| Chapter One The Beginning |
| The devastating French and Indian War, which had continued for seventy long years, was brought to a close. England was victorius over the French and their Indian allies. The rule of Louis XV of France was over. Massachusetts, which controlled most northeastern territory, was now desirous of extending her jurisdiction. For many years she had been looking at the province of Maine. Subsequently, General Pownal was directed to visit the Penobscot River region. In 1758 , he superintended the erection of a large fort at Wasumkeag Point, now known as Fort Point, on the western bank of the river. While here, he also examined the possibilities of establishing a settlement. At about the same time, pioneers Joshua, Ruben, Samuel and Andrew Gray, traversed and explored the reigon now known as Hancock County. They fished for cod off Moosecachick, now known as Cape Rosier and Naskeg ("The Fishing Place"). T hey hunted for mink and beaver at Winneway ("The Beautiful Water Place") known as Walkers pond, formally known as Gray's Pond. They chased the deer and moose over the hills from Kolegwigwak (Blue Hill Mountain) to Wallamatogas (Mount Togas"the place by the hill where we stop to get a fresh drink") The wilderness and wild beasts held no terror for these bold and independent Gray's. As a result of all this activity, an emigeration fever pervaded the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All eyes turned in the direction of the Majorbagaduce Territory as the Mecca of their hopes and dreams. In 1760, General Pownal reported a great number of families "ready to go" to this territory which was , by now, better known. The First Settlers From the shores of Old York (York, Maine) a little vessel, the wind at its back, surged into an empty and silent bay. The year was 1761. Behind lay the black vastness of the Atlantic Ocean. Ahead lay the blue waters of the Penobscot River with its many islands and its green, piney headlands. It was a bay known to those aboard this ship as a place of refuge with a multitude of deep harbors and a likely place to find their future homes. Soon a headland was visible. It stuck out like a bold fist (Dyce's Head) dominating the upper reaches of the bay. It was actually a peninsula (Castine) with the deep Penobscot continuing off to the north on one side and the fjord-like Bagaduce running eastward into the land on the other side. They finally reached the southern tip of the Majabigwaduce (or Majorbagaduce) territory, an Indian appellation that had endured throughout the decade of the French occupation in the 17th Century. Aboard the ship were twenty families, the first settlers to arrive in this strange and foreign land. Among them were the names of Joseph Basteen, Paul and Caleb Bowden, John Conner, John Grindle, Archibald Haney, Thomas Wescott and Andrew, John, Ruben, Joshua, and Samuel Veazie. What these settlers knew of the ways of survival in an unbroken wilderness was scanty. Most of them had been raised on the shores of Old York, where the beaches were sandy and the fields open. Here they were confronted with shores of towering rocky cliffs scattered with jagged pine trees. As they gazed on the looming coast, they must have wondered why the land appeared to be devoid of human occupation. What men, possessed of what kind of qualities, could ever tame the wilderness that seemed to exist. They landed in a well sheltered cove and unloaded their worldly posessions. It could have been the persent Wadsworth Cove, but more likely Castine Harbor. The time of year was early spring, much to their advantage. They had yet to build a home and plant crops in order to survive the forthcoming winter. A few settlers remained on the peninsula, while others pushed inland to locate their land grants around the Bagaduce River. By the end of summer, Most had cleared the land, erected a home and found that their corn and beans were flourishing. Given a winter not unexpectedly cruel, it appeared that the first settlers could survive until the next planting season. When the winter did come howling in, it was bitter and seemed unending, but for a determined and loving family, it was bearable. However, the awesome experience must have been frightening and, to some, defeating. Finally, the winter had come and gone, followed by a long awaited spring and summer. Having learned that the land would yield, that survival was possible and that farms could be built in this rugged frontier, thirty-one additional families arrived in 1762. Of those we know about and who made permanent residences were Nathaniel, Johnathan, Abraham and Jeremiah Stover; Benjamin and Edward Howard; Benjamin Curtis; Joseph Lowell; Timothy Blake and Andrew Webster. From 1763 thru 1774, eighty-four other families chose to make the territory of Majorbagaduce their home. Among them were Frederick Hatch, Charles Hutchins, Eben and Daniel Webster, Daniel Wardwell, Alex Grant, Thomas Nutter, Matthew Webber, Matthew Lymburner, Benjamin Lint, William Marks, Moses and Isreal Blake, John Redman, Joseph Young, and Josiah and Jeremiah Wardwell. Throughout the Revolutionary War period, we find as settlers, the names of John Wilson, John Stover, Jacob and Daniel Sparks, Isaac and Joseph Perkins, Thatcher Avery, Oliver Parker, Pelatiah Leach, Elijah Wilson, Seth Blodgett, David Hawes, Aaron Banks, John Bray and Ichabod Grindle. As each year passed, the deep water anchorage on the peninsula and the inland reaches of the Bagaduce River became ports of call for ships bound east and west. Nails, tools and other much needed supplies were brought by ships that came to trade for lumber and fish. Gradually, a community came into existence and was now in touch with the rest of the English speaking world. Of the families who settled, most were of English decent, followed by Scotch and Irish families. There loctions within the territory were scattered and varied. Some settled in what is now Castine. Others located in the present Cape Rosier area, the Doshen Shore area of West Penobscot, the Brooksville area, and the South and North Penoscot areas. There were others who came, about whom no comment has been made. This is only because historical records haven't revealed their names. But, it can be truely said that, of the names listed above, these were the true fathers of the Majorbagaduce territory and the forthcoming township of Penobscot. Two-Hundred years later, as one scans the pages of the telephone directory, the names of Wardwell, Hutchins, Grindle, Leach, Bowden, Webster, Hatch, Gray and Perkins appear in great numbers. They are, obviously, the decendants of these early settlers. The Incorporation of Penobscot By the year 1785, there were well over one hundred fifty families living in the area known only as the Majorbagaduce Territory. But, twenty-six years after the first settlers arrived, its name was officially changed. Through an act of incorporation, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts decreed that a certain plantation, number 3, called Majorbagaduce, be developed into an official township, and it was to be named Penobscot. This officially took place on February 23, 1787. Its territory was to include all land primarily surrounding the Bagaduce River, and abutting the Penobscot River on the west. Or as we know it today, Plantation #3 , included the towns of Castine, Penobscot, and Brooksville. On April 18th, 1787, a town meeting was held to establish a governing body for the newly created town. Joseph Hibbert was chosen moderator and John Lee, town clerk. Capt. Joseph Perkins, Jeremiah Wardwell, Oliver Parker, Joseph Hibbert and Capt. Joseph Young were chosen as the Slectmen along with John Perkins who became Treasurer. The meeting was held in the home of Colonel Gaberiel Johannot, located near the "narrows" off present route 199 and near the present Castine / Penobscot boundary line. Soon after this meeting, each settler, who had made improvements ini his property, would now receive 100 acres of land granted by the General Court. To properly represent Penobscot, George Thatcher was later elected as the first representative to the General Court of Massachusetts. |
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| Colonel Gabriel Johannot's Homestead |
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