Preserving Maine's Scottish-American heritage one story at a time
Offered by: News Center Maine Apr 22, 2022
April marks Scottish-American Heritage Month and Maine has deep ties to the Scots. Meet the people working to preserve that history and share it with others. The Maine Highland Games and Scottish heritage were highlighted during an interview by Samantha York (News Center Maine) with James Rodden (SASME) and John Mann (MUSP) on WSCH-TV show 207.
Scottish American History Forum featuring John Mann
Offered by: Chicago Scots Jul 8, 2023
Our own John T. Mann, Chairman Emeritus, Maine Ulster Scots Project, gave an extensive lecture on July 8th to the world-wide audience of the Scottish American History Forum presented by Chicago Scots. Topic: Scots and Ulster Scots settlement of the “Eastern Frontier” and MUSP role in documenting their story.
One review: “ A wonderful talk by John ..... interesting, most informative and very nicely presented. Thanks everyone who arranged this session.”
A preview of Ulster-Scots Diaspora Reunion 1718-2018 - John Mann
Offered by: Berwick Community Media Aug 3, 2018
John Mann, Chairman Emeritus, Maine Ulster Scots Project, gave a lecture to the Berwick Historical Society in May 2018 detailing the history of MUSP, the then up-coming 1718-2018 Ulster-Scots Conference, our archaeology and other projects. – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Scots Irish Self Reliance on the Eastern Frontier Lecture
Offered by: Maine Ulster-Scots Project Sep 26, 2021
SCOTS-IRISH SELF-RELIANCE ON THE EASTERN FRONTIER:
Living & Dying on the Dummer Claim
Presented by: John T. Mann and Julie A. Potter-Dunlop on December 18, 2020
Online attendees from across America and Northern Ireland listened to John and Julie explore the history of the Scots-Irish First Settlers to Casco Bay. Through an 18th-Century lens, they examined the Dummer Claim in Maine; a microcosm of land possession, land development, and the cultural aspects of family, community, civic government, and commerce. Explored were the leanings into self-governance and the exercise in rebelling against British control during The American War of Independence.
Ulster Scots along the coast of Maine
Offered by: Maine Ulster-Scots Project Jan 28, 2021
“ULSTER-SCOTS ALONG THE COAST OF MAINE”
Presented by Bill McKeen
Of the famous “5 Ships” in Boston Harbor in August 1718, two came to Maine that fall: The “Robert” to Falmouth (now Portland) and the “McCallum” to Merrymeeting Bay. There are no ships lists available, but through our research we have been able to establish many of the family names. This early exodus of several hundred families becomes the first page of the story of the great migration from Ulster, Northern Ireland to New England in the mid-1700’s.
This lecture talked about some of the Ulster-Scots families that arrived along the coast of Maine and eventually settled in three areas: The Arrowsic/Georgetown area, the Boothbay/Damariscotta area and the Warren/St. George area.
Presented by Bill Mckeen – Past President and Historian of the Saint Andrews Society of Maine, long-time Maine Highland Games Chairman, and Vice-President of the Maine Ulster-Scots Project. Bill is an avid “Recreational Genealogist” researching not only his own family history, but many of the early Ulster-Scots in Maine.
The Arrival of the Ulster-Scots in the Pejepscot Region
Offered by: Pejepscot History Center March 10, 2022
Speakers: John Mann, President Emeritas, Maine Ulster Scots Project; and Ian Saxine, Visiting Assistant Professor of History, Bridgewater State University, and author of "Properties of Empire: Indians, Colonists, and Land Speculators on the New England Frontier"
The Ulster-Scots, or Scots-Irish, began populating the southern Midcoast of the District of Maine in the early 18th century. Many families in the area today trace their lineage back to these families. Who were these people and why did they leave their homeland to travel to the “New World?” Why did they settle were they did? What aspects of their culture did they bring with them that helped form the State of Maine?
Along with the English and the French, the Ulster-Scots were some of the earliest “immigrants” to arrive en masse on these shores, and are the ancestors of many residents today—and yet they were also, above all, colonists. Their collective impact on the Wabanaki, the People of the Dawnland, was profound, and has reverberated throughout history to the present day. What was the relationship like and how did it change over time? How did Wabanaki seek to hold onto their “Dawnland” amidst multiple parties vying for control of the abundant natural resources?
In June 2018, MUSP members - Dave and Heidi McCausland were fortunate to visit the areas in Northern Ireland where they believe both of their ancestors left from to sail to America. Dave’s ‘McCausland’ family in 1718 from Strabane to Maine and Heidi’s ‘McGee’ family c1760 from Ulster (possibly Strabane as well) to Philadelphia.
This is a wee video tribute Heidi created to those brave souls: “ Our Ulster Connections”.
First Dunboe – “In Search of a New World : the 1718 Migration”
Offered by: First Dunboe Presbyterian Church Jul 15, 2018
About 2000 visitors came the exhibition from 20th–24th June, 2018 which had a series of displays: - commemorating the first mass migration from Ireland to America; - exploring how migration continues to affect us today; - and relating it to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This video combines photos and videos taken at the exhibition with a narrative explaining what each of the displays represents.