America's Oldest Unsolved Mystery: Solved?

"The Lost Colony," Sheppard & Linton

 A few months ago I wrote about America's earliest colonial history (including a post about French Huguenot efforts and the conflict with Spain), and I referenced Janet Grunst's post on the Lost Colony. For much of this year I've been awash in research on this particular slice of history, in preparation for my upcoming novel, Elinor, first of a new series titled Daughters of the Lost Colony. What an amazing journey it's been so far!

Shortly after my visit to the Outer Banks, I discovered Scott Dawson, an author native to Hatteras Island, where many believe the Lost Colony settlers removed to after leaving Roanoke Island. Frustrated with Lost Colony myth, much at odds with local history, Dawson embarked upon a quest to prove what so many already suspected: that after John White, governor of the first official English colony on American shores, unhappily returned to England to plead their case to Raleigh and the court of Queen Elizabeth I, the settlers took shelter with their own known allies of the time, the Croatoan tribe. These were the family and people of Manteo, the Native American who accompanied the previous two expeditions between England and the New World, and who later accepted baptism into the Christian faith and the title of "Lord of Roanoke." (See more at the Wiki article on the Roanoke Colony.)

Eventually aided by an archaeological team out of England's University of Bristol, Dawson chose a site and started digging. (He stated in a recent online talk I attended that his grandmother told him where to dig.) In his recent book, The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island, he describes the years-long process, and the layers of artifacts encountered, as well as artifacts and clues from other sources. The main thing he wanted to prove, he says both in the article "The Lost Colony Wasn't Really Lost" from the Outer Banks Voice and the recent talk, is that when John White returned in 1590 and saw the word "CROATOAN" carved head-high on a tree, there was no big mystery on where the colony had gone, at least not in the immediate sense. White had given them very clear instructions on how to leave word, and he knew this referred to both the people and the place of their residence--what is now known as Hatteras Island. There was no trace of any mark that would have indicated distress or trouble. The colonists had known before White's reluctant departure for England that Roanoke Island would not support them, and their best chance for survival lay with the only people who might be sympathetic to them, people who knew well how to fish, hunt, and make a good living from the Outer Banks.

If this seems disappointing and anticlimactic, well, it really isn't. There is still plenty of scope for adventure and mystery. Many historians, Dawson included, discuss the likelihood of division among the settlers, and the possibility of some moving to the mainland. Until very recently (the Dare Stones notwithstanding--more about those later!), there was no solid evidence as to where they might have gone. Just a couple of weeks ago, however, I found the article "Lost Colony Moved Inland," from Coastal Review Online. I am eager to see more on this effort!

In the meantime, take a gander at Scott Dawson's group, the Croatoan Archaeological Society. Fascinating stuff for us early American history geeks!

In the Name of Religious Freedom

French Florida

Or, America's Earliest Colonial History, Part 2.

Right after my last post, a friend messaged me:

I saw your Colonial Quill post. You know how every time one thinks one has history down and then another obscure fact crops up that changes everything? Yeah, that. The first interest in colonizing America wasn't fueled by Queen Elizabeth, who was hoping to stop Spanish expansion. Before that, Jean Ribault landed on the shores of Florida hoping to set up a colony. For Huguenots, I believe.

https://jeanribault.org/

Take a peek at this beautiful website. You're welcome. Makes me long to write a story about this man and the people he sought to defend--although now, alas, I am under contract for a story featuring another, but maybe not so different, group.

That group would be the famed Lost Colonists of Roanoke Island.

These days, even the word "colonial" has a bad name. I've written about this before.

Emperor Gojong of Joseon (Korea)

Truth is, every empire down through history has sought to grow their holdings and increase their wealth by annexing other lands and peoples. I was recently reminded of this while watching, of all things, a Korean drama with my youngest girl, set during the early 1900's, a particularly turbulent time of Korean history. Joseon (Korea) was just beginning to open up to Western ways, just beginning to not immediately put Christians to death, and struggling to find her place between China, Russia, America, and Japan. The latter, that tiny but ridiculously ambitious island nation, made no secret of its desire to make Korea a colony of Japan. Ruthlessness and political maneuvering were the standard of the day, and corruption abounded.

