Maine Memory Network

A cartoon showing Daniel Webster and Lord Ashburton shaking hands after the protracted and difficult negotiations surrounding the determination of the boundary line between the United States and Canada in the Northeast quadrant of the country. This was matted back to back with the other part of the cartoon - showing Fort Kent near the boundary line.

A painting of Lord Ashburton (Alexander Baring), the British Foreign Secretary, who, in 1842 negotiated with U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster to reach the Webster-Ashurton Treaty that established the current boundary between Maine and Canada that ended the Aroostook War.

Daniel Webster was appointed Secretary of State by President William Henry Harrison in 1841. He remained Secretary of State in President John Tyler's administration after President Harrison died (April, 1841). In 1842, Webster and British Foreign Secretary Lord Ashburton (Alexander Baring) negotiated the treaty known as the Webster-Ashurton Treaty that established the current boundary between Maine and Canada that ended the Aroostook War.

A letter from Archibald Jones to Samuel Cook anticipating the conclusion of negotiations for the Webster-Ashburton Treaty.

The letter requests information concerning the best arrangements to be made for shipping on the Saint John River.

The 1843 map of Maine also shows the Canadian Province of New Brunswick.

This is the third state of Moses Greenleaf's 1829 map and includes 12 counties and the northeast boundary of Maine finalized.

Along the northern boundary these words appear, "Boundary as affixed by the treaty of 1843." The Webster-Ashburton Treaty was signed in 1842. The 1843 date is a printing error.

When first published this map sold for $5.

Garrison Hill is the site of the former Hancock Barracks which was established to defend the border during the Aroostook War, 1839. The border was settled in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842.