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The Third Supply

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US Southern Colonies Project|Jamestown Team|Third Supply

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The Third Supply

The Third Supply was a flotilla of nine ships, all intended for Jamestown, Virginia, commanded by Admiral Sir George Somers. The ships were:

  • The Sea Venture, also called the "Seaventure" or "Sea Adventure", the flagship, with Captain Christopher Newport
  • The Blessing with Captain Gabriel Archer and Captain Adams - Archer died the winter of 1609
  • The Lion with Captain Webb
  • The Falcon with Captain John Martin and Master Francis Nelson
  • The Unitie with Captain Wood and Master Pett
  • The Diamond with Captain John Ratcliffe and Captain King - Ratcliffe was killed by Indians Dec 1609
  • The Swallow with Captain Moone and Master Somers
  • The Virginia of the North Colony with Captain Davis and Master Davis
  • The Catch with Master Matthew Fitch

The voyage of the ill fated Third Supply was briefly recounted in a letter penned in August, 1609 by Captain Gabriel Archer, who was first captain on the Blessing.

"Having left England May 1609 with a fleet of seven ships...we arrived at Plimmouth (England) the twentieth day...here we took into The Blessing six mares and two horses, etc...we stayed until the eight of June...our course commanded to leave the Canaries one hundred leagues to the eastward...and steer directly for Virginia...The Blessing, where I and Capt. Adams were... The Sea Adventure, with

Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Sommers, and Capt. Newport; The Diamond, with Capt. Ratcliffe and Capt. King; The Falcon, with Capt.Martin and Master Nelson; The Unitie, with Capt. Wood and Master Pett; The Lion with Capt. Webb; The Swallow with Capt. Moone and Master Somers. In The Catch dwent one Matthew Fitch, Master and in the boat of Capt. George Somers called The Virginia, which was built in the North Colony, were Capt. Davies and Master Davies. These were the Captains and Masters of our Fleet... We had the most terrible and vehement storm, which separated all of our fleet from one another... The Blessing arrived safely in Virginia...".[1]

Thirty two people from two ships were thrown overboard with yellow fever. The London plague broke out on the Diamond, and the ships were all separated in a tempest (hurricane) on Saint James Day, July 25th. After the storm, the Blessing, the Lion, the Falcon and the Unitie (all on board were sick) came together and headed for Virginia, "falling into the James River." The Diamond appeared a few days later, and the Swallow a few days after that. The Catch was lost at sea, the Seaventure purposely wrecked in Bermuda. Four days after the hurricane, the Seaventure began taking on water. Land was sited and she wrecked between two reefs off the shores at Discovery Bay of Bermuda on 28 July 1609. All of approximately 150 passengers safely made land, "not a hair perished." Two pinnaces were built during the following nine months, the "Deliverance" and the "Patience" from the timber of the ruined Seaventure. The Deliverance was started September 7, 1609 built by Robert Frobisher, eighty tons, the Patience was only thirty tons, built by George Somers. These vessels sailed on to Virginia 20 May 1610, landing Monday. May 31 at Point Comfort, Virginia. (May 30 was a Saturday) They left two men behind, Christopher Carter and Robert Waters. The Virginia arrival date is unknown, but is noted to have stayed at Jamestown along with the Swallow, while other ships returned..

The ships carried supplies for six hundred people, but these were damaged by the storm. In three days, the new settlers ate Jamestown's entire crop of corn. About two hundred people arrived from the Third Supply, and found only less than 109 people alive in Jamestown.

The Diamond, Falcon, Blessing, Unitie and Lion left Virginia October 14, 1609, taking Captain John Smith with them to England, along with thirty unruly youths sent from England but not accepted in Virginia.

Some reports say the two ships [Swallow and Virginia or Deliverance and Patience?] had given up and were headed home when they came across more ships under Thomas West, Lord de la Warr, on his way to the colonies, and were persuaded to return on their voyage to Jamestown.

Some reports say 150 landed [Bermuda, aboard Seaventure?] and 142 left, leaving behind 8 people, some say three men were left on the islands to hold the claim in Bermuda. Fourteen days later, the two ships reach Virginia where only 60 of the other 140 settlers survived.

Also reported May 23, 1610 for the date of arrival of 140 survivors per Coldham pg 3.

On 19 June 1610 Sir George Somers volunteered to return to Bermuda aboard the "Patience" for supplies for the struggling colony of Virginia.

