Evening star., 1902-08-04
TIE TOWN OF OLD YORK
25OTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
VENERABLE MAINE VILLAGE.
Formed From Territory Granted by
Plymouth Council to Fernando
Gorges and John Mason.

From the New York Tribune.
The town of York, Me-, or "Old York, as
it's inhabitants familiarly and proudly style
it, reaches during the present year the Iooth
anniversary of it's incorporation as town
of the present name. This age in itself Is
certainly sufficient to cause devoted peo-
pie to cherish it's antiquity and view with
pride, and just pride, too, record as cred
liable as 1t is notable. The history OF the
town, however, does not begin with the In
ception of the present municipality, but
dates back to a period but little later than
the year of the Puritans' arrival at Plym-
outh. The event York celebrates on August
5 is the revoking by the authorities OF Mas
sachusetts in 1852 of the charter under
which it's previous existence had been-that
of Gorgena, the first city Incorporated on
the American continent.
Probably the first white men to land at
York were those composing the expedition
of Captain John Smith, who in 1914 ex-
plored the New England coast with view
to establishing colony in accordance with
the wish of the king He entered York har-
Dor and named the surrounding territory
Boston. Thus the original Boston was some
sixty miles north of the present city, in
the shadow of Mount Agamenticus, which
Smith named "Snadoun Hill"
The Plymouth Council.
The town of York was formed from a
portion of the vast territory which the
Plymouth council granted in 1922 to Sir
Fernando Gorges and Captain John Ma
son. After these two men had spent I'M
sums of money in futile attempts to
establish permanent settlements in their
new lands the grant was divided equally.
Gorges receiving as his share that part
which contains the present York county.
Later Charles 1 revoked his charter to the
Plymouth council and granted directly to
Gorges the same property. 1t was at this
time April B, 1889, that the real history OF
York begins.
Sir Fernando Gorges enjoyed the favor
of his sovereign, and evidently he made
good use of his advantage, for the grant
Of land was accompanied by concessions
and powers that were hitherto unheard of.
Gorges was Jealous OF the success Of the
massachusetts, colony and determined to
found for himself a state which would sur
pass 1t. Records inform us that Gorges
made a careful study of the maps and de-
scrfptions of his property and finally de-
cided upon Agamenticus, originally Bos-
ton and now York. as the locality best
suited to the requirements of his new
seat of government. The new settlement
was governed during the first year by a
board Of seven councillors Of which Ed
ward Godfrey was the head. The follow
ing summer, 164O, Sir Fernando Gorges
sent another expedition. An inspection of
the new colony proved very unsatisfactory
to Gorges, and determined upon a new
SCnPm6 "nlCn ne carried out with great
flourish, but with small financial success.
Gorges' New Charter
Already possessing a charter which ac-
corded to him greater rights than were
ever granted by sovereign to subject before
or since, Gorges was not satisfied. BY
his influence at court he succeeded in hav-
ing his charter supplanted by perfected in
strument which gave him almost dictatorial
authority. His new charter allowed him
to establish a city government, and to the
embryonic metropolis he gave the name
of "Gorgeana," In perpetuation Of his own.
Gorges himself never visited his new pos
session, 1t is thought but sent as his per-
sonal representative his nephew, Thomas
Gorges.
The city Of Gorgeana was destined to a
short existence, and a dozen years after its
foundation it went to the wall. All went
well so long as Gorges could look to the
king for assistance, but shortly after 1645
his death occurred in prison, where he had
been thrown on the ascendency of Crom-
well. The Massachusetts bay colony SYM
pathized with the roundhead party while
Gorgeana remained steadfast in it's de-
votion to the royalists. The city charter
was Cancelled, Massachusetts took possess
sion and York was incorporated. The
mayor, Edward Godfrey. never submitted
and died while struggling to regain his
rights
On the morning of February g. 1899, the
inhabitants of York awoke to find them
selves at the mercy of band of French
and Indians. In the terrible carnage which
ensued nearly all the popula ton were kill
ed or taken captive. The few who escaped
had sought refuge in the old Jail and in
the garrison houses. 1t is little wonder,
then, that the people of modern York cher
ish the Jail and the McIntire garrison,
which still in good preservation The
former was built in 1853 and the latter in
1923, or years before Gorges' ill-starred
| undertaking.