LIBRARY OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, A. 3366 Copyright, 1890, BY WILLIAM B. WEEDEN. All rights reserved. The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A. PREFACE. IF we had all the material of history, it would compel a larger comprehension from our active modern intelligence, and the story would soon work itself out in simple unity. The lesser parts of history necessarily became, or they appeared to become, the greater parts, as civilisation has been going through its periods of growth. The art of government, the modes of worship, inevitably appeared, for the moment, greater than the people who were governed, or were trying to worship dimly apprehended deities. Man himself, in his own nature, must always be the object and the cause of the deeper historical meetings, as well as of the course of outward events, which represent the surface and superficial form of history. The story of battles with political and religious combination and intrigue, has been merged for the time in the greater interest of the institutions underlying the politics and the religion of the actors. Yet we have not the whole story. Picturesque narration, philosophic speculation, have not exhausted the forces inherent in history. The life of man, his daily action, closely allied to his thought and to his affections, must yield up its fact, its daily doing, before we can comprehend the whole action, the whole story of man in his relation to history. Little things are becoming great, in that they reveal the sources of greater principles which occasion the movements and currents of humanity. Economy, the daily order of living, and fellowship are homely elements which are coming to be recognised as potent factors in the large drama of history. The great need of this economic story, in completing the whole story, may lead us too far; but a large and imperative work is waiting to be done. In these pages I have gathered some of the facts in the story of New England life. It is not an exhaustive collection, but it is hoped sufficient material has been secured to show in part what that life has stood for. Considerable independent investigation has been made in the Archives of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and also in their respective Probate Records. Manuscripts and stray papers in the American Antiquarian Society, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Rhode Island Historical Society, and elsewhere, have yielded good results. The family papers of the late Thomas C. Amory, Esq., show the commerce of their period. Newspapers in possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the American Antiquarian Society, afford many glimpses of the condition of the eighteenth century. Much material of similar import has been drawn from the earlier local histories, and more recent publications of town records. The old-fashioned town histories are mines of crude historical ore, while the actual records of the early time, now being reproduced, are invaluable. A tabulated list of prices will be found under Appendix A. The sad features of a book are in the possibilities in PREFACE. dicated but not accomplished. Nevertheless, the inevi table time comes when the impressible clay hardens into stone; when the work, if not to be completed, yet must be put forth. I have had wise direction, generous aid, loyal support, from scores of scholars and friends; so many have helped, and in such varied proportions, that any enumerated list would be a mockery of my deep gratitude. PROVIDENCE, April 15th, 1890. W. B. W. |