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Archiver > LEWIS > 1999-07 > 0931198955


From: "Billie R. Lewis" <>
Subject: Re: [LEWIS-L] Who Owned Maine?
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 14:22:35 -0400


Bryan, I think you need to read a little more carefully. I said they
were "British residents" which means they were still residents of the
British Isles but had trading posts along the coast of Maine. I never
said they were "Maine residents."

I think you need to write to the Maine libraries or study your New
England history a bit more. Even though Maine was not chartered until
1639 by King Charles I, as the "Countie of Mayne" ( the original
constitution was written in 1819), entrepreneurs (fisherman and
traders) had set up trading posts along the coast of today's Maine
before the Pilgrims came on the "Mayflower." I presume you do know
that date.

" WHEN THE PILGRIMS ARRIVED THEY REPORTED A THRIVING FISHING AND
TRADING POST AT PENNAQUID." (ref: Vol 13, AMERICAN PEOPLES
ENCYCLOPEDIA. Also see Bradford's PLIMOUTH PLANTATION). I presume you
know "Pennaquid" is in New England. "The New England coast had been
familliar territory to English fishermen and fur traders long before
the 'Mayflower.'" (ref: Time-Life NEW ENGLAND; p. 56)

Records in England, which I have seen personally, document that there
were trading posts along the coast of Maine. How do you think Squanto
learned English and was back in the New World not once but twice
before he was there to greet the Pilgrims? He had been kidnapped from
today's Plymouth, Mass

It is believe that the Cabots, John and his three sons, were on the
Maine Coast in the 1400's and Weymouth was definitely there in 1609
as were others if you are interested enough to read history.

I don't intend to waste my time to teaching you, but for the benefit
of others who will read your snide message, I would like to say that
you shouldn't show your ignorance while trying to be a "know it all."
You either had a poor history teacher or forgot what you knew. On the
other hand, even if you have forgotten what you learned in school one
would think you would know how to look up something before spouting
off, possibly while trying to appear cute. Again "British
Residents" means just that! Not Maine residents." Even one hundred
years prior to 1620 seems to be a "long" time to me.

Please don't respond to this because I don't want my mail cluttered.
The one thing I have always liked about genealogy was the aura which
seemed to be around the nice people searching family history, but
somehow that light is dimming rapidly.

Billie Redding Lewis
-----Original Message-----
From: Bryan L. Court <>
To: <>
Date: Monday, July 05, 1999 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: [LEWIS-L] Who Owned Maine?

>I had thought I heard everything. There were NO British residents in
>Maine before 1620 when the Pilgrims came. Where in the world is your
>source for this. Who were the British residents long BEFORE 1620???
>=========================================
>
>"Billie R. Lewis" wrote:
>>
>> Maine was a fishing village occupied by British residents long
before
>> the Mayflower Pilgrims came. Various encyclopedia volumes give much
>> history on the colony of Maine and its wars and occupants. My
Redding
>> family who married into the Lewis family lived in Maine on the
Redding
>> Islands but the Lewis family, including the Redding daughter and
some
>> of her brothers were killed in the 1600's during the Indian Wars.
BRL
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Kathleen T. Choi <>
>> To: <>
>> Date: Sunday, July 04, 1999 7:51 PM
>> Subject: [LEWIS-L] Who Owned Maine?
>>
>> >I suspect Maine was acquired through right of conquest, that it
>> >previously belonged to the British, who acquired it through Indian
>> >treaties and the French and Indian War. However, I'm just
guessing.
>> >When you go to the Bureau of Land Management site, the original
>> >individual deeds include a line with the date on which the
government
>> >acquired the land. That would give you a clue, I would think.
>> >
>> >I suspect we got it thanks to the Revolution. I think this
because
>> so
>> >many of my relatives moved up there after the war. The land was
>> free,
>> >of course, to veterans, which would make it attractive, especially
to
>> >younger sons. However, the government gave away or sold extremely
>> cheap
>> >land it wanted settled on other occasions. Those of my family who
>> lived
>> >in Maine prior to the Revolution lived in the coastal towns. The
>> >veterans all moved inland.
>> >
>> >Kathleen
>> >
>> >
>> >==== LEWIS Mailing List ====
>> >Need a lookup on a genealogical CD?
>> >Visit http://www.seidata.com/~1hoffman/cdlist.html
>> >
>> >
>>
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