An Account of Two Voyages to New-England, Made During the Years 1638, 1663

In Short

John Josselyn’s narrative records two extended transatlantic journeys to seventeenth-century New England, undertaken twenty-five years apart in 1638 and 1663. Blending personal travelogue, natural history, and a detailed chronological history of the Atlantic world, the book documents the flora, fauna, indigenous cultures, and nascent European settlements of the northeastern American coast. Josselyn contrasts the pristine, untamed wilderness with the rigid society built by the Puritans. The work has endured as a primary historical record, prized for its vivid herbal and zoological catalogues, its unvarnished descriptions of colonial life, and its highly singular authorial voice.

The Story

The book traces a broad narrative arc that moves from early exploratory voyages through two personal expeditions and concludes with a sweeping historical timeline of the region. Josselyn opens his account with practical preparation, detailing the essential provisions, medical supplies, and gear necessary for an Englishman attempting the dangerous ocean crossing. He recounts his initial journey across the Atlantic, framing the voyage through the daily rhythms, hazards, and strange phenomena of life at sea.

Upon reaching North America, Josselyn immerses himself in the natural landscape of the New World. He meticulously categorizes the regional environment, setting down descriptive lists of native trees, wild herbs, land animals, birds, and marine life. His records fuse empirical observation with traditional European folk remedies, detailing how local plants can cure ailments ranging from scurvy to corn-sores, and recording the varieties of fish and snakes that populate the coasts and woods. Interspersed with these natural studies are detailed observations of the Native American tribes of New England. Josselyn documents their diets, social habits, political structures, and lineage of sachems, offering a rare contemporary view of indigenous life alongside the devastating impacts of European diseases.

As Josselyn travels between settlements such as Salem, Boston, Pascataway, and Black-Point in the Province of Maine, his focus shifts toward the human landscape. He provides a stark, often critical portrait of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He describes Boston’s booming infrastructure, bustling harbor, and social habits, while sharply detailing the oppressive legal and religious codes enforced by the Puritan authorities. Through his eyes, the reader glimpses a society that punishes minor social infractions, levies heavy fines for missed church services, and aggressively banishes dissenters.

The final movement of the book steps back from personal travel to provide a complete historical context. Josselyn presents an extensive chronological chronicle spanning from early Elizabethan expeditions, such as Sir Walter Raleigh's attempts to populate Virginia, through the founding of Northern colonies, political shifts, local wars, and notable natural events like earthquakes and comets. The narrative ends in the early 1670s, leaving the reader with a panoramic view of New England’s transition from an uncharted wilderness into a settled, heavily regulated, and politically complex society.

How It Unfolds

Preparing for the voyage Josselyn lists the exact rations, clothing, tools, and medicinal syrups required for an Atlantic crossing. He offers practical advice on avoiding seasickness with sugared spices and detail-rich lists of necessary gear.

Crossing the sea The narrative moves into the first ocean voyage, detailing treacherous weather, ocean sightings, and floating remnants of shipwrecks. Josselyn reflects on the dangers of the Atlantic while admitting his own irresistible urge to return to its waters.

Cataloguing the wilderness Arriving in North America, the text transforms into a natural history inventory. Josselyn describes the fir, hemlock, and spruce trees, local remedies made from bark and roots, and the extensive lists of land beasts, birds, and coastal fish.

Observing the native inhabitants Josselyn records the lives of the local indigenous populations. He outlines their diets, hunting habits, and governance under regional sachems, while documenting their vulnerability to imported European diseases.

Surveying the colonies The author explores coastal settlements, contrasting the wild beauty of the Maine coastline with the dense, urbanizing peninsula of Boston. He details Boston's growing commerce, public spaces, and harbor life.

Criticizing Puritan rule Josselyn turns a sharp lens onto the social governance of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He outlines strict legal penalties for social offenses and notes the severe treatment of religious dissenters.

Chronicle of the New World The book closes with a multi-decade timeline of American colonization, logging notable births, deaths, Indian wars, political appointments, and strange natural events up to the early 1670s.

The People

John Josselyn The author and main figure, Josselyn is an curious English gentleman, herbalist, and observer. Driven by a desire to record the realities of the New World, he travels between England and the American colonies, offering a perspective that is deeply attentive to nature yet openly hostile toward rigid Puritan governance.

The Puritan Authorities Represented by governors such as John Winthrop and Richard Bellingham, this collective governing force seeks to establish a strictly regulated, godfearing society. They enact strict legal codes, levy heavy fines for missing church, and banish or execute those who dissent from their religious order.

The Indigenous Sachems Key native leaders—including Massasoit, Metacomet (Prince Philip), Passaconaway, and Robinhood—struggle to maintain their governance and traditional ways of life. They navigate internal tribal politics alongside the rapid expansion, conflict, and disease brought by European settlers.

In Its Own Voice

"The Firr-tree is a large Tree too, but seldom so big as the Pine, the bark is smooth, with knobs or blisters, in which lyeth clear liquid Turpentine very good to be put into salves and oyntments..."

Josselyn carefully observes the natural properties of local flora, noting how North American trees yield practical medicines for the traveler.

"For kissing a woman in the street, though in way of civil salute, whipping or a fine."

He records the strict legal landscape of Puritan Boston, highlighting the severe penalties imposed on minor public actions.

"...having escaped the dangers of one Voyage, must needs put on a resolution for a second, wherein I plowed many a churlish billow with little or no advantage..."

Reflecting on his decision to return to North America, Josselyn captures the restless drive that pulls him back across the Atlantic despite the immense hazards.

What It's Really About

Beneath its lists and travel itineraries, the book explores the tension between an untamed natural paradise and human attempts to organize and control it. Josselyn captures a transitional moment when raw wilderness met strict ideological settlement. He contrasts the abundance and healing potential of the natural world with the rigid, authoritarian structures built by the Puritan colonists. The work asks fundamental questions about what it costs to build a society in a new land, contrasting the freedom of exploration with the oppressive conformity enforced by colonial authorities.

Why Read It Today

This book offers a fascinating, unvarnished window into seventeenth-century America, untouched by later national myths. Readers who enjoy historical primary sources, early natural history, or colonial travelogues will find Josselyn's direct, personal style thoroughly engaging. The narrative possesses a peculiar rhythm, moving easily between practical survival guides, medical remedies, and sharp social commentary.

Reading the text requires navigating period difficulties, including archaic spelling, 17th-century medical theories, and the casual biases of the colonial era. However, Josselyn's vivid eye for detail and distinct voice reward the effort, leaving the reader with an authentic sense of the beauty, danger, and strangeness of early New England.