New England Rubicon: a study of eastern Maine during the American Revolution

This study describes and interprets the American Revolution in the region of eastern Sagadhoc, now eastern Maine. Attention is concentrated on the sequence of events in this area and their relationship with activities in the remainder of New England and in contiguous Nova Scotia all within the wider setting of the American Revolution. How, and why the insurgents of this section entered and maintained a struggle that continued years beyond their first expectation is the story that unfolds. A wilderness region of large lakes and swift rivers, Sagadhoc's rock-bound coast was remote; in 1775 none of the scattered settlements from the Penobscot River to the St. Croix had been in existence fifteen years. Legally its settlers, approximately four thousand in number, were squatters, some possessing conditional township grants from the Massachusetts General Court, but none with titles finally confirmed by the Crown. Disdaining the security of life in more populated sections, these newcomers were ambitious individuals, some with sound reputations and others ranging downward in type to debtors and criminals. These pioneers disliked restraint: regulation by the Crown or Massachusetts Bay and even rule at home, was abhorrent to each individual so far as it inhibited his own interests. The region's growing emphasis upon lumbering and fishing ties their lot to the prosperity of the exchange economy of the colonies. Their adverse trading position with respect to Massachusetts Bay caused hardship and discontent. Anti-British sentiment found receptive ground here, and the poineers therewith transferred their dissatisfaction to the greatest distant power they knew - the Crown [TRUNCATED]

Grantor dc:publisher

Boston University

Year dc:date.issued

1962

Author dc:creator

• Ahlin, John Howard

• American Revolution
• Maine

Statement dc:rights

• Based on investigation of the BU Libraries' staff, this work is free of known copyright restrictions.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Dc Identifier Other

b1467273x

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.bu.edu:2144/27970