The Popham Colony As Not to Know the Name

{T H E PO P HA M CO LO N Y

A D ISC ! SSI ON OF I TS H IS T OR ICAL OIEA IM S

‘V l l' ‘ l l A

B IBLIOG RA PH Y OF T H E S! BJECT

B O S T O N

' ‘ W I G G I N A N D L ! N J x S C H O O L S T RE ET , 3

T H E PO P H A M COL O N Y

A D ISC ! SSION OF I TS H IS T ORICAL

W IT H A

BIBLIOG RA PH Y OF T H E S! BJECT

B O ST O N

K VVIGGIN AN D L! NT 1 SC H OOL ST R EET J. . 3

P I H ! BL S ERS ADV ERTISEMENT .

followin a r u ments In the g discussion , the g for and against the h istorical claims of the English Colony that landed at the mouth K f b u 19 . 1 o A O. 6 0 7 the enne ec River , gust , ( S ) , are presented in T h . e an able and comprehensive manner articles , when they

n appeared in the columns of a daily ewspaper, attracted much

n m of m n attention ; and , as they contai atter per a ent historical i col nterest, we have deemed them worthy of preservation in a l t ec e d form . T h e writers can have no further motive for withholding their “ ” W . . ILLIAM FREDERICK names . We therefore state that P is Mr “ ” P OOLE of B n a i s , Librarian the oston Athe eum ; that Sabino f B W B D D . D . o Me t . E D ARD Rev ALLAR , , runswick , ; an d hat ” FR ER Orient and Sa ga da h oc are the signatures of Mr . ED IC

DD of B n . KI ER, osto h 18 6 2 Each year , since the ﬁrst Pop am Celebration in , memo rial services have been held on the Ann iversary of the Landin g

1 u on in 60 7 . P blic addresses have been delivered these occa

u . . A . r sions , and these have sually been printed Mr John Poo ,

of Me 1 8 6 2 . Portland , , delivered the Oration in ; Mr George

18 E . B o f Y 6 3 . of Folsom , New ork , in ; Mr E dward ourne,

18 64 m . Kennebunk , Maine , in ; and Prof. Ja es W Patterson ,

of D i n 18 6 5 . artmouth C ollege , B T s Mr . o s his discus ion arose from a notice by Poole , in the 6 ’ D A s o f 11 18 6 of . ton aily dverti er April , , Prof Patterson s

Address which appeared a bout that time in print . In this notice

for n the writer sharply assailed the claims the Popham C olo y, as set forth by the orator, and also by Mr . Kidder in a Letter which the Publishing Committee of the Celebration had printed B D r . as an Appendix to the Address . allard replied in the

B D i n oston aily Advertiser o f April 2 1 ; and Mr . Kidder the P 2 6 . ortland Advertiser of April From this point, the disputants cam e into close quarters on the general merits of the question . As earnest hi s torical discussion too often leads to bitterness

ha s n and estrangement, we are happy to state that such not bee

on the result in this instance . whose notice brought

fﬁ Po the discussion , received an o cial invitation to attend the p

A . ham Celebration in ugust last, which he accepted O ne of our

ﬁrm ca n , who was also present, state that the hospitality of the

Maine gentlemen n amed i n the follo wing extract from the report of B D t the Celebration in the oston aily Adver iser, of September

1 i s - , not over stated

s e e t o - a m o m s s c s s o c or I day , ng the gue s t s fro Ma a hu ett , y ur res p o ndent wh o h a s written o f late s o m e hard thin gs re s pe ct

s P o m o o n i s c s o o ing thi pha C l y . He re eiving every per nal attenti n

Re . D r . B om v P s o o s H on . s . fr allard , re ident W d , Cha

. m a o s m s o f s J Gil n and ther and the erry peal laughter , that bur t o c c s o o m o c ff c o f o o o n a i nally fr the gr up , indi ate that di eren e pini n hi s to rical ques ti o n s need n ot dis turb the harm o ny o f s o cial inter

A s I s s o i n B s D r . c o urs e . ﬁni h thi rep rt ath , I under tand that

B allard and the o ther gentlem en nam ed have c a pt u re d ' th e i r friend

c o a n d h im om w m t o B s w c w ly detra t r , taken h e ith the run i k , here ” he will do ubtles s rec eive go od treatm ent .

T h e B m ibliography of the Popha Colony, which is appended ,

m . a nd fa r was co piled , at our request , by Mr Poole ; , so as the

ws ne paper articles , and the minor pieces connected with the ﬁrst

d w a s m m n Celebration , are concerne , it ade chieﬂy fro the collectio T B b . preserved y Mr John Wingate hornton , of oston , who has

m o u r kindly placed the in hands for that purpose . T h e list B h w D r . a s b a s then sent to allard , who contri uted the articles in h is possession which were not already included . W . & L. t n D a i l A ve ti A i l 11 18 66 [Bos o y d r ser , p r , ]

T HE LAST POPHAM ADD RESS.

of We ﬁnd another contribution to the literature Popham, in

m . the elegantly printed Address of the Hon . Ja es W Patterson ,

of 2 5 8 th An delivered at the Peninsula Sabino , on the Popham n i ve r sa r w t o u r y ; hich , as all the world knows withou giving the T m A 2 9 18 6 5 . information , was ugust , hick, crea y paper , John

’ ’ Wilson and Sons best typography, and Mr . Wiggin s imprint, were among the least of the motives that induced u s to seize u pon and devour the contents of t his delectable pamphlet .

We confess to a partiality for Popham literature . Its theory

so m is original , so free fro conventional trammels , so utterly at

r i t difﬁ» variance with the accepted facts of histo y, that is often

’ cult to persuade on e s self that its advocates intend anything

. on ﬁc more than historical waggery So we read , as in other tion , to be amused .

A false theory zealously defe nded commonly ﬁnds m ore sym a

T h e PO h a mite pathy than the truth feebly supported . p s have n ailed their ﬂag to the mast, and ask for no favors from any \V . e m quarter ad ire their pluck , and , for their sakes , regret that they have so fe w historical verities i n their ammunition “ m locker . W e have read their Memorial Volu e , from title ’ “ page to errata, as well as Mr . Poor s facetious Addenda in Vin

’ 7 dica tion of Sir Ferdinando Gorges ; not shying either at his

- Appendix . of ﬁfty two solid nonpareil pages . E very other Ad

on of dress the subject, and every scrap newspaper controversy w accessible , e have diligently perused ; and yet the impression remains on the mind that the facts to sustain this extraordinary 6

s m theory have not yet been developed . For o e reason , (perhaps

s s u s r w i t lo ic o f to urpri e the mo e hen does come , ) the stern g truth is w ithheld ; and w e are served to e mpty assertion and w m its . ne vapid decla ation in stead Every publication , there

o f P m i m i s fore , opha orig n , or fro the Maine Historical Society, o f a s m a s interest, possibly it y contain the suppre sed develop m m a nd B a u ents . Ply outh Massachusetts y are waiting, gracef lly to yield the ho nors awarded them i n history for more than two “ ” hundred years to the C hurch Colony of Sa ga da h oc . Is the

? s pamphlet before us the coming docum ent Let u s e e .

s w a s m n s l . Mr . Patter on is well kno n a gentle a and a cho ar He

D m s has been Professor at art outh C ollege , and now is Repre enta

ffi tive in C ongre s s from Ne w Hampshir e . Of his early local a ni ties we kno w nothing ; but there was every reason to expect from him a valuable contribution to this historical discussion . His T opening sentence i s sonorous and impressive . his [Fort Pop

7 ) h a m] is hallow ed gro u n c Why hallowed ground w e would m m detain the Professor for a mo ent, eekly to inquire ; but he hur “ o n w ries to other glittering generalities . Is this spot hallo ed

i n Au ground , because a colony of convicted felons landed here 160 7 w m d D m gust, , more than half of ho eserted the next ece ber , w and all abandoned the spot the follo ing Spring, leaving with the neighboring Indians the memory of the mo s t shocking barbarities

m ? de s s ! 18 5 8 t om . committed upon the ( See Relations J suite , ,

’ k n . . 3 6 Pa r ma s i p ; Pioneers of France , p . Was it because these s portive coloni s ts enticed friendly Indians into this same t Fort, under the pretense of trade ; and , causing them to ake the

- n o ff drag repes of a loaded can on , ﬁred the piece when the In

’ i n blow h m ms ? dians were line , and t e to ato (See Williamson s ” . . . . T he Hist of Maine , vol i p lines of an eventful history ,

s a Mr Patterson goes on to y, stretching through more than two

s h f t centurie and a al , converge to his beautiful prom ontory of ” “T Sa b i ne . o think not . Heaven spare the land from such ! P a disgrace Mr . atterson devotes two pages to genera l of off assertions similar import, and then branches into another subject having n o relation to the historical question . Into this

n ot e w h im we do pr pose to follo . A l curious feature in this pamphlet is an isolated Letter , writ

a B A e n dik. ten by respectable oston gentleman , foun d in the pp

T of on his alone , the correspondence received by the C ommittee

Invitations , we are told, was found worthy of preservation . It was certainly n o t so much the name of the writer that rescued

m n - this letter fro the oblivio of the waste basket, common to its

m s on th e n of fellows , as the i pres ion the minds of ma agers the

n a Celebratio , th t it contained historical information tending to confirm their theory . “ T h - of e letter writer finds that the works the colonists , “ fe w Sa b ine m during the months they stopped at , were far ore ” Th e important tha n their formal acts recorded . distinction he would make between “ works and “ formal acts is not quite A “ ” “ apparent . mong the works he specifies, is a vessel , the ” dimensions of which are unknown ; but fit to cross the ocean . Strachey tells us what we know about this vessel He says i t “ was a pretty Pynna c e o f about som e thirty tonne . Whether

r T h c o s s l . e it was ﬁt to the ocean , we will present y consider writer claim s for this ﬁshing- boat the honor of being the pioneer s hip built in North America . T his claim is nothing new . Mr .

J A. ohn Poor made it in Popham Memorial , ( page and other h of wei ht . T e writers less g have repeated it real fact, however, is that a vessel was built i n ' the harbor of Port Royal ( n o w

H - ilton Head) forty four years before this, by Huguenot colo

i t of n s s . , in which a party more than twenty crossed the ocean

B u t o u t o f , leaving the account the Huguenot vessel, a similar

b in Sa e . pinnace had been built at before this Strachey says , under the date of 2 8 th of Augu st : Most - of the hands labored

b u ldin of hard about the fort, and the carpenters about the y g a

1 i L t t i s in t nti o n a 10 Th s e er repr ed e re p ge . 8

s a n d one small pinnace , the pre ident overseeing applying every T h “ ” e . e to his w rke other craft, called the Virginia, for which

s e t m the above pretensions are up, was not fra ed till after D d — 15 Captain avies had sailed for Englan , that is , after the th o f D m ece ber .

T h e letter - writer fu rther garnishes his theme by talking about ’ “ ” s ﬁshi n - thi g boat s safe voyage to England , an d the curiosity

of she excited in an English port . For the sake these historical

u e statements , the Committee have tho ght pr per to preserve this T to n letter . heir theory must be in a desperate condition eed such a conﬁrm ation .

We have a word to say with regard to this vessel . Writers on New England have generally stated that the departing colo i T ff n sts t . took this craf with them his, however, is very di erent

m “ to from the statements ade above , that she was ﬁt cross the ” “ m to etc . A ocean , that she ade a safe voyage England , part of the company were not over anxious to r e - visit their native

. T land hey had saved their necks once by emigrating, and were “ n ot in haste to put them again into the halter . With this pretty

nn a ce c odﬁsh py they could catch , and cure them along shore ; barter them fo r other com modities with som e of the hundreds of vessels from Europe employed i n the ﬁsheries o n the coast ;

s hara s the Indians ; and lead generally a wild and free life, such

w a s T h as congenial to their character and dispositions . e ves m s Sa bi ne s m . m els , doubtless, left at the a e ti e When the ain

s wa s n body of the colonist departed, it ecessary that all should leave ; for they had so incurred the enmity of the Indians by

n their barbarities , that any left behi d would have been murdered .

’ Str a ch e s y account is entirely consistent with this . He says th ey all ymb a r qu e d in this new arrived ship [the ‘ Mary and

i n nna ce John and the new py , the Virginia, and sett saile for

England . And thi s w a s the end of that n or th e r ne colony upp e n ” h a d h “ Sa c e oc . B 16 2 2 the river rief Relation , , says, they built a

of s pretty barke their own , which served them a good purpose ,

s as ea ing them in their returning . Certainly ; but we do not 9

“ new nn a ce read that the py arrived in England , and was there m m of . an object of ad iration , as a speci en naval architecture

T h e m nn a c e - i probability that this py was sea worthy , and m A w ade a voyage across the tlantic, will appear from the follo ing considerations ;

1 T w 15 of D . here was not time bet een the th ecember and

- - Spring to build a sea worthy vessel . T here were but forty ﬁv e persons left in the colony, and this number was reduced before T Spring by disease and squabbles with the Indians . here were

T h n n ot m y . e probably ten carpenters in the co pan Wi ter, we h are told , was unseasonable and intensely severe . Strac ey says , “ ’ D v i i . a e s s that, after Capt departure they fully fin shed the fort, tre nch t a nd fi 12 n 5 0 forti ed it with pieces of ordna ce , and built ” b u — s ufii cie nt owses , besides a ch rch and a storehouse , work , we

m to - ﬁv e B ight suppose , employ forty Old ailey convicts till Spring,

- without building a sea going vessel . If Strachey does not tell the truth in this matter, we know nothing at all about this vessel .

2 - T . T . hey had no need of a sea going vessel hese were fur

i h TVh a t n n s e d by the English undertakers . they eeded was a i l Th small craft n which to take ﬁsh a ong shore . e Huguenots built their vessel in 15 6 3 to return home i n ; it being their only

T n m eans of escaping starvation . here was o intention of aba n D doning the Popham settlement till Capt . avies returned in the

J n Spring with the news that their patron saint, Sir oh Popham , “ ” surnamed the hangman , was dead .

3 . We know that the Popham colonists were knaves ; but it

n ot is necessary to infer that they were fools . Here was a good , “ ” D stanch ship , the Mary and John , of London , Captain avies , Th . e m master, about to sail for England whole co pany was T now reduced to about forty souls . his same ship had brought

h T h e over, a few months before , more than double t at number . graduates of penal institutions have usually as keen a regard fo r their corporal safety as other persons . Cowardice is commonly their ruling characteristic . Is it reasonable to suppose that any 10 o f that godle s s company w ould ha ve ri sked thei r lives to a voy “ ” s nn a ce age acro s the Atlantic in that pretty py , built of green

i n m w w m pine , id inter , hen they could have had safe and co fort “ ” s n n able quarter in the Mary and John ? If the inte tio , on the

o f th e m part anagers , was to transport the colonists safely to

d w a s m u on Englan , there no otive nor excuse for p tting any board m the new cr a ft . If there w a s a willingnes s on the part of so e of m m m the colonists to e bark in it, they ust, we think , have had so e

T h e other project in view than a trip across the Atlantic . asser tion that the vessel m ade the voyage is purely gratuitous .

