CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. 1614-1630. [NEW-ENGLAND]
These notes were taken from:
A Library of American Puritan Writers. The Seventeenth Century. Sacvan Bercovitch, Ed. Volume 9. Histories and Narratives. AMS Press, Inc., New York, 1986.
[NOTE: Book pages used in this set of notes are those of the original text, published as facsimile in Volume 9 Histories and Narratives. Pages were not numbered in the re-published versions of these texts. For some of the texts noted in the following list, the actual title differs from the original, the title of which does appear in the facsimile.]
Contents:
(Those with relevant notes taken are asterisked)
- William Bradford. A Description and Historical Account of New England in Verse.
- Father Gabriel Druilletes. Narrative of a Journey to New England.
- *Francis Higginson. A True Relation of the Last Voyage to New England.
- *John Josselyn. An Account of Two Voyages to New England.
- John Smith. Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New England, or Anywhere.
- *John Smith. A Description of New England.
- Edward Winslow. Good News from New-England.
- *William Wood. New England’s Prospect.
Captain Iohn Smith. Advertisements for the unexperienced Planters of New-England; or, any where . Or, the pathway to experience to erect a Plantation. With the yearely proceedings of this Country in Fishing and Planting, since the yeare 1614. To the yeare 1630. And their present estate. Also how to prevent the greatest inconveniences, by their proceedings in Virginia, and other Plantations, by approved examples. With the Countries Armes, by approved examples. With the Countries, Armes, a description of the Coast, Harbours, Habitations, Landmarkes, Latitude and Longitude: with the Map, allowed by our Royall King Charles. By Captain Iohn Smith, sometimes Governour of Virginia, and Admirall of New-England. London, Iohn Haviland…1631. [In A Library of American Puritan Writers. The Seventeenth Century. Sacvan Bercovitch, Ed. Volume 9. Histories and Narratives. AMS Press, Inc., New York, 1986. np.]
No notes taken.
Captain John Smith. A Description of New-England (1614). [In A Library of American Puritan Writers. The Seventeenth Century. Sacvan Bercovitch, Ed. Volume 9. Histories and Narratives. AMS Press, Inc., New York, 1986.]
Captain Smith makes little mention of the natural resources in his writings, except to disclose their presence and on occasion their general uses. On page 115 he mentions “Of certain red berries, called alkermes, which is worth ten shillings a pound, but these hath been sold for thirty or forty shillings the pound….” He also discusses “mines of gold and silver, copper, and probabilities of lead, crystal and alum…,” along with Iron, drinke, Coals, and ore. (p. 115). Recalls the most common natural resourcees in passing (wines, oils, silk, fruit, wood, pitch, tar, salt, fibers for netting, animals, etc.) (pp. 116-119.) Of the bay of Penobscot area, he notes alkermes, currants, or a fuit like currant (Viburnum spp.?), vines, raspberries, goosberries (sic), plums walnuts, chestnuts, various trees, etc. [see list].
Trees
- “Oak is the chief wood, of which there is great difference in regard of the soil where it groweth.”
- fir
- pine
- walnut
- chestnut
- birch
- ash
- elm
- cypress
- cedar
- mulberry
- plum tree
- hazel
- sassafras
Fruit
- Currants (or a fruit like currants) [Viburnum sp.? Vaccinium sp.?]
- Mulberries (Morus sp.)
- Vines (esp. Vitis spp.)
Raspberries
- Gooseberries
- strawberries
- Plums
Nuts
- Walnuts
- Chestnuts
- small nuts
Vegetables
- pumpkins
- gourds
- beans
- peas
- maize/corn
Fiber
- a kind or two of flax (Apocynum cannabinum and other species, and perhaps Wild Linum spp.? and numerous others)
Other
- Alkermes (an insect found living on the branches of some shrubs)
Brian Altonen, MPH, MS 