EARLY SETTLERS OF THE CRANBERRY ISLANDS

EARLY SETTLERS  OF THE CRANBERRY ISLANDS

Bar Harbor Record
October 25, 1888

These Islands lie off the Island of Mount Desert and were included in the Grant of John Bernard, June 23, 1785, and De Gregoire and his wife, July 6, 1787.  By partition they became the property of the latter who sold to William Bingham, July 9, 1796.   Great Cranberry Island contains 850 acres;  Little Cranberry Island 350 acres;  Baker's Island 90 acres and Bear Island 50 acres.
The first settler on the Great Island was David Bunker, who it is said moved away.  Benjamin Spurling came next, he was born in Portsmouth, N.H. Sept. 19, 1608, and died on the island in 1790.  He is said to have been the ancestor of most of then name in Hancock county.  His descendants now occupy his old homestead.  Benjamin Spurling, of Cranberry Island, sold Joseph Wallace, of Narraguagus, for l60 the lot he than lived on at Cranberry Island, 150 acres, June 27, 1788.  Witness, Hannah Shaw and Peggy Nickels.
William Nickels, was an early settler.  He removed to Narraguagus.  His heirs were granted a lot of land on the island of 100 acres, March 28, 1792 on that account.  His lot was laid out by John Peters.
Aaron Bunker, perhaps son of David, was on the island early;  his lot, laid out by John Peters in 17?0, "began at the bounds between him and Widow Stanley, running North by East to the cove, than following the shore to the bar, than across the bar, than follow the shore to first mentioned bounds"  100 acres.
Jonathan Rich, moved from Mount Desert on the island, previous to 1790.  "Jonathan Rich, late of Marblehead, now of Cranberry Island, sells for l200 to Olive Stanwood, widow, during her widowhood all his property in Mount Desert, March 31, 1792."  His lot on Cranberry Island, "Began at a small spruce tree, the bounds between him and Spurling;  Than run South 32 degrees;  West, 90 rods to a spruce tree;  than South 58 degrees East to the shore;  Then by the shore to first bounds."
John Stanley was an early settler, I am not sure but he lived on both islands.  He died May 7, 1783, age 47, (grave stone.)  Samuel Sewall, of Marblehead, was appointed administrator of his estate, Aug. 4, 1792, at Hancock County Probate Court.  The Widow Stanley, her lot laid out by John Peters, 1790, it "began at a stake and stones near fish flakes, following the shore as far as a bar that goes to Aaron Bunker's, then back on the other side of the neck;  62 acres with a small pond of one or two acres."
Jonathan Stanley, son of the above probably was an early settler prior to 1790.

LITTLE CRANBERRY ISLAND
Samuel Hadlock, Sen., first settled on Mt. Desert Island, near Hadlock's Pond.  His buildings were burned there and he removed to Little Cranberry Island.  He died.
Samuel Hadlock Jr., was an early settler.  He was born in Marblehead, and died on the island, Sept. 24, 1854, age 84, his wife Sarah, died Oct. 1, 1861, aged 90.  His descendants now live on the island.

BAKER'S  ISLAND
William Gilley, from Mt. Desert was the first settler.  He died on the island at the age of 93.

BEAR ISLAND
William Moore, from Sutton's Island, settled early and died there at the age of 75.

LANCASTER OR SUTTON ISLAND
Joseph Lancaster, from Sullivan, was the first settler.  Isaac Richardson from Mt. Desert, also went there and died at the age of 85.  William Moore, also settled on this island, but afterward removed to Bear Island.

These islands were at first incorporated into the town of Mt. Desert.  March 16, 1830, they were incorporated into the town of Cranbury Islands.  Samuel Hadlock, Enoch Spurling and Joseph Moore were the first Selectmen.  (Bangor Historical Magazine.)