Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-12-12
BROOKSVILLE.
EARLY HISTORY OF OLD BAGA-
DUCE TOWN.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY PLAYS A LARGK
PART = THE OLD sAIPBuILDrNG
DAYs-soNE PIONEERS.

The territory now occupied by Penob-
scot, Csstine and Brooksville was first
Penobscot, excepting q small portion OF
Brooksvilie which was taken from the
town of Sedgwick. Penobscot was the
shire town OF Hancock county. 1t was
situated twenty-five miles from this
mouth OF Psnobscot bay and thirty-six
from ths head OF navigation OF Psnobsco,
river.
This former town OF Penobscot was di-
vided by nature into three nearly equal
parts: That portion which is now Penob.
scot; the peninsula, nov Castine; and the
southwest portion, which is the present
town of Brooksville. Brooksviile, too,
has peninsula. on the one side OF which
is large cove known as Lawrence bay,
ana on the other, Orcutt's harbor.
The town OF Penobscot was number in
the first class Of townships granted by the
Provincial General Court in 1852. In
accordance with the terms OF these grants,
it is interesting to note that the pro-
prietor, their heirs, assigns were bound in
bond OF fifty pounds, to lay out no
township more than ak miles In extent,
settle sixty n otestant families, build an
equal number OF dwellings at least eigh-
teen feet square, to at for tilisge three
hundred acres of land, erect . meeting
house and settle minister. One lot was
to be reserved for parsonage, one for the
first settled minister, one for Harvard
college and one for the use Of the COM
mon schools.
The town OF Penobscot was incor-
porated February q. 1857. This was nine
years before the incorporation Of the town
of Castine. During these years, it is
interesting to note that among the men
who served on the board of selectmen
we're some who little later figured in a
large way in the early history OF Brooks
vile. Oliver Parker was one OF Ave men
who served the first year. Oliver Parker
and John WATSON, who became the son-in-
law Of Oliver Parker, both served the
second year. The third year they had
held in March, the town voted .sthe sum
OF 800 pounds for the erection OF q meet
ing house, In April they held = second
meeting and it was voted that this house
for the public worship OF God should be
5x5o feet. Daniel Wardwell, Giles
johnson, John Wilson, Oliver Parker and
John WATSON were chosen rs committee
to superintend the erection OF the house
and to act as trustees OF the same.
Cas.ine was incorporated in 1796. The
warrant for the first town meeting was
posted ut Joseph Young's house on Cape
Roster, at Jacob CIRCUITS at Bucks Har-
Dor, and at Daniel Johnson's store on the
peninsula. Among the important matters
that came to the attention of this new
town was raising money for the preaching
OF the gospel and for schools.
Brooksvilie was incorporated by an act
of the General Court OF Massachusetts,
June Is, 1877. The town was named for
Honorable John Brooks, then governor Of
Massachusetts,. This was three years
before Maine became Z State. The first
town meeting was some time in the fall,
Il do not know the exact date,) and in
the house OF John Bray. This house 10
still standing ct West Brooksville. 1t il
now known as the Seweli Tapley place,
and the house is in excellent repair, good
for . great many years TO come. John
WATSON, my great grandfather, WAS chos-
en- moderator at thus meeting, and Roger
Lawrence, Joseph @. Parker, and Elisha
Smith were elected selectmen. The town
chose Timothy Condor, John Hawes,
william Parker, Cunningham Lymburner
and John Blodgett Is . committee to
district the town for schools.
The next year, 1878, the town meeting
was held in the house Of Benjamin Rea.
At this time they made their first sppro-
priations for schools and chose their first
school committee.
In 1919 this section OF the country vas
discussing the advisability Of the district
OF Maine becoming . commonwealth.
The matter came up in the meetings Of the
various towns, and Brooksvilis, like Cas-
tine, voted most decidedly against the
measure. This seemed to have been the
important vote OF the year.
In 1923 the town Of Brooksville, with
Csstine, became responsible for the sup
port OF the ferry. The name was changed
from Lymburner's ferry to the North Cas-
time ferry. At the same meeting 1t was
voted to negotiate for suitable burying-
grounds for the different parts Of the
town. For the next twenty years the
records Of the town contain nothing Of
interest, except the very ordinary routine.
The people were busy building roads and
establishing and maintaining schools.
During thess early years the people
met from place. to place a. they could. In
lS46t hey voted 70 build town house which
, had long been needed for the transactiou
, OF the business Of the corporation. John
HAYES, Andrew Gray and Simeon Alier
were appointed - building committee
+. The house u still standing on the origina
site, although 1t has in recent yssrs besr
considerably enlarged.
From lsA6 to the Civil war We dnd littli
ofinterest in tbs records. During the year
1895 the general routine remained tn
same q other ysars, and the records SHOW
\ - vurm>w hnu