Curiosities of History: Boston, September Seventeenth, 1630-1880

This volume opens a window onto Boston’s first two and a half centuries by gathering the small‑scale details that larger histories often miss. It describes the original peninsula, vanished coves, and the bustling public ferries that linked early settlements, then moves to the everyday oddities—a 1630 lease for a ferry, a peculiar fine for a misplaced “peag,” the fencing of cornfields inherited from Native traders, and the quirky origins of street and tavern names. Episodes of Puritan law‑making, Narragansett diplomacy, and the launch of America’s first newspaper show how material progress mirrored the evolving ideas of the city’s inhabitants.

The author draws on rare manuscripts, private letters, and early maps, presenting each anecdote with a modest, conversational tone that acknowledges possible gaps. By staying within the first act of Boston’s story, the book invites listeners to picture a modest settlement gradually becoming a vibrant metropolis. Curiosity becomes the guide through this layered past, rewarding anyone who enjoys uncovering the hidden corners of history.