Michael Sinnett

Michael Sinnett (or a variation of that, thought possibly to be Sinnott or Synnott) was born somewhere inland in County Wexford, Ireland in 1728. At the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed to a glove-maker. In those days a boy must get his schooling before he was fourteen, and then learn some trade. At the end of his apprenticeship when he was twenty-one years old, he went to Dublin to enjoy a short holiday and to seek work. Two or three of his neighbors, or brother-apprentices, went with him.

A few days after reaching there, while loitering about the wharves, they were accosted by a well-dressed and genial appearing man, who asked them if they had ever been aboard a large vessel, and if they would enjoy a sail down the harbor in one that was laying at the wharf, and they then would return with the pilot. They were excited at the opportunity and gladly accepted this invitation. The mouth of the harbor was reached, and Dublin was fairly left behind. The boys then grew anxious and made some inquiry of the captain. He told them that they were on their way to America, that there was no help for them, and they were dazed with the realization of what had just happened to them. I think they were not very closely confined, for it is related that young Michael Sinnett obtained pen, ink and paper during the night, and wrote to his family or friends at Wexford of his condition and prospects. This letter he gave to the captain the next morning, as he was entering his boat to go on shore, asking him if he would not put it in the post office. The captain tore it in fragments and tossed it overboard.

In a few days the ship sailed, and in course of time, they arrived in Boston where they were taken before officials, and the captain made the statement that they had come aboard of their own free will, but without passage money. They were accordingly then sold into indentured servitude in order to pay for this passage money (although they were also liberally paid by the English government to bring over such likely young men, in order to help settle the American colonies.) Joseph Orr, who had recently purchased Orr's Island, Maine with his brother, Clement – they for whom Orr's Island, Maine was named – happened to be in Boston when Michael Sinnett and his companions were being offered up for sale. He probably freighted to Boston two or three loads of wood each year, carrying forty or fifty cords in his “junky,” or small sloop. He paid the passage money of a man, and chose young Michael Sinnett as among the best of the twenty from whom he made his selection. The other boys were sold elsewhere, and no more is known of them.

As Mr. Orr had no sons, he greatly needed some one to help him in his work. Michael was at once taken to the home of this sturdy Irishman on Orr's Island, Maine. Sinnett worked out the amount of his purchase price, and then was set to chopping down the great trees that then covered that beautiful island, which has since become such a famous summer resort. The hands which had so long only been used in glove-making were terribly blistered, but he kept resolutely at work. Although Michael had known nothing about farm work in Ireland, he had become a good chopper and farmer during his time here. He was very particular and neat about all kinds of work which were given him to do, and in the meantime, becoming much attached to Orr and his family, and they likewise to him.

It was now somewhere around 1754 or 1755, and he had faithfully “served out his time.” He remained awhile longer with the Orrs, and finally married on 28 April 1756, to Mary Molly Ward of Hingham, Massachusetts, who died at Orr's Island, Maine on 20 August 1819, aged eighty-four years. This marriage was recorded in the old North Yarmouth, Maine records, as Harpswell was then a part of North Yarmouth, and the bridegroom's name is there given as ‘Micah Sennot.’ Mary Molly Ward was a sister of Deborah Ward, the wife of Joseph Orr's brother, Clement. Soon after his marriage to Mary Molly Ward, Michael Sinnett took one hundred acres of land on the Sheepscot River of Maine. He had a yoke of oxen, and anyone who had such a possession in those days was considered “well off.” The wife having relatives in Hingham, Massachusetts, she soon went to visit them in a coaster which came into the harbor near by, and which was bound for the Massachusetts coast.

Shortly after she left, a British man-of-war came into the harbor; and a press-gang came ashore. Sinnett and several others were seized and carried on board. They were taken to New York and enrolled in the Provincial army, and were marched through the forests to Canada, where they fought through the campaign against the French. After the fall of Quebec on 18 September 1759, along with several other smaller battles, they made the return march back to New York, were mustered out, and were then left to walk home, finding their own way through the wilderness back to the shores of Maine. Sinnett went first to Orr's Island, where he is said to have met his wife once more.

When she had returned from her visit at Hingham, Massachusetts, she had found her home deserted, the oxen gone, and the sad news of the kidnapping of her husband awaited her. In her despair, she resolutely picked her way to Orr’s Island, back to the home of their old benefactor, Joseph Orr. He went back to their old homestead in his coaster and loaded upon it the belongings of this ruined home, and taking them back to his own, kindly promising to take care of her. Mary Molly Ward was a very smart, capable woman, and one of the best of neighbors, so that she had no trouble in earning her living. It is not known when she heard where her husband was, but he no doubt sent her some message as quickly as he could. It is said that she was milking when her husband finally returned; she felt a hand tenderly laid on her shoulder, and she looked up to thank God for bringing her husband back to her after meeting so many dangers.

Michael Sinnett, after his return, sold the land in Sheepscot without seeing it again, and bought thirty acres of land on Orr's Island, Maine, where he built the home in which he spent the remainder of his life, and which was known far and wide for its generous hospitality. This land was purchased of his old friend, Joseph Orr, and was paid for in mere days’ work.

Michael Sinnett was also a member of the brave company of Captain Jonathan Doyle of Harpswell, Maine during the Revolutionary War. The copy of the return list which bears Michael’s name has the date of 02 July 1782, and he must have been enrolled in this company long before this date.

Michael and Molly had four children (two boys and two girls) and many descendants came from them. He died on 15 September 1800.