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Maine Militia Flag: 4th Regiment Of Infantry, 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Maine Adjutant General

Maine Bicentennial

Following Maine's separation from Massachusetts in 1820, state officials were required to return all militia flags and other ceremonial paraphernalia to Massachusetts. As a result, Maine's Adjutant General and Acting Quarter Master Samuel Cony was required to provide new flags to approximately 100 civilian militia companies across the state.

Cony devised the first-known mass production of militia flags by ordering the moose and pine tree design, originally painted by John Ritto Penniman of Boston, engraved onto a copper plate for the four-color lithographic process. The State Arms was printed twice on white silk for each flag and one print was …

The Following Extract Of The Charge Of The Hon. Chief Justice Mellen, Delivered On The Late Circuit, Is Communicated To The Public At The Request Of The Grand Juries, For The Counties Of York, Cumberland, And Oxford, Prentiss Mellen

Maine Bicentennial

Extract of the charge issued by Honorable Chief Justice Prentiss Mellen to the first grand jury seated in Maine followed the establishment of statehood. Chief Justice Mellen of Portland, was appointed to the court by Maine's first Governor, William King. His service began July 1, 1820 and concluded October 11, 1834.

“It is believed that a charge of this nature, from the Court to a Grand Jury, is calculated to make good impressions : to diffuse in no small degree a knowledge of our criminal code, enacted for the prevention and punishment of offences : to give information to the …

The Debates, Resolutions, And Other Proceedings, Of The Convention Of Delegates, Assembled At Portland On The 11th, And Continued Until The 29th Day Of October, 1819, For The Purpose Of Forming A Constitution For The State Of Maine. To Which Is Prefixed The Constitution. Taken In Convention., Jeremiah Perley

Maine Bicentennial

IN presenting to the public an account of the proceedings of the Convention, which framed the Constitution for the New State, regard has been had, not only to the gratification of a liberal curiosity, but to the preservation of an authentic record for future times. The assembling of that venerable body, was the most interesting event in our history. The object of their meeting was the most important, that can be undertaken, by men who enjoy the inestimable blessing of self-government. They were to lay the foundations of the state—and the result of their labors was to be an Act, …

Eastern Lands. To The Honorable The Members Of The Legislature Of Massachusetts, Descendant Of Miles Standish

Maine Bicentennial

The agreement for the sale of the Commonwealth’s Lands in the State of Maine, will be submitted to the Legislature for their ratification or rejection the present session. Permit one, who never owned a foot of land in Maine, and who has no possible interest, except for the good of posterity, in the decision, to offer a few remarks upon the expediency of ratifying that bargain.

Constitution For The State Of Maine: Formed In Convention At Portland, 29th Of October, A.D. 1819, Maine Constitutional Convention

Maine Bicentennial

The Maine Constitution was unanimously approved by the 210 delegates to the Maine Constitutional Convention in October 1819. On February 25, 1820, the General Court passed a follow-up measure officially accepting the fact of Maine’s imminent statehood.

An Appeal To The People Of Maine On The Question Of Separation, Unidentified

Maine Bicentennial

Shall the Legislature be required to give its consent to the separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts proper and to the erection of said District into a separate state. — Mass. Resolves.

Printed by Request.

Commonwealth Of Massachusetts. The Committee Of Both Houses To Whom Were Referred The Petitions Concerning The Separation Of The District Of Maine From Massachusetts, General Court Of Massachusetts

Maine Bicentennial

The Committee of both Houses, to whom were referred the Petitions concerning the Separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts Proper, and forming the same into a separate and Independent State, and also sundry memorials against that measure, beg leave respectfully to report that they have considered the subject committed to them, with that deliberation which so momentous a question deserves. A question, whether this great Commonwealth shall be divided, and the connexion [sic] which has so long, and so happily existed, shall be forever dissolved. They are sensible that nothing should be done to hasten an event, so …

To The Honorable The Senate And House Of Representatives Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, In General Court Assembled, At Boston, January, 1803 : Humbly Represent, The Subscribers, Inhabitants Of The Town Of Pittston In The District Of Maine, Town Of Pittston, David Cobb

Maine Bicentennial

Broadside signed by residents of Pittston, Maine, arguing for the separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts and suggesting that the legislature authorize a convention of delegates from all towns in the district “to declare the sense of their constituents, to frame a constitution ... and to do and transact all things ... necessary to the ... establishment of a separate and independent state.”