Illustration: image of couple kissing from “Puritan Laws on Sexual Misconduct.” Credit: Barbara Sardudy.

Paternity Drama in Colonial America (part 7)

By Melissa Berry on February 1, 2024

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

Photo: exterior of the Parson Capen House, 1 Howlett Street, Topsfield, Massachusetts. Courtesy of the Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Samuel Chamberlain Collection.

Paternity Drama in Colonial America (part 6)

By Melissa Berry on July 14, 2023

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

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)

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)

Photo: “Tales and Ales” from Historic New England.

Paternity Court Drama in 17th Century America, Part III

By Melissa Berry on February 3, 2021

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry presents the third story in her series exploring paternity cases in the 17th century Massachusetts Bay Colony... (Read More)

Tag: Paternity