Four Sisters, Four Different Women: Ethelyn

Ethelyn Violet Skinner was third daughter born to Myron and Edna (Southard) Skinner on 7 May 1898 in Portland, Maine.  She was born at home at 41 Pitt Street in Portland where her parents were living at the time of her birth.  She appears to have been happy as a child living at home in Portland with her family in photos.

Ethelyn on the left as an infant in 1898 with her mother and sisters, Alice and Bertha.  Ethelyn age 4 in 1902 on right

She and her two older sisters attended Oakdale School in Portland which was located a few buildings away from where they were living.  Her mother contracted blood poisoning from the birth and for the next few months suffered, dying just weeks before Ethelyn’s 5th birthday.  In 1904, her father moved the family to Exeter, Maine where her grandparents could help raise Ethelyn and her sisters.

Ethelyn and her sisters in 1902 in Portland,

Maine Bertha age 10, Alice age 6 and Ethelyn age 4

At some point in Ethelyn's childhood, she was taken in by her adopted grandparents, John and Mary (Tibbets) Pease who had adopted her mother, Edna.  Ethelyn's daughter, Hilma said that the Pease's were willing to only adopt and care for Ethelyn because she reminded them of their adopted daughter, Edna.  It may have been that Ethelyn's father knew of his wife's unhappy childhood and adoption by the Pease's who only wanted to adopt one of his daughters, that helped in the decision in keeping his four daughters together and raising them himself.  There was a photo taken of Ethelyn as a child with the Pease's probably taken soon after they arrived in Exeter, but it does not appear that she was raised by them for any amount of time.

Mary and John Pease, 

She attended schools in Exeter.  A diary kept by Ethelyn's oldest sister, Bertha in 1913 paints a picture of Ethelyn and her sisters spending most of their days doing chores and homework with little help from neighbors or family with the family farm.  A letter from Ethelyn's uncle, George Skinner of Hyde Park, Massachusetts arrived that same year asking if Myron would be willing to send one his daughters to live with them to help with the household chores.  None of the girls ever left home as children to work elsewhere.  She graduated from Exeter High School in 1917.  She then took a teaching job in New Sweden, Maine where many people of Swedish ancestry had settled.  She resided with a family named Anderson while teaching in Aroostook county and the woman who looked after her was named Hilma.  Ethelyn named her first daughter after this woman who was so kind to her since it was her first time away from her family and home.

Ethelyn 1915, Exeter, Maine

Ethelyn about 1918

A postcard and a letter written to Ethelyn by Donald Smith dated 1918 while he was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts during World War I shows she had already met her future husband.  It is not known how they met exactly.  His letter to her discussed the idea of her moving to Corinna and earning more money by working in the mill there and to be closer to her family.   Ethelyn's sister, Bertha began working in the mill in Corinna and had rented a room in Corinna with their younger sister, Velma, who was attending school at Corinna Union Academy.  There had been contact between Ethelyn's maternal biological family, the Southards who were also from Corinna and it may have been through this connection that Ethelyn met her husband who was also from Corinna.  It is also possible they met through Ethelyn's cousin, Harold Skinner who was also stationed at Fort Devens with Donald. In 1918, she returned home and began working in the mill in Corinna, Maine. 

Donald returned to Corinna after being discharged from the service in 1919 and married Ethelyn in Corinna within months of returning home.  Their marriage was announced by Mary Pease, her adopted grandmother, who paid for their wedding as well.   Donald and Ethelyn honeymooned in New Sweden, Maine.

Ethelyn and Donald wedding 1919

They returned to Corinna and rented an apartment in town while their home was being built on Pleasant street.  Their home was actually an old barn that was moved closer to the road and rebuilt into a house on one side and the other side was for Donald’s business as a painter and paper hanger.  The land was given to Donald by his father. 

Ethelyn was a mother to six children.  She had first, Hilma born in 1920 and second, Athalie born in 1922. Then they had no children for ten years. Ethelyn then had four more children over the next ten years, Donald born in 1932, Gwendolyn born in 1934, Dean born in 1936 and Glenn born in 1940 when she was 42 years old.  She had all, but her last child at home. 

