6o 



FOREST commissione;r s re;port. 



to large proprietors afforded a very convenient argument in the 

 hands of one party, to array the multitude of Maine against old 

 Massachusetts and against all non-resident proprietors. When 

 the question of separation came up the same argument was 

 renewed and pressed with great force, and it has long been 

 maintained by the large majority of the people of Maine, and 

 its government are wrought by the belief, which is supported 

 by their pride, their prejudice as well as by their judgment, 

 (they suppose) that it is morally as well as politically wrong to 

 sell land in any quantity larger than for the immediate improve- 

 ment by one man, and that it is morally and politically right to 

 compel every person who is so fortunate as to own a township, 

 to sell it at any rate and at the lowest prices, whether he can 

 afford it or not. And the sin of owning, or being agent for a 

 township of land, is one not to be forgiven, (with many). This 

 manifests itself in our elections, our laws, and our trials by 

 jury. I say this in general, though there are instances in which 

 it does not apply." 



LAND alie;nate;d by massachusi:tts. 

 The following tables, compiled by Mr. Greenleaf, give a state- 

 ment of all the lands which had been alienated in Maine prior 

 to 1820: 



Towns. 



Biddeford . . 



Eliot 



Kittery . . . . 

 Kennebunk. 



Saco 



Wells 



York 



Kennebunkport . 



Alfred 



Berwick 



Buxton 



Cornish 



Mollis 



Lebanon 



Lyman 



Limerick 



Limington 



Newfieid 



Parsonsfield. . . . 



Shapleigh 



Sanford 



South Berwick . 

 Waterborough . . 



YORK COUNTY. 



Acres. Obiginal Titles. 



15 ,608 

 11 ,239 

 11,160 

 17,414 !• Ancient Grants from Crown and Lords Pro- 



19 ,720 

 28 ,379 

 31 ,788 J 



pnetors. 



135 ,308 



18 ,953 Crown Proprietors and Indian Grants. 



12 ,058 



25 ,769 

 22,617 

 10,378 



26 ,260 

 23 ,558 

 21 ,630 



12 ,683 \ Chiefly, or wholly, Indian deeds, adjudged valid. 

 23 ,375 

 14 ,427 

 29 ,502 

 43,212 

 20,015 



9 ,655 

 26 ,358 J 



Total of the county. 



321 ,587 

 475 ,848 



