THS REV250 Book Club
In honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Topsfield Historical Society is sponsoring the Reading the Revolution book club, a series of book discussions to be held across Essex County.
The Boston Massacre: A Family History
by Serena Zabin

- Sunday
March 5, 2023 - 3pm - 4:30pm
- Judge Samuel Holten House, 171 Holten St. Danvers, MA
- Free and All Are Welcome!
This will be a book discussion, so please read the selection before the meeting. It is available at your local library. In the event of inclement weather, the discussion will be held over Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, please email: BookClub@TopsfieldHistory.org.
On March 5, 2023, in joint sponsorship with the General Israel Putnam Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, "Reading the Revolution" will be held at the Judge Samuel Holten House in Danvers. The discussion will be on Serena Zabin’s The Boston Massacre: A Family History.
The Boston Massacre: A Family History is a dramatic, untold “people’s history” of the storied event that helped trigger the American Revolution.
A forgotten world is revealed: the many regimental wives and children who accompanied the British army to Boston. These families jostled with Bostonians for living space, finding common cause in the search for a lost child, trading barbs, and sharing baptisms. When soldiers shot unarmed citizens in the street, it was these intensely human, now broken bonds that fueled what quickly became a bitterly fought American Revolution.
Additional Material
- Organization of a British Regiment
- Adams Defense Summation
- Preston's Card in Boston Gazette
- Hinderaker's map of Greater Boston area
- Boston Interior map from Hinderaker
- Massacre site map from Hinderaker
- Interactive Map of 1769 Boston from Leventhal Map and Eeucation Center at Boston Public Library External link
- Eric Hinderaker, Boston's Massacre External link includes links to podcasts with author
- Mitch Kachun, First Martyr of Liberty: Crispus Attucks in American MemoryStudy of what is known about Crispus Attucks and extended analysis of the role of Attucks in American history and memory.