Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-11-02
SEDGWICK.
r,esr SETTLED BY FRENCH AT
yAsKEAG POINT.
r PERMANENT sErTLER---INDUs
-s,xs AND INSTITUTIONS PAST,
PRESENT AND FUTURE.


.,,,ad In The ANERIcASl Is but part OF
tory of sedgwick. but the beginning
- IAN story OF the town. Sedgwick is
- Of the early towns OF Maine, or at
-, ia settlement was such. While the
c.c,eh and English were making history
.,,,s The mouth OF the Bagaduce, this
..,,er,ant began TO assume definite form.
sarly AZ 1855 two Frenchmen settled
sa.keav point, but for some rea-
=, their names no longer appear IN the
s;.,orv OF the pioneers. Quite likely they
- forced to leave by the invasion OF the
r.rl;sb. who even then had commenced
- s.b and trade along this coast. That
IA fertilization OF some kind antedated
,,s arst permanent settlement at this
,,,,, there is abundant esidence to be
s.,na In its ruined foundation stones.
o., xhorn this fort or garrison house was
mil, we have no means OF knowing, bat
=. this section was 4 part OF Acadia, we
have every reason to believe that It Was
opee In possession of the French.
The next visitor TO the shores of Egge-
,,oxv,n Reach was Major Robert Sedg-
,;ek who was sent here by Lord Pro-
,sctor Cromwell in 1854, and from this ad
vsp,urpr the present town has taken its
name. He came with sword In hand, and
after capturing the French fort at Castine,
extended his conquests As far cast as Sedg
wick and down the coast. By this time
the whole region was becoming known
tor rs wealth OF furs and fisheries, and
treouent we're the visits made by traders
and adventurers.
In f75a came the irst permanent settler
in the person OF Andrew Black, and four
Years later he was followed by Capt.
Goodwin Reed, John and samuel Black
and Reuben Gray, all OF whom settled at
ssskeag point. sturdy pioneers were
these, snd many OF their descendants are
among the leading citizens Of the town
to DAY Great caution was needed at that
tine, as old Baron Castine was within
siiing distance, and hundreds OF wariike
Indians were always ready TO answer bis
cali. Not until 1910 did the French ad
ssnsarer lose his grip and the English
commence to take the aggressive.
By this time the Hcrrick brothers were
here, and from the TACT that they traced
their lineage to the fAr-fsraed sea king,
Eric the Red, they had the blood to be-
come leaders Of the people and prominent
In all local affairs. David and Dudley
Carlton we're also OF this class, and their
name has been honored down through
all the succeeding generations. II was
these men who surveyed the town in 1870,
and by these lines every deed has
since been made out. Another proprietor
who east his LOT in Sedgwick Was Benis
min Friend, and from him the river flow
ing through the town received its name.
The Incorporation OF the town came in
i7sa, and the first town meeting was held
in the house OF Moses Eaton. The event
sas made inbiisnt by a liberal supply OF
run, and Eaton was made an officer OF the
nss town. He Was an enterprising man,
and the FIRST mill in Scdgwick was built
and owned by him.
In those days there was no need OF
liquid refreshments - part of its stock in
trade. In the early days this honor fell to
shadrach Watson, and his old account
book is still here in possession OF a de-
seendsnt. Among the items recorded, rum
aud molasses figure as the most con-
spscuous, and in one account charged
samuel Cousins the word rum occurs ten
times. Prices OF all kinds OF cooking and
wearing apparel were much higher than
1t the present time, but this of course
vas due to their scarcity. For example,
pair Of shoes sold by Watson were
Charged at the rate OF ti3, and many other
Articles commanded an equally high price.
han was the one necessity OF pioneer life
test sold at price so low as TO make
modern topper turn green with envy.
THE pIRsr CHURCH.
Not until l7ss was the first church or
saairslion effected. 1t was a simple
structure that they used rs a house OF
worship, and this was located Just over the
Benjamin river, near the bridge. The new
losn was soon organized with Joshua
snow, John Billings and Joseph Freethy
Is seieetmen. These gentlemen were also
prominent in pushing the church organ
nAtion ana were among its strongest
piiafs. Their fathers had reared them in
'he faith, and to observe the prscepts OF
leag'on was the first duty OF the pioneer.
40 secure minister in those days was no
Easy matter,and for long time the settlers
we're dependent on itinerants for their
spiritual instruction.