Author Archives: Rebecca Beatrice Brooks

About Rebecca Beatrice Brooks

Rebecca Beatrice Brooks is the author and publisher of the History of Massachusetts Blog. Rebecca is a journalist and history writer who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in journalism. She is a member of the American Historical Association, Historic Salem Inc, the Danvers Historical Society, the Salisbury Historical Society and she volunteers for the National Archives and the Massachusetts Historical Society transcribing historical documents. Visit this site's About page to find out more about Rebecca.

St. Botolph's Church, Boston, England, print circa 1890-1900

Reverend John Cotton: Puritan Reformist

John Cotton was a clergyman from England who moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1633. John Cotton’s Early Life: Cotton was born on December 4, 1585, in Derby, England,… Read more »

Anne Hutchinson

Who Was Anne Hutchinson?

Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan religious leader and midwife who moved from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634. The following are some facts about Anne Hutchinson: Hutchinson was… Read more »

"Gov. John Winthrop -- In honor of the birthday of Governor John Winthrop, born June 12, 1587," wood engraving, circa 1860-1880

History of the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Massachusetts Bay Colony was a British settlement in Massachusetts in the 17th century. It was the most successful and profitable colony in New England. The following are some facts about… Read more »

"The Bostonians Paying the Excise-man, or Tarring and Feathering," print by Philip Dawe, circa 1774

The Sons of Liberty: Who Were They and What Did They Do?

The Sons of Liberty was a group of political dissidents that formed in the North American British colonies during the early days of the American Revolution in Boston, Mass. The… Read more »

The meetinghouse of the first church in Salem Village, illustration published in the New England Magazine, Volume 5, in 1892

The Witchcraft Trial of Elizabeth Proctor

Elizabeth Proctor, wife of Salem Village farmer John Proctor, was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. The Proctors were a wealthy family who lived on a… Read more »