Category: 18th Century
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Mural Restoration Timeline: Revealing Our Hidden Angels
Did you know that Old North Church’s sanctuary didn’t always have a white interior? For much of its history, the church boasted a rich color scheme with ornate and intricate designs. A highlight of Old North’s early decor was artwork from John Gibbs, a congregant and an accomplished painter. Between 1727 and the 1730s, Gibbs…
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358-Year-Old Book Found in Old North’s Archive Room
One of the truths about Old North that I appreciate is how there are always discoveries to be made. Recently, I was giving a tour, and when we were in the archive room on the way up to the bellringers’ chamber, I saw a large old book resting on the ledge. I hadn’t been familiar…
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Our Favorite Old North Couples
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating some of our favorite couples in Old North Church’s history! William Croswell and Amanda Tarbell Let’s start with William and Amanda Croswell. From 1829 – 1840, William Croswell was the minister at Old North, and he lived in what is now the church’s archive room, just beneath the…
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The People in the Pews: Capt. John Pulling Jr.
Lantern Holder Though not as well-known as Paul Revere, Capt. John Pulling Jr. played a pivotal role in the events of April 18, 1775. A friend of Revere’s and a member of the Sons of Liberty, Pulling lived in the North End and earned a living as a sea captain transporting goods between Georgia and…
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The People in the Pews: Jerusha Will
An “Indian of Barnstable” Little is known about Jerusha Will, an Indigenous woman who appears in the baptismal and burial records of Old North in 1743. What records do reveal, however, paints a poignant picture. On May 9, 1743, Jerusha Will, from Barnstable, Massachusetts, received the sacrament of baptism. It is unclear whether her baptism…
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Allow History to Illuminate Your Journey
In the final episode of Illuminating the Unseen, Jaimie reviews some of the key themes from her previous videos, discusses the crisis facing history and social studies K-12 teachers today, and considers how our learning together can illuminate our collective journey toward a more equitable future. See below for the video, primary sources, and episode…
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Deputy Husbands and Slave Mistresses: White Female Pew Proprietors at the Old North Church, 1735-1775
Meet Mehitable Nelson On August 11, 1721, 30-year-old Mehitable, who was often called “Hittie” in family letters, married 27-year-old Robert Temple.1 Their officiant was Rev. Samuel Myles, the rector of King’s Chapel in Boston.2 After their marriage, Mehitable and Robert purchased the deed to pew number 11 at the Old North Church. The young Church…
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People of Color as Children and Elders in 18th and 19th Century Boston
In this episode of Illuminating the Unseen, Jaimie considers what it was like to be a Black or Indigenous child or elder in 18th and 19th-century Boston. In the United States, being very young or very old can increase our vulnerability. As Jaimie explains, both Black and Indigenous children and elders found themselves in uniquely…
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Paul Revere’s Ride and the Mark of Urban Slavery
In this episode of Illuminating the Unseen, Jaimie explores an often-overlooked detail of Paul Revere’s ride. In a letter recounting his historic midnight mission on April 18, 1775, Revere mentions that he “passed Charlestown Neck and got nearly opposite of where Mark was hung in chains.” Who was Mark and why was he hanged? As…
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John Eliot and the Conversion of Native Peoples in Boston’s North End
In this episode of Illuminating the Unseen, Jaimie examines the efforts of missionaries in the late 1700s and early 1800s to urge Indigenous people in Massachusetts to convert to Christianity. She focuses on Rev. John Eliot, a Congregational minister in Boston’s North End, and his work with a prominent missionary group, the Society for Propagating…