In 1622, Sir Ferdinando Gorges and John Mason were granted rights to lands which make up what is now Maine and New Hampshire. Gorges became the first person to title the territory "Maine". In 1652 Maine was annexed as a frontier territory by Massachusetts, whose officials considered it as the first line of defense against potential French and Indian invasion. Between 1675 and 1763 there was continuous conflict between the North American powers. What began with King Phillip's War ended with France surrendering their holdings in the new world to the English at the finish of the Seven Years War. During that time, Maine bore the brunt of several attacks by the French and Indian forces.