A Description of the island of Jamaica with the other isles and territories in America, to which the English are related ... : taken from the notes of Sr. Thomas Linch, Knight, governour of Jamaica, and other experienced persons in the said places : illustrated with maps / published by Richard Blome.

A DESCRIPTION OF New-ENGLAND.

Its Situation.

NEw England is seated North of Maryland, which ac∣cording to the report of Capt. Smith, hath 70 miles of Sea Coast, where are found di∣vers good Havens, some of which are capable to harbour 500 Saile of Shipps from the fury the of Sea, and Winds, by reason of the

interposition of several Isles (to the number of about 200) which lie about this Coast.

And although this Countrey is seated in the midst of the Tem∣perate Zone, yet is the Clime more uncertain, as to Heat and Cold, then those European King∣domes, which lie Parallel with it; and as to Virginia, this may be compared as Scotland is to Eng∣land.

The Aire.

The Aire is here found very healthful, and very agreeable to the English, which makes them possess many potent Colonyes.

Its Inhabitants.

This Countrey is possessed by

divers sorts of People, who are Go∣verned by their particular Kings, and do much differ in Customes, and Manners, from one another, as those Indians inhabiting in Mary∣Land, Virginia, and other parts of America. And do live generally at variance with each other. They have their several Townes and set∣tlements, and their Riches doth consist in their Furs, and Skins, which they sell to the English.

When first inhabited by the English.

This Countrey became first to be a Colony of the English about the Year 1605, being granted by Patent from King James, to cer∣tain proprietors under the name of the Plymouth Company; but di∣vers years were spun out, with great

expences, and not without sundry casualties befalling on the Adven∣turers, before it became any thing considerable, and in a setled con∣dition.

Their Rivers, and Fish.

This Country is well watered with Rivers, the chief amongst which, are Agamentico, Conecte∣cut, Kinebequy, Merrimeck, Mishuin, Mistick, Neraganset, Pascataway, Pemnaquid, Tachobacco, &c. and in these Rivers, together with the Sea, are taken excellent Fish, as Cod, Thornback, Sturgeon, Por∣puses, Haddock, Salmons, Her∣rings, Mackeril, Oysters, Lobsters, Crab-Fish, Tortoise, Cocles, Mus∣cles, Clams, Smelts, Eels, Lam∣prons, Alewives, Basses, Hollibuts, Sharks, Seales, Grampus, and Whales.

Their Fowles, and Birds.

Here are great variety of Fowls, as Phesants, Partridges, Heath∣Cocks, Turkeys, Geess, Ducks, Hernes, Cranes, Cormorants, Swans, Widgins, Sheldrakes, Snipes, Doppers, Blackbirds, the Humbird, Loon, &c.

Their Beasts, both Tame and Wild.

Their Wild Beasts of chief note, are Lyons, Beares, Foxes, Rac∣koons, Mooses, Musquashs, Otters, Bevers, Deer, Hares, Coneys, &c. and for Tame Beasts, Cowes, Sheep, Goates, Swine, and Horses.

Amongst the hurtful things in this Countrey, the Rattle-Snake is most dangerous. Here are also se∣veral

sorts of Stinging Flyes; which are found very troublesome to the Inhabitants.

Their Trees, and Fruits.

Here are sundry sorts of Trees, as the Oak, Cyprus, Pine, Chesnut, Caedar, Walnut, Firr, Ash, Asp, Elm, Alder, Maple, Birch, Sasa∣fras, Sumach, several Fruit-Trees, as Apples, Pears, Plumbs, with several others that are growing in Virginia, and Mary-land, which I have already took notice of.

Their Commodities, and Trade.

This Countrey affordeth several sorts of rich Furrs, Flax, Linnen, Amber, Iron, Pitch, Tarr, Ca∣bles, Masts, and Timber to build Ships, also several sorts of Grain, &c.

