Photo: Old Benjamin Abbott Homestead, 9 Andover Street, West Parish, Andover, Massachusetts. In 1692, Benjamin Abbot accused Martha Carrier of cursing him after a boundary dispute, which led to his own illness and the loss of his cattle. Courtesy of the Andover Historical Society.

Paternity Drama in Colonial America (part 5)

By Melissa Berry on June 13, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry provides more stories about out-of-wedlock births in colonial America, focusing on Andover, Massachusetts... (Read More)

Photo: cradle that belonged to Susannah (North) Martin, given to Anthony Colby family and now located in the Communion Room at the Macy-Colby historic house site. With all these intermarriages and paternity cases, I have no doubt this cradle rocked many babes! Courtesy of the Macy-Colby House, Main Street, Amesbury, Massachusetts.

Paternity Drama in Colonial America (part 4)

By Melissa Berry on May 4, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry provides yet more stories about out-of-wedlock births in some of the earliest colonial settlements in America... (Read More)

Illustration: Quaker prisoners released from the Boston jail due to the orders of King Charles II. Credit: from an illustrated version of John Greenleaf Whittier's poem "The King's Missive" published in "The Memorial History of Boston, including Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 1630-1880," 1880.

Colonial America: King Stops Quaker Persecution

By Melissa Berry on April 28, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry describes how the Puritans’ persecution of Quakers in Colonial America was stopped by King Charles II... (Read More)

Photo: the Golgotha Monument, located next to 52 Macy Street, Amesbury, Massachusetts, which was the burial ground of Amesbury’s first settlers. Courtesy of Pam Carter of My Maine History.

Paternity Drama in Colonial America (part 3)

By Melissa Berry on April 18, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry provides more stories about out-of-wedlock births in some of the earliest colonial settlements in America... (Read More)

Photo: the Stroudwater Light Infantry Company banner, 1805. Painted silk. Courtesy of the Maine Historical Society, Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.

Paternity Drama in Colonial America (part 2)

By Melissa Berry on April 13, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry continues her story about out-of-wedlock births in some of the earliest colonial settlements in America... (Read More)

Paternity Drama in Colonial America (part 1)

By Melissa Berry on March 28, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about out-of-wedlock births in some of the earliest colonial settlements in America... (Read More)

Illustration: a close-up of a portrait of Rebecca Rawson, by the Freake Painter, c. 1670. Courtesy of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Rebecca Rawson: Rogue Romance in Colonial America

By Melissa Berry on September 24, 2021

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about the misfortune that befell Rebecca Rawson in 17th century Colonial America... (Read More)

Illustration: close-up of a portrait of Edward Rawson, by the Freake Painter, c. 1670. Credit: New England Historic Genealogical Society; Wikimedia Commons.

Puritan Edward Rawson’s Family Bible

By Melissa Berry on September 21, 2021

Melissa Davenport Berry writes about the family Bible of Edward Rawson (1615-1693), chosen the first secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1650... (Read More)

Photo: Quaker tapestry devoted to Mary Fisher. Courtesy of Patheos.com from "Great Quaker Women: Mary Fisher, Jailed Repeatedly for Preaching."

Colonial America: The Coming of the Quakers, Part II

By Melissa Berry on September 13, 2021

Melissa Davenport Berry presents part 2 of her story about the first two Quakers (Ann Austin and Mary Fisher) to arrive at the Massachusetts Bay Colony... (Read More)

Tag: Colonial America