Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-04
VALUABLE GOOKS RECOVERED
Account Books. Dealing With Augusta's Ear,
History, Brought to Light.

y treasure Of inc-t.mablc value from
the antiquarian or historical point of
view has been found in this city. ana
placed in the keeping of the kennc-
bee Historical Saciety.
A man went into an office in this city
on Friday last. and asked the prnpric-
tor if h was not interested in collect
ing old articles. When the gentleman
answered that he has collected quit. a
number for the Historical Society The
visitor produced two order books. q
little larger than the ordinary pocket
pass book. one without binding, ana
the other with cartridge paper covers
These had been found in the back Of
an old table in a neighborin- town. and
or examination proved to be the books
containing 4 memora ndum Of the town
expenses commencing in the year 1854
and running to 1877. They are plainly
written and neatly kept in ink. and
form link in AuguSta's history which
has in part been missing The num-
erous items throw queer side lights on
those days. ana are full Of intense in
terest TO the historian.
The books show the familiar names
the Norths the Sewalls. the Billiards..
the Brooks. the Cars. the Conys: and
also many Of the older Hallowen fam
lilies. such as the Davenports. CIarks.
Livermores. ana Capt. Cocks UCoxD.
Capt Nash with whom the books have
been deposited. was enthusiastic over
their recovery: and in looking over the
pages was supplied with subjeCt Of
q running fire OF commentaries. Moth
ing could better illustrate his wonder
full familiarity with local history ana
names than his conversation in look
ing over these works.
The accounts are all in pounds. shill-
ings and pence. ana date as has becn
stated from ITsi. TIE first few war
rants are for settlement Of soldiers in
the War Of the Revolution; and the
amounts are expressed as 50 much in
paper money. and so much in silver.
The depreciation in continental m0rey
is evidenced BY the very large proper
ton Of paper money noted, In one
case there was GU paper money and
a few shiilinSs in silver.
Space would not permit Us going INTO
the interesting details Of the many aC-
counts but We viii point out a few.
1t appears by memorandum in one Of
the books that on March II. 11S3, Col.
VIM. Howard, James Howard. Esq.
Capt Daniel Savage, capt. James
Cocks and Mr. Ezekiel Page presented
notes to the town amounting to 100.
shiIlings. a pence. on April 4th Of
the same year Thos ScWal was paid
for "provid" weights and measures
and John Church for making brands
for the use Of the town. \ noticeable
fact is that in all cases the total IS
punctiliously inserted, and the US. Of
Esquire is only used in its proper way,
and a times james Howard is referred
to as Esquire Howard.
In the year 1857 Coin. VIM. Howard
received a certificate for lone grown
Woolf." to the amount Of "a sterling.
There are several items for the pay
mont of bounties on "Woolves."
Through the earlier books run sever
al items that Will arouse the curiosity
Of all readers Commencing in 1897
numerous items arc given for the sup
port Nv one Nathaniel Taylor of the
BLACK Child" and at times medicines
ana supplies are given for the same
BLACK Child" Evidently at that Time
! the circumstances were we'll known,
For a number Of years 4 family by the
! name Of Taylor seems to have been
| supported by the town. but Capt. Nash
! says the only Taylor family at that
! time Of which he has any record was
in good circumstances. and he is in
| clincd to think it was colorcd family
| that had taken that name.
| In 1888 VIM. HewinC was paid the
sum Of six shllingS For assisting in
carrying a woman and two children out
Of town" Their destination is not
recorded.
Throughout the books are items rel