A 17th-Century Real Estate Gamble
When exploring Bermuda, don’t just look at the map – look at the names. The parishes aren’t just districts; they are named after the original “shares” of a high-stakes 1612 corporate startup.
In 1612, King James I of England extended the existing charter of the Virginia Company – the same group that had settled Jamestown – to include Bermuda. The islands were transferred to a separate entity, known as the Somers Isles Company in 1615.
By 1616, the Somers Isles Company hired surveyor Richard Norwood to divide the island into “Tribes” (now called Parishes). These parcels of land weren’t named for local heroes, but for the “Adventurers” – 17th-century venture capitalists in London funding the gamble.
- Sandys – Sir Edwin Sandys (1561–1629).
- Southampton – Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton. Famous as a patron of William Shakespeare.
- Warwick – Robert Rich – 2nd Earl of Warwick.
- Paget – William Paget, 4th Baron Paget (1572–1629).
- Pembroke – William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke (1580–1630).
- Devonshire – William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire.
- Smith’s – Sir Thomas Smith (1558-1625) was a London haberdasher who rose to become Governor of the East India Company. Treasurer of the Virginia Company.
- Hamilton – James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton (1589–1625).
- St. George’s – Sir George Somers. The only parish was not part of the “share” system; it was held as public land for the Company.
Insider Tip: Each time you cross a Parish boundary, remember – you aren’t just driving through neighborhoods; you’re traversing a 400-year-old corporate venture – literally walking on “shares” that were traded in London several years before the Pilgrims even reached Plymouth Rock.