Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-11-04
MOUNT DESERT.
GOV. BERNARD'S PROPOSAL TO
SETTLE A COLONY.
IN 1854 HE WAS PROPRIETOR OF THIS
NOW FAMOUS RESoRT-HIs PRO-
POSAL AND AN EARLY
PETITION.


Gov. Francis Bernard. WAS mnde in 1854.
The original proposal is on file III the
Sparks collection, Howard university Ii
brary at Cambridge, where copied it,
proposals for settling a Colony of Ger
mans at II Town III the Island OF Mount
desert, made To Mr.. John Martin Snsffer
ana Mr.. John Most, by Gov. Bernard,
Proprietor OF the Island.
"fhe proprietor proposes to assign to
evr'y family who snail settle at the town
Expected TO be about eighty families,
more or Iess) twenty five acres to be al
lotted in the following manner: four
acres fronting the streets of the said
town as now land out, called the home
lot: ten acres, adjoining the home lots,
to tie called the first out lot; and eleven
acres near to the said town to be called
the second out lot; and also piece OF
Saltmarsh in common to the town; re-
serving to the proprietor such rights AS
shall be hereafter mentioned and have
been before particularized In his pro-
posRis for settling the town; the settlers,
performing the conditions hereafter Inen-
toned, to hold the lanus to their heirs
forever.
1.-The settlers are to perform the follow
ing conditions; to build all house not less
than OF the area OF twenty feet square,
and of feet shed, on each OF the said
home lots, near to and fronting the street,
and to settle II family there within three
years, and to maintain family there for
SIX years, and to clear the whole OF the
SAID four acres within three years; and
are also to pay annually one dollar II year
TO build a church ana maintain min
lister there.
The gentlemen aAove mentioned hav-
ing desired to know upon what terms
settlers who shall turn themselves To
husbandry only may expect to have
more lands than the aforementioned lots;
the propr ietor, after promising that 1t Is
difficult to assign value to lands, With
out considering their qualities ana sltua-
tons, and that 1t must be expected that
after giving away large quantity OF
lands III order to bring forward the town,
he or his family should have some pros
pect OF advantage from the remaining
lands, makes this proposal, that such
settlers, rs shall really turn themselves
to husbandry, shall, within or at the end
OF the three years, or within a futher
time, as shall be agreed upon, have more
lands upon the following terms.
"To hold the lands free for three years
from the time Of the grant, and after three
years to pay listareen an acre every
year for such lands; such annual rent TO
close upon the payment OF four milled
dollars or twenty pistareens. And the
proprietor further proposes that where
settler shall by purchas or otherwise. &C
quire several outlots, that they shall be
rid out IN one piece together, 50 that 1t
be just and agreeab bic to the other set
tiers, whlch proposal, the gentlemen take
IN good part and approve OF so lar as they
can without laying themselves under any
obligation.
"AlentIon having been made by the
gentlemen OF the proprietor assisting III
the care and expense OF Transporting the
settlers; the proprietor observes that it
cannot be reasonably expected that he
should be at any charge until the per-
sons are upon his lands disposed to
settle. But after that he VIII assist
them to the utmost OF his power; and Will
nurse the infant colony with his best
/ love. And rs soon as he shali have ad-
vice OF their EN- barking, he Will provide
| proper stores and necessaries for their
reception; and will have large and con-
venient ship entirely to attend them and
their necessities; and will also have
ready proper vessels for fishing that they
may take the best advantage OF the sea-
son and situation for availing themselves
OF that profitable employment.
| Many other things might be mem
toned which are included i'll the general
professions. All which is kindly re-
| celved.
THE gentlemen approve OF the fore
going proposals SO far as their opinion
goes but as they have no power to con-
tract for their constituents, they must
!
OF such explanations and additions rs
shall be thought advisa bic to the settlers
| themselves. The proprietor admits OF
this reservation, reservlng to himself
that the general substance of the pro-
posal must be observed in the moditica-
lions of it.
"John Martin Shaeffer,
"Johan Most,
Ezra Bernard.
.tMnuDt desert Sent s. 1854
AN EARLY PETITION.
The following is petition OF j. c.
Cookie, of Mount Desert, in l7s5, from t he
Massachusetts archives:
ITO the honorable Senate and honorable
House of Representatives OF the Com
monWealth OF Massachusetts III general
( Court assembled Memorial of j.
{. Cookie OF the Island of Mount De-
sert. Esqr,, humby showeth;
"rhat your memorialist, came from
/ England to America III the year 1173, that
| before hat time, but in the same year,
| Sir Francis Barnard made grant to him,
| OF three hundred acres OF upland and ten
acres OF Marsh that your memorial-t,
expressed to said Sir Francis, his dislike
and dlsapprohatfon thereof, the said
. Land proving on examination and view
thereof To be different from such, as your
( Memoriaiist had reason to expect, That
some time after one Thomas Barnard, son
OF said sir Francis, wrote letter on be-
! half of his Father informing your Me
/ moriaIist, that he might make choice OF
f. other three hundred Acres of upland on
said Island, i'll lieu OF that granted to
: MemOrialist as Is aforesaid, in Conse-
quence of which your memoriaist made a
choice OF other three hundred Acres OF
upland, but contiguous to that granted
! by said deed, and never caused the same