John Josselyn
John Josselyn was an Englishman born circa 1608, the son of a nobleman, Sir Thomas Josselyn of Kent. His early life and education remain largely undocumented, but he possessed enough wealth to pursue his interests in botany and medicine. Josselyn first traveled to New England in April 1638, where he interacted with notable figures such as Governor John Winthrop and Mr. Cotton, a prominent church teacher. He later returned to New England in 1663, spending eight years exploring the region, including Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. During his time there, he meticulously recorded his observations of Puritan society and the local flora and fauna. Josselyn published two works about his journeys, with his first, "New-England's Rarities Discovered," gaining significant attention for its insights into the natural history of early colonial New England. His writings also include observations on the effects of English settlement on Native Americans and document various home remedies sourced from both Indigenous peoples and settlers. While not scientifically rigorous, Josselyn's accounts are valuable for their historical context and the perspectives they offer on colonial life and interactions.
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John Josselyn
Writer
- Born: c. 1608
- Birthplace: Essex, England
- Died: 1675
Biography
John Josselyn was born in England sometime around 1608. He was the son of a nobleman, Sir Thomas Josselyn of Kent. Very little is known about Josselyn’s early life or education. However, it is certain that he had enough wealth to engage in his personal interests, botany and medicine.
In April, 1638, Josselyn embarked on a sea voyage to New England, arriving there on July 2. While there, he paid his respects to Governor Winthrop and to a Mr. Cotton, a teacher at a Boston church to whom he delivered translations of psalms which had been arranged into English meter by the poet, Francis Quarles. Josselyn also visited his brother, Henry, who had an influential position in the colonial government. Josselyn stayed in New England for a few months before returning to England in October, 1639.
Josselyn made a second voyage to New England in 1663, and he lived there for eight years. During his time in New England, he traveled throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and he recorded his observations about Puritan society and the flora and fauna of the area. When he returned to England in 1671, Josselyn published the first of his two accounts of his travels, New-England’s Rarities Discovered in Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, and Plants of that Country. . . . Josselyn wrote a second book about his travels to New England, but it was not as well received as his first work, probably because he was somewhat critical of Puritan society.
Although Josselyn’s works are unscientific, they are important because they provide a nearly complete natural history of New England during the early colonial period. He also observed the impact of English settlement on the area’s Native Americans and, because of his interest in medicine, recorded many home remedies for common ailments which he gathered from the Native Americans and English settlers.