The death of the proprietor of the province, Sir Ferdinando, occurring in 1647, and nothing being heard from Governor William Gorges, the inhabitants of Kittery, Gorgeana, Wells, and probably the Isle of Shoals, met in convention at Gorgeana, and formed themselves into a confederacy for mutual protection and just administration of the government, and Edward Godfrey, one of Governor Gorges' councilors, was chosen governor.[3]