The early American legal system permeated the lives of colonists and reflected their sense of what was right and wrong; honorable and dishonorable; moral and immoral. In a compelling book full of the extraordinary stories of ordinary people; Elaine Forman Crane reveals the ways in which early Americans clashed with or conformed to the social norms established by the law. As trials throughout the country reveal; alleged malefactors such as witches; wife beaters; and whores; as well as debtors; rapists; and fornicators; were as much a part of the social landscape as farmers; merchants; and ministers. Ordinary people "made" law by establishing and enforcing informal rules of conduct. Codified by a handshake or over a mug of ale; such agreements became custom and custom became "law." Furthermore; by submitting to formal laws initiated from above; common folk legitimized a government that depended on popular consent to rule with authority.In this book we meet Marretie Joris; a New Amsterdam entrepreneur who sues Gabriel de Haes for calling her a whore; peer cautiously at Christian Stevenson; a Bermudian witch as bad "as any in the world;" and learn that Hannah Dyre feared to be alone with her husband―and subsequently died after a beating. We travel with Comfort Taylor as she crosses Narragansett Bay with Cuff; an enslaved ferry captain; whom she accuses of attempted rape; and watch as Samuel Banister pulls the trigger of a gun that kills the sheriff's deputy who tried to evict Banister from his home. And finally; we consider the promiscuous Marylanders Thomas Harris and Ann Goldsborough; who parented four illegitimate children; ran afoul of inheritance laws; and resolved matters only with the assistance of a ghost. Through the six trials she skillfully reconstructs here; Crane offers a surprising new look at how early American society defined and punished aberrant behavior; even as it defined itself through its legal system.
#392236 in Books Robert W Snyder 2014-12-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.75 x 6.50 x 1.00l; .0 #File Name: 0801449618312 pagesCrossing Broadway Washington Heights and the Promise of New York City
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Biography of a neighborhoodBy Melinda MaidensWell-written history; focused on the second half of the 20th century. I would have enjoyed a little more on the colonial period and up to WWII; but perhaps there wasn't much to write about. Having grown up in that neighborhood; I was delighted to read about places and people I knew personally. I learned a great deal about the times I lived through; which I then saw only through the eyes of a young girl; not understanding the big picture. The author's progressive bias on the political and social issues that disrupted the community is clear. In a few cases; I sensed that he didn't tell the whole story; particularly regarding school integration. Despite those quibbles; the book is worthwhile. Snyder certainly did exhaustive research and has contributed to my understanding my old neighborhood a bit better. I've told neighborhood friends about it and they want to read it!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good ReadBy SteveLot of facts about the Heights that I didn't know. Have passed the book on to others from the Heights Inwood.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Mindy FulliloveAn intricate story of place and politics. A cautionary tale for our times.
