The Men Behind the Boats

Venturilla

Story and photo sourced from: https://jaraethompson.wixsite.com/stgeorgescrown/single-post/2018/12/19/The-History-of-Venturilla

In 1603 Diego Ramirez, captain of a Spanish galleon found himself shipwrecked on the island by a storm. It stands to reason that since the land was unfamiliar to Ramirez and that he lived at a time when there were so many superstitions to explain things in nature, Ramirez would send the [enslaved] man, Venturilla to do the exploring. Venturilla’s encounter with Bermuda’s endemic birds, the cahow, was no different than the encounter that other survivors encountered. Unlike today, the birds were not facing extinction and were multitudinous – so much so that the volume of sound was so cacophonous that the superstitious explanation of the crew members at the time could only label it as one thing – the cry of the Devil. The known moniker of the island came to be “The Devil’s Isles” as it was thought that the Devil took up residency on this island – a silly notion today but a very serious prospect back then.

Here is the [documented] account of Venturilla’s experience with the cahows according to Captain Ramirez:

“One Venturilla, a negro, was sent ashore with lantern and axe to cut a  piece of cedar. The moment he landed and entered the bush, he set up such a yell, that I shouted: The devil’s carrying off the negro! Everybody ashore! The men jumped into a boat and rushed to the spot, where the negro was brandishing his fists against the birds (cahows) and mingling his yells with theirs. The birds, meanwhile, attracted by thelight, dashed against him, so that he could not keep clear of them even with a club. Neither could the men of the relief party. More than 500 birds were brought off to the ship that night.”

(Rosemary Jones, Bermuda Five Centuries p.19)

Venturilla’s encounter with the cahows (seabirds) was fortuitous as the food supply on the damaged boat was dwindling. The crew feasted on the clubbed cahows for several days. Venturilla’s stay in Bermuda was a brief one. The crew spent three weeks on the island repairing the damaged ship and then continued their journey. Nothing more was heard of Venturilla. His name lives on in one of Bermuda’s ferry boats.

Guardian

Darrell was an [enslaved] man who belonged to Captain Francis Darrell of St. George’s. Some researchers believe that Darrell, a light-skinned man, may have been Francis Darrell’s son. In 1793, Francis Darrell died, and Joseph Laborn of St. George’s became the guardian of Francis Darrell’s son John and James Darrell.

That same year, the British government purchased 41 acres of land at Ireland Island to establish a base that would become HM Dockyard. In preparation for the construction of the Dockyard, British surveyor Lt. Thomas Hurd was sent to Bermuda to carry out the first comprehensive marine survey of the island.

James Darrell, Jacob Pitcarn and Tom Bean were among the [enslaved] men who assisted Hurd with his survey. It is likely they were chosen for their skill as pilots and extensive knowledge of the island’s bays, inlets and coastline because piloting was an occupation that blacks dominated from Bermuda’s earliest days.

Departure

While carrying out his survey, Hurd marked several channels at the east end of the island to allow naval ships to navigate the treacherous reefs and enter protected anchorages without incident. That was a departure from previous access points—usually ships entered Bermuda from the west end or the south shore into Castle Harbour.

On May 17, 1795, two years after Hurd began his survey, Darrell manoeuvred Rear Admiral George Murray’s 74-gun ship HMS Resolution into a deep anchorage—now known as Murray’s Anchorage—on the North Shore near Tobacco Bay, St. George’s.

It was a feat requiring great skill and Darrell came through with flying colours. He impressed everyone from onlookers to Murray, who wrote Governor James Craufurd the same day, showering Darrell with praise.

Murray described Darrell as having “great merit for his ability and steadfastedness”. He recommended that the government purchase Darrell’s freedom as an example to others who might also be inspired to become King’s pilots.

Darrell, along with Jacob Pitcarn and another [enslaved] man, were appointed the first King’s pilots in 1795. Their main responsibility was to pilot British naval ships through the reefs.

Freedom

Murray’s recommendation that Darrell be freed was approved by the Governor’s Council on December 1, 1795. The Governor paid Joseph Laborn 150 pounds for Darrell, who was officially granted his freedom on March 1, 1796.

The manumission paper that freed him from bondage described “a certain Negro man, commonly called or known by the name of Jemmy Darrell, aged forty seven Years or thereabouts of a smooth skin and yellowish Complexion and Five feet eight inches high…”

The change in status brought Darrell some benefits, but not total freedom. He could pocket his earnings, but could not serve on a jury or give testimony in court. In addition, the social climate for free blacks had worsened as a result the 1791 Haitian Revolution, which had struck fear in the hearts of enslavers everywhere. Free blacks were targeted because they were believed to be the ringleaders of [enslaved] uprisings.

