... Voted that the town-clerk give the committee an attested copy of the votes." This is the only record of any action by the town on the subject. Jones, however, was not nominated, notwithstanding the movements of the town in his favor. Ebenezer Jennison, though objected to, probably by Jones's friends, was commissioned. In the following lists, the dates of qualifications, which were on record in the offices of the Secretaries of the States of Massachusetts and Maine, in August, 1850, are subjoined. Whether the others were ever qualified or not, does not appear. The first list is from the records of Massachusetts: The commissions in the office of the Secretary of the State of Maine are recorded as follows: Dates of Commissions. Feb. Names. Of Qualification. Nathan Blake 16, 1818 Jan. 28, 1825, Nathaniel Robbins was commissioned to qualify civil officers. CORONER. Dec. 18, 1809. Ebenezer Alden. POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. The first post-office was established in 1810, through the influence of the Hon. Mark Langdon Hill, on condition that it should be without expense to the government. Accordingly, for many years, the postmasters, though they made quarterly returns to the General Post Office, were entitled to all the money received by them. At their own expense, they sent for the mail * Justices of the peace and quorum. † Error for Asa Messer. to Waldoborough or Warren. It was generally brought in saddle-bags on horseback, once or twice a week. William White was the first postmaster, and held the office till he removed to Belfast. He was succeeded by Ebenezer Alden, whose commission was dated Jan. 19, 1813. During the greater part of Mr. Alden's administration, the business was transacted by deputies, residing on the Common. He held the office for the long period of thirty-two years. When the rates of postage were reduced in 1845, he resigned, and was succeeded, Aug. 12, by Jesse Wentworth Payson. Mr. Payson was removed, and succeeded by Edward Hills, Esq., May 11, 1849. QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF POSTAGE, From which must be deducted Dead Letters, Papers, Pamphlets, &c., which average perhaps four per cent. A post-office was established at East Union, Feb. 28, 1849, and Joshua S. Greene appointed postmaster, He resigned Nov. 1, 1849, when he was succeeded by E. G. D. Beveridge, Esq. Feb. 12, 1851, Capt. Samuel Stone was appointed postmaster of the North Union Post Office, which was opened March 3, 1851, near Fossetts' Mills. Taxes. CHAPTER XXVIII. FINANCIAL HISTORY. - Early Apportionment of Taxes. - Controversy with Warren. - Petition to the Legislature in 1780.- Petition to the Legislature in 1783.- Plantation Taxes. — Taxes since the Incorporation. - Taxes paid in Produce. - Exemption of Philip Robbins, jun. Adams's Petition to the Legislature in 1794. State of the Finances in 1795. — Dollars and Cents. the Valuation. - Payment of Taxes. Table. TAXES. Taking EARLY APPORTIONMENT. There is a tradition, that, soon after the settlement of the plantation, it was thought advisable to levy a tax. The population was very small. The assessor of the taxes, who it seems was also collector, not being expert in figures or penmanship, verbally informed the tax-payers of the amount which he apportioned to each; and they readily paid him, without even the formality of taking receipts. If this be true, the golden age of tax-paying without grumbling has long since passed away. But it is to be feared that such a happy state of things never existed. CONTROVERSY WITH WARREN. The earliest authentic information which has been found is contained in a copied volume of the records of Warren. Capt. McIntyre was constable of Warren in 1779. Nov. 9, 1780, the inhabitants of that town voted, that "Capt. |