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Rare Case of a Lost Child

Ruth Ames, born August 14, 1818, daughter of Daniel Ames, of Sangerville, 38 miles from Bangor, in this county (Penobscot)) on the 4th of June last, left home about 10 o’clock A. M.  in company with her mother to go to the house of David Doughty, a neighbor near half a mile distant.  It was a town road, and bordered a part of the way by woods.  The mother turned and left the child after seeing her half the way to Doughty’s. As the child did not return as expected, the mother went to Doughty’s to inquire after her; when she was informed little Ruth had not been there.  The father immediately came, and 12 or 15 persons without delay, commenced a thorough search in various directions.  Doughty’s son, 20 years old, upon reflection recollected he saw a child in the field, 60 or 70 rods from his father’s house, about 11 a.m., thought it his brother, and called to it and told it to go back to the house.  The one he saw must have been the lost child, as Doughty’s children had not been there after early in the morning. In vain was search made that day (Thursday) by increasing numbers.  Friday at daylight 60 or 70 commenced the hunt; the news spread, and the number increased to nearly 200 persons, and the search was unremittingly continued till Monday; but not the least intelligence of the child could be gained.  On Tuesday the search was recommenced by a great number, from 7 or 8 of the towns in that vicinity, in all not less than 300 persons, and lasted 2 days; after which they retired in despair, supposing her dead and perhaps the food of some wild animal. In the fore part of August about two months after the child was lost, a Mr. Haywood of Hallowell, 80 miles from Sangerville having heard the child described, wrote to its father, and informed him of a female child there, apparently between 8 and 4 years old, with Ruth’s features and complextion.  This child at Hallowell was found in the possession of a vagrant or straggler, who called his name Stephen Appleford, between 40 and 50 years of age, poorly clad and moneyless, said he belonged to England, appeared at times strange, or deranged, though many think all appearances of derangement are the effects of intemperance.  He says the child is his own “in flesh, in blood, and bone”; and that he had brought her in his arms and on his back from Lake Ontario; he called her Sally. Mr. Ames the father hastened to see the child, but she discovered no particular knowledge or regard for him. He examined the nails on the thumb and little finger of one hand, as those of his own child had been hurt, and had peculiar appearances.  Nothing remarkable was now discovered on this little girl’s nails; he examined it some more and went away, believing it not his lost daughter.  Indeed he thought the whole appearance of this child different from that of his own. On his return home, the subject being the perpetual and most interesting topic in that quarter, the select men of Sangerville, about the first of this month, September and and brought the child to town at a house about a mile from Mr. Ames’ where he and his wife and a crowd of others met to see and examine her.  The mother found scars on her hands and sides occasioned by burns, much like those of her lost daughter, and prevailing opinion was, she was her own, but many others doubted much and samples were constantly excited in the minds of both her husband and herself. 

The child was as sprightly, as forward to talk, and as large as children generally are at the same age.  One present asked her “is that your mamma” and the child said “That’s Mamma,” and appeared to be attached to her a good deal.  A circle was formed, its mother on one side, and Mr. Ames with the child in his arms on the other, and Appleford, who had followed, and still was claiming the child, was in the midst, the child immediately reached out its arms toward Mrs. Ames, called “mamma” and seemed inclined to go to her.

 The child was then, by Mr. Ames, carried to his own horse, where his own mother was, the men asked the little girl “who is that” “Grandmamma” was the child’s reply. She answers about equally quick whether called Ruth, Sally, Mary or Sarah.  No one ever saw Appleford in that quarter, except that a little girl 10 or12 years tells him she saw him no far from the day the child was lost.  Such is the state of the case: some are sure the child is the lost one, others continue to doubt, and Appleford insists on having it restored to him, as being his own. 

(The foregoing statement of facts is taken September 7, 1822, from the mouth of Mr. Ames, the father of the lost child.)

Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
Wednesday, October 9 1822 Page 2 -- Bangor, Sept 12
(
Contributed by Nancy Piper)



The brig H. N. Jenkins, of Bangor, Maine, was found in the Gulf Stream on the 1st of May, dismasted and waterlogged.  The captain, mate, and two men were lost, and only two men remained alive on board of her, who were rescued and taken into New London.
 The Illinois State Democrat - May 23, 1860 (contributed by: Candi H.)


Mrs. Roach, of Hampden, fell down stairs and broke an arm. Her husband got mad with the physician who was setting the limb and assaulted him. The physician got out a warrant for Roach's arrest and he was fined $25.
(Source: 5 Oct. 1878 paper: Pomeroy's Democrat. Submitted by Kim Torp)

Bangor
, Me., Oct. 12

Fire

The fire in the woods, which had ceased to rage for some weeks and from which we anticipated no further damage have, owing to the dry weather rekindled and are making great havoc in the timber lands.  In the northwesterly part of this county and in the county of Somerset, several houses, barns, &c., have been burnt.  We have heard the number said as high as forty, but have not been able to obtain correct information.

source:
(
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)  November 2, 1825. submitted by: Nancy Piper)


Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania August 30, 1826
Bangor, Me., Aug. 10.
Singular Cirucmstance
The thunder and lightning on Wednesday the 2d instant, killed seventeen geese for Mr. Dole of Orrington, while sitting in the road in front of the house, without moving a particle of earth or to appearance a spear of grass.
(submitted by: Nancy Piper)


An Act to prohibit ice fishing in Brewer Pond, sometimes called Hynes pond, situated in the town of Orrington and Holden, Penobscot and Bucksport, Hancock County.
Private and Special Laws Passed by the 72nd Legislature
source; Daily Kennebec Journal, March 25, 1905

John F. Cowing of Pittsfield and Mrs. A.B. Burrill of Brewer, are in town.  Called her by the serious illness of their brother, Waldo D. Cowing.
W.O. Fogg of Hull's Cove was the guest of his brother, F. W. Fogg and family the past week.
Alton Holsten has moved his family to Pittsfield where he has employment.
Mrs. Elizabeth Burrill has returned from Brewer where she spent the past week.
William Lord of Lowell was the guest of relatives in town recently.

[source: Daily Kennebec Journal, Arpil 17, 1907 edition]


John W. Springall, of Dexter, is quite an expert with the camera.  In his jewelry store he has a picture of that town made by three negatives, which is a fine piece of photography, and is taken from such a position that nearly every building in the village is clearly shown.

[source: Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, March 21, 1896 edition]



Ex-Sheriff Arthur L. Thayer, of Penobscot County, Maine in a lecture at the Columbia Baptist church in Bangor last week, said that it was impossible to enforce the "dry" laws, although Maine had been regarded as a prohibition State for a quarter of a century.  He declared that the public and press had refused to give him support and cited the instance of one physician prescribing twenty-four quarts of whiskey for one influenza patient.  Just another striking proof that prohibition doesn't prohibit.


[source: Kentucky Irish American, Louisville, Kentucky, February 15, 1919 edition]



Merritt C. Fernald
This is my 71st Birthday

Dr. Merrit C. Fernald, who was the first president of the University of Maine, was born in Penobscot County, Maine May 26, 1838.  He was graduated from Bowdoin college in 1861, and for two years pursued post-graduate studies at harvard.  he was principal of academies in Maine until 1868, when he became professor of mathematics and physics at the Maine State college, which later became the University of Maine.  Der. Fernald was acting president of the institution from 1863 to 1871, professor of mathematics and physics from 1871 to 1879, president from 1879 to 1893, and professor emeritus in the department of philosophy from 1893 until he retired a year ago.  His connection with the college and university covered a period of forty years, during which time he gained a national reputation for his activity in eduational work and was honored with membership in the leading learned and scientific societies of America.

[source: Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, Gila County AZ, May 26, 1919 edition]


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