Seeing history, up close

Documents from 1600 and 1700s wow RSU 57 adult ed class at York County Court House

ALFRED, Maine –  The ink is  brown, the paper, yellowed and fragile but professionally protected, and the handwriting is legible.

The words outline a legal transaction – a deed for the sale of a plot of land in Parsonsfield by George Scagel to John Blasdel, physician, for the sum of 40 pounds, 10 shillings, on June 4,  1793.

It is not the oldest recorded document at the York County Registry of Deeds, housed at the York County Court House in Alfred, the county seat. Volume 1 of the deeds books shows a transaction on March 15, 1647 – just 11 years after York County, then the province of Maine and part of Massachusetts, and at the time a British colony, was formed.

While people drive by the 1806 York County Court House in Alfred every day, many may have never been inside, and fewer still may know how much history lives in this county-owned building.

On Sept. 23, 28 people gathered for a tour of several areas of the courthouse through a one night RSU 57 Adult and Community Education event. Folks saw the Commissioners room, the Registry of Deeds, the Archive room  and the stately second floor courtroom, where trials on felony cases were heard until mid-2023, when the state court moved to new headquarters in Biddeford.

“I lived within sight of here my entire childhood,” said Rebecca Hanson of York County Court House. She’d been in the building before, in the courtroom for  jury duty. When a friend suggested they attend the class, her answer came fast: “Absolutely,” Hanson said.

The event came to fruition after RSU 57 Adult and Community Education Director Adam Goad read a piece on some aspects of the history of the building and its contents written by York County Records Management Specialist Andrew O’Neill. Goad paid a visit, spoke with O’Neill, had a look at some historical documents, and  broached the subject of a free, one evening, adult education course for the district, which is made up of six rural towns.

“My most memorable takeaway was seeing a deed of sale between an individual and a daughter of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence – there was even some wax still on it from the seal,” said Goad of documents he saw during his initial visit. “It was clear there was a lot of history here…seeing actual historic places or artifacts makes the history of a place come alive, and gives me a real sense of connection to the past and the people who lived here before us.” 

Deanna Christie works at the new state court building, York Judicial Center in Biddeford, but drives by the old county courthouse regularly.

“This building is so beautiful from the outside, I wanted to see the inside, so I came to have a look,” she said at the event, and was  glad the formal courtroom – with window headers engraved with words like “justice, equity, candor, sobriety, honor and truth,” among others, was part of the tour.

Richard and Ruth Sevigny also attended. Richard had been to the courthouse years ago, doing research on their property, he said. The couple decided to join the tour because they are interested in local history.

Melissa Connor had been in the courthouse several times in conjunction with her volunteer work with York County Co-operative Extension, which is located in the building, and through her work with Acton Fair. She came, she said, to learn more about the lovely old building  - and particularly the Registry of Deeds.

How popular was the program? Registration for the class opened on Sept. 3 and closed five days later with a full contingent of attendees, and a few more on the night.

On the first stop in the tour, O’Neill held up a tri folded commissioners document dating back many years, and explained that papers folded for decades must be opened carefully and arranged flat for preservation. In general, the commissioners documents show the business of the day, like discussion on a road opening, for example, and there were references in one document to paying bills for repairs to York County Jail.

The archive room is temperature and humidity controlled, to aid in preservation. The documents on display for the class were all encased in protective coverings – allowing an up close look at local history.

As well as historic and current legally recorded decisions and transactions, the courthouse contains a treasure trove of original documents – from the aforesaid records of early commissioners’ meetings and decisions, to copies of deeds copied from the original by a scribe, and much more. Until recent years when the county began examining, sorting and archiving its documents for preservation purposes, the documents have survived in file drawers and in some cases, boxes. Due to the diligence of county employees working in the building, these and all other documents came through the 1934 fire that burned the center portion of the courthouse unscathed, because they took care daily to secure them in a protected wing of the building.

With the support of York County Commissioners, the county government has been in the process of preserving its oldest records for the last several years, with the goal of eventually making them accessible online to the public. The tour for the school district’s adult education class furthered the county’s desire to make people aware of York County’s history,  shows continuity of the government that began in 1636, and gives folks a glimpse of the county's rich history, right in their backyard.

And here’s another tidbit: In the early days, York County, formed in 1636,  was not only the first county in the province of Maine – it was the only county until 1760, when Cumberland and Lincoln counties were established.

“We wanted to highlight Andrew's work on the County Commissioners' records from the 1700's to date to preserve and someday make more easily accessible to the public,” said York County Registrar of Deeds Nancy Hammond of the adult education class. “Andrew was able to select a few of the items he has already preserved that highlight the significance of these historical documents. Being able to show the class these items in their previously stored condition and the end product of the preservation work was one important aspect of the tour.”

In her presentation in the deeds registry, Hammond displayed a document recorded by Paul Revere, and another showing the legal mark, featuring wildlife, made by a member of  one of Maine’s indigenous tribes in connection with a land transaction.

“Being able to speak with residents of the county and to give them a glimpse of one or two of the services provided by York County Government hopefully prompts them to explore what their county government does on their behalf,” said Hammond.

When asked what she enjoyed the most about the tour, attendee Janet Vincent replied “Everything. It’s very interesting.”

Pic 1(top-left): York County Records Management Specialist Andrew O’Neill displays an original  tri folded account of  business conducted by York County Commissioners in the early days during a tour of York County Court House in Alfred by RSU 57 Adult and Community Education students Sept. 23.

Pic 2 (top-right): Students who attended an RSU 57 adult education class at York County Court House  in Alfred on Sept. 23 examine an original map showing part of a local community. The county is in the process of preserving documents that date back to the 1600s, with the aim of eventually having them accessible to the public, online.

Pic 3 (bottom-left): York County Registrar of Deeds Nancy Hammond speaks  of some of the oldest deeds recorded in York County – Maine’s first county, founded in 1636 – to members of an adult education class that toured York County Court House in Alfred Sept. 23.

Pic 4 (bottom-right): Rebecca Hanson was among 28 people who attended a tour and got to see old documents  - like this deed – at York County Court House in Alfred last week through RSU 57 Adult and Community Education. The county-owned building houses the registries of deeds and probate and is home to York County Co-operative Extension Agency, among other entities.