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Gc 974.102 G17ga 1774729
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01091 7729
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THE CENTENNIAL OF GARDINER
AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXERCISES AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCOR- PORATION OF THE TOWN JUNE 25, 1903
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GARDINER, MAINE
1903
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/centennialofgard1903gard
1774729
DR. SYLVESTER GARDINER.
. 7.
1.
F 84133 .3
Gardiner, Me.
The centennial of Gardiner; an account of the exercises at the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 25, 1903. Gardiner, Me., 1903.
79 p. front., plates, ports. 23cm. "A brief sketch of Gardiner's early history," by J. S. Maxcy : p. 23-46.
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1. Gardiner, Me .- Centennial celebrations, etc. 2. Gardiner, Me .- Hist. I. Maxcy, Josiah Smith. n. Title.
5-1238
Library of Congress
F29.G3G3
CHELÝ CARD
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102987
F 84133,3
THE LAKESIDE PRESS Portland, Maine
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102987
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Doctor Sylvester Gardiner, .
PAGE Frontispiece
Saint Ann's Church, ·
·
10
General Henry Dearborn,
. 18
Old Post Office, .
. 20
Pownalboro Court House,
24
Robert Hallowell Gardiner, .
· 26
Allen Dwelling,
. 30
Soper Dwelling,
. 34
Oaklands,
. 36
Lyceum, .
· 38
Episcopal Church,
. 40
Bishop Burgess, .
· 44
George Evans, .
· 46
Hallowell House,
54
Methodist Church,
. 56
Congregationalist Church,
. 58
Esmond Dwelling,
. 64
Colburn Dwelling, ·
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72
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
Memorial Service,
9
Exercises, .
12
Flag Song, . .
· 15
Remarks of Mayor,
17
Remarks of Chairman,
. 20
Historical Address,
. 23
Poem,
47
Ode, .
· 53
" Parish Chaise," .
· 54
Act of Incorporation,
· 57
Last Half Century,
· 60
Steamboat Reminiscences,
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.
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69
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.
. · ·
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.
.
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·
Centennial of Gardiner.
0 N FEBRUARY 17, 1803, in accordance with an act approved by the legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gardiner, in the so-called District of Maine, was set off from ancient Pittston and incorpor- ated as a separate town. Sparse of population among its wooded hills, the settlement boasted no edifice of a public nature other than its single place of worship, a small and unpretentious Episcopal Church, known as St. Ann's ; and in this building, on Monday, March 21, of the same year, was held Gardiner's first town meeting.
SERVICES AT CHRIST CHURCH, SUNDAY, MARCHI 22, 1903.
Most appropriately, then, the hundredth anniversary of this event was commemorated on the afternoon of Sunday, March 22, 1903, in Christ Church, the successor of St. Ann's and neighbor to its site. Here the rector, the Rev. R. W. Plant, conducted a short service, and suitable music was rendered by the congregation with the assistance of the vested choir.
The Mayor with the other city officials was present, and the church was filled with Gardiner's representative men and women.
At the conclusion of the service able historical addresses by four of Gardiner's citizens were delivered to the appre- ciative audience.
In a few preliminary words the Rev. Mr. Plant emphasized the relation which has existed between religion and govern- ment from the time of the dedication of Solomon's temple
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CENTENNIAL OF GARDINER.
through the succeeding centuries and through the annals of the early New England States. With a passing reference to the customs and birthday of the town of Gardiner, one hun- dred years before, he introduced the first speaker, Melvin C. Wadsworth, whose subject was "Lessons of the Hour."
Mr. Wadsworth gave a series of vivid pictures of life in Gardiner as he had seen it; and then contrasted by-gone men and manners with those of the present day. Ilc told of the efficient service of the town during the War of the Rebellion, and closed his remarks upon the teachings of the past with the well-chosen quotation : - "The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Ex-Mayor Ladd next discussed " Gardiner as My Adopted Town." His reminiscences of the early life of this commu- nity and of the strong men of the time were, graphic. and vigorous. With regard to religious and moral influences, he gave his opinion that we had lost rather than gained. In proof of this, he noticed the loftier ethical standpoint of the past and the comparatively zealous attendance upon church services, especially among the men who built up the town.
Josiah S. Maxcy then spoke on "Gardiner as the Home of My Youth." Mr. Maxcy aptly described the pioneer set- tlers of the town, their customs, and their public meetings, with emphasis upon the responsibility of each of us for the history of his time. Among the sterling qualities of our forefathers, he praised especially the vigor with which they established and upheld those three great factors of progress- home, school, and church.
