Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Causes Of An Unsuccessful Ministry: A Sermon, Preached At The Ordination Of The Rev. Samuel Johnson, Over The Church And Society In Alna, November 25, 1818, David Thurston

Maine Bicentennial

The text of David Thurston's 1818 sermon which includes an admonition for preachers to remember their place in the church, to adhere to "truth [as] the principal means of awakening sinners and of sanctifying saints," and to modify their preaching style "to the capacity of their hearers."

Massachusetts Election! : First Monday In April Next ; American Nomination, Major-General Henry Dearborn For Governor, Hon. William King For Lieut. Governor, Henry Dearborn, William King

Maine Bicentennial

Pamphlet promoting Henry Dearborn and William King as running mates in the 1817 Massachusetts gubernatorial election. The pamphlet includes a “Sketch of the Life of Major General Henry Dearborn from 1775 to 1812” primarily documenting his military service.

Major General Henry Dearborn (1751 – 1829) was an American soldier and statesman. During the American Revolution, Dearborn served under Benedict Arnold in the expedition to Quebec, of which his journal provides an important record. In later life his criticism of General Israel Putnam’s performance at the Battle of Bunker Hill caused a major controversy. Dearborn served in the U.S House of …

An Oration Delivered Before The Republicans Of Portland, July The Fourth 1817, Ashure Ware

Maine Bicentennial

Fifty-three years before the Fourth of July was established as a national holiday by the United States Congress, Judge Ashur Ware expressed before a political gathering in Portland, Maine, that the holiday was "the only day marked in our callendar as a national festival, and this not by the authority of the government, but by the voluntary act of a free people..."

Ware states: "The minions of despotism, the pimps and parasites and panders of kings are always ready to decry liberty; and recent events in Europe have quickened the general feeling of hostility to every form of freedom into …

Blessedness Of The Pious Dead: A Sermon Preached In Winthrop, At The Interment Of Mrs. Elizabeth Fillebrown, Consort Of The Hon. Thomas Fillebrown, Who Departed This Life October 23, 1817, Aged 46, Eliphalet Gillet

Maine Bicentennial

Text of a sermon preached by Rev. Eliphalet Gillet at the interment of Elizabeth Cheever Fillebrown (Aug 1771-Oct 1817) at East Winthrop Cemetery in Winthrop, Maine, the central theme of which is, transformation. "Death to man is not the destruction of being, but a change in the mode and place of his existence." The sermon includes a brief profile of the deceased (p 15-16).

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.

A Schedule Of Lands, &C. To Be Sold At Publick Auction On The Floor Of The Exchange Coffee House, In Boston, By The Proprietors Of The Kennebeck Purchase, On Monday, The Twenty-Second Day Of January, 1816, Plymouth Company

Maine Bicentennial

Printed schedule of properties located in the District of Maine, placed up for auction by the Plymouth Company on Monday, January 22, 1816. The schedule includes locations and descriptions of properties, including lot numbers. Maine towns where property was auctioned included: Dresden, Whitefield, Malta (now Windsor), Palermo, Patrick Town and Long Pond Settlement, Harlem (now China), Fairfax, Clinton, Unity, Plymouth, Madison, Starks, Industry, Mercer, Rome, Waterville, Augusta, Canaan, Dearborn, Belgrade, Winthrop, Wayne, Hallowell, Freedom and lots located along the Kennebeck and Sebasticook Rivers.

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 …

The Trial Of Moses Adams, High-Sheriff Of The County Of Hancock, Before The Supreme Judicial Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, On An Indictment For The Murder Of His Wife From Minutes Taken At The Trial By John Bulfinch, John Bulfinch

Maine Bicentennial

Moses Adams of Ellsworth, Maine, was charged with: "not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil, on the twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, with force and arms, at Ellsworth ... in and upon one Mary Adams, the wife of the said Moses Adams, in the peace of the said Commonwealth, then and there being, feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought, did make an assault ... with a certain deadly weapon called an axe, of the value …

Proceedings Of A Division Court Martial Constituted For The Trial Of Capt. Thomas Eastman, Battalion Of Cavalry, 1st Brigade, 8th Division; March 14, 1815 With His Defence Before The Court, The Division Order Of March 27th, Disapproving The Judgment Of The Court, And An Address To The Public, Thomas Eastman, William Winslow, James Waugh

