Historical Digression: Exploring Early American History, Conflict, Folklore and Memory
Welcome to Historical Digression, where I delve into stories of Early America and examine how they are told, retold and remembered. I am a historian of the Civil War Era, and so this blog covers many stories from that period. I also delve into the history of early New England, including folklore and legends from that region.
I like to think that here you’ll find a blend of historical analysis and thoughtful storytelling. Most of these posts focus on conflict of some kind, whether its the Civil War, the Revolution, or the struggles of the 19th Century Social Reform Movement and Abolitionism. I often digress into how these histories are memorialized and remembered today. This year, as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, I’ll be emphasizing the stories of the people, places, and events that ignited the fight for independence, particularly in New England.
I hope you enjoy these digressions and I invite you to comment and share your thoughts.
A bit about me: I’m the Executive Director of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society and a historian specializing in the Civil War era and early New England. I was a Lecturer at Boston University and, before that, spent nearly two decades leading historical organizations, including the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society and Pilgrim Hall Museum. I hold a PhD in History from Boston University and have written two books on local history, as well as articles in regional academic journals. I also lecture regularly on topics in early American history for historical societies, libraries, and civic groups throughout New England.
Historical Digression 
July 25th, 2026 at 9:47 am
Hi Patrick, according to my 5x great granduncle Amos baker (married the cousin of Samuel Prescott), his brother was sent to do a little bit of the ride. Nathaniel was spending time with his wife in the lexington area (for some reason) and rode lincoln.
That said, I’m a little skeptical about the claim (about 95 years old when told), though it wasn’t just two people.