Discovering America Podcast

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 Whi...

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 m...

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 causi...

Half of the original colonists made it through that first winter; they were still bound and determined to make a go of it. They had a valuable ally in the Indian interpreter, Tisquantum or called by Bradford, Squanto. He would introduce the colonists to their surrounding neighbors and relations were developing well. Massasoyt and many of his followers joined in with the colony's first thanksgiving...

After a couple more ventures to pick that final spot, construction started on the Pilgrims new home. Many of these first colonists had already passed away from the cold. It was mentioned that this was a "mild" winter, what if it had been a normal one? They were finally visited by an Indian who knew the English people and spoke their language well, enough to give them a history of why so many field...

While the Mayflower sat anchored, many ventured forward searching for the perfect location to start a colony. Time was of the essence, winter was all around them and they must start building shelter or else the health and safety of many could be in jeopardy. Coasting and exploring the land of Cape Cod Bay, the brave party of men finally laid their eyes upon the land which would proof to be most ad...

To celebrate my 100th episode, family and friends were directed to ask me questions about history. I tried to make the answers not so serious but, then history is a serious matter. Come listen to a question and answer episode and what makes the Discovering America podcast tick.

The so-called pilgrims had to find a country where their Puritan beliefs could be practiced without persecution. The King of England had his own beliefs and his own supremacy of which must be followed and obeyed. The group made their way to the Low Countries and lived for a few years successfully.  To start a new, in a new land, that would be the ultimate freedom. So starts the idea of sailing acr...

So I have here my own take on the life of Pocahontas, from the writings of John Smith, letters written and authors, Charles D. Warner and Williams Simms. No it is not like the movie so many have watched but, you say how could that be? I'm not going to go there. Enjoy.

After his accident, Smith returned to England, never to see Virginia again. During his down time and most likely recuperating form his injuries, he wrote and published in 1612, a descriptive book including a map about Virginia. Two years later he was ready to explorer more of the east coast of North America. He did a great job of mapping an area he would name New England, problem is nothing of gre...

John Smith had so much to contend with, settlers too lazy or it was beneath them to put out any labor to construct, plant, or do whatever else the colony needed instead, sold tools, arms and others items to the Indians for corn. This couldn't continue and neither could the mutinous men who may have been conspiring with Powhatan. And then to see what at first was thought to be enemy ships, only to...

John Smith had to teach these "gentleman" from England what is was like to work a hard day's labor. Work or starve that was the new motto and a necessary act if the colony was to feed itself. Presently, the provisions in the storehouse had not been properly stored. The English had no choice but to visit varies villages to force the Indians to make good on their promises to supply them with corn. I...

Back from one voyage, he set off within three days to finish mapping and visiting with any and all who he came in contact with on the Chesapeake Bay. Many of the Indian tribes were not on friendly terms with each other; he brought many diverse chiefs together and together worked out terms for peace. This did not always happen some just like to shoot arrows at the approaching ship. With all the fly...

John Smith was back at Jamestown but, like so many upstarts it needs to survive on its own. The colony still had to rely on the Indians for food. So far the relationship was congenial, to some extent. The Indians thought the world of English copper, and so what if a shovel came up missing. It's when the stealing was blatant that Smith put his foot down and the outward challenge against him and oth...

At first Smith was only a council member and arrived on American soil in chains, this would soon change and the charges were dropped but, he was not well liked by other council members. Smith would be captured by a powerful Chief named Powhatan. He was scheduled to be executed but, was saved by a young girl named Pocahontas, whereby gaining the respect from the chief and receiving needed supplies...

John Smith was a young boy when he began his life on the road. Although not a well taught school boy, what he experienced on the road you cannot learn from books. He grew into a strong and able fighter, some self-taught through reading and hard practicing. His survival, combat skills and others traits came from harrowing battles. This part describes his early years before the trip across the ocean...

Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Grrrrrreat New Year. Thanks for listening to the Discovering America Podcast.

The lower global attempt proved a failure in the search for the Northwest Passage. The fourth voyage carried them to the cold climate once again. Traveling west right about Iceland, some of the crew had words aimed at Hudson but, against his better judgment the little ship continued on. Ice and rocks were a problem eventually, making their way up and around the land mass and sailing as far south a...

The ship, the Half Moon, sailed as far up the Hudson River as Waterford, New York. William and four other men rowed off to explore farther up the river to make sure there was enough depth for the ship. Well their findings were that the Half Moon had reached the furthermost point possible. Henry Hudson and the crew were visited by many Indians along their travels. Some were cordial and some were no...

Men tried to find a shorter distance to the Orient by sailing north and then head east passing above Norway. The greatest obstacle was the ice barrier, a free open sea was not to be found and what about the cold climate? So the eastern direction was out of the question. Hudson headed west after the crew told him that was a good idea. Hudson's third voyage finds him near Virginia and adding to the...

Nicolet became very familiar with the northwest and not just the land, but its inhabitants. First living with the Algonquins for two years on Allumette Island and then spent 8 to 9 years with the Nipissing tribe located near Lake Nipissing. With so much experience with the Indian's language, Champlain sent him on an expedition to push father into unknown territory, something Champlain was not able...

The coasts were becoming quite the busy place and yet France still expected to have a monopoly of the trading business with the Indians at The Three Rivers, Montréal, and Tadoussac. And what about the many ports where the fisherman hung out? The territory was immense. The conflict with France and England didn't help matters. Here comes the English strength laying claim to New France by the command...

The company never fulfilled its part of the bargain to supply needed provisions and manpower to keep the fort and settlement strong. Relations with the fathers of the cloth seemed to be progressing. Yet, unrest among the Indian tribes had started up again, not to mention the killings that had occurred without bringing the guilty to justice and discovering why such actions had happened in the first...

Champlain was in charge but, he needed the King and his Lord Montmorency to be on his side, once and for all, to set precedence upon the old and new companies involved in the fur trade. New France also needed people who were willing to put their heart and mind into this venture, so far not so well. Champlain now has a new Indian friend, Miristou or Mahigan Aticq, which meant wolf and stag. And wit...

A major incident that could have upset the balance of New France was smoothed over with the sight and integrity of Champlain. Now if he could just get the cooperation of the traders and those in France, well he did have the support of the King and Duc de- Montmorency. His wife would now join him in Quebec. If only there was a Nordstrom here, my wife would be very happy.