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Historical Society and she volunteers for the National Archives and the Massachusetts Historical Society transcribing historical documents.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.

William Dawes: The Forgotten Midnight Rider

William Dawes: The Forgotten Midnight Rider

William Dawes was a tanner and a patriot who lived in Boston, Massachusetts, during the American Revolution. William Dawes was one of the riders sent by Dr. Joseph Warren to… Read more »

John Hathorne: The Salem Witch Judge

John Hathorne: Salem Witch Judge

John Hathorne was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials and the great-great-grandfather of author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hathorne was born in Salem on August 5, 1641, to William Hathorne and… Read more »

Mercy Lewis: Orphaned Afflicted Girl

Mercy Lewis: Orphaned Afflicted Girl

Mercy Lewis was one of the afflicted girls of the Salem Witch Trials and a servant in Thomas Putnam’s home. Lewis, the daughter of Phillip Lewis, was born in Falmouth,… Read more »

HBO Producing a New Drama About the Salem Witch Trials

Jenji Kohan, the creator of the shows “Weeds” and “Orange is the New Black,” is currently developing a new drama about the Salem Witch Trials for HBO, according to an… Read more »

Map of Boston, by John Almon, drawn at Boston in June 1775, published in London Aug 28 1775

The Siege of Boston

The Siege of Boston took place in Boston during the Revolutionary War. The siege was the beginning phase of the Revolutionary War, during which American militiamen surrounded and trapped the… Read more »