Today is my last day in New England! I have had such a good time here visiting the colonies of New England. The sights, the sounds, the whole experience - was so amazing. I learned an incredible amount about my fellow colonists. Our religion, our democracies, our hierarchies, the role of our women, our ethnic and cultural diversity, and the agriculture and industry in our colonies have many differences. But they also have similarities too.
The colonies of America are not all the same. We come together and make one big puzzle full of unique pieces that fit perfectly. I am so grateful for the trip I took to New England and hope to visit once again!
The footprints I made in the cool sands on the coast of the Atlantic will fade away, but my memories of my visit will not.
Today is
my second-to-last day of my trip to New England. Winston decided that he
would
help me truly
experience life in a New England; he and I went to the Boston port
today!
As I
learned during my visit, cod is a major export of New England. Well, I
certainly knew when
we had arrived at the bustling port: the smell was extremely pungent! We
walked
around the docks, quietly observing the hustle and bustle. Crates of cod
were
being loaded onto ships that were to sail to England; Winston told me.
He said
that fishing has become an extremely prominent and successful industry
in New
England.
Cod!
On
the
journey back to Winston’s community, we discussed how New England had
many
small family farms that are physically close together. The colonists of
New
England are subsistence farmers. Winston told me that their trade was
rapidly
increasing and improving, also.
But the
climate of the region heavily influences agriculture and industry, too.
The
cruelly cold winters thwart growth after the regular growing season.
These
challenges encourage diversified farming, Winston said.
After
learning about agriculture and industry in New England, of course I
compared it
to agriculture and industry in Virginia. In Jamestown, we grow tobacco
and rice
as cash crops; to make a profit. The Chesapeake is extremely successful
in
tobacco cultivation. It is constantly being grown and exported. My
father works
on a tobacco plantation, like most of my friends’ fathers. The
agriculture and
industry in Virginia and the rest of the South revolves around cash
crops,
primarily tobacco, rice, and indigo.
Tobacco
farming in Virginia
When
I
reflect, I like how New England has diverse agriculture and a unique
industry.
The trade is successful and progressive to daily life. In Virginia, it
is
solely based on creating profit. I admire New England for it’s
distinctive and
innovative agriculture and industry.
Last
night, after observing the town hall meeting, I lay in my bed, reflecting on
all the people of New England. When Aunt Jane and I walked through the town, I
studied the ethnic and cultural diversity of New England. There was not nearly
as much variety as in Virginia.
In New
England, the majority of the people are white, English Protestants. They are
friendly with the native Indians, but the Indians are not a part of the
community. New England is made up of English Pilgrims,
Puritans, and Separatists. They
are basically all white colonists. The New England region is noticeably less
ethnically mixed than its neighboring colonies. As I walked around, I did not
see any slaves whatsoever, or difference in culture or ethnicity.
In
complete contrast, Virginia is very ethnically and culturally mixed. We are the
most populous colony, with black slaves from the coast of West Africa,
indentured servants journeying across the Atlantic to come work on the tobacco
plantations from Britain or Germany, and even the aristocratic great planters.
In Virginia, I like how mixed our society is. With different cultures and
ethnicities, life is interesting because the people are unique. I’m very
thankful to live in Jamestown, with diverse people of distinct ethnicities and
cultures.
Today is
my fourth day here in New England. The days are just packed! This morning my
Uncle Charles asked me if I would like to sit in on a town hall meeting.
Eagerly I accepted, since Winston had previously informed me these meetings
were important; a big deal. My cousin says that nobody but the freemen (2/5 of
all men are freemen, they are the only ones who can vote in provincial
elections) are allowed at these town hall meetings. My uncle asked his fellow
freemen if I could sit in, just to observe and experience a meeting; they
agreed.
A typical meetinghouse of New England
So before
I went to the meeting, Winston gave me a quick lesson on democracy and
hierarchy in New England. He said that the most powerful and influential people
in the community are the religious leaders. The freemen are also quite
important. Men have more power and responsibility than women, but women still
have responsibility.
Winston
also notified me that his parents are so grateful to have a democracy in this
society, because they have a say in rules and laws of the community. In
contrast, in England, the monarchs had complete and total rule.
After I
heard what Winston had to say about democracy and hierarchy in New England, I
thought back to Jamestown. My home has developed a hierarchy that consists of a
few great planters who dominate the House of Burgesses on the top of the
hierarchy. Below those aristocrats are the small farmers, or yeomen. They are
the largest social group. My family owns a minor farm; we are a part of this
class. Below us on the hierarchy are the landless whites; those who own no land
and used to be indentured servants. Consequently, the indentured servants are
below the landless whites. Finally, on the bottom of Virginia’s hierarchy are
the black slaves.
