George Popham
Encyclopedia
George Popham was a pioneering colonist from Maine, born in the southwestern regions of England. He was an associate of English Colonizer Sir Ferdinando Gorges
in a colonization scheme for a part of Maine.
George was born in Somerset
, England to Edward Popham and Joan (Norton) Popham, his father was the elder brother of notable Sir John Popham. George Popham's grandparents lived in St. Donat's Castle and his grandmother, Jane Stradling, was born there.
Very little is known about his early years, where it appears he may have been a humble merchant. It is interesting to note that 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.
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.
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 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 in New England, Popham Colony
. His first establishments included a storehouse and a historical fortification called Fort Popham
.
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.
Ferdinando Gorges
Sir Ferdinando Gorges , the "Father of English Colonization in North America", was an early English colonial entrepreneur and founder of the Province of Maine in 1622, although Gorges himself never set foot in the New World.-Biography:...
in a colonization scheme for a part of Maine.
George was born in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England to Edward Popham and Joan (Norton) Popham, his father was the elder brother of notable Sir John Popham. George Popham's grandparents lived in St. Donat's Castle and his grandmother, Jane Stradling, was born there.
Very little is known about his early years, where it appears he may have been a humble merchant. It is interesting to note that 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.
Just before the voyage to New England, George was the Customer of Bridgwater
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
Port in Somerset. The Customer was the chief customs officer in the port, who collected the customs dues and recorded all entries and exits.
In 1607, he sailed from Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
with two ships and about 120 people and landed in August at the mouth of the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
. George Popham was the captain of Gift of God which became separated from the 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 in New England, Popham Colony
Popham Colony
The Popham Colony was a short-lived English colonial settlement in North America that was founded in 1607 and located in the present-day town of Phippsburg, Maine near the mouth of the Kennebec River by the proprietary Virginia Company of Plymouth...
. His first establishments included a storehouse and a historical fortification called Fort Popham
Fort Popham
Fort Popham is a coastal defense land battery at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Phippsburg, Maine. It is located in sight of the short-lived Popham Colony and, like the colony, named for George Popham, the colony's leader...
.
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.