Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-30

was erected two hundred and fifty-fiv
years ago, the first English fort which
was built OH the Atlantic coast of
America, north Of Virginia." And so
the Historical Society asked and OBJ
tanned permission OF the government
to place in the wall of the new fort a
memorial stone. Such stone was
prepared. but before it could be placed
in its appointed position, SO varied and
rapid were the improvements in all
matters pertaining to Notifications and
armamentS, that it was found useless
to complete the structure. Work, ac-
cordingly was abandoned, and for
many years Fort Popham, in its unfin-
ished form, has been only a grim re-
minder of an Anticipated type of coast
fOrtitication.
Meanwhile it has been discovered
that Fort Popham does not occupy the
site Of the fort erected by the Pophann
cOloniStS, and within the inclosurc Of
which George Popham was buried.
How this discovery was made is one
of the romances OF history, and illus
tratos the rewards that await the iu-
telllSent rcSearch-wOrker penetrating
the hiding places to which such ma
terlals were long ago taken, and where
they have securely rested. Briefly
told this is the story:
When Alexander Brown Of Virginia
was engaged in the preparation of his
monumental work, The Genesis of the
United States, he asked the Hon. ].
l.. NJ. Curry, who had been appointed
Minist9 10 Spain by President Clevr-
land. ii make inquiries in the great Ii
oraries Of that country for manuscripts
and other materials of our american
colonial history. Mr.. Curry remcm-
bcr"d inc request, and in the course of
MS Investigations in the library at
Sinancas he found n plan of Popham's
for at the mouth of the Kennebec.
IT was entitled The Draught of ST.
Georges fort Erected by Captayne
George Popham EsGuicr one the entry
of the famous Riu.r of SagadahOc i'm
Virginia taken out by John Hunt the
viii day of october in the ycarc of cur
Lordc 1907" This date, October 8.
1907, is probably the date on which the
Mary and John left the mouth of the
kennebec on her return voyage to
England. The journal Of the colony,
not long ago discovered in the library
of Lambeth Palace, London. is evil
IDENTIFY Il fragment, and ends with Sep
TENDER &c. 1907. Strachcy, who seems
to have derived his narrative of the
expedition from this journal, continues
the record until October 6. 1907. 1t is
unlikely that the plan of the fort would
have been dated two days after the
Mary and John left the mouth of the
kenncbec, and am therefore inclined
to think that this date, October s, is
the date of the sailing. Concerning
John Hunt, whose name occurs in the
inscription upon the plan, nothing is
know. He was probably the drafts
man by whom the plan was made.
But how did the plan find its way
into Spain? Just as many another
plan and document of that time per-
tanning to American colonization pass
ed almost at once into the hands of the
crafty Spanish Minister in London.
ana from his hands into those of his
no less INSCRIPTIONS master Philip III
The Mary and John reached England
near the close of November or early in
December. BY direction of the KING.
the Spanish Minister, Don Pedro lie
Zuniga. was unrcmitting in his efforts
to secure the latest information con-
corning English colonization schemes,
and he knew well how to make Span
ish gold contribute to his success The
plan of Fort st. George evidently came
into his hands early in September,
zoos, as he forwarded it to the King
with letter written Sept TO- In this
letter is to be found all the Informal
ton we possess concerning this price
less memorial of the beginnings of
English colonization in New England.
This draft of st. Georges Fort, so
long preserved in the library at
Simancas. may be the original plan.
If it is a copy, the original in England
has disappeared.
When the plan of the fort appeared
in connection with the publication of
The Genesis of the United States" it
was at once seen that it would not fit
the site of the present Fort Popham,
but that it would exactly fit this plot
of ground on which We are now stand
ing. and which is conceded To be the
site of the fort erected by the Popham
colonists
Accordingly permission from tho
War Department was asked ana re-
ceived to transfer to this spot the me-
mortal stone presented by the Main"
Historical Society in 1862. Permission
was also asked of the oliver brothers,
owners of the land Oh which the monu-
ment now stands, to locate the mcmo-
rial on this spur of Sabine Head which,
as the plan shows was included in Fort
st. George; and such permission was
generously given. But it was found
that the stone prepared for a place in
the walls of the old fort would not
of itself make a fitting memorial in
these new surroundings. Accordingly
the HallOwell Granite Co was asked
TO submit several designs for such a
memorial, in which the original stone
should be prominent feature. OF
three designs submitted in response to
this request, one was selected From
the unused material in the yard Of the
fort the War Department supplied
such additional stone as was needed
and the HlllOwcll Granite Co. has exc
cuted its accepted design in such a
manner as cannot fail to give the most
complete satisfaction to all who love
and cherish the simple annals of the
beginnings of English colonization on
New E.gland soil
1t should be added that the funds for