March 1624 Agriculture: Edward Winslow, a leader of Plymouth Colony, imports first cattle from England. -- The first group of Dutch colonist sponsored by the Dutch West India Co. are some 30 families who leave Amsterdam on the ship of Capt. Cornelis May. The Dutch West India Co also names May as the first director. When the settlers arrive at New York, they are split up. Most of them were taken up the Hudson River to Fort Nassau. While others were sent to the Delaware River area in New Jersey, some are left on Governor's Island in New York Bay. Possibly some settlers may have remained on Manhattan Is while others proceeded to Long Island. This dispersal of the settlers marks the attempt of the Dutch to secure as many sites as possible. -------- British Policy: Sir Francis Wyatt is officially appointed governor by King James 1. Wyatt also Virginia's governor under the former administration of the Virginia Co. This decision to maintain a continuity of power in the colony marks a desire to ensure the continued stability of Virginia -------- Arts/Culture: John Smith publishes in London a narration of his travesl in North America. The "General History Book of Virginia, the Summer Isles and New England" . This book includes the story of his rescue by Pocahontas. Edward Winslow also publishes his "Good News from New England" in London. ---- Ideas/beliefs: The legal code of the Virginia Colony mandates church attendance on Sunday. Those who do not attend are required to pay a fine of one pound of tobacco. In addition, each plantation must set aside at least a room for religious worship. This religious regulation reflects the religious tendencies of King James 1. Meanwhile the English sponsors of the Plymouth Colony send an unordained Puritan minister, John Lyford, to America. The colonist are angered by his unprofessional status. They accuse him of Anglican bias and of planning to found a rival settlement. He is tried and punished by banishment from the colony. ----------------------------- ------------ Cynthia Moderator of : Ct-River-Valley-L@rootsweb.com CTHartfo-L@rootsweb.com MANorfol-L@rootsweb.com Ma-Bay-Colony-L@rootsweb.com Rootsweb sponsor