_____________________
___________________|_____________________
_John HAMILTON __|
| | _____________________
| |___________________|_____________________
_Ambrose HAMILTON _|
| | _Joseph CHANDLER ____
| | _UNKNOWN CHANDLER _|_Martha HUNT ________
| |_Betty CHANDLER _|
| | _____________________
| |___________________|_____________________
_Ambrose HAMILTON _|
| | _John SOULE _________
| | _Moses SOULE ______|_Rebecca SIMMONS ____
| | _Jedediah SOULE _|
| | | | _Edward SOUTHWORTH __
| | | |_Mercy SOUTHWORTH _|_Mary PEABODY _______
| |_Deborah SOULE ____|
| | _James BISHOP _______
| | _Ebenezer BISHOP __|_Mary HUDSON ________
| |_Tabitha BISHOP _|
| | _____________________
| |_Amie STETSON _____|_____________________
|
|--David HAMILTON
|
| _Edward SAWYER ______
| _James SAWYER _____|_Mary PEASLEY _______
| _Jacob SAWYER ___|
| | | _Thomas BRAY ________
| | |_Sarah BRAY _______|_Mary WILSON ________
| _Solomon SAWYER ___|
| | | _John WALLIS ________
| | | _Josiah WALLIS ____|_Mary PHIPPEN _______
| | |_Sarah WALLIS ___|
| | | _____________________
| | |_Elizabeth ________|_____________________
|_Ruth SAWYER ______|
| _Francis SMALL ______
| _Daniel SMALL _____|_Elizabeth LEIGHTON _
| _John SMALL _____|
| | | _____________________
| | |_Abigail SNOW _____|_____________________
|_Lydia SMALL ______|
| _James BARNABY ______
| _Stephen BARNABY __|_Lydia BARTLETT _____
|_Hannah BARNABY _|
| _George MORTON ______
|_Ruth MORTON ______|_Joanna KEMPTON _____
about 87 acres on the nortwest side of Chebeague. Page 62, entitled "A
Look Back Through the Revolution" has the text of a fascinating clipping
from the 28 Dec 1891 edition of a Portland newspaper. It is an interview of
David Hamilton:
. "Great Chebeague, Maine, Dec. 28. Our venerable friend, David Hamilton,
now in his 95th year, hale and hearty, with a clear mind a relish for social
chat, talked to the Globe correspondent a few days ago at his seaside home
on the west side of Chebeague. With Mr. Hamilton was his wife now in her
84th year, the two having travelled along life's journey 59 years together. .
"I was born on this island Nov. 4, 1797, and have just passed my 94th
birthday. My father Ambrose Hamilton was also born on the island. He lived
to be almost 93. His father, also named Ambrose, was born in Scotland and
with his two brothers, one of whom settled on Cousins Island, and the other
on Walnut Hill North Yarmouth, came and settled here.
. I have heard my grandmother tell about the war of the revolution, and
how she saw Portland burned up, fired by the English, when my father was
4 years old. Just before the War of 1812 all the spruce trees on the island
died. There was some worm or insect that killed them. The woods were all
full of vapor in the tops of the trees. Colonel Waite of Portland who owned
one half of the island, let the people cut out this dead wood free, and we
sold it for about 9 shillings a cord to the distilleries in Portland. There were
about fifteen of them at that time making rum. Rum used to be pretty
plentiful and cheap in those days and about everybody used it.
. I was in the woods picking rasberries when the Boxer and the Enterprise
had their fight during the War of 1812. It was in the month of August.
There was some lively firing of the heavy guns, and I could hear the sharp
firing of the small arms too. It was not long before the Enterprise carried
the Boxer into Portland. I was about 15 years old and was in the woods
working when the news came that the war had closed. Guns were firing in
Portland. Father came up from watering the cattle and said he had met old
Mr. Johnson and asked him what the firing was about. "Peace. Peace." said
the old man, throwing up his hands for joy.
. One remarkable thing in my life is that I have never been to a doctor, but
I have gone to the doctor a good many times for others. One winter I went
21 times in an open boat to Yarmouth for the doctor. I suppose my great
strength and long life comes from chopping so much wood when I was
young. It is estimated that I have chopped 1500 cords of wood in my day. I
began when I was 9 years old.
. When I was a boy we used to go to Yarmouth to church. I remember the
parson, Tristam Gilman at Yarmouth who was a very old man. He wore a
beautiful white wig, and when a boy I used to think his hair was white
because he was so good. There was a great revival on this island 63 years
ago, under the Methodists, and about everybody on the island got
converted.
. I never have rode on a steamboat or on the cars. Since the steamers
began to run to Harpswell some 16 years ago, I have not been on one. I have
rowed a boat many a time from Portland to Chebeague in a tough northeast
gale."
. The old gentleman lives in the house which he built and owns. It is related
of him that he said he did not intend to get married until he was worth
$1,000, and he reached that figure at the age of 35 and then married."