THE KENNEBEC VALLEY-KENNEBEC COUNTY. S. H. Whitney 1887 Augusta: Sprague, Burleigh & Flynt, Printers to the State. 1887 pages 58-71 KENNEBEC COUNTY. A large part of Kennebec County was within the limits of the grant of the old "Plymouth Council" to William Bradford in 1629. The Kennebec River divides the county into two sections; about one-third of its territory lies upon its eastern shore of the river. Swan Island is in this county, but it has long since ceased to be the abode of the ruler of the Kennebec tribe. This county was formerly a part of Lincoln County, which was set a from the county of York in 1760, and em- braced nearly all the territory within the Dis- trict of Maine that was north of the Andros- coggin and all the territory lying east of the Kennebec River. Kennebec County was in- corporate in 1799. Besides its present terri- tory, it embraced Somerset County and part of Waldo, Franklin, Androscoggin, Piscat- aquis and Aroostook counties. Kennebec County is well adapted to agriculture; the soil is, for the greater part, clay loam and in its natural fertility is equalled by no other county in the valley. It is also well populated. This county contains twenty-foul. towns, three cities and one plantation, having a population Of fifty-three thousand. The county seat is at Augusta. Pittston. Pittston is the southern town in the county upon the east side of the river. This town formerly included Gardiner and West Gardiner. The first settler within the limits of this town was Alexander Brown, who settled in the town about 1670. Brown built a log house, cleared a piece of ground fit for tillage and did quite a business in procuring sturgeons for the London market. During the war of 1675, he was killed by the Indians and his house was burned. Nearly a century passed before another at- tempt was made by the whites to settle in the town In 1760, a number of families moved from Portland to this town; among them were Benjamin Fitch, Jonas Winslow and William Philbrick, and a permanent settlement was established. This town was within the limits of the Kennebec Purchase and received. its name.from Hon. William Pitts, who was one of the proprietors. Chelsea. This town is situated upon the eastern bank of the river and ties between Pittston and Augusta. The early history of this town is in connection with that of the town of Hallowell, of' which it formed a part until 1850, when it was set off and incorpo- rated under its present name. Its surface is somewhat broken, yet the soil is very produc- tive. Augusta. This town is about equally di- vided by the Kennebec River, although the main part of the city is upon the west side. August, was ,,, , ,led place; it is situated at the bead of navigation upon the Kennebec River. It was the home of the ancient Cush- nocks, a family of the Kennebec tribe. In 1630, the Pilgrim Colony at Plymouth erected a trading house at this place and quite a lu- crative trade was carried on with the Indians, and it has ever since been the center of trade in the valley. The whites began to settle at this place soon after the erection of the trad- ing-house. When government was first established in the Kennebec valley, the inhabitants of the place were required to take the oath of fidelity to the Government of England. The oath was administered in 1653 by Thomas Prince; below we will give a copy: "You shall be true and faithful to the State of England as it is now established; and, whereas you choose to reside within the Gov- ernment of New Plymouth, you shall not do, nor cause to be done, any act or acts directly or indirectly, by land or water, that shall or may tend to the destruction or overthrow of the whole or part of this Government, orderly erected or established; but shall otherwise hinder or oppose such intents and purposes as tend thereunto, and discover them to those who arc, in place for the time being, that the Government may be informed thereof with all convenient speed. You shall also submit to and observe all such good and wholesome laws, ordinances and officers as are or shall be established within the several limits thereof. So help you God, who is the God of truth and punisher of falsehood." [Abbott.] In the second Indian War the place was laid waste by the natives and so remained un- til about 1713, when Doctor Noyes erected a stone fort t t his point, which was at that time the strongest fortification upon the river. In Lovell's War the fort was destroyed by the Indians and the place was again depopulated- It remained desolate for about a quarter of a century, when Fort Western was erected by tile Plymouth Company and James Howard was given Command; therefore, Howard is considered as the first permanent settler in the town. The building that was used as a store- house and for barracks in connection with the fort is still standing below the bridge upon the east side of the river. It is one hundred feet for about thirty feet wide; the walls of the building are about sixteen feet high and are built of round logs about twelve inches in diameter. The roof is of modern architec- ture. The building is occupied as a dwelling- house. The territory Comprising this town was set off from Hallowell and incorporated in 1796, taking the name of Harrington. Soon afterward the name was changed to Augusta. Previous to the incorporation it was knew- as "The Fort" by the early settlers in the val- ley. Augusta became the shire-town of Ken- nebec County in 1799. The seat of govern- ment was established at this place 1. 