Castine Maine

Date: 10 Feb 1796
Location: Castine, Hancock, Maine, United States
Surnames/tags: One_Place_Studies Maine Hancock_County_Maine

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Parent Page: Hancock County

Castine, a town in Hancock County, was once known as Majabigwaduce or Bagaduce for short, now the name of the river on its eastern shore.

In 1629 the (British) King's Council for New England authorized Edward Ashley to establish a trading post at what was then Pentagoet. By 1631 the post was destroyed by the French for the first time, then again in 1635. The Massachusetts Bay colonists attempted to assert their claim, to no avail.

Incorporated in 1796 from portions of the town of Penobscot, it later set off land to Brooksville (in 1817) and then acquired some of the earlier land it had ceded to Penobscot.

The town is named for Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie, Baron de St. Castin who held a French land grant in the area. He made friends with the Indians, attempted to accommodate the English, then fought them and the Dutch to protect the area.

The British finally took the town in 1779, but now the colonists wanted them out. That year Castine was the scene of the defeat of American forces attempt, known as the Penobscot Expedition, to liberate the town. It returned to American control in 1783 at the end of the Revolutionary War.

Two forts, Madison and George, are among the many historic sites throughout the community.
Click here for Castine Category page

Important Dates

Date	Event
September 15, 1759	Wolfe's victory on the Plains of Abraham ended the conflict between France and England over Acadia and Eastern Maine
September 8, 1760	marked the final surrender of Montreal and New France to the British ending French control of present day Hancock County Maine
1762	Land Grants including: Township No. 3 East of The Penobscot River .
February 10, 1763	The Treaty of Paris of 1763 [1] ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years’ War between Great Britain and France, as well as their respective allies. In the terms of the treaty, France gave up all its territories in mainland North America, effectively ending any foreign military threat to the British colonies there.
July 4, 1776	The Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain
1779	The English take possession of Castine Fort and Majabagaduce, and the Americans make an Unsuccessful attempt to recapture it. Fort George and a number of batteries built.
August 10, 1780	Charter to form New Ireland at Castine (failed)[2] Full document transcription
September 3, 1783	The Treaty of Paris, signed officially ending the American Revolutionary War.
February 23, 1787	Penobscot incorporated from Township No 3 EPR.
June 25, 1789	Hancock County was formed from a portion of Lincoln County
February 10, 1796	Castine is incorporated from a portion of Penobscot
1814	Castine made a Port of Entry. British occupy the town, dig a canal and throw up batteries. Treaty of Peace, December 24, 1815. British troops evacuate Castine, April 28th. Town illuminated. United States troops take possession.
June 13 1817	1/5 of the town was set aside to form Brooksville
March 15, 1820	Maine became the nation's 23rd state

Contents 1 Historical Names 2 Pioneer Settlers 3 Islands 4 Maps 5 Stories 6 Sources

Historical Names

Name	Note
Pentagoet (Pentagöet)	Wabenaki name for the river
Bagaduce (Biguyduce, Majorbagaduce, Majorbigwaduce, etc.)

Pioneer Settlers

Pioneer Settler	Arrival Year
John Staples	before 1762 at Fort Castine

Islands

The state of Maine lists 3 Islands that are part of Castine Maine Islands

Islands	Settler/Namesake/Note
Holbrook

Maps

• Castine on Google Maps

Maps (Click an image for details)

		Castine Maine

Stories

A Survey of Hancock County, Maine By Samuel Wasson 1876:
Castine.—Incorporated (10-105 town) February 10, 1796. Population, 1,303. Decennary gain, 53. Wealth, per capita, $335. State valuation, $461,343. U. S. valuation, $664,333. The History of this "old town," has been prepared and published by G. A. Wheeler, M. D. It is an interesting and trustworthy compilation. The town appropriated $350 therefor. Castine perpetuates the name of Baron de St. Castin, a French nobleman, who established a residence here in 1667. It ,has a traditionary history running back to 1555. Under the name of "Pentagoet," it became known to the English settlers of New England, about 1626. It has never been without a garrison from 1630 to 1783. It has been successively possessed by the Indians, French, Dutch and English. Five naval engagements have taken place on the bosom of its harbor. One of those engagements, called the " Penobscot expedition," is said to be the most disastrous issue our arms have ever experienced. The first permanent English settlements made within the present limits of Castine, were in 1760, by Aaron Banks, William Stover, and Reuben Gray. " Old Kit," who died in Brooksville, at the advanced age of 104 years, was born upon the Dea. Hatch farm. The first child, William Stover, was born upon the farm where E. H. Buker lives, in November, 1764. In 1797, one Mariam Freethy, a shiftless person, was warned to leave the place—they had "tramps" in those days. The first corporate town meeting was held at the house of Jacob Orcut, at Orcut's Harbor. During the decennial period, ending 1850, its per capita wealth, with one exception (New Haven), exceeded that of any other town in the United States. For many years it was the Fishing Emporium of Maine. The repeal of the Fishing Bounty Act, and losses by rebel cruisers, have almost completed its commercial ruin. Its loss of taxable estates, from 1860 to 1870, was nearly 40 per cent. It was the shire town from 1796 to 1838. Union soldiers, 157; State aid, $7,627; town bounty, $15,834 ; cost per recruit, $149

