The first meeting-houses were often built in the valleys, in the meadow lands; for the dwelling-houses must be clustered around them, since the colonists were ordered by law to build their new homes within half a mile of the meeting-house.
Alice Morse Earle was an American historian and author known for her writings on early American colonial life and material culture. Her books shed light on the everyday lives of early settlers and their customs, providing valuable insights into American history.