History

A history research project goes wild when a cell phone glitch catapults Ella and Seth into a time warp. From an Abenaki village a thousand years in the past to a robot-ruled future, they explore New Hampshire’s only seacoast up close. Portsmouth Time Machine is the first-ever graphic survey of New Hampshire’s only seaport, today a hugely popular heritage destination. Ella and Seth visit the founding English settlement in 1623, join the 1774 “powder raid” at Fort William and Mary, observe a Civil War battle at sea, rescue the crew of the USS Squalus, and help negotiate the Russo-Japanese peace treaty. Along the way they encounter enslaved activist Prince Whipple, poet Celia Thaxter, tycoon Frank Jones, President George Washington, Capt. John Paul Jones and more. The time travelers fight fires, sail ships, discover vaudeville, celebrate the arts, and experience the tragedy of urban renewal. Special sections focus on Black history, literature, famous women, and a two-page historic walking tour map. Illustrated by Robert Squier.

Second Edition: The serene sloping lawn of Smuttynose Island is, in fact, a time machine. Only two buildings survive on this flat, primitive spot, ten miles out to sea from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. But look deeper. The thin layers of soil that cling to the rocky island are thick with treasure. No, this is not the imaginary pirate gold of romantic lore. This is rich new data about our shared American past.

Indigenous Peoples hunted here 6,000 years ago. Hundreds of European fishermen salted and dried their prized Atlantic cod on these rocks in the dawning days of the American colonies. The hardy fishing families who lived here were eventually displaced by Boston tourists drawn to the region by poet Celia Thaxter.

America's Privateer tells the story of Lynx, a ship with two lives that sailed in two different centuries. Mr. Robinson has vividly told the tale of Lynx, both past and present, in "America's Privateer": from its life in the War of 1812 to the modern privateer with a new job to do. Today, the reimagined Lynx sails the Atlantic coasts, teaching young people about sailing a privateer and the history of the War of 1812. A respected historian and literary stylist, Mr. Robinson has written an informative and moving sea yearn for a contemporary audience. This engaging story, accompanied by over 190 photographs, maps, and paintings, is for every reader, sailor, and landlubber alike.

The city's oldest organization and steward of the iconic Market Square steeple, the North Church of Portsmouth, celebrated its 350th anniversary with this deeply researched, highly readable, illustrated history. J. Dennis Robinson is the author of popular books about Strawbery Banke Museum, the Music Hall, the Isles of Shoals, and Wentworth by the Sea. This sturdy (40-page, 8x10 inches) booklet traces the evolution of the 1712 "schism" that split the town's Congregational. Robinson tracks North Church from its founding pastors to the present day. This is the story of a little church with a big heart and a rich history.  Signed copies of this limited souvenir edition, the only history of this landmark church in print, are available exclusively from the Portsmouth Historical Society. An ebook version is also available from Amazon.