Ever since I was in year 6 (5th grade U.S.) when I learned about the religious dissenters, later know as the 'Pilgrim Fathers', sailing to North America in 1620 I have wanted to know more about the subject. It is only since being retired that I have been able to properly follow up on my interest.
Having sought the collaboration of my wife (this was easy because she jumps at any idea involving visiting 'The States') I started planning a trip to the U.S. which would take in Jamestown and Williamsburg Va. and Plymouth Ma., this was in April 2017.
Before our departure, in the first week of September, I did two things in order to, set the scene, so to speak.
One, we visited Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire, one of the ancestral homes of the Washington family.
The other home of note is Washington Old Hall, Washington, County Durham. William de Hertburn exchanged his Hertburn lands for the Wassington (as Washington was called in the late 12th century) lands with the then, powerful, Bishop of Durham. William took the Wessington name which, over time, got corrupted to Washington.
We visited Washington Old Hall in 2015. I guess that visit reignited my interest in Anglo/American history.
Two, I purchased a book called 'Between Two Worlds' by Malcolm Gaskill. This book deals with the motivations and the trials and tribulations of the early English settlers in North America. It was always "touch and go" as to whether the early settlements were ever going to be successful. All of them lost nearly, or in some cases more than, half the original numbers of people who made the maiden voyages. North America, whether it was Virginia, Massachusetts or any other of the various landing places, wasn't the paradise that they dreamt of. In the first few years, even decades in some cases, the settlers' well being was worse than they had left behind in England. In theory they were free of the overbearing hand of local lords, the King and his government. But they were soon to learn that the desire for dominance, one over the other, is endemic to mankind. The religious persecution which many had sought to escape from in England took a different form in the new settlements. In many cases it was more vicious and overbearing than it had been at home. The hand of Christian charity was only extended to those who adhered to every jot or tittle of the particular schism that was running the show at the time. Those who, through human frailty or even just misfortune, failed to comply with the arbitrary rules were treated in an unmerciful fashion.
But this, somewhat ironic, religious intolerance was the least of the early settlers problems. The greater problems were encountered in the inhospitable landscapes, however beautiful it may have looked in spring, summer or autumn, it was wild and difficult to cultivate. Starvation was always close to hand. Then there were the natives; friendly at first but when they realised that these white men, with their very different customs, intended to stay and steadily take over the lands which they had roamed, so freely, before the settlers arrival, they started to resent the intrusion and took up arms.
Despite all that, the resilience and fortitude, which had sustained the would be settlers during the difficult months of the Atlantic crossing, enabled them to overcome all the initial hardships.During the second half of the seventeenth century the English settlements did, for the landed gentry and their senior employees, come to resemble the paradises which their founders dreamed that they would be, Sadly, it is unlikely that many of the natives would have agreed with that description, their paradise had been levered from them. Their fate would be replicated around the globe, wherever the highly developed (?) Europeans, whether they were from the British Isles, France, Spain or Portugal, cast their covetous eyes, lay destruction of centuries old cultures.
It would, also, have been hard to convince the thousands of slaves, snatched from the west coast of Africa, that they had landed in paradise; hell would have been the first place to have sprung to their lips.
All these unpalatable facts are dealt with very sympathetically in the Jamestown Settlement living museum.
This is not intended to be a history lesson or a commentary on European colonialism: however, in reading about and visiting the original settlements, one cannot ignore the fact that the much lauded story of the English settlement of North America, leading to the creation of the world's greatest nation, had terrible consequences for the native peoples.
A consequence that is not forgotten - see the Plymouth section of this blog.
And now to the photos -
Williamsburg Va.
Jamestown Va.
(Jamestown Settlement living history museum)
Berkeley (Hundred) Plantation
As I write this on the 4th November, I am conscious of the fact that the volunteers at the Berkeley Plantation are preparing to celebrate what is now acknowledged as the first English settler's 'Thanksgiving'.on American soil 298 years ago. Or, to be exact 297 and eleven months ago because that first thanksgiving was held on 4th December 1619.
If the Jamestown Settlement living museum gives a brilliant overview of the early English settlement of this part of Virginia then the Berkeley Plantation provides a tangible link with the period in question. When I stood on the Berkeley estate's shoreline looking across the vast expanse of the majestic Chickahominy River I imagined how my fellow Englishmen must have felt nearly three hundred years ago. looking at a similar scene. It was a very moving experience.
Chatham Manor, Fredericksburg Va.
Although originating in Colonial times the story it tells is mostly about the 19th Century Civil War.
Plymouth Ma.
Landing place of the 'Pilgrim Fathers' even though it was forced upon them by bad weather, they had set out for Virginia.
Boston Ma.
Work in progress, keep checking back .......
Having sought the collaboration of my wife (this was easy because she jumps at any idea involving visiting 'The States') I started planning a trip to the U.S. which would take in Jamestown and Williamsburg Va. and Plymouth Ma., this was in April 2017.
Before our departure, in the first week of September, I did two things in order to, set the scene, so to speak.
One, we visited Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire, one of the ancestral homes of the Washington family.
