Departure From Virginia

May 5, 1730
           Today, I returned back from my trip to Virginia. I arrived back at my Massachusetts home around dinnertime. Last night was very fun, but sad at the same time. Seth's family had a big send-away dinner party. I really had a fun time here, and I hope to come back next year. They gave me some tobacco to bring back for my folks, which I was grateful for. I left in the morning, and was traveling home for most of the day. It's been great everyone, check back hopefully next year for some more travel posts!

Fifth Day in VA

May 4, 1730

A Tobacco Field

           Today, I tried tobacco for the first time. It was not very good, but I suspect it takes some time to get used to. Apparently it's the leading export by a huge margin in Virginia. I do not really see the big deal about it, but that's coming from someone who had never heard of it until now. Seth told me that Virginia used to be perfect for cultivating tobacco, but all the farmers grew so much of it that they have pretty much exhausted all the fertile land, and are constantly trying to find fresh, new land. Also, there is a big focus on plantations here. There are so many black slaves working on them, along with indentured servants. They grow all types of crops. Back in New England, it is very different. On some small farms, the surest crop is stones, not tobacco, because the soil is heavily frozen and made up of countless stones. Utilizing the dense forests located there, some New Englanders resorted to hacking timber and becoming experts in ship building and commerce. Also, fishing is a major industry there, with the staple crop being cod. As a result of the tough-to-farm soil, the residents of New England have become master traders to acquire the materials not readily available to them. I have learned so many things on my trip!

VA - Fourth Day

May 3, 1730

Social Pyramid of Colonies

           After an eventful day yesterday, today was more of a relaxing day. I learned that the social structure over here is not that much different over here than back home. The main difference is the group at the top. In New England, the group at the top mainly consisted of rich merchant princes, who made their profits as military suppliers. At the top in Virginia are the rich landowners and plantation owners. As I mentioned earlier, New England has small farms rather than large plantations. But starting from the next step down on the social pyramid, Virginia's matches New England's. Next down are small farmers. They make up the majority of the population. After them come the indentured servants. They volunteer to work for a period usually between 5-7 years for plantation owners in exchange for passage to America and the promise of land and a fresh start after the period of work. Even farther down than them are the prisoners and criminals of England. England is rumored to have sent over 50,000 prisoners to America, some murderers and rapists, and others unfortunate victims of a very unfair English penal code. Last on the social pyramid are the black slaves. They have virtually no rights, and they make up most of the workers on the big plantations.

Third Day in VA

May 2, 1730

Map of Virginia

           Today was a great day. I went along with Seth as he went to school, and I actually saw some similarities between his school and mine. My school stresses the importance of individuals reading the bible, and having the goal in mind of making good Christians rather than good citizens. His school focused on teaching religion too, but it was more loosely enforced. For example, back home, if a student misbehaved, a teacher might cut them with a branch of a tree. In Seth's school though, a lot of kids got away with talking and sometimes straying off topic. It was a nice change from the stringent laws of my school. A huge thing I noticed in his school was the different types of people. In Massachusetts, there is not that much ethnic diversity. There aren't any black slaves there because there are small farms, not big plantations. Here in Virginia, I'm noticing a lot more black inhabitants. Also, Seth said that there are some French folk along the western border of Virginia, some Scots-Irish in the northwest and southwest corners, and some Germans and Swiss around the Potomac River. Its so exciting seeing all these new ethnic groups! I'm have so much to tell everyone back home!

VA - Second Day

May 1, 1730

First Congregational Church in Waltham, MA

           Yesterday was all talking and settling in, so this morning I told Seth I wanted him to show me around the town. He sure did! Today was a Sunday, so I asked him if his family usually went to church. My family goes to church every Sunday back home, as there is this new, inspiring pastor in Massachusetts named Jonathan Edwards, and he's causing quite the religious revival. Seth said that he had never heard of Edwards, so I presumed that his preachings and sermons had yet to reach Virginia. I am pretty sure though that they will soon, and when Virginia gets wind of the preachings, religion will once again be a very important factor in daily life. Nonetheless, Seth said even though he doesn't regularly go, we could go to church today so I could see what it was like. One of the main differences was that this was the Anglican Church. Back home, my family was a member of the Congregational Church. Regardless, it was still fun to see the differences between the churches, and I had a wonderful day. Tomorrow Seth said he can bring me along for a day of his school. Looking forward to it!

First Day in VA

My Aunt Mercy comforting a baby

April 30, 1730
            Yesterday was the day I arrived, so I didn't get a chance to do much. So today was my first real experience in Virginia.I got settled in, talked to my aunt Mercy for a while, and found out as much as I could about this place. I had so many questions! One thing I learned from her was that woman have a lot more power and security over here. Back home, women usually gave up their property rights when they married. However, the men in New England have a way longer lifespan than the men over here. So that means that women in the South become widows more often and quicker than women in New England. That led to married women over here being allowed to to keep separate titles to their property and gave widows the right to inherit their husband's estates. I'm really enjoying my stay so far, I'm learning so many new things!