Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-12-19

There Is no account OF settlements
in the vicinity OF Union River bay by
white men nearer than at Castine 10y
Baron De Castin in 1867, by the Plymouth
Co. at Penobscot. as trading post, In
174O, and by the French at Mount Desert
ia 1720. Ellsworth WAS first settled in
1868. The int abitants on the coast OF
Massachusetts,, ard extending to that
part of Maine as far as Cape Elizabeth, in
he summer months were engaged in
fishing to great extent in the bays on
he eastern coast of Maine and far into
he bay of Fupdy. Fishing boats com
ing into Union River bay catching mack
erel and larger fish, made landings on the
shores on the eastern side Of the bay. The
appearance OF the land and soil, and the
heavy growth of timber attracted the at
tent ion Of some of these fishermen. Par
ties made application to the general court
of Massachusetts, for grant to settle on
these lands. In 1862 party Of eight or
ten explored the bay and river, and con-
cIuded to settle in this vicinity. They
came in 1868 in small vessel from Saco.
rhe chief men among them were
Benjamin Milliken, OF Scar boro, and BEN
jamin Joy, of Saco. They came into
the bay and anchored off Weymouth
Point, some OF the party going up the
river, others towards Surry, landing at
Contention Cove. Some misunderstand-
ing in regard to the place OF settlement
gave rise to considerable discussion and
d florence Of opinion, whethe to go up
he river or to Surry. After considera-
ton of the matter at the cove, here they
landed, it was agreed to go up the river.
This incident gave the name of Conten-
tion Cove to the cove, and Union to the
river, because at the cove they disagreed
and united to go up the river.
The first settlers on Union river at
from Saco, as follows: Benjamin Mil
liken, Benjamin Joy, Jonathan Fiye,
John Turner, William Weymouth, Daniel
Treworgy, Asa Smith, Simeon Tarbox,
Solomon Annis, Sibley Dexter, Emerson
Tuttle, William Smith, Kenneth Mi Ter,
Jo.l Mace, Moses Fernald, Thomas Will
berson, Asa Waite, Isaac Smith, Thomas
Milliken. OF these, some had families.
The first landing was at the point where
the foundry now stands. The first meal
OF victuals was cooked at or by a large
rock, which was afterwards called the
settlers rock, by the daughter Of Benja-
min Miiliken, afterwards the wife OF
settlement was made on the present site
of the city OF Ellsworth. The country at
I, his time was dense wilderness OF forest
trees, trod only by the wild animals and
savages. Both banks OF the river were
covered by heavy growth of pine,
spruce and hemlocK timber. The river
abounded with fish and the forest with
game Of all kinds.
The Indian name Of Union river was
raucewarnicty, meaning in English,
much flow, white and silvery. The French
name, given by the French settlers at
Mount Desert, was Donaqua, it being he
ooundry line OF a tract of land cIaimed
by Cadillac, one of the French settlers,
who was proclaimed Lord of the manor.
The Indian name OF Cards brook was
Cowarche. The Indian name of Branch
pond stream was Pasadumky, and OF
Branch pond, Nicolin, meaning Nicos,
tcolUes, lin, pack-a pack Of wolves. The
Indian name of Reeds pond or Green lake
was Molascic, the name OF an Indian
| squaw.
Sig s traces aud relics OF the Indians
have been found Oh the shores of the
hay and river and along the banks. In
| dian arrow hta ads, stone axes, corn NOR
| ta,s in the Il dyes, burial places near land
ings have been found, mounds and cea red
places showing where their camps stood
| One place west OF the mouth OF Card'-
brook, cal ed Indian Point. was All old
camping grodnd; also at the mouth OF
the river and at the landing above the
Head OF the Falls. The Old Town and
Passamsquoddy Indians were in the habit
of hunting, fishing, and trapping on thu
river, and i'll the bay in the summer
mouths.
! Some of these were well and familiarly
known to the settlers. Lejok was the
name OF an Indian belonging to the Pas
samaquoddy tribe, who came to Union
river during the Revolution. He was &C.
cidentsily killed on one of the branches
of the river which was afterwards called
Lejok's branch. Another of these H.
dams was Sabattis, who WAS one
of the guides of Benedict Arnold in his
march through the painless northern
forest in 1775 to capture Quebec with 1,OOC
men; their retreat was made in the
winter. He also, in the war of 1872, was a
runner or rather mail carrier, from
Canada to the Passamaquoddy tribe, who,
like the Penobscot's were the mortal en-
emies Of the Mohawks. Still another OF
these Indians was Socialism,, venera BILE
Indian we'll known at that time; also
Cheshire, Porus, DIR. Lowlen.
The first frame Rouse erected on or at
Union river was built by Jonathan Fly
on the place known as the Dutton farm,
which at that time extended to the river,
w here Elv and aeveraI of his family are