Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

McQUILLAN The MacQuillans were powerful chiefs of county Antrim, Ireland, who entered Ireland with the earliest English adventurers. The McQuillans became lords of the northern coat of Ireland, and the contiguous territory from Dunseverick Castle in the county Antrim, near the Giant's Causeway, to Dunluce Castle. Dunseverick, built according to tradition by the McQuillans, is now a heap of ruins; and Dunluce a once strong and beautiful fortress is dismantled and crumbled with age. MacDonnell, a Scottish chieftain, married a daughter of McQuillan, and came into possession of the Antrim territory. King James First confirmed the title of the McDonnell to the country, and since that time a McDonnell has been Earl of Antrim. The McQuillans became scattered through northern Ireland, and from there to all parts of the world. (I) John McQuillan was born in the north of Ireland, where he enlisted in the English navy. In course of time, being a man of fine physique and soldierly bearing, brave and of good habits, he was promoted to the position of a subordinate officer. He came to America in a vessel of the English navy which, after some period of naval service, he left at Portland, Maine, and settled in Gorham, Maine. He resided there many years, and died in 1811. He married (first) Abigail Cook, who died in 1794-95. He married (second) Oct. 13, 1796, Elizabeth Brown, who died in 1797, leaving no children. He married (third) Sept. 20, 1798, Olive, daughter of Samuel and Mary Edwards. She died Sept. 17, 1821. Children by 1st wife: John, Rebecca and William. Children by 3d wife: Eliza, Hugh McL. and Sargent. (II) Rev. Hugh McL., second child of John and Olive (Edwards) McQuillan, was born in Gorham, Maine, July 18, 1803, and died in Casco, Maine, April 14, 1861. After the death of his father he went to live with a gentleman in Windham, Maine, who gave him a good education, and with whom he stayed until he attained his majority. Afterward he studied for the christian ministry, and was ordained a minister of the Christian Baptist church. From that time forward he engaged in evangelical work until the time of his death. He was a devout man, and an earnest worker in the cause of religion. He married, at Naples, Maine, in 1842, Elvira, daughter of Jonathan and Mercy (Harmon) Wight, of Naples, Maine. She was born April 16, 1807, died at Yarmouth, Maine, Nov. 27, 1881. Mrs. McQuillan was a woman of noble character, a companion and helpmeet to her husband, and after his death did all in her power to keep her children together, and give them the best education her cirumstances permitted. Children: Rufus H., mentioned below. George F., mentioned below. Liza A., born in Naples, Maine, unmarried, and lives in Portland, Maine. (III) Rufus H., eldest child of Rev. Hugh McL. and Elvira (Wight) McQuillan, was born in Naples, Maine, Nov. 18, 1844, died April 23, 1896. May 24, 1862, at the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in Company G, First Regiment, U. S. Infantry, and took part in the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, South Mountain, and the first battle of Fredericksburg, and was present at the siege of Vicksburg from May 19 till its surrender July 4, 1863. During the year preceding his discharge on may 24, 1865, he was orderly to the general commanding at New Orleans. On leaving the army he engaged in the lumber business, and at different times had charge of various lumber mills in the west. In 1873 he returned to Maine, and in 1880 located in Yarmouth, where he engaged in the lumber business and also carried on a large hardware store for a number of years. In politics he was a Republican, and as such took an active interest in public affairs. He was deputy sheriff of Cumberland county, at Yarmouth, under Sheriff Benjamin True for two years. He had an abiding interest in Grand Army affairs, and was the first commander of the W. L. Haskell Post, Nov. 108, at Yarmouth. In business he was a man of the strictest integiry, and in civil and social affairs was one of the best known and highly esteemed citizens of Yarmouth. He married, March 17, 1874, Alma B. Sawyer, in Raymond, Maine, who survies him. He died May 14, 1903 Children: Hugh Dean, George H. and Leroy Rufus. (III) George F., second child of Rev. Hugh McL. and Elvira (Wight) McQuillan, was born in Naples, Maine, April 18, 1849. He passed his boyhood days in Raymond, where he attended the common schools, and fitted for college at North Bridgton Academy and Gorham Seminary. In 1870 he entered Bowdoin Collge, from which he graduated in 1875. In 1868 he began to teach school, and partly with the money thus earned and partly with funds supplied by his mother, he paid his way while at Bowdoin. He took an interest in certain kinds of athletics, and was a member of Bowdoin's boating crew one year. After completing his college course he continued to teach, and for two years he was employed in high schools in the northern part of Cumberland county. In 1877 he began the study of law with Hon. Bion Bradbury in Portland, Maine, which he continued until his admission to the bar, Oct. 14, 1879. He opened an office in Casco, Maine, where he practiced one year, during which time her served as town clerk and supervisor of schools. In Oct., 1880, he removed to Portland, and entered upon his career as a practitioner of law, in which he has achieved much success, his practice being in the local courts. He is a member of the supreme judicial court of Maine and of the district, circuit, and supreme courts of the United States. His practice has included the ordinary class of commercial litigation, and in addition to that he has been attorney and counsellor for various towns in Cumberland county. He is well known as an able, reliable and successfu lawyer. From Dec. 1, 1892 until May 28, 1894, he was a partner in the law with Colonel Albert W. Bradbury, the firm being Bradbury & McQuillan. On the last mentioned date this partnership was dissolved, Colonel Bradbury becoming U. S. district attorney. Since then Mr. McQuillan has practiced alone. In policital sentiment Mr. McQuillan is a Democrat, and is one of the trusted leaders of his party. June 6, 1881, he was appointed judge advocate general with the rank of Colonel, on the staff of Governor Plaisted, and served as such until Jan. 3, 1883. In 1882, 1886 and in 1890, he was a candidate for clerk of the courts of Cumberland county; and in 1892 and 1896 he was candidate for judge of probate; and in each case received the full support of his party in the canvass and at the polls; but the Democratic party being in a minority, he was defeated. Colonel McQuillan is fond of the company of his books, which make a goodly library, and takes that interest in education and literature that every liberally educated man should take. He married, Feb. 5, 1891, Mary Frederica, daughter of Governor Frederick and Mary O. (Priest) Robie. They have one child, Harrit R., born March 14, 1894.