Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-13
Names Of Sfnies

The Boston Transcript publishes the following
letter;
The Transcript of the 9th inst. contains the
article entitled: "Origin of the States and Their
Names" taken from the May number of the
American Historical Record, which is worthy of
attention from the great public interest of the
suhjec;. Assuming that superficial treatment
of New England history can no longer be tOler-
ated, and that it is no longer desirable to repeat
the errors OF historians, and that true history
only is deserving of our consideration, beg to
call attention to several material errors in the
article respecting Maine and New Hampshire,
of the early history ofwhich have long been
student
The statements, in this article, that Maine
derives its name from the province of Maine
IN France, and was so called in compliment to
the queen of Charles the First" are not sus-
tanned by any historical facts. The name,
Maine, was first authoritively and deliberately
applied to that part of the state lying west of
the kennebec river, in the charter of the great
council for New England, granting this terri.
tory to Sir FerdinandO GOrges and Captain John
Mason, dated August 10, 1922. In this charter
1t is styled the province of Maine" This event
was nearly two years before the Princess Henri
eta Maria of France was thought of for a wife
to Prince Charles Of England. At the time this
name was inserted in the charter, a marriage
treaty was pending, and had been for some
years, between the courts Of England and Spain,
having for its object the marriage of Prince
Charles and the lrianta Maria, daughter of
Philip ILL., of Spain. A marriage of
these royal parties was expected until
early in the year 1924. 1t is clear from
this, and other circumstances that could be
mentioned, that the naming of Maine had moth
ing to do with Henrietta Maria of France, as
alleged l may add, in this connection, that
expect to show, in my life OF Capt. John Mason
soon to 90 to press, that this Spanish infanta was
designedly complimented about this time in the
naming of district in New England, granted
by the great council, Il. curious fact overlooked
by historians.
1t seems reasonably certain that the state of
Maine owes its name to no European state,
province or parsonage, bnt to its own unique
geographical features. Years before the name
appeared in this charter to Gorges and Mason,
its territory, or the litoral part of it, was com.
monty designated by English mariners and
writers, "lhe Man," VariOuSly Spelt, TO dis
tinguish it from its insular parts lying off the
shore. This origin of the name, proposed long
ago, seems to be the true one.
The statements that New Hampshire was $50
named when il was made into Il separate PROV
ince in 1876, and that at was first called I.acO-
MA are not true. No part of the original or
present territory of New Hampshire ever bore
the name OF LacOnia. The original territory of
New HAMPSHIRE, first quoted under this name,
was included in the Province of Maine i" before
referred TO, which extended from the Kennebee
river to the Merrimac river. This, then, was
the first English name applied to New Hamp.
shire; for it was seven years later, namely, 1929,
that the territory lying between the Merrimac
aud Plscataqua rivers, was granted to Captain
John Mason, and by him then first named New
Hampshire, and ever after so designated La
COMA was the name given TO a province, granted
by the council for New England to Gorges and
Mason, lying in the region of Lake Cnamplain
This was after the grant OF New Hampshire 10
Mason. do NOT forget that, some years ago,
town in New Hampshire was incorporated by
the name Of Lacona. New Hampshire was de-
tachcd from the government of Massachusetts
in 1879, not 1876, as alleged.
G. W. FUTILE.
Boston, June 7, 1872.