The Portland daily press., 1896-04-16
MAINE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.
Quarterly Meeting Held Last Eve
nings

nings
Hon. j. III. Drummond-Th The Old Time
Court of Sessions
The quarterly meeting of the Maine
Genealogical Society was held at Baxter
hall last evening, Hon. NJ. F. King,
presiding.
The librarian reported q very grattfy-
ing increase in the number of books, 1874
books and 148 pamphlets having been
added, making total of 1850 books and
722 pamphlets. Among the accessions are
the following thirty eight family
histories: Allison, Archer, Barber, Bar
rett, Bellows, Bright, Cameron, Cham
pioD, Cleveland, Deane, Drake, Grant
Gray, Harris, Heard, Hoadley, Hoyt,
Hughes, Hutchinson, jackson, Ladd,
Lakin, Lindsay, Little, Lowndes, Nor
rill, Perkins, Poole, Odione, Rawson,
Rockwell, Searight, Sharpe, Sinclair,
stickney, Summer, Tudor, Upham.
Ellery Bowden, of Winterport, was
elected to active mem bersLip
Hon. f. M. Ray, read an interesting
account of the first attorney admitted to
practioe in Cum berland county, Hon.
Mr.. Bradbury who was formerly a resi-
dent of Westbrook and later member of
Congress from Massachusetts, and a
judge of the Supreme court His greatest
legal triumph here as far as Judge Ray
had been able to discover was the defence
of himself and others, when presented by
the grand jury for indulging in dancing
in a tavern kept by one freeman.
Hon. j. H. Drummond was then asked
by President King to explain the nature
of the "old court of sessions" first Or
ganized in 1851. The first law made them
licensing board, but that was disallowed
by the crown, but in with that clause
dropped out, they existed from 1899. At
first these courts held their sess ion at
Wells, but later in Falmouth, now Port
land. The court held it's sessions here
for 1875.
justices in the county, or as many as
chose to attend. This constituted
court continued in force up to 1907, when
the greater portion of their jurisdiction
was transferred to the court Of common
pleas. But in 1s09 the court was restored
to its full jurisdiction, but lost it again
except in county matters in 1914, and was
finally abolished in 1881. These courts
had grand jury, and jury for the trial
of causes.
The chief justice of these courts was of
course a lawyer, but the other "side
Justices were simply justices of the
peace.
Mr.. Drummond called attention to
the fact that the records of these courts
are now at the office Of the Supreme
court of Massachusetts, somewhat
similar court existed in Ohio in the early
days of that state, and many stories are
told of the bitter retorts of the lawyers
who praoticed before the court of session
| East and West
Referring to the ancient record snow in
| the Office of the Massachusetts Supreme
court, Mr.. Drummond said they are a
mine of historical and genealogical in
formation. A hasty glance through the
record gave him an uprising amount OF
information regarding the Drummond
family. 1t would be impossible to secure
the books themselves, as York county
comes in between two of the Massachu
setts counties.
Judge Ray asked if Mr.. Drummond
was familiar with the practice Of the
ancient courts of sessions. In particular
he asked if the presiding Justice could
charge the jury.
Mr. Drumm ond though not. He said
that in some of the western courts now
the court never charges except IL instruc
tion is requested by an attorney. The
form is something like this: "Do yot
request instruction." and one attorney
will say "Yes, your honor" and the
court reads the request and says, II give
it to you, or the reverse.
E. D. Reynolds told bright story o.
q Maine justice of the quorum who had
been appointed trial Justice. He was
asked by friend, sis there any differ
ence between a trial justice and justice
of the quorum?" There is as muof
difference between trial Justice and 6
Justice of the quorum, as there is b,
tween justice OF the quor um and an or
dinary man."
Reynolds said he found a similar court
with one chief justice, lawyer and tw,
lay side judges, at Malone, New York.
President King spoke of the presen
condition of the society. He said tina
Mr.. Henry Deering, has had copy mad,
of the old records Of the First Parish
church. Mr.. King thought 1t woult
make a valuable addition to the historica
literature of this city if published
Adjourned.
Falmouth Loan and Building Association