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

November 1845 Document from Bion Bradbury, Customs Collector at Passamaquoddy, Eastport, Maine, to Customs in Alexandria, Virginia

 

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog.

November 22, 1845 document from Bion Bradbury (1811-1887), Customs Collector at the District of Passamaquoddy, in Eastport, Maine, to the Customs Collector in the District of Alexandria, then, apparently, considered part of Washington, D.C.

The document concerns the Schooner Lucinda Snow of Boston, whose master was then William Hall.

The schooner Lucinda Snow came to grief after a voyage to the Gulf of Mexico, where her cargo was unloaded in Galveston, and she was then chartered by the U.S. Government for use during the Mexican-American War.  During the "great norther" of May 2, 1846, the schooner was cast upon the island of Sacrificios near Vera Cruz, Mexico, and later became the subject of a lawsuit.

Bradury, a native of Biddeford, Maine and graduate of Bowdoin College, was an attorney, before, in 1844, being appointed Customs Collector for the Passamaquoddy District. He served in the Maine State Legislature and ran several times for governor, but was not successful, although, according to a contemporary note in pencil on the document, he did serve as Lieutenant Governor at one time.

See a photograph of him circa 1880, on the Maine Memory Network.  From the July 2, 1887 issue of the Portland Daily Press:

If you have information on Bion Bradbury, William Hall or the Schooner Lucinda Snow, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.  

And if you know of a way for Google Maps to show sea routes, please let me know.

Abraham Lincoln Campaign Button from Collection of Jim Jollotta of Eastport, Maine

 

Business card of antique dealer James N. Jollotta (1912-1993), "Jim", of Eastport, Maine, with an Abraham Lincoln campaign button pinned to it. 

Jim made a point of making friends of everyone he met, from figures in World War II, to politicians and their families, to screen stars, to Eastporters made good and to any interesting man or woman he encountered. Until his death in 1993, he spent every Christmas with Caroll Edwin Spinney (1933-2109), originator and persona of "Big Bird" and "Oscar the Grouch", himself with Eastport connections. 

The pin itself is not in the best condition but when I saw it on eBay in 2013, I had to have it for its connection to Jim, who was a friend of the family.

The reverse has a message written in Jim's hand, on October 23, 1963, noting that he was presenting the pin to Rev. Otto L. Palmer (1927-2021).  Jim noted that the pin had originally been presented to him by the late Mr. Joannson.

Perhaps Rev. Palmer, a native of Aroostook County, Maine, pastored at Eastport at some point, or he and Jim met each other at a gathering of some kind.

If you have information on James N. Jollotta (1912-1993), "Jim"; or Rev. Otto L. Palmer (1927-2021); or an identity for Mr. Joannson, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

1914 State of Maine for Logging Tax for John W. Hinch, Eugene R. Kelley, Danforth, Maine

State of Maine Treasurer's Office invoice for the State, County and District Taxes on forestry lands in Aroostook County: to "John W. Hinch for Eugene R. Kelley in Danforth, Maine".

This item is the subject of a listing on the online auction site eBay, for October 2022.  

John W. Hinch (abt 1860-1918) - prominent lumberman with interests in Maine and New Brunswick.

Eugene R. Kelly

If you have information on either of these men, please leave a comment for the benefit of other family historians.

Danforth, in Washington County, is adjacent to Weston, in Aroostook County. 

CDV of a Man IDed as Eugene C. Drisko; by the Vose studio of Machias, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Carte de Visite of a man identified on the reverse as Eugene C. Drisko; by the Vose studio of Machias, Maine.

His given name starts with "Eug" and then fades but is presumably Eugene.  

If so, he was likely Eugene Cyrus Drisko (1853-1943) of Jonesboro, Maine, son of Joseph Whitney Drisko and Isabel Frances (Farnsworth) Drisko.

Eugene married:

1. Asenath Ingersoll Barton (1852-1876), with whom he had a daughter Mabel Drisko,
2. Arathusa B. Smith (abt 1861-1933), with whom he had two children, a daughter Mina Eva Drisko and a son Joseph Whitney Drisko, with the latter dying in infancy.

If you have information to share on the Drisko, Farnsworth, Barton and Smith families of Washington County, Maine, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Photograph of a Man and his Work Horse Team at a Logging Camp in Northern Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Late 19th or early 20th century photograph of a man and his work horse team at a logging camp in Northern Maine.  No identification of the man or specific location.

The reverse has this handwriting: 

This picture was taken in the birch woods in Northern Me.

Where the tall and queenly birches

All decked in silver rags

Are wooed by balsam lovers

Mid lonely mountain craigs

Either "craigs" was meant to be "crags", or "craig" is a clever clue to the man's identity.

In case you have a similar photograph with a similar background, please leave information as to who and where in the comments, for the benefit of others.

