The Falmouth (Portland) Fire Society, founded February 24, 1783, published a booklet of the "rules and orders" of the private fire society.

Private fire societies formed so members could better protect their own property and that of other members in case of fires, which were common in late 18th-century buildings.

Members were required to have two leather buckets and two bags of a prescribed size, both bearing first initial and last name. At each fire alarm, the member was to take to buckets and bags to the fire scene "and there use his best endeavours to preserve his effects."

The book contains names of members. On the cover is a handwritten date of 1803 and the name "Robert Boyd."