She raised the six children and was a very good cook.  Many of the memories of her children and relatives were the many great desserts she made as well as being in the kitchen always cooking over a hot stove, even during the summer months.  After, her in-laws home burned in 1946, they also moved in with her family, adding a separate apartment for them in the part of the house that was Donald’s business.  But as her mother-in-law became older and needed more help, a door was put between the residences, so Ethelyn could help her.

Don and Ethelyn with 4 youngest children, Malcom, Glenn, Dean

and Gwen 1946, Corinna, Maine

Ethelyn marriage was not a happy one as her husband was physically abusive to her and the children.  Because she had children to care for and no income, even the few times she left him, she returned home.  Her daughter felt that much of her father's issues came from the stress of having too many children and not enough money after the depression and war and took his frustration and anger out on his wife and children.  After her husband’s death, she was her finally able to enjoy her family and free of the constant worry of her husband’s anger.

As her children grew up and left home, Ethelyn was able to work outside the home.  She worked at the snowflake canning Company in Corinna and was a member of the Pleasant Street Christian Church.  Ethelyn was well liked by everyone from neighbors and relatives who felt she was always kind and caring towards them.

Ethelyn and Donald 1962 at their son

Glenn's wedding

For me as Ethelyn was my grandmother, I know was lucky to spend time with her as a child.  I remember she was my grandmother that hugged me, spent time with me and made me feel special. I liked spending time with her.

In 1972, after suffering from diabetes for several years, she had to have surgery as the circulation in her legs had gotten worse and started to cause her toes to turn black.  It was decided to amputate her leg to stop the spread.  She died following the amputation at Thayer Hospital in Waterville, Maine.

Ethelyn was buried in Village cemetery, Corinna, Maine next to her husband and son, Dean.



Donald Clifford Smith and Ethelyn Violet Skinner had the following children:

1.    Hilma Edna Smith was born on 11 May 1920 in Corinna, Maine She died on 21 February 2011 in Corinna, Maine. She married Thurlow Dalziel Knowles on 14 October  1939 in Corinna, Maine.

2.    Athalie Shirley Smith was born on 22 July 1922 in Corinna, Maine. She died on 9 October 1986 in Falmouth, Maine. She married Orris Stanley Basford on 3 August 1940 in Burnham, Maine.

3.    Donald Malcolm Smith was born on 15 July 1932 in Corinna, Maine. He died on 24 October 2020 in Gorham, Maine.  He married Barbara Dean Merrill on 20 November 1954 in Dexter, Maine.

4.    Gwendolyn Mary Smith was born on 8 March 1934 in Corinna, Maine. She died on 18 December 1990 in Bowdoinham, Maine. She married Carl Merton Bragg on 4 September 1951 in Newport, Maine, USA. She married Richard Fowler before 1967. She married Henry S. Gilliam on 28 January 1978 in Brunswick, Maine.

5.    Dean Wendall Smith was born on 17 December 1936 in Corinna, Maine. He died on 23 September 1997 in Bangor, Maine. He married Cindy Loughman in March 1973 in Bangor, Maine. He married Starr Lounder on 25 July 1982 in Bangor, Maine. He married Elizabeth N Lally on 20 June 1987 in Maine, USA.

6.    Glenn Stanton Smith was born on 27 December 1940 in Hartland, Maine. He died on 28 June 1996 in Gorham, Maine. He married Shirley Ann Buzzell on 31 August 1962 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA.

Four Sisters, Four different Women: Alice

Alice Marguerite Skinner was the second child born to Myron and Edna (Southard) Skinner on February 7, 1896 in Portland, Maine.  Like her older sister, Alice attended schools in Portland until 1904, when her father moved the family back to Exeter, Maine.  She was raised by grandparents until their deaths and then by older sister, Bertha.  She attended schools in Exeter and graduated from Exeter High School in 1915. 

For a few years she remained at home helping her sister with the chores and raising her other two sisters.  Like many young women at that time, she would have been expected to marry and have a husband to support her.  However, that did not happen with Alice, either by her own choice or that she may not have had a “beau” in Exeter.  A class photo shows the ratio of girls far outnumbered the boys and with Alice who rather plain in looks, dark hair and taller than some boys, she may not have been the first pick of the few boys in school, especially when her younger sister had the blond hair and fair skin to compete with.

