HIST 1301 Part One 2: England s Colonial Experiments In the Seventeenth Century
Jamestown, Virginia The First Permanent English Colony
In 1603, Elizabeth I died childless. She was succeeded by James VI of Scotland (the son of Mary, Queen of Scots), who became James I of England.
In 1606 King James I chartered the Virginia Company Its purpose was to make money for its investors. The Virginia Company Charter The Virginia Company Seal
The London Company was to settle the southern portion of Virginia and the Plymouth Company the northern portion.
In December 1606 the Susan Constant, the Discovery and the Godspeed set sail from Blackwall, London. The expedition was led by Capt. Christopher Newport. Virginia Monument, London, England
May 1607: Jamestown is established by 105 men and boys.
Between 1608 and 1609 six hundred new colonists arrive, including several women.
The colonists were employees of the London branch of the Virginia Company, bound to service for seven years in return for transportation, food, and shelter. Most of these indentured servants were young, single people.
The colony was supposed to be administered by a council. Deposed and sent back to England, 1607. Wingfield Returned to England, 1608. Martin Died in 1607. Gosnold Smith Executed, 1608. Returned to England, 1607. Frequently ill. Tortured and killed by Indians, 1609. Kendall Newport Percy Ratcliffe
Although the colony was supposed to be administered by a council of seven men, Capt. John Smith was the colony s de facto leader during its first two years. Smith managed to keep peace with otherwise hostile Indians.
Having feasted him after their best barbarous manner they could, a long consultation was held, but the conclusion was, two great stones were brought before Powhatan: then as many as could laid hands on him, dragged him to them, and thereon laid his head, and being ready with their clubs to beat out his brains, Pocahontas, the king's dearest daughter, when no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her arms, and laid her own upon his to save his from death: whereat the emperor was contented he should live. Many historians believe that Smith s story about Pocahontas saving him from execution was made-up.
In 1609, an accident forced Smith to leave Jamestown and return to England. Sleeping in his Boate, accidentallie, one fired his powder-bag, which tore the flesh from his body and thighes, nine or ten inches square in a most pittifull manner; but to quench the tormenting fire, frying him in his cloaths he leaped overboord into the deepe river, where ere they could recover him he was neere drowned. --John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England & the Summer Isles (1624)
After Smith s departure, the Indians resolved to get rid of the English. The palisades [were] torn down, the ports open, the gates from off the hinges, and the empty houses rent up and burnt, rather than the dwellers would step into the woods a stone's cast off from them to fetch other firewood. And it is true, the Indians killed as fast without, if our men stirred but beyond the bounds of their blockhouse. --William Strachey, The Historie of Travaile Into Virginia Britannia, 1612
The Winter of 1609-1610 was called The Starving Time. All but 60 colonists died. And one amongst the rest did kill his wife, powdered her, and had eaten part of her before it was knowne, for which hee was executed, as hee well deserved This was that time, which still to this day we called the starving time; it were too vile to say, and scarce to be beleeved, what we endured. --William Simmons quoted in The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England & The Summer Isles (1624)
June 1610: Just as the survivors headed out to sea, the new governor, Lord De La Warr, arrived with 3 ships carrying supplies and 150 new colonists. 3 min. 45 sec. Lord la Ware then Governour of the Countrie, met them with ships exceedingly well furnished with all necessaries fitting, who againe returned them to the abandoned James towne. --William Simmons quoted in The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England & The Summer Isles (1624)
How Virginia Prospered John Rolfe Finds a Way
Sir John Hawkins In 1565 Sir John Hawkins introduced tobacco smoking in England and Sir Walter Raleigh helped popularize it.
So in 1612, when colonist John Rolfe successfully grew West Indian tobacco in Virginia, there was already a market for it. 6 min. 21 sec.
By 1675, annual exports of Virginia tobacco to England totaled 10 million pounds, on which taxes totaling 100,000 were paid to the English government.
The Later Years (1614-1624) From Corporate to Royal Colony
In 1614 Pocahontas became a Christian and then, renamed Rebecca, she married John Rolfe. Their marriage resulted in eight years of peace between the English colonists and the Powhatan Indians.
In 1617, less than two years after Pocahontas went to England with her husband, she died and was buried at Gravesend.
1619: Slavery and Democracy take root in Virginia Nineteen Africans arrive on a English warship, the White Lion. It s unclear whether they were slaves or indentured servants. The House of Burgesses (colonial legislature) meets for first time in Jamestown.
In 1622 Indians killed 350 Virginia settlers.
In 1624 King James I revoked the Virginia Company s charter and made Virginia a royal colony.
Society in Colonial Virginia
William Byrd II By the end of the 1600s Virginia had a small ruling elite that owned large tobacco plantations with thousands of acres and hundreds of slaves or indentured servants.
But most Virginians were small farmers who grew tobacco on 50-acre headrights, given to any person who transported himself or another person to the colony.
Throughout the colonial period the Anglican Church was the established taxsupported church of Virginia. Failure to attend services could result in a fine.
The First New England Colonies Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay
The people we called Pilgrims were Separatists who thought the Church of England had not gone far enough in ridding itself of the vestiges of Roman Catholicism so they separated from it. Failure to attend C. of E. services was an offense punishable by a fine. Holding nonconformist services was a crime punishable by imprisonment. In 1593 two separatist leaders were executed for sedition.
1620: 102 English Pilgrims travel to America aboard the Mayflower. About half are Separatists who previously spent several years living in the Netherlands.
The Pilgrims intended to settle in Virginia but a storm blew the ship off course and they ended up in New England instead.
November 21, 1620: While anchored off Cape Cod, the Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact establishing a civil body politick.
They name their settlement New Plymouth Plymouth Rock
Half the colonists died during the first winter.
Spring 1621: The arrival of Samoset and Squanto About the 6 th of March a certain Indian came boldly among them, and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand, but were astonished at it. --William Bradford, Governor
Samoset and Squanto also introduced the Pilgrims to their chief, Massasoit, who was likewise friendly. The Indians also helped the Pilgrims by showing them where to hunt and fish and how to plant corn and other food crops. Afterwards they (as many as were able) began to plant ther corne, in which servise Squanto stood them in great stead, showing them both the manar how to set it, and after how to dress and tend it. Also he tould them excepte they gott fish and set with it (in these old grounds) it would come to nothing, and he showed them wher to get other provissions necessary for them; all which they found true by triall and experience. Governor William Bradford
Fall 1621: The first Thanksgiving 5 min. 39 sec. "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors Many of the Indians coming amongst us, [including] their King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others." -Edward Winslow, Colonist
By 1690, the population of Plymouth colony had increased from the original 50 survivors of the winter of 1620-21 to about 3,000. Plymouth Colony existed from 1620 to 1691, when it was merged with the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The English Colonies Massachusetts Bay
Puritans, who wanted to change the Church of England from within, established the Massachusetts Bay colony.
In 1603 Puritans presented King James I with the Millenary Petition, listing the changes they wished to make to the Church of England.
King James saw the Puritans as troublemakers. The Puritans rejected the following ceremonies: The signing of the cross during baptism Confirmation The administration of baptism by lay people (It was common in some areas that mid-wives would baptize children.) Use of the ring in marriage Bowing at the name of Jesus The requirement of the surplice and cap The practice of giving men multiple ecclesiastical positions, receiving pay for each They also disliked the terms Priest and Absolution (terms they perceived as Roman Catholic), and wanted a stricter observance of the Sabbath. King James I: I will make them conform themselves, or I will harry them out of the land!
The Great Migration of English Puritans began in 1629, during the reign of Charles I. By the end of 1630, about 2,000 people had arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony.
By 1640, about 20,000 Puritans had immigrated to New England.
In America, their churches were called Congregationalist and their style of worship was called The New England Way. Hee shall make us a prayse and glory, that men shall say of succeeding plantacions: the lord make it like that of New England: for wee must Consider that wee shall be as a Citty upon a Hill, the eies of all people are uppon us; soe that if wee shall deale falsely with our god in this worke wee have undertaken and soe cause him to withdrawe his present help from us, wee shall be made a story and a byword through the world. --John Winthrop, Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony
A democracy is... accounted the meanest and worst of all forms of government. John Winthrop 6 min. 46 sec. The government of Massachusetts Bay was a theocracy in which civil law was based on the Bible and everyone was required to conform to Puritan beliefs. Dissenters were punished, oftentimes severely. Only freemen who were also church members could vote or hold office. If we should change from a mixed aristocracy to mere democracy, first we should have no warrant in scripture for it: for there was no such government in Israel... A democracy is, amongst civil nations, accounted the meanest and worst of all forms of government. [To allow it would be] a manifest breach of the 5th Commandment. R.C. Winthrop, Life and Letters of John Winthrop (Boston, 1869), vol. ii, p. 430.
Most farms were family farms with few, if any, indentured servants or slaves. Owing to a short growing season and thin, rocky soil, most New Englanders became middling farmers. Others made a living in fishing and trade.
