Writing A Journal Entry

I was given an assignment to write a journal entry for someone who would be leaving a home where their ancestors had lived for centuries to live in the "new world." I really had fun thinking of what it would be like, these are my entries.

February 15, 1634

I wish that mum and poppa had not seen the sign for the ship leaving for the New World. I do not want to leave my friends here. I do not want to leave my aunts and grammie. But poppa said it is necessary, we are not the right religion. We are not the Pope’s people, nor are we the King’s people, but we are God’s people. We have to pack up all of our belongings and sell what we cannot pack. There is not enough room on the ship for much of our belongings. I do not know where we are going to be living, I understand the land is wild and there are wild animals and Indians. It is both exciting and frightening to me, I want to be brave, but I am truly scared. I have made sure my little doll and small items that I could pack into my satchel are with me at all times, I will not leave them behind. I am thankful to have my brothers and sisters with me.

July 29, 1634

Poppa returned last night with the scouting party. They had gone up into the hills and out along the coastline to see what lands were available to hunt. We pulled up stools around the fire to hear what he had to say. He said the fields up there and lands were far superior to those here and that many regretted that we had not pushed on. Once there they encountered many Indians, and the women, or squaws, wore cloaks of the most exquisite beaver fur they had ever seen. The women were more than willing to sell their cloaks for bright beads and a fancy ribbon or two. So now Poppa says the fur trade has begun in earnest and he is quite hopeful to our being able to fulfill our obligations with the merchants. Not to mention getting a nice warm cloak for mum for the winter and blankets for all of us when the snows come.