A radical new interpretation of the political and intellectual history of Puritan Massachusetts; The Making of an American Thinking Class envisions the Bay colony as a seventeenth century one-party state; where congregations served as ideological 'cells' and authority was restricted to an educated elite of ministers and magistrates. From there Staloff offers a broadened conception of the interstices of political; social; and intellectual authority in Puritan Massachusetts and beyond; arguing that ideologies; as well as ideological politics; are produced by self-conscious; and often class-conscious; thinkers.
#1528353 in Books Michael Wayne 2001-03-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.80 x 1.10 x 8.90l; .87 #File Name: 0195140044272 pagesDeath of an Overseer Reopening a Murder Investigation from the Plantation South
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Death of an OverseerBy SessaDI bought this book as it was being used as a text book in my history of the old south class. It was a fabulous book. Not only does it tell the true story of the murdered overseer in 1857; it goes into great detail after the story as to where the author came up with his information. Very fascinating read!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Death of an OverseerBy Allyn9This was a book my son needed for school. Not only was the delivery quick; but the book was in very good shape and very reasonably priced.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The killer is obvious.By NEWSI read this book because I'm currently researching the life and times in the Natchez district up and the decades after the Civil War. I recently finished Dr. Wayne's other book; "The Re-Shaping of Plantation Society: The Natchez District"; which was immensely helpful to my research.I found useful information about Natchez plantation life in this book as well. I wasn't much looking for a murder mystery as I approached this book but I went along for the ride anyway; I'll admit bringing along the suspicions I had going into the book on who the responsible killer likely was; before I even started.And I was right; but Wayne tries so hard to steer us from the obvious that Farrar arranged and benefited from the murder and is responsible for the hanging of three slaves during his noble pursuit of justice. It's bizarre to me as to why it's so important for the author to convince us that Farrar has absolutely nothing at all with Skinner's murder. Simply put; we all know behind every great fortune is crime.Dr. Wayne solely relied on Farrar's own letters to make his case as to why Farrar should not be blamed for the murder; in short because Farrar says so. This was precisely Farrar's purpose in writing the letters; to make the case for someone else; to absolve himself of blame; to protect his reputation and standing in society as the whispers rightly grew that Farrar has swindled an old lady widow out of some of her land holdings. The book points out that Farrar enriched himself from the sale of the estate; where the murder took place; of which he was the administrator. This was his goal all along because as Wayne says in the book; the planters goal was to acquire ever more slaves and more and more tracts of land. Farrar never went to the local sheriff about the murder but decided to handle the murder outside of the confines of the law in his own way; setting up his own investigative committee. Oh; and that was because that's how planters did things in those days; Wayne says.All evidence points to McCallin being his own man and wasn't intimidated by the town elites. Being a regular on the properly in question; he probably saw Farrar as a swindler one mile away who tried to rail road him to get what he wanted; the widows land. Farrar probably saw McAllin as a threat to acquiring the desired property; even making sure the investigation records stated that McAllin had a 15 year relationship with a black woman; in an obvious attempt sully his reputation. McCallin defended himself in the town paper calling the bluffs of the elites posted in the paper for all to see; threatening him to leave town. What's the best way to get a man to leave town? -Directly; or in this case indirectly pin a murder charge on him. McAllin refused to leave.Towards the end of the book; Wayne follows up with McCallin in later census records; after the Event has blown over and discovers that McAllin made a family with another black woman and their children. He then goes into the history of the Irish and how they were not really white until maybe mid 20th century anyway; indicating the McCallin tried to forge his way into society; but aimed too high and later failed and thus resigned himself to his later life choices.Or perhaps; McCallin was always his own man and did what he wanted with his own life that made him happy.Lastly; Wayne says he wonders who purchased a stately obelisk grave marker for the murder victim Duncan Skinner; a "large and impressive statue for a man of modest station". Wayne says who paid for the tombstone is unknown. Ok Dr. Wayne.
