Cumberland County, Maine - David P. Sinnett
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Biography
David P. Sinnett
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 200-203


David P. Sinnett, of Bailey's Island, Harpswell, Me., grocer, boat builder, and
wholesale dealer in fish, was born on this island, October 19, 1843. He is the
son of Hugh and Margaret (Perry) Sinnett and grandson of James and Mary
(Johnson) Sinnett, all lifelong residents of Harpswell.

James Sinnett was born on Orr's Island, but resided for many years on Bailey's
Island, where he was one of the pioneer settlers. Besides clearing and
cultivating a farm, in the season for fishing he spent much of his time on the
sea, obtaining large quantities of fish, which he cured and disposed of to good
advantage. He lived to be ninety-two years of age. His wife, Mary Johnson, was
the daughter of one of the original owners of Bailey's Island, her father and
two others building the first houses here. She lived to be sixty-nine years of
age, spending her life, from the time of her birth until she closed her eyes
forever, on the island.

Hugh Sinnett was one of the nine children born to James and Mary Sinnett. He
learned to cure fish with his father when a boy, and in his mature manhood owned
a number of fishing-vessels. He is yet living on Bailey's Island, which has been
his home from the time of his birth, and at the advanced age of eighty-one is
remarkably active, in full possession of all his faculties. Though exposed to
all kinds of weather in the pursuit of his arduous calling, he has never known
what it is to be ill; and his cheek today has the ruddy glow of perfect health.
His wife Margaret is a daughter of Captain David Perry, a native of Thomaston,
Me., who also was a seafaring man, master of a vessel. Captain Perry died at the
age of thirty-five, leaving eight children, only one of whom, Mrs. Sinnett, is
living today. She is eighty years of age, and, like her husband, is in perfect
health and in possession of all her faculties. A remarkable couple, Mr. and Mrs.
Hugh Sinnett have lived together fifty-seven years, exempt from sickness. Alert
and intelligent, they are fine types of a class which forms one of the peculiar
features of the State of Maine old people who know not the decrepitude of
senility. They attend the Union Church on the island. Two children only blessed
their union - Charles N. and David P. Charles N. Sinnett, who is a
Congregational minister, is at present settled in New Hampshire.

David P. Sinnett received a good common school education, and early acquired a
knowledge of the fishing business, accompanying his father on fishing trips and
aiding him in curing the fish. About 1876 he purchased a store on Bailey's
Island, about a quarter of a mile farther up the bay than his present location;
and he was there successfully engaged in the grocery business seven years. He
then built what is now known as Sinnett's Wharf, and started in the wholesale
fish trade, buying from the fishermen of the locality and shipping large
quantities to Portland, Boston, and. New York. This venture also was a success.
Some idea of the extent of his transactions may be gained from the statement
that in 1892 he bought and sold three thousand quintals of fish. Mr. Sinnett's
present store on Bailey's Island is stocked with a full line of groceries and
with fishermen's supplies of all kinds. He is also engaged in boat building,
producing various kinds of boats for fishing and pleasure parties; and with all
his other interests he deals extensively in wood and coal.

Mr. Sinnett was married in 1868 to Mary Alexander, daughter of Perry Alexander,
a fisherman who was a native and lifelong resident of Bailey's Island. Mrs.
Sinnett died in 1886, at the age of forty-five, leaving three children -
Chester, a fisherman, who married Jennie Stetson, of Auburn, Me.; Herbert P., in
the same business, married to Bessie Baker, of Auburn, Me.; and Maggie, who
superintends her father's household.

Politically, Mr. Sinnett is independent. Socially, he is a member of the
Independent Order of Red Men and of the United Order of the Golden Cross,
belonging to the Lodge of each of these societies on Orr's Island; and in the
Golden Cross Lodge he has held all the offices and been through all the chairs.
He attends the Union Church on Bailey's Island. Gifted with rare intelligence
and ability, Mr. Sinnett has the genial and hearty disposition that the sea
seems to bestow upon its votaries, and is very popular on Orr's Island as well
as on Bailey's Island, where his family has lived so long.