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Edgecomb, in the southern part of Lincoln County, is
situated upon the peninsula formed by the Sheepseot and Damariscotta Rivers, having Newcastle on the north and
Bootbhay upon the south. At the north-western part it connects with Wiscasset by a bridge seveneighths of a mile
in length, across the Sheepseot. West of the south- em part is the town of Westport, a long island in the Sheepscot
River. The surface of the town is moderately irregular being varied both by alluvial gorges and by hills. The highest
of the latter is known as Mount Hunger. Granite is the principal rock. Crystal Pond, near the centre of the town,
has an area of about 100 acres; Matthews Pond, about 40 acres. A mineral spring in this town called the "Rosicrucian
Spring," has become favorably known in some of our cities. The soil of Edgecomb ia sandy loam in the uplands,
and claycy in the lowlands. The crops are hav,barlev, oats, and potatoes. Ice is a large product, there being two
corporations and one or more individuals engaged in the business. The other considerable manufacture is brickmaking,
which is carried on in many localities. A stream proceeding southward from a pond near the centre of the town furnishes
two or more good powers, where were formerly mills, now fallen into ruins. Folly Island, at the north-western side
of the town, sustains the Edgecomb end of the bridge to Wiscasset; and on its south-western point, commanding the
entrances to the harbor, is an octagonal block-house, erected shortly before 1812. At the shore below is Fort Edgecomb,
an elaborate work of masonry, constructed in 1808-9. Its aspect, as viewed from the water approaches, is quite
formidable. The passage between this island and Westport island is known as "Decker's Narrows."
Edgecomb was originally settled in 1744 by Samuel Trask and others, in "several places." After living
undisturbed upon their lands for ten years under a possessory claim, three men from Boston appeared and challenged
their title to them in virtue of an Indian deed. The new claimants surveyed several lots next the Sheepscot and
numbered them. The Indian deed was found to have no definite boundaries, no possession had been taken under it,
and the matter savored strongly of speculation. When made acquainted with these facts, a gentleman of the bar in
Boston undertook the defence of the settlers without fee or reward, and the three claimants abandoned their claim.
In compliment to thelawyer's generosity, the plantation took the name of Freetown. which it retained until it was
incorporated as a town in 1774. The name was given by the General Court in honor of Lord Edgeeornb, who, at this
crisis, was distinguished as a friend to the American Colonies. The Island of Jerernisquain (now Westport), was
included in the corporation, but was held by the "Wiscasset Proprietors," who compelled the settlers
to purchase of them. The island was set off in 1828. Soon after 1800 there was again difficulty in regard to the
squatters' rights, as the lands were supposed to be involved in the "Tappan "claim. ee Newcastle]. But
though this town escaped, it was embraced in the Resolve of Feb. 25, 1813, for quieting the squatters, and the
lots were surveyed and deeds given the settlers by Jeremiah Bailey and Benja min Orr, commissioners appointed by
the executive for the purpose. By these deeds, the commonwealth quit-claimed its right to the land for 13½
cents per acre.
A church was first formed in Edgecomb in 1783. Rev. Benjamin Chapman, the first settled minister, was installed
in 1801. He died In 1804, and was succeeded in 1807 by the Rev. Samuel Sewall. About the time that Mr. Chapman
was settled, Timothy Cuningham, a resident of the town, of the Freewill Baptist persuasion, was made elder of that
society. Moses Davis, Esq., was the first representative of the town in the General Court. He was also a member
of the convention by which Massachusetts ratified the Constitution of the United States. Among later citizens worthy
of note were Isaac Pool and Rufus Sewall, Esqrs., and Captain John Chase.
The town has a library association possessing a library numbering upwards of 300 hundred volumes. The Congregationalists
and Metho dists each have a church in the town. Edgecomb has seven public schoolhouses, and the school property
is valued at $3,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $202,428. In 1880 it was $189,440. The rate of taxation
in 1880 was 1½ per cent. The population in 1870 was 1,056. In 1880 it was 872.
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