Letter about Penobscots, Brunswick, 1844

Contributed by Maine Historical Society

Description

Josiah Pierce, a student at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, wrote a letter to his father, including a letter to his sister, Evelina, in Gorham, commenting on a group of Penobscot Indians who were camping in Brunswick.

The Indians had canoed to Boston and were on their way back to Old Town. Pierce noted it was the first time he had seen a canoe and he thought the birchbark canoes looked fragile for such a long journey.

He said the group of about 30 Indians had come into Maquoit Bay and carried their canoes to the Androscoggin River.

They stayed about a week and traded with residents of Bath, Brunswick and Topsham.

He noted that they left after one of their children died.

He also mentions the Millerites and the date passing when they had predicted the Millennium would arrive and the world would end. He commented on one report that the Millerites had "little printed tickets with blue ribbons round them as admissions to heaven."

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About This Item

  • Title: Letter about Penobscots, Brunswick, 1844
  • Creator: Josiah Pierce
  • Creation Date: 1844-10-16
  • Subject Date: 1844-10-16
  • Location: Brunswick, Cumberland County, ME
  • Media: Ink on paper
  • Local Code: Coll. 4210
  • Collection: Pierce family collection
  • Object Type: Text

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Maine Historical Society
485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
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