The Crie Family of Criehaven (continued)

Returning to the octant which once belonged to John Crie, Karl writes: I have a double-reflecting octant marked "Bradford: London", of a design which was generally discontinued by 1780. The ash case enclosing it bears a hand painted federal shield surrounded by laurel branches and surmounted by a banner lettered in the name of John Crie. Inside the case is pencilled, "$18.00 John Crie" and a label for Costigan & Taylor, Manufacturers of Chronometers, No. 74 South Street, New York City. I have looked through a few nineteenth century New York City directories, but have not found that company, C. K. Costigan or J. R. Taylor. Comparing the dates that style of octant was manufactured with the dates of the immigrant John Crie and his descendants named John, it is most probable that the octant was owned and used by the immigrant John Crie at Matinicus Isle.

I enjoy having this octant in my study in its handsome case, and it is also fun to research the history of its owner. It could be even more satisfying to find that the very people who know the islands and the life of John Crie, perhaps his descendants, take an interest in it as well.

The reference to a hand painted federal shield on the octant is particularly interesting and Karl later refers to it as the arms of John Crie. In Cree News 7 Mike Spathaky (CFHS 1) wrote an article on Cree heraldry and it would be of particular interest if the design on the octant case coincided with any of those discussed.

A search of the 1992 IGI record for Maine identifies the births of five of John Crie and Mary Hall's children (Chart 14.1): John (1788), Ebenezer (1790), Susanna (1792), Hanna (1793), and Margaret (1802). The children were all born on Matinicus Island which is only one mile from the smaller island of Criehaven. It would appear that the two sons built upon the activities of their father and laid the foundations for the subsequent prosperity of Criehaven. Two of Ebenezer Crie’s children were born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, which now forms part of the suburbs of Boston.

Reference is made of the fact that salted cod and other fish were shipped to Boston in the fall from Criehaven and this would indicate that the Crie family were directly involved with the marketing of their produce. However, the man who made the biggest impact on Criehaven was Robert Frank Crie (1826-1901). The book Islands of the Mid-Maine Coast, records that Robert Frank Crie was the grandson of the original John Crie and that Robert and his eighteen-year-old bride, Harriet Hall, moved on to Criehaven in 1848. They lived firstly in a log cabin and then in 1849 they moved into a newly built frame homestead overlooking both the habor and Sea Cove on the southeast shore: this building served the Cries for more than three quarters of a century and, with several additions, serves the present owners today.

The history of Criehaven is intimately related to the rise of Robert Crie. He was primarily a farmer in his early years on the island. The agricultural census of 1850 obviously exaggerates in showing him with 350 acres under cultivation, since the entire acreage of the island is not this much, but the listing of 300 sheep may be accurate. He was also engaged periodically in lumbering operations as wooded or reforested sectors of the island were cut over. From the 1870s or 1880s on, he extended his operations into the fish business and maintained salting and packing facilities in the harbor as well as a supply store for fishermen. Warehouses were built along the shores of the harbor, with quarters for the packers above; the salted cod and other fish were shipped to the Boston market in the fall. By 1879 Robert Crie had bought up all the parcels of land on Criehaven and ran it as a private fiefdom. There was inevitably rivalry with Matinicus, of which Criehaven was then a part, and in 1896 the community was incorporated separately as Criehaven. It established its own school; it opened its own post office; and a separate ferry service was provided soon after incorporation.

The Census of 1900 recorded the following Crie residents of Criehaven, namely, (i) Robert Crie, 73, merchant; Harriet Crie, 70, wife; Eben Crie, 45, farmer; (ii) John Crie, 49, fisherman, Nancy Crie, 53, wife; (iii) Horatio Crie, 29, merchant; Mabel Crie, wife, and two young sons. Overall fourty-four inhabitants were recorded living on the island at that time. The book continues:

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