[ T HE LETTER REF ERRE D T O ON P A G E

8 6 5 . B T N Au . 2 7 1 OS O , g , — M Y D EA R Su n Y o ur invitati o n t o be pre s e nt at the P o pham

s o o c w m e o m Celebrati o n i s at han d . The h rt n ti e ill prevent fr being pre s ent to take part in the intere s ti ng c erem o nies . With o u t as s enting t o all the c laim s m ade in yo ur P o pham Mem o rial ” V o m o w m e t o s a i o s w h o s o or lu e , all y , that I th nk th e have p ken w ritten o n that s ubj e c t have o verl o o ked o n e o f the m o s t i m p o rtant

m s o o t o s s o f s . s c c we re ult that enterpri e In thi pra ti al age , u t l k w hat wa s re ally effec ted by the earlie s t c o l o ni s ts o n the s e s ho re s .

u s ﬂ Sa a d a h o c s s fo r i n m o Let brie y try that at g by thi te t ; , y pin i o n w o s w m o m o t o m s , their rk ere far re i p rtant han the f r al act

co . c e a e c o s s c c o re rded They rt inly re ted h u e , a hur h , a f rt ; and ,

s s s m n s o s o f w c ow t o la tly , a ve el , the di e i n hi h are unkn n , but ﬁt

N w w e w i n s i s n o t ditﬁ c o s s o c . o o o r the ean kn , that , a f re t , it a c t o lo - o s s o r c c o s m ult thing build g h u e , a hur h and a f rt in the a e w a t c o s e a - i y ; but o n s tru ct a g o ing ves s el s quite a different affair . Thi s require s arti s an s wh o are u s ed t o su c h w o rk ; and there c a n

n o o m o c o o s s w o m be d ubt , that a ng the l ni t there ere f und a as ter l e w c s s o m a n d s w s fo r build r , ith the ne e ary j urney en a yer ( there w n o m s s m s o s o s fo r ere ill , ) a ith , and al everal lab rer the building

“ 1 a th e i i i t a s D i ” H e l k St a h s s h f sh gh w gb f L d . a s a f r c ey y , c e pwr one y , o on on so p e s o “ ”— t C a . x . th e c a rpen ers . h p l l

o f a ves s el i n a rem ote w ilderne s s w o uld then require three tim es the am o unt o f m anual labo r that wo uld n o w effec t the s am e re s ult i n s s w m s s o s s o the e day hen aterial are ea ily prepared , tran p rted f m and ﬁtted , by the aid o ac hinery .

o o w w a s c n o Po m L king , then , at hat ertai ly d ne by the pha

o o we m s o w s o o d C l ny , u t all that , during the h rt peri d they occupie

s o f o a n d m o w c for the rugged penin ula Sabin , aking due all an e a

w s c o s o - o s s c s s hard inter , the de tru ti n of their t re h u e , and the i kne

o o w s c f r that f ll ed , they de erve redit o enterpri s e and indu s try i n c o s c s s t o c u s o m s o f c n tru ting a ve el ﬁt en o nter the t r the Atlanti ,

m s h s and ake a afe v o yage t o E n gland . There s e m u t have

c m c t o o s o attra ted u h at enti n , being the pi neer hip built in N rth

’ m c . o w e co s v o f P o m s A eri a When , theref re , n ider the alue pha “ e s o o f V o f a nterpri e , the building and v yage the irginia S gada h o c n w a s n i s o e o f i t s m o s t im p o rtant re s ults . It o t e qualled by the P lym o uth co lo ny in the ﬁrs t t en years o f i ts exi s ten c e and it w a s n o t till the third year o f the exi s tence o f its p o w erful neighbo r “ ” s s c s s B a a s t o o s s o c w a o f Ma a hu ett y , that hip , ﬁt cr the ean , s c o n s tructe d .

s o u s m o s m a m Wi hing y a plea ant day and a nu er u co pany , I ,

Y o s ur truly ,

F RE D E R K DD E R IC I .

ecreta r ( t o. T o R e v . E D W ARD B ALLARD S , , y

t n D a i l A d v ti A i l 2 1 [ Bos o y er ser , p r ,

T H E LAST P O PHAM AD D RE SS .

T o th e E d itors of th e B os ton D a ily Advertise?

B of y the courtesy some unknown friend , I have received your

’

11th . . paper of the inst , containing a notice of Prof Patterson s

Address at the last C elebration at For t Popham . As it presents some matters needing amendment, I trust your greater courtesy will allow space i n your columns for a few observations . Your correspondent has confessed a partiality for the litera 12 ture growing out of the ﬁrst colonial occupation of the soil of

n s New England under English e terpri e ; and forthwith , in a style

d of o f of pleasantry, bearing with it the e ge ridicule , speaks the e fforts of its writers as scarcely better than advocates indulging “ ” “ ” a s in historical waggery, whose pages we read, in other “ ﬁction , to be amused . B u t without attempting to reply with smiles alone to such

m m w of atte pts at s iling a ay the force historic verities, it is per “ tine nt to say, that when your correspondent speaks of the false ” of m h theory the believers in the Popha Colony, it would ave

a s m m been quite lucid a ode of treat ent, if he had stated the

theory its elf. We had supposed that we were dealing with fa cts and were not responsible for any deductions drawn there

ff or An d a cts from , either by a ection prejudice . the f , though

m a m : T prominent, y be co prised in a short enumeration hat in 16 0 7 an English colony, under President George Popham, was founded at the mouth of the Kennebec was inau gurated an d continued with the sacred services of the Christian religion ; was an act u al posses s ion of the region afterwards known as New

England , under a Royal Charter never denied nor abrogated ; m w and , though intended, as the docu ents sho , to be perpetual , it

n of o f came to an end withi a year , by reason the death its two chief supporters ; and was followed by a succession of ocen

a ncie s m - r p , that proved title , as against the for er and never e newed claims of France .

s m “ ‘ Now, if these fact ake the extraordinary theory , which

s your corre pondent has not ventured to describe , we are ready

i n its s to take it all dimension , and furnish your readers the

s a s o u l u proof , as readily y wil grant your columns . B t we are n o t o ur or inclined to shut mouths , stop our pens , by the terror “ ” of “ m any such words as false and extraordinary theory, e pty m ” “ assertion and vapid decla ation . We do not ask Plymouth and Massachusetts Ba y gracefully to yield the honors of their ’ “ th ” exalted position, any farther than e stern logic of truth 13

n ot to s a may demand ; and we shall be unwilling y, that the

of m n n claims of history are worthy respect, even a o g the prese t dwellers in those ancient and time - honored colonies As to the

’ of Sa a da h oc remark about Church C olony g , that may

of . pass as a piece pleasantry, though it was a fact

T h e to of question is asked, in regard the Opening sentence ’ “ ” . A ? Mr Patterson s ddress , Why is this hallowed ground We had supposed, that any place where religion had held its services h m continuously , and in connection wit i portant events, might T h properly bear such a designation . e orator evidently thought

v ou t m so ; and his ery large audience . of the thousands asse bled

no t of th e on that day, did once think a criticism upon expres B . u t n ot sion the question seems to have been proposed, so much for disputing the religious associations connected with the

two of undertaking, as to bring in charges against the colonists ,

of no force whatever against the great purposes the settlement . “ Th e rst o f ﬁ charge is , that a colony convicted felons landed here in Now who believes this ? We wh o live in the

of h valley the Kennebec have always supposed , that fait is belief

on on founded evidence ; and that all other demands faith, if answered , are credulity . What is the evidence that the charge

Th e is true ? Not a particle . only pretence of proof is the

of of casual remark Sir William Alexander, who says these

s — of of coloni ts , course he means the laboring part their num

— to ber, and not the ten in authority, that they went these “ la w or o wn o western shores , as endangered by the , their n cessi ” B u ties . t was there no other law than that against social crime ? C ontem poraneous history shows that their enda ng e r A men t proceeded from the statutes against vagrancy . t that

of of time , in consequence the state the country, a poor man could hardly avoid their grasp . Surely poverty was no crime . Gorges sought persons of this necessitous class to aid i n carry

1 i i i f N a a ti Ch a . . Br e e rr on , p I4

‘ ing forward his noble purposes of colonization . While history i s s mm s m the be t co ent on language, the ﬁve word of Sir Willia

T u s are entitled to its explanation . rue charity never requires m to give the worst interpretation , when the circu stances allow

s . the be t . Here they require it It is most unfortunate for the t ru th of the charge about the m felons in the colony, that Chal ers than whom no man has had a longer and better Opportu nity of searching the British State

s r Papers of thi pe iod , and who has the credit of being reliable as to facts says the law for the transportation of convicts was 16 19 B not enforced till and ancroft says , that , when they were “ b e m o f enforced, it must re embered , the crimes which they were T h convicted were chieﬂy political . e number transported to Virginia for social crimes was never considerable ; scarcely enough to sustai n its pride in its scorn of the la boring popa la ” 1 tion ; certainly not enough to affect its character . If there had

i t f in been any convicts in the Kennebec Colony, would be air to ” ff fer from this declaration , that they were chieﬂy political o end “ n o u m ou s no u h a t n er e to ect . ers , and certainly g ﬂ its character B ut Chalm ers says there was no tran s portation of any class of the guilty till T herefore there was none to Sagada hoc ; a nd for the addi tional an d better reason tha n his state m h a s n o t n w ent, that the law yet bee sho n requiring transporta

m n for tion as a punish e t moral guilt, during the time of the i nci ie ncv p , continuance and end of the Popham C olony . Con

n ot victs could be transported without a law . Any charge,

o f therefore , as about the felons the colony, is injuriously brought

th m m o f against e e ory the helpless dead .

The second charge comes from the cannon story : that the

m e n u - s at the fort ind ced the Indians to man the drag rope , and to stand in the line of direction of the piece aimed for exe c u tion ; and then ﬁred off the piece upon the whole body of

1 H i —~ t . ! . S . i i 19 V o l . . . 1 1 . E d 837 . s , p .

P li t i a l A a l 46 s . . o c nn , p

m h s shocking barbarities, it ig t be well wi hed that so able and

s n interesting a hi torian as he , had given the brief arrative itself, “ rathe r than to have derived such a theory from its statements . “ Were there no shocking barbarities el s ewhere against the natives The ﬁrst known u tterance of this can non story was made in

Massachusetts , about seventy years after its asserted occurrence . A few words m a y be allowed as to the letter in the Appen dix m s l of . m , which co e in for a arge share notice It is inti ated that other letters w ere not worthy o f preservation . T h e reason why they were not printed was because they were notes o f cour

m . . tesy to the Com ittee , not needing public expression Mr Kid

’ u s der s letter was tho ght to have a historical value , as illu trating the skillful and industriou s abilities of the colon ists ; and is cer ta inl of m or re y proved to be some i portance , it would not have

v c e i e d so much attention .

T h e fi m o n n on - rst criticis is verbal , the apparent distinction “ ” “ ” T w . o u s bet een works and formal acts recorded , who

n ot m have drank water , if inspiration . fro the still existent Pop h a m of s t well , beneath the shadow Sabino Head , it appear hat “ m ” for al acts recorded, were the acts of taking possession with m “ m m chartered rights , placed on the inutes by John Sca on , Sec ’ 7 T h “ ” r e ta r . e of y works were the daily toils the laborers , i n d trenching, fortifying, buil ing the storehouse and church and ” the pretty pynn a ce . We thank your correspondent for presenting the fact of a French vessel b u ilt at Port Royal forty years before any naval

m a in architecture was atte pted at S b e . We have been so much

o f n s in the habit of thinking English colonizatio , that perhap we

z . B u t have had too narrow a hori on , better taught, hereafter we will be careful to put the patrial adjective as the proper

“ ‘ ” 3 s E n lish predeces or , and say the g pioneer ship , and so again adhere to fact .

nna ce e one m As to another py , built b fore this clai ed as the 17

t o f m . ﬁrs , we are also glad to be assured the fact for the ﬁrst ti e

t m We had supposed hat the two mentions , ade in the Popham

n o ne —i a j ournal as give by Strachey, related to the vessel, ” l “ B two t . u t another wri er cal ed a pretty bark , if there were , so

’ h f r muc the better o Mr . Kidder s illustration touching the l ll of . a ski l and energy the colonists Strachey says , they em

in barked the ship that arrived with supplies from England ,

’ i n nna ce for and the new py , the Virginia, and set sail

T a l . l England his word , used also by Gorges and Ogilby, and its equivalent by a contemporaneous writer, forbids utterly

n the statement of your correspo dent, that a considerable portion ”— o f the colonists took the other pynna ce which we cannot yet l — “ ” see was bui t to ﬁsh, and lead generally a wild and free life . m “ ! It is also inti ated that the Virginia did not reach England .

B u t B 16 2 2 m the riefe Relation , , gives as uch information about

its arrival in England as about the arrival of the ship . A fair hearing of the old writer is eno ugh to sho w that both reached

E n lish the expected haven ; and , doubtless , the ﬁrst g vessel built i n these wild regions did awaken curiosity in t he beholders at “ ” B u t . home . this may be theory As to the improbability of the building of this vessel in the

m wd i n fe w ti e allo e , and the unusually cold winter , with the m e n B : , it is enough to reply, that the riefe Relation says this Having i n the tim e of their abode there (notwithstanding the

of coldness the season , and the small help they had , ) built a

o f o wn m to pretty bark their , which served the good purpose , as ” i n easing them [i e . the other vessel] in their returning . T h e application of the term hangm an is made to the Chief

B u t Justice Popham . it is not easy to see what connection it has f with the purpose of the colony . If the laws o the land required

m b a dminis cri inals to be hung, he cannot be lamed for their

tra tio n . n a t o Sad i deed will it be for m gistrates , if they are be

th u thus designated because they execute e laws . It wo ld not be

1 Bri efe Rela ti o n . 18

d f ﬁ i cult to place his character in an honorable light, as he was

his Po seen by his contemporaries ; and as to brother , George p

o f m ham, he has been truly styled by the historian ancient Pe a “ ” h t N e w quid , the wort y Presiden , whom England counts as

‘ m o f a ong the earliest, if not the very ﬁrst, her illustrious deat SAB IN O.

P tla n d A d v ti A i l 26 186 6 [ or er ser , p r , ]

T H E LAST P OPHAM AD D RE SS .

