The Ulster-Scots ‘Means’ homestead story gets a fresh look.

Page 1 – INTRODUCTION ~ John T. Mann, Director MUSP

The 1756 event is, perhaps, not as well known today as it was in 1964, but it is certainly part of Freeport Maine’s common folk lore and the story has shown a durability that puts it into a category of classic tales that have taken on a life of their own. The plight of the Means family has been the subject of re-enactments, plays, songs, and romanticized historic novels. The 250th anniversary of the ‘Means Massacre’ in 2006 triggered a series of public events as well as a desire to learn more about the factual context of the Means’ story and determine the specific location of the Means’ home.

The Maine Ulster Scots Project (MUSP) was organized in 2006 with a mission to investigate, save, and share the stories of Ulster-Scots (aka Scotch-Irish) families, like the Means, who arrived in Maine between 1718 and 1763 as part of a great exodus of people from the North of Ireland to the frontier districts of America. The Ulster-Scots’ experience in Maine has gone largely undocumented. Stories of their lives, handed down through family oral traditions, were on the verge of being lost as the Maine coast population was being replaced or influenced by a newer wave of people “from away.” MUSP set out to capture those stories before they were lost forever. The Means family story and the 250th anniversary of their “massacre” was the impetus to start the process.

FIRST FAMILIES of FLYING POINT, Freeport Maine

Putting the Means’ homestead in context

MUSP is in the progress of researching these first Ulster-Scot families at Flying Point in Freeport, Maine. (f/ Harriseeket District of North Yarmouth)

If you are descended from or have information about any of the following families, we would love to hear from you: info@maineulsterscots.com  MUSP collects information for its growing archive and shares what they have with others looking for the same information.

James and Anna Anderson

Joseph Anderson and Jane Means

Gideon Man and Leah (maiden name unknown)

John Man and Esther Hewey

John Hewey and Elizabeth Man

John Heughey and Mary

Thomas Means and Alice Phinney

George Rogers and Alice Means

Captain William Rogers

Matthew Patton and Susannah Dunning

Actor (Hector) Patten

John Rae and Mary Patten

Robert Pickerman and Elizabeth

Samuel Chase, Esq. and Mary Stanwood Chase

Solomon Williams

Margaret Man (Williams and Wentworth)

William Chase

James Dunning

James Jameson and Eleanor Campbell

Samuel Jameson

Thomas Campbell

Jacob Anderson and Agnis Phinney Anderson

Benjamin Chase and Catherine Campbell Chase