The Puritan Family: Religion and Domestic Relations in Seventeenth-Century New England

by Edmund S. Morgan

The Puritans came to New England not merely to save their souls but to establish a "visible" kingdom of God, a society where outward conduct would be according to God's laws. This book discusses the desire of the Puritans to be socially virtuous and their wish to force social virtue upon others.

Genres: History, American History, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Church History, 17th Century

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 1942

About the author

Edmund Sears Morgan

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this wonderful examination of what life was like for "typical" Puritan family in the 1600s as research for a novel I'm writing. Actually, I reread it. I read it for the first time when I was in college. But it was every bit as interesting and eye-opening as when I read it over thirty years ago. Also? I loved seeing what I had underlined then. The Puritans were considerably more randy than we give them credit for today.

[Peter Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am hesitant to comment too much on this book because my knowledge of this period of history is weak. I still found it very fascinating. The most notable thing from the history section was that required obedience can lead to requited affection. The Puritans were strict and hard in many places. But their letters to each other demonstrate that this firm line did not generally cause disdain from their children, wives, or servants. Instead it often produced affection and warmth.

It is also interesting that all segments of society, business, church, family, and government held the same standards. This made discipline easier and clearer.

But the most intriguing part of the book is the last chapter. Morgan argues that later Puritans stopped doing evangelism. Instead they focused entirely on the children of believing parents. This led to what Morgan calls "Puritan Tribalism." His final line in the book should make those of us who believe in covenant succession stop and think carefully about what we are doing. "When theology became the handmaid of genealogy, Puritanism no longer deserved the name." Covenant succession is biblical. But if we only look to our children and fail to reach the lost we will ultimately find ourselves dying off like they did.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book won't suit everyone -- especially anyone not particularly interested in this aspect of American history, which is the reason I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars. But if you are interested at all, this is a book to read. It is a shortish book (186 pp) divided into seven chapters: (1) Puritanism and Society; (2) Husband and Wife; (3) Parents and Children; (4) The Education of a Saint; (5) Masters and Servants; (6) The Family in the Social Order; and (7) Puritan Tribalism. We tend to think of the Puritans as stiff, buttoned-up, stern folk bordering on the fanatical: all part of the mythology of the foundations of America and also the use to which the word "puritan" has been put over the centuries. But Puritans in fact based their religious and civic structures around the idea of family: God the father (both stern and loving) and members of the church his children, and then applied this to their civic, social and religious organization. If the wife was subservient to the husband, he was also enjoined never to use bad language or violence towards her (and Morgan's quotations from love letters show that many marriages were well-founded and deeply loving). If the children were subservient to the parents, then likewise the parents were required to bring them up well and lovingly. Servants were sort of 'half-children' and the master likewise was to treat them in a certain way and to ensure that they received education and his protection. As usual, the historical story presented here is more complex and complicated than the myths; so dispel the myth and read this history.

[Katherine Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a low-key book, sympathetic to its subject matter as many books about the Puritans are not. I found it useful for explanations of a number of things about the Puritans' conception of the family which I had not known; it dovetailed nicely withEntertaining Satan: Witchcraft and the Culture of Early New England in clarifying certain aspects of Puritan communities.

[Mwansa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book absolutely Amazing! Edmund Morgan does a great job of showing the puritans and the heart behind what they did and why they lived the way they did.

It showed a people that endeavoured to live to the glory of God and have God reign supreme in their relations to one another. I particularly liked how he, Morgan, showed the puritans view of Slavery. This is a very touchy topic especially concerning the puritans because of how they are heralded as the gold standard of life and living in relation to God.

The two lessons I walked away with are firstly that God created life with a hierarchy, not in the sense of power and domineering but in the sense of responsibility and duty. This is seen throughout all creation and the puritans were very big on this. It is the duty of those placed above to guide, love and/or protect those below because that is the example of Scripture. The Christian should honour this hierarchy and glorify God as he relates to others. The second that it is very easy to create idols and in the example of the puritans it is easy to turn the principle into tradition and make it the be all and end all. Morgan showed this very well in the final chapter on Puritan Tribalism. We must learn from history

[Peter Bringe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look into another world - the Puritans took quite seriously the idea that the household is basic to human society.

