Explorers

Explorers of the 1600's

by Ben Morsey

(age 11)

George Weymouth

Explorer of Maine

1602 to 1605

1602
East India Company has commissioned me to find a northern passage to Cathay (China) by way of
the Northwest Passage. We left in May from London with two ships, the Discovery and the
Godspeed. I am carrying with me a letter from Queen Elizabeth to the emperor of China! I fear I
shall never deliver it, because my mutineering crew has locked me in my cabin, seized control of the
ship, and is forcing us to turn around! What treachery!

May 1605
Mr. Ferdinando Gorges sent me to a wild country across the ocean on the Archangel in hopes of
settling colonists there. We have landed on a woody island, overgrown with fir, birch, oak, and beech.
There are plentiful gooseberries, strawberries, wild peas and roses. I am naming this island Saint
George.

July 1605
Having explored much of the area, its great rivers and mighty mountains, and having captured
several natives to bring home, I am setting sail to England!
Note: Weymouth explored present-day Penobscot Bay, Monhegan Island, the coastline and mouth of
the Kennebec River, and possibly saw the White Mountains of New Hampshire

Willem Janszoon

Exploration to Australia!

In the years 1603 to 1605

1603
My crew and I are about to embark on a journey from our home in the
Netherlands to the Indonesian Islands in order to trade in spices. We set sail
tomorrow on our ship, the Duy"en (Little Dove), one of twelve ships. The
journey is dangerous, I hear, but I am confident we will be succeed.

Early 1605
We have been sent to the island of New Guinea after a successful journey to
the East Indies. The Dutch East India Company has commissioned me to
search for gold believed to be sent there by King Solomon himself, as well as
a great mysterious southern continent. We have found no gold so far, but we shall travel south for
further exploration to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Later 1605
We have made landfall on the northern border of the great southern continent, which is named
Terra Australis Incognita (‘unknown southern land’). The land is very swampy, and the natives are
hostile. In fact, they have murdered several of my men. We are staying long enough to chart the
hundreds of miles of coastline and sailing home to share our stories of our wild adventures

(continued next week)

(researched and written for a Homeschool Project Fair)

If you are between the ages of 4-18,

(or know someone who likes to write stories)

I would like to post your story here.

Send me an email. I'd love to read your story!

Signed,

Wiggles the Polliwog