Martin Pring
Encyclopedia
Martin Pring was an English explorer from Bristol
, England
. In 1603, under patronage of the mayor, alderman and merchants of Bristol, Pring sailed to discover the northern parts of the territory known as Virginia
in America
. His flagship
, the Speedwell
, of 60 tons and 30 men (a vessel of the same name and size was one of the ships boarded by the Plymouth Colony
17 years later for their 1620 trip to America), was escorted by a bark, the Explorer, of 26 tons and 13 men. He would write of his adventure which was under licence by Sir Walter Raleigh
.
The two boats first made landfall at the entrance of Penobscot Bay
in what is now the state of Maine
. Heading west, they visited the mouths of the Saco River
, Kennebunk River
and York River
, all of which Pring found "to pierce not far into the land." In June, they arrived at the Piscataqua River
, a tidal estuary called by Pring the westernmost and best river. Pring would explore 10–12 miles into the interior by means of the Piscataqua, the center of which now forms part of the border between Maine and New Hampshire
. He and his crew are the first known European
s to do so.
Anchoring the Speedwell at the lower harbor, Pring boarded the smaller Explorer and, aided by oarsmen, ascended the Piscataqua. They sounded its depth, which they found impressive, and explored its banks. Pring admired the area's "goodly groves and woods." They encountered the native Abenaki people, Martin proceeding to set dogs on them, and bring specimens back to Europe. At that time of year, the inhabitants would probably have been upriver at the Piscataqua's tributaries, where fish and game were plentiful around the falls.
The Explorer sailed into Great Bay
, where the crew sought the sassafras
(or "ague
tree"), then considered an elixir of life with great medicinal value. Finding none, they returned to meet the Speedwell, together continuing down the coast.
The expedition then spent two months ashore at the mouth of the Pamet River
on Cape Cod
in what is now Truro, Massachusetts
. There the explorers erected a small stockade below Cornhill, which would be noted by the Pilgrims on their subsequent journey to the New World. Subsisting on a variety of fish and game, Captain Pring's men harvested sassafras trees for export to England. The natives had fled the land that the expedition was staying on, leaving nothing but a birch bark
canoe
. Martin Pring brought the canoe back to England. The ships left for England near the end of July.
Pring lived to be 46 years old, embarking on future expeditions to Guiana, the East Indies
, and again to the coast of Maine. His tomb survives in St Stephen's Church, Bristol
.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1603, under patronage of the mayor, alderman and merchants of Bristol, Pring sailed to discover the northern parts of the territory known as Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, the Speedwell
Speedwell (ship)
The Speedwell was a 60-ton ship, the smaller of the two ships intended to carry the Pilgrim Fathers to North America...
, of 60 tons and 30 men (a vessel of the same name and size was one of the ships boarded by the Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
17 years later for their 1620 trip to America), was escorted by a bark, the Explorer, of 26 tons and 13 men. He would write of his adventure which was under licence by Sir Walter Raleigh
Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England....
.
The two boats first made landfall at the entrance of Penobscot Bay
Penobscot Bay
Penobscot Bay originates from the mouth of Maine's Penobscot River. There are many islands in this bay, and on them, some of the country's most well-known summer colonies. The bay served as portal for the one time "lumber capital of the world," namely; the city of Bangor...
in what is now the state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. Heading west, they visited the mouths of the Saco River
Saco River
The Saco River is a river in northeastern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine in the United States. It drains a rural area of of forests and farmlands west and southwest of Portland, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Saco Bay, from its source. It supplies drinking water to roughly 250,000...
, Kennebunk River
Kennebunk River
The Kennebunk River is a river in southern Maine in the United States. It drains a settled rural area southwest of Portland, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean....
and York River
York River (Maine)
The York River is a stream in sout hiwest Maine, United States. It is tidal for over half of its length. It rises at York Pond in Eliot, and conjoined by brooks and creeks, feeds the tidal section...
, all of which Pring found "to pierce not far into the land." In June, they arrived at the Piscataqua River
Piscataqua River
The Piscataqua River, in the northeastern United States, is a long tidal estuary formed by the confluence of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco rivers...
, a tidal estuary called by Pring the westernmost and best river. Pring would explore 10–12 miles into the interior by means of the Piscataqua, the center of which now forms part of the border between Maine and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. He and his crew are the first known European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s to do so.
Anchoring the Speedwell at the lower harbor, Pring boarded the smaller Explorer and, aided by oarsmen, ascended the Piscataqua. They sounded its depth, which they found impressive, and explored its banks. Pring admired the area's "goodly groves and woods." They encountered the native Abenaki people, Martin proceeding to set dogs on them, and bring specimens back to Europe. At that time of year, the inhabitants would probably have been upriver at the Piscataqua's tributaries, where fish and game were plentiful around the falls.
The Explorer sailed into Great Bay
Great Bay (New Hampshire)
Great Bay is a tidal estuary located in Strafford and Rockingham counties in eastern New Hampshire, United States. The bay occupies over , not including its several tidal river tributaries. Its outlet is at Hilton Point in Dover, New Hampshire, where waters from the bay flow into the Piscataqua...
, where the crew sought the sassafras
Sassafras
Sassafras is a genus of three extant and one extinct species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America and eastern Asia.-Overview:...
(or "ague
Ague
Ague may refer to:* Fever* MalariaSee also:* Kan Ague, a residential area of Patikul, Sulu, Philippines...
tree"), then considered an elixir of life with great medicinal value. Finding none, they returned to meet the Speedwell, together continuing down the coast.
The expedition then spent two months ashore at the mouth of the Pamet River
Pamet River
The Pamet River is a river in Truro, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It is named for the Paomet tribe.The river is primarily salt marsh, flows west nearly all the way across Cape Cod from its eastern beaches, and empties into Cape Cod Bay. It lies a few miles south of the Little Pamet River.The upper...
on Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
in what is now Truro, Massachusetts
Truro, Massachusetts
Truro is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, comprising two villages: Truro and North Truro. Located two hours outside Boston, it is a summer vacation community just south of the northern tip of Cape Cod, in an area known as the "Outer Cape"...
. There the explorers erected a small stockade below Cornhill, which would be noted by the Pilgrims on their subsequent journey to the New World. Subsisting on a variety of fish and game, Captain Pring's men harvested sassafras trees for export to England. The natives had fled the land that the expedition was staying on, leaving nothing but a birch bark
Birch bark
Birch bark or birchbark is the bark of several Eurasian and North American birch trees of the genus Betula.The strong and water-resistant cardboard-like bark can be easily cut, bent, and sewn, which made it a valuable building, crafting, and writing material, since pre-historic times...
canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
. Martin Pring brought the canoe back to England. The ships left for England near the end of July.
Pring lived to be 46 years old, embarking on future expeditions to Guiana, the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
, and again to the coast of Maine. His tomb survives in St Stephen's Church, Bristol
St Stephen's Church, Bristol
St Stephen's Church in St Stephens Avenue, is the parish church for the city of Bristol, England.It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.- History :...
.