Despite being one of the oldest cities in America, and home to a large trod directly between the city and Arcadia, the First Motley found themselves alone when they emerged from the Hedge in 1919. Some of the more introspective wondered at the mystery, particularly after contact was made with the William's Boys freehold in Providence, while others simply took things for granted. Then, in '36, Blind Thomas? returned to Boston with knowledge from other Freeholds throughout New England that spoke of Boston as home to a large and impressive Freehold.
Here are a few of the facts and rumors known about Boston:
- Boston's Freehold is known as one of the oldest in New England, and has always had a large concentration of Lost - likely due to the trod. Some rumors even suggest that native americans kidnapped by the Gentry would return from the hedge atop Beacon Hill.
- Providence and Gloucester both boast small freeholds founded by exiles or wanderers from Boston's original freehold. The William's Boys (of Providence) were originally religious dissidents, while the Twin Fishers (of Gloucester) was originally formed by a trio of Swimmerskin that decided to settle outside of Boston.
- The original Freehold was centered around Beacon Hill, and was somewhat insular. Motleys from "the good part of town" were in charge, with any Lost from outlying neighborhoods was marginalized. Non-Bostonians were even further down the totem pole, and as a result, only had a distant outsiders view of the Freehold.
- The Autumn Court had effective dominance of the Freehold, though seasonal rule was then as it is now. I.e., the other Courts each had their season of dominance, but couldn't really match the influence of the dominant Autumn Court. Of the Courts, the Spring Court was by far the most marginalized, having very little power even during its season and a relatively poor reputation among the rather close-minded Beacon Hill elite.
- The Leaders of the Courts and the Freehold were all men - Boston's original freehold was a strict patriarchy. Women had various formalized positions in the Freehold, but couldn't serve as Queens or Ladies for either Court nor Freehold. While originally quite religiously intolerant, the Freehold shed those habits by the time of the Revolutionary War. So long as you were a Protestant Christian, you were good. Catholics were tolerated and non-Christians weren't offered membership in the Freehold.
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