The Portland daily press., 1884-03-29
THE YORK SOCIETY
Hslds Iis Spring Meeting East Evening
Pleasant Reunion I'm Reception Hall
and Interesting Historical Papers Read

and Interesting Historical Papers Read
Last summer the sons and daughters Of
York. resident 10 this city, together with their
friends from the various towns and villages il
that county, held their first reunion at WHIT,
Head. It was, as all who we're present will re
member, delightful affair, marked by ap.
prJpriate addre seq, and therefore, when the
idea OF spring meeting was advanced some
months ago 1t met with the cordial approba.
tion of those who had participated in the sum-
mer excursion. Unfortunately the time So
lected for the meeting was not smiled upon by
fate for on the evening in question occurred
one OF the worst snow storms of the winter
and although several ladies braved the climate
showing that the Daughters of York" al
least were on hand, it was deemed advisable
to adjourn to later date. Last Wednesday
evening was the time appointed, and Recep-
tion Hall the place, but again tho weather was
unpropitous, the flood gates OF heaven were
opened, end second adjournment made, this
time till last evening.
About one hundred and fifty ladies and gen.
tlemen assembled in the appointed place last
evening, in accordance with the arrangements
the majority SONS and daughters OF
York, all well known, and many of them
among our best known and most successful Cit
izens.
At 8 O'Clock President Bion Bradbury call
ed the association to order. He spoke some
what as follows:
PRESIDENT BRADBURY's MESSAGE.
Ladies and Gentlemen Of the York Society
am most happy to meet you on this second
occasion of our assembling together. During
the summer we had delightful day on beau
tiful island, bat now when the scene has
changed and winter begins to throw off its
cloak The same feeling that actuated our meet
ing before has brought US to this reunion,
and this association, from an occasional gath
eriDg for day is to become a substantial in-
stitution. The arrangements that have been
made for the reading of papers tonight show
that we are not only to have occasional meet
ings but that we are to make ourselves rs full
by perpetuating the history OF our ancestors
whom we so regard and hold in reyerent men,
ory.
But, ladies and gentlemen, 1 am here to lis
ten to others, and will now introduce Hon.
w. E. Lunt who will speak to you on Sir Will
liam Pepperell
Hon. W. F. Lint then arose and delivered
most interesting address of which the following
is an abstract:
MR.. LUNT's PAPER.
In opening, Mr.. Lunt said he proposed to
tell the life Of Sir William Pepperell, who,
born in Kittery. became q peer of the realm of
England. OFF the shores of Kittery are the
Isles OF Shoals. OF these islands, Star and
Applsdore were visited by the famous Capt.
John Smith. Within the latter part of the
seventeenth century, to Star Island, from the
county Of Devon, England, came William
Pepperell He engaged in the fishing business
ND al N arNf Sc - H..
some years he dwelt on Star Island, laying the
foundation of future wealth. Across the in
tervening space OF sea, on Kittery
Point, lived John Bray. nan Of fortune for
those days. William married John Bray's
fair daughter, Margery, and he gave
ing now forms q part of the PepperelI
house in Kittery. In 1876 Margery gave birth
to q msn-child, and this child, the subject OF
our paper, was destined to become a peer of
England. After leaving the Isles of Shoals,
William Pepperell engaged 10 trade at Kittery
Point. William Pepperell. Jr., was not edu-
Gated at q college, but received instruction
chiefly from his father. The son early became
very expert penmsn, and specimens OF his
beautiful handwriting are still preserved
While yet a minor he came to Saco. and
bought large tract of land covered BY the
Bonython patents. He erected large saw mills
on the Saco river. which did a thriving busi-
ness One of the principal squares in Saco
Cdlicu 1oppoEcI 6QuhT6 -O4CO DolQS
originally named Pepperellborough At
the age of thirty William PeppereIl
Jr.. was made colonel of the militia.
There he married Miss Hurst, a relative of
the Sewall family of York county. By her he
bad four children. The constant incursions of
the indians made in those days every man a
soldier. Over 1900 men were enrolled in
York county. The firm of William Pepper ell
& Son grew to be the most popular and fl ,ur-
ishing in Nsw England. They did large for
aipn trada Qandinu china 10 ,rd
loaded with the products Of the colonies viii.
liam Pepperell, Jr. was appointed judge OF the
court OF common pleas, and later was made
commander OF the military forces OF New Eng
land. The great event in his life Was the ex-
pedition against Louisturg, city sit
uated on the coast Of Cape Breton, strongly
fortified by walls and owned by the French.
On the walls were mounted 101 guns, and on
the shore was placed royal battery of %
Founders. The population of the city was be-
tween 1000 and 900. 1t was garrisoned with
French soldiers and militia. As this city was
point OF refuge for the French and Indians
from Canada, after thoir iDcnrsions, the gov
eminent resolved to attempt its capture. To
Raise the necessary funds the General Court of
Massa,husets authorized the issue of large
amount OF paper money-the first ever issued
in this country. Gov. Shirley of Massachu-
chusetts gave the command OF the forces to
Col. Pepperell. The expedition sailed for
Lvuis5urg In April, 1745. After giving an in
y
ed in the capture Of the city, Mr.. Lunt COM
mented on the manner in which the news was
received in the courts of the old world. The
rest OF the life of Sir William PeDperell was
bri-h -hv sketched. HIS father died in 1874, he
III 1859, at the age Of 63.
The old Pepperel mausion is today some 10
feet shorter than formerly. From the fact
that 1t originally contained 40 fire places may
be inferred the hospit ality OF the Pepperells.
The tomb Of Sir William Pepperell is not far
af1 ant fFnsx fho hrr Nuni nixrox
Lunt stood beside this tomb and plucked from
1t yellow primrose, aud wondered If the seed
from which 1t sprang was gathered from the
hedge rows OF England. Long has that prim-
rose been faded aud its scent departed.
Naught but the memory of the scene remains.
So Of Sir William PepperelI. His bones have
long since mingled with their kindred dust.
bis life and deeds have long been ended But
from the musty records of the past these SIM
pie facts are gathered, and may they linger
pleasantly in your memory.
The president said the next paper would be
on "The Early Physicians of York County"
1t was prepared by DR.. Weeks, who was called
away to Brunswick, and DIR. A. K. P. Meserve
had kindly agreed to read it. The following is
an abstract:
EARLY PHYSICIANS OF YORK COUNTY.
Next to ministers, physicians OCCUPY large
portion OF the regards OF communities, and yet
We find much less of their history writtIu.
The earliest mention made of a physician In
this part of the State was in 1916. About this
time there came pestilence among the Indian
tribes and whole villages were blotted out by
the disease. What wasthe nature of the plague
10 unknown. About this time company Of En-
glisbmen spent the wiater at the mouth of the
Saco; the leader was Richard Rines, who had
been educated as phvsicisn, and who had
been ordered by Sir Ferdinsndo Gorges, to
spend the winter on these shores to see wheth-
or the English could endure the climate. This
bend OF Englishmen visited the sick and took
care Of the dead, yet strange to say, not one OF
them took the plague. Afterward, DR.. Vines,
made this place his permanent residence. No
regular physician is known to have seItled in
York until quite q recent period; simple reme-
dies and faithful care of the siok supplied the
place Of professional skill. From 1917 to 1850
there Is, it is believed, no mention OF a pbys,-
clan In York county. DIR. Lemuel " hits,
Esq, magistrate as we'll as physician, came
from York to Saco as early as 1850. We find
the town voting to pay him 26.. Sd. in law
full money for professional services done
for Walter Murde, in dressing his leg
in l756 DR.. Donald Cummings, native
of Scotland, who had come to America as a
surgeon, In the British army, came to Ssco in
1855. He was man Of celebrity and skill,
and these added to his popular manners wen
for him large practice and gave him the rep
utation OF the most skillful practitioner of for
mer times. He died from an accident in 1774.
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