Despite their joint lack of prospects, Margret, the middle of seven children and one of three daughters of a Clapham farrier, had married Thomas, a London bricklayer and tiler. The Myltons had been married little more than a year when Thom, recently articled, was enticed by the adventure proposed by a fellow bricklayer working at St. Bride’s Church. In 1587, the Mytons left London with Ananias Dare and his wife Eleanor, to forge a new life in the New World, in a place called (after its native inhabitants) Roanoake.
* It gets no easier 2 keep the Sabbath. My Spirit yearns but there is 2 much needs doing. Will this Rough Land ever b home?* Minded young Virginia. It pains me 2 think my own Danyel wld have been Walking by now. I worry for the one I carry. I must b Strong* Walked on the Sand. Sea so lovely! Sandpipers 🙂 Laughed and cried. Am so foolish when I’m gravid – happysadhappysad!* Good thing about Drowt? –Wot Herbs did survive it have dried well. In this if nothing else r stores will suffice.* Properly roasted over coals, Snake tastes more like Chyken than like Eel. Can this b dried as Croatoans do Meat?* W. Sole is indeed courting Roanoke Maid. Neither village happy. Sole warned 2 b Cautious. We may have 2 leave sooner than planned* Thot I lost my best Needyl! Praise, twas stuck in my good Cap. Good cap getting less so. Soon we may have to leave off Caps.* After prayers, read in my commonplace Book. Surprised how much I have learned and writ about Herb Lore these 2 years.* Weary of crab and Fyshe. Know I shld b Grateful but yearn so for Meat. Dreamed last nite of venison.* Next deerskin — if ever — Joan & I will try 2 make some Mocka-san boots as they do. R boots are nought but Patch* Manteo brought herb woman 2c Samuel. Poultice new 2 me. Must learn 2 speak their language. I say Magwitch repeatedly; think this is thnx* Geese in Flyte. Tom & Sole browt some Down w theyr Bows. Manteo much impressed. Now this land 2 will speak of the skill of English Archers!* Dare 2 rtn with Manteo & be our Scout. He takes with him all our questions & Prayers. Ellenor shews her Sire’s dignity & Blinks not.* Rain @ last! 2 layt for Growing & not much. Enuf 2 refresh. Stood with Elinor & Agnes behind woodpile in r shifts with Hair down. Ahh!!* Samuel is failing. Special prayers for him @ Service, but fear tis God’s Will he leave us. We have Lost so many.* Samuel has Passed. He will be much mourned. My Thomas looks so thin & worn. I reach for him often & Fear to find him Gone.* Used the last of the Weet Flowr 4 a rising. The starter I have from my Mother’s Hearth. My heart breaks. I must find a Way to keep it live.* So much rendered Goose Grease 2 store but where? Finally a use 4 chamber Pot Gov Whyte left behind with Ellenor!* Elennor 2 is again w child. We wept 2gether & swore 2 b Mothers & Sisters to 1 another. What would I b without her & Joan & Agnes?* I wld lief bury my Commonplace Book 4 them 2 find. Thom says foolish; where we r going, I will need what Wisdom it contains* children must learn their Letters. Idea! will make chapbooks from Byrch. Ash & Grease 4 ink, we have in surfeit! good project 4 Winter* After Prayers, Thom & I walked on the Sand & unburdened our Hearts. There is a Blessed Peas from this, & Lyteness* We cannot have enuff Baskets! We Weeve endlessly, fingers Chapt & Bleeding. Agnes most resorsfull but still we wurry we have 2 few Reeds.* Not kynd to Laff @ those boys, but so funny to see Feathers everywhere! Next time, they’ll know to ask the Women to do it!* Dare rtnd, Praise Him. So much 2 tell. Agnes most excited – there will be Clay 4 her. Am pleased 4 her gladness; she has suffered so.* The men are taking down the buildings. Must save all Nayles & hinges. All ironwerk more Precious to us now than Gold.* Just as it took Root, our small bit of England must be Dug Up again! We women will not leave our Rosemary & Lavender & brier Rose.* Sole has gone. What he did not Take was left on his pallet with a Note saying Godspeed. Godspeed to him & his Crenepo, if 2 her he went.* Our last Sabbath on this Spot. We shall build a Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Yet again. Praise Him keep us.* 2nite we Feast on all we will not Carry. We wear what Best we have, & sing & Dance in joyful Festival. We must meet the future with Joy* Can w8 no longer. Thomas is carving a message in the tree 4 Govnr White. Croatoan. He will understand. Yrs Margret Mylton