New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-31
SETTLEMENT OF MINE.


SART.
FoRT POPHAM, Mouth of Kennebec Aug. Is
To-day the people have celebrated the 262d anniversary
Of the first recorded permanent settlement OF Maine and
gland The day has been glorious and the occa-
sion OF rare interest. Steamers from Bath. Augusta,
Portland, and elsewhere, brought vast crowds.
and every possible Of transportation
was applied to meet the popular demand
and here tell the brief story Of Popham that what
follow may be better understood Under the charter Of
King James dated 1906, Capt George POpham, bearing
civil authority not only 70 establish trading post But 10
the right OF empire landed NJ this spot with Two
ships representing the London" and the Bristol inter
ests Aug 90 1907. with great energy fort, mounting
IA guns was reared, fifty houses and church built,
shipyard and manufacturers established, and pros
perity was everywhere until the late Winter
set in with unexamped rgor, during which
Can't Popham died, did the ChiefJustce, In
England, who was his patron well as knsman. All
these things discouraged the colony and the next year
II returned to Engandthat s the London ship and the
Virginia which has been built here while the other was
never definitely known about Remains OF Pepham's
Notifications were plain for more than 200 years Al
though the colony not commercial success It's III
huence continued TO be felt for next year company
came over which established trading post.
Its leader IL unknown. This short occu-
patton, however, for, being harsh to tho savages'
many OF the command killed and the rest driven 10
Emmetanc NOW Matlnic), and there carried on their
pursuits under civil government and the French ship OF
war commanded by Capt Plaster, captured near by
two British vessels sent to Matnc 10 be disposed Of
Plaster was finally allowed to withdraw upon promise
never TO appear again these waters And thus as IN
every other known case English rule was asserted ana
from l6O2 10 1920 English vessels known TO have sailed
along this coast, and particularly sagadahoc NOW kenne
bec These shores were well known to English French
and Spanish navgators at this period as Labrador is 10
us now; and Of the explorers had charts OF the
coast and especially Weymouth and Smith. It's worthy
of mention that the latter adventurer had not only given
maps OF this into the keeping OF the Crown but had
actually surveyed the site OF the Plymouth Colony as
early as 1914 and pointed the very spot where the
Pilgrims landed six years later. This is weliesabshed
fact although only few New Englanders appreciate II
and the masses do not know it.
The influence Of the POpham settlement can hardly be
oyerestimated 1t the first establishment where the
appliances Of civilization thoroughly known TO have
been used in New England. Two hundred and sixtytwo
wears ago today the Rev Richard Seymour used the
same devotional service as did the Rev. DR.. Nicely,
Bshop OF Maine, today in the anniversary exercises
IL was here that Popham was nominated aud elected
first President Of the country, II may believe the
records And this is also classic ground, for letter
written 70 the King in Latin, soon after landing said:
Within seven days from this spot an ocean lies that
reaches to China" happily proved by the Pacific
Railway.
Ex.Gov. Washburne presided, and addresses were
made by President Harris and Prof Packard OF Bowdoiu
College the Rev Woods former President Of College,
Mr. Stevens OF London, DR.. Medley OF Portland Mr. r. X.
sewa OF Tr5cassett the Rev Mr. Leakin Of Baltimore,
Charlton Lewis OF New York. PrOi Mathews OF chicago
| and a Mr.. futile of Boston
The substance OF the additional researches since the
last meeting you have below IN the brief account make
Of the cxporations Pemaqud and Damar!scotta, as
J{6urne S6wOll Poor, Bailey, Dyke, Woods Ballard,
| Harris Gilman and others, who on thursday last
| ipvpdcd pemaQud, where they iOuuu meeting con-
no-ed OF nearly 1000 citizens Of Bristol ana Newcastle,
who have heard Of me expected Te'ea.loh rs a, q
sample OF the temper Of the company may po btdteu
thai six oxen brought sixty people seven hlIg5 10 Tue
Fair" beautiful poem was leaa Dy mis; ,
and the whole OCCASION thOnEh hpon'alco.s Unt
rTnptb was great one, and Thursday Aug 20 lstJ,
Viii long be remembered for It's notable Contributions 10
No start With the theory that Pemaquid earlier
occupied than any other portion Of NeW'l-hghhd aud
tb vestgatinus were actually startling compared 10
ANYTHING previously known. paved street Nd5 i ~
hare most artisticaly built and about one 1901 Dee ne
srfsce puus Of wells and cellars, watts haJ must nave
brlouQe, TO a taunery and other evidences OF cNLLcl
nifh and his contemporaries made tue region me cent CT
o iii their observations and King Charles st aGHo,
at"J ~ New. England" ana the very site OF thls uu
TTt frederick ne called ST. Johnston IEis was the
home OF Samoset. and 1t was inc scar Oh IIe wa, w. I
o,ycr Thirty sail of vessel were counted mere ~ w.
nd - deed Of a tract OF land TO John Brown, whose
soul went marching on Iroin In,S Po S G i6e nrecise
form now usedl before Alfred ShuIt the former
of The Mayor of Bristol aud It written 10 the re,
cords of the Maine Historical Society lAat
was the metropolis Of New England Iohs oeoie Do''oN
The paH deductions are that this region was inhabited
bv other than savagcs long before any lecoIue
of English settlements What the people were anu
thew dd is to be most thoroughly Unrestricted but that
there was a settlement here, antedatlhg any @
i'm authentic history by many years is now 49, S
everybody who has had the results OF TINS weeh
legations The details OF the discoveries wiz Vg iu
given in the forthcoming formal repoI" anu wiz o' VI
! vast interest 10 the whole country. -, ..ut,..ta,,
Another matter Of great interest was the w
OF the oystershe deposits at DamarlscolA -,
| 0n-ned shells lust as they had been promscuGusly
dumped" were found to the depth OF 70 leeti SLOW
| ing that vast hOrdes OF people must nave Ecu UPON
! the shellhsh Astounding here centuries ,"ko'
| MANY of these shells are TO IL lnShes lons'
Tradition sustans some OF these marvellous dlscoVees
mi AS 10 the OF the occupation Of this spot or Mt
race they were, Is purely conjecture but aplo
ore Working at the problem. At any rate TINS I-s'
coast now lays clam 10 having been earlier ocGupS
me Caucasian than any other portion OF ' NJ
| Atlantic territory. ANA IN many uds our history Wiz
| be rrVolutiuuiLru