George Somers returned to Bermuda, dying there in November of 1610. Captain Matthew Somers returned to England aboard the "Patience" with his uncle's body.

Timeline

Nine ships left England in June 1609, all were separated by a storm "on Saint James Day, July 25th"
  1. Sea Venture -> damaged in storm, made Bermuda 28 July 1609; two pinnaces were built from her timbers:
    1. Deliverance -> sailed from Bermuda on 20 May 1610 -> arrived Virginia 31 May 1610*
    2. Patience -> sailed from Bermuda on 20 May 1610 -> arrived Virginia 31 May 1610* -> 19 June, sailed for Bermuda -> left Bermuda for England after death of George Somers (November 1610)
  2. Blessing -> arrived in Virginia after storm, with Lion, Falcon, and Unitie -> left for England on 14 October 1609 with them, plus the Diamond
  3. Lion -> arrived Virginia after storm -> left 14 October 1609
  4. Falcon -> arrived Virginia after storm -> left 14 October 1609
  5. Unitie -> arrived Virginia after storm -> left 14 October 1609
  6. Diamond -> plague on board but made Virginia just a few days after the other four ships -> left for England on 14 October 1609
  7. Swallow -> made Virginia a few days after the Diamond -> stayed in Virginia
  8. Virginia of the North Colony -> arrival date unknown, but made Virginia -> stayed in Virginia
  9. Catch -> lost at sea
* Narrative in previous section says the Deliverance and the Patience left Bermuda on 20 May 1610 and arrived in Virginia on 31 May, but also mentions a 23 May arrival date as well as saying the voyage took 14 days (assuming those references were to the Deliverance and the Patience).

