The Republican journal., 1914-11-05

the tide Of population soon began to set
in this direction. Between the years
1850 and 1772 all the towns washed by
these waters between Camden and Ban
gor on the one side, and Castlne and
Brewer on the other, were penetrated by
hardy yeomanry, designing here to make
a home for themselves and their descend
ants. All the towns within these limits,
save the two recent ones, Searsport and
Stockton, received acts of incorporation
between 1878 and 1872 Belfast in 1878,
and Brewer in 1912. Although the growth
of these towns has not been rapid COM
pared with many towns in the West, yet
the change of the country has been
great. In 1850 these towns contained
population of more than so thousand and
property to the amount of $40, 400, 75l:.
They now pay an annual State tax OF
over twenty thousand dollars. Where
hundred years since stretched one wide
unbroken forest, there now stand smil-
ing villages and fiourishing cities, the
homes of intelligence, refinement and
bliss.
Perhaps some further particulars of
the early history of the region contlgu,,
GUS to the Fort, and the men who settled
here may be expected.
joshua treat, lne dhCeSloi VI IHe 81 cav
and respectable family of Treats, now in
/ habiting several surrounding towns, IS
spoken of by Gov. Pownal as Lieutenant
Joshua Treat, and was employed by him
at Fort St. Georges, when on his voyage
to the Penobscot, as interpreter in an
examination there of some Indians.
He evidently was an officer in that Fort.
Some have supposed he came to Fort
Pownal as soldier, and gunsmith. But
Whipple's Acadia says: During the
wear 1859, Lieut.. Joshua Treat arrived
at this Fort in ship from Boston loaded
with government stores for the Fort;
where he remained, and he was the first
actual settler on the Penobscot river.
The truth undoubtedly is, that he had
been an officer in the Fort at st. Georges,
but when Fort Pownal was built that at
Georges river was dismantled and aban-
doned. Lieut.. Treat being gunsmlth
by trade soon came to this place-settied
near the Fort and pursued his trade, not
only at the garrison but also with the
Indians,
Between the time of the settlement
of Mr.. Treat in 1859 and 1775 severa
men from whom have descended large
families settled these shores. Zethan
French in 1766-Benj. Shute and Henry
Black in 1769-Miles Staples near the
same time. His son Crawford, born lr
It'll, was the first white male child borr
in the place; DR.. Crawford Of the For
being the attending physician; the chile
was named for him. James Nichols set
tied at the shore 1878 where the village
: of Searsport has since risen. These slz
families, with two others, which settleC
at the Harbor soon after the revolution
John Park and Peleg Pendleton, were
the progenitors of numerous posterlty
Their descendants now constitute M
small share of the inhabitants of Sears
port, Stockton and Frankfort, and are
scattered into various other places.
At the close of the revolutionary wal
there were % families in that territory
afterwards Incorporated as the town o
Prospect; and probably not more thar
100 souls. Deep poverty pervaded tn
little community. One well lnforme'
respecting those days, has left the FOL
lowing account Of them:
1.-The times were hard indeed. Pro
visions were scarce and dear. Few mel
, ate flesh more than one day in weel
the year round; and many not that, bu
, row and then, a little venison. Man
often could not break their fasts till thu
clam banks had supplied them. Brea
corn was scarce, and when they had 1t
they were obliged to 60 to Castine, Bel
, fast. or even Camden to have it ground.
One is at loss to understand how IL
such deep poverty there could be reare'
. a race of such stalwart, hardy men a
were the first generation grown upo
/ these shores, They were not only poo
: short of provisions, and the mean
5 with which to purchase-but every thin
they bought was very dear. At tn
: Fort was a truck house for the purpos
, of trading with the Indians and the set
tiers. From an account book here keI
from 1772 to 1777, we learn what wa
b. the price of various articles of merchan
0 disc. Let me give the price current, a
\ made out from this book.
4 Molasses. 81 per gall.
COTTONWOOD, 81 per pound.