The Republican journal., 1881-02-17
The History of Maine.

REMARKS BY HON JOSEPH WILLIAMSON, BEFORE
THE MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
At the recent public meeting of the Maine His
torica Society, Hon Joseph Williamson, author of
the excellent History of Belfast, was called upon
to explain the work OF the society and read the
following admirable paper
1t is, all interesting circumstance that the room
which we dedicate day, under such encouraging 6
AuSI IIces, occupies substantially the site of tie
humble council chamber " here, nearly sixty years
ago. the foundations Of our society were laid On
at occasion Ike this thoughts wander back to
our tounders,-those distinguished men, who, i'm
bued with a lust vcneraton for the past. and
anticipating the wants Of the future in moulding
the new state did not overlook the Importance of
Collecting and preserving all that was worthy Of
being rene mbeTed among her annals 1t is emf
Dently fit and proper that we should not be un-
mindful Of those TO whom We are indebted for our
origin, well as of those OF a later date, whose
efforts and public spirit have secured our present
prosperity and reputation.
Up to the separation, little had been accomplish
ed toward historical research IN Maine Few, com
paTaiyely, were found who gave themselves leisure
to look back and cautiously examine the traces
left by former years ard former inhabitants.
The first distinct work relating TO our territory
appeared in 1888 1t consisted of pamphlet of
fourteen pages, written by General Benjamin Lin
coin. entitled Observations on the Climate, Soil
and ane of the Eastern Counties in the District Of
Name. beng the counties OF Hancock and ash
ngton, winch had been erected that year
Another pamphlet on the same subject, Was pub
llSGcd IN li93 with particular reference 10 de
veloping the Bingham Purchase"
Two ears later. James Sullivan, a native OF Ber
wick. a. that time attorney general OF the Com
monweath, followed with his history Of the Dis
trct Of Maine Judge Sullivan was the first presi
dent OF the Massachusetts Historical Society, after
wards governor, ard long prominent IL public life
He began practice at Georgetown on the kenne
bee and when asked why he commenced lie in
50 obscure station. replied, that as he had 10
break into the world. he thought he would start at
the weakest place. Accustomed to travel the cir
cult in Maine, from York to Machlas. he improved
every opportunity to collect historical materials
from old witnesses i'll court and from ancieIi
manuscripts and scarcely legibe records of land
titles His history was a work of value and i'm
p0rtance II contained the first map OF Maine ever
published. and an appendix Of interesting docu
mentS.
pamphlet Of one hundred and two pages, en-
titled, "A History OF Acadia. PeuobScot BAY and
River. published in Bangor, in 1916, being
the first historical work printed within our limits
Tie author was Joseph Whipple
The same year, Moses Greenleat gave to the
public his Statistical! View OF Maine MIR Green
leaf a brother Of the distinguished Simon
GrcuIledt, and was for several years merchant at
Bangor IL nan Of quick thought compo-
Sltou. action and speech. From 1906, to his death,
in N}I. he resided IN Williamsburg The Legisla
ture Of Massachusetts gave liberal encouragement
t" HIS work, which contained an exhaustive ac-
count OF our resources and industrial pursuits
The year after the separation Samuel Freeman
dld good service III pnbhshlng Extracts from the
Journal OF the Rev. Thomas Smith. who was for
over half d century minister Of Portland: did
the Rev. jonathan hreenleat, OF ellis, by his
"tccleslastical Sketches
These publications comprised ali the works of a
historical nature relating to Name which then eX-
listed
1t Is safe to say that the organization of our So
clety lmlncdlately awakened deep interest IN the
purposes for which IL was estaDlshed ana induced
extensive eXPlofat9hs IN the held OF hlstonc re-
search. Attention began to be directed to town
ns'ofieS' ana several aoIe anu sehoafIg WORKS IN
tins department were soon issued The first Of
.tnese was a smali history OF beifast py lillian
hile' sradHate of Dartmouth college and a
brilliant lawyer ms was III iS2' and three Years