Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-09
Popham's Place in History.

first English colony in the New World.
Now Maine has much to be proud OF
in its early history, much to which the
writer's of history have given too scant
attention, but Names claims are very
much strained by any such assertion
as is referred to above. DiSregardlng
the work of early explorers ana
traders who made 10 attempts to
establish settlements, the credit for the
fiji st attempt at English colonization in
what is now the United States must
be given to Sir Walter Raleigh, This
was in 1885, over 20 years before
Popham and his associates planted
their illfated colony at the mouth Of
the Kennebcc. The Raleigh colony. to
be sure, Jared no better than that of
Popham, though it was planted in
more congenial climate and several
attempts We're made to send it relief
distinction of antedating the Popham
colony by over score of years.
Raleigh's first expedition. in 1885.
was commanded by his cousin. Sir
Richard GrenViIle. and the colonists
established themselves on Roanoke
island, off the coast of North Carolina.
a region explored year earlier by
ships Under Ralcigh's auspices and
namcd Virginia. in honor of Elizabeth,
the virgin queen" There were los
persons in the colony, but they were
mainly Adventures and seekers for
peacefully with the Indians or to hcw
out a permanent home in the wilder
ness. In the following year, 1886.
Raleigh sent over four vessels under
Grcnvillc with supplies and reinforce
mcnts. but before these had arrived
the survivors of the colony had sailed
back to England on the ships of Sir
Francis Drake who had touched at
Roanoke island while cruising Ameri-
can waters III Scdrcn Vi Spdii9h
treasure ships. GrenvilIe left behind
10 men and returned to England
A year later. in 1897. the persistent
Raleigh sent over third expedition
with $50 colonists under John White
as governor They found the fort in
ruins and only the bones of the 10
men. White left the colonistS behind
and returned to England for supplies
and recruits. ON the 18th of August
the daughter Of Governor WHITE
Eleanor Dare. gave birth to Il
daughter. called Virginia after the
| country, the first Child Of English
| parents born i'll America. The war
| between England ana Spain now came
on, causing the little colony at
| Roanoke to he left to its own re-
sources The details of its fate were
never learned. When White came
again from England several years
| later there WAS only dcsoItion t"
| greet him Thus in spite of all the
| expenditure Of lives aud money the
| 18th century closed With no English
settlement on the shores Of America.
This brief outline Of the Roanoke
settlement shows how far from the
| facts of history it is to speak OF
| Popham as the first attempt at English
| colonization in America. Not only
| that. but jamestown antcdates Pop
| ham by a few months for the James
| town colonists entered Chesapeake
| bay April &c, 1901. while George Pop
| ham ana his 120 followers did not
| touch the shores Of Maine until August
| Of the same year. The story Of the
| Popham colony is even bricfcr than
| that Of Ralcigh'S on the coast of North
| Carolina The hostile Indians did not
| massacre its members. but the
| severity of the first winter. in when
| Popham and many of his associates
| died. sent the survivors hurryIng back
| To England when another summer
| came. For the purpose Of return they
| built a rude ship. the Virginia ui
| Kcnn.bcck'. and it is the 30oth an
| nivcrsary Of the launching Of this
| craft. the first ship built in America
| which Bath. proud of its own long
| career as Il shipbuilding city, proposes
to celebrate this summer.
| But although Popham ranks later
than Roanoke and jamestown. 1t
| nevertheless stands as the first
English colony Of New England II
was a failure. and the men concerned
in it were not made Of the same sterI
stuff that those were composed Of who
a dozen years later planted colony
on the coast of Massachusetts which
lived and will live forever. a colony
based on something more enduring
| than the search for gold and HdVcn