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Preface
- University of New Hampshire Press
- Chapter
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Preface the more i have studied the subject of puritanism in the seventeenthcentury Atlantic world, the more I have been impressed with the varieties of belief and practice that lie beneath the standard picture that scholars have painted of early New England. This book is an attempt to explore some of that variety. It is intended for a general audience, and as a result I have dispensed with footnotes. scholars, who I hope will find the volume of some interest, will know where the quotes come from. I have provided general guidance to sources and further readings at the end of the book. To make the quotes more accessible to the intended readers I have modernized the spelling when I quote from documents. My studies of puritanism have been shaped by the support of many friends in the scholarly community. I continue to learn from and get support from longtime friends such as Alden Vaughan, John Morrill, Patrick Collinson, diarmaid MacCulloch, Michael McGiffert, Carol Berkin, Mary Beth Norton, Michael Winship, Walt Woodward, and Tom Webster. In writing this book I have been helped by comments from E. Brooks Holifield, Joel Halcomb, Hunter Powell, John Coffey, Crawford Gribben, dan richter, Natalie Zacek, Kristen Block, C. s. Manegold, Jason Peacey, Alden Vaughan, Hal Worthley, Winfried Herget , Christopher Thompson, susan Lowes, and Agnes Meeker. Much of my understanding of puritanism in the stour Valley was shaped on trips through the region with Martin Wood. A number of years ago John and Judy Cammack kindly guided me through the geography of puritanism in Lincolnshire. Anne Bentley of the Massachusetts Historical society was helpful in identifying portraits in the society’s collection. Mr. and Mrs. Leverett Byrd were kind enough to allow me to use a portrait of their ancestor, Governor John Leverett. x Preface The dedication recognized my debt to all of those at Millersville University who supported my work in many ways during my thirty-four-year teaching career there. At a time when numerous public figures are appealing for a return to our nation’s heritage, it is important that institutions such as Millersville provide environments for scholarly investigation and discussion of that heritage. It is in centers of higher education that value the liberal arts that future generations learn to make sense of the past. Millersville has embraced that mission, and it has provided me opportunities to engage with students in the classroom and the support needed to reach beyond the walls of academe to share my understanding with the broader community through works such as this. [3.94.98.40] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 15:08 GMT) First Founders Map of New England Map by dana Edsall, Millersville University Geography department ...