Pejepscot Proprietors Papers, 1635-1885; 1714-1849.

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Proprietors of the Township of Brunswick. Pejepscot Proprietors Papers, 1635-1885; 1714-1849.

Pejepscot Proprietors Papers, 1635-1885; 1714-1849.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/64684087

The Pejepscot Proprietors was a land company (similar in formation to the English joint stock companies) formed by eight merchants who purchased, in 1714, the land holdings of the estate of Richard Wharton in the Maine district of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The business of the Company, to distribute the land to its shareholders, to survey, subdivide, promote settlement, and sell land at a profit for the benefit of shareholders. Management of the Company was carried on primarily by Josiah Little, agent and major shareholder of the Proprietorship. The lack of precise boundaries of the Pejepscot lands led to challenges to the Pejepscot's title by competing land speculators and settlers, resulting in prolonged litigation against the Proprietorship and against Josiah Little, individually. Series I and II include, respectively, copies of deed and other documents establishing the chain of title into the Proprietors, and the pleadings, petitions, arbitrations and decisions in the cases against the Proprietorship and Josiah Little. Series III contains the business of the Company, including announcements and minutes of meetings, accounts and journals of travel to the Pejepscot lands. Series IV also contains journals and accounts, but it is not clear whether the journeys and expenditures were made on behalf of the Company, or of the Little family, to whom a large portion of the land had been distributed as shareholders. Series V is composed of surveys and plans showing portions of the Pejepscot lands, and the laying out of towns such as Lewiston, Maine. The three boxes of Series VI contain not only deeds documenting purchase and sale of land in Maine, which are separated by towns, but also mortgage instruments and notices of public sales due to foreclosure. The documents contained in Series VII through XI have little obvious connection with the Pejepscot Proprietors. Series VII contains the accounts of William and Andrew Rogers, merchants in Shapleigh, Maine, and Series VIII the papers, accounts and business dealings of the law firm of Hayes and Cogswell of South Berwick, Maine. Series XI, Miscellaneous Documents, contains some items of particular interest concerning the separation of Maine from Massachusetts and the settling of a boundary between New York and Massachusetts. Series XII is composed of letters to and from members of the Little family, particularly Josiah and his sons, Josiah Jr. and Edward. Many letters deal with the affairs of the Pejepscot Proprietors and also with those of the Bakerstown Proprietors, another Maine land company whose affairs and shareholders were closely connected with those of the Pejepscot Proprietors. Josiah Little was clerk and agent for the Bakerstown Proprietors as well as the Pejepscot Proprietors.

17 boxes, 1 oversize box. (8.25 linear feet).

Peabody Essex Museum