Author Marian Sleeman Gerrish Craig, Kittery historian, visits the library June 11

      The Friends of the Library are delighted to host Kittery resident Marian Sleeman Gerrish Craig on Tuesday, June 11 at 7pm in the Library’s Lecture Hall. Ms. Craig is the author of “Two If By Sea—The Prodigy of the Piscataqua River—The Folletts of Kittery Point” which was published in 2011 when she was 93 years old. The introduction to Marian’s book starts out, “This is an account of a family named Follett who lived by the sea on the Piscataqua River in Kittery Point, Maine. Someone in that family has lived in the same location on Follett Lane for over 200 continuous years.”

  Indeed, Marian is a descendant of Capt. John Follett who, along with 42 other local men, signed the Dover Combination in 1640. By 1703, the Folletts, shipbuilders and traders, had settled at Kittery Point and her current home on the northerly side of the mouth of the harbor was purchased by Capt. Robert Follett Sr. in 1767. She has lived there since the age of 12, fondly recalling times with her beloved grandfather, Follett Gerrish, and knows many stories about the surrounding area.

 Craig’s book covers much local and maritime history including her family’s opposition to the Embargo Act of 1807 and their shipping struggles during the War of 1812. She also inherited the journals of Hannah Gerrish, recorded in the late 19^th century and did much genealogical research on her own. After a 50-year career in music and raising three sons with her husband Bob Craig (a Portsmouth boy she married 73 years ago), Marian is thrilled to share her knowledge of the Piscataqua region with audiences.

This program is free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact the Dover Public Library at 603-516-6050.