The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-28
Maine HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Senator James W. Bradbury Was In
Attendance.
MANY INTERESTING PAPERS ON
MAINE HISTORY PRESENTED.

Mr.. Ta1bot,s Speech of the Washington
Academy-Nathan Gooid on INC
Brasaduce Expedltion-ma1. burrage
Cont wilson IN the Wa of 1912.
The meeting of the Maine Historical
Society yesterday afternoon was rendered
remarkable by the attendance OF lug FORM
or nresident. Hon. James w. Bradbury,
of Augusta, formerly United States
Sanator from this state. MIR. bradbury,
at the advanced age of SO, was an atten-
tive listener to the interesting papers pre-
seuted at Yesterdays meeting. His
wonderful vitality at his great age, his
remarkably good health and his fund of
interesting "reminiscences Of the days OF
CLAY and Webster and the political events
in which be was an important factor over
70 wears ago, combine to make MIR. Brad
hurry one of the most wonderful men In
the state, He was accompanied yesterday
nv his niece, Mrs. Gregory, and his
, daughter-in-law, Mrs. Bradbury. 1t was
a delight to the older members OF the
society to clasp the hand of Mr.. Brad
hurry. who has been an honored and active
member of the society for many years.
After Secretary 81. W. Bryant had
presented the report of the list of docu-
,nents and books presented or acq uired
BY the society, he read, in the absence
of it's author, the paper by Samuel L.
Dole.
"Extracts from the old records Of
Windham' was the title of an interesting
paper by Samuel L. Dole. inc 1oilo"ing
Is a brief abstract OF this paper:
Windham was Incorporated the SIX
teenth town in the District OF Maine,
June 10. 1762 From its settlement IN
1887 to it's Incorporation 1T had been
known as New Marblehead and all meet
ing havings reference to its business rem
poraI and spiritual had been held IN old
Marblehead according to vote OF the
proprietors. Being front Ter Town ana
exposed to danger from Indian attacks It's
growth was extremely slow and several
times the settlers seemed ready to aban-
don their grants and return to their
former homes A few, however, made or
sterner material, still determined to re-
main hoping for better times. During
this period they had suffered much ana
made many sacrifices and had been COM :.
PEELED to build fort in which they dwelt
fer many weary years; had seen their
farms laid waste by the savage Toes, and
had wept together over the beloved form
of their first minister, the sainted wright,
who had been their guide and councillor
for ten years and whose faithful minis
trations had relieved the monotony of
their long imprisonment in the old block
house. One Of their most active and In
fluential men had been killed and another
cruelty wounded in battle with the In
dams, yet the remaining few had never
faltered in their devotion to the homes
they had reared IN the wilderness. They
were few in number but sof sterling quail
titles. men of sublime faith and pure lives
OF whom their descendants have right
to be proud.
When Incorporated there were 80 famil.
les and the second minister, Rev. Mr..
Smith, records their names as follows
Caleb GRAHAM, John May berry, Eleazer
Thomas Bolton, William Bolton. Hugh
Craaue, John Stevens, William Elder,
Isaac Elder, zerubbabel Hunnewill,
Abraham Anderson, Hate Evil Hall,
Stephen Manchester, John Farrow, Will
liam May berry. Richard May berry,
Stephen Lowell, Simon Noyes, Samuel
Webb, Thomas Trott. Curtis Chute.
Bayley, Gershom Winship, Robert Miller,
william Knight and his son William
Campbell. John Dodge. Ephraim Win
ship, William Maxfield, Eli Webb, John
Manchester, William StiDchfeld.
Immediately after the act of incorpora-
ton these few men petitioned Stephen
Longfellow, one Of His Majesty's justices,
for a warrant to call town meeting.
At this first meeting Abraham Anderson
was chosen moderator, Thomas Chute
clerk, Caleb GRAHAM. Lieut. Thomas
Mayberry and John Ferrow selec5men.
Abraham Anderson was also chosen town
treasurer and William Elder treasurer.
Other officers suohsas wardens and tytbing
men, fence viewers, field drivers. hog
reeve, surveyors Of lumber and highways
were also selected. Of the 80 voters in
the town, IA were elected to office.
Cleaned from Mr.. Dole's paper the fol-
lowing facts are taken: The first salary
of the Rev. Mr.. Smith was made
35 pounds lawful money. The first school
was voted at a meeting held October Z,
1865, and 20 pounds was voted to pay the
schoolmaster. At the March meeting,
1866, 1t was voted to allow the "swine tr
go at large" Mr.. Dole said he had neve
been able to ascertain just what the
duties of hog reeve were but som chow
these ouadrupeds entered largely into the
economy of the good old days
On June, 1867, a special meeting was
called to elect a selectman in room of
Curtis Chute who was killed by lightning
on June 4th at Falmouth. At the meet.
ing in March. 1871, John Stevens and
Nathaniel Evans were elected len
"a EENl IE