Reverend Ebenezer Eaton, the son of Theophilus Eaton and Abigail Fellows, was born 22
August 1756 in Kingston, Rockingham, New Hampshire. With his parents, Ebenezer moved to
Deer Isle and later went to Sedgwick, where he was settled before 1797.
In Old Hancock County Families:by WIlliam M. Pierce, (p. 61) we find the
following about Ebenezer Eaton: "Ebenezer Eaton and his family lived
in Sedgwick
and northerly of Southwest Harbor, where his lot of 270 acres was
surveyed and allowed him in September 1808, he being one of those who settled on the
western part of Mount Desert, on the Bernard grant, before 1784. Ebenezer Eaton served
in the Revolutionary War, enlisting as a private in Capt. Nathaniel Fale's company,
Aug 3, 1779, and being discharged Aug 15, 1779; this company marched on an expedition
to Majorbagaduce, by order of General Lovell."
A search of the Hancock County deeds shows that Reverend Ebenezer Eaton purchased
this 270 acres for the sum of $70.
Ebenezer Eaton is discussed at length in Traditions and Records of Southwest
Harbor and Somesville by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938: She says, "
The Mount Desert Congregational Church was organized Oct 17, 1792, being the first regular
church on Mount Desert Island. The church in this new land where money was very scarce
indeed, could not afford to employ a pastor, and yet they were eager for the services of
a minister in their midst. Ebenezer Eaton of Sedgwick was a man of natural ability,
very religious and had conducted ‘meetings' He came to Southwest Harbor and preached
several times and was pleasing to the people. He keenly felt his lack of education and
refused ordination because of it, but a letter written by Rev. Peter Powers in 1799 says,
"In 1798 with the assistance of Rev. Powers, thirty-two persons were added to the church;
in 1799 ten more joined and in 1800 eighteen persons became members.
"With this increase, it was felt that a full time minister should be induced to settle
in the place and take charge of religious affairs. Mr. Eaton seems to have been the
man whose presence was desired and a call was extended to him in the spring of 1801.
Mr. Eaton has been serving as ‘stated supply' since 1793 according to Duren's Ministers
and Churches of Maine.
"In October of 1801 the town voted to ‘give Mr. Eaton $250 per year and four Sabbaths
in the year for himself', and also 'That the town assist Mr. Eaton in moving his family.'
Just when the town meeting took place we do not know, but at the March town meeting in
1803 it was voted that the town allow John Manchester ten dollars for moving Mr. Eaton from
Sedgwick to Mount Desert.
"Mr. Eaton bought 270 acres of land which included all of Clark Point and
extended north along the shores of the Mill pond, built his house on the lot now
owned by Harvard Beal (as of 1937) and allowed his parishioners to bury their dead on
the sunny hillside on his land, first without regard to plan, but later arranged with
some design and being the first public burial place on Mount Desert Island.
"Any account of the Congregational Church of Mount Desert would not be complete without
a full tribute paid to the memory of Ebenezer Eaton, the beloved minister who served the
church, the community, and the whole Island for nearly half a century. That he was not as
severe toward the erring ones as most ministers of that day is inferred from a record in
the time-stained pages of the first clerk's book where it is noted that on July 5, 1803,
the church, after a day of fasting and prayer, felt called upon to censure Brother Eaton
for 'not having dealt with (a certain member of the church) so seasonably as he ought.'
But it generously admits that the fault was not intentional and the church takes upon
itself equal responsibility. Perhaps this leniency brought him more of the affection of
his people and accounted for his long pastorate among them.
"Mr. Eaton was the son of Theophilus and Abigail Eaton of Deer Isle. They came in 1768
from Haverhill, Mass., where Theophilus was born in 1720. He first moved to Sandown, N.H.,
[Editor's note: This is incorrect. Theophilus Eaton and his wife resided in Kingston,
Rockingham County, New Hampshire. XAH]
then to Brunswick and from there to Deer Isle. Mrs. Eaton, mother of Ebenezer, died in
1824, aged 102 years, 8 months, at the home of her son James Eaton in Prospect, Maine.
"Ebenezer's educational advantages in youth were very limited, but he was a close student
and his principal books, according to a letter written by his grandson, Herrick Eaton,
were the Bible and Henry's Commentary. His days when home were spent in study, and he
preached entirely without notes. He always rode horseback. He began preaching when 26
years of age.
"In 1823 he yielded to the wishes of his people and consented to be ordained. After this,
records refer to him as Reverend or Father Eaton.
