Drake Navigators Guild
Encyclopedia
The Drake Navigators Guild is the historical research group which has used multi-disciplinary methods to research Francis Drake’s visit to the west coast of North America in 1579 and related maritime explorations. Founded in 1949, the Guild’s research supports the long-standing conclusion that Drake’s “Nova Albion
” is at Drakes Bay
, California. The Guild's efforts build on the research of Professor George Davidson (geographer)
and others who have studied Drake's voyage. The Guild’s research has identified the specific careening site at Drake’s Cove within the Bay.
Robert D. Marshall, President
Adolph S. Oko, Jr., President
Raymond Aker
, President
Edward P. Von der Porten, President
, the Guild conducted archaeological excavations from 1961 into the 1980s.
map and
the many more maps showing Drakes Bay
.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/07/18/MN140034.DTL#ixzz0zZ6YUu2q
. The most recent expedition was co-sponsored by the Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA), Mother Lode Musical Theatre and the Guild on September 11, 2009.
.
is described in contemporary accounts of Drake’s California visit. The plate found in 1936 was accepted as authentic until 1977 when studies showed that it is a modern forgery. Research by the Guild identified the likely source of the forged plate.
Sir Alex A. Cumming
Matthew P. Dillingham
Captain Daniel Dillon, USN
William T. Hall
Admiral of the Fleet Lord Louis Mountbatten
Captain Adolph S. Oko, Jr.
Anna L. Wilson
Von der Porten, Edward, The First New England, The Compass, January-February 1962
New Albion
New Albion, also known as Nova Albion, was the name of the region of the Pacific coast of North America explored by Sir Francis Drake and claimed by him for England in 1579...
” is at Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay is a small bay on the coast of northern California in the United States, approximately 30 miles northwest of San Francisco at approximately 38 degrees north latitude. The bay is approximately 8 miles wide...
, California. The Guild's efforts build on the research of Professor George Davidson (geographer)
George Davidson (geographer)
George Davidson was an geodesist, astronomer, geographer, surveyor and engineer in the United States.-Biography:Born May 9, 1825 in England, he came to the U.S. in 1832 with his parents, who settled in Pennsylvania...
and others who have studied Drake's voyage. The Guild’s research has identified the specific careening site at Drake’s Cove within the Bay.
Founding
The Drake Navigators Guild began as an informal group of historians and mariners in 1949. It was incorporated as a not-profit organization in 1954.Officers
Chester W. Nimitz, Honorary ChairmanRobert D. Marshall, President
Adolph S. Oko, Jr., President
Raymond Aker
Raymond Aker
Raymond Aker was a U.S. historian who was noted as an authority on the voyages of Francis Drake in the late 16th century. Aker served as president of the Drake Navigators Guild in California, which promotes Drake and his explorations...
, President
Edward P. Von der Porten, President
Multi-disciplinary research
The Guild supports involving experts in all applicable disciplines who can help understand Drake's travels and landing sites. These include archaeology, botany, cartography, Chinese porcelains, ethnography, geology, hydrography, marine biology, marine expeditions, museology, Native American studies, nautical history, navigation, seamanship, ship construction, and zoology.Archaeology
From 1951 to 1961, the Guild conducted independent archaeological investigations of the Drakes Bay region. Under the auspices of Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa Junior College is a community college located in the city of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California. Founded in 1918, it is the tenth oldest community college in the state. Santa Rosa Junior College was modeled as a "junior" version of nearby University of California at Berkeley...
, the Guild conducted archaeological excavations from 1961 into the 1980s.
Biology
Biological references are included in the historical record. The Guild has investigated the mammals reported. These include the pocket gophers and the elk.Botany
The records of Drake's California landing include botanical references. These have been evaluated by the Guild, including the identification of the "Herbe Much Like Our Letcuce."Cartography
The cartographic evidence related to Drake's landing have been evaluated in depth by the Guild. These include the Jodocus HondiusJodocus Hondius
Jodocus Hondius , sometimes called Jodocus Hondius the Elder to distinguish him from his son Henricus Hondius II, was a Flemish artist, engraver, and cartographer...
map and
the many more maps showing Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay
Drakes Bay is a small bay on the coast of northern California in the United States, approximately 30 miles northwest of San Francisco at approximately 38 degrees north latitude. The bay is approximately 8 miles wide...
.