1831; Augusta obtained a city charter in 1849. Vassalboro'. This town began to be settled as early as 1760. It embraced at that time the territory which forms the town of Sidney. Among the early settlers were Dennis and John Gatchell. Fort Halifax bad been erected at Winslow about eighteen miles north of Fort Western: besides this no attempt had been made to settle the region above Augusta. The Gatchells were from Cape Cod, and from thence came many of the early settlers in the town. From Fort Western John and Dennis Gatchell came up the river in a small boat till within about three miles of Fort Hali- fax, when they stopped upon the east shore of the liver and commenced to prepare an abode in the wilderness, which, at that time, formed what is to-day the wealthy town of Vassalboro'. Together they soon erected a log house in which they lived until better and more con- venient ones could be built. Other families soon came and settled around them, and in 1768 there were ten families in the town. Vassalboro' was first represented in the Provincial Congress in 1775 by Remington Hobby. Dennis Gatchell was "Captain of the town" in 1774. John and Dennis Gatchell were guides to Arnold's army up the river and across to the Canadian border. John Gatchell was an active business man in those days. His sons were William, John, Abial and Henry. Three of tile sons settled in the town and became prominent citizens. John Gatchell, Jr., and his father were associated in business until about 1,800, when John bought a large portion of the property owned by his father, and large tracts of land of other individuals until one at a time John Gatchell, Jr., owned a large, part of the land in the few.. He also kept a store at Gatchell's Corner and carried on an extensive trade with the early settlers far and near. We find an account between him and Stephen Chamberlain of Solon, and individuals in nearly every town between Carratunk Falls and the ocean. We have at hand a deed in which be conveyed a tract of land to Edward Southwick of Dan- vers' Massachusetts. In the winter of 1806-7 Gatchell did quite a business by way of lum- bering in the town. An abstract from his journal will Convey to the reader the appear- ance of the town in those days. "John Gatchell, Jr., bought of Herman Clark, Geo. Nowell and William Bradford Jr., twenty-nine tons pine lumber at Back- mill, so called and twenty-eight tons of oak. and paid as follows: to each his third part, namely, to Heman Clark I gave my note pay- able the first of June next for thirty-six dol- lars and twenty-eight cents. To William Bradford my note payable June 16th for the same amount. To Geo. Nowell I gave up three notes for eleven dollars and thirty-five cents each, and endorsed two dollars and twenty-three cents on another note which I held against him." This trade was made in the fall of 1806. The lumber was bought by Gatchell upon the stump and out and hauled to the Kennebec River during the following winter. By "Backmill" is meant the mills at the outlet of China Lake or East Vassalboro'. These mills were formerly owned by John Gatchell, Senior. We also find the follow- ing in John Gatchell's day book. "Jan 9, 1807. Have now about four inches of snow; good logging on Abial Gatchell's land." "Jan. 25, about twenty inches of snow. 31, rainy. Feb 1, rainy. "2, cloudy the snow is nearly all gone; bad for the timber cutters at Backmill." In 1815, he sold the home lot to Edward Southwick, who afterward with his brother Joseph carried on an extensive business in the town. The "Vassalborough Woolen Mills" now stand upon the lot occupied by the tannery which was owned by the South- wicks. Samuel and Asa Redington from Boxford, Massachusetts, settled in the town at an early date. A large portion of the early inhab- itants in the town belonged to the society of Friends. They built a house for worship at Gatchell's Corner as early as 1790. This people have always been a peculiar people, zealous of good works. At the opening of the present century there were dwelling in the town a great number of people who rep- resented the various trades and professions of life. There was at the cutlet of China Lake (or "Twelve Mile Pond," as it was called a century ago), a set of mills in which were facilities for grinding corn Bud wheat, sawing lumber, fulling cloth, etc. This place was called Backmill. The business Center of the town was at Gatchell's Corner, which was for nearly half a century the great em- porium of trade north of Augusta. In 1812, the Congregationalist Society built a meeting-house about two miles below Gatchell's Corner. Reverend Thomas Adams was for many years the pastor. Parson Adams will ever be remembered as a faithful minister, a devoted Christian, and equalled by few, and excelled by none, in his ardent labors for the promotion of temperance, Hannah Starr organized a Sabbath school at the Corner in 1810. Deacons