The Ark (ship) facts for kids
The Ark and the Dove, on a 1934 U.S. commemorative postage stamp.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Kingdom of England |
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| Name | The Ark |
| Owner | Hired by Cecilius Calvert, second Baron or Lord Baltimore, (1605–1675) |
| Launched | c. 1630 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 400 |
| Length | Approximately 132 feet (40 m) on deck |
| Beam | 32 feet (9.8 m) |
| Draft | 14–15 feet (4.3–4.6 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 feet (4.3 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Sail plan | Three masted, Spritsail& spritsail topsail, fore course, fore topsail & fore topgallant, main course, main topsail and main topgallant, Lateen mizzen with square topsail. |
| Complement | Approximately 40 seamen |
| Armament | Unknown, but probably capable of mounting 20-25 cannon. |
The Ark was a large English ship, about 400 tons. In 1633, Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore hired it. Its job was to carry about 140 English settlers to a new place. This new place would become the Province of Maryland. Maryland was one of the first Thirteen Colonies in British North America. The Ark sailed from England in late 1633 and early 1634. A smaller ship, the Dove, sailed with it. The Dove was a 40-ton pinnace, a type of small ship.
Contents
Sailing to a New Home
On November 22, 1633, The Ark and Dove left the Isle of Wight in England. Just three days later, a storm hit the English Channel. It separated The Ark from Dove. The crew on The Ark saw Dove flying distress signals. They thought the smaller ship had sunk in the storm.
Another strong storm hit The Ark on November 29, 1633. This storm lasted for three days. During the storm, the ship's main sail ripped in half. The crew had to tie down the steering equipment. This made the ship drift with its front facing the wind. This was the last bad weather The Ark faced on its journey.
Arrival in the West Indies
On December 25, 1633, the crew celebrated Christmas. The next day, 30 settlers became sick with a fever. Twelve of them died, including two Catholic settlers. These were the only people lost during the trip.
On January 3, 1634, The Ark reached the island of Barbados. This island is in the West Indies. The journey from England took 42 days. About two weeks later, the Dove also arrived. It turned out that the Dove had found shelter in Plymouth harbor. It waited out the storm there.
Reaching North America
On January 24, 1634, both ships left Barbados. They made a few more stops in the Caribbean Sea. On February 24, 1634, the ships arrived at Old Point Comfort. This place is in Virginia, at the mouth of the James River. This marked the end of their ocean journey. The trip had lasted just over three months. They spent 66 days actually sailing at sea. The two ships then briefly stopped in Jamestown, Virginia.
After a week in Jamestown, the settlers sailed north. They went up the huge Chesapeake Bay. On March 25, 1634, they landed on St. Clement's Island. This island is on the north side of the Potomac River. This day became known as Maryland Day. The colonists put up a large cross. They claimed the land for King Charles I. They also held their first church service. A Jesuit priest, Father Andrew White, led the service.
Founding Maryland
St. Clement's Island was too small for a permanent settlement. But it was a safe place to start. From there, Leonard Calvert explored the area. He was the first Governor of Maryland. He was also the younger brother of Cecilius Calvert. Leonard bought land for the new colony.
After three weeks, the Maryland settlers moved. They bought a village from the Piscataway Native Americans. This village was on the St. Mary's River. It was a few miles southeast of St. Clement's. The new English town was named St. Mary's City. It honored the Virgin Mary. This town became the first capital of Maryland.
In the early summer of 1634, The Ark sailed back to England. The Dove stayed behind. It had been bought by Calvert and the investors. It was used by the settlers around the Bay. In August 1635, the Dove sailed for England. It carried timber and beaver furs. But it never arrived home. People believed it was lost in a storm. Today, the Maryland Dove is a modern copy of that ship.
Important Passengers
Some important people were on The Ark and Dove. These included Leonard Calvert and Thomas Greene. They became the first two governors of Maryland. Leonard Calvert was the second son of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore. George Calvert was the first owner of the Maryland colony. His older brother, Cecilius, inherited the colony. Cecilius then chose Leonard to be governor.
