Passengers of The Dorset, 1635

Profile manager: George Case [send private message]

The goal of this project is to document the passengers on the often used immigrant ship the Dorset, John Flower as Master. Flower-414

Right now this project just has one member, me. I am George Case.

Here are some of the tasks that I think need to be done. I'll be working on them, and could use your help.

• Tagging other passengers from Sept. 1635 voyage
• Find list from other voyages
• Research crew members and others who assisted the travelers

1635 Passengers

Absolon Geo.: 16 Alburie Willm 15 Alden Edward 17 Aldworth Eliz: 15 Atkins Tho: 16 Bagley Judith 58 Barnes Wm: 15 Barrith Wm 16 Bonnick Nathaniel 16 Brabant Alexander 30 Bruister Wm 17 Bunting Rice 17 Casse Wm 19 Case-2187 Casson John 18 Chaplin Edward 20 Cheeseman Wm 20 Dart Jane 17 Davies Edward 17 Day Jo: 16 Denman Jo: 14 Donn Jo: 14 East Willm 15 Edwynn Edward 15 Elliston Willm 13 Fisher Robert 10 Fulcock Henry 15 George Hubbard 16 Glassenden John 14 Goldenham Jonas 16 Griffin Ann 35 Griffin Tho: 32 Grubthorn Edward 14 Harding Sarah 30 Harding Wm 30 Harkwood Jo: 20 Heth Jo: 21 Holt Humphrey 18 Ireland Tho: 10 Jennings Richard 35 Jennings Sarah 18 Johnson John 23 Joyner Tho: 16 Joyner-835 Kemp Humphrey 16 Loe Jo: 18 Lort Sampson 30 Mansfield Jo: 19 Marthew vxor 30 Matthews Jo: 16 Middleton Edward: 15 Miller Jo: 47 Mitchell John 20 More Tho: 18 Morris Edward 18 Mosdell Jo: 24 Nicklin Jo: 17 Nowell Peternell 46 Palmer Ellis 21 & vxor Palmer Geo: 27 Palmer Richard 30 Pennington Wm 18 Pynder Margaret 41 Pynder Tymothie 26 Ramsey Robert 15 Redford [or Reeford] John 16 Ridley Robert & ELizabeth both 30 Riley Tho: 16 Rising James 18 Rosden Wm 16 Rosse Henry 31 Rowland Jo: 21 Russell Francis 23 Sell Jo: 15 Sharp Tho: 17 Simpson Edward 13 Simpson Wm 17 Stoker Wm 19 Stokes Tho: 30 Thomas David 26 Thomas Wm 17 Thorne Arthur 33 Tregagell Rice: 18 Turk Geo: Minister 40 Tustin Jo: 16 Vardell Robert 20 Vyncent Ezia 30 Wellman Christian 43 West Nathaniel 15 Williams John 16 Wite Daniel Minister 30 Woodcock Joshua 11 Wright Lubas 16

Will you join me? Please post a comment here on this page, in G2G using the project tag, or send me a private message. Thanks!

Knowledge Base

The greatest danger for English sailors was not the occasional sting ray, but the transatlantic voyage from England to Virginia. It was a long journey, and the ships did not sail straight across the Atlantic Ocean. English ship captains sailed south towards the Cape Verde islands off the coast of Africa, to get fresh food and water - and also to take advantage of westward-flowing ocean currents and west winds to reach the New World.

Following the clockwise flow of winds and currents, the expeditions sailed south from England, past Spain and Portugal, and stopped over at the Canaries, Madeiras, or Cape Verdes for food and water before attempting the long Atlantic crossing. In the absence of major obstacles, such as foul weather or pirates, this leg of the voyage usually took ten to fourteen days. Then, with the northeasterly trade winds and the Equatorial Current at their backs, the voyagers made for the West Indies, sailing as a later generation of English square-rig sailors would say "south 'til the butter melts, then west." An uneventful crossing usually required four or five weeks. After replenishing supplies once again, the fleet picked up the Florida Current (precursor of the Gulf Stream) and followed it northeast from around the Strait of Florida to the latitude of Roanoke - a trip of another ten days to two weeks. For the return trip to England, ships usually took the Gulf Stream and its extension, the North Atlantic Drift, back to Europe, perhaps with a stop in the Azores for provisions and prize ships. Being more direct, the homeward voyage usually took much less time.

The influence of the Gulf Stream in the colonization of North America was about this time very great. In 1606 the English divided their possessions into two parts, the northern part of Virginia (new England and vicinity) was one, and the present North Carolina and Chesapeake Bay region the other, and for each a company was established and commissioned by the King. The route used in going to the first was that tried in 1602 by Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold, crossing the Atlantic on about the fortieth parallel, while the southern expeditions held the old passage through the trades and Caribbean. The Dutch vessels bound to New York adopted the West Indian route, so that Nantucket really became the dividing line of travel, and a difference in destination of a degree in latitude necessitated a difference of thirty degrees in route.