Alice chose to have a career in nursing.  Whether it was something she felt came naturally to her or because she wanted to pursue career where she could make her own money without a husband, is not known.  She attended Eastern Maine General Hospital's School of Nursing in Bangor, Maine starting in 1918.

Alice and friend at school in 1920

Alice at home in Exeter in 1922

Alice did not graduate from the nursing program.   An event while school would change her life and have far reach consequences that she probably would never have expected.  The rules of school were quite explicit that student nurses where not to become to familiar with the doctors at the hospital.  Any interaction outside of the school was forbidden.  Alice, however, choose to risk it all, when it came to one certain doctor who either preyed upon a young naïve student or liked the attention of having a young woman enchanted by him.

O. R. Emerson as a young man

His name was Doctor Oscar Rodney Emerson of Newport, Maine.  He was known as Dr. O. R. Emerson locally.  He was 20 years older than Alice and married.   He had married his wife in 1896, the same year Alice was born.  He was well known and respected doctor, having established a medical practice in Newport, Maine and covered a large area of patients.  Dr. Emerson at times, did surgery at Bangor hospital and worked with the nurses who training at the school.   We don’t know exactly how they met or who pursued who, but an affair began between them. Word got around about the “closeness” between the two of them and Alice expelled from the school. 

Alice and O.R. 1922

In 1920, she was listed as a nurse working at a hospital on the census record while living at home. How she explained her departure from school to her father and sisters is not known.  Maybe they knew or heard of what had happened or maybe a good cover story was invented.   Either out guilt of getting Alice expelled or he really loved Alice, he would now be responsible for providing Alice with work and continue to see her for the next twenty years.   

She became a practical nurse working at Chase Hospital in Guilford, Maine then later at the Dover-Foxcroft Hospital.  Photos of her show her having fun with the other nurses at the hospitals.

Alice and fellow nurses at Chase Hospital

Bathing Beauties 1920s Alice at

Chase Hospital in Dover

Plummer Memorial Hospital had been established in Dexter, Maine by 1920 which became Dr. Emerson’s main place of work.  As one of Alice’s co-worker’s stated, with Dr. Emerson’s reputation as a surgeon, he only had to ask for Alice to come to Dexter and this would be where Alice would work for the rest of her life.

Plummer Memorial Hospital, Dexter, Maine

In 1930, Alice M. Skinner, now 34, was a private nurse boarding with Ernest L. and Cora (Brown) Colbath in Dexter, Maine. Cora Colbath was a first cousin to Alice's father, Myron Skinner.  Alice developed a close relationship with them and referred to Cora as “Aunt Cora.”  

Alice at 31 Birch St, Dexter, 1934

Cora (Brown) Colbath, 1934

31 Birch St. Dexter

The year 1939 would be a pivotal year in Alice’s life.  Alice was now 43 years old and had been involved with Dr. Emerson almost 20 years.  However, living on a nurse’s salary she was able to buy her own house in Dexter, Maine.  The deed shows she paid only $1 and the phrase added in was “and for other valuable considerations.”  It was well known that Dr. Emerson was that “consideration.”

Alice's home at 113 High Street

Alice also kept a diary of the events of this year.  Her entries involved her setting house, buying furniture, curtains and clothes from Bangor stores.  Although she never names Dr. Emerson, she recorded her meetings with her “S” or sweetheart.  Sadly, many entries in the diary describe her waiting for her “S” to either call her or visit her.  At this point in time, as her visits and calls with her “S” were very few, it may be the passion of the long affair may have fizzled out some.   Afterall, Dr. Emerson was now 67 years old and there were rumors that he was known to friendships with other women as well. 

It would come to an end this same year.  On September 25, 1939, Dr. Emerson would be in automobile accident.  Alice noted the day before, that her “S” had visited and that it was a short visit as he seemed very tired and not his usual self.  Mrs. Emerson aware of her husband’s relationship with Alice had forbidden her to see him.  However, a nurse took pity on Alice and brought him to see him.  Alice again wrote that her held her hand tight in his and had tried to say something and she knew what he was thinking.  It would be the last time she would see him. Dr. Emerson died September 7, 1939.  