Robinson and Hawes deserve mention in this connec- tion. Joseph Abbott was a prominent and successful teacher in the town in its early days. The Sturgis farm is among the best in town. It was settled by those of the name at an early date. Jonas Priest was among the first settlers in the town; the house lie built is still standing and occupied by Theo- dore Priest. The town has ever been noted for its wealth and the frugality of its inhab- itants. Winslow. This town is north of Vassal- boro', upon the same side of the river. The Sebasticook River flows through the town. Waterville was formerly included in this town. At this place dwelt the Tacconets, a sub-tribe of the Kennebecs. Hero dwelt the sachem Assiminasqua, the chief speaker in the Kennebec councils. In 1754, five hun- dred troops were sent up the Kennebec River to explore the carrying place between that river and the Chaudiere. The object of this movement was to build a fortification in the northern Kennebec valley. It was decided best to erect a fort upon the north bank of the Sebasticook River, near its junction with the Kennebec. A part of the building is still standing and may be seen from the car window as you ride through the town. The fort was built of solid timber, twenty feet in height, and having room enough within its walls to accommodate a garrison of four hundred men. The name given to this forti- fication was Fort Halifax. Fort Western, at Augusta, was built the same year by the pro- prietors of the Kennebec Purchase. Fort Shirley was built in Dresden at the same time. It will be remembered that Fort Western was at the head of navigation upon the Ken- nebec River. From Fort Western to Fort Halifax was a distance of eighteen miles, and at that time it was . dense wilderness between them. The Government ordered a road cut through this section and made passable for wheel carriages. Arrangements were made so that an express could be carried from Falmouth (Portland) to Fort Halifax. The express was carried from Portland to Fort Halifax by means of small boats, taking forty-eight hours to make the round trip. While they were building the fort, one man was killed by the Indians, and four more were taken prisoners and carried to Canada. About 1761, eleven families settled around the fort. Among those were the names of Harwood, Bradford, Delano, etc. The town was named in honor of Capt. John Winslow. Gardiner. This is the southern town in the county upon the west side of the river. Its territory was set off from Pittston in 1804, and incorporated under its present name. The town was named in honor of Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, its founder. In 1760, Dr. Gardi- ner erected a mill at the mouth of the Cob- bosseecontee, and there was A flourishing set- tlement begun at once; and by the year 1800, there were about six hundred inhabitants in the town. Robert H. Gardiner has occupied a promi- nent position in the business interests of the town. Williamson speaks of this town as follows: "There is no town in the State that can exhibit such a variety of mills, machin- ery and other mechanical improvements." Hallowell. This town is situated upon the same side of the river as Gardiner-. It re- ceived its name in honor of Benjamin Hal- lowell, one of the proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase. Deacon Clark is recorded as the first set- tler; his log cabin was built upon the spot now occupied by the City Hall. The terri- tory now covered by the city of Augusta was once included in this town. This place was once called "The Hook," to distinguish it from the settlement at "The Fort," as that was called which was around Fort Western. Sidney. This town was set off from Vas- salboro.' in 1792. There were settlements made along the river as early as 1761, and at Snow's Pond about the same time. The Sawtelles were among the early settlers. , The Baptists early formed a society in this tow.. Reverend Asa Wilbur was pastor for many years; be also represented the town in the Legislature one term. Mr. Wilbur's an- cestors were among the first settlers in what is now the city of Boston. Agriculture is the leading business of the town, to which the soil is well adapted. Waterville. This town was taken from Winslow in 1802; the Kennebec River was the dividing line. At this time there were but a few houses upon the west side of the river. It is to-day the most flourishing town in the valley. It has no history connected with the settlement of the English, prior to the begin- ning of the present century; but its Indian history is unsurpassed by any town in the valley. Here dwelt the great orator of the Kenne- bec tribe. The fierce warrior Bomazeen, dwelt at this place a large portion of his time; and the Bashaba, when obliged to vacate his seat upon Swan Island, removed to this place; and as we are writing these words, relies are be- ing unearthed, which convey to us that here was the place where the tribe laid their brave warriors away to rest, when their life's work was done. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Me GenWeb Kennebec County Site ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. 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