Gorges

Gorges, SIR FERDINANDO, styled 'the father of colonisation in America,' was born about 1565 at Ashton, in Somersetshire. He founded two Plymouth companies (1606-20 and 1620-35) for acquiring and planting lands in New England, and in 1639 received from the king a charter constituting him proprietor of Maine. He adhered to the king in the Civil War, and died some time in 1647. His son neglected the province, which finally placed itself under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, to which colony Sir Ferdinando's grandson sold his rights in 1677 for £1250.