The Republican journal., 1913-03-27
BAKEMAN-DYER.
Genealogy Embracing Several of the Pho
neer Families
| From the Portland Argus.

emigrant of the present, seldom went
out singly and alone to their place OF
destination. Family joined with family
and from the west to the east they ve,-
tured forth to found a new settlement,
hoping to better their conditions. And
SO, in company with Timothy Blake. his
friends and neighbors joined in the pill
grimage to the eastward" as it was
termed. 1t is said that there is moth
ing new under the sum-" but in addition
to much that has been published, which
follows. there are also some facts, per-
haps not universally known. A previous
paper introduced Timothy Blake and
family-and this imperfect sketch will
be regarding his neighbors, at George
town, and the territory now of Wool
wich. Many of these families came
from Exeter, N. H., and from the towns
in the vicinity land so when Blake left
Sagadahoc region for the Penobscot-
representatives of the Webster, Bake
man, Smart, Stinson and Dyer families
allied by marriage, as we'll as the Stin-
sons and Dyers later.
In 1888 Edward Brakeman and John
Brown staked out claims at Woolwich
and built log houses on land purchased
from from Robin Hood, but it is not
shown that John Brakeman who, more
than a century later, came from Hol-
land, had any connection Herewith. His
descendants assert him to have been re-
lated to the father of Pres. Van Buren,.
The record of his marriage Feb. 9, 1850,
with Christiana Smart, daughter #
Robert and Catharine Smart of Bruins
wick, gives his residence as Harpswell.
The Smarts came from Exeter, N. H.,
and after his death (about ITO his
widow, sons and daughters went to Ban
gor, where they took an active part in
the early settlement there.
On a high hill near Goose Fall stream
on Cape Rozier, John Brakeman erected
his house and later mills for lumber and
grain, which July 3, 1857, he decided to
his eldest son John, Jr.
During the Revolutionary war he left
his home and came to Bath, where he
engaged in the salt business manufac-
turing from sea water at New Meadows.
After peace was declared he again re-
turned to Cape Rozier, to find his house
| literally vanished from the face of the
earth. Not vestige remained-as the
British has transported it across the bay
to the present village of Castine, where
it was erected for use of one of the
officers.
June 4, 1870, he made his will, in which
he mentioned his wife Christiana, and
children Susanna, Sarah, Christian, John
and Francis Evans, and in 1900 this will
was probated. He died at Cape Rozier
(now Brooksville) Oct. 20, 1900. and the
statement was made that he was seven
ty-four years of age. His wife. Chris
tiana Smart-died Aug. 4, 1918. The
house now standing on Cape Rozier near
the site of the one erected by John
Brakeman, is called 1.-The Brakeman
house," and was built by his son, end
furnishes a fine example of old time
architecture, although now occupied dur
ing the summer season by strangers
for the location and the scenery on this
point of land is something never to be
forgotten; although BY the road from
West Brooksville it seems almost mac
cessbie on account of the steep, danger
Gus hills. 1t is the custom for the tourist
to leave the blackboard or carriage, at
the summit of some of the steepest and
go down afoot.
Asking the driver, why he came over
such a dangerous, circuitous way, he
answered "tbey laid out this road, by
following old sheep paths.
Nearby are the gnarled apple trees of
the old orchard, and among them, one is
pointed out as having been brought (the
seed by MIR. Brakeman when he returned
from a visit to the homeland, Holland.
The son Francis Evans was an incor
porator of Castine, 1895, married and
had children. TIE daughter, Susanna,
married Andrew Webster Blake, as stat
ed in the Blake record, and John Bake-
man, Jr., who married Sarah Young,
had daughter Nancy who also married
an Andrew Webster Blake. The de-
scendants say that this Andrew W.
Biake's father was Daniel, while others
assert that he was Andrew W., Jr. No
records in proof As the latter was born
Nov. "a, 1888, and the former in 1902,
they cannot be one and the same.
AS early as 1872, William, John, and
Christopher Dyer were living at Sheep
scot, and the next century brought many
Gated in Kittery, Biddeford, Cape Eliza
beth, and from The last named town,
scattered to different parts of Maine.
So far, no connection has been made be-
tween these and Michel Dyer, who with
his wife Jane and daughter Isabella join
ed the party leaving Woolwich for Cas-
tine. AS the family OF Michael Dyer be-
came allied through marriage, with the
Stinsons and Redmans, it was thought
clue might be obtained from them. Al
ter search all over Lincoln, Hancock
and Waldo counties it was suggested
that Mr.. Ephraim Redman of Portland
might know some of the name, and be
able to assist in clearing up the doubts
and discrepancies. This aged and in-
telligent gentleman, who passed away at
his home on Bracket street, June 4,
1912, with faculties unimpaired with the
exception of hearing, was born at Cape
Rozier, May 3, 1925. and was found to be
the grandson of Michael and Jane Dyer.
Much of the following record would
have been more fully completed. had
further interviews with him, been pos
sible.
The census of 1890 reports Michael
Dyer of Penobscot-l male over Is, 3
under 16, 6 females" Mime children
have proved this to be correct: Isabella;
a daughter, name not authoritatively
known; Ruth, Hannah, Susan, Henry,
David, John. Michal's estate was ad-
ministered on by his widow Jane. who
filed her account Oct. n, 1907, and ac-
cording to Mr.. Redman, she lived until
about 1884 or 1885. He thinks he was
lad of eight or ten years, when word was
brought one Sunday morning that
Grandmother had been found dead in
her bed" Her age, he thinks, was "a,