Illegal

Fears had not eased by 1806 when Bermuda’s legislators introduced new laws. Two were aimed at discouraging free blacks as well as [enslaved] people from learning a trade because legislators felt too many blacks and insufficient numbers of whites were practising as tradesmen.

A third law made it illegal for free blacks to purchase property and to will it to their heirs. It also required blacks who were freed when they were in the prime of their lives—those under the age of 40—to leave Bermuda within three months.

That act sought to reduce the island’s population of free blacks and to prevent those who remained in Bermuda from owning property.

Darrell—who had purchased an undeveloped piece of land in St. George’s on April 19, 1800—and fellow King’s pilot Jacob Pitcarn were quick to take action the same year the new acts were passed.  Bypassing the Governor, they appealed directly to the British Navy headquarters in London in a petition for the right to keep the property they had acquired.

In their petition they pointed out that while people of colour comprised the majority of Bermuda’s population, only nine free persons of colour out of a total Negro population of 5,058 owned land more than 100 square feet.

They argued they would be forced to sell their property and “become wanderers, in some other parts of the World, where they may find refuge.”

Darrell and Pitcarn, along with other signatories, sent at least two more petitions to the Colonial Office in London between 1808 and 1811.  The 1808 petition was signed by 22 signatories, who described themselves as free persons of colour.

While London said law seemed to be severe and recommended it be repealed, it remained on the books for seven years.

In December 1806, Darrell and Pitcarn also petitioned against new measures that would leave them with less income from their piloting. Both men had recently purchased a boat, with the expectation they would receive an allowance for boats and crew. The allowance was about to be eliminated.  It is not known whether that petition was successful.

Emancipation

Despite these setbacks, Darrell’s status as a free man placed him among a thriving community. In 1806, 147 of the 717 blacks living in St. George’s were free persons—the largest free community on the island. They were attracted to the east end by employment opportunities created by the establishment of the British garrison in St. George’s in 1796.

Darrell also earned a good living as a King’s pilot, at least until the time of his 1806 petition against the prospect of pay cuts. He continued to elicit praise. A Lieutenant Evans cited his “great coolness and presence of mind” for navigating a frigate through North Channel.  Darrell continued to earn his living as a pilot until poor eyesight forced him into retirement.

By the time of Darrell’s death at the age of 66 in 1815, the law that banned free blacks from against willing property to their heirs had expired. Darrell left his property to his wife Eusebia, son Thomas Cooper (Darrell), daughter Joanah and grandson James Darrell.

He was buried in the graveyard for free blacks and [enslaved] people in St. Peter’s Church, St. George’s. The inscription on his headstone, which ascribes to him such qualities as “usefulness” and “integrity”, indicates he was held in high esteem.

Resilience

Pilot Darrell’s story of resilience, resistance and of triumph over great odds has resonated through the centuries. His property, located on Aunt Peggy’s Lane, remains in family hands. Romano Ramirez, a direct descendant, restored the house in 1992.

On April 12, 2007, the 192^nd anniversary of Darrell’s death, Premier Dr. Ewart Brown presided over a day of celebration in St. George’s in his honour. A plaque at Darrell’s grave was restored as part of the celebration. A new tender for the sail training vessel Spirit of Bermuda now bears his name.

Many of the documents pertaining to Darrell’s life are housed in the Bermuda Archives, which mounted the exhibition ‘A Manifest Alteration’ in 2008. Further information about Darrell is being unearthed all the time.  Darrell descendants live in Mexico, Tasmania, California, New York and New Zealand.

In November 2008, The Royal Gazette reported how New Zealander Bill Grant learned he was a Darrell descendant. He was able to close gaps in the Darrell family tree with the assistance of Bermuda descendants and genealogist Clara Hollis-Hallett.

According to research carried out by Hollis-Hallett, Darrell married twice and fathered a son, whose name is not known, by his first wife.

That son was the father of James Darell, Darrell’s grandson. Eusebia was the mother of Thomas Cooper (Darrell) and Joanah. Thomas Cooper fathered five children, and Joanah was childless.  The Gazette also said deeds confirm that Darrell bought a property at 5 Aunt Peggy’s Lane and later purchased an adjacent plot of land.

Carpenter

Born in Nassau, Bahamas, he was brought to Bermuda by his mother as an infant. When his mother died, he was raised in Somerset by two white spinsters, who lavished him with love. He learned to read and write and was trained as a ship’s carpenter.

During the first 25 years after Emancipation in 1834, shipbuilding was on the decline but still thriving, according to historian Dr. Kenneth Robinson. Ratteray was one of scores of black Bermudians who made their living in the industry.

