Primary Resources

Bacon's Rebellion and Slavery in America

Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center

Extracts from the Diary of Margaret Smith, Daily Herald July 17-19, 1848
Margaret Smith wrote her diary in 1678. In the excerpted entry, Smith talks about the importation and sale of a boatload of slaves in Boston. This sale prompted some debate among Boston society about the morality of holding Native American and African slaves. It is interesting that this portion of the diary was reprinted in 1848, likely as part of the abolitionist movement.

Excerpts from Hale, Reverend Benjamin. “Early Records of Newbury, 1637-1695.”
N974.4511 H161 (with transcription). Hale’s commentary on King Philip’s War.

Excerpts from Coffin, Joshua. A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury, from 1635 to 1845.
Boston: S.G. Drake, 1845. N974.4511 C65. Coffin offers a more detailed account of some of the proceedings of King Philip’s War and the role that the citizens of Newbury played in it.

Courtesy of the Boston Public Library

“The General Laws of the Massachusetts Colony Revised and Published by Order of the General Court in October, 1632. – Revised edition, November, 1675”
From the collection of Thomas Prince. This book of laws has many interesting provisions that govern white settlers’ contact with Native Americans. It also includes laws in accordance with the Puritan founders’ visions of a perfect society including instructions on how to dress.