Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-06-28
EARLY DAYS
OF SORRENTO.
Lynette Perry Maddocks. }

| -~o
bit of history of my old home town,
Sorrento. One of my schoolmates
and had a fancy for learning some
thing about its earlier days, and the
following was the result of my
! gleanings.)
The town of Sorrento is a PENN
sula three miles in length, extend
ing from the southwestern extremity
of the town of Sullivan, of which it
was formerly part, being known as
| Waukeag, until 1895. Then, it was
| divided from that town, becoming an
| incorporated town under the name
| of Sorrento, which name it derived
| from the fact that it's harbor is said
| by many to resemble in beauty that
| of Sorrento, Italy, the beautiful Bay
| of Naples.
The middle of this peninsula is
formed by long, low range Of hills,
! eliminating in high hill known as
High Head" and situated in the
southern portion of the town. From
this range of hills the land slopes
gently toward the bay on either side,
once giving place to several fine
farms.
Sorrento undoubtedly possesses
some of the finest scenery on the
coast of New England It's gently
sloping hills clad in soft, green YER
dure, command an excellent view of
the surrounding bay, with the blue
hills of Mt. Desert lying just across
the bay to the south. The penin-
sula is surrounded on the west by
Frenchman's Bay, and on the east
by Flanders Bay
It's harbor is worthy of more than
passing notice. Lying just to the
south, and but short distance from
the mainland, are Dram, Simpson,
Golden-Circle Cor Sewards). and Calf
Islands; all beautiful and heavily
wooded islands, which completely
surround the harboY, making it an
exceptionally fine one during heavy
storm. This harbor was known in
earlier days as Point Harbor, and
was a famous fishing ground.
1t is certain that Waukeag must
have been a happy hunting and fish
Ing ground for the red men, who
were the first to tread its fertile soil.
Although a very old settlement,
very little seems to be known to-day
about the early days of Waukeag.
1t is generally supposed that Wau-
keag, as it was then called, Ga name
given to it by the Indians. and which
I believe signifies good hunting
ground'D was first settled by colony
of people from York, Maine, who
years prior to the outbreak of the
Revolutionary war. 1t has been
said, however, that even before this,
the French flag flew over the little
peninsula. This was probably dur
ing the same period, when Nine.
Gregoire and her husband came from
France, and settled on Mt. Desert
Island, near Bar Harbor. Nine.
Gregoire was the lineal descendant
of M. Cadillac, who received from
Louis XIV, a grant of one hundred
thousand acres Of land on both sides
Of the bay If such is the case, Sor-
rento can easily date the time of its
first settlement back several decades
prior to the Revolution.
Among these colonists who came
from York, were the Beans, Brag-
dons, Prebles, Simpsons, Sullivans.
sons, Hammonds and Ingalls,.
One of these men, Daniel Bean,
and some of his associates, obtained
a grant of land from the provincial
government, a tract about six miles
square, came here, cleared farms,
and erected log-cabins, being fol-
lowed shortly after by their former
friends, who did likewise. To-day
the descendants of the Bragdons
only, are residents of the town.
Many people believe that this
colony from York were not the first
white people to settle on Waukeag.
On several of the farms have been
found, and many are still to be seen,
small cellars and traces Of founda-
tons, where houses have apparently
stood at some remote period. Mere
og-cabins presumably, yet without
doubt the abode of white men, and
the first settlers of the town.
One of these cellars Is located on
a part of what was once the John
Downing estate. Just across the road
on the same estate, there seems to
have once been brickyard, and the
owner has unearthed many rudely
fashioned bricks, which had ap-
parently lain buried for years. AS
none of the oldest residents can re-
member, or ever heard of a time
when houses were located on these
sites, it would seem that other white
settlers were here before those who
came from York.
Among the colonists who came
from York in 1862, was one Daniel
Sullivan, who was destined to play
an important part in the history Of
Waukeag. He was the second son of
John and Margaret Brown Sullivan,
who were born in Ireland, and came
to York in 1928 Daniel was born
at York.in 1888.
He was twice married; his first
wife being Anne Paul of York, who
died about 1860. His second wife
was Abigail, daughter Of John Bean
of Waukeag. Five children were
born, one son and four daughters.
They were married at Fort Pownal
4 a