| Notes |
- The following is from Edith Spofford-Watts book "Deer Isle, Maine. The Pre-History to the Present."
"Peter Powers ... graduated from Harvard College in 1754 with degrees of AB and AM, and began his first ministry in Newent, a parish of Norwich, Connecticut. In 1764 he moved to Newbury, Vermont, where he organized the First Congregational Church, becoming its first minister. During the next twenty years at Newbury be received an honorary degree from Dartmouth College.
Reverend Peter Powers was a fearless leader for the cause of American independence. He was fired upon by the Tories after delivering two famous sermons, "Tyranny" and "Toryism Exposed" on September 10, 1780. A British military force was sent from Canada to Newbury for the express purpose of silencing him and several other leading Patriots. However, he eluded them, and continued to promote the cause of liberty among his many followers in a large area of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. A price was set upon his head, and he was constantly threatened with assassination by persons sending unsigned letters through the mail and by persons and groups having vested financial interests with the British. Five of his sons served as soldiers in the Continental Army. The eldest, Peter Jr., was killed in the New York campaign, on September 30, 1776.
An invitation was sent by seventy-six citizens of Deer Isle for him to come to Deer Isle and preach the gospel.
Thus in 1785 he came, and held the pastorate there until 1798, when he became ill. In the agreement made with Reverend Powers, it was decided that he should have a house on one hundred acres of land adjoining the church to have and own this property forever with his assigns, and to be paid twenty pounds in cash plus eighty pounds in specie at market price. He was not only our first ordained minister on the island, but became town clerk following the incorporation of the town of Deer Isle in 1789.
A church covenant and confession of faith were drawn up and subscribed to by members of the church. In 1786, it was voted that a tax of one shilling on each communicant be paid for support of the Lord's table, and that the Sacrament of the Supper be on the 3rd Sunday in March, May, July, September and November.
Reverend Powers married Martha Hale of Sutton, Massachusetts. They had 13 children. He died in 1800 at the parsonage given him by the church and is buried in the "Old Settler's Cemetery" near his home. A monument dedicated in his honor stands at the entrance to the island at Little Deer Isle. He was an honorable upright citizen and a leader among men."
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