pick
This is a what I‘d call a niche book about an event in U.S. history that‘s been largely forgotten —the attack by French and Indian forces on the village of Deerfield, MA, in 1704. Half the villagers were taken captive and brought to Canada. I‘m a direct descendant of two of them, so this story has personal relevance. From a writing perspective, though, the book is repetitive in parts. I‘d call it a soft pick if esoteric history is your jam.
LeahBergen This sounds fascinating! I‘ve been a bit obsessed since my early teens with the history of (what used to be called) “Indian captivity” tales. It all started when I read this book in junior high … 3w
Ghost Fox
Amiable @LeahBergen You‘ll definitely enjoy, then! John Williams, who was the minister and was taken in the raid, wrote what became a Puritan bestseller captivity account called “The Redeemed Captive” after his release. It was apparently one of the sources that inspired James Fenimore Cooper to write “The Last of the Mohicans.” (Williams was also my 8x-great-grandfather.) 🙂 His son, Stephen (my 7x gg), wrote his own account as well. 3w
Amiable @LeahBergen I‘d also recommend this book about the Deerfield event 3w
Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story from Early America
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LeahBergen Thank you! I‘ll look into that one. 3w
Suet624 This post is really freaky to see. I lived in Deerfield as a teenager, loved the place. But I always felt a spookiness there. Hard to describe. (I also lived in Gettysburg for 2 years and talk about spooky! Walking through the battlefield on a misty morning you could feel the spirits all around you. Anyway! I actually have a distant relative who was kidnapped by the Indians -there is a plaque in NH outlining his name and experience. Not sure how 3w
Suet624 @amiable @leahbergen But the event is connected to Deerfield. My mother‘s side if the family is full of wild historic events. 3w
Amiable @Suet624 Maybe we‘re related! 🙂 I agree with you about Gettysburg —that battlefield really does feel alive in a very mystical way. 3w
LeahBergen @Suet624 That‘s so cool! The novel that I tagged above is set in NH and based (loosely perhaps?) on real events. I wonder if it is the same time period, etc. as Deerfield? And Gettysburg is on my bucket list of places to visit! 3w