Colonial America: Create Your Own Primary Source

We call them "RAFTS," which stands for Role, Audience, Format, Topic. Students got to take on the role of someone from Colonial America and write a document that could have been a primary source. Students researched a variety of topics, from the Salem Witch Trials to medicine to clothing. Check out a few samples of student writing below.

---

Sentencing Letter by Whitney

Ebenezer Johnstone                                             April 13th, 1634

Dear Mr. Amos Blanchard,
   It has come to our attention that you have been identified and convicted for the killing Ms. .Amity Worsen. As you know, at your trial last month, you were found guilty and were told to wait until you were sentenced to a particular punishment. As of today, April 13th, you have been sentenced to a death by hanging on May 2nd, 1634. You shall be able to see or write to your family one last time, if they are willing to speak to you..

    When your fateful day finally comes, my fellow Constables and I shall come to your jail cell and escort you to the Gallows, where you're hanging will be carried out. It shall be a public affair, so you shall be hanged with your fellow colonists watching. May this be punishment enough for your many sins. You shall have about 3 ½ weeks before we come. Take this time to reflect on how you have ended your life so short.

    You may come to one last church service, if you wish. The Puritans will be worshipping every Sunday for 4-5 hours. This will be a good end to your life. But beware, the Puritans do not take murder lightly. Go unnoticed and you will be fine. Once you’re hanging has occurred, your property,  slaves and servants, will be excused from duty. Your Servants will be let go, while your slaves will be sold again.

    Onto your family. If your family does decide to see you a final time, they will have a fortnight to get to our beloved colony. If they fail to get here in time, all they will see is you being shipped back to England in a coffin. They are being notified of your punishment by my colleague right now. I hope that you will remember that because of this monstrosity, the devil will already be making room for you in Hell .

   I trust that you will be ready for us to take you to the Gallows on the 2nd of May. I can only pray that God will have mercy on your soul .

                                        Sincerely,
                                    Ebenezer Johnstone

Journal Entry about Roanoke by Trisha

I arrived back to the the land with several men. The year was 1590. My men and I had sailed back to england to get more supplies. The food supply was running low, therefor I needed to go back. I looked around. The leaves crackled as I placed my foot upon them. Nothing. Just the shacks and cottages we had built. And a strange fence.. It had not been there when I left for England. I stared at it for quite a while. A strange mysterious word carved onto a fence post. I don’t know what it means, Who did it?  And when did this happen?
I suddenly realized. The people. Had the whole colony had just vanished?
My men and I searched for quite a while. Nobody. Not a trace. Just the dried, wrinkled tobacco. It seemed nobody had been there for ages. Not even a trace of food.
We realized it was time to stop searching. It was hopeless. No evidence.
I returned to the fence post. The strange word. I felt the fence post. The hard wood surface scraped the palm of my hand. The word. The strange word. What it spelled….

CROATOAN.
Signed,
John White

​

Letter to Family by Caitlin

Dear Edward
           How are you Edward? Have you heard any reports of when the ship shall leave from england to the new world?Jonas is growing up to become a fine gentleman he has brought back dinner many times. Temperance is a very fine lady and is very good at making bonnets and making skirts. On the other hand Cornelia is very sick.
       The doctors have not reported a way to cure her. She has sickly yellow skin and has a very high fever. She also has blisters all over her body she is also getting headaches throughout the day. The doctors have tried everything like giving her broth made out of boiled toads. They also tried cutting herrings down the back and putting them on Cornelia’s feet.
        On the other hand clearly doctors over here do not know what they are doing. They once cut a man in the arm that was incredibly sick and said they were letting the bad blood out. They also tried to do that to are lovely Cornelia I don’t know what would happen if anyone ever tried to cut are Cornelia.
              The people over here think that the savages are poisoning our food and that is why everyone here is getting these diseases and doctors haven't found a cure to solve the horrible diseases everyone is getting. Mr. Rosanda is very sick he came down with a fever a week ago. Doctors think it is from the indians. I went over to visit him last night, it was strange he kept asking for water. I am afraid that we all will get what Mr. Rosanda has.Every day someone new gets sick it is terrible. If we are lucky Temperance and Jonas will not get sick like Cornelia.
           Remember Ms. Herting she sadly died a few months ago. She had a high fever that went up to 101 degrees. Ms. Herting also got headaches every hour. Ms. Herting had rashes all over her with white patches on her rashes.
            Overall, mostly everything is the same like the clothing they nice and poofy. The weather over here is not very good. And we are very scarce on food. I don't know if everyone gonna make it through the long winter.
      Wish us luck, we miss you. We hope we see you soon.
​
Sincerely
Charity Lonots
​

