The Portland daily press., 1895-12-20
MAINE HISTORICAL PAPERS.
Read at the Regular Meeting Yester-
day.

History of New Sweden by Hon. W. W.
Thomas Jr.-History of Gambo and
Col. Thos. Goldthwait,
The Maine Historical Society held
regular meeting yesterday afternoon.
The first paper was by Samuel 7. Dole,
of Windham, entitled "Gambo Old and
New" One of the first settlers at Gambo
was John Loveitt, who was born in Cape
Elizabeth in 1743. He moved to the falls
at Gambo and operated a grist mill
there.
In 1919 Edward Fowley and Gesler
Laughlin came from Massachusetts and
built small powder mill on the Gorham
| side. They continued business there
till 1927 when they were both accidentally
drowned in Sebago Lake.
ssMr. Dole continued by narrating the
salient facts of the history of the powder
mills, which have been frequently pub
| lished.
1t is claimed that the name Gambo
arose from the tradition that in the early
days Gorham sea-captain brought home
negro from the West Indies, named
Gambo. He found home at the falls and
being skillful fiddler was very popular
with the young people. 1t was common
among them to say "Lets 60 over to
Gambo's.
In regard to explosions Mr.. Dole said
that he had got list of fatalities that
gave the names of Al men who have been
blown up, OF which only one survived.
This list is probably the only one ex-
tant. 1t was kept by Mr.. Benjamin
Hooper and his daughter-in-law, Mrs
Mary Hooper. Mr.. Hooper is an aged
employe of.the company.
| "Col. Thomas Goldthwait of Eft.
| Pownal, Was He Tory?" was the title
of paper by Col. R. 6. Carter, U. S.
A., Of Washington. 1t was long paper
and only portion of 1t was read by Rev.
DR.. Burrage.
Ft Pownal was built at the mouth of
the Penobscott river in 1859. 1t was
destroyed by Capt. James Cargill in 1v75.
From 1853 to 1775, Col. Thomas Goldth-
wait was commander of the fort. He has
bad reputation among the historians of
that region. There are traditions that
the Indians denounced him Sas faithless
and cruel. One historian says that he
betrayed the fort to the British in
1775. The author of the paper, Col.
Carter, is descendant of Thos. Gold
wait His paper undertook to prove that
his ancestor was not Tory in the sense
that he took any active part in Eng
lands interest and that he was not cruel
or tyranous, but kind and just
At the request Of Hon. ]. Fl. Drum.
mond, his paper entitled Concerning
the Rogers Family of Plymouth and vi
entity" was placed on file without being
read.
THE EVENING SESSION.
| The evening session was devoted to an
address by Hon. W. W. Thomas, Jr.. in
which. he narrated the history of the
town of New Sweden in Aroostook. This
is the address that he delivered at the
recent anniversary exercises in that
town.
To raed it in the papers and to hear
Mr.. Thomas deliver it are. OF course, two
very different mental impressions.
New Sweden's history has a peculiar
interest. 1t is especially fascinating
when narrated by its originator.
The 257th anniversary of the landing
of the Pilgrims will be celebrated oil
Plymouth next Saturday. Senator Hoal
will deliver the Grafton. The Maine His.
torical Society will be representa- by
Rev. DR.. Burrage. AT the meeting yeo.
terday the society adopted statement {
;; be sent by Dr.. Burrage when it extends
"greeting to the Pilgrim Society, with
the assurance Of it's fellowship in main
tanning and extending the prinoi Piles
which brought the Pilgrims to these New
England shores.''
L