Washington
County, as originally constituted, embraced the entire eastern
frontier. of Maine. It was established June 25, 1789, by the
same act which formed Hancock . Its western boundary was the
eastern line of Hancock. It was bounded "south and south-east by
the sea or western ocean, on the north by the utmost northern
limits of this commonwealth, and easterly by the river St.
Croix." In 1839 it surrendered to Aroostook County established
at that date all the territory "north of the north line of the
fourth range of townships, north of the 'lottery townships.
The area of the county is about 2,700 square miles. It has about
180 miles of sea-coast, abounding in bays and inlets which
afford excellent harbors. The principal rivers are the St. Croix
and its west branch, the Schoodic, Denny's, East and West
Machias, Pleasant and the Narraguagus. Of its numerous lakes,
the largest are the Schoodic series, Baskahegan, Meddybemps and
Gardner's. The surface is gradually undulating or varied by
swells of no great height, and the soil back from the seashore
is usually fertile. Probably the first European visitor of Maine
was Capt. John Rut and his crew of the English vessel called
"The Mary of Guilford," in 1527, when he reconnoitered along our
shores, sailing westerly from Liverpool, N.S. The next of whose
landing-place we have definite knowledge was DeMonts, in 1603,
who erected a fort and buildings and passed the succeeding
winter on an island at the mouth of the St. Croix River. This is
now known as Neutral Island. By him it was named St. Croix; and
from this, probably, the river has acquired its name. His
company was composed of Roman Catholics and Huguenots, or French
Protestants, in about equal numbers; himself belonging to the
first, as well as his chaplain. Here was preached the first
European sermon in New England. "There is no authentic record,"
says the historian of Washington County, "of a settlement by
whites on Machias River prior to - June, 1763. Richard Vines,
however, set up a trading-house on the west side of Machias
River, near Clark's Point, now Machiasport, in 1632 or 1633,
leaving it in charge of five men. In less than one month, La.
Tour, a French explorer, deputy and proprietor in Nova Scotia,
seized the whole stock of Vines' trading-house, made prisoners
of the men and sent the whole to France. The French planted a
few habitations here in 1644, but were unsuccessful; and a
similar attempt in 1674 also resulted in failure. In 1748
Richard Hazen was employed by the Governor of Massachusetts to
make surveys and form a chart and plan of the coast. About 1753
Florentius Vassal, a resident of the island of Jamaica, proposed
that Massachusetts should transfer the territory between St.
Croix and Penobscot to him and his associates, on certain
conditions of settlement. The legislative branches of the
government assured him that if he would, within five years,
obtain his Majesty's approbation, introduce 5,000 settlers, a
proportionate number of Protestant clergyman, and satisfy Indian
claims, the emigrants should have all the lands they would
settle, and all the islands within 3 miles of the coast. In 1760
a similar proposition was made to Massachusetts h the Earl of
Castlereagh and Francis Vassal in regard to lands upon Machias
River, but nothing was done. About this time the King authorized
the General Court of Massachusetts to make free grants of land
to those officers and privates who had served in the French and
Indian wars, just terminated. A captain was to receive 3,000, a
subaltern 2,000, and a private 500 acres.
After the downfall of the French power in the north, in 1760,
the Indians manifested a disposition to maintain peace and amity
with the settlers, and to the present time this friendship has
not been interrupted.
The rivers of this county are noted for their falls, and their
ample lake reservoirs, forming abundant water-power. They were
heavily timbered to their sources, and their extensive areas
have been diked and reclaimed from the waters and made valuable
hay producing lands. The bottom lands are rich, and there are
many large tracts of fine arable soil, which are bearing heavy
crops of corn, wheat, hay and potatoes. The rivers are prolific
in pickerel, trout, togue, perch, and salmon. The sea fisheries
are extensive and profitable, employing a large capital and
great numbers of men and boys. The granite business is receiving
increased attention, and excellent quarries are being wrought at
Addison, Jonesborough, Marshfield, and Red Beach in Calais.
Machias, the shire-town of this county from its inauguration, is
also the oldest town. By an act of Congress in 1789, all the
coasts and ports of Maine were classed in nine commercial
districts, in each of which a collector and other customs
officers were appointed by President Washington. Machias was
made a port of entry, Stephen Smith being appointed first
collector. From the earliest settlement of the county its people
have been largely engaged in building vessels, mostly of a small
size, suitable for coasting and fisheries. In 1873, 9,482 tons
of shipping were built in the Machias district. In 1856, 17
vessels, ranging from 100 to 1000 tons each were built at
Robbinston. Pembroke, Calais, East Machias, Lubec, Millbridge,
Columbia Falls and Addison are ship-building towns.
Source: Varney, George J., Gazetteer of the
State of Maine. Boston: B. B. Russell, 1886.
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