Good Queen Bess at her coronation

Not so very different from the time of Queen Elizabeth. "Good Queen Bess" furthered her father's move in breaking away from the Church of Rome by establishing the Church of England. Bloodshed between Catholics and Protestants abounded, and religious views were the standard by which political views were judged. Ireland suffered a harsh and bloody takeover by England, for reasons which I will not get into here, but doubtless that set the precedent for what later happened on American shores. When Elizabeth granted Sir Walter Raleigh his charter for a colony in the New World, however, she was very clear that it was at least in part for the purpose of furthering the Gospel to unreached peoples, but plenty of folk in England were unhappy enough with the way things were going in the newborn Anglican Church that they wished to either purify the Church (thus, Puritans) or create their own group entirely (Separatists).

Most feared, however, were the Spanish. Spain already had holdings across South America, and their treasure galleons were the most coveted prize of English privateers. Staunchly Catholic to the point of meting out torture and death to those who disagreed (the Spanish Inquisition, anyone?), they were equally ruthless on the sea. The English were by far not the only ones to suffer at Spanish hands. As outlined in the website I shared above, French Huguenots sought refuge on what is now the Florida and South Carolina coast, but were seen as a threat to Spain's supremacy in the New World and met with death once their Protestant leanings were made known.

Marker at Fort Matanzas National Park

Lee Miller theorizes in her book Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony that the group which set sail in 1587 under Governor John White, seeking to establish the first permanent English settlement in the New World, were Separatists. If so, the fate of French Huguenots would have been fairly fresh, and avoiding the Spanish at all costs would have been uppermost on their minds. Brandon Fullam makes the case in The Lost Colony of Roanoke: New Perspectives that this would have been a good reason why they settled on Roanoke Island rather than going north to the Chesapeake as originally planned. Maybe it's just my own firm Christian faith, but I find the Separatist theory quite compelling. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that a people group migrated in search of religious freedom, would it?

Epidemics in Colonial America

We're all caught up in some way by the current coronavirus situation. It got me thinking about how these things were handled - or not handled - by our Colonial ancestors. Here's what I found:

There were many diseases that did great damage to the population throughout history including smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, yellow fever, measles, whooping cough, mumps, malaria, dysentery, typhoid fever, typhus, tuberculosis, and venereal diseases.

One of the most deadly that plagued the Colonies, especially those with a large immigrant influx from the Caribbean area, was yellow fever. In 1793, at least 5,000 people died in the city of Philadelphia alone, while another 17,000 fled the city. Medicine was exceedingly primitive with mostly bloodletting and purging. However, the College of Physicians adopted a series of eleven preventive measures for the city of Philadelphia on August 26, 1793:

1) Avoid every infected person, as much as possible. 

2) Avoid fatigue in body and mind. Don’t stand or sit in a draft, or in the sun, or in the evening air. 

3) Dress according to the weather. Avoid intemperance. Drink sparingly of wine, beer, or cider. 

4) When visiting the sick, use vinegar or camphor on your handkerchief, carry it in smelling bottles, use it frequently. 

5) Somehow mark every house with sickness in it, on the door or window.
Place your patients in the center of your biggest, airiest room, in beds without curtains. 

6) Change their clothes and bed linen often. Remove all offensive matter as quickly as possible. 

7) Stop the tolling of the bells at once. 

8) Bury the dead in closed carriages, as privately as possible. 

9) Clean the streets, and keep them clean. 

10) Stop building fires in your houses, or on the streets. They have no useful effect. But burn gunpowder. It clears the air. And use vinegar and camphor generally. 

11) Most important of all, let a large and airy hospital be provided near the city, to receive poor people stricken with the disease who cannot otherwise be cared for.

Some of these helped. Some are very close to what we're being asked to do today, especially avoiding those who are ill and keeping things clean and aired out. Good advice. Stay safe, everyone.

Pegg Thomaspeggthomas.com - Writing History with a Touch of Humor

Happy Colonial New Year! Wait... What?

It might be a good excuse to rejuvenate my New Year's resolutions and evaluate how I'm doing with my "Word for the Year", but why not take advantage of a little history to do just that?

Did you know that, back in the day when the Colonies were young, it wasn't until 1752

that everyone got on board with the Gregorian Calendar and January First began each new year? For centuries, the New Year belonged to March 25th due to the fact that everyone followed the Julian calendar, which emphasized March 25th as the date of Jesus' conception. However, not only is that questionable (since theologians suggest Jesus was likely born in October), but the whole equinox thing was kind of a mess. In fact, to straighten things out, they had to lose eleven days in September—POOF!—just to get the calendar properly aligned.

