In 1768, three generations of a determined family abandon the relative safety of New Hampshire to carve a homestead out of the rugged wilderness of central Maine. Their story explores themes of endurance, intergenerational duty, and the high price of liberty when their fragile new life is upended by the Revolutionary War. The father trades his plow and ax for a musket at the Call to Arms. The conflict stretches on for years until the son eventually follows in his father’s footsteps. Through it all the family struggles to maintain their isolated farm through brutal winters and other challenges against the backdrop of a changing new country.
PREFACE
The main characters in this historical novel are from the author’s imagination. However, several characters briefly mentioned did actually exist during the late 18th century.
Those living in Pondtown (Winthrop and
Readfield) were Mr. Chandler, Mr. Stevens, Capt. Ichabod Howe, Mr. Carlton, Dr.
Hubbard, the surveyor Mr. Prescott, Deacon Johnson the tanner and his son Capt. Levi Johnson, the flax miller John
Lane, and the Whitcher (Whittier) and Hoit (Hoyt) families. John Edward Bean lived in Mount Vernon; and in
Hallowell there was Capt. James Howard at Fort Western, Amos Pollard the
Kennebec River ferryman and the early pioneer, Pease Clark.
Dr. Josiah Bartlett of Kingston, New Hampshire was among the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Paul Revere, John Adams and his cousin Sam Adams lived in Boston and played vital roles leading up to and during the American Revolution. The Adams cousins also signed the Declaration of Independence. General George Washington of Virginia was elected Commander of the Continental Army by the second Continental Congress on June 15, 1775.
The setting, challenges and daily lives were heavily researched for this book so to be representative of how settlers lived in the backcountry wilderness of central Maine 1767-1783. The glossary describes colonial terms, items, events, places, procedures, and actual people included in the storyline, and the names given to settlements and plantations when they became incorporated as towns.
150 pages includes a glossary of terms, places and the real people used in the storyline. Geared towards readers 9-12 years but would be of interest to folks of any age who enjoy historical fiction set in Maine during the Colonial era.
$8.99 + S&H To pre-order a copy email crossings4u@gmail.com with your request.
