History – Bermudians

How a Long-Lost Perfume Got a 2nd Life After 150 Years Underwater in #Bermuda @AtlasObscura

July 2, 2020 Published by bermudians

A team of divers and archaeologists discovered the 19th-century fragrance in a shipwreck off the coast of Bermuda!

BY LINA ZELDOVICH JUNE 30, 2020

AFTER AN INTENSE STORM PUMMELED Bermuda in February 2011, the island’s custodian of historic wrecks Philippe Max Rouja went to do a coastal survey and spotted a partially exposed bow of a boat. The bow belonged to the Civil War blockade runner Mary Celestia, which was en route to North Carolina’s Confederate forces when it sank in 1864.

Dr. Philippe Max Rouja, Custodian of Historic Wrecks from the Government of Bermuda, clearing the non-historic layers of sand during the rescue archaeology investigation of the bow of the shipwrecked Mary Celestia, South Shore Bermuda. CHRIS BURVILLE FOR LOOKBERMUDA.COM

The Mary Celestia is far from alone: Bermuda’s treacherous underwater reefs sank many a ship. In fact, over 300 vessels are buried around the island, each with its own history and artifacts. But this isn’t the story of the wreck itself—this is a story about a whiff of lost perfume history hiding within.

After a week of examining the wreck, a team of divers and archaeologists found a number of artifacts, including shoes, wine, and two small bottles of perfume. The items were packed together, leading the team to think they may have been gifts. Save for some mineral deposits that had formed on them, the bottles appeared to be intact. One still contained a small air bubble inside, which otherwise would have been forced out by seawater. Etched on the glass were the names “Piesse and Lubin London.”

Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone. COURTESY LILI BERMUDA

Rouja brought the bottles to Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone, the owner of a local boutique perfume store called Lili Bermuda. Ramsay-Brackstone immediately knew they were a rare find. “In the 1800s, London was a …

… read complete article @ atlasobscura.com/articles/shipwreck-perfume-bermuda-mary-celestia

The 1615-16 Coins of #Bermuda : The First English Coins of North America @coinweek

April 9, 2020 Published by bermudians

By Greg Reynolds for CoinWeek

In 1615 or 1616, coins were introduced in Bermuda. Although Bermuda was then called the Sommer Islands, for clarity, it is best to refer here to this place as Bermuda, as continual references to “Sommer Islands” would be distracting. Bermuda was then and still is a British colony. It is thus unsurprising that the first coins of Bermuda were denominated in British units: Twopence, Threepence, Sixpence and Twelvepence. These are the same denominations as the coins of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which were issued later in the same century. Twelvepence equaled one shilling and Twelvepence coins are typically termed Shillings.

Coins of all four denominations are undated; there is no indication on these coins of the year during which they were struck. Historical records suggest that they were struck in 1615 and/or 1616. Although it is likely that they were struck in England to be brought to Bermuda, it is plausible that some or all these coins were actually struck in Bermuda.

Eric Newman’s Bermuda Shilling is the best 1615-16 Bermuda coin
Sommer Islands Sixpence, large portholes, PCGS F-12
The Newman Threepence
Sommer Islands Twopence PCGS F-15

In the August 2009 issue of The Colonial Newsletter (NY: ANS), Max Spiegel presents a sound theory that the coins were struck at the Royal Mint in London, the primary mint of the English government. Spiegel emphasizes that … Read the complete article @ coinweek.com

Coin Week is the largest independent online media source for rare, modern and bullion coin & currency news, video, analysis, and articles…

The History of The Sea Venture

November 21, 2018 Published by bermudians

Sea Venture was a seventeenth-century English sailing ship, part of the Third Supply mission to the Jamestown Colony, that was wrecked in Bermuda in 1609.

Painting by Christopher Grimes, Bermuda

She was the 300 ton purpose-built flagship of the London Company and a highly unusual vessel for her day, given that she was the first single timbered, merchantman built in England, and also the first dedicated emigration ship. Sea Venture‘s wreck is widely thought to have been the inspiration for Shakespeare’s play The Tempest …

Read more @ wikipedia

Sea Venture in the storm by William Harrington

==========================================
27 July 1609 – Wreck of the Sea Venture

Stephen HOPKINS was the only Mayflower passenger who had previously been to the New World. His adventures included surviving a the Sea Venture’s 1609 shipwreck [ including being pardoned for mutiny!] in Bermuda and working from 1610–14 in Jamestown as well as knowing the legendary Pocahontas, who married John Rolfe, a fellow Bermuda castaway. Some Shakespearean scholars believe he was the model for the rogue Stephano in the Tempest.

On Jun 2 1609, the Sea Venture, under the command of Sir George Somers, admiral of the fleet, with Christopher Newport as captain and Sir Thomas Gates, Governor of the colony, departed from Plymouth, England followed by the rest of the Virginia Company’s fleet, the Falcon,Diamond, Swallow, Unity, Blessing, Lion, and two smaller ships.

Hodges writes,

“For seven weeks the ships stayed within sight of each other, often within earshot, and captains called to one another by way of trumpets. On the Sea Venture all was peaceful. Morning and evening, Chaplain Buck and Clerk Hopkins gathered the passengers and crew on deck for prayers and the singing of a psalm.”

The ships were only eight days from the coast of Virginia, when they were suddenly caught in a hurricane, and the Sea Venture became separated from the rest of the fleet …

Read more @ minerdescent.com/2010/05/17/passages

The coat of arms of Bermuda features a representation of the Sea Venture wreck.

Riddle of the Crest

Dr. Eva Hodgson – A History of #Bermuda #Racism @bermudaculture

August 3, 2018 Published by bermudians

“Dr. Eva Hodgson is an educator, author and anti-racism activist who has been advocating for better race relations in Bermuda for nearly 80 years. As part of the 13th Annual Dr. Kenneth E. Robinson/Cyril Outerbridge Packwood Memorial Lecture, Method Media and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs presents a short film on Dr. Hodgson.”

communityandculture.bm

methodmediabda.com

The Defining Story of #Bermuda ‘s Great Gunpowder Plot 1775: The American Connection and Other Selected Highlights Including the Attack on Washington (1814)

October 11, 2016 Published by bermudians

August 14th, 1775 was a hot, humid, moonlit night. The British Governor of Bermuda was sound asleep in his bed. The Royal Gunpowder Magazine was unguarded. It made a tempting target. The American Rebels needed gunpowder. The Bermudians needed provisions. A secret deal was done. A covert band of Bermudians carried out the theft, a potentially treasonous crime against the British Crown.But it worked. It was a masterpiece of deception, planning and execution. To the British Governor it was “a most heinous and attrocious crime” and his worst nightmare. To General Washington it was a gift from heaven.

This is a dramatic story of intrigue, manipulation, high risk and great danger. In his fascinating new book, Bermudian Historian and Author Michael G. Marsh painstakingly unravels the truth about Bermuda’s GREAT GUNPOWDER PLOT of 1775.

In this presentation at the BUEI Michael sifts through the historical records and delivers a special, illustrated summary of this hair-raising tale of midnight skulduggery and daring and we finally discover what actually transpired.

The Defining Story of #Bermuda ‘s Great Gunpowder Plot 1775: The American Connection and Other Selected Highlights Including the Attack on Washington (1814) @Amazon

Destination #Bermuda 1966

August 30, 2014 Published by bermudians

A film by The Bermuda Trade Development Board promoting travel to Bermuda in 1966.

To purchase a clean DVD or digital download of this film for personal home use or educational use only contact questions@archivesfarms.com.

To license footage from this film for commercial use visit: www.travelfilmarchive.com

Bermuda 1968

August 23, 2014 Published by bermudians

Several shots from inside a VC 10 aeroplane; the pilots in the cockpit; a woman leans back in her seat as she and her man friend are served cocktails by a steward. Aerial shots of Bermuda – sandy beaches, turquoise sea! At a Bermuda hotel we see a young couple eating breakfast on their balcony; below them a man dives into a swimming pool, people sunbathe and play quoits.
Various shots of a glorious sandy beach; people sunbathe (women in colourful swimsuits and bikinis), frolic in the surf, play with a ball and water-ski. In the capital city of Hamilton we see several shots of the New England-style architecture; a very English-looking couple (she in headscarf, he in cravat) look at the sights from an open-top taxi with a striped awning. Other tourists drive along coastal roads on scooters or mopeds; a couple drive past Gibbs Hill lighthouse; inside we see a man polishing the reflectors.
Aerial view of the lighthouse and then golf courses; various shots (on ground level) of a couple playing golf; he laughs when she misses a putting shot. Panning shot over a harbour; several shots of two men deep sea fishing on a boat; one gets a pull on his line and starts reeling in a huge fish (a Marlin?). The fish is heaved aboard with a spear. At the aquarium / natural sea-made grotto of Devil’s Hole we see people feeding turtles with fish on bits of string dangled over a bridge and into the water.
L/Ss of the Longtail birds, the national seabird, flying over the sea. More beautiful scenic shots of the ‘just-pink’ sandy beaches. Several shots of people in sailing on the sea in yachts. More shots inside and outside of a VC 10 aircraft landing; an air traffic ground crew man waves the BOAC plane into position; nice M/S of people coming down the steps from the plane. In a club holidaymakers sit sipping drinks while a band plays; a man with a drum is seen limbo-dancing under a pole; the tourists applaud. Lovely sunsets seen through the palm trees and showing the sun reflected on the sea.