Newspaper death of Dr. Emerson

For next 50 years, Alice would continue to live her life in the shadow of this affair.  Although, she had the freedom to see her sisters and their families more often without the worry she would miss a visit from her “S” while she was gone from home.  She continued to work at Plummer Memorial and often worked with children or did private nursing for families in the area.

Alice in 1948, Dexter, Maine

Alice in 1958 at her sister's house in Corinna, Maine

She eventually began to slowly withdraw from society.  She became more of a recluse as got older and even with her own family.  Most family relatives can tell a story of going to visit her and she would not even answer the door or answer the phone.  She kept a photo of Dr. Emerson with her at all times.  She talked to it like he was there with her.  This may have been her way of coping with his death.  Her niece told the story of going to visit her aunt in Dexter and saw Alice sitting outside in a chair.  As she walked across the lawn and got closer, she realized that Alice was talking to Dr. Emerson photograph that was sitting in a chair next to her.   Startled when her niece called her name, she became very upset and told her to go back to the front door and wait there which she did.  Alice then picked up the photo and went into the house, put the photo away and then answered the door.  No mention was made of his photograph.  

Alice and her sister Velma in 1966

Alice remained living alone until 1985 when she became too ill to live on her own.  Her only surviving sister, Velma took her in to live with her.  But it was not ideal.  They had been close as sisters, but they fought once they lived together.   Velma died in 1987.  Alice was then placed in a nursing home in Brewer, Maine where died on July 31, 1988 at age 92. 

Four sisters, Four different Women: Bertha

I have always been interested in my grandmother and her sister's lives as each of them led very different lives. As each of them appears to have had some sadness to their life's story.   I will explore each of the sisters and will start with the oldest sister, Bertha (Skinner) Rideout.


Bertha May Skinner was born on October 12, 1891 in Exeter, Maine, daughter of Myron Skinner and Edna Southard.  [see my earlier blog on Myron Skinner]   Bertha was born within seven months of her parent's marriage at the home of her grandparents, Andrew and Mary (Brown) Skinner where her parents resided after their marriage.  When she was 3 years old, her parents moved to Portland, Maine, where he father found work as a traveling salesman.

Bertha Skinner, age 3yrs old

While living in Portland, the family moved several times to bigger apartment buildings as the family grew.   Bertha was joined by sisters, Alice, Ethelyn and Velma.  She attended Oakdale school in Portland which was literally a few buildings from her where she lived on Pitt Street in Portland.  Bertha was said to have been smart and did well in school.

At the age of eleven, her mother died after giving birth to her youngest sister. She attended schools in Portland until April 1904 when her father moved the family back to Exeter, Maine where her grandparents could help with raising herself and her sisters.  The 1940 census reveals she attended school only until the 6th grade, the last grade she attended before the family returned to Exeter.

Photos of Bertha taken July 4th 1905 at Stetson Pond at age 13

Bertha in the back

Front: Grace Morse, Inez skinner

Bertha and her father fishing

on Stetson Pond

Bertha's grandparents also died within several years of the family moving back.  Her grandmother dying in 1907 and her grandfather in 1910.   It then fell to Bertha take on the role caretaker of the family.  She raised her younger sisters, maintained the home by doing the cooking, cleaning and sewing while her father whom she called "Papa" worked the family farm.  A surviving diary that Bertha kept for the year of 1911 when she was nineteen, detailed the life herself and her sisters and father.  It was mostly filled with their daily chores, and few personal mentions of her life, and several mentions of her father and his lack of keeping help on the farm and doing most of the work himself alone.

Bertha, age 24 in 1915

Exeter, Maine

By 1919, Bertha's sisters, Alice and Ethelyn had moved away from home, leaving herself and her youngest sister, Velma at home. On the 1920 census she was listed as working as a weaver in a woolen mill in Corinna, Maine where she was residing with her sister, Velma who was attending Corinna Union Academy.  It seems Bertha went to Corinna to care for Velma while she was at school. Bertha and her sister also appear on the same census living at home with their father which implies that they were living in Exeter for part of the time between 1919 and 1920.

