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

A collection of historical sketches and anecdotes tracing the physical growth and social life of a New England city from its early settlement through nineteenth-century development. Chapters examine evolving topography, ferries and cornfields, municipal names, and market practices; they recount Puritan legal customs, the persecution and later acceptance of dissenting sects, relations with Native peoples, and the emergence of newspapers and public proclamations. Short essays address popular devotional literature, notable public lectures, and curious municipal ordinances, combining documentary extracts with authorial commentary and occasional corrections. The work highlights overlooked details and local curiosities that illustrate civic change and the interaction of custom, law, and daily life.