1835 Bangor Piscatquis First Railroad In Maine Handwritten Journal Arthur Hoyt

Description: 1835-1836 Bangor Piscatquis Railroad Handwritten Journal An incredibly rare look into the first days of railroading in Maine! Title: Journal while on the Bangor & Piscataquis Rail Road From August 1, 1835 to December 21, 1836 1 year, 4 months, 21 days Unraveling our mystery diarist: Our railroad man (no ownership name is written) records hearing the news from brother Robert of the death of brother Elijah in Jacksonville East Florida who expired the 3rd of November (1835); after extensive researching, I determined this person who died was Capt Elijah Williams (1802-3Nov 1835) who indeed died in Jacksonville. He was the only son of Ebenezer Williams and husband of Isabella Hoyt. The death of Elijah in Florida was also reported in the Colombian Centinel. Isabella (1804-1892) was a daughter of Major General Epaphras Hoyt of Deerfield. Isabella Hoyt’s sister Adeline Hoyt (1798-1841) was married to Robert Williams (1792-1862) who was a son of Solomon Williams (1764-1836) and Miranda Arms (1765-1846). In many families the term “brother” was used lovingly for ‘brother in law’ as in regards to Robert and Elijah. I believe this historic Railroad Journal was penned by young Arthur W Hoyt (1811-1899) only son of Epaphras Hoyt. In this incredible rare journal there are several references to Deerfield. Believed Arthur referred to his brother in laws Robert and Elijah as brothers. According to “Landscape & Material Life in Franklin County 2003” Elijah Williams had moved to Jacksonville with Charles Hoyt to raise capital for a railroad, sadly, both died of local disease shortly after arrival in Florida. Stated below Arthur Hoyt had a working relationship and connection with Alexander Bielaski in the Railroad industry. Some excerpts: Bid farewell to our Boston friends and with the Hon William Jackson our superintendent and all my hands except C Williams who remained to bring some baggage in the next boat, sailed on board the steam packet Bangor ..... I discovered Miss M Bacon an old acquaintance from my native place who embarked with us at Boston CT Arms arrived from Deerfield to examine land for E Smith Continued the survey to Campbell’s hill continued the line but it proved very bad nothing but swamps and rocks... At Old Town examining land for a depot....Stopped in a barn of a house inhabited by a half starved owl, went to the barn to sleep...passed the night with the feathered tribes, a delicious sleeping place compared with our tents Continued the survey over Hawthornes meadow, and passed the night in an old log cabin inhabited by four or five down east wolves, passed the evening in copying field books making plans and then with our clothes on throw ourselves upon some straw and passed a sleepless night On 1 October Mr. Jackson put under contract the cutting and clearing of our line and had cut over the White Birch Ridge. The cutting and clearing which was very heavy. Cost $.20 per square Rod...about this time Mr. Jackson bid us goodbye leaving everything in my charge, Alexander Williams and Kendell left by agreement for Deerfield. Thanksgiving Day...but not for us...Measured Nortons work, section 3 as he had abandoned his contract, I now hope some of my laborious work is finished as never before have I so labored for the last 29 days. Continued staking out the road putting inside stakes, adjusting grades putting contractors at work etc. Met the common council of the city to make some arrangements about passing through the park but found nearly every man opposed to us. George Cooley entered the office and informed us of the death of Miss Bacon [Death of Miss M Bacon of Deerfield on Nov 4, 1835 in Bangor Maine (she was Mariah Bacon born in 1813 Adopted daughter of Mrs. Mary Dickinson be and is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery Deerfield)] Stebbins closed the work on section 4 for the winter commenced building a shanty 1836 Ran a survey for a branch railroad from Orono to Lower Stillwater... Two men killed by the falling of the cut on section 8, President Jackson’s special message arrived by express. Finished a plan profile and report to Maine legislature A very violent snowstorm 24 inches in depth, received a Franklin County Massachusetts paper containing the death of many of my comrades: Ralph Barnard age 40, Frederick Arms age 22, Richard Williams age 28, Jacksonville East Florida Dr. Charles Hoyt age 30, Mrs. Mary Russell daughter of Colonel David Wright Commenced blasting the rock, I left Bangor at midnight aboard of the mail coach for Boston where after encountering many difficulties I arrived, thermometer 18 below zero nearly the whole day and I could hardly keep from freezing, stopped at Boston for short time then took the stage for Deerfield and was entirely buried up in a snowstorm horses and all, it was with much difficulty, arrived then remained at Deerfield sometime and purchased a lot of land Started for Boston on board the steamer Portland continued the work as fast as we could with a few men we had. Our expected Frenchman arrived they generally came in bodies from 10 to 20 on foot accompanied by a small Canadian horse with a one horse cart and were much fatigued, starved and homesick and not one of them could speak a single word of English... Republicans without knowledge are the bane of creation. Mr. Jackson came to a visit our road Finished an estimate of what it would cost to complete the road and returned to Bangor and presented the same to Mr. Jackson Alexander Bielaski my old assistant upon the WRR arrived, he has for sometime past been engaged upon a railroad in Florida and on that survey passed through a swamp which took him 13 days and was the first white person who ever went through it, was shipped wrecked 3 times going and coming from Florida