Talk:George Gabriel Powell

Saint Helena Island in South Carolina
Was this place named by George Powell, in memory of his place of birth? Does anyone know? John Turner, Burgh House (talk) 10:40, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

• John - Have a look at http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/MPS/MPS033.pdf, which says that the island was named by the Spanish c. 1521; i.e. well before the English and French were there, so it would appear that there is no connection with Powell. In any case, his landholdings were much further north of Charleston and the island is to the south. And I don't think there is any connection between those who named Atlantic St Helena c. 1502 (i.e. the Galician navigator, João da Nova, sailing under a Portuguese flag) with those, who named the South Carolina island. Perhaps there is a connection in that the South Carolina island may also have been discovered on the feast-day of St Helena? Cheers MPCR (talk) 20:06, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

• Ah, well - it sounded like a nice story! I've amended my speculation. Interesting coincidence that Powell ended up in one of the two places in the USA with a St. Helena connection! John Turner, Burgh House (talk) 09:26, 18 May 2015 (UTC)