What do you think?
Rate this book
Etched in Granite Historical Fiction Series #1
Etched in Granite: Historical Fiction Series - Book One
Who are these numbered souls? The year is 1872. The Civil War has ended, leaving behind a shattered nation. Etched in Granite is a harrowing account of life and death on a rural New England Poor Farm—a tragic, yet triumphant story of courage, survival, and secrets surrounding lost love. Unwed, with child, and nowhere else to turn, Abigail Hogdgon becomes an inmate at the Poor Farm. There is no way to escape Silas, an overseer, and the one who betrayed her. Native elder, healer, and midwife—Nellie—provides grandmother wisdom, teaching Abigail the secrets of Our Mother, resilience, and how to face overwhelming loss. Their unforgettable stories are carefully woven together to reveal a hidden part of America’s somber past. ETCHED IN GRANITE HISTORICAL FICTION SERIES - BOOK ONE
- GenresHistorical Fiction
459 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2015
26 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Pettengill
3 books10 followersMj Pettengill, historian and author of the Etched in Granite Historical Fiction Series, focuses on cultural narrative and traditions, historical and intergenerational trauma integration, ancestral healing, and social welfare development.
She is that woman in the woods, one who carries nuts and seeds in her pocket, hand feeding birds, chipmunks, and other critters. She creates in her woodland studio on a farm in New Hampshire, where she also practices the art of medicinal plants and wildcraft.
Mj is a cellist and has a background in Civil War Musicology and trumpet performance.
In addition to her undergraduate work, she has an MFA in creative writing.
She is that woman in the woods, one who carries nuts and seeds in her pocket, hand feeding birds, chipmunks, and other critters. She creates in her woodland studio on a farm in New Hampshire, where she also practices the art of medicinal plants and wildcraft.
Mj is a cellist and has a background in Civil War Musicology and trumpet performance.
In addition to her undergraduate work, she has an MFA in creative writing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 1, 2016
After finding a pauper's field in her town, the author went about the process of trying to "unearth" the names behind the numbered graves. This research emboldened her to writ this novel about the possible lives of some of those she was able to name. An interesting story that draws you in as it grows. Many of us heard about the 'poorhouse' but did any of us really know what that meant?
April 6, 2016
I cried a lot of tears with this story but I very much enjoyed it anyway. It took place generations ago in the country where my ancestors lived. I recognized slang that my Dad used and names from my family history but as this was a fiction i don't expect it was about them. However it makes me think and wonder if any of my family was ever unlucky to have been in a poor farm.
December 31, 2024
Having added this book to my list some time ago, I had deleted it off because none of the libraries I have access to had it. Then, upon joining my local library near my summer home, it was prominently displayed and I couldn't resist taking it out on loan. What a good move...
Etched in Granite is situated very close to where I live now in a border town to Ossipee, NH. The author's spark for writing this came from discovering the numbered graves of those who were at the County Farm or Poor House. The fictitious historical story has three narrators who lives intertwine, all told in a rotating fashion.
Writing about the 1860's-1870's in rural NH cannot be told without the hardships. Summers are lovely, but winters were long and cold with constant work to survive. Life back then required hearty souls who could withstand the harsh conditions NH serves up, and current to the times of the Civil War we read about it's after affects. As in all wars, those who return are not those who left; they're unquestionably changed.
The personalities that Mj Pettengill has crafted have their flaws, but they work well for the story, and her strength lies within the environment she writes about. With how this book ended, she's left with a perfect segue for a sequel to continue with the story of Samuel, and I hope she does because there is a story there to be told.
Etched in Granite is situated very close to where I live now in a border town to Ossipee, NH. The author's spark for writing this came from discovering the numbered graves of those who were at the County Farm or Poor House. The fictitious historical story has three narrators who lives intertwine, all told in a rotating fashion.
Writing about the 1860's-1870's in rural NH cannot be told without the hardships. Summers are lovely, but winters were long and cold with constant work to survive. Life back then required hearty souls who could withstand the harsh conditions NH serves up, and current to the times of the Civil War we read about it's after affects. As in all wars, those who return are not those who left; they're unquestionably changed.
The personalities that Mj Pettengill has crafted have their flaws, but they work well for the story, and her strength lies within the environment she writes about. With how this book ended, she's left with a perfect segue for a sequel to continue with the story of Samuel, and I hope she does because there is a story there to be told.
July 6, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book and the story that takes place very close to where I live. It is amazing how much we don't know about the landmarks around us. I loved that the story was told from several points of view which gave it so much depth. I was excited to learn there is a sequel coming later this year ('17) - I will definitely be reading it!
February 23, 2016
Halfway through, I could not put it down. So caught up in the believable characters and their difficult lives. M.J. brings the reality of times to life, make sure to have tissues available. Loved it!
July 28, 2019
Living for 5 years in England for five years taught me the value of history. In the current climate that we live in today, I have had a fear that history is not nearly as important as it was. Along comes, MJ Pettengill and her book "Etched in Granite" to give us up that we are still connected to the past. "Etched in Granite" is a compelling and sometimes a dark look at the way people lived at the Poor Farms.
"Etched in Granite" is the story of Abigail Hodgdon, who is condemned to the poor farm, when both her parents pass away under tragic circumstances. Her father is killed during the civil war and her mother dies when the family farm burns down. Abigail is left distraught and blames herself for leaving her mother's death. The night of the fire, left her mother alone to attend a barn dance and meet her love Silas Putnam. What only her sister knows is that Abigail is pregnant with Silas' child and that night she planned to tell him, but when the farm burned down, she was forced back to the farm to try and save her mother.