[Freya Abbas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating monograph on how family life played a major role in economic, ecclesiastical and political matters in New England. I thought the introduction on how the Puritans viewed the order of creation was great context for the rest of this book. They believed man was made to serve God but that the world was made to serve man. The author’s tone certainly gave away the fact that he admired Puritan society though, and that he laments their downfall, which he says was caused by tribalism and failing to stick to their principles.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rich in historical challenges and warnings. The Puritans got a lot right and much wrong. The last chapter, “Puritan Tribalism,” describes their loss of evangelistic zeal; sobering stuff.

[Caroline Saulls · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best text I have read about the Puritans so far. Although short, every page is packed with meaningful evidence and conclusions. Mr. Morgan shares my approach to history: that one of the historian's primary duties is to investigate the uncomfortable cultural differences of the past until they are no longer strange. Puritan society appears rigid and fanatical to our modern eyes, but hidden beneath the surface is a culture of courage, hope, and selfless ideals.

[Petra X · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was too dry to be a good read. The title was fascinating to me, the contents were not.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent; it explains so much about the modern American Evangelical community, as well as what would become the philosophical basis for America itself.

[Kipi (the academic stitcher) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful information on Puritan family dynamics.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating! I didn't agree with some of the Puritan's doctrine though.

[Rachel Sharansky Danziger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely excellent foray into the titular topic. Morgan displays his deep knowledge, astute interpretive insight, and his gift for words, in a book that goes over basic family relationships (marriage, parenting, etc) and their place in the lives of the American settlers of America. He carefully places each topic within the theological context that shaped it as well as the real life manifestations and practices that surrounded it and changed with time. Nor does Morgan satisfy himself with mere descriptions --- he proceeds to show how the insular tendencies that shaped puritan families and society ultimately undermined them, with ramifications both for historical inquiry and religious life in our own time.

My one critique, if one can call it that, is that this is a very short work, comparatively speaking . Morgan is a master at conveying much through careful and precise wording, and for all its brevity this volume said A LOT. But I would have still liked to hear more, and would have been happy for more elaboration (for example in discussing Puritan courting practices, a topic that's explored at greater details elsewhere, like in Albion's Seed).
That said, I realize that this isn't really fair criticism, since Morgan's book laid the basis for other works that elaborate and fill in details, and as a foundation for a whole field of research this book is brilliant and amazingly exhaustive for all that it is vigilantly concise.

[Cody Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and thought provoking material on New England Puritan family life. When comparing with our day, it underscores the fact that we are, in many ways, deracinated in our own present relations and in our historical roots. At times, the material cited was moving, e.g. when a Puritan father was in pains for his dear son, because his son had no peace in the vocation he had entered and was in confusion about what to do. May the Lord give such fathers anew today. Some parts were especially thought provoking, e.g. that family government was so valued, that single persons were either urged or required by law to join to a family. The last chapter, a critique of "Puritan Tribalism," I think is largely mistaken in its extrapolations and connections. The author is an Atheist, and, though he has done some solid research and has a certain grasp of the theology behind the practice of the Puritans, he nevertheless misunderstands some key points, which, had he been a Christian and comprehended theology better, he would not have done.

[Zach Brandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry in stretches, the book finishes with a very moving account of the failure of most New England Puritan preachers to be like Jesus and “seek and save that which is lost.” Morgan shows how American Puritans prioritized the family in such a way that they failed to pursue lost sinners. I don’t agree with all of Morgan’s claims, but his main points are well made.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong short primer that uses several primary sources to create a portrait of themes and understanding of the Puritans. This would be a compatible reading text for anyone wanting to understand the daily life of Puritan America.

[Leiki Fae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appreciated Morgan's extensive use of primary sources, but at times it felt like his high regard for Puritan thought prevented his thinking critically about the Puritans.

[Ked · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Kari McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this explanation of Puritan views of the family. My only complaint was that the primary source quotations were not stylized in modern letters, making it somewhat difficult to decipher.

[Charity Spradlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book about puritan life. It is interesting to read about how disciplined and simple yet pleasant their lives were.

[Zach McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morgan provides great insight to the Puritan family in New England. He ends up arguing, however, that the eventual demise of the Puritans was their over emphasis on the family to the detriment of their evangelization of their unbelieving neighbors.

[Belle Meade School]

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