These are the personal and business records of Elijah Smith. They include records of the Free Will Baptist Church of Saco, Maine, along with Smith’s own diaries and daybooks. Elijah Smith (1800-1886) was a deacon and founder of the Free Will Baptist Church of Saco.
Call Number: MS 004
Title: Elijah Smith papers.
Dates: 1827 — 1902 Inclusive
Extent: 2 Boxes (0.8 linear foot)
Creator: Smith, Elijah (1800-1886)
Abstract: The Elijah Smith papers include records of the Free Will Baptist Church of Saco, along with Smith’s own diaries and daybooks, which contain business and personal records.
Language: English
Administrative Information:
Accession Number: 2007.000
Barcode: 34005002402781
Reference Code: US MeBiMPL MS4
Repository: McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Maine, USA.
Citation: From MS4 Elijah Smith Papers, McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Maine.
Restrictions: None.
Copyrights: Any copyright questions should be directed to the library’s Director.
Processed By: Kathleen Doyle–2011/03/01. Revised 7/2014 RD, 6/2016 RD
Arrangement & Processing Notes: The collection is arranged in two boxes, divided mostly by form and then by date. See inventory for complete contents.
One folder of miscellaneous receipts was discovered in the Miscellaneous Collections, and reunited with the Smith collection in June 2016.
Collection Information:
Scope & Contents:
This collection includes personal papers and business records accumulated by Elijah Smith and his family of Saco, Maine. The accounts of the Storer Street Free Will Baptist Church, include the donations made to the church, pew reservations and subscriptions, and record books which indicate the expenses of the church (including pew taxes to the town). The personal papers contain diaries which have entries of Smith’s paid debts, correspondence, and when he went anywhere new or different, such as to Wells to go to a funeral home. The daybooks (datebooks) are accounts of Elija Smith’s personal and business expenses.
Biography/History:
Elijah Smith (1800-1886) was a deacon and founder of the Free Will Baptist Church located on Storer Street, Saco. He lived on Temple Street in Saco and worked as a machinist. He seems to have also acted as the church treasurer for some period. He was married to Hannah Gowen (1803-1881) and had three children: Florence, Roscoe, and Menzies.
Controlled Access Terms:
Smith, Elijah, 1800-1886.
Smith family.
Cutts Avenue Free Will Baptist Church (Saco, Me.)
Storer Street Meetinghouse (Saco, Me.)
Free Will Baptist Society at Saco Falls
Free Will Baptist Society of Saco and Biddeford
Biddeford (Me.) — Societies, etc.
Biddeford (Me.) — Churches (Baptist)
Saco (Me.) — Societies, etc.
Saco (Me.) — Churches (Baptist)
Related Materials:
Maine Historical Society: United Baptist Church, Records, 1826-1954. Collection 290.
Dyer Library (Saco): Baptist Church of Biddeford records. CHR24. [?]
Contents List/Inventory:
| Box | Folder/Contents | Year |
| 1 | Diary | 1861 |
| 1 | Diary | 1867 |
| 1 | Diary | 1873 |
| 1 | Bills/Receipts/Correspondence | 1828-1871 |
| 1 | Receipts from Misc Colls (returned 2016) | 1839-1854 |
| 1 | Accounts | 1829-1839 |
| 1 | Pew Subscriptions | 1839 |
| 1 | Account Notebooks | 1837-1841 |
| 1 | Accounts | 1840-1849 |
| 1 | Accounts | 1850-1859 |
| 1 | Accounts | 1860-1902 |
| 1 | Accounts, misc. | Undated |
| 2 | Daybook | 1827-1836 |
| 2 | Daybook | 1840-1873 |
| 2 | Daybook | 1844-1877 |
| 2 | Daybook | 1860-1861 |
| 2 | Diary | 1846-1849 |
| 2 | Diary | 1850-1859 |
| 2 | Diary | 1856 |
| 2 | Diary | 1857 |