Religious Liberty for All The Founding of Rhode Island
1636: Puritan dissenter Roger Williams founds Providence Plantations in present-day Rhode Island. God requireth not an uniformity of Religion to be inacted and inforced in any civill state true civility and Christianity may both flourish in a state or Kingdome, notwithstanding the permission of divers and contrary consciences, either of Jew or Gentile. --Roger Williams, The Bloody Tenet
1637: Puritan heretic Anne Hutchinson is also banished from Massachusetts. She and her followers settle on Rhode Island in Narragansett Bay. 6 min. 02 sec.
1644: Roger Williams goes to England and comes back with charter for Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
During the Colonial era, Rhode Island was the only colony to allow complete religious liberty for Christians and non-christians alike. In 1658 a Jewish congregation began openly meeting in Newport, Rhode Island and in 1763 they built Touro Synagogue. 2 min. 25 sec.
The First Middle Colony From New Netherland to New York
1609: Englishman Henry Hudson explores what is now the coast of New York and New Jersey for the Dutch West India Company.
1614: The Dutch West India Company establishes New Netherland. In 1624 the first colonists arrived.
1626: Dutch governor Pieter Minuit buys Manahatta (Manhattan) Island from the Indians for 60 guilders worth of trade goods (less than $600).
New Amsterdam was the capital of New Netherland.
New Amsterdam was situated on the southern tip of Manhattan Island.
New Amsterdam, was an important center of trade where Slaves, beaver skins, and other commodities were bought and sold.
Peg Leg Pieter Stuyvesant was the last Governor of New Netherland (1647-1664).
1664: Charles II grants land in America to brother, the Duke of York (future King James II). The Duke s land grant includes New Netherland!
August 27, 1664: Four English warships sail into New Amsterdam s harbor. The Dutch surrender without firing a shot!
English governor Richard Nicolls renames city and colony New York.
Dutch who swear allegiance to King Charles II are allowed to remain in New York. 12 min. 53 sec.
Catholics and Quakers The founding of Maryland and Pennsylvania
In 1634, Cecil Calvert (son of George Calvert), Lord Baltimore, established Maryland as a haven for Roman Catholics (although the colony s charter did not specifically say so). A proprietary colony, Maryland was named for Henrietta Maria, the French Roman Catholic Queen Consort of King Charles I.
In 1649 the Maryland colonial legislature passed an Act of Toleration, granting religious liberty to all Christians. In 1692 the law was changed to Protestants only. In 1702 the Church of England became the official church.
Equality for Women Pacifism Anti-slavery Refused to swear oaths No paid ministers In 1647, Englishman George Fox established The Religious Society of Friends or Quakers, who were considered heretics by the established church and also by Puritans. During the reign of Charles I and the years of the Puritan Republic (1649-1660), Quakers met in secret to avoid persecution.
When the monarchy was restored in 1660, King Charles II issued a declaration of religious toleration. Because the passion and uncharitableness of the times have produced several opinions in religion, by which men are engaged in parties and animosities against each other (which, when they shall hereafter unite in a freedom of conversation, will be composed or better understood), we do declare a liberty to tender consciences, and that no man shall be disquieted or called in question for differences of opinion in matters of religion, which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom ; and that we shall be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament, as, upon mature deliberation, shall be offered to us, for the full granting that indulgence. Because Parliament refused its assent, the status of Quakers in England became uncertain.
In 1681, in order to settle a 16,000 debt, Charles II granted land between New York and Maryland to a prominent Quaker named William Penn.
The colony was named Pennsylvania and in 1682 the city of Philadelphia was founded.
Unlike many English leaders, Penn treated the Indians fairly and paid them for their land. He also permitted religious liberty for all Christians, assuring that the colony became not only a haven for Quakers but also any other dissenters.
The Rest of the English Colonies
1662: The Royal Colony of Connecticut is founded by Puritans from Massachusetts Bay.
1663: Charles II grants the Carolinas to Eight Lords Proprietors. In 1712, North and South Carolina are divided.. Some of the earliest inhabitants come from the island of Barbados.
1664: The Duke of York conveys East and West Jersey to two friends, Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley. In 1702, East and West Jersey combine to become royal colony of New Jersey.
In 1679, New Hampshire separates from Massachusetts Bay to form a new colony
In 1691 Plymouth Colony was merged into the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Delaware is part of Penn s grant until 1703 when it becomes a separate colony.
Georgia is founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, as a refuge for English poor.
By the early 1700s, there were 13 English colonies in North America. NEW ENGLAND: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. MIDDLE COLONIES: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. SOUTHERN COLONIES: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.