Warren Johnson's description of the Mohawk Valley (New York State), 1760. Copyright, Link Only.

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Warren+Johnson%27s+description+of+the+Mohawk+Valley+(New+York+State)%2C...-a030275538My thanks to Spence at http://minuteman.boards.net/ for this link.

17C American Women: Sailing for America 1649

17C American Women: Sailing for America 1649: Article from The Salisbury Times (now called The Delmarva Times ), Salisbury, Maryland - October 28, 1964 from the Delmarva Heritage Series...

1657-65 Amsterdam for “Historiae Naturalis...” by John Jonston. Illustrated by Caspar and Matthias Merian.

Juet's Journal of Hudsons 1609 Voyage. PDF.

Replica of Henry Hudson's ship the Half Moon, seen sailing up the Hudson River on the 400th anniversary of Hudson's original voyage.

http://www.halfmoonreplica.org/Juets-journal.pdf

A new diary reveals the truth about life on board the first ships for Australia

Behaviour deteriorated as the ships crossed into the Tropics and the hatches were taken off at night to let the prisoners breathe some cooler air. This meant they could escape on deck. 

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/history/90357-new-diary-reveals-truth-about.html

A Voyage on Endeavour.

http://anmm.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/day-2-a-voyage-on-endeavour/

Escapees Travel In Australia.

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/literature-and-music/art474293-Handwritten-tales-18th-century-English-convicts-fled-across-Australia-revealed

A Voyage to Georgia; Part 11.

Begun the 15^th of October, 1735.

Those who have cleared their 5 Acre Lotts, have made a very great Profit out of them by Greens, Roots and Corn.  Several have improv’d the Cattle they had at first, and have now 5 or 6 tame Cows; others, who to save the Trouble of Feeding

1735-6. February. Savannah.

them, let them go into the Woods, can rarely find them, and when they are brought up, one of them will not give half the Quantity of Milk, which another Cow fed near Home will give.  Their Houses are built at a pretty large Distance from one another, for fear of Fire; the Streets are very wide, and there are great Squares left at proper Distances, for Markets and other Conveniences.  Near the River-side there is a Guard-house inclosed with Palisades a Foot think, where there are 19 or 20 Cannons mounted, and a continual Guard kept by the Free-holders.  This Town is governed by 3 Bailiffs, and has a Recorder, Register, and a Town Court, which is holden every six Weeks, where all Matters Civil and Criminal are decided by grand and petty Juries, as in England; but there are no Lawyers allowed to plead for Hire, nor no Attornies to take Money, but (as in old times in England) every Man pleads his own Cause.  In case it should be an Orphan, or one that cannot speak for themselves, there are Persons of the best Substance in the Town, appointed by the Trustees to take care of the Orphans, and to defend the Helpless, and that without Fee or Reward, it being a Service that each that is capable must perform in his Turn.  They have some Laws and Customs peculiar to Georgia; one is, that all Brandies and distilled Liquors are prohibited under severe Penalties; another is, that no Slavery is allowed, nor Negroes; a Third, that all Persons who go among the Indians must give Security for their good Behavior; because theIndians, if any Injury is done to them, and they cannot kill the Man who does it, expect Satisfaction from the Government, which if not procured, they break out into War, by killing the first white Man they conveniently can.  No Victualler or Alehouse-keeper can give any Credit so consequently

1735-6. February, Savannah.

cannot recover any Debt.  The Free-holds are all entailed, which has been very fortunate for the Place.  If People could have sold, the greatest part, before they knew the Value of their Lotts, would have parted with them for a trifling Condition, and there were not wanting rich Men who employed Agents to Monopolize the whole Town: And if they had got Numbers of Lotts into their own Hands, the other Free-holders would have had no Benefit by letting their Houses, and hardly of Trade, since the Rich, by means of a large Capital, would underlet and undersell, and the Town must have been almost without Inhabitants, as Port Royal in Carolina is, by the best Lotts being got into a few Hands.

