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Description

This map was originally published in William Willis' "The History of Portland" (1865) and depicts the early settlements and geography of what is now Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Westbrook, and Falmouth, Maine. The map provides a detailed representation of the Casco Bay region, highlighting early land divisions, prominent settlers, mills, roads, and key geographic features. 

The map extends from the Sacarrappa Falls (now part of Westbrook) in the north to Black Point (Scarborough) and Spurwink in the south, covering the early colonial settlements along the Fore River, Presumpscot River, and Casco Bay. The islands of Casco Bay, including Great Hog Island, Long Island, and Jewel’s Island, are prominently labeled, reflecting the maritime significance of the area. 

The map identifies early land grants and homesteads, marking names of settlers and notable locations, such as John Phillips’ mill (Lower Falls), the King's Dock, and Humphrey Durham’s mill. Roads, including the “King’s Road to Black Point”, indicate early colonial transportation routes. Fortifications and trading posts, crucial during the Anglo-Wabanaki conflicts of the 17th century, are also noted. 

This map serves as a reconstruction of the 17th-century landscape of Falmouth, emphasizing its role as a strategic settlement and trading hub in early Maine history. The region was frequently contested between English colonists and Indigenous Wabanaki tribes, particularly during King Philip’s War (1675–1678) and King William’s War (1688–1697). By 1690, Falmouth was largely destroyed in a French and Wabanaki raid, an event that shaped the town’s later development.