The Trip to The New England Colonies

My trip started off with the 30 day voyage across the mighty Atlantic. Not knowing that I would be sent to the well established colony of Jamestown. I would be staying with the average family. They are to let me stay on account of rent from my publisher in England.

My renter, a well developed man. He runs a silversmith shop. He is also an artist. I am sure he will show me pieces of his work. His wife, a very friendly lady from the reports. She is half Indian. They have 2 sons. Both well built and are very courteous. They are young adults.

So far in day 12 of my 30 day voyage I don't have any sickness symptoms. I had seen many people eating rotten food and not knowing it. I was afraid so I ate as little as possible. I knew I could make it.

Finally day 28 had reached. I was excited to be off the coast of Jamestown. I figured that by the time we reached at the dock that we would be in for the treat of fresh food. The water on board is yellow and it stinks. The food is growing this so called hair. It was nasty to eat but we had nothing else. It was past midnight and I cant sleep due to the crowded floors. I hear a voice, "I heard we've reached the point." I began to get excited and over whelmed. I finally could eat something fresh. I ran up to the deck not knowing that the captain wasn't in his cabin. He looked up to the guy on the Crow's nest. He said, "Sir I see land."

I never think it would happen. I made it. The sun was beginning to come out and light began to reveal land. I could see the fort but it was a faint view. I see the people at the coast line waving and happy to see the passengers. I couldn't tell who I was to accommodate with but I thought I had an idea. There was a nice family standing in the far left. I think that they new what I looked like. After a week had gone by I got used to the living. I helped out with my share of chores and in the shop. I helped out with the boys studying. I didn't know that here they learn how to read from the bible.

After a few months had past I began to note about the family's traditions and things they do. I began to see Mrs. Wise have more and more Quilting Bee parties. The Boys do more work around the shop. Also Mr. Wise ease off working as hard. He must beginning to pass the business on to the boys. At the Quilting Bee parties Mrs. Wise would have several ladies over and have a party out of making a quilt. Most of these parties had around 20 people. The put together several people because it makes it faster to make quilts. I noticed several girls learning from their mothers how to stitch and so fourth. I also noted about there importance of Church. I saw that their sermons lasted 2 or 3 hours. Back in England they lasted around 20 minutes. They would socialize and celebrate major events during church also. I noted that the Indians there taught the colonists very well. They taught them how to trap fish, and find wild herbs and greens. Although later Roger Williams a clergy was almost arrested in 1636 for supporting land rights for Native Americans.

I saw many enslaved people. The Wises did not believe in slavery. African Americans were either slaves or indentured servants. In 1775 I learned they were one fifth of the population.

Trading was important to the colonists. Merchants helped to break the barrier between colonies. They helped to make better unity. I noted about the towns class differences. Most were middle class. Native Americans ranked at the bottom of the class list. They were never treated with respect for all the thing s that they did for colonists. Gentry were known as the rich people. The clothes told about the man.

I notice the growing conflict going on between Native Americans and Colonist in the conflict over the land. The colonist killed the Native Americans by disease, guns, and alcohol. The Natives didn't have an immunity to the disease like the colonists did.

The colonists marriage rituals were very different than that in England. The Quakers didn't have a minister at the wedding. They also married at home not at church. Marriage was for life. Wives could not run away with out the husband giving a divorce.

Their religious rituals were different too. They had a Sabbath day on Sunday. It was required that you be there unless you were doing work. Their version of the bible teaches instructions for the colonists. Virginia dare was the first English baby born in America.

So in all the New England colonies are excellent in religion and work. They have developed very well. They mostly follow the same guidelines as England except with a few corrections and curves to rules.