The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-15
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Field Day at saeepscoi.


field day at Sheepscot, Thursday. The visiting
members arrived at Wiscasset at o'clock in
the morning, and were received by Messrs. r.
K. Sewall and Henry Ingalls, of Wiscasset, the
Hon. E. Wilder Farley of Newcastle. and 10.
Cal committee, of which Captain Richard
Tucker was chairman. The visiting members
were President J. w. Bradbury of Augusta,
Secretary A. S. Packard of Brunswick, j. L.
Chamberlain, S. J. Young, Fl. L. Chapman,
and A. g. Tenney of Brunswick, Robert II.
Gardiner of Gardiner, Rev. S. f. Dixie and Ar
thur Sewall of Bath, John NJ Brown of Fall
mouth, j. G. Elder of Levi ston, William Goold
of Windham, Rev. j. T. Champlin, Rev. G. w.
Hayes, Henry Deering, T. FL. Haskell, H. W.
Richardson of Portland, and J. w. Porter of
Burlington. The tug Henry D. Hobson had
been fitted up for the occasion; a large number
of Wiscasset 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 bunting in honor of
the occasion, and with shrill whistle from
Hobson's mills.
AS the tug cane in sight of the lower end of
the Neck, where traces of an ancient wharf
have been found, company of Newcastle peo-
pie on shore cheered the company. On ayriv-
ing 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 A
plan of the Neck was exhibited, prepared for
the occasion by Alexander Johnston, Esq, of
Wiscasset, from the minutes Of an actual sur
vey of the region, exhibiting the present con-
tours but designating only the points of anti
quarian interest, positively identified by physi-
cal traces or undoubted tradition. Mr..
Johnson's purpose is to construct an accurate
map of the old county of Cornwall, exhibiting
all that is known of the ancient settlement
there. Rumor indicates the sites of hundred
and fifty cellars on this tract. but Mr.. Johnston
has marked only those of which there is I'M
doubted evidence. One of these ancient cellars
had been opened. Two or three feet below the
present surface was smooth, stone floor, per-
feet as if Just laid, and on one side was brick
foundation of a chimney. The bricks, in color
and size, resemble those found elsewhere and
known to have been imported frem England.
In excavating the cellar, triangular trowel,an
iron shovel in two pieces, riveted at the sides,
curious iron bar, small gridiron, an iron hoe
thoee inches wide, an iron ring, rude pitch
fork, the leg of an iron pot, some nails, and
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 handsome
collation., and Dr. Walter L. Hall, chairman of
the committee of reception, formally welcomed
the society. President Bradbury replied, and
General Chamberlain moved vote of thanks.
The Rev. Mr.. Croker of Damariscotta exhb-
tied an oyster 13a inches long, from the Damar-
iscotta 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 much
mooted question. No oyster has been planted
there within the memory of man. DR.. Hall is
of the opinion that the oyster beds in the Dam
ariscotta river have existed there from time
immemorial but that the Sheepscot oysters
were planted by the Indians.
Mr.. Sewall read paper concerning the
Sheepscot farms. He also exhibited an an
Gent document which speaks Of Secretary
Palmer as granting many lots and tracts of
land at "Old Sheepscot." Palmer was ap.
pointed secretary of the county of Cornwall in
1886; SO the settlement at Sheepscot was then
already accounted "old." Mr.. Sewall exhibit
ed two other papers dated 1856. -ons, the record
of trial at New Dartmouth, for an assault, the
other letter from Secretary Palmer concern
ing the seizure of cargo of wine, belonging
Boston owners, for some irregularity.
After the collation., the party re-embarked on
ON board the tug and steamed down Back river
and back by the Sheepscot, through the waters
vited by Champlain in 1905, before the Eng
fish charter was granted, and described in
Champlain's rare volume of 1913, the subject of
Gen. Browns interesting paper in the last vol
ume of the Socety's transactions
In the evening, the Wiscasset people filled
the church. Gen. Brown gave brief account
of Champlain's exploration on the Maine coast,
and particularly in the Sheepscot waters Mr..
Sewall described 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 Tucker read paper
illustrating the advantage of passenger route
for steamships from Wiscasset to Galway, Ire
land. B. f. Smith, Esq, of Wiscasset read
poem celebrating the early history of Maine.
On motion of Mr.. Gilman of Brunswick, a
resolution was adopted cordially approving of
Mr.. Johnton's proposed map of old Cornwall
county.
After these exercises, banquet was given to
the Society at the Hilton House. Captain
Tucker, chairman of the reception committee.
presided, and speeches were made by Messrs.
Bradbury. Chamberlain Packard, Young,
Chapman, Tenney, Gilman, Brown, Haskell
aud Porter