HueyLong
Banned
[I had to unpack the comp, and put the file onto a floppy, but here you are]
The Grace Colony, Continued
Arriving in mid-October, the Pilgrims had little chance of planting their crops for the winter. They did, however, have sufficient supplies on board, and with their vicinity to New Amsterdam, had ample reserves to trade for. The richer members of the Church, as well as some of the Strangers, formed a joint stock company shortly after landing, the Creditor's Association of Grace, whose purpose was to extend credit for food to those who could not afford it. It would grow in influence over the years, despite its humble beginnings.
The Pilgrims began planting crops early in the spring. They began by planting the simpler root crops (turnips, potatoes), following Dutch knowledge and agricultural practice, and shortly thereafter, planted wheat. Some experimented with corn and beans traded from the local natives, but most Pilgrims preferred the more familiar crops, especially after they came into conflict with the Indians. The Creditor's Association of Grace began the season by using funds to import livestock and fowl- two things which were fairly unknown in North America. This would increase their power later, and certainly helped cement the position of the leading Pilgrims
Trapping became the preferred profession among the poorer Pilgrims and the Strangers of the journey, as it offered an immediate profit, and removed one from the strict Grace Colony's early laws and mores. However, the early Church did not count trappers as “secreted sinners”, as they counted other tradesmen who left the colony. The Creditor's Association, early on, agreed to allow payment in furs, and often made profit on their loans from this practice.
Lumbering quickly became profitable too. Small camps were established up river for the sole purpose of logging. New Amsterdam and the growing Grace Colony provided a good market for the lumber, although many Puritans disliked the restrictions placed on the trade of lumber, as they were unable to trade it to non-Dutch or non-Puritan traders.
The colony also had an early urban economy develop. A North German brick firer was the first established artisan, and he was one of the first members of the creditor's association. His presence in the colony led to the abundance of brick buildings in much of the area. Many of the other Puritans were skilled, and their businesses ranged from tailoring to teaching to printing.
The government of the colony was fairly simple, and was outlined in the “Contract for Civil Body Politicke” The Governor was essntially an elected King, the Council was an advisory rubber stamp, and the courts were ad-hoc. All freedmen (active church members) could vote yearly for their governor (translated as “patroon” in the Dutch version). The Governor had wide ranging powers, left vague by the original “Contract for Civil Body Politicke” The church leaders, along with Stranger delegates, appointed by the Governor, would head an advisory council with limited legislative powers. Jury trials were established for all cases, although jurisdiction was split for trials involving a Stranger or a Puritan. Essentially, certain laws binding on a Puritan were not binding on a Stranger.
The sermons of 1620 and 1621 were mostly positive, praising the righteous labor of the first year, and the charity of the Creditor's Association during the winter. Efforts were made to convert the Strangers, with great success. Sin prohibitions were passed, mainly on smoking, drinking and gambling. The few fiery sermons were reserved for the Indians and the "evasive sinners"- the Puritans who left the colony for England or New Amsterdam.
[There is no "screeching wilderness" or starving times- the Puritans are a bit more lenient ITTL, less xenophobic, and a bit more restrained in religion. They are more moderate in TTL, and more secular. There are fewer restrictions on singing and dancing, and other minor vices]
Early forays up the Grace River started contact with the Indians. The Puritans showed little mercy or tact with their early encounters, demanding conversion or attacking the “heathens” without warning or provocation. Explorers brought back tales of unspeakable horrors and rituals, and many Pilgrims began calling for a crusade, of sorts, against the hostile Indians. These efforts mainly focused on the shores of the Grace River, and they largely succeeded there, ousting tribes for their lumber settlements.
[There is no Squanto/Sachem ITTL to affect Puritan attitudes towards Indians- they are viewing them as horrible cannibal pagans, to be converted or removed from their Zion. In addition, there was no major depletion of numbers during the winter of 1620 ITTL, so they are not as weakened as in OTL, so voices crying for land are a bit louder.]
Immigration was steady for the Grace Colony, and was encouraged by the Church leaders, the Dutch and the Creditor's Association. English Puritans, mainly from the great woolen districts of England, were the most numerous, but they were joined also by North German and Dutch Protestants, as well as smaller amounts of Scandinavians. Although most immigrants landed in Grace Landing, many left for more northerly settlements, where the fishing and timberlands were better, or went west to New Amsterdam, to become trappers. By the end of 1621, however, the population of Grace's Landing was recorded as being above 800, and three more towns with populations above 200 were claiming to be represented on the charter. The other three towns were Canaan (On the Connecticut, TTL Fresh River, founded by English immigrants), Neue-Embden (a primarily North German town, on the east side of Long Island), and Plenty (Primarily English, founded near Cape Cod).
