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Solution #2 - Weather Problems from Newportia Colony
presented by Inquiry Unlimited
Dear citizens of Massachusetts Bay Colony,
We have indeed experienced a long difficult winter, with unusual amounts of
snow and rain and even stray tornadoes. Newportians have had major flooding
and mud slides causing a great deal of damage to crops and homes. However,
Newportians have pulled together to help one another. Here are some accounts
of the recent happenings:
I, Zergan Monzer, live in a place where floods and land falls occur. So as soon as the heavy rains came I got out of there. I took my dog and 5 pigs that I have for ribs and bacon, to a nearby Indian tribe. They took me in until I could get a new house built. I gave them 2 pigs because they helped me gather wood to build a new house and I, in return, helped them with their problems.
I'm Dan Hondam. Rose Laurent has taken me in because she lives on a hill away from the flooding and the water can't reach her. However, the river flooded my house. She has some crops on higher ground and is away from the area of mud slides. When the floods came I ran as fast as I could and almost got swept away, but Rose called out to me and saved me. I will say with her until I can repair my home.
My name is George Berkens, and my house got swept away by the flooding river. Irish Moriarty is letting me stay at his house for now. He and Long John are helping me to rebuild my house, but this time on stilts so it won't wash away again. My daughter and my wife helped fill sand bags, while I and others helped trapped people out of their houses. Several farmers lost their newly planted crops, so I gave them all the vegetable seeds I had. I helped Long John and Brontz Bach with their farm and gave them seeds too. To prevent this from happening again all the townspeople put sand bags around the banks of the rivers. Since my horse died in the flood and I don't have much money, Irish Moraity agreed to help me buy another horse so I can deliver the mail again.
I live close to the Delaware River and the flood waters came up to 1 1/2 feet, up to my knees. It made me, John Farmhand, and my family sad because I lost my crops and my 2 cows, 4 chickens, but my horse and dog survived. My wife has been helping make clothes for people who lost theirs in the flood. I have been helping with the sand bags around the houses. I almost lost my daughter in the flood. Now the floods are over and I am taking the sand bags down. I will need to replant my corps and help others too with their houses and crops.
Dan Hondam's house was washed away with the flood and Peter Germany's house was destroyed by a mud slide. Both have come to live with me, Rose Laurent, until they can rebuild their houses. I live on a hill so my house can't be flooded. My crops are also fine. The tornado missed me by a mile. We saved Dan Hondam from the flood.
I, Peter Kohl, helped Hans Fraas build a wall along the river. I helped Gabriel Francis put sand bags around her house. I helped Hans Fraas dig 7 foot holes to hide in if the tornadoes came our way. I helped the farmers replant their crops. A mudslide fell on my house and Pierre S. Cargo took me in until I can build another house.
Yo Ha Merlissa reported: When the tornado hit, it destroyed my house and threw it across the road. A fence clotheslined me, but I only got a big goose egg on my head as I was running from the tornado. I saw one of my cows flying around. Finally Bob Magee Jr. let me stay with him. He lost one goat in the tornado. His house was destroyed, but he had a storm cellar with plenty of food and water with plenty of light and blankets. Bob Magee, Jack Drake, Francis Drake, Zergen Monzer helped rebuild my house. Only one person died and that was our minister.
I'm Angela Patchry. My house blew away in a tornado and it killed my husband and my 5 year old boy died. So Estela Pere took me and my three children in until they build me a new house. I helped sand bag the other flooded places.
I'm Irish Moriarty. My house is right on the river bank and when the water came in, my sister was outside. She didn't know the water was coming. She was swept away and we are still looking for her. George Burkin's house was washed away by a flood, so I'm taking him in until we can rebuild his house. I fear my sister may have died in the terrible flood.
I, Hans Fraas, and Gabrielle Francis went to the meeting house to help make clothes and tend the injured. Peter Kohl and I also helped dig sand and put them in potato sacks and build walls to hold back the water. I volunteered to take people in who needed a place to stay. I will also help replant. I took Eunice and Elizabeth Smith in.
Banja Leon lives next to me. Jack Drake, Banja and I work together to catch fish. We have found a new stream which was not flooded where we can catch fish. Then we bring them down and sell them really cheap. That is how we are helping Newportia.
