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Creating Water Street in Kennebunk, Maine -- 1828

Interesting hand drawn map of a portion of the town of Kennebunk, Maine, showing a plan for the creation of a road (Water Street) along a section along the Mousam River, drawn by Daniel Sewall in 1828.

The map is oriented with East at the top and shows a proposed road from the Post Road (York Street) to a landing about 0.3 miles to the south on the Mousam River. The location of the Old Grist Mill is shown, pre-dating the one built by Captain Thompson in 1869.

Daniel Sewall (1755-1842) was born in York County. In his early years he received sufficient training to become a local surveyor. Sewall served during the American Revolution and in 1783 was appointed Register of Probate for York County by Governor Hancock, a position he held until 1820. Sewall also engaged in legal practice and was chosen Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in 1791, after serving as Assistant Clerk for eleven years. His tenure as Clerk of the Courts extended, with a brief interruption in 1811, until 1820, and he additionally served as Recording Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court.  In 1792, Sewall was appointed Postmaster at York, holding the position until his death. 

The text notes:

In compliance with a request of a number of inhabitants and freeholders in the town of Kennebunk, and by the consent of the owners of the Factory lands, we the selectmen of said Kennebunk have laid out a town Road through said Factory lands, as follows, beginning on the Southerly side of the Post Road, six rods & five links from the Northeast corner of the grist Mill, thence running South twelve degrees East eighty four rods, then South twenty two degrees East fifteen rods, then South six degrees was sixty rods to a stake standing one rod east of the old pine stump, which is in the bank of Mousom [Mousam] river. The road we have located on the Westerly side of this line, four rods wide in every part, agreeably to the above Plan.  No damages an to be paid.
Kennebunk, 22d March, 1828.  Daniel Sewall surv.r