Parents: Asa Sylvester, born in Northampton, Massachusetts & Mary Turner, born in Princeton, Maine.
1860 Federal Census on July 20: Etna, Penobscot, Maine: Daniel W. Sylvester, age 36, trader, Amanda, age 20 (sister?), Asa M, age 41, trader, all born in Maine.
1861- Civil War draft registration in Etna, Maine: Asa M. Sylvester, 42, merchant, single, born in Penobscot, Maine. Also Dudley A. Sylvester, 21, Edwin Sylvester, 21, James A. Sylvester, 27.
1870 Federal Census (July 27) Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine: Asa M Sylvester, age 50, Retail grocer, Linda G., age 20, keeping house, Sarah, age 14, all born in Maine.
1880 Federal Census (June 8) he is age 60 living in Scarborough, Maine as a Retail grocer- alone. Next listing is Susan L. Lowe.
1900 Federal Census (June 6th) for 11 Central Avenue, Portland, Cumberland, Maine: he is age 79 living with his sister, Susan S. Lowe, age 65, born March 1835, and her daughter, Davetta M, age 30, born Sept 1869, Occupation: typesetter. All born in Maine.
1901- Died of 'malarial fever contracted out of state years ago'. A brother, Daniel W , born Oct 2, 1825, died in Etna, Me on July 2, 1900. Mother's name listed for his brother is listed as 'Susan Turner'.
ASA M. SYLVESTER and the development of Prout's Neck:
At the same time George Milliken was turning his land into cash, so was Thomas J. Libby. After selling four lots to Alice P. Homer of New York City and John A. Waterman of Gorhan, ME in 1882, Thomas J. sold the rest of his sub-divided lots in January of 1883 to Asa M. Sylvester of nearby Scarborough Station. In June of 1884, Sylvester purchased the last of the parcels George Milliken received from Minerva Libby, a large triangle at the fork of the Marginal Way and Black Point Road. The latter, Sylvester never developed, but sold in 1894 to John Kaler, proprietor of the adjacent Southgate or Black Point Inn. Like the other locals who bought into Prout’s Neck, Asa Sylvester had become prosperous through his own efforts. Like Pennell and Valentine, he had sufficient funds to pay for a likeness and biographical sketch in Clayton’s 1880 History of Cumberland County. Born in Penobscot County and trained as a millwright, farmer, and seaman, Sylvester came
to Scarborough in 1864 at age 44, most likely to help set up the rolling mills at Ligona. (later known as Bancroft & Martin).
Thereafter, he established a long-lasting grocery business. He also received an appointment as postmaster. He never married. Sylvester made a good effort to sell his properties between A and B Streets (Sanctuary Lane and Winslow Homer Road). Five months after he purchased the plot, his first sale was lot 82 to John Cloudman and John M. Allen, a grocer from Westbrook. Less than three months later, the two flipped it to Henry Fairbanks so he could expand his existing plot. On August 16, 1883, Sylvester sells to his first summer visitor, Mrs. Mary B. C. Lovering, of Germantown, PA. In January 1884 he sells two half lots to Fairbanks and in November a lot and a half to John and Amanda Allen’s son-in-law, Adelbert
R. Harmon. On July 3, 1885, Asa Sylvester donated two lots to Henry Neely, as Episcopal Bishop of Portland, with the restriction, “for the creation of buildings to be used
for the public worship of Almighty God according to the rites and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America and for the support and maintenance of the same as Bishops determine.” The deed goes on to state it is the same place where is now standing a church erected for public worship. On March 6, 1888, the Bishop conveyed one of the lots back to Sylvester, who
conveyed it the next day to Ellen Burditt of Boston.
Sylvester is to be given credit for the establishment of St. James Episcopal Chapel. J. Vaughn Merrick and C. Emma Cheney (Bishop Charles E. Cheney’s wife) didn’t purchase on Prout’s Neck until three years later. (J. Vaughan’s
brother, Thomas B., bought about an acre of land behind the Prout’s Neck House in the fall of 1885 from Eben Seavey.) Presumably, Asa Sylvester favored the Anglican Rite, but it was also an excellent promotional move as the Episcopal
Church of the time was conspicuous in its service to the spiritual needs of the upper classes.
The existence of the chapel may have encouraged the Merricks, Cheneys, and others to choose “Prout’s” for their summer homes. Over a period of 14 years, Sylvester sold all of his lots between A and B Streets and on the north side of A Street, except seven he kept for himself. Not counting
Fairbanks and Harmon, who had already invested in Prout’s Neck, Sylvester sold to only six summer families.
In 1895 he sold five lots to house builder Alonzo Googins, Hannah Louise Libby’s husband. Of those lots, the one north of A Street, Lot 103, Googins sold May 29, 1896 to Ira Foss, who built a water tower there and changed Prout’s Neck forever.
