Jonathan Dickinson's Journal, or God's Protecting Providence

by Jonathan Dickinson

Jonathan Dickinson's Journal, or God's Protecting Providence. Being the Narrative of a Journey from Port Royal in Jamaica to Philadelphia August 23, 1696 to April 1, 1697. A true story of shipwreck and torture on the Florida Coast.

In the fall of 1696 the barkentine Reformation was wrecked off Jupiter Island on the Florida Coast. Jonathan Dickinson, a young Quaker merchant, with his wife and infant son, and a party of about twenty managed to reach the mainland, only to fall into the hands of a band of hostile Indians. Held captive for several weeks, Dickinson observed at first hand and later recorded in his journal a fascinating account of Indian life, rituals, and customs.

First published by the Quakers in 1699, this American epic became so popular that it was reprinted 16 times during the next 170 years. Charles McLean Andrews and his wife, Evangeline Walker Andrews, undertook a thorough investigation into the background and circumstances of the whole episode and their thoroughly annotated edition appeared in 1945. The present [1961] edition contains the original text and a new introduction by Leonard W. Labaree which presents in condensed form the most important material in the Andrews' edition and a series of maps showing the entire route followed by the survivors.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

109 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1699

Reviews

[Joseph R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In late August 1696, the ship Reformation sailed from Jamaica intending to arrive at Philadelphia. The ship was caught in a storm and wrecked on the Florida coast with a crew of nine and sixteen passengers, including author Jonathan Dickinson. All survived the wreck but they were unable to salvage much from the boat. Dickinson had been traveling with his wife and infant son, a friend, a preacher, and several slaves. He was going to expand the family business in Pennsylvania. That plan changed as they faced hostile natives, friendly natives, and the Spanish during their trek northward. The journal was a popular account and provides some of the only first-hand information about the southern Florida Atlantic coast and the people living there before the Europeans came. Their adventure is exciting and miserable at the same time. They lost almost all their possessions as they progressed. They had to find or make shelters as the season grew progressively worse. Kindness and contempt came in uneven measures.

The subtitle's reference to torture is a bit sensationalistic but not nearly as much as the original title's reference to "the more cruelly devouring jawes [sic] of the inhumane CANIBALS [sic] of FLORIDA." The threat of cannibalism does come up but the only cases are second-hand information about a previously shipwrecked crew that were eaten by those other Indians. It reads more like a threat or scare tactic. The text is more straightforward and honest without embellishments or stereotypes. These English are marooned and pretend to be Spanish since the locals seem very hostile to the English and very respectful of the Spanish. The preacher, Robert Barrow, refuses to go along with the lie but he isn't the spokesman for the travelers and they get away with it for the most part.

I found the book interesting as a tale I hadn't heard before told in an old-fashioned yet relatable style. It's about 100 pages long, making it a quick read.

Recommended for history buffs.

[Larry Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's be clear... this is not an eloquently-written literary work. But, frankly, its not fair to judge a person on the manner in which he journals his personal experiences. Nonetheless, the the title gets five stars from me simply because Dickinson's foresight in recording his experiences provides readers a rare glimpse into the attitudes, emotions, and relationships at play between the English, Spanish, and Native Americans in Florida at the turn of the 18th century. Well worth an afternoon read... especially while visiting the state park that today bears Dickinson's name.

[Chris]

As a first-person narrative, it looses much of the story because it is told as if each day is of equal importance, but the value of the story comes from thinking about it's extraordinary aspects. Still, an important document of early English settlers in North America and provides some insight into the nature of the Indians inhabiting this part of the east coast, albeit an account biased by the prejudices of its author.

[Aaron Slack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite fascinating, for me particularly since I used to live just a few miles from where the Reformation shipwrecked in Jupiter, Florida. An excellent study in Providence, as well.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting account of early travelers in Florida: Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

This journal serves as a time portal to a moment in early Florida history that has not been known much about. Jonathan Dickinson’s Journal describes the harrowing and frightening moments that the crew of the “Reformation” had to endure when they get shipwrecked on the coast of Jupiter Island. Their encounters with the Jobe and Ais Indians were fraught with fear, hunger and miscommunication. Jonathan Dickinson and his party kept their faith and hope in God to lead them to deliverance. I was astonished at how these people endured tragic moments of fear and disillusionment by just relying in their belief in God. God works in mysterious ways and this story goes to show how belief is stronger than you think. I liked this account because it opens a rare door into the world of Florida from a time period we don’t have much historical documentation about.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea the journal itself was actually so short and that so much of the text would be endless introduction(s). Once I'd waded through all the front matter, I really enjoyed reading about the wreck in Dickinsons's own words -- cultural assumptions and all. I especially enjoyed reading that he'd been told St. Lucie was inhabited by cannibals. LOL.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting from a historical perspective. Much of what we consider the modern east coast of Florida dates from the development of the Florida East Coast Railway, in the mid-1890s. This tale is from 200 years earlier.

A quick read, interesting as much for the biases it displays as for the pictures it paints of the time and place.

[Fred Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utterly fascinating. This is (was) the real Florida in all its glory. That people were actually able to survive such a shipwreck and hike up the east coast of Florida to safety is nothing short of miraculous.

[Cliff Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating first-hand view of what the first European settlers endured while trying to get from Jupiter Florida to Philadelphia. I was particularly fascinated with their view of the Indians and what I imagine the Indians view the Europeans were

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be sure and visit the state park named for him.

[Kim Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating journal depicting east coast Florida before very few Europeans had explored it.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important books recording Florida history of the the early period. So much explained from a view other than of one from Spain. An imperative book to read for anyone wanting to know Florida's history.

I know I've read and/or gone over this book over decades, but wanted to really read it and record thoughts here. I know we are not entirely certain how much Dickinson's writings to what actually happened... but something is better than nothing !

There is a lot here and the contents are immeasurable in importance to history.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of 10 points.

[Josh Liller · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is rather well-known where I live since many events in it occurred in my area and we have a state park named after Jonathan Dickinson. Finally reading this book proved a little odd. The older style of English it is written in was unlike anything else I think I've read, although not as difficult as I expected. Despite its reputation, the book is very short and much of the length is taken up by events farther north with far less said about the local Indians that I expected. The book is accompanied by various Introductions, Forewards, and Appendices (not all of them included in the official page count): some of them informative, some of them a little redundant, and some of them just odd. An especially odd one in the edition I read involves Ernest Lyons (a prominent local newspaper editor and author) joining a visiting notable in searching for burial mounds and casually discussing grave-robbing.

Something to consider when reading this book is the question "When was it written?" The book is in the style of a journal, but most if not all of the events could not have been written down until much later - probably not until the titular author completed his entire journey.

Those deeply interested in Florida history or who really enjoy reading old primary sources will love this book. I thought it was just okay, but that it would probably make for an interesting movie.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a long history with this book! I bought it in 2016 at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and carried it home to Massachusetts. There it sat until my next trip to Florida prompted me to pick up in in 2018 to prepare for the trip. I got sidetracked along the way and did not pick it up again until now. I am currently pining for Florida in desperation but travel this year is not allowed.

Over the years my family has spent a lot of time in the Jupiter, FL area and we know well some of the areas the Dickinson group had to traverse in their escape. The journal was not easy to read but I was thankful for the descriptions that bring me back along the coast from Jupiter to St. Augustine. To think the area my family is completely in love with was once so violent is shocking. We have been lucky to only know it as paradise.