He made mention of several prominent men who had been of influence during the formative period of our city's life. He then reviewed the industrial advance of the citizens ; and concluded with an expression of hope for Gardiner's future and a reference to the fair memory of a childhood spent within its bounds.
The fourth and last address was by Henry Richards, on "The True Value of Progress." It gave, in a scholarly
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ST. ANN'S CHURCH. FROM AN OLD SKETCH. Where first town meeting was held.
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EXERCISES AT CHRIST CHURCII.
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review, a brief history of Gardiner, beginning with the arrival of the white man in this vicinity, some three hundred years ago. The trials of the early settlers, their bravery and perse- verance, the Indian outbreaks, the growth of the little town and its industries, its former prominence among its neighbors upon the Kennebec, its progress in later years, -all these were fitly chronicled by the speaker. In conclusion he drew a parallel between the development of our city and that of the New England States, with comments upon the differing influ- ences which produced the pioneer of the past and the citizen of to-day.
Exercises of June 25, 1903.
Not long after this service of commemoration, the City Government appropriated the sum of $200 to defray the expense of a general celebration, to be held on the afternoon and evening of Thursday, June 25, 1903. For arranging the necessary preliminaries the following committees were appointed : -
Chairman of Committees- Mayor E. L. Bussell.
Committee from City Government - C. O. Turner, E. P. Ladd, F. E. Strout, F. W. Harrington, E. L. Blake.
Committee on part of Citizens-Josiah S. Maxcy, A. W. McCausland, O. B. Clason, Henry Richards, Frank E. Boston.
To each of the absent sons and daughters of Gardiner a copy of the following invitation was sent.
1803.
1903.
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
Gardiner, Maine, May 14, 1903.
On June 25th occurs the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Gardiner as a town. A fitting observance of the day will be made by our citizens. In the afternoon, all the civic organizations, with citizens generally, will assemble on the Common, where a procession will be formed and march to Oaklands, the old historic estate of the Gardiner family.
On arriving at Oaklands, the Hon. R. H. Gardiner, its present proprie- tor, will receive and entertain the people. In the evening, a reunion of our people will be held in the Coliseum, where there will be appropriate exer- cises, consisting of orations, original poems, historical addresses, etc.
As a resident or former resident of Gardiner, bound to her by ties of friendship or bonds of affection, you are most cordially invited to be pres- ent and participate in the festivities of the occasion.
Very respectfully yours, O. B. CLASON, J. E. CUNNINGHAM, G. D. LIBBY, C. H. BEANE, F. IRVING BUSSELL, j
Committee on Invitations.
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PROGRAM OF CELEBRATION.
The program proposed for the celebration was a credit to the committee in charge, who, largely through the hospitality and public spirit of Mr. R. H. Gardiner, were able to promise the people such a gala day as the city has seldom seen. The details of this program are given below.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE INCORPORATION OF GARDINER, ON THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1903.
The Committee has received an invitation from Mr. R. H. Gardiner to visit him at Oaklands in the afternoon, and accordingly they have arranged the following program : -
AFTERNOON.
Parade will be formed at junction of Water and Brunswick Streets at 1.45 P. M. by Marshal Drake. The line of march will be down Water Street, up Vine and School, and down Dresden Avenue to Oaklands in the follow- ing order :
Police. Cobbossee Band. City Government. Marshal and Aids. Company A. Heath Post, G. A. R. Union Veterans Union. Sons of Veterans. Canton Evergreen, P. M. Uniform Rank, K. of P. Continental Hook and Ladder Company. Alert Hose Company. Eagle Hose Company. Cobbossee Steamer Company. Dirigo Lodge, A. O. U. W. Danforth Lodge, N. E. O. P. Samuel Grant Chapter, D. A. R. Heath Relief Corps. Degree of Honor. Citizens in Carriages.
Remain until 4.30 P. M. School children form flag at base of Mount Tom. During the flag exercises the spectators are requested to take posi- tion near the summit of Mount Tom on the south side, where they will have an unobstructed view of the proceedings. Old-time dances on the green. March back to Common and disperse.
It is understood that the mills and places of business will make this day a half holiday, and it is hoped every one in our city will avail himself of the opportunity for an outing.
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CENTENNIAL OF GARDINER.
EVENING AT COLISEUM.
