• In 1820, under orders from the 1st governor of Maine, William King, Joseph Treat set out to survey the interior of Maine for timber resources, as well as any trespass had been committed on state lands. Joining Joseph Treat on this survey was Captain Joseph Holyoke along with Penobscot guide John Neptune. To some historians, John Neptune’s presence on the survey helped retained the Penobscot place-name and the stories on the landscape. That said, John Neptune, like many Penobscots, did not share all information about their homeland.

• ”The Centennial Celebration of the Settlement of Bangor, September 30, 1869." 1870. Published by Direction of the Committee of Arrangements. Benjamin A. Burr, Printer. Bangor, Maine.

p. 79-81. Statement of Capt. Jacob Holyoke of Brewer. Born March 27, 1785 (see note below) in Brewer. Died in Brewer, May, 2, 1865.

"I was born March 27, 1785*, in the town of Brewer, my parents were living at that time in a log house near the small school house, just above John Holyoke's brick house, where the old cellar hole may now be seen ....

"Mr. John Emory lived at Robinson's cove, about one down river; Henry Kenney and John Tibbetts the only other settlers between our house and Col. Brewer's. There were no settlers back and no roads leading back from the river ....

"For many years the Indians were in the habit of making a camping ground of the flat between our house and the meeting house, near the present ship yard, every summer, in going to and returning from the seaboard, where they principally went after porpoises and seals. I have seen often thirty or forty wig-wams, built principally of birch bark, inhabited by two or three hundred Indians.

"There was a beautiful spring of water on the bank of the river, now covered up by John Holyoke's wharf, which the Indians used, and was also used by us.

"This flat of one or two acres was cleared, when my father first came to Brewer, and from the number of Indian stone implements found there in improving the land, was doubtless a very ancient Indian camping ground. When my father built his framed house he cleared up about six acres around it, and upon every side except the river it was a thick, heavy forest.

"Salmon, shad and alewives were very plenty, and in their season many people came here to catch them -- bass were also plenty, and in the fishing season, we could fill a bateau with fish at Treat's falls in a short time; we would sometimes take forty salmon in a day, and I think as many as five hundred were taken some days, in all. My father had a large seine in the eddy, just above the Bangor bridge, and we had much trouble with the sturgeon. When a large sturgeon was captured, the boys used to tie the painter of the boat to his tail and giving him eight or ten feet length of rope, let him go, and when he grew tired or lazy would poke him up with long sticks and so be carried all around the harbor

"(Signed) Jacob Holyoke. Brewer, Dec. 1860."

• * Interestingly, Jacob gave his birth as March 27, 1785 … which is contrary to almost all records that states he was born on March 27, 1783, that includes what’s on his tombstone.

• Note: There is another Capt. Jacob Holyoke (1791 - 1861) of Marlborough, MA ... They are first cousins, they have the same grandfather - Jacob Holyoke (1697 - 1768). Both are related to their great(3) uncle, Capt. Samuel Holyoke (1647 - 1676) the so-called "Hero of Turner Falls" during the King Phillip War (c. 1676).

• At the first town meeting for Brewer (1812), Jacob was elected surveyor of highways.

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• Some records list her first name as Patty.

• Some records lists her death date as “2 May 1865”

• First name has also been recorded as “Sally.”

• Descendant of Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower.


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