Bücher veröffentlicht von American History Press

Building on the success of her first book, Diverse Gashes author Donna A Watkins now focuses her investigative talents on the less-studied population of women and children who lived in Plymouth Colony in her new work, Weaker Vessels. In this distinctive and compelling volume she sheds a new light on these less fortunate members of Pilgrim society, thus permitting us a glimpse into the pressure and ordeals which they experienced during the seventeenth century in America.The majority of extant literature about the Pilgrims reveals a propensity to disregard or belittle these vital members of society, even though they, too, shared in the everyday struggles and challenges that were presented to them as they established their place in the New World. The author's aim is to rectify these omissions by presenting a case for remembrance of these exceptional individuals. Once again drawing her inspiration from tenacious research centered on an extensive array of court records, transcriptions, books, diaries, journals, and first-person accounts, Watkins carefully presents us with an impartial look at these neglected, yet essential, members of Plymouth. Their lives are examined in a nonjudgmental way within the context of the culture in which they lived, even given the unmistakable biases of the men who produced the laws and inflicted the punishments for various crimes and indiscretions committed in the colony. The reader is left to decide whether the punishment fits the crime, and what might have been the true motivation of those involved in the judicial process.General laws and standards of the colony are examined with considerable insight, as are the intricacies and nuances of daily life in Plymouth. The details of courtship, marriage and divorce are scrutinized and explained, revealing some surprising aspects that may bewilder the modern reader. Domestic and civil violence are elucidated in their sometimes gruesome detail, as are the facts about children in servitude, unusual deaths in the colony, the consequences of "unnecessary talking," and the results of "unclean acts." Notable women of the colony are finally given their due in brief biographies, as are the seldom mentioned gerontological aspects of growing old in Plymouth society.The time is right to call out these casualties of history, and in this timely and powerful book Donna Watkins presents us with an eloquent chronicle of their lives, a story that is long overdue.

Based on an astonishing true story, and backed by years of meticulous research, leads us back in time to July 22, 1648, when the murder of a four-year-old girl took place under suspicious circumstances in Playne Dealing, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Plymouth Colony. William Bradford, the governor at the time, made little mention of this incident and its aftermath in his detailed journal, which has triggered both suspicion among historians and varying theories about the event ever since. The brutal murder of Martha Bishop, daughter of Alice Martin Clarke Bishop and her husband Richard, was an act of severe violence. Investigators arrived upon the scene to find Martha and her surroundings covered in blood, with a trail leading up a ladder to Martha's body, hacked with "diverse gashes" across the neck with a large knife. Alice openly confessed to the crime and was tried, sentenced, and executed within three months-the first and only woman in Plymouth Colony to be hanged.How could something so dreadful take place in the supposedly idyllic world of the Pilgrims? The possibilities are seemingly endless, but Donna Watkins attempts to narrow them down by delving into the origins and history of the Separatist movement, following the Pilgrims across England to their temporary home in Holland, and finally to their settlement in America. She provides details of daily activity in the colony in order to help us gain an understanding of the residents' lifestyle and beliefs, and the pressures of survival in Pilgrim society that may have played a role in Martha's sad fate.While not all questions surrounding the incident have been definitely answered, reflecting on what happened that morning in 1648 in Playne Dealing and the reaction of both Governor Bradford and the Pilgrim community provides a rare opportunity to shed new light on Plymouth and its residents. There are many hypotheses regarding Alice's motives, but it is the author's hope that this reflection on her experience within the Pilgrim colony may lead to a fuller understanding of both our nation's early history and the rigors of life during the time period.You may be wondering- Why this story? Why now? The year 2020 is the 400th anniversary of the founding of Plymouth Colony, a time for introspection and reflection on our national character. Alice is the author's ninth great-grandmother through her daughter Damaris. That Alice and Martha are family members has given her a sense of compassion for them both. While there can be little doubt that Alice committed the crime and, at least within the Pilgrims' set of values and beliefs, deserved her harsh punishment, the author feels she merits a defense and an attempt at explanation. The result is

