WAUKEAG NECK & TOWN OF SULLIVAN - PART 2

WAUKEAG NECK  BECOMES  SULLIVAN

POST-REVOLUTIONARY WAR LAND GRANTS  – PART 2

In 1911 a local student named Armond E. Joy wrote this history of Sullivan for his HS paper and then republished in the Bar Harbor Record.  He provided a fairly accurate retelling of the town but seems to have overlooked including the actual incorporation of the town by the new State of Massachusetts in 1789.

Following the American War of Independence, the General Court of the new Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed several Acts and Laws during the December session of 1788.  During this legislative session Chapter 72 established the town of Sullivan in the County of Lincoln, with the law officially passed on February 16, 1789.  The boundaries of the new town also included several offshore islands, most with familiar names.  Two acts, Chapters 70 and 71, passed during the same session established the towns of Trenton and Goldsboro’ (now Gouldsboro).   1788 ACTS & LAWS

In October of 1785, the Islands off the coast of Sullivan were surveyed for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Rufus Putnam. ISLAND SURVEY

This remarkable document shows Beans Island sold to John Bean and Bragdon’s Island (Now Calf Island) sold to Joseph Bragdon on June 15, 1786.  Prebble’s Island, Ingalls Island, and Sowards Island (Now Treasure Island) have no sale information.  Salt and Pepper, off of Prebble Island are identified as Bar Island, and Little Calf and Thrumcap off of Calf Island identified with the names Burnt and Black Islands. 
What I have been unable to read is the alternate name of Stave Island.

In March of 1804, following the establishment of the town of Sullivan, the resolves of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts formally transferred land to the residents.  The history of Sullivan below indicates the cost to the settlers was $5.00 for every 100 acres.

The acts which outlined the details of these land grants actually established a cost of $20.00 per 100 acres to those who settled before 1784 and $30.00 per 100 acres for those who settled after 1784.  The report also listed all of the residents of Sullivan as of 1803. The grant also allocated any residual lands to Williams and Bowdoin Colleges.

See - 1804 GRANTS

Upon direction of Massachusetts 1802 Senate President DAVID COBB of Gouldsboro, a survey of the lands was conducted - GENERAL COBB BIOGRAPHY. Cobb also acted as the agent for 2 million acres of land that William Bingham owned in Maine - BINGHAM'S LANDS - MORE - MAP

James Peters was hired in advance of the land grants to the town residents of Sullivan, to conduct the survey and produced what is now known as the “Peters Plan.” PETERS PLAN

A plan of the Town of Sullivan taken pursuant to a Resolve of the Hon. Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed the 4th of March 1803 and under the direction of David Cobb, Esq.

Peter's field notes of his survey of Sullivan were published in 1848 and can be found here - FIELD NOTES

A more readable copy of the Peters Plan can be found in the Hancock County Clerk’s deed records.  The Peters Plan for Sullivan remains an important document and is referred to in numerous deed documents. See Hancock County Deeds – Book 1A / Page 25 – recorded 11/15/1803

The plan below is a clearer version of the Waukeag Neck portion of the Town Sullivan and shows the boundaries of the 1804 land grants to the original families.  If you read Peters' survey notes you can use this map to follow his daily progress around the peninsula.

What I have not attempted to document is the transfer of former Native lands to the European settlers.  There were a series of treaties entered into between the Wabanaki people and the colonial governments of both France and England, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and later the State of Maine in 1820.  Background on this 1820 treaty in the Penobscot region can be found here - 1820 TREATY

During the 1960s and 70s, there was a movement to review these treaties and the transfer of lands, including native claims to over 12 million acres of land.   In 1980 a settlement resulted in the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act. 
Legislative History -

To this day, friction over this settlement continues between the tribal nations and the State of Maine.  A recent task force has made recommendations to the legislature to increase tribal authority over such things as criminal justice, taxation, natural resources, land acquisitions, and gaming  – see EDITORIAL