Jeremy Belknap
This work is the first modern history written by an American, embodying a new rigor in research, annotation, and reporting.In 1764 he moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he "kept the school" and studied theology with Samuel Haven (Harvard College class of 1749).This position required travel throughout the state, and he used it as a chance to begin accumulating notes on the history of New Hampshire.[3] Its reputation grew over the years, however, and after his death, Alexis de Tocqueville named him as America's best native historian.He tried to clearly separate facts from analysis and opinion, and he provided many annotations to show the source and location of records that he had inspected.Belknap accepted a new position in 1787, when he moved back to Boston to become pastor of the Federal Street Church.