county to consult the public good respecting coming into some way of procuring provisions and ammunition, and other necessary stores, and that said Committee engage, in behalf of the town, any sum of money they may think proper for such purpose." The constables were directed "to pay into the hands of the Committee of Safety the money by them gathered for the Province tax.” Mar., 1776, chose Ichabod How, Joseph Stevens and Jonathan Whiting a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety. For officers in the Militia, Billy Foster, Captain, William Whittier, first Lieut., Josiah Hall, second Lieut., and Benjamin Fairbanks, Ensign." Who the other officers were, the record does not say. Then follows a copy of the Declaration of Independence, adopted by Congress, July 4, 1776. It was entered upon the records of the town by order of Congress, and a printed copy sent to the ministers of each parish of every denomination, "who were severally required to read the same to their respective congregations, as soon as divine service was ended in the afternoon, on the first Lord's day after they shall have received it." Ministers were not then as much afraid of having any connection with politics as some have been since.

The men of Winthrop seemed hearty in the cause of the Revolution. They were ready to adopt the closing sentiments of the Declaration, and "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

Jan. 15, 1777, Joseph Baker, Rainsford Smith and Amos Stevens were added to the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety. March 10, 1777, Lieut.

Abraham Wyman, Lieut. John Chandler, Mr. William Whittier, Mr. Joseph Brown and Josiah Hall were chosen a Committee of Safety, Correspondence and Inspection. April 21, 1777, Mr. Ichabod How was chosen Delegate to a County Convention to be holden at Wiscasset. "He was instructed to do all he can to hinder the Convention from sending any remonstrances to the Great and General Court, against their taxing this State; and if the Convention get a vote to send any, to join with the disaffected part of the Convention and remonstrate to the Court against the proceedings of the Convention; and if there is any other business of consequence, to act his judgment as he shall think proper for the good of the County and public."

HONORABLE CONFESSION.

"Winthrop, Jan. 29, 1777. Whereas the subscribers, by declaring ourselves Friends to the King of Britain and talking against the cause of the United States, have given cause of uneasiness to our neighbors and townsmen, for which we are heartily sorry, for being now sensible that we were much out of the way and humbly ask the forgiveness of our townsmen and neighbors, and hereby renounce the said King of Britain and all his laws as unjust, and promise to be good subjects of the States of America for the future. JAMES CRAIG,

Witness, ICHABOD HOW.

ROBERT WAUGH.

A true copy, Attest: JOSIAH HALL, T. Clerk.”

In the warrant for a town Meeting to be held May 30, 1777, the 2d article was "to consider the list the Selectmen

may lay before the town, of the names of persons whom they know or believe to be inimically disposed towards this State, or any other of the States of America, and to act thereon as the town shall see fit; and to choose a man to procure and lay the evidence that may be had before the Court, in order to support the charges against them." The town records contain no account of any action on this subject. But, May 6, 1783, their ardent patriotism was expressed by voting, "that the refugees and declared traitors to the United States of America, ought to be for ever excluded from returning among us.

June 19, 1780, "Mr. Jonathan Whiting was chosen a Delegate to represent the town at a County Convention to be held at Wiscasset, in order to apportion the abatement of the State tax on the several towns in said County of Lincoln." Here the town Clerk's ink became so pale that the record is illegible. The next proceeding was, "Voted to procure 74 lbs. powder, 250 lbs. of lead and 250 flints, and that Mr. Chandler, (who was town Treasurer,) borrow money and give the town's security for one to buy the above articles; and the Selectmen were authorized to procure them."

Feb. 2, 1781, the town "voted to join Vassalborough and other neighboring towns in petitioning the General Court for some abatement of taxes laid on us; and that Jonathan Whiting, Benjamin Brainerd and Josiah French be a committee to meet the committees of the neighboring towns and to agree with them on the proper measures to effect the desired purpose."

The records contain a warrant for a town meeting, May 7, 1781, but no account of what was done. August

17, 1781, they "voted to procure 2856 lbs. of beef, agreeably to a resolve of the General Court, and that John Sleeper be employed to procure it." They also "voted to procure 12 shirts, 12 pairs of stockings and 12 pairs of shocs; the price of the shirts 12 shillings, the stockings 8 shillings and shoes 9 shillings." They appropriated £100 silver money to procure the beef and clothing. They agreed to have this sum assessed forthwith, and to have it paid into the Treasury "by the middle of Octo. next." For services done the town, they allowed William Pullen 630 paper dollars, James Work 1365 paper dollars, John Sleeper £1 2s. 8d. lawful money, Samuel Comings one bushel of rye, and to Jonathan Whiting £2 8s. lawful money."

Sept., 1837, they "Voted, that it is the sense of this town that Texas ought not to be annexed to this Union; and that the Selectmen forward a copy of this vote to our Representatives in Congress." Upon a resolve of the Legislature proposing to amend the Constitution relating to bail, there were 23 yeas and 83 nays.

At a mecting of the town, Sept., 1808, "Dudley Todd, Esq., Dea. Joseph Metcalf, Nathaniel Fairbanks, Esq., Samuel Wood, Esq., and Major Elijah Wood, were apppointed to draft a petition to the President of the United States to suspend the operation of the Embargo laws, in part or in whole, as shall be most conducive to the well being of said States in their present distressed and embarrassed condition." The committee retired, prepared a petition, which the town accepted, and instructed the Selectmen to transmit it to the President immediately. They also instructed "their Representa

tive to the General Court to use his utmost endeavors to have such Electors of President and Vice President chosen as shall embrace those ideas that the good people of this Commonwealth entertained under the Administration of Washington."

POLITICS.

Something of the politics of the town may be understood from the votes given for the public officers. I find no record of votes for State or County officers till April, 1783, when his Excellency John Hancock received 15 votes and his Excellency James Bowdoin 1 vote for Governor. His Honor Artemas Ward had 15 votes for Lieut. Governor. William Howard had 23 votes for Senator.

1784, James Bowdoin, Esq., had 12 votes and John Hancock, Esq., 7 votes for Governor. Thomas Cushing had 15 votes and Artemas Ward 1 vote for Lieutenant Governor.

1785, Hon. Thomas Cushing had 11 votes and Hon. James Bowdoin 12 votes for Governor. Hon. Tristam Dalton had 15 votes and Hon. Thomas Cushing 9 votes for Lieut. Governor. Hon. William Lithgow had 23 votes for Senator.

1786, Hon. Thomas Cushing had 30 yotes and Artemas Ward, Esq., 4 votes for Governor. Charles Cushing, Esq., had 2 votes and Artemas Ward 32 votes for Lieut. Governor.

1787, John Hancock had 43 votes for Governor. Thomas Cushing had 21 votes for Lieut. Governor.

1788, John Hancock had 40 votes and Elbridge Gerry