[JONES-boh-row] Jonesboro is a town in Washington County, incorporated on March 4, 1809. It had previously been known as Chandler’s River.
The original tract was reduced when land was ceded to Jonesport in 1832, to Columbia and Machias in 1838, and to Roque Bluffs in 1891.
Hannah Weston and her sister carried 50 pounds of lead through the woods from Jonesboro to Machias in support of the effort to capture the British vessel Margaretta in 1775.
Chandler River runs through the village before widening below it and entering Englishman Bay. The first ship recorded as sailing to the river in search of trade was captained by a Mr. Locke in 1785.
George J. Varney’s 1886 gazetteer described waterpower at “Great Falls” and “The Mills,” together with mills producing long lumber, laths, and shingles.
The account identified Judah Chandler as an early settler in 1763 or 1764 and noted the arrival of Joel Whitney from Portland around 1767.
The village lies on U.S. Route 1 near its split with Route 1A. The two routes reunite at Machias to the northeast.
