Brooksville

June 13, 1817

One of the earliest explorers to the area was James Rosier in 1605. Finding it the most beautiful place he had ever seen, he named the spot; Cape Rosier.

Brooksville was first settled in 1777. Here are some of the early names which you may still recognize today. Condon, Walker, Gray, Snow, Tapley, Redman, Orcutt, Nichols, Austin, Black, Parker, Limeburner, Grindle, Howard, Dyer, Stevens, Billings, Perkins, Cousins, Smith and Bakeman.

The present town of Brooksville as we know it was once a part of Castine, Penobscot and Sedgwick. In the early 1800s discussion of a new Town began. In 1817 our town was created by taking 5000 acres from Sedgwick and 1/5 of the taxble property of each Castine and Penobscot. The name Brooksville was chosen in honor of the 10th Governor of Massachusetts.

John Brooks was was born in Medford on May 4, 1752. He served with the Minutemen, after the War, he began his political career. On April 1, 1816 he became Governor of Massachusetts for his first of six consecutive terms.

During his first term he enacted the Incorporation of Brooksville as part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Brooksville became the 222nd Town and was actually the only Town incorporated in 1817.

Portrait of John Brooks

by Gilbert Stuart, 1820