            The mentioning the Laws and Customs leads me to take notice that Georgia is founded upon Maxims different from those on which other Colonies have been begun.  The Intention of that Colony was an Asylum to receive the Distressed.  This was the charitable Design, and the governmental View besides that, was, with Numbers of free white People, well settled, to strengthen the southern Part of the English Settlements on the Continent of America, of which this is the Frontier.  It is necessary therefore not to permit Slaves in such a Country, for Slaves starve the poor Labourer.  For if the Gentleman can have his Work done by a Slave who is a Carpenter or a Bricklayer, the Carpenter or Bricklayers of that Country must starve for want of Employment, and so of other Trades.

            In order to maintain many People, it was proper that the Land should be divided into small Portions, and to prevent the uniting them by Marriage

  

1735-6. February. Savannah.

or Purchase.  For every Time that two Lotts are united, the Town Loses a Family, and the Inconveniency of this shews itself at Savannah, notwithstanding the Care of the Trustees to prevent it.  They suffered the Moiety of the Lotts to descend to the Widows during their Lives: Those who remarried to Men who had Lotts of their own, by uniting two Lotts made one be neglected; for the strength of Hands who could take care of one, was not sufficient to look to and improve two.  These uncleared Lotts are a Nusance to their Neighbours.  The Trees which grow upon them shade the Lotts, the Beasts take shelter in them, and for want of clearing the Brooks which pass thro’ them, the Lands above are often prejudiced by Floods.  To prevent all these Inconveniences, the first Regulation of the Trustees was a strict Agrarian Law, by which all the Lands near Towns should be divided, 50 Acres to each Freeholder.  The Quantity of Land by Experience seems rather too much, since it is impossible that one poor Family can tend so much Land.  If this Alottment is too much, how much more inconvenient would the uniting of two be?  To prevent it, the Trustees grant the Lands in Tail Male, that on the expiring of a Male-Line they may regrant it to such Man, having no other Lott, as shall be married to the next Female Heir of the Deceased, as is of good Character.  This manner of Dividing, prevents also the Sale of Lands, and the Rich thereby monopolizing the Country.

Voyage To Georgia. Part 7.

1735. December.

In this time the Refreshments design’d for the Voyage were expended, and we were forced to lay in more at an excessive Price, by reason that the Squadron at Spithead had made every thing dear.

            Mr. Johnson, son to the late Governor of South Carolina, was taken ill here of a Fever, which prevented his going the Voyage.  There was a great Disappointment; for if he had gone to Carolina, as intended, a Man of his Interest and good Sense being at Charles-Town, whilst Mr. Oglethorpe was at the Southward, might have prevented the Misunderstandings which afterwards happen’d.

            On the 10^th of December, the Wind at E. S. E. and a moderate Gale, we, in Company with the Hawk, the London Merchant, and about forty Sail more, who had been forced to stay by the long Continuance of contrary Winds, stood out for Sea.

            When we had pass’d the Needles the Pilot left us.  The London Merchant lay by a little for three of the Passengers, who happen’d to be gone to Portsmouth when the Wind came fair; but it was all to no Purpose, for they not coming up in time, were left behind.

            On the 12^th we parted with the Hawk, the Wind blowing very hard.

            I believe a Journal of the Winds and Days of the Month will be but dry to the Reader, and that it may divert him more to hear which way our floating Colony were subsisted, and pass’d their time on board.

            We had Prayers twice a Day.  The Missionaries expounded the Scriptures,

 catechized the Children, and administer’d  the Sacrament on Sunday’s but Mr. Oglethorpe shew’d no Discountenance to any for being of different Persuasions in Religion.  The Dissenters, of which there were many on board, particularly the Germans, sung Psalms and served God in their own way.  Mr. Oglethorpe had laid in a large Quantity of live Stock, and other Refreshments, (though he himself seldom eat any but Ship’s Provisions);  Not only the Gentlemen his Friends eat at his Table, but he invited, thro’ the whole Passage, the Missionaries and the Captain of the Ship, who together made twelve in Number. 