Here's the thing, most of the world switched over to our "modern" Gregorian calendar in the 1500s, but it was another two centuries before the British joined the New Year party, because--you know England--they've always been sort of starchy about their traditions. Yet they eventually had to face it. The messed-up calendars affected trade and banking and even George Washington's birthday. (More on that in a sec.) 

So in 1752 Parliament passed the Calendar Act of 1750, and January 1st became the official New Year beginning in 1752.

What I find funny isn't that they changed the date so much as what the new year meant. It wasn't a time to celebrate Baby New Year coming in with a smooch under the mistletoe or tossing confetti. It was a time to collect the rents, pay the tax man, and handle annual paychecks. (Well, yeah for that last one anyway.) 

They did have a few fun traditions—some mumming and wassailing and visiting friends. Oh—and about George Washington... He changed his birthday from February 11th under the old Julian calendar to February 22 under the new one. I'm not sure what the people did who were born during that eleven-day elimination period in September. Maybe the summer loving ones grabbed a date closer to August and the harvest lovers aimed for October. I know which way I'd have gone.

again.

Naomi Musch 

https://naomimusch.com/

Before you go, mark your Gregorian calendars for Monday-Friday, Feb. 10-14 to get The Deepest Sigh (Echoes of the Heart, Book One) for FREE! Books Two and Three will also be on sale, but for FIVE DAYS ONLY!  

On Sale February 10-14, 2020

Long Live Colonial Books!

When I first started writing - seriously writing for publication - I started in the Colonial era. One of the first things I was told was "You can't sell a Colonial story, those books are dead on the shelf."

It wasn't just one person who told me that, and my Colonial trilogy has never found a publishing home.

BUT! Then I was introduced to the Barbour historical romance collections. The first one I sold was not Colonial, but the second two were. And just last month:

My first Colonial-era novella, In Sheep's Clothing, won the Romance Writers of America - Faith, Hope, & Love Chapter - Reader's Choice Award.

Reader's choice. That means it was judged and chosen by ... readers. Readers who enjoyed a Colonial story.

To add to my unofficial and unscientific refute of the "Colonial is Dead" advice I'd received, both In Sheep's Clothing and my second Colonial-era story, Her Redcoat, are finalists in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Awards, the winners to be announced at the ACFW conference the last weekend in September. 

The moral of this post? Don't let what "they say" turn you away from writing - or reading! - the stories you love. You'll never please every reader. Nobody can. But if you write a compelling story, there are readers out there who will enjoy it. And may even give it an award.

Pegg Thomas writes History with a Touch of Humor

Writing Colonial Era Stories

Even as a teenager, I used to tell people that I was born 100 years too late. Now I realize that it was more like 200 years. I love old things and old ways. What draws me to the Colonial Era is the stark simplicity of life then. The black and white of what it took to succeed ... to survive.

My current work in progress is set at the end of the Civil War. In all my research, it amazes me how vastly different the country was less than 90 years after the Revolution. Advancements in manufacturing, medicine, travel ... it would have been unrecognizable to our Founding Fathers. What would they have thought of the railway system?! The world was faster paced and much more complex.

Colonial Americans had to work hard to succeed and survive. Aside from the larger cities - with their open sewers and other amenities - most people scratched out a living from the land around them. If not farmers, they were trappers, hunters, fishermen, mill operators, or sailors moving men and materials through a vast network of rivers and streams because roads were few and poorly constructed. If they worked hard and stayed healthy, they prospered. While divided by religion, Puritans, Quakers, Presbyterian, and Episcopalians, for the most part, they worked side by side to grow this nation.

By the Civil War, that was no longer true. People were divided by more than religion. There were immigrant classes denoted by signs such as "No Irish Need Apply." Cities were filled with slums of this immigrant community or that. The sewers were underground, but the conditions were still poor. In contrast, the rich sections of the cities grew opulent, lighted by gas street lamps. The countryside was settled, the farms established. The poor worked in factories for pitiful wages under dangerous conditions. No matter how hard they worked, their chances of succeeding were slim.

When writing in the Colonial setting, it's easier for me to slip into that mindset of what would my character need to do to survive? He or she needed shelter, food, and clothing and more likely than not had to provide the raw material for much of it. It was hard work, but it wasn't complicated. 

