A forgotten meeting. A disputed land. A history that shaped America.
Through meticulous historical research, Jim Sherblom brings to life the intertwined stories of Indigenous leaders and colonial settlers—Tahattawan, Saunkskwa, Waban, Rev. Peter Bulkeley, Major Simon Willard, and their descendants—whose fates were shaped by US colonial history, war, disease, and generational trauma.
In 1637, the Nashawtuc clan of the Musketaquid River Valley gathered with English Puritan settlers to settle a dispute over a destroyed fish weir. The outcome of that meeting remains uncertain, but its consequences reshaped the land that would soon be known as Concord, Massachusetts.
Within three generations, the Nashawtuc were gone, while Puritan families like the Bulkeleys and Willards established lasting legacies.
In this Early American history book, readers will learn:
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The untold stories of Indigenous leaders in Native American history, including the Nashawtuc clan and their efforts to protect their homeland.
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How Puritan settlers shaped the future of New England, influencing US colonial history through their leadership, land disputes, and generational impact.
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The devastating effects of war, disease, and cultural conflict on Native American communities, revealing the lasting impact of generational trauma in early America.
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The complex relationships between Indigenous peoples and settlers, from alliances and conversions to betrayals and displacement, making this a must-read for fans of New England books and American history books for adults.
This immersive and thought-provoking book brings to life the struggles, triumphs, and tragedies of those who shaped Concord's history. Perfect for anyone who enjoys deeply researched narratives, this is an essential read for those seeking to understand the complex origins of one of America's most historic towns.
Jim Sherblom is a transcendentalist, author, mystic, theologian, entrepreneur, company creator, social impact investor, spiritual seeker, and laughing Buddha.
Jim learned to research and write American history while studying under Edmund Morgan at Yale University, from which he holds a BA in history.Jim learned how to think strategically from Michael Porter at Harvard Business School, from which he holds an MBA with highest honors. Jim discovered and developed his spiritual gifts under the care and direction of Dean Sarah Drummond at Andover Newton Theological School (now part of Yale Divinity School), from which he holds a MDiv and DMin. Jim learned to be a biotechnology entrepreneur under the tutelage of Henri Termeer at Genzyme Corporation, where Jim served as senior vice president and CFO. Jim learned to be a social impact investor from Geeta Aiyer, founder and chairman of Boston Common Asset Management. Jim learned to tell meaningful stories in a decade as a parish minister. And Jim learned to be a flourishing human being from his wife, Loretta, the love of his life, and their two now-grown children.
Jim and Loretta live a transcendental existence in Concord, Massachusetts, where his favorite and most frequent spiritual practice is to take long walks with friends, with deep conversations and soul sharing, in the woods and wilds of Concord.