Eaton: Captain Eaton's wife. Eleazer Kimberly: A Puritan schoolmaster (historical figure). Governor Edmund Andros: Governor of the Dominion of New England (including Connecticut), an officer of the King's Dragoons, and a knight (historical figure). Captain Samuel Talcott: Magistrate (historical figure). Allusions to local geography Many places in the novel are actual locations in Old Wethersfield, Connecticut. They include: Blackbird Pond (later renamed Wethersfield Cove) Great Meadows Congregational church on Main Street Buttolph-Williams House is considered to be the house Kit lived in. The Atlantic Ocean Barbados Connecticut river Old Wethersfield Reception At the time of the book's publication, Kirkus Reviews said: "Kit's vindication, her gradual integration into the community and the positive effect she has on those about her, combine here in a well documented novel to rival the author's first work, Calico Captive, which received wide acclaim as a work of 'superior historical fiction'." In a retrospective essay about the Newbery Medal-winning books from 1956 to 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, Rifles for Watie and The Bronze Bow: "All have value, all are told skilfully. If they lack the qualities of greatness, it is largely because their style has a commercial sameness." References 1958 American novels Novels set in the American colonial era Novels set in Connecticut Newbery Medal–winning works Wethersfield, Connecticut Houghton Mifflin books Novels set in the 17th century American children's novels Children's historical novels 1958 children's books