! nder the above caption the re w a s printed in the B oston

D a il Advertiser th e 11th of y of instant, over the signature ’ s s what purports to be a review of Prof. Patterson Addres at the

Celebratio n of the two hundred and ﬁfty- eighth Anniversary of m h of Sa a da oc . the Planting the Popha Colony, at g d m At the ﬁrst rea ing of this so ewhat curious review, I sup posed the writer had intended to throw ridicule on the Popham

a n d celebrations , all concerned in them ; but, on a closer perusal ,

h a s th e h is I concluded that he , to extent of abilities , really undertaken to overthrow the whole history of that settlement,

h a s and all that been written about them , by the force of his arguments . He com mences his theme by ridiculing the Popham Mem o ” “ ” of s m rial, the Vindication Gorge , and so e other publica w m tions ; but ithout atte pting to reply to any part of them . He

. s next goes on to tell us that Mr Patter on is a scholar , has

s s D m been a Profe or at art outh College, and is now a Member

n m s of C ongress ; and the co mences his on laught by stating , that on that spot ( Sa b ine ) a colony of convicted criminals landed i n

16 0 7 m of s D m a n , ore than half whom de erted the next ece ber, d m t the re ainder lef the next spring, after committing the most

’ shocking barbarities on the Indians ; and refers to Williamson s 19

’ H of M Pa rkma n s — o f istory aine , and Pioneers, neither which

m l h to authorities justify any such state ent ; and , a t ough trying

’ of him ridicule some Professor Patterson s sentiments , charges with branching off into a subject that has no relation to the

u q estion at all . Leaving the thirty o dd pages of the Address without any

m a s n t n re arks , he attacks a letter, written a reply to an i vi atio

on i n to be present that occasion , which the writer notices the m building of a ship by the colonists , as a fact of so e importance ,

o n which , all the writers that expedition say, took part of the B colonists to England . u t let us follow him through his many

An d wild and unsupported assertions relating to that vessel .

m a be here it y proper to say, that the letter does not endorse

m or o f the authors of the Popham Me orial , any part their theory , but at the ou tset expresses a dissent to many of the claim s made

th e se by writers , and refers almost entirely to the ship and its

. T m history his reviewer , after so e grand denunciations , ﬁnally

u concentrates his arg ments into three stately propositions . l First, that the vesse never was built, because there was not

time, and also that there was not over ten carpenters , or forty

i n it - persons all the colony to do , while we know that since that day vessels of ﬁve times her size have been built with

half that force , and in much less time , in that immediate vicinity .

Second , that there was no need of a vessel ; and third, that she

of on e was built green pine , and no would wish himself in her ;

a n d so the idea that she m ade the voyage is absurd . Now this

is exactly the famous kettle argument over again , with results j ust as conclusive .

In reply to these three formal propositions , it is only necessary

of of on to say , that the fact the building the vessel rests as good authority as any hi storical statem ent relating to that colony ; that there were sufﬁcient m e n a n d fu ll time to do it in ; and that there can be n o doubt it was intended to build a ship whe n the

n expedition left Engla d, from the fact that they brought out a 2 0

“

- w a s of master ship builder and w orkmen . That she built green m w w pine i s an assum ption very i probable , hen we kno that the gro wth along that s hore w a s mainly hard wood wh ile pine pre

B u t v dominates i n the i n terior . his most se ere tirades are

n poured out u pon the poor colonists , calling them felons , k aves ,

s u o f B . cowards , and almo t exha sting the vocabulary illingsgate m m T o thi s I will not atte pt to reply, but merely re ark , that his “ st le a s m language , v and logic , is far removed fro the pure well o f E n glish u n de ﬁle d as a p ool of stagnant water is from a perennial fountain . A passing reader of his famous review would be at a loss to understand why this terrible onset is made o n this small pam

n - n o t phlet, ine tenths of which he says does refer to the Popham subject at all , as though he expected to conquer them , Chinese

Bu t m m . like , by only aking a great noise a friend at y elbow

s n o r of savs that this is a broad ide in adva ce , , rather , the ﬁre his

m to of skir ish line , and only preparatory the advance his big

of guns , which are to come in the shape a preface to a reprint ,

to . in which he intended entirely annihilate the Pophams, the

Gorges , all their followers and biographers , great and small , rich

m o u r and poor, so co pletely that histories will have to be r e t m wri ten , and these old na es that have been so prominent in ou r early annals obliterated entirely ; and ﬁnally to destroy the gran

of m m ite walls Fort Popha , emorial stone and all, and by further displays of his cut - and - thrust logic prove conclusively that it is N . ou s c e all a myth, and nothing of the kind ever existed rrons .

ORIENT .

t n D a i l A d r er ti s er 3 1 1866 [Bos o y , ,

P P A N D O HAM AGAIN FINALLY .

’ of n Ade e i Our notice Professor Patterso s Address , in the rt ser of 11th h a s “ the of April, drawn from Sa b ine an extended 2 1

A u r n n d . s o reply, which appeared ten ays later object in otici g ” A not Sa b ine the ddress was controversy ; and as , skirmishing

ff on here and there , has made no e ective attack any historical

d u position taken in the criticism, we have o bted the propriety

f m T h e w o aki ng a rejoinder . orld is not in haste to become

P o h a miz d T h m n p e . e me ories and associations of more tha two

on not to centuries , grounded historic truth , are be pushed aside by the most absurd and baseless theory ever addressed to the human understanding . “ ” Sa bi ne of n t has done us the honor ack owledging , hat we have contributed to this discussion some historical facts that h a d

' n h e u s not before falle under his notice , and thanks for the T h . e same most courteous acknowledgment we can make is , m confessedly, a rejoinder . We shall therefore examine so ewhat m b v ou r n d inutely several of the positions taken Eastern frie ,

r hoping still to deserve his kind eulogium , by contributing othe facts that ma y not have come within his observation .

h n s We feel especially favored in avi g, as a di putant in this dis

no m Pe h a mite b u t cussie n . amateur nor journey an p ; the mas

- a ter workman , the original inventor and patentee , the M gnus “ Apollo of the theory ; he who com piled the Memorial Volume ;

i n midsu m who arranges annually those agreeable junketings ,

Sa bine wh o m of mer, at Head ; is perpetual anager the controversy

f r and overseer of the press o all Popham publications . He kindly

ne so informs us (for no o knows well as himself ) why Mr . Kid

’ d n m der s letter was printe , co ﬁr ing the impression expressed

u r . in o notice Every fact and inference , favoring his side of the

Sa b ine not of w n question that is master , is not worth kno i g . It is unfortunate that one so profound in P oph a mistic lore

n o t a n d should express his ideas in clear idiomatic English .

o f u n ou r n Some his sentences , after careful st dy, we co fess i a b il ity to understand ; and he often makes use of words ou t of their “ ordinary meaning . For instance, he says , We who live in the

of valley the Kennebec have always supposed , that faith is 2 2

m on belief founded in evidence and that all other de ands faith,

w d . dema n ds if ans ered , are cre ulity How on faith can in any

c redu lit m event be y, is to us as obscure as the etaphysical m no enclature in vogue in the valley of the Ke nnebec . Faith is “ deﬁned by the be s t lexicographer of the language a s the assent

o f m th e of the ind to truth what is declared by another , resting ” o n h is r autho ity or veracity, without other evidence . We , at

B a the y, accept an older deﬁnition , running after this fashion

No w of faith is the substance things hoped for , and the evi ” dence of things not seen . We apprehend that if there is , in m the valley of the Kennebec , any faith in the Popha theory ,

h h is other t an that held by our clerical friend and copartners , it “ is grou nded solel y o n the assertion of Sa b i ne (the

o f ﬁrm fli rt ine H istor ica l Societ corporate style the is the y, ) as

m to h h o d r e e e o w i s n ot se n . so ething p f , but the evidence for hich “ ” Sa bi ne s stvle n ot , on the other hand , object to our , as

o a s i s appr priate for a gr ve historical discu s ion . He shocked “ we s that should speak of his theorizing as hi torical waggery, ” which we read, as we do other ﬁction , to be amused . Style ,

m of a c after all , is greatly a atter taste , for which there is no w u . n o w e co nting We are , however, to deal with History ; and promise our friend that our style shall be a s rigid and m atter - of fact as he can desire . “ ” Sa bi ne co mplained that we commented on the Popham “ theory w ithout stating the theory its elf. Our notice was w ritten to be read only by those who are conversant with th e

s s o ne o f m historical discu sion of the day, not who , probably, is ignorant of what he and his Society h ave been doing and printing

w m e m for the pas t four years . He supplied hat he dee ed an is

h is - m n sion i n our notice . We copy carefully prepared state e t

s i n m in full , and in ert numerals , for convenience its exa ination

“ i n 16 0 7 a n E s c o o P s e o That ngli h l ny , under re id nt Ge rge

P o m w a s o 1 m o o f K n c w a s pha , f unded ( ) at the uth the e nebe inaugurated and co ntinued w ith the s ac re d s ervi c e o f the Chri s tian

2 4:

m o n be comprised in o ne sentence . A ser on was preached two occa s ions ; and som e Indians were taken on a S u nday to the

“ ” of u place p blic prayer, when they listened with great rever ” T ence and silence . his conduct was highly commendable in “ ” s th e d n the Indians ; and , if the coloni ts , wicke , condem ed men ,

a s m had behaved well, something, after all, ight have come of the enterpri s e . “ H n 3 . ow much of the region afterwards know as New ” “ ” England was thi s Colony in actual possession of ? A few

of Sa b ine i n acres of ground on the Promontory , where they

t m m ! w trenched he selves , and nothing ore From this narro

n foothold they were driven , on one occasion , by the I dians, who

s of took posses ion of their Fort, their stock provisions and mil i

of tary stores . Not understanding the nature gunpowder , the — Indians ble w themselves up ; and the survivors regarding the explosion as an expres sion of disapproval o n the part of the Great t w Spiri for their rudeness in driving, ith arrows and clubs ,

- ﬁve s o u t of forty Engli hmen a Fort that was trenched, and mounted twelve pieces of ordnance — restored the premises to its gallant defenders , and proposed henceforth to li ve on terms

’

. s of of friendship ( See William on s History Maine , i . p . “ Why does Sa b ine limit their possessions to New England ?

Why not give them North America, and the whole Western C ontinent h ’ 4 . T e a t Popham theorists maint in , tha King James s North Virginia Charter o f 160 6 had some s pecial virt u e as a barrier to m B French supre acy in New England . oth nations claimed the

’ whole territory the English on the ground of Cabot s disco v lb ’ 15 8 ery , and of Gi ert s taking formal possession in 3 ; and the

on of m French the ground prior settle ent . T he question of s u

re ma c m m p y was to be deter ined by per anent occupancy, by m enterprise , and by valor in ar s ; not by royal proclamatio ns and charters . No royal charter to a trading co mpa ny could strengthen the title England already possesse d by right - of 2 5

Th e discovery and former occupation . Plymouth C olony landed

i n n New E gland without a charter , and the event will never be

the less signiﬁcant on that account .

“ n 5 . T h e Popham Colony came to an end withi a year , by ” Did reason of the death of its two chief supporters . it ever ” u occur to Sabino , that his Colony m st have had a very slender

ou n of ou t f da tion to have fallen in ruins at the death two , of a

? T h e hundred and twenty, persons engaged in it Plymouth

ﬁft - one C olony lost by death , in four months after the landing, y

o u t of . one hundred and two , and still the Colony lived We “ ’ ” neither accept n or deny Sabino s statem ent as to the cause by

- in which his C olony came to its end . Mourners doubtful cases ,

should be allowed to settle these questions for them selves . It

of m a n o ne of w was a case co plicated diseases , y hich would ’ have resul ted in dissolution . Sworn testimony and a coroner s

jury would be necessary to determine the approximate cause . Th e ﬁrst question before such a tribun al would be whether the

to . patient could be said have ever lived Waiving this point, we “ u — D of sho ld , if pressed for a verdict, give ied by visitation A ” the lmighty .

Who were the two persons whose lives were so intimately e u t ? T twined with hat of the Colony hey were George Popham ,

who came over as president, and his brother , Sir John Popham , — wh o never came over both very aged persons . Sir Ferdinando

wh o Gorges , was interested in all these misfortunes , and knew more of the end of the Colony than any other person whose writ

’ i n no t ngs have come dow to us , did regard the president s death f m “ o . H e as a matter i portance says , his death was not so

h s h e fore strange, in t at he was well tricken in years he went, ” i n ﬁr m e B 1 . 0 and had long been an man ( riefe Narration , p ) l m Ra eigh Gilbert, a younger and ore energetic man , a man ,

of y says Gorges , worthy to be beloved them all for his industr , was forthwith appointed president ; and the change was rather a 2 6

f ﬁ bene it, than otherwise , to the Colony , if anything could bene t w what a s in a rticu lo mortis .

The death of Sir John Popham w a s a m ore serious matter . He w a s t h e head and front of the enterprise ; the brother was

’ hi u s s . only s agent . It was Sir John Colony He f rni hed the

k of n m bul the capital , provided the colo ists , gave his na e and

“h e h o wn m to t h e . his personal infa y undertaking , t en , was

m n d Sir John Popha ? He w a s Lord Chief Justice of E glan ,

- and w a s seventy six years of age . In his youth he had been a “ w . high ayman , and probably a garroter He frequently sallied

n w n of d s forth at ight from a hostel in South ark , with a ba d e pe

’ h m m on rate characters, and , planting t e selves in a bush Shooter s

l o r Hi l , taking other positions favorable for attack and escape,

n o t m they stopped travelers and took from them only their oney, m but any valuable co modities which they carried with them .

lm s The extraordinary and a o t incredible circumstance is , that Popham is suppo s ed to have continued in these cour s es after he

b a r had been called to the , and when , being of mature age , he m ” ’ was married to a respectable wo an . (Lord Cam pbell s Lives 1 849—5 f s . 7 . o the Chief Ju tices , , i p Lord Campbell was not the man to s peak unadvisedly of o ne who had occupied

’ f on e i n “ the highest judicial o ﬁce , save , England . Popham s

” “ ‘ ’ s u u ma n portrait, he says , repre ented him as a h ge , heavy , gly , and I a m afraid he would not appear to great advantage in a s m w h im i n ketch of his oral qualities , hich , lest I should do j u s m ” — . . 2 2 9 tice I will not atte pt Idem , p .

la w “ With regard to his reports , Lord Cam pbell says th e v

e ill d th e v n ot n are wretch dly one , and are co sidered of authority .

! We should have been better pleased if he h a d given u s an accou nt

” of o f his exploits when he was chief of a band freebooters . “ T h e a h im ( p . repro ch urged against was extreme se

‘ ’ s n . n n verity to pri o ers He was otorious as a ha ging judge . Not only was he keen to convict in cases prosecuted by the

s a nd government ; but in ordinary larcenie , above all in highway 2 7

wa s f h im . robberies , there little chance of an acquittal be ore

2 19 . Idem , p . He left behi n d h im the greatest estate that had ever bee n a w m m massed by any la yer . So e said as uch as a year ; but it is not supposed to be a ll honestly come by ; and he is re por ted even to have begun to save money when ‘ the road did him ’ — . 2 2 9 . justice Idem, p . A His other biographers , Fuller , ubrey, Lloyd , Wood and Foss ,

h to paint his character in similar colors . T e v allude and several o f of them state at large , the shocking details the manner in w i l c ote hich he came into pos s ession of L tt e Hall . his estate b in Wiltshire , y compounding with felony . Foss, the latest

o f of biographer the Judges England , who is disposed to soften m ’ the hard places in Popha s record, mentions this dark story, “ 8 3 no a . . 1 and says , (vi pp It is extraordinary that ref

e l for tati n shou d have been attempted ; , if any existed, it is to be presumed that such a writer as Sir Walter Scott, while de ” tailing the charge [in Rokeby] would have noticed the answer . “ T he horrible and mysterious crime alluded to by Macaulay

. o f E n . . 542 ff . ( Hist g , ii p ) refers to this a air Here is the man , who — the Maine Historical Society would have us believe planted civilization on this continent . Let us see how he did it . His position as C hief Justice gave him a controlling inﬂu ence

i n a ll l t . the jai s and peni entiaries in the realm Aubrey ( Letters , “ 49 5 r ou t iii . p . ) says he stockt o planted [Northern] Virginia

” ’ o f all the ge ole s of England . Wood s Athen ae Ox on ie nse s ’ 2 2 “ B s . . . ( lis s ed ii p ) says , he was the ﬁrst person who invented ’ 7 the plan of sending convicts to the plantation s . T h e statemen t should have been limited to Englishmen ; for the French had f practised this mode o colonization many years before . Cartier

15 47 15 9 8 D e Mon tcs 6 04 in , La Roche in , an d in 1 , all used T h this material for colonists . e permission which the King of France gave Cartier to ransack the jails of Paris may be found

1 of 2 . in Hazard , i . p . Any sort criminals he could take , ’ of or n except those convicted treason , counterfeiting the Ki g s currency . 2 84 “ T m o f . . ho as Fuller ( Worthies England , ii p ) says his

’ ” [Popham s] justice was exemplary on T beeves and Robbers . “ o wa e s a nd W od quotes this passage , adding, whose y courses

’ 7 he well under s tood when he was a young man , and connects it with the fa ct of his sending convicts to the plantations . Fuller , ” “ s 1642 in his essay on Plantations , in Holy and Profane State , , “ says : If the planters be such as leap thither from the gallows , d can any hope for cream out of scum , when men sen , as I may ? say, Christian savages to heathen savages It is rather bitterly

a lsel n one ou r than f y spoke concerning of Western plantations , m d consisting of ost issolute people , that it was very like unto m of . D England, as being spit out of the very outh it avid 46 1 76 6 . . of Lloyd ( State Worthies , , ii p ) gives a sketch Chief

u P d J stice opham, in which , quoting the words of Fuller , alrea y “ : m a le fa c cited , he goes on to say neither did he only punish

. s o f tors , but provide for them He ﬁr t set up the discovery New England to m aintain and emplo y those that could not live ”

i n . s in honestly the Old Lloyd al o, this connection , quotes the h B passage we ave cited from Lord acon (p . showing that it wa s understood by the old Engli sh hi s torians as applying to the

Popham C olony .

