Saint Martin Colonial Records

French Colonization (1648-Present)
The French and Dutch both coveted the island but after some initial conflict, both sides realized that neither would yield easily. Preferring to avoid an all-out war, they signed the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, which divided the island in two. Saint Martin is now an overseas collectivity of France in the West Indies. It encompasses the northern 60% of the divided island of Saint Martin, and some neighboring islets.