Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 12.pdf/650

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VOL. XII.

No. 12.

BOSTON.

DECEMBER, 1900.

JAMES SULLIVAN.

GEORGETOWN, in the District of VJ Maine, was incorporated by the leg islature of Massachusetts in the year 1718. It embraced the territories of the present city of Bath and the town of Phippsburg, on the west side of the Kennebec (or Sagadahoe) River, and, on the east side, the present towns of Woolwich, Arrowsic (island), with Parker's Island, — the latter now alone con stituting the entire territory under the name of the original corporation. The Popham Colony, in 1607, formed the first settlement within its limit; but this was abandoned in the year following, and the next settlement of note was made in 1 650 by people from the western colonies. From this date the number of inhabitants slowly increased until the Indian Wars broke out in 1675, driving the entire population to the seaward islands, or entirely out of the region. Parker's Island (now bearing alone the name Georgetown) contains about 28,000 acres of land and salt marsh, and was occu pied by some sixty families when James Sul livan came there to reside, and, if possible, to practice his profession of law. He had just completed a two years' course of study with his brother, subsequently Major General in the Army of the Revolution. Between the western limits of Georgetown and Falmouth (now Portland) there were scarcely more than a score of families; while there were less than three hundred in all the other parts of Lincoln County, which at that time practically included all the settle ments eastward to the Penobscot, and north nearly to a point opposite the south line of Hallowell.

Many years later Mr. Sullivan was asked the question, " What on earth could have in duced you to settle in such an out-of-the-way place? " He replied with characteristic promptness, " I wished to break into the world somewhere, and concluded to make the attempt at the thinnest place." With but two years of legal study with an inexperienced lawyer, and only one year past his minority, one would say it was necessary that legal methods should be thin and " limbs of the law " scant to permit of his gaming a client for whom to win or lose a case. This bold young adventurer was one of four sons of "Old Master Sullivan," of Ber wick, who, according to his own account, was a son of Major Philip O' Sullivan of Árdea, county of Kerry, Ireland, who was son of Owen O'Sullivan, who married Mary, daughter of Col. Owen McSweeney, of Musgray, and sister of Capt. Edward Mc Sweeney, noted for his anecdotes and witty sayings. Major O'Sullivan died in consequence of a duel in France, leaving to his wife a large property, and four sons and a daughter. Owing to the troubled condition of Ireland at that period, it appears that one son, John, obtained his education on the continent. Sometime after his return he formed the acquaintance of a beautiful young lady, and became deeply in love with her. His mother considered the lady's family of too low rank for her to be received into a family which had counts and earls for its ancestors and near relations, and she warned the young man that if he disregarded her wishes in this matter he would derive no further aid from