Hangman: A Tale of the Boston Harbor Islands

Hangman is the story of Michael Farrell, whose family immigrates to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the mid-18th century. Because the ship carries smallpox, its passengers are quarantined at Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor. Upon his release, Farrell, captivated by the shores and harbor, settles in the Houghs Neck part of Braintree. The fishing community there antagonizes the Puritan leadership with its irreverence and defiance of the law. The conflict reaches a peak when gold coins are discovered in the harbor, setting off a wave of disorder. Because of Farrell's involvement and his wild behavior, he becomes the target of the Puritans' revenge.

You will meet a number of unusual characters besides Michael: Constable John Arthur and his assistant, George Turner; Katherine Butterworth, Farrell's secret infatuation; town derelict Ben Lockerbee; Pastor Oakenberry; sea captains Manuel de Rios and Joseph Barley; Magistrate Primhurst; the spirit of Thomas Morton; and, most importantly, the islands of Boston Harbor.