Hi, I am Marian Blue. It has been flooding so bad our here in Newportia. We had to have a town meeting. We had every one give all of their potato bags and filled them all up with sand. It worked. A little water is still coming through. My house is flooded. I am staying with Estela. We had to climb trees to get to the house. She and her husband will help me build my house.
My name is Gabrielle Francis. I had trouble with flooding. Luckily, Hans Fraas and Peter Kohl live next door. I had three feet of water and everything is ruined downstairs. My family has been visiting for a month, so they have helped me put as much as possible upstairs before the flooding. We have had to sleep upstairs too. Hans Fraas and Peter Kohl helped me put sand bags around my house. They also have gone to the meeting house to give out clothes and food to others in need.
When we heard news of the tornado we rushed to get our emergency chest. The neighbors allowed us to shelter our animals in the extra space of their cellar. We rushed back to find our black kitten with the green eyes, but she was nowhere to be found. We saw the tornado approaching so we ran to the cellar and bolted the door. Within a matter of seconds the tornado struck. HARD!!!!! Elizabeth screamed as the emergency chest tumbled over my leg and then silence. Nothing at all. She rushed over to me to save me. My leg was damaged badly, yet I, Eunice Smith, survived. I peaked outside to see our kitten......dead! ....Silence Again a screech from Elizabeth as I brought
down the dead kitten. Later a doctor inspected my leg. A week later Hans took us in until we are able to rebuild our house. Everyone has agreed to help us rebuild the house.
I'm Pierre S. Cargot. A short time ago a big flood hit Newportia. I survived, along with a little boy. He and his parents thanked me and rewarded me for saving him. My house and many others stayed together, so I took in Peter Kohl whose house was destroyed by an avalance or mud slide. The farmers were furious. Their fields were destroyed. Many people lost clothing and household goods. Some children has very bad experiences, but others enjoyed the excitement. I shall help everyone in need and try my very best. I feel so sad for all those people.
My name is Marie Birdneau and I live at the bottom of a hill and had a terrible mud slide while I was gone helping others with the flooding. My husband was killed and my son got a broken arm. I helped put sand bags around the meeting house and I will stay there and help injured people that come there until I can build a new house or find someone to take me in.
I, Peter Germany, was in my master's house when I was disturbed by a noise. I told my mom and dad. They didn't say anything. Then a big river of mud came down and killed my master and my parents right in front of me. I grabbed by dog and the money, ran to my horse, and rode off. I came to Rose Laurent and asked if I could stay until I made a new house on top of the hill. She agreed to take me in.
I'm Martin Smith Jay Jr. and my house was buried in a mud slide. Estela took me in. Estela, Angela, and Marian built a new house for us to live in.
I'm Estela Pere and my house was flooded by the Delaware River. My son and I were out, but my husband was trapped in the water. Finally, Marian Blue's house flooded too, so she came with us. We climbed up trees to escape the water. My husband followed us. He grabbed some food in the house just before he got out. When the water lowered we all worked together to build new houses. Martin and Angela Patchry lost their homes too so my brother and my dad helped them build their houses. Our house is finally rebuilt and all the water is gone. Now we will help with the fields and replanting crops.
My name is Long John Silver. I went to a friend's house to help him because his house was sliding. He did not know what to do. His crops were dying and I told him he could live with me for awhile. I took in Brantz Bach and Fritz Bach. I volunteered to help George Berkens rebuild his house. For helping, some farmers gave us food, but mostly we did it for free. Meanwhile, our ship flipped over, but luckily I was not in it at the time and nothing valuable was in it at the time. Brontz Bach made sand bags for people in need. Brontz's fiancee died and he is in total pain right now. Brontz and I help each other while he is living with me. Finally the weather is getting better.
I, Brontz Bach, had a house on a hill and it was very moist. Soon my son Fitz got very ill. Our house caved in and we had to move to live with our friend, Long John. Sadly George is there too. We are helping him to rebuild his house in return for food. Long John and I take turns helping Fritz and doing work, building shelters, and saving people. We also made sand bags, and were digging out the buried trails, testing land for the possibility of slides, hunting for others, and taking people in. When all this happened my fiancee died in a tornado.