The authorities s eem to be conclusive as to the character of

s Sa a da h oc the coloni ts sent to g , the person by whom, and the m w anner in hich , they were prepared for that is the ex 1 6 3 pression Strachey uses ( p . ) with regard to these very colon i sts . Popham had s ent out the year before ( 16 0 6 ) a colony o f o ne s m hundred per ons destined to the sa e place . T h e sh ip w a s

a n d captured by the Spaniards , and the persons taken to Spain , “ m ade slaves in their gallions . T h e los s of the ship and outﬁt was suitably lamented ; but not one word of sympathy was ex pressed by the old writer s for the per s ons enslaved by the Span i a rds s o ; nor did Popham , far as we know, make any attempt to 29

“ rescue them from their hard fate ; but he fo rth with prepared a ” m of — one greater nu ber planters , that is , the hundred and

i s twenty persons who afterwards landed at Sa bine . If it pre tended that the ﬁrst company were honest, worthy men , the as sumption carries with it the necessary inference that Popham was a heartless wretch but assuming that they also were crimi l n a s t . , it was natural that he should leave hem to their fate

T h e of on l 0th J u 16 0 7 — death Popham , the of ne , , only eleven 1 days after the Popham colonists sailed was of cou rse fatal

T no to the original plan of the u n dertaking . here was authority “ ” — left to prepare convicts , colonists , we mean . A criminal

- ﬁ f colony needs con s tant rec u peration . Seventy ve o the hun dred and twenty abandoned the colony before the end of four months . Why they returned to England on the ﬁrst opportunity ff m n ot . that o ered, is recorded As they were the ajority, they

or b e probably entere d into a conspiracy, and deserted ; they b haved so adly , that the managers were glad to be rid of them , “ ” B u t expecting that the Chief Justice would prepare others . i t him his Lordship was dead , though they knew not ; and with T h died all hopes of continuing the enterprise . e good ship

Mary and John returned in the spring with provisions , but

n o n u with recruits ; and wou d p the concern , by taking back to

England the managers , and such of the wretched culprits as wished to ret urn .

Perhaps we may as well notice here , as in another place , the only evidence Sabino brings forward to show th at the Saga

a h m d oe colonists were not convicted cri inals , only convicted “ ff : vagabonds and political o enders . It is this Chalmers savs there was n o transportation of any class of the guilty till 16 19 . T m Sa a da h Oc . herefore there was none to g Chal ers , we beg

He n o t . to submit, is an original authority died only about

1 ‘ F o r th e d a t P a d a t a v ll d F a t t a Ca b ll . e of oph m s e h , we h e fo owe oss r her h n m p e The 0 h i i l la tt ﬁ x th e d a t a s J u 1 16 7 l d a a ft t e l s t sa d . C a b ll h a s er es e ne , , on y one y er co on s e mp e ’ fa ll i t a i st a k i n a k i g P h a s a e s v t - t wo f Ca b ll h i s lf a nd th e en n o m e m n op m g e en y ; or m p e m e , i 1 th a u t h it gi v th e d a t f h i s b i t h a s 153 . o er or es , e e o r 3 0 forty years ago and our surprise is that Sa bine should quote

m of h im in the face of the old w riters . Chal ers had no means d information which writers to ay do not possess , and it seems he did not even use w hat he had . He was so little acquainted with the hi s tory of the Popham Colony as not to know the name

a a h f o f the president wh o died at S ga d oc . He gives the name o

i s n of the perso n as Gilbert . It but justice to the ame Chalmers to state that he made n o such statement as Sabino attributes

of to him . He says simply that the policy sending convicts to the m plantations originated with King Ja es ; and , that in the year

16 19 o ne , he issued an order to send hundred dissolute persons “ T a n m i n to Virginia . here is not inti ation Chalmers that there f 1 was no transportation o any class of the guilty till 16 9 . “ Sabino also ﬁnd s much consolation that the law has not been shown requiring transportation as a punishment for moral

m of guilt during the ti e of the incipiency , continuance and end the Popham Colony . Will Sa b i ne please point ou t the ” law under which James sent off o n e hund red convicts in 16 19 that did not exist in 16 0 6 It seems never to have occurred to “ ” Sa bine m or , that, under the i pulse of avarice , baser motives , T some things can be done without law . here was no sta tute of m m m the real requiring John Popha to co mit highway robbery,

e t of y he did waylay travelers at night, and relieve them their

. B u t i n 160 6 3 9 purses and other valuables there was a law , (

’

h . e . Elizabeth, iv ) which , under Popham s construction , was suf

ﬁcien tl B y ample to cover his plan of colonization . u t we must m “ ’ return to the exa ination of Sabino s theory .

6 . We confess our inability to understa nd the concluding

’ l s m “ c au e of Sabino s state ent . T h e Popham Colony was fol

w s s n & t c . lo ed by a succe ion of occupa cies that proved ti le ,

IVh a t ? T occupancies , pray here was no later occupancy of New

16 2 0 N O England till the Pilgrims arrived in . genuine P op

m s m ha ite would , for an in tant, ad it that the Plvm o u th Colony

“ s N e w had any relation to Engli h supremacy in England . Re

3 2

of t h e n from the principal men Colo y, and shows that they were

u n as de stit te of veracity, as the mai body of the colonists were wanting in the cardinal virt ues enjoined in the D ecalogue . As

’ r h e s s a ming St a c y account to be correct, we know that the winter

f 16 0 —8 of n o t o 7 , on the coast Maine , could have been severe for 15t w . h that locality, hatever the season was in Europe After the

s o f D ecember, they ﬁni hed trenching the fort, which shows that

T h o f there w a s little or no frost in the ground . e amount work also performed in the winter would have been absolutely i mpo s sible i n a severe season . Gorges thus expressed his disbelief in “ v t o f : I the reports he recei ed , as to the severi y the weather have had too much experience in the World to be frighted with ” such a blast .

Sir William Alexander , Earl of Stirling, the patentee of Nova D 3 16 3 0 . 0 Scotia, ( escription of New England , , p ) thus describes what the Popham Colony did for English supremacy in New England :

T h o fe we re ffe d to z a s e n that nt thither, being p that enterpri e ,

th e La w o r e o wn n e c e fﬁtie s n o fo c e t dangered by , th ir , ( en r d hing

o le a fa nt difc o nte n te d e rfo n fu ff rin t a c t pr ning p , p s e g while hey c a n fe ldo m o o fu cc e ffe e fa tiffa c tio n f haue g d , and neu r ) they a ter a ’ Winte r i tay dre am ing o f n e w ho p e s at ho m e returned backe with the fi rft o c c a ﬁo n to iu ftif fu dde n n e ffe o f re t u rne h , and y the their , t ey did c o m e x c u fe s yne any , burdening the b o und s w here they had b e ene w a f e rfi o n s t o fﬁb l e c o d e u ife fe c b ith all the p hat p y th y uld , king y that m e e s to d ifc ou ra e o an g all thers .

Ou r “ B people abandoning the plantation , says rief Relation ,

u s “ . . 18 2 8 h (P rcha , iv p ) in this sort as you ave heard , the Frenchmen i mmediately took the Opportunity to settle them selves

‘

n o u r . withi limits So far , then , from keeping the Frenchmen l out, the Co ony invited them in . In the face of such evidence “ Sa b i ne “ asserts , that the Popham affai r proved title as against

- m the former and never renewed clai s of France . D oes he m ean that the French claims were never renewed after 16 0 8 ? 3 3

ou t Would he wipe from history the French an d Indian wars , and the bloody strife for s upremacy between the French an d

o n m English , that went for a century and a half, and cul inated in the overthro w of French power in 1760

We have thus with patience . and we trust with candor , exam

’ i ne d m in detail Sabino s state ent of the Popham theory ; and ,

o u r a l m if in former rticle we s ighted its historic clai s , they have no w , we hope, received due attention . “ — Sa bi ne omitted from his formal statement but inserted it in another part of his paper the claim which Popham m writers usually bring into the foreground , na ely, that the “ Popham C olony was the ﬁ rst colonial occupation of the soil o f New England under English enterprise What rank will he

’ B m w Gosn old s u of assign to artholo e occ pation C uttyhunk, on

16 02 ? Go snold the south shore of Massachusetts , in there and

m m . then ade a settlement, which he intended to be per anent

h is He and men built a fort and a storehouse , and collected a T h valuable freight to send home to England . e cellar walls of the house they occupied can be identiﬁed at the present day . T B hey planted wheat , barley an d oats . Here , says ancroft, “ ( i . p . the foundations of the ﬁrst Ne w England colony were to be laid . We do n ot claim that Gosnold founded a

. m colony He atte pted it, and failed ; but he did all that the

Popham people did , and even more . He made American colo n iz a tion an honorable enterprise , and showed that it could be d ’ T n ld . ma e proﬁtable . Gos o s men w ere not convicts hey each had a share in the undertaking ; and jealousy as to the distribution of their gains led to the return of the whole com pan y T to England . h e sale of their freight made it a proﬁtable

T of adventure . hey spre a d the most favorable reports the regions they had visited, and brought the best evidence that it

Th e on was a country worth possessing . Popham men , the “ u n i n other hand, ret rned to Engla d penury and disgrace , bur dening the bounds where they had beene with a ll the aspersions 5 3 4

u n s that possibly th e v co ld de ise , eeking by that meanes to dis ” o f courag e all others . The death ! ueen Elizabeth prevented

’ Go sno ld s return to the Eli z abeth Islands ; but his representa

tion s and cheerful energy awakened an interest in America that 16 0 6 resulted in the Charter of , under which the Northern and

c om Southern Virginia settlements were projected . When we

hi s m en 16 0 2 w pare what G e smold and did in , with hat Popham

16 0 7 of and his felons did in , it requires a degree audacity ‘ m “ ri sing to subli ity to assert, that the Popham C olony was the

ﬁ rst colonial occupation of the soil of Ne w England u nder ” English enterprise .

- m m Ex Governor Washburn , of Ca bridge . in a speech he ade f m 18 6 2 at the irst Popha C elebration in , suggested that if they

’ would s e t u p the claim that Noah s Ark landed on one of the

d t o f a jacen hills , and arrange a Celebration in honor the event, m i t w he would volunteer to co e and take part in , ithout doubting

T h of w a s u . . . e it tr e (Pop Mem , p suggestion is worthy

T h e diﬂi the s erious consideration of the P oph a mite s . historical

cu ltie s in the w a y are but m ole - hills compared with the Alpine

’ of m absurdities their present theory . Noah s Ark was an i portant

h is m fact in the history of the hum an race . Noah and fa ily w um ere respectable persons . The only circ stance we know, to

o f on the discredit the old patriarch , is excusable the groun d “ ” “ that there was then no Maine Law, or even a judicious

’ 7 T h of license system . e prejudice attached to the descendants

of h a s n one his sons , been neutralized by the Emancipatio Proc

l e s s B amati n , and the pa age of the Civil Rights ill over the head

’ o f President Johnson . The coast is n o w clear for Noah s Ark .

m m r u n Let the Celebration co e off by all means . Why is it o e reasonable to s uppose that the Ea s tern C ontinent was settled

s ic v s 9 v e er a . from the We tern , than Much as we hate celebra

s s w e tion of all kind , we also volunteer ; and , if cannot attend ,

m s t we pro ise to write a letter , developing till further the heory ; and Sa b ine shall have full per mission to pri nt it as an Appen

dix to the public address . 3 5

“ Sa b i ne u is evidently in trouble abo t the cannon story, and “ well he mav be . He says Williamson is inclined to discredit ”

. m i t Willia son has this inclination , not on the ground of lack o f evide nce that it o cc u rred ; b u t o n the g round of its shocki ng

n it r w . i humanity, and the discredit th o s upon the colonists We

n of u n are i clined to discredit it, because the disgrace it casts po

B u t the human race . the ugly fact still remains (to use William son ’ s words ) that it was “ believed to be true by the ancient and ’ 1 “ - b ine well informed inhabitants on the Sa ga da h oc . Again Sa

u v n wo ld ha e us believe , that, whereas the I dians , several years

u n me u r later , told the Jes it missio aries so of the o t ages they had

u f s s fered from the Popham coloni ts , and did not tell them this ,

s therefore the tory was invented in Massachusetts , seventy years

T h u r Wa s . e after it alleged to have happened Jes its , in thei

n o f n i s Relations , were describi g the friendly feelings the I d an

T h u towards themselves . ey do btless heard , with the other cru

clti e s th e mentioned , cannon story ; but they rightly judged , that,

n o t u n n while it would contrib te to the poi t they were illustrati g,

w nh m r it ould ap pear to readers so i u an , and hence so imp obable ,

t m . B as to weaken the credibility of their other sta e ents esides ,

’ n u m n u n e m issio n i t r a n Sabi o s arg e t fo ded on an , if p oves y

m n thing, proves too uch for him . It proves that not o e of the m Po h a mite s u any propositions set up by the p are tr e , for not one h o f them is mentioned i n the Jesuit Relations . T e insinuation

u u that the cannon story originated in Massachusetts , is a c rio s

h i n . T e D and comical blunder istrict of Maine, Fort Popham

w a s . cluded, at the date speciﬁed a part of Massachusetts “ ” “ Sa b ine sees this foot - note i n Williamso n : Supplemen t to

’

D . 16 5 . . 7 King Philip s Wars , A , , p and he supposes tha t 16 7 5 was the date the statement was published , whereas it was ’ mm T h the date when King Philip s War co enced . e book was “ m h o w n o t printed till 17 16 . He does not infor us the ancient

and well - informed inhabitants o n the Sa ga da h o c could have 1 16 been misled by a statement invented in Massachusetts in 7 . 3 6

“ h s . Sa b ine ﬁrmly hold , with Mr Kidder , t at the vessel of

s u Sa a da h o c m . thirty ton , b ilt at g , ade a voyage across the ocean

“ “ n s Brief Relatio , he ays , gives us much information ” about its arrival in England as about the arrival of the ship .

