Defend the Frontier! A 17th century living history weekend at both the Col. Paul Wentworth House, Rollinsford, NH, and across the river at the Counting House Museum in South Berwick, Maine.
An encampment of reenactors portraying Capt Benjamin Church’s Company of Rangers will be at the Col. Paul Wentworth House, portraying the English & New England perspective of the late-17th century frontier wars, while nearby at the South Berwick Counting House Museum reenactors portraying French and Natives of the period will demonstrate of Canada, France and their Native allies from that era.
Historians will focus on the frontier raids and fighting in the area during the 1690’s, but also discussing the events and conflicts of the latter-17th century in New England from the view of both sides.
In March 1690, a sudden attack by French and Native American raiders devastated the English settlement along the Salmon Falls River in what is now South Berwick, Maine. As the English, French and Native Americans all struggled for control of New England in the late 1600s, English colonists in the Piscataqua region lived under constant threat of attack.
To demonstrate how English colonists defended their homes, historical re-enactors portraying Benjamin Church’s Company of rangers will be encamped at Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House. In addition to displays and demonstrations of military equipment and tactics, demonstrations of early American home life in the era and crafts will be offered from 10 am to 4 pm on both days, along with tours of the house.