EXPERIENCES OF AN EXILED FAMILY 373 



church, which is about four miles from the place where we landed. 

 The day was very hot, and the roads very dusty. We got to church a 

 little late, but had part of the sermon. The people seemed to me pale 

 and yellow. After the minister had made an end, every one of the 

 men pulled out his pipe, and smoked a pipe of tobacco. I informed 

 myself more about my own business, and found that Williamsburg was 

 the only place for my design. 



This design was to establish a plantation for the family. 

 He made a horseback journey to Williamsburg, became To Establish a 

 acquainted with Governor Spotswood, and later formed a 

 solid friendship with that functionary, going in his com- 

 pany on a number of long journeys of inspection through 

 the unsettled country. His journal of their experiences 

 is exceedingly interesting, and as historical material 

 valuable. He proves how carefully the Lord's day was 

 observed by the statement that on Sunday they saw a 

 number of deer and two bears, but did not shoot them 

 because it was the Sabbath. WTiile out in the forest on sabbath 

 their travels, they never omitted at least having prayers 

 read on Sunday. He decided to take up 3,000 acres of 

 land, and thus Virginia became the home of the Fontaine 

 and Maury families— Miss Fontaine, the only daughter, 

 having married M. Maury, 



VI 



Before returning to England, John Fontaine sailed 

 from Hampton for New York, landing on Staten Island, joumey to 

 of which he says : "There are some good improvements 

 here ; the inhabitants are mostly Dutch ; the houses are 

 all built with stone and lime ; there are some hedges as in 

 England," From Staten Island they went by the ferry 

 to Long Island, and then had an eight mile horseback 

 ride to reach Brooklyn and the ferry to New York. " As 

 soon as we lauded we went and agreed for our lodgings 

 with a Dutch woman named Schuyler, and then I went to 

 see Mr. Andrew Freneau at his house, and he received 

 me very well, after which I went to the tavern, and about 



Observance 



New York 



