John Coolidge (1604–1691) left Cambridgeshire in 1630 to help establish the Puritan settlement of Watertown in early colonial Massachusetts
Poor Cottages in the Wilderness
Category: Poverty, Hardship & Resilience
“Present at the Death”
Charlotte Mayhew (c1816–1899): a silenced life recovered through the records
The Good Mother
Leah Ellen Mayo (1847–1927) a young widow, navigated poverty, prejudice, and impossible choices - then reinvented herself to keep her family together
What’s in a name
Julia Lane? (c.1840–1925): Illiterate but resilient, she rose from famine-era Ireland to hardship in London, through her inner strength and determination
The Law According to Mary Elizabeth Blundell
Mary Elizabeth Blundell (née Johnson) (1822-1880): A life of struggle and defiance in Victorian society underscores her resilience and resourcefulness
Poverty, Place, and Childhood on Hayling Island
Catherine Dibben (1850–1934) early family life in a hardworking yet impoverished rural community, where illness and loss were ever present
Smokes, skies, and simple pleasures
Charlie Mayhew (1902-1969) one man's quest to escape the mundane confines of a working-class life
A snakes and ladders life
William Mayhew (1882-1918): Against the odds, a disadvantaged Englishman embarks on a journey to secure a better future for his family in the US
Destiny and duty
Emma Levens (1873-1908) a story of love, marriage and motherhood in urban nineteenth century London
One purple moment
Harry Mayhew (1886-1933): a teapot full of gold coins leads to mishap and courtroom chaos
