History of Eliot, Maine
From
A Gazetteer of the
State of Maine
By Geo. J. Varney
Published by B. B. Russell, 57 Cornhill,
Boston 1886
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Eliot, situated in the north-western part of York County,
on the eastern bank of Piscataquis River, was incorporated under its present name in 1810. Previously to this it
was the north parish of Kittery, and bore the name of Sturgeon Creek. Walter Neal, as the agent of Gorges and Mason,
made grants of land here in 1632; and it is thought to have had settlers a little before this date. One of the
earliest settlers of whom we have a definite account was Nicholas Frost, who settled at Sturgeon Creek about 1636.
He filled various offices of the town, and died in 1663 at the age of seventy-four years. lie has many descendants,
several of whom have been eminent in their generation. Other early settlers were the Hills, who came about 1670
or 1680; Anthony Emery, who came before 1652, as he was one of the selectmen in that year; James Tobey came about
1675, receiving a town grant in 1687, and was killed by the Indians about 1705; John Heard, was an early settler
and a noted school-teacher in his day; Nathan Bartlett and his brother, who were tanners, came about 1713. The
first settlers were allowed to take up as much land as they could fence, on condition of paving 2 or 2½
shillings per acre for 100 years. The best, if not the only, garrison-houses standing in town in 1870 were the
two upon the farm of Joseph Frost, Esq., having been built by his grandfather about 1735 and 1740. During the war
of the Rebellion the town provided its full quota of men, paving on an average $400 bounty. Among the memorable
names of former days are those of the Bartletts, and Alpheus Hanscom, teachers Rev. John Rogers, first minister
of the Congregational church, in its service for fifty-two years, until his death in 1768 ; also Rev. Alpheus Spring,
his successor, and Rev. Samuel Chandler, who followed ; Captain Moses Paul of the Methodist church, and the Aliens,
Fryes, Neales and Jenkins, of the Society of Friends. |
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