Ancient Planters: Passengers of the Susan Constant (1607)

The Virginia Company dispatched 144 men and boys on three ships which left England in December of 1606 and arrived in Virginia in May of 1607.

The Susan Constant, at 120 tons, was the largest of the three ships led by Capt. Christopher Newport. She carried 71 colonists and was about 116 feet long. The Godspeed, led by Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold, carried 39 passengers and 13 sailors. She was a 40 ton brigantine about 68 feet long. The Discovery was a 20-ton “fly boat” which took part in six expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage.

First Women of Jamestown - A Wedding and a Baby

"...the plantation can never florish till families be planted and the respect of wives and children fix the people on the soil." -- Sir Edwin Sandy, Treasurer, Virginia Company of London, 1620

One of the first English women to arrive and help provide a home life in the rugged Virginia wilderness was young Anne Burras. Anne was the personal maid of Mistress Forrest who came to Jamestown in 1608 to join her husband. Although the fate of Mistress Forrest remains uncertain, that of Anne Burras is well known. Her marriage to carpenter John Laydon three months after her arrival became the first Jamestown wedding. While Jamestown fought the become a permanent settlement, Anne and John began a struggle to raise a family of four daughters in the new Virginia wilderness. Certainly, Anne and her family began the stabilization process which would eventually spur the colony's growth.

Notables

• Anne Burras

Passengers

December 20, 1606, 150 passengers left Blackwall, London, England in three London (Virginia) Company ships, Susan Constant with Master Christopher Newport and 71 passengers, Godspeed with Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold and 52 passengers and the Discovery under Capt. John Ratcliffe, carrying 21 persons. They headed for the New World and in search of the Lost Colony of Roanoke (John White's 1587 trip with 150 passengers landing at Hatorask on July 22.) After 6 weeks, the ships landed in Cape Henry, Virginia. 105 survivors established the town of Jamestown.

April 30, 1607: The ships arrive at Cape Comfort, a vanguard boat stopped at Kecoughtan where the natives welcomed the English

Settler list

1. Alicock, Jeremy gentleman
2. Archer, Captaine Gabriell gentleman
3. Behethland, Robert gentleman
4. Brinto, Edward mason
5. Brookes, Edward gentleman
6. Brookes, John gentleman
7. Brumfield, James boy
8. Bruster, William gentleman
9. Capper, John carpenter
10. Cassen, George laborer
11. Cassen, Thomas laborer
12. Cassen, William laborer
13. Clovill, Ustis gentleman
14. Collier, Samuell boy
15. Couper, Thomas barber
16. Crofts, Richard gentleman
17. Dixon, Richard gentleman
18. Dods, John laborer (1624 VA muster with wife Jane, 40 at muster, he was 36)
19. Edward, Ould laborer
20. Emry, Thomas carpenter
21. Ford, Robert gentleman
22. Garret, William brick layer
23. Golding, George laborer
24. Gore, Thomas gentleman
25. Gosnold, Anthony gentleman Grandson of Robert Gosnold of Earl Soham, Suffolk
26. Gosnoll, Anthony gentleman (dup)
27. Gosnoll, Captaine Bartholomew council
28. Herd, John brick layer
29. Houlgrave, Nicholas gentleman
30. Hunt, Master Robert preacher
31. Johnson, William laborer
32. Kendall, Captaine George council
33. Laxon, William carpenter
34. Laydon, John laborer
35. Love, William taylor
36. Martin, Captaine John council
37. Martin, George gentleman
38. Martin, John gentleman
39. Midwinter, Francis gentleman
40. Mutton, Richard boy
41. Peacock, Nathaniel boy
42. Percie, Master George gentleman Brother Henry is Earl of Northumberland Coldham pg 4
43. Pickhouse, Dru gentleman
44. Pising, Edward carpenter
45. Powell, Nathaniell Capt, gentleman, married Joyce Tracy on the Supply, both slain by 03 Sep 1620
46. ? George Harrison reports Capt Powell, gunner, have died by Jan 1623. Coldham pg 31
47. Profit, Jonas sailor
48. Ratliffe, Captaine John council
49. Read, James blacksmith
50. Robinson, John gentleman
51. Rods, William laborer
52. Sands, Thomas gentleman
53. Skot, Nicholas drum
54. Small, Robert carpenter
55. Smyth, Captaine John council
56. Snarsbrough, Francis gentleman
57. Studley, Thomas gentleman
58. Tanker, William gentleman
59. Tavin, Henry laborer
60. Throgmorton, Kellam gentleman
61. Todkill, Anas carpenter
62. Unger, William laborer
63. Waler, John gentleman
64. Webbe, Thomas gentleman
65. White, William laborer
66. Wickinson, William Surgeon
67. Wingfield, Master Edward Maria council
68. Wotton, Thomas Surgeon

• John Ratcliffe was captured by Powhatans Indians and tortured to death by the women.

Links

• [http://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/jamestown.htm]
• A Brief History of Jamestown
• Jamestown Biographies
• Women in Early Jamestown
• Historic Jamestowne: The Indispensable Role of Women at Jamestown
• US Archaeologists Study Remains of FIRST LADY in America
• http://www.suite101.com/content/womenofjamestown-a635
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Constant
• http://www.suite101.com/content/story-of-144-passengers-to-virginia...
• http://www.preservationvirginia.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=31