- Squirrel Point Lighthouse
- Doubling Point Range Lights
Please Adopt Me !! I'm looking for someone who is keenly interested in the history and genealogy of the Town of Arrowsic to assume responsibility of this Sagadahoc County, Maine GenWeb page. Previous knowledge and skill in building and maintaining web pages is not a requirement; however, a basic knowledge of HTML coding and uploading via FTP (or other software) to a server would be very helpful. Primarily, all it takes is a passion for the area of interest and genealogy in general to maintain the pages and extend a helping hand and direction to all those visitors seeking information. There is a friendly and helpful community of GenWeb hosts who are always willing to offer direction, advice, and assistance. Will you take on your ancestor's town and make it something more?
Please send me an e-mail at [email protected] if you would like more details on this opportunity. The US/Maine/Sagadahoc GenWeb projects have grown only because many individuals volunteer to do a little bit to contribute to the whole. We'd love to have you join us.
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This Sagadahoc County Website was designed, created, and is maintained by Arlene L. Brown Ackermann. Any comments or suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. Text and most images are copyrighted© 1998-2007 Arlene L. Brown Ackermann - All Rights Reserved
Last updated: 24 Apr 2007
 | Welcome to Arrowsic |  |
Arrowsic (see map at Sagadahoc County and Its Towns) is a town and an island situated in the Kennebec River near its mouth. The small portion of the Kennebec that turns eastward around this island, then southward between Georgetown and Arrowsic, is called Back River. On the north of Arrowsic is Woolwich, on the west of the northern part is Bath, and west of the southern is Phippsburg. The island is nearly seven miles in length from north to south, and averages about one mile in width, containing some 5000 acres. There is a considerable hill at the southern part, and the middle of the island is generally highest, but the elevation is small. The southern point bears the name of Bald Head. There is very little marsh, several inlets, and near the middle of the island is Sewall's Pond, a sheet of fresh water about three-fourths of a mile long and one-fourth wide. Fisher's Eddy, near the middle of the western side, forms a small harbor. At one time, iron ore was found on the island and a mineral was for some time mined here, which was ground in a crushing mill at Bath, for use as a substitute for emery in grinding and polishing metals. The town had four saw mills, all operated by tide power.
This island was purchased from the Indians by Major Clarke and Captain Lake in 1661. At this time there was a fort on the west side of Arrowsic or of Woolwich, which was occupied by one Hammond, an old Indian trader. This fort was captured in August of the second year of the first Indian war by the treachery of some squaws, who begged for, and obtained, lodgings within it. The resentment of the Indians is said to have been directed against this place on account of the loss of furs and arms stolen by the English from some of their tribe. On Arrowsic Island, about two miles distant from Hammond's, Clarke and Lake had constructed a larger and stronger fort. They had also in the vicinity a mansion house, mills, outbuildings, cultivated fields, and domestic cattle. This flourishing establishment was surprised and destroyed in the same incursion and by the same Indians who destroyed Hammond's. Captain Lake, in attempting to escape, was mortally wounded. In answer to a petition of 26 men in their behalf, in 1679 Governor Andros assigned to them the lower part of Arrowsic for a compact settlement. Here they established themselves and built a fort, naming the place Newtown. In 1689 this settlement was burnt by the Indians with the exception of a single house. Again, a short time before the building of Fort Halifax on the river opposite the present Waterville, the Norridgewock Indians made a descent upon Arrowsic, killing a Mr. Preble while he was at work in his field. They then proceeded to his house, murdered his wife, and took his children (a son and two daughters) to Canada. After peace was made in 1763, Captain Hamden, a relative of the Prebles, visited Canada and obtained the release of the children. The island was three times (in 1676, 1689, and 1722) swept nearly clean of inhabitants by the Indians. Remains of cellars and dwellings are still to be seen as memorials of the pioneers and of Indian savagery.
Arrowsic was originally embraced in Georgetown, but in 1841 it was set off and incorporated under its present name. The first known house of worship in the Sagadahoc region was erected, probably about 1660, at the northern point of the island. In 1761, the meeting house of the first parish of Georgetown was bult in the southern part. The present house of worship in Arrowsic belongs to the Methodists. Arrowsic has two schoolhouses.
340 Arrowsic Road
Hours: Please call when planning a trip
Arrowsic, ME 04530
(207) 443-4609
Josephine Ewing, Town Clerk
(207) 443-9795
[email protected]
Arrowsic Weather Arrowsic Cemeteries - A listing of Arrowsic cemeteries listed on the MOCA website. Sagadahoc Co, ME History and Genealogy Room at the Patten Free Library, Bath, ME Some nearby lighthouses: