The Portland daily press., 1900-01-19
ME. HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Papers Oh DIR. Caleb Rea and DIR. Jacob
Hunt.

Tho regular monthly meeting OF the
Maine Historical society was held yesteI
day at their library hsll on Congress
street. Hon. J. p. Baxter presided and
at the opening session u paper on DIR.
Caleb Res and DR.. Jacob Hunt was read
by L. b. Chapman, in part as follows;
DIR. Caleb Rea, Jr.. who was the first
physician OF Nindham, this state. was
son of DIR Caleb Rea of Danvers. Mass 4,
according to the printed statements or
his great grand SOD, Hon. L. Nj. Ray, OF
Westbrook.
DIR. CALEB Rea entered, 1t Is claimed, as
a surgeon at the age Of seventeen wears
the colonial navy OF thu war of the hevo-
luton. He WAS born March s. los, and
united In marriage October T. 1881, with
Sarah. daughter of Captain John and
Abigail CLANCY White of Salem, Mass.
He was a man who stood six feet IN his
stockings and and weighed $40 pounds.
-Four sons and two daughters were born
to them when he fell victim to the
hardships of the p!aciios of his profession
Decem her 20, 1896. sally, the second
child. was born at Mindhsu, Septem ter
81, l7s5, and was united In marriage vita
ur. Jacob Hunt, June 20, 1902, Rev.
Caleb bradley performing the ceremony.
hundred years ago, jest. Dr. JeI emiah
Barker came from Gorham, this state, to
Portland, and erected good two story
house. which may now be seen as origi-
naliy constructed, excepting replaced
front door, and chimney. DR.. Barker
has i've wives, three of whom We're in
TERED at Stroudwstar where memorial
slabs mIy tie seen. DR.. Hunt purchased
the Barker property and was the only
physician fer the rfg!on many years.
And he was a successful farmer as well
as physician. They had two children.
Caroline who united in marriage with
DIR. Sloan Of westbroog, and removed to
the Western country and Henry WAC be-
came practicing physician In Portland
and the nelghboring towns. He united In
marriage with kmeline, daughter OF
Captain Dexter Brewer. She resided.
widow, at Swampscott, Mars, with son
who Is a physician,
DIR. Rea's widow resided a number OF
years with her daughter, Mira. sally
Hunt, at Stroudwater. she died January
January a2, 1896.
BY special request of Mrs. Emelins
Hunt, Mr.. Hunt gave the society num-
bsr of antique articles which were the
property Of Mrs.. Sarah Rea, who came to
Windham with her husband, DIR. Caleb
Rss, In 1881. Among thsm was a pair of
red curtains used in tho Second Parish
church OF Portland in front Of the
singers; also perpetual alamnac," or
chart purchased by q. Goold at Portland
January l, 1903.
Rev. Edward g. Porter of Lexington,
Mass. sFoke on the Importance Of collect
ing grave yard inscriptions throughout
the State of Maine for the benefit of
genealogical societies and for others
making a history of famiiieS, churches
and towns. The New England Geneaio.
eioal History last spring appointed a
committee to collect Inscriptions in the
burying grounds of Nsw England. At first
they confined their WORK to Massachusetts,
alone, but now they hope similar work
will be undertaken by the Maine soc lefty
and New Hampshire Is soon to follow.
Massachusetts, began work by sending
circulars to the town and city clerks In
the state to the numbar Of $50, asking