I guess as I sit here and type on a computer ... part of me wishes for a life that was less complicated. Go figure.

PeggThomas.com

In Sheep's Clothing - a Book Review by Tina Rice

In Sheep’s Clothing by Pegg Thomas

(part of A Bouquet of Brides Collection)

1702, Milford, Connecticut...

Yarrow Fenn (I find the name “Yarrow” very interesting) is a weaver of wool and makes unique cloth with her own designs. As she waits in line at the fulling mill she hears rumors of a new journeyman fuller … a young handsome journeyman. Well, she is not there for a handsome young man, she wants her wool-cloth to be prepared as quickly as possible so she can sew garments for her family. 

Yarrow has a secret that she holds close that could very well put her in danger … as well as being "illegal.” Illegal, really?  The “illegal” part was a surprise to me, I had not heard of that until I read this novella. Besides, she ponders, what if this Peter guy is not really who he says he is but someone in disguise? She must be on her guard, especially with her heart. Can Yarrow learn to trust God in guiding her in all areas of her life or will she continue to second guess even His plans for her?

The new journeyman, Peter Maltby, has a goal ... becoming a Master Fuller as quickly as possible while he is in Milford. Then he has other plans that do not include Milford, but rather a “settling of scores”... of a sort, from his painful past. He soon finds that among the wool-cloth coming into the fulling mill, he is most impressed with the quality of wool-cloth Yarrow brings in. However, he did not plan on being impressed with Yarrow herself.  No, getting involved with any young lady would only complicate things ... yet, there is something special about Yarrow that drawls Peter to her. Will he continue down a path allowing his bitterness of past hurts to overshadow anything good that may come from knowing Yarrow? Or will he be forever blinded by his past to see God’s blessings and love?

This is my favorite story in this collection. I learned a lot of interesting information regarding caring for sheep, shearing them, carding the wool, spinning the yarn, weaving and making your own cloth, and then having to make your own clothes with that cloth. I enjoyed the descriptions of the colonial woolen fulling mill and what was involved in fulling wool. What really took me by surprise was learning of the laws limiting trade of that wool/cloth. I did not know that. I like the author's notes at the end of this story regarding some of the historical elements of the era Pegg Thomas wrote about.

This is one reason I love reading Christian historical fiction, not only are the stories fiction and entertaining but there are bits of our history woven within that fiction ... an enjoyable “history lesson”.  :-) I really enjoyed Yarrow and Peter’s story. It is a fun story filled with humor, love, hardships, learning to trust and faith, and a tense few moments with that bear - not telling any more! - a heartwarming story.

Pegg Thomas lives on a hobby farm in Northern Michigan with Michael, her husband of *mumble* years. A life-long history geek, she writes “History with a Touch of Humor.” When not working or writing, Pegg can be found in her barn, her garden, her kitchen, or sitting at her spinning wheel creating yarn to turn into her signature wool shawls.

Follow me on Facebook or visit my webpage at PeggThomas.com.

John Adams - the HBO series

We're all about books here at Colonial Quills, and nobody more than me. I'm not a TV person. I can't identify more than six or seven living actors. I haven't been to a movie theater in ... well ... let's just say it's been a while. 

My son is a history teacher and he often uses snippets of movies to help illustrate his lessons. On a total impulse, I picked up a DVD set of John Adams. I knew absolutely nothing about it, but my son's birthday was coming up and I thought he might like it. He LOVED it and he told me I needed to watch it.

He brought it home when he came for Christmas and I binge-watched the entire series in one day. One day! Me. Who doesn't watch TV. 

Why am I sharing this? Because if you love all things colonial, you should watch it too. The details are wonderful, from the clothing to the furnishings, it's amazing. The history is both well-researched and well-presented. I loved the portrayal of Abigail Adams. She's always been an interesting person to me and the actress - whoever she is - did a wonderful job. The same can be said of those who portrayed John Adams, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. 

It's not a book ... but it's worth your time to watch it.

PeggThomas.com

Follow Pegg on Amazon.com

Giveaway of The Meadowsweet Shawl

I'm so excited about my new release in the Bouquet of Brides Collection. My story, In Sheep's Clothing, let me combine so many of the things that I love. It has history, fiber arts, and even sheep!

I've always loved history. I was blessed to grow up with a granddad who was a natural storyteller. He lived through so many changes, he knew so many interesting people - including Henry Ford, and although he never graduated high school, he was always well-read on current events. His stories captivated me from my earliest memories.

At the age of nine, I learned to knit in our local 4-H club. Using yarn to create loops and fashioning something both useful and artistic captured me from the start. I was sixteen and showing rabbits in 4-H when I met a lady who raised Angora rabbits. She came to a rabbit show with her rabbits ... and a spinning wheel. I was hooked. It took me a few months to save enough money to purchase my first spinning wheel, but it was worth every penny.

I was thirty before we had the land and opportunity to buy my first sheep. I started with a mixed flock but quickly switched over to registered Border Leicesters. Today, I have just a remnant of the original flock, but they still give me more than enough wool to keep my fingers busy.

To celebrate the release of this close-to-my-heart story, I'm giving away one of my signature shawls. The Meadowsweet Shawl is named after the lamb in In Sheep's Clothing. It's natural white Border Leicester wool raised right here on our farm. I raised the sheep, sheared the sheep, washed the wool, carded the wool, spun the yarn, plied the yarn, and then knitted the shawl. It's 100% made in Michigan. The shawl is crescent shaped with a raised back to keep your neck cozy warm. The front can be left to curl, as in the photo, or tied or wrapped to close the front.

To be entered in the drawing, subscribe to my newsletter by January 31, 2018. That's it! If you've already subscribed, then you're already entered to win.

PeggThomas.com

Follow Pegg on Amazon.com

The Art of Glass Blowing at the Jamestown Colony

When most people think of glass blowing, crystal images of carved items and cute animals may come to mind, or the glass blowing demonstrations at Disney's Magic Kingdom. Few realize that the first glass blowing business in America began as early at 1608 in the Jamestown Colony.

Replica glass blowing furnace (1608)

While the first glass blowing attempt did not last, there is written evidence that it did survive as late as 1610, and therefore, may have been successful in the first couple of years. In 1948, the glass furnaces were rediscovered and excavated near the Jamestown settlement.

The site now serves as a glass blowing museum where visitors can view the remains of the furnaces from the early 1600's and observe the living reenactment of how it would have been in 1608. The current furnaces are built and used exactly in period-style fashion. One significant difference is that back then the furnaces were heated by wood and the replicas are heated by natural gas. Today's artisans wear colonial clothing and serve as apprentices for a number of years, learning and perfecting the trade. You can visit and watch them in action and ask as many (or more) questions as I did.

Heated substance being molded into candleholders

We visited right before Christmas and wanted some red colored candlesticks for the holiday decor that we could take home with us. The artisans explained that their owners only allow them to reproduce the exact colors that would have been available back then. If you love to see history in action, it's hard to find a place more authentic than this.

Reenactor molding glass

For each piece that they make, it is placed in the store where it is made and sold to visitors who come through to visit and observe them in action. While some of the pieces are similar, there are no two pieces exactly alike. You will find candleholders, wine bottles, glasses, vases, paperweights, pitchers and other period pieces you can purchase and take home as a souvenir. One thing you will need to remember and warn everyone in your household is that these items are not made for modern-day use. They cannot be placed in the dishwasher or microwave, nor can you pour hot liquids in them. These items may break and shatter in pieces.

If you cannot go and experience this authentic place in person, you can visit their online store and order their unique items through their website.

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Author Jennifer Hudson Taylor
www.jenniferhudsontaylor.net

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is an award-winning author of inspirational fiction set in historical Europe & the Carolinas. Her debut novel, Highland Blessings, won the Holt Medallion Award for Best First Book, followed by Highland Sanctuary. Jennifer has six published novels and several novellas. Her work has been reviewed in USA Today, Publisher's Weekly and the Library Journal. 

She provides keynotes speeches and workshops on the publishing industry, the craft of writing, & digital marketing.

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Motherhood in Colonial Times

In the Colonial period, families were essential for the welfare of the community. The role of motherhood was a high calling and a necessary role. After a woman became married, between the ages of twenty and forty-five, much of her life was spent as a mother. It was entirely normal for her to be pregnant or nursing during most of her lifetime with children coming on an average about two and a half years apart. Nursing was a natural method of birth control. Most mothers gave birth to eight, twelve, and sometimes more children as a large family was considered an asset. But the mortality rate was high in infants and children in those early days with so much infection and disease. Some parents did not name a child immediately. Others, as I have seen in my own ancestry, named a later born child after one previously deceased. I cannot imagine how they bore such heartache.