Chinese ceramics
The Guild’s extensive work on the porcelains of Drake and Cermeño along with those of other cargos from across the globe have firmly established that two different cargoes have been found at Drakes Bay native American sites.Geology
The geology of the Pacific coast has been investigated by the Guild and its collaborators. The north-Pacific coast is dominated by the volcanic basalts and hardened sedimentary rockhttp://www.coastalatlas.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=10 that produce sea mounts and other dangerous rocks. Moving south, a mariner finds a very different geology in Marin County, CA where the San Andreas fault has moved the white cliffs north 300 miles over one hundred million years.Hydrography
The sands at Drake’s Cove and the general hydrographic nature of the Pacific coast have been investigated by the Guild and its collaborators. The levels of the sea have not changed significantly since Drake’s visit. The sand spit shown on the Hondius Broadside map have been evaluated and found to have a cyclical nature – which has been shown by the reappearance of the sand spit in 1952 and 2001.Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/07/18/MN140034.DTL#ixzz0zZ6YUu2q
Identification of the Location of Drake's Cove
The Guild recognizes Matthew Dillingham's photographic work on November 22, 1952 as the key break which allowed the identification of the specific Drake landing site.Marine expeditions
The Guild has sponsored or co-sponsored several ocean studies of the Drakes Bay site. Since the discovery of Drake's landing site was by sea, it is critical to evaluate the landing site the way Drake and his crew saw it. One 1970s visit was aboard the USS Wiltsie (DD-716)USS Wiltsie (DD-716)
USS Wiltsie was a in the United States Navy. She was named for Irving Wiltsie.Wiltsie was laid down on 13 March 1945 at Port Newark, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company; launched on 31 August 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Irving D. Wiltsie, the widow of Capt...
. The most recent expedition was co-sponsored by the Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA), Mother Lode Musical Theatre and the Guild on September 11, 2009.
Navigation
Drake traveled 1,500 miles north from Guatulco, Mexico seeking the Strait of Anian. Encountering bad weather, Drake headed east, finding land at Coos Bay, Oregon on June 5, 1579. The Guild has investigated the site. It took Drake 15 days to travel the 400 miles south to Nova Albion. The Guild has evaluated the navigation of this leg of his voyage.Other Investigations
The Guild has led or participated in the research on several other Drake-related matters including Drake's First Landfall, the Plate of Brass, "Drake's Cup," and Cermeño's 1595 wreck at Drake's Bay.Drake's First Landfall
The Guild has researched and identified Drake's North American landfall at Coos Bay, OregonCoos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay is a city located in Coos County, Oregon, United States, where the Coos River enters Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The city borders the city of North Bend, and together they are often referred to as one entity called either Coos Bay-North Bend or the Bay Area...
.
Drake's Plate of Brass
Drake's Plate of BrassDrake's Plate of Brass
The so-called Drake's Plate of Brass is a forgery that purports to be the brass plaque that Francis Drake posted upon landing in Northern California in 1579. The hoax was successful for forty years, despite early doubts. After the plate came to public attention in 1936, historians immediately...
is described in contemporary accounts of Drake’s California visit. The plate found in 1936 was accepted as authentic until 1977 when studies showed that it is a modern forgery. Research by the Guild identified the likely source of the forged plate.
“Drake’s Cup”
The so-called “Drake’s Cup” is a bronze mortar with the date 1570 inscribed in it. The mortar hung in a Marin County, CA church for many years and was called “Drake’s Cup” for decades. In 1980, the mortar was researched extensively by the Guild. While the mortar is an authentic sixteenth century item from Europe, no providence associating it with Drake’s California visit can be established.Sebastian Rodriguez Cermeño
The Guild has also researched Sebastian Rodriguez Cermeño’s anchorage and subsequent wreck in Drakes Bay in 1595. The Guild has been a cooperating group with the San Agustin Institute of Marine Archaeology.Collaborators
F. Richard BraceSir Alex A. Cumming
Matthew P. Dillingham
Captain Daniel Dillon, USN
William T. Hall
Admiral of the Fleet Lord Louis Mountbatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
Captain Adolph S. Oko, Jr.
Anna L. Wilson
Other publications
Von der Porten, Edward P., Our First New England, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, December, 1960.Von der Porten, Edward, The First New England, The Compass, January-February 1962
External links
- Drake Navigators Guild http://www.drakenavigatorsguild.org/
- Copies of publications http://www.winepi.com/Drake_Index.htm
See also
- Drake's Plate of BrassDrake's Plate of BrassThe so-called Drake's Plate of Brass is a forgery that purports to be the brass plaque that Francis Drake posted upon landing in Northern California in 1579. The hoax was successful for forty years, despite early doubts. After the plate came to public attention in 1936, historians immediately...
, a forgery of a plate purported to have be posted by Drake in California - New AlbionNew AlbionNew Albion, also known as Nova Albion, was the name of the region of the Pacific coast of North America explored by Sir Francis Drake and claimed by him for England in 1579...
- Drake in CaliforniaDrake in CaliforniaIn 1579, Francis Drake sailed out in the Pacific, then turned eastseeking the Strait of Anián ,or for a place to repair his ships....