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 
February 19th, 2013 at 7:20 pm
I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your blog and I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award. The post is on my page with the details and instructions. Don’t feel like you “have” to do it though…it’s totally optional, and just a way of saying thanks for having an enjoyable blog 🙂
Cheers,
Sarah
February 20th, 2013 at 9:08 am
Sarah, I really appreciate this! Thanks for the nice words about Historical Digression. My first award!
February 20th, 2013 at 10:30 am
First but definitely not last 🙂
June 18th, 2013 at 10:15 am
Very pleased to meet you.
June 18th, 2013 at 10:42 am
Thanks, GP. I enjoy reading the work you’re doing on WWII.
June 18th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
How many men did Massachusetts have at Gettysburg and how man died and were wounded?
June 18th, 2013 at 4:23 pm
Hi. Massachusetts had about 6,250 men engaged at Gettysburg. This according to the numbers provided in the order of battle in Carl Smith’s “Gettysburg 1863” which I find to be an accurate source. As for casualties…I’m still researching that. If you want a rough…and I do mean rough…estimate, according to my research thus far the average Massachusetts unit took about 30% casualites, so we might extrapolate about 1,875 (that would include killed, wounded and missing).
Regards,
Patrick
August 5th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Hi Patrick – I really like your blog. I’ve dipped into it regularly for a while now. Thanks for your work!
I also have a question for you. I’m Cristian, the editor at http://www.itshistorypodcasts.com. We’ve recently started to develop our blog and are wondering whether you could allow us to syndicate your content and/or write the odd article for us. If that’s of interest at all, our email is info@itshistorypodcasts.com. Get in touch and we can tell you more!
Many thanks,
Cristian
August 6th, 2013 at 10:02 am
Thanks, Christian. I am glad you enjoy the blog. I’ll contact you via e-mail to discuss. Thanks very much for the interest.
Patrick
October 1st, 2013 at 7:18 am
Thanks,Patrick…your blogs are always a treat… Glad to know more about Plymouth…..c.w.t
January 8th, 2014 at 6:56 am
I am looking for a Replica Statue of the Monument To The forefathers at Plymouth Rock. Can you help me?
Thank You so much!
Charlie Ferchau
408-489-4185
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:17 am
I just happened to come upon this blog. I have worked with the Friends of the Forefathers Monument and the Plymouth Rock Foundation. I have a replica of the National Monument to the Forefathers, which is about 23 inches tall. They were given to the original donors to the Monument at the time of raising funds during the Civil War. My replica was found in the Plymouth town dump in the late 50’s early 60’s by my neighbor. When he died he left it to me, because he knew about my love for the monument. I have since written a book “Molly’s Promise to Faith” by Mary Cushing.. The book makes the monument come to life for children.
My replica has a bent finger from the fall at the dump. The Plymouth Public Library has a few replicas upstairs. Pilgrim Hall Museum has a few in the attic. Other original replicas are owned by private owners. My friend and I recently found one in an antique shop here in Plymouth. She purchased it for $1000.00. She lives in Ohio.
The late Ben Harney created a miniature replica, which he first carved out of wood and then made a mold for a resin.He was a member of the Friends Group years ago.
We have a few signed and numbered replicas, which he made, for sale at the Jenney House Museum in Plymouth, MA. for $125.00 each with a certificate. There are $50.00 unsigned miniatures also.
We are working now on finding a company that could make copies of the original 23″ replica. The miniatures are white resin and about 3 1/2″ tall.
We just celebrated the 125th Anniversary of the monument on August 2nd, 2014. We also have Commemorative T-shirts from the event, postcards and posters.
If you are interested you can email: marycushing2003@yahoo.com
January 11th, 2014 at 11:30 pm
Dear Patrick,
I enjoyed your April 2013 piece on the Daniel Chester French’s ‘minuteman’ as well as your musings about the statue representing Isaac Davis. I have been interested in doing a bit of sleuthing around Isaac Davis too…because in April 2013 I sold my house in Acton…and in the process of cleaning the garage found a – – – – bayonet! The 1922 house it so happens was built by a family (Blanchard) with ties to the revolution – indeed two of its members were at the bridge in Concord 2 centuries ago…so what I’d like to find if at all feasible is another Isaac Davis bayonet….to do a comparison? If you have any ideas whether such a weapon exists any where please let me know…other ideas of how to proceed are welcome too! The Concord Museum has already authenticated the weapon as revolutionary era.
thanks
Ann
January 12th, 2014 at 10:29 am
Thanks, Ann. This is a really fascinating question! I believe there is a Rev War era bayonet in the collection of the Acton Memorial Library, though I have no idea (and somewhat doubt) that anyone has been able to link it to Isaac Davis as the maker. You may have already been in touch with them, but if not that could be helpful. They have Isaac Davis’s smallsword, which is essentially a long bayonet mounted on a hilt. Again, I don’t know if it can be proven that Davis made that sword, but the probability seems high to me. Perhaps some comparisons could be made with that artifact.
Let me know what you find out!
Best,
Patrick
March 28th, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Patrick. I really enjoyed your tale of gallows hill. I just have a question as to where you think it is? I just bought a house in the neighborhood, and am not sure where i should be looking. A lot of posts put it as behind walgreens, but I believe that would put it IN Bickford’s Pond around 1700. Is this where you believe it to be? or perhaps a little bit more uphill? I have my own ideas, but am looking for clarification.
March 28th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
Hi Steve,
How interesting that you’ve bought a house in that neighborhood! I’m going off of Perley’s map, which locates a “Probable place of Executions” and “Probable Site of Graves of Witches” on a ledge overlooking Bickford’s Pond. This low ledge is now the area between Proctor and Pope Streets at the base of Gallows Hill. On the east side of the northern part of Proctor Street (roughly behind the Walgreens), there are a couple small, vacant, wooded lots. That seems about the right place to me based on Perley’s map.
Patrick
March 28th, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Thanx for the response. When i first read your post i thought of this path in the woods parallel to proctor. I havent gone up the path yet but it seems rocky and this was what i first thought of when i read your post. Its on varney. Also, the 1700 map i was talking about seems to put the river over where walgreens is. Btw. Another fact i learned about my new home. Walgreens parking lot is where the fire of 1914 started that took out a HUGE portion of salem. I love forgotten history. I bet 90% if the people of salem dont know these two landmarks Thanx for this blog. I enjoy it so far and have wuite the back catalog to read.
March 29th, 2014 at 7:06 am
Well that’s very strange about the 1914 fire starting there. I hadn’t heard that. Sounds like that spot has some notorious history.
April 17th, 2014 at 8:57 am
Hi there,
Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere and for the follow. Your support is much appreciated, 🙂
Eddie
April 17th, 2014 at 11:03 am
Yours is much appreciated as well. You have an excellent blog with beautiful photography!
Best,
Patrick
September 2nd, 2014 at 2:01 pm
I really enjoy your blog and was wondering in your research if you had found anything about the actual laborers who worked on the Fore Fathers Monument. ezekielspath@gmail.com
September 7th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Hi Diane. The name of the master carver is known, although it is escaping me right now. There is a photo in the collection of the Pilgrim Hall Museum depicting some of the workers standing on and around the mostly finished Faith statue. I don’t recall that any of them are identified. It was built at the Hallowell, Maine Quarry. That’s in Kennebec County. I wonder if the Kennebec Historical Society has any records on the quarry? An e-mail to them might shed some light. http://www.kennebechistorical.org/