The other home of note is Washington Old Hall, Washington, County Durham. William de Hertburn exchanged his Hertburn lands for the Wassington (as Washington was called in the late 12th century) lands with the then, powerful, Bishop of Durham. William took the Wessington name which, over time, got corrupted to Washington.
We visited Washington Old Hall in 2015. I guess that visit reignited my interest in Anglo/American history.
Two, I purchased a book called 'Between Two Worlds' by Malcolm Gaskill. This book deals with the motivations and the trials and tribulations of the early English settlers in North America. It was always "touch and go" as to whether the early settlements were ever going to be successful. All of them lost nearly, or in some cases more than, half the original numbers of people who made the maiden voyages. North America, whether it was Virginia, Massachusetts or any other of the various landing places, wasn't the paradise that they dreamt of. In the first few years, even decades in some cases, the settlers' well being was worse than they had left behind in England. In theory they were free of the overbearing hand of local lords, the King and his government. But they were soon to learn that the desire for dominance, one over the other, is endemic to mankind. The religious persecution which many had sought to escape from in England took a different form in the new settlements. In many cases it was more vicious and overbearing than it had been at home. The hand of Christian charity was only extended to those who adhered to every jot or tittle of the particular schism that was running the show at the time. Those who, through human frailty or even just misfortune, failed to comply with the arbitrary rules were treated in an unmerciful fashion.
But this, somewhat ironic, religious intolerance was the least of the early settlers problems. The greater problems were encountered in the inhospitable landscapes, however beautiful it may have looked in spring, summer or autumn, it was wild and difficult to cultivate. Starvation was always close to hand. Then there were the natives; friendly at first but when they realised that these white men, with their very different customs, intended to stay and steadily take over the lands which they had roamed, so freely, before the settlers arrival, they started to resent the intrusion and took up arms.
Despite all that, the resilience and fortitude, which had sustained the would be settlers during the difficult months of the Atlantic crossing, enabled them to overcome all the initial hardships.During the second half of the seventeenth century the English settlements did, for the landed gentry and their senior employees, come to resemble the paradises which their founders dreamed that they would be, Sadly, it is unlikely that many of the natives would have agreed with that description, their paradise had been levered from them. Their fate would be replicated around the globe, wherever the highly developed (?) Europeans, whether they were from the British Isles, France, Spain or Portugal, cast their covetous eyes, lay destruction of centuries old cultures.
It would, also, have been hard to convince the thousands of slaves, snatched from the west coast of Africa, that they had landed in paradise; hell would have been the first place to have sprung to their lips.
All these unpalatable facts are dealt with very sympathetically in the Jamestown Settlement living museum.
This is not intended to be a history lesson or a commentary on European colonialism: however, in reading about and visiting the original settlements, one cannot ignore the fact that the much lauded story of the English settlement of North America, leading to the creation of the world's greatest nation, had terrible consequences for the native peoples.
A consequence that is not forgotten - see the Plymouth section of this blog.
And now to the photos -
Williamsburg Va.
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| Photo courtesy of Williamsburg Virginia Guide.com |
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| Enactment of first discussions about rebelling against the imposition of British Taxes |
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| Grand Union Flag 1775 - 1777 |
(Jamestown Settlement living history museum)
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| .......and here is the result of my work. |
Berkeley (Hundred) Plantation
As I write this on the 4th November, I am conscious of the fact that the volunteers at the Berkeley Plantation are preparing to celebrate what is now acknowledged as the first English settler's 'Thanksgiving'.on American soil 298 years ago. Or, to be exact 297 and eleven months ago because that first thanksgiving was held on 4th December 1619.
If the Jamestown Settlement living museum gives a brilliant overview of the early English settlement of this part of Virginia then the Berkeley Plantation provides a tangible link with the period in question. When I stood on the Berkeley estate's shoreline looking across the vast expanse of the majestic Chickahominy River I imagined how my fellow Englishmen must have felt nearly three hundred years ago. looking at a similar scene. It was a very moving experience.
Chatham Manor, Fredericksburg Va.
Although originating in Colonial times the story it tells is mostly about the 19th Century Civil War.
Landing place of the 'Pilgrim Fathers' even though it was forced upon them by bad weather, they had set out for Virginia.
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| The Custom House Tower |
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| The Beaver* |
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| Samuel Adams - Father of the Revolution |
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| The Eleanor* |
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| Quincy Market built 1825
* Replicas of two of the the three ships, carrying chests of tea from London, that were raided by colonists protesting against the 'tea tax' imposed by the British Government.
The third ship was the Dartmouth. All three ships had been built in the Boston Area and were owned by Bostonian merchants. The Beaver and Dartmouth were whalers based in the whaling port of Nantucket. They would have sailed to London with cargoes of valuable whale oil used for making candles. They returned with chests of East India Company tea in order to defray the costs of the voyage and to maximise profits for their owners. That's all folks...............!
Hope you enjoyed the blog and that it will encourage you to do your own research into this fascinating subject.
Nick
Links -
Sulgrave Manor -
If you are interested in Classic Cars you might enjoy my website -
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Work in progress, keep checking back .......
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