            All those who came upon the Trust’s Account were divided into Messes; and, besides the Ship’s Provisions, the Trustees were so careful of the poor People’s Health, that they put on board Turnips, Carrots, Potatoes, and Onions, which were given out with the salt Meat, and contributed greatly to prevent the Scurvy.  The Ship was divided into Cabbins, with Gang-ways, which we call Streets, between them.  The People were disposed into these by Families; the single Men were put by themselves.  Each Cabbin had its Door and Partition.  Whenever the Weather would permit, the Ship was clean’d between Decks, and wash’d with Vinegar, which kept the Place very sweet and healthy.  There were Constables appointed to prevent any Disorders, and every thing was carried so easily, that during the whole Voyage there was no Occasion for punishing any one, excepting a Boy who was whip’d for stealing of Turnips.

            When the Weather permited, the Men were exercised with small Arms.  There were also Thread, Worsted, and Knitting-needles given to the Women, who employ’d their leisure time in making Stockings and Caps for their Family, or in mending their Cloaths and Linnen.

Mr. Oglethorpe, when Occasion offer’d, call’d together all those who were design’d to be Freeholders, recommended to them in what Manner to behave themselves, acquainted them of the Nature of the Country, and how to settle it advantageously.

Voyage To Georgia. Part 6.

The Trustees examined at their Office such Persons as applied to them for the Benefit of the Charity, and out of them chose those who had the best Characters, and were the truest Objects of Compassion. 

            They acquainted those that they had chosen, that they must expect to go through great Hardships in the Beginning, and use great Industry and Labour in order to acquire afterwards a comfortable

Begun the 15^th of October, 1735.

Subsistence for themselves and Families; that they gave them Lands, and a Year’s Provisions, but that those Lands were uninhabited Woods; that they must lye without Cover till they could build Houses for themselves, live upon salt Meat,  drink Water, work hard, keep Guard for Fear of Enemies, clear and plant Ground before they could reap any Harvest; that the Country was hot inSummer, and that there were Flies in Abundance, and that Thunder-storms were frequent in that Season; that Sicknesses were dangerous to those who drank distilled Liquors, and that Temperance was not only necessary to preserve their Substance, but their Health also; that if they put their Trust in God, and were temperate and industrious, they might establish themselves and Families in a comfortable Way upon Lands of their own; but if they thought they should not be able to go through those Difficulties, they advised them by no means to undertake the Voyage.

            Several were dishearten’d, which discovere’d that they had pleaded Necessity without Reason, and that they were able to live in England.  The Places of those who were deter’d from going, were fill’d up with others; for there were a great many more petition’d to go than there was room for.  Besides the English, there were a Number of persecuted German Protestants, under the Conduct  of Mr. VonReck and Capt. Hermsdorf.  The whole Embarkation, English and Foreigners, together with the Missionaries to the Indians, amounted to 227 Heads, making 202 People upon the Trust’s Account, besides Mr. Oglethorpe, the Gentlemen with him, and his Servants, whose Passages he himself paid.

            There were two Ships freighted, the Symond, of 220 Ton, Capt. Joseph Cornish, and the London Merchant, about the same Burden, Capt. John Thomas.

  

A Voyage to Georgia;

There was a sufficient Quantity of Provisions for some Months put on board, likewise Arms, Cannon, Ammunition, and all kinds of Tools for Husbandry, and Necessaries for Families.

            One of his Majesty’s Sloops, under the Command of Capt. James Gascoigne, was ordered to assist the Colony, and to carry over Mr. Oglethorpe, who intended to inspect the Settlement; but he chose rather to go on board one of the Ships, tho; crowded with the Colony, that he might be able to take care of the People in their Passage.

1735-October.

            On the 14^th of October I set out from Parliament-stairs; about Four in the Afternoon I arrive’d at Poorfleet, where I dined, and staid during the Flood; after which I reach’d Gravesend about Midnight.  There I lay, and the next Day went on board the Symond, Capt. Joseph Cornish, where the Passengers upon the Trust’s Account had been for some Days.  I immediately took an Account of the Stores.

            On the 19^th a Boy, as he was playing, fell overboard: A Man being near him, and seeing him fall, throw’d him a Rope, and he got in again.  We waited for the coming down of the London Merchant.

