Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-29
White Man First Landed
At Old CaStine.
Two Years Later First Perma-
nent Settlement Was Made.
Originator Of Plans for Ter-centen.
NAL Pays Visit to Augusta.

Some time during the years 1913 or
1914, most probably in July, 1914, the
Booth anniversary of the first perma
nent settlement of white people at
Castine will be observed with appro-
pirate exercises, if the plans, which
are now under consideration by
Charles w Noyes of Newark n j., a
summer resident of Castine. are car
ried out.
THE Importance of this early settle
ment can hardly be over estimated"
remarked Mr. Moves, while in this city
on a business trip, this week. in speak
ing to Journal reporter of the first
landing of white men at Pentagoet.
now Castine, Nov. 6, 1911 and the per-
manent settlement, upon practically
the same locations sometime during the
winter Of 1913, or spring of 1914.
Mr.. Noyes. who is a member of the
Castine Historical Society and of the
Maine Historical Society and has long
been interested in securing data in re-
gard to the early activity of the Jesu-
its in New England, is already active
ly engaged In planning for the ter
centenary celebration of the founda-
ton of this settlement, which he con-
and religious Importance.
He gives the date of Nov. 6, 1911, as
marking the Booth anniversary of the
first landing of white men at Castine
The four men. who made this landing
We're Sieur de Biencourt son of Sieuf
de Pourtrincourt, and governor of his
colony at Port Royal. now Annap polls
N 5; Claude de Turgis de la Tour,
lot ha founder Of Fort
Pentagoet, which Mr.. Moves declares
to have been the first permanent white
settlement in New England. at cas-
tine: his son, Charles, afterwards its
permanent governor, and Fr. Biard,
the Jesuit priest.
These four men were returning from
an expedition to the Kennebec river
and came to Pentagoet by invitation of
the chief sycamore at that time of
eastern Maine, Betsabes. The exact
location of their landing place. which
WAS at Betsabes' encampment. has
been discovered by the sons of the
present owner of the property, Mrs. c.
G. Wilson of New York, being marked
by large shell heaps, which have been
discovered there. 1t was while on this
visit to Betsabes' encampment that FIR.
the second miracle, which he wrought
in New France, the healing of a sick
savage.
According to Mr.. Noyes idea, it was
largely from impressions formed dur
ing this visit that Claude de la Tour
determined to make Pentagoet the site
of his permanent trading post after
the destruction by Argall in 1913 of the
~ II IAft
Port Royal, where he is known to have
been. Nov. 9. 1913. for Pentagoet where
Capt John Smith found him well es-
tabHshed, July |, 1914. the trading post
having been built between those two
dates, Mr.. Noyes argues that it was
probably built shortly after De la
Tours arrival and between the last of
November and the first of December
1913, both to provide a shelter and for
the purpose of carrying on the bust
ness of fur trading during the winter.
The Investigations made by Mr.
Noyes have traced to his satisfaction
De la Tours colony through nine chan
ges of administration and he claims to
have proven without doubt that it was
the first permanent settlement in New
England and it's actual commercial
and political beginning. He points To
the ruins of no less than Is or l6
forts, within the limits of what is now
a peninsula, then an island, about two
miles long by one mile wide, which
have successfully withstood two cen
turtles of conflict, as proof of the per
menency of the settlement.
The location of Betsabes' encamp-
ment he finds to be about 100 yards 10
the west of the site Of Fort Pentagoet