So our friends at Massachusetts Bay Colony, finally the terrible weather has
ceased and we begin to rebuild our homes and our lives. We are thankful for
each other and the support Newportians have been to one another during these
trying times. May fortune be with you, our friends. We wait with anticipation good news from you.
With kind regards,
Colonists of Newportia
Inquiry: Religious intolerance
Dear Friends at Massachusetts Bay Colony,
We have heard that you have been treating people badly because they are not
Puritans and kicking them out of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Newportians are shocked and outraged as some you have dispelled are our relatives. We in Newportia do not believe that is just and right to discriminate because of one's religion. Here in Pennsylvania, William Penn believed that all religions should be tolerated and welcomed. Would you want to be treated so harshly and forced to flee from your homes?
Those rejected by M.B.C. are invited to come to Newportia. We will welcome them. We have many resources here such as great navigable rivers, cows, forested land, fish to eat, and corn, barley, wheat, rye, oats, and sell and trade. We also have the most kind people. There is plenty of room here and will will make them feel wanted.
Our Most Kind Wishes,
Representatives of Newportia Colony,
Elizabeth Smith
Eunice Smith
Brontz Bach
Reply: Religious intolerance
Dear Friends at Newportia Colony -
In this year of 1769, we respond to the concerns of Newportian representatives Elizabeth Smith, Eunice Smith, and Brontz Bach giving Newportians a little background about our colony
that has been passed down by family members.
When a charter was issued on March 4, 1629, it was granted to the Massachusetts Bay Company which was a business venture of Puritans from England led by John Winthrop. That charter of their Company was unique in that it actually left England with Winthrop's Fleet and was brought with them to America. These Puritans, some of our ancestors, hoped to create "a city upon a hill." These English settlers used religion and government as one.
In 1684, the Boston town meeting unanimously advised against the surrender of Massachusetts' Charter. On October 18, 1684, the Charter was finally abrograted in London.
In 1685, the exclusivity of the English ended as French Huguenot families arrived in Boston. (Paul Rivoire's [Revere's] family) The emigration of many Bostonians' ancestors began at this time.
In 1686, Governor Andros arrived to organize a Dominion of New England. He angered many Bostonians when he converted the Old South Meeting House into an Anglican Church.
When Sir Edmund Andros visited Connecticut in 1687 to claim their Charter and force the Dominion, the Charter ended up missing! (Read: "The Secret of Sachem's Tree" by F.N. Monjo)
In 1692, a new charter was issued which tolerated all religions but Catholics.
In 1694, a Quaker Meeting House was built.
In 1750, many Irish immigrants settled in Boston.
You can see that even now, in 1769, Boston has changed from the original intent of John Winthrop and the Massachusetts Bay Company.
It is true that through the years, Quakers and Puritans outspoken in their differing religious interpretations have suffered at the hands of strict religious interpreters in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. You may remember the situations of Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams. You may recall Mary Dyer.
As we write to you in 1769, our colony is composed of more than English people. Indeed, we would not want to be treated harshly because of our religion. We would not want to be forced from our homes. We do not want to lose our livelihoods.
We are aware, through our Committee of Correspondence, that we, as you, are facing the challenges brought about by the end of the Seven Years War and the Treaty of Paris. Here in Boston many small incidents within the past few years are making Bostonians realize that things are not as they should be. There is a feeling of being victimized. It seems to many that our voices are not being heard when we speak.
We understand in Newportia Colony this is also the case. We understand that in Newportia also the Sugar Act has not been a sweet one to swallow and that the Stamp Act does not stick well with you.
Newportian friends, we must stand together!
Your Friends in Boston
Challenge # 2 - Triangular trade
Dear Massachusetts Bay Colony -
Greetings from Newportia. You have been in our thoughts and prayers as of recent. News has reached us of the fate of Sir Edmund Andros. We sympathize with your situation and question the King's intent in sending Andros to govern your colony. Is it true that a mob went after Andros? What strange tales we have heard of how he dressed up as a woman to escape, but forgot to change his boots, was captured and shipped off back to England.