“ B ut Brief Relation s ays nothing about the arrival of either v e s

“ s s l th ese eo le sel . It record imp y , the arrival of p p here in Englan d ” T h e was a wonderful discouragement, etc . leaders , an d the

s main body of these people , we believe , returned afely to England “ in the Mary and John ; and this is sufﬁ cient to fulﬁl all the con

n B ditio s of the narrative in riefe Narration , Strachey and the ” Sa b i ne w t a ll other old chroniclers . , ho ever , is ambi ious that “ ( including those who left in the pretty pynna ce sho u ld arrive “ T d s . in Englan , and how up the new craft He says , his word a ll used by Gorge s and Ogilby utterly forbids the

’ s s tatement of vour correspondent . Gorge s a ll has no reference “ t . o to the arrival in England His words are , all resolved quit

a a da h oc on T the place ( S g ) and with e consent to away . hat

‘ t Sa b ine a n n u should quote Ogilby as an authority , indicates familiarity in the auth en tic sources of New England history which

w . m m . 3 e . . 7 regret to see Mr John A Poor ( Popha Me orial , p “ : w or a ortion o savs It is well kno n that the Popham C olony, p f h ’ t em . , returned to England in It strengthens Mr Poor s argument on the importance of the Colony in maintaining E n glish m m supre acy, to clai that a portion of the colonists remained in the country . We h ave quoted the opinion o f o u r estee med Port “ ’ ” land friend for Sabino s beneﬁt and not because it carries

u r m additional conviction to o ind . One who writes after this “ fashion : They ﬁnished their vessel o f ﬁfty tons in the winter

S Sa a da h o c i n r and pring, called the Virginia , of g , which they e ” d — w turned to Englan , thus adding t enty t on s to the size o f the “ ” s s w nna ce ve el , an d cro ding all into the pretty py , leaving the “ i n — is n o t m Marv and John to return ballast, a enable to the

s common code of literary and historical critici m . 3 7

T h e Popham C olony , in ﬁne, was a scandalous and complete

. T h e . failure thing, as an historical event, was dead and buried

T h e grass , for more than two centuries and a half, had kindly

w of m a n gro n over it, obliterating even from the memory the

t h e spot where those disgraceful scenes were enacted . In year

’ 18 49 f n tra ch e s , the Hakluyt Society o London pri ted S y nar ration , and furnished a clew to the burial place . Nothing would satisfy a few excellent people in Maine but to dig up the sicken

i n r e m a ins o f m m . g , and ﬂaunt them under the nostrils the co unity ff Here was an o ense against decency an d sanitary regulations , l w indictable at common a . In cholera times the proceeding is

f i n u ﬂ r l s e a b e .

N 0 o ne i magines that the Popham investigators commenced Operations with any other than the amiable motive of contrib u t

B u t ing to the historic glories o f their n ative State . they knew not

T m w a s for what they were digging . heir ﬁrst istake , that, when m they came to the putrid ass , they did not carefully replace the sod , and say nothing about it . Instead of this , every man ” “ ! T h a n d shouted Eureka ey arranged a monster gathering, invited all creation to celebrate with them the T w o - hundred and

Fiftieth Popham Anniversary . People came from the ends of the “ earth ; enjoyed a generous Eastern hospitality ; drank water , if no t o f m l Is inspiration , out the existent Popha we l ( ! uery

Sa bine quite s ure th at the inspiration came from the well h believed as muc as they could , and had a good time generally . Perhaps history manufa ctured in this way will stand ; but we think not . Because historical writers have pre s umed to examine and w question their theory , they have gro n sullen and morose . T hey abuse Massachusetts ; they spit at Plymouth Rock ; they be rate the Puritans ; they eulogize Sir John Popham and they sigh for a system of m e dize va l barbarism which Popham and Gorges could not plant on New England soil , because God , in his mercy to the human race, had decreed otherwise . 8

T h e true historic glory of the n oble State of Maine seem s to

s o f have been lost ight of, in the antiquarian researches her

s s zealous sons , which is , that the State prang from the loin of

T o d for Massachusetts . this fact, the State to ay is indebted every o ne o f th e se distinctive elem ent s o f general intelligence ,

t w s h e i s — a enterprise an d thrif that make her hat , New E ng

n ns of h . la d State , i tead a feudal Virginia or a Sout Carolina

T h e s m i n Massachusett Puritans ca e early, and took possession o f th e n r la d , under a technical construction they gave to thei o wn charter , organized municipalities , set up their churches and

s s school , and put down with a strong hand all oppo ition to their

T h N e w m l a u th orit v . e historian of Ha pshire has given a faithfu picture o f the social condition of the Gorges plantation on the

m Y w u Aga enticus ( ork ) River , hen the P ritans commenced their

y missiona r operation s .

o w w o o o r m o s a n d i s s o f The pe ple ere ith ut rder ral , it aid s o m o f m a s m s s i n w o m a s e the , that they had any hare a an , they had in a ﬁ sh ing - b o at N o pro vi s i o n w a s m ade fo r public

s o s s o o s w n o w a n d n o m s s in tituti n , ch l ere unk n , they had ini ter , t i n o f o s t w o w o m B o s o ill , pity their depl rable tate , ent thither fr t n

’ ’

m . B k m B o . n s s o s c . o a v o luntary i i n el nap A eri an i graphy , i p — ’ 3 7 8 s o c s o s o c o s . 42 4 . 8 . See al Hut hin n C lle ti n , p

T he appearance of the Puritans among them did not to the

s t Gorges men seem joyou , but grievous ; nevertheless af erward it yielded the peaceable fruit of civilization and godliness unto

T h s them who w ere exerci s ed thereby . e territory was thu saved

m of La nd s fro the ethics Popham, the prelacy of and the Stuart ,

m f w T h e and the barbaris o a colony of outla s . civilization o f

D a w a s the istrict of M ine , during the colonial period , as essen

of B a D tially Puritan, as that Massachusetts y ; and the istrict w a s B r represented in the General Court at oston , from the yea T 16 5 3 . his close political and social union continued till the 8 adm i s sion of the State into the ! nion in 1 20 .

i n th e As to the pervading personalities communication , I have

m i n but little to say . Of y positio n and acts connection with the comm em orations of the c olo n v it asserts matters which m m never existed , and attributes to e otives which I have never

T of entertained . hese allegations do not change the facts

. na l history It is because of this p erso phase of the discussion ,

to s that I propose make no farther reply to your corre pondent,

- m hi . even if he should attempt a s u r rejoinder . I do not know

B u t m w n m he see s to kno me , in this connectio , ore than well ,

of more than I know myself, or any one knows or can know o f me . In ascribing to me the originatio n of the celebration s o f the m Popha C olony , the communication ignores the fact, that the founding the reof (and I u s e the word in its dictionary sense ) “ ” - m b i th e . was co memorated , in a centenary celebration , by Rev “ D r . o f m Jenks . with a party gentle en , in So that, if th ere could be claim ed any virtue for an Episcopal origination o f m m — the com e orative visit to Sabino , which has never been m — clai ed by any one acquainted with the facts , this early act

of . by this lover the olden days would take it all away Indeed ,

I have had nothing to do with the later celebrations , as their “ ” s . original inventor and patentee , in any ense whatever Its

s . sugge tion even was not Episcopal , but simply historical I have been only au xiliary . T he communica tion has not a little to say about the bad traits

f m i n o character in Chief Justice Popha , as displayed a portion

B u t o f his early manhood . it wholly neglects testim ony

o f i elsewhere cited to traits an opposite kind , app earing n his

T i n m ore matured years . his evidence appears the writings o f h is m m cotemporaries , who speak of him in ter s of high co menda m tion . Whatever ight have been his earlier life, the path of

m m w a s repentance and a end ent open for his entrance . After h is m h his arriage , he c anged early courses ; and by his diligence i n his legal studies qualiﬁed himself for his later eminent po s i 41

. h tion When Strachey , Smit , Croke and Mather, writing after

of m d his death, and course after his character was co plete , call “ ” h im u “ the pright and noble gentleman , that honorable pattern ” “ ” “ o f of virtue , a person great learning and integrity, the

n oble lord , with other words of approval , and none of censure ,

‘ a reader of the paper cannot but wonder that th e b e tte r part o f his later life was not noticed as well as the worse parts of ” . u him m his earlier F ller has placed a ong the Worthies , and “ : u ic ksilver x ed to says If ! could really be ﬁ , what a treasure wo uld it a m ount ! Such is wild you th seriously reduced t o ” ra vit g y, as by this young man did appear . The opinion of Lord C ampbell i n his favor should not be

o n neglected by an impartial seeker for truth . He is severe

most of the Chief Justices , not sparing even the good Sir Matthew

. In Hale His commendations are therefore the more valuable . “ ” of his Life this Chief Justice , he describes the particular traits

on h is to his discredit, when , with other young men , he entered “ o n illegal acts the highway ; and then says , We must remember that this calling was not then so discreditable as it became after ” wards . He speaks of the change in his purposes ; his diligence

as a student ; and , after some quotations , presented in this dis “ e fﬁ fi cussi n , he says , He held the o ce ( of Chief Justice ) fteen m years , and was supposed to conduct hi self in it very credit ” “ n o f m ably . Ma y his judg ents in civil cases are preserved

showing that b e well deserved the reputation which he enjoyed .

y On the trial of actions between party and part , he is allowed m to be s trictly i partial , and to have expounded the law clearly ” and soundly . I believe that no charge could justly be made ” against his purity as a judge .

And then , as to the reasons why censures were brought against “ h Ye t o f him, t is biographer says , , from the recollection his w g early history , some suspicion al ays hun about him , and s disa d tories , probably quite groundless , were circulated to his ” ” “ “ S t Little cote vantage . Of these we have a pecimen abou 42

‘ “ Hall . It is unfair to load the m emor y of a judge w i th the ” o blo u v o f m s y te sti mon v . q so great a cri e , upon such unsati factor

g m l n P w m A distin uished ruler ore exa ted tha opham, ho Pal “ m w m m frey calls that e inent person once rote , Re e ber not ” s v the ins o f mv e nth .

“ ’ If w a s g i d i t m l he called the han ng ju ge , was because cri ina s “ w Ll v dc s . o d ere to be puni hed savs . to his credit , that the served death of s ome s cores pre s erved the live s and livelihoo d

’ o f s ome thousand s ; travellers owing their safety to thi s judge s

s e v e rit v y m . many ears after his death . Aubrey says the sa e

B u t w m , if all ere true , as alleged to the disparage ent of the

n r w h im a n d Chief Justice , is there so e ce s sa v a connection bet een

Sa bi ne th e v m e n ﬁ the colonists at as that , except the ten in of ce , must therefore have been “ villains and convicts He certainl y h a s o n all side s the prai s e of having been the earliest and the m ost active pro moter of colonization on our w ild Ne w England mm shores . In this relation he gained the distinct co endation of

m en m to Hubbard , as the ﬁrst that ever procured or eans ” “ Ne w of th e possess England , the main pillar enterprise , w ith not the rem ote st allusion to a n y such acts in its accomplish m ment as are mentioned by y our correspondent . His state ent

b e y m leads one to think , that regarded these earl move ents as preparator y to the settle ments in Massachusetts . He certainly has s aid nothing that can lead us to suppose he c onnected “ ” ’ convicts with Popham s efforts .

’ T m m Stra ch e s here is a statement ade , derived fro y use of the “ ” tw o re a ra tio n word prepared , in instances , as though this p p consisted chieﬂ y in furnishing convicts fo r transportatio n to Saga ? i s T n t w dahoe . Where the proof here is o a ord in the con w s . text to warrant any such application , and indeed no here el e “ ” One of the prepared ex peditions w a s captured by a Spanish m s . c o ﬂeet, and the men held in a kind of piratical dure s The mu nic a tion s a y m proceeds to , in conde nation of the old historians “ y m y w a s and Popham , that no word of s path expressed by the 43

o ld writers for the persons enslaved by the Spaniards ; nor did fa r m Popham , so as we know, make any atte pts to rescue them f ” from their hard ate . Alas ! where i s the proof o f this sw eep ? m ing assertion Exactly opposite was the fact . His hu ane w d regard for the captives was forthwith put into action . It oul

of on e have been well for the furtherance history, if well versed “ i n the old writers against Popham had also seen and produced m . T n a single testi ony in his favor ake one sente ce from Gorges ,

relating to this Spanish captu re T h e a ﬁliction of the captain a n d his company put the Lord Chief Justice to charge and myself

i n u n o h to trouble proc ring their liberties , which was not soo

t a in e d . T his citation is en ough to show his efforts for thei r

“ m o n release , and proves great hu anity the part of this noble ” l d patron of justice and virtue , as he has been wel escribed ; “ ” w a s n s w and that he not herei a heartle s retch , as your corre

S on de n t of . p writes , and furnishes no proof his allegation — T h e quotations from Llov d him self m o stlv valuable for his — quotations are prominently presented , as bearing on the char “ fo r acter o f the colonists . He says that Popham provided ” B u t m malefactors . that is no certain proof that he sent the

T h a nd m a r e ff Sa a da h oc . e to g plan its co pletion di erent things ,

and its com pletion was not nece s s a ril y here . He ﬁrst set up the discovery of New England to m aintai n and employ those ” B u t s i n . that could not hone tly live the Old this proposal , “ ” m i n Sa a da h oc this setting up , if ade regard to g , does not p ror e that the suggestion was ever carried out . With the sing u

rl m of la y i perfect knowledge foreign geography, that has always

s m cha racterized E nglish education, all Virginia ee s to have been

d vice versa . New Englan , and New England was North and

We d m m . South Virginia . We ad it the plan e and the proof B that conv icts were banished to this region . esides , where is

u m ? i n the inhumanity of the proposal, or its f lﬁl ent It was

w s tended to save the lives of criminals , who other i e would have

r m been hung, according to evidence and the laws of thei ti e ; 44

and doubtless the culprits condemned would have deemed the

ro m n w . p vision erciful, that by banishme t allo ed them to live T h e quotation from Sir William Alexander has been often

m n ade ; and it is valuable , as coincidi g accurately with the views t expressed in my com munications . His book is rare ; and I ake his words from your colum ns

T h o fe w re ffe d to z a s that ent thither being p that enterpri e,

La w o r o w n n e c e fﬁtie s n o fo c endangered by the , their , ( en r ed thing

o le a fa n t difco n te n te d e rfo n s fu ffe rin w a c t c a n pr ning p , p g hile they fe ldo m have go o d fu c c e fs and n e uer fa tiffa ctio n ) they after a Winter fta y dream ing o f n e w h op e s at ho m e re turned bac k with th e ﬁ rft ”

o c c a ﬁo n .

w e h — Here are accurately taught t at the people that is , the

— “ la w laborers in the colony went as endangered by the , or “ ” n ? B their o w n n ecessities . How were they enda gered y “ ” “ ” what law ? By what nece ssity ? A wri ter of that tim e

