The "Official Fleet of the Commonwealth"
In a 4 and half month journey the Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery set sail for Virginia. These ships were sailed by the Virginia Company, which was formed by a charter from King James I in 1606. They left for the new word in search of gold and to establish a new colony for England. The early settlers made land on May 13th, 1607. How would you like to have sailed for over 4 months out at sea? What do you think you would see? What would you do for entertainment? What would you eat on the boat? Discuss this with a friend then click on the link below!
Susan Constant
- Captained by Christopher Newport
- Was the largest of the 3 ships
- Carried 54 members of a 105-man colonization mission
- Did not stay in Jamestown, but sailed back to England filled with timber
- Click on the name of the ship to get a tour of what the ship looked like on the inside!
Godspeed
- Captained by Bartholomew Gosnold
- Carried 39 passengers and 13 crew members
- Did not stay in Jamestown, but sailed back for on re-supply mission.
- Click on the name of the ship to get a tour of what the ship looked like on the inside!
Discovery
*The ships pictured or replicas of the ones used for the voyage to Jamestown.
- Captained by John Ratcliff
- Smallest of the 3 ships
- Had only 21 people on board
- Was left with the Jamestown colonists and was used to try and find the Northwest Passage.
- Why would the smallest ship be left with the settlers to navigate the waters there? Talk with your partner.
*The ships pictured or replicas of the ones used for the voyage to Jamestown.
So, why would the English settlers choose to face the unknown as well as travel all this way to settle in the New World?
England in the 1600's was a good place to leave. People were being forced off their lands and into poverty. However, the number of people living in England was increasing. So it looked like this: not enough land in the countryside to be farmed and not enough jobs in the cities to accommodate the farmers who flocked there. Since there were no jobs and no land to farm there was no way for the poor of England to make a living and survive. The lure of land of their own was very enticing. This is why most of the people who settled at Jamestown were indentured servants - craftsman and labors who paid for their ship passage by promising to work for seven years without pay, but after those years keep the land.
Sources:
Pictures
The Voyage Picture - http://findingjerryandmary.blogspot.com/2013/05/yorktown-jamestown-and-williamsburg.html (finding Jerry and Mary Blog)
The Ships that Brought the Founders of the Nation Picture - http://www.cardcow.com/viewall/70748/ (vintage postcards and collectibles)
Susan Constant Ship - http://www.ssentinel.com/index.php/rivah/article/sailmaking_tradition_continues (South-side Sentinel)
Godspeed Ship - http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/virginiaattractions/ss/historictriangl_2.htm (Virginia Attractions)
Discovery Ship - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/- msplAa0grpU/TqOgH77hxPI/AAAAAAAAAoU/T1HiNJiMKSQ/s1600/jamestown%2Bship%2Bunknown.JPG
Videos
Susan Constant - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhhxl8lvv6k (rpeek)
Godspeed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lbmVA020m0 (reek)
Explore the Jamestown Settlement Button
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/jamestown/jamestown-standalone (National Geographic)
Pictures
The Voyage Picture - http://findingjerryandmary.blogspot.com/2013/05/yorktown-jamestown-and-williamsburg.html (finding Jerry and Mary Blog)
The Ships that Brought the Founders of the Nation Picture - http://www.cardcow.com/viewall/70748/ (vintage postcards and collectibles)
Susan Constant Ship - http://www.ssentinel.com/index.php/rivah/article/sailmaking_tradition_continues (South-side Sentinel)
Godspeed Ship - http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/virginiaattractions/ss/historictriangl_2.htm (Virginia Attractions)
Discovery Ship - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/- msplAa0grpU/TqOgH77hxPI/AAAAAAAAAoU/T1HiNJiMKSQ/s1600/jamestown%2Bship%2Bunknown.JPG
Videos
Susan Constant - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhhxl8lvv6k (rpeek)
Godspeed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lbmVA020m0 (reek)
Explore the Jamestown Settlement Button
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/jamestown/jamestown-standalone (National Geographic)