The Republican journal., 1909-05-13
Some Lincolnville History.

historical sketch which follows is largely
copied from the archives in Massachu-
sets State House. | took pains to copy
capital letters and everything exactly as
written. Ulmer's petition uses capitals
for such words as "Subscriber humbly
Sheweth that the Public ETC., indicat-
ing a fashion of that day. Timer in both
petitions, and in his deed from General
Knox, writes 'Ducktrap" while the leg
islature in all its acts writes it "Duck
Trap" The records indicate that this
region called Duck trap" covered about
all of Lincolnville and Northport, long
before either of these towns We're incor-
porated Lincolnville was Incorporated
in 1902.
Timer had two maiden sisters, but l
think he left no children. Relatives of
his settled in Belmont about the year
1872 | think it was John Ulmer, and
that he was nephew of George Timer
Whitney was Justice of the Peace in
Lincolnville at one time. He and Zadock
French finally settled in Bangor, and
French became a large owner in timber
lands.
l notice the bridge bill is in shillings
and pence, paying the men los and cd,
ETC., which people now under forty have
never heard in use. S54 for rum inter
ested me. How would it look in such a
bill now? c. S. GRIFFIN.
Over hundred years ago there was a
substantial toll bridge across the Duck
Trap stream, the history of which had
occasion to look up in law suit over the
IA township am living upon, known as
the Duck-trap grant of 1903, which is the
S. W. part of the town of Kingman near
the Aroostook line in Penobscot county
and only a few miles from the Old Mill
tary Road, built in time of the Aroostook
war By deed dated September 10, 1898,
(Gen'D Henry and Lucy Knox sold about
5000 acres of land to George Ulmer Sin
a place called The Duck Trap" This
tract is bounded on the bay and by
"Duck-trap river and Ducktrap pond, :"
and in one part by land of John Wade.
In 1902. Ulmer sent the following pc
tition to the Massachusetts, legislature:
To the Hon., ETC.
THE Petition of the Subscriber humbly
Sheweth that the Public as we'll as indi-
viduals, labor under great difficulties for
want of a bridge over Ducktrap river in
the County of Hancock, at which river
nature has rendered it not only difficult
but almost impossible to keep a regular
ferry. That your petitioner has made
frequent application to the Court of Gen
eral Sessions Of the peace, for the county
of Hancock, for the assistance to build a
bridge over said river but has never been
able to obtain any encouragement suit
able to so great an undertaking.
Your petitioner therefore humbly prays,
that he, with such others as may join him,
may be incorporated body polite by the
name of the Proprietors of Ducktrap
Bridge. And that your Honors in your
great wisdom will establish such rates of
toll to be paid for the passage of said
bridge when erected, as will prove to be
sufficient Encouragement for your pc
titioner and his associates to undertake
to build and keep said bridge in good re-
pair, and is in duty bound will ever pray"
GEORGE ULMER. -
'Ducktrap, Jan. 26, 1902
was allowed to see and read the origi-
nal of the above, now on file in the Mas
sachusetts archives in the State House in
Boston. Umer's signature was in bold
John Hancock style, but the petition is
not in the same handwriting.
George Ulmer and such others as may
join with him" were Incorporated as
"The Proprietors of Duck Trap Bridge"
by act of June %, 1902. There is no
evidence that Ulmer ever took any one
else in with him, except the inference
that may be drawn from the following
petition:
''To the Hon." etc.
1.-The Petition of the Subscribers, Pro-
prietors of the late Duck Trap Bridge,
humbly sheweth, That in pursuance of
an act of the Legislature passed on the
twenty-fourth day of June in the year of
Our Lord eighteen hundred and two, they
built a good and Substantial Bridge over
buCktIdp river III Tie LOWl VI LIIlCOul-
vile in the County of Hancock, which
was completed in October eighteen hun
bred and four, and in April last (18OO
was entirely carried away by freshet
which rendered travel at that place en-
tirely unp-nt and difficult. Several of
your Petitioners having at the same time
suffered other very heavy losses in mills,
lumber and other property, find them
selves unable to rebuild said bridge. The
said bridge is of general public utility, as
the population of that country is rapidly
increasing while the state of the roads
makes an accommodation of this nature
peculiarly necessary and convenient.
Your petitioners therefore humbly re-
quest your honors to take into view the
circumstances of their case and to en-
power them to raise by Lottery a sum
not exceeding Dollars to be ap-
piled to the rebuilding of said bridge, or
grant such other relief in the premises as
to your honors may seem fit.
GEORGE ULMER
SAINT A. W
ZADOCK FRENCH
HEsEKIAH FRENCH
JOB NELSON
THos. COBB