Reeds ~ The Large-Heartedness of Joseph Orr

As far as we know, Michael Sinnett was not related to us at all, (unless you go back to our ancient beginnings in Africa), but he provided a chance for us all to peek back in time, just enough in fact to see what kind of a man Joseph Orr was. Our relative Orr was certainly a wealthy and brave man on paper. He was rich and brave enough to purchase Orr's Island, with his brother Clement, at the time called "Little Sebascodigan," from Elisha Cook and William Taylor, in 1742. He did so by paying, according to most accounts, a mere two shillings per acre, paid in cords of wood delivered to Boston. Hailing from Ireland, but originally from Scotland, Joseph sought religious freedom in the America's, with Clement and other Scotch-Irish Presbyterians families such as the Skofields. After buying the Island he built a homestead in 1756 on Orr's Island, where, just a year before, the population of the island was only 16 people! Their only flaw was forgetting to acquire a signature from one of William's daughters. She claimed that part of the island was still rightfully hers. Joseph responded by giving her one-tenth of the island, and because she was the wife of Matthew Byles, that part of the island was named"Byleses." After buying the Island, Joseph and his brother Clement began to transport cord wood to Boston. They were very successful in their new partnership. Now that you have the background on our Orr ancestor, we'll return to Sinnett. Well back in Ireland, a young Sinnett was being tricked onto a boat that would eventually take him to the Americas. Not knowing his own fate, he stepped aboard the vessel without further thought. When he realized he might never see his home again he was, of course, astounded. When Sinnett arrived on American soil, he was expected to pay the fee for his tickets, even though he had been forced to board the boat, and did not have enough money to pay for the trip. He was stuck in a dilemma, he had no money to pay for the tickets, and had no chance of proving that in fact he had never wanted to come here in the first place. So he was deeply relieved when our relative Joseph Orr generously paid for Sinnett's tickets. Orr brought Sinnett back home with him and allowed him to pay off his dept by working at his farm, allowing him to stay under his roof. Quickly after paying back Orr, Sinnett married a woman named Mary. They left Orr's Island together and resided in Boothsbay, Maine. Mary was tempted to visit her relatives on the train to Boston, and mentioned her wish to Michael. He sadly let her leave, not knowing he would not be seeing her in a long long time. Mary, when arriving back home, found the house deserted. After hearing her husband's fate, she set off to seek Joseph, remembering her husband's tales of the generous Orr. She arrived at his house and told him her unfortunate tale. He promised to keep her safe until Michael returned. And just what had happened to Sinnett this time? He had been forced to join Wolfe's army, or by some acounts was captured by French raiders, and had been fighting in Quebec. Only after they successfully raided Quebec was he discharged. After arriving home and finding it deserted, he, too, made his way to Joseph Orr's house, not knowing his wife had sought the same safety there also. It just goes to show what an impression it made on Michael and Mary when he bought the tickets and provided Michael a place to live; they both remembered the compassionate act and, without thought, went to him when the problem arose. Arriving at Orr's house, Sinnett was surprisingly welcomed by the glowing smile of his wife: a happy ending to a potentially disastrous story, all because of our compassionate and caring relative Joseph Orr.

--LGP

Sources

• Beautiful Harpswell by Margaret and Charles Todd
• Wheeler's History Of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell