The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-11-02

~'Soments, and it lost before thew are
copied they can never be Replaced. Their
preservation presents definite piece of work.
with which it would seem that the Dapohtars
OF the American Revolution might very nroner.
iy concern themselves.
In Massachusetts it was in 1s42 tb.t cl.r..
were first instructed 70 make ,at,,-r, :. =.
state House. and it required eight years, or uo-
I'll ABOUT 1850. before the practice became uan.
erai, and this date marks the transition from,
the ancient to the modern records. so. c.,,.d !,
that State Thus since 1850 copies of the re.
cords exist in two places. l. e., in the town or
city hall. and at the State House, and hence
these records. entered since then. which va
designate as modern records, could be renl.cad
if lost. and need not necessarily be printed.
Fer over two centuries town and city clerks
throughout New England had recorded with
surprising fidelity the Vital Records of their
communities, but no copies were required. and
having made the entry on the books, their re-
sponsibjlity ceased. This was not only verv in
convenient for persons wishing to consult the
Records of distant place, but. as we have
seen, gave very little assurance that the entry.
existing only in one book, would be permanent
y preserved.
In Maine it is only since 1892 that the clerks
have been required by law to file copies of
their returns at the State House; hence this
date marks the division between the ancient
and modern records here in Maine. Before the
Vital Record Law of 1903, which provided for
the printing of those ancient records which
had been entered prior to 1892, these records.
going back to our Colonial days, existed only
on the books of the clerks of the various cities
and towns, and l reiterate. in cases where
theses books were lost or destroyed there was
no way of supplying the valuable historical
and genealogical matter they contained. In
these entries are to be found much information
relative not only to the beginnings of the State
of Maine, but to the early days when she was
part of Massachusetts, and every citizen of
the State should be interested in preserving in
permanent printed form these fast decaying
evidences of its founders.
Not only is this material of interest to anti
quarians, genealogists, local historians. and
members of patriotic and hereditary societies,
but what is of more practical Importance to
the average citizen of the present Gay. it is of
great use in matters pertaining to the law
courts, and in the offices of Probate and Regis
tries of Deeds.
Historically these "ancient" records are, of
course, of much more pertine value to US
the present day than the modern" ones; for
such personal records are the real and import
ant foundation of local history.
The work of bringing original material into
form for quick reference and practical use, is
one of the greatest services we can perform
for the future generations, who will pore over
the records left by their ancestors, (ourselves)
as we now study those preceding us. These
"ancient" records yield the richest treasure
for the present researcher, and by preserving
this local history. we may best assist the future
historian of the State.