The Portland daily press., 1879-04-12
Recent Publications,

Richard Porter, an English immigrant,
settled in Weymouth, Massachusetts,, in 1886,
married there, and begat children. His de.
scsndants now number hundreds of families.
Their genealogy has been traced by the Hon.
Joseph W. Porter of Burlington, Maize. The
result of his laborious researches can be found
In handsomely printed volume put to press
by Burr 8 Robinson of Bangor, In this State.
The volume contains detailed accounts of the
descendants of Richard Porter, selectmau Of
Weymouth, and notes, more or less full, upon
allied families. The work has evidently been
labor of love, aud evinees great industry and
genealogical knowledge. While of interest 10
all students of early New England history, it
| possesses special value to those who trace
back their ancestry to the stout Epglishman who
took passage at Weymouth March 30, 1885,
| for New England Descendants of John Por-
| ter an English immigrant who took up his abode
at bingham, Massachusetts, 10 the same year,
| 1886, and who is believed to ba BROTHER of
Richard, will find too, their genealogy succinct-
ly set forth in this volume 1t appears from
the authors researches that all Of the Porter
name who came to this country before 1900,
are descended from the two men mentioned, or
from John who settled in Windsor Conneeti-
cut, 1858; Robert and Thomas, brothers, who
were two of the eighty-four proprietors of
Pennington, Connecticut, in 1640; Daniel,
known 10 have lived in the same town in 1858;
Abel, first mentioned as a citizen of Boston in
164i; and John. 'freeman Of Roxbury,' MAG
sachusetts, 1888
Whoever has occasion to look over ganaa.
logical record of any length is sure to complain
of the difficulty Of finding particular name.
The Porter genealcgy has this fault in even
| greater degree than most books Of its kind. A
very little of the ingenuity expended in tracing
uncertain lines If family history would, it
seems to us, do away with the fault.
| In the month of September, 1875, the town
| Of Waterford, Maine, observed its hundredth
| birthday with historical address, delivered by
| Henry p. Warren, of Gorham in this States
with reading of the family records of its citi-
zsps, and with the festivities appropriate TO a
jour de fete. The address and the family re-
cords, and an account of the celebration have
been put into print by Hoyt, Fogg &c Donham,
of this city and make portly and handsome
volume of nearly four hundred pages. OF the
| town histories induced by the Boston centen-
NAL celebration OF 1875, this of Waterford Is
one Of the most pleasing and nearest complete.
The address not only gives a full and accurate
account of Waterford from its first settlement
down to and through the war of the Rebellion,
but furnishes also a valuable historical sketch
of the condition of the Province of
Maine@ at the outbreak OF the Revolu-
tiou, and a description, valuable in mat
ter and attractive in manner, of the
separation from the mother State forty-five
years later The address is to be commended
for its accuracy and thoroughness of research
as well as for the elegance and simplicity of its
manner. The family records arranged by the
Rev. DR.. Warren, are not only Of present inter-
est but Ct permanent value, and the labor Of
their compiler will be regarded with even more
favor and gratitude years hence than II is now.
The account of the celebration by Mr.. Samuel
Warren, is full and enteriainingly written.
The volume is given an added value by the in
sertion of memoir, prepared by the Rev. DIR
William Warren, of John Abbott Douglass,
pastor of the First Church in Waterford for
| fifty-six years, and Christian minister who
has but lately gone to his well-earned rest
The volume caps its merits with an admira-
biz arranged index by means of which, as ths
I
every subject treated Of and every name men,
toned iu the book can be easily found. This
is not only of present convenience bat Of
future valus-for historians find much of their
material in local chronicles like these. Few, If
any, town histories, are to b, more heartily
commended, and the town of Waterford which
publishes the book has thereby but lepgthel6d
its long and honorable record.
The series of biographies of eminent Ameri.
! can authors, by Prof. Hill of Le1isburg Uni
vsrsity New York Sheldon & Co.. Portland
Dresser, Mcclellan & Co. will undoubtedly be.
come very popular. The second volume, con-
tanning the biography of William Cullen Bry-
ant is now ready; and deepeBs the impression
made by the preceding volume, of the practi-
cal agreeable and adequate manner 10 wnieh
Prof, Hiu's work il done. Within the limits
necessary to book interded tor popular read
ing, the author hiss taken the principal points
of his snbject with much determination, ard
drawn lifelike aud satisfactory portrait
William Cullen Bryant was a representative
man Of the age-Iepresentatlve Of lis loftiest
AID widest thought ard action; born in the
purple of poesy, he was a leader in the republic
of journalism Set apart By high solemnity
CT oul which found its early expression in bis
phenomenal Than stopsis. no man was more
active, more exact in The dsiiy duties OF his
profession than was Mr.. Bryant. The large
hnmsnity of his nature was 10 continual con-
tact with minds of other men; and, loAas
nothing Of its fine essence had the Iracnesi
power that gave to it its immeasurapis