Today we set sail upon the high seas for the Bahamas. This place will be our new religious haven where we will be sovereign in our religious expressions. This place will justly open a new chronicle in all our lives, almost a renaissance in our entire community certainly in my life.
1648
For a new era a new constitution had to be instituted. The constitution stated that there was to be freedom of religion and equal justice. The government was to be in the form of a republic, with a governor, a council, and san elected senate or parliament. Each settler who paid £100 would receive 300 acres of land and those who came, as servants would receive 25 acres. I felt that these rules were superior for this time however they were not carried out they way they should have been.
Our sail to the Bahamas was not a joyous one; we had a mishap on the William (that was the name of our ship.) we were approaching land when we crashed on a reef. This was devastating for all our provisions were lost at sea. We all swam to shore the best way we knew how and took refuge in a cave we called Preacher’s Cave. For two weeks now we have been surviving off of the island’s natural resources, however that is not enough to sustain us so we are nearly to the point of starvation. I have lost surly 30 lbs it has truly done well to a lot of the ladies and there figures. On the contrary a lot of us are becoming ill and are in dire need of proper nourishment. Hence our gracious leader set sail today for Virginia. The settlers in Virginia gave us enough supplies and also provided us with a vessel may God bless their hearts for their act of comradeship.
Today has been quite a busy one we have been working for hours in the sum gathering braziletto wood. We are trying our hands at barter; for exchange for goods and services we are sending New England the braziletto wood. In other events of the day I spoke with Stephen Barr and he has asked for my company at the colony picnic. I said yes and it shall truly be a glorious time.
1650’s
Things in Eleuthra are not going as we thought they would have. Life here is becoming very hard and tedious. Now I sit and wonder why it is I came here in the first place. I left a comfort of my parents for this? I would think not. Stephen has proposed to me with the stipulation that we leave Eleuthra and settle in another colony maybe Virginia. I have agreed to this and will be leaving the island that once served as a haven for religious sovereignty; however now is a symbol for poverty, strife, and hardship. During my time here however, I learned a lot things about people and myself. I have truly matured and now know what true love is. Prior to our arrival in Virginia Stephen and I have agreed to see our parents in Bermuda and apologize for our behaviour. We intend to have them present at our wedding and active in our lives once we are settling in Virginia.
I feel that there has been a lot of running away whenever things get tough, but I know that I have to do whatever it takes for survival. I however do not regret anything that has transpired in the life these past years. It may seem to be quixotic at times though when I think about the beauty of the island and the many romantic rendezvous Stephen and I have shared and it somehow makes me want to hold on for awhile longer and see if we can prosper on this island. Then my momentary brush with nostalgia leaves me and I am faced with reality and the many reasons why it is so imperative that Stephen and I leave this barren land.
Maybe we might find ourselves back here sometime in the future but until then we will remain as far away as possible.
It leaves me a bit sullen to close a chapter in my life that seem to have only just begun but I feel that this is a milestone in the chronicle of my life and I will embrace it with open arms. This is not a stop to the logging of my life it is just the beginning.
Diana Petrie