The Inhabitants drive a con∣siderable Trade to Barbadoes, and other our American Plantations, in supplying them with Flower, Bisket, Salt, Flesh, and Fish, &c. and in return bring Sugars, and other Commodities, as well for their own use, as to sell again. They also drive a considerable Trade with England for wearing Apparrel, Stuffs, Silks, Cloth, se∣veral Utensils for their Houses, Iron, Brass, and such like things that are useful to man and not found a∣mongst them.

As to the Coyns, Weights, and Measures of New-England, and the rest of the American Plantations belonging to his Majesty, they are the same with those of London, but as to Coyns, they are not much made use of in Trade, their way being bartering of one Commodi∣ty

for another; but at Jamaica they have plenty of Spanish Coins, and at Barbadoes those of England.

The English now Inhabiting in New-England, are very nume∣rous, and powerful, having a great many Towns, many of which are considerable.

The English Government.

The Inhabitants are Governed by Laws of their own making, and have their several Courts, and pla∣ces of Judicature, and assemble together, at their set times, and places, as well for the making of New Lawes, abolishing of Old, Hearing, and Determining of Causes; as for the Election of a Governour, Deputy-Governour, Assistants, Burgesses, and other Magistrates, (every Town having two Burgesses) each County Annu∣ally

Electing such like Officers, for the looking after the like Affairs in the said Colony. And in matters that concern Religion, and Church∣Government, they are very strict and make a great shew, being much of the stamp of the Ridgid Presby∣terians.

The Towns.

Here are several Towns, as Bo∣ston, the Metropolis of New-Eng∣land, Commodiously seated for Traffique on the Sea-Shore; It is at present a very large and spacious Town, or rather City, composed of several well-ordered Streets, and graced with fair and beautiful Hou∣ses, which are well Inhabited by Merchants, and Trades-men, who drive a considerable Trade for such Commodities as the Countrey affor∣eth

to Barbadoes, and the other Ca∣ribbee Isles, as also to England, and Ireland; taking in exchange such Commodities as each place afford∣eth, or are found useful to them. It is a place of a good strength, ha∣ving two or three Hills adjoyning, on which are raised Fortifications, with great Peices mounted there∣on, which are well guarded.

Charles-Town, seated on and be∣tween the Rivers Charles and Mi∣stick; it is beautified with a large and well-built Church, and near the River side is the Market-place, from which runneth two Streets, in which are divers good Houses.

Dorchester scituate near the Sea, where there falleth in two Rivulets. An indifferent Town.

Cambridg, formerly New-Town seated on the River Merrimeck: this Town consisteth of several

Streets, and is beautified with two Colledges, and divers fair, and well built Houses.

St. Georges-Fort, seated on the mouth of the River Sagadebock.

New-Plimouth, seated on that large Bay of Potuxed.

Reading, commodiously seated about a great Pond, and well-wa∣tered, and Inhabited. In this Town are two Mills, one for Corn, and the other for Timber.

Salem, pleasantly seated betwixt two Rivers.

Other Towns placed Al∣phabetically.

Berwick, Braintree, Bristol, Con∣cord, Dartmouth, Dedham, Dover, Exeter, Falmouth, Glocester, Greens-Harbour, Hampton, Hartford, Ha∣verhil, Hingham, Hull, Ipswich,

Lin, Maulden, New-bury, New-Ha∣von, Northam, Norwich, Oxford, Rowley, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sand∣wich, Southampton, Spring-field, Sudbury, Taunton, Water-Town, Wenham, Weymouth, Woburne, and Yarmouth.

Most of these Towns beareth the names from those in England, and many of them are of good account, being commodiously seated, either on the Sea-Shore, or on Naviga∣ble Rivers, and are well Inhabited. And most of those Towns are known to the Indians by other Names.

Notes

• Its Scitu∣ation.
• The Ayr.
• The Dis∣position of the Natives much like those of Virginia.
• Excel∣lent Fish.
• Hurtfull things.
• Fruits.
• Commo∣dities & Trade.
• The Go∣vern∣ment of the Inha∣bitants of New-England.
• Boston.
• Charles Town.
• Dorche∣ster.
• Cambridg
• St. Geor∣ges Fort.
• Reading.
• Salem.