Discovering America Podcast

Mahlon's letter expresses the beauty and fertility of the country. He invites others to join him and with hard work will enjoy a good life. Gawen Laurie writes to the proprietors at London expressing much the same about the abundances the country has to offer.

Thomas Budd owned a share of propriety in West Jersey. He was related to large family who had arrived at Burlington in 1678. Thomas wrote a pamphlet nine or ten years after settling in. It describes relations between the colonists and the surrounding Indian inhabitants.

Samuel sends off a request to William Penn Edward Byllinge or Gawen Laurie about discontinuing the paying of customs or duty to the New York government.

This episode is kind of a part two surrounding William Penn. There is much more to it before he gets involved. So a back story must commence that involves other players, such as the Dutch, the Swedes, the Duke of York, Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley to name a few. These are the events that take place with William Penn's Quakers, in a sense, as they were gaining a place to live and worship i...

I read a speech that was given on July 5th, 1926 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Who was William Penn? Which one you say, the father or the son? The father was a great sea commander and had ties to England's royalty. The son would not follow in his father's steps but, did make a name for himself in a non-agreeable way. Let's see what that means.

My next topic will be the settling of the Pennsylvania territory. I have not had the time to create a new episode for the podcast. So I've decided to give to you a small sampling of William Penn's Writing. Please enjoy.

In celebration of July 4th, I continue reading the final chapter of "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine - Chapter 4

In celebration of July 4th, I continue reading "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine - Chapter 3

In celebration of July 4th, I have decided to read Thomas Paine's great pamphlet, "Common Sense" and hear the reason so many were willing to fight to break colonial ties with England and create a separate nation with a new form of government with liberty and freedom at its core. Enjoy!

Sir Humphrey Gilbert invested a great portion of his fortune; this first attempt ended in disappointment. It became a starting point for the next one, taking encouragement from his stepbrother Sir Walter Raleigh. The second attempt took the lives of many including Gilbert himself. Enjoy this first hand account of what these sailors experienced along the coast of North Carolina.

The colonial forces along with Indian allies start to close in on the man named Phillip. This would also include many of his close leaders and many of his followers.

The war continues and it appears that there is no end in sight. Benjamin Church makes his way to meet with Awashonks and her tribe, the meeting is a positive endeavor, they are willing to side with the English.

A series of events lead to this clash between the English Colonies and some of the New England Indian tribes, this episode starts to cover this unfortunate time known as King Philip's War.

The New England colonies are visited by the commissioners of England to sort things out; finally there will be peace among the colonies, in your dreams. Even after they left the in-fighting continued.

To celebrate this great holiday, I read a great speech, one by Pres. John F. Kennedy on July 4, 1962 at Independence Hall. Please listen to the words, hear what was important back then and maybe compare to what is happening today.

I read the Rhode Island charter of 1663 for your enjoyment and enlightenment.

The Rhode Island's government had to stand its ground against the on slot of those who tried to take away its territory. What finally arrives is the charter of 1663; I think we made it, well sort of.

Time on your hands? Listen to a podcast. Above all stay safe during these unsettling times.

I read a Christmas story entitled, "the Year Santa Went Modern," written by Richard Armour. May you have a great time during the holidays with family and friends and may the New Year fulfill everything good you envision.

A letter written by Sir Henry Vane sent to Roger Williams wondering why the people of the Plantations and Aquidneck could not see their way through their differences and become a union of one government.

The colonial settlers and leaders were trying to set a government through their own general assemblies far away from the mother country of England, a representative type from the local communities of freeman and landholders. This is one of those documents that describe their intent and a favor of their time.   

You would think that the charter of 1644, the plantations and Rhode Island had all they needed to move forward but, that was not the case. The Bay (or Massachusetts) or Plymouth felt that their jurisdiction covered more of the Narragansett Bay. Then the charter of 1647 comes along, now we have clarity but, wait there's more, claims still persist and throw in William Coddington, who would be king a...

Unlike Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the plantations just did not have a firm foundation of government, which gave Massachusetts reasons to find ways to incorporate those lands under their jurisdiction. It also didn't help that people like Samuel Gorton had beliefs that didn't quite match up with those Puritans in Boston and sometimes even upset Roger Williams. The Gortonists purchased land from...

The separation of Williams' plantations settlements and Coddington's Rhode Island settlements from that of the more pronounced settlements of Massachusetts and Plymouth was having its toll. There were those in Williams' camp that wanted the safety and governmental arm that Massachusetts could furnish. Williams sailed off to England with the intent to receive a charter bring the colonies together u...