|
1492
|
Christopher Columbus "discovers" America. |
|
1497
|
John and Sebastian Cabot sail from
England to North America and return. |
| 1498 |
Sebastian Cabot explores North American
coast, establishes England's claim. |
|
1500 |
Gaspar Cortereal, sailing for Portugal searching
to find the fabled "Northwest Passage" to the Far East, travels
along the Maine coast. |
| 1524 |
Giovanni da Verrazano establishes claim for France,
describes Maine coast. |
|
1525 |
Estevan Gomez, sailing for Charles V of Spain
and seeking the Northwest Passage, enters many Maine harbors. |
|
1527 |
John Rut explores the interior of Maine for
England. |
| 1556 |
Andre Thevet explores the Penobscot River for
France. |
| 1583 |
Sir Humphrey Gilbert explores the Maine coast
for England. |
|
1602 |
Bartholomew Gosnold explores the Maine coast. |
| 1603 |
Martin Pring explores Penobscot Bay
for Bristol, England businessmen. |
| 1604 |
First French settlement in Maine at
St. Croix island in the St. Croix river.
Samuel de Champlain explored the Maine coast,
including Mount Desert Island. |
| 1605 |
George Weymouth's expedition lands
on Monhegan, explores Maine coast, then kidnaps five Indians to England. |
| 1606 |
Southern Maine granted to Plymouth
Colony under the first Virginia Charter. |
| 1607 |
Popham colonists land and begin to
organize their colony in Maine.
Jamestown colony in Virginia founded
as first permanent English settlement. |
| 1608 |
The pinnace Virginia, first
ship built in Maine, launched at Popham.
After a hard winter, Popham colonists
return to England. |
| 1609 |
Jesuit mission established by French
on Penobscot Bay |
|
1613 |
Jesuit mission established by French
on Mount Desert Island. |
| 1614 |
Captain John Smith maps the New England
Coast |
| 1617 |
Smallpox epidemic devastates Native
Americans from Penobscot Bay westward. |
| 1620 |
Pilgrims establish Plymouth Colony;
draft the Mayflower Compact. |
| 1622 |
Starving Plymouth Pilgrims get supplies/food
from fishermen at Damariscove Island.
All land between Merrimac and Kennebec
rivers granted to Gorges and Mason. |
| 1625 |
Pilgrims begin trade with Indians
on the Kennebec River.
First deed of Maine land, from Indians
to John Brown of New Harbor. |
|
1628 |
First charter issued for the government of
Massachusetts |
| 1629 |
Fernando Gorges claims all land between Piscataqua
and Kennebec rivers in Maine.
Pilgrims get land patent along the
Kennebec to protect their Indian trade. |
| 1632 |
England cedes Acadia to France. |
| 1635 |
French Fort Pentagoet constructed
in Castine. |
| 1636 |
Incorporation of the Town
of Agamenticus, now the Town of York. |
| 1639 |
King Charles I officially changes
the name to Province of Maine.
Grant
of the Province of Maine exclusively to Sir Fernando Gorges. |
| 1641 |
Incorporation of the first Maine city
of Agamenticus, now the Town of York. |
| 1642 |
Name of Agamenticus
changed to Georgeanna for Sir Fernando Gorges. |
| 1646 |
First mill built on the Presumpscot River near present
day Portland and Falmouth.
|