Mothers in colonial times a women of the gentry would have servants to help her raise her children such as a wetnurse, nanny, and governess. A mother in he middling class may have some assistance, but for certain a mother of any other means would have full charge of her own offspring under normal circumstances. If the mother were in financial need she may have to find a creative arrangement for childcare so she could be employed. When a son or daughter were old enough she would have them apprenticed out, even at a young age, so they could learn the skills necessary for providing their own way. Many were a sacrifice of a mother. Yet, quite often a daughter would sit at her mother's side to prepare for her own future role as a wife and mother and learn skills such as cooking, sewing, and spinning. Those who did not become wives and mothers for various reasons were considered spinsters, which by 1716 became a legal terms which simply referred to a maiden lady who was typically past the age of spinning (at home with her mother.). "Spinsters" often enjoy children and have typically lent supportive roles to many families through the ages.

This post is in honor of Judith Greenleaf (Somerby) Coffin, one of my colonial New England grandmothers. Born in 1715, Judith was a first settler in Massachusetts who came from Ipswich, England. She first married and gave birth to four children, three surviving. As a widow, she married again and had ten more children, one dying at age 12. Two sons were lost in Indian wars, one was only 16. Her youngest was born when she was age 43, a grandmother to six. In 1795, Judith passed away at the age of 80 having lived to see 177 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren which was very rare in those times. Ten of her progenitors were named Judith. Her epitaph credits her as being "Grave, sober, faithful, fruitful vine was she, a rare example of true piety."

New Englander Carla Gade is a best selling author of eight books. Check her new release Love's Compass, an 1875 western and Pattern for Romance, set in colonial Boston.

Bibles in Colonial America

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

Saur's German Bible

Bibles were in America from the earliest days of the English colonization. There were four common translations of the Bible in the early 1600s: The Great Bible, The Bishop's Bible, The Geneva Bible, and the King James Bible. Bibles were allowed to be printed only at official printers approved by the king, so Bibles weren't printed in America. The first Bible printed in America was Saur’s German Bible in 1743.

In his book written in 1810, The History of Printing in America, Isaiah Thomas claims Gamaliel Rogers and Daniel Fowle printed about 2,000 copies of the New Testament in Boston, Massachusetts as early as 1750. Apparently they falsely added to the first page that the Bible was printed in London to avoid being fined by the English Crown, but there is no proof that happened.

American Revolution Bible

The first English language Bible printed in America that can be verified was in 1771. Robert Aitken, who became the first official printer of the Journals of Congress for the United States Congress in 1776, was disturbed by the lack of Bibles in America so he printed the first English language New Testament. On January 21, 1781, Aitken petitioned the Unites States Congress to authorize, and if possible even fund, the printing of a complete Bible in the English language of the King James Version. On September 10, 1782, Aitken received authorization to commence his American printing of the Bible in English. In 1782, Robert Aitken produced the first English language Bible printed in America. It was known as the “Bible of the American Revolution.

The Great Bible

Nobody knows for sure which Bibles were brought to America. A Bible might have been brought to the Roanoke colony in 1585. More likely, it was in 1605 when Jamestown was colonized. The Great Bible translated in 1539 was the first official English translation, and many churches used that version, so it might have been brought to Roanoke or Jamestown. The Great Bible used the outlawed Tyndale Bible as its guide. Another Bible that might have been in early Jamestown was the Bishop's Bible first printed in 1568 to correct problems in The Great Bible translation. It was the authorized version of the Bible in England until 1611 when the King James Bible was authorized. There may have been King James Bibles later, but in 1605 when the ships sailed for Jamestown, it didn't exist. By 1620, it might have been shipped to Jamestown for use by the pastor.

Geneva Bible

When the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth in 1620, there were two Bible translations aboard the ships. John Alden, a prominent member of the Plymouth Colony who was a ship's carpenter on the Mayflower, brought a copy of the King James Bible. Alden was not originally a member of the Pilgrims which is why he probably brought that version. The Pilgrims used the Geneva Bible first printed in 1560, the most popular English Bible until the mid-seventeenth century. William Bradford quoted from the Geneva Bible. The Bible was given its name because of its associations with the Calvinists in Geneva. The Geneva Bible had study notes in it written by many Protestant reformers including John Calvin. King James considered the translation seditious. 

