Discovering America Podcast

The Dutch had to contend with the English claims over American territory. In one form or another, the English laid claim to everything, maybe not so much with the French. It's unfortunate that the Dutch claims were between those of the French and the English. Add to that the Dutch thought introducing a patroon system was a wise move, and finally a few mishaps with the Indians and placing not so wise Dutch governors in charge. How were the Dutch colonies going to survive?

Many explorers had sailed down and mapped the eastern coast of America, each claiming for their sovereign nation a stretch of land. The English were complaining about the Dutch encroaching on English territory, setting up trading posts, and trading with the Indians. The Dutch organized the West India Company and through their charters, it began its side of expansion on American soil.

New colonies were springing up all over New England. The Massachusetts Bay Company needed to keep an eye open to maintain its own legitimacy and legal patients. There was always someone bending the ear of the king. If one Puritan community didn't agree with your beliefs, one could move to a different one, this included preachers.

Gorges was trying to gain COMPLETE control of New England. His latest scheme was to relinquish the present patents desiring King Charles I to reissue a series of new charters, eight to be exact. Each to be given to eight of his patentees, hoping these would be not considered an illegal arrangement by parliament. Well, the Massachusetts colonists did not take kindly to this underhanded approach to take over their hard work and freedoms. Gorges lost his right hand man, John Mason and along with the troubles in England, he never quite secured the patents covering New England and his province called Maine.

For a time we find Gorges defying the orders of Admiral Thomas Pennington to allow French sailors to board English ships and sail off to fight for the French in a war the English captains wanted no part of. He was able to keep his head but, with a civil conflict between Royalty and the Parliament breaking out in England, his enemies made their thoughts known against him. Finally with this encounter behind him, he proceeded to lay the ground work for his realm.

There were many tied to the colonization efforts, I think none more than Captain John Smith and that of Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Through his patents acquired a substantial amount of North America land, even against the vocal discontent of the London Company. Gorges had the necessary royal pull on his side. England was not a quiet place, a war with Spain which would later involve France. Gorges helped where he could, mostly with his insight of what England must do to protect its sovereign lands, including the New World.

Christopher Levett was determined to make his mark on New England. Finally gaining a patent for 6000 acres, he turned to his friends in Yorkshire but, they didn't have the same burning ambition that Levett embodied. Finally sailing off in 1623 after exploring and meeting with New England's neighbors, he put his stamp near Portland harbor, a place he named York. Within the year 1624, the settlement was gone. Politics back in England such as they were, Levett never made it back to his "York". He was one of many that further lit a torch to the beauty, the possibilities and desires to plant a seed in America.

The Plymouth colony continues to grow and prosper. Bradford would on and off for the next several years act as their governor with others filling in as elected. What became the biggest problem was the paying down on the debt incurred by shipping supplies and people from Leyden. The beaver and otter skins trade was paying down money owed. It was the purchase of two ships, the Friendship and the White Angel that upset the adventurers or investors in England. The increase was above an acceptable level. Was Isaac Allerton acting as the agent in England delivering the goods ordered for the betterment of the colony or treating his voyages as a side business? James Sherley and William Bradford let the dealings concerning Allerton side too long. But in the end the crops were plentiful and able to sell off the excess to the outlying communities and the Indians. Life in Plymouth looked pretty good

Bradford was a well respected Governor and was not allowed to retire. He and the colonists had to put up with what Weston's group had done among the Indians and the Plymouth trouble makers John Lyford and Oldame passing letters filled with untruths back to England. Captain Standish led his group against a group of Indians who were planning to attack Weston's group and Plymouth. Through all these mishaps the colony was progressing even though they did experience a six week drought.

With the arrival of the Fortune, more colonists were added to Plymouth and not being well prepared, more of a hindrance than anything else. Next to show up is a group of adventurers posing to establish a new colony in Virginia. An unruly bunch counters to the civilized Puritans. The Puritans had demonstrated their worth in Indian relations and their husbandry of the land. Weston's crowd was causing trouble with Indians and a headache for those of Plymouth. The Indian interpreter, Squanto passes away and Winslow saves the life of Massasoyt.