However 1920, was important year for Bertha also married on November 26, 1920 in Corinth, Maine to Donald Edmond Rideout when she was 29 years old.   A family story was that Bertha met her husband when he stopped by the house to buy apples from her father and as he was not home, Bertha sold him and the apples and he was so taken with her, he returned more than once to buy apples just to talk to her.   

Wedding Portrait of Bertha and

Donald Rideout, 1920

After her marriage she lived with her husband's family in Garland, Maine.  They had no children together, although it was said she was pregnant a few times, but miscarried each time.  According to her niece Hilma (Smith) Knowles, her aunt's biggest disappointment was sadly to never to have been able to be a mother to her own child, after raising her sisters who considered her to be a good mother figure to them all.  Instead, Bertha became caretaker to her husband's parents, his aunt, and his unmarried brother until their deaths.  She never had time when wasn't taking care of her husband's family.

Bertha in 1922, Garland

Bertha and Donald

1920s

Bertha, 1930, Garland

Bertha also was known to enjoy drawing and sketching, but the family story told that as much as almost all her nieces and nephews liked their "uncle Don" Rideout, he was known to be cautious with money and would not allow her to spend money on paper, drawing pencils and ink which he felt was wasteful.  So often she drew on backs of used paper or magazines.  She was never allowed to enjoy the one hobby she liked the most.  Bertha did enjoy collecting antiques and had a great many them on the family farm from furniture to farm equipment. 

Bertha and Donald Rideout in 1964

Bertha's husband, Donald Rideout died April 12, 1969 in Garland.  Towards the end of her life, Bertha was cared for by a Smith family, who her relatives were distrustful as they felt the Smiths sold most of the Rideout furniture before buying the property at a small price from Bertha.  She was then taken to a boarding home in Dexter.   

Bertha died May 11, 1980 in Dexter, Maine.

Bertha's niece, Hilma remembers they were told only a day before the Smiths held an auction to sell off farm's belongings and no one in the family had time to go.  Another niece, Marion remembers hearing about the auction and wanted to buy a porcelain doll and carriage she remembered playing with as a child, but the Smiths wouldn't sell it at a lower price she could afford because they knew they could get more money at the auction.  

Bertha was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Garland, Maine with her husband.

Prince Hatch, carpenter, sailor, prisoner, husband, father and Shaker

Prince Hatch, my 5^th great grandfather was born November 16, 1754 in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the son of Jonathan and Agatha (Phillips) Hatch.  Prince spent his childhood in Marshfield, Massachusetts and early on took the trade of a carpenter.  When the American Revolution began, Prince became a carpenter on a Navy ship and continued throughout the War.

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, vol 7, p. 501

The Frigate “Protector” which Prince served onboard had 28 guns and captured the British Ship, the “Admiral Duff” in 1780, but she herself was captured in May 1781 by the British.  Prince was then taken captive by the British for 15 month and 6 days before his release on August 11, 1782.   His name appears on most lists of American Prisoners of the Revolutionary War. Prisoners were treated poorly by the British and many did not survive.  In the pension application by his children in 1847, Elisha Sherman testified to hearing stories of Prince Hatch's suffering while a prisoner by the British during the war.  

His last date of service was when he was discharged April 9, 1783.   That November of the same year, he married his wife, Hannah Phillips.  They became parents to seven children all born in Marshfield, Massachusetts between 1784-1799. 

