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Imagine our area a forested wilderness, with local families struggling for survival, fearful of threats from unseen foes.  That’s how people had to live 300 years ago, when war was a way of life. Get the full story of armed scouts defending the region in a lecture September 28 in South Berwick. (Continued below) 

Dr. Steven C. Eames will present a talk entitled, “Scouts and Garrisons: Defending the Maine Frontier, 1689-1748.” The program will begin at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 26, at Berwick Academy's Jeppesen Science Center on Academy Street. The public is invited and refreshments will be served. 

The lecture is part of the Old Berwick Historical Society's 2013 series of talks, walks and historical events tied to the 300^th anniversary of the Berwicks’ existence as an independent town. Events have included lectures, tours and public programs focused on the history of this area of Maine and the Piscataqua during the 1600s and 1700s.  The anniversary series is made possible by member donations and by grants from the Maine Humanities Council and Kennebunk Savings. 

Eames is Director of History and Interdisciplinary Studies at Mount Ida College.  His primary area of interest and research has been the effect of war on soldiers and civilians, with a focus on early American history. He lives in North Berwick, Maine with his wife, Kathleen, and has three children. 

Eames’ talk will focus on the development over time of defensive and offensive ways of war on the Maine frontier. 

 “The early French wars were a time when the Maine frontier was vulnerable to attack from native-led and French-led raiding parties,” he said, referring to the fact that settlers were English, and England was then at war with France.  “Towns like Berwick had to rely on support from the Massachusetts government and their own citizens to defend themselves. 

“After a struggling start, over time the problems of logistics and tactics improved until the people on the Maine frontier learned the proper way of war.  This approach to war included defensive garrison houses and patrols, and offensive raiding parties.” 

Published works by Eames include Rustic Warriors: Warfare and the Provincial Soldier on the New England Frontier, 1689-1748, about the early French Wars along the Maine/New Hampshire border. Another book, about the men who served and the community of Nahant, Massachusetts, during and after the Civil War, won awards from the American Association for State and Local History and the New England Museum Association.  

More information on the Counting House Museum and all the Old Berwick Historical Society’s programs is available at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by calling (207) 384-0000.