The Portland daily press., 1870-08-23
Maioc Historical Society Field Day st
Work.


The numerous points of historic interest in
our state has led the Maine Historical Society
to adopt the plan OF an annual "FIeld day"
visit as 1t is called, to some of he renowned To-
caltles for which our State is famous.
The Popham celebration has been annually
kept up with constantly increasing interest
for many years, and last year "a field day at
Pemdqaid" was rendered memorable by
the great popular enthusiasm awakened thor
oughly therein, the rich intellectual entertain
ments afforded by speeches from seyeralprom-
lnent members of the society and distinguish
Ell members from abroad, eliminating in the
charming Poem Of Mrs. Hacketon, a resident
OF Bristol DIR. Hackleton her husband heinz
a native of Pemaquid.
The two celebrations last year coming so
closely together, imposed too much labor up-
on the officers Of the Historical Society," and
it was determined this year to unite the anu
ual Popham celebration with the fed day
services at Old York, the renowned site of
the ancient city OF Georgiana, the first incor-
porated city by the English in the new world.
The absorption OF Maine into the Provn-
&C of Massachusetts produced changes in the
history of Maine, and the town as incorpora-
ted by Massachusetts, took the name OF York
in 1852. But the remains OF the old city are
left and here at very early day, civil govern
ment was administered in the same lorms of
law as now known and practiced and sF'ed bv
jury both in civil and criminal cases,
| enjoyed when church government viii
archical forms prevailed in Massachusetts,.
The celebration this year promises to be
one of unusual interest to Historical men, and
seems to excite the same feeling in the locall-
| lyon the 29th of August, the 262th anniver-
sary of the settlement at Sagadahoc, the first
English possession upon the coast ofNew Eng
land, meeting will be held upon the site of
Georgana, where appropriate addresses and
other services will take place.
On the 30th Agamenticus and other inter-
esting localities will be visited, concluding
with public gathering where addresses will
be made. On the day following a visit will be
made to Kitterry, the first town Incorporated
in this State by Massachusetts in 1647, and
on the day blowing the members of the His
tcrical Society of Maine will be entertained
upon Strawberry bank" by the New Hamp-
shire Historical Society, the site of ancient
Piscataqua in 1923, which is the commence
ment of the history Of Portsmouth and of
New Hampshire. The entertainment at
strawberry bank viii take place at an early
hour OF the day, ana for this reason called a
breakfast, in order to afford time for free inter-
change and acquaintance among the mem
bers Of the two State Societies, and the nu.
merous speeches which the occasion is likely
to call forth.
Popham day, or a celebration at Sagadahoc
has gradually grown into State picnic and
the enlargement of its fields by the invitation
ofthe Historical Society of New Hamshire, to
include the whole "Prouince of Maine," as
originally granted, will give fresh interest to
the occasion.
On the 10th of August 1922, the territory Of
New England from the MerrmaC to Sagada-
hoe was granted to Sir Ferdinand Gorges and
John Mason, by the name Of the Province o.
Maine. Afterwards they divided their possess
ions by the Piscataqua, Mason taking the
} country lying west ofthe Piscataqua which he
SdiSu NeW ddLupoHHc, tue country vi LIE
; own home, Gorges calling his portion New
Somersetshire, being then a resident of Ash
ton Phillips in Somerset,hire England
This territory of Gorges was afterwards called
Maine by his enlarged charts of 1859.
We understand that parties attending upon
the celebration will go to Kittery station by
the morning train over the p. s. & p. road
of Monday August Goth and by stage from
there to Old York, eight miles.
The committee appointed by the society to
make the necessary arrangements, consist oi
the following gentlemen;
+ Rev. DR.. Woods, of Brunswick; Hon. John
A. Poor, of Portland; William D. Sewail Esq
of Bath Hon. Samuel P. Benson. of Bruins
wick Hon. James w. Bradbury, of Augusta
f Rev. DR.. Ballard, of Brunswick; Rufus r. Sew
all, Esq. of Wiscasset; Hon. Joseph Titcomb,
of Kennebunk; James w. North Esq. OF Au-
gusta; Rev. Samuel F. Dixie, Of Bath; Hon.
: B. c. Bailey, of Bath; Hon. Joseph William
) | son, of Belfast.