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James A. MacLauchlan, New Brunswick, ca. 1840

Contributed by Kings Landing Historical Settlement
MMN Item 15811 Item Details
James A. MacLauchlan, New Brunswick, ca. 1840
MMN Item 15811 Zoom

Description

James Augustus MacLauchlan was an officer in the 104th New Brunswick Regiment of Foot during the War of 1812. He was also the British Warden of the Disputed Territory during the Border Dispute between Canada and Maine known as the "Aroostook War."

At issue in the dispute was a tract of land that stretched north from Mars Hill to near the Saint Lawrence River. The dispute over the border between Canada and Maine arose from ambiguous language in the Treaty of Paris of 1783 that concluded the American Revolution.

As warden, Maclauchlan seized lumber that was thought to have been illegally harvested and arrested Maine census officials and surveyors who were working in the disputed territory. Maclauchlan was in turn arrested by Maine authorities for violating Maine's sovereignty.

The dispute was settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 that established the compromise border that now exists.

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