Maine Bicentennial

Minutes of the evidence, proceedings and judgment of a Division Court Martial, of which Lieut. Col. Commandant James Waugh. jun. of the 2d Reg. 2d Brig. is appointed President ; convened at Dillingham’s Tavern in Augusta, on Tuesday, the 14th day of March, 1815, for the trial of Capt. Thomas Eastman, of the Battalion of Cavalry in the 1st Brigade, on sundry specif cations of charge exhibited against him in the complaint of Lieut. William Winslow of the same Battalion.

Members of the Court
Lieut. Col. James Waugh, Jun. President
Maj. Nathan Stanley, 3d Reg. Inf. 2d Brig. 8th Div. …

Division Orders: Eighth Division, Thomas Eastman, Eben Dutch, James Waugh, Williams Emmons, Jesse Jewett

Maine Bicentennial

Record of a Division Court Martial at Augusta viz. Captain Thomas Eastman, commanding a company in the battalion of cavalry in the 1st brigade of the Division, upon the specifications of a charge exhibited against him by Lieut. Winslow of the same battalion. The Court Martial was dissolved. Captain Eastman is discharged from arrest.

The Foregoing Is A Plan Of 189,426 Acres On The Penobscot River, It Being The Purchase Made By Government Of The Penobscot Tribe Of Indians, Park Holland, Jonathan Maynard, John Chamberlain

Maine Bicentennial

The foregoing is a plan of 189,426 acres on the Penobscot River, it being the purchase made by Government of the Penobscot Tribe of Indians together with two acres of land one on each side of the river between said Indian purchase and land heretofore so called. Laid down by a scale of Two Hundred rods to an inch taken by the direction of the Hon. Salem Town, Esqr. by the Publicks most obedient an very Humble Servants Park Holland, Jona. Maynard, John Chamberlain, Surveyors. Scale of map: 1:39,600. 200 Rods per inch.

The Trial Of David Lynn, Prince Kein [Sic], Jabez Meiggs [Sic], Elijah Barton, Adam Pitts, Anson Meiggs [Sic], And Nathaniel Lynn. Indicted For The Murder Of Paul Chadwick, Containing A Compendious But Clear And Full Statement Of All The Evidence, Together With A Correct Abridgement Of The Pleadings Of Council, And The Charge To The Jury, As Delivered By The Court, Peter Edes

Maine Bicentennial

In 1809, Paul Chadwick was hired to survey lands held by the proprietors of the Plymouth Patent, including property that fell within the boundaries of the town of Malta, now known as Windsor, Maine. The land survey caused upset among settlers as property ownership was called into question. Vowing to defend their property, on September 8, a party of fully armed men, some disguised as Native Americans, approached Chadwick advising him to cease his activities. Chadwick declined and was shot, dying the following day.

David Lynn, Prince Kein, Jabez Meiggs, Elijah Barton, Jonas Proctor, Adam Pitts, Anson Meiggs, and Nathaniel …

Map Of The Country Which Was The Scene Of Operations Of The Northern Army ; Including The Wilderness Through Which General Arnold Marched To Attack, Francis Shallus

Maine Bicentennial

Black and white map of the country which was the scene of operations of the Northern Army; including the wilderness through which General Arnold marched to attack Quebec. Engraved for the Life of Washington. Plate VI from: Atlas to accompany John Marshall's The life of George Washington. Philadelphia, 1804-07. Though this map depicts the route of the Kennebec River and landscape through which Benedict Arnold lead a force of the Continental Army, it does not mark the 350 mile trail to Quebec. The 1,100 man force was reduced to 600 sick and starving men by the time Arnold reached Saint …

Horrid Murder., Peter Edes

Maine Bicentennial

Broadside publishing news sensationalizing the mass murder of the Purrinton family, including a 14-stanza poem about the crime. Events summarized in the broadside were later published in greater detail in a pamphlet by Peter Edes.

