Susan Constant

Replica of the Susan Constant (built 1989)
Career (England)	[1]
Name:	Susan Constant (or Sarah Constant)
Owner:	Virginia Company of London
In service:	before 1607
Out of service:	after 1615
General characteristics
Tons burthen:	120
Length:	est. 55.2 ft (17 m)

Susan Constant, captained by Christopher Newport, was the largest of three ships of the English Virginia Company (the others being the Discovery and the Godspeed) on the 1606-1607 voyage that resulted in the founding of Jamestown in the new Colony of Virginia.

History

Susan Constant was rated at 120 tons. Her keel length is estimated at 55.2 feet (16.8 meters). Her overall length from tip to stern is estimated at 116 feet.

On the 1606-1607 voyage, she carried 105 colonists, all male.^[2] She returned to England in May 1607. She served as a merchant ship through at least 1615. Her fate is not known.

The alternative name Sarah Constant has been cited, and is shown as being the name noted on the earliest document,^[3] leading to a belief that Samuel Purchas^[4] had the name wrong in his Pilgrims book.^[5] There is growing support for the name Sarah Constant.^[6] The article that cites the Sarah Constant is as follows:

He tolde me of three barques on route to the New Worlde, thouse whose names are, as he tolde me thereon, be consysted of "Godspeed", "Discoverie" or "Discovery", and one whose name splyte twice, I think ´was "Sarah Constant".- presumably written by Sir Walter Raleigh

Replica

The stern of the replicated Susan Constant, located in Jamestown Settlement.

Replicas of the Susan Constant and her sisters, the Godspeed and the Discovery, are docked in the James River at Jamestown Settlement (formerly Jamestown Festival Park), adjacent to Historic Jamestowne.

Modern depictions

In May 2007, the United States Postal Service issued the first 41 cent denomination first class stamp. The stamp had an image of the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery.

The Susan Constant was also depicted on Virginia's coin of the 50 State Quarters, in celebration of the quadricentennial of Jamestown.

Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, commemorated on the Virginia State Quarter.

See also

• Ship replica (including a list of ship replicas)

References

1. ^ "History of the British Flag". United States National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/history-of-the-british-flag.htm. Retrieved April 2011. 
2. ^ APVA Preservation Virginia: Original Settlers
3. ^ JSTOR: “The Susan Constant and the Mayflower”, by Minnie G. Cook
4. ^ JSTOR: “Sarah versus Susan”, by Gregory Robinson, Robin R. Goodison
5. ^ Samuel Purchas (1575?-1626): Purchas His Pilgrimes, In Five Books
6. ^ “Decades of work will see a ship’s story honored today” | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Further reading

• Brian Lavery, The Colonial Merchantman Susan Constant 1605, Conway Maritime Press 1988
• David A. Price, Love and Hate in Jamestown, Alfred A. Knopf 2003 (chapter 2)