Created April 2003
Elizabeth Polis - In Her Own Words
Deposition 13-Sep-1884 at Poland, Androscoggin Co.
Elizabeth Polis ... lives in Poland Me temporary P.O. McFalls ... age is 70 years
Q. Where were you born & where have you lived since
A. In St. John N.B. lived a number of years in Eastport since & I have shufled about from place to place making baskets staying two or three months in a place all over New England
Q. When and where were you first married
A. I first married Newell Peel an Indian at Bangor Me I lived in Welchville, Livermore, Durham, Gray, & other places.
Q. What became of him
A. He died in Detroit Me of consumption I cannot tell when but a good many years about 38 years ago
Q. How many children did you have by Newell Peel
A. I had three children only one of which lived to grow up
Q. Were you married after
A. Yes, Solomon Libby. married in Monmouth Me before the war.
Q. Who married you
A. Dr. Prescott of Monmouth
Q. Who married you to Newell Peel
A. Mr. Conway an __ priest at Bangor ME
Q. Where is Libby
A. He has been dead quite a number of years
Q. Where did he die
A. In Leeds
Q. Were you living with him when he died
A. No. I wasn't. I lived with Libby four or five years & I went away from there & he was taken sick & died.
Q. Did you have any children by Libby
A. No
Q. Were you married again
A. Yes. the fall after Libby died. I married John Pollis
Q. Where & when
A. At Colbrook NH he was there among the St. Francis Indians when I went there
Q. Had he ever been married before
A. I dont know
Q. Did you belong to the Old Town Indians
A. No I was born in Princeton & went to Eastport when I was 13
Q. Did your husband enlist
A. Yes in Co. A 17 Me Vols. & died in Hospital in service
Q. How long did you live with him before he enlisted
A. four or five months
Q. Where did you live with him
A. We came down from NH & lived in W. Pownal, Me where he enlisted from.
Q. Did he say anything about having another wife
A. No he did not
Q. Did you have any children by Pollis
A. No
Q. Have you ever married since Pollis death
A. No Sir
Q. Where have you lived since he died
A. Gorham, Cumberland, __, __town, Falmouth, Minot, Durham, Richmond, Brunswick, & other places
Q. Have you lived with any man since Pollis
A. I have lived with Denny off & on about 12 years. I hired him to get my basket stuff & done work that I couldn't do. & paid him for it same as any one.
Q. Where you camping out with him.
A. Yes. In the summer season
Q. Didn't you consider Denny your husband
A. No I did not because he was not my husband
Q. Didn't you live with him in the same relation as if you were married
A. I dont know we staid together by ___ [shelf ?]
Q. How old was he
A. He was 65 years
Q. Had he any wife
A. He never was married that I know of, but lived with his mother until she died. he was an Oldtown Indian.
Q. Where were you living at the time he was killed
A. In Richmond in a house owned by Mr. Plummer and we had been there a fortnight
Q. Anybody else in the house besides you
A. There were four families in the house
Q. How many rooms were there in the house
A. There were four large rooms & I don't know how many bed rooms. I never was through the house
Q. How many rooms did you have in your tenament
A. One room
Q. Was Denny with you there all the time until he was killed
A. He made it his home there
Q. Had you ever known the parties that murdered Denny
A. They were strangers to me. I had never seen them before
Q. were they intoxacated
A. I don't know
Q. What time in the day was it
A. It was in the night we had just closed up our work.
Q. Was there anyone in the room with you
A. He was all the time in our room
Q. Did Denny occupy the room with you
A. Yes he did __ & __ in the other room.
Q. How did you happen to testify in court he was your husband
A. The Attorney came to me & I was confused & excited & they told me I must testify that I was married to Denny in some way. & I said that I could not & they said I must say that I was married in the Old Indian style. & I said that I can not state this for I did not know anything about it. They told me I must say this, as I could __ the case, & I said it in court
Q. Who did you Fued[?] with.
A. Hodges of Richmond & the other one I can not remember
Q. Where have you lived since then
A. I lived in Brunswick until may & then came to So. Durham & in Durham & here.
Q. Where did you live in Brunswick
A. I lived with Reuben Griffin __ cause of his wife who was sick
Q. Do yo wish to have an Attorney in this case
A. I want Mr. A. Waterhouse to look after it
Q. Do you wish to be present during the examination
A. No. I leave it with Mr. Waterhouse
Q. Do you know of any one that knows you since Pollis death.
A. Mr Frasier & his wife Mary I. Frasier #256 Fore St.
Mrs Adaline Gilman 256 Fore St.
Mrs Mary Mulligan 256 Fore St.
Document MP094JP from the pension file of John Pollis # WC 83.759 - Transcribed by Canyon Wolf for Ne-Do-Ba.
