Talk:Dunstable, England

10. Letter. Sir Edwin Sandys to John Ferrar Magdalene College, 18 September 1620 CLASS Ferrar papers Box No. 972 Title Letter. Sir Edwin Sandys to John Ferrar. From Northborn. He writes to describe the greatest peril of his wife in child-bed. On Thursday, 7 September, when the "Bona Nova" sailed from the Downs and was met beyond the Nesse, her travail began and continued until Sunday morning, when she was delivered of a dead boy.

I am researching the Bona Noua, which is also spelled Bona Nova. I have found the "Downs" is referring to Dunstable Downs. I have found through research that it is about 30 miles from London, England. The Bona Nova was a fishing, tobacco, mail and passenger ship. It carried many people from England to Virginia between 1618 and 1625. It also was used in fishing between 1623 and 1633 from Virginia to Canada. It is recorded in the "Records of the Virginia Company" which writings later was saved by President Thomas Jefferson. I have been informed that the Thames River runs through the "Downs" and goes through London, as well. I am trying to find from the text in the old letter what the Nesse is referring to. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~virginiahuddlestons/captain_john_huddleston_of_the_b.htm RoyHHuddleston@yahoo.com