Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-08-07
TRENTON HISTORY.
Interesting Extracts from Old Town
Records.
Written for THE AMERICAN by +. G. Haynes,
Ballardvale, Mass.l

general survey was made of the territory
lying east of the Penobscot river by
Samuel Livermore, who was authorized
by Massachusetts, to do this for the pur-
pose of laying out, establishing, and
founding new townships.
At this time there were laid out twelve
six west and six east of a river which,
owing to this circumstance, they called
Union. One of these townships was in
17S9 incorporated as the town OF Trenton.
In this same year all that part OF Lin
coin county lying east of the Penobseot
was formed into two counties named for
two noted men OF that day-President
Washington and Governor Hancock.
Machias was made the shire town of
Washington, and Penobscot of Hancock.
Much dissatisfaction was caused among
the residents in the eastern part of Han
cock county by this selection, they claim
| ing, and / think justly, that it was not
central and involved too much expense for
the people in that section to attend court
| and to transact the business naturally
arising in this part OF the county. But
| it remained SO for several years.
| In few years Lincoln county made
demand of the new counties for a certain
amount OF money which it was claimed
\ was expended in these two counties, before
the separation, and which by right they
| ought to pay. Nearly all the towns in the
counties we're strenuously opposed to pay
ing this money which may be seen, by the
action of Trenton in this matter, in the
meetings held some years later. Most of
| the towns took about the same action.
| When Trenton was incorporated it con-
tanned 800 souls, scattered from Oak Point
| to Kilkenny. This will account for the
large expenditure of money for maintain
ing roads which the records show was
appropriated yearly, and which seems out
of proportion to amounts raised for other
purposes.
One of the requirements in the act OF
incorporation was that provision should
| be made for a settled minister of the gospel.
This was probably required Of all towns at
that time. Previous to 1920 the constitu-
ton of Massachusetts required its citizens
to attend religious worship. The new
town was also required to erect sixty
dwellings in ten years, and with several
adjoining townships give joint note for
f1 200.
In the meetings held ty the new town
some of the proceedings were rather
peculiar, and few extracts from the rec
ords will be of interest.
The first tow meeting was held in 1870.
Roger Googins was selected town C ERIK,
Ephraim Haynes first selectman, and
William Hopkins surveyor of roads. In
this meeting it was "voted to raise f40 to
be worked out on the roads, and if any
person shall refuse to work out his rate at
4 shilliDgs day, he shall pay the money
next year to be appropriated toward pay
ing State tax. Voted e10 to defray ordi-
nary expenses"
In 1871 John Green was elected town
clerk, and continued to hold the office
until 1900. In this meeting it was 'voted
to fine the surveyor of roads 10 shilIings
for neglecting his duty" This seems a
little hard on the new officer, but no
doubt he deserved it, as he failed of re-
election.
1t was voted to impose 30 shillings fine
for any person sculling and shooting fowl
out of float within the bounds OF the
town, also 40 shillings fine for any per-
son not citizen of the town to dig clans
within the bounds, and William Hopkins
and James Lord were appointed to inspect
+. he same, one half the fine to 60 to the
complainant
1t WAS his year that demsnd was made
of Madame DeGregoire for Ian IS for GER
lain purposes, and it was voted, If
Madame DEG egoire refuses to comply
with this demand. the committee shall
confer vita the committee from Mt.
Desert to send a man to confer with the
committee of lands at Boston"
In 1872 a committee was appointed to
protest against the claims of Lincoln
county, and no money was appropriated
to settle the claim. This matter came
before the meeting the next year, but no
progress was made until 1884, when it was
probably settled, in what way the records
do not explain.
In 1892, els was raised for a settled min
lister for the town and adjoining planta-
tions, and the town continued to appro-
pirate money each year until 1924, when
the town voted not to raise any more
money for this purpose. For schools e2O
was raised.
This was also the year for general cleo
ton, the first in the new town. John
Hancock received twenty-five votes for
governor, and Samuel Adams the same for
lieutenant governor.
Iu 1893 the records show s'Mr. Theodore
Jones and Mr.. Jacob Foster have the
appreciation of the selectmen for selling
spirituous liquors in the town for one
year" Thirty eight votes were cast for
the removal of the court of common pleas
from Penobscot to Bluehill. Nearly all
the towns in the eastern part of the count y
were favorable to this change, but they
were not successful. Castine became the
shire town when it was set off from Penob-
scot in 1896, and remained so until the
courts we're removed to Ellsworth in 1888.