Journal of Jasper Danckaerts, 1679-1680

"Journal of Jasper Danckaerts, 1679-1680" by Jasper Danckaerts is a captivating record from the 1600s. It follows the writer’s journey all the way from the Netherlands to what we now know as New York, plus his trips to other American colonies, telling of the people he met and things he saw. The journal gives us a look into the life of someone who was trying to make a religious community in a time when Europe and America were going through big changes. The story kicks off with Danckaerts saying goodbye to his friends way back on June 8, 1679. He talks about how hard it was to leave and how uncomfortable traveling was. He and his buddy, Peter Sluyter, got ready and excited to board the ship "Charles" in Amsterdam, and the journal also shares what it was like dealing with all sorts of different people on board. Danckaerts shares keen observations about the ship's trip and the people he's with, introducing the reader to the different parts of life at sea and the many faces of society in those days.