The Portland daily press., 1870-10-27
MORNING. OCTOBER 81. 1870 =
DAILY PRESS.
ND
Thursday Morning, October 27, 1870.
PORTLAND
Sir William, Pbipus

| " Poi oai1 vi Oii w Hs uiPpo, WuiSH q wealthy
Californian, native of Maine, desired to have
preserved in our State collection, among the
| illustrious men who have adorned the history
of Maine.
MIR. Bridge, a resident of California, pre-
sented to the State, some years ago, portrait
OF Gov. Pownal, one OF the most eminent men
In New Engands history, for whom the town
OF Pownaboro, now Dresden, Maine, on the
banks OF the Kannebec was named, and which
was the seat of justice for many years, for the
whole of Kennebec valley. Here Mr.. Bridge
formerly resided, his father being for many
years Sheriff of the county.
1t was through Mr.. Bridges influence that
the portrait of the Hon. James Bridge of Au-
eusta, his uncle, was furnished Mr.. Willis for
his work "The Lawyers of Maine." The in
trod lction of this portrait led to the procur-
ing of several others, which constit utes so
striking fe:str,re u Mr.. Willis's book.
The satis factory manner in which the Leg
islature of Maine accepted from Mr.. Bridge
this portrait of Gov. Pownal, led the Hon.
Samuel Brannon of California, native of
Saco in our State, to present to the State the
elegant portrait of Sir VIM. Pepperell, which
forms soestriking feature in the gallery of
portraits which now adorn the rotunda of the
State Capitol.
Another wealthy Californian, a native of
Maine, expressed desire to present to our
State the portrait of Sir VIM. Phipps, if a por-
trait could be found, from which to make the
necessary copy. But Sir William having died
without issue: it seemed doubtful if any such
portrait was in existence, and although it
was known TO many that portrait of him
had been painted in London, about the time
he was created Baronet, or raised to the
| order Of Knighthood, it seemed doubtful if
any portrait Of him had been preserved. His
great ability ard eminent public services had
given him prominent place in the history of
New England, and the popular impression
was in accordance with the statements of
Smiles, that he was the real founder of the
Normandy Peerase.
Mr.. Motley our Minister in England con-
suited the Marquis of Normandy on this sub
ject, at Mr.. Bridges request, and diligent in
quiries had been made both in England and
in this country to find if possible an authentic
portrait of this distinguished public man.
By advice of aon. John Y. Scammon of
Chicago, native of Maine, Mr.. Bridge ad-
dressed his letter ofinquiry to Mr.. Poor. This
letter was pubished in our paper as already
stated, with other facts of interest, and cop q
sent by Mr. Poor to prominent Antiquarians
on both sides of the water, aud strange 10 say
the inquiries hlve produced the original
portrait by Paisted, which for more than
one hundred years had been in possession of
a family in Maine, the descendants of DAN
forth Phipps, a brother or near relative of Sir
VIM. Phipps.
The Misses Blackstone, sisters, who resided
many years at the corner of Spring andlPark
street in this city, aud who removed to Bos.
ton soon after the great fire of 1866, and who
| moved into Portland from Falmouth many
years ago, have for many years had this por-
trait in their possession, and the mother in
her life lime communicated the fact to Mr..
E. W. Baker of this city, and to the Hon.
George Folsom, his brother-in-law.
Mr.. Baker forwarded a copy OF the Press
of Sept. Goth and wrote the Misses Black
stone upon the subject of Sir VIM. Phipps
portrait, who communicated with Henry p.
Deane, Esq, Of this city, fnll information up
on this subject, who made the matter known
to Mr.. Poor. Mr.. Poor proceeded to Boston
and calling on the ladies' in question, was ia
vored with an examination of this portrait,
- =.
| genuineness. The picture had been cut from
| the frame and had been at one time folded in
such manner as to injure it hat, but
not to impair or mar the likeness, which is a
full size, in armor, as a kn nght, with helmet
and plume under his lett arm, the right
hand graspins his sword,-as shown in the
pictuIes of that age.
| Tue present proprietors of the picture have
kept it carefully rolled, so that it Is still in
| good preservation.
| On subsequent interview with the Misses
Blackstone, by Mr.. Poor and Mr.. Bridge,
they consented to its use for copy, by an
Artist to be named by Mr.. Bridge, so that
the State Capitol at Augusta will at no dis
tant day contain portrait of the most dis
tinsushed man who appeared in New Eng
land history, prior to the revolutionary period.
We have no time in this connection, to dwell
upon the interesting events of the period
when Sir William Phipps filled the Office OF
Gov. of the Province of Massachusetts, after
the vacation of the charter of 1923, and the
overthrow of the Massachusetts, Theocracy
1884.
| Sir Edmond AnGros, the first Imperial Gov
ernor, was expelled, and during that stormy
and chaotic period between 1884 and 1859:
when Sir William Phipps assumed the Office
trials for witchcraft had been proceeded with
and everv form of civil disorder abounded-
Through the influence OF Sir William Phipps
public order was restored, and an election o
Members of the House of Representatives Sc
cured throughout Massachusetts,, Plymouth
Colony and Maine, then for the first timt
united, and religious liberation permitted il
accordance with Instructions of the hom
government
Prior to this time, none but Church mem
bers enjoyed political right under the Massa
chusetts charter, and nothing but the grea
ability CT Sir VIM. Phipps gave civil libert
and popular government to the people O
Massachusetts,.
The portrait OF Sir VIM. conveys an idea o
his power, for it is almost as strongly marke
as the face of Cromwell.
Sir William Phipps was the son of Jane
Phipps, born att VI oolwich Feb. I'd, 1860. Hi
mother had twenty-six children, of whor
twenty-one were sons. He was one oil tn
youngest. His father died when he was
child. His mother when he reached the az,
OF eighteen, apprenticed him to a ship carper
ter for four years, after which he sci up 70
nimself and built ship at Sheepscot. Ii
1857 alter interchangeable efforts he found tn
wreck OF the Spanish sallleon, from whic
he raised thirty-four tons oil silver, beside
gold, pearls ana jewels valued at 81 100000 ,
which 100000 fell to his share
A golden cup worth 5000 was presente
to his wife, daughter of Roger Spencer c
Saco, a young widow when be married he
by the name of Hull, whose first husband w,
Johr Hull, merchant OF Boston. Sir WI
!; PLipps died in London Fet. 18th. l695 an
was buried at st. Mary's Woolnoth Churcl
London.
: The will of the late John G.. Mix as b.
! lore the supreme court of errors in Hartfor
contains the following eccentric provision
and language: Il give to my beloved viii