08/08/2026
Not all of Maine's earliest European settlers came voluntarily. Carol Gardner’s talk, “Involuntary Americans: Scottish Prisoners in Early Colonial Maine,” discussed the more than 400 prisoners of war who were brought to Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts against their will in 1650-1651.
Dr. Gardner is the author of a published narrative history "The Involuntary American: A Scottish Prisoner’s Journey to the New World." Her excellent book chronicles the life and times of Scottish foot soldier Thomas Doughty, who was captured at the Battle of Dunbar, shipped to Boston, sold to a Puritan industrialist in New Hampshire, and eventually established his own milling operation on the S**o River in Maine.
Link to YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M04_WuRAk1Y
The Rockland Public Library is pleased to present this recording of our event with Dr. Carol Gardner, April 2022.