9781422277591

View of the historic cemetery on Copp’s Hill in Boston; in the background is the steeple of the Old North Church. Boston was founded in 1630, less than eighty years before the birth of Benjamin Franklin.

Words to Understand

almanac— a calendar of months and days, with information about astronomy and matters of general interest. common-law marriage— a marriage in which the partners lives together for a period of time (generally at least seven years) and tells friends, family, and the community that they are married, but never go through a formal ceremony or get a marriage license. surety— an item of value that is left to guarantee that a person will perform a duty, such as returning a borrowed book to the library.