Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-17
For the Democrat.
EARLY COUNTY RECORDS.

Vr. Editor:
A history OF some of the early proceed
ings in the administration Of justice In the
county Of Oxford, may be OF interest to
YOUR readers. The coolest inhabitant "
and his descendants, love to sit around the
open fire OF the village hotel, or upon the
"old settle in the store and talk Of early
times, and the peculiarities and sometimes
the hardships, OF their ancestors
Of which are greatly exaggerated, while
others are wholly forgotten.
Oxford county was Incorporated as the
seventh county, March 4, 1905. The first
Court OF General Sessions of the Peace"
was holden at Paris on the End Tuesday OF
June OF that year. The Court at this term
consisted of 81 members, viz: Simeon
Frye, Luther Cary, Samuel Paris, Daniel
| Stowen, John Greenwood, Nsthl Perley,
Judah Dana, Timothy osgood, Eli witch
| ell, Criah Holt, Edward Richardson, Caleb
Prentiss, Job Eastman, Ichabod BOuney,
Isaac Llyermore. VIM. LivermOre, Francis
keyes, Moses Ames, Joseph Howard,
Ezekiel Merrill and Daniel Howard,-s
quasi Council. OF the Justices
OF the Peace in the county. The Court
appointed Cyrus Hamlin Clerk, and COM
mlttee OF seven persons TO make an esti-
mate for county expenses. This commit
tee consisted OF Daniel Stowell, Timothy
osgood, Francis Reyes, Joseph Howard,
Ell Twitchell, willism Livermore and Joel
Eastman, EsY6rSS. A committee was also
appointed 10 audit accounts and one 10
make rules and reg Ilations for " altering
Another committee was appointed "to
examine the different places 10 set the
county buildings" This committee sub
sequently reported in favor OF locating on
'Jackson's HILL" so called, in Paris,-be-
ing the present location. The estimates
made by the committee for current eIpen-
ses FOR 1905, was $500, with 81, 900 sddi-
tlousl toward erecting "gsol.' Before
the county buildings were erected, the
Court, were held in the meeting house on
Paris Hin, Law and Gospel both being sd
minsted under the same roof At the
Nsy term, 1907. OF the Court OF General
Sessions OF the Peace, there were - JUS
,ices present, who constituted the Court
In lsO6 the limits Of the Jail yard were es-
tablished by the Court, TO extend one mile
from the jail each way, forming a square,
and Daniel Stowell, Josiah Biscoe and Ca
len Preniiss, Esquires, were appointed
committee TO set up the necessary
bounds" This Court was changed in
ls0. by an Act OF the General Court OF
Massachusetts, and Court 0f Se.sioss
established In its stead, consisting OF q
Chief. or First Justice" and four Associ
ateS. These Justices were Levi Hub
bard, Chief; and Joseph Hubbard, John
Turner, William Clark Whitney and Eben-
eIer Poor, ir., Associates. Their commits
sion. which is recorded in the Clerks Rec
ords al Paris, is sigued by His EXcel!eucy
James sullivan. Governor OF the Common
morwes,th OF Massachusetts,.
The business OF the county which j. now
done - the County Commissioners, was
then performed by the Court OF SeS-
siUnS." AL accounts were audited hy
committee, appointed by the Court, before
being allowed by the Court, aud roads
were located by committees appointed for
that purpose.
A; the May term, $50, the certificate Of
adjournment IS As follows
An matters and things LOW before this
Court, and not acted upon, are continued
and carried over 10 The next term OF this
Court, then and there 10 have day and
hs1rtHg.
Attest CYRUS HAMLIN, Clerk.
In 1880 the Court Of Sessions was
abolished, and that Of the County Com
missioners' established, which held its
first session on the srd Tuesday OF June,
1881. The Commissioners were James
Starr, chairman, Moses Mason, ir., and
Abel Gibson. associates.
The trst Treasurer OF the county VA,
Levi Hubbard, who was appointed by the
Court OF Common Pleas until an election
should be had by the people. ..