Hi Neil, I wrote a novel (Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky) based on Joan Peirce and her daughter Cecily Reynolds. Cecily's second husband was Samuel Jordan of Jordan's Journey. Samuel was a character in the book, but will play a more important role in the sequel. I'm writing the sequel now, which will largely focus on Cecily's life, including her marriage to Samuel and the development of Jordan's Journey. I'm a descendent of Cecily from her first marriage to a Bailey. My research for the sequel is still in progress, but I can tell you that you're correct that there's no definitive proof (that I'm aware of) that Samuel was a passenger on the Sea Venture. However, he received a land grant on 10 December 1620 which listed him as a "an ancient planter who hath abode ten yeares compleat in this Colony." From this, we know he either came on the Patience and Deliverance (with the Sea Venture survivors) or on De La Warr's ships in June 1610. He appeared to have a strong military background (suggested by how well-fortified Jordan's Journey was and the similarity of its structures to those of an Irish bawn.) I believe he was probably in the group of mercenaries left without work when a truce was called in the Lowlands in 1609. His (probable) distant cousin Silvester was definitely on the Sea Venture, and his first cousin's (Joan Peirce's) husband was also on there. I think the Sea Venture is a sound assumption, though not definite. The name "Beggar's Bush" was probably a corruption of "Biker's Bush." The neighboring land was that of William Biker, and there is a Bicker's Creek on present day maps near there as well. Please see W&M Quarterly, April 1941, p.180-181 for a more detailed explanation. Samuel would have pronounced his name "JERR-den." His ancestors probably came to England from France after the Hundred Years war. This distinct pronounciation survived in Virginia for many years, and is distinguishable from the ancient family of English Jordans who pronounce it more as we would expect: "JOR-den". Given that, "Jordan's Journey" was much more alliterative than it appears on paper! I love the charcter of Sam Jordan and am eager to do more research on him. Best of luck. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Connie Lapallo author of DARK ENOUGH TO SEE THE STARS IN A JAMESTOWN SKY www.ConnieLapallo.com To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html