The Two Faces of Ballstown: Religion, Governance, and Cultural Values on the Maine Frontier, 1760-1820

As the Maine back country was settled in the late eighteenth century, evangelical congregations were established in the frontier towns. This evangelical religion has been credited with fostering a fiercely independent mind-set that promoted Jeffersonian ideals of governance. This study places the political and social development of two towns, Jefferson and Whitefield, in closer perspective, showing that denominational similarities do not always lead to similar emphases on independent thought and religious diversity. Marie Sacks is an independent researcher, an archivist for the Whitefueld Historical Society, and a graduate of the American and New England Studies program at the University of Southern Maine. Before turning to history, she received a doctorate in biology and biochemistry from Brandeis University and taught biology at Simmons College in Boston. She lives in Whitefield with her husband, Julian, whose art is featured in this issue