About the Author
Fiction from Fact
Maine
The Ballards
Main Characters
100

Where does the author live?

Nashville, Tennessee

100

How many babies did Martha Ballard deliver?

Over a thousand.

100

What is the name of the town in the story?

Hallowell

100

How long have Martha and Ephraim been married at the time of this story?

Over 30 years.

100

Who is the body in the river?

Joshua Burgess

200

How many children does the author have?

4 sons

200

How many mother's died during childbirth at the hands of Martha?

None.

200

The Kennebec River rises from what lake?

Moosehead Lake

200

Three of the Ballard children died young. What illness caused this?

Diptheria

200

Who is the circuit court judge that is accused of the rape of Rebecca Foster?

Joseph North

300
What does Ariel split her time between?

The grocery store and baseball field.

300

"Frozen River" is based on which story from the Our Daily Bread devotional?

The Midwife's Tale

300

Which famous revolutionary character traversed through Maine on his way to capture Quebec?

Benedict Arnold

300

What disability did Cyrus have that played a role in why he was accused of killing Joshua Burgess?

He was deaf. Although, in real life there is no indication that this is true.

300

What does Judge North do to Ephraim away from home?

Send him to do land surveying on a distant property.

400

What does Ariel collect?

People

400

Roughly what percent of the book is based on historical fact?

75%

400

What is the "white gold" harvested from the Kennebec River?

Ice

400

Martha is allowed to testify in court only under what circumstances?

Her husband or father must be present unless she is testifying as a midwife about paternity then she can testify without her husband present.

400

How does Dr. Page testify that Joshua Burgess died initially?

Accidental drowning.

500

What did Ariel's father do for an occupation when she was a child?

Rancher

500

How many men were accused of the rape of Rebecca Foster?

Three. Joshua Burgess, Joseph North, and Elijah Davis. The rapes happened three different times over the course of one week. 

500

What does Kennebec mean?

The river’s name is Algonquian for “long, quiet water”.

500

What payment did Martha take for her services?

The dollar, pounds, or chickens, coffee, sugar or other items.

500

This location plays a central role in that of the town, the court, and the body of Joshua Burgess. What is it?

Pollard's Tavern

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