Life in New England -Silas Hawkins

[silashawkinsworld]

Divorce???

I just saw the story with Barnabas and Tabitha Livingston. They want a divorce of all things! At first, I thought they were just being childish, but the rumor is Mary committed adultery! Her whipping should be soon, but the scarlet red letter on her chest will be worse! This just goes to show how morally weak some women are. Just like Eve in the Bible, and some wonder why women are not permitted to vote. On a happier note, we just founded Harvard College! I’m sending my son Elias there to become a minister. I can’t wait until he’s old enough to come with me to the Congregational Church and vote with his brothers and I! As you know, my family is hardcore Puritan so I disagree with the Half-Way Covenant which allows in those who aren't devoted completely into our congregations. Though I suppose we have to sacrifice some strict rules for greater participation.

[silashawkinsworld]

The Natives here are so odd. They have beaten trails through the woods for their hunting and fishing, and burn the forests to promote new growth so the deer can eat. For that I compliment them. However, they seem to waste the land God gave them! They have this weird concept that they are allowed to use the land but not own it.

 Thankfully we’re able to improve these beautiful lands. We are clearing the woodlands for roads, permanent settlements, and pastures. I was helping my brother, (not Jethro who is the fishermen Richard wants to take after. I can’t believe I forgot to call him by name in my earlier posts) bring in his animals. His name is Gideon and he has the most wonderful sheep and cattle. He got my girls some lovely woolen coats which they absolutely adore. Their appetites mean we are always having to clear out more land for them to graze on though.

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Wacky Witches

Oh dear God! My dear daughter Dorothy has been bewitched by those evil witches! We just hanged my daughter’s bewitcher. I still think she should have been pressed to death like that other one. She’s the 20th one we've found attempting to ravage our society. It’s all due to that gosh darn Yankee Commercialism. It only ended because that governor in 1639 had his wife accused. That stopped the trials but it’ll probably be twenty years before the legislature of Massachusetts annuls the convictions. Maybe they’ll even repay the heir for what happened to their ancestors. If it happens you heard it here first!

[silashawkinsworld]

Another day at the grind shipbuilding! Miles and Richard accompanied me today. Miles seems to want to build boats like his dear old dad. However, Richard seems more intrigued by fishing. I must admit I'm a bit sad he doesn’t want to take after his old man, but I'm still proud of him. He wants a good, honest profession just like his uncle. Elias is the one who seems like he’ll grow up to be a wonderful minister one day though! And I'm sure that Primrose and Dorothy will find good husbands with their charisma and hard-working attitudes. I can’t wait for grandchildren!

[silashawkinsworld]

Family Time!

Family migration time! We’re not the single men of the South. Up here people are in family groups, and have lots of babies! We marry early, usually in our early twenties, then babies every other year. My sister Priscilla just gave birth to her 7th child, I can’t wait for the next few! My 6th is on the way as well! We’re considering either the name Levi for a boy or Lydia for a girl. Please comment any recommendations for names! Speaking of family, I'm so happy I’m not in the Old World if I was I’d have to subtract ten years from my lifespan! As they say: “A sip of New England’s air is better than a whole draft of old England’s ale”. 70th birthday here I come! Not to mention with people living this long I guess you could say New England “invented” grandparents! Our long lives will let me meet my children’s children! I doubt many people down in the South get that lucky! Not to mention our family stability allowing our children to grow up in nurturing homes! This stability also means very few premarital pregnancies. Our social structure is tranquil and stable here up North!

[silashawkinsworld]

Southern Sullies

I can’t believe what has been going on in Chesapeake! My cousin Mister Marshall has been telling me all about it!  Malaria, dysentery, and typhoid are killing those people! I heard even Nathaniel Bacon died of dysentery! (I knew that rebellion wouldn’t amount to much…) I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that is like. Here in New England colonies, we are strong and healthy. I mean it’s no surprise, seeing as we have cool temperatures and dry air, unlike those icky swamps that are just infested with malaria. People who come up to New England start sickly and weak but soon enough thrive here! I agree with Reverend John White that “No country yields more prosperous air for our temper than New England,”!

[silashawkinsworld]

Hello There!

Why hello there! I’m Silas Hawkins and welcome to my brand new blog! I’m a ripe thirty years old, married to Felicity Rouse, now Felicity Hawkins. We have five beautiful children: Primrose, Dorothy, Miles, Richard, and Elias. Our family lives in the New England colonies and we are hardcore Puritans. I’m one of the top shipbuilders, and my brother is a top fisherman. Our family is on top of the trades here in the New England colonies. I hope you enjoy this beginning of an amazing blog!