Witches, Rakes, and Rogues: True Stories of Scam, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in Boston, 1630-1775

by D. Brenton Simons

Book Overview

In a series of richly detailed narratives, Simons uncovers the dark side of Boston life from the city's founding until the Revolution. It's the stuff of "National Enquirer headlines-colonial style-meticulously researched and delightfully told.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933212470
• ISBN13: 9781933212470
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Commonwealth Editions
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Early Bostonian sins and scandals

D. Brenton Simons' WITCHES, RAKES, AND ROGUES: TRUE STORIES OF SCAM, SCANDAL, MURDER AND MAYHEM IN BOSTON, 1630-1775 holds special interest to Massachusetts residents and history buffs. Bostonians of the colonial period may have been Puritans but they had their own sins and scandals, and historians Brenton Simons dug deep into Boston's records to reveal a wealth of true crime tales from murder and bigamy to black sheep. Bostonians will find it engrossing reading.

What Fun !!

This is a delightful, informative and well-written set of tales about our less-than-pure Puritan forefathers. The stories are fascinating and Simons is an engaging storyteller.

FOUND A FAMILY FELON!

I purchased two copies primarily because I am mentioned in the "Acknowledgement" and I had one sent to my cousin who is also a descendant of one of the counterfeiters mentioned in the book...Seth Hudson...and he is celebrating the 100th anniversary of his company. Simons' research seems very thorough and the book is a good tool for genealogical research and it is well written and easy to assimilate and a pleasant and easy read. Continued success to the writer.

Entertaining and historically accurate--Highly Recommended

Brenton Simons gives us true stories that portray a sampling of the creatively scandalous characters in colonial Boston. Their escapades survived in diaries and journals, letters, court records, newspapers, and broadsides. He put together a fascinating group of never-before-told episodes, and he researched the truth behind fragments of tales which had been handed down. Witches, Rakes, and Rogues provides a window into the lives of colorful colonial Bostonian characters and their innocent "victims," at a time when the get-away vehicle was a horse, or a boat. The reader will discover women and men who were unsavory, persuasive and seductive, conniving, stealthy, unethical, and just plain ridiculous in their expectations that they could fool or delude others into thinking they were engaged in legitimate pursuits. Some of these characters are likeable on the surface, and despicable underneath. Are we more sophisticated and knowledgeable today, to avoid getting swindled by some of the too-good-to-be-true deals which were offered to the gullible, in these pre-Revolution stories? I highly recommend the book to readers who enjoy true tales of intrigue, as well as to historians and genealogists curious about some of the "real" people and the times in colonial Boston.