With most of Maine's population in the South, "Northern" to some can sometimes be no farther north than Central Maine in the area where logging was king.  But it's possible this photograph was taken in the northernmost county of Maine, Aroostook, or the northern reaches of Somerset, Piscataquis, Penobscot or Washington counties.

Photograph of a Young Man IDed as Colin MacNichol, No Studio Imprint, but possibly Eastport, Maine, area

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Photograph of a young man identified on the reverse as Colin MacNichol. 

The reverse mentions: "Gave to me in 1920".

No studio imprint to give an idea of locale, but it's possible he was from the MacNichol family in Washington County, Maine and Charlotte County, New Brunswick.

Possibly James Colin MacNichol (1886-1960), if he went by "Colin", at least when he was younger.  This man was born in Eastport, Maine, the son of Avery Alexander MacNichol and Margaret (O'Brien) MacNichol. This Colin would move to New York and would marry Nancy Nicholls.

Although the photograph seems to have come from a later era, another possibility for Colin might have been Colin MacNichol (abt 1848-1913), a Customs officer in Eastport, Maine.  This Colin was born in Mascarene, New Brunswick, the son of John MacNichol and Jane (McDiarmid) MacNichol.  Colin married Abby Davis about 1894.

If you have a theory as to the identity of the Colin MacNichol pictured, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

CDV of a Young Boy IDed as Sterling Fessenden at 7 Years 11 Months, Eastport, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Carte de Visite of a young boy identified on the reverse as  "Sterling Fessenden, 7 years 11 mos, Eastport, August 1883"

It's likely that Sterling was Sterling Fessenden (1875-1943), son of Nicholas Fessenden (1847-1927) and Laura Emily (Stirling or Sterling) Fessenden (1852-1935) [although her birth year looks to be 1851 in the photograph of her stone]. 

Sterling's paternal grandparents, Hewitt Chandler Fessenden and Mary Turner (Peterson) Fessenden were in Eastport, Maine, by 1860 where Hewitt practiced medicine.  Their son Nicholas moved to Fort Fairfield, Maine, upon his 1874 marriage to Laura Emily Stirling, a native of that town, where Sterling would be born in 1875. I imagine young Sterling's photograph was taken on a visit to his paternal grandparents.

Sterling would graduate from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and find his way to China, where he would run the Municipal Court in Shanghai and, if the facts are correct, lead a rather controversial life.  

If you have corrections and/or information to share on the Fessenden and Stirling/Sterling families, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

John Moor(e) Thistle (abt 1854-1910), Mariner, of Eastport, Maine and his Chinese Wife Mary Ah Say (1864-1903)

 An interesting article from the Seacoast Online of New Hampshire about Chinese families in Exeter, New Hampshire, which contains mention of the family of John Moor(e) Thistle (abt January 1854-1910) of Eastport, Maine, who married a Chinese woman, Mary Ah Say or Ashay (1864-1903) , in Japan.  

According to the article, John and his bride moved to Shanghai, China, where they had four children, and later moved to the United States, presumably the area of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where another two children were born, at least one in Portsmouth in 1892.

At the time of enumeration of the 1900 US Census, John and family were living in Exeter, New Hampshire.  John, the son of Irish immigrant James Thistle and Louise (Roix) Thistle, died in 1910 in Exeter.

Read the article here:  

https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/2022/05/20/historically-speaking-chinese-families-exeter/9827152002/

1814 Letter from Lt. E. Manning at Fort Sullivan in Eastport, Maine, to Lt. Andrew Lewis in Castine, Maine

June 10, 1814 letter from Lieutenant E. Manning of the 40th Infantry, stationed at Fort Sullivan in Eastport, Maine, to Lieutenant Andrew Lewis, 40th Infantry Commanding, at Castine, Maine.

[Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog]

Interestingly, both Fort Sullivan and Castine would fall into British hands, as the result of a surprise invasion not long after.  In the case of Fort Sullivan, which was captured on July 11, 1814, the British would not leave until June 30, 1818, as Eastport had been disputed territory since the American Revolution, and the British were anxious to retain it.

Interesting content:

• ... I fired a small Gun or Swivel burst and murdered two men, one of which died (Alden) third day after, the other is likely to do well.  Did "murdered" have a different meaning at that time - i.e. "grievously injured" as well as "killed"?
• The writer found Robbinston women more to his liking than Eastport women.
• I ordered two (women) drummed out of Camp yesterday, which caused considerable laughter in Post.

This letter appeared on page 200 in the The Bangor Historical Magazine, Volume 3, July 1887-June 1888.  The contents page lists many interesting articles, including several others with an Eastport, Maine, connection.

Transcript

LETTER FROM EASTPORT, 1814

[From Lieut. E. Manning, 40th Infantry U.S.A., to Lieutenant Andrew Lewis, 40th Infantry, Commanding, at Castine.]

