Long before French-Canadians migrated to Maine, their ancestors fought alongside their Wabanaki allies against the English settlers of the region in a lethal conflict some have called the real first world war of 1688-1697. Click here for an 84-minute video of Professor “Tad” Baker’s presentation posted on May 7, 2025 by the Old Berwick Historical Society.

Baker begins by describing the early settlement of Maine by the French settlers starting with Champlain at St. Croix Island in 1604 and Jean-Vincent d’Abbadie in 1635.

He then covers Baron St. Castin and the French traders, missionaries and settlers on the Channel Islands, Salem, and Berwick.

King Philip’s War (1675-76) had a major impact on Maine settlements and all settlements north of Biddeford Pool were abandoned or destroyed. The War resulted from the numerous complaints by the Native people about the settlers occupation of their homeland.