Bartholomew Gosnold

Bartholomew Gosnold was an English barrister, explorer, and privateer. He played a vital role in founding the Virginia Company in London. He also helped establish the Jamestown settlement in colonial America. Historians from Preservation Virginia call him the "prime mover of the colonization of Virginia." This means he was a central figure in making the Virginia colony possible.

Gosnold was born in 1571 in Grundisburgh, Suffolk, England. His family lived at Otley Hall in Otley, Suffolk. His parents were Anthony Gosnold and Dorothy Bacon. He received a high-level education at Jesus College at the University of Cambridge. Later, he studied law at the Middle Temple. His family connections were quite strong. His cousin, Henry Gosnold, was a judge and a friend of Francis Bacon. Gosnold also married Mary Goldinge in 1595. Her grandfather, Sir Andrew Judd, had been the Lord Mayor of London. This marriage connected Gosnold to wealthy London merchant families. One of these connections was Thomas Smith, a founder of the Virginia Company.

During the Elizabethan and Stuart ages, exploration was a private business. The English crown did not pay for these expensive trips. Instead, the crown granted monopolies to individuals or corporations. A monopoly is a special right to control a specific area or trade. Because of this, explorers had to raise their own money. This made colonization a profit-driven activity, similar to privateering. Organizing these ventures was very difficult and risky. Many investors preferred to fund projects in Ireland because they were cheaper. There was also a high chance of losing money. For example, Sir Walter Raleigh lost 40,000 pounds trying to found the Roanoke Colony.

In the mid-1590s, a new plan for colonization emerged. A man named Edward Hayes wrote a report to Lord Burghley. He argued that settlers should go to northern Virginia, which we now call New England. He believed the climate there was similar to England. This would make farming easier for the settlers. He also noted that the coast had many fish. These fish were very valuable in Europe. A small fishing outpost could become a profitable business if it grew slowly. Gosnold used these ideas to plan his own voyage.

In 1602, Gosnold led the first recorded European expedition to Cape Cod. He sailed from Falmouth, Cornwall, on a small ship called the *Concord*. The crew included 32 people. Some of these men, like John Brereton, were friends from Cambridge. Gosnold used a new sailing route from the Azores to reach New England. They arrived at Cape Elizabeth, Maine, in May 1602. The plan was to leave 20 men behind to stay through the winter. They explored the coast and found many new places. Gosnold named Cape Cod because of the abundant fish there. He also named Martha's Vineyard after his deceased daughter, Martha.

While exploring, the English encountered Native people. At first, the interactions were based on trade. The Natives had metal ornaments and furs to offer. The English were interested in harvesting sassafras root and cedar wood for profit. However, the relationship became difficult. The English tried to hide the location of their fort. By June 1602, tensions grew. Two Englishmen were shot with an arrow by four Natives while hunting for shellfish. The settlers also worried they did not have enough food. Because of these problems, the group decided to abandon the settlement. They all sailed back to England on June 17, 1602.

After returning to England, Gosnold worked to start a much larger project. He obtained a charter from King James I for the Virginia Company. He recruited his brother Anthony and several other relatives for the mission. Gosnold served as the vice-admiral of this new expedition. He was the captain of the ship named the *Godspeed*. This ship was one of three vessels, alongside the *Susan Constant* and the *Discovery*. In 1607, the expedition arrived at Jamestown. Gosnold helped design the fort for the new colony. However, he believed the island location was unhealthy for the people living there.

Gosnold did not live long after reaching the New World. He died on August 22, 1607. This was only four months after the settlers landed at Jamestown. His death was recorded by George Percy in a document called "Discourse." Even though his life was short, his influence was massive. He helped connect the legal, financial, and maritime worlds to create a permanent English presence in America. Today, a stone cross in Virginia may mark his grave.