came on a visit to us soon returns to Boston but will if I want come and assist me Smart contractor on section 7 ledge mortally wounded by the falling of a crane. Bielaski arrived from Boston, set him running the line from our depot to the wharves... Bielaski finished his plan and profile and starts on morrow for Boston All of the 6 inch timber arrived from Frankfort, some of the Norway pine was drawn 20 miles by cattle and shipped to Bangor Mr. Jackson arrived from Boston. Smith and Jackson had much difficulty about the branch track and Smith threatened to resign his office Sent Mr. Harris to Boston with a draft of $4500 Ran the engine Pioneer through to OldTown This is the first time a locomotive engine ever ran in the state of Maine Kept the engine running with empty cars to get them in order for regular running and on the 29th opened the road by inviting 165 gentleman to ride upon it, and ran the whole day to the satisfaction of all and on the next day commenced regular running for passengers. Continually engaged and settling with contractors, Set an agent to Boston in paid away $5000. Williams left for Deerfield. Gave a supper to about 12 of my comrades then bid Bangor a lasting adieu. Entered the mail coach with Stebbins for Boston, stopped in Boston to see my friends and directors then took the last farewell of the President and Directors of the B&PC RR and received from them a letter of recommendation and proceeded direct to Old Deerfield. The Bangor & Piscataquis was approved Feb 8, 1833. *The first list of officers were; President Eliphalet Williams, Boston, treasurer William Hale Boston, superintendent Hon. William Jackson Newton Massachusetts, Engineer AW Hoyt Deerfield Massachusetts, assistant treasurer and secretary John Boardman Bangor. The real promoters were Edward and Samuel Smith enterprising men in Bangor. The length of the road was about 12 miles and was completed to Old Town and formally opened Thanksgiving day 1836 and regular trains run November 30. This became the second railroad in New England after the Boston & Lowell Railroad, which began operations in 1835. Arthur Wellesley Hoyt (1811-1899) son of Epaphras (1765-1850) and Experience Harvey Hoyt (1772-1833) of Deerfield was a surveyor and civil engineer, working in Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Illinois, Louisiana, and Texas building railroads, canals and roads. He was involved with the Cashier Silver Mine and the Blue Jacket Mining Company both in Colorado. His first wife Elizabeth Henry Hoyt died in 1863 who he married in 1840. In 1865 he married Mary Ann Jones Hoyt (1833-1900) Alexander Bielaski (1811-1861) born in Poland, immigrated to Portland Maine in 1832 and was engaged in building railroads. From 1835-1837 he made surveys in Florida. He worked as a civil engineer with the Baltimore & Ohio RR under its construction, in 1837 he removed to Illinois as a pioneer engineer of the Illinois Central Railroad under the engineer and contractor Arthur Hoyt. Friend of Abraham Lincoln, he was a Captain in the Union Army during the Civil War and was killed in the Battle of Belmont. He married Mary Ann Cary who died in 1887. CT Arms (Christopher Tyler) (1781-1854) of Deerfield; son of Aaron Arms (1749-1806) and Lucy Tyler (1752-1826) He was a surveyor and a farmer. He married Avice Stebbins (1785-1859) daughter of Colonel Joseph Stebbins. Laid to rest Laurel Hill cemetery Deerfield. Hon. William Jackson (1783-1855) was a member of the Massachusetts General Court from 1832 to 1833, a member of the 22nd and 23rd United States Congress and, as a general agent for the Boston and Worcester Railroad, was largely responsible for routing the line through Newton. William was an abolitionist and offered his home as a safehaven on the Underground Railroad. He was a son of Timothy Jackson (1756-1814) Dr Charles Hoyt who died in Florida was a son of Elihu Hoyt (1771-1833) and Hannah (1772-1864) His mother was a daughter of the Rev James and Mary FieldTaylor). Charles was a cousin to Arthur Hoyt. Villages Mentioned Old Town: settled by pioneers in 1774 and incorporated in 1840. The name Old Town derives from "Indian Old Town", which was the English name for the largest Penobscot Indian village, now known as Indian Island. Orono first settled by British-American colonists in 1774, named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono, a sachem of the indigenous Penobscot nation. Condition and Notes Author not stated but believe it was Arthur Hoyt based on research Please excuse the blue watermark on the photos; due to copy infringement they’ve been added. The watermark is only visible on the eBay images and Not on the actual loose pages of the journal. Removed. Unbound. Left margin trimmed close suggesting it had been removed over 180 years ago. Contains 20 pages of writing (cover page, and 10 loose leaves of writing on both sides) Age toned paper Some ink splotches, soiling and grubbiness Curled edges Chipped edges Some wrinkling of pages The pages measure about 8” by 12 1/4” Some filters applied in photos for clarity Additional photos on request Signature on delivery Will be boxed securely Sources: Ancestry, US Newspaper Extractions, Find a Grave, 1892 The Maine Historical Magazine V7 page 29* About: I offer rare and eclectic early American manuscripts. Follow my account on instagram bluemangobooksandmanuscripts where I highlight new acquisitions and current research projects. I am a member of The Manuscript Society, Independent Online Booksellers Organization, The Ephemera Society of America, Bucks County Antique Dealers Association, The Bibliograhical Society of America and hold a BS from the University of Wisconsin.

Price: 4000 USD

Location: New Hope, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2025-02-02T18:52:12.000Z

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