Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-05-16

now. 1t may be or some interest," u
glance at the doings of this court during
its first year, and note some things re-
garding the beginnings of our history
There are recorded as present at the
June term of the court "the Honour.
able:
Simon FRYE Caleb Prentiss
Luther Cary job Eastman
i Samuel Paris IchabOd Bonney
/ Daniel Stowel Isaac Livermore
/ John Greenwood William LivermOre
| Nsth Perley Francis keves
| Judah Dana Moses Ames
| Timothy Osgood Joseph Howard
i Ell Twtchell Ezekiel Merrill
Uriah Holt Daniel Howard
/ Edward Richardson.
CYRUS Hamlin was chosen clerk of the
court, and held the office for number
of years.
Moses Ames, William Livermore,
Ichabod Bonney, Francis Reyes and
| Timothy OsgoOd were chosen COM
mittee Ito examine the diferant situa-
tons in the town of Paris TO- set the
county buildings on" subsequently
Moses Ames and Timothy Osgood were
dismissed from this committee and
Uriah Holt and John Thompson were
appointed in their places. By what
means John Thompson, who was not re-
corded as present, became member OF
the court, the record fails to state.
This committee was chosen on the
18th of June, and offered its report on
the 18th of the same month, but accept
ance of the report was postponed to the
second Tuesday of August, to which
time the court adjourned.
A
reported that "in their opinion the most
eligable situation to set said buildings,
is on Jackson's Hill $50 called) in Paris
aforsaid." The report was accepted,
and committee chosen tn lay out the
land. and another ito make a Plan OF
the Gaol House and prison" to estimate
the expense and receive proposals for
building.
At the October term the same year
David Learned was appointed agent to
demonstrate to the General Court
against the petition of Fryeburg, Porter.
field, Brownfield and Lowell, who had
petitioned that Fryeburg might be made
a half shire town. This Fryeburg mat
ter seems to have been somewhat per-
sistent, as an occasional reference to it
in the form of a postponement appears,
and in 1914 Albion X. Paris was APP
pointed agent to oppose another similar
petition before the legislature.
The deed from Jesse Cummings OF
the land on Paris Hill so long occupied
by the county buildings was accepted
and recorded at the October term, lSOo.
At the same term the estimation" for
county tax of 1905 was made up, and
amounted to $1,000 for current expenses,
from which was deducted 500 for
licenses and duties on deeds, and to
which was added $1,000 towards erecting
a "GaOl," making total tax OF Sl96o.
The present tax is 1000.
No provision was made for court
house or county offices for several years.
The old Baptist meeting house on Paris
Hill evidently served for the courts, and
the officers apparently provided them
selves with offices. The one immediate
/, need of the county was 'gaol." The
committee on this reported at the
October term, submitting plans for a
building constructed of hewed timber
twelve inches square and oak plank,
2Ox36 feet, two stories high, with three
rooms on each floor; also q gaol house OF
the same outside dimensions; the total
estimated cost being two thousand
dollars.
The report was accepted and the
necessary prison was evidently built.
1t appears not to have been entirely
satisfactory, as at the term the following
September it was voted to accept it I'M
til the next term, and similar vote was
passed at several later terms. About
fifteen years later the stone Jail was
built which was used for over seventy
wears. and has been converted into the
Hamlin Memorial Library.
This article is not history OF jails,
but is simply designed to call attention
to the centennial, and note the small
beginnings of our existence as county.
A history of the county for the century
would be that of the nursery of many
distinguished men. and the home OF a
mfortable, intelligent and progressive
people.