Robert Tyndall (surveyor)

Master Robert Tyndall
Historical marker for Tyndall's Point, Virginia
Other names	Robarte Tindall (Latin), "Captain Tindol"[1] "Master Thomas Sedan"[2] (see Identity)
Occupation(s)	Mariner, surveyor
Known for	Mapping environs of Jamestown, Virginia

Robert Tyndall or Tindall (fl. 1608) was a mariner (sea captain) and a surveyor in the Colony of Virginia. He is notable for sailing to Virginia several times, and exploring the Chesapeake Bay, coastlines, and rivers with Christopher Newport, John Smith, and Samuel Argall.

Robert Tyndall was a mariner who traveled with the original colonists to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607.^[3][4]

In May, 1607, Robert Tyndall accompanied Christopher Newport and John Smith, aboard the Discovery in surveying of the coastline and rivers.

Near Turkey Island (James River), an unnamed native drew the English a map of the area which became the beginning of the "Tyndall draughte map".^[5] Tyndall mapped the York River during a journey to Werowocomoco with Newport in February, 1608. This map is the first of its kind by a colonist of Jamestown.^[6] Samuel Purchas and others used this map as a source for future Virginia charts.^[7]

Tyndall, employed as a surveyor for the Virginia Company of London, was called a "Gunner to Prince Henry",^[8] and wrote letters about Virginia to his sponsor, Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. ^[9][10] In 1608, he included a map:

"...draughte [map] of our River, hear inclosed, by us discovered..."^[11]

This map and letter were delivered to the Virginia Company of London when Captain Newport returned to England in late 1608.^[6][12]

Tyndall's Point (across the river from Yorktown, Virginia, now called Gloucester Point) was originally named in Robert's honour.^[13] Tyndall's Point Park still bears his name and has historical markers.^{[citation needed]} "Tindall's Shoals" (on the map) is Mulberry Island area.^[14] Tyndall identifies the now-named York River as "Prince Henneri His River", and upriver is "Poetan" (Powhatan) near Purtan Bay, which is the village of Werowocomoco.^[14]

In 1609, Tyndall, back in England, captained the Mary and John with Samuel Argall for a faster, more direct route to Virginia colony.^[15] Francisco Fernández de Écija, captain of the Spanish La Asunsión de Cristo (a small zabra, an inshore exploration vessel), was tasked with the "matter of Virginia", to gather information on the English colony's strength.^{[citation needed]} In Chesapeake Bay, the Mary and John intercepted the smaller ship and prevented it from entering the James River and discovering the status of Jamestown. The Mary and John returned to England by October, 1609.^[16]

Robert Tyndall and Argall again sailed with the Jamestown supply missions flotilla of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr from England, arriving at Cape Henry at the end of Starving Time, intercepting colonists abandoning the settlement.^{[2][additional citation(s) needed]} Tyndall was tasked with a fishing expedition on Virginia to help feed the starving English.^[17][2]

Francisco Maguel, an "Irishman" who returned from Virginia to England in 1608, attributed a "Captain Tindol" in a report as being a Catholic sympathizer,^[18] but this moniker actually referred to either the deposed Councilor Edward Maria Wingfield^[2] or the mutineer Councilor George Kendall^[18] Both Kendall and Wingfield were suspected spies for the Spanish Empire--it is doubtful that Robert Tyndall (under the employ of the Prince of Wales and the Virginia Company) would be involved with Spain.

John Smith mentions in Generall Historie of Virginia that Samuel Argall sailed with a "Master Thomas Sedan", which is likely Master Robert Tyndall. There is speculation that Smith didn't want to name a rival cartographer.^[2]

• Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail