Sunday, November 06, 2005

In the Olden Days

People had it rough back in Plymouth in the 1600's. I soon discovered this as we went to Plymouth, MA yesterday. We went to the Mayflower II, a replica of the original. It was pretty small. I dunno how over 100 people survived for 2-4 months on that boat. I would have gone mad, I think.

Then there was Plimouth Plantation. Man, that woudl have sucked. 1 or 2 room houses. dirt floors, 9 people crowded in one little space to sleep. Talk about having it rough. Oh yeah and then there's the food. wow, and hardly anyone could read or write. No school, no pastor. 1627 must have been royally BORING. I mean, how much in one day can you actually do with the little those poor souls had? Trust me, not that much.

It was a bit more interesting than I thought it would be. I would have liked not to have the restrictions of the youngest one's stroller (imagine me pushing about 30 lbs in gravel...yeah, not perfect conditions for that, I'll tell ya). Plus not to mention the fact that there was a LARGE field trip there with some people from another country, who were RUDE AS HELL. I spoke several times to the American People who were "chaperoning" (if you can call it that, they had no control over these people, honestly) about thier charges not cutting people off, or touching my things while in line at the food place. It was a bit crowded and these teenager pushing, shoving , cutting, did not bode well with my patience. My poor daughter Emily practically got railroaded by a bunch pf impatient people, and I just about tore those little Italian heads off when she was pushed to the floor.

otherwsie, it was a nice day. I just wish it wasn't so croweded there so I could have enjoyed it more. *sigh*

Let me tell you. I definitely was glad to get back in my car, drive home, watch television, check e-mail and sleep on my pillowtop matress bed with clean sheets and blankets!

I think next time we go, It'll be in a couple years. then Kaity can walk, and we won't be resticted by where I can push the stroller.

5 flame(s) added to the fire:

Dick the Boomer said...

Thanks for the "mini tour" of Plymouth. Yes, 1627 must have been boring. But on the other hand they probably spent a lot of time just surviving.

Too bad about the rude people and having to push a stroller. You're brave!

Anonymous said...

Actually they had schools back then, they educated in their homes. They did have pastors, usually 1 per town and those that did read, learned so by reading the Bible. :-) There was too much to be done to live life like we do today. Remember even to cook a meal they grew their own or hunted otherwise they didn't eat. No local grocery story to run to.

Sounds like an interesting field trip.

Cissa Fireheart said...

According to the "residents" of Plimoth Plantation in 1627, they did not yet have a school teacher, nor a pastor. The word around town was that the Chuch of England would be sending one for their people, but he had not arrived by fall of 1627, apparently.

For the nealy half of the population that could not read, usually the sexton would visit after supper time to various families to them read a passage or two. Captain Myles Standish performed wedding ceremonies and funerals. They would sometimes get reading lesons from eighbors and friends, but not very often.

In the late fall, after the harvest and before the first snow, they didn't have a lot to do after their food had been dried, or prepared for winter. Many of the women told me they could only make so much in preparation for the winter, because there was little storage, and the baker only fired up the oven once a week, and then they were only allowed so many loaves to bake due to time constraints.

I asked all the questions I could think of, believe me. these people flat out told me it was an unexciting simple life, and some of them would have had a bit more to do back in England.

it was interesting. yes they did have things to do certain days, but other days, they were bored out of ther gourds!

Anonymous said...

I was under the impression that kids were home schooled and read the Bible back then. And weren't some of them Quakers? I thought the Pilgrims left England for religous freedom. Interesting that they're saying different.

Heather, love reading the blog and am wondering where your "new" name comes from. How come you're not using your real name?

Cissa Fireheart said...

Some children were home schooled, but not past 10 or 11. And since so few could read, they couldn't teach thier kids either. It wasn't a priority at the time, was how I was told. Making the colony inhabitable was the main focus, Starting over in Plymouth was a chance to be away from England's reign since it took so long for people to get there. There were 25-30 families TOPS in Plymouth in 1627. Quite a few people died the first few winters. Even when more people came, some still died on the voyage over or soon after. There were some Anglicans, and other protestant faiths, I can't recall which names... Quakers didn't inhabit New England too much until the 1700's I think. And more north in Boston and Salem and the like. And Providence, of course.

My "name" here is a character in my Computer game that I play often. It gives me a better sense of annominity, per se, to strangers on the internet. And many of my "online friends" know me as Cissa anyway. It stuck I suppose.