The first colony planted in North America was on Roanoke Island in 1597. The company who planted this colony promised to return the following year with supplies and more people. However England went to war that year and the supply ships were taken by the king to help in the war effort. It was over three years before the ships returned to Roanoke Island. When they arrived not a trace of the colony was found. No one has ever been able to find out what happened to them. This book, although not about the Roanoke Island colony, takes a similar colony near that area and takes them through the trials that people in America faced in that period of time. The story starts with Milford and Doris Kipling, who are linguists, being asked by the king to go with the new colony to teach its leadership the language of the natives. After they have complete this task they were to return with the ships. The Kipling couple took their sixteen year old son, John, with them. After they complete their task John asked to stay for the rest of the year promising to return the next year with the ships. Of course the ships didn't return and John faced the perils and catastrophes that led he and his companion across North America. The trek across America is just a part of John's adventure. The reader will enjoy several other adventures and meet many interesting characters along the way.

The First Crossing of America

By William Post

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 William Post
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4567-4962-0

Chapter One

THE FIRST CROSSING OF A MERICA By WILLIAM J. POST

Milford Kipling and his wife Doris were linguists. They had met when they were in Paris studying at the academy in 1581. They both spoke seven languages and were now employed by King James.

King James wanted to establish colonies to claim the new world, develop its vast resources and establish trade. Several of the native people had been brought back to England by various privateers. These natives were uncivilized and from a sub-culture (in the eyes of the English) as they had no written language and had not progressed as the Europeans had. To prevent hostilities between the colonies and the natives King James knew the language barrier between the two must be addressed.

The natives who were brought to England were given preferential treatment by the king to encourage their cooperation with the Kiplings so they could learn the native's language. Milford and Doris had studied with the natives for two years and were able to learn their language. Their only child, John, was at every session with the Indians and was as fluent with the language as his parents. He had been taught languages since he was three and also spoke French, Spanish and Latin.

The natives had informed the Kiplings of the many dialects of the tribes in America. Both Milford and Doris knew that only by being in the new land could they learn theses dialects and related this to the king. There was however a universal sign language that was used to help bridge the language barrier.

Milford told the king that he would inform him when he and his wife felt they had mastered the new language adequately. The king knew that communication with the natives was essential in befriending them so the king asked the Kiplings to accompany an expedition to America. They were to stay in the new land just long enough to teach the leadership of the colony the native dialect of that region then return with the ships. The king and the sponsor of this trek (the London Company) knew that integrating with the natives would be essential for peace and prosperity for the colony.

John Kipling was now age sixteen. He was bright and enthusiastic about learning languages. John had pointed out to his parents that the natives had no word for enemy. The word stranger was the same word as for enemy. This alarmed Milford, but he was proud of his son for being astute enough to have noticed this subtle nuance.

King James had encouraged and subsidized the London Company to establish a colony in the new world. Both king and company had different motives though. The King wanted to expand his empire and the London Company was in it for profit.

The London Company tried to think of every resource the colony would need to be successful. They brought horses, cattle, hogs, sheep and chickens. They brought a variety of seeds and even some fruit trees. An abundance of hardware such as plows, hatchets, hammers, axes, saws, adzes and a variety of other hardware were in their inventory.

The London Company was unable to recruit many regular craftsmen to go into the unknown so they looked for people in the prisons who were very good craftsmen, but had been charged with some crime. Most of those they recruited owed taxes or were in debtor's prison. They picked men who were very good at their trade and looked at the expedition as a fresh start. They selected people were skilled as carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, farmers, fishermen and other trades. These craftsmen were all relatively young and the rule was that all must be married. Young wives were recruited for these craftsmen. Many young prostitutes were targeted by the London Company and given the choice of marrying a craftsman or going to prison. Others were in debt and some were just charged with a crime. Nearly all the couples had only known one another for a few weeks before their departure. There were no children allowed. The only person under the age of eighteen was John Kipling. He was allowed because his parents would be returning with the ships.

John's parents had no idea about the background of the colonists aboard the ship. They had quarters next to the captain and ate with him and Ezra Bronson and his wife. Ezra Bronson, the leader of the colonists, was a minister and held a military rank of captain. He had five other military men who were equipped with a variety of firearms, numerous kegs of gunpowder, two canons and an abundance of ammunition.

Although the Kiplings stretched their legs each day they never mixed with the other people and only smiled or waved to them. None of the colonists ever spoke to them. The reason for this was that Captain Bronson had given the word that the Kiplings were of the royal court and no one was to make conversation with them.

There were a couple of instances that occurred on the trip. One man was caught trying to steal rum and was flogged. There were several fights and one man was killed. The man who did the killing proved it was in self defense so he was not punished. Bronson was intolerant of people who violated the rules and this was quickly learned, so the voyage was made mostly in tranquility.

John had an inkling of the class of people aboard as he could hear them talk. They talked as fishwives and the lower class. He only met one man who seemed to be very nice. His name was Charles Bradford.

Charles was a very tall man, muscular and with broad shoulders. He had blond hair, blue eyes and a happy disposition. The way John met him was by accident. One of the wives of the men was making fun of John as he was always dressed properly in fine clothes. The husband of the wife joined in the berating. Charles heard what was going on and quickly came to John's aid. He told the pair to go below in such a tone they quickly left.

John said, "Thank you, Sir. You are a credit to the colony. If I can ever be of services to you please call upon me."

Charles said, "There will be no need of that Master Kipling, I abhor people who ridicule others because they are different."

John was quite taken with the manners of Charles and asked him his name. Charles told him and added that he was the smithy for the colony. John asked him to tell him about his trade and Charles spent some time telling him about what he did. Both liked each other and began spending time together although clandestinely. They met behind the longboats as Charles told John of Captain Bronson's rule of not talking to the Kiplings. Charles was fascinated to know someone from the royal court and asked John about it.

John told him they were just people who were either kin to the king or had favor with him in one manner or another and were paid handsomely. They were all educated as King James decreed this.

John said, "My parents are linguist and have been brought on the voyage to meet the natives and communicate with them. We will be leaving when the ships go back."

"When will the ships go back?" asked Charles.

"When my father and mother have taught Captain Bronson and his leadership the native's language," answered John. "This could take three or four months depending on the leadership's ability to learn."

Charles could tell John was educated in many areas and asked him a lot of questions. One afternoon John's wife, Ellie, joined them. Charles explained...