Mattamiscontis Township
Mattamiscontis (also known as T1 R7 NWP) is located on the west side of the Penobscot River across from Lincoln and north of Howland. Incorporated as a town on March 8, 1839, it surrendered that status on February 21, 1907 and is now an unorganized township.
Other than Route 116 that runs along the Penobscot River, the township has no improved roads.
Mattamiscontis Stream (from the Indian meaning “Alewife stream,” or sometimes referred to as Mattamiscontis River) joins the Penobscot River here, across from the village of South Lincoln. Mattamiscontis Lake, Little Mattamiscontis Lake and Mattamiscontis Mountain are north of the township in T2 R9 NWP and T3 R9 NWP.
Population Trend 1840-1920**
Some Native American place names have been lost as modern names have been applied. For example, a 1905 survey of place names by the United State Geological Survey reads:*
Abahtacook; creek in Maine, branch of the Matamiscontis River. An Indian word meaning “stream that runs parallel with a big river.”
However, that name no longer appears on modern maps, including the 1940 USGS topographic map of the area.
In 2004, Native American artifacts date from 5,000 to 6,000 years ago were found near the Mattamiscontis River. According to the Bangor Daily News, “Uncovered on a base of cobbles, pebbles and sand – remnants from the departure of the last ice age – were stone tools, a slate knife and spear point fragments and a net sinker used as a weight in fishing, as well as a very large woodworking gouge used for chipping out canoes or making wooden cooking vessels.”
Additional resources
*See Glossary, source number 7.
**Recent population census is generally not available for townships, including Mattamiscontis.
Keselli, Doug. “American Indian site unearthed in Mattamiscontis; Bridge project helps in finding artifacts.” Bangor Daily News. June 2, 2004. p. B1. http://archive.bangordailynews.com/2004/06/02/american-indian-site-unearthed-in-mattamiscontis-bridge-project-helps-in-finding-artifacts/ (accessed November 5, 2014)