Fogel Grip facts for kids
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fogel Grip |
| Port of registry |  Sweden |
| Launched | early 17th century, Netherlands |
| Fate | shipwrecked August 1639 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Sailing ship |
| Length | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Sail plan | Pinnace |
The Fogel Grip (which means Bird Griffin in Swedish) was a Swedish sailing ship. It was built in the Netherlands in the early 1600s. This ship was very important because it joined the first Swedish journey in 1638. Its mission was to help start the new colony called New Sweden, sailing alongside another ship, the Kalmar Nyckel.
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About the Ship Fogel Grip
We don't know a lot about the Fogel Grip. It was a type of ship called a full-rigged pinnace. This means it had three masts with square sails. The ship was about 30 meters (98 ft) (100 feet) long.
The Fogel Grip was built in the Netherlands. The Swedish South Company bought it around 1636 or 1637. This company was a trading group in Sweden.
The Journey to New Sweden
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The first trip to New Sweden was planned very carefully. Samuel Blommaert organized it in secret. This was because they didn't want the Dutch West India Company to know. That company already controlled much of the area. The leader of the expedition was Peter Minuit.
In November 1637, the Fogel Grip and the Kalmar Nyckel left Gothenburg harbor in Sweden. Adrian Jöransen was the captain of Fogel Grip. Jan Hindricksen van der Water captained the Kalmar Nyckel. The ships had both Dutch and Swedish sailors. The Swedish crew on Fogel Grip were led by Måns Nilsson Kling.
Storms and Repairs
Soon after leaving, the ships ran into a big storm in the North Sea. Both ships were badly damaged. The storm separated them. Luckily, both vessels made it to different ports for repairs. The Fogel Grip went to Texel and the Kalmar Nyckel to Medemblik.
After about a month of repairs, the journey could continue. The ships left port on December 31. They sailed past the Canary Islands and Saint Christopher Island.
Reaching the New World
In March 1638, the expedition finally reached Delaware Bay. They sailed up the Delaware River. They landed at the mouth of the Christina River. This area is now Wilmington, Delaware.
After dropping off settlers, the Fogel Grip sailed around the Caribbean Sea. It later returned to New Sweden. The ship brought a former slave named Anthony Swartz from St. Kitts. Then, the Fogel Grip was loaded with valuable fur and tobacco. It sailed back to Sweden. The cargo was sold in Sweden around June 1639.
The Shipwreck
In August 1639, the Fogel Grip met a sad end. It was shipwrecked during a storm. This happened on a sand shoal in Gothenburg harbor. The ship was abandoned after the accident.
Legacy of the Fogel Grip
Even though the Fogel Grip was lost, its story lives on.
- Models of both Fogel Grip and Kalmar Nyckel are kept at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. This church is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- In 1938, the Swedish mail created a special commemorative stamp. It showed both the Fogel Grip and the Kalmar Nyckel.
