Crouseville

1842

With the boundary dispute with Britain settled in 1842, the United States was anxious to inventory the land that now was decisively its territory. George W. Coffin, Land Agent of Maine, and William P. Parrott, Surveyor, were given this task. Refer to Map 1 as they described the Crouseville lands in 1842:

“[Section 3 on Map 1] ... good mix’d growth on a N cant – 1st Rate.”

Transcribed into layman’s language:

“[Section 3 on Map 1] ... In Section 3 there is good mixed timber growth. The Aroostook River flows southeasterly. From choices of 1st, 2nd or 3rd rate, the timber resources and land quality in this section are 1st rate.”

Crouse Island:

“[Section 4 on Map 1] ... to a bend in the Aroostook river, same 20 rods[14] in the S channel to an Island, same, 76 rods acrofs  the same, same 4 rods over the channel ... the island is intervale, the rest mostly hardwood – 2nd rate.”

Transcribed into layman’s language:

“[Section 4 on Map 1] ... Traveling easterly down river you come to a bend in the Aroostook river. Then travel easterly 330 feet to an island that is 1,254 feet across, west to east. The island is on the south side of the river. From the east end of the island it is 66 feet across the south river channel to the south bank of the Aroostook River. The island is low-lying land, while the rest of the section is forested mostly with hardwoods. From choices of 1st, 2nd or 3rd rate, the timber resources and land quality in this section are 2nd rate.”

This island on Map 1 is marked “NC” which indicates it is owned by Nathaniel Churchill in 1842. It would later become known as Crouse Island. The Crouseville village center will develop directly across the Aroostook River from this island, on the north bank.

“[Section 5 on Map 1] ... good mix’d growth on a N cant --  1st rate.”

Transcribed into layman’s language:

“[Section 5 on Map 1] ... In Section 5 there is good mixed timber growth. The Aroostook River flows southeasterly. From choices of 1st, 2nd or 3rd rate, the timber resources and land quality in this section are 1st rate.”

George W. Coffin, Land Agent for Maine, was impressed enough with Section 5 to give it a top rating. Both Joshua Christie and Nathaniel Churchill chose to homestead in this section, with Joshua Christie on the south side of the Aroostook River and Nathaniel Churchill on the north side.

“[Section 6 on Map 1] ... the Aroostook river, same  ... to an island, same 37 rods acrofs the Island, same 6 rods acrofs the channel to another island, same 71 rods acrofs the island to the N channel, same 26 rods to ... the N shore of the river ... Island intervale – 1st rate.”

Transcribed into layman’s language:

“[Section 6 on Map 1] ... Traveling easterly down river you come to an island which is 610.5 feet across, west to east. Traveling easterly 99 feet across the river channel to another island which is 1,171.5 feet across, west to east. From the east end of this island it is 429 feet across the north river channel to the north bank of the Aroostook River. The islands are low-lying land. From choices of 1st, 2nd or 3rd rate, the timber resources and land quality in this section are 1st rate.”

The island William W. Coffin described as 610.5 feet wide is Mumford Island. This is the island where William Mumford’s barn and cow were swept away by the flooding Aroostook River in the spring of 1831. This today is known as Churchill Island. The island Mr. Coffin described as 1,171.5 feet wide is Bull Island.

In 1842 the pioneer population of Crouseville consisted of the extended families of the following ten men.[15]

 Each section lists the pioneer's name, followed by the number of acres improved and the year they settle their land.

Section 3

Lawrence Farrell, 25 acres, 1834

John Hickey, 50 acres, 1827

Section 4

Stephen Harris, n/a, n/a

Joshua Dunn, n/a, n/a

Mr. Packard, n/a, n/a

Section 5

Joshua Christie, 50 acres,  February 1827 [William Dalton 1st settled it in 1824]

Moses Bonney, 10 acres, 1839

Mr. Spencer, n/a, n/a

Nathaniel Churchill, 15 acres, 1839 [living on Aroostook River since 1825]

Section 6

William Mumford, 30 acres, 1832 [homesteaded Mumford Island in 1829]