Bevis (ship) facts for kids
The Bevis, also known as the Bevis of Hampton, was a large merchant sailing ship. In 1638, it carried many "Emigrants" from England to New England. This was a time when thousands of Puritans left England to find freedom for their religious practice.
Contents
The Ship's Journey
Setting Sail in 1638
The Bevis was captained by Robert Batten. In May 1638, the ship left Southampton, England, carrying 61 settlers. They were already "some Dayes gone to sea" by May 2, 1638. The ship was headed for "Newengland" (all one word at the time).
Where They Landed
The passengers on the Bevis were going to several places in the New World. These included Newbury, Weymouth, Wells, Maine, Newport, Salisbury, and Charlestown. Most ships arriving in the Bay Colony landed in Boston. The Bevis likely arrived there in June or July 1638. An ocean trip usually took about five to eight weeks back then.
Ship Details
The Bevis was described as "Beuis(t) of Hampton of CL. Tonnes." This means it was the "Bevis of Hampton, 150 tons." The "150 tons" refers to its "burthen," or how much cargo it could carry. The ship itself would have weighed much more, perhaps around 450 tons. Many large merchant ships crossing the Atlantic during that time were between 450 and 650 tons.
The ship's cargo was officially approved on May 12, 1638. However, the ship had already been at sea for several days by May 2, 1638. The exact departure date is often hard to know because ships usually left with the outgoing tide. This could be hours or even a day after they got permission to leave port. After completing its voyage to the Americas, the ship's later story is not known.
The Passengers
Why They Left England
The 61 passengers on the Bevis were officially listed on May 2, 1638. Most of them were Puritans. They were leaving England to find religious freedom in the New World. At this time, England was becoming more strongly Catholic, which made it difficult for Puritans.
Some important people in the King of England's government noticed that almost all the Bevis passengers were Puritans. They tried to stop the ship from sailing in May 1638, but they were not successful.
Who Was On Board
The passenger list included families and servants. Here are some examples of people who sailed on the Bevis:
- Ffrey John of Basing, a wheelwright, with his wife and 3 children.
- Austin Richard of Bishopstocke, a 40-year-old tailor, with his wife and 2 children.
- Knight Robert, a 37-year-old carpenter, who was a servant to Richard Austin.
- Batt Christopher of Sarcum, a 37-year-old tanner, with his wife Anna, his sister Dorothis, and 5 children under 10 years old.
- Carpenter William of Horwell, a 62-year-old carpenter, with his son William Jr., daughter-in-law Abigael, and 4 children.
- Littlefield Annis, 38, with 6 children.
- Dumr Richard of New England, 40, with his wife Alice and several children.
In total, there were "Sixtie and one Soules" (Sixty-one Souls) on board.
Famous Descendants
Some of the passengers on the Bevis had descendants who became very famous:
- Richard Austin: His family later included Moses Austin, Stephen F. Austin, and Emily Austin Perry. These people are known for helping to settle the state of Texas.
- William Carpenter from Shalbourne: His family, known as the Rehoboth Carpenter family, included many important people. These were politicians, generals, admirals, and even an astronaut.
- Richard Dummer: He had already traveled to New England in 1632. He was involved in a company that tried to settle people there. He returned to England and then came back to New England on the Bevis with his relatives.
Images for kids
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The passenger list portion of the archive papers regarding the Bevis from May 1638.
