11 Facts About Thomas Westbrook

Colonel Thomas Westbrook was a senior New England militia officer in Maine during Father Rale's War.

In 1716 the General Assembly of the Province made a grant to Thomas Westbrook, to keep the only public house at the Plains, in consideration that he should lay out six acres of land for the accommodation of drawing up the militia of the town.

Thomas Westbrook moved to Falmouth "as early as 1719" to enter the lucrative business of providing masts to the British navy as a private contractor.

Thomas Westbrook was one of only a few European-descended residents there at that time.

Thomas Westbrook was appointed as King's Mast Agent in 1727 and moved the "King's mast business" from Portsmouth to Falmouth.

Thomas Westbrook built his "splendid seat" of "Harrow House" with garrisons on the south side of Stroudwater River on a 69-acre property.

Thomas Westbrook built two mills, a gristmill whose stones still survive as markers of other historical sites, and a papermill.

Thomas Westbrook showed little interest in these duties and was fined for being absent.

Thomas Westbrook expired in a smaller cottage adjacent to his beloved Harrow House, which had been lost to his creditors.

Thomas Westbrook's siblings included Mary who married Nathan Knight, and whose family continues to own and operate the "Smiling Hill" farm.

Thomas Westbrook married Mary Sherburne, daughter of the mariner John Sherburne and his wife Mary Cowell.