# Ep. 08: The Horrifying Lives of Early Virginians **URL:** **By** Anthony Comegna **Published:** June 20, 2017 --- Nature dissolves all human social constructions and class boundaries. On July 25, 1609, aboard the Virginia Company’s slowing sinking ship the Sea Venture, a company of colonial gentlemen-adventurers, indentured servants, and sailors, all struggled for their lives. The crew plugged holes and splits with every available means and everyone --even the genteel and lordly--took turns carrying water for a time. Aboard the Sea Venture, circumstances forced rich and poor alike to join their labors in common cause and solidarity. The aqueous environment--agitated by catastrophe--dissolved class boundaries. [Richard’s Frethorne’s Letters to Mother and Father](https://www.libertarianism.org/essays/virginia-is-horrible-send-cheese-indentured-servant-writes-home) [Sir Thomas Dale, “Articles, Law, and orders, Divine, Politic and Martial for the Colony in Virginia” (22 June 1611)](http://moglen.law.columbia.edu/ALH/lawesdivine.pdf)