| Notes |
- [US Census - 1880]
Name: William KAY
Age: 26
Estimated birth year: <1854>
Birthplace: NEW BRONSWICK
Relation: Self
Home in 1880: Portland, Cumberland, Maine
Occupation: Machinist
Marital status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Head of household: William KAY
Father's birthplace: ENG
Mother's birthplace: ENG
[from Margaret Kay]
Steam Engineer, Collector of Taxes, Pound Keeper, Constable, Police Officer, Chief-of-Police, Jailer, Here is William Albert Kay, Citizen of Houlton, Maine.
William Albert Kay was not always a Houlton citizen. William was born in 1855 on a spit of an island (there was only one house on the island) in the Canadian waters of Passamaquoddy Bay. In 1869, the Saxby Gale visited the Bay of Fundy and destroyed the Kay house on Marvel Island. Then William Kay and his family crossed the sand bar to nearby Indian Island and made their home there. When William was 17 years old, he left his island home with its pebble beaches and sea and fog for the big city of Portland, Maine. There he found employment and Elizabeth Jane Saunders, who became his wife. And in Portland he became an American citizen.
In 1885, William Kay left Portland with his wife and young daughter, Bessie, to become the engineer for the new steamer at Engine House #2 on Military Street in Houlton, Maine. He was the steamer engineer until 1888. I discovered the steamer in 1987 still at the Engine House on Military Street. I was visiting Houlton to see what I could find out about the Houlton years of the grandfather I never knew. I stood in awe in the Engine Mouse beside the very steamer that my grandfather had ridden one hundred years ago.
The firemen told me that even today (1987) the steamer is on parade on special occasions. Ten men roll it out of the firehouse, build the fire, hitch the steamer to a pair of horses and march in a parade.
I walked by the Church of the Good Shepherd where my grandfather and his family worshipped and where his children were christened. And I visited the cemetery where Bessie Kay, the small daughter of William and his wife is buried. Bessie died of diphtheria shortly after her arrival in Houlton. On her stone, the words, "Twas hard to give thee up but Thy will, O God, be done." The rest of my time in Houlton was spent at the Cary Library reading old newspapers. I was surprised when I found William Kay's name for the first time. There he was! And again! And again!
In 1887, William bought a house in the south division of Houlton. Later, in 1893, William built a house in the Highlands. We expect, reports the newspaper that by another season, there will be many handsome hoses erected on the elevation overlooking the torn. William lay's last residence was the jailer's house, separated from the jail by an iron door. Here, on the home aide of the iron door, my father was born. Two daughters had been born at Houlton earlier.
The newspaper reports that at various town meetings, William Albert Kay, was elected time and again a tax collector and a constable. Once he was elected pound keeper.
William Kay was proud to be an American. For the Fourth of July celebrations, William traveled to distant cities to make arrangements for trials of speed and other amusements. And the grand parade with its mounted police wan under his marshallship.
The Houlton newspapers told of the many adventures and deeds of daring and chivalry he performed as policeman and jailer. In fact, in William Kay's first year and a half, he made 53 arrests for disorderly conduct, drunkenness and cruelty to animals and for grossly insulting young ladies. When a team was stolen in front of a house in Bangor, the police chief of Bangor telegraphed officers in Houlton. Officer Kay captured the thief as he was driving up Main Street on his way to New Brunswick, Canada.
Once chief-of police Kay had to kill a bulldog who had grappled a cow by the nose. The cow swam across the creek several times with the dog hanging on. Finally Officer Kay shot the dog on the spot and killed him.
Then there is the story in 1893 about the Russian Finn. The Russian Finn was found lying on North Street. He was taken to town where his wounds were dressed. It was supposed he had a quarrel with another Russian Finn. Officer Kay arrested the suspect and lodged him in jail.
In 1890, the new county jail at Houlton was completed. Prison inspectors said it was the best jail in the state.
In 1894, William Kay became the second jailer. His fourth child and first son was born in the house connected to the jail in 1894.
Jailer Kay made some changes in the jail. For the first time, the prisoners were put to work at breaking stone. And the prisoners were expected to do other work as well. In 1895, the newspaper reports that a slight disturbance was caused on the court house grounds. It seems that one of the prisoners working on the grounds refused to continue his work. He became so violent that force was needed to subdue him. Officer Kay lodged his in the dungeon of the jail.
A December 1897 news item informs the citizens of Houlton that the Wearie Willies (the traveling fraternity of tramps) are fast filling up the jail. (The winters were cold in Houlton.) But not all the prisoners lodged in the jail were tramps or drunks or common criminals. The newspaper reports another kind of prisoner. In 1895, there was a man incarcerated in the jail for the alleged debt of 87 cents. The newspaper article reports that he was an honorable man and member of a church in town.
Now news of the activities of William Kay disappear from the Houlton newspapers. The term of William Kay as jailer is coming to an end. One last item appears in May 1898. William Kay, the people of Houlton are informed is now a private citizen. He is on his way to the Klondike. The people of Houlton wish William Kay success in the gold fields.
(Wlliiam's children are shown living with his sister Florence in the 1901 Census of Canada.)
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New Brunswick Families
1854 - 1903 (49 years)
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