Date:
16 Feb 1789
Location:
Gouldsboro, Hancock, Maine, United States
Surnames/tags:
One_Place_Studies Maine Hancock_County_Maine
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This profile is part of the Gouldsboro, Maine One Place Study.
Gouldsboro, is a town in Hancock County, incorporated in 1789 Settled in 1700, the town occupies the upper portion of a peninsula stretching from Frenchman's Bay on the west to West Bay and Gouldsboro Bay on the east.
Timeline
| Date
| Designation
| Note
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| -1534 | name unknown | Wabanaki peoples - the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes
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| 1534-1760 | Nouvelle France | Under French control, no known European settlers
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| 1760 | unorganized territory
Lincoln, Massachusetts Bay | France surrenders September 8, 1760, Britain officially takes control of the area
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| 1762 | Township 3 EUR, Lincoln, Massachusetts Bay | Land Grants including Township No. 3, East of the Union River, Livermore Survey (T3 EUR LS) (Lincoln County, Massachusetts Bay Colony) See Hancock County Land Grants
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| 1764 | Gouldsboro Plantation, Lincoln, Massachusetts Bay | Plantation organized from a portion of Township No. 3, EUR
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| 1776 | Gouldsboro Plantation, Lincoln, Massachusetts | America declares independence from Britain July 4, 1776independence
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| 1789 | Gouldsborough, Lincoln, Massachusetts | Gouldsborough incorporated February 16, 1789 from Goldsboro Plantation.
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| 1789 | Gouldsborough, Hancock, Massachusetts | Hancock County is formed June 25, 1789
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| 1820 | Gouldsborough, Hancock, Maine | Maine becomes the 23 state March 15, 1820
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| 1845 | | annexed land from T7 SD BPP in 1845
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| 1850- 1860 | Gouldsboro, Hancock, Maine | Name was (unofficially) shortened to Gouldsboro
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| 1870 | | annexed land from T7 SD BPP and Hancock in 1870
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| 1895 | | set off land to form Winter Harbor
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| 1905 | | annexed land from T7 SD BPP
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Villages, Locations and Settlements
Villages, Locations
and Settlements
| Settler/Namesake/Note
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| Bald Porcupine Island |
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| Birch Harbor |
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| Bunkers Harbor |
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| Corea |
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| Prospect Harbor |
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| South Gouldsboro |
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| Summer Harbor |
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| West Gouldsboro |
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| Wonsqueak Harbor |
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Pioneer Settlers
Islands
The state of Maine lists over 20 Islands that are part of Gouldsboro Maine Islands
| Islands
| Settler/Namesake/Note
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| Bar Island | can be walked to from Bar Harbor at low tide
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| Burnt Porcupine Island |
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| Hog Island |
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| Long Porcupine Island |
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| Sally |
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| Sheep |
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| Stave Island |
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Maps
Maps (Click an image for details)
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| Gouldsborough Maine
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Stories
Varney's Gazetteer of the state of Maine[1]
Gouldsborough occupies the south-eastern extremity of Hancock County, lying between Frenchman's and Gouldsborough bays. The town also embraces Stave, Ironbound, Porcupine, Horn's, Turtle and Schoodic islands. Gouldsborough is 21 miles east of Ellsworth, and is on the Shore stage-line. The area is about 30,000 acres.
Forbes's and Jones's ponds are the chief bodies of water. The principal eminence is Mount Cromer, 600 feet in height. The surface of the town is much broken, abounding in rocky bluffs consisting of granite penetrated by veins of galena, zinc and copper. There is also greenstone and syenite. At Grindstone Point is an immense deposit of metamorphic or siliceous slate, which might prove excellent material for grindstones.
The soil is clay loam and gravelly loam; but one-third of the area is unsuitable for cultivation. The principal crops consist of wheat and potatoes. The manufactories consist of a flour-mill, two grist-mills, a shingle, and a spool-lumber mill, a saw-mill, and a lobster-canning establishment. There are also six incorporated mining companies, and two unincorporated, but in operation. The ore mined is principally galena, mixed with sulphurets of copper and iron. The centers of business are Gouldsborough village, West and South Gouldsborough, Winter and Prospect harbors.
There were squatters in the town as early as 1700. On Ash's Point are the relics of an old French fortification. The so called Indian dykes are also objects of curiosity. The first settlers were from Saco and vicinity. Their names were Libby, Fernald, Ash and Willey. The
first male child was Robert Ash, and the first female Mary Libby. An old inhabitant says: "Nathan Jones and Thomas Hill settled here in 1764." Maj. Gen. David Cobb, one of General Washington's aids, and later, judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of Hancock County, resided here for many years.
Gouldsborough was incorporated in 1789 ; being named in honor of Robert Gould, one of the original proprietors. That part of No. 7 known as " West Bay Stream," was annexed in 1870. The town furnished 167 men to the Government during the war of the Rebellion.
The amount of town bounty was $27,460. There are 12 persons in Gouldsborough who are over eighty years of age. The town has two churches, both Union. There are twelve public schoolhouses, and the school property is valued at $6,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $224,690. In 1880 it was $225,244. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 2 per cent. The population in 1870 was 1,709. In the census of 1880 it was 1,824.
Wasson's A Survey of Hancock County, Maine :[2]
Gouldsborough.—Incorporated (6-66 town) February 16, 1789. Population, 1709. Decennary loss, 8. State valuation, $224,690. U. S. valuation, $323,560. Received its. corporate name in honor of Robert Gould, one of the original proprietors—Borough, from the Anglo Saxon burgh, a town; in England, a town that sends members to Parliament. There were squatters here as early as 1700. The first settlers were from Saco and vicinity, and were Libby, Fernald, Ash and Willy. The first male child was Robert Ash, and the first female, Mary Libby. The first post office in 1792. An old inhabitant says: " Nathan Jones and Thomas Hill settled here in 1764." Maj. Gen. David Cobb of Revolutionary fame, one of Washington's Aids, and afterwards Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Hancock County, resided here many years. This town embraces Stave, Jordan's, Iron- bound, Porcupines, Horns, Turtle, and Schoodic Islands. That part of No. 7, known as "West Bay Stream," was 'annexed February 26, 1870. It is the most easterly town in the county, and has the most extensive sea-coast. On Ash's Point are the relics of an old French fortification. At Grindstone Point is an immense deposit of metaphoric or siliceous slate, excellent material for grindstones. Its hidden mineral wealth must be developed by some geological scientist, not afraid of " surf-running."
Additional Resources
- Web Sites:
- Books:
Photos
Photo Gallery
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| Schoodic Scenic Byway - Prospect Harbor Light
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Sources
- ↑ Varney, George J. 1886. Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Boston: Russell.
- ↑ Wasson, Samuel. 1987. A survey of Hancock County, Maine. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah.
[send private message], Adrian Stanley 
