1635 Angel Gabriel wreck’s survivors bequeathed common Maine surnames

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Four hundred seventy years ago last Monday, the Angel Gabriel was shipwrecked in a hurricane off Pemaquid. Most of its passengers survived, with the result that thousands of us can count one or more of them as our ancestors:

Andrews, Capt. Robert, ship’s master.

Bailey, John Sr., a weaver from Chippenham, England; Also, John Jr. and possibly Johanna.

Beck, Henry.

Blaisdell, Ralph; also Mrs. Elizabeth and Henry. Removed to York, then Salisbury, Mass.

Burnham, Deacon John; also Thomas and Robert, brothers. Removed to Ipswich, Mass.

Cogswell, John, 43, of Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire, England; and family, Mrs. Elizabeth (Thompson) Cogswell, Mary, William, John, Hannah, Abigail, Edward, Sarah and Elizabeth.

Furber, William.

Haines, Samuel, apprentice to John Cogswell.

Hook, William.

Simpson, Henry.

Tuttle, John. Removed to Dover, N.H.

Surnames Bailey, Blaisdell, Burnham, Cogswell and Tuttle are still numerous in Maine.

The January obituary of Katherine Weaver Ebbert Marshall of Castine noted her descent from “Thomas Burnham, one of three brothers who, in charge of their uncle, Capt. Robert Andrews, arrived in 1635 off Pemaquid Point on the bark Angel Gabriel at the time of the Great Migration. This ship was wrecked in a great storm in August of 1635 while off Pemaquid Point. Thomas Burnham married Mary Lawrence in 1645. Their son, Thomas, one of 11 children, was born in 1728 in Ipswich, Mass.”

I had three ancestors on the Angel Gabriel. My lineage to John Tuttle comes down through John – also a passenger – James, then Phebe, who married Moses Varney. Their descendants include Varney, Leighton, Moore and Austin lines, that I know of, not to mention many others.

My Bailey ancestry comes from John down through Joseph, John, Joseph and then Deborah, who married Nathaniel Haskell, who served in the Revolutionary War. Descendants in my family include Haskell, Harris, Cummings, Bennett and Moore lines.

One account, in J. Henry Cartland’s “Ten Years at Pemaquid,” states that John Bailey “came over to this country with the view of settling here, but left his wife in the old country, until he could first make himself a little acquainted with the new country, and provide a suitable place for his family. Though he escaped from the wreck unhurt, his mind was deeply affected by his narrow escape, and he wrote to his wife such a doleful account of the storm and shipwreck that she never could be persuaded to undertake the voyage, even to join her husband. And he was too timid to risk himself again on the stormy Atlantic, they remained separated the rest of their lives.”

So what became of the Angel Gabriel? Nautical archeologist Warren C. Riess of Bristol spent a good portion of 20 years searching for the wreck that may still be somewhere off the coast of Pemaquid. Over the years, he was accompanied by prominent researchers and many eager students.

A fascinating account of the Angel Gabriel and his search for it was written by Riess in 2001, “Angel Gabriel: The Elusive Galleon.” He points out that the ship was originally named Starre, then renamed Jason by Sir Walter Raleigh. The Jason was part of Raleigh’s fleet on his second trip to Guyana in 1617. Those who have visited the Mayflower II in Plymouth, Mass., will be interested to know that the Angel Gabriel was about 18 feet longer.

I am pleased to say that Riess’ book on the Angel Gabriel is still available for $15.75, sales tax included. Add on $3 for shipping for the first book, $1 for each additional book. Priority shipping is $2 each for additional books, and for shipments outside of the United States, send $3 per book in U.S. funds.

Checks should be made payable to 1797 House, 1797 Bristol Road, Bristol 04539.

Riess is deservedly known as one of the scientists who helped bring up artifacts from the Penobscot Expedition ship Defence, items now on display at the Maine State Museum.

We also should thank him for helping to preserve the legacy of the Angel Gabriel.

Do read Chuck Veeder’s interesting story, featured above this column, on Rickey and Arturo Montes’ trip back to Arturo’s homeland of Mexico.

Do you know of someone who went to such lengths to go back to their origins? If so, contact Letitia Baldwin, Lifestyle editor, at lbaldwin@bangordailynews.net, 990-8270 or (800) 432-7964.

Here are a few corrections to last week’s list of people on Castine’s honor rolls:

World War I: Percy M. Wescott. World War II: Warren E. Bevan Jr., Frederick B. Guild, Joseph H. Hackett (not Frederick B. Hackett).

And, the John Perkins House is open 2-5 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday this month. To see the lists for yourself, go to www.wilsonmuseum.org and view Treasures from the Past.

The 100th Wing Family Reunion will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Wing Pavilion in Phillips. For information, call 474-2359.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; or send e-mail to familyti@bangordailynews.net.