Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-01
THE SKILLINGS CLAIM IN PORT.
LAND

menced by Miss Skillings, now residing in
New Hampshire, but descendant of Thomas
Skllings, who settled in Portland as early as
1851, and acquired title to tifty-fve acres of
land living on Back Cove. The Advertiser
SAYS:
1t appears that all the Skllings property
passed from Thomas Skillings, the ancestor,
into the hands of his second son, John, and
from him to his children. In 1892 Samuel
Skillings 2d-the grandson of John Skillings
was the representative of the Skillings fam
lily in Portland and vicinity. At this time
Enoch Ilsley was one Of the most prominent
land owners and dealers in real estate in
town. He was the son of Captain Ilsley. who
came here in 1854 from Newbury, Massa-
chusetts. Enoch Ilsley was merchant and
was for many years selectman and town treas
urer. His house stood on the corner of India
and Middle streets, and he was one of the
greatest sufferers by the burning of the town
in 1875. He died in 1911, leaving a large
family One of his children married Samuel
Freeman, another Ebenezer Preble, a third
Stephen Mcclellan, fourth James Deering-
the ancestor of the Deeriug heirs--a fifth Eliza
Smith, from whom our townsman Z. Z. llsley
is descended from sixth the late wife
of Nathan Cummings, Esq, traced her gem
ealogy.
Between these two parties, Samuel Skill
lings I'd and Enoch llsley, an extraordinary
lease was agreed upon in the year 1872, COW
ering the remainder of the seven acre tract,
still belonging to Skillings, and lying in the
vicinity of what is now known as Market
Square. This document is on record in the
Cumberland Registry of Deeds.
This lease extends from 1872 until 1891, and
has now seventeen years to run. The prop
erty described as near as we can ascertain, is
that now covered by the old City Hall, and
the plot at the west end where lobster-carts do
congregate. Back street was Congress street,
the hay. scales stood just at the junction Of
Middle and Congress, and the Jail partly on
the ground now occupied by that portion of
Elm street in front of the United States Hotel.
This property is of course extremely valua
BILE, the very heart of the city, and embraces
about a third of an acre. The city received
its title from a number of holders under the
lease, one of whom made a proviso in his deed
''that the old City Hall should always be used
either as a City Hall or Market House." and
provision stall is to this day kept in one
corner of the basement to protect this title
Whether if "three Indifferent men," should
value the property too highly claimant would
have any redress, is a question; but the old
City Hal, as building, is of no enormous
value.
About year ago lady made her appear
ance in this city at the office Of the Register
of Deeds, and manifested an uncommon in
terest in this queer old lease. She was about
forty years of age, quietly but richly dressed
in French gray silk. After some prelimina-
ay inquiries about the records, she obtained
permission to examine them, and visited the
room continually. Although very pleasant in
manner, she minded her own business, and
evidently was deeply intent on invest igating
the index as far back as the earliest days o:
which any records are kept in this county.
If she had only presented herself a dozen
times, her pursuit would not have attracted
much notice, but weeks and months flew
away, and that familiar figure still lowered
among the musty documents until late in the
autumn. Finally the direction of her en-
quiries gave clue to the motive of re-
searches. If her motive was correctly con.
strued and her position is tenable, lawsuit
is foreshadowed that will dwarf in proportions
any known to New England in the present
century, involving the title to the very heart
of lhe business centre of Portland, valued we
should Judge, at millions of dollars.
1--WE are correctly informed the lady's Gu
riosity was quite natural. She is Miss Skill.
Inns, resident in New Hampshire, a descen-
dant Of one of those "other children" left by
Thomas Skillins, the ancestor of the Skillins
family, mentioned in clause of his will as
entitled to an equal share in his property but
who could not be traced. We understand
that she has all the documents to prove her
descent; the second marriage of her ances-
tors wife; her rights that have been handed
down to her by her own immediate ancestors !;
and is ready to give good reasons for allow
ing her claim to lie dormant so many years
She is not crazy, or monomanac, but an
extremely well educated woman, well versed
in the dry details Of digging up legal proofs
and connecting the chains of evidence.
We have already given the lease, under
which the heirs of Samuel Skillins may soon
claim Market Square; but it is probable that
their title will be confronted by an older and
broader claim. We understand that Miss
Skillins has copies of agreements and deeds
by which it is proved that great deal of the
property lying on and between Centre, Mid
die, Fore. Cross and Free streets should re-
vert to her. The magnitude of the claim
can be seen at a glance. lis property was
conveyed to Deacon William Cott0n-few of
whose descendants are now living here-and
others, as we have said, in 1882 or there
about. Almost all the land where Skilling's
seven acres were situated, was swamp in
1892, and it was not until after Free street
was laid out that people could pass over the
bog. Deacon Cotton had a great tannery on
this bog, in the rear of Free street, and men
now living can remember it when it was run
by Deacon Cotton Owen, descendant, in
the early part of this century.
But this includes only fraction of Miss
Skilling's claim There is besides, the prop
erty between Centre and Cross street, the
property on the other side of Congress street,
incluing the Preble House, on the site of the
old Burroughs maEsion the farm at Deerng,
Miss Skillings lot envelopes everything.
She has not limited her enquiry to the re-
cords of transactions by Thomas and John
Sklilings in this county, but she has gone
back to the old records at Alfred. For over
a year she has continued these patient re-
searches.
Among the documents in her possession it is
said, is one that locates the "heater" property
on Middle and Free streets. 1t must be borne
in mind that even as late as the close of the
last century the most of this property was
open land. Where Mr.. Hayes hat-store now
stands, was the old stage tavern, kept by Ken
dali, whence the coaches departed for Boston.
From the door could be seen the post office at
the corner of India and Congress streets,
and old Kendall himself might have
watched Postmaster Paine striving to catch