Dennis Picard speaks on “Sex in and out of marriage, 1640-1840”

“While I was A Berrying”

How pure were the Puritans? Did the Pilgrims stray from “The Path?”

Dennis Picard takes a look at legal and church records from the 17^th to the early 19^th century to help fill in a more complete story of sex within and outside of marriage during that timeframe in New England. Come hear some stories drawn from those records and learn more about the real lives of the early European residents of our region.

While working on the staff of Old Sturbridge Village in the late 20^th century, Dennis Picard filled the role of first lead interpreter of religion and later, government & law. In those capacities he had the opportunity to comb through such records as justice of the peace ledgers and Congregational Church proceedings. Those dusty documents – and many others – revealed a side of our early history not often discussed in public forums.

Dennis Picard has held the position of Assistant Director and Director at several sites including Fort Number Four in Charlestown New Hampshire, the Sheffield Historical Society in the Massachusetts Berkshires and has recently retired after 27 years at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Pioneer Valley History Network and a member of the editorial board of the “Country School Journal.”

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