The small band of men, women and children who watched Southampton, England fade into a watery horizon on a May day in 1638 were sailing for the American colonies as an ultimate test of their faith. They were torn between the loss of loved ones left behind, perhaps forever, and hope the future would hold opportunities for those children so excitedly exploring the decks of the Bevis.
They were more fortunate than some. Among their number was Richard Dummer, who had been to New England before. His efforts on behalf of religious dissenters went back to at least 1629 when a group of London men founded “The Plow Company.”
Rev. Stephen Bachiler
Their pastor was the salty old Rev. Stephen Bachiler, Oxford graduate and former vicar of Horwell (Wherewell) until he was, in 1605, one of the first non-conformists excommunicated from the Church of England. These dissenters came to America in three groups. Rev. Bachiler and Dummer had sailed with one of the earlier ones. Now Dummer had come back to England for his family and was returning to New England.
Bevis Passenger List Found More Than 300 Years Later
The Bevis passenger list did not surface until 1965, when researcher Harry Rogers, who lived in England and was conducting research for Carpenter family descendants in the Unite States, found it in the British Museum. “I felt I had been guided to it, as no reference to its location exists,” an excited Mr. Rogers reported.
Following are the Bevis passengers, the age of the primary person listed being given first.
- 40 John Frey of Basing, wheelwright, his wife and three children
- 40 Richard Austin of Bishopstoke, tailor, his wife, two children and a servant, Robert Knight, carpenter
- 37 Christopher Batt of Sarum, tanner
- 32 Ann Batt, his wife
- 20 Dorothy Batt, sister, with five children under (age) 10
- 24 Thomas Good, servant
- 22 Eliza Blackston, servant
- 18 Rebecca Pond, servant
- 62 William Carpenter of Horwell
- 33 William Carpenter of Horwell
- 32 Abigail Carpenter and four children under 10
- 14 Thomas Bansholt, servant
- 38 Annis Littlefield and 6 children
- John Knight, servant
- Heugh Durdal, servant
- 26 Henry Byley of Sarum, tanner
- 22 Mary Byley
- 20 John Byley
- Thomas Reeves, servant
- 40 Richard Dummer of “Newengland”
- 35 Alice Dummer
- 19 Tho: Dummer
- 19 Joana Dummer
- 10 Jane Dummer
- 9 Stephen Dummer, husbandman*
- 6 Dorothie Dummer
- 4 Richard Dummer
- 2 Tho: Dummer
- 30 John Hutchinson, carpenter**
- 26 Francis Alcocke
- 19 Adam Knott, tailor
- 22 Will Wackerfield
- 20 Nathaniel Parker of London, baker
- 18 Samuel Poore
- 14 Dayell (Daniel?) Poore
- 20 Alice Poore
- 15 Richard Bayley
- 20 Ann Wackerfield
A copy of a section of the original passenger list is given below.
* It is unlikely a boy age 9 would be designated a “husbandman”; it is possible either the age or description is wrong.
** A note in the right margin indicates this and the following names belonged to people who were servants.
Sources: Rosemary E. Bachelor has access to the Harry Rogers correspondence and has a photocopy of the original Bevis passenger list. She first wrote about this subject in 1980.
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