Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-17

The chief papers ID the tfitfa 9caf.'s
! Iy part for the present year OF the Ia
Eectlous Of the Maine Historical Society
that for July, give q good idea OF the
Importance Of the early history OF our
STATE. and the need Of more work being
dote In this fascinating field for the 10
cal historian. These papers are the
study Of waymonth's voyage 20 the
coast Of Maine in 1865. by Rev. Dr-
gurrage OF Portland; Traces OF the
vorthnen In Maine, by Mr.. joseph
Williamson Of Belfast, and The Begin
nings OF Maine, by Mr.. James 7. Bax-
rer Of Portland. Judge David se~ail OF
York. and the SewaH family of New
England, are subjects Of brief papers ~
Mr.. Edward +. Burnham Of Boston, and
Mr.. Rufas X. sewail Of wIseasset, and
a collection OF letters Of Judge se~ali
are contributed by Frank sewall OF Ur-
hama. Ohio. one Of which IL letter OF
thanks to President Washington for ap-
pointing him judge OF the District
Court OF Maine In 1888. Another
interesting contribution was fur
nisned by the late Mr.. WIN. NJ. Sargent
Of Portland on the division OF the twelve
thousand acres Of land At Agamentieua
among the patentees in lGili beside
which there are several pages OF the
society's proceedings and historical and
biographical data. Efforts at the early
colonization Of Maine at several jmpof
gant points, invest every inch OF onr
territory with historic significance. The
Maine coast had great charms for the
early adyenturers and agents Of coioniza-
lion schemes in the Old World. There Is
hardly a point from Cape Porpolse which
is0fges visited Ia 1913, 10 Machias visit
ed In 1853 by Richard Vines, that IL not
rich with historical lore. the surface OF
which has hardly more than been super
IDEALLY examined Take the various in
teresting points along the Maine coast
aud see how their occupation runs back
into the very earliest dates Of the French
and English visit To the New World
At Old York, (Georgsana.J there was
an English city as early as lGll-the
first English city in the New World;
George Weymouth visited Monhegan In
1905; Sir George Popham was At the
Mouth of the kennebec in 1907; Thevet
found an old French fort at Castine in
l5i5; James Roster was there in lG0J;
iosnold visited Mt. Desert in 1902, Mar
tin FIRING was there In 1908 and DE Monts
in 1901 Richard Bonython was at Saco in
1872 bangor N0rombcga) was described
in 1853, and was visited by the French,
Dutch spanish and English, Il trading post
was e established in this city by the propri-
etors Of the kennebec Patent In 1922,
and down to the death of Father liasle
at NOrridgew0ck. in l72l there was
struggle between the English and
French for the control OF the great
rivers running to Canada. All our later
history is ~ full Of incident and ro-
nance down through the years to the close
Of the Revolution. as are the earlier
years " the coloni< alton period. What
q rich historic field we have all over
Maine how it appeals for study and ex-
animation; what rewards await the pa
tient, careful, earnest local historian.
No richer spots of historic ground can
he found anywhere In the New World
than is right about us, all along our
coast and up and down our
fine rivers They are worthy of more
careful study than have yet been given
them and with the new interests devel
oping in the Maine of today, there should
also he Il greater devotion to the Maine
of the past.
Roses, roses. everywhere