Emerson W. Baker
@emersonwbaker.bsky.social
History prof @Salem State, author of A Storm of Witchcraft & The Devil of Great Island, early American public history, 17th C. archaeology and material culture.
250 years ago #OTD Oct. 18, 1775, Capt. Henry Mowatt attacked & burned Falmouth (present-day Portland) Maine to the ground. Admiral Graves ordered the attack in response to Patriots seizing British supply ships. It was cited as a grievance against the British Crown in the Declaration of Independence
October 18, 2025 at 5:05 PM
250 years ago #OTD Oct. 18, 1775, Capt. Henry Mowatt attacked & burned Falmouth (present-day Portland) Maine to the ground. Admiral Graves ordered the attack in response to Patriots seizing British supply ships. It was cited as a grievance against the British Crown in the Declaration of Independence
Looking forward to speaking at this symposium on the history and legacies of New England’s once-massive codfish trade with the peoples of the Iberian Peninsula on Saturday Nov. 8 at Salem State University. Free, but registration is required.
In person: bit.ly/3L2v6H and online: bit.ly/47gkNIu
In person: bit.ly/3L2v6H and online: bit.ly/47gkNIu
October 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Looking forward to speaking at this symposium on the history and legacies of New England’s once-massive codfish trade with the peoples of the Iberian Peninsula on Saturday Nov. 8 at Salem State University. Free, but registration is required.
In person: bit.ly/3L2v6H and online: bit.ly/47gkNIu
In person: bit.ly/3L2v6H and online: bit.ly/47gkNIu
Coming this evening at 7pm Eastern Time.
October 14, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Coming this evening at 7pm Eastern Time.
Save the Date! Details coming soon.
October 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Save the Date! Details coming soon.
I hope everyone is enjoying the long holiday weekend. It is beautiful here in Maine, where the peak fall foliage makes for a rather festive atmosphere.
October 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I hope everyone is enjoying the long holiday weekend. It is beautiful here in Maine, where the peak fall foliage makes for a rather festive atmosphere.
#OTD October 11, 1696, Samuel Parris made his last entry in the Salem Village church book. salem.lib.virginia.edu/danvers/Chur...
October 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
#OTD October 11, 1696, Samuel Parris made his last entry in the Salem Village church book. salem.lib.virginia.edu/danvers/Chur...
Thrilled to have Salem State University hosting this talk! Particularly looking forward to @drandrewsneddon.bsky.social and his colleagues taking us through a ‘making of’ and curated walkthrough of the cutting-edge PC video game they created as a part of this amazing project.
October 9, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Thrilled to have Salem State University hosting this talk! Particularly looking forward to @drandrewsneddon.bsky.social and his colleagues taking us through a ‘making of’ and curated walkthrough of the cutting-edge PC video game they created as a part of this amazing project.
I'll be giving a rare talk on my book, The Devil of Great Island: Witchcraft and Conflict in Early New England, Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7:00 PM (eastern) in New Castle, New Hampshire (the setting of the book). Also available online at: tinyurl.com/mtd7jh3v
October 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I'll be giving a rare talk on my book, The Devil of Great Island: Witchcraft and Conflict in Early New England, Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7:00 PM (eastern) in New Castle, New Hampshire (the setting of the book). Also available online at: tinyurl.com/mtd7jh3v
#OCT October 7, 1691 a new charter was issued for Massachusetts Bay. The charter gave unprecedented privileges for a royal colony, confirmed ownership of Maine, and incorporated Plymouth Colony into an expanded Massachusetts Bay Colony. The new charter would finally arrive in Boston in May 1692.
October 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
#OCT October 7, 1691 a new charter was issued for Massachusetts Bay. The charter gave unprecedented privileges for a royal colony, confirmed ownership of Maine, and incorporated Plymouth Colony into an expanded Massachusetts Bay Colony. The new charter would finally arrive in Boston in May 1692.
#OTD October 6, 1690 adverse weather continued, but Sir William Phips's invasion fleet finally reached Quebec. But they had lost the element of surprise, and Governor Frontenac and his forces held a strong position inside the walls of Quebec.
October 7, 2025 at 1:16 AM
#OTD October 6, 1690 adverse weather continued, but Sir William Phips's invasion fleet finally reached Quebec. But they had lost the element of surprise, and Governor Frontenac and his forces held a strong position inside the walls of Quebec.