Miriam and Moses Blake take her in to live with them. Moses is a kind man, who runs the Poor Farm. After a time Abigail discovers Miriam is a tyrant. Miriam treats Abigail more like a servant than a boarder and things become hard for her there.
Once, she reveals to both of them that she is pregnant with another man's child, they send her to the Poor Farm. The conditions of the Poor Farm are wretched. The harsh treatment the inmates receive is horrible. Among the filth, death and sleeping on bed sacks, from the women and men that run it is horrible. Among the filth, harsh treatment, the death around her and poor sleeping conditions, Abigail somehow manages to survive with the help of an Indian woman named Nellie Baldwin. Nellie has been condemned to live there after her husband died in a mill accident. To make matters worse, Abigail, she has to deal with seeing Silas there every day, since he is the Foreman who runs the Poor Farm. Most of the story deals with their undying love for one another, that neither of them can act upon.
The book moves quickly. I found that I could not put it down. There were times, I found myself on the edge of my seat.
What I loved about the book, was the way MJ Pettengill cleverly told the story. The story is through the eyes of three people, Abigail, Silas, and Nellie. Each chapter is a diary of each character's day. Chapters move fluidly as they are interwoven. Nellie's story was the most compelling to me as she drifts in and out of flashbacks to tell the story of her life and then her day.
"Etched in Granite" is the story of Abigail Hodgdon, who is condemned to the poor farm, when both her parents pass away under tragic circumstances. Her father is killed during the civil war and her mother dies when the family farm burns down. Abigail is left distraught and blames herself for leaving her mother's death. The night of the fire, left her mother alone to attend a barn dance and meet her love Silas Putnam. What only her sister knows is that Abigail is pregnant with Silas' child and that night she planned to tell him, but when the farm burned down, she was forced back to the farm to try and save her mother.
Miriam and Moses Blake take her in to live with them. Moses is a kind man, who runs the Poor Farm. After a time Abigail discovers Miriam is a tyrant. Miriam treats Abigail more like a servant than a boarder and things become hard for her there.
Once, she reveals to both of them that she is pregnant with another man's child, they send her to the Poor Farm. The conditions of the Poor Farm are wretched. The harsh treatment the inmates receive is horrible. Among the filth, death and sleeping on bed sacks, from the women and men that run it is horrible. Among the filth, harsh treatment, the death around her and poor sleeping conditions, Abigail somehow manages to survive with the help of an Indian woman named Nellie Baldwin. Nellie has been condemned to live there after her husband died in a mill accident. To make matters worse, Abigail, she has to deal with seeing Silas there every day, since he is the Foreman who runs the Poor Farm. Most of the story deals with their undying love for one another, that neither of them can act upon.
The book moves quickly. I found that I could not put it down. There were times, I found myself on the edge of my seat.
What I loved about the book, was the way MJ Pettengill cleverly told the story. The story is through the eyes of three people, Abigail, Silas, and Nellie. Each chapter is a diary of each character's day. Chapters move fluidly as they are interwoven. Nellie's story was the most compelling to me as she drifts in and out of flashbacks to tell the story of her life and then her day.
August 16, 2025
There are so many elements in the story
that spoke to me. I loved how strong Abigail is, and how she keeps trying to be positive and even happy through it all. I especially love her faith- it seems real, and familiar. I will say it was hard to read about the conditions at the Poor Farm. But the story was a good way to show it for what it was. Highly recommend, especially if you are interested in New Hampshire history.
that spoke to me. I loved how strong Abigail is, and how she keeps trying to be positive and even happy through it all. I especially love her faith- it seems real, and familiar. I will say it was hard to read about the conditions at the Poor Farm. But the story was a good way to show it for what it was. Highly recommend, especially if you are interested in New Hampshire history.
March 10, 2020
Good writer. I liked this story right up until the last seventy-five page’s or so when it became very unrealistic to me and the ending? Sorry, no, wouldn’t have happened, imo.
I love that the author researched and found as many names as she could of the people buried in the graveyard. A wonderful tribute.
I love that the author researched and found as many names as she could of the people buried in the graveyard. A wonderful tribute.
November 19, 2020
I live in Ossipee NH. just down the street from this cemetery. I have walk thru it and wondered about its history. Saw a blurb on facebook about this book. Purchased it for my kindle and looked forward every chance i got to read. Now I know how these poor souls ended up with just numbered stones. Thank you M.J. Pettengill for all your hard work..loved it
August 23, 2019
Excellent, excellent, excellent! The story, the descriptions, the characters are etched in my mind. I was disappointed with the ending, although in retrospect it reflected real life at the time of the story.
June 27, 2024
This was an interesting read because it capture the history of the county home where I grew up. I learned a lot and look forward to reading the other books in the series. I look forward to knowing more of Sarah, Silas and Samuel.
May 17, 2020
OMGosh, it’s a long time since a book brought me to tears. So, be prepared with tissues, you’re gonna need them.
Read
June 23, 2020Poignant historical novel illuminating a part of history in the late 1800s of which little is often known. Character development is superb. Sad yet hopeful.
November 1, 2020
Interesting New England history. Well-researched fiction.
April 12, 2021
Slow start, but glad I stuck with it. Looking forward to books 2 & 3 in the series.
August 31, 2022
Historical fiction of local interest to me.
December 27, 2025
This book is heartbreaking.
Centered around poor farms and unmarked graves and the human beings who endured the suffering.
Ossipee, NH
Centered around poor farms and unmarked graves and the human beings who endured the suffering.
Ossipee, NH
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews