The First Frontier

by John Chester Miller

A vivid recreation of the varied ways in which colonists lived. Bustling seaport towns, lonely farming valleys and forest frontiers come alive through the words of contemporary observers. Their humorous, sometimes piously pompous comments on courtship, marriage, children, education, religion, crime and punishment, and slavery provide rich insights into colonial America. Originally published in 1966 by Dell Publishing Company.

Genres: Nonfiction

284 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1973

About the author

A specialist in the early history of the United States, John Chester Miller taught at Bryn Mawr from 1940 until 1950, and at Stanford University from 1950 until 1973, where he was the inaugural holder of the Edgar E. Robinson Professorship in United States History.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent history and description of the living conditions of the first English settlers here on the American continent. Life was harsh and the death rate was high. One line was like "of the first 250 settlers less than 50 survived the first year." That is no an exact quote but something like that. The survivors learned and the success increased, but "tough" they were. They were brave and they faced death from exposure, weather, and starvation.