When I
compare the democracy and hierarchy systems of New England and Virginia, they
seem quite different to me. I must say I prefer New England’s customs; because
there is more equality between the people, and the people have a bigger part in
the development of the community.
My
cousin Emma (Winston's older sister) helping to prepare lunch
This
morning Winston had to go to school, so my Aunt Jane and I spent some
quality time together. We walked around the town, looking through small
shops on the main street. As we were walking, she told me many things
about women in New England communities.
She
said that families are quite large, and women are expected to raise
about eight babies in their lifetime. Women usually marry in their early
twenties; there is significant pressure on marrying as soon as
possible. Aunt Jane also told me, as we walked along the muddy pebble
road, that women were not equal to men. This is the same as in my home in Jamestown!
Men have considerably more influence and power in society than women.
In Virginia, men have almost absolute power over their wives. In
contrast, here in New England, women are less powerful than men, but not
as much as in Virginia. In Jamestown, there are far more men than
women, so women are pursued to marry.
In
all the colonies, Aunt Jane
told me, men work primarily on the farms while women stay home to be
homemakers. Women are viewed as morally weaker than men in all
the colonies of America. As we wandered through the shops, I noticed
that all the shopkeepers and merchants are men. But in New England, Aunt
Jane said that the law is especially stringent for women.
After learning about
the role of
women in New England’s society and comparing it to the role of women in
my home society of Jamestown, I realize how much responsibility men
have, but also realize how much the colonies still need women to
succeed.
A
portrait of my Aunt Jane, painted when she was 16, living in England
Today is my second day visiting New England! Winston is going to show me the New England religious customs. We woke up early once again, and began with prayers at the kitchen table before breakfast. After a quick cleaning of the small house, the whole family walked to the meetinghouse. It was a large building in the center of the town. We had a service in the meetinghouse; it was two hours long!
After the service, we had lunch back at home. Winston told me about the religion in New England. He said they were Puritans, who came to the New World to break away from the Church of England. They arrived in 1608, (Aunt Jane and Uncle Charles ventured as a young couple to a new life, on the Mayflower) eager for religious freedom as Puritans. He said that Puritans were Separatists, and they wanted a place to live in the New World where they could be completely separate from the Church Of England. My cousin tells me how devoted and committed the whole colony is to religion, full of daily prayers and complete loyalty to God.
A typical winters day; families are gathering in the meetinghouse for the daily service
Back in Jamestown, we are very different in our religious customs. Most importantly, we are a part of the Church of England! Our church is governed from London, and it is not very influential; because the London Company is three thousand miles across the ocean.
We only go to church on Sundays, for just a two-hour service. That’s nothing compared to New England religious practices. Winston also told me that his community believes they have a covenant with God, an agreement to build a holy society that will be a model for humankind. Winston tells me his community considers their faith extremely important in their life, and I realize religion in the New World differs greatly depending on the region.
The colonies in the New World are a patchwork of religiously diverse communities, and I think this is very interesting. I find this fascinating how the distinctive regions, with various religions, all make one cohesive unit with a rapidly increasing population.
I woke up at dawn this morning. The sun was barely peeking through the fluffy clouds when the house began to buzz with life. My aunt Jane was preparing the daily fireplace, lighting the stove, and doing morning chores. She made breakfast and helped my younger cousins dress for the day. Winston and I ate a simple breakfast of bread, butter, and water. He decided to just give me the basic tour of his town, Plymouth.
We explored the land and I learned that New England mostly consists of small rolling hills, winding rivers, and acres of heavy forest. The colonists work hard clearing this land, so they can utilize it for farming.
Here, the English farm multifariously. With the freedom to grow a wide variety of crops successfully, Winston explains that his town grows corn, squash, beans, pumpkins, and sunflowers. Cod is very popular on the New England coast too; the Atlantic Ocean is full of these thriving fish. The colonists also hunt deer, wild turkey, rabbits, and muskrats. The furs keep them warm during the frigid, icy winters and the meat provides protein.
Winston also told me how lucky they are to be successful subsistence farming, because in New England the soil is very rocky and the four seasons are extremely drastic. When he told me that, I thought about how my home has fertile soil and a humid climate, and one primary crop: tobacco. My hometown primarily grows tobacco and rice on vast plantations, in complete contrast with the varied crops of New England's farms.
We continued to walk, weaving in and out of the densely settled town. I noticed a few Indians, also. Winston told me that many tribes are settled within Plymouth, including the Iroquois and Algonquin. They live in clans, Winston tells me.
After my tour of the town, Winston and I return home. We spent the rest of the day discussing how we love the New World and our lives here. Winston tells me tomorrow we will delve into his normal daily life, including his religious devotion.