Once again we have heard about mob actions in Massachusetts Bay Colony. With England prohibiting colonists from manufacturing goods that compete with English goods, the so called Triangular Trade Routes have become vitally important to New England, providing a great deal of wealth through the exchange of goods such as sugar, molasses, rum, gold in return for slaves. However, there is a segment of your colony who find the slave trade cruel and brutal, totally against the beliefs of God fearing Christians. Yet, those people who are making money out of slavery do not want to see it come to an end and in fact with the colonies still struggling to recover from the expenses of the French Indian War, some New Englanders, while not believing in slavery, are fearful that their colony would suffer greatly if not for the profits of the triangular trade routes. Rumors have reached us of possible mob action to end the slave trade, possible boycotts of goods transported on the ships participating in the slave trade, and even talk of burning the repulsive ships now docked in Boston Harbor, as a warning to others to end the slave trade.
We are anxious to hear the how Massachusetts Bay Colonists are dealing with this current problem, what actions have been taken, and how ending the slave trade would effect their lives and fortunes.
We pray that times will become increasingly peaceful and prosperous for our friends in Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Peace be with you,
Your Friends in Newportia Colony
Solution # 3 - Triangular trade
Friends and relatives in Newportia,
We have given much thought to your concerns about the involvement of all colonists directly or indirectly in the slave trade or triangular trade. As each of you purchase materials and goods for your businesses and homes, you also must weigh your views on how those materials and goods were obtained.
Has not each ship and her master involved in the intercoastal trade, stopping at Boston, then New York, then Pennsylvania and Virginia? Has not that ship been indirectly involved in the support of slavery as they trade a local good for a good from afar that once was perhaps traded for slaves or was once produced by a slave?
Are not the ships selling Massachusetts codfish to the plantation owners of Jamaica, Barbados, and Hispaniola as food for slaves working the sugar cane plantations as much involved in the slave trade as the people doing the selling of those slaves?
Do not the cordwainers of Pennsylvania indirectly benefit from slavery as they find buyers for their shoes on the plantations of South Carolina and Virginia?
Does not the farmer of Newportia indirectly become involved as he trades his farm products for supplies that include that new tool, or sugar for his wife to cook with, or rum for his pleasure?
Does not each Bostonian and Newportian as he purchases that sugar, or tobacco, or rum, in his own way participate willingly but indirectly in the support of the slave trade?
Yes, we in Boston have our citizens who, in their own way, attempt to boycott merchants and vendors who are directly related to the sale of human flesh. Yet it is difficult for us to be totally unrelated to the slave trade as we depend on materials and supplies for our daily livelihoods.
Debbie Redwich attempts to boycott the ships that go to Africa. When she has a chance, she buys stuff from local people - - like buying fish from Sarah Redwood. Debbie buys her blankets from Bernadete.
When oneŐs husband works on a ship and brings the molasses to the place where it is to be turned to rum, it is difficult to talk out about how that molasses came to Boston. When he gives his wife the molasses and she delivers them to be boiled, that is her livelihood.
Toni Ausborn admits that he is indirectly involved in the slave trade because he buys rum from the store and he likes his rum.
Bernadete Howsly is against people selling human bodies. As a freed slave, she has much to say about the subject.
Keith Martin will not tolerate selling human bodies. Any ships he is involved in will go to the islands of Jamaica and Hispaniola but not to Africa. He will not deal in the actual buying and selling of slaves.
Dr. Seymour Hanks realizes that he is indirectly involved in the slave trade because he is the one who examines the slaves as they come off the ships in Boston. If he didnŐt examine them or check them to see if they were fit, they would probably die. Dr. Hanks believes he is important to these people.
Tiffany Jones is indirectly involved because her husband buys rum products. They also use sugar cane. She makes sure that she buys from people who were not directly involved in selling people.
Carnell Johnson was indirectly involved because her work is an engraver. She gets materials from a person who gets the tools from another person who was directly involved in the slave trade. He was involved in it by selling fish and buying sugar cane which he sold in Boston to get the tools.
Antonia Richard was involved because she goes to the store and buys molasses for her husband. She did not realize she was indirectly involved in the slave trade, but knows she has no choice but to buy the molasses because it was sweetener for her food.