In this first-ever biography, historian Robert Thompson tells the dramatic story of the life and death of William Crawford, a legendary figure from the violent world of the American colonial frontier, and a man recognized as a martyr by many Americans. Writing what has been described as a ';compelling narrative,' the author shines light on a man who was once a legendary figure in American folklore and history.A pioneer farmer, surveyor, and soldier, Crawford was also an ambitious opportunist who befriended young eighteen-year-old surveyor George Washington, thereby initiating a relationship that would last for over thirty years. The two men eventually became business associates, with Crawford hoping to reap wealth through Washington's land speculation schemes in the Ohio Country.Crawford would also serve under Washington as a soldier, taking part in some of the momentous events that shaped the future of America. He enlisted in Virginia's militia at the outset of the French and Indian War, rising to become a captain under Washington's command. Crawford was with Washington when he ambushed French troops in the Pennsylvania forest, an act that sparked a global war with France, and he was with Washington again along the Monongahela River when General Braddock's British army met with disaster. Later, Crawford would join the patriot cause, leading a Virginia regiment with Washington during two great battles of the American Revolution.It was the fighting against Native Americans that would determine Crawford's ultimate fate. Following a brutal massacre of almost one hundred peaceful Christian Delaware men, women, and children by American militia at a small village called Gnadenhutten, the American commanding general at Fort Pitt asked Crawford to return to duty. An expedition against the Native American stronghold along the Sandusky River was being planned, and the general needed a commander who would not allow another Gnadenhutten to occurthat someone was William Crawford. Crawford had come to abhor genocidal tactics such as those used at Gnadenhutten, and he agreed to assume command despite strong doubts that the expedition could succeed. The expedition's plan called for almost five hundred mounted militia volunteers to cross two hundred fifty miles of the Ohio wilderness in secret to make a surprise attack against a foe whose skilled, brave warriors were outraged by what had happened at Gnadenhutten. Crawford's doubts proved to be all too sound.As the unruly, undisciplined militia volunteers made a slow advance across the Ohio Country, they were observed and followed by Native American scouts. With no possibility of surprise, Crawford unknowingly led his men into an ambush by a powerful force of Delaware and Wyandot warriors. Withdrawing to an isolated patch of forest on the broad Sandusky Plains that became known as Battle Island, he and his men fought a hopeless battle for almost two days. As water and ammunition ran low, Crawford ordered a daring night escape attempt. But his plan for a rapid but orderly retreat quickly became a rout as hundreds of volunteers galloped off into the darkness in a cowardly attempt to save themselves.Crawford was taken captive by the Delaware, who wrongly blamed him for the atrocity at Gnadenhutten. He was put on trial, where he was defended by a Native American ally and a former friend of Crawford's, the infamous renegade traitor Simon Girty. Girty mounted an able defense as the trial took dramatic twists and turns.William Crawford was sentenced to die by fire at the stake for a crime he did not commit, and one he had sought to prevent from happening again. His story is now recounted in an insightful manner that presents new information and a clearer picture of who William Crawford really was, both as a man and a military leader.

The settlement of the Ohio River Valley was a bitter contest between Native Americans who had inhabited that region for centuries and settlers from the east eager for new land and opportunity. Micajah Callaway's life story is a perfect backdrop to expand on the series of historic incidents that unfolded around him during these exciting and dangerous times. From the vantage point of an ordinary man caught up in the middle of an extraordinary chain of events, the author, his direct descendant, has described the battles, broken treaties, politics and intrigues that characterized the relationships between the conflicting parties on both sides. Born near Lynchburg in Bedford County, Virginia, Micajah's family included Uncle Richard and brother Flanders, both of whom were members of Daniel Boone's famous trailblazing party that cut the Wilderness Road into Kentucky and founded Fort Boonesborough in 1775. In the Spring of 1777, Micajah ran away from home to join a militia company that marched to the relief of Fort Boonesborough. He then enlisted in Captain Daniel Boone's Kentucky County militia company that was captured by Shawnee Chief Black Fish and his warriors while they were making salt at the Lower Blue Licks. Daniel Boone and Micajah were subsequently adopted into the Shawnee Nation. While Boone escaped to return to Kentucky, Micajah lived on with the Shawnee for several years, learning their language and customs in the process. He later returned to his former world and served as a scout and interpreter for Brigadier General George Rogers Clark, Major General Richard Butler, and Major General "Mad Anthony" Wayne. As a result, Callaway became an active participant in the ensuing diplomatic negotiations and treaties that took place with the Shawnee Nation during the last quarter of the eighteenth century. Striving for accuracy and authenticity, the author has included a series of thirty detailed maps, photographs and artwork to help the reader visualize the stage on which this drama took place. This unusually well-researched and balanced account will be savored and enjoyed by readers who want an understanding of the issues encountered on both sides of the struggle for the Ohio River Valley. They will gain a thorough and objective view of the history of this area, and a greater sympathy and understanding for the survivors of the brave Shawnee Nation.