He was the first Hatch to come to Waldo County, Maine.  He came to Knox, Maine in 1803, where he took up land and built a log cabin and a hovel for his cattle.  He returned to Marshfield for his family in 1804, bringing them to Maine by schooner, together with their cattle & all his belongings.  The ship reached Belfast, where it lay in the harbor sometime after arrival and his daughter Lucy who was married to Elisha Sherman had her first child aboard ship during that period.  Later, Prince rigged up a frame of poles with one extending to the Ox yoke, and the family dragged their belongings, and drove their cattle, walking to Knox, a distance of 15 miles.  There seems to be some uncertainty in regard to the record concerning Prince Hatch.  A genealogical record in Damariscotta states that Elisha Hatch immigrated to the Damariscotta area from Marshfield in 1790, together with several of his brothers, one of whom was Prince.  Other impressions are that his first trip to Maine was the one made to Knox in 1803, but not verified, and may be that he went to Damariscotta & then to Knox.  However it is known that he spent most of his life thereafter in Knox.  (Jeffrey A. Linscott, Ancestors and Descendants of William Hatch, of Scituate, Massachusetts, [2001] p. 56).

In 1810, Prince Hatch was living in Knox, Maine with his wife and children, but within a few years, he would leav his wife and chidlkren to join the Shaker community in new Gloucester, Maine.  
Originally, I assumed he probably joined the community after the death of his wife in 1825 as his children appear to have settled elsewhere in the State of Maine.  However, records from the Shaker Library provided by archivist Chuck Rand revealed that Prince Hatch was appointed 1st elder of the Square House Family (part of the Sabbathday Lake community) on February 1, 1820.  The square house being the place where the all the shakers lived and slept.  This explains why Prince was not located on the 1820 census as head of household.  All the Shakers were counted in one group in one household of an elder of the community. 

The orginal Shaker meeting house

Shaker house

The Shakers were not like the Amish of America.  The Shakers of New Gloucester were founded in 1794, coming from Gorham, Maine.  The shakers believed that anyone could find God within him or herself without the rituals and clergy of a church.  They believed in a life of purity and pursuing a life of perfection by confessing sins and trying case sinning.   Men and Women were equal but separate.  Members were celibate and had to come from outside the church as no new members could be born.

The pension application by Prince's surviving children include testimony as to when exactly Prince left his family.  Elisha Sherman of Knox stated on 17 April 1847  "In the year 1813, said Prince Hatch embraced the faith of a certain religious sect called the Shakers and in the Fall of the same year removed from his residence in Knox to New Gloucester."

It would be interesting to know what would make Prince leave his wife of 30 years and children for this life and what he hoped to find from this lifestyle.  Prince being a carpenter would have been a prized skill for the Shakers and he would have been welcomed into the community.  The Shakers were progressive with modern things and were constantly looking for things of value to make and sell to support the community.  Did Prince have any contact with his wife and children after he left?  As Prince’s wife, Hannah at this time period would been reliant on her husband to support her.  It seems that by 1820, Hannah Hatch was now living and being supported by one of her children.

By 1830, Prince would have been 76 years old, only 3 men aged 70-79 appear on the census of that year of the New Gloucester Shaker community, one of which would have been Prince.  In 1840, Prince would have been 86 years old and only 2 males between ages 80-89 were living with the Shakers.  From the Shaker records of Prince Hatch, it appears some information was provided by himself at the time he joined, although no record of the date he joined was found.  The Shaker Library contained the record of his bith date, nmaes of his wife and children as well any children that had died.  

Only handful of the buildings from the time Prince lived there survive. 

Prince died January 11, 1846 in New Gloucester, Maine.  He was buried in Grave 76 in the Shaker cemetery.  There are no grave markers in the cemetery.  His name appears on the gravestone of his wife stating he died in New Gloucester.

On February 2, 1847, the five surviving children of Prince Hatch, namely, Hannah Cross, Alvan Hatch, Lucy Sherman, Harry Hatch and Hiram Hatch applied for their father's pension for his service in the Revolutionary War.  They stated his had never appled for a pension while alive and that he left no widow and they were his heirs.   In the pension application, there was a deposoition from Briggs Hatch of Nobleboro, Maine, brother of Prince Hatch which stated the following "More than 30 years ago, Prince Hatch united himself with a religious society called the Shakers at new Gloucester and lived with them from that time until he died.  And that it was on account of his connection with the said religious society that he did no apply for a pension himself." dated April 14, 1847.

The Mysterious Gravestone of Rufus Carter

While working on my Mom’s new ancestors and where they were buried I came across a story about the gravestone of my ancestor Rufus Carter.  It is through Rufus’ wife Eunice Ball that I found my Mom was a cousin to Lucille Ball [see my blog post October 2018 “Mom’s famous cousin.”]

