Back in Time

Meander through the alleys of this charm- ing town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Virginia Company’s third “supply” to Jamestown colony (established May 1607) set sail from Plymouth, England on 2 June, 1609. The fleet included a 300 ton galleon, The Sea Venture, which was the flagship. The experienced mariner, Sir George Somers, was Admiral of the Fleet, and Christopher Newport was Captain of the Sea Venture. On board was the entire high command including the colony’s new Lt. Governor, Sir Thomas Gates.

To shorten the sailing time and avoid potential conflict with the Spanish, the fleet decided on a more northerly route. The vessels sailed in sight of each other until 24 July when a monstrous hurricane dispersed the fleet. The Sea Venture, along with the crew and passengers battled the storm for four anxious days, until they landed on Bermuda’s eastern reefs.

Meanwhile, the other storm-battered ships with their sick and exhausted passengers arrived into Jamestown. Sometime in August, those in Virginia presumed that Sea Venture, along with the colony’s new leadership and vital food supply, were lost in the storm. The ship’s company stayed in Bermuda for nine months while completing the construction of two small rescue ships, Patience and Deliverance, and these set sail for Virginia on 10 May, 1610. Patience was estimated as thirty tons in size and Deliverance about eighty tons.