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Virginia State Fleet

Replicas of the three ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery.

 

Adopted on July 1, 2001

 

 

The Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery was adopted on July 1, 2001 as Virginia's State Fleet.

 

Roughly 400 years ago, on December 20, 1606, three merchant ships loaded with passengers and cargo embarked from England on a voyage that would later set the course of American history.

 


The Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery reached Virginia in the spring of 1607, and on May 14, their 104 passengers all men and boys began building on the banks of the James River what was to be America's first permanent English colony, predating Plymouth in Massachusetts by 13 years.
 

The Susan Constant, 1606-1607

December 20 , 1606 The Susan Constant departed London accompanied by two smaller vessels, the Godspeed and the Discovery. They arrived at Virginia April 26, 1607. On May 14, 1607, the settlers were disembarked at "Jamestown island", Virginia. See list of The First Settlers. More information regarding the voyage is given at Voyage to Virginia.

The Susan Constant and the Godspeed departed Virginia for England on June 22, 1607, leaving the pinnace Discovery for the use of the settlers. (Some of the men remaining would have been sailors for the Discovery.) The two vessels arrived in England (London) on July 29, 1607. Since the Virginia Company had no further use for the Susan Constant, she returned to general trade, with records of her sailing from Bristol to Marseilles as late as 1615.

The Godspeed (or God Speed), 1606-1607

December 20, 1606 The Godspeed departed London in the company of the flagship Susan Constant and the pinnace Discovery, and arrived April 26, 1607, at Virginia.

The Godspeed departed Virginia on June 22, 1607, in the company of the Susan Constant and arrived in England on July 29, 1607.

The Discovery, 1606-1607

December 20, 1606 The Discovery departed London in the company of the flagship Susan Constant and the Godspeed, and arrived April 26, 1607, at Virginia.

The Discovery remained in Virginia for the use of the settlers after the departure of the Susan Constant and the Godspeed on June 22, 1607.

 


 

Delegate William J. Howell representing House District 28, has sponsored House Bill 1728 that would designate the replicas of the three ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, the Official Fleet of the Commonwealth. This bill was brought to the Senate by Senator Thomas K. Norment, Jr., representing Senate District 3, as Senate Bill 1254. The bill was signed by the Governor on March 13, 2001 and became effective on July 1, 2001.

 

§ 7.1-40.12. Official fleet of the Commonwealth.

The replicas of the three ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, which comprised Virginia's founding fleet that brought the first permanent English settlers to Jamestown in 1607, and which are exhibited at the Jamestown Settlement museum in Williamsburg, are hereby designated the official fleet of the Commonwealth.

(2001, cc. 97, 134.) Commonwealth
 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1728
Offered January 10, 2001
Prefiled December 20, 2000
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 7.1 a section numbered 7.1-40.12, relating to the official fleet of the Commonwealth.
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Patrons-- Howell, Grayson (By Request), Griffith and Hall
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Referred to Committee on General Laws
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 7.1 a section numbered 7.1-40.12 as follows:

§ 7.1-40.12. Official fleet of the Commonwealth.

The replicas of the three ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, which comprised Virginia's founding fleet that brought the first permanent English settlers to Jamestown in 1607, and which are exhibited at the Jamestown Settlement museum in Williamsburg, are hereby designated the official fleet of the Commonwealth.
 

SENATE BILL NO. 1254
Offered January 10, 2001
Prefiled January 10, 2001
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 7.1 a section numbered 7.1-40.12, relating to the official fleet of the Commonwealth.
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Patrons-- Norment, Trumbo and Wampler; Delegates: Bloxom, Councill, Diamonstein, Dillard and Howell

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Referred to Committee on General Laws
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 7.1 a section numbered 7.1-40.12 as follows:

§ 7.1-40.12.

Official fleet of the Commonwealth. The replicas of the three ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, which comprised Virginia's founding fleet that brought the first permanent English settlers to Jamestown in 1607, and which are exhibited at the Jamestown Settlement museum in Williamsburg, are hereby designated the official fleet of the Commonwealth.
 

 

 

 

 

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