Forgotten facts about life in the American colonies

"Sometimes the life in colonial America can seem picturesque: no technology, close ties to the nearby community, and local, homemade food to nourish the whole family. However, . . . colonists did and had to deal with [funny and strange things], from colonial men paying for a wife to be brought to the colonies for him to the brand-new illnesses that killed many colonists"--Provided by publisher.