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PHOTO: A copy of the grant given to John Chandler from the “Kennebeck Proprieters” along with a translation. (Submitted photo)
WINTHROP — The Winthrop Historical Society will host Kennebec watershed expert Ron Kley at its next Zoom meeting 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12.
Kley will focus his presentation on the history of land ownership and subdivision in the Kennebec watershed, the transition of control from indigenous people to the British monarchy to the Plymouth Company and to the so-called “Kennebeck Proprietors,” their strategies and struggles in developing that wilderness empire and how Winthrop’s early history relates to that broad-brush picture.
Much of Kley’s research has been an outgrowth of his work since 2006 with the Vaughan Homestead in Hallowell and his study of the Vaughan and Hallowell families’ roles in early development of proprietary lands extending from the Kennebec Valley to the shores of Great Pond — known today as Lake Cobboseecontee.
He has worked in history and in museums for more than 50 years and on four continents. Kley came to Maine from New Hampshire by way of California and the Nevada Nuclear Test Site back in 1968 to work at Maine’s State Museum, settling into a house in East Winthrop that was called “old” in the 1830s and “ancient” in the 1890s. He still lives there and has acquainted himself with the history of that place and the people who have lived under its roof.
The Zoom link is networkmaine.zoom.us/j/81096636540, and the meeting ID is 810 9663 6540; for more informaiton, contact Nick at nperry@baileylibrary.org. A business meeting will follow the presentation.
