Local historian Jay Robbins will present "Wiscasset's Jonathan Williamson — Patriot or Loyalist?" in a talk at the Wiscasset Public Library on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.

Williamson, Wiscasset's fourth resident, settled on Birch Point in 1735. He was twice taken captive by Native Americans. Williamson later served as Captain of the local militia, and he became one of the three original selectmen upon Pownalborough's incorporation in 1760. Continuing on as selectman, he helped draft the town's letter of response to the Committee of Correspondence of Boston in March 1773.

But then, in March 1774, Williamson stepped down from his role in town government. It would be 11 years before he would again serve as a selectman. What accounts for this break in service? Robbins will lay out the evidence. The audience will than help answer the question, "Was Jonathan Williamson a patriot or a loyalist?"

Robbins, who lives in Richmond, is a former president of the Lincoln County Historical Association, of the Maine Genealogical Society, and of the Arnold Expedition Historical Society. He has over 40 years of experience making historical connections for clients.

Robbins' talk is the second in a series of four talks at the library on Wednesday evenings. The following Wednesday, Oct. 28, Wiscasset resident and member of the Wiscasset Shellfish Committee Richard Forrest will discuss clam harvesting in Maine, and on November 4 illustrator and artist Thomas Block will discuss his craft and his most recent book illustrations. Previously, journalist Phil Di Vece discussed his newest book, "More Wiscasset and Its Times — Other Stories of Maine's Prettiest Village" at a well attended event.

The Wiscasset library is located at 21 High Street in Wiscasset. For further information call the library at 207-882-7161. The talks are sponsored and organized by Friends of the Library.