The Portland daily press., 1870-09-29
DAILY PRESS.
.OHTIAND.
thursday Morning, september 90, 1870.
Sir William pn;

Sir William Phiuu.
The distinguished part which Sir w1;om
Phipps, anative of Maine performed in tba
early history Of the country, has led TO a GEN.
eral desire that some authentic portrait Of
him should be preserved and in possession of
the State. For the purpose of inviting atten-
ton to this matter, we have been permitsed to
publish the following letter:
Boston Sept 20, 1870.
DEAR SIR:-In 1860, I presented to the State
of Maine, portrait of Gov. Pownal, and in
1862 Samuel Brannard, presented in like man.
ner, one of Sir William Pepperell and now
another wealthy Californian, is willing to pre-
be found.
have searched in vain in this country and
have asked Mr.. Motley, our minister to Eng
land, to enquire of the Mulgrave and Norman
by families and see if one could be found there.
Hon. l. Young ScammOn of Chicago, desired
me to write you on the subject and perhaps
you may have seen one in some acorE or gallery
10 your researches.
will be greatly obliged for any information
da of the Capital, at Augusta, may be embell-
ished with another distinguished SON of Maine.
When was at Dresden a few days ago, Mr.
Charles Myers, informed me that in the house.
lately occupied by Capt. Rowland Foster,
Water street, opposite No. 2, Engine House,
Bath, Maine, there were two or three trunks,
filled with papers, relating to Sir William
Phipps and among the papers was a marriag
certificate of Sir William, dated in London.
All these papers ought to be in possession of
the Maine Historical Society and if there is
member resident at Bath, he ought to be aske
to get them at once, for delays are always dam
gerOus in such cases.
Very trnly your servant,
SAMUEL j. BRIDGE.
Address Care Henry Lee Esq.
No. 40 State Street, Boston.
We trust parties whether in Maine or else
where who have any papers or other informa-
ton concerning Sir William Phipps will COM
mlnicate with Mr.. Bridge.
There is a very good sketch of the life of
Sir VIM. Phipps prepared by Rev. Mr.. Nor
wood in the memorial volume of the Popbam
celebration. Sir William was undoubtedly
the most able and influential public man that
appeared in New England history up TO May,
1892, when he assumed the Office of Governor
of the New Province of Massachusetts, which
included for the first time the colonies of
Plymouth, and Massachusetts Bay, the Prov
ince of Maine and the territory of Sagadahoc.
In recent English work by Samuel Smily,
entitled "Selfhelps," is sketch of Sir William
which we transfer to our columns, as follows !:
"William Phipps, the founder of the Null
grave or Norman by family, was man quite
as remarkable in his way as Richard Foley.
His father was 9unsmith,- IA robust Eng
lshman-setted at Woolwich, in Maine, then
forming part OF our English colonies in Amer
Too ITa hnrv, IN q q
not fewer than twenty-six children (of whom
twenty-one were sons,) whose only fortune
lay in their stout hearts and strong arms.-
William seems to have had a strong dash cf
the Danish sea-blOOd in his velns,a did not
take kindly to the quiet life of shepherd in
which he spent his early years. BY nature
bold and adventurous, he longed to become a
| sailor and roam through the world. He
sought to join some ship; but not being able
to find one, he apprenticed himself to ship
builder,with whom be thoroughly learned his
trade, acquiring the art of reading and writ.
ing during his leisure hours. Having com
| pleted his apprenticeship and removed to
Boston, he wOoed and married a widow o
some means, after which he set up little
ship-building yard of his own, built ship
and, putting to sea in her, he engaged in the
lumber trade, which he carried on in plod
ding and laborious way for the space of about
| ten years.
1t happened that one day, whilst pass inc
through the crooked streets of old Boston, be
overheard some sailors talking to each other
Of wreck which had just taken place off the
Bahamas; that of Spanish ship, supposed to
have much money on board. His adventur
Gus spirit was at once kindled, and getting 9
likely crew without loss of time, he set sail fol
i the Bahamas. The wreck being well in shore
he easily found it, and succeeded in recover
ing great deal-of its cargo. but very little
money; and the result was that he barely de
frayed his expenses. His success had beer
7! such, however, as to stimulate his enterpris.
ing spirit; and when he was told of another
and far more richly laden vessel, which h ad
been wrecked near Port de la Plata more
than half century before, he forthwith form,
ed the resolution of raising the wreck, or al
all events fishing up the treasure.
Being too poor, to undertake such an enter
prise without powerful help, he set sail fo
England, in the hope that he might there OBJ
tain it. The fame of his success in raising tn
wreck off the Bahamas had already precede,
him. He applied direct to the government
and by his urgent enthusiasm, be succeeds
in overcoming the usual inertia of offcia
minds; and Charles II. eventually placed a
his disposal the "Rose Aleier," a ship q
eighteen guIs and nnety-fve men, appoint
ing him to the chief command.
Phipps then set sail to find the Spanisl
ship and fish up the treasure. He reache,
the coast OF Hispaniola in safety; but how t,
find the sunken ship was the great difficulty
The TACT of the wreck was more than fit,
years old; and Phipps had only the tradition
ary rumors Ofthe event to work upon. There
was a wide coast to explore, and an outspread
ocean, without any trace whatever of tht
wrecked areosy beneath it. But the nan wa.
stout of heart and full Of hope. He set hi.
seamen to work to drag the coast, and fo
weeks they went on fishing up seaweed, shin
giles, and bits of rock. No occupation coult
have been more trying to seamen, and the,
began to grumble together, and to whispel
that the man in command had brought then
on FOOLS errand.
At length the murmers spoke loud, and the
men broke into open mutiny. A body O
them rushed one day on to the quarter-deck
| and demanded that the voyage should be re-
linquished. Phipps, however, was not man
to be intimidated; he seized the ringleaders
and sent the others back to their duty. Ii
became necessary to bring the ship to anchor
close to a small island, for the purpose of re-
pairs; and to Tighten her, the chief part OF the
stores were landed. Discomfort still increas-
ing amongst the crew, new plot was laid
amongst the men on shore to seize the ship
throw Phpps overheard, and start on pirat-
| ical cruise against the Spaniards in the south
seas. But il was necessary to secure the SER
vices of the chief shipcarpenter, who was con-
sequently made privy to the plot. The man
| proved faithful, and seized an opportunity o.
telling Phipps of his danger. SummoniDe
about him the men he knew to be loyal, ht
| had the ships guns loaded which commanded
the shore, and the bridge communicating will
the vessel drawn up. When the mutineer.
made their appearance Phipps hailed them
and told them he would fire upon them if they
approached the stores (still on land) and they
drew back; on which Phipps had the stores
reshipped under cover of his guns. The mu-
tineers, fearful of being left on a barren island
threw down their arms and impored to be
permitted to return 10 their duty The re-
quest was granted, aud suitable precautions
were taken against future mischief Phipps
took the first opportunity OF landing the mu-
tinous part Of his crew, and engaging other
men in their places; but, by the time he could
| a yain proceed actively with his explorations
he found it absolutely necessary to proceed TO
England for the purpose of repairing his ship.
| He had now, however, gained more precise
| information as to the spot where the Spanish
treasure-ship had sunk; and, though as yet
baffled, he was more confident than ever in
| the eventual success of mis- enterprise.
Returned to London, Phipps reported the
result of his voyage to the Admiralty, who
professed to be pleased with his exertions
| but he had been unsuccessful, and thev would
.~-A.. II.