Overview
This letter from Thomas Newe (1682) describes early colonial life in Carolina, highlighting difficult conditions, conflicts with Native Americans, resource struggles, and the colony's slow development.
Early Hardships and Disease
- New settlers often faced illness ("seasoning"), though most survived it.
- Many colonists were dissatisfied due to poor trade and management.
Trade, War, and Relations with Native Americans
- A few wealthy colonists armed Native groups for fur trade, leading to conflicts and war.
- The arming of powerful tribes disrupted fur trading and halted further settlement.
Settlement and Agriculture
- The soil is light and productive, supporting both European and unfamiliar crops.
- In twelve years, settlers managed to export pork, corn, and cedar to Barbados and supply ships.
- Early settlers were mostly unskilled tradesmen unfamiliar with farming.
Population Growth and Livestock
- Colony population was under 4,000, with most growth occurring in recent years.
- Settlers cleared land mainly to grow food for their families.
- Livestock, such as cows and hogs, were imported from Bermuda and New England.
- Horses were rare, expensive, and less useful due to riverside settlements.
Transportation and Trade Prospects
- Most travel was by boat or canoe due to proximity to rivers.
- Livestock-based trade could make Carolina more prosperous than other northern colonies.
Personal Requests and Communication
- Newe asks for an herbalist book for studying medicinal plants.
- Requests passage money for a likely servant, expecting labor to be valuable in Carolina.
- Wants information about the value and curing of locally abundant sassafras.
- Seeks news of family, friends, and happenings in England.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Seasoning — The period of illness that new settlers faced when adapting to a new climate.
- Fur trade — The exchange of animal pelts, especially with Native Americans, which was an early colonial economic driver.
- Sassafras — A native plant valued for medicinal purposes.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Research and send a recommended herbalist’s book to Carolina.
- Send money to trustworthy persons for hiring suitable servants.
- Inquire about sassafras’s price, processing, and best harvest time.
- Write back with family and local news updates.