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America because there are so many adventures in American history. She has received 2^nd place in the NOCW contest, 3^rd place TARA writer’s contest, and was a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest. Her novellas Resurrection of Hope and A Christmas Promise are available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

What's in a name?

As a writer of Colonial fiction, one of funnest things to do is choose names for characters. More and more I see the huge influence the Puritans had on what became common names in the American colonies. They also had a lot of names that didn't rise in popularity as some of the Bible names did, but still hold a lot of meaning...and sometimes a chuckle (like 'Search-the-Scriptures', 'Joy-in-sorrow' or 'Sorry-for-Sin')

Here are a few of my favorites:

For girls: (Besides the usual Bible names)
Berenice 
Charis
Charity
Chastity
Comfort
Constance 
Chloe
Clemence
Damaris
Drusilla
Eunice 
Faith 
Felicity
Fidelity 
Honor
Hope
Jemima
Mercy
Modesty
Patience
Prudence
Tacita
Temperance 
Thankful
Unity

(Really, any virtue you can think of...including Virtue!)

For boys: (Besides the usual Bible names)
Abner
Abiel
Ariel
Ajax
Amzi
Ansel
Constant (You could name twins Constance and Constant...but that would get confusing!)
Cyrus
Ebenezer
Experience
Garvan
Gawen
Fortune
Gershom
Increase 
Lovell
Prospero
Reason
Tenacious
Theophil
Truth
Winthrop



I had a lot of fun in The Scarlet Coat, the first book in my Hearts at War series, as the hero remembers nothing about who he is at the beginning... not even his name. Rachel Garnet, weary of having nothing to call him, hopes that if he hears his name he might recognise it.

     “How about Thomas?” she asked.

     He shook his head.

     “James, Andrew, Simon, John?”

     “Are you listing common British names or the Apostles of Christ?” He smiled at her.

     “Well, you do seem to be Christian, and they are quite common names here. I’m not British—at least, not anymore—so you tell me which names are popular in England.”

     “No, let us continue with this.” He flipped through the pages of the Bible. “You are correct. I am Christian. I do not remember it, exactly, I simply...I know it. My belief in Christ seems to run deeper than memories or thoughts. It is the core of who I am, as though I would cease to exist without that sense of faith in the Lord. For ‘who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or...’” He looked to her with a sheepish smile. Pulling himself up a little more, he redirected his attention back to the Bible. “Shall we continue? What are some of the other names?”

     The sizzle of batter meeting a hot skillet was followed by a mouthwatering aroma.

     His stomach pinched and churned. Had it been most of a day since he had eaten last? The pain in his thigh had been distracting enough until now.

     “Do you want them from the Old Testament? There’s Adam, Jacob...Ezekiel, or, perhaps,” she flashed him a grin, “Nebuchadnezzar?”

     “Nebuchadnezzar? Do you really think that fits?” He shook his head. “Perhaps we should start with the New Testament. I am sure you agree I look more like a Herod or Pilate?”

     “I wasn’t planning to say anything, but I think you’re right.” She shot him a disapproving glare. “We’re wasting time. Let’s be serious."

     “I thought we were.”

Thanks for joining me today! Let me know in the comments what your favorite Colonial names are.

A Woman Compelled by Christian Charity
Surrounded by the musket fire of the American Revolution, Rachel Garnet prays for her family to be safe.  When the British invade the Mohawk Valley, and her father and brother don't return from the battle, she goes in pursuit of them. She finds her brother alive but her father has been killed at the hand of the enemy. Amidst the death, how can she ignore a cry for help...? Rachel reluctantly takes in a badly wounded British officer. But how long can her sense of Christian duty repress her hatred for his scarlet coat?

A Man Lost to the Devastation of War
Passages of Scripture and fleeting images of society are all Andrew Wyndham recalls after he awakens to the log walls of his gentle prison. Even his name eludes him. Rachel Garnet insists he is a captain in the British army. He mourns the loss of his memory, but how can he hope to remember war when his “enemy” is capturing his heart?

A Scarlet Uniform Holds the Power to Unite or Divide
Andrew’s injuries are severe, his memory slow to return, and the secret of his existence too perilous to ignore. As Rachel nurses him back to health, his hidden scarlet coat threatens to expose the deeds of her merciful heart, and Andrew is forced to face a harrowing decision—Stay hidden and risk losing the woman he loves or turn himself in and risk losing his life.

