I sent a message in in response to Christie's, but it seems not to have come through--weasels don't get no respect! So first: ----- Original Message ---- From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> "Just a curious question. Did Brewster in his writings refer to the New World as America? There several times at the beginning of the movie that the New World was addressed as America by the Pilgrims. Something about those statements that doesn't ring true to me." An interesting observation, Christie. As always, Jeremy Bangs could answer best, because what is readily available to most of us are the writings that were done AFTER the crossing. In those writings, at least those that have been used to line my cage and with which I am familiar, the term New England is commonly used. To the south there was Virginia. Since the right to possess the land was then in contention among some powers of Europe it seems natural that terms such as Virginia, with reference to Elizabeth, which bespeak ownership (or New Sweden, New Netherlands in those cases) might be used rather than America. Having said that, one must also note that at the very beginning of Richard Hackluyt's volume of _The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of The English Nation_which concerns America he says, "The subiect and matter herein contained is the fourth part of the world, which more commonly then properly is called America: but by the chiefest Authors The new world." So it would seem that in England the term America was used commonly, and the passengers might well have used it. But perhaps those on board would have said, "Virginia," since that's where they thought they were going. Sorry to natter on so, but this release from the absurd prohibition of non-genealogical topics by the tyrannical Craig is just so exhilarating. ----- Original Message ---- From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> "I'm a bit nieve and new to this subject, however, didn't people come over here before the Mayflower and landed, who settled in Jamestown, Virginia? " And second, the 1607 Jamestown settlement was not the first English attempt at settlement in Virginia, and prior to the Plymouth settlement there was the Popham colony in New England as well as fishing stations where English fishermen had been staying for summers for a long time before the Mayflower crossed. This isn't directed to you, but don't they teach history in the schools anymore? ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sponsored Link Compare mortgage rates for today. Get up to 5 free quotes. Www2.nextag.com