New England's First Fruits

New England's First Fruits was a book published in London in 1643 about the early evangelization efforts by the Puritans in colonial New England in defense of criticisms from England that little evangelism was being pursued in New England.[1][2] It was the first publication to mention Harvard College.[3]

"New Englands First Fruits," Cover page, (1643)

The book describes various evangelization efforts and results, including the conversion experience of Wequash Cooke (d.1642) as allegedly the first Native American conversion to Protestant Christianity in New England.[4] The book also describes the conversion Dorcas Ye Blackmore, an early African slave to Israel Stoughton, who joined the First Parish Church of Dorchester in 1641 and evangelized her fellow Native American servants and eventually attempted to gained her freedom with the help of the local church.[5][6][7] Roger Williams' A Key Into the Language of America was written partially to contradict the book's claims about successful evangelization in New England.

References
  1. "New England's First Fruits: With Divers Other Special Matters Concerning that Country". Reprinted for J. Sabin. May 23, 1865. Retrieved May 23, 2019 – via Google Books.
  2. Eliot, John (May 23, 1643). "Nevv Englands First Fruits". www.americanantiquarian.org. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  3. https://www.americaninno.com/boston/harvard-university-was-first-mentioned-in-a-1643-pamphlet/
  4. Winthrop, John (May 23, 1908). "Winthrop's Journal, "History of New England," 1630-1649". C. Scribner's sons. Retrieved May 23, 2019 – via Google Books.
  5. "Dorcas the blackmore (ca. 1620- ?) • BlackPast". Feb 10, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  6. Winthrop's Journal, "History of New England," 1630-1649
  7. Deborah Colleen McNally, "To Secure her Freedom: “Dorcas ye blackmore,” Race, Redemption, and the Dorchester First Church" The New England Quarterly, Volume 89 | Issue 4 | December 2016 , p.533-555
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