There's a Dolphin in Their Family Tree

One of Bermuda's "first families" welcomes a water baby to the clan

Text and photos courtesy of Dolphin Quest Bermuda

Samuel Tatem was one of the first settlers to arrive in Bermuda in 1609. Today Tatem's descendants are proud that his name lives on in the island — thanks to the recent birth of a dolphin!

In April 2004, Dolphin Quest Bermuda, a facility that offers fun and educational interactive experiences with dolphins, welcomed two dolphin babies to its family. Dolphin Quest launched a countrywide competition to name the babies. From more than 200 entries, Tatem was chosen for one of the dolphins, and Lily for the other.

Now Bermuda residents Herbert and Dorothy Tatem enjoy visiting their ancestor's namesake at Dolphin Quest. Herbert Tatem, an 82-year-old Navy veteran, is a direct descendant of old Samuel. He and his wife, who live in Paget Parish, read about the dolphin baby-naming in the Mid Ocean News and were delighted to discover the family connection.

"Both Dorothy and I felt it was very nice that a dolphin had been named after a family that had been on the island close to 400 years," he says. "We are very proud."

The Tatems, in fact, came to see their newly named "grandchild" the next day. To commemorate the meeting, Dolphin Quest presented Tatem with a framed photograph that has become a treasured keepsake for the couple.

"We had a wonderful day and have attached a copy of the picture to the original newspaper article to send to our delighted family and relatives," Tatem says. "We placed the framed picture on a shelf in our home where everyone can see it as soon as they come in."

You can visit Tatem the dolphin yourself by stopping by the Dolphin Quest facility at the Bermuda Maritime Museum in Dockyard.

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