The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-26

nave gained many desirable DOCKS, pamphletS,
manuscripts and relies.
Among them may be mentioned:
The London Globe for 1900, from Hon. n. II
Hubbard.
History of Ancient sheepscot from Rev. d. Q.
Cushman.
first ten years Of the Masonic Token bound, from
MIR. 5. Berry.
Marshalls Life of Washington, reports and
numerous pamphlets, from Mr.. 9. NJ. Gore.
History of the Charles church, Plymouth, Eng
land, from NJ. E, 6. Bennett.
Twelve volumes of Regimental histories, from n
New York friend who desires to remain iacog.
By exchange we have secured,--
Jeffrey's American Atlas Of l776.
Paige's History of Hardwick
History of Bradford, Mass.
Other donors and constant friends are DIR.
]. +. Pratt, Hon. s. A. Green, Albert b. Otis,
Esq, Rev. c. W. Hayes, Admiral Preble,
General J. 2. Cilley DR.. w. B. Lapham,
Joseph Williamson, Esq. j. r. Stanwood,
Esq, and Messrs. F. II. Jordan, Elmer Brown,
P. c. Manning ]. w. North, S. IL. Coleswor-
thy, S. R. Leavitt, I. B. Beed and 1. f. Stur-
divant of Portland.
We learn that there are number of Maine
town histories in preparation. Among them
are histories of
Machias by Rev. II. +. Harding.
Fryehurg by Mr.. q. b. Barrows
windham by Rev. G. NJ. Dodge
Hiram by Mr.. l.. A. Wadsworth.
Cape Elizabeth by MIR. S. p Mayberry.
Pennington by Mr.. f. G. Butter.
Lewiston by Mr.. j. q. Elder.
Greene by DIR. j. +. Pratt.
Industry by DR.. W. q. Hatch.
Surry by Mr.. Samuel WATSON.
Any holding letters or documents that
should be incorporated into these local histo-
ries are solicited to forward them at once TO
this Society and they viii be correctly copied
for the purpose. The majority of our Maine
towns were incorporated a century ago, and it
is eminently fitting that history's ledger
should now be posted up.
1t may not be generally known that there is
mine of riches in the archives of Massaehu-
sets lately arranged and indexed. There are
nearly 500 folio volumes of original documents.
Many of them are long petitions from settlers
in Maine, asking for acts of incorporation, for
grants of land. &c. A corresponding member,
DR.. J. F. Pratt, has copied 500 of these docu-
ments. We have also the following contribu-
tons.
Engraved portrait of Judge Edward Fox, from
Francis Fesseaden, Esq.
Engraved portrait OF eX-Goy. Anderson, from
Horace Anderson, Esq.
bullet found on Neutral Island, from Z. II. yose,
Esq.
Commission to George Berry, of Falmouth, 1857,
in frame.
Large photograph of the Fort Halifax block
house, in frame.
The original Revolutionary Journal Of Elijah
Fisher.
Original Muster Roll OF the 18th Maine battery,
and twenty other valuable documents, all from In.
w. b. Lapham of Augusta.
We are also indebted TO DIR. Lapham for securing
TO us the Cochran collection of Indian Implements.
A dauguereotype of Parker Cleayeland, from
Map Ioriginal] Of York Co., in 1882, from L.
Chart Of Portsmouth harbor. \. H.. from Mr.. H
Commission of Capt. Joseph stockbridge of North
Yarmouth 1900, from the Rev. Joseph Stockbridge
Water Cooler from Patagonia, from Mr.. Charles
Rich.
The large map,of the United States from Hon. n.
c. Mcfarland, land commissioner.
In striking contrast with this map Is map OF the
United States published in 1878, received from Mr.
C. NJ. Gore who presents US with other early maps.
A copy of the Journal of William Knox, brother
of Gen. Knox, l1IT, is received from Hon. j. 4.
Godfrey of Bangor.
A catalogue of the portraits, relics and
curios owned by the society is in course of
preparation. The names Of the donors viii
be given.
