Veni, Vidi, Virginia. England and the Atlantic World: ships, shipwrecks and 17th century maritime expansion

Abstract

At the dawn of the modern era England fell behind other powers, principally Spain and Portugal, in its efforts to establish a colonial presence in the New World. They finally succeeded in 1607 and England’s achievement has been considered by many to be the most interesting chapter of the early 17th century. The main proponent of this settlement in the New World was the Virginia Company of London, later known as the Somers’ Isles Company. England’s success was a result of a series of developments in maritime technologies, thus it will be argued that the most significant data is that of shipwreck data. One place that relevant data survives is Bermuda, a place that became English after the accidental stranding of Sea Venture on her journey to Jamestown as part of the ‘Third Supply’ fleet, in 1609. Bermuda’s location ensured its rapid establishment as an English colony in 1612. As ship traffic across the Atlantic increased, four subsequent Company wrecks can be found in Bermuda (Warwick 1619, Seaflower 1623, Eagle 1659 and Virginia Merchant 1661). Each ship, along with her associated artefactual assemblage has been investigated. Another source for our understanding of the developments of this period, are that of the historical, written, sources. This thesis has set out to weave together these two source materials, in order to provide new insights into the process of expansion and the birth of the English Atlantic World. From both the large scale perspective of the Crown and Company down to the small scale of the individual colonist travelling to the New World, alongside the ships that carried them. It is the combination of the two source types which will enables a greater understanding of English expansion in the 17th century.

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