OF THE

PENOBSCOT TRIBE OF INDIANS,

1880.

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REPORT

APPROPRIATIONS

Under existing laws the transactions detailed in these
annual reports cover the time from the first day of December
of one year to the  thirtieth day of  November of the succeed-
ing  year,  both  days  inclusive.  This  year,  however, from 
December 1, 1879  to  February 25, 1880,  the  date of  my
entering  upon  the  duties  of  the  agency,  its  affairs were

                                               AGENTS REPORT.                              5

     The foregoing statement does not include the distribution
of shore-rents of 1879, under special act, chapter 267, laws 
of 1873.
     The receipts from this source are:
1880, March. State warrant.................................    $2,154.00 
                                               Contra.  
Paid members of tribe per schedule.......$2,060.00 
Balance to shore-rent fund, 1880..................94.00 
                                                          ________ $2,154.00

     The appropriation of $1,400 for the annual annuity was
found to be insufficient to meet the obligation of the State 
under the treaty, and upon representation of that fact to the 
Governor, authority was granted under Revised Statues, 
chapter 9, section 5, to exceed the appropriation to the extent 
shown in the foregoing statement, viz: $105.45.
     The legislature of 1879, with an intensity of purpose to 
reduce expenditures, place this appropriation at $1,400; 
it having been prior to that time $1,800.  But the report 
of the agent for that year shows an expenditure of $1,574.00, 
or an excess of $174.  The Legislature of 1880, evidently 
governed by the appropriations of the preceding year, 
granted the same amount.  I would respectfully suggest that 
this appropriation, being for the fulfilment of one of the 
treaty obligations, be such in amount, as will enable the agent 
to carry out its purposes in a spirit comporting with the 
character and dignity of the State.  The former generous 
appropriatious supplied the tribe under this provision of the 
treaty, with the best goods the market afforded; and to cast 
upon the agent the necessity of purchasing and distributing a 
lower grade of articles, not only subjects him to the imputa-
tion of unfair dealing, but creates dissatisfaction and distrust. 
The history of the agency shows, that with currency upon a 
normal basis, the expenditure for this purpose varies from 
$1,500 to $1,600 per year, according to the fluctuation of 
prices.  It is therefore submitted, that an appropriation 
should be adequate to cover any contingency as to market 
values.

                                    REPAIRS OF CHAPEL.
     The last Legislature appropriated the sum of fifty dollars
for the repair of the chapel. This amount was granted upon 
the presumption that one hundred and fifty dollars granted 
the year before was to be added thereto, making in all two 
hundred dollars.  It appears however, that the $150.00 of 
the preceding year was absorbed in the general over-expend-
itures of that year, leaving only the $50.00, the last appropri-
ation, as the fund for repairs.  Under these circumstances I 
have not deemed it advisable to draw that appropriation, and 
it remains in the State treasury, the amount being entirely 
insufficient for the needed repairs.
     For several years, windows and window frames of a mod-
ern type, have been on hand, to take the place of the very 
ancient and contracted ones now in the chapel.  The audito-
rium needing to be replastered, it was thought advisable as a 
matter of economy, that it should be done at the same time of 
the substitution of the windows.  It was accordingly esti-
mated that two hundred dollars would be needed for the 
required work, hence the appropriations referred to.  A 
somewhat changed condition of things having more recently 
arisen, a new estimate seems to be necessary with reference to 
the repairs of this chapel.  Circumstances seem to have com-
bined to concentrate the tribe more at Oldtown than ever be-
fore.  Those who for years have resided away, have returned 
and resumed their residence with the tribe.  So that, with 
the large influx of the hitherto nomadic element, the chapel 
is too contracted for the large number who appear at worship. 
The construction of a recess at the rear of the building, allow-
ing the altar to recede, will give space for a few more rows 
of pews, and make the church sufficiently commodious.
     An appropriation for this work, in connection with the
plastering and substitution of the windows, is the desire of 
those interested, and I doubt not that whatever will tend to 
the moral development of the tribe, the State will, as hereto-
fore, generously encourage.

