Ancestors of Christine and Jack - Alice "Elienor" Cothran

Alice "Elienor" Cothran

F, #37, b. 1 August 1765, d. 13 October 1825

Alice "Elienor" Cothran|b. 1 Aug 1765\nd. 13 Oct 1825|p37.htm|John Cothran||p74.htm|Isabella Smith||p75.htm|||||||||||||

Reference

3G Grm

Charts

Pedigree starting with Jack (representing the grandchildren) - incorporates the branches below - largest chart
Pedigree for John Jewett Garland

Father*

John Cothran

Mother*

Isabella Smith

Story*

Wiscasset in Pownalborugh, Fannie Chase, 1941 pg 25 says:.
"The Widow Ellis Jewett (Alice Cothran), a famous giantress about whom innumerable stories still survive, along with the traditions of her prowess, seemed to be indigenous to Squam Island, where she was "Aunt Nellie" to all of the neighbors. Her actual birthplace is not known, but she died on the island, October 13, 1828, aged sixty-three years. She was the wife of James Jewett, who was born at Rowley, Massachusetts, Septemeber 14, 1739, and her senior by twenty-six years."
     She was over six feet in height and of immense weight and rotundity. she is said to be amphibious for, besides being able to swim like a fish, she could handle a coble or a wherry - with sail or with paddle - with masculine skill; she could catch a cod in the water or cook it on the land with equal facility; but it was her physical strength which made her famous. She could raise a barrel of cider to her mouth, and then refresh herself, as she held it poised upon her knees, by a draught from the bung-hole.
     Jewett's cove, the snug little harbor where she lived, took it's name from the Jewett family, of which she became the greatest member of the clan. Her house where she kept a seamen's inn, though of but one story, was of great length. The large kitchen, with its huge fire-place containing crane and pot hooks, its brick oven built after the ancient fashion of massive masonry, was the rendezvous alike for the weathr-beaten wayfarer and the storm-bound mariner. The other rooms built around it were small and not unlike the cosy cabins of a ship. Her wide dressers were adorned "with trencher treen and pewter bright," snow-while plates, pewter platters, kettles, cups, and utensils, all of which were scrupulously clean and in perfect order. This cheerful hostelry, without a sign and without a bar, was amply provisioned for a storm as became a country tavern on an island where few cattle grazed and no shambles could be found for miles(*). At the Widow Jewett's, there was a pork in the barrel and potatoes in the bin, a hogshead of molasses, a puncheon of Jamaica run and a locker of choice liquors. Even though coffee was an unpalatable decoction of a West India berry with beans and rye, scorched-not roasted, and sweetened with molasses, the steaming hot draught revived many a wave-soaked sailor who sought refuge within the hosptiable house of "Aunt Nellie". [*Ebenezer Tarbox who had fishing vessels, kept a country store which was the nearest base of supplies. He was licensed to sell run but charged it to "red flannel" on his books.
     The the weather-bound mariner, when the cove was filled with by-landers and bankers, this spot was the sailor's joy and a refuge as long as he conducted himself with propriety, for none ever dared either by look or word to treat the Widow Jewett with aught save respect, behavior which she commanded both by her own deportment and her pugilistic powers. She was known to have knocked down a husky aggressor with one blow from her magasthenic fist when he failed to treat her with due deference.
     She was in all things generous, a worthy benevolent woman noted for her philanthropy. She kept herb tea always brewing on the stove and possessed a disposition as cheerful as the sunshine which gladdened her fields and flowers. Many a wanderer on the sea as well as her island neighbors feld a deep pang of personal loss when it was learned that her kindly voice was forever silent.

Birth*

1 August 1765

Alice "Elienor" Cothran was born 1 August 1765 Harriman cites (Webber) for her birth (need to get copy of original source)
Source: Family records of Westport Maine, Beatrice Harriman, 1970 - citing "Jewett Family of America."

She was the daughter of John Cothran and Isabella Smith.

Baptism

26 April 1767

Alice "Elienor" Cothran was baptized on 26 April 1767: per Family records of Westport Maine, Beatrice Harriman, 1970 - citing "Jewett Family of America" - (need to get copy of original source).

Marriage*

16 October 1789

She married James Jewett (RevWar Patriot), son of James Jewett and Mary Pearson, on 16 October 1789 at Edgecomb, Lincoln Co., Maine, Diary of Moses Davis, J.P. (in MO State DAR Source Record books, 1983) "16 Oct 1789 Fryday married Capt. Jewett to Elienor Cochran."

Death*

13 October 1825

Alice "Elienor" Cothran died on 13 October 1825 at Westport, Lincoln Co., Maine, at age 60.

Burial*

She was buried at Jewett Cemetery, Westport, Lincoln Co., Maine.

Family

James Jewett (RevWar Patriot) b. 1 Jun 1739, d. 5 Dec 1811

Marriage*

16 October 1789

Children

Ruth Riggs Jewett+ b. 26 Mar 1790, d. 18 Jul 1866

John Jewett+ b. 17 Jan 1792

Stephen Jewett+ b. 24 Jan 1794, d. 27 Jul 1845

Moses Jewett+ b. 10 Dec 1795, d. 2 May 1869

William Jewett+ b. 17 Aug 1797, d. 29 Mar 1860

Last Edited

23 Feb 2010