Susan Constant

Replica of Susan Constant (built 1989)
Career (England)
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. 116 ft (35 m)
Sail plan:	fully rigged ship

Susan Constant, captained byChristopher Newport, was the largest of three ships of the English Virginia Company (the others being Discoveryand Godspeed) on the 1606-1607 voyage that resulted in the founding ofJamestown in the new Colony of Virginia.

• 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 71 colonists, all male. 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, leading to a belief that Samuel Purchas had the name wrong in his Pilgrims book. There is growing support for the name Sarah Constant. The article that cites 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

ReplicaEdit

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

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

Modern depictionsEdit

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

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

Susan Constant, Godspeed, andDiscovery, commemorated on the Virginia State Quarter.

In Popular CulturesEdit