FOREST commissioner's REPORT. 147 



grant made by the Council of Plymouth to John Dye et als of a 

 tract of land between Cape Porpoise and the Kennebec, extend- 

 ing back forty miles. The existence of this grant caused a great 

 amount of litigation and disturbance subsequently. Gorges sold 

 a few of the islands in Portland. 



Cleeve went to England in 1647, and by his influence Sir 

 Alexander Rigby purchased the Dye Patent. Cleeve was ap- 

 pointed Rigby's agent, and he renounced his former allegiance 

 to Gorges, and as agent for Rigby commenced selling lands and 

 making grants of territory claimed by Gorges. This brought on 

 a controversy between the Gorges government and Cleeve acting 

 under the Lygonia Claim, which resulted in Massachusetts tak- 

 ing possession of the territory in 1653, and its purchase from 

 the grandson of Gorges by the Governor and Colony of Massa- 

 chusetts Bay in 1678. By that purchase Massachusetts received 

 a good title of all the territory now within the limits of Port- 

 land, except what had previously been conveyed by Gorges and 

 Cleeve on the mainland, and the two islands Hog and Peaks. 



While the territory of ancient Falmouth was in dispute be- 

 tween the rival claims of Gorges and Rigby, some of the islands 

 were taken possession of by squatters, after Massachusetts 

 obtained possession of Falmouth under the purchase from 

 Gorges' heirs. She did not recognize these squatter titles, but 

 all the parties who owned them were obliged to obtain the title 

 from Massachusetts. 



After the purchase of Maine, Thomas Danforth was ap- 

 pointed President of Maine. He came to Falmouth in 1680, 

 and made grants to various persons, respecting all grants made 

 under Gorges and Cleeve. He granted several islands, which 

 with those granted by Gorges and Cleeve, took up about all of 

 the principal islands within the limits of Portland. This action 

 showed that at that time Massachusetts claimed to own the 

 islands as a portion of the estate purchased of the Gorges heirs. 



After Massachusetts acquired a right to the soil of Maine by 

 purchase, some fear seemed to have been entertained by land 

 holders as to the security of their titles. In 1681 the General 

 Court empowered the President of the Province to make legal 

 confirmation to the inhabitants of their properties in the land 

 under his hand and seal according to the directions of their 

 charters. 