Ratteray built his first vessel, a sailboat, when he was in his early teens, followed by a sloop, Little Morning Star. While primarily a ship builder, he went to sea on his ships, packing their holds with onions, potatoes and other fresh produce to sell in Caribbean and US east coast ports.

Onions

He became so established that he was referred to as “the celebrated builder” in the media.
Newspaper articles and ads attest to his prominence and prowess. In December 1851, he took out an advertisement in The Royal Gazette, offering his sloop Morning Star for sale.

Morning Star had made three trips to the Caribbean and back, could carry 15,000 pounds of onions comfortably, and for speed she stands A.1. among any of her class, the ad said. He also offered liberal financing to the purchaser. It is not known whether he found a buyer for that ship.

In1855, Ratteray and his son George built the 51-foot schooner Rose of Sharon. They launched it on May 15 at Herman’s Bay, Somerset before a large crowd and to live music played by the Somerset Brass Band. Father and son were praised in the newspaper report for their industry, skill and perseverance and for the inventive way they built it.

In an article in The Royal Gazette in May 2000, descendant Ellsworth Ratteray explained: “They made a jetty out of rock that they dug from the cliff. It went from the beach into the sea.”
They built their ship on this temporary jetty and when she was ready to be launched, they dug out the rocks and let her float off the tide.

Buyer

Ellsworth Ratteray also said his ancestor sailed the Rose of Sharon to New York in June the same year with a cargo of potatoes, onions and tomatoes.

In September 1855, Ratteray put the boat up for sale. He gave a detailed description of the boat in a newspaper advertisement: it was made of white oak and cedar, sheathed with yellow metal and every bolt in the keel goes through and through.

Unable to find a buyer in Bermuda, he sailed the Rose of Sharon the following year to St Vincent, where it was purchased for $3,000—a significant sum of money. He arrived back in Bermuda in January 1857.

Ratteray, who was also a dairy farmer and an undertaker, amassed an impressive amount of property during his lifetime. Sandys Parish records listed his holdings in May 1859 for tax purposes: three houses and more than 26 acres of land. As a property owner he had the right to vote: in 1858, he was one of 32 registered voters in Sandys.

Married

A family man, Ratteray married his first wife, Rebecca at the age of 26. They had seven children, three of whom, Edward (George), Alexander and Joseph, survived their parents.
Rebecca died in February 1857. He married widow Jane Steer in May the same year. They had four children: Mary Hamilton Seymour Ratteray and Thomas, Jeremiah and Frederick Ratteray.

Ratteray was said to have turned to religion after he nearly losing his life during a violent storm when sailing one of his ships in the Caribbean.

He helped to secure the property on which Wesley Methodist Church in Sandys was built. He was one of several black Bermudian men who invited Nova Scotia-based BME Bishop Willis Nazrey to Bermuda in 1870.

The BME took root in Bermuda and in time would merge with the AME. Ratteray’s daughter Mary later donated land he bequeathed her for the construction of Allen Temple AME Church in Somerset.

Ratteray died on August 24, 1872 at his Somerset residence. An obituary in The Royal Gazette said that he came to Bermuda at an early age, became a ship’s carpenter and “soon perfected himself in the art”. He was also described as “an energetic, enterprising man and a Christian.”

He was survived by his wife, seven children and 15 grandchildren. All seven children and the children of his deceased son, Charles, inherited property. Jane Ratteray inherited a life interest in their home, which stood on 15 acres of property.

Ratteray’s legacy survives through his many descendants who have made a substantial contribution to business and public life in Bermuda.

They include Sir George Ratteray, the first black president of the Upper House (now the Senate); Dr. Stanley Ratteray, a dentist and leader of the Progressive Group, which desegregated cinemas in 1959, Rosalind (Ratteray) Williams, a Progressive Group member, Anglican Bishop Ewen Ratteray, former MP and golf pro Kim Swan, St. George’s Corporation Common Councillor and businessman Gladstone Trott, architect and former MP Walter Brangman and former Living Memories talk show host Oda Mallory.

Stories about Ratteray’s early life and how he came to Bermuda have been passed down his family through the generations, but cannot be verified. One story says he was the son of an [enslaved] woman and a Scottish nobleman named Ratteray who was acting governor of the Bahamas at the time of his birth.

No Ratteray is included in a list of Bahamas governors, acting or actual, that is available on line, but Charles Ratteray was described as mulatto in written records. Whatever the truth of his origins, he grew up to become a person of significance.

Writing in Heritage, Dr. Kenneth Robinson said that black artisans, mariners and labourers were the ‘forgotten men’ in accounts of the Bermuda story. But enough information has survived to show that during the first quarter century after Abolition, there were those who participated significantly in their nation’s economy…

Charles Roach Ratteray was among the most prominent of them.