Beschreibung:

Bernard, Sir Francis, and Francis Miller (after surveys by John Small)Manuscript Map of the Kennebec River in Maine, from its Mouth Extending to a Point North Approximately 100 Miles above Fort Western. New England: 1765
Two joined sheets of laid paper (sheet size: 857 x 476 mm). Pen-and-ink with grey and light green wash, unlettered cartouche in the upper right corner in yellow wash, a compass rose additionally decorated in green, red, and yellow, period ink inscription on verso: "Kennebec River by Capt. Small." The earliest known survey of the upper Kennebec River, here in manuscript. In 1969, historian of cartography William P. Cumming discovered in the family home of Sir Francis Bernard "a collection of maps that, in purpose and type, differed so markedly from the more usual military, coastal, and general colonial maps of the time that it stands out in both interest and importance" (Cumming). The present manuscript map depicts much of the length of the Kennebec, from its mouth to a point approximately 100 miles north of Fort Western, along with its various tributaries and islands. At the bottom of the map, the coast of Maine is shown in detail, capturing the numerous small islands and inlets from Penobscot Bay in the north, to Cape Elizabeth in the south. Numerous forts along the coast are shown, including George's Fort, Brunswick Fort, and Pemmaquid Fort. A church is also recorded at the mouth of Royall's River near North Yarmouth. West of the Kennebec, a portion of the "Sagadehock" or "Amorescoggin" River is shown. Along the lower Kennebec, Fort Francfort, Fort Western, and Fort Halifax are identified. Toponyms north of Fort Halifax include "Norridge Walk" and "An Indian Carrying Place" (i.e. portage route), which is drawn via hachured line. Sir Francis Bernard became the Colonial Governor of Massachusetts in late 1759, shortly after British troops were victorious in the Battle of Quebec. That decisive French and Indian War victory opened a vast region for renewed English settlement and trade, thus necessitating the need for more accurate surveys of the roads and inland waterways. The present manuscript map was surveyed and drawn for Bernard by the talented military mapmaker Francis Miller in 1765, the details of which are recounted by Bernard in a 1766 letter to Lord Barrington: "I am desired to certify to your Lordship, that at the beginning of the Year 1764 Genl Gage at my Request, gave Leave to Ensign Francis Miller of the 45th regiment, then stationed in Newfoundland to come to Boston to assist me in some Works of Public Surveying, which I had undertaken in pursuance of resolutions of the general Assembly and partly by Orders from England. Mr Miller being then at an outpost and not easily relieved did not arrive at Boston till Nov in that Year, when the Season for actual Surveying was over. He was employed that Winter and Spring following in protracting the Surveys made that Summer, among which was a compleat Route from Fort Pownal on the River Penobscot to Quebec [i.e. Chadwick's surveys], and some other curious explorations of the Eastern parts of New England hitherto unknown to Englishmen: of which, elegant Maps drawn by Mr. Miller have been transmitted to the Board of Trade" (Bernard to Barrington, 11 January 1766, quoted in The Barrington-Bernard Correspondence, p. 103, underlining added). The present map based on the surveys of little known Maine surveyor John Small would appear to have been among these "curious explorations." Besides the inscription on verso indicating that the map was protracted after Small's surveys, the map itself includes the inscription to the left of Fort Halifax, "Here begins Capt. Small's Survey," as well as an inscription in the upper left corner, "Here Capt. Small was killed."
REFERENCES:Barrington-Bernard Correspondence, p.103; Cumming, British Maps of Colonial America pp.29-30, Appendix A; Underhill, Descendents of Edward Small of New England Vol. I:164-213
PROVENANCE:Sir Francis Bernard Colonial Governor of Massachusetts — By descent to Robert Spencer Bernard, Nether Winchendon House, Buckinghamshire, England