Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-08-25
For the Ellsworth American.
Trenton-l762 to 1900.
No. %.


have already been given.
According to Peters survey the distance
from the Punch Bowl which was the south
west corner of the Benz. Millikeu and later
the Theodore Jones lot, to the northwest
corner Of Robert Milliken's lot, whose north
line crossed the "town line" and lay south
of the Fletcher lot, was one mile and LAG
rods in straight line. In those days
large measure was generally given and
the actual distance may be greater.
What "town line' did Robert Milllkens 3
north line cross which Mr.. Peters men,
tons in his survey of 1892. If not the d.
viding line between Trenton and New
Bowdoin? Prior to 1856 we have not been
able to tind in the archives of Massa-
chusetts or elsewhere Survey of any
township on the east side of Union River
next adjoining the north line of Trenton,
or No. |, ThCrndke Township; but as has
already been shown there were several
surveys OF the lower or shore townships,
and particularly of Trenton. In I762 the
township was first run out, than again In
1868, both times under committees appoint
ed by the General Court The description
in the survey Of 1868 is followed In the re-
newed grant Of 1854. which grant was
again confirmed In 1853. Up to this time
(l1e5} no surveys had been made of the
lands lying north of this township that we
have been able to discover.
John Peters. than whom 1t is said no
better. more competent, accurate or faith
ful surveyor ever sighted compass, or
run a line in eastern Maine, In 1874, re-
run Township No. /, Trenton. That he fol-
lowed the old north line of the township Is
manifest from the course he took and by
the plan he made In 1895 for the "proprie-
tors" In 1862 and said line was run on a
dce East and West course. In 1875 Mr.. Pet
ers run the same line starting from Union
River and running north IS degrees and 40
minutes east, which would at that time
t195) have been about the variation re.
quired TO follow line run an east course In
1923. He must have run said north line on
theold township line, at any rate it had been
run so loIg previous that 1t required said
variation of the needle to follow it. His
tory speaks of no other line run there over
ten years prior to 1895, and no other line
would call for that variation
Mr.. Peters in 1859 also run out the
French Grant" under authority from
Massachusetts, which, on the east side Of
the river, took in the whole township of
No. |, ITrenton) and about mile more
territory next adjoining the east line of
Ne. /, making the northern part OF the
DE GregOire Grant" on the east side of
Union River wider east and west than No.
/, or Thorndike township, but as long or
about as long north and south as said No.
l. Mr.. Peters plan also shows this fact.
that the north line OF this grant was on,
or very near the north line OF said No. |
township. We should feel confident OF it,
II the surveyor had made the variation
which the immutable laws of nature re-
quired in following lice run nearly 20
years previous. That there was an ad-
verse survey which has been the cause OF
much confusion there can he no doubt.
In 1892 De Gregoire sold out the residue
of his lands in Trenton. and John Peters
was employed 10 run, and did run out, all
the settlers lots included in his grant. In
running Robert Millikens lot across line
which he called the torn line he may have
considered it also the north line OF the
French Grant" for at another time in
year (l192) the words town lise are not
used, but he says. viz. beginning at the
Southwest corner of William Fletcher :
lot on the east side Of Union River, from
thence running first due east 10 rods, then
north IS degrees east to the north line of
the French Grant, from thence due east 22
rods, etc, etc. In the one case he says
he "crossed the town line" but he did not
continue the line in his description; in the
other he run the same course to the north
line of the French Grant. which was the
division line between MillIken and Fetch,
err If not Identical the two lines mus,
have been very near Zach other. His say
ing that he crossed the town line would in
dlcate that the north line of the French
Grant might have been few rods nortf
of the town lne.-We only get the widtt
of the lots in the first survey, which doe.
after crossing the town line, but in ,h,
second, the Robt. Mnliken lot is bounde,
| on ali sides and both surveys show ths
| it was only ~ rods wide on the river
The plan of Cary Mcclellan before re
| ferred to made in 1889 shows a saw mil
on Kilkenny stream in the town of Tren
ton which empties into Skillings River, $
also does John Peters and Sons plan mad
by him in 1895 show the north line o
Trenton some distance above the mill the
on Kilkenny stream and now part of tn
position herein taken that said north lin
was much further north than writers an
other have placed it.
I AS the John Peters and Sons plan O
their survey of 1794-5 has such an impor
ant bearing in establishing the old mort
line of Trenton, and to show that 1t coul
not have been the plan of his survey of til
French Grant" which included Trenton
and which he made in 1889, we will insel
here the following endorsements found W
on this plan, viz:
l. "A plan of Trenton in compliauc
with Resolve of the General Court, Jun
26. 1894. surveyed by John Peters Sor
the survey completed the year 1875.
| JOHN PETERS Srr
JOHN PETERS. JR. surveyors
2. Trenton 80 miles to Penobscot th
Shire town Of the County"
3. This is plan of the township Nc
One lying and adjoining to the Eastwar
Of Union River in the County of Hancock
(now called Trenton) procured tran.
mitted to the Secretary's Office by
SAM'L FREEMAN, Agent to tn
Proprietors of Said Township"
4. Mote. The Surveyor John Peter.
informs me that he has been as particuls
as he can except the distance from Penot
scot to Boston which by the Almanac
26l miles & that there is no meeting in tn
town nor County Road laid through tn
town that he knows of'-'Thsre is q sma
piece of road In the North East corner
the town used as a county road
SAM'L FREEMAN"
This Plan will be found In the Secretar
of States once. Mass. IN MAPS Plan
| Vol IN mana TX