The Grace Colony, Continued
Arriving in mid-October, the Pilgrims had little chance of planting their crops for the winter. They did, however, have sufficient supplies on board, and with their vicinity to New Amsterdam, had ample reserves to trade for. The richer members of the Church, as well as some of the Strangers, formed a joint stock company shortly after landing, the Creditor's Association of Grace, whose purpose was to extend credit for food to those who could not afford it. It would grow in influence over the years, despite its humble beginnings.
The Pilgrims began planting crops early in the spring. They began by planting the simpler root crops (turnips, potatoes), following Dutch knowledge and agricultural practice, and shortly thereafter, planted wheat. Some experimented with corn and beans traded from the local natives, but most Pilgrims preferred the more familiar crops, especially after they came into conflict with the Indians. The Creditor's Association of Grace began the season by using funds to import livestock and fowl- two things which were fairly unknown in North America. This would increase their power later, and certainly helped cement the position of the leading Pilgrims
Trapping became the preferred profession among the poorer Pilgrims and the Strangers of the journey, as it offered an immediate profit, and removed one from the strict Grace Colony's early laws and mores. However, the early Church did not count trappers as “secreted sinners”, as they counted other tradesmen who left the colony. The Creditor's Association, early on, agreed to allow payment in furs, and often made profit on their loans from this practice.
Lumbering quickly became profitable too. Small camps were established up river for the sole purpose of logging. New Amsterdam and the growing Grace Colony provided a good market for the lumber, although many Puritans disliked the restrictions placed on the trade of lumber, as they were unable to trade it to non-Dutch or non-Puritan traders.
The colony also had an early urban economy develop. A North German brick firer was the first established artisan, and he was one of the first members of the creditor's association. His presence in the colony led to the abundance of brick buildings in much of the area. Many of the other Puritans were skilled, and their businesses ranged from tailoring to teaching to printing.
The government of the colony was fairly simple, and was outlined in the “Contract for Civil Body Politicke” The Governor was essntially an elected King, the Council was an advisory rubber stamp, and the courts were ad-hoc. All freedmen (active church members) could vote yearly for their governor (translated as “patroon” in the Dutch version). The Governor had wide ranging powers, left vague by the original “Contract for Civil Body Politicke” The church leaders, along with Stranger delegates, appointed by the Governor, would head an advisory council with limited legislative powers. Jury trials were established for all cases, although jurisdiction was split for trials involving a Stranger or a Puritan. Essentially, certain laws binding on a Puritan were not binding on a Stranger.
The sermons of 1620 and 1621 were mostly positive, praising the righteous labor of the first year, and the charity of the Creditor's Association during the winter. Efforts were made to convert the Strangers, with great success. Sin prohibitions were passed, mainly on smoking, drinking and gambling. The few fiery sermons were reserved for the Indians and the "evasive sinners"- the Puritans who left the colony for England or New Amsterdam.
[There is no "screeching wilderness" or starving times- the Puritans are a bit more lenient ITTL, less xenophobic, and a bit more restrained in religion. They are more moderate in TTL, and more secular. There are fewer restrictions on singing and dancing, and other minor vices]
Early forays up the Grace River started contact with the Indians. The Puritans showed little mercy or tact with their early encounters, demanding conversion or attacking the “heathens” without warning or provocation. Explorers brought back tales of unspeakable horrors and rituals, and many Pilgrims began calling for a crusade, of sorts, against the hostile Indians. These efforts mainly focused on the shores of the Grace River, and they largely succeeded there, ousting tribes for their lumber settlements.
[There is no Squanto/Sachem ITTL to affect Puritan attitudes towards Indians- they are viewing them as horrible cannibal pagans, to be converted or removed from their Zion. In addition, there was no major depletion of numbers during the winter of 1620 ITTL, so they are not as weakened as in OTL, so voices crying for land are a bit louder.]
Immigration was steady for the Grace Colony, and was encouraged by the Church leaders, the Dutch and the Creditor's Association. English Puritans, mainly from the great woolen districts of England, were the most numerous, but they were joined also by North German and Dutch Protestants, as well as smaller amounts of Scandinavians. Although most immigrants landed in Grace Landing, many left for more northerly settlements, where the fishing and timberlands were better, or went west to New Amsterdam, to become trappers. By the end of 1621, however, the population of Grace's Landing was recorded as being above 800, and three more towns with populations above 200 were claiming to be represented on the charter. The other three towns were Canaan (On the Connecticut, TTL Fresh River, founded by English immigrants), Neue-Embden (a primarily North German town, on the east side of Long Island), and Plenty (Primarily English, founded near Cape Cod).