Justice May is totally against slavery. She boycotts against everything. When she sends ships down to buy products, she refuses to send them to Africa to buy slaves. When sellers along the coast and on the islands want to business with her, she has no choice but to send her ships to buy products that are indirectly related to the slave trade.
Rebecca Golds is indirectly involved in the slave trade because she buys tobacco and molasses. Sometimes in Boston, owners of servants call her deliver a baby.
Samuel Knok, gunsmith, is indirectly involved. He buys some products and materials. He needs them to make his guns. He knows people who are freed slaves. He doesnŐt like the slave trade. But, how else can he make his guns? He is even fearful that some of the guns he makes might be traded for slaves in Africa!
Elizabeth Withly is indirectly involved because she buys some products. She needs to use the products. People who buy her hats are involved in the slave trade. She feels that she doesnŐt have any choice but to buy their products.
Sharon Brown realizes that she is indirectly involved because she buys rum and other products. She sells cakes and other foods to people who own servants in Boston. Sometimes slave owners send their slaves to buy bread from her baker shop.
Joseph Pickney, goldsmith, is indirectly involved because a sailor supplies him with the gold that he later sells. That sailor buys slaves and trades them for gold.
Sarah Waikfield is going to boycott all people that come directly to her to sell her things. She intends to buy as much as possible from her friends. She buys clothes and blankets from Bernadete Howsly who is a weaver. She buys her fish from Sarah Redwich who catches it herself. She gets her milk from her friend Kathy who has a cow.
Christopher Jacobs buys rum. He was once a slave but ran off with the Indians.
Amos Webster, merchant, is involved in the intercoastal trade and island trade. He refuses to let his ships be involved in the Gold Coast trade. He is proud that he has never been directly involved in the African trade. It is rumored, however, that slaves from the intercoastal and island trade have been transported on his ships with or without his knowledge.
So you see, Newportians, it is quite difficult not to be involved in the slave trade in some way as a consumer.
Your friends in Boston
Colonial correspondence: Talk of resistance
Dear Friends at Massachusetts Bay Colony,
We have just received your letter describing the hardships you have faced. We in Newportia have also faced many of the same trials, however, it appears that the closing of Boston Harbor has indeed created great challenges for you to overcome. We, fellow colonists do offer our assistance and at this instant are preparing to send the people of Boston, food, clothing, fuel, and money.
Newportians are outraged with the recent laws imposed on the colonists. We rebelled against the Navigation Act of 1677, but many who resisted were arrested and imprisoned. We even tried to break free of England to no avail.
The law the King imposed prohibiting settling west of the Appalachian Mountains caused much anger with fellow Pennsylvanians hoping to venture further west in search of new land.
Like you, the Molasses/Sugar Act was indeed hard to swallow. How dare the Parliament tax goods coming from the West Indies, not even under British rule! The Quartering Act caused outrage among our citizens, many are struggling and still recovering from the terrible winter flooding and do not have the means to support the soldiers in their homes. Many of our Newportians may be considered treasonous in their opinions. Right now as we write, a group of dissenters are drafting a letter of objection to the King asking him to repeal these laws.
We have come to call the recent laws ( closing Boston Harbor, forbidding town meetings, doing away with our elected assembly, and the Quartering Act) the Intolerable Acts of 1774. We in Newportia can no longer tolerate the tyranny of the King and Parliament.
We have formed a committee, soon to meet in Philadelphia and invite Massachusetts Bay Colony to send representatives. We are encouraging all colonies to unite together at this meeting, sending delegates to discuss how we can resist or act against the British tyranny. We hope to establish a statement of rights that we, as colonists, expect and petition Parliament to grant us our given rights. There is even talk of boycotting British goods and producing our own goods or doing without. While this may be a hardship, we feel it may be the only way to force the King and Parliament to listen to our concerns. However, we must be discrete as there are some within our colony who hold allegiance to the King and we dare not let word of our meetings reach the King, lest he send troops to put a stop to it.
Let us know if you plan to attend the meeting in September 1775. It has been said by many here that "we consider our brethren, at Boston, as suffering in the common cause of America." We intend to create a list of rights, so if you have some you would like us to add, please let us know immediately.
We have begun to form local militias should there be a need. What actions have you taken to date? We eagerly await news from Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Newportia Committee of Correspondence
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