Passengers

Alphabetical
Bagwell, Henry
Aged 35, listed on the Deliverance, landed at Jamestown presumably originally in the wrecked Seaventure.
8a: Aged 35 at muster at West & Sherley's Hundred, Charles City 1624 with Symon Turgis and two servants.
Bennit, Nicholas
Carpenter
Brian, William
Briars, Jeffrey
Died in Bermuda
Buck, Richard
Sailed June 1609 with wife, Miss Langley and four Buck children.
Marooned for 9 months embarked for Virginia from Bermuda 10 May 1610. Arrived in Jamestown 21 May 1610. He was a minister.
The four Buck children, Elizabeth, Bridget and Bermuda were born and died while their parent marooned on Somers Island (1609-10)
Mara born in Virginia 1611 ward of brother-in-law, John Burrows.
Bucke, Richard Reverand
Chaplain to the expedition
Carter, Christopher
Deserted and stayed behind on the island
Chard, Edward
Stayed behind on the island
Chard, Joseph
Josuah? 8a: Listed as on the 1607 voyage, aged 36 st muster at Colledge Land, wife Ann on the Bonnie Bess.
Eason, Edward and wife,
Baby boy Bermuda born in Bermuda to Edward and wife
Frobisher, Robert
Shipwright
Gates, Sir Thomas
Governor for Virginia
Godby, Thomas
Aged 38 in the Deliverance, landed at Jamestown presumably originally in the wrecked Seaventure
8a: Listed as on the 1608 voyage, muster at Elizabeth CIty 1624 with wife Joane on the FLying Hart, John Curtis and Christopher Smith.
Grave, George
8a: At muster James City, wife Elnor on the Susan.
Hitchman, William
Died in Bermuda
Hopkins, Stephen
Left England 9 June 1609 among 150 persons cast ashore etc etc then it states "Although there is no complete list of the shipwrecked party which eventually reached Jamestown in the two pinnaces Patience and Deliverance, built on the islands,
Hopkins did not remain on The Somers Islands and the conclusion is that the recalcitrant came to Virginia despite his known wish to return to England. (He went back to England and came on the Mayflower in 1620 to Plymouth, Mass.
No further connection with the Colony.
Horton, Mistress
Joons, Elizabeth
Aged 30, servant, landed at Jamestown presumably originally in the Seaventure
Jourdain, Silvester
Of Lyme Regis, Dorset
Knowles,Richard
Lewis, Richard
Died in Bermuda
Lightfoote, John
Landed at Jamestown presumably originally in the wrecked Seaventure
8a: At muster in James City 1624 as servant to Cap Raph Harmor.
Martin, William
Newport, Christopher
Captain of the Sea Venture, former privateer
Paine, Henry
Shot to death for mutiny
Pearepoint, Francis
Persons, Elizabeth
Maid to Mistress Horton; married Thomas Powell while in Bermuda
Pierce, William Capt.
8a: At muster at James City, January 1624 with 4 servants and 13 more at Mulburie Island.
Wife Jone was on the Blessing.
Powell, Thomas
Cook
Proctor, John
Landed at Jamestown presumably originally in the Seaventure
8a: Listed as on the 1607 voyage. muster at Paces Paine, James City.
Wife Allis on the 1621 George.
Ravens, Henry
Master mate; lost at sea when he sailed for help
Reede, Humfrey
Rich, Robert
Brother of Sir Nathaniel Rich, a shareholder. Was a soldier. Returned to Bermuda 1617 and died there 1630.
Rolfe, John and wife.
A young man in his twenties and traveling with his wife. 9 months on Somers Island.
Their baby girl was born in Bermuda, christened Bermudas 11 Feb 1610, died and buried there.
His wife died on Somers Island or shortly after reaching Virginia Spring 1610.
He married Pocahontas in April 1614.
Samuel, Edward
Murdered by Robert Waters
Sharpe, Samuel
8a: Listed on the 1609 voyage. At muster at Peirsey's Hundred January 1624.1 servant, Henery Carman.
Wife Elizabeth on 1621 Margaret & John.
Shelly, Henry Mr
Somers, Captain Matthew
Nephew and heir of Sir George, was aboard the "Swallow" on the same expedition
Somers, Sir George
Admiral of the flotilla
Strachey, William
From Surrey England b 1572 on SV, marooned 9 mo
Strachney, William
Secretary-elect of Virginia Company, colonist secretary
Swift, James
Walsingham, Robert
Cockswain
Want, John
Waters, Edward Lieut.
On SV and on to Virginia on the Patience.
Waters, Robert
Deserted and stayed behind on the island, murdered Edward Samuel
Waters, Edward
Aged 40 in the Patience, landed at Jamestown presumably originally in the wrecked Seaventure
Whittingham, Thomas
Lost at sea with Henry Ravens
Yeardley, Sir George, Knight, Capt
Experienced veteran of the Dutch wars (on the Deliverance)
Yeardley, Lady Temperance
1608 voyage, wife of Sir George, on the Falcon
List from another source
Sir George Somers, Admiral of the flotilla
Rev Richard Bucke, chaplain to the expedition
William Strachney, Secretary-elect of Virginia Company
Silvester Jourdain, of Lyme Regis, Dorset
Joseph Chard
Mr Henry Shelly
Robert Walsingham, cockswain
Robert Frobisher, shipwright
Nicholas Bennit, carpenter
Francis Pearepoint
William Brian
William Martin
Henry Ravens, master mate; lost at sea when he sailed for help
Richard Knowles
Stephen Hopkins
Christopher Carter deserted and stayed behind on the island
Robert Waters who deserted and stayed behind on the island
Edward Waters
Samuel Sharpe
Henry Paine, shot to death for mutiny
Humfrey Reede
James Swift
Thomas Powell, cook
Edward Eason
Mistress Eason
baby boy Bermuda Eason, born in Bermuda to the above
John Want
Mistress Horton
Elizabeth Persons, maid to Mistress Horton; married Thomas Powell while in Bermuda
Capt (Sir) George Yeardley, experienced veteran of the Dutch wars (on the Deliverance)
Jeffrey Briars (died in Bermuda)
Richard Lewis, died in Bermuda
Edward Samuel, murdered by Robert Waters
William Hitchman, died in Bermuda
Thomas Whittingham, lost at sea with Ravens (above)
Edward Chard who stayed behind on the island
Captain Matthew Somers nephew and heir of Sir George, was aboard the "Swallow" on the same expedition
Robert Rich*, the brother of Sir Nathaniel Rich, a shareholder. Was a soldier. Returned to Bermuda 1617 and died there 1630.
Christopher Newport*, Captain of the Sea Venture, former privateer
Stephen Hopkins*
John Rolfe*, a young man in his twenties and traveling with his wife. Their baby girl was born in Bermuda, christened Bermudas and died shortly thereafter. His wife died shortly after reaching Virginia Spring 1610 and he married Pocahontas in April 1614.
Mistress Rolfe, first wife of above
Bermuda Rolfe, baby girl born in Bermuda, christened 11 Feb 1610, died and buried there
Source of this list is are unclear, as is why some entries have an asterisk.

