Waves of settlers came to the Province of Mayne to take advantage of its abundant natural resources. Despite backbreaking work, an unbelievably harsh climate and cultural differences among the French, Native and English populations, the settlers carved out a new life for themselves.
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In the 1600s, Europe had teeming populations, it was impossible to
acquire land, there were virtually no economic opportunities and even
less religious tolerance.
They
traded furs, created a fishing industry and supplied lumber for barrels,
masts and even houses in the Caribbean. Initially, the mutually beneficial
trade relationships created confidence
between the Native and English populations. But as Natives began to be
crowded off their lands and trust between the English and Natives broke
down, a series of wars broke out that would destroy any hope for lasting
peace between the two populations. By the end of the century, most of
the English settlers would leave Maine in fear and live for years at
a time as war refugees.