"FORT SULLIVAN, 10th June, 1814 (EASTPORT).

DEAR SIR: - I have not had an opportunity to write you before, since my arrival at this Post. I was at Robbiston last month, and was relieved by Lieut. Blanchard. On his arrival at that Post, I fired a small Gun or Swivel, which burst and murdered two men, one of which died (Alden) third day after, the other is likely to do well. Robbinston is a fine place andthe young ladies very agreeable, much more so than at Eastport. Carpenter is at Machias. He released Lieut. Blanchard the last day of this month. I hope your situation is agreeable, which if it is or not, I hope you let me know by writing me. I have nothing new to write, except I ordered two (women) drummed out of Camp yesterday, which caused considerable laughter in Post.

I am with due consideration, Sir, your most obedient servant.

E. Manning, Lieut. 40th Infantry

Lieut. Andrew Lewis, 40th Infantry.

Diorama of Fort Sullivan (1808-1873)

Fort Sullivan was captured by the British on June 11, 1814 and was renamed Fort Sherbrooke, in honor of Canadian military and political leader Sir John Coape Sherbrooke (1764-1830). When the British finally quit their occupation, on June 30, 1818, the fort returned to its original name of Fort Sullivan.

As for the origin of Sullivan, what is known is that it was likely named for one of two Sullivan brothers, with the younger brother the more likely.

• John Sullivan (1740-1795), a Revolutionary War general
• James Sullivan (1744-1808), Governor of Massachusetts, who died during his second term in 1808, the year the fort was originally built.

Photograph of Ellen Bloodgood Hunt (1857-1939), "Nellie", of Robbinston, Maine; by a Norfolk, Virginia, Studio

Photograph of a young woman identified on the reverse as Nellie Hunt of Robbinston, Maine; taken by the studio of Morgan & Myers of Norfolk, Virginia.

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog.

From brief online research,. hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:

Ellen Bloodgood Hunt (1857-1939), "Nellie", was born in Virginia to merchant and ship builder  Hiram Hunt (1809-1891) and Sarah (Bonsal) Hunt (1826-1900), who were natives of Massachusetts and Virginia, respectively.

A collection of Hiram Hunt papers is held at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine.

On July 23, 1887 Nellie and Samuel Hinkley Nickerson (1857-1895) of Calais, Maine, indicated their Intention to Marry and married on July 27, 1887. They lived in Calais, Maine, and had at least two children, before Samuel's untimely death. Nellie continued to live in Calais.

If you have information to share on the Hunt and Nickerson families, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Photograph of an Older Woman, possibly Mary Jane (Leighton) Wilbur (abt 1821-1899) of Pembroke, Maine

Photograph of an older woman identified on the reverse as Mary Wilbur; no studio imprint.

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

I was told she is Mary Jane (Leighton) Wilbur (abt 1821-1899) of Pembroke, Maine,  wife of Josiah Wilbur (1821-1902), but hope that a reader will provide confirmation. 

Mary Jane (Leighton) Wilbur was born in Pembroke, Maine, about 1821, the daughter of John Leighton and Sarah (Maker) Leighton, as shown on her death record - although in some places her birth year is given as 1826.

Mary Jane and Josiah Wilbur, who declared their intention to marry on 18 April 1844, had at least 8 children, as shown in a town record, which also shows that two sons died in 1861 and another son in 1885.

If you have family photographs of Mary Jane (Leighton) Wilbur or have come across a likeness of her in your research, please leave a comment below.  

1846 Sampler Wrought by Sarah Ann Cheeney (1835-1895), then of Eastport, Maine

 Tilly Laskey, curator at Maine Historical Society, has sent along a link to the sales offering of a wonderful family record sampler wrought in 1846 by Sarah Ann Cheeney (1835-1895), then in Eastport, Maine.

https://www.antiquesamplers.com/samplers/cheeney,-sarah-a.htm

Sarah was born in Pembroke, Maine, on April 27, 1835 to George Cheeney and his wife Mary A., natives of Derry, New Hampshire, and Salem, Massachusetts, respectively.  George and Mary had married in Dennysville, Maine, on July 28, 1834.

Children listed on the sampler:

• Sarah Ann Cheeney, born in Pembroke, Maine, on April 27, 1835 [Sarah's gravestone gives her year of birth as 1836 but that does not reconcile with the birth of her next younger sibling]
• Emma Sophia Cheeney, born in Pembroke, Maine, on November 14, 1836
• George Alvin Cheeney, born in Robbinston, Maine, on January 12, 1839
• James William Cheeney, born in Eastport, Maine, on April 12, 1843
• Lemuel G. Cheeney, born in Eastport, Maine, on May 12, 1849

Sarah Ann Cheeney married George Kilborn, Jr., in 1858 in Boston, Massachusetts. She and George are buried in the Forest Dale Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.

If you have information on the Cheeney family, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.