Mark Twain #Bermuda Travels 1867-1920

May 2, 2014 Published by bermudians

‘Ever The Twain Shall Meet'” – Mark Twain in Bermuda

Between 1867 and 1910 Mark Twain visited Bermuda seven times for a total of 187 days.

Twain penned there is “just enough of whispering, breeze, fragrance of flowers, and sense of repose to raise one’s thoughts heavenward; and just enough amateur piano music to keep him reminded of the other place.…”

Twain’s writings extoll the peaceful beauty of the island as well as its sometimes dissonant charm, and were published between 1877–78 in The Atlantic Monthly as “Some Rambling Notes of an Idle Excursion.” Guided by these words, Ever the Twain Shall Meet takes visitors on a journey through Twain’s visits to Bermuda, retracing the steps to his favorite haunts and places of inspiration.

Produced by Method Media Bermuda for Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art
Cindy Lovell interview conducted by Helder Mira
Music: “Solace” by Scott Joplin

Wings To #Bermuda, 1961

April 28, 2014 Published by bermudians

A Pan Am trip to Bermuda in the 1960s. travelfilmarchive.com

Old #Bermuda – Shared Experiences @ALRinBDA

August 11, 2013 Published by bermudians

Historical images of Bermuda by Arthur Lee Ray @ALRinBDA

#Bermuda Vacation 1959 – Prince Philip Visit & Queen of Bermuda, Britannia & Ocean Monarch

March 4, 2013 Published by bermudians

Transferred from 16mm – wonderful colour!
Leaving Furness Traces NYC pier, Loads of folks looking at the Queen of Bermuda off. West side of Manhattan, Cunard Line pier, United States Traces pier – cruise down the Hudson, Statue of Liberty and off to Bermuda.
Existence on deck….
Arrival at Bermuda – North Shore to Hamilton Harbor. Docking on Entrance Street, Goslings Brothers porch becoming changed – no birdcage – Wadsons, The Smoke Store Ltd & Pearman Watlington from the ship.
Great Audio and Islands from lighthouse Hill.
Queen of Bermuda at dock, reduce Hamilton Harbor from the water. Aged Bank of Bermuda, Alboys Issue. Entrance Street, Law enforcement directing site visitors less than an umbrella. Rosedon Guest Dwelling and the entrance of the Hamilton Princess Resort. Resort Gardens, tennis courts and Pitts Bay Highway. Harbor from the Hamilton Princess pool. The Cottages (wherever the Bay and Poinciana wings are now).
Cruise to St. Georges – From water, Princess Resort, Inverurie Resort, Belmont Resort, Denslows Island, Government Dwelling, a Kitson Cruise boat, The Royal Yacht Britannia (was on Island as escort for a 2 working day check out by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, by himself, for a 2-working day check out for the 350th anniversary of the founding of Bermuda by Admiral Sir George Somers in 1609). Fort St. Catherine, St. Georges Harbor, The St. George Resort, Canadian ship a hundred and eighty, United kingdom Frigate HMS St. Albans F83.

St. Georges City Sq., Prince Phillip and Governor Woodall? Get there on the cruise boat “Duchess” to examine the troops of The Bermuda Regiment & Peppercorn Ceremony? with Lt Colonel Brownlow Tucker keeping the sword.They depart in the limo and the Bermuda Regiment marching band stop the ceremony.
Prince Phillip & Governor Woodall? Leaving the Dwelling of Assembly in the Metropolis of Hamilton.
Again on Hamilton Harbor, long cruise together Paget, Warwick shoreline to Somerset drawbridge. Luders 16? sailboat race in the Great Audio, as a result of Watford Bridge. Somerset Village, Mangrove Bay. Again to Hamilton, Spanish Tallship “the Juan Sebastian De Elcano” at anchor.
The boat at twenty:38 has been identified as “fifty six ft Elco, USAF Q-24, afterwards offered to Herbie Beirman and re-named Suzie-Q. Past named Social gathering boat, before dying on the tough at Mills Creek”.
A wander in the gardens of Palm Grove, South Shore. Loads of flowers, Moongate wander & Wishing Well.
“Fishing” in Devils Gap, Natural Arches, South Shore Tuckers City (wrecked–by Hurricane Fabian in September, 2003), the Mid Ocean Club.
Again in St. Georges, St. Peter’s Church (Sunday, Might third) & streets around city. The shares & cenotaph. Fort St. Catherine and the necessary cease at the aquarium.
Again on Hamilton Harbor, tall ship now at dock and a check out on the ship.
Ocean Monarch docked in St. Georges, the Resort St. George and the city from deck as it departs.