The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-09-20
Maine Historical Society.

III -fitiitO iilNlVlIttil bNOCIClN uCltl ltS
annual field day at Sheepscot, Thursday.
The visiting members arrived at Wiscas-
set at Is o'clock in the M ming, and were
received by Messrs. r. X. Sewall and
Henry Ingalls, of Wiscasset, the Hon. Z.
Wilder Farley of Newcastle, and a local
committee, OF which Captain Richard
Tucker was chairman. The visiting mem
bcrs were President j. w. Bradbury of
Augusta, Secretary A. S. Packard of
Brunswick, }. l.. Chamberlain, S. j.
Young, IL. l.. Chapman, and A. G. Ten
neN of Brunswick, Robert II. Gardiner of
Gardiner, Rev. S. F. Dixie and Arthur
SeWall Of Bath, John NJ. Brown of Fal-
mouth, }. 6. Elder of Lewiston, William
Goold OF Windham, Rev. j. T. Champln,
Rev. c. ". Hayes, Henry Deering, T. H.
haskell, Ii. w. Richardson of Portland,
and }. W. Porter of Burlington. The tug
Henry d. Hobson had been fitted up for
the occasion; a large numper Of Wiscas-
set people accompanied the party. AS
the tug left the wharf she was saluted by
guns from the fine ship Richard III, and
the yacht Idlewild, both decked with bunt-
ing in honor of the occasion, and with
shrjll whistle from Hobson's mills.
As the tug came in sight of the lower
end of the Neck. where traces of an an
cient wharf have been found, a company
OF Newcastle people on shore cheered the
company. On arriving at the tide falls,
Newcastle village was found decked with
flags, and carriages were in waiting to
take the visitors along the old kings
highway, to the extremity of the Neck.
\ plan OF the Neck was exhibited, pre-
pared for the occasion by Alexander
Johnston, Esq, of Wiscasset, from the
minutes of an actual survey Of the region.
exhibiting the present contours, but des-
ignating only the points Of antiquarian
interest. positively identified by physi-
cal traces or undoubted tradition Mr..
J0hnSt0n'S purpose is to construct an ac-
curate map OF the old county of Corn
wall exhibiting all that is known of the
ancient settlement there. Rumor indi-
Gates the sites OF a hundred and fifty cellars
on this tract, but Mr.. Johnston has mark
ed only those of which there is undoubted
evidence. one of these ancient cellars
had been opened. Two or three feet be-
low the present surface was a smooth,
stone floor, perfect as if Just laid, and on
one side was brick foundation OF a chin
ncY. The bricks, in color and size, re-
semble those found elsewhere and known
to have been imported from England In
eXcavating the cellar, triangular trowel.
an iron shovel III two pieces, riveted at
the sides, Il curious iron bar, q small grid
iron, an iron hoe three inches wide. an
iron ring, rude pitch-fork, the leg of an
IRON pot, some nails, an Indian arrow
head, cup of clay, and an old fashioned
spoon were found.
In the grove, at the head of the Neck,
the Newcastle people had prepared q
handsome collation., and Dr.. Walter l..
Hall, chairman OF the committee of recep-
ton, formally welcomed the society. Pres
ident Bradbury replied, and General
Chamberlain moved vote of thanks
The Rev. Mr.. Croker of Damarscotta eX-
hiblted an oyster l3I inches long, from
the DamariScUtta river, some fragments
Of pottery and some Indian bones. Gen.
Brown OF Portland, secured bushel Of
live oysters taken from the SheepscOt
river, and setting at rest Il much moOted
question. No oyster has been planted
there within the memory of man. Dr..
Hall Is OF the opinion that the oyster beds
~ the Damarlscotta river have existed
there from time immemolial, but that the
Sheepscot oysters were planted by the
Indians
Mr.. sewall read paper concerning the
SheepScot farms. lie also exhibited an
ancient document which speaks of Sec
rotary Palmer as granting many lots and
tracts otland at ''Old Sheepscot.' Palmer
was appointed secretary of the county of
Cornwall in 1856; so the settlement at
Sheepscot was then already :. counted
'old." Mr.. SeWall exhibited two other
papers dated 1866, one, the record Of
trial at New Dartmouth for an assault,
the other a letter from Secretary Palmer
concerning the seizure of cargo of wine,
belonging to Boston owners. for some
irregularity.
After the collation., the party re-em-
barktd on board the TUG and steamed
down Back riverand back 10y the Sheep
scot, through the waters visited by Cham
plain III 1908, before the English charter
was granted, and described in Champlain's
rare volume OF 1913, the subject OF Gen
Browns interesting paper in the last vol
une OF the Socictv'S transactions.
In the evening, the Wiscasset people
filled the church. Gen. Brown gave a
brief account Of Champlain's exploration
on the Maine coast, and particularly in
the Sheepscot waters. Mr.. Sewall de-
scrlbcd the voyage of Gosnold in 1902,
the first voyage due west, to the New
England coast, by the route subsequently
followed by English nayigators Capt.
fucker read a paper illustrating the add
vantage of u passenger route for steam
ships from Wiscasset to Galway, Ireland
b, +, Smith, Esq, Of Wiscasset, read a
poem celebrating the early history of
Maine. On motion of Mr.. Gilman of
Brunswick, resolution was adopted
cordially approving of Mr.. Johnston's
proposed map of old Cornwall county
After these exercises, banquet was
gwen to the Society at the Hilton House
Captain Thicker, chairman Of the recep-
ton committee, presided, and speeches
We're made 10y Messrs. Bradbury, Cham
berIaln, Packard, Young, Chapman, Ten
ney. Gilman Brown Haskell and Porter.