1860 Federal Census on July 20: Etna, Penobscot, Maine: Daniel W. Sylvester, age 36, trader, Amanda, age 20 (sister?), Asa M, age 41, trader, all born in Maine.
1861- Civil War draft registration in Etna, Maine: Asa M. Sylvester, 42, merchant, single, born in Penobscot, Maine. Also Dudley A. Sylvester, 21, Edwin Sylvester, 21, James A. Sylvester, 27.
1870 Federal Census (July 27) Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine: Asa M Sylvester, age 50, Retail grocer, Linda G., age 20, keeping house, Sarah, age 14, all born in Maine.
1880 Federal Census (June 8) he is age 60 living in Scarborough, Maine as a Retail grocer- alone. Next listing is Susan L. Lowe.
1900 Federal Census (June 6th) for 11 Central Avenue, Portland, Cumberland, Maine: he is age 79 living with his sister, Susan S. Lowe, age 65, born March 1835, and her daughter, Davetta M, age 30, born Sept 1869, Occupation: typesetter. All born in Maine.
1901- Died of 'malarial fever contracted out of state years ago'. A brother, Daniel W , born Oct 2, 1825, died in Etna, Me on July 2, 1900. Mother's name listed for his brother is listed as 'Susan Turner'.
ASA M. SYLVESTER and the development of Prout's Neck:
At the same time George Milliken was turning his land into cash, so was Thomas J. Libby. After selling four lots to Alice P. Homer of New York City and John A. Waterman of Gorhan, ME in 1882, Thomas J. sold the rest of his sub-divided lots in January of 1883 to Asa M. Sylvester of nearby Scarborough Station. In June of 1884, Sylvester purchased the last of the parcels George Milliken received from Minerva Libby, a large triangle at the fork of the Marginal Way and Black Point Road. The latter, Sylvester never developed, but sold in 1894 to John Kaler, proprietor of the adjacent Southgate or Black Point Inn. Like the other locals who bought into Prout’s Neck, Asa Sylvester had become prosperous through his own efforts. Like Pennell and Valentine, he had sufficient funds to pay for a likeness and biographical sketch in Clayton’s 1880 History of Cumberland County. Born in Penobscot County and trained as a millwright, farmer, and seaman, Sylvester came
to Scarborough in 1864 at age 44, most likely to help set up the rolling mills at Ligona. (later known as Bancroft & Martin).
Thereafter, he established a long-lasting grocery business. He also received an appointment as postmaster. He never married. Sylvester made a good effort to sell his properties between A and B Streets (Sanctuary Lane and Winslow Homer Road). Five months after he purchased the plot, his first sale was lot 82 to John Cloudman and John M. Allen, a grocer from Westbrook. Less than three months later, the two flipped it to Henry Fairbanks so he could expand his existing plot. On August 16, 1883, Sylvester sells to his first summer visitor, Mrs. Mary B. C. Lovering, of Germantown, PA. In January 1884 he sells two half lots to Fairbanks and in November a lot and a half to John and Amanda Allen’s son-in-law, Adelbert
R. Harmon. On July 3, 1885, Asa Sylvester donated two lots to Henry Neely, as Episcopal Bishop of Portland, with the restriction, “for the creation of buildings to be used
for the public worship of Almighty God according to the rites and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America and for the support and maintenance of the same as Bishops determine.” The deed goes on to state it is the same place where is now standing a church erected for public worship. On March 6, 1888, the Bishop conveyed one of the lots back to Sylvester, who
conveyed it the next day to Ellen Burditt of Boston.
Sylvester is to be given credit for the establishment of St. James Episcopal Chapel. J. Vaughn Merrick and C. Emma Cheney (Bishop Charles E. Cheney’s wife) didn’t purchase on Prout’s Neck until three years later. (J. Vaughan’s
brother, Thomas B., bought about an acre of land behind the Prout’s Neck House in the fall of 1885 from Eben Seavey.) Presumably, Asa Sylvester favored the Anglican Rite, but it was also an excellent promotional move as the Episcopal
Church of the time was conspicuous in its service to the spiritual needs of the upper classes.
The existence of the chapel may have encouraged the Merricks, Cheneys, and others to choose “Prout’s” for their summer homes. Over a period of 14 years, Sylvester sold all of his lots between A and B Streets and on the north side of A Street, except seven he kept for himself. Not counting
Fairbanks and Harmon, who had already invested in Prout’s Neck, Sylvester sold to only six summer families.
In 1895 he sold five lots to house builder Alonzo Googins, Hannah Louise Libby’s husband. Of those lots, the one north of A Street, Lot 103, Googins sold May 29, 1896 to Ira Foss, who built a water tower there and changed Prout’s Neck forever.
