CUSHING

On Line Genealogy Page

Cushing, Maine

A Fishing and Farming Community

Well Off the Beaten Path

History

In 1789, a group of small settlements on the west bank of the St. Georges River was incorporated and named after Lt. Gov. Thomas Cushing of Massachusetts. It was not until 1816 that Maine seceded from Massachusetts and 1810 that it was admitted to the Union. Prior to 1789, the area on both sides of the river had been known as the Lower Plantation of St. Georges. The present villages of St. George separated from Cushing in 1802, Cushing retaining the West side of the St. George River .

A 1605 inscription on a rock suggests the date of the first European exploration of the area and was probably left by a crew member of the Captain George Weymouth expedition. 1998 and 1999 excavations have confirmed settlement by an English trader about 1624. He was soon driven out by the French, however, who retained control until 1654. Little is known about settlement until the mid 1700's, when scattered traders, fishermen and farmers began to acccept offers of land. Problems with the Indians and the French made life difficult and slowed developed from what it otherwise might have been. There are said to have been only about 20 settlers in 1742, but by 1810 there were 600 occupying 75 residences.

Today, the Town remains almost entirely residential, with a population of about 1200, one K through four school, one fire station and one store. Twenty-three burial sites have been identified and 1162 burials indexed from 1750 to 1996 by the Cushing Historical Society.

Features

The town lies on a north-south peninsular between Friendship and St. George. It is entered via Wadsworth Street, south off Route One in Thomaston. It is on the west bank of the St. George River and includes Gay's Island and Crotch Island. It contains anchorages in Pleasant Point Harbor, often referred to as "The Gut," and in Maple Juice Cove.

Other features are Broad and Hyler Coves, and McCarthy, Bradford, Bailey and Montgomery Points.

Sources

  • For photocopies of local Births, Marriages and Deaths send $1. and a SASE to the Town Clerk's Office, 505 Pleasant Point Rd., Cushing, Maine, 04841. Phone 207-354-2375. Office Hours in the Cushing Community Center: Monday 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM, Wednesday 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM and Friday 7:30 AM until 2:30 PM

    • For Information on   Maine State Records   go to Cindy's Links to Maine State Records

    For information on Probate Records send $1.50 and a SASE to the Probate Court. Request a photocopy of the 'Petition for Distribution or Administration' or 'Account of Administration' , (whichever is available), for the deceased individual. (Addresses for each county below)

    For 1636-1760 write York County Probate Court, Box 339, Alfred, ME 04002
    Phone 207-324-1577    Fax 207-324-0163    Hours 8:30-4:30 Eastern

    For 1761-1860 write Lincoln County Probate Court, Box 249, Wiscasset, ME 04578
    Phone 207-882-7431  Fax 207-882-4324 Hours 8:00-4:00 Eastern

    For 1860-present write Knox County Probate Court, 62 Union St., Rockland, ME 04841
    Phone 207-594-0427, Fax 207-594-0863, Hours 8:00-4:00 Eastern

  • For information on Deeds of Land send $1. and a SASE to the Registrar of Deeds. Request a photocopy of the record for that individual.