#OTD October 6, 1688, Sir William Phips's patron, Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, died in Jamaica, after a serious illness precipitated by over-enthusiastic celebration of the birth of the Prince of Wales. Anonymous portrait of Albemarle courtesy of Trinity College, Cambridge University.
October 7, 2025 at 1:12 AM
#OTD October 6, 1688, Sir William Phips's patron, Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, died in Jamaica, after a serious illness precipitated by over-enthusiastic celebration of the birth of the Prince of Wales. Anonymous portrait of Albemarle courtesy of Trinity College, Cambridge University.
#otd September 22 1692, eight people hang at Proctor's Ledge on Gallows Hill in what will be the last of the Salem witch trial executions. In memory of:
Martha Corey
Mary Easty
Mary Parker
Alice Parker
Ann Pudeator
Wilmot Redd
Margaret Scott
Samuel Wardwell
Martha Corey
Mary Easty
Mary Parker
Alice Parker
Ann Pudeator
Wilmot Redd
Margaret Scott
Samuel Wardwell
September 22, 2025 at 1:12 PM
#otd September 22 1692, eight people hang at Proctor's Ledge on Gallows Hill in what will be the last of the Salem witch trial executions. In memory of:
Martha Corey
Mary Easty
Mary Parker
Alice Parker
Ann Pudeator
Wilmot Redd
Margaret Scott
Samuel Wardwell
Martha Corey
Mary Easty
Mary Parker
Alice Parker
Ann Pudeator
Wilmot Redd
Margaret Scott
Samuel Wardwell
I will be in a discussion on "Resistance: Stopping Witch Hunts" for the Partnership for Historic Bostons tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 22, at 7pm Eastern time. Sign up here for this free Zoom program: tinyurl.com/4vxwn6ht (photo of the Proctor's Ledge Memorial in Salem).
September 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I will be in a discussion on "Resistance: Stopping Witch Hunts" for the Partnership for Historic Bostons tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 22, at 7pm Eastern time. Sign up here for this free Zoom program: tinyurl.com/4vxwn6ht (photo of the Proctor's Ledge Memorial in Salem).
#OTD September 18, 1692, though not convicted of #witchcraft or of any crime, the Salem Church excommunicates Giles Cory. The church will rescind his excommunication in 1712. Who was Giles Corey? See my OUP blog post: tinyurl.com/329pjfak
September 18, 2025 at 11:50 AM
#OTD September 18, 1692, though not convicted of #witchcraft or of any crime, the Salem Church excommunicates Giles Cory. The church will rescind his excommunication in 1712. Who was Giles Corey? See my OUP blog post: tinyurl.com/329pjfak
#OTD September 18, 1675 amid King Philip's War, the Bloody Brook ambush in Deerfield, Massachusetts, kills Captain Thomas Lathrop & about sixty others, the "Flower of Essex" on "the saddest day that ever befell New England."
September 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM
#OTD September 18, 1675 amid King Philip's War, the Bloody Brook ambush in Deerfield, Massachusetts, kills Captain Thomas Lathrop & about sixty others, the "Flower of Essex" on "the saddest day that ever befell New England."
I'll be discussing "The Other: Understanding Witch Hunts" with Sarah Jack & Josh Hutchinson of End Witch Hunts, tomorrow, Sept. 8, at 7pm, Eastern Time. What made the victims the 'other', how did they become the enemy? Free talk, sponsored by the Partnership for Historic Bostons tinyurl.com/mw6mtjb4
September 7, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I'll be discussing "The Other: Understanding Witch Hunts" with Sarah Jack & Josh Hutchinson of End Witch Hunts, tomorrow, Sept. 8, at 7pm, Eastern Time. What made the victims the 'other', how did they become the enemy? Free talk, sponsored by the Partnership for Historic Bostons tinyurl.com/mw6mtjb4
A fun 17th century weekend at the Col. Paul Wentworth house!
September 7, 2025 at 7:31 PM
A fun 17th century weekend at the Col. Paul Wentworth house!
I'll be having two discussions on New England witch hunts with Sarah Jack & Josh Hutchinson of End Witch Hunts.
