Colonial New England Curiosities: Remarkable Occurrences, Miracles & Madness

by Robert A. Geake

The New World was full of unusual occurrences and strange trials for the early colonists of New England. Devastating plagues, violent conflicts with Native Americans and freak weather ravaged whole communities. When settlers saw an array of colors dancing through the night sky, they thought the Northern Lights were a sign that their end was near. Violators of public drunkenness were forced to wear large, red embroidered “D’s” around their necks for a year under the strict laws of the colonies. Through the letters, diaries and journals of influential figures of the time, historian Robert A. Geake uncovers the oddities and wonders that amazed New England’s pioneers.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 2, 2014

Reviews

[J. Lee Hazlett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not at all what is advertised. It's billed as a collection of miscellaneous 'unusual occurrences and strange trials' encountered by colonial New Englanders; what it actually IS is a history of the evolution of New England governmental systems, with a heavy focus on how religion influenced governance in the northern colonies. It does an acceptable job in tracing this history, although there is a distinct lack of analysis of the events presented. Instead, the author basically gives a narrative chronology of events, half-explains how these happenings impacted colonial governments, and leaves the readers to fill in the rest of the connections being hinted at for themselves. There were also many odd and incorrect grammatical choices throughout the book. I seriously thought of putting it down after chapter 1 because there are whole sentences that are so convoluted that you have to re-read them several times and rely on context to understand what's being said. TLDR; my review started at 2.5 stars, but fell to 2 as I thought back over the book.

[MKF · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to really enjoy with the way the chapters were set up. You start reading a few pages on one topic then all of a sudden you are reading about a different subject. That is the reason I gave this book two stars.

[James Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts out with discussing the types of things the early settlers were not used to and that includes the northern lights, earthquakes, wild creatures, Native Americans, etc. This required a major adjustment on their parts, an adjustment which was not always successful.

In those things weren't enough there were problems with drunkenness, wolves, diseases, religious intolerance, bestiality and sex. That enough of them survived to actually and up increasing in numbers is kind of hard to believe.

The book also includes notes and a bibliography.

[Robin Akin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see many people in the US HAVEN'T changed much.

Puritans came to America for religious freedom but consistently denied it to others.

Men ruled regardless of their transgressions and women uniformly punished severely.

Education was censured to block independent thought, understanding, and innovation.

Any person deviating from the norm was banished or ostracized.

I look at America today and see it's 1660 again. We haven't progressed at all.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read

I didn't like his characterization of Abenaki. Perhaps needed to research Native culture more thoroughly than strictly from white documentation. Otherwise seemed to be a good history from a white perspective.

[Douglas Reedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of info.

The author has done quite well in researching the stories enclosed. There is a wide range of topics. All are left with a good "whodunit".

[Dennis P Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

3. Interesting. Lot from Rhode Island (where author lives). Too much about religion.

[Amelia Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection of facts regarding several facets of colonial life. I learned a lot and also decided I would not have wanted to live during that time period!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Interesting subject, but told in a dry and disorganized way. The book seemed to jump from one topic to another without transition and no subject was covered fully or convincingly. Also, the photos often didn't seem to line up with anything happening in the text at that point. I love New England history, but this one was a miss.