Parents: Asa Sylvester, born in Northampton, Massachusetts & Mary Turner, born in Princeton, Maine.
1860 Federal Census on July 20: Etna, Penobscot, Maine: Daniel W. Sylvester, age 36, trader, Amanda, age 20 (sister?), Asa M, age 41, trader, all born in Maine.
1861- Civil War draft registration in Etna, Maine: Asa M. Sylvester, 42, merchant, single, born in Penobscot, Maine. Also Dudley A. Sylvester, 21, Edwin Sylvester, 21, James A. Sylvester, 27.
1870 Federal Census (July 27) Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine: Asa M Sylvester, age 50, Retail grocer, Linda G., age 20, keeping house, Sarah, age 14, all born in Maine.
1880 Federal Census (June 8) he is age 60 living in Scarborough, Maine as a Retail grocer- alone. Next listing is Susan L. Lowe.
1900 Federal Census (June 6th) for 11 Central Avenue, Portland, Cumberland, Maine: he is age 79 living with his sister, Susan S. Lowe, age 65, born March 1835, and her daughter, Davetta M, age 30, born Sept 1869, Occupation: typesetter. All born in Maine.
1901- Died of 'malarial fever contracted out of state years ago'. A brother, Daniel W , born Oct 2, 1825, died in Etna, Me on July 2, 1900. Mother's name listed for his brother is listed as 'Susan Turner'.
ASA M. SYLVESTER and the development of Prout's Neck:
At the same time George Milliken was turning his land into cash, so was Thomas J. Libby. After selling four lots to Alice P. Homer of New York City and John A. Waterman of Gorhan, ME in 1882, Thomas J. sold the rest of his sub-divided lots in January of 1883 to Asa M. Sylvester of nearby Scarborough Station. In June of 1884, Sylvester purchased the last of the parcels George Milliken received from Minerva Libby, a large triangle at the fork of the Marginal Way and Black Point Road. The latter, Sylvester never developed, but sold in 1894 to John Kaler, proprietor of the adjacent Southgate or Black Point Inn. Like the other locals who bought into Prout’s Neck, Asa Sylvester had become prosperous through his own efforts. Like Pennell and Valentine, he had sufficient funds to pay for a likeness and biographical sketch in Clayton’s 1880 History of Cumberland County. Born in Penobscot County and trained as a millwright, farmer, and seaman, Sylvester came
to Scarborough in 1864 at age 44, most likely to help set up the rolling mills at Ligona. (later known as Bancroft & Martin).
Thereafter, he established a long-lasting grocery business. He also received an appointment as postmaster. He never married. Sylvester made a good effort to sell his properties between A and B Streets (Sanctuary Lane and Winslow Homer Road). Five months after he purchased the plot, his first sale was lot 82 to John Cloudman and John M. Allen, a grocer from Westbrook. Less than three months later, the two flipped it to Henry Fairbanks so he could expand his existing plot. On August 16, 1883, Sylvester sells to his first summer visitor, Mrs. Mary B. C. Lovering, of Germantown, PA. In January 1884 he sells two half lots to Fairbanks and in November a lot and a half to John and Amanda Allen’s son-in-law, Adelbert
R. Harmon. On July 3, 1885, Asa Sylvester donated two lots to Henry Neely, as Episcopal Bishop of Portland, with the restriction, “for the creation of buildings to be used
for the public worship of Almighty God according to the rites and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America and for the support and maintenance of the same as Bishops determine.” The deed goes on to state it is the same place where is now standing a church erected for public worship. On March 6, 1888, the Bishop conveyed one of the lots back to Sylvester, who
conveyed it the next day to Ellen Burditt of Boston.
Sylvester is to be given credit for the establishment of St. James Episcopal Chapel. J. Vaughn Merrick and C. Emma Cheney (Bishop Charles E. Cheney’s wife) didn’t purchase on Prout’s Neck until three years later. (J. Vaughan’s
brother, Thomas B., bought about an acre of land behind the Prout’s Neck House in the fall of 1885 from Eben Seavey.) Presumably, Asa Sylvester favored the Anglican Rite, but it was also an excellent promotional move as the Episcopal
Church of the time was conspicuous in its service to the spiritual needs of the upper classes.
The existence of the chapel may have encouraged the Merricks, Cheneys, and others to choose “Prout’s” for their summer homes. Over a period of 14 years, Sylvester sold all of his lots between A and B Streets and on the north side of A Street, except seven he kept for himself. Not counting
Fairbanks and Harmon, who had already invested in Prout’s Neck, Sylvester sold to only six summer families.
In 1895 he sold five lots to house builder Alonzo Googins, Hannah Louise Libby’s husband. Of those lots, the one north of A Street, Lot 103, Googins sold May 29, 1896 to Ira Foss, who built a water tower there and changed Prout’s Neck forever.
1860 Federal Census on July 20: Etna, Penobscot, Maine: Daniel W. Sylvester, age 36, trader, Amanda, age 20 (sister?), Asa M, age 41, trader, all born in Maine.
1861- Civil War draft registration in Etna, Maine: Asa M. Sylvester, 42, merchant, single, born in Penobscot, Maine. Also Dudley A. Sylvester, 21, Edwin Sylvester, 21, James A. Sylvester, 27.
1870 Federal Census (July 27) Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine: Asa M Sylvester, age 50, Retail grocer, Linda G., age 20, keeping house, Sarah, age 14, all born in Maine.
1880 Federal Census (June 8) he is age 60 living in Scarborough, Maine as a Retail grocer- alone. Next listing is Susan L. Lowe.
1900 Federal Census (June 6th) for 11 Central Avenue, Portland, Cumberland, Maine: he is age 79 living with his sister, Susan S. Lowe, age 65, born March 1835, and her daughter, Davetta M, age 30, born Sept 1869, Occupation: typesetter. All born in Maine.
1901- Died of 'malarial fever contracted out of state years ago'. A brother, Daniel W , born Oct 2, 1825, died in Etna, Me on July 2, 1900. Mother's name listed for his brother is listed as 'Susan Turner'.
ASA M. SYLVESTER and the development of Prout's Neck:
At the same time George Milliken was turning his land into cash, so was Thomas J. Libby. After selling four lots to Alice P. Homer of New York City and John A. Waterman of Gorhan, ME in 1882, Thomas J. sold the rest of his sub-divided lots in January of 1883 to Asa M. Sylvester of nearby Scarborough Station. In June of 1884, Sylvester purchased the last of the parcels George Milliken received from Minerva Libby, a large triangle at the fork of the Marginal Way and Black Point Road. The latter, Sylvester never developed, but sold in 1894 to John Kaler, proprietor of the adjacent Southgate or Black Point Inn. Like the other locals who bought into Prout’s Neck, Asa Sylvester had become prosperous through his own efforts. Like Pennell and Valentine, he had sufficient funds to pay for a likeness and biographical sketch in Clayton’s 1880 History of Cumberland County. Born in Penobscot County and trained as a millwright, farmer, and seaman, Sylvester came
to Scarborough in 1864 at age 44, most likely to help set up the rolling mills at Ligona. (later known as Bancroft & Martin).
Thereafter, he established a long-lasting grocery business. He also received an appointment as postmaster. He never married. Sylvester made a good effort to sell his properties between A and B Streets (Sanctuary Lane and Winslow Homer Road). Five months after he purchased the plot, his first sale was lot 82 to John Cloudman and John M. Allen, a grocer from Westbrook. Less than three months later, the two flipped it to Henry Fairbanks so he could expand his existing plot. On August 16, 1883, Sylvester sells to his first summer visitor, Mrs. Mary B. C. Lovering, of Germantown, PA. In January 1884 he sells two half lots to Fairbanks and in November a lot and a half to John and Amanda Allen’s son-in-law, Adelbert
R. Harmon. On July 3, 1885, Asa Sylvester donated two lots to Henry Neely, as Episcopal Bishop of Portland, with the restriction, “for the creation of buildings to be used
for the public worship of Almighty God according to the rites and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America and for the support and maintenance of the same as Bishops determine.” The deed goes on to state it is the same place where is now standing a church erected for public worship. On March 6, 1888, the Bishop conveyed one of the lots back to Sylvester, who
conveyed it the next day to Ellen Burditt of Boston.
Sylvester is to be given credit for the establishment of St. James Episcopal Chapel. J. Vaughn Merrick and C. Emma Cheney (Bishop Charles E. Cheney’s wife) didn’t purchase on Prout’s Neck until three years later. (J. Vaughan’s
brother, Thomas B., bought about an acre of land behind the Prout’s Neck House in the fall of 1885 from Eben Seavey.) Presumably, Asa Sylvester favored the Anglican Rite, but it was also an excellent promotional move as the Episcopal
Church of the time was conspicuous in its service to the spiritual needs of the upper classes.
The existence of the chapel may have encouraged the Merricks, Cheneys, and others to choose “Prout’s” for their summer homes. Over a period of 14 years, Sylvester sold all of his lots between A and B Streets and on the north side of A Street, except seven he kept for himself. Not counting
Fairbanks and Harmon, who had already invested in Prout’s Neck, Sylvester sold to only six summer families.
In 1895 he sold five lots to house builder Alonzo Googins, Hannah Louise Libby’s husband. Of those lots, the one north of A Street, Lot 103, Googins sold May 29, 1896 to Ira Foss, who built a water tower there and changed Prout’s Neck forever.
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