1825 Shipbuilding Document, Steuben, Maine; Names of brothers Philo Lewis & Thompson Lewis; and Tunk Mill owners Mark Wilson & Moses Colson

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

January 3, 1825, Steuben, Maine; handwritten document where Philo Lewis and his brother Thompson Lewis are purchasing planks from Mark Wilson and Moses Colson, owners of the Tunk Mill.

A previous contemporary owner of this document wrote "Shipbuilding" in pencil; presumably the Lewis brothers were shipbuilders.

From brief online research: If you have corrections and/or additional information, please leave a comment for the benefit of other family researchers

• Philo Lewis - presumably Philo Lewis (abt 1785-1838); Postmaster of Steuben from 1823-1827; Connecticut native

• Thompson Lewis - presumably Thompson Lewis (abt 1788-1827) - his FindaGrave notes his military rank as Colonel; Connecticut native

• Mark Wilson - presumably Mark Wilson (1782-1866); Maine native, possibly Cherryfield, Maine

• Moses Colson - presumably Moses Colson (1782-1860); Maine native, possibly Cherryfield, Maine

Papers of John Keller Ames (1834-1901), Lumberman of Machias, Maine

 

Invoices and letters associated with John Keller Ames (1834-1901), lumberman of Machias, Maine, whose Christmas card is shown above.  His middle name variants are Kelloch, Keeler, etc.

If you have information on John Keller Ames or any of the people/firms mentioned  below, please leave a comment for the benefit of other family researchers.

Invoices, Letters, in alphabetical order:

Adriance, Platt & Co. of Portland, Maine (Poughkeepsie, New York), Manufacturers of Mowers, Reapers, Binders - invoice of July 24, 1896

Adriance, Platt & Co. of Portland, Maine (Poughkeepsie, New York), Manufacturers of Mowers, Reapers, Binders - invoice of July 27, 1896

Bearce, Murphy & Co. of Portland, Maine, Notions, Clocks, Jewelry, Spectacles, Eye Glasses - invoice of June 15, 1888

A. H. Berry Shoe Company, Manufacturers and Jobbers, of Portland, Maine - invoice of September 14, 1892

John Bird Company, Wholesale Grocers, of Rockland, Maine - invoice of July 6, 1896

W. L. Blake & Co. of Portland, Maine - Fine Engine Va;ve & Cylinder Oils and Portland Lubricating Greases - invoice of March 16, 1891

Cobb, Wight & Co., Wholesale and Retail Grocers and Ship Chandlers, Rockland, Maine - invoice of September 29, 1891

Emerson & Stevens Manufacturing Company, Oakland, Maine - Scythes and Axes - invoice of September 9, 1892

C. R. Gardner of Pembroke, Maine, Manufacturer of Brick, Dealer in Mowing Machines & Farming Implements - letter of July 15, 1889

Hill, Pike & Co. of Calais, Maine, Molasses, Tea, Jobbers of Flour - invoice of March 26, 1896

M. A. Jewell & Company of Portland, Maine, Teas, Tobacco, Cigars, Molasses, Vinegar, Pickles - invoice of July 31, 1886

J. L. Keith & Son of Old Town, Maine, Custom Boots and Shoes - invoice of April 9, 1888

J. L. Keith & Son of Old Town, Maine, Custom Boots and Shoes - invoice of April 12, 1888

I. P. Longfellow of Machias, Maine, Broken Egg, Stove and Mixed Coals - invoice of August 4, 1882

Loring, Short & Harmon of Portland, Maine, Books, Stationery & Paper Hangings - invoice of May 27, 1881

McLellan, Mosher & Co. of Portland, Maine, Blank Book Manufacturers, Stationers, Lithographers, Law Booksellers - invoice of June 10, 1889

Monson Refrigerator Co. of Monson, Maine, Arctic Slate Lined Butter Boxes - invoice of September 9, 1887