            On the 20^th the London Merchant, Capt. John Thomas, with Part of the Colony on board, join’d us at Gravesend.  I went and took an Account of her Cargo.  The same Day Mr. Oglethorpe, with Mr. Johnson, Son to the late Governor of South Carolina, and several other Gentlemen, who intended to accompany him in the Voyage, came on board.  In the Afternoon we weigh’d, and went down to the Hope.

            On the 21^st we sail’d from the Hope, and got within three Miles of the Buoy of the Nore.       

Begun the 15^th of October, 1735.

1735-October.          

On the 23d a thick Fog came upon us: We made shift to get to the Buoy of the Nore, and anchor’d on the Kentish Flats, being not able to proceed farther.

            On the 25^th it blew fresh against us, and we got but little forwards.

            On the 26^th, early in the Morning, we arrived at the Horse-shoe Hole, where we anchor’d for some time, and then setting sail we got to Margate-Road.

            On the 27^th we arrived at Deal, and were forced to come to an Anchor in the Downs.  We set on shore a Servant belonging to one of the Colony, it being discover’d that he had the Itch.

            On the 28^th it blew hard against us.  The same Day died a Child of eight Months old, being Daughter to one of the Colony, She was dangerous ill before she came on board.

            On the 30^th the Wind continued to blow hard; but Mr. Oglethorpe insisting with the Captains to sail, we venture’d out, and found the Wind less, and more favourable at Sea.

November.

            On the 1^st of November we put into St. Helen’s in order to meet the Man of War, whom we expected to be ready.  It being near Night the Ships came to Anchor, and a Gentleman was sent to Spithead to inquire after the Man of War:  He return’d about Midnight with Advice, that she was in Portsmouth Harbour, and not yet ready.

            On the 2^nd  the Ships sail’d for Cowes Road, and Mr. Oglethorpe went to the Man of War Sloop.  As the Ships pass’d by Spithead they saluted the Admiral’s Ship, which she returned.

            We were detain’d at Cowes, by contrary Winds, till the 10^th of December; for though we twice broke ground, and once fail’d as far as Yarmouth Road, yet were we forced back again.  This Delay was not only very tedious to the People,

A Voyage to Georgia;

1735. November.

but very expensive to the Trust; since there were so many hundred Mouths eating, in Idleness, that which should have subsisted them till their Lands were cultivated; and that they were also losing the most useful Season for that Purpose.

"Certain Useful Directions for Such as Intend a Voyage into Those Parts" By Mayflower passenger Edward Winslow as published in Mourt's Relation : A relation or journal of the beginning and proceedings of the English Plantation settled at Plimoth in New England, London, 1622 "Now because I expect your coming unto us, with other of our friends, whose company we much desire, I thought good to advertise you of a few things needful. "Be careful to have a very good bread-room to put your biscuits in. Let your cask for beer and water be iron-bound, for the first tier, if not more. Let not your meat be dry-salted; none can better do it than the sailors. Let your meal be so hard trod in your cask that you shall need an adz or hatchet to work it out with. Trust not too much on us for corn at this time, for by reason of this last company that came, depending wholly upon us, we shall have little enough till harvest. Be careful to come by some of your meal to spend by the way; it will much refresh you. Build your cabins as open as you can, and bring good store of clothes and bedding with you. Bring every man a musket or fowling-piece. Let your piece be long in the barrel, and fear not the weight of it, for most of our shooting is from stands. Bring juice of lemons, and take it fasting; it is of good use. For hot water, aniseed water is the best, but use it sparingly. If you bring anything for comfort in the country, butter or salad oil, or both, is very good. Our Indian corn, even the coarsest, maketh as pleasant meat as rice; therefore spare that, unless to spend by the way. Bring paper and linseed oil for your windows, with cotton yarn for your lamps. Let your shot be most for big fowls, and bring store of powder and shot. I forbear further to write for the present, hoping to see you by the next return. So I take my leave, commending you to the Lord for a safe conduct unto us."

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