Samuel Tarbox Homestead (2004)
Samuel Tarbox Monument (2004)
(1780-1861) born February 10, 1780, was an enterprising businessman in the town of Westport, who had a thriving fishing and shipping business in the early 1800’s. He may have received the honorary title “Squire” because of his wealth, land holdings, and influence on the community.
The first generation, John Tarbox, came from Hertfordshire, England to Lynn, Massachusetts in 1639. One of his sons moved to Maine to command a garrison during the period of Indian unrest. Samuel Tarbox was John Tarbox’s great-grandson.
Headstone of Polly Tarbox (2004)
He married Polly Brown of Litchfield on September 7, 1805 and had twelve children. One of his sons, Valentine, became a photographer and some of the Tarbox Cemetery photos in the front hall of the Squire Tarbox Inn are his. Valentine’s son, Byron, died with Custer at the battle of Little Big Horn.
He was Westport’s first, First Selectman and Postmaster. Tarbox died March 19, 1861 and is buried with his family in a small cemetery with a wrought iron fenced enclosure just north of the homestead on Maine Route 144.
His federal style home, noted for its architecture and political significance, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It is now known as the Squire Tarbox Inn.
Additional resources
Maine Historic Preservation Commission.
Titus, Anson. “Tarbox Family: Samuel and his Progeny in New Gloucester.” 1913. Cataloger Note: Clippings from: Eastern Argus, Nov. 29, 1913) [Maine State Library]
National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service
Squire Tarbox Inn, Route 144, Westport, Maine