                                            AGENTS REPORT                                     7                                        

                                   Agriculture

8                           PENOBSCOT INDIANS

failure to appropriate the sum required---one hundred dollars 
being the amount granted.  Doubtless this has arisen under 
a misapprehension of the requirements of law in this regard, 
and it is presumed the deficiency will be supplied upon atten-
tion being called thereto.

                                    Schools

                                           AGENTS REPORT                                   9

                            Sisters of Mercy

     The Community of Sisters of Mercy, established on Old-
Oldtown island in 1878, by the Bishop of the Catholic diocese 
of Maine, reference to which has been made in reports of my 
predecessors, and to members of which allusion has just 
been made in connection with schools, is an institution which 
I wish most earnestly to commend.
     These refined and accomplished women, having taken up their 
abode with the tribe on this island, are, with that utter self-
abnegation which characterizes the Order, assiduously devot-
ing themselves to the moral and intellectual advancement of 
this remnant of a race which, while living in the midst of our 
civilization, is not of it.
     With the evidence of their devotion to the welfare of this 
people daily accumulating, as would be expected, a great re
gard is reciprocally manifested for them ; and no prejudice 
has been able to survive their ministry of love.  It may be 
premature to express any comparative view of their labors, 
yet the opinion is ventured, that upon the home-life of the 
tribe their influence will not the least potent, as they daily
go from house to house, instructing the females in domes-
ticity, economy in expenditures, refinement of manners and 
personal purity.
     A dormitory, neat, commodious and attractive, has this
year been completed on Oldtown island on a lot adjacent 
to the church, for the residence of these Sisters, at a cost 
of about twelve hundred dollars,---this amount having been 
raised by voluntary subscriptions,---and members of the tribe, 
I am told, haveing given nearly two-thirds of the whole 
amount.
     To Rev. M.C. O'Brian, recently the spiritual adviser and 
counsellor of the tribe,---now pastor of St. Mary's church, 
Bangor,---to whose unremitting efforts for the welfare of the 
tribe I bear cheerful testimony, more than to any other 
person, is due the location of this institution among the

10                           PENOBSCOT INDIANS

                                  Census.

     The annual census of the tribe, as taken by the Superin-
tending School Committe of Oldtown, on the first Wednes-
day of January, 1880, shows their number to be four hundred
and eighteen ; the apparent reduction from the last enumer-
ation, (446), being occasioned by dropping from the roll 
quite a number who have for many years been absent and 
unheard of.

                                  Elections.

                               AGENTS REPORT                               11

                                 Shores.

     The shores of islands belonging to the tribe, leases of 
which expired this year, were re-let on the twentieth day of 
April for a term of two years from the first day of January, 
1880.
     They are as follows:
Shore on west side of Orson island, from the Cook 
    to first bridge of B. & P. R. R. , to Charles M. 
    White: annual rental.......................................$37.00
Shore on west side same island, from the bridge
    aforesaid to the south line of the public farm, to
    same ; annual rental.......................................$51.00
Shore of Orono Island ; to Daniel Lunt, annual
    rental............................................................$70.00
                                                                      _______
           Total.....................................................$158.00
Payable to Treasurer of State, May 1, annually.

                                     Fuel.

                                Land Titles.

12                         PENOBSCOT INDIANS.

                                       AGENTS REPORT.                              13

14                           PENOBSCOT INDIANS

                                      Health.

                                  Conclusion.

     The year as a whole has been one of more than usual pros-
perity to the tribe. The revivla of business has brought
them constant and remunerative employment. The basket
trade has been active, and all, except the persistently indo-
lent, have reaped substatial benefits. As has already been
stated, the tribe is now largely concentrated at Oldtown. It
is found by those who have been accoustomed to wander, that
at no place can they do better than upon the reservation ; and
the great desire to place their children in the school, and as
well I doubt not, to avail themselves of the ministrations of
the Sisters of Mercy, seems to have attracted them even from
the upper islands where they have hitherto been located.

                                           AGENTS REPORT                                15

                                [next page unnumbered]

                         STATE OF MAINE.

                                                                                     In Council, December 23, 1880.

                     The usual number of copies ordered to be printed.
                                               Attest:              S.J., CHADBOURNE, Secretary of State.

END OF DOCUMENT

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