The Portland daily press., 1891-01-23
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
An Interesting Meeting In Spite Of
the Storm.

Owing TO the severe storm yesterday
afternoon there was a small attencance az
the meeting OF the Historical Society at their
room at Baxter building. q. f. Talbot.
presided. The first paDer was read By VIZ.
NJ. Sargent, on "The Division Of Il, 900 Acses
at Agamenticus," a newly discovered dOeu-
ment This was very interesting paper. Of
which we give the following brief abstract:
Much that has been written Of the earliest
history Of Agamenticus york seems now
very incomplete In view Of the new matert-
ais brought to light by the publication OF this
and other Kindred societies. Much, howey-
or, remains to be fSund out. In the paper
have found invite yot.-- attention TO one
missing link In the early chan. OF history
aud titles of old York that Is OF great val0e
and will prove OF great interest to the histor-
igraphers Of our first Incorporated city.
Throughout the printed volumes Of York
Deeds there appears continual reference by
some Of the granters who were known 10
have been Of the number OF the early paten-
tees, reference to the division made amongst
themselves. Mr.. Sargent cited some exam
amples. The document which he found al
ter lying hidden all these years In the moul-
dering eourt-hles Of York, supplies us by
single date with much information. IL was
recorded July 2, 1916, by E. Godtry. In hlS
c0rder. The recorder, VIM. Waldron. did
not live In the stale, but at Dover, N. II. It
was probably recorded In bl0tter 70 be ad-
ded to the book OF deeds, and my first i'm
preston was that 1t was lost with him at
the time Of bis drowning in Septsm er, 1646.
IN the Kennebunk river, as some OF the puo-
lie records were lost with him. But the
original record of the division was Ia exist
ence in 1867. One Of the most satisfactory
results OF this record Of the Division Is that
it shows that there were 10 parts or shares,
and to whom they had descended or been
assigned during the first 10 years,
and who held them In 164l.
A vote Of thanks was given Mr.. Sargent,
and he was requested to furnish the paper
for publication.
The president, Mr. Baxter. read a letter
from the collectorof the port, Fred ". Dow,
relative to chronometer taken from the
Rebel schooner Tacony, which Mr.. Dow
has secured from the Secretary Of the Navy,
for the society, subject to aincondltions.
On motion Of DIR. Burrage 1t was voted to
accept the chrOnometer and to thank Mr..
Dow for his interest In the matter.
Mr.. Parker NJ. Reed of Bath, read the next
paper on "rhe Ancient Province Of Mayne."
In this paper Sir Ferdinando Gorges is the
central figure. He lived In an age of relig-
ious moderation, but he was free from re-
ligious prejudices. In 1850 a patent was
granted him by Charles 1. which extended
from KenDebunk to Cape Elizabeth, and
which he called LlRonIa. This was a Plough
Patent, referring, Mr.. Reed thought, to agri-
culturalists VINO were to SETTLE there. An0tn-
er grant covered the lands from the Juth
of the Piscataqua to the Sagadah0c. and was
called New Somersetshire, after the county
OF that name In England. Mr.. Reed briefly
reviewed the history OF the province under
the jurisdiction OF Massachusetts.
vote of thanks was rendered Mr. Reed.
"A Sketch Of the Life Of Andrew L, Dole
was read by l.. y. Chapman, DeeriDg. A
members OF the Dole family, Is valuable, not
so much on account Of its great as the rec
ords on its once blank pages OF ancestors
who came to this country about the year
1880. Que Of the ancestors, Captain Daniel
Dole. was a brother-in-law OF Rev. Samuel
Deane. Major Andrew Il. Dole was one Of
the standard bearers In the formation OF the
Republican party, and was appointed post
master Of Portland by President Lincoln In
1851. 1t was while he was postmaster that
the letter carrier system was organized.
vote OF thanks was given to Mr.. Chap
man.
Inc secretary, Mr.. Bryant, called atten-
tiOn to the sets Of the annual reports OF the
cities Of Auburn aud Lewiston, obtained
with considerable trouble and expense Dy
Mr.. j. q. Elder OF Lewiston, and presented
Jpy him to the society. 1t vas voted that the
secretary send him vote OF thanks.
1t Is particularly desirable to secure from
every town In the state their reports, diree-
tories, church mammals and such like publ
| cations, illustrating the history OF each
town.
President Baxter was appointed delegate
| to represent this society at the centennial OF
| the Massachusetts Historical Society next
| Saturday.
The reading OF the paper, Extract from
letters written by Father Biard, the Jesuit
| missionary, 16le," contributed by Professor
+. NJ. Warren, was deferred to the next
meeting.
Adjourned to February I'D.