The publication Of our volume TX has been
delayed by the illness and decease of our late
honored associate, the Hon. Israel Washburn,
Jr- chairman of the publication committee.
By his death our society has lost one Of its
most active and valued members.
At the solicitation of the standing commit
tee, the Rev. NJ. C. OBrien Of Bangor has
kindly promised to prepare for our archives a
catalogue of the Indian nomenclature of the
States. To make the list as complete as pos
sible he invites the CO. operation of all who
are interested throughout the State TO send in
lists of local Indian names.
The eminent archaologist, Professor T. w.
Putnam, who gave US so pleasing an address
at our last meeting, is DESTROYS of making a
systematic exploration Of the great shell heap
at Damariscotta during the coming season.
Our annual meeting viii occur this year at
Brunswick July l3. A large attendance is es-
pecially desired.
The secretary's report was accepted.
Mr.. Sewall, for the committee on seal, re-
ported device qaartering the arms Of Fer
nando Gorges, George Popham, the arms of
France and seal of Edward Godfrey, first gov
ernor of Maine. with a crest giving dates of
Weymouth's voyage, 1905, of Godfrey's gov
eminent, 1919, of Gorges' sale to Massachu-
sets, 1878, and institution of State govern
ment, 1920
Prof. Packard read communication from
DR.. Franklin B. Hough Of Washington, d.
c., regarding the Centennial History Of the
United States. A resolution was adopted en-
dorsing the proposed history as work Of great
| value.
| Gen. John M. Brown Of Portland exhibited
a photograph of the map OF the world, by Sc
bastian Cabot, made in 1544. This map was
discovered in 1913, and though printed, is the
only copy known. 1t Ia now In the Imperial
library at Paris. 1t shows that Cabot's first
discovery of the American coast was made In
1894 instead of 1897 AS has been supposed. Twen-
| ty-fve Photographic copies have been made
and are all in this country. The map is the
size of the original about, feet by 6, and Gen
| Brown proposes to leave 1t in the library OF
| the society for a time for study by historical
students DR.. Kohl gives absorption of the
map In the first volume of the documentary
series issued by the Maine Historical Society
Edward Fl. Elwell read a paper, prepared
| by DIR. G. K. Banks Of Portland, Oregon, Civ
| ing sketch of the Bony hon family who
| were early settlers OF Saco. They were an an
| Gent Cornwall family, situated in the district
Of Lizard, England. The paper was very in
teresting and vote Of thanks was returned to
| Dr. Banks.
Rufus X. Sewall excused himself from read
| ing his paper on Robert Cushman, the pill
| grim, and his sermon of 1921, on account of a
trouble with his eyes.
Hon. Joseph Williamson Of Belfast read the
| following exceedingly interesting paper:
| CAPITAL TRIALS IN MAINE BEFORE THE sEPA.
RATION.
| The feudal charter granted by King Charles
| l., to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, in 1859, gave
more extensive powers than were ever bestow-
| ed by the crown upon any other subject. I'm
| der them, recorders court for the city OF Cor.
| giana was established, having jurisdiction over
| all criminal offenses, and from whose judg.
ments, no appeal could be taken II is presum-
ed that a trial by jury was allowed. but wheth-
eT, as a matter of right, Is uncertain as but few
| particulars exist as to the modes Of procedure.
| The first capital case before this novel tribu-
| nal, was that Of woman charged with muir.
| dering her husband, in 1914 A quaint ac-
| count of the affair is thus given by Governor
| winthrop of Massachusetts.
zone Cornish, dwelling some time In Wey-
month. removed 10 Acome Mt Gus, for more out
ward accommodation, and last month was tax,
en- I'M In the river his head bruised, and pole
sticking in his side, and his canoe laden with
| clay found sunk. His wife coming to her hus-
band, he bled abnndantly. The woman wst
arraigned before the mayor, Mr.. Roger Gardei
and others of the Province OF Maine,aDd strong
presumptions came in against her, whereupon
she was condemned and executed. She per
| N ha al - 4ha