Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-02-07
OLD CASTINE
Plans Celebration on Three Hun
dredth Anniversary.


dredth Anniversary.
Some time during the year 1918 or 1914,
most probably in July, 1914, the 3o0th an
niversary of the first permanent settle
ment of white people at Csstine will be
observed with appropriate exercises. If the
plans, which are now under consideration
by Charles w. Noyes, of Newark, N. j., a
summer resident of Castine, are carried
out.
Mr.. Noyes, who is member of the Cas-
tine historical society and of the Maine
historical society, and who has long been
interested in securing data in regard to
the early activity of the Jesuits in New
England, is already actively engaged in
planning for the precautionary celebration
OF the foundation of this settlement,
which he considers of great political, COM
mercial and religious Importance.
He gives the date of Nov. 6. 1911, as
marking the three hundredth anniversary
of the first landing OF white men at Cas-
tine. The four men who made this land
ing were Sieur de Biencourt, son oftSieur
de Pourtrincourt, and governor of his
colony at Port Royal, now Annapolis, N.
S.; Claude de Turgis de la Tour, two years
later the founder of Fort Pentagoet, which
Mr.. Moves declares to have been the first
permanent white settlement in New Eng
land, at Castine; his son Charles, after
wards it's permanent governor, and FIR.
Bard, 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 sof eastern
Maine, Betsa bes. The exact location OF
their landing place, which was at Bet
sabes' encampment, has been discovered
by the sons of the present owner of the
property, Mrs. G. 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. Biard performed what is known
as the second miracle which he wrought
in New France, the healing..of sick saw.
age.
According to Mr.. Noyes'i idea, it wal
largely from impressions formed duriR.
this visit that Claude denla Tour deter,
mined to make Pentagoet...the site of hi
permanent trading post, after the destruc
ton by Argall in 1913 of the colony at Per
Roysl. De la Tour left Port Royal, wher
he is known to have been, Nov. 9, 1913, TO
Pentagoet, where Capt. John Smith foun,
him well established July L, 1914, tn
trading post having been built between
those two dates. Mr.. Noyes argues that
was probably built shortly after De 4
Tours arrival and between the last O
November and the first of December, 161i
both to provide shelter and for the pur
pose of carrying on the business OF fur
trading during the winter.
The Observation-Disclosures by Mr.. Noye
have traced to his satisfaction DE Ia Tour
colony through nine changes of admins
tration, and he claims to have prove
without doubt that it was the first perma
nent settlement in New England, and it
actual commercial and political begin
ming. He points to the ruins of no les
than fifteen or sixteen forts, Within tn
limits OF what is now peninsula, then al
island, about two miles long by one mil
wide, which have successfully withstoo
two centuries OF conflict, as proof of tn
permaneney of the settlement.
The location of Betsabes' encampnen
he finds to be about 100 yards to the ives
of the site of Fort Pentagoet. The streat
which provided drinking water for tn
encampment is now covered and the grea
shell heaps are covered over with trrt
Two tablets have been placed here, on
concentrating the second miracle of Fl
Biard, and the other the first landing G
white men in 1911. This location is O
Perkins street near the Acadian hotel
The original name of the Bagaduo
river, according to Mr. Noyes, was Chi
boctous, an Indian name, signifying
great cove. The word Pentagoet is also G
Indian origin, it being applied by th
savages to the shore and outer islands {
the bay.
AMHERST