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New England Legends & Folklore
This handsome collection of lore and folktales takes the reader back to the days of early New England and such legends as the last highwayman, the double-headed snake, the charter oak, and the witchcraft tragedy.
461 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1901
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About the author
Samuel Adams Drake
141 books2 followersSamuel Adams Drake was the son of Samuel Gardner Drake.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 5, 2010
A book I picked up a while back for inspiration from New England folklore. Not bad, but not great.
October 26, 2017
Shows its age. Skips between folklore and poetry inspired by or inspiring of said lore. Oddly poetic in that manner. My problem is that it is rather disjointed and not quite what i wanted.
August 7, 2021
I had to go with this edition on GR, but the version I read of this voluminous collection of stories is more than 130 years old, which is a privilege itself. First published in 1884, the original stamp on the inside cover of the volume I have reads 1888, and it's humbling to even have a volume this old in my hands. It's a rather eclectic collection of stories dating to the founding of New England, primarily Massachusetts, but from some other places as well. It also features more than a hundred engravings, characteristic of the period.
This ample volume features well-known stories as well as some rather obscure accounts, ranging from tales about old houses and buildings, famous trees - celebrated survivors of an ancient past which once graced even the urban landscape - pirates, witches, and an assorted cast of characters, real and imagined. It also features some historic (sort of) accounts such as the famed ride of Paul Revere, tales regarding famous events such as the Revolutionary War and the Salem Witch Trials, and folklore surrounding some of the more colorful inhabitants of Old New England, including the famous Molly Pitcher, a fortune teller from Lynn, and the infamous Edward Teach, AKA Blackbeard the Pirate.
Some curious events and finds make their way here, also, including accounts of mysterious sea serpents, such as the Monster of Gloucester Bay, the testimony of a man who was reportedly hunted by a double-headed snake, yet another mythical monster, and the remarkable find of a Viking skeleton still wearing its armor, which was recovered from the Fall River, believed to date to around 1000 AD.
The author, Samuel Adams Drake (1833-1905), was a native New Englander and reportedly a Civil War veteran, who also served as a journalist. Later in life, he penned a series of popular histories including books on the old landmarks of Boston and the Battle of Gettysburg. The son of Samuel Gardner Drake, a literary figure in his own right, who in 1828 opened the first antiquarian bookstore in the US, Samuel attended Boston public schools before moving to Kansas in 1858 to serve as a telegraphic agent of the New York Associated Press. He later became the regular correspondent of the St. Louis Republican, the Leavenworth Times and the Louisville Journal. He reportedly joined the state militia in 1861, becoming brigadier general in 1863 and a colonel of the 17th Kansas Volunteers in 1864. He returned to Boston in 1871, however, and began penning a number of books, remaining active from 1873 to 1904, the year before his death. He died in Kennebunkport, Maine, in Dec., 1905.
In this volume, Drake included both stories he evidently collected from around New England, as well as more contemporary poetry. As stated, the range of material varies considerably, including both well-known and more obscure accounts, as well as information regarding folklore and traditions (informing the bees of one's apiary of a death in the family by hanging black mourning cloth on the hives), poetry, most notably from Whittier, and the period drawings. Some of the material is admittedly less than engaging, but, overall, it's a gem of an old book which provides great insight into the types of popular folklore books characteristic of the late nineteenth century.
This ample volume features well-known stories as well as some rather obscure accounts, ranging from tales about old houses and buildings, famous trees - celebrated survivors of an ancient past which once graced even the urban landscape - pirates, witches, and an assorted cast of characters, real and imagined. It also features some historic (sort of) accounts such as the famed ride of Paul Revere, tales regarding famous events such as the Revolutionary War and the Salem Witch Trials, and folklore surrounding some of the more colorful inhabitants of Old New England, including the famous Molly Pitcher, a fortune teller from Lynn, and the infamous Edward Teach, AKA Blackbeard the Pirate.
Some curious events and finds make their way here, also, including accounts of mysterious sea serpents, such as the Monster of Gloucester Bay, the testimony of a man who was reportedly hunted by a double-headed snake, yet another mythical monster, and the remarkable find of a Viking skeleton still wearing its armor, which was recovered from the Fall River, believed to date to around 1000 AD.
The author, Samuel Adams Drake (1833-1905), was a native New Englander and reportedly a Civil War veteran, who also served as a journalist. Later in life, he penned a series of popular histories including books on the old landmarks of Boston and the Battle of Gettysburg. The son of Samuel Gardner Drake, a literary figure in his own right, who in 1828 opened the first antiquarian bookstore in the US, Samuel attended Boston public schools before moving to Kansas in 1858 to serve as a telegraphic agent of the New York Associated Press. He later became the regular correspondent of the St. Louis Republican, the Leavenworth Times and the Louisville Journal. He reportedly joined the state militia in 1861, becoming brigadier general in 1863 and a colonel of the 17th Kansas Volunteers in 1864. He returned to Boston in 1871, however, and began penning a number of books, remaining active from 1873 to 1904, the year before his death. He died in Kennebunkport, Maine, in Dec., 1905.
In this volume, Drake included both stories he evidently collected from around New England, as well as more contemporary poetry. As stated, the range of material varies considerably, including both well-known and more obscure accounts, as well as information regarding folklore and traditions (informing the bees of one's apiary of a death in the family by hanging black mourning cloth on the hives), poetry, most notably from Whittier, and the period drawings. Some of the material is admittedly less than engaging, but, overall, it's a gem of an old book which provides great insight into the types of popular folklore books characteristic of the late nineteenth century.
July 11, 2024
Uneven but interesting collection of anecdotes, stories, and legends. My favorite was the tale of the "battle" of Cape Ann in which militia fired on unseen foes. I am certain it was a case of men firing on shadows in the night.
December 22, 2025
A good mix of folklore and real events. A little bit of a challenging read as it's written in 19th century style. (ex. "sun shone brightly upon it.") Worth keeping for historical interest if you're from the New England area.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews