(on the question of dividing the town,) and also the yeas and nays of the town at large. Of the meeting, there were 37 yeas and one nay. Then adjourned to the house, and voted that the Selectmen prepare a petition to the General Court, praying for said division." This was done, and the north part was incorporated by the name of Readfield, in March, 1791.

The subject of having a town incorporated so that what has long been called the "Forks of the Road" should be the center, began to be agitated as early as 1809. It was contemplated to take a part of Winthrop, Readfield, Augusta and Hallowell, to constitute this new town. On the 8th of Dec., that year, the town voted to remonstrate against the petition of Jesse Robinson and others, for having the easterly part of the town set off, 58 to 18. At a meeting of the town, Dec. 6, 1811, they "voted that the Selectmen draft a remonstrance against the prayer of the petition of William Richards and others for a division of the town, and forward it to the Legislature the present winter session."

DIVISION OF THE STATE.

"On a Thanksgiving day, Decemr. 15, 1785, by virtue of a circular letter received from Hallowell, the inhabitants of the town of Winthrop were warned to meet at the house of Squier Bishop, on Monday, the 19th day of this inst., at one o'clock, to try the minds of the town respecting these three easterly counties forming themselves into a separate State." The meeting was held accordingly, and they voted in favor of having York, Cumberland and Lincoln Counties become a State separate from Massachusetts. They appointed Jonathan Whit

ing a Delegate to attend a Convention on the subject, to be holden at Falmouth on the first Wednesday of Jan., 1786, and to pay the delegate for his attendance. What was done at this Convention is not known.

"Feb. 8, 1786, Voted to have paper money made for currency and to pay rates.'

March 13. This year Mr. Joshua Bean was chosen a Delegate to attend the Convention at Falmouth the first Wednesday in Sept. next. At this meeting of the town, they "took an exact account of those in favor and those against the Convention, and there were 80 in favor, and none against it." This Convention was, doubtless, called to deliberate on the subject of having the three Counties, which included the whole of Maine, made a separate State.

At a meeting of the town, May, 1794, Nathaniel Fairbanks was appointed a Delegate to attend a Convention to be holden at Portland next month.

April, 1795, on the question whether the town is in favor of having the Counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln formed into a separate State, agreeably to the address of the Portland Convention, there were 75 votes in favor, and 2 against a separation. 1797, on the question of a division of the State, the votes were 86 in favor, and 1 against.

But in the lapse of years, the views and feelings of the people in Winthrop underwent a great change. For when the question was taken at a meeting of the town in April, 1807, the vote in favor of becoming a separate State, was 36, and against it 86.

May, 1816, the votes for the separation were 77, and against it 81. In Sept., the same year, the votes were,

in favor, 76, against a separation, 100.

Andrew Wood and Joseph Metcalf were chosen delegates to the Convention on the division of the State.

May, 1819, the town voted that the Selectmen be instructed to petition the Legislature in favor of a separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts proper, The votes in favor of separation

The town sent the following pe

at their next session.
69, and 45 against it.
tition to the Legislature:

"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled, on the fourth Wednesday of May, 1819. The undersigned, inhabitants of the town of Winthrop, respectfully represent that, they view the separation of Maine from Massachusetts proper, as one of those events, which in the course of things, will ere long take place. Massachusetts is an anomaly in the Union -a State whose territory is disjoined and disconnected, by the intervening territory of another State. In a State constituted of territory thus situated, the interests of the different sections will often become different, and in some cases, actually at variance with each other. Such we believe has often been the case with Massachusetts and Maine. But Maine is now so far advanced in wealth and population, that she is well able to support a government for herself. The present quiet state of the public mind on subjects of a party nature is peculiarly favorable to the formation and establishment of a constitution and government founded on those principles, which have been sanctioned by the wisdom and experience of our most enlightened statesmen. Add to this the peculiar situation of

the District of Maine, bordering to the north and to the east upon two powerful foreign Provinces, and presenting to the south an extended seaboard, exposed, in time of war, to hostile invasion, while, in times of peace, a local government would most efficiently promote the public welfare of the inhabitants of Maine. In time of war, it would be desirable, even in a national point of view, that there should be a local government within the District, able and willing to command the resources of the country, to direct the energy of the inhabitants, and vigilantly to watch over the general safety. So far as we have been able to inform ourselves, the decided opinion among the people of Maine seems to be, that the time for the separation has now arrived; that a further continuance of our present political connection would only be productive of increasing jealousy and discontent; and instead of being mutually advantageous, would prove alike injurious and vexatious to both.

The undersigned, therefore, respectfully pray, that the Legislature would take the subject into their consideration, and give their assent to the separation, on such terms and conditions, as shall be honorable to Massachusetts, and just and equitable to Maine. And as in duty bound, will ever pray."

1819. Alexander Belcher and Daniel Campbell, were Delegates to the Convention for forming a Constitution for Maine.

AGAINST MONOPOLY.

The following extract from the records of the town will be viewed as a curiosity in legislation: "Agreeably to the powers given to us, the subscribers, Selectmen and

Committee of correspondence of the town of Winthrop, by an act, [probably of the General Court,] entitled an act to prevent monopoly and oppression, have thought fit to set the following prices on the following articles, which are to be the prices until the 1st day of March, 1778.

Farming labor, in the summer season, 3s. per day, and found as usual, and so in proportion at all other seasons

of the year.

Tradesmen and mechanics in usual proportion with farming labor.

Good merchantable wheat, at 6s 8d per bushel.

Good merchantable rye at 5s per bushel, after rye harvest, and 5s 4d till rye harvest.

Good Indian at 4s per bushel.

Good sheep's wool at 2s per lb.

Good pork, well fatted and of a good quality, fresh at 5d per lb., and salted at 8d per lb.

Good, well fatted grass fed beef at 3d per lb., and good

stall fed beef at 4d per lb.

Raw hides at 3d per lb.

Good calf skins at 6d per lb.

Good merchantable West India rum at 8d per gall.

Good merchantable New England rum at 5d per gall.

Good merchantable maple sugar at 8d per lb.

Good new milk cheese at 7d per lb., and other cheese in proportion.

Good butter at 8d per lb.

Good merchantable peas at 6s 8d per bushel.

Good merchantable table beans at 6s per bushel.