Penobscot Representatives
Names are spelled as they appeared in the legislative record, where they were often misspelled. Assistance correcting these errors was provided by Carol Binette, Penobscot Nation. 1823 Francis Loran [Lolar] and John Neptune
1824 John Attean, John Neptune, and Francis Loran [Lolar]
1831 John Neptune and Joseph Soc Basin [Sockbasin]
1835 John Neptene [Neptune], Jo [Joseph] Sockbasin, Peol Malley [Molly]
1836 Joe [Joseph] Sockbasin, Joe [Joseph] Porus [aka Polis], John Peol Susop [Susep], Peol Tomer
1837 John Neptune, Peol Tomer, Nuil Luey [Newell Lewey]
1842 Joe [Joseph] Porus [aka Polis], Joe Socabeson [Joseph Sockbasin], Peol Newell
1844 Peol Porus [aka Polis], Joseph Socabasin [Sockbasin], John Neptune
1850 Attean Lola [Lolar], Joe [Joseph] Sockbasin, Joseph Porus [aka Polis]
1851 Attean Lolah [Lolar], Representative
1853 Peol [Peal] Sockis
1854 Peol [Peol] Sockis, Representative, Attean Orson, Special Agent of Tribe
1855 Peol [Peal] Sockis, Delegate
1856 Joseph Socabasin, Delegate
1857 Socabeson Swasson [Sockabesin Swassian] attending legislature; Peol [Peal] Sockis, Delegate
1858 Peol [Peal] Sockis, Representative
1859 Joseph Nicolar, Representative
1860 Joseph Nicolar, Representative
1861 Peol [Peal] Sockis, Representative
1862 Joseph Nichola [Nicolar], Representative
1863 Peol [Peal] Sockis, Representative, Joseph Sockbasin serves Commissioner of Indian Affairs
1864 Peol [Peal] Sockis, Representative
1865 Joseph Nicolar, Representative
1866 Joseph Lewis Orono, Representative; Peol [Peal] Sockis, before legislature for tribe
1867 Peol Mitchell Francis
1868 Sockabasin [Sockabesin] Swassian, Delegate
1869 Saul Neptune , before legislature
1870 Joseph N. Soccalexis [Joseph Mary Sockalexis], before the legislature
1871 Newel [Newell] Neptune, Representative
1872 Sockbesin Swassin [Sockabesin Swassian], Representative
1873 Joseph Necolar [Nicolar], Representative
1874 Joesph N. Socklexis [Joseph Mary Sockalexis], Delegate
1875 Mitchell Paul Susus [Peal Mitchell Susep], Delegate
1876 Joseph Francis, Representative
1877 Sebbatis [Sabattis] Dana, Representative
1878 Joseph N. Soccalexis [Joseph Mary Sockalexis], Representative
1879 Sabbatus [Sabbatis] Dana, Representative
1880 Lola Cola [Coley; actual surname is Nicola], Representative
1881 Joseph Nicolar, Representative
Two-year terms begin
1882 Lola Cola [Coley; actual surname is Nicola], Representative
1885 Joseph Nicolar, Representative
1887 Lola Cola [Coley; actual surname is Nicola], Representative
1889 Joseph Nicolar, Representative
1891 Lola Cola [Coley; actual surname is Nicola], Representative
1893 Joseph Nicolar, Representative
1895 Lola Cola [Coley; actual surname is Nicola], Representative
1897 Horace Nicola, Representative
1899 Sabatis Shay, Representative
1901 Thomas Dana, Representative
1903 Joseph Mitchell, Jr.
1905 Peter N. Nelson [Peter Mitchell Nelson]
1907 Nicholas Sockabasin [Nicola Sockbeson]
1909 Charles Daylight Mitchell
1911 Lola Cola [Coley; actual surname is Nicola]
1913 Peter Ranco
1915 Leo Shay (first time election)
1917 Peter W. Ranco (Old Party)
1919 Mitchell M. Nicolar
1921 Horace Nelson. First mention by speaker, who said, “The chair extends the welcome of the house of representatives to the representative of the Penobscot Tribe of Indians who is now seated in your body.”
1923 Joseph P. Lewis (“Mr. Lewis is now in his seat with us in the rear of the hall.” Applause.)
1925 Newall Gabriel, escorted to chair amid applause. Members rising.
1927 Lawrence Mitchell
1929 John Nelson, house messenger escorted him to his seat amid applause.
1931 James Patrick Lewis, assigned seat 150 by speaker.
1933 Elmer Attean, was seated. House order gave both Indian representative stamps and telephone cal credit cards
1935 John Sebastian Nelson, seated Number 151 and conducted there by the sergeant-at-arms amid applause of the house.
1937 John Sebastian Nelson
1939 Leo Shay
1941 Harold Polchies. A Bill was introduced to change the words “Representative to the Legislature” to “Representative at the Legislature.” Indian Representatives were, prior to this date, allowed to sit in the house hall and speak.
1943 James Lewis. He was conducted to the center aisle and greeted by the speaker, at which time he thanked the speaker for acknowledgment.
1945 Harold Polchies
1947 Harold Polchies
1949 Ernest Goslin
1951 John Sebastian Nelson
1953 John Mitchell
1955 Francis Ranco
1957 John Nelson was tribal representative serving through 1957, 1959, 1961, 1965, and 1969 sessions.
1971 John Murray Mitchell, Sr., elected in December 1970 in a special election to succeed John S. Nelson
1973 Vivian F. Massey, ran on a write-in ticket in September 1972 and won by four votes after a recount. She was the first women to ever be elected Indian Representative.
1975 Ernest Goslin. On January 22, 1975, the Maine House of Representatives voted to seat the Indian Representatives and give them speaking privileges by a vote of 107 to 40, thus ending a ten-year effort to restore the rights taken from Indian Representatives by the 1941 legislature. Ernest was reelected in 1976 for the term 1977-78.
1979 Timothy Ray Love
1980 Reuben Elliot Phillips
1983 James Gabriel Sappier
1984 Priscilla Ann Attean, serving through the 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1993 sessions.
1995 Paul Joseph Biscula
1997 Paul Joseph Biscula, served the first session and the resigned.
1997 Donna Marie Loring, elected in a special election.
1999 Donna Marie Loring, reelected and served in 2001, 2002, and 2004.
2005 Michael Joseph Sockalexis, elected but ill for first three months of the session. Donna Marie Loring took over as alternate representative.
2007 Donna Marie Loring, reelected.
2009 Wayne T. Mitchell