New evidence may soon emerge about the identity of two Native Americans who were onboard the Sea Venture when it was wrecked at Bermuda in 1609.

Lance Furbert, the new town manager of St. George's, is doing research on the subject after making some enquiries about the pair on a visit to Jamestown, Virginia, in August.

The Sea Venture was on its way to relieve the starving English settlement of Jamestown when she was wrecked near St. George's, leading to the founding of Bermuda.

Mr. Furbert said yesterday that the native Americans had travelled to England with some of the Jamestown settlers between 1607 and 1609, although it is not known exactly why.

He said when he was in Jamestown in August talking to a fellow historian to compare notes, he saw a list which had the names of some of the Sea Venture passengers, but did not include the American Indians.

"I was sure I had seen (their names) somewhere before and I mentioned this to her. She wasn't able to put me onto anyone, but a little later I met a lady working on one of the boats and she gave me the number of a man I can contact," he told The Royal Gazette.

"I am hoping to contact him to follow it up and see what I can come up with. There were Native Americans here in Bermuda from time to time," he said.

Earlier, Mr. Furbert told the weekly Hamilton Rotary Club meeting at the Tuscany Restaurant about his plans to put signs around St. George's for a walking trail - giving visitors and residents information about the historical importance of buildings and places in the Old Town.

Mr. Furbert has been talking to local businesses and home owners in St. George's to get as much information as possible about their buildings. He praised their enthusiasm for giving him useful details which will help when the signs are finally erected.

The active participation of all people in the Old Town will be the key to making St. George's come alive for visitors as a World Heritage Site, he told the meeting.

He described the State House as the "most historic English area in the new world," but unfortunately there was usually no one there to explain its significance to visitors. This was something which will need to be improved.

Mr. Furbert said one way to get through to the youths who hang around Kings Square causing trouble at night is to make them more aware of their historic surroundings and the fact that it is part of their history.