Varney's Gazetteer of the state of Maine has the following:
      Castine occupies a peninsula in the south-western portion of Hancock County, overlooking the eastern entrance of Penobscot River. The town of Penobscot bounds it on the north-east, and Castine Harbor separates it from Brooksville on the south and south-east. On the west is Penobscot Bay. Castine is 30 miles from Ellsworth, 18£ miles from the railroad station at Bucksport, and 36 miles from Bangor. The Boston steamers run regularly to this port through the year, rarely missing a trip. The foundation rocks are slate, trap, mica schist, gneiss and granite. The soil is a sandy loam. The principal crops are hay and potatoes.

The village of Castine occupies a commanding position on the eastern side of the peninsula, which gradually ascends from the shore to the height of 217 feet. On the north the shore is more precipitous. At the summit is a rectangular line of hillocks, the remains of Fort George. On the southward shore below are the nearly effaced ruins of Castine's fort, built as early, probably, as 1626 ; and at several points are the remains of batteries erected during the Revolution. The lighthouse and an old block-house are also points to be noted. The whole southward side of the peninsula formerly abounded in ancient relics, articles of Indian manufacture, cannon balls, shells, etc. There is an orchard in town, planted in 1784, which still bears good fruit. The streets of the village are set with shade trees of all ages, and the buildings are in good repair. Many of the dwellings are large and old, and there is an air of elegance and repose. Before it spreads out the grand harbor, dotted with islands. The depth of the water and the movement of the tide, make it an open harbor for large vessels at all seasons, with rare exceptions. The business is chiefly related to the fisheries. There is one saw-mill and one grist-mill, a large brickyard, two canning-factories for putting up lobsters, clams and other fish ; a rope-walk, and a cod and mackerel line factory,—the latter doing a business of $20,000 annually. At the head of the peninsula is a lighthouse of stone, having a flashing, white light. For a quiet summer resort, Castine is equal to any point on the coast. The climate is very healthy, and old people abound. It is now made the terminus of numerous summer excursions; and picnicking parties find it a very convenient and attractive locality.

1889 Bird's Eye View of Castine

The history of Castine goes back to the earliest settlement of our coast. The French explorer, Thevet, who visited the Penobscot in 1555, refers to an old French fort in this vicinity. Its neighborhood was explored by James Rosier in 1605 ; and in 1626 a trading house was established here by Isaac Allerton, under the direction of the Plymouth colony of Massachusetts. In 1632, the house was surprised and rifled by the French under Rosillon. Having been re-stocked, in 1635 it was attacked and occupied by another Frenchman, DAulney, deputy governor in Acadia. From 1643 to 1651, it was sometimes the scene of the conflict waged between DAulney and La Tour, rival proprietors, the first a Romanist, the latter nominally a Huguenot. In 1648 Friar Leo laid the corner stone of a Capuchin chapel. The place was taken by the English again in 1654. In 1667 Baron Castine arrived upon Penobscot Bay, the region being then known as Pentagoet; and in 1670 Fort Pentagbet, at what is now Castine, was was formally surrendered by Colonel Temple to Grandfontaine, who represented the French government. In 1673, the place had 31 white inhabitants; and the next year it was taken by a Flemish vessel commanded by Captain Jurriaen Aernoots.

