James Rosier
Encyclopedia
James Rosier the son of a Church of England clergyman, became a Roman Catholic after graduating from Cambridge. He is known for his account of a 1605 expedition to Maine
in which he describes the native peoples and fauna and a journey along an unidentified "great river" which has not been positively identified, but may have been the Penobscot
or the Saint George River
. In 1608 Rosier left England for Rome, where he joined the English College of the Jesuits
. After his ordination
in 1609 he took the name Philip James in anticipation of joining the Jesuit mission in England, but died at Loreto later that year on his journey to England.
, the son of James Rosier (d. 1581), a Church of England clergyman, and his wife, Dorothy Johnson. After his father's death in 1581, he was brought up in Ipswich
by Robert Wolfrestone, a relative of his mother's, and then in Sir Philip Parker's household. After graduating BA from Pembroke College, Cambridge
in 1593 and MA in 1596, he entered the household of Sir Philip Woodhouse at Kimberley Hall in Norfolk
where he became a Roman Catholic about 1602 under the influence of Lady Woodhouse, a member of the Catholic Yelverton family.
Rosier was among those who sailed to Maine with Bartholomew Gosnold
in 1602. About that time he met Thomas Arundell
, who hoped to establish a colony in America for his fellow Catholics. Arundell joined with Plymouth
merchants and perhaps his brother-in-law, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
, to set forth an expedition under Captain George Weymouth
to explore the Maine coast. The voyage lasted from 5 March to 18 July 1605, with Rosier on board as cape merchant and reporter.
According to Quinn
, there were three versions of Rosier's account of the voyage: a now-lost journal; a manuscript version obtained first by Hakluyt
and then by Purchas
, who abridged it in Purchas his Pilgrimes in 1624; and yet another manuscript, perhaps edited by Hakluyt, which was published as A true relation of the most prosperous voyage made this present yeere 1605, by Captaine George Waymouth, in the discovery of the land of Virginia. On 30 October 1605 Rosier, acting as Weymouth's agent, witnessed an agreement with Sir John Zouche for a voyage to Virginia, which was abandoned as a result of the revelation of the Gunpowder Plot
in November of that year, and the development of other plans for the colonization of Virginia.
For the next two years Rosier was in the service of Lord Buckhurst
. On 7 May 1608 he left for Rome, where he was admitted into the Jesuit
English College. The account he gave there of his life omits his involvement in the voyage of 1605. He was ordained on 18 April 1609, taking the name Philip James. He died at Loreto
later that year on his way back to England to participate in the Jesuits' English mission.
The location of the "excellent river" discovered on the 1605 voyage is not specified. Morey argues that the expedition explored the Penobscot River
. It has also been suggested that he traveled up the Saint George River
. The native Algonquian
vocabulary Rosier records was earlier identified as Etchemin. More recently it has been argued that it is Eastern Abenaki.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in which he describes the native peoples and fauna and a journey along an unidentified "great river" which has not been positively identified, but may have been the Penobscot
Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to , making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains .It arises from four branches...
or the Saint George River
Saint George River
The Saint George River is a river in Maine with a watershed of in a unique and historic area of mountains, sea coast, lakes, tidal streams and inlets. The origin of the Saint George River is the outflow of Saint George Lake in Liberty...
. In 1608 Rosier left England for Rome, where he joined the English College of the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. After his ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in 1609 he took the name Philip James in anticipation of joining the Jesuit mission in England, but died at Loreto later that year on his journey to England.
Life
Rosier was born on 1 June 1573 at Winston, SuffolkWinston, Suffolk
Winston is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located around eight miles east of Stowmarket, in 2005 its population was 160. The parish also contains the villages of Winston Green and Fenn Street. There is a church and an old school room, and every...
, the son of James Rosier (d. 1581), a Church of England clergyman, and his wife, Dorothy Johnson. After his father's death in 1581, he was brought up in Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
by Robert Wolfrestone, a relative of his mother's, and then in Sir Philip Parker's household. After graduating BA from Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
in 1593 and MA in 1596, he entered the household of Sir Philip Woodhouse at Kimberley Hall in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
where he became a Roman Catholic about 1602 under the influence of Lady Woodhouse, a member of the Catholic Yelverton family.
