Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-12-16
THE SHIPS WHICH CARRIED THE
FIRST SETTLERS TO JAMES
TOWN IN 1907.

When we read the story of the ad-
ventures of the Grecian Princes who
voyaged to Coichis with Jason more
than three thousand years ago to bring
back the golden fleece" one of the
particular features of interest to US in
the account is that the ship in which
the heroes made their world renowned
expedition was named Argo. Later
down in the course of the centuries The
same interest attaches to the trail cara
walls of Columbus, the Santa Maria" /"
the "Pinta" and ''Nina," which in 1892
oora him from the port of Palos in
Spain to the as yet unknown shores Of
the new world; to the Dolphin, the
small vessel of VersZzani, the Floren-
tine navigator, which in 1921 first
touched upon the coast of North Caro-
lima and thence plowed the wae:s OF
the Atlantic ccast into far northern
ATTITUDES; to the Squirrel" a bark Of
ZEN tons oplv. in which the nobla Sir
Humphrey Gilbert in 1852, sailed into
he uarbor Of st. John, on the shore Of
New Foundland, Iaised a pillar in
scribe6 with the arms OF England and
took possession of the territory in the
lame Of his sovereign. Queen E'iz :
beth, aud in which, on his homeward
voyage, he went down at midnight into
lne oceans stormy depths, consolng his
brave companicns with the ae-
surauce that they wero as neal :
10 heaven on the sea as on the iand;
10 the ''Spt edwelin and 'Discoverer, "
the small ships of Martin Pripg which
in 1903 first explored the coast aid
BAYS of Maine to the "Half Moon in
Which the adventurous Henry Hudson
and his men in 1909 explored the same
coast ana opened the way to the first
settlement OF New York to the "May-
tlower'' which in 1920 carried the "pi.-
grims" from Delfoaven to the Plymouth
rock to the ARK" and the "Dove"
whicn in 1854 brought Cecilius Calvert
and bis two hundred followers to lay
he foundations Of civil and religious
liberty in Maryland; to the "Key Of
Calmar" and the "Griffin" of the
Swedish West Iudia Company, which
in 1858 conveyed the Swedes and Firms
to the shores of the Delaware; and to
the "Welcome" which in 1852 bore the
enlightened lawgiver and wise states
man, William Penn, OF ever blessed
memory, aud his peaceful colonists to
found The commonwealth OF Pennsy.-
ysnia. =.
The "Virginia company of London, !"
chartered in 1906. to whom had been
accorded the rights ard franchises OF
colonization previously granted to Sir
Walter Raleigh, by Queen Elizabeth OF
England, during the same year, Tilted
out their expedition of colonists 1or
Virginia in three w. sells, the largest CT
which did not exceed two hundred tors
burthen. They were the Sarah Col
stant,n in charge of Captain Christopher
Nawport Commander of the feet) carry
ing seventy mep; the "God Speed" in
charge of Captain Bartholomew Cos
mold, carrying fifty-swo mep, and the
"Discoverer" pinnace in charge OF
Chaplain John Radcliffe, carrying
twenty men. They cleared from LoL-
don the 10Th of December, 1905, but
were detained by unfevorable weather
in the Dowus until the 1st OF Jazz
narv. 1907. On the 26th Of April
following after tedious voyage by
way of the Canary Island, they were
driven by storm into Chesapeake
bay. and on the 18th of May they lanG-
ed at point on one of its rivers wnicn
in honor of their sovereign they calico
James, and began the settlement oi
jamestown.
Unlike the storied ship which car
r;ed Jason and his companions to CO.
cbis. the frail ships which came like
wandering birds over the wide ana
lonely wastes to the wilderness lands
of our Atlantic coast brought no cni
merical nor mythical dreamers, Dut
men bent on solii realities-men 10
Quest of homes under new conditions;
men who were to be the beginners uE-
der the most adverse circumstances OF
great and hourishing commonwealth.
OF these ships OF the long ago, what
after their historic voyages? NO
cbrcnicler has told us to what other
norts they sailed and in what havens
they found rest at last. -
The planting OF tne Coions @0
town. the first permanent seti lementon
onr Atlantic coast, and the florid ac-
coupts carried back to England ny
every returning sdventurer OF the vast
and varied resources of the new couL,
trv for trade and commerce stimulated
greatly the building OF sea going vessels;
London at that time was over-cro"ueo
with idlers and adventufers OF every oe.
scription who looked hopefully across
the ocean to improve their conditlon.
Some M OF these could muster suthclent
resources to pay their passage, ;. oas ~
thousands cane over urder contract 10
nav nav their way 10 labor, after landing. :,
In the proceedings of the Virginia Ia
Company of London" which had IN u
charge the fostering of the Vireinia
eolopy, we fod mention Of such namts IAN 4s
of Of ships coming over with immigrants.
cattle. horses and all other KINDS :,,o OF
fsrm stock and machinery, tor NILS, :.
and az, / all other needful supplies Ss,a1 as Tue
Roma m Nova, the Tryall, the FaulGon' @
1hs Iu'' Jouathau, Io the Duty, the I.ea. Me.,
el,a,t ,be Swan, the Bona Ventura