Atwell's Creek
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Atwell's Creek Folly Creek | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| Town | Yarmouth |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Royal River |
• location | Yarmouth, Maine, U.S. |
• coordinates | 43°47′23″N 70°09′53″W / 43.7898°N 70.1647°W |
Atwell's Creek is a former watercourse in Yarmouth, Maine, United States.[1] It is named for John Atwell, who married Elizabeth Maine, daughter of John and Elizabeth.[2][3]
Flowing into the southern edge of Yarmouth harbor, between today's Holy Cross Cemetery and Larrabee's Landing, it was formerly an important access point to the mainland.[3] It was used from the early 18th century to power various mills, the first being Massachusetts native Gilbert Winslow's sawmill in 1720.[4] The creek received its nickname of Folly's Creek at this time, because Winslow's venture was expected by many people to fail, but it proved to be "a profitable concern."[5][6] The creek was "a considerable watercourse then"; now, though, it is nothing more than a tidal inlet.[7]
John Atwell Jr., son of John Atwell, married Margaret Maxe in 1693. They later lived beside Atwell's Creek on its western side.[3]