Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

I was just wondering if there are any experts out there who could comment on this. If someone from the United States today who is fluent in English were to listen in on an English conversation from early 18th century New England, would the conversation be understood? Then the same question in reverse; would an English speaking New Englander from the early 18th century be able to understand typical New England English as it's spoken today if modern day references and colloquialisms were avoided? Any comments would be appreciated.