Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-23
MONSIEUR MoNvEL'S JOURNAL
IS FOUND
Records Of F~renehman's Survey Made
Upon the waldo Patent for Gen.
Knox in 1892.

Records Of F%renehman's Survey Mada
Upon the "WaIdo Patent" for Gen.
Knox in 1892.
Says the Rockland Courier Gazette:
MonveIs journal las been found.
For so years antiquarians and histor,-
ans nave hunted for "Monveps Journal
OF Observation upon the Waldo Patent"
This book was known TO exist and is
mentioned by Cyrus Eaton in his ia
NOUS history of Thomaston. Rock,and
and South Thomaston.
After the death of General Knox this
book was missed. but it has recently
been found by DR.. G.. L. Crockett Of
Thomaston.
Prior to General Knox coming 70
Thomaston to assume control OF the
Waldo Patent, which his wife had in
herited, he caused TO be sent here. in
! 1892, a French mineraiogist. NJ. Mon
vel. Fro May is to Oct. II in that
! year, NJ. MonyeI explored the Waldo
Patent, Thomaston, Waidoboro. Union.
tthen called Purter's field. Camden,
LlGcoinHiiie. Belfast. Searsport. Pros
pect. Frankfort, Brigadier's Island,
islesbcro. Bluehill. Mount Desert. AMI
some OF the islands in the mouth II
Penobscot Bay. Each day he record
/ ed his observations. Nov. I, 1872. Mou-
: vel. at Philadelphia. delivered to Cen
era Knox his Journal Of Observations.
with an appendix showing all of the
minerals, timbers, trees. shrubs and eli.
matte observations made upon the Wal
90 Patent.
It is known that General Knox often
quoted Monvei and historians and sci
entists have eagerly wished that thyy
might see the original Journal.
IN lTS there was born in Reading,
Mass, a man. Brown Simpson, who
was destined to play an important part
in the commercial life of Knox county.
He married q Miss Sawyer Of Gioucas-
ter, r removing to Thonas,on opened
At Mill River an apothecary shop. He
made lis first financial start selling the
then famous Simpson pills. i blood
tonic, gaining for him the sobriuuet CT
Doctor Simpson. One hundred year,
ago, in this section there was great Pa
citement over the alleged discovery OF
coal at the East Meadows. Brown
Simpson was the first man 10 bus
mineral rights in Knox county. lie
! gained what for those days was a for
tune and became the owner OF Clark
Island and several islands at the moutl,
Of Georges River. He built the build
ing in Thomaston now known as
Counce engine hail. also the buildina
next to it. on Pine street. Simpson
was killed In 1888, by an overdose II
,audanum. accidentally administered
by Dr. Ludwig. who lived IN the pres
Capt. Z. l.. Montgomery house. HIS
widow decided to move 10 Port Clyde
! then nov as Herring Gut.
Simpson was an intimate friend OF
Mrs. Kate Knox. and when his WidoU
decided to go to Port clyde, the Knox
! heirs gave 10 the Simpsons furniture.
books, papers and pewter ware. Stimp'
son a a son. James. who for several
years worked at the Maine State pris.
on. Among the children OF James are
Ed and Mary Simpson. who have
! passed most of their lives at Port
! clyde, but recently returning to the OIL
! Simpson home on Pine street. Re
! Gently. while making a professional cal
i'll the family, Dr.. Crockett noticed or
the table an octave volume bound n
unfinished leather. On closer observa
ton he found the book 10 be the lonG
missing Journal of NJ. MonveL in "a
! excellent state of preservation. Tho
script showing that its writer had
erciaed great accuracy and care.
On one Of the fly leaves appears the
! autograph Of James Z. Simpson. Tht
;itlc-page, executed in handsome script
reads.
Journal
Of
Observations Upon Waldo Patent
1892
BY NJ. Monvel.
( on the bottom margin in another
hand is written this sentence:
"a judicioua young French Gentle
! man who was educated in the Royal
academy In Paris as a mineIalOgis'
II. Knox"
| General Knox say there can he III
doubt of the genuineness Oh this sig
nature.
Among the furniture that Mrs. KNOX
! gave 10 the family. Miss Mary Stimp-
| son still has the knox family cradle
! with its brass knobs md ornamental
hood. Among the important papers IN
her possession Is q letter from Mrs.
Knox to Bligadier General Henry Knox
written in iii. Miss Simpson has the
very mirror in which Count Rocham-
beau looked; the Ve,y chair upon which
sat Louis Philippe, who became q pow
er IN French politics. She mas also
tables and much pewter ware.