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Early settlers in Maine and Massachusetts were different. Maine settlers wanted to gain access to land and fisheries to better their lives, while Massachusetts Puritans were motivated by religion. Dissenters from Puritan ideology often fled to Maine, in search of religious tolerance.
In 1729, a number of self-reliant Scotch-Irish settlers moved to the midcoast. These Borderlanders valued independence above all, and were suspicious of outside authority. The Scotch-Irish had a lasting cultural impact. They settled Boothbay, Damariscotta, and Newcastle. Many of the older Maine coastal families trace their lineage to the first Scotch-Irish settlers. Later, more Scotch-Irish and German settlers were recruited. Waldoboro was settled by German immigrants.
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