It existed through a series of land patents made by the kings of England during this era, and included New Somersetshire, Lygonia, and Falmouth.

[citation needed] A movement for Maine statehood began as early as 1785, and in the following years, several conventions were held to effect this.

[3] During the War of 1812, British and Canadian forces occupied a large portion of Maine including everything from the Penobscot River east to the New Brunswick border with the goal of annexing them to Canada as the Colony of New Ireland.

[citation needed] The Massachusetts General Court passed enabling legislation on June 19, 1819, separating the District of Maine from the rest of the Commonwealth.

On February 25, 1820, the General Court passed a follow-up measure officially accepting the fact of Maine's imminent statehood.