Horrid Massacre !! : Sketches Of The Life Of Captain James Purrinton, Who On The Night Of The Eighth Of July, 1806, Murdered His Wife, Six Children, And Himself : With A Particular Account Of That Shocking Catastrophe : To Which Are Subjoined, Remarks On The Fatal Tendency Of Erroneous Principles, And Motives For Receiving And Obeying The Pure And Salutary Precepts Of The Gospel, Peter Edes

Maine Bicentennial

The account of Maine's first case of domestic violence mass murder as reported by outspoken printer and newspaper man, Peter Edes. On July 8, 1806, Betsy (Clifford) Purrinton and her children Polly, age 19; Benjamin, age 12; Anna, age 10; Nathaniel, age 8; Nathan, age 6; and Louisa, age 18 months, were murdered by James Purrinton during an alleged fit of religious fervor before he committed suicide. Fifteen-year-old Martha Purrinton was severely wounded during the attack but survived for three weeks, testifying as a witness against her father. She died July 30. The eldest Purrinton son, James, age 17, survived …

A Sermon On Infant Baptism, Preached At Winthrop, Nov. 4, 1804, At The Baptism Of The Rev. Mr. Belden's Child To Which Are Subjoined The Rev. Mr. Fisher's Hymn On Infant Dedication, And The Rev. Mr. Sewall's Poem On The Mode Of Baptism, Eliphalet Gillet

Maine Bicentennial

Rev. Eliphalet Gillet's expansive sermon expounding on the similarities and differences of Judaism and Christianity focusing predominantly on the quality of character and redemption.

Maine Statehood Broadside, 1803, Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University Of Maine

Finding Aids

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."

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.”

The Province Of Maine From The Best Authorities, Samuel Lewis, William Barker, Mathew Carey

Maine Bicentennial

The Province of Maine, from the best Authorities by Samuel Lewis, 1794. W. Barker, sculp. [Scale of] American Miles 69 1/2 to a Degree. Engraved for Carey's American Edition of Guthrie's Geography improved.

Black and white, foldout map of northern Massachusetts showing the New Hampshire border and identifies the "Line between the United States and the British Possessions by Treaty 1785" including Quebec and Nova Scotia. Map size: 36 x 24 cm. Scale 1:1,520,640. Engraved by W. Barker. Map is in stable condition but shows folds and creases.

A Plan Of Waite Township Containing 24,985 Acres, S. Titcom, John Gardner

Maine Bicentennial

Pen and ink hand-drawn map on paper mounted on linen. The map caption reads: A Plan of Waite Township Containing 24,985 Acres. No. 2. Range 2. S. Titcom's Survey in 1794. Lots drawn on the map include the last names of property holders as well as acreage of lots.

A Narrative Of The Extraordinary Sufferings Of Mr. Robert Forbes, His Wife, And Five Children During An Unfortunate Journey Through The Wilderness From Canada To Kennebeck River, In The Year 1784: In Which Three Of Their Children Were Starved To Death. Taken Partly From Their Own Mouths, And Partly From An Imperfect Journal; And Compiled At Their Request, Arthur Bradman

Maine Bicentennial

In March 1784, Robert Forbes made the fateful decision to relocate his pregnant wife and children--Mary, 7-years-old; Peggy, 5-years-old; Katharine, 3-years-old; and Robert, 15-months-old--from Canada to Norridgewalk, Maine. Receiving a promise the trip could be accomplished in 12 days time, Forbes employed the services of three Dutch guides who lead the family into the winter wilderness. Four months later, the last surviving family members arrived in Norridgewalk.

Township No. 23 East Division Is Bounded As Described In The Several Lines … For 23,040, Rufus Putnam, George R. Gardner

Maine Bicentennial

Property map with no scale, showing boundary lines, lot numbers, and acreage. Handwritten note inscription reads: “Township No. 23 East Division is Bounded as Described in the Several Lines and [illegible] for 23,040 Acres…Attest Rufus Putnam.” Map is dated in red pencil, “1786.” Pencil inscription questions: “East Div. of Centerville?”

Back of map is stamped in blue ink: George R. Gardner, LAWYER, Calais, Maine.

From Gardner Family Papers, 1830-1939. John Gardner (1801-1888), was the principal surveyor in Calais, Maine. His son, Benjamin E. Gardner (1869-1939), a civil engineer and land surveyor took over for his father and worked most frequently …