Now available for preorder on Amazon!

Angela K Couch is an award-winning author for her short stories, and a semi-finalist in ACFW’s 2015 Genesis Contest for her Revolutionary War novel that will be published by Pelican Book Group. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. Angela lives in Alberta, Canada with her “hero” and three munchkins. www.angelakcouch.com

Colonial Fiction Release Day, Review, & Giveaway!!! Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter by Carrie Fancett Pagels

It's RELEASE DAY!!! After many years, my colonial novel, set in the 1740s, is out!!! I recently received a Four Star review from Romantic Times, PTL!!!

". . .will leave you laughing and crying. Some surprises along the way add to this enjoyable gem!"   -   RT Book Reviews

This novel from White Rose/Pelican spans France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Atlantic Ocean, and into Colonial America. Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter is now available on Ebook from these retailers:

CBD

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Apple

Kobo

Pelican books

The paperback releases in July, 2016.

Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter

by Carrie Fancett Pagels 

Five Stars ***** 

Review by Tina Rice

1742, Eastern France...because of her father's Huguenot beliefs and arrest, aristocrat Suzanne Richelieu, and her seriously ill mother, must escape Versailles—praying they reach safety before they are caught. They reach their prearranged destination only to find it is far from safe and Suzanne must make a difficult choice before she leaves—in disguise—on her own for a safe haven by way of the Aachen Cathedral in western Germany and then the American colonies.

Circumstances bring German peasant, Johan Rousch, and Suzanne together. Johan feels led by God to bring her to safety on his family's farm—risking his life and possibly that of his family. Suddenly Suzanne's brother arrives along with the French army, warning that they plan to burn the area and that her pursuer is not far behind, forcing her and Johan to flee. With no money left, and a relentless pursuer after her, there is only one way to secure passage on board the ship to Philadelphia—become indentured servants. On the long journey to the colonies of America, Suzanne becomes gravely ill and Johan has a Priest on board marry them. However, once she begins to recover, she has no memory of the wedding. And Johan finds himself questioning if they are truly married—since arriving in Philadelphia, he has seen the “priest” who married them aboard the ship dressed as a surveyor and a Quaker cleric, but not as a priest. Is he really a priest and are they really married? What are God's plans for them in the colonies?

Wow! Carrie Fancett Pagels has written a fantastic, gripping story set in the 1700's spanning France, Germany and the American colonies. Suzanne and Johan soon became favorite characters along with her brother and his girlfriend and many interesting secondary characters. In addition to the character who had evil intentions, we clearly see the turmoil as Huguenots were persecuted and even killed for their beliefs. All of which had me reading late into the night to read “just one more chapter” to see would happen next.

I loved Suzanne's strength, courage and devotion to her ailing mother. I loved how Johan turns to and trusts God in all things, following His leading in his life—even if it means danger....and danger follows close behind him and Suzanne as they flee. I enjoyed watching their budding romance despite their class distinctions, which is prohibitive of a romantic relationship between them. I overjoyed to see their spiritual growth—especially Suzanne's as she learns that she must have her own faith and build her own personal relationship with God—a life-changing turning point in her life. They both had to learn to adjust to a new life in a new country, while keeping their unwavering integrity intact.

It is apparent the research for this book has been extensive, giving the reader a glimpse of the turbulent times, the rich history and culture of the early 1700's. The descriptions of each area—France, Germany and the colonies of America—is so well written I could envision them in my mind as I read. I love that Suzanne and Johan's story is based on the author's own family from her families genealogy research.

Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter is a fantastic, gripping story that takes the reader on a journey of suspense, intrigue, secrets, deception and betrayal. Joy, sorrow, grief, hope, integrity, class differences, persecution for a different faith, indentured servitude, courage, romance, fear, spiritual growth—God's provision, love and courage captivate the reader. I highly recommend this book and patiently—well, not so patiently—await the next book.

~I received a PDF copy of this book, this is my honest review~ 

Giveaway: An ebook copy, a beautiful oversized postcards, bookmarks, and Fleur de Lis earrings to one commenter!

This ebook is ON SALE today on the Pelican book site for half off! So Friday, June 3rd, swing by to pick up a copy of Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter (available in three different formats on the site)!