"In these days the church acted as a court and was often called upon to settle difficulties
between neighbors and sometimes between members of the same household. Once it was
obliged to act between the minister and some of his parishioners. The cases of church
discipline were many: some for telling a lie, for disorderly walking, for strong language,
or excess of anger, for being overcome by strong drink, for swearing, for breach of the
seventh commandment, etc.
"Some were dealt with severely, some censured publicly, some excommunicated, and others
‘set aside for a time.' Some fell from grace many times and were many times forgiven....
"When Elder Eaton was sent to talk with the accused ones, he was frequently able to report
that ‘All was settled in love and harmony.'
"In 1831 as Elder Eaton advanced in years and the task of riding over his wide territory
was taxing his strength, it was decided to obtain an assistant for him, and the Rev.
George Brown came to fill that office.
"Soon difficulties arose and the upheaval among the people became so great that a company
of ministers was called to hear both sides of the question and decide what was to be done.
The language of their report as recorded on the yellowed pages of the ancient record
books is dignified and eloquent. The Rev. Mr. Brown was mentioned as ‘a Christian and an
Christian minister' but he was advised that his usefulness in this parish was impaired
and that he had better seek employment elsewhere. The people were advised to "seek and
obtain some other gentleman of approved piety and talents" to labor among them and urged
that ‘the Brethren abstain entirely from bringing up past difficulties touching the
ministry among them,' and that they ‘carefully and prayerfully cultivate Christian
harmony, love and goodwill among each other.' The report is signed by John Sawyer,
Mighill Blood, and Stephen Thurston.
"Elder Eaton now wished to resign his pastorate. His wife had died and was buried in the
little burying ground on their land with a son and a daughter, and the health of the old
man was failing. So a call was issued on May 24, 1834, to Rev. Micah W. Strickland to
become pastor of the church.
"Mr. Eaton soon after went to Sedgwick to visit his daughter, Mrs. Currier, and died while
their in 1841, at the age of eighty seven. The older people of the church hoped that his
body might be brought back to the town where he labored so many years, to rest by the side
of his wife, but the years passed and it was not done.
"Mr. Strickland...imposed severe penalties upon them [the congregation}, believing that
the example of the punishment was necessary to preserve the standing of the church He was
a thoroughly upright man and one who took his calling seriously, but one wonders if the
people did not sometimes look back with affection to the days of the more gentle Father
Eaton."
Among my notes (no source given) I found the following: "There was a grandfather clock
bought by Reverend
Ebenezer Eaton of Southwest Harbor about 1810. It descended to his son Joshua whose
widow married David Minzey. And after her death, Minzey sold it to
S.W. Herrick. His daughter, Myra Herrick, sold it to Nettie D. Thornton in 1942." It is my
understanding that this clock is at present in the basement of the Congregational Church
in Southwest Harbor. XAH.
Reverend Ebenezer and Abigail (Herrick) Eaton had the following children:
| 1. | Amos Eaton | born |
September 28, 1777
|
| 2. | Mary Eaton | born |
September 29, 1779
|
| 3. | Abigail Eaton | born |
January 28, 1781
|
| 4. | Ebenezer Eaton | born |
February 8, 1783
|
| 5. | David Eaton | born |
February 6, 1787
|
| 6. |
Joanna Eaton | born
| November 20, 1791. Joanna Eaton was
married (1) at Mount Desert about 1810
to Charles Morris. She married (2) Captain Thomas Bunker at Cranberry
Island on 24 October 1832. Her obituary from The Ellsworth American
states the following: " September 7, 1871, "Obituary, Cranberry Isles,
August 24, passed to the life beyond, Mrs. Joanna Bunker, aged nearly 81
years. She was remarkably active and vigorous until within a few months
of her passing away. She was a daughter of Reverend Ebenezer Eaton,
well-known in local history as "Old Parson Eaton." She had been
twice married and outlived her last husband , the late Captain Thomas
Bunker, Sr. four years. She was the last of her father's family.
Although an humble and trusting Christian, she never united with any
church."
|
| 7. | Joshua Eaton | born |
September 20, 1795
|
| 8. | Clarissa Eaton |
born | May 29, 1798
|
Source:Ebenezer: Birth: Vital Records of Kingston, Rockingham
County, New Hampshire, page:
Marriage: Ibid, page :
Death: Tombstone inscription, Sedgwick Rural Cemetery.
Children:Sedgwick Vital Records, Volume 1, page 432.
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