Yet in 1687, we again find Castine in possession, when he was notified by the Government of New England to surrender the place to them. Two years later the heights of this peninsula were the scene of the torture of Thomas Gyles by the Indians. The locality began about this time to be called Biguaduce, later, Bagaduce, from Marche-Biguatus, an Indian term supposed to mean "no good cove." Sir William Phipps took possession of the place in 1690. In 1693 Castine was again in possession, aud temporarily gave in his adhesion to the English. In 1703, the English plundered the house of Anselm Castin, eldest son of the baron, the latter having returned to France. Anselm himself in 1722, went to France, to succeed to his father's estate, and another son, Joseph Dabadis St. Castin, was left in possession of the Acadian estate. In 1779, Bagaduce was assailed by General Francis McLean with 700 men, in a fleet of seven or eight sail. Their landing was made in front of Joseph Perkins' house, which stood on what is now the south-east corner of Maine and Water streets. Having fortified the place, the British were attacked late in the following July, by a force fitted up by Massachusetts, consisting of a fleet of 19 armed vessels and 24 transports, carrying 344 guns, under Dudley Saltonstall, and a land force of about 1,200 men, under Gen. Samuel Lovell, seconded by Gen. Peleg Wadsworth ; Col. Paul Revere having charge of the ordnance. The most striking action of this siege was the storming of the bluff by the Americans, by which they gained a permanent lodgment on the peninsula, but with the loss of over 100 of their number. They advanced their works, with continued success, upon the extensive fortifications of the enemy ; and the siege failed of its object only by the insubordination of the captains of the fleet, and the over-caution of the commander. At length a fleet of British ships arrived, and Saltonstall's ill-governed vessels made haste to escape, and were in consequence nearly all captured by the British, or run ashore and burned. The land force escaped across the river above, and thence through the woods to the Kennebec. This was the noted "Penobscot expedition," the greatest display and the greatest failure of the Americans in New England during the war. The escape of Gen. Wadsworth and Colonel Burton from their imprisonment in Fort George in June, 1780, is one of the oft-related incidents of Castine history. A fort was built here about 1811 by the Americans, which was occupied by the British in 1814-15, and called by them Fort Castine. During the late civil war it was rebuilt and garrisoned by a company of U. S. troops. It was at one time called Fort Porter.

The town of Penobscot, which included Castine, was incorporated in 1787 ; and in 1788 it was first represented in the General Court, the representative being Gee rge Thatcher. Penobscot was made a collection district of the United States in 1789. The town of Castine was set off and incorporated in 1796, and was also made the shire town of the county. In 1814, the town was again occupied by the British, who held it undisturbed until April 28, 1816, more than four months after the treaty of peace. No place in Maine has experienced so many vicissitudes as Castine. It has been held successively by the Indians, French, Dutch and English; and many naval engagements have taken place in its harbor. After the Revolution, Castine became rapidly settled, and for a long time it was the most important mart of business in the eastern part of Maine. Shipbuilding was formerly a leading industry, and the fitting out of vessels for the Grand Banks was carried on largely. In 1838 the courts were removed to Ellsworth, the act granting bounty to fishermen was repealed and shipbuilding declined, all contributing to the commercial injury of the place. Isaac Parker, of Castine, was the first lawyer in the county, and represented the district in Congress from 1796 to 1798. Hezekiah Williams, also a respected member of the Hancock bar, was representative from 1845 to 1849. William Abbott, who settled in the town in 1801, was a sound, able and honorable lawyer. Dr. Joseph L. Stevens was for many years the leading physician and a valued citizen. Dr. G. A. Wheeler, author of the excellent history of Castine, has succeeded to his practice. Others highly esteemed are C. J.Abbott, Esq., Deacon Samuel Adams, William Witherell, a well-known merchant. The town furnished 106 soldiers and 19 sailors for the Union in the war of the Rebellion, of whom 18 soldiers were lost. Rev, William Mason, the first minister of Castine, was ordained as a Congregationalist, but became Unitarian ; and Castine has now one of the two Unitarian churches in the county. There are now also Congregationalist (Trinitarian) and Methodist churches in the village. The church-edifices are fine buildings. A State Normal School was opened here in 1873, with accommodations for 200 pupils. It is well patronized. The schools of the village are graded, and a high-school is sustained. The town has six schoolhouses, and the school property is valued at $10,000. The valuation of real estates in 1870 was $461,- 343. In 1880 it was $362,754. The rate of taxation in the latter year was $2.14 to $1,000. The population in 1870 was 1,303. In 1880 it was 1,215.

Sources

• john StaplesThe Maine historical magazine page 2

• John StaplesThe Maine historical magazine page 13

• The Maine Genealogist. Farmington, ME: The Maine Genealogical Society, 1977-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) The Artificers and Inhabitants Who Built Fort Geroge 1779-1780

1. ↑ Treaty of Paris
2. ↑ Charter for New Ireland,

• Varney, George J. 1886. Gazetteer of the state of Maine: with numerous illustrations.
• Wasson, Samuel. 1987. A survey of Hancock County, Maine. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah.

Also See:

• Castine Town website
• GenWeb Castine
• Magorbigwaduce Petitioners, 1763
• Maine Genealogy Net's Castine page
• Some Residents of Castine and Penobscot, 1785-1790
• Wikipedia Castine

• Castine,ME [Images Of America Series] Castine Historical Society. 1996. Castine. Dover, N.H.: Arcadia Publishing.

• Wheeler, George Augustus (2018) History of Castine, Penobscot and Brooksville, Maine: including the ancient settlement of Pentagöet. Bangor [Me.]: Burr & Robinson.(1875 Edition) .

• Wheeler, George Augustus _ Publication date 1896 Castine, past and present; the ancient settlement of Pentagöet and the modern town