Serena Zabin’s The Boston Massacre: A Family History establishes a microcosm of interwoven social networks representative of Britain and her colonies through familial relationships in Boston. The wives of British soldiers fulfilled vital roles, such as nurses, custodians, and on a personal level helped soldiers maintain morale during deployments. Consequently, the importance of women’s presence turned the military into a “family institution.” Furthermore, Zabin emphasizes the role of family through circumstantial interactions. For example, when Jane Chamber’s sickly child was baptized in Boston, it allowed for “a minister and a worried father” to find common ground. Another example is honoring locals by name, but contrastingly honoring Imperial
