Reuben Colburn (1740-1818)
Major Reuben Colburn, Shipbuilder, of Pittston, Kennebec County, Maine
He was born at Dracut, Massachusetts. He came to Pittston (first named Colburntown) on a boat in 1761 with his parents and siblings. He became the first shipbuilder north of Bath and gained a reputation as a proficient businessman, patriot and leader. In 1775, George Washington commissioned him to build 200 boats and supply 1,000 men for the invasion of Quebec under Benedict Arnold. He also gathered up Chiefs from the Indian tribes of St. Francis and presented them to Washington at Cambridge whereupon they were enlisted for the American cause. Washington wrote to Philip Schuyler expressing his satisfaction. Given the rank of Major, Colburn accompanied the ill-fated mission as far as the "chain of ponds". However, Colburn was never paid for his expenses and he unsuccessfully fought Congress for renumeration until his death in 1818. His family continued the fight to no avail until 1856.
