The Coasting Law


"An address to the inhabitants of the District of Maine upon the subject of their separation," Portland, 1791

"An address to the inhabitants of the District of Maine upon the subject of their separation," Portland, 1791
Item 103653   info
Maine Historical Society

This booklet marked the first large-scale written declaration about the separation of Maine from Massachusetts. Davis’ proposition outlined the separation argument from both sides, but he did not mention the Coasting Law of 1789, which reduced support for separation in many coastal towns.

New Map of English America, 1677

New Map of English America, 1677
Item 104604   info
Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education

This French map of America’s Eastern seaboard reinforced the benefits of the 1789 Coasting Law on Maine’s coastal communities, since it opened up trade from Maine without financial penalty to New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York.

In 1818, those favoring separation of Maine from Massachusetts—including senator Rufus King, brother of Maine’s future governor, William King—worked to pass a revised Coasting Law through Congress. They created one large district for the Eastern seaboard, avoiding the economic burden and inefficiency of travel under the Coasting Law of 1789 if Maine separated from Massachusetts. As a result, many who had previously held out began to support an independent Maine

John Chandler to Henry Dearborn about coasting law and its potential repeal, Monmouth, 1816

John Chandler to Henry Dearborn about coasting law and its potential repeal, Monmouth, 1816
Item 103657   info
Maine Historical Society

hn Chandler (1762-1841) wrote his friend Henry Dearborn (1751-1829) regarding the Coasting Law and how it was adversely affecting the movement to separate from Massachusetts.

Henry Dearborn was a Revolutionary War soldier and statesmen. He served as a member of the US House of Representatives from 1793 to 1797, was Secretary of War under Thomas Jefferson, and was a high-ranking military official during the War of 1812. Chandler sought Dearborn’s advice because of Dearborn’s activity in the shipping industry and his lengthy political career.

John Chandler served in the Massachusetts senate from 1803 to 1805, was a member of the US House of Representatives from 1805-1809, served as first president of the Maine senate, and served with John Holmes as one of Maine’s first two senators from 1820-1829.

District of Maine map, 1795

District of Maine map, 1795
Item 9166   info
Maine Historical Society

This map promoted the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, showing the state as an independent and politically distinct Maine. Osgood Carleton (1741-1816) was a well-known cartographer, and this is the first map of Maine created from accurate surveys— but only on the coast—thus inland and Northern regions continue to be erroneous and vague.

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