The Portland daily press., 1897-09-10
HISTORICAL SOCIETY FIELD DAY.
Interesting Visit to the Isles of Shoals
Wednesday and Thursday.

The visit of the members of the Maine
Historical society to old York Wednesday
afternoon was one of very great interest.
The members of the party were taken in
carriages to the old Jail, which belongs to
the early days of Colonial occupation, and
is still in good state of preservation.
The old cemetery in which were buried
Parson Moody and his son, the principal
of Dummer academy, and many other of
the early residents of York, was next
spected. But the most interesting feature
of this afternoon at old York was the
visit made to the fine mansion Of Judge
Sewall puilt little more than a century
ago. The Rev. Mr.. Sewall of Washing
ton, d. c., a descendant of Judge SeWall,
who makes his summer home in the old
mansion, received very cordially, with
his wife and daughters, the members OF
the society, and threw the house open for
their inspection. Among other interests
ing objects was the old parish record 60
ing back to 1854.
Returning to Portsmouth late in the
afternoon, there Col. H. II. Burbank OF
Saco, Rev. Mr.. Waterman of Laconia, N.
H., and others reported,) the party left
for the Isles of Shoals at $40. The sail to
the mouth of the Piscataquis was de-
lightful one, and there the steamer was
boarded for Appledore. The sea was
smooth, and not one of the Iarty was sea
clio A <,l
ton in the west, while to the eastward
were the islands SO intimately connected
with the beginnings of colonization on
this part of the coast. In about an hour
Appledore was reached, and all the MEM
bers of the party were soon well estab-
lished in the comfortable Appledore
house, kept by the Leighton brothers.
Most of the summer guests had departed
and the accommodations were ample.
After tea there was strolling for an
hour or more on the broad piazzas of the
house, and about nine o'clock meeting
was held in which Moses A. Stafford,
Esq, of Kittery, gave an exceedingly in
teresting and Instructive account of the
history of the Isles of Shoals from the be-
ginnings of the occupation of these
islands, seven in number, four of which
belong to Maine and three to New Hamp-
shire Appledore, the largest of the group.
belongs to Maine. 1t was on! this island
Mr.. Stafford said, that Sir William Pep
pere1l was born; and he narrated many
facts concerning the Pepperells and other
prominent families,y whose ancestors were
engaged in the early fisheries here. There
were also remarks by Rev. Mr.. Waterman
of Laconia. New Hampshire, a
member of the New Hampshire Historical
society, Hon. George f. Emery of Port
land (who suggested that the early fish
cries on the coast of Maine have not re-
ceived the attention from historical in
vestigators they should), Mr.. Staples of
Gardiner and Rev. DIR. Burrage of Port
land, who presided.
Thursday was a perfect day. A cloud
party of the favorable conditions under
which the society has held its field days
for many years. The day was given to
visiting the site Of the Pepperen house.
Celia Thaxter's home and grove-these
on Appledore-also the various islands of
the group. The steam launch Pinafore
furnished a pleasant way of going from
one island to another.
Dinner was served at the Appledore
house, and in the afternoon the party re-
turned to Portsmouth in season for the
evening train to Portland.
The excursion was one of the most
pleasant of the many field days outings of
the society," and the members of the party
are under great obligations to Mr.. Stafford
of Kittery for the very satisfactory ar
rangemellts which be made for their en-
joyment and comfort, both at Old York
and at the Isles of Shoals
Steamer Movements.