The Wilson's Point Farm has been continuously occupied since the early 18th century when it was the site of an early shipyard. The picturesque 52-acre salt-water farm preserves an historic view from the water of a pristine shoreline as well as extensive woodland and open fields. This property was in the Wilson family from 1747 until 1949. The main structure on the farm is an 1874 farmhouse with an attached barn and shed.
Easement Acquired: 2000
Property Owner: Private
Easement Holder: HHLT
Easement Purpose
To protect the scenic character of this 19th century salt-water farm and its natural features as seen from the waters of Middle Bay and the Harpswell Neck Road, the historic and aesthetic values of the main house, its barn and stone walls, and the field, forest and wetland habitats of the farm.
Public Access: No
Other
A Brief History of the Farm at Wilson's Point
In 1747, nine years before Harpswell's incorporation, Alexander Wilson purchased a tract of land in the present North Harpswell, and moved there with his family. His father, James Wilson or Willson, had emigrated from Scotland via Northern Ireland, to Topsham in 1719.
Alexander Wilson was the first of seven successive Wilson generations to live on the North Harpswell land over a 202 year period. The property sold out of the Wilson family in 1949 when Arthur Brownell of Belmont, MA purchased the property. In 1955 James Brownell sold it to Brackett (1896-1970) and Helen (1903-1996) Parsons of Wellesley Hills, MA.
The Parsons loved and enjoyed the farm property with their two daughters for 41 years. In 1996 it passed to their surviving daughter, who is presently providing for its passage to the next successive generation. Thus continues a tradition begun by the Wilsons in 1747.
The entire property and its Wilson owners have been important pieces in the puzzle of North Harpswell's early history. Of four Wilson houses originally built upon the land, the last constructed farmhouse, built ca. 1874, is the only one which remains.
FIRST GENERATION
Alexander Wilson 1718-1774
Married Catherine Swanzey 1727-1764
9 children
We have been told that the first dwelling on the property was a simple 'log cabin' near the high cliff on the shore. It was likely to have been built by Alexander Wilson, who also established a small shipyard on his land in Wilson Cove near the point. Alexander and his nephew John Alexander built the first craft there. Its size and name are not known, but, in May 1763, the town voted to pay Benjamin Jaques, Alexander Wilson, and John Alexander the sums assessed against them for the sloop built the previous year.
Alexander was also registered as a licensed retailer with goods to sell, but he did not have a store. He had probably built another more substantial dwelling by that time, and its location is believed to have been halfway from the shore to the present house near the high field at the Huntington-Bates bound.
An old, walled cow lane was recently discovered along the north edge of the same pasture area. It was used to direct cattle from one pasture to another, and it is believed to have been built by Alexander and/or his son James. It was in active use until the late 1800's, and traces of barbed wire can still be found embedded in trees along the stone walls.
SECOND GENERATION
James or "Deacon James" Wilson 1747-1839
Married Keziah Chandler 1761-1821
7 children
The tax records of 1784 show a house owned by James Wilson, the third Wilson house. Its locations can be recognized by an early map, a depression in the lawn, and the existence of a dug well, still in use in 2007.
In 1803, James had become a deacon of the Center Harpswell Church, the present Old Town House. A year later, according to Wheeler and Wheeler, a mill in Widgeon Cove was owned in part by Deacon James Wilson and Silas Allen.
The Wilson's early shipyard on their shore was reactivated in 1810 when James built the brig "Two Sisters", 136 tons, and 77 feet in length. A Brunswick resident was her owner and a John Wilson was one of her captains at that time.
James retained ownership of the mill at widgeon Cove until 1837. He died a year later.
THIRD GENERATION
David Wilson 1793-1840
Married Esther Mountfort 1796-1882
8 children
FOURTH GENERATION
John or "Captain John" Wilson 1835-1884
Married:
- Jane Curtis in 1869. She died in childbirth.
- Mary Given Skolfield 1838-1891
John Wilson and Mary Given Skolfield were married on August 14, 1872, by Reverend Elijah Kellogg. In 1874 they had their first and only child, a son Emery Graves Wilson. According to tradition, Captain John built the "fancy" fourth house for his bride, the daughter of Clement Skolfield. William Alexander established c. 1874-1875 as the probable date of its completion. It was likely to have been built by Alvah Given.
Old materials from the third house, located nearby, were used in the construction. Seven doors were recycled and used within the house, and the beams, windows and wide pine floors boards were used to build the shed linking the barn to the house. Additionally, some of the wrought iron hardware, HL hinges, latches, as well as the construction and style of the old doors and windows have helped to date the recycled third house to the late 18th century or early 19th century.
The town records of 1877 state that John Wilson's homestead farm was occupied by Mrs. Ester Wilson (an Esther Wilson was David's widow, as well as "Captain John's" mother). The records noted the following assessed values:
- House Value: 1300
- Amount of Vessel Property 2311
- 1 horse at 100
North Harpswell's town records of 1879 indicate that Captain John Wilson occupied his homestead and farm, and the following assessment of his property was made:
- HouseValue: 1600
- 1 horse value at 90
- 2 oxen at 65
- 2 cows at 40
- 2 3-year olds at 50
FIFTH GENERATION
Emery Graves Wilson 1874-1938
Married to Emma Sarah Hambleton 1875-1941
1 child
Emery Graves Wilson was a one term State Representative as well as a lawyer with an office in Portland. We have been told that he would often commute in his boat from his North Harpswell home to his law office during the warmer weather.
The guest cottage on the property is not a native feature. It was moved onto the field from the Brunswick-Harpswell line c. 1939-1940 for summer use by the sixth and seventh generation of Wilsons. Once used as a "restaurant-tavern", it was cut into two pieces and brought to the site on mowing machine wheels by an irascible character who cut down trees and telephone poles which stood in his way. Once the cottage was in its final resting place, the fieldstone fireplace was built, as were two sets of stone posts, one at the driveway entrance and the second set by the garden gate. An ancient cart path passed through the garden gate area adjacent to the present Huntington property and probably served to connect three to five adjacent farms. However, more research is needed to be certain.
SIXTH GENERATION
Clement Skolfield Wilson 1905-1948
Married Elizabeth Davenport Hawkins 1905-2004
3 children
Clement Skolfield Wilson M.D. was a general practitioner and surgeon in Brunswick. Their children, the SEVENTH GENERATION were Julia Davenport (1933- ), Clement Skolfield Wilson Jr. (1935- ), and Mary Given Skolfield (1937- ). They spent many happy summers at the farm.
Along with their mother, they marked the end of an incredible 202 year line of ownership of the very special Wilson Homestead at Wilson's Point in North Harpswell, Maine.
References:
"Harpswell on Casco Bay" by William T. Alexander, RADM USNR. The Print Shop, Inc., Portland, ME, 1973(?)
"Some Known Wilson Genealogy", Clement Skolfield Wilson, Jr., September 24, 1994
"The History of Brunswick, Topsham and Harpswell", George Augustus Wheeler and Henry Warren Wheeler, Alfred Mudge & Sons Printers, 1878
"Matinicus Isle: Its Story and Its People", Charles Long, 1926
Town of Harpswell Records
Polly Parsons Nash
May 2000, revised August 2007