The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-11-11
Canaan Records.

The first work of the Skowhegan
Historical and Genealogical Society has
been the making of a copy of the records
of the old Plantation Of Howardstown or
Canaan which records are in the keeping
of the town clerk of Canaan. The
earliest record in existence is dated l7s3,
five years before the incorporation of the
town of Canaan.
With reverent fingers though our
smiles would not be checked, we turned
the yellowed, ragged pages and copied
the quaint phraseology Of these records
of our ancestors. They were poor men,
so poor that their prosperous children
can hardly understand how heavy was
the burden OF their taxes for church and
State; they were hard working men,
gaining their daily bread from the hand
of Mother Earth only after the most
wearying service; they were religious
men and men who knew that knowledge
was the key to success even though they
were not learned In the wisdom Of the
ancents, for they built their church and
supported their poor schools at cost OF
which we can know nothing.
The good that men do lives after them
as surely as their evil and when we feel
the strongest love for our beautiful town
and village, we must never forget that
all It's beauty, its prosperity, its useful
ness we owe To these men who began to
carry out Gods plan for Skowhegan.
We are to read few extracts from these
old records tonight to give US all little
hint of the lives they lived and the plans
they made as they went about their bust
ness which has now become our business.
They were brave and industrious be-
cause. they were home-makers and to
feel that one is the founder of a home, of
town or Of State gives courage and
perseverance that no other undertaking
can. Their best monument Is the village
of homes about US and the record they
best love to read Is the grateful men,
cries of their descendants | doubt not.
This society was organized to keep their
memory green and to trace out the his
tory of our town from its beginning that
we may better comprehend what we
ought to make of 1t. God thought OF it.,
our fathers began it--with gratitude
to them and faith 10 God may we pass it
on to the new generations with no
reason to be ashamed of our part In its
building.
The first leaf of the time worn record
has been torn across and pasted together.
The hand writing Is not as legible as
that further on In the book but after a
time it can be deciphered and reads thus ::
"Commonw wealth OF Massachusetts,.
In the House of Representatives, Sept.
80, 1888. On the petition of Solomon
Clark and John White of a Plantation
called Canaan or Towards Town, pray
ing for which, with regard to their late
Taxes, and that the said Plantation be
Incorporated or otherwise enabled to
raise and collect taxes; Resolved, that
the Treasurer of this Commonw ealth be
directed to recall his Executions II any
has issued for taxes against the said
Plantation, and stay the Issuing any
executions for the future until the fur
Their order of the General Court. Aud Is
Resolved that the said Plantation further
be empowered to assess themselves for
such sum or sums of money as they
shall find necessary for the support Of a
gospel Minister 10 Plantation aforesaid.
Sent up for concurrence.
Tristan Potion, Speaker.
The Senate, Is of October, 1888.
Reed and concurred,
Samuel Adams, President.
Approved,
John Hancock.
A True Copy,
John Avery, Sec'y.'
1t seems a little strange to think OF
petitioning the General Court of Massa-
chusetts for power to raise the money
for the minister's salary. Evidently
church and State we're very much one
here as elsewhere at that time. Next to
the above, (for the record here goes
back little like a novel;, came the ac-
count of an earlier meeting of the inhabi-
tants of Howardstown, called "to see
what method the town will come into 10
order to clear off with mr.. Emerson"
their first gospel minister, sand held
August the Is, 1888, when they chose
Seth Wyman Moderator, heard the Re-
port Of Committy chosen to settle with
mr.. Emerson, subscribed In part
towards mr.. Emerson's pay"--the whole
sum owed him being lie l8s Sd, lawful
money. 1t would almost seem that their
TtSpcCb lOt III. EuiclSou Coulu Hob We
large since the clerk took pains to write
Mr.. with small "m'.
"Voted to pay Mr.. Clark's e-ks-t-r-e-r-
o-r-d-i-n-e-r expenses to git the State tax
abated." The spelling of the adjective
being extraordinary II the letters used
do not exactly form that word.
The first meeting called after the reso-
lutions passed in General Court, was
held at the house of Peter Haywood,
Jun, on Monday the 18th of March,
1884. AZ which meeting the inhabitants
of the Plantation voted as follows:
81, Chose Mr.. John White Moderator.
2, Chose Samuel Weston, Clark for
this Plantation.
3, Chose Mr.. Solo. Clark, Mr.. Willm.
Steward and Mr.. Robt. Hood assessors
for the ensuing year.
4, Chose Mr.. Seth Wyman and Mr..
Peter Haywood, Collectors.
6, Chose Mr.. Phneas Steward and Mr..
Daniel Smith to notify the inhabitants
who live on the River to work on the
highway Division at Mr.. Isaac Smiths
and Mr.. Willm. steward to Notify those
who live on the Middle Road, Mr.. Samu.
Emery those who live 10 the Sd Range of
lots.
7, Chose MIR. Solo Clark and Mr.. Solo.
Steward, Surveyors.
Meeting Dismissed
This Ia the first record Of choosing of
officers In the plantation but that there
had been men chosen or appointed be-
fore Ia nroven nv the fact that the w6r-