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

Page 3 – THE HISTORIC SETTING ~ John T. Mann, Director MUSP

The Ulster-Scots in the north of Ireland were being pushed by years of poor harvests, high rents, and discrimination against their Presbyterian form of Protestant religion. At the same time, they were being pulled by the opportunity to own land which was being advertised by New England clergy and owners of large land grants in the border lands located between English settlements in New England and French settlements in New France.  The two European powers used both Native Americans and Ulster-Scots emigrants as chess pieces in their struggle for control of North America. The Scots-Irish came by the thousands intent on claiming their share of the American dream. The District of Maine, at that time was at the Eastern Frontier and subject to recurring hostilities between France and England. The arrival of Ulster-Scot families in the Kennebec River valley helped trigger “Dummer’s War” in 1722. The resulting raids by Native Americans throughout the summer of 1722 destroyed many of the newly established homesteads in and around the lower Kennebec River. The conflict ended with the destruction of the Norridgewock village, the massacre of Native American men women and children living there, and the death of Father Rasle their spiritual leader.