During the colonial period, letter writing was a meaningful way to connect the colonies by spreading news throughout the Atlantic world. Letters remaining from the period shed light on colonial society and highlight the fears of those living on the periphery of the British Empire. One such letter was written on August 20, 1692, in Boston, in which Henry Dering (1639–1717) wrote to John Cotton Jr. (1639–1699) about the affairs of the region. Little is known about Dering except that he was most likely a shopkeeper in the city. Much more is known about the recipient of the letter because of his status. John Cotton Jr. was the son of John Cotton, one of early New England’s most famous clergymen.