Our Proud History
Settlement of the Province of Maine
The National Guard, State of Maine has a long a proud heritage. Beginning years before the settlement of Virginia, the French settled the Island of St. Croix in 1604. Long before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Captain George Popham and 100 men established a settlement at the mouth of the Kennebec that was claimed by England and admitted by France. When Puritans came in 1630, Maine already existed with many settlements along the coast. In 1639 Maine received its royal charter, allowing the formation of a standing army.
Often Massachusetts tried to incorporate Maine within its borders because of the perceived threat from Maine. Finally Massachusetts took possession of Maine forcefully and held it until the “Province of Maine” was included in the limits of Massachusetts by the charter of William and Mary in 1692.
After the Treaty that ended war between France and England in 1713, the French were allowed possession of the Island of Cape Breton where they built a strong fortress to which they gave the name of Lewisbourg. War was again declared between England and France in 1744. The commander of the land forces was William Pepperell of Kittery. Due to his actions the French commander offered to surrender on June 15. The news of the victory caused great rejoicing in London; the Tower guns were fired and Pepperell was made a Baronet. This was the first instance of such an honor being conferred on a citizen of what is now the United States.
In 1748 at the declaration of peace, Lewisbourg was surrendered to the French.
During the French and Indian war no battles took place on Maine soil, however troops took part beyond the borders of Maine. In 1758, Lewisbourg was captured and in 1759 Quebec was taken. In 1760 Montreal and all of Canada surrendered. The Peace of Paris in 1763 allotted the Canadian Province to England.
