James Ginn

Mariner, shipbuilder and merchant. Rufus Buck: “Capt. James Ginn came to Orrington, from Maryland, in 1775” (BHM 1:105). The Genn family study has James (3), “eldest son of Thomas Genn (2),” selling the Maryland lands Skinner’s Chance (26 Jan 1771) and “Piney Neck 182 acres, Cape Ann, a re-survey” (7 Mar 1771), and as master of the schooner Betsey of Boston (June 1771) and the Liberty of Salem (Jan 1773); none of this is sourced.

Gloucester. Married Anne Riggs there in 1768. Children James (1769), Anne (1771) and Abraham (1773) were recorded as “s./d. James and Anne”; Samuel was baptized 12 Mar 1775.

New Worcester (Orrington). Heads the Orrington section of “Penobscot River, Heads of Families, 1776” (BHM 4:126). Commissioned second lieutenant 20 July 1776 in Col. Josiah Brewer’s Penobscot regiment (MSSRW 6:472), and later commanded the first militia company “established up the Penobscot: of which Capt. James Ginn, (of the present Orrington) was the Commandant” (“Annals of Bangor,” Maine Historical Magazine 9:12). Joseph Mansell, 1831: “I had a lieutenant’s commission, under James Ginn, of Orrington.” Mollie’s claim that he lost ships in the Revolution has no evidence. Signed the settlers’ petition “Penobscot River, November 4th, A.D. 1783” and the New Worcester letter of 26 May 1784, and was among the grantees, “John Brewer, Simeon Fowler, George Gardner, Thomas Campbell, Josiah Brewer and James Ginn, Gentlemen” (BHM 1:14-15, 2:67-68); Mollie’s “partioner for Orland 1785, grantee in 1786” should read petitioner, 1783, for Orrington lands. Plantation clerk (“By James Genn, plantation clerk”) and treasurer 1789. Porter: “In 1785 he had in his family, three men, two women and ten children.” In the 1790 census at Orrington. Varney’s Gazetteer says Orrington was named for Orangetown, Maryland, and misspelled in the act of incorporation; Mollie says Ginn misspelled it himself (tradition).

Orland. “James Ginn moved from Brewer, and took the mill of Robert Treat and carried it on until 1797, and in the mean time he built one brig and two schooners at the upper falls, and then moved to Bucksport” (BHM 1:54). In Sept 1791 the Court of Sessions heard “Commonwealth vs. James Ginn of Township 2 for building a dam across Easton River and neglecting a fishway” (Hancock Sessions index, record).

Bucksport. Buck: “In May, 1800, he moved to this town, built a wharf and store… In 1803 he built a large house… He built a number of vessels, and was the first importer of foreign goods into this town. He married Anne Riggs, of Gloucester, Mass., by whom he had six sons and six daughters. The only surviving child is William R. Ginn, who is extensively known as the best ship-builder on the river.” He built the schooner Favorite in 1801 and sat on the school and meeting-house committee in 1802. The Bucksport church was gathered on 12 May 1803 in his unfinished house: “The services were performed in a large house then building by Capt. James Ginn, when a temporary pulpit and seats were fitted up for the occasion, which is spoken of as one of very deep interest to the people, and so great was the number in attendance from the adjoining towns that it was with difficulty they could find places to lodge in the village” (BHM 1:107-108).

The enslaved people. Mollie says (p. 167) he “brought two slaves with him, which he freed May 12, 1803,” and housed them behind the mansion. No record of enslaved people or of a manumission has been found in Buck, Porter, the Orland article, the Hancock Court of Sessions index, the Genn study, Upton or BHM vols. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9. 12 May 1803 is the date the church was gathered in his house. Who the “three men, two women” of 1785 were is not stated.

Mollie’s other claims. Mollie makes his father “William” (p. 165a), a slip for Thomas (see the father link), and claims as kin the surveyor James Genn, who led the 1748 survey young George Washington joined. At most the surveyor was a relative, not an ancestor; see Thomas Genn.

Children. The compiled lists conflict. Mollie: James, Ann, Abraham, Samuel, Joshua (Nov 1776), Daniel (Aug 1778), Susan (June 29, 1780), Mary (Apr 16, 1782), Sally (Feb 20, 1784), William (Jan 1, 1786), “Peleg” (Jan 24, 1788), Margaret (July 4, 1790). Porter (BHM 4:237-238): Abraham “of Orland”; Anna m. Josiah Brewer; James unmarried; Daniel m. Odom; Joshua m. Page; Samuel m. Odom; William Riggs; Polly m. Parker; “Pelia?” m. Parker; Susan m. Keyes; Margaret; no Sally. Upton: Mollie’s twelve, with “Polly Ginn, 1788-1842” in place of Peleg. Buck’s “six sons and six daughters” works only if the 1788 child was a daughter and Sally is counted (inference).

Open questions

• The Maryland proof: Thomas Genn’s administration, about 1767-69, naming his heirs; the 1771 deeds (do they call James “of Gloucester”?); the Maryland Naval Office shipping lists, 1771-73.
• The day of his death, and Ann’s death (19 Sept 1822): the Castine Eagle and gravestones.
• Hancock County deeds (1800-1803) and probate (1818); the 1800 and 1810 Bucksport census.
• The officiant of the 1768 marriage (Gloucester Fourth Parish records).