The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-09-13

War, the death of James, the plague, and
the exciting political discussions which ushered
in the reign of Charles the first, all con-
spired to prevent Levett from speeding his
undertaking to a successful issue. ROYAL pro-
lection had become necessary, as grave differ
ences existed between England and France
relative to the ownership of the soil upon
which he had built and for three years
Levett doubtless labored to obtain the needed
aid from Charles, for we find him in 1927
"deterred and discouraged" in proceeding with
what he had begun, at last successful in at
tracing the attention of the king, who in that
year, ordered by proclamation a special con-
tribution to be taken in the churches of York
to aid him in his project of building a city in
New England. which was to bear the name of
York after the builder native city. This was an
extraordinary act, and Levett must have had
powerful influence to bring it about, especially
as Charles was distracted with troubles at
home and abroad. How successful this proc
lamation was in leading churchmen to con-
tribute to Levetts scheme we know not but we
may properly infer that it was fortified by
warm appeals of the clergy to the friends Of
Episcopacy to aid in establishing in Maine a
colony friendly to Episcopal interests project
persistently kept in view for many years
Massachusetts, being almost hopelessly given
over to Puriantism.
But whether successful or not in obtaining
pecuniary help, Levett does not appear to
have prosecuted his projects farther, for after
1923 he disappears from view. From state
ment of Cleeve, we learn that he conveyed his
property in Casco bay to zone Wright of
whom Cleeve purchased it in order to strengthen
his own title; nor do we know what became
of the men whom he left in possession. Four
of these he informs us, were from Weston's
unfortunate company, which had settled at
Wesgausset, or Weymouth, in the summer of
1922. This company had broken up before
the arrival of Levett, who had been sent out by
the Council for New England as one of COM
mission 'for the ordering and governing Of
New England" and their habitations were
taken possession of by the commissioners.
Some of Westons company probably remained
in the vicinity and it is quite probable that
Walter Bagnall, who has been regarded as an
associate of Thomas Norton of Merry Mount
fame, and who was one of Weston's company,
was one Of them. According to Winthrop,
he was living in 1927, on Richmonds
Island-the Isle de Bacchus of
Champlain - which now for the
first time comes plainly into historic view.
Nor do we know at what time between this
Gate and that of the visit of Champlain in 1905,
it acquired its name of Richman's or Rich
monds island. Dim and uncertain are the
glimpses we get of this period. We have the
names of several men who were living sin the
house at Casko," in 1880, and for a brief mo-
ment the shadowy curtain of the past is lifted,
revealing to us one George Richmond Of Ban
don bridge in Ireland. the cradle of Puritanism
in that unfortunate land; but he suddenly
disappears leaving us perplexed and disap-
pointed. Certain however, is it, that George
Richmond was at the head of some enterprise
which employed men; which required the
| building of vessel and the possession of
considerable stock of merchandise, and there
| seems to be reason to believe that he gave his
name to this island, which was soon to become
an important station for trade. and goal to
| which ships coming upon the coast, directed
| their course.
But now other actors appear upon the scene
which comes clearly into view. Early in the
| seventeenth century English merchants who
| have ever been daring and successful pioneers
| in opening new countries to civilization, be-
| gan to turn their attention to the New World,
which afforded to adventurous spirits an at
tractive field for enterprise. Trade with the
| natives, who were eager to exchange furs rich
enough to enhance the luxury of royalty, for
almost worthless gewgaws, had long been ex-
| tolled by enthusiastic penmen, and Smith had
asserted and practically demonstrated the great
| Fdlue VI TIE 4NcW ASuSTl6S. L he
| Council for New England, which held royal
| grant of the entire portion of the continent
| lying between the fortieth and forty eighth
parallels of latitude, anxious to develop its
property, had encouraged schemes of COLOMBIA
| ton and trade, but with little success. Pri-
vate Adventures, jealous of the powerful
monopolists, preferred to act indepently of
them, but the more prudent recognized their
rights, which really required but little, if any
pecuniary sacrifice, for the council seemed
| ready at all times to grant important
privileges for a merely nominal 1ecogni-
| ton of its rights. The leading
| spirit of the council, indeed the one who
| shaped and managed nearly all of its affairs.
was Sir Ferdinando Gorges of Cornwall,
jealous churchman who was warmly interested
| in colonization, not alone for private GAIN but
as well for the advancement of the interests
| of the church he loved. He was q man of
popular qualities, at this time in the zenith of
| his power and was sought by those who were
looking towards New England for informa-
| ton and counsel. Among those of his brother
Cornishmen who had sent ships to New Eng
| land were Robert Trelawny, Senior, and
| Abraham Jennens, both noted merchants of
Plymouth, whose ships had doubtless fished
and traded about the shores of Richmonds
| Island and Cape Elizabeth, before and during
| the occupation by Bagnall.
The death Of the senior Trelawny took place
| near the close of 1927, and he was succeeded
| by his son Robert, who, in company with
Moses Goodyear, the SON. in law of Jennens.
| inherited the spirit and traditions, as well
as the business of the two pioneers in the
New England trade. John Winter, probably
a son of the early navigator of that name, was
in the employ of Trelawny and Goodyear, and
was familiar with Richmond island and Casco
bay. The new partners were well fitted to
| continue the enterprise of their predecessors
especially Robert Trelawny, who had inherited
| the ability and ambition of his father, a man
not only successful as a merchant, but of con-
siderable political prominence beforehis death
indeed TIE spirit Of foreign adventure had long
been potent in his family, stimulated, perhaps,
a5 origine by its connection through marriage
| with the Hawkins family, to which belonged
that famous navigator, Sir John Hawkins,
and the junior Trelawny grasped the helm
which his father had relinquished, with
strong hand
The Trelawnys, whose family was among
| the most ancient and honorable in Cornwall
were favorably known to Georges, and were
| encouraged by him in their New England ad-
ventures but up to the date of the death of
| the elder Trelawny. no grant of territory had
| been taken by them; indeed, their business
nad been OF transient and experimental
nature. The new firm, however, contemplated
more permanent relations with the new coun-
try on the hither side of the Atlantic, and the
acquisition of q plantation there was dis
| cussed between them and Sir Ferdinando
Gorges probably not long after the death of
| the elder Trelawny, certainly prior to 1880.
| At the same time George Cleeve was turn
| ing his attention towards the New World
which was then attracting increased attention
| from the subjects of Charles, among whom, al
most without distinction of party discomfort
was rife. Voyages were made to New England
for the purpose of exploring the country and
selecting desirable places for settlement and
these voyages were often made under the
| promise of a grant of the territory selected.
Under such promise from Gorges, Cleeve,
who it would seem, was cognizant of the ne
| gotiations between Gorges and Trelawny, and
who was probably well known to both, as well
as to Winter, crossed the ocean in the
year 1880. with his wife and daughter,
and came to the vicinity of Rich
mond's island, where Bagnan was
then living. Here, on the mainland, he found
a suitable spot for planting and trade. This
| land was in the DOssession of Richard Prad