Others

Additional persons listed in reference #3[2] as arriving at Jamestown in the Patience and the Deliverance (and therefore assumed to be aboard the Sea Venture when it wrecked at Bermuda) were:
Henry Bagwell, aged 35 in the Deliverance
Thomas Godby, aged 36 in the Deliverance
Edward Waters, aged 40 in the Patience
Elizabeth Joons, aged 30, servant
John Lytefoote
John Proctor

References:

1) The Generall Historie of the Bermudas by Captain John Smith 1624, reprint 1966; *Royal Naval Dockyard Museum, Somerset, Bermuda;
2) Bermuda - unintended destination by Terry Tucker, 1982;
3) Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents & Grants, Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nell Marion Nugent 1963)

Virginia Historical Index by Swem:

  • 4V344 "As a results of the efforts, Sir Thomas Gates as sole and absolute Governor, with Sir George Summers, Admiral, and Capt. Newport, Vice Admiral of Virginia, and divers and other persons of ran four cke and quality in seven ships and two pinnaces, left Falmouth on the 8 of June 1609, and on the 24 day of July, 1609 they encountered a terrible storm that prevailed from Tuesday noone till Friday noone; that scattered the fleet and wrecked The Sea Venture(on July 28 1609) upon the island of Bermuda"
  • 24V248 Francis Michell lived at Elizabeth Citty February 1623 and Josuah Chard, aged 36, who came in the Sea Venture, May 1607.
  • 29V299 Josuah Chard came in the SV

Purse and Person

The following came in the sea Ventura (from different pages)
p15 Henry Bagwell on the Deliverance
p22 Samuel Sharp
p30 John Lightfoote
p31 Capt. Wm Pierce
p32 George Grave
p38 John Procter
p140 Richard Buck sailed June 1609 with wife, Miss Langley and four Buck children. Marooned for 9 months embarked for Virginia from Bermuda 10 May 1610. Arrived in Jamestown 21 May 1610. He was a minister . The four Buck children , Elizabeth, Bridget and Bermuda were born and died while their parent marooned on Somers Island(1609-10) Mara born in Virginia 1611 ward of brother-in-law, John Burrows.
p374 Stephen Hopkins left England 9 June 1609 among 150 persons cast ashore etc etc then it states "Although there is no complete list of the shipwrecked party which eventually reached Jamestown in the two pinnaces Patience and Deliverance, built on the islands, Hopkins did not remain on The Somers Islands and the conclusion is that the recalcitrant came to Virginia despite his known wish to return to England. (He went back to England and came on the Mayflower in 1620 to Plymouth, Mass. No further connection with the Colony.
p475 Wm Pierce
p507 John Rolfe and wife . 9 months on Somers Island. Wife died on Somers Island or shortly after arriving in Virginia.
p590 Wm Strachey from Surrey England b 1572 on SV, marooned 9 mo etc
p650 Lieut. Edward Waters on SV and on to Virginia in Patience.
p724 George Yeardley
The following entries were obtained from the Hotten book, from the Musters of the Inhabitants in Virginia 1624/1625 chapters, pages 201 thru 265, which lists the muster captain, and what ship the individual arrived on.
  • Chard, Josuah, 1607 voyage, aged 36 at muster at College Land. DATE ERROR!!
  • Graue (Grave), George, muster at James City. Wife Elnor on the Susan, no date
  • Lightfoote, John, servant to Cap Ralph Hamor, no date

Sources

  1. The Genesis of the U.S., Vol. I; pages 328-329
  2. Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents & Grants, Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nell Marion Nugent 1963), from list of numbered references. The first two:
    • The Generall Historie of the Bermudas by Captain John Smith 1624, reprint 1966; *Royal Naval Dockyard Museum, Somerset, Bermuda;
    • Bermuda - unintended destination by Terry Tucker, 1982;
  • John Camden Hotten, The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants; religious exiles; political rebels; serving men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American plantations 1600-1700. With their ages, the localities where they formerly lived in the mother country, the names of the ships in which they embarked, and other interesting particulars. From mss. preserved in the State paper department of Her Majesty's Public record office, England (1874); digital images, Hathi Trust (accessed 2014).
Sea Venture sources:




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