great deal of land have
made several miles of fence this year
have planted as much land as three 5uSsels
of corn would plant, and sowed as much
as Seren bHSheiS of peas would sow, and
as much As thirteen Jushels of oats and
barley would SOW"
That he was one of the leading citizens
in town Is proved from the fact that he
signed the petition for the incorporation
49, -.
of the first Board of Selectmen.
His sons We're John, ,Jr., Samuel, Edward
and Nathaniel who about 1870, purchased
the right of the other Alger heirs to
Dunstan and settled there. OF these,
Samuel was lost on the return from Louis
burg in l145. He was very worthy man.
Edward was afterwards well known in the
community as Justice Milliken," having
been appointed Judge of the Inferior
Court In 1860, in which Office he continued
until I'LL.
Samuel, born Feb. %, l747 son of one
of the above and grandson Of John Mlli-
ken and Elizabeth Alger of Boston, ac-
companied, as the tradition claims, by
James and Benjamin Milliken of the same
place, settled at Ellsworth about 1865 or 6,
and returned to Scarborough for his mar
riage to Susannah Beale in 1869 They
remained in Ellsworth until after the birth
of their first two children, when they set
tied at Pretty Marsh, Mt Desert.
James, also, became the father of the
Cherryteld branch of the Mlliken family,
and Benjamin is supposed to be the worthy
ancestor of the Surry and Bluehill branch.
After careful research the writer of this
humble sketch is satisfied that the above,
obtained from traditionary and document
airy sources, may be relied upon correct.
How strangely does Providence scatter
the children of men over the domain of
this earth!
Obituary.