Colonial Fredericksburg and neighborhood in perspective

"The primary concern of this study is to suggest that the commercial towns, even the smaller ones, and their contiguous neighborhoods were predominantly cosmopolitan, and that their economic, social, and intellectual interests were of a world-wide character. ... The present study takes issue with the point of view held by most authorities that unmodified provincialism best describes American colonial communities. Falmouth and Fredericksburg have been chosen as typical colonial towns and have been treated as typical of many others of the period to demonstrate the opposite view. Instead of being provincial, the principal seaport towns and their vicinities have been found to be predominantly cosmopolitan." -- Preface