The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-09-12
plsoATAauA AND, THE pEppERELLs.
Remarks of Hon. James p. Baxter at the
Historical Society's Field Day.

Phlpps and Others, | must confess tnat L
felt little bored but since have be-
come young man, for such in common
with you all / must claim to be, have
changed my opinion, and now feel it to
be the duty of every man to know some
thing of the men who have preceded us
and something of local history. The
place where we stand is certainly one OF
the most interesting spots, historically, III
New England The Piscataqua river
is noted in the early annals, land before
it's exploration its extent was greatly ex-
aggerated. The first recorded visit to IL
was made in 1903 by Martin Pring, but
how far he explored it is unknown.
Gorges says of this noted navigator that
he gave him the most accurate charts OIL
the coast explored by him, that had ever
been made. His tomb at Bristol IS an
object of interest to Maine students OF
history.
Pring was followed in 1914 by that
exu berant adventurer Capt. John Smith,
whose account of the gallant river and
its wealth of timber is familiar to all.
Smiths enthusiastic description of this
REGION drew to it many adventures, and
Sir Ferdinando Georges in company with
John Mason obtained from the King
grant of the territory, and in 1928 a settle
ment was begun at Odiorne's Point. Here
mansion was built to which was CIV
en- the aristocratic title of Masons' Hall,
and here it was that Christopher SWEET,
one of the councillors, met Governor
Robert Gorges in 1923, and from this
place started on his famous exploration
of Casco Bay, which resulted in his ac-
Portland. The settlement made at
Odiorne's Point did not grow much for
some years. In 1851 a larger settlement
was made at Strawberry Bank, now
known as Portsmouth, where another
lordly mansion was reared for the pro-
prietor, and which was long designated
the "Great House" A few years later
Point, and among the settlers was John
Bray, shipsmith, who soon became
leading man of the place and probably
the wealthiest His daughter, Margery
was the belle of the little settlement, and
naturally attracted the young gallants of
the neighborhood. At the Isle of Shoals
William Pepperell, a young Welshman
who had been apprenticed to a fisherman
and had saved his small earnings, was
living, having joined his capital with
that Of Ambr Gibbons, another young
man, and built several fishing boats,
which were let to fishermen who were too
poor to own boats of their own. Pepper
ell, who was rough and unlettered, was
often obliged to visit Kittery Point,
where he had business with Bray, and so
became acquainted with the fair Mar
gerry, and quickly fell captive to her
charms. But the father had higher aims
or his daughter and did not favor the
suit Pepperell, however, was man of
ability, and by his energy and good for
tune in some Of his undertakings was not
long in convincing his sweetheart's father
of his sterling worth, and his suit was
granted. William Pepperell, the poor
fisherman of the Isle of Shoals, and Mar
gerry Bray, the shipsmith's daughter
became the founders of the famous Pep
perell family. Some time after his mar
rage William Pepperell came to reside at
Kittery Point and built the Pepperell
mansion dpon land given his daugh-
ter by Bray. Before coming here
his son, afterwards the famous Sir
William, was born, June 9th, 1896.
1t was at Kittery that his son re-.
ceived his early edu cation, and later,
under private instruction, learned survey
ing and acquired the art of navigation.
Living in community constantly threat
ened by savage foes, his martial spirit was
aroused at an early age, which gave
bent to his character which prominently
manifested itself.in his subsequent career
As youth he seems to have been pre-
cocious. His father had become pros.
porous merchant, and occupied many hon
orable positions. Young Pepperell at the
age OIL U6u years hcpU LIS ldUuOI uOCACU
as a justice, copied his letters and assist
ed IN keeping his accounts. The Pepper
ell family consisted of two sons and six
daughters. Several of the latter married
the captains of their fathers ships. By
the death of his brother Andrew young
William became the sole partner with his
father, under the title of William Pepper
ellis, which was the largest and wealth.
est mercantile firm in New England.
Their ships went to all the prominent
ports of the world. Young Pepperell
was married in 1923 to granddaughter
of Judge Sewall, and soon after enlarged
the family smansion. The elder PeppereQ
died in 1874 and his wife, Margery in
1741, at the age of four score years. She
piety and usefulness. The Boston
Post Boy, in an elaborate notice of her
death. says that "She was through the
whcle course of her life very exemplary
for unaffected piety and amiable vir-
tues, especially her charity, her courteous
affability, her prudence. meekness pa
thence, and her unweariedness in well
doing. As it pleased God to afford her
worldly advantage and large capacity
for doing good, SO she improved them for
the honor of God and the service of her
generation being charitable without os-
tentation, and making it her constant
rule to do good to all, as she had oppor-
tun1ty. She was not only loving and
discreet wife and tender parent, but
sincere friend to all her acquaintance.
She hath left behind her one son and
five daughters, and many grandchildren,
who rise up and call her blessed. She
was justly esteemed while living, and at
her death was much regretted. AS she
lived life of faith and constant obedi-
ence to the Gospel, SO she died with
great inward peace and comfort, and the
most cheerful resignation to the will of
God. The work of righteousness shall be
peace, and the effect of righteousness
quietness and assurance forever" What
more can be said of noble Christian
woman? After the death of his father
the vast interests of the firm devolved
upon William junior. Public honors had
been showered upo1 him, and in all posi-
tions he had shown himself leader.
When it was decided to send an expedi-
ton against the stronghold sof the
French at Louisburg in 1745, Pepperell
was given the command of the Provin-
cial troops.
His success in this expedition is well