Whittier’s poetry, first written for his neighbors, is full of autumn harvests, snowbound winter nights, trips to the New Hampshire mountains and the Maine coastline and walks along the nearby Merrimac River.

For material, he turned to stories told by his family, historical accounts of early settlers, Indian raids, and Quaker persecutions. Scenes from Plum Island, Rocks Village, Newbury, Cape Anne, Nantucket all appear in his work. He even was known for writing poems to commemorate special local events.