Portland Rubber Company of Portland, Maine, Rubber Goods of Every Description - invoice of March 30, 1896

John F. Rand of Portland, Maine, Hosiery, Gloves, Corsets, Underwear & Notions - invoice of September 15, 1893

John F. Rand of Portland, Maine, Hosiery, Gloves, Corsets, Underwear & Notions - invoice of October 24, 1893

Byron Stevens of Brunswick, Maine, Bookseller & Stationer - invoice of March 20, 1889

Widber & Bacon of Portland, Maine, Building Lumber, Doors, Sashes and Blinds, Black Walnut, Cherry, White Wood, Mahogany, Ash, Etc., Brownville and Monson Slate - invoice of October 24, 1881

William Anson Wood Mower & Reaper Co. of Portland, Maine, Mowers, Reapers, Self and Hand Dump Hay Rakes, Harvester and Twine Binder - letter of January 23, 1884

William Anson Wood Mower & Reaper Co. of Portland, Maine, Mowers, Reapers, Self and Hand Dump Hay Rakes, Harvester and Twine Binder - invoice of July 9, 1886

F. C. Young of Winterport, Maine, Harnesses, Trunks, Bags and Robes - invoice of August 12, 1889

1889 Letter from Calvin Rubin Gardner (abt 1834-1909) of Pembroke, Maine, to John Keller Ames (1834-1901) of Machias, Maine; re: Bricks

July 15, 1889 letter from Calvin Rubin Gardner (abt 1834-1909) to lumberman John Keller Ames (1834-1901) in Machias, Maine, regarding Gardner's delivery of bricks to Ames.

According to the letterhead, Gardner was a manufacturer of bricks, a dealer in mowing machines and farming implements and the proprietor of the Gardner House lodging establishment.  

This auction site features a postcard of the Gardner House, although the house depicted may have been a private home.

Gardner mentions delivering bricks to Ames via the Schooner Osias. I wasn't able to find information about a schooner named Osias (Ozias or Osiris ?). Interestingly, there were several people named Ozias in the area. Hopefully a reader will weigh in.

Perhaps the current-day Brickyard Road (map below) was named for Gardner's brickyard, which, if so, was presumably located along it, perhaps close to a wharf.  

If you have information to share on Calvin Rubin Gardner, John Keller Ames or the Schooner Osias (sp?), please leave a comment for the benefit of other family researchers.

Father John B. McMahon, Assigned to the Mission at Eastport, Maine, shortly after his arrival from Ireland in 1840

Father John B. McMahon (abt 1805-), ordained in Ireland, arrived in Boston in 1840 and was assigned to the mission at Eastport, Maine, from about 1841-1843, where he also provided medical services, at no cost, to his parishioners.

Because Father McMahon spoke Gaelic, he was much in demand to hear confession from the newly arrived immigrants from  Ireland and was recalled to Boston by Bishop John Fitzpatrick.

http://www.thebostonpilot.com/opinion/article.asp?ID=193962

Another source mentions that Father McMahon, or another Father McMahon was in Eastport in 1838 [the article says 1828 but 1838 seems more fitting] when Brevet-Brigadier General Brady, colonel of the 2 regiment of Infantry of the U.S. requested the presence of Father McMahon of Eastport to administer the Sacred Sacraments to the soldiers at Hancock barracks in Houlton.

Father John B. McMahon is mentioned several times in The Catholic Church in Maine, written by William Leo Lucey and published in 1957 - particularly on pages 78 and 79

If you have information on Father John B. McMahon, please leave a comment for the benefit of others.

Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland

Many folks downeast have ancestors who came to Maine and the Maritimes from Rathlin Island, off the coast of Northern Island. If you have more information, please leave a comment. 

 Rathlin Island was featured on CNN on January 13, 2023 as one of "the best islands in Europe for getting away from almost everyone" - has about 150 year round residents now. 

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/underrated-european-islands/index.html?gallery=8