The Legacy Begins

The Legacy Begins. Lifesaving Heritage of Orleans. , Shipwrecks and Lifesaving in Orleans date back to the winter of 1626, approximately 170 years before the incorporation of the Town. During that winter, the Sparrow-hawk, carrying passengers bound for Jamestown from England, was wrecked in the dangerous waters off what was to become Orleans. , The ship had entered Manamoyick Bay (now Pleasant Bay) by the same inlet that William Bradford had used during a corn trade voyage in 1622. Bradford described the first encounter between the survivors and the local inhabitants in his history Of Plymouth Plantation: ,

Shortly after, they saw some Indians coming to them in canoes, which made them stand upon their guard. But when they heard some of the Indians speak English unto them, they were not revived, especially when they asked if they were the Governor of Plymouth’s men or friends; and that they would bring them to the English houses or carry their letters.

, The Indians escorted two men and carried a letter to Governor Bradford, who personally led a rescue mission which crossed Cape Cod Bay in a small boat. They landed at what became known as Namskaket Creek and traversed about two miles over what is now Orleans to the site of the wreck., Bradford’s “lifesavers” brought much needed supplies, as the survivors had run out of food prior to the wreck, and many including the captain were sick. After an attempt to repair the Sparrow-hawk and a second wreck, the survivors were taken to Plymouth with no deaths recorded in this Orleans lifesaving mission. , This display was made possible through Orleans Community Preservation Funds