Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-12-12
conducted BY DR.. c.lsf, the chaplain Of

the British garrison.
We note that the grant for the Psnob-
scot township ~ early as l762 made pro-
vision for meeting house and . settled
pastor, and that the newiy-incorporsted
town OF Penobscot in t7Se voted three
hundred pounds for . meeting house.
THIS was q large sum Of money for that
day.
According to the records, there seems to
have been considerable controversy about
the locstiou Of this house which was to
serve so large . territory. The people on
the peninsula wished it nearer them. A
majority thought The Narrows, North
Castine. the most central place. The
people OF the peninsula vent 20 far as 20
start subscription paper for a meeting
house in their midst. This gave real Of
tense. At the next town meeting not less
than eight different resolutions were
drawn up expressing strong disapprovai
of,the whole thing. They settled the mat
ter that there should De one church, and
that at The NArrows, and one pastor; they
could not support more.
The site where the frame was first raised
vas just back OF Joshua Enerson's
house. Later II must have been moved
short distance to about the cite OF the
Dunbar store. This was sufficiently con-
venient for the peninsula, for the Penob-
scot that now 10, and for Bucks Harbor
and Cape Roster 1t was very convenient.
All these people had to do was to ride
through the woods on horseback to Lynn
burners ferry. cross the river and walk
up on the other side.
We have Q most interesting record OF
how willing Bucks Harbor and Cape
Roster were to aid in this church enter
prise. They sent strong petition 70 the
town OF penobscot in which they pledged
their strong support and hearty cooper
alton. The petition was signed BY David
Hawes, Elisha Hopkins, Noah Norton
Thomas Kench, Benjamin and Edward
Howard, John Condor, Malachi and Jacob
circuit, John Kedman, John Brakeman and
John Brakeman Jr., Thomas, Samuel and
John Wasson. Oliver Parker, for fifteen
years judge OF the court Of common pleas,
seems 10 have been the man who, more
than any other, saw this church we'll
established at The Narrows. The church
was known at the peninsula ~ eParker's
Folly" Sone vii referred to it In the
following woods:
ia makes nae feel strange,
Likewise melancholy,
To think that town Of such renown.
49, 80, ala ~ - HrDw
A few years later the peninsula got its
church. June IL. 1796 Q Congregational
church was esta blished IN tenobscot, with
fifteen members. Among the number
were Elizabeth, Mary, Samuel, Thomas
and John WATSON, Olive and Jeremiah
Slower, David HAYES and sarah Parker.
After 1919 their meetings seem to have
been held at Brooksviiie.
On Jansary 4. 1873. q Congregational
church vas esta blished at West Brooks
Vile. The house was located on WATSON
hill, Just at the top OF the hill where the
road leads to the Dodge shore. The arst
pastor, a. previously stated, was Manning
Ellis. In 1s55 the present church was
erected.
The Baptist church was established
. bout 1913. isrsel Redman and Benjamin
Rea were the parish COMMITTEES In the early
days. The records concerning this church
are very meager.
lam not able to ascertain when the first
church began its tife. Tbs
first Methodist services were held in the
near Timothy Tsplsy's at
West Brooksville. In lS3s the Methodist
church 1t West Brooksville was built.
The land was given by John Lord. While
1t was in process OF erection, ReS. Isaac
Lord preached for the people, and him
self framed the cupola Of tho church. A
little later the parsonage was built by
John Lord and David varnum.
There are many men and women who
had . large part in the early history OF
this town. So far - l can ascertain
there are . few names that antedats
the others. Among them should b
named John BakemAn or Bateman. He
was born in Holland in l7M and died in
Brooksviile In 1900. He was . cousin of
Martin Van Buren,, and, 90 far a. one can
nnd, . highly respected man. He was .
justice OF the peace and prominent in
all town Affairs. He died very suddenly,
not having told his family about the
whereabouts OF his money, and be was
person OF some means in the opinion
Of his relatives and friends. Diligent
search did not revssi his treasure.
John Walker was another Of the
earliest settlers. He was born in England
in 1754. He enlisted In the British army
at the early age OF thirteen. He later
renounced his allegiance to 0Esat Britain
and took the cath Of fidelity to tho
United States. He then joined the
abr