Sweltering weather didn’t stop a large crowd of history buffs, volunteers and local officials from enjoying the 250th Anniversary ceremony at Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden June 19.
The Lincoln County militia, led by Majors Samuel Goodwin and Samuel Denny, came out for the event in full 18th Century regalia. The militia marched through the crowd and stood at attention for the ceremony.
Denny, the original surveyor of Pownalborough (also known to some as John Reinhardt, President of the Lincoln County Historical Association), read “An Act for Erecting and Establishing Two New Counties in the Easterly Part of the County of York,” the legislation, passed on June 19, 1760, that created Lincoln County.
The act defined a somewhat different county than found on maps today. “[Lincoln] county shall be bounded in the following manner… on the east, by the province of Nova Scotia… on the north, by the utmost northern limits of this province, including all the islands to the eastward of the county of [Cumberland].”
Jay Robbins, LCHA Executive Director, gave the keynote address, speaking about the history of the site and the county. Of the bill read by Reinhardt, he said, “About 10 days before the document was approved, Governor Pownall was given the boot.”
Pownall, Robbins said, was “too much of a friend of the colonists” for British tastes. He would remain so until his death in 1805, Robbins said.
Robbins highlighted the colorful history of the courthouse. Between 1761 and 1794, Robbins said, judges in Pownalborough Courthouse heard at least 10 murder trials. Two resulted in execution by hanging. “People could watch from their boats on the river,” Robbins said.
“The court also dealt with women admitting to fornication,” Robbins said. Women found guilty of such a crime received a sentence of “ten stripes on the naked back,” he said. Their male counterparts were not legally responsible in such cases.
Traveling circuit judges would preside at Pownalborough Courthouse in June and September, Robbins said. During the judges’ stays, “hundreds of people” would camp on the grounds so as not to miss the drama.
Fueling, perhaps, the fornication and voyeurism, a tavern was open for business immediately below the courtroom. “All the colonial courthouses, almost without exception, were on the second floor above a tavern,” Robbins said.
Robbins commended the work of Association members and volunteers and invited attendees to join their ranks. This year, Robbins said, “On [the Courthouse] site alone, we’ve had 600 [volunteer] hours put in already.”
Robbins directed the audience’s attention to improvement projects on the courthouse grounds, including a period garden and the beginnings of construction for a new parking area. Nearby automobiles disturb the mood of reenactments, Robbins said, and the new parking area will help decrease that kind of intrusion.
A variety of officials spoke, including Rep. Les Fossel, Sen. Seth Goodall, Chairman of the Lincoln County Commissioners Lynn Gilley Orne, Cumberland County Commissioner Malory O. Shaughnessy and Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett.
Kennebec County Probate Judge Jim Mitchell drew laughter with his explanation of the differences between Lincoln County and his own.
“The migration moved through Wiscasset and up the river,” Mitchell said. On the bank of the Kennebec River, he said, “there was a sign that said, ‘this is Lincoln County,’ and everyone that could read stopped.”
Mitchell, the husband of gubernatorial candidate Libby Mitchell, said he noticed the other speakers were avoiding politics, but he couldn’t resist a plug. “My name is Mitchell and I’m running for first lady,” he said.
After the speeches, the militia led a “grand procession” of the officials into the Courthouse and fired their muskets on the courthouse lawn.
For more information about 250th Anniversary events, visit www.lincolncounty250.org. To learn more about the Lincoln County Historical Association, visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org or call 882-6817.
