Little family papers

Collection

Identifier: Coll. 67

Staff Only

Scope and Content note

Miscellaneous papers, principally deeds, maps, and plans reflective of the Little family’s extensive Maine land holdings; including deeds of Zeba Bliss of Attleborough and Thomas Brown of Newbury; miscellaneous papers of the Androscoggin Waterpower Company, the Agawam Manufacturing Co., and the Lewiston Bridge Company; and genealogical materials relating to the Little family.

Dates

Creation: 1677 - 1893

Creator

Little family (Compiler, Family)

Access

Unrestricted

Copyright

Access to collections at Maine Historical Society is not an authorization to publish. Rights and reproduction requests may be submitted in writing to the MHS Image Services Coordinator or Research & Administrative Librarian, subject to format.

Biographical note

Moses Little (1724–1798) was born on May 8, 1724, in Newbury, Massachusetts. Moses Little served in the Massachusetts militia and with his company marched to the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. After Lexington and Concord, Moses Little was promoted to colonel of the newly formed 12th Continental Regiment and led that regiment at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the New York Campaign and the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In 1777, Colonel Little retired from the Continental Army. Colonel Little was offered the command of the Penobscot Expedition in 1779 by the State of Massachusetts but turned it down. Colonel Little suffered a stroke in 1781 and lost his speech. In 1784, Littleton, New Hampshire, was named in Colonel Little's honor. He died on May 27, 1798.

Moses and his wife, Abigail, had several children, including Josiah. Josiah Little (1747-1830) of Newbury, Massachusetts, became an agent for the Pejepscot Company, also known as the Proprietors of the Township of Brunswick, in 1787. He had many investments in Maine lands, was a representative to the Massachusetts General Court and a supporter of Bowdoin College. Colonel Josiah Little and his wife, Sarah, had several children, including Edward (1773-1849).

Edward Little (1773-1849) was a graduate of Dartmouth College, and a lawyer and county attorney. Originally of Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1811 he moved to Portland, Me., and later to Auburn, Me. He was involved in the book trade and other industries in Maine. Edward and his wife Hannah Brown Little had several children, including Edward Toppen Little (1809-1867). Edward and his wife Lucy Jane Bliss Little had several children, including Dr. George Thomas Little (1857-1915).

Extent

1 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Provenance

Certificate of Gift should be in ledger Vol. 11, but that ledger is not available to reference (acc. no. 1718*).

Separated Materials

The following photographs have been removed to the picture files:

Lewiston Falls Academy; Edward Little residence (2 copies); "Conant's Mill" on the Little Androscoggin River; Gorge on the Little Androscoggin, site of an electric light company's dam (1887); photograph of an old drawing or painting of Lewiston Falls in 1836; Joseph Atkinson's family, Newbury, Vermont; Joseph Atkinson's residence, Newbury, Vermont; statue of Edward Little located in front of the Little Institute; homestead of Moses Little (1724-1815), located on Turkey Hill, Newbury, Massachusetts; unidentified church; unidentified school; falls at Lewiston-Auburn.

Tracings: Little, Moses, 1724-1798; Little, Josiah, 1747-1830; Little, Josiah, 1791-; Green, Nathanial, 1742-1786; Androscoggin Waterpower Company; Agawam Manufacturing Company; Brown, Thomas, 1746-1803; Bliss, Zeba, 1800?-; Lewiston Bridge Company; Little, Moses, 1767-1857; Little, Michael, 1771?-1830; Little, George Thomas, 1857-; Little, Edward Toppan, 1809-1867; Little Edward, 1773-1849; Little, Ebenezer, 1715?-1768; Little, Hannah, 1772-1828; Auburn, Maine; Lewiston Falls Academy; Pejebscot Claim; textile industry, Lewiston; Lewiston Bridge Company; Massachusetts – Deeds - Newburyport, 1809; Massachusetts – Deeds – Newbury – 1677-1813; Deeds – Aroostook County, Maine, 1841-1856; Deeds – Auburn, Maine, 1873-1887; Deeds – Danville, Maine, 1830-1857; Deeds – Greenville, Maine, 1814; Deeds – Gray, Maine, 1833; Deeds – Leeds, Maine, 1785-1834; Deeds – Lewiston, Maine, 1802-1834; Deeds – Lincoln, Maine, 1830; Deeds – Lisbon, Maine, 1822-1856; Deeds – Minot, Maine, 1826-1859; Deeds – New Gloucester, Maine, 1802-1846; Deeds – Oxford, Maine, 1857; Deeds – Turner, Maine, 1835; Deeds, Wayne, Maine, 1824; Deeds – Windham, Maine, 1815; Newbury, Massachusetts – History; Newbury, Massachusetts, Churches, Church of Christ; U.S., History, Revolution; Poland, Maine, maps and plans.

Processing note

The original source file was stamped "Do Not Change the Arrangement of these Manuscripts." The new file was stamped "Maintain Original Order." This finding aid (inventory) was copied from a typed copy in the source file.