The Portland daily press., 1895-11-23
FRENCH MOTHERS.
Why all this toll for triumphs of an
hour?-Young.

Why all this toll for triumphs of an
hourS-Young.
The first French woman known to be
directly associated with the early history
OF Maine is Madame de Guercheville.
4 In 1903 De Monts received from Henry
~. of France patent securing to him
all the territory in America between the
fortieth and forty sixth degrees north
latitude. This was the Acadia of the
French. De Monts, being unsuccessful
in his attempts at colonization, surren-
dered his grant to Madame de Guerche-
vile. She was lady of wealth and fav-
orite in the courtly circle
The king confirmed her in her right,
making her proprietor of a large part of
Maine.
By the aid of Maria de Medici and
other ladies of the French court, she
fitted out an expedition in 1913 to take
possession OF her lands.
Madame de Guercheville was a devout
Catholic, and partook of the religious
spirit that characterized the early French
missionaries.
She determined to send the gospel to
the Indians on the Penobscot
The expedition, delayed by adverse
winds and storms, failed to reach the
river, and was obliged to land at Mt.
Desert Here they planted the cross and
uduleu bue place Ob. odflOuf. 1nlS cOlOny
was entirely uprooted by the English.
The first woman of rank who came to
Maine and entered personally into the
bitter contests. of the rival claimants for
the possession of Acadia was the beauti-
full and accomplished Madame La Tour.
Her husbands claim was dipsutea by
D'Aulney, who had fortified himself at
Castine
Acadia then extended from the Penob-
Cart4 - L. I'll,
was obliged to build his fort at the
eastern extremity.
Madame La Tour was a woman of I'M
daunted courage. She took her place be-
side the men in the feeble garrison and,
it is said, quadrupled its strength by her
intrepidity. She undertook an ocean
voyage to Europe in behalf of their
cause.
On her return she took passage on an
English vessel, STIMULATING that she
should be landed at St. John.
Regardless of the compact, after Cir
cuitous voyage and a long and tedious
passage, she was taken to Boston.
Knowing that she could not reach st.
John without being exposed to capture
by D'Aulney, she at once commenced
suit against the captain and merchants
who had chartered the ship, for unneces-
sary detention for nearly six months.
HEA1Alc WAS SoSOOSSld hA0 pIOCuIbd utiu~
ages of two thousand pounds, enabling
her to employ these ships TO take her to
ST. John. On her arrival she found the
garrison weak and disheartened, her hus-
band having been absent for days.
She Immediately took command of the
fort, and when D'Aulney, who had close
ly watched her movements, landed his
orce for an attack, she defended it so
skiilfully that after twenty of his men
~ hpDa ln6 n, oil l0l L.
withdrew his remaining forces to his
ships.
The following year he succeeded in TAX
ing the fort, plundered it and carried
the garrison prisoners to Castine
D'Aulney had chosen his opportunity,
knowing La Tour again to be absent
from the fort in quest of supplies
On his arrival at Castine with his
proud prisoner, D'Aulney introduced her
to his wife as his greatest enemy.
Alone, crushed in spirit, prisoner in
the hands of IPAulney, Madame La Tour
survived her captivity only few weeks.
D'Aulnoy lived but short time after
this event.
La Tour reconciled the rival claims by
marrying Madame D'Aulney. He is said
to have wooed her with the argument ::
Your husband and my wife could new
er agree-let us live in peace. -
LOYALISTS.
The Loyalists believed that fthe powers
that be are ordained of God" Patriotism
to them meant loyalty to the King of
England.
1.-THE Declaration OF Independence
changed the meaning Of the word. -
They could not change, and sacrificed
their homes and estates to what they
considered patriotism.
The spirit of '76 had very little sym
pathy with the Loyalists. In many cases
their property was confiscated and offered
to the State as though the owners were
dead.
The first settlers Of Kittery were Mr..
and Mrs. John Bray, who, in conse-
quence Of religious persecution, came
form Plymouth, England, in 1860, bring
ing with them their infant daughter,
MargeFy.
In her wilderness homo, under the
CAREFUL guidance of wise mother, the
child grew to be an attractive young
lady.
On the Isles of Shoals were a company
of fishermen, among them young En-
glishman, William Pepperill.
He had often had occasion to go to
Kittery Point in the interests of his bust
ness, Mr.. Bray being a shipwright.
The beautiful Margery was an object
of great admiration to him. 1t may be
questioned whether the boats always
needed the repairs for which they We're
ostensibly brought.