It is written from the first-person perspective of a young man named Horace Holyoke, who describes his youth in fictional Oldtown, Massachusetts – including humorous depictions of daily life, behavior of local towns folk, and the adoption of Harry and Eglantine Percival.

The novel incorporates some spiritual elements, such as deep discussions of God, religious revelations, and visions of ghosts.

The story's themes include adoption, schooling, love, death, marriage, and familial secrets.

Oldtown is a fictional name for the real town of Natick, Massachusetts, the native home of Harriett Beecher Stowe's husband,[1] and many of the ideas in the book come primarily from his memories.

[2] Oldtown Folks has claim to be read as a religious novel and often discusses Puritan lifestyles as well as Calvinism and Arminian theology.

[4] Written from the perspective of the main character, Horace Holyoke, the novel follows his life in post-American Revolution New England.

He describes the town and then his father's life as a teacher at the local academy where he met Horace's mother, Susy Badger, who was his prettiest student.

His mother's beauty faded and his father's health was weakened by his attempts to provide for his family while trying to continue his studies.

Deacon Badger, Horace's grandfather is a farmer and miller in Oldtown and is a fairly important figure in the community.

Harry and Eglantine (Tina) Percival come into the story a few years later when they walk into a nearby town with their sick mother.

They are on their way to Boston because their father, Sir Harry Percival, an English officer, deserted his family when his regiment returned to England.

However her husband, Caleb (Old Crab) Smith, is a very unhappy man and decides they needed to be put to work immediately and separated.

On the way they spend a night in the reportedly haunted Dench Mansion on the outskirts of Oldtown where they are discovered the next day by Sam.

Miss Mehitable Rossiter, who lived a sad, deprived life after the disappearance of her half sister Emily, adopts Tina.

Madame Kittery became very interested in Horace and learned of his desire to attend college and also of his lack of funds.

While in Boston they meet Ellery Davenport, Mrs. Lothrop's cousin, who had served in the Continental army and had several diplomatic posts abroad.

Shortly before their graduation from the academy, Ellery Davenport returns from England with important news for Harry.