Concert by Togus Band, Prof. Thieme, 26 pieces, 7.30 to 8.00 o'clock. At 8.00 o'clock.
Opening of meeting by Mayor Bussell.
Prayer by Rev. J. L. Quimby.
Address by Mayor and introduction of Chairman of the evening, Robert H. Gardiner.
Address of the Chairman of the evening.
Singing by children, "America."
Historical Oration, "Early History of Gardiner," by Josiah S. Maxcy. Music by band.
Pictures of Gardiner's past history.
Original Poem by Henry S. Webster.
Singing by school children, Ode written for the occasion by Mrs. Henry Richards.
General Oration, Hon. H. M. Heath.
Singing by school children, " Home, Sweet Home."
Prayer and Benediction, Father Reardon.
It is hoped that on this occasion everybody possible will decorate his home and see that Gardiner looks her best.
The morning of June 25th was ushered in by a joyous blast of whistles and peal of bells; but the sound of heavily falling rain caused the citizens to alter their plans for the day. Instead of the exercises which had been arranged for the afternoon at Oaklands, it was decided that the people should meet at the Coliseum to participate in a hastily arranged program.
THE AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
The parade was formed as at first intended, and after marching through a few of the principal streets reached the Coliseum at about three o'clock. In the meantime the building had been gradually filling with people, and school children, to the number of several hundreds, were there with their teachers.
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EXERCISES AT COLISEUM.
First on the program was a military drill by sixteen young ladies, led by Miss Carrie Stone as captain. The members of this company were Misses Edrie Beede, Ethel Blair, Sara Bolger, Pearl Cook, Dora Cooper, Kate Dowling, Mary Duncan, Maude Esmond, Anna Hunt, Julia Marr, Ella Percival, Flossie Percival, Hazel Potter, Grace Richardson, C'arrie Stone, Lottie Tasker, and Lena Tibbetts.
This was followed by a pretty fancy dance, the "Para- sol," by Misses Phoebe Beecher, Annie Doe, Josephine Haley, Barbara Maxcy, Geneva Smith, and Cassie Young, led by Miss Jennie Harvey. This dance was charming and graceful.
The last fancy dance on the program was the "Colonial," by thirteen young ladies in the attractive costume of "ye olden time." Those who took part were Misses Phæbe Beecher, Sara Bolger, Kate Clements, Helen Cooper, Jose- phine Haley, Edith Landers, Harriet Marr, Helen Maxcy, Barbara Maxcy, Rachel Moulton, Bettie Richards, Carrie Stone, and Cassie Young. This was a particularly pleasing dance, owing to the beauty of its figures and the grace of the participants.
The school children then sang the following " Flag Song," composed by Gertrude E. Heath and set to music by Kate Vannah : -
THE FLAG.
Fling out the flag, O children ! That all the world may see How, cradled deep in the heart of a child, The love of the flag may be ; The love of the flag with its crimson bars And its field of blue with the spangled stars ; The love of the flag with its crimson bars And its field of blue with the spangled stars.
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CENTENNIAL OF GARDINER.
Salute the flag, O children ! With grave and reverent hand,
For it means far more than the eye can see - Your home and your native land ; And men have died for its crimson bars And its field of blue with the spangled stars.
Revere the flag, my children, Wherever its folds you see, For cradled deep in the heart of a child The love of the flag may be ; The love of the flag with its crimson bars And its field of blue with the spangled stars.
Pray for the flag, my children, That never a traitor bold
Defame a bar or a spangled star, Or sully a silken fold ; Then pray for the flag with its crimson bars And its field of blue with the spangled stars.
The rest of the afternoon was spent by the people in old- time dances.
Refreshments intended for the proposed reception at Oaklands were served to those present through the generosity of Mr. Gardiner, and all expressed themselves pleased with the afternoon's entertainment.
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EVENING EXERCISES.
THE EVENING EXERCISES.
In the evening the Coliseum was filled to its utmost capac- ity ; and, with its tastefully trimmed balconies, its hundreds of bright school children, and its good-natured crowd of men and women, presented a most attractive scene.
The National Home Band, stationed on the south side of the building, discoursed eloquent music while the people were gathering.
At eight o'clock the Mayor and speakers entered the hall and took seats on the temporary stage at the north side of the building. Immediately in front and facing this stage were the school children of Gardiner, Randolph, and Farmingdale, some seven hundred in number, accompanied by their teachers. Upon the stage were Mayor Bussell, ex-Mayors Johnson, Clason, Berry, Walker, and Patten, Robert II. Gardiner, Josiah S. Maxcy, Henry S. Webster, Herbert M. Heath, the Rev. Langdon Quimby, the Rev. P. H. Reardon, F. E. Boston, G. D. Libby, Dr. F. E. Strout, and C. Everett Beane, who led the children in singing.
