how was the journey to jamestown

The Voyage to Jamestown

On December 20th 1606, 105 settlers set sail to the New World to establish a colony for the London Virginia company. The group included 35 gentlemen, a minister, a doctor, 40 soldiers and a mixture of artisans and laborers. They arrived off the coast of Virginia in late April 1607. Captain Newport, who commanded the expeditions, was given instructions to find a site that was safe from Spanish attack, but gave access to the sea. Newport sailed up the James River. He found a site 50 miles up the river that was joined to the mainland by a small natural passageway, and thus defensible. He decided on that site and claimed it for James I. He called the new settlement "Jamestown" .

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Jamestown — The First Permanent English Settlement in America

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America. Established in 1607, the colonists survived famine, disease, weather, and several conflicts with Native American Indians. Jamestown grew, expanded, and served as the capital of the Virginia Colony from 1607 until 1698.

Captain John Smith. Image Source: Captain John Smith by Tudor Jenks, 1904, Archive.org.

Jamestown Summary

Jamestown was the first permanent settlement established in North America by England. It was started in 1607 by the Virginia Company of London, during the reign of King James I . Jamestown was founded for the purpose of finding gold and silver and establishing a trade route to the Pacific Ocean. Many of the colonists were unprepared for the harsh reality of life in the New World. Their focus on finding gold, and the lack of farming skills contributed to starvation and disease that caused many of them to die during the early days of the settlement. 

Captain John Smith took control of Jamestown and enforced a rigorous work schedule, and established a tenuous trade relationship with the Powhatans, the local Native American Indians. However, Smith was forced to return to England. Without his leadership, Jamestown faltered and suffered through a devastating winter known as “The Starving Time.” 

In 1610, a new group of settlers and supplies arrived, which helped the settlement recover. Soon after, John Rolfe introduced a new strand of tobacco, which turned into a cash valuable crop. Two years later, Rolfe married Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan, which helped establish peace between the settlement and the Indians. Jamestown continued to grow, which contributed to the settlement’s stability but also reignited tension with the Powhatan. 

In 1622, the Indians carried out an attack on the settlements that killed an estimated 25-33% of the population of Virginia. Soon after, Virginia became a Royal Colony. Jamestown was eventually surpassed by New Towne, and the original fort and settlement were burned to the ground during Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676. Jamestown remained the capital of Virginia until 1699 when it was replaced by Williamsburg.

Jamestown Facts

• Jamestown, established in 1607, was the first permanent English settlement in North America.
• The journey to Virginia began on December 6, 1606, with three ships: the Susan Constant , