The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-17
DOES PORTLAND OWN MARKET sQuAREp
The SkIIIIngs Heirs to Test their
Claims.
To Large and Valuable Property In
the City.
A His tory of the Case anu What Has
Been Done About IT,.

A His tory of the Case anu What Has
Been Done About It,.
A year from next April the lease of large
tract of land in the heart Of the city, given
by Samuel Skillings to one Enoch Ilsley, In
April, 1892, expires. At once upon the ex-
piration of the lease, the Skillings heirs Will
test in court their right of ownership Of this
now very valuable property. The old lease
by which the property was transferred 10
Enoch Ilsley. 97i years ago, reads as follows,
and will be read with great interest by all
who have from time to time, heard OF the
Skillings' claims:
The indenture Of lease made and concluded
the tenth day of April, Ammo Domini, one thou-
sand seven hundred and ninety-two, BY and be-
tween Samuel Skillings OF The District OF cape
Elizabeth in the County, Of Cumberland, gentle
land, in the county aforesaid OF the other part.
Witnesseth-That the said Samuel Skillings for
himself and In behalf of the other heirs OF his
father Samuel Skillings deceased, for the consid-
Grafton hereafter mentioned hath leased ana 10
form letten. and by these presents doth lease and
and to form let unto him, the said Enoch, his
heirs and assigns, all the land lying between ye
south westerly part OF the hay scales, and be-
tween Back street and Middle street In the SAID
town OF Portland, wheTeon Capt. Jos. Bailey now
dwels, and who has been a tenant at will under
US many years past, and now hires the house ON
said land of aforesaid Enoch llsley for the fqll
term of 80 years from the - hereof to be
fully completed, to improve as he, the said Enoch,
his heirs or his assigns may think proper, and I'M
o e me afsresa "a ns And the sad EnocR s
ley doth covenant and engage TO pay urto the
said Samuel Skiings for himself and the other
heirs aforesaid, one dollar per year, yearly, Tor
the rent Of said land, and at the expiration Of
said term of 80 years to yield and deliver unto
the said Samuel ana other heirs aforesaid, quiet
and peaceable possession OF said land ana all
buildings thereon, provided he or they pay the
said Euoch his heirs or assigns as much money
as three indifferent men may Judge said buildings
to be then worth when delivered up at the end OF
the 80 years. To the true performance OF each
and every article aforementioned the parties
bind themselves, their heirs, executors and ad-
mlnistrator. each to the other in the penall sum cf
30 pounds.
changeably set their hands and seals the day
and year before mentioned.
Signed sealed and delivered
in presence OF us, -
SIMON SKILLINGs, seal(
ENocH ILsLEY,
JOSEPH SKILLrNGs, seall
SAMUEL SKILLINGs 49,
Received August 80. 1869, at loh ssm. a. M,
Attest: EBEN LEACH. Register.
The heirs in this yet to be famouse case
believe they have in their lease good ground
for their claim and they will push their case
to final settlement.
At meeting Of the Skillings heirs, held at
the Preble House, this city, August Z, the
following preamble and resolutions were
unanimously adopted:
Whereas our great ancestor, Samuel Skillings,
parcel of land in the city Of Portland, Me- to one
Enoch llSley, which lease was to run for the term
of 90 years from the month of April, A. d. 1892,
and
Whereas there remains but about 1S months of
the unexpired term when the heirs of said skill
lings will be entitled to take peaceable and undis
puted possession of said premises, all of which
are fully described and set forth In said instrument
Of lease, so made, and
Whereas the terms and conditions of said lease
AID contract have in several Instances been open
ly unjustly and of set purpose violated or wholly
ignored; ana
the following ways and manner-to wit: The
lease required, and 1t was made a specific .condi-
ton, that one dollar per annum should be paid by
the said llsey or his assigns to the said Skilngs
or his heirs, and to be so paid during the entire
term of the lease. But it, is in evidence that al
though so paid for a considerable number Of years
not one farthing has been either paid or rendered
of late years. Second-As far as can be at pres
ent learned, the Honorable Mayor and Aldermen
tracts, leases, and by legislative enactments Of
doubtful propriety and In defiance of constitution
al rights have heretofore come into possession OF
In direct violation OF said contract and lease so
made by said Skilngs and Ilsley, proc eed to pull
down, destroy and remove the building found up
on said properts or parcel Of land, thereby dam
aging and deteriorating fhe true value
OF said property as provided for in said lease and
finally the said Board Of Mayor and Aldermen
have aided and assisted certain other parties and
persons TO obtain an inequitable possession OF
large part Of said property for sentimental. patri
0tic, but private and personal qualification with
out the phantom OF preteDce TO eompensating the
true and lawful owners thereof, either present or
prospective, all with aims and patriotic plans the
said heirs heartily favor. and will promote in a
reasonable manner but insist that all proceedings
have thus far been and are in violation of the sol
guarantees Of the constitution Of the general gov
ernment, and though not fully informed of the
force and effect OF the law in the case, yet taking
violation of the agreements between the contract
ing parties have been so patent and repeated as
to appear to Justify the demanding Of the imme-
siod Of the said heirs Therefore be it SD
Resolved By this meeting of descendants and
heirs OF our honorable ancestor, Samuel Skill
lngs, that 1t Is our duty to adopt immediate
measures to ascertain whether we have any rights
in the premises which our fellow citizens and the
courts sou Of ne rsS country are are bound to respeet.
association to be known as the ''Skillings
League, the object Of which shall be to adopt
measures fOr the recovery OF SAID property TX we
are entitled to it, or forever set at rest ali tradi-
tions, rumors and claims OF every sort hereto per-
tanning.
Resolved, That in the organization Of the Skill
lings League there shall be president, secretary.
treasurer, and an executive committee consisting
OF three members, and the officers need not be
direct heirs, but so connected or related to them
| as to make them interested in success of our
aims. The secretary shall purchase suitable
| book for noting the minutes Of the meetings, and
| to time to keep and preserve the same, allowing
| access thereto by any aud all members Of the
ceve and hold ihe funds of the
League subject to the drafts Of
| the executive committee or a majority
for the faithful performance Of his duties as the
executive committee may require, and he shall
keep an accurate account of all receipts and dis
| bursements and report the condition Of the
| finances at each meeting of the League. 1t shall
| be the duty Of the president to call meetings Of
| the League, preside over them when assembled
and sign ali proceedings ana such other things as
| ordinarily pertain to such offices.
Resolved, That it shall be the duty of each
| member of the League to learn the, residence and
names of the legitimate heirs Of said Samuel
Skillings, and report the same to the secretary
for permanent record, and also TO report AL yalu
Resolved. That each member of the League
shall pay into the treasury thereof the sum Of
| ten dollars for the purpose OF meeting the ex
penses of the work necessary to be done.
The League elected the following officers
| Presdent-Chas. T. Skillngs.
Secretary Chas w. Skillings.
Treasurer-Frank Skillings.
Executive Committee-Henry +. McAllister
Chas. w. Skillings and Chas. p. Waldron.
William NJ. Sargent. ESQ.,, is counsel fol
the heirs, and other distinguished legal tai
ent will be employed to take the case il
hand when the lease runs out The claim Il
certainly a very interesting one, and th'
proceedings will be watched with great in
crest. 1t is likely great law suit will fol
ow the expiration Of the lease.
Good Templars.
| Grand Chief Tamnlar Hamilton and Gran