The History of the Town of St George
The beginning of Bermuda and the start of the Corporation of St George's

Bermuda

St. George’s was settled in 1612.

Originally called New London, St. George’s was first settled in 1612. This was three years after the first English settlers landed on St. George’s Island on their way to Virginia. Led by Admiral Sir George Somers and Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Gates, they had deliberately steered their ship, the Sea Venture, onto a reef to escape a storm. The survivors built two new ships, the Deliverance and Patience, and most continued their voyage to Jamestown, but the Virginia Company laid claim to the island.

St. George’s was the capital of Bermuda until 1815; it was linked to the history of colonial America. As Bermuda’s population centre, and only true port during this period, St. George’s was connected to development in the North American colonies. During the American War of Independence, at the request of George Washington, Bermudians assisted the American rebels in stealing much-needed gunpowder from a St. George’s magazine, which supplied the forts protecting the port. The powder was carried over the hill to Tobacco Bay, from where boats transported it to an American ship that lay offshore.

    During the American Civil War, some British from St. George’s evaded coastal blockades to provide supplies and munitions to the desperate Confederates. This trade was based in St. George’s.

    Milestones
    Key points on the formation of the Corporation of St. George's and Town of St George.
    The Town’s first Mayor was Andrew Durnford.
    Andrew Durnford
    Birthdate: April 24, 1744
    Birthplace: Ringwood, Hampshire, England
    Death: September 10, 1798 (54)
    St. Georgetown, Bermuda
    Place of Burial: Durnford House, St. Georgetown, Bermuda

    Immediate Family: Son of Elias Durnford and Martha Durnford Husband of Jemmima Margaret Durnford Father of Andrew Montague Isaacson Durnford, Sr.; source www.geni.com / Managed by: Susan Mary Rayner (Green) ( Ryan) Last Updated: December 5, 2014
    The Town was officially incorporated in 1797

    The Town was officially incorporated in 1797 and regular monthly meetings of the nine elected officials have occurred each month since that time.

    The Town’s first Mayor was Andrew Durnford. He was followed by Mayor’s William Smith and John Esten, between them these three were the principal overseers of the Town during the period from 1797 -1801.

    Between 1801 – 1818 the town came under the visionary stewardship of Mayor John Van Norden. It is to him primarily that we owe two key Corporation buildings, which, to this very day, continue to serve the town: The Town Hall and the Market Wharf Building. He also solidified the adjacent wharf and levelled the Square. In January 1802, Mayor Van Norden instigated a plan to raise sufficient funds to finance these major developments – and thus was born the first St. George’s Town Plan. By soliciting money from among the townsfolk, he created a roster of public subscribers – each of whom loaned money to the Corporation for a set period, at a set rate of interest.

    Construction of the Town Hall commenced towards the latter part of 1802.

    Thereafter, progress was slow. Building stone had to be laboriously hand cut from local limestone; doors and windows had to be made from felled cedar trees; fittings and fixtures had to be specially imported.

    Footnotes In History

    Masons and Carpenters

    The Official Records show that in 1806 Oliver Kelly was responsible for most of the stonemason’s work; Tomas Richardson made the door casings; and Joseph Hutchinson provided the lime.  Samuel Campbell did much of the carpentry and Henry Todd was paid an exorbitant advance of nearly 20 pounds for putting on the roof.

    Corporation accounts

    Corporation accounts dated back to 1809 show that up to that time, slightly less than 1000 pounds had been expended on the Town Hall building and the adjacent marketplace – and that the subscriber’s fund retained a sound balance of 1 pound, 6 shillings and 8 pence!  Following an influx of cash from new investors, repayment of some of the original loans was made in 1810.

    Mayor Van Norden

    When Mayor Van Norden finally left office in 1818, the Town Hall, the market building and King’s Square and Market Wharf were all finished – and his vision of these landmarks features of present-day St. George’s had become a reality.

    The Modern Day Corporation of St George

    The modern-day Corporation of St George
    The nine elected Corporation members meet in the Town Hall each month to deliberate upon the ongoing daily affairs of St. George’s.  Minutes are recorded, by hand, by the Secretary.  
    The Town Hall was severely damaged by Hurricane Fabian in September 2003. The lower interior restorations and renovations as a result of Hurricane Fabian were completed and it was reopened in October 2004.  The entire roof was replaced in April 2006.
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