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Friday, June 21, 2024 Volume 20 • Issue No. 25
Prince Whipple Added to Independence Day Tradition KITTERY For the past few years, the only known Mainer to have signed the Declaration of Independence has returned to his hometown of Kittery for an annual public reading of the historic document. This year, for the first time, the man he enslaved will provide a reading as well. General William Whipple, born and raised in Kittery, was a merchant sea captain who went on to serve as a militia general and as a member of the Second Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. The exploits which brought Whipple his great-
est fame occurred after he settled across the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth, NH. During most of those moments, his enslaved
manservant, Prince, was there at his side. In 1779, Prince was one of 20 enslaved African-American
men who penned a Petition for Freedom submitted to the New Hampshire State Legislature. The request was tabled by the lawmakers without further action. It was later published in a local newspaper in 1780 for the “amusement” of readers. However, the eloquently framed petition, filled with poetry and passion, reflects the desire for independence shared by the Founding Fathers who produced the Declaration of Independence. Stated most simply, these men who were considered slaves demanded to know on what grounds they had been subjected to their involuntary servitude.
Downeast Fiddle Festival, “Part Two” KENNEBUNK The second of a pair of shows featuring fiddlers from Downeast Maine and the Maritimes will close out the Spring season of the “Concerts in West K!” series. “Part Two” of the festival takes place Friday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the West Kennebunk Methodist Church. Featured performers are fiddlers Troy MacGillivray and Mari Black, and guitarist Matt Heaton. MacGillivray is no stranger to West Kennebunk audiences. He has previously performed in the “Concerts in West K!” series and at house concerts in the area. Raised in Lanark, Nova Scotia, he is a master of both the fiddle
and piano traditions of northeastern Nova Scotia. Coming from a family with a proud Scottish heritage, Gaelic traditions run in his bloodline. He has been performing publicly since he was six years old, has recorded more than half a dozen CDs, and has performed across Canada, the U.S., the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and Australia. Mari Black has been called “one of the brightest fiddlers around today.” She is a multi-style violinist and champion fiddler, known for her energetic playing, lively stage presence, and virtuo-
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BERWICK Young at heart Berwick resident Roger Couture recently celebrated his 96th birthday, just one of many milestones reached by this proud New Englander and Korean War veteran. An active member of the American Legion for over 50 years, Roger has quite the resumé. As a young man, he started working in the shoe business in Somersworth, NH, where he remained for 20 years before moving on as a foreman for the Alton Shoe Company in Farmington, NH. Couture worked at Alton Shoe for 22 years. In 1962, the vet retired from the shoe business, but he did not stop working. Teaming up with his wife Ruth, the couple decided to buy three acres of land behind their house, and together they built and operated an eighteen-hole “Pitch and Putt” golf course that took two years to complete.
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concerts in Brazil, Scotland, Canada, China, Korea, Zimbabwe, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, and France. Guitarist and bouzouki player Matt Heaton performs widely with his wife, Shannon (the duo appeared in West Ken-
See PRINCE on page 3 . . . nebunk in March 2024), and has played with countless others, including the Karan Casey Band, the Boys of the Lough, and Robbie O’Connell. In addition to his work as an accompanist, he is an active performer for children and families. He has received multiple grants and awards for his engaging sing-alongs and rockabilly-tinged solo work. T he West Ken nebun k United Methodist Church is located at 160 Alfred Road in West Kennebunk. There is open seating for the concert on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is by $20 per person donation at the door. For more information, call 207-985-2831.
Nonagenerian Celebrates 96 Years and Counting
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sic fiddling. Her performances are infused with a sense of playfulness and a deep love for the history behind the music. She has won competitions in the U.S., Canada, and Scotland, and describes herself as “an enthusiastic collector of passport stamps.” She has played
Prince is generally believed to be not only a signer of the petition but one of its authors, if not the primary source. He travelled with the General to Philadelphia in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was created, and as a result was familiar with the language and concepts behind it. The African native also accompanied the General in military campaigns at the pivotal Battle of Saratoga in 1777 and the lesssuccessful Rhode Island expedition of 1778. As a young sailor, Whipple
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Describing himself as “just a man living his dream,” Roger hit the “Big Leagues” on his 80th birthday. A lifelong fan of the Television Show “The Price is Right,” Roger’s children got him tickets to a taping of the show in Los Angeles, where he was chosen as a contestant. Of course, the fact that Roger wore a white T-shirt featuring host Drew Carey’s face on the front along with the words, “Get Ready Because I’m 80,” must have contributed to his selection. The Maine baseball cap he also wore may have contributed as well. Roger did not win the showcase, but the experience was the thrill of a lifetime. Those lucky enough to know Roger know that he lives life to the fullest. Very much a “family” man known for his longtime work in his church parish, Roger is truly one in a million. Congratulations and Happy Birthday to Roger!
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