"The Other: Understanding Witch Hunts" Sep. 8, 7pm
"Resistance: Stopping Witch Hunts" Sep. 22, 7pm
Hosted by the Partnership for Historic Bostons: historicbostons.org/upcomingevents
"The Other: Understanding Witch Hunts" Sep. 8, 7pm
"Resistance: Stopping Witch Hunts" Sep. 22, 7pm
Hosted by the Partnership for Historic Bostons: historicbostons.org/upcomingevents
August 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I'll be having two discussions on New England witch hunts with Sarah Jack & Josh Hutchinson of End Witch Hunts.
"The Other: Understanding Witch Hunts" Sep. 8, 7pm
"Resistance: Stopping Witch Hunts" Sep. 22, 7pm
Hosted by the Partnership for Historic Bostons: historicbostons.org/upcomingevents
"The Other: Understanding Witch Hunts" Sep. 8, 7pm
"Resistance: Stopping Witch Hunts" Sep. 22, 7pm
Hosted by the Partnership for Historic Bostons: historicbostons.org/upcomingevents
#OTD August 25, 1975 Bruce Springsteen releases the Born To Run album. Happy 50th birthday to The Boss's classic album! Remarkably, Springsteen composed this iconic rock album on his aunt's piano.
August 25, 2025 at 2:11 PM
#OTD August 25, 1975 Bruce Springsteen releases the Born To Run album. Happy 50th birthday to The Boss's classic album! Remarkably, Springsteen composed this iconic rock album on his aunt's piano.
I'm really looking forward to this talk.
August 22, 2025 at 11:36 PM
I'm really looking forward to this talk.
#OTD August 15, 2005, our excavations concluded in the dairy at the Chadbourne site (1643-1690) in South Berwick, Maine. Very hard to believe it has been 20 years!
August 15, 2025 at 1:26 PM
#OTD August 15, 2005, our excavations concluded in the dairy at the Chadbourne site (1643-1690) in South Berwick, Maine. Very hard to believe it has been 20 years!
#OTD Aug. 15, 1696, Fort William Henry at Pemaquid, Maine falls to a combined French-Wabanaki force. It was built in 1692 by Gov. Sir William Phips, who spent 1/3 of the colony's budget on it, and bragged "the fort is strong enough to resist all the Indians in America. Bastion rebuilt in 1908.
August 15, 2025 at 1:13 PM
#OTD Aug. 15, 1696, Fort William Henry at Pemaquid, Maine falls to a combined French-Wabanaki force. It was built in 1692 by Gov. Sir William Phips, who spent 1/3 of the colony's budget on it, and bragged "the fort is strong enough to resist all the Indians in America. Bastion rebuilt in 1908.
#OTD Aug. 14, 1766 while he and Abigail visited her sister and family in Salem, John Adams “walked to Witchcraft hill... where the famous persons formerly executed for witches were buried." Salem's Benjamin Blyth may have made their pastel portraits on this trip (courtesy of @mhs1791.bsky.social).
August 15, 2025 at 2:34 AM
#OTD Aug. 14, 1766 while he and Abigail visited her sister and family in Salem, John Adams “walked to Witchcraft hill... where the famous persons formerly executed for witches were buried." Salem's Benjamin Blyth may have made their pastel portraits on this trip (courtesy of @mhs1791.bsky.social).
#OTD Aug 14, 1676 Capt. Thomas Lake and many others killed in Wabanaki attack on Arrowsic Island, Maine, that destroyed the Clarke & Lake Company settlement there. James Leamon of Bates College directed excavations on the site from 1970-83.
August 15, 2025 at 2:22 AM
#OTD Aug 14, 1676 Capt. Thomas Lake and many others killed in Wabanaki attack on Arrowsic Island, Maine, that destroyed the Clarke & Lake Company settlement there. James Leamon of Bates College directed excavations on the site from 1970-83.
#OTD Aug 12, 1676 Metacomet (King Philip) was killed at Mount Hope, Rhode Island, by a Native warrior fighting for the English. The war continued, with fighting in Maine finally ending in 1678. Paul Revere's 1772 engraving of Metacomet is a composite of Verelst's Four Mohawk Kings (1710).
August 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
#OTD Aug 12, 1676 Metacomet (King Philip) was killed at Mount Hope, Rhode Island, by a Native warrior fighting for the English. The war continued, with fighting in Maine finally ending in 1678. Paul Revere's 1772 engraving of Metacomet is a composite of Verelst's Four Mohawk Kings (1710).