Marye Bucke - The Minister's Wife From Jamestown
Class - In Person & Zoom | Available (Membership Required)
Step back in time to the year 1621 and meet Marye Bucke, the Minister’s Wife from
Jamestown. This program brings the young colony to life through first-person interpretation, early modern English
dialect, and authentic 17th-century clothing. Through vivid storytelling grounded in primary sources, Marye
recounts her Atlantic voyage and surviving a shipwreck. She shares her experiences witnessing pivotal moments in
the first years of the young colony and interactions with the native people. This engaging program offers a rare
glimpse into the often-overlooked experiences of women and faith in the New World.
Rebecca Suerdieck
Rebecca Suerdieck is a living history educator specializing in 17th-century English life in Virginia. She
transforms archival research and archaeological evidence into engaging programs that bring the early colonial
world to life. While serving at Historic Jamestown’s Memorial Church, her research into English women led to a
remarkable discovery: the long-lost identity of “the Minister’s Wife,” Marye Bucke. Through years of primary
source study, she restored Bucke’s name to the historical record. Rebecca is the author of a book exploring this
discovery and her research process. She is widely sought for her ability to blend scholarship, storytelling, and
humor into unforgettable historical experiences.