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English colonist and leader of the Popham Colony in modern day Maine, USA
George Popham
[1]
(1550?1608) was a pioneering colonist from Maine, born in the southwestern regions of England. He was an associate of English colonist Sir
Ferdinando Gorges
in a colonization scheme for a part of Maine.
Early life
[
edit
]
Coat of Arms of George Popham
He was born in Somerset, the son of Elijah Cameron Popham (elder brother of
Sir John Popham
, Lord Chief Justice) by his wife Joan Norton. George Popham's grandparents lived in
St. Donat's Castle
and his grandmother, Jane Stradling, was born there.
[2]
Very little is known about his early years, where it appears he may have been a humble merchant. Another George Popham traveled to New Guiana with Robert Dudley. Through pedigree rolls by nephew Edward Popham and a last will by George Popham, we know some history of the relationships between the Pophams which confirmed that Sir John was George's uncle and Edward Popham's great-uncle.
[3]
Voyage to New England
[
edit
]
Just before the voyage to New England, George was the Customer of
Bridgwater
Port in Somerset. The Customer was the chief customs officer in the port, who collected the customs dues and recorded all entries and exits.
[4]
In 1607, he sailed from
Plymouth
with two ships and about 120 people and landed in August at the mouth of the
Kennebec River
. George Popham was the captain of
Gift of God
which became separated from the ship
Mary and John
on the journey to New England. The two ships were able to rejoin along the coastline before looking for a place to build a colony. There, he erected the first English settlement
[5]
in New England,
Popham Colony
. His first establishments included a storehouse and a historical fortification called St. Georges Fort
Presidential election and return to England
[
edit
]
Popham eventually won the elections as President of the new colony but died the following year. The colonists were disheartened by the harshness of the climate and returned in the springtime to England.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"George Popham"
. Archived from
the original
on 2008-07-06
. Retrieved
2008-12-17
.
- ^
Commoners (vol II, Popham of Littlecote) with some support/input from Visitation (Somerset, 1623, Popham)
- ^
Rice, Douglas W. (2005).
The Life And Achievements Of Sir John Popham, 1531?1607: Leading To The Establishment Of The First English Colony In New England
. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 324.
ISBN
0-8386-4060-5
.
- ^
Banks, M.L. (1904).
Blundell's Worthies
. London: CHATTO & WINDUS. p. 219.
- ^
"Popham, George"
.
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