— i n furnishes the reply, the crowded population , the poverty o f w a m of the orking class , and the encro ch ents their rich neigh

s bors ; and urges emigration as the relief. He write the follow

o o s o s o s e e w n o t L k eri u ly int the land , and hether there bee ju s t

t o s c s n o t c s s o . o d a r au e , if a ne e ity eek abr ad The pe ple o sw m e in the land a s y o ung bee s i n a hive i n June : in s o m u c h that there

m r o n a n e i s o o fo e m t o o . m hardly r live by an th r The ightier , like

ld s o n s r s w a s o o u t o f o s . tr g bee , th u t the eaker , y unger their hive

o s o f m o s co ow s s i n w c w o r L rd an r nvert t n hip , hi h ere a hundredth t m m a n h i wo o c s t o s d s d o . hundredth c uni ant , a hepheard g The

o s m su st a i n et h c o w true lab ring hu band an , that the prin e by the pl , wh o wa s w o t o m o o t o s e t m o o n wo nt feed any p re , any pe ple rk , and pay twice a s m u ch s ub s idie a n d ﬁft e e n e s t o the king fo r h i s pro p o r

a s h i s o fo r m s a s m c a w a s ti o n of earth , landl rd did ten ti e u h ; th t

t o s c c w s s m s e s w w o nt furni h the hur h ith aint , the u t r ith able per

t for so v e r a i n e i s n o w o a n d c a n s on s o ﬁght their g , turned lab rer ,

s o hardly s cape the s tatute s o f ro gues and vagrant . The po re 45 m etall m a n w o rketh h i s bones o u t and s w elte th him s elf i n the ﬁre

fo r h i s o v c o f w a n d c n c a n yet all lab r , ha ing harge ife hildre , he

h im s lf m m oo m a n hardly keep e e fro the al e s b o x . The p r

c re eiveth v ery n e e re fo ur pen ce fo r every s i x e pe n y w o rth o f w o rk . The th o u gh tfu ll p o ore w om an that h ath her sm all children s tandin g

s a n d o n s sh e w o w at her ide hanging her brea t , rketh ith her needle a n d o w n s c o n o t o u t n lab ureth ith her ﬁ ger , her andle g eth by ight , s h e i s o s s o f w s w e e t e s o s ften deluding the bitterne her life ith ng , that

h s I w t u s s w s e ingeth t o a heav y heart . arran yo her o ng ant n o s s o sh e s o s o pa i n ; never aith , O L rd , but a alt teare dr ppeth

o m s orro wfu ll w w fo r com fr her heart , that eepeth ith the head pany

A n d w w s o f s w s o . w k i s ith teare eete t bl nd hen all the ee ended , s h e c a n hardly earn s alt e n o ugh fo r her w ater gruel t o foe de on ” u pon the Sunday .

of — co rrob o Surely here is a picture extreme poverty, fully “ i n h o w rated by a document Mather , showing the land grew ’ “ f h o w n weary o her inhabitants ; and children . eighbors and

th e oor s friends , especially p , were counted the greate t bur

It s m dens . tells us how the hone t yeo anry and worthy labor ers of that day were harassed by the encroachments of their

“ ” th e s of . m ightier neighbors , and rigid oppre sion the civil law “ ” T hey were endangered through no fault of their own . One

f of I cannot b u t recall a part o the petition Agur , lest be ” B ut a nd . poor , steal to support life are we to consider such ” “ m en s e n men as rascals and villains ? And were any such , t e nc e d o f a s , as men guilt, to go forth a part of the colony Symonds here gives a full and s ufﬁcient interpretation to the meaning of Lloyd and Alexander . Let us now see wh o had the power to sentence and ﬁx the — T h e t of 3 9 . 15 9 7 8 place o f exile . Sta ute Elizabeth c iv, , t o which your correspondent refers a s being ample enough to ” “ n a u cover the pla n of colonizing by banishment of co victs ,

“ “ s th ori z e s this penalty for dangerous rogues , who hall and may lawfully be banis hed o u t of this Re a lme and all other the

” T “ of D o mynio ns thereof. his was to be done by the Justices 46

“ i s the Peace at the ! uarter Sessions . Not a word said T h about the Chief Justice . e place to which they were to be “ w a s Pr i vie sent to be decided by the Council ; and thus , cer t a i nl n o t n . w i n y, by Popham alo e So that, if there ere shame the

o f n w transaction , the most honored men the ation ere equally

in involved the disgrace . It is unfai r and ungenerous to single h im of out to meet a purpose , as the sole object obloquy and rebuke .

n o w th u f e o E . Y And , as to ret rn these persons to ngland our

a w correspondent , assuming th t a part of them ere convicts , truly

s m w n ot say , in agreement with his assu ption , that they ould be “ - r T over anxious to revisit thei native land . hey had saved m w their necks once by e igrating, and ere not in haste to put m ’ 7 the again into the halter . And so he invents the story about h “ a second pinnace , wit which they could lead generally a wild and free life, such as was congenial to their character and dis 7 7 T positions . his is a precious statement ; but it happens to be directly opposite to the citation fearles sly made from Sir William

T - Alexander , which declares that hose that went thither , as

m r d . e endangered by the laws , reaming of new hopes of ho e

’ 7

s . turned thither with the ﬁrst occa ion . None were left behind

u s If they had been convicts , the y would have purs ed some uch

i m s plan as is nti ated by your corre pondent, and not have gone back to the hazard of certain death . For the statute last quoted “ s enacts , if any such Rogues , so banished as aforesaid, hall r e t u rne a ga ine into any part of this Realmo or D ominion o f

W L ce nce ales without lawful y or Warrant so to do, that in

s u l Fe llo n every ch case such offence shal be y, and the Party ” ll n T offending therein shall suffer D eath as in case of Fe o v . his was but poor encou ragem ent for convicts to seek their na tive T h D wh . e d . B u t o shores winter had been har Captain avies , “ ” w s had borne ne s of the succe s of the enterprise to England ,

Sa a da h oc th e S had come back to g in pring . with a shipp laden

' u v itu a lls s h a d f ll of and other useful thing , so that starvation

h v idc d . T e for willing ones are allowed to go , except such ”

w m . as , by the royal po er ight be specially restrained So that “ ” the real rogues , however willing to go , might thus be forbid

s m e n d den , lest they should contaminate the hone t , escribed by

o u t Gorges , who , not liking to be hired as servants to foreign

re states , thought it better became them to put in practice the v i vi n of r s g resolution those free spi it , that rather chose to spend themselves in seeking a new world , than servilely to be hired ou t

’ g i n r T h e but as slau hterers the quarrels o f st angers . same Y t provi s ion existed in the patents to Gilbert and Raleigh . e no

s s one has suppo ed that the e leaders took convicts . h Ye t this i s no t all . T e same Charter o f 160 6 expressly “ : h P o u r provides t at all and every the ersons being subjects , which shall d well and inhabit within every or any of the said

o f n several Colonies or Plantations , and every their Childre , which shall happen to be born within any of the Limi t s and Pre c incts r a n d h V of the said seve al Colonies Plantations, s all HA E

w a n and enjoy all Liberties , Franchises and Immunities , ithin y o f D n u our other omi ions , to all Intents and P rposes , as if they

n s E n la n d had been abidi g and born , within thi our Realm of g , ’ 7 h o r o u r D m . No w any other of said o inions , if the Pop am

of t h o w ! C olony was composed convic s , enviable their condition

T h e m ! sentence of the law did not touch the , except in words T hey still had all the Liberties of the m ost innocent English “ ” “ m a n o n ! T w his native soil hey ere subjects , loving sub ” e cts i n j , as the same class of willing emigrants were called f 160 9 “ ” “ the Charter o . What convicts ever had such Fran ch is e s and lmmu nitie s since the world began ? Their state

n m ! T was nothing less tha perfect freedo hey were, therefore , n o convicts a t a ll s o ; and could return home safely, and with “ ” u n th e . new hopes , j st as soo as y deemed the change desirable

In m n f m a double conﬁr atio of this act, we y go to the Charter m 3 6 2 0 ff o f 18 J . 1 w a es , Nov , , hich speaks of the e orts made in

s s m diver years pa t, in the Northern C olony, by for er grantees , 49

“ wh o of h a d had taken actual possession the Continent, and settled already som e of ou r People i n Places agreeable to their D ” T esires in those parts . his , certainly , is very far from sus

n Sa a da h oc taini g the Opinion, that the occupants of g were con “ v F r i n icts . o they were settled a place agreeable to their l D l t d a l . esires , unti calami ies arkened their prospects It is

n m u worth oting here , that Lord Ca pbell says nothing abo t Pop

n T ham i connection with convicts and the colony . his omission

is signiﬁcant .

A i e of quest on is pr posed , with an air conﬁdence , as if its

answer must demolish the positions of my form er article . It is

“ ‘ ’ ‘ ’ this : Will Sabino please point o u t the law u nder which

i n 16 19 did n ot i n James sent o ff a hundred convicts , that exist

n n ot . T h e dema d is adroitly made , but pertinently

u 16 0 7 . T o make it to ch the point, it should have been My reply

is readily given .

m of a l T h e statute for the punish ent rogues by banishment,

wn i n 3 9 . . o ready noted , ( Eliz ch expired by its limitation, 160 1 of s when it was renewed , to continue till the end —the ﬁr t ses 1603 4 . sion of the next Parliament, which was held in It was

n r e - 1 . . the enacted , ( James , ch iv and when the additional

provision was made , that persons condemned under its sanctions should be branded on the left shoulder with “ a greate Romane

” i n R, for their detection case of their unlicensed return , so as to “ ” ff n . T secure the death of the o e der , as in case of Felonie his “ stat u te was to continue until the end of the ﬁrst session of the ” I n ext Parliament (ch . have no means at hand of know ing the precise date when this session closed ; b u t the Parlia

2 160 6 sta tu te wa s n ot ment itself ended on May 7 , , and the

a n d w revived. T h e temper of the king that body was sho n in “ ’

v . the statute ( 3 James ch . xx ii ) entitled , An acte for the King s T he m most gracious generall a nd free Pardon . next Parlia ent

18 16 0 6 4 16 0 7 . Nov . began , , and ended July , Such was the forbearance of the supreme legislat ure i n relation to the 5 0

o f m a transportation condemned cri in ls , that the session passed

w ow n a ay , and the law, that had expired by its limitation , was T allowed to remai n in this state of its n atural death . ranspor t a tio n seem s not to have been in favor . “ T ﬁrste o f herefore , from the end of the session the Parlia m s n 2 7 16 06 ent whose ﬁnal essio was terminated May , , till m 3 1 1 60 7 after the Popha Colony sailed , May , , there was no statute of transportation in existence .

r e - m of s A enact ent the law, or rather a law for puni hing

n ot n n ot rogues by the workhouse , and by transportatio , was

9 16 9 . n . 0 T w a s made u til the Parliament beginning Feb , his

’ d a r four ays more than a year fte George Popham s death ,

of and a year and a half after the death the Chief Justice . So that here was at least an interval of more than two years and

- t la w of three four hs , when there was no for the exile convicts

m . of m fro the royal dominions In this space ti e , the Popham — Colony had its beginning, its continuance and its end , beginning more than a year after the law had died ; co ntinuing through the larger part of the year ; and ending nearly another year before it iff m was revived , in a very d erent form , and with a ilder penalty . “ s i n D uring thi period , no law appears the Statutes of the ” Realm for the transportation of convicts ; and it is perfectly incredible that any persons were so sentenced by the justices of

to Sa a da h oc n of the peace , and sent g u der any sanction the

i n h ighest judicial authority the realm, with the speciﬁc designa tion of the place by the Privy Council . “ T he preamble of the statute of 16 09 fo r punishing rogues m akes known the inactivity o f the magistrates in the enforcem ent

s of former provisions , and the desuetude into which thi law had “ fallen . It declares that the earlier Statutes had not been duly

’ 7 and severely putt in execution . T herefore the requisitions are f made stronger , to bind the proper o ﬁcers to their more stringent “ ’ 7 o f T execution , in regard to Houses C orrection . ransporta tion is not even hinted at . T his previous easy sta te of affairs 5 1

‘ o n of e x u lsion a scribe d Po this topic shows that the rigor p , to p

a ham , is thought of later times .

b e of 160 6 t c It is also to noted, that the Charter is in s ri t har mony with the fact that the expired la w had not been revived . — - A o f 3 4 160 5 6 Among the twenty seven cts , James , , and the

4 5 160 6—7 o n thirteen of , James , , no one appears the pages to T authorize the exportation of criminals . hose who went to either “ “ o f o the Virginias were to g willingly , and enjoy their liber ” “ . If u o f ties , in any other book of laws besides the Stat tes the

o r Realm , if there be such , by any new and singular interpreta tion of a ny provision there can be found a rule requiring the

of i t transportation convicts, will not thence follow that any

r were sent to Sa ga da h oc . Fo the Charter will still say that only volu nteers wh o s were to go, hould be free men as long as they

n h m remained in co nection wit the co pany .

I O ilb v m did not refer to g and Chal ers as original authorities ,

T h n . but as good investigators . e former has been lo g known My favorable Opinio n of the latter is dra wn from the Preface to his “ Introduction to the History of th e Revolt in the Ameri 7 2 m im Y h . can Colonies . our correspondent see s to undervalue

B ut m m I o f to sustain y esti ate , may quote the expressions the — “ Hi American editor of the above named volumes . s works are deemed to possess m uch merit as the result of profound research ” “ fﬁ t and a discri minating judgment . His o cial s ation gave him ” of o or access to all state papers . He took advantage this pp t u ni t s in n of y, to inve tigate its origi al sources the history the ” l n co onies . His work Political Annals ) has ever bee quoted with enti re conﬁdence and respect ; and this circumstance

’ ” speaks clearly i n favor of the author s candor and honesty .

s 16 19 I When he speaks of no earlier tran portation than , have

Y to been r e ady to give him credit . our correspondent refers

“ him as writing, that the policy of sending convicts to the planta

n 16 19 tion s originated with Ki g James , and that in the year he iss ued an order to send a hundred dissolute persons to 5 2

B I . Virginia . am content with this statement ancroft thinks “ som e of them were convicts : but it mu st be remembered that the cri mes of which they w ere convicted were chieﬂy political ; and political felons , as well as those whom in the same volume “ ” of he calls the Puritan felons that freighted the ﬂeet Winthrop , “ w ere endangered by the law ; an d yet not for this reason to

i e be regarded as tainted in the least with moral guilt . H s pin — ion , too , is that there was never sent to South Virginia for he seem s not to have heard of the accusations brought against “ ” the northern colony - any considerable number of persons “ ” “ convicted of social cri mes ; certainly not enough to affect T m m fﬁ its character . his state ent a y be taken as a su cient “ reply to the charge that Popham stockt the plantation s ou t “ ” of a ll a ole f B s o . n the g England Indeed all that acon , early

w n h a d t enty years after his colo y ceased , and other far later

o n writers have said , the topic contained in the quotation from ff him, relates to the later a airs in the southern colony ; and can be connected with Popham only as he was a prime mover in the

s . n enterpri e of colonization , carried on after his death It ca not “ w Sa a da h oc i n . r e be sho n that they had g mind Weber, as B 16 1 9 . vised and corrected by Professor owen, adheres to

o f n Against a remark mi e , the communication states , that there w a s no later occupancy of New England till the Pilgrims ar “ rived i n I said the Popham C olony was followed by a ”

t . I I succession of occupancies , that proved itle say so still . did not me a n that a ll these occupancies were colonies . T hey h were at Mon egan , by Sir Francis Popham and Captain John

m o f Smith ; at Pe aquid , by the annual visits the English from D Virginia ; at Mount esert, by Argall ; at Saco , by Vines ; at

h Plymout , by the Pilgrims and by numerous others , after that T great and memorable event in ou r n ational history . hey were made under the protection of the Charter of James in 16 0 6 ; “ m i n energetically pro oted the outset by Popham , the ﬁrst to procure men and means to possess New England and sustained 5 3

for n In years at great expense by Sir Ferdina do Gorges . this connection I wish to supply an e mi ssion noticed by your corre “ s o nde nt I s t p , where said , that the colony proved title as again “ - s of the former and never revived claims of France . W e t the d I Kennebec was in my min , but not written . thank him for

m . the correction , as it strengthens y position It would have

to been better have said , the French never had any possession ” on the coast, west of the Kennebec .

