During the brutal wars between Maine's English settlers and the French-backed Native American Tribes, Father Sebastien (Rale) Rales (1657 - 1724) was New France's outstanding religious and cultural link to the Maine tribes. The brilliant Jesuit priest built a mission at the village of Norridgewock. Not only did Rales design, build and paint the interior of his chapel, he composed music for his parishioners and began a dictionary of the Abenaki language. The English militia raided Norridgewock on several occasions and in 1724 destroyed the place, taking 26 scalps - including Father Rales scalp - back to Boston. In Norridgewock, a monument to the priest was set up in the 19th century and a bell, bible, cross and strongbox from the Mission are kept at the Maine Historical Society.