Portland Maine

The Jordan Memorial: Family Records of Rev. Robert Jordan, and His Descendants in America (1882)

---- The Rev. Robert Jordan, a priest of the church of England, came to Richmond's Island in Maine about the year 1640. Jordan probably divided Sunday ministrations between the Spurwink and Casco settlements and Saco. Excerpts from the genealogy are below.

"By his marriage with Sarah Winter, Mr. Jordan became one of the great land-proprietors and wealthy men of that region; 'a source of influence,' says a writer, 'which he failed not to exert in favor of his church and politics.' "The writer of an article in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. xiii. p. 221, says of Mr. Robert Jordan: 'This gentleman and Rev. Richard Gibson were the pioneers of Episcopacy in Maine. Mr. Gibson left the country about the year 1642, but Jordan remained at the post of duty, and never relinquished his stand as a churchman or his professional character.'

Owing to his religious affinities and associations, Mr. Jordan was an object of suspicion and hostility to the Puritan government of Massachusetts, who forbade him to marry or baptize. He paid no attention to this order, and, continuing to discharge the duties of his office, the General Court of Massachusetts ordered his arrest and imprisonment in Boston jail. This occurred twice, namely, in 1654 and in 1663. "After his house in Spurwink was destroyed by Indians in King Philip's War, Jordan removed to Great Island (now Newcastle). He died in 1679 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire."

The original text can be viewed at the NEHGS Library. The call number is CS71/J82/1882. To locate additional genealogy and local history resources, search our library catalog.

29 miles taking this route:

1. Take I-95 SOUTH, from Portland, to SR-111 to BIDDEFORD at EXIT 32; turn left off the exit ramp onto SR-111 EAST towards BIDDEFORD.
2. Take SR-111 EAST to West St, at the MOBIL gas station, and continue straight onto West St.
3. Take West St to SR-9 at the end of the road, and turn left onto SR-9.
4. Take SR-9 to SR-208, and turn right onto SR-208 towards BIDDEFORD POOL.
5. Take SR-208 into Biddeford.