Several years ago I began collecting an incredible series of books for my kids that they eagerly looked forward to reading. Six books for each of 5 eras meant thirty books in all. My kids looked forward to every single one.
Published by Focus on the Family and written by Nancy Rue, The Christian Heritage Series tells the story of through several generations of the Hutchinson Family across major eras of American history.
When my son and daughter homeschooled in the grammar years, they adventured through history with several of the Hutchinson descendants, each of whom faced coming-of-age choices through Christian faith.
The Salem Years (1690-1692)
The Salem Years (1690-1692) feature shy Josiah Hutchinson whose adventures abound on the family farm in Salem Village and among ships in the seaport of Salem Town against the historic setting of wild suspicions run amok.
Who will be accused next? Will Josiah be able to trust the Lord for boldness?
The Williamsburg Years (1780-1781)
The Williamsburg Years (1780-1781) feature Josiah’s great-grandson, Thomas Hutchinson, a rebel rouser who has unexpected adventures in two settings: the family plantation near Yorktown and the family town house in Williamsburg.
Not supportive of slavery, his family only has indentured servants.
While Thomas is tutored by a Loyalist, his older brother leaves his studies at the College of William and Mary to spy with the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion.
Meanwhile Thomas’ father is often away from home, serving as a burgess in the capital that recently moved to Richmond from Williamsburg.
Hoping to tame the wild Thomas, Father apprentices him to the apothecary in Williamsburg, where Thomas fearfully avoids the back room where a skeleton is located.
Meanwhile Thomas befriends Caroline who becomes his best playmate, adventuring together by creating spy games and through the abandoned gardens of the Governors Palace…and hiding in the maze where it’s difficult to find the point of entry.
Their growing friendship is threatened because her father is a Loyalist. (Spoiler Alert at the end of the blog post.)
Surprisingly, Cornwallis and his army are cornered in Yorktown near the family plantation by General Lafayette. Generals Washington and Rochambeau soon arrive with the Continental Army and the French Army.
Will Thomas’ rebellion be tamed so that he can help his family and the patriot cause?
The Charleston Years (1860-1861)
The Charleston Years (1860-1861) feature Thomas’ great grandson, Austin, who is the son of an abolitionist family.
During the turbulent years before the Civil War, his father takes his ill wife to Charleston, to be cared for by her slave-owning brother. Once his wife and children are safely in place, he leaves for important dues to his abolitionist activism.
While staying with his uncle, Austin befriends one of the slave boys with whom he shares stories of faith and many adventures. Together they view the bombing of Fort Sumter from their roof top.
Small of stature and facing opposition all around, can he be strong enough to protect those he cares for: family and slave friends?
The Chicago Years (1928-1929)
The Chicago Years (1928-1929) feature Austin’s grandson, Rudy , who lives with his father, sister, and Great Aunt Gussie (little sister of Austin) in her beautiful mansion home.
Rudy loves to draw in his free time, but Aunt Gussie insists that he help the poor at Jane Addam’s tenement house where there are many lessons to learn.
His adventures in Aunt Gussie’s home abound with her odd possessions: a tattle-tale parrot and a cavernous sarcophagus. Complications abound when gangsters arrive on the scene.
Full of fear but reticent to bother his absent-minded father, Rudy wrestles with solutions. Will he be able to rely on the Lord?
The Santa Fe Years (1944-1945)
The Santa Fe Years (1944-1945) feature Will, struggling to cope with the discovery that he was adopted, and not actually the son of Rudy Hutchinson, who is also a continuing character in the series.
Artistic Rudy had moved his family to Santa Fe, New Mexico so that he could join the local art community.
But war broke out. While Rudy is stationed in the Philippines, the islands are attacked. The family wonders if Rudy has survived the Bataan Death March.
While discovering some strange testing happening in the desert (which Will later learns is the Atomic Bomb), he befriends some Navajo friends whose father is part of the Navajo Code Talkers in WWII.
Disappointed he’s not actually a Hutchinson, Will feels that he’s not truly part of the infamous family legacy. Amidst his adventures he longs to be part of the heritage of the family blood line.
Will Rudy return home? Does Will find acceptance?
Note on the photography
The pictures from Colonial Williamsburg were taken when my kids made their first time travel journey there in 2004. We got to visit all the places, including Yorktown, where Thomas Hutchinson had his adventures.
It’s my goal to visit each of these historic areas of which Nancy Rue chronicled through the Hutchinson family. She brought them to such vibrant life, I’d like to explore for myself. Once there, I know I’ll take 1000 pictures…each to savor and relive as I whittle down to about the best 100…over which I’ll agonize to share a few here to update this blog post. The rest is easily accessible on my Flickr, by simply clicking on a photo.
Homeschooling in the Grammar Years
We read these books for our homeschool history studies in the grammar years, about grades 3-6. My kids really enjoyed the humor, adventures, historical themes, and Christian lessons. There is so much history packed into these books, that I was easily able to develop unit studies for each historical era.
We were deeply immersed in the major events of the different historical eras. Through the power of story-telling the historical facts came to life.
Because the entire story line was of one family, we couldn’t wait for each new series to see how the next generation was related to the previous.
Where to purchase this series
Because these incredible books are sadly out of print, they are now available at used bookstores, private sellers, etc.
There are 6 books in each set.
Full of historical facts, adventure, and struggle to make the proper choices in the Christian faith, the Christian Heritage Series is certain to enrich any child’s heart. There are also teacher guides for each of the series.
Spoiler Alert
The books have a family tree to allow the reader to trace the character’s lineage. After reading the sad ending of The Williamsburg Years, where Thomas and Caroline need to part, I began to make assumptions. Would they be proven in the next series?
I had become enwrapped in the close friendship of Thomas and Caroline. Because her father was a Loyalist they had to mysteriously flee. Would Thomas ever find her?
Meanwhile he becomes part of the end of the American Revolution in Yorktown. The war comes to an end. His family is reunited, yet he pines for his long lost friend. Surely…
In the next series, The Charleston Years, the kids and I eagerly sought out the family tree. Sure enough. Austin’s great-grandparents are Thomas and Caroline Hutchinson! It’s up to our imagination to fill in the gaps!
Another spoiler alert is that Austin helps to free his slave friend. In the next series The Chicago Years, we meet his descendants too!
That is gripping story writing when readers of all ages become this attached to the plot lines.
That is to the credit of Nancy Rue, who continues to write today, and invites her followers on facebook to help her create various parts of her newest books.
Epilogue: Our Own Family Legacy
When our homeschool years ended, tears were shed. My kids implored me to write everything down so they could relive the homeschooling adventures with their own kids. That is part of the purpose of this blog.
And my kids now have all the homeschool books we loved in their own homes, split between my son and daughter. They will trade back and forth to share with each other’s kids.
I miss having this book series in my own bookcases to pull out to read aloud to my grand children, but my son has them in his boxes, packed away for when his kids are old enough to start homeschool adventures. Right now his wife is on the nest. And my daughter and her husband are elated that their daughter will soon have a little cousin to share adventures with.
Family legacy is a good thing. That’s part of what this blog is about.
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