Solomon Smith 5/23/1692  
Advertisment
         
Watch Out For Witchcraft!
If you suspect a witch, report to The Court of Oyer and Terminer. They shall be tested by touch test, or dunking,or lord's prayer, and much more. 

If you are a witch you shall go to gallows hill and be hanged by sjr. Ebenezer Johnstone. You will be able to speak to your family once more than you shall be hanged. Please find witches as soon as possible, the town can’t live with more attacks.

Posted by Solomon Smith

---

Letter to Family by DeAngi

Dear family,

I have made a grave mistake. I  have killed Ms. Amady Worsen. As you know, I am sentenced to death, but the constable will let me see you again. At least if thy want to see me. I can go to thee church, and die a happy, religious death.But I have a least 3 weeks to be hanged . As thy know, the hanging will be on thee gallows hill and hopefully thee death is on may 2nd 1634. I know the devil will make room in the forbidden lands of hell for killing her. Only thy soul will go into thy heavens. Thy worst part for you is all of our slaves and servants will be released and you will be poor once again. But, thy can always buy new ones, and hope for the best. But yet if you want to spend your last riches on me being sent back to england. It’s always an option. Smoke the last pipe of uppowoc because all of it is in thy ground and shall not be grown until 3 months later. Thy shall be thee end of thee letter. Thy constable will warn thy about thee. I will be in thy jail cell waiting for thee.

I loved you all,
Amos Blanchard

​

Letter to Family by Liana

Dear Charles,
How are you? I am very busy with Emeline and Hugo. Emeline is very talented at knitting, and Hugo is learning to hunt. Hugo is a big handful you know! I wish he were a bit more like his sister.  How are Henrietta and Aurinda doing? They are such good kids.

You remember Ms. Rosetta. Her skin is a yellowish color, and she’s been vomiting a lot. She is suffering, and I really hope she gets better. Now that I come to think of it, a lot of people are ill these days. Some people are even dying from illness. Like remember Mr.Skeeter? He was a good man. He invited us over a lot. He was very fond about Hugo. You know, I am starting to think that the cures we use for the diseases aren’t working. The doctor recently took away all Ms.Comfreys bad blood, but she’s still very ill. She’s even been taking broth with boiled toads, but that isn’t doing her any good. Actually I think it is making it worse.

And have you heard all the rumors? They say that Mr.Barty has severe rashes, horrible headaches, delirium, and convulsions. I am not planning to go over to his house anytime soon. They say he has been acting very odd lately.
You know, I am starting to think that coming to this land was a bad idea.

​Everyone is getting ill, people are dying, and I do not envy the food. Also, here in this new land, my skirts are getting very filthy.  It makes me very irritated. Oh and thank you for my birthday present! I was very fond of the bonnet. But really, matters are getting much worse than before. In my opinion, the doctors aren’t finding good cures for these dreadful diseases They were cutting those fish, I think they were called herrings, down the back, and tying it to Ms. Comfrey’s feet.  It really did not help, a single bit! It just made her feet smell bad! So I hope I shall be able to see you soon. And take care of yourself. Let’s hope you don’t get any of those diseases. So please just stay away from illness if you can.

Yours truly,
            Lydia Thompson