It has always been small, and has passed through many sore trials. It still remains missionary ground.-(Rev. Wm. G. Johnstone.)

KINGSTON.

In 1668, five of the Pettisquamscut purchasers passed the following order, viz: "That a tract of 300 acres of the best land, and in a convenient place, be laid out, and for ever set apart, as an encouragement, the income or improvement thereof, wholly for an orthodox person that shall be obtained to preach God's word to the inhabitants." This grant laid the foundation for the early introduction of Christian ordinances among the first settlers of this town.

From 1702 to 1710, Mr. Samuel Niles, at that time not ordained, a Congregationalist, preached in Kingston. He was afterwards settled in Braintree, Ms. It does not appear, however, that he ever had possession of the greater part of the grant.

In December, 1731, four gentlemen of Kingston wrote to Boston to obtain the services of Mr. Joseph Torrey. In April, 1732, a request was sent to have Mr. Torrey ordained. In May 17, 1732, a church was gathered at South Kingston, and the following persons entered into solemn covenant, viz: Joseph Torrey, William Mumford, George Douglas, Mary Wilson and Alice Gardner. On the same day Mr. Torrey was ordained by Rev. Samuel Niles of Braintree, Rev. John Webb and Rev. Thomas Prince of Boston, and Rev. James Searing of Newport. Up to October, 1768, Mr. Torrey had baptized 104 persons, of whom many were adults. Mr. T. was engaged for several years in a tedious lawsuit for the ministerial land, which, in 1752, was finally decided in his favor. The records of marriages kept by him extends to Jan. 28, 1783. The date of his death is not known.

His successor, Rev. Thomas Kendall, was installed Sept. 29, 1802, and dismissed Nov. 3, 1818. Mr. K. subsequently removed to Massachusetts, and afterwards to the State of New York.

In October, 1820, a society was incorporated by the name of "the Presbyterian Society in the Pettisquamscut Purchase." In October of the same year, seven professors of religion entered into covenant with each other, and put their names to a covenant and articles of faith preparatory to their being organized as a church. On the 17th of Jan., 1821, the meeting-house which had been erected by the society at Little Rest (now Kingston) was dedicated, and the church regularly organized. On the 19th of December of the same year, Rev. Oliver Brown, who had been for some time laboring among them, was installed their pastor. Mr. B. was a graduate of Harvard, and had previously officiated as chaplain of the Massachusetts State Prison at Charlestown. After his dismission from Kingston, which occurred in 1835, he removed to Bozrahville, Ct., where he is now laboring.

Rev. Charles P. Grosvenor commenced his labors here as stated supply in the autumn of 1835, and continued until the spring of 1838, when he removed to North Scituate, where he is now pastor. (See Scituate, North.)

Rev. Thomas Vernon, the present stated supply, commenced his labors here in the summer of 1838. Mr. V. was born in Newport, graduated at Brown University, studied divinity with Rev. Dr. Mason of New York, was ordained pastor at Rehoboth in 1826, and was dismissed from his charge there at his own request in April, 1837.—(Rev. Thomas Vernon.)

There are parts of two other churches in this State which have not been noticed in this historical sketch, for the reason that both the pastors who have the care of them live within the bounds of Massachusetts, and would more properly come in under the statistics of that State. These are the churches in Fall River and Pawtucket. The former under the pastoral care of Rev. Orin Fowler, and the latter under that of Rev. Constantine Blodgett. This circumstance gives us a claim to the influence and services of these esteemed brethren as active members of our State Consociation.

By JAMES DEANE HOPKINS, Esq. Counsellor at Law, Portland, Me.

.... unkn'n

unknown

ab. 1784 nk. Junk'n

FROM the first settlement of the old Province, afterwards District, and now STATE OF MAINE, until the year 1760, it formed only one county, viz. York;-for the very short period, when the terrritory granted to Sir Ferdinando Gorges had the name of New Somerset-shire, cannot come under notice here. There are records of Judicial Courts in Maine as ancient as 1636, and these suppose others, perhaps a year or two older, which are, probably, forever lost.

The compiler of the above table, having recently had occasion to examine these antiquities of York county, has ascertained, as he believes, the names of all the oldest lawyers, who practised in Maine, which the records disclose. He has therefore given them their chronological places in the table, with all the particulars concerning them, which he has been able to glean. This may save some labor to the gentleman who may furnish statistics of the York Bar, to which indeed these names, six in number, more properly belong. They are inserted here, because it may be found useful in preparing a table for the latter county.

In 1760 the legislature of Massachusetts, of which Maine then constituted a part, erected two new counties, thereby dividing Maine into the counties of York, Cumberland, and Lincoln. Since which period, no names, except of those members of the profession who have resided in Cumberland, are inserted. Many others have been admitted to the practice in this county, who have never resided in it;-such are considered as belonging to the counties where they are respectively located.

Much time and labor have been devoted to the object of rendering this table as perfect as possible ;-that it is entirely correct would be too much to hope. It is believed, however, that it will not be found to contain many errors of importance.

Offices of honor, and important trust, have been held, and ably sustained, by many members of the Cumberland Bar; but the table will not admit a designation of any, except those which are allied to the legal profession.

At the earnest request of the editors, the compiler has added a very few brief biographical notices of deceased members of the Cumberland Bar, from such materials as came immediately to hand. He regrets that they must be written in much baste, and much he fears that he shall not be able to do justice to the subject, even in his own opinion.

He

THOMAS GORGES, the first lawyer in Maine, to whom the community seem to have been much indebted for his efforts to enlighten the ignorance of early times, came from England, where he was educated, and was of the Inns of Court, in 1640. Tradition speaks very favorably of him. He returned to England in 1642 or 1643. He was the first mayor of the city of Gorgiana, formerly called Agamenticus, and afterwards York. NOAH EMERY, of Kittery, is the next lawyer mentioned in our ancient records. was the great grandfather of Hon. Nicholas Emery, now an Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine. Mr. Emery was a cooper, and followed that employment until excessive corpulency rendered him unable to pursue it. He entered upon the study of law, but under whose superintendence tradition has not informed us. Aged persons state that his legal acquirements were very respectable. His last will and testament, probably drawn up by himself, bears the stamp of professional ability, and shows him to have been a man of competent estate in his time. He died in 1762. The place of his birth has not been ascertained, but he is generally considered as having belonged to Kittery. It is supposed that he was between 60 and 70 years old at his death.

CALEB EMERY, supposed to be a cousin of the next preceding, also lived in Kittery, where probably he was born. He seems to have succeeded to the professional business of his relative. Under whom, or in what manner, he was qualified for the Bar, is not ascertained. The earliest notice of him in the York Records appears to be in 1761, when he was appointed Attorney for the King, at October Term of the Inferior Court. Mr. Emery was a man of plain manners, principally engaged in agricultural pursuits. He discouraged litigation among his neighbors, as much as he could, and sought to effect a compromise of their differences. He seems not to have been much employed as an advocate; that part of the professional duties of his time being probably performed by able speakers from abroad, who occasionally attended the courts. Mr. Emery gradually withdrew himself from the practice to devote his attention to the calm retirement of his favorite pursuit of agriculture.