As to of Go snold I the settlement , have before shown that it “ ’ 7 was n ot a chartered colony . It was deserted on the day when m its s all house was scarcely ﬁtted for a permanent dwelling . It was undertaken on private account ; asserted no general claim ; proved n o title ; and was not renewed . T h e powder and cannon stories appear to be singularly con

s fused by Williamson . His mi placed footnote referring to the ’ m I i m History of King Philip s War has isled us both . t s ade

fo r as authority for the latter, when it should be the former, and the tradition (I quote from m em ory) is from “ an ancient mar

’ 7 it u As . iner . is nsupported , it can hardly be claimed as history

o ne ou r As to the cannon story, of best antiquarians thinks that it has had no earlier mention than is found in Morse and Parish , m about two centuries after its alleged occurrence , as derived fro f the Norridgewock Indians . Such a tradition is o very little i t account . If these stories had been true , is marvellous that the “ speechifying Indians round about Arro wsic should not have told their prowess and their sufferings to the listening w Jesuits in 16 11 . It may be well to kno that a valued New Hampshire historian locates the narrative about th e cannon at

of H . D . over , N , in the time Waldron , when a large number of

a Indians were cap tured by stratagem . If the serv nts of the

m en colony set dogs on the meddlesome Indians , the wise in

i n council in a later colony New England, as Hazard gives it, de “ ” - w 6 6 cided to employ ma stiﬂe dogs to hunt do n Indians in 1 5 .

Why not blame both ? 5 4

T hat portions of the population in Maine were corrupt , after w D settlements ere dotted along the coast, is true . eterioration often follo ws colonization . For all the inﬂuence for good that

h a s w Massachusetts spread , here and else here , all ought to be

u r w a s m w . glad , tho gh he e it so e hat irregularly introduced The celebration s at Sa bine Head are not intended to detract from

th v T h e v ma n v . no e merits o f Pl mo u th Rock . were It is harm to wish that th e v had been m ore . “ th nna ce of T h e letter of Mr . Kidder relative to e pretty py ”

th irtv s . about tonne , is again referred to by your corre pondent

What are w e to understand by the fe w notic es of her history “ “ m o n Si ply this , that August the carpenters labored about

‘ T w a s the building of a s mall pinnace . heir ﬁrst act to pre

m b in — pare the ti er from the surround g forest, not necessarily of “ ” w m now green pine , here the ridge bears oak, aple and spruce ,

u and perhaps did then , and put it into shape for f ture use . It w m a s . T left to season during the autu nal months hen, after “ a t D w th e C p ain avies returned to England, ith an account of for ” w a r dne ss 15 of D m of their plantation , on the th ece ber, the

m w a s t a s seasoned ti ber framed, and the craf completed, the “ “ B w s rief Relation savs , not ith tanding the coldness of the

! h v F o r s f season and the small help t e had . rea ons satis actory

th e t h e D e n to leaders of colony, after Captain avi s retur ed to “ m Str a ch e v mb a r u e d n e w the , savs they all y q in the arrived

nna c e shipp and in the new py . the Virginia, and sett saile for “ . s to England Gorges say they all resolved quit the place , w and with one consent to [go] a ay . Sir William Alexander s v w u w n e w a s , Those that ent thither ret rned back ith T h B ” “ hopes . e riefe Relation says the ne ws from hom e made the whole company t o re s olve upon nothing but their return with

o w n h their ships ; having built a pretty bark of their , whic

! served them to good purpose, as easing them in their returning ; “ ! s —of and a serts the arrival of these people here in England, “ ” “ ” m w ho m m s course . the sa e people e barked , and in the sa e hips

5 6

o f w s them a charter and a constituent code la , carrying out the f principles of the English C onstitution . An expedition o that

t m mor e o f nature, and at tha ti e , required relatively much thought, energy and m eans than o ne of ten times its numbers and power

T h e i t to would do at the present day . fact, that came directly the w r did Kennebec, sho s that its cou se and destination not de pend on any capricio u s views o f its com mander ; but were in accordance w ith a previously matured plan for the seizing such ” a place as they were directed u nto b v the council of th e colo nv . Its a pproach near to the claim ed territory of France im plies a

w of previous kno ledge the coast, and a purpose to take pos

n m u session withi the chartered li its , fully up the ndisputed

T fe l . th o se m boundary line his occupation , and ade in the few

e o f 1 8 Nov . 3 l wing years , were called in the patent James , , “ 16 2 0 of , the actual possession the continent ; thus showing h o w o n t exalted a value was placed hese incipient, though feeble

T h e moth e r . measures , by the highest authority in the land commercial purposes of the u ndertaking at Sa ga da h oc were n ot

A a nd all . religious purpose was connected therewith , carried

Its o n duri ng its continuance . great purpose was to secure title t withi n the territory granted o the company . Signal disasters

a n d m attended the later part of its life ; , though it failed com er “ ” cia ll Go r e s t o o f . y, g had no reason greatly despair means

u i n mm In its historic inﬂ ence , and its Opening the way for i ediate

’ s cﬂorts i n m o t and succes ive , it was , the words of Maine s s w one i n orthy and distinguished living historian , of the steps the grand march o f civilization . “ th e rst on - b As such , and as ﬁ chartered step our rock ound “ coast by English hearts and hands , we have thought it proper t o d o it honor ; and this too as person s united in no o ne single

We denomination of Christians . have taken pleasure in aiding “ to bring before th e appreciative m ind of the community this ” i nitia l oi nt m p in the history of the settle ent of New England ,

l n and its bearing on subsequent settlements a o g ou r sh ore s . We 5 7 hav e t hought that the Charter of 16 0 6 gave life to this and other

. enterprises It was in harmony with its design and privileges , “ ’ that the King s Majes ty and the bishops consented to the wishes of th e people at Leyden to remove to this la nd ; and so fa r gave them the aid of the Church , which Mather says was not

of m possessed with the spirit persecution against the , though of T h some its members indulged that folly . e several documents followin of u g this leading instrument title and occ pation , such as “ ” T h e the enlarged charters, First Plymouth Patent, and the

for of patents issued the beneﬁt Maine and Massachusetts , are

to to traceable this source , and the able men concerned in its

v . So origination and pro isions that, in a pure and great hist ca l e n ou h ou r fact and its sequences, we have had g to warrant

. of past commemorations It is no fault ours , that other colonies

- came earlier and later , and did not build a sea going vessel in this northern latitude in the ﬁrs t year of their stay . We rejoice where they were successful, permanent, and a blessing to the

B ut a nn t t . c o w o world why we be allo ed celebrate an event, one o f of t the greatest its times , withou being taunted with say

u ings , which , while bearing bitterness , need the s pport of evi dence ; and with words which , however amiably they may have “ a s been intended , boldly represent us culprits , indictable at comm on law ” ?

of t for In taking my leave your columns , cour eously allowed

d I I to s o this iscussion , regret that have been compelled occupy

Bu t m ore much space . much would have been needed to rectify

l of u old a l the applications the q otations from the writers, who ,

of Sa a da hoc s o far as the colony g is concerned, must be explained

of 16 0 6 for in harmony with the Charter , which provided only

“ ” willing men to join in the enterprise , and continued to them

n a ll the franchises of Englishmen at home . I wish e w only to

I not a lon e m add, that stand in y Opinions about the Popham

of C olony . Persons the highest historical authority in the State

V . a n d elsewhere support the same iew One of these, the late 8 5 8

B B n n on ishop urgess , had desig ed to write at le gth this debated D subject . He had been in correspondence with the present uke

n i t of Som er s et for information on o e part of s history . He had

te e o f already said , and patriotically , the chaplain of the colony , “ Seymour was the ﬁrst preacher of the Gospel i n the English

of tongue , within the borders of New England , and the free , loyal

and unrevolted portion of .th e s e ! nited States . Had he inherited

all the honors of his almost royal grandsire, they would have

of given him a far less noble place than this , in the history man

B u t f m kind . the fatal illness o this e inent historical scholar h a s prevented the intended gift of his deliberate and ﬁnal testi mony in defence of the claims here set forth in behalf Of “ that

th e rn h nor e e Sa a da oc . B O colony upp n the g SA IN .

to n D a i l A d v ti J u l [Bos y er ser , y

A R! NNING REV IE W OF T H E P OPHAM AGAIN AN D F Y INALL .

To th e E d itors o f th e B osto n D a ily A dvertis e r B y referring to the Supplement of the D a ily Advertiser o f the “ ” Bl st of h o ol ov e rﬂowe d May, I see t at p has again , and the

result is a wishy - washy everlasting ﬂood o f nearly fou r columns

s m some of m in all type , which see to be a reply t o the fairly

written statements and comments of Sa bi ne ; but the most of it reads very much like one of Van Buren ’ s old messages with

som e w - ﬁve which we were served annually, t enty years ago, while in barefaced effrontery it much resembles the speeches of

ff. D mm Je avis and Wigfall, at the co encement of the late r e

bellion . Let us wade through thi s m ass of m atter which reache s

from the voyage of N oa b to the late s t raid o n the Poph a mite s

and here let me remark, that the writer handles that ancient 5 9

’ n avigator s character very much as he does Chief Justice Pop m ’ w or st . ha s , looking only at its side Why does he not “ ” of no one assert that his ark was built green pine , and would

y fishi n embark in it, or , if they did, the went a g, and never arrived at Mount Ararat ; for there is just as much evidence of this as there is in his assertions relative to the vessel b u ilt at i B h Sa b ne . u t ow let us follow the writer , and see he replies “ ” t in f o Sa b e . First, he finds great di ficulty in understanding

h o th er for m w at all s clearly appreciate , and this accounts any of s his misstatement , for if a man cannot understand the truth , ? how can he communicate it Secondly, he gives us a short “ on s lesson style ; but ﬁnally conclude that, after all , it is greatly

n a m atter of taste for which there is o accounting . I agree

h him o n h t wit this point ; and, as evidence of w a his taste is , let me make an extract from his description of the discovery of the

th in locality of the Popham C olony . N o g would satisfy a few

t o f to excellen people Maine , but dig up the sickening remains, f and ﬂaunt them under the nostrils o the community . Here was ff an o ense against decency and sanitary regulations, indictable

m m n i n u ff r at com on law . In cholera ti es the proceedi g is s e a

. T to ble heir ﬁrst mistake was , that when they came the putrid ” mass they did n ot carefully replace the sod . D oe s this read like a review from a st u dent of history ? D o e s it not more w likely resemble the report of a city scavenger, hen the cholera

’ ? T n t m B is expected hen , ex , co es a quotation from Lord acon s

o n w essays plantations in general , published about t enty years after the Popham expedition ; and it i s difﬁcult to see what it has to do with the Popham C olony . If it could be referred to any on e i n m h h particular, it ust ave been the t en transporting of such people as he talks o f to Virginia . Next, he asserts that the C olony only occupied “ a fe w a cres of ground o n the promontory

l h o w m o f Sa b ine . Wi l he tell many ore acres were really occupied at Jam estown or Plymouth the ﬁrst six months of their existence 6 0

T hen comes a repetition of the old traditionary story published

u m do btingly by Willia son . A venerable New England writer ” n says , traditio is the biggest liar in the world , and , in this case ,

n s i n I certai ly acquie ce his assertion , and I doubt if any respecta ble historian would think o f repeating so questionable a tale .

of of of In speaking the end the colony , by reason Of the death

“ ‘ ’ s to the two Popham , he says , did it ever occur Sabino that his colony must have had a slender foundation to have fallen into ruin s at the death o f t wo o u t of a hundred and twenty per ? so ns Will he tell us h ow many m ore th an the death of the t wo most prominent persons at Plymouth would have caused its abandonment during their extrem ity in the spring of 16 2 1

n T u ot . u o f C ertainly , many hen comes near a col mn ab se on the

u m h Chief J stice , with abundant extracts fro his biographers whic

so n a n d on may all be true ; but, if , his appointme t continuance the bench was a disgrace and shame to ! ueen Elizabeth and the leading men of her reign . And then he comes to that cannon id n . D story agai it ever occur to him, that , if the statement were ? true, the returning colonists would have related it at home For such things always com e ou t ; and the Po ph a mite s had as bitter

. i t enemies there as P is , and so would have been a part of the authentic history of that expedition . Have there n ot been much worse outrages on the pe e r Indian all over o u r country since ? And then he repeats his doubts about the arrival of that pretty

o f n pinnace in England , which there can be no more questio tha n o f the return o f many of the early emigrant ships which

a carried back p ssengers who were known to have reached there , f w hile there is no mention o the ships . “ B u t he states Brief Relation says nothing about th e arrival o f either vessel : it records si mply the arrival of th ese p eop le here i n ” e u t - : h o w England . Well that Herods Herod does he expect they got t here ? He cert ainly k nows th e v embarked in b oth ves “ for s a ll mb a r u e d sels , Strachey say , Wherefore they y q in this n e w s th e n e w nna ce s e t arrived hip and in py , the Virginia, and 6 !

f r o . Ne w n saile England , I advise this lear ed pundit to look

n m of n amo g his ass ewspapers ; and , if he ﬁnds the London Ship

Of ping List that time, he may be enlightened . And if he still doubts let h im ask the opinion of any of o u r best writers on New

n l n m for i n E g a d history, and y word it he will not ﬁnd one to

. of s dorse his views One , certainly, whose opinion is the greate t

- s weight, and as anti Popham as him elf, has given a decided nega

to tive his assertions . And now com es a long dissertation on the blessings that have

i n been experienced Maine , by Massachusetts extending its gov

m n t u e rn e . over it Some of these moral reﬂections may be tr e, but m any of the inhabitants of that territory did not then see it . I certainly agree with him in his appreciation of th e energy and T intelligence of the settlers of Mai n e and their descendants . hey

t o th os e are equal , and very much resemble, of the other New

’ t England States ; but wha this has to do with Popham , he don t

n tell us . And , ﬁ ally, he undertakes in a note to give the writer of that famous letter about the ship a kick , by stating that a writer in a Portland paper has had his article badly printed by

so h ome having it done far from ; and , when revised , he will give it the attention it deserves . Very kind . Having made a somewhat rapid survey of his three or four “ m ” heavy columns , a ighty maze , and yet without a plan ,

i n I will look at his famous ﬁrst attack , or , as the writer the

A of Portland dvertiser calls it, the ﬁre his skirmish line and

n will n ow give h is assertions there a passing otice , glancing

r n of s over his attack on the Memo ial Volume . the defe ce Gorge ,

wh o to d and his abuse o f their authors , are perfectly able efend

do . themselves , and may so hereafter He talks strongly about “ historical verities : let us see h ow fa irly he treats authentic w history . And ﬁrst, ill he tell us where he ﬁnds the colonists “ ” “ B called convicted felons , cowards , Old ailey convicts and

n b v knaves and that th e v had saved their ecks emigrating,

th e etc . , etc . Can he point to book and the page for these his 6 2

te rica l verities He m a y it is true quote a writer wh o says “ ” m n of many of the were enda gered the law . So were many

o f h o nor the Plymouth colonists , to their , when we consider

la w what was , and what protection human rights had under

James I. “ v h Again , let us look at his assertions relati e to t at pretty ” “ ” c fi - pinna e . In his rst consideration , he argues that a sea worthy

s ve sel was never built by the colonists ; and , by inference would “ m n ot ake us believe that it was built at all , saying there was not ti me between the 15 th of D ecember and spring to b u ild a