Gravestone in Linville, Maine

What was interesting about Rufus was that despite living his life in Montville, Maine, his gravestone for no apparent reason is on the side of the road in Lincolnville, Maine.    The following is from an article by Corelyn Senn, published in the Village Soup on November 19, 2015.

It is not known when this monument arrived at this spot but it was there after Myrtle and Guy Ripley purchased the land in 1938. It has been assumed that the monument belonged on this spot but a closer look leads one to believe that it was made for another place. The lettering is right down to the ground and the base, which is only 5-inches high and has a decorative curved lip, is underground. The assumption then is that the monument and its current base were once on one, and probably two, larger granite blocks as is typical.

Who are the people memorialized on it? As it turns out they are not Lincolnville people but are connected to Montville. Rufus Carter was born in Leominster, Mass. in 1761, and married Eunice Ball in Westborough, Mass. in 1797. They had moved to Montville by 1800 where their daughter Eunice was born that same year. In 1805, their son Phineas was born and by 1810 they had another son, Rufus.

Rufus Sr. bought land along the Stage Road, currently Route 3, on the Searsmont-Montville line (some of the land being in Searsmont) in 1811. In 1821, he sold 21 acres of the land in Montville but reserved for himself and his heirs the use of the house (and the right to move it) and the land it was on for as long as they wished to use it. In 1825, Rufus sold more of his land in Montville and, in 1826, he sold 15 acres to Phineas on the Searsmont side of the line.

Rufus Carter on the gravestone

On Nov. 26, 1829, Phineas Carter of Searsmont married Jane S. Fogerty of Searsmont. Jane was the daughter of Moses and Margaret Watts Fogerty of Cushing, both members of prominent shipbuilding and ship captain families from St. George. In 1842, Phineas bought 30 acres of land in Montville from George Everette that included Kingdom Yard, now known as Mt. Repose Cemetery. Phineas sold it in 1852 and moved to Poors Mill Road in Belfast.

Phineas and Jane had one son, Alonzo, born in 1830, who died in 1839, and a daughter, Mary R. W., born about 1839, who married Horace Banks. Mary died of apoplexy in 1892 and Horace hanged himself a month later. All these family members have a large monument in Mt. Repose Cemetery where they are buried.

Neither Rufus Sr. nor his wife Eunice is buried in Mt. Repose. After he sold his land, the only information we could find on Rufus was through Phineas who, in the 1830 census, is listed as living in Searsmont with a male over 60 in his household and in 1840 with a male over 80. Carter family history states that Rufus died in New York State when he would have been 80. Did he leave for New York just before he died?

Phineas amassed some 250 acres of land and on May 10, 1841, he sold a 120-acre parcel of land, reserving for his mother, Eunice Carter, the small dwelling house “with the right to her to occupy it where it now stands as long as she may be disposed to.” In the 1840 Montville census, there is a Rufus Carter (age 20-30) with two females, one age 20-30 and the other 60-70. Could this be Eunice living with her son Rufus and his wife? They do not show up again. I have been unable to find a grave for Eunice. Did Rufus Jr., his wife and Rufus Sr. leave for New York together?

George Fogerty, who perished at sea, was the brother of Jane Fogerty Carter, the youngest of Moses and Margaret Fogerty’s 10 children. Despite extensive searching, we have been unable to find from which ship he was lost. What we do know is that in the 1850 Cushing census he was 29 years old, living with Isaac and Catherine Seavey and listed as a sailor. In 1851, he was the commander and partial owner of the Brig Loretta out of Thomaston. He may also have been Master of the American Eagle in 1860 when she sailed from Belize with logwood and fustic, and Master of the Bark Czarina which sailed out of Marseilles on April 18, 1861, with wine and brandy.

Capt. Fogerty was born May 19, 1820, but two dates are given for his death, the one on the monument (Feb. 22, 1865) and another recorded by some family members, May 25, 1866. If this later date is accurate, he may also have piloted the Brig Machias from Machias to the Port of New York.