Carved out of a rocky and forested wilderness, Marblehead, Massachusetts, grew to become one of the most important fishing ports in the thirteen colonies and, indeed, one of the most significant in the British Empire. Far from the religious hysterics associated with their Salem neighbors, Marbleheaders earned a reputation as a hard-drinking and godless people people who nonetheless played a significant role in establishing the colonies independence. In Colonial Marblehead: From Rogues to Revolutionaries, historian and Marblehead resident Lauren Fogle records the story of this grand old town s birth and its significant role in building a nation."

Known as a popular center for yachting, Marblehead has a history steeped in tales of independence and perseverance. From its early Colonial architecture to its roots in the American Revolution, this seaside town has preserved its past while moving confidently into the twenty-first century. A simple walk downtown thrusts residents and visitors alike into a bygone era. A visit to the harbor in the summer easily illustrates the importance of the sea to this thriving community. With images that tie the past to the present, Then & Now: Marblehead recalls the people who proudly spent their lives in the town and the places where they worked and lived. It presents images of important people, such as Uriel Crocker, who gave the town Crocker Park; Dr. Herbert Hall, founder of Marblehead Pottery; and residents whose names are still familiar today. Then & Now: Marblehead captures the moments of residents hard at work as shoemakers and fishermen and at leisure in the seaside parks.

Chronicles life in the United States during the Colonial period, including information on weather, economy, population, religion, education, arts and letters, and popular culture.

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The true beauty and fury of the Atlantic Ocean are known only by the rugged individuals who have made their living from the sea. In the seventy-five years from the American Revolution to the middle of the nineteenth century, Marblehead, Massachusetts, experienced a golden age of fishing. For the next fifty years, the industry struggled, but from 1900 until the end of the twentieth century, one small anchorage made itself proud. From boat building to sail design, First Harbor produced creative men whose innovations helped shape marine history. Join Hugh Peabody Bishop and Brenda Bishop Booma as they reveal this story through the eyes of a Marblehead fisherman, drawn uncontrollably by his love for the sea.

The first American sailor known to write his own autobiography, Ashley Bowen remains a valuable storyteller who can speak to today's readers about the maritime world in the age of sail. Ashley Bowen began his seafaring career at the age of eleven. After leaving the sea, Bowen spent the rest of his days as a ship-rigger in Marblehead, Massachusetts. A witness to significant historical events, including the British conquest of Canada and the American Revolution, Ashley Bowen confounds today's audience with his eighteenth-century interpretation of events—an interpretation informed by his deeply religious beliefs and his suspicion of Yankee patriotism. The Broadview edition is the first to present the story of Ashley Bowen as a continuous narrative. Vickers' introduction provides the context for Bowen's life in colonial New England, and additional writings by Ashley Bowen and his Marblehead contemporaries are included. The appendices include Bowen's diary accounts of his experiences in the 1759 British expedition against Quebec, smallpox epidemics, and the American Revolution.

The acclaimed combat historian and author of The Unknowns details the history of the Marbleheaders and their critical role in the Revolutionary War. On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington’s army against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. One of the country’s first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by navigating the treacherous river to Manhattan. At the right time in the right place, the Marbleheaders, a group of white, black, Hispanic, and Native American soldiers, repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the American Revolution. As historian Patrick K. O’Donnell recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and helped shape the United States through governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy. The Marblehead Regiment, led by John Glover, became truly indispensable. Marbleheaders battled at Lexington and on Bunker Hill and formed the elite Guard that protected George Washington, foreshadowing today’s Secret Service. Then the special operations–like regiment, against all odds, conveyed 2,400 of Washington’s men across the ice-filled Delaware River on Christmas night of 1776, delivering the surprise attack on Trenton that changed the course of history . . . The Marbleheaders’ story, never fully told before now, makes The Indispensables a vital addition to the literature of the American Revolution. Praise for The Indispensables “Perfectly paced and powerfully wrought, this is the story of common men who gave everything for an ideal—America. The product of meticulous research, The Indispensables is the perfect reminder of who we are, when we need it most.” —Adam Makos, author of the New York Times bestseller A Higher Call “O’Donnell’s gift for storytelling brings the once famous regiment back to life, as he takes readers from the highest war councils to the grime and grit of battle.” —Dr. James Lacey, author of The Washington War “Comprehensive . . . Revolutionary War buffs will delight in the copious details and vivid battle scenes.” —Publishers Weekly “A vivid account of an impressive Revolutionary War unit and a can’t-miss choice for fans of O’Donnell’s previous books.” —Kirkus Review