Sarah Knight
I believe Sarah Knight's diary is significant because it shows the perspective of a female on everyday colonial life, commerce, and class structure. There few writings that were left by women during this time period. So, seeing Sarah Knight's observations can help historians better understand the social norms.
There are everywhere in the towns as I passed, a number of Indians the natives of the country, and are the most savage of all the savages of that kind that I had ever seen: little or no care taken (as I heard upon inquiry) to make them otherwise. They have in some places lands of their own, and governed by the laws of their own making; they marry many wives and at pleasure put them away, and on the least, dislike or fickle humour, on either side, saying stand away to one another is a sufficient divorce
I think to understand Sarah Knight's perspective during the 1700s, we would have to consider the voices of the enslaved people and the indigenous groups. Their experiences would contrast with Knight's judgmental outlook and prejudices toward them. Including these missing perspectives would give a fuller picture of colonial life and reveal how class, race, and power shaped Knight’s perspectives.
At last, like the creature Balaam rode on (a donkey), he opened his mouth and said, “Have you any ribbon for hatbands to sell I pray?” The questions and answer about the pay being past, the ribbon is brought and opened. Bumpkin Simpers, cries its confounded gay I vow, and beckoning to the door, in comes Joan Tawdry, dropping about 50 curtsees and stands by him: he shows her the ribbon…. Then she enquires, “Have you any hood silk, I pray?” which being brought and bought, “Have you any thread silk to sew it with says she, which being accommodated with they departed. They generally stand after they come in a great while speechless, and sometimes don’t say a word till they are asked what they want, which I impute to the aw they stand in of the merchants who they are constantly almost indebted to…
I think Sarah Knight’s diary was originally created for a private setting. However, I think her descriptive storytelling suggests she may have expected a small audience, such as close friends or family, to read it eventually. She includes a small but vivid interaction and details that turn a normal travel log into engaging storytelling, which makes me think she was aware of writing for an audience.
They generally marry very young: the males oftener as I am told under twenty than above; they generally make public weddings…
Why were they marrying young, and what could have influenced the practice of celebrating it publicly?
Pay as money is provisions as aforesaid one third cheaper than as the assembly or general court sets it; and trust as they and the merchant agree for time.
What does this barter-based system say about how people adapted to having limited cash and relied on social trust in trade?
There are everywhere in the towns as I passed, a number of Indians the natives of the country, and are the most savage of all the savages of that kind that I had ever seen
What does Sarah Knight's attitude toward the Indigenous people reveal about the colony's beliefs, and how could that shape our understanding of the relationships between the English and the Natives?
But too indulgent (especially the farmers) to their slaves: suffering too great familiarity from them, permitting them to sit at table and eat with them (as they say to save time), and into the dish goes the black hoof as freely as the white hand….
Sarah Knight's comment shows slavery's presence in the northern colonies. Although slavery is often associated with the South, enslaved labor was common in New England, Massachusetts, and Connecticut households and farms during the early 1700s. Sarah Knight criticizes how farmers and their slaves would eat at the same table and eat the same food. Her disapproval of farmers being "too indulgent" with the enslaved people reflects her beliefs in racial hierarchies. It also shows how normalized slavery was in everyday colonial life.
consumer revolution
The “consumer revolution” was a period of time during the late 1600s to 1700s. During this period, there was an increase in buying and selling imported goods such as textiles, household items, and other goods from British colonists in Europe and North America. This revolution started in Britain before later spreading to other parts of the world. Sarah Knight's account of trading practices shows the variety of goods that were available during this period, and how everyday people participated in bargaining. Her account shows us how colonial life became connected to global markets and consumer habits.
Lex Mercatoria
The phrase "Lex Mercatoria" translates to "the law of merchants and it refers to the trade rules that merchants developed in Europe to ensure fair trade and settle disputes.
and spitting a large deal of aromatic tincture
The phrase "aromatic tincture" refers to a strongly scented liquid mixture. The word tincture means a concentrated liquid, and aromatic describes a fragrant or pungent smell. Sarah Knight's use of aromatic tincture in the sentence describes someone chewing tobacco and spitting out the juice.