Faith and Fortune ~ Henry & Amelia Champlin and America's Maritime Ascendancy

Pre-Order Signed Copy - Book will be released November 2026

This captivating, extensively researched book places 19th century Essex and the Connecticut River Valley at the center of America's early economic story.  The main narrative is the personal journey of Amelia and Henry Champlin, whose deep faith, love of family, and commercial determination guided them through the opportunities and uncertainties of a rapidly changing world.

As the new nation found its place in the global economy, the extraordinary rise of New York as America's biggest port created new avenues for trade, commerce, and prosperity. Through the Champlin’s experiences, readers will discover how seafaring families in Essex and throughout the Connecticut River Valley were connected to a vast maritime trade network stretching from New England to New York, the nation’s Southern ports, Great Britain, France, and beyond. Henry and Amelia's story highlights their ambition and enterprise, as well as the devotion and resilience that sustained them while building a future together.   

By weaving an intimate family narrative into larger historical events and the forces of economic change, the book illuminates a largely forgotten chapter of American history. Faith and Fortune is both a compelling personal story and a vivid account of the family ties, beliefs and community traditions that helped connect a young nation to an expanding world of commerce and opportunity.