The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-07-25


Hon. VIM. Willis, of this city, President of
the Maine Historical Society, has written a
letter to the Mayor of Bath in relation to the
proposed celebration of the first New England
settlement-long before the settlement at Ply
mouth-which win be interesting TO our read
ers. We copy it from the Bath Times:
TO The Honorable the Mayor of Bath:
SIR: The government of the U. s., having
selected the peninsula at the mouth of Ken
nebec river, as the site of a fortress, and made
preparations for large and expensive struc-
ture, to bear the name Of "Popham," in honor
of George Popham, President of the company
Of Adventures, who planted on the same spot,
the first English Colony on the shores of New
England lit is thought by the Maine Histori-
cal Society, that the occasion ought to be i'm
proved, to commemorate this most signal event
in the history of our State.
By singular coincidence, the new fort will
occupy the same ground on which was erected,
255 years ago. the first English fort which was
built on the Atlantic coast of America, north
of Virginia. This little colony 100 landmen'
left England May u, 1907, in two small yes
sells prepared with things needful to establish
a civilized society on this continent. Their
historian thus speaks of their early movements.
August II, Capt. Popham in his pynnace with
80 persons, and Capt Gilbert in his long boat
with Is persons more went early in the morn
ing from their ships in the river S achad ehoc,
to view the river, and to search where they
might find a fit place for their plantation
18th. They'all went ashore and there made
choice of place for their plantation at the
mouth or entry of the river, on the west side,
being almost an island The next day, in true
Puritan style, although not strictly pur-
tans, they commenced their grand undertaking,
-, Il
religious services. The historian says: 10th.
They all went ashore, where they had made
choice of their plantation and where they had
a sermon delivered unto them by their preach
err They then entered on their work in earn
est: Aug. 10. All went to shore again and
there began to entrench and make fort, and
to build a storehouse.
The place selected for their settlement was
Hunnewelrs Point, precisely the spot chosen
by the government for the new fortress; it was
there this first company spent cold and
dreary winter, and .there the gallant Popham
lies buried.
The work of construction is already begun.
and the experimenting Engineer has given as
surance that he will permit commemorative
table to be inserted in the wall, which shall
perpetuate the first attempt to colonize the
State, and mark the wonderful progress of our
country. M
of the Historical Society to call the attention
of the citizens of Bath TO this subject, and to
urge that they will not only cooperate in a
suitable commemeration Of this great event,
but that they will take the lead in making ar
rangements for the occasion.
1t is custom not less honorable than useful
in all nations, TO celebrate the leading events
of their history; thus reviving and keeping
alive in posterity, the virtuous deeds. the pa
tent fortitude, and the gallant services of the
founders of their States, and of those who have
illustrated their annals by their lives.-If the
Rock of Plymouth is annually remembered
if the landing at jamestown finds a perpetual
echo in song-if the 4th of July and the 22nd
of February shall never fail to inspire the
hearts of loyal Americans. let not the landing
of the first English Colony in Maine, sink into
oblivious silence!
Your obi Servant,
WM. WILLIS,
President of the Maine Historical Society.