Poor Richard: Printer's Ink
Though only twelve years of age, and having been sent to just one year of school, Ben became an apprentice to his older brother, who was a printer in Boston. There were two established newspapers to service the twelve thousand citizens of Boston, the official papers that were sent cheaply through the mail. James Franklin printed an alternate paper, with quite a bit more spice and flair than the dull standard papers. Ben worked hard and learned the printing presses well, enjoying the smell of the pungent ink, the crisp contrast of the ink against the paper, the satisfaction of seeing straight, clean rows of type. He saw that the world was moved and influence by words. Words changed things! And he wanted to learn to write with power.
Ben knew that before he could write well, he must read. So he borrowed books from friends, waking early and staying up late to read Plutarch's Lives and Pilgrim's Progress and try his hand at writing. Soon, an anonymous new column started showing up at James' printing house every two weeks, poking fun and making witty remarks about the doings of Boston.
Meanwhile, James printed enough questionable material to get in trouble with the authorities in Boston. They did not like his criticism and banter at their expense. James was locked up in the Boston jail and Ben was left to run the presses alone. He continued the shop and the anonymous column continued. After a month in jail, James returned to the shop, discovered that Ben was the author of the popular new column, and ended up having a quarrel with Ben, who probably thought he was hot stuff and deserved better treatment from his big brother.
Ben decided to sneak away and find his way elsewhere. He knew he couldn't find another apprenticeship in Boston, so he hopped on a boat to New York.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
This Country of Ours: Chapter 29 The Founding of Connecticut and War with the Indians
I'm back after a hiatus over the past month. My reading time dwindled to the point that I had to take a break in my Year 4 lessons. We were renovating our rental unit for new tenants and it needed lots of TLC! Thankfully, our new neighbors have moved in and all the extra projects are (nearly) completed. Back to work on Year 4!
This Country of Ours
by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Chapter 29: The Founding of Connecticut and War with the Indians
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was populated by quite a number of aristocratic-minded settlers. They were used to the many being ruled by the few and preferred that method of government in the new colony. However, there were others who came for freedom and demanded self-government. They saw that they needed to move farther afield from these aristocratic neighbors to achieve true freedom and began the process of finding a location for a new colony. Among those who desired to separate from the Massachusetts Bay Colony was Thomas Hooker, a prominent preacher, and John Harvard. The Connecticut River valley seemed fertile and a hospitable place to settle, so preparations were made. The Massachusetts Bay Colony did not want to lose a congregation, especially as churches and congregations were considered a lampstand to the world, and they did not want their candle to go out.
However, the dissenters were determined to go and could not be dissuaded. They sent their furniture ahead down river and loaded up, walking and driving their cattle and flocks ahead of them. Only Mrs. Hooker, who was unwell at the time, rode in a carriage. It was a difficult journey, as new paths had to be cut through the underbrush, streams had to be forded, and they had to find their food along the way. In the end, determination paid off when the group reached the Connecticut River and built the settlement of Hartford.
Other groups followed Hooker's example and made new settlements of their own. These various new settlements eventually met together to become the new colony of Connecticut. They made sure that there were no regulations that required a man to be part of a church congregation in order to be allowed to vote.
The Pequot Indians inhabited the Connecticut Valley and used to prey on small groups of unprotected settlers, stealing goods and murdering the settlers. When confronted by the colony leaders, at first the Indians pretended that they didn't know the victims were settlers of the Colony of Connecticut. The colonists would not let the wily Indians wiggle their way out of these serious charges and demanded that the murderers be handed over. The Pequots made promises they never fulfilled and so the colonists attacked when the Indians were not expecting it. The Pequot village was burned and those who tried to escape were killed without mercy, wiping out the entire tribe. This battle led to many years of peace between the colonists of Connecticut and the other Indians tribes, who were fearful of these powerful new settlers.
This Country of Ours
by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Chapter 29: The Founding of Connecticut and War with the Indians
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was populated by quite a number of aristocratic-minded settlers. They were used to the many being ruled by the few and preferred that method of government in the new colony. However, there were others who came for freedom and demanded self-government. They saw that they needed to move farther afield from these aristocratic neighbors to achieve true freedom and began the process of finding a location for a new colony. Among those who desired to separate from the Massachusetts Bay Colony was Thomas Hooker, a prominent preacher, and John Harvard. The Connecticut River valley seemed fertile and a hospitable place to settle, so preparations were made. The Massachusetts Bay Colony did not want to lose a congregation, especially as churches and congregations were considered a lampstand to the world, and they did not want their candle to go out.
However, the dissenters were determined to go and could not be dissuaded. They sent their furniture ahead down river and loaded up, walking and driving their cattle and flocks ahead of them. Only Mrs. Hooker, who was unwell at the time, rode in a carriage. It was a difficult journey, as new paths had to be cut through the underbrush, streams had to be forded, and they had to find their food along the way. In the end, determination paid off when the group reached the Connecticut River and built the settlement of Hartford.
Other groups followed Hooker's example and made new settlements of their own. These various new settlements eventually met together to become the new colony of Connecticut. They made sure that there were no regulations that required a man to be part of a church congregation in order to be allowed to vote.
The Pequot Indians inhabited the Connecticut Valley and used to prey on small groups of unprotected settlers, stealing goods and murdering the settlers. When confronted by the colony leaders, at first the Indians pretended that they didn't know the victims were settlers of the Colony of Connecticut. The colonists would not let the wily Indians wiggle their way out of these serious charges and demanded that the murderers be handed over. The Pequots made promises they never fulfilled and so the colonists attacked when the Indians were not expecting it. The Pequot village was burned and those who tried to escape were killed without mercy, wiping out the entire tribe. This battle led to many years of peace between the colonists of Connecticut and the other Indians tribes, who were fearful of these powerful new settlers.
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