Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-03-24
For the Ellsworth American.
Trenton-l762 to 1900.
No, 2.

NO. q
Ancient Trenton, In Hancock county,
Maine. was known in the latter part of the
18th century as township No l, or Thorn.
dixie township, and at one time was called
Thornbury, and was one of the six town.
ships lying east of Union river, granted by
the Great and General Court Of Massachu-
sets. to different associations of proprie-
tors, Feb. 90, l762; all the grants bearing
the same date. The proprietors of these
six townships in many matters acted in
concert as will hereafter appear.
Since Trenton was Incorporated, which
was Feb. l6, 1889, its area has been very
much reduced. The old township has
been cut up and distributed among her
neighbors. A section was set of to Ellis
worth from the northwestern part of the
town, large slice was also given to Han
cock; and Lamoine has been carved out
bodily from its very centre, so that Tren-
ton proper, now lying between Union and
Jordan's river, comprises but q small part
OF the ancient Trenton before this dis
membering process commenced. Your
town and county records give you the
present boundary lines, and define the
territory that has been SO literally taken
from her borders. 1t is to the Trenton Of
the past We wish to invite your attention.
Dec. 1850, two hundred and eleven lin
habitants Of Casco Bay" (as the old petit
tion in my possession gives it) petitioned
Francis Bernard, then Governor of Massa-
chusetts and the Great and General Court,
for grant of land near Mt. Desert.
Upon which petition action was taken
Feb. 49, l7t2, and a grant of three of the
six townships of land before mentioned
was made to Moses Twitchell and
others" IL passed the House Of Repre-
sentatives at that date and was concurred
sequently the three townships run out
under the Twitchell and others" grant,
viz. Nos. 4, and s, were divided into
three separate and distinct proprietaries,
and Jany p, 1894 when this grant was
confirmed with the other three townships,
the General Court gave deed, or grant,
to three sets or associations Of grantees.
to each set one township aud each indie
pendent Of the other, though included IN
one deed II was not however under this
grant OF TwitcheIl and others that town.
ship No. |, or Thorndike township, was
held
insert the petition here on account of
It's being the first application for grant
OF any of said townships, SO far ss we can
learn from the records. also for the names
Of the petitioners upon it, some Of whom
were Interested in the grant Of No. /, and
As showing the causes which are assigned
by them for asking for grant Of land,
and because It was made on the same day
as that of No. /, with which it was so
intimately connected.
PROVINCE OF TIE MASSACHUSETTS BAY"
"To HIS ErcsHspcy Francis Bernard, Esg.,
frortrapr N AMI Orer san PruriRce, the /
HoHordtfe, has NaJ~sys Council and
House II Representatives. IN General
Court assembled Deer, l16O
HrMBLr SIEwETH:
The Petition Of number Of the Inhab- |
itants of Casco bay Ia said Province
That by the Devastation made by the
lndian Wars-Loss Of Records &c in
Times past, Titles are very precarlous
here, some OF your Petitioners many |
Years ago have with great care 4 Cir |
cumspection, made Purchases; and large
improvements on the same notw iths,and- |
ing which. some old claim frequently sp- |
pears a they have been from tim. to time
ousted Others seeing their Fate have re- |
Trained purchasing, 80 that at present most |
of your Petitioners have but very little |
Land some none at all Your Petition
ers have many, yea most OF them Num- |
Der Of Sons, who are Injured to Labor & |
would be very glad to cultivate & i'm |
prove Land provided they might have
grant on sure footing & your Petition |
ers are well knowing that there Is a large
Quantity OF Good land uncultivated a |
unimpruyed on the Northern ( Western
side Of the Island of Mount Desert & next |
adjoining the same on the Main, they
hnmbly beseech your Excelency 1 honours
that they may have q Township or Town
ships granted to them their Heirs & As
signs at that Place, together with the
Islands that may lay between said Town. !
ship or Townships < the Sea 4 your
Petitioners are willing to give Bond to
settle there with their Families in spy
convenient Time allowed By the Court
A nv IN in nntp h,up3 .yar