From JFA newsletter no. 6, Summer 1992
Nearly 350 years ago, Robert1 Junkins settled in Scotland, York County, Maine. He built his homestead, a garrison house, on a rise overlooking the York River, where he retained command of his farm lands and orchards for the remainder of his life. His children, Joseph2, Alexander2 and Daniel2 lived in the garrison with their families. Joseph was killed by Indians when he was 39 leaving his wife and one son, born shortly after his death. The homestead passed to his two remaining sons, Alexander and Daniel. They later divided the land, with Alexander retaining the homestead.
The descendants of Alexander lived in the garrison for many generations until 1844 when Alexander5 died. The homestead remained abandoned for over forty years and in 1889 was burned to the ground by vandals.1 The property went through a succession of owners during the next one hundred years, with no attempts to rebuild or put another home at that spot.
In 1989, the homestead property went on the market and Alan and Betty Junkins started negotiations to purchase the original four acres and bring it back into the Junkins family. In April 1992, settlement was made and we are happy to announce that Robert's homestead is once again in the family and we hope that soon it will be occupied by a 10th generation descendant of Robert.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jul 1661 | Robert1 Junkins signed petition as resident of York |
| 12 Nov 1667 | Court record shows Robert owned land as bondsman |
| before 1670 | Robert married Sarah Smyth of Cape Neddick |
| 1672 | Joseph2 Junkins born |
| 1675 | Alexander2 Junkins born |
| 24 Mar 1680 | 20 acres deeded to Robert by Alexander & Annis Maxwell between the way to Newguvanacke & Bass Cove Brook in York Northwest of homesite and not adjoining |
| 1680 | 32 acre town grant, "On Northeast side of Highway at head of marsh call Thomas Curtiss Cove & adjoining the Northwest side of a lott of upland of Micum Mackenteers." Not the homestead lot. |
| ca. 1680 | Daniel2 Junkins born |
| 10 Jun 1681 | A parcel of land where now said Junkins orchard is placed & his barn standith. Adjoining the homesite. |
| 2 Mar 1696 | Dated his will. |
| Nov 1699 | Robert1 Junkins died. |
| 2 Jan 1699 | Robert's will recorded. Homestead passed to Sarah. |
| 1704 | 20 acres granted to Joseph, Alexander & Daniel. "All the land between the head of Robert's lot and Bass Cove Brook." |
| 1 Nov 1710 | Alexander3 Junkins born at Garrison |
| 2 Apr 1711 | Joseph2 Junkins killed by Indians near Garrison.2 |
| 20 Mar 1718 | Sarah died at Junkins House. Death recorded at York. Alexander2 oldest son inherited the Homestead. |
| 9 Feb 1721 | First deed record of homestead lot of land when Alexander2 and Daniel2 agree on division of their father's estate. |
| 26 Oct 1732 | Alexander3 married Hannah McIntire |
| 21 Feb 1735 | Alexander2 willed homestead lot with Dwelling House and Barn to his wife Catherine. |
| 9 Oct 1735 | Alexander4 born at garrison |
| Jan 1736 | Alexander2 died and homestead passed to Catherine. |
| 14 Feb 1757 | Catherine died. Homestead passed to Alexander3. |
| ca. 1775 | Hannah (McIntire) Junkins died. |
| 11 Jan 1776 | Alexander4 married Abigail Lindsay |
| 1 Jun 1777 | Alexander3 married Mary Tanney. |
| 5 Oct 1782 | Alexander3 died. Homestead passed to Alexander4. |
| Mar 1785 | Alexander5 born at Garrison |
| bef 1820 | Alexander4 died. Homestead passed to Alexander5. |
| Jun 1826 | Joseph Hilliard6 Junkins born at Garrison. |
| 29 Jul 1838 | Hannah (Langdon) Junkins died; buried at Garrison. |
| 12 Dec 1838 | Alexander5 married Hannah Bragdon. |
| 2 Jul 1844 | Alexander5 died; buried at Garrison; Homestead passed to Hannah (Bragdon) Junkins. |
| 14 Dec 1866 | Hannah deeded Homestead to son Joseph H.6 Junkins |
| Jun 1889 | Garrison house burned. |
| ca. 1890 | Joseph H.6 Junkins died; Homestead passed to sons Hiram A.7 and Alvin W.7 |
| 15 Mar 1892 | Homestead lot sold to George E. Grant (10 acres, 123 rods) by Hiram A.7 & Alvin W.7 Junkins |
| Homestead passed to daughter Mabel P. (Grant) Lewis | |
| Christopher Simonds, warranty deed book 1869, page 452. | |
| 30 Oct 1948 | John G. & Harriet G. Simonds, warranty deed book 1134, page 200. |
| 12 Jun 1976 | Homestead 4 acres to Bronislaw P. and Julia T. Kowalski. |
| 11 Oct 1985 | Homestead 4 acres (less 15' X 15' cemetery) to Gary M. and Dale N. Guyette. |
| 22 Apr 1992 | Homestead 4 acres (less 15' X 15' cemetery) to Alan D.10 and Betty F. Junkins |