The Portland daily press., 1866-05-12
Ancient Pemaquid and New York.


10 the Editor Of the Press: I'D
Do all your readers know that the State of
New York takes its name in honor of the
Duke OF York, and that he once owned and
governed, as one Province, all the territory in
Maine east of the Kennebec river, and what
is now the Empire State? Such is the fact as
brought to light some ten years ago by COM
munications made by the State Department of
New York at Albany to the Secretary of the
Maine Historical Society.
1t is well known that the earliest perma-
nent settlements in Maine were in Bristol and
on the Sheepscot River below Wiscasset. The
Duke of YorA's fort was at Pemaquid, the
most seaward point in Bristol. There he un-
dertook to build a city. Not long since the
writer of this visited the site, and was inter-
ested in noticing the ruins OF cellars which
ronted upon the principal street which ap-
pears to have been paved, as the large cobble
stones are Systematically laid and remain in
their places now mostly covered with dirt and
grass. Various have been the speculations
with regard to the size, appearance and bust
ness of the city. Probably its trade was with
the Indians for furs and peltry, and perhaps
with the fishermen who resorted to these
coasts from the European nations. The fort,
too, doubtless was for the defence of the city
and the protection of its inhabitants, against
the incursion of hostile savages by sea or
land. The fertilization is yet in preservation
1t must have been mounted with cannon One
six pound iron ball we dug out of the debris
and brought home with us as souvenir. 9th
er reliques have been found, such as tools of
iron, household utensils of various kinds, &C.
&C. tt-
Until within few years, all papers relating
to the history of ancient Pemaquid, were sup
posed tobe lost, 1t appears, however, that
those papers have at length been discovered
in the State Department of New York at Al
bany. In a memorial presented to the Maine
Legislature, by the Maine Historical Society
asking for the means of procuring copies of
these papers, it is said: 9
Pemaquid was the first point permanently
occupied in Mine; and the largest and most
thriving settlements were established there,
and on the Sheepscot river, which existed in
our State prior to the first Indian war of 1876
anu again, DeCWeen InaI period ana the complete
desolation of our territory in the second Indian
war of 1859.
That portion of the State lying beyond the
jurisdiction or control of Massachusetts,, no i'm
portant records relating to it were preserved in
the archives of that Colony during that period.
But having been granted to the Duke of York
in 1914, together with the Colony OF New York.
its affairs were administered principally in that
central government, Its records and docu-
ments were preserved there, and are now, most
happily, for the calculation of our history,
brought to light.
They consist of council minutes of various
transactions relative to the affairs of this re-
mote Colony, to Indian depredations, measures
taken to rescue the inhabitants, to resettle the
county, the appointment of officers and their
commissions and instructions, the construction
of forts, the incorporation OF Townships with
municipal privileges, and the right to send
Representative to the New York General As
sembly. There are other valuable documents
contained in that Office
Whether those records and documents have
yet been transcribed, andplaced in the posses
sion of the Maine Historical Society, or not
am unable to say. TRAxL