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- [dunbar_tree.FTW]
David resided in Plantation 3 in Hancock Co., Maine, and served in the War for Independence. {-per George A. Wheeler, "History of Castine...,"Bangor, 1875, p.362.} The first Methodist Church in Penobscot was built on Capt. Dunbar's farm in 1801 with a
seating capacity of 1,000! {-Rilla Leach Moore, "Mill Creek: Penobscot, Maine," Castine: 1967, p.3.} Deaths in the Penobscot area also include a Lucy Wardwell, married, age 58 years, died 25 August 1868, dauughter of David Dunbar, born in Scituate, MA,
and wife Elizabeth Coan [sic] - did Elizabeth remarry? - is Lucy a daughter of David who d. 1841? David (?1757-1841?) was a solider in the "French and Indian" war and the War for Independence (serving as a Minuteman 17 April 1775!). Mark E. Honey
wrote in the Castine Patriot (newspaper), 22 July 1999, p. 6: "Captain David Dunbar...lived in what is now Penobscot, in that community I call the Narrows, between Wardwell's Point and the present Castine town line. He was a master mariner,
commanding the schooner 'Hancock' of Blue Hill in 1798, the schooner 'Eight Sisters' of Castine in 1801, and the schooner 'Freedom,' also of Castine. He is also listed as the master of the ship 'Joseph & Phebe' of Castine, probably a vessel belonging
to the Perkins family. In March and April of 1812 we find Captain Dunbar sailing to the West Indies and the port of Antigua. He was apparently working for the Castine merchant Doty Little. His crew included Nathan Whight, Jeremiah Green, Mr. Clow,
Mr. Perkins, and William Acean. The list of sailors is not complete, nor is the name of the vessel legible, though it may be the 'Defiance,' but what has survived is a one-page document which sheds some light on the expenses of a small vessel in 1812
plying the waters of the West Indies. Incidentally, the initials W.I. were familiar to 19th century coastal folks, because they represented the trade and goods which were a vital link in their maritime commerce. Rum for the ship's use: this
particular entry is mentioned on March 9, 11/2 gallons at $1.50, and March 20, 1 gallon at $2. Additional purchases of rum occured on March 20, when a boat was hired at 25 cents per to haul two casks of rum, on March 21 when seven casks of rum and
molasses were boted (boated) for 25 cents each, on March 24 when 120 gallons of rum and punch were purchased for $74, and on March 27 when 12 casks of rum and punch were brought to the vessel. This large amount of alcohol was part of the cargo which
was to be brought back to Boston or Maine. The rum used on-board ship was part of the daily ration for captain and crfew. It was kept under the watchful eye of the captain whose other difficult job was to keep the crew from sampling the merchandise.
Sugar was another important commodity to be purchased for the trip home. ..." NSDAR 611765 records his military service: "Pvt. May 1st 1775, Scituate, Mass. served 8 months under Samuel Stockbridge, Col. Hearth's Regt. of Mass., Jan. 1st 1776
serving 1 year under Capt Joshua Jacobs, Col. Bailey Continental Army, May 1st 1777, 8 months under Capt nathaniel Jarvius, Col. Henry Jackson Continental Army. He was engaged in the battle of Frogs Point and White Plains. - "Soldiers of The American
Revolution, Maine," p. 23; Pension #W 22981 National Archives." [A John Dunbar was a grantee at St. Andrews, N.B. among Loyalists resettled there from Castine, ME in 1783-84 - no relationship is known but the surname is curious.]
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