Maine Colonial Records

History
The first settlement in Maine occurred in 1607 by the British, although permanent settlements were not found until the 1620s. Maine was originally part of the Popham Colony and later part of the Plymouth Colony. In 1639, the Province and County of Maine were charted, and in 1658 The Province of Maine was formed and the County of Yorkshire. In 1664, part of Northern Maine was granted to the Duke of York and Cornwall County was formed. In 1677, the "Georges Rights" of Maine were purchased by Massachusetts, and Maine was generally called York County. In 1716, Maine became York County in Massachusetts, and later the district of Maine before becoming a state in 1820.