The Portland daily press., 1897-07-20
ON MOUNT DESERT.
Governor Bernard's Proposal to Settle a
Colony.
Bangor Commercial.

(Bangor Commercially
The following proposal for settling a
colony of Germans at Mt. Desert by Gov.
Francis Bernard was made in 1904 The
original proposal is on file in the Sparks
collection, Harvard University library at
Cambridge. where copied it:
Proposals for settling Colony of
Germans at Town in the Island Of
Mount Desert, made to Mr.. John Martin
Shaffer and Mr.. John Most, by Gov.
Bernard, Proprietor of the Island.
THE proprietor proposes to assign to
ev'ry family who shall settle at the town
Expected to be about so families, more or
less) 25 acres to be allotted in the follow
ing manner: 4 acres fronting the streets
of the said town as now laid out, called
the home lot; 10 acres adjoining to the
home lots, to be called the first out lot;
and II acres near to the said town to be
called the second out lot; and also piece
of Saltmarsh in common to the town;
reserving to the proprietor such rights
as shall be hereafter mentioned, and have
been before particularized in his proposals
for settling the town; the settlers, per-
forming the conditions hereafter men
toned, to hold the lands to them and
their heirs forever
The settlers are to perform the follow
ing conditions; to build an house not
less than of the area of 20 feet square,
and of feet shed, on each of the said
home lots, near to and fronting the
street,an to settle family there within
years, and to maintain a family there
for years, and to clear the whole of the
said 4 acres within 8 years; and are also
to pay annually one dollar year to build
church and maintain minister there.
| 1.-The gentlemen above mentioned hav-
| ing desired to know upon what terms
settlers who shall turn themselves to hus-
bandry only may expect to have more
| lands than the aforementioned lots; the
proprietor after promising that it is diff
cult to assign value to lands, without
considering their qualities and situations,
and that it must be expected that after
giving away large quantity of lands in
order to bring forward the town, he or
his family should have some prospect of
advantage from the remaining lands,
| makes this proposal, that such settlers Us
shall really turn themselves to husband
ry,. shall. within or at the end of the
three years, or within further 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
pistareen an acre every year for such
lands; such annual rent to close upon the
payment of four milled dollars or 30
pistareen. And the proprietor further
proposes that where a settler shall by
purchase or otherwise, acquire several
outlets, that they shall be laid out in one
piece together, SO that 1t be just and
agreeable to the other settlers, which
proposal the gentlemen take in good part
and approve of SO far as they can with
out laying themselves under any obliga-
ton.
Mention having been made by the
gentlemen of the proprietor assisting in
the care and expense Of transporting the
settlers; the proprietor observes that 1t
cannot be reasonably expected that he
should be at any charge until the persons
are upon his lands disposed to settle.
But after that he will assist them to the
utmost of his power; and will nurse the
infant colony with his best love. And
as soon as he shall have advice of their
embarking, he will provide proper stores
and necessaries for their reception and
will have large and convenient ship en-
tirely to attend them and their necessi-
ties; and will also have ready proper
vessels for fishing that they may take the
best advantage Of the season and situa-
ton for availing themselves of that
profitable employment.
Many other things might be men
toned which are included in the general
professions. All which is kindly re-
ceived.
1.-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
refer the consideration of the same and
of such explanations and additions as
shall be thought advisable to the settlers
themselves. The proprietor admits of
this reservation, reserving to himself that
the general substance of the proposal
must be observed in the notifications of
it.
"JOHN MARTIN SHAEFFER,
"JOHAN MOST,
FRA BERNARD.
"Moundesert, Sept. s, 1884,