Rosier was among those who sailed to Maine with Bartholomew Gosnold
Bartholomew Gosnold
Bartholomew Gosnold was an English lawyer, explorer, and privateer, instrumental in founding the Virginia Company of London, and Jamestown, Virginia, United States...
in 1602. About that time he met Thomas Arundell
Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour
Sir Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour was the eldest son of Sir Matthew Arundell of Wardour Castle in Wiltshire , and Margaret Willoughby, the daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby, of Wollaton, Nottinghamshire...
, who hoped to establish a colony in America for his fellow Catholics. Arundell joined with Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
merchants and perhaps his brother-in-law, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
Henry Wriothesley , 3rd Earl of Southampton , was the second son of Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampton, and his wife Mary Browne, Countess of Southampton, daughter of the 1st Viscount Montagu...
, to set forth an expedition under Captain George Weymouth
George Weymouth
George Weymouth was an English explorer of the area now occupied by the state of Maine. Ferdinando Gorges, who wanted to settle colonists in the area, sponsored an expedition under Weymouth, who sailed from England on March 5, 1605 on the ship Archangel and landed near Monhegan on May 17, 1605...
to explore the Maine coast. The voyage lasted from 5 March to 18 July 1605, with Rosier on board as cape merchant and reporter.
According to Quinn
David Beers Quinn
David Beers Quinn was an Irish historian who wrote extensively on the voyages of discovery and colonisation of America. Many of his publications appeared as volumes of the Hakluyt Society...
, there were three versions of Rosier's account of the voyage: a now-lost journal; a manuscript version obtained first by Hakluyt
Richard Hakluyt
Richard Hakluyt was an English writer. He is principally remembered for his efforts in promoting and supporting the settlement of North America by the English through his works, notably Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America and The Principal Navigations, Voiages, Traffiques and...
and then by Purchas
Samuel Purchas
Samuel Purchas , was an English travel writer, a near-contemporary of Richard Hakluyt.Purchas was born at Thaxted, Essex, and graduated at St John's College, Cambridge, in 1600; later he became a B.D., and with this degree was admitted at Oxford in 1615. In 1604 he was presented by James I to the...
, who abridged it in Purchas his Pilgrimes in 1624; and yet another manuscript, perhaps edited by Hakluyt, which was published as A true relation of the most prosperous voyage made this present yeere 1605, by Captaine George Waymouth, in the discovery of the land of Virginia. On 30 October 1605 Rosier, acting as Weymouth's agent, witnessed an agreement with Sir John Zouche for a voyage to Virginia, which was abandoned as a result of the revelation of the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
in November of that year, and the development of other plans for the colonization of Virginia.
For the next two years Rosier was in the service of Lord Buckhurst
Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset
Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset was an English statesman, poet, dramatist and Freemason. He was the son of Richard Sackville, a cousin to Anne Boleyn. He was a Member of Parliament and Lord High Treasurer.-Biography:...
. On 7 May 1608 he left for Rome, where he was admitted into the Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
English College. The account he gave there of his life omits his involvement in the voyage of 1605. He was ordained on 18 April 1609, taking the name Philip James. He died at Loreto
Loreto
-Places:*Loreto, Santiago del Estero, Argentina*Loreto , village and municipality in Misiones Province, Argentina*Loreto, Beni, Bolivia*Loreto , Brazil...
later that year on his way back to England to participate in the Jesuits' English mission.
The location of the "excellent river" discovered on the 1605 voyage is not specified. Morey argues that the expedition explored the Penobscot River
Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to , making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains .It arises from four branches...
. It has also been suggested that he traveled up the Saint George River
Saint George River
The Saint George River is a river in Maine with a watershed of in a unique and historic area of mountains, sea coast, lakes, tidal streams and inlets. The origin of the Saint George River is the outflow of Saint George Lake in Liberty...
. The native Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
vocabulary Rosier records was earlier identified as Etchemin. More recently it has been argued that it is Eastern Abenaki.