Y^e Antient Wrecke.—1626.

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LOSS
OF THE
SPARROW-HAWK IN 1626.

REMARKABLE PRESERVATION
AND
RECENT DISCOVERY OF THE WRECK.

BOSTON:
PRINTED BY ALFRED MUDGE & SON,
34 School Street.
1865.

3

HE wreck of the Sparrow-Hawk, which was discovered in 1863, may be justly regarded as one of the greatest curiosities of the age. This ship sailed from England for Virginia, in the fall of 1626, with a large number of emigrants. After a long passage, she went ashore on Cape Cod, and was there finally wrecked in a place then known as Potanumaquut Harbor. Details of her passage and loss, and the subsequent career of her passengers, have been preserved by contemporary historians, from whom we shall make brief extracts in the course of this work.

From the several local histories of the Cape, the posthumous edition of Thoreau’s work, and an important note from Professor Agassiz, the public have been made aware of the continuous geological changes of that remarkable mass of drift, which we denominate “Cape Cod.” The statements of these various authors are singularly elucidated and confirmed by the history4 of “The Ancient Wreck.” The preservation and discovery of the Sparrow-Hawk present facts of startling interest to all,—but especially to those who are acquainted with the minutiæ of early colonial history. They have in mind, and can readily recall with us, the condition of the passengers, and the fate of their craft.

Benjamin Drew, Esq., of Chelsea, formerly of Plymouth, Mass., who had the good fortune to see the wreck upon the beach at Orleans, before its removal, presents us with the following remarks, which we here insert as a suitable preface to the historical details:⁠—