Jonathan Eaton (1745 - 1805)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Revolutionary War Service 2 Research Notes 3 Sources

Biography

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Jonathan Eaton was born on September 6, 1745^[1], in Salisbury, Massachusetts, the son of Judith Ash and Jonathan Eaton (Sr.). His father died about the same time that this Jonathan was born. He was the youngest brother of the first child of Judith and Jonathan Sr., Theophilus Eaton. Theophilus assumed the responsibility of raising Jonathan (and other siblings) with his mother Judith. Information from the book "An Historical Sketch of the Town of Deer Isle, Maine", page 16^[2][3][4]

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MARRIAGE, JOB AND CHILDREN

Marriage Jonathan Eaton married Diana Dow in Massachusetts and they traveled to Deer Isle in 1767 where they had their first son. Diana Dow Eaton was the daughter of Nathan and Mary Flanders Dow. She was born on June 14, 1747 and died March 19, 1803.

EARLY SETTLER Jonathan with his wife Diana were early settlers of Deer Isle, arriving in 1767. Most new settlers, and likely this included Jonathan, had to build shelter quickly, carve a log canoe for fishing, and clear some land to begin plantings, such as corn. The fish in the sea was fairly easy to catch as fish were closer to shore where man was not common then. Game was plentiful. The log canoes were sufficient for fishing near shore and for getting around on the water. ^[5][6][7]

Jonathan Eaton Early (1769) Settler of Sedgwick.

SALT BOILER For settlers to get salt was a difficult thing due to the travel to a trader in Ft. Point which today is a 45 mile trip one way...imagine the terrain and lack of roads in the 1700s! ^[8]

So, the enterprising Jonathan began a very interesting job - he boiled salt each summer! Jonathan boiled sea water to gather the approximate 2% of salt within the sea water. He would place large kettles or pans near the water, pump the water to the kettles during high tide, and the water traveled via spouts to the kettles. Wood was abundant and close by. A good thing since it took 400 gallons of seawater to get one bushel weighing 60 lbs of salt. Jonathan received $1.00 per bushel. He would sell or trade his salt for goods he needed. He traveled to settlers north of Newburyport to do his trading.

Towns above Newburyport Maine today to Deer Isle Maine

Jonathan Eaton-Grays Pond-Sedgwick, Maine.

“ …., one lott of Land number Eighty nine of the first Division, the northern line running from Gray's pond south 45 degrees East two hundred & twenty four rods thence south 45 degrees west eighty rods thence north 45 degrees west to the pond, then by the pond to the first mentioned bounds

[NOTED: Joseph Eaton purchased Jonathan Eaton's Lot at Grays Pond, Sedgwick, Maine- reference attached Image]

Volume 3 folio 183 _ 25 June 1794 Hancock County Deed _ John Hutchinson to Joseph Eaton [land adjacent to Jonathan Eaton (Lot 89) Walker's Pond, Sedgwick, Maine (formerly Gray's Pond) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-2BTG?i=104&cat=334690 

Jonathan and Diana had 9 children:

On Nov. 17 of that year, they had their first child together, Joseph Eaton who was born in Deer Isle, Maine. Joseph appears to be the first child born there to the small group of settlers. Joseph moved and lived the rest of his adult life in Sedgwick Maine. Joseph Eaton 1767–1827

On August 24, 1769 their first daughter, Mary "Molly" Eaton was born in Topsham, Maine. Mary "Molly" Eaton (Mrs. Joseph Weed) 1769–1852

At the end of 1771, on December 14, in Deer Isle, Maine, they welcomed their daughter Judith Eaton (Mrs. William Weed). Judith lived till 1858.

Along came son Jonathan Eaton (III?) who was born in 1774 in Deer Isle. He lived till October 20, 1863. Eaton, Jonathan III was the husband of Esther Torrey.

On March 25 1776 they had John Eaton who m. Polly Webb and [drowned] died in 1814

On December 14, when daughter Judith was 7, they had a surprise for her, a new baby sister, Hannah Eaton , born December 14, 1778, in Deer Isle, Maine.. Hannah lived until 1815. She was Mrs. Samuel Webb.

Three years later, their son Nathan Eaton was born on St. Patrick's Day 1781. He occupied the homestead of his father. Nathan Eaton 1781–1859

James A. Eaton was born three years later on 15th of March 1784 in Deer Isle. He removed/moved to the town of Prospect, where he lived till his death. James A. Eaton 1784–1863

Another three years passed before daughter Betty was born in Deer Isle in 1787, Betty died at age 5 in 1792.

