Chapter 1: Foundations in Puritan Soil – The Roots of Ruth Dodge

Ruth Dodge was born into this world on August 15, 1685, in the red-roofed town of Beverly, Massachusetts, a harbor settlement carved from Salem's borders by Puritan will and Atlantic winds. Her name would change — first to Ingersoll, then to Blatch — but in this beginning, she was simply Ruth, the daughter of Edward and, likely, his wife Mary.