Meredith Allard

Books. History. Food. A More Contemplative Life.

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daily life in the massachusetts bay colony

Watching the Salem Witch Trials

December 5, 2022September 29, 2023 / Meredith Allard / Leave a comment

Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony To get myself back into the flow of life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony while I’m writing And Shadows Will Fall, I just rewatched The Crucible, which is a story I love. Whenever I teach American literature, one of my favorite lessons is always when we read and watch Miller’s work. … Continue reading Watching the Salem Witch Trials

Books About Life During the Salem Witch Trials

January 21, 2019October 6, 2023 / Meredith Allard / Leave a comment

Since I've been spending most of my time writing Down Salem Way, a lot of my reading has been about either the Salem Witch Trials or life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. One of my favorite parts of writing historical fiction is learning about the time period I'm writing about. I had a pretty good … Continue reading Books About Life During the Salem Witch Trials

Daily Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

March 1, 2018October 3, 2026 / Meredith Allard

How Did They Live in Colonial Massachusetts? The main reason I felt drawn to writing Down Salem Way was that there wasn’t much space to explore James and Elizabeth’s lives in 1691-1692 in Her Dear and Loving Husband. We get glimpses of that time through James and Sarah’s memories, but the focus in Her Dear … Continue reading Daily Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Christmas in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

December 18, 2017October 3, 2026 / Meredith Allard

What Was Christmas Like in the Massachusetts Bay Colony? I started wondering what Christmas would have been like for the Wentworths in Salem in the late 17th century. I hadn't researched Christmas during that time since it wasn't necessary for Her Dear & Loving Husband and the diary for Down Salem Way begins in January … Continue reading Christmas in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Jobs in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

December 2, 2017October 3, 2026 / Meredith Allard

What Kind of Work Did They Do in Colonial Massachusetts? The North American continent was largely a question mark to those who left their European homelands behind to seek their fortunes, or, in the case of those immigrating to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, religious freedom. The immigrants may have heard great success stories about others … Continue reading Jobs in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

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  • What is the Color of Autumn?
    October is the month for painted leaves. Their rich glow now flashes round the world.  –Henry David Thoreau As someone who loves New England, that’s often the first place I think of whenever I think of autumn. I happen to … Continue reading What is the Color of Autumn?
  • From My Commonplace Book: Mary Oliver on the Wonder of Being Alive
    I recently watched the documentary about poet Mary Oliver on PBS–Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World. Oliver's poetry, like Thoreau’s essays, is an invitation to pay attention. She writes about ordinary things, like nature, animals, walking, water, … Continue reading From My Commonplace Book: Mary Oliver on the Wonder of Being Alive
  • An Afternoon at Walden: What Thoreau Taught Me About Paying Attention
    Even if you haven’t read anything by Henry David Thoreau, you’re probably familiar with some of his famous aphorisms: “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which … Continue reading An Afternoon at Walden: What Thoreau Taught Me About Paying Attention
  • The Hidden Connection Between The Professor of Eventide and the Loving Husband Series
    Are you ready to read the next book in the Loving Husband Series? Drum roll please… No, your eyes are not deceiving you. The Professor of Eventide is indeed the next book in the Loving Husband Series. Yes, for those … Continue reading The Hidden Connection Between The Professor of Eventide and the Loving Husband Series

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