There is a fascinating mention within a British Admiralty Survey Report of a Captain SEABORNE of the Ship "Blessing".
Copies of the Survey Report are posted online at the Library of Virginia website at these URLS:
http://image.lva.virginia.gov/VTLS/CR/04003/0002.tiffhttp://image.lva.virginia.gov/VTLS/CR/04003/0003.tiffIt bears mention that the "Survey Report" is an ABSTRACT of underlying extant documents from British Admiralty records. It would be necessary to examine the underlying records to ascertain precisely what additional detailed information was available within the underlying primary records.
The mention is apparently within the testimony of a Thomas HANCE, of Wapping, a 27 year old seaman, who is testifying in an Admiralty suit unrelated to the Blessing. HANCE had served instead on the Mayflower (of Pilgrim fame) and is merely reporting the presence of several other ships in Virginia when the Mayflower arrived there. These ships included the Primrose, under the command of Captain DOUGLAS, the Expedition, under Captain Jeremy BLACKMAN, the Blessing, under Captain SEABONNE. HANCE mentions two additional ships he saw at Virginia, under the command of Captains WALKER and SMITH. WALKER's ship seems likely to be the "Transport", which was under the command of Master Edward WALKER at the time and known to have been to Virginia during this period.
This record is rather fascinating and perhaps significant in that it suggests that a very early Captain SEABORNE was sailing to Virginia in command of the Blessing.
Within the 1624 Muster at Jamestown, Robert PARTIN, a 36 year old head of household at West & Shirley Hundred at Charles City, is shown to have arrived in Virginia aboard the Blessing in June 1609. Mr. Joane SMITH, wife of Captain Roger SMITH, and Mrs. Jone PIERCE, wife of Captain William PIERCE, are also shown to have arrived aboard the Blessing, but the year of their arrival (before 1624) is not shown. This seems to reflect that the Blessing had been engaged in commerce with Virginia from at least 1609 and was still making voyages in 1634.
See:
http://www.virtualjamestown.org/Muster/muster24.htmlI had noted in a prior thread the early presence of a John and Nicholas SEABORNE in Virginia. There may have actually also been a Captain SEABORNE whose passage to and from Virginia was otherwise little noted in the records of the period.
I would encourage all researchers to be vigilant for additional records of Captain SEABORNE and the Blessing!