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Record Book of Samuel E. Smith, 1818 - 1850

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-93-7

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of one small leatherbound journal containing two sets of records. The front of the book contains a list of court actions for Lincoln County [Maine] Superior Judicial Court 1818 - 1820. The back of the book contains Smith's notes and records as Administrator of the Estate of Joseph E. Smith, 1837 - 1850.

Dates

  • Creation: 1818-1850

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Samuel Emerson Smith was born in Hollis, New Hampshire, on 12 March 1788, the seventh child of Manasseh Smith, originally of Leominster, Massachusetts, and Hannah Emerson of Hollis. He attended Groton Academy, and graduated from Harvard College in 1808. He studied law with Samuel Dana of Groton, Massachusetts, with his brothers Manasseh and Joseph, and was admitted to the bar in 1812.

Smith entered the practice of law in Wiscasset, Maine, and became interested in politics. He served as a representative to the Massachusetts General Court (1819) and in the Maine legislature (1820-1821). He was appointed chief justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Second District (1821) and, upon the reorganization of the court system, became an associate judge of its replacement court (1822-1830).

Smith was elected governor of Maine in 1832. He served three terms and oversaw the move of the state capitol from Portland to Augusta (1832). During his administration, issues relating to the controversy over the northeast boundary of the United States (principally the border between Maine and New Brunswick) came to a head. The issue was not settled until 1842, when the current boundary was agreed upon. Soon after leaving office, Smith was reappointed to the Court of Common Pleas (1835), from which he retired in 1837.

While governor, Smith was trustee ex-officio of Bowdoin (1831-1834). He married Louisa Sophia Fuller in 1832 and had nine sons. Smith died at Wiscasset, Maine, on March 3, 1860.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Legal volumes containing estate records and court actions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Law Library purchase from Peter L. Masi, Massachusetts, in July of 1993.

Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Arthur J. Morris Law Library
580 Massie Road
University of Virginia
Charlottesville Virginia 22903 United States