Mayor Bussell called the company to order and introduced the Rev. Langdon Quimby, pastor of the Congregationalist Church, the oldest clergyman in point of service in our city, who made an impressive prayer.
The Mayor then presented the Chairman of the evening, Robert Hallowell Gardiner, 3d, in the following words :
FELLOW-CITIZENS, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN : -
You have probably noticed on your program that there is to be an address by the Mayor. I wish to correct this and . apologize for the mistake, for my duty this evening consists only in introducing the Chairman, and the few words which I may say will come far short of being an address, and should not, by any means, be considered as such ; but, as the gentle- men who are to follow me are better prepared and will interest you more than I possibly can, in this case a poor beginning really means a good ending. I fully appreciate that it is an honor to take even so small a part in these exercises as I do
HDcarton
GENERAL, HENRY DEARBORN.
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MAYOR BUSSELL'S REMARKS.
Since we have assembled here this evening to assist in celebrating the one hundredth birthday of our beautiful and beloved city, let us enter into the spirit of the occasion and make this an event never to be forgotten.
Gardiner was particularly fortunate in having for its founder Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, a man of brains, wisdom, energy, and wealth,-a man who made many valuable gifts to the town and whose heirs and successors have always been greatly interested in the affairs of our city and the welfare of its citizens.
When in 1850 our town became a city, it was fitting that one of his descendants, Robert Hallowell Gardiner, should be selected as our first Mayor, which office he filled with ability and great credit to himself and honor to the city. To-night we have the pleasure of having with us a grandson of our first Mayor, Robert Hallowell Gardiner, whose historic old mansion and beautiful home at Oaklands we were to have had the pleasure of visiting this afternoon ; but, owing to the inclem- ency of the weather, which unfortunately we could not control, we were deprived of the pleasure of that visit and of the honor of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. I wish to thank them in behalf of our citizens for the kindly spirit they have shown and the great interest they have taken in this occasion, as well as for the generous manner in which they had provided our entertainment there and accorded us the privilege of inspecting that historic house which seems almost sacred to Gardiner citizens. To this we point with pride as one of our oldest landmarks, built, owned, and occupied by the Gardiner family, whose worthy representative lives there at the present time. Not alone because of his ability, but because of his good-fellowship and the esteem in which he is held by our citizens, I have the honor to invite him to act as Chairman of this meeting. He needs no introduction to the people of Gardiner, and it is a pleasure for me to present to you our esteemed fellow-townsman, Mr. R. H. Gardiner.
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CENTENNIAL OF GARDINER.
In accepting the chair Mr. Gardiner spoke as follows : -
MR. MAYOR :- It is with great pleasure and deep grati- tude that I accept from your hands the honor of presiding at this meeting ; and you, my friends and neighbors, who have gathered to hear the interesting addresses we are expecting, will pardon me, I am sure, if the few words with which I shall detain you are entirely personal, for I used no merely formal expression when I spoke of the pleasure and gratitude I feel at this honor. From the time when I was old enough to pass from the unstable fancies of a child to the fixed purpose of the boy who has set his face resolutely toward the goal he hopes to reach in manhood, I have always hoped that I might some day be your fellow-citizen, and have always cherished the ambition to be of some little service to you and to receive some honor at your hands. Your approval, your respect, your affection, have always seemed to me the honors chiefly to be desired, and while I am conscious how unworthy of them I am, in fact, as circumstances are, how little I could do to deserve them, even were I far wiser and better than I am, yet none the less I treasure the more eagerly every mark of your esteem ; and, if I may speak frankly, I do not think that I altogether delude myself when I feel that it is some pleasure to you to sce me in this chair to-night, as it is the greatest pleasure to me to be here.
It would be strange indeed if I did not feel so. Four generations of my forefathers have always had the welfare of this place closest to their hearts. To its founding, its develop- ment, to the establishment here of civilization, prosperity, education, and religion, they devoted all the talents God had given them ; and I should be afraid to meet them across the great river if I, too, did not feel for this place the affection which was the prevailing purpose of their lives.
I can rejoice, too, with my grandfather, that the plans of his grandfather have not been realized. It often happens that the dreams of an intensely practical and efficient man, such as Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, have the essentials of true poetry ;
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OLD POST OFFICE. Built 1763.
