Something Ventured, Something Gained

SOMETHING VENTURED, SOMETHING GAINED

An American Community
by MNPUndit

On 2 June 1609, the Sea Venture left Plymouth Harbor to relieve the struggling colony of Jamestown. On board were 500-600 people, among them several members of the Brownists and Familists[1] and in particular a man named Henry Paine. In late July they encountered a fierce storm, perhaps a hurricane, that set them to bailing water for their lives. Through it all, Sir George Sommers was at the wheel and it was he that drove the ship aground on the shoals of a deserted island called Bermuda.

Once in Bermuda Sommers and Sir Thomas Gates began the construction of a pair of vessels to take the survivors (some 200) to Jamestown. After much deliberation and against the advice of several company officers, Sommers took command of the Sea Venture longboat, fitted it with a mast and set out for Jamestown. He was never heard from again.

On Bermuda itself, Sir Thomas Gates pushed for more rapid construction but a dispute arose. Led in part by Henry Paine, these men aruged that going to Jamestown a home of diseases, brutal labor, and menaced by hostile savages was a fool's errand. Bermuda held fresh fruit and fish, abundant space for them and more pleasant climate. Matters were coming to a head and Gates was preparing to capture and execute Paine when he suddenly died of unknown causes.

Seizing on the event, Paine argued that this was a sign that God was content with them to build there and this time his words swayed the survivors.

Thus began the Colony of Bermuda.
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[1]Followers of Robert Browne and Hendrick Niclaes respectively. The Brownists and Familists were spiritual ancestors of the Levelers, Quakers and Diggers.

A/N: The PoD is that Paine convinces everyone to stay. To do that, I had to kill or remove much of the company leadership including Sommers and Gates. IOTL Paine said Gates could "kiss his arse" and was shot for his trouble. The colonists ended up in Jamestown where they all died. Basically, the PoD is what happens if you have a proto-socialist community in the Americas? One effect is that without those extra people, Jamestown might well have failed.

Don't intend to update this one regularly but we'll see how it goes. Suggetions or comments appreciated.
 
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This looks good so far. I'm just a little bit confused about the POD - is it about the foundation of a Colony of Bermuda, or the proto-socialism? Still looking forward to seeing how this progresses.
 
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