Description
William Palmer is a 17th Century Kentish man living a bit more comfortably than most because he has had some elementary education. But, his young wife dies in childbirth and he begins to think of leaving England with thousands of others who are escaping the religious persecution of King and church. He makes the journey, helps to colonize New England and will cut a new home out of the wilderness four times before he dies. But, the Puritans have brought much of the religion they split from with them and they add more rigid rules in the creed causing upheaval among parishioners. The indispensable Natives, without whom many settlers would not have survived, are subjected to wars with the English and European disease eliminating whole tribes and subduing thousands more. The climate is severe along the Atlantic coast but nature provides both sustenance and shelter for Will when he marries and raises his family on his farms in Connecticut and New York. Will Palmer acquires land, that which he could never have done in England. It is obligatory for him, for security and place in society.