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REMARKS OF ROBERT H. GARDINER.
and he dreamed a noble dream which he did his utmost to carry into reality.
Here, when his keen eye saw the possibilities of indus- trial development, greater in his day than in ours, when the railroad, the mine, and the wheat field have fixed the indus- trial centres far from us, he planned to establish a great estate, where, for generation after generation, his descendants should reign supreme as lords of the manor, benevolent, indeed, but autocratic, cach a law unto himself. To each such descendant he meant to give, by the ownership of every foot of ground for miles about, the power to regulate the community as he chose, while, by not possessing the power of alienation, each such descendant should be bound as closely to the soil as his tenants. Dr. Gardiner hoped that his descendants, so bound, yet possessing such power, would follow the example he had striven to set them, and that through their efforts peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, might be established here for all generations, and so perpetuate his name by a monument more enduring than any triumph of the sculptor's art.
It was, indeed, a noble dream; yet, if I may compare small things with great, the time was close at hand, when, in the course of human events, it became necessary that it should pass away, and that every man who came to establish himself here should assume that separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle him. The great Declaration, against which Dr. Gardiner strove with all his force, made his petty kingdom, noble as he hoped that king- dom would be, forever impossible. We, who are descended from their loins, may surely be pardoned, if, while we call up for a moment the splendid plans of Dr. Gardiner, we take equal pride in his grandson, who, when yet a boy, saw, as his grandfather could not see, that there was a nobler future before him, and who therefore, by his first act on reaching manhood, surrendered the petty autocracy established for him, threw open his lands to sale, and encouraged their settlement by men
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CENTENNIAL OF GARDINER.
who should not be tenants and dependents, but cquals and friends. He saw that to be a free man in a free and independ- ent community was a higher honor than to be lord of any manor, however vast. He saw that the new doctrine of the equality of all men was but the old one of the obligation of every man to labor and to serve; and to the welfare of his place he devoted his time, his fortune, and his strength. Nor was it without a rich reward, for who could hope a finer eulogy than that the community in which he had lived to more than fourscore years should say that from youth to age he had been their leader, benefactor, and godly example?
We, his descendants, shine by his reflected light. The affection and respect your fathers felt for him induces you to think more highly of us than we deserve. God grant that we may walk worthily in our forefathers' steps, and that, as long as the city lasts and our name endures, you and we and our descendants to the remotest generation may be ever more closely united by the bonds of mutual respect and affection.
Mr. Gardiner then congratulated the children of the schools upon the formation of their Centennial Club, organized to assist in improving the appearance of the city.
At the close of Mr. Gardiner's remarks the school children sang " America," with true spirit and enthusiasm, to the accom- paniment of the Togus Band.
The Chairman then introduced Josiah Smith Maxcy, who delivered the following historical oration.
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HISTORICAL ADDRESS, JOSIAH S. MAXCY.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF GARDINER'S EARLY HISTORY.
Three centuries ago (1604) a bold explorer sailing along the coast of Maine discovered the mouth of our river and took possession of it in the name of his King; this was the first attempt of royalty to obtain a foothold upon the banks of the Kennebec River. On its shores, three years later, Popham planted his settlement and erected a fort which bears his name to this day. In 1625 the first trading with the Indians occurred, and four years later William Bradford and others of the Plymouth Colony were granted an immense tract in this part of the country, and, after vainly trying to settle the same and leasing it at times as low as ten pounds per year, taking their pay in moose and beaver, they sold it to four Boston merchants for £400. Further attempts were made to effect settlements, and in 1670 Alexander Brown made the first clear- ing within the present limits of Gardiner, built his log house upon the banks of the Kennebec nearly opposite Nahumkeag Island, and established a fishing settlement. Soon after, there was an uprising of the Indians ; Brown was murdered and all the settlements above Swan Island were destroyed. For half a century the country was abandoned to the Indians ; no further attempt was made to settle it until Fort Richmond was erected near the head of Swan Island, and yet so great was the dread of the Indians that in 1749 there were but two families above Merrymeeting Bay.
In that year a corporation, called "Proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase," but known as the " Plymouth Company," was formed, and among other lands it purchased a tract thirty- one miles wide, extending from Merrymeeting Bay to Nor- ridgewock, with the Kennebec River in the centre. This company was composed of some of the richest and ablest men from the neighborhood of Boston, the largest single owner
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