- - n m e sea worthy vessel , whe not a person but hi self who ever p “ ” r u se d Brief Relation or Strachey doubted the building an d “ for of . t n o sailing England such a ship Next, tha they had ” As did not kno o wn need of a vessel . if they w their wants

better than we do . Can there be much doubt it was the imten

o f to tion the projectors have a vessel built, and that for this pur “ pose they sent o ve r Master D igby and the carpenters An d “ ” l s o f n then he cool y tates she was built gree pine , and repeat “ dl s b oa t m ﬁsh e y call her a ﬁshing , and i plies that she went a

a lso u ? ing . Will he give his a thority for these statements Every reader of history knows these assertions are untrue ; and

m o f s n ot to till he can clear hi self thi charge , let him undertake ” lecture others o n historical verities . It will be seen that I have n ot n oticed his argument relative

P or t to the craft built by the French at Royal , and which by almo s t a miracle carried the survivors to their homes ; for the reason that we were considering English occupation of New

England , and that alone . French enterprise and colonization ff ff h was an entirely di erent a air, and had not ing to do with the “ ” subject under consideration ; a nd the writer of the letter could n ot fairly have anticipated that it could be made to refer to any

s but Engli shmen . It will al o be noticed that I have not under taken to advocate or indorse the Popham enterprise and its

w s ome its effects in general , but only to sho up of the errors of

BIBLIO R G APH Y OF TH E POPH AM COLONY .

DOC! S C C! D B FO AND F S C B O MENT IR LATE E RE AT THE IR T ELE RATI N,

! G! S 2 9 18 6 2 A T , .

A English C olonization in America . Public Celebration .

r of of b ief sketch the C olony, and the proposed Celebration , by

. A . to u . J Mr John Poor ; which was sent invited g ests uly, 8 1 6 2 .

F ort A 2 9 18 6 2 . Historical C elebration at Popham, ugust , m Progra me of the Celebration .

An Order for Morning Prayer [read by Bishop Burgess] . 8 8 vo . , pp

- [T hirty Four] T oasts for the Historical Celebration . ” 4 8 . . v T o be arranged hereafter in appropriate order e . pp

CARDS ( 45 by 75 inches)

1 n for Stone . re . Lati Inscription the Memorial O n the

a n T . verse, English ranslation T h 2 . e . Latin Inscription as before On the reverse , First

o n of Colony the Shores New E ngland Iwas Founded here,

160 . A 19 th . S. 7 ugust , O , under George Popham “ A a printed circular headed Public Historical C elebr tion , A 12 18 6 2 dated ugust , which was sent to invited guests, with a “ “ ote Private Explanatory N , stating that the Celebration is held

re u nder the auspices of the Maine Historical Society, which p poses to print a full report in the form o f a Memorial ” Volume . 6 6

NE WSPAPE R ARTI CLES WITH REFEREN CE TO TH E F IRST CELE

BRATION .

B 10 8 6 Mr . B . B a th en in l a n Times 1 2 . S t e d . , July , C ailey

m m m a n m fo r reco mends calling a public eeting, to ake rra ge ents

a C elebration . T T h B m h e sa me 2 2 18 6 2 . e o f , July , Mayor ath calls the eet f or n d 2 8 . ing, Mo ay, July Th e sa me 2 9 . . , July Report of the meeting

P ortla n s f m s o f d P res 3 0 . o , July Report the eeting, Li t Com m itt e e s . , etc l 8 2 T h D a i E v ni n B 2 3 1 6 . e N . . e Globe . n y g , St Joh , , August ,

First English Settlem ent in New England ; by John Wilkinson .

P o rtla nd Adve rtiser 2 8 T h e , August , Order of the

C elebration .

T e s m 8 h a e s 3 0 1 62 . o f , Augu t . An Account the Celebration ;

’ w r ith Mr . John A . P e o s Oration .

’ T e s m 3 2 h a e 18 6 . . , September , Mr Poor s Oration reprinted

’

. . D . Mc Ge e s A . . with corrections Mr . T ddress , and Mr R

’ K . Sewall s Response to a T oast .

B a th T m s m 1 8 6 u 2 . i e 1 . , Septe ber , An Acco nt of the Celebration

m 6 . P ortla n d P r ess . , Septe ber Mr John Neal complains of the arrangements o f the C elebration . 8 m P or tla nd A dvertiser . . . , September Mr Charles J Gil an , the

Chief Marshal , replies .

P ortla nd Tra n sc ri t 4 . t o p , September An accoun of the C le bration . f B ru nswick Tele ra h m 6 . An o g p , Septe ber Account the

Celebration . l “ Ch ri stia n l dir ror m 9 . , Portland , Septe ber A Sermon preached

hi b u r P s . . at p g, Me , on the Sabbath after the Celebration , by Rev ” Francis Norwood . m The sa e m 16 . . P r o o . , Septe ber Mr John A . reviews Mr ’ m Norwood s Ser on . 6 7

The sa m : e . D r , October 7 Popham iscussion Mr . No “ . m wood replies to Mr Poor ; and Popha Errata : Mr . John

’ T 1 P0 0 1 s M . o f Wingate hornton reviews article September 16 .

ew Yo rh Jo u n a ( m 6 r l Com e rce . f , November Report of the c o f Y k r O tober Meeting the New m Histo ical Society . Remarks l concerning the Popham Ce le b 1 a tion by Mr . George Fo som and

. . . B Mr J R rodhead .

N ew York Ch r is i 2 0 t a n Times . , November Fuller report of t he same .

B oston E in ven T ra ve ller ov e mb e r 2 1. o f g , N C orrespondence

. B Pr f . o . VVa s h Rev William S artlett , of Chelsea , and Emory burn , of Cambridge , concerning the Speech of the latter at the m Popha Celebration .

Con 8 . re a tiona l u a r terl B 1 6 3 . v . 143 g g ! y, oston , April, , Vol , p “ B 160 . C olonial Schemes of Popham and Gorges . y John ”

T E s Bo s to n . t Wingate hornton , q , A Speech at the Firs “ m w w o f Popha Celebration , ith t elve and a half pages Notes and Authorities appended a s proofs . h A few copies of this article were printed , wit the following title page , as f l o . A PAMPHLET . Colonia Schemes Popham and Gorges

T h Es Speech of John Wingate ornton , q , at the ] Fort

m u 2 9 1 8 6 2 t h e Popha Celebration , Aug st , , under auspices of

8 6 8 v 2 0 B t 1 3 . o l . . the Maine Historica Society os on , , pp “ [ T his Speech is no t contained i n the Popham Memorial

The a b o ve was noticed and di scussed in 2 8 8 N orth A merica n R eview 18 6 3 . 11. . . , July , Vol xcv , p

143 . Ch r isti a n E x a min er u 1 8 63 . x . . , J ly , Vol l xv , p

H istorica e tions o the E ssex Institu te u 18 63 l Coll c f , A gust, ,

V . . ol. 1 19 2 . . v . pp . 7 5 ; by Mr A C Goodell

B oston R e view Nov e mb e l 18 6 3 V ol. . 64 1 . , , , iii , p

Histor ica l M a a z ine Ye l 18 6 3 . 2 3 1. g , New k , , Vol 6 8

Chr istia n Mirror A 2 8 18 6 , Portland , pril ,

B os ton Jo u rna l 11 18 6 3 . , August ,

B s o ton E venin Tra nscri t 24 1 8 6 3 . g p , April ,

P la nd T a ns i 9 18 ort r cr t 6 3 . p , May ,

“ A T h e f Ch u rch PAMPHLET . Connection Othe of England

[ with Early American D iscovery and Colonization .

B . m . y the Rev Willia Stevens Perry, M . A . Portland , Maine 8 v e 7 . , pp

B of Messrs . ailey and Noyes, Portland, Publishers , in April ,

18 6 3 s of , i sued a circular Prospectus for the publication the m 7 Memorial Volu e ; soliciting Subscriptions .

O O ! of MEM RIAL V L ME the Popham C elebration , Au gust

2 9 18 6 2 : mm m t o f of m , co e ora ive the Planting the Popha 160 on Sa bin e 19 . S. 7 C olony the Peninsula of , August , O , , establishing the T itle of England to the Continent . Published l o f . B under the direction the Rev Edward a lard , Secretary

of : o f the Executive Committee the C elebration . Portland 8 3 8 B l v e . 6 ai ey and Noyes . pp . B ound w ith the same : “ m English C olonization in A erica . A IVindication o f the

m of Clai s Iof Sir Ferdinando Gorges , as the Father Eng

. B . D lish C olonization in America y John A Poor . ( elivered

o f Y . before the Historical Societies Maine , and New ork )

Y : D . m 8 . v Ad New ork Appleton and C o pany e . [ 5 2 1 4 9 2 . 4 dress , pp Appendix, pp .

“ Sa b i ne 18 63 . Popham Celebration at , August, gramm e in broadside .

T h e 2 9 18 6 3 Popham Celebration of August , , Mr . George m Folso , Orator , was reported in

P ortla n d D a il A dve ise 3 1 8 6 3 rt r 1 . y , August

P o tla nd D a il P ress 3 1 m r 3 18 6 3 . y , August and Septe ber , 6 9

B ru nswick Tele ra h 4 18 6 3 . g p , September ,

B oston Witn ess a nd A dvoca te 1 1 18 6 3 . , September ,

B oston Cou ri er 2 18 6 3 , September , . “ P ortla n d D a il P ress 30 18 6 3 : y , September , Popham ” tle me nt — Memorial and Celebrations . Signed P George Princ e ]

“ A PAMPHLET . T h e Beginning of America I A I Di scourse I delivered before the I New York Historical Society I on its Fifty - ni nth Anniversary T uesday November 17 18 6 3 By I B C. N w York 8 e vo 64 . Erastus enedict I I , pp

d D a il P ss P ortla n re J 2 9 1 8 64 . y , anuary , Notice of Meeting

’ o f H of B to the Maine istorical Society, and Judge ourne s Reply T ’ Mr . hornton s Pamphlet .

“ An on A PAMPHLET . I Address I the Character of the C olony I founded by I George Popham I at the I Mouth of the

9 . B S 160 . D 1 O. 7 Kennebec River August th [ ] I elivered in ath, I on the T wo hundred a n d ﬁfty- seventh Anniversary I of that

B n . E d r d E . D H e wa . B u rn of . o e Event I y , I Kennebunk I elivered and P u blished at the request of the Committee o n the Com

8 . m . : ve 6 0 me oration Portland I , pp

T h e above was noticed and discussed i n

istia n Mi rror 2 1 18 6 5 . Chr , Portland , February ,

B oston E ven in T ra nscri t 13 18 6 5 . g p , February , by Rev George

D . D . E . Ellis ,

B a th D a il Sentinel a nd Times A 3 0 3 1 1 y , ugust , September , 8 4 1 6 .

“ sam 16 1 8 6 5 . . Th e e , March , Fort Popham Colony “ The sa me 16 18 6 5 . , March , The Popham Settlement ; by

B . Rev . E dward allard

h e sa me 3 0 18 6 5 . T , March ,

Th sa me 7 18 6 5 . e , July , The sa me m 1 18 6 5 . , Septe ber ,

h a m 2 18 6 5 T e s me . . , Septe ber , ; by Mr George Prince i m 18 4 B ru nsw ck Te le ra h 6 . g p , Septe ber ,

B oston Jou r na l 2 18 6 5 . , August ,

B a th i n in n Tim 8 D a l Se t el a d es 3 1 64 . T h e y , May , Fort ” m w s Popha Controversy , as to when and here Religiou Ser vices were ﬁrst held in New England . Signed

[Rev . D . Cushman . ]

Th s 8 4 T h e a me 5 1 6 . e o , May , First Worship in P pham

C olony ; by Rev . E dward Ballard .

“ Ne w Th e sa me 2 1 8 64 . , September , The First Sermon in ” “ ” E n gland . Signed Candid [Mr . George Prince] . 8 18 64 m . B Th e sa me . . , Septe ber , Reply by Rev Edward allard 8 Th e sa me 16 17 1 2 4 18 6 5 . T h e , August , , , . Virginia

’

m . . Co pany s Northern Plantation by Mr J Wingate T hornton . 2 8 18 6 5 B Th sa me A . . d e . , ugust , Reply by Rev Edward allar

“ m m A PAMPHLET . Re arks I on the Popha C elebration I of the I Maine Historical Society I Read before the American Anti B u a ria n B . . . q Society, I April I y S F Haven I oston , I

’ Mi 8 ve 3 2 . n , pp [ Haven s Remarks previously appeared

of m Soc ie t v in the Proceedings the A erican Antiquarian , at the

- 3 B 2 6 18 6 5 . 1 Semi Annual Meeting held at oston , April , ; pp

The above was noticed and discussed in

B oston D a il A dv tise l 2 18 6 er r 7 5 . y , Apri , 2 8 “ The sa me 1 6 5 . m m Re , August , Popha Exhu ed and ” n . . i terred ; by Rev . E dward E Hale “ Th e sa me u t 2 6 18 6 5 : m , Aug s , The Popha Colony, by Mr .

. D Charles F unbar .

The sa me m : , sa e date The Popham C elebration ; by Rev . w B E d ard all a rd .

i P ess s 4 1 8 6 5 P o rtla n d D a l r . y , Augu t ,

7 2

B oston D a il Advertiser 4 18 6 6 R of y , August , eport the

of of 2 Meeting the Maine Historical Society August , containing

r Mr . A . a lette by John Poor, with regard to new evidences found

’ r in Ca a yon s Relations .

T h e m o f 2 9 18 6 6 Popha Celebration August , was reported

B o n a i A 8 sto D l dvertiser m 1 1 6 6 . y , Septe ber ,

B s on u n a 8 6 o t Jo r l 1 1 6 . , September , m 4 8 N ew Yo rk Times 1 6 6 . , Septe ber , i N ew York Ch rist a n Intelli encer 18 6 6 . g , September,

B ru nswick Te le ra h 14 18 6 6 . g p , September ,

“ of A PAMPHLET . T h e Popham Colony I A Discussion its Historical Clai ms I With a I Bibliography o f the Subject B o s

n 13 18 6 6 8 vo 72 . ton IWiggi and Lunt School Street , pp