The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-04-23
David Sears
Waldo SIS. May 6, 1872.
Received and filed this day
r p Field. Register.

B. P. Field, Register.
The opening paragraph of the will is as fol-
lows:
In the name of God-Amen-I David Sears
of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, and Com
monwealth of Massachusetts, do make this
nv last will and testament, and with CRATE
full heart for the mercies l have received, l
earnestly pray my heavenly Father to give my
children continuance of the blessings he has
bestowed on me and to instil into their minds
such sentiments of peace, good will and friend
ship towards each other, as shall find them to-
gether in unity and strength, with all the feel
ings of a happy family forever.
He first directs his executors to pay all his
just debts, and follows with requests to his
wife and children which are of no special in
terest now, This clause is of local interest:
FIFTH. I give and bequeath to my eldest
son, David Sears, and his heirs forever, my
estate in Searsport. in the county OF Waldo,
and State of Maine, commonly known as Brig
adiers Island. including Oak Point farms, to-
gether with the houses and cottages thereon,
with the furniture and chattels, the farming
utensils, cattle. sheep, horses and stock OF all
kinds, carriages and boats, and the produce OF
said island and farms-to him and his heirs
and assigns forever.
And it is my wish, but not condition of my
will, that my son David, to whom have now
given Brigadiers Island in fee. should. by his
last will, bequeath said Island, as his fathers
had gone before him, to his eldest lineal de-
scendant, without detriment to that descend
ants other claims. And in default of any
lineal descendant of his body, then to my eld-
est lineal male descendant, then living-my
nearest HEREWITH an expression of the same
wish to him which have now made to my son.
The will occupies "A printed pages and a
Codicil pages. The witnesses were Moses
L. Hall, E. L. Perkins, and H. P. Chamberlain
and the will was signed in their presence Feb.
/, 1869.
The Sears family came to the island from
Boston in the summer, occupying large house
that stood on high ground some distance from
the shore, facing the eastern bay. The ground
sloped from the house to the shore and was
graded and cleared of trees so as not to OBJ
struct the magnificent view. The Sears man
sion as it was called was destroyed by fire many
years ago. The farms mentioned are on the
inshore and upper side of this island and have
been occupied by various tenants who engaged
in dairying oristock raising. bar that is un'
covered at low tide connects the island with
the mainland. In 1875 the wood on the island
was sold to Rockland parties, who used port
able saw mill and cut and carried away every
tree leaving the island bare. 1t was not long,
however, before it was again covered with a
growth of hard and soft wood. When the
Northern Maine Seaport railway was built,
and million dollars or SO expended on the
terminals at Stockton Springs harbor and
Mack's Point, Searsport. Sears Island was
bought by a syndicate in connection with the
railway, for what purpose has since been
subject for conjecture, as up to this time no
use has been made of it.