The Portland daily press., 1883-05-15
The york County Early Records

The condition OF the earliest records in the
registry Of deeds at Alfred, in the State of
Maine, has for some years past attracted the at
tention OF antiquarians, and those interested in
the preservation Of all papers connected with
the early history of this State. While other
States have preserved their colonial and other
early RECORDS by printing and publication,
the ancient volumes in the York registry re-
main undisturbed, except by the researches Of
antiquarians and historians, and they are liza
BILE TO become in few years so worn aud mu-
tilated that they win become illegible, in ad-
dition to the danger of their total destruction
by fire. Their loss would be irreparable to
the people of the State, as these records are
the foundation of the titles of large portion
of the real estate of this State. Trey have al
so an important value for historical and gene
illogical purposes as they contain many of the
names of the first settlers in the now State Of
Maine, whose descendants are to be found in
every part of our country
For the purposes of the preservation Of these
ancient records and furnishing to the public
the rich antiquarian treasures therein con
tanned, Mr.. John T. Hull proposes to prin
and publish the five earliest volumes Of ia
records in the registry of deeds, commencin g
with these for the year 1917, although deeds
of an earlier date arc there recorded), aud con-
tinuing to the year 100. The five earliest
volumes are very valuable aud Interesting,
containing within them as grantors and grant
ees, the names of the Council Of Plymouth"
"Sir Ferdinando Gorges,' "Col. Alex Rigby, :,
''Richard Vines" Thomas Gorges,' Robert
Jordan" George Cieeves," Edward God
frey Edward Tyng," president DAnforth"
and others, noted men Of these times; also
the controversies with the colony of Massachu-
etts Bay; the claims and jurisdiction Of the
rival parties; the deeds of the purchase of
Massachusetts, of the Province, and the rec
ords of the final submission OF its inhabitants
are there recorded, and will be published in
these volumes. In addition, some important
deeds and records to be found In Suffolk regis
try in Boston, and in the archives OF Massa-
chusetts State House, will be added.
The volumes are to be Transcribed and pub
lished under the auspices Of the Maine Histo-
rical Society, and under the direction of a
committee appointed for that purpose, consist
ing of james P. Baxter, ESQ., OF Portland
Edward Fl. Elwell Esq. of Deering, Hon.
William Goold, Of Windbam, and DR.. VIM.
b. Lapham, OF Augusta. The Legislature of
the State Of Maine at its last session, in view
of the importance of the publication OF these
volumes, made an appropriation in aid of the
same, but liberal private subscription addi-
tional is necessary in order that their publica-
ton may be assured.
1t is intended that this work shall be- put
lished in four volumes, size 8yo,-of the style
OF the first volumes OF Suffolk Deeds" lately
published by the city OF Boston. They will
be exact copies of the original as nov existing,
the proof sheets will be carefully compared,
aud they win also containsa full index COM
prisipg the names OF grantors and grantees,
with all other names and places The volume
will contain not less than GOO pages each, viii
| be bound in half sheep. The price TO subscrib.
ers will be $500 per copy or $1,000 per set,
payable on delivery as fast as publish ed. 1t Is
| expected that the four volumes shall be pub
| lished within the next two years.