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Death of Wife His wife Diana Dow Eaton passed away on March 19, 1803, in Deer Isle, Maine, at the age of 55. They had been married 15 years. Diana Dow 1747–1803 (Age 55)

Death of Jonathan Eaton who died on February 27, 1805, in Maine when he was 59 years old.

Both Diana and Jonathan Eaton are buried at Old Settlers Cemetery Deer Isle, Hancock County, Maine. ^[9]

Grave of Dianna Dow Eaton at Old Settlers Cemetery in Deer Island Maine

Grave of Jonathan Eaton, the Salt Boiler

Will of Jonathan Eaton in 1805

Will of Jonathan Eaton of Deer Isle Maine 1805

Note: In the book on Deer Isle, there is a reference to a son Jonathan and/or John. Have not been able to connect this so far. Donna Cator: Jonathan; 'John, who was drowned in 1814', while engaged with Mr. Joseph Whitmore, Jr. and a Mr. Brown, of Vinal Haven, in taking a cow across the bay to Vinal Haven in a boat. Their bodies were never found, but that of the cow came ashore on what is called Sellers's Point. https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00hosm/page/90/mode/2up?q=Eaton

Revolutionary War Service

Private, Capt. Nathaniel Fale's co; enlisted Aug. 3, 1779; discharged Aug. 15, 1779; service, 13 days; company marched on expedition to Majorbagaduce by order of Gen. Lovell^{[10][11][12][13]}

Research Notes

THOUGHTS OF DONNA CATOR: This is my 4th Great Grandfather Jonathan Eaton. The most interesting thing I encountered that was completely new to me was his free enterprise venture of being a SALT BOILER. A what? Had to look that one up. I think I have a fairly good vision of his labor in the summers doing this work and then trading the salt along the Maine coastal areas for goods and money. It takes a lot of seawater to harvest a bushel of salt! I hope I have adequately, and briefly, described this process as it occurred in his lifetime.

Sources

An exact transcription of the first church records of the First "Congo" Church of Deer Island baptisms, 1785-1853, marriages, 1785-1818, as I find them at this date, March 1906, with annotations, corrections, explanations and additions] by Noyes, Benjamin Lake, 1870-1945 https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/241424/?offset=0#page=20&viewer=picture&o=download&n=0&q=Eaton

1790 United States Federal Census

Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots

Ancestry Family Trees

Maine, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1800-1890

Maine, Wills and Probate Records, 1584-1999

Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988

North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~medeeris/Deer_Isle/Old_Deer_Isle_cemetery.html

catorfamilies.com

1. ↑ Salisbury - Births Image of page 82
2. ↑ deprescottprescott on Ancestry.com family tree
3. ↑ http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/lecontej/leconte.html
4. ↑ An historical sketch of the town of Deer Isle, Maine; with notices of its settlers and early inhabitants by Hosmer, George Lawrence Publication date 1905 Topics Deer Isle (Me. : Town) -- History Publisher Boston, Mass., The Fort Hill press, S. Usher Collection library_of_congress; americana Digitizing sponsor Sloan Foundation Contributor The Library of Congress Language English
5. ↑ Information from the book "An Historical Sketch of the Town of Deer Isle, Maine", page 16deprescottprescott on Ancestry.com family tree
6. ↑ http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/lecontej/leconte.html
7. ↑ An historical sketch of the town of Deer Isle, Maine; with notices of its settlers and early inhabitants by Hosmer, George Lawrence Publication date 1905 Topics Deer Isle (Me. : Town) -- History Publisher Boston, Mass., The Fort Hill press, S. Usher Collection library_of_congress; americana Digitizing sponsor Sloan Foundation Contributor The Library of Congress Language English
8. ↑ .https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00hosme
9. ↑ MEMORIAL ID 123677349 and MEMORIAL ID 123677343 on findagrave.
10. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers Sailors Rev. War: Vol. 5, Page 395. Image 396 of 970.
11. ↑ "Massachusetts, Revolutionary War, Index Cards to Muster Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGKH-KBK8 : 19 February 2021), Jonathan Eten Or Eaton, 3 Aug 1779; citing Military Service, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm .
12. ↑ Payroll: Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Vol. 37, Sea coast defense, Penobscot Expedition 1775-1781. A Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Fales and his Company in the State pay on the Expedition to Penobscot from the 6th of July 1779 to the 26th of August following. Film #008092198. Image 171-72 of 628.
13. ↑ Muster roll: Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Vol. 37, Sea coast defense, Penobscot Expedition 1775-1781. A Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Fales and his Company in the State pay on the Expedition to Penobscot from the 6th of July 1779 to the 26th of August following. Film #008092198. Image 118 of 628.