A Letter Home From Massachusetts Bay in 1631
indentured servitude, migration, colonies, labor
This primary document is a letter and a first-hand account of life for indentured servitudes, and draws parallels between the treatment of indentured servants and slavery. It also provides a look into the difficulties of settling the New World. In this instance, this person describes their high and difficult workload.
___Pond
Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 2nd Series, vol. 8 (Boston, 1892–1894), 471–73.
University of Memphis
1631
Massachusetts Historical Society
History Matters, http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5787
Benjamin Franklin's Letter to James Parker
History, Politics, Thirteen Colonies, Iroquois League, Confederacy
In 1751, Benjamin Franklin wrote to James Parker discussing the advantageous of forming a union of their own. In it Franklin shows amazement of how “Six Nations of ignorant savages would be capable of forming a scheme for such a union, and be able to execute it in such a manner as that it has subsisted ages and appears indissoluble.” Franklin goes on to mention that a union of English colonies would serve a better purpose, meaning that if the more “civilized” British decided to split from the Crown, then they could use the Iroquois League’s method of governing and amplify it; hence him specifically mentioning the use of such a method on thirteen colonies as opposed to six nations. This letter was written at a time of growing distaste of the Crown by colonists due to its excessive interference in colonial life, whereas the colonists had little to no say in British government. Essentially, Franklin is planting the seeds of revolution by seeing hope in the way the Iroquois operate.
Benjamin Franklin
Smithsonian Institute
University of Memphis
1751
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies
"Observations upon the origin of the Malignant Bilious, or Yellow Fever in Philadelphia, and upon the Means of Preventing it: Addressed to the citizens of Philadelphia”
Yellow Fever, Colonial America
This source addresses the issues representing yellow fever in Philadelphia. There were many concerns from Philadelphia. Benjamin Rush addressed every worry that the Philadelphians had. He answered all the questions they had about yellow fever in this article. These questions ranged from “Is it contagious?” to “Can Yellow Fever be imported?”
Benjamin Rush
Boston Medical Library
The University of Memphis
November 30, 2016
Speech by Powhatan, as Recorded by John Smith, 1609
Chief Powhatan, Powhatan, John Smith, Native American, Indian
Powhatan was the paramount chief of 30 Algonquian speaking tribes of Virginia Indians that made up the Powhatan Confederacy. In the early part of the sixteenth century he maintained a somewhat civil alliance with the settlers of Jamestown. His famous daughter Pocahontas, according to Smith, plead with Powhatan to spare his life. Chief Powhatan in most accounts sought to create a peaceful alliance with colonists although both sides fell victim to mistrust. His speech, recorded by Smith, is most likely a product of their contact in January of 1609. Smith and other colonists were building Powhatan an English style home in exchange for food and supplies. Smith held Chief Powhatan at gunpoint after being abducted but was later released. It is possible his speech was part of this exchange, but could have been given at any time around this encounter as relations began to erode between settlers and Natives.
Chief Powhatan
<p><a href="http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/viewdetails.aspx?PrimarySourceId=1170">http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/viewdetails.aspx?PrimarySourceId=1170</a></p>
University of Memphis
1609
Written record provided by Smith, John
The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution
By Cowper and Telfairs A Cargo of Guinea Slaves.
slavery, slave advertisements, slave ships, race
This document is one of many examples of slave advertisements and runaway slave posts which use terms to indicate considered terms of whiteness and blackness, as the ad indicates the runaway enslaved people as “very black” and “of a black complexion.” The advertisement also calls for overseers, which were pivotal aspects of plantation life in the later-United States. Within the essay, this document provides evidence for the development of stereotypes and emphasizes the importance of slavery and the value of enslaved people, especially enslaved Africans.
Copwer and Telfairs
In the Council Chamber, Commons House of Assembly of Carolina, the 10th day of May, 1740.
University of Memphis
1740
Llyod Duhaime at Duhaime Law Museum
Llyod Duhaime at Duhaime Law Museum
A Trve Declaration of the estate of the Colonie in Virginia, With a confutation of such scandalous reports as haue tended to the disgrace of so worthy an enterprise
Virginia
History
Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
In the pamphlet,<em> A Trve Declaration of the estate of the Colonie in Virginia, With a confutation of such scandalous reports as haue tended to the disgrace of so worthy an enterprise</em>, the Virginia Company promoter, William Barret recounts a report from Sir Thomas Gates on the status of the colonies in Virginia. This document is an account of the land and resources found in the Virginia Colony published by The Council for Virginia in 1610 in London, England.<br /><br /> The Council for Virginia was part of the joint stock company, The London Company, which became collectively known as The Virginia Company with a second joint stock company, called the Plymouth Company. <br /><br />In 1606, King James I granted a charter to the Virginia Company of London and this joint stock company went on to found the Jamestown settlement in 1607. The Virginia Company’s goal was to bring profit back to England through selling shares for speculation in the New World. The primary goal of the settlers taken to the New World by the Virginia Company was to generate profit for the stockholders back in England. To help drive interest in investing in the joint stock company, promoters in England created flyers, pamphlets, and other promotional materials to both entice people to settle in the new colonies and for wealthier individuals to invest monetarily in the company’s ventures.
Council for Virginia
University of Michigan, Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A14518.0001.001
The University of Memphis
1610
Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :: Text Creation Partnership
The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders
Fiction
Fictional account by Daniel Defoe regarding the criminal entrepreneur Moll Flanders and her escapades in Colonial America
Daniel Defoe
https://archive.org/details/fortunesmisfortu0008defo
George D. Sproul
circa 18th century; this edition published in 1908
Brigham Young University, Hawaii
A Servant Uprising in Virginia, 1640
runaway uprising slave servant
Decisions of the General Court of Virginia, 1640
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/permanence/text6/VirginiaUprising.pdf
This court decision reviews the actions of the runaway slaves and servants and what their punishments should be.
1640
The University of North Carolina Press
“An Inquiry into the Causes of the Variolae Vaccine”
Smallpox
Picture of smallpox on an arm
Edward Jenner
The Welcome Library
The University of Memphis
November 30. 2016
Edward Randolph’s Report of King Philip’s War in New England, 1675
King Philip, War, Chief Metacom, Metacomet
The letter written by Edward Randolph is a report to make clear misunderstandings or misinformation which explains possible causes for the King Philip’s war. King Philip’s war or Metacom’s War took place in the New England colonies between 1675 and 1676. The war was a result of growing tensions between the English colonists and Wampanoag tribe over cultural differences of religion, protection against rival native tribes, colonists’ invasion of Wampanoag land, and difficult trade alliances. Violent conflict first began after three Wampanoag were put on trial and executed for the murder of John Sassamon, a Praying Indian who served as an interpreter and translator between the two cultures. Natives murder colonists and burn their homes, villages, and towns. By the end of the bloody war over 3,000 Wampanoag and their allied tribes were killed alongside 1,000 colonists and native allies were killed. Countless homes and cities on both side were destroyed as well as the loss of property and disruption of trade. In Randolph’s letter he explanations for growing hostilities and identifies that much of the blame should fall on the English.
Edward Randolph
<p><a href="http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/viewdetails.aspx?PrimarySourceId=1175">http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/viewdetails.aspx?PrimarySourceId=1175</a></p>
University of Memphis
1675
The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution