Mossy Feet Books – Author Paul R. Wonning
Books About Indiana History, United States History and Garden Guides
The first charter granted to the Pilgrims was the First Pierce Patent on February 02, 1620. This patent granted by the Virginia Company of London to John Pierce never took effect. The Pilgrims sailed in September 1620 and reached the New World by early November. However bad weather and bad luck forced them to land in an area outside the land granted to them by the charter. Continue reading Podcast – The Pilgrims – Part 1
First Blacks Land at Jamestown Virginia
Sometime in late August, 1619 a ship docked at Jamestown bearing a cargo of blacks. The probable origin of these people was Angola, Africa. Thus, the first blacks had arrived in the New World. The status of these people is unknown. The institution of slavery did not exist yet. Many historians feel that these blacks served as indentured servants for a period. There are records that blacks received awards of land in later years, lending credence to that theory. Continue reading Podcast – First Blacks Land at Jamestown Virginia
Military buffs visiting Vincennes will want to visit the Indiana Military Museum. At the entrance of this impressive museum the visitor passes by a military guard shack watched over by a uniformed mannequin in full uniform. Continue reading Video – Indiana Military Museum
Commissioned to find a northern route to Asia by the Dutch East India Company, Henry Hudson explored New England coast. He sailed into Hudson Bay on September 3, 1609. Continue reading Podcast – The Explorations of Henry Hudson Part 1 – First Voyage for the Dutch
In this episode the author talks about John Smith and some of his adventures in Jamestown Colony.
Just over a year after the colonists settled at Jamestown and six months after the devastating fire, John Smith led fourteen men on an expedition from their fort to explore the region that surrounded them on June 02, 1608. Continue reading Podcast – John Smith and Jamestown
George Popham led a colony to current Maine to found a colony along the Kennebec River as a venture for the Plymouth Company, establishing the colony on August 13, 1607. Continue reading Podcast – The Short-Lived, Little Known Popham Colony
Their initial landing on April 26, accomplished, the English colonists searched for a site to settle. If successful, they would be the first permanent English settlement in North America. At length, the president they chose to lead them, Captain Edward Maria Wingfield, decided on a spot. It was on a marshy spit of land on the north shore of the James River. They arrived on the spot on May 13, 1607 and went ashore on May 14. Continue reading Podcast – The Founding of Jamestown, Virginia – Part 2
Britain’s first attempt at founding a colony in North America had failed at Roanoke Island in 1590. It would be almost 20 years before they would mount a second attempt. Continue reading Podcast – The Founding of Jamestown, Virginia
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado had explored large areas of what would become America’s Southwest in 1540 – 1542. Spain had never followed up on this great expedition. King Phillip II of Spain decided to end this neglect by charging explorer Juan de Oñate with the mission of exploring this region on September 21, 1595. Continue reading Juan de Oñate Expedition to the Great Plains
Greetings, today I will conclude the tale of the Roanoke settlement in Virginia Continue reading John White Returns to Roanoke
By 1588 Spain was the preeminent power. Its overseas colonies spread over three continents in the New World, North America, South America and Central America. These colonies sent vast quantities of gold back to Spai Continue reading Podcast – The Spanish Armada
The last episode related how Richard Grenville returned to Roanoke Island to find the colony deserted, as Sir Walter Raleigh had rescued the beleaguered settlers some days before Grenville arrived with fresh supplies. This episode is the conclusion of the tale of Roanoke Island. Continue reading Sir Walter Raleigh’s Roanoke Colony Part 2
The story of the founding of St. Augustine, Florida begins with a disastrous French settlement on Pariss Island in 1562, North Carolina and ends with the destruction of the French Fort Caroline in Florida three years later. Continue reading Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and the Founding Of St. Augustine
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado’s fleet departed San Miguel de Culiacán on their quest to explore what the area of the Colorado River on April 22, 1540. Hernando de Alarcón would depart by ship in May. The plan was for Alarcón to find the mouth of the Colorado River, sail up it and rendezvous with Coronado’s overland expedition. Continue reading Podcast – Coronado’s Search For The 7 Cities Of Gold
Hernando de Soto lived from October 21, 1496 until May 21, 1542. His parents were members of a minor Spanish nobility class called Hildagos. As nobility, they would pay no taxes, however they had little property. He spent his childhood migrating with his family between 3 towns in southwest Spain. As he matured, he attended the University of Salamanca, courtesy of a family friend’s generosity. During his early life tales of the adventures of the Spanish conquistadors circulated widely among the people. Intrigued by the possibility of wealth and fame, he decided to become one of these adventurers. Continue reading Podcast – Hernando De Soto’s Expedition to the Mississippi River
His small fleet included four ships and departed on May 9, 1502. His stepbrother Bartolomeo, Diego Mendez, and his 13-year-old son Fernando accompanied him. During the final leg of the voyage, he encountered a hurricane that was brewing, so he did stop at Hispaniola to warn the governor. The governor ignored his warning and sent a 28-ship fleet laden with treasure on its way. The ships did encounter the hurricane, which sank 24 of the 28 ships. Columbus had placed some of his possessions on one of the ships and this ship was one of the survivors. Continue reading Christopher Columbus’ Fourth Voyage, Death and His Wanderings After Death
Today I will talk about the first Spanish settlement in the New World and the conclusion of Columbus’ second voyage. Continue reading The First New World Spanish Settlement
After leaving Cuba the captain of the Pinta, Martín Alonso Pinzón, took off on his own. Continue reading Podcast – Division of the fleet, First Spanish Settlement, Mermaids and Return to Spain
The three ships departed the Canary Islands on September 6, 1492. The ships would remain out of sight of land for 5 long weeks. Continue reading Podcast – Columbus – San Salvador Island, Fernandina and Cuba
Today the author discusses the completion of the Reconquista and the contract that would lead to great riches for Spain and a firm place in history for the previously obscure Christopher Columbus. Continue reading Reconquista Complete and Columbus Signs Contract
Mossy Feet Books - Author Paul R. Wonning 