Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-07-19
GOULISBORO.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
THE TOWN.
FROM RECORDS AT TIE GENEALOGICAL
LIBRARY IN BOSTON EARLY
SETTLERS.

| III you want TO know all apout tDe MS
tory Of your town, or any OF the old men
who lived in the long ago, you win find it
In the old Genealogical Historical Library
in Boston That library isn't SO easy to
end as it might be, but il is iindablc.
The writer, in his first acquaintance with
Boston some years ago, had no small
amount of trouble in locating it. He
began to make inquiries on Washington
street near the Old South church, but no
one seemed ever to have heard of it. This
policeman at the crossing, near Court
street, supposed to know everything. had
no knowledge of this. The police on
fremont street knew less about it. One
OF them tired TO prove that no such library
was In existence, but a friend who had
been there only few days before had told
us about it, aud we believed him. 1t was
in the vicinity Of the state house, but in
Boston thing may be right in sight and
not seeable.
We finally gave the police mp as poor,
ignorant mortals like the rest OF US; and
began to inquire of the hackmen. A hack
man never admits that he don't know; 1t
wouldn't do, aud so, one by one, they
sent US here and there for an hour, but
never bit of our library. Luckily, when
hope was almost gone and patience en-
tirely, we met the postman, who, charac-
teristically said: ''No. 16 Somerset We
found that, and also that II was a dining
room, but the next door, on which there
is no number, proved the right one,
1 II is easy enough once you know how
You just want to take Court street, go
through the middle OF the court house,
1 and there You are on Somerset. Cross it
and turn to the right and go until You
see is, the next door is The library. You
/ climb two flights Of stairs, and stand face
! to face with the whole history OF old New
/ England, even the story of the simple, old
+ homely life of our fathers and mothers
down on the farms. The men and women
who have the care of 1t are courteous and
/ will get you any book you want, and tell
/ you anything you don't know.
A few hours were dragging on our
sought this place Of refuge and study.
EIaving had it in mind a long time to look
up the history Of Gouldsboro, this was our
opport unity. anu we improved it; but not
as we would had there been more time.
However, a few data are the results of that
afternoon, and we send them 10 the peo-
pie who are most interested in them.
SETTLEMENT OF ooUI.DsBoRo.
Gouldsboro was settled In ITO. The
F., grant Of land was 10 Robert Gould, Fran
els Shaw and others, OF Boston, called
I Gould's Borough after the head of the
firm. Borough Is an old English word
meaning a holding of land. May mean
farm, but ii must be large farm. Also a
home where the owner is entitled to vote.
/ These boroughs include whole townships
/ in the early settlement OF New England.
1 Gould selected this particular location
because il offered an outlet to the sea. and
there was an immense amount OF lumber
on the tract. Pine lumber then was larger
than it is now. Ii was common thing to
/ get four logs out of one tree before you got
the limbs. Some Of these logs were over
five feet at the stump. 1t was common
| thing also, in the old houses of that region,
to find the rooms ceiIed with clear pine
four feet wide--lumber which, to- day, the
dealers tell us, is found only in heaven.
Gould did not settle on the land how
ever, nor his partner, but one Francis
Shaw, jr., with Capt. William Nickcls.
They Immediately built mills on the
stream that runs through the valley of
the West Bay settlement, and also began
to build vessels. We have not been able
to locate these mills or shipyards, but
can guess near enough.
When the war OF the Revolution broke
out, all business in this region ceased, and
somewhat abruptly, il seemed, for yes
sells were left on the stocks and mill
ponds and yards full of logs. No sound
of axe or hammer was again heard until
after the war. Gould then was financially
ruined and his share in the property was
sold to the Shaws.
After the war they began to develop the
lumber interests and carried on a very
successful business until they died, the
elder in 1874, the younger in 1855. The
borough was then sold TO William Shaw,
fourth son of Francis. William made
large fortune, and sold the township to
Bingham, the owner of the Bingham pur-
chase, lying farther to the north. but find
ing a most ready outlet through this
town.
INCORPORATION.
Gouldsboro was Incorporated as town
in 17s9, some twenty years after its settle
ment. Steuben was Incorporated six years
later, 1875. Meanwhile developments
along the Narraguagus valley were pro-
ceeding rapidly. Cherryfield had a min
lister in 1875, church one year later, and
here doubtless the Gouldsboro people
first attended divine service in this new
| country. In 1910 church was organized
in Sullivan, and the first minister, Rev.
Daniel McMasters, was ordained in Capt.
Paul simpsons barn.
The story OF this town from the old DAYS
thus recorded TO the present is too long to
be told in short paper like this, but the
mills are there still, and their work goes