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Fwd:Expert Witness sought in Maine "Declaration" Case



Please respond to Jim Henderson (james.henderson@state.me.us) and not to me.

____________________Forward Header_____________________
Subject:    Expert Witness sought in Maine "Declaration" Case
Author: JAMES HENDERSON
Date:       3/24/2000 1:06 PM

    The Maine State Archives is currently disputing a claim to a copy of the
U.S. Declaration of Independence which is in the form of a broadside containing
a notice sent to the town of North Yarmouth, Maine.  That town was part of
Massachusetts in 1776.
    Similar copies were sent to all town-appointed and supported ministers in
Maine and Massachusetts by the Executive Council of Massachusetts.  The notice
required the ministers to read the Declaration to their congregations, then to
"deliver the said Declaration to the Clerk of their several Towns" who were "to
record the same in their respective Town or District Books, there to remain as a
perpetual memorial thereof."
    The copy in dispute was found in private possession in North Yarmouth.  The
Archives contends that this notice is an official public record that was and
still is owned by the Town.
As part of a legal proceeding, the Archives is seeking a person willing to serve
as an expert witnesses to testify in writing and/or orally regarding the
following: a) the relationship of town government to the "independent"
government of Massachusetts in 1776; b) the role of ministers, recruited and
supported by towns, as public officials; c) the responsibilities of Town Clerks
regarding the retention of records, including communications from the "state"
government of Massachusetts at the time; and d) policies and practices regarding
the retention of historic records in Maine and Massachusetts from the colonial
era to the present.

    If you, or someone you know, believe you have knowledge in this area, please
let me know by April 15th, or forward this request to others who may be
interested.

Thanks.  Jim Henderson,  Maine State Archivist   james.henderson@state.me.us

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