Community Interest

Holden's Early History

In the spring of 1787, a section six miles east from the Penobscot River was surveyed by General John Blake of Wrentham, Massachusetts. That area, now Holden, has borne the names of two states, Massachusetts and Maine; three counties - Hancock, Lincoln, and Penobscot, as well as the town names of East Wrentham, New Wrentham, Orrington, East Brewer and finally in 1852, Holden. At that time it became the eighth youngest town in Penobscot County.

A few years before General Blake's arrival, John Brewer of Worcester, Mass., had obtained the consent of the General Court of Mass. to survey a large tract of land in the area, extending from Bucksport to Eddington and known as a part of Township 9. Such was the general location of the future Town of Holden. For purposes of civil government it was first a part of Orrington. In 1812 when the northeast section of that town became Brewer, the future Holden area was designated as East Brewer until incorporated April 13, 1852.

The selection of the town's name is traced to that of a Worcester, Mass. suburb which was known as the "north half of Worcester." It was later named Holden from that of a merchant, Samuel Holden, "whose philanthropies aided the colonies."

The year following (1787) his surveying expedition, General Blake brought his wife and two children to their new home, a log cabin built the previous year. The location was on Potash Hill, a short distance from Holden Center on the recently (1975) discontinued Dole Hill Road. Since he had come from Wrentham, Mass., he gave the name of New Wrentham in the District of Maine to the future settlement.

General Blake was soon joined in his solitude by other settlers which included: Isaac Clewley, John Farrington, Ebenezer Fisher, Samuel Gilmore, Calvin Holbrook, Elijah Jones, David Mann, and Silas Winchester. The majority of these came from Wrentham. The wives of Clewley, Gilmore and Jones accompanied their husbands while the other wives came two years later. It is interesting to note that, in addition to General Blake, six of this group were Revolutionary War Veterans, and that the average age was late twenties or early thirties. The first child born in the colony was September 8, 1788 to the Samuel Gilmores.

The settlers located for the most part on hills so that the corn, their staple food, might be safe from early frost and would ripen.

John Farrington located on the top of Dole Hill then called Wrentham Hill. His log cabin was on the right hand side of the road as one would face Hart's Corner. At a little distance on the left were located Silas Winchester and Ebenezer Fisher. At a later date Mr. Fisher moved to the now (1975) closed Fisher Road. Across the road from Fisher and Winchester, Isaac Clewley located. After some years he built a frame house on the Eddington Road (Route 46) about a mile and a quarter from East Holden. Eventually, he moved to North Brewer. David Mann and Samuel Gilmore located on top of Mann Hill- Mr. Mann near the Fisher Road junction and Mr. Gilmore near the junction of the Mann Hill and Clark Roads. Mr. Gilmore later built the first frame house in that area.

The story is related of how Mr. Mann became discouraged in the task of clearing land and the pioneer way of living. Having decided to return to Massachusetts, he went to so inform Mr. Gilmore. As he approached the latter's home, he heard his neighbor cheerfully whistling as he worked. Mr. Mann turned and returned home to his labors; thus did he become one of the settlement's permanent residents.

Elijah Jones and Calvin Holbrook cleared land near the intersection of the South and Hogan Roads. This junction was later known as Holbrook Corner.

During the period of 1786-1798, these settlers were joined by Isaac Bates, Col. Solomon Blake, Billings Brastow, Daniel Brastow(called "Deo Dat"-Latin meaning "he gives to God"), Nathan Clark, Samuel Cobb, Joseph Copeland, Lemuel Copeland, William Copeland, Asaph Gates, Thomas George, David Gilmore, Jacob Hart, James Hastings, Allen Hodges, Nathan Kingsbury, Abia Pond, Elisha Rider, Elisha Robinson, John Robinson, William Rogers, Zenas Rogers, Newell Shepard and George Wiswell.

Only in a relatively few cases can a specific or even general statement be made as to the place of individual location. The Copelands and Mr. Wiswell located in the Wiswell neighborhood, now Copeland Hill section; Solomon Blake, about half way up the Rider's Bluff Road (end of Easy Street above which has been discontinued); Elisha Rider nearer the top of Rider's Bluff; Nathan Clark, on the Clark Road; Thomas George, at East Holden; David Gilmore, Mann Hill; Jacob Hart, end of Hogan Road; Zenas Rogers, South Road.

A description written by Geo. C. Wiswell, a descendant of the pioneer Geo. Wiswell:

"They followed a spotted line which was their only guide, about six or seven miles from the Penobscot River, in an unbroken wilderness, and here they built their log cabins and covered them with bark. The first year, they felled some trees and cleared some land, but were not able to raise any crop.

Fortunately, some natural meadows which the beavers had made, were found nearby and furnished pasturage for the cows in summer, and in the winter they were kept near the meadow haystack, the owners going by turns to get their milk. In 1788, quite a quantity of Indian corn and rye was raised, which the farmers carried on their backs to the river and boated to South Orrington, to be ground and brought back the same way.”

One Emmons Kingsbury purchased the land in 1801 for $250. He cleared the farm and built the house, one of the first three frame houses in that neighborhood. Two years later, Mr. Kingsbury brought his bride, Hannah Rider, from Rider's Bluff to her new home. Over a long period of time the house changed hands several times. Other owners were, in order, Samuel Jones, who later built elsewhere in the neighborhood and a man by the name of Shedd. He in turn eventually sold to Tarvis Hart, a descendant of one of the original pioneers. All owners in recent years have maintained the colonial atmosphere even with the necessary alterations needed for modern living.

Copeland Hill is also the location of the first house built after Holden became a town. The owner, Thomas R. Copeland, often made the remark that his house was the first house built in Holden. Upon this statement being challenged that various other houses were older, he would finally remark "I did not say oldest house in Holden. I said first house built in Holden." It is still occupied by one of his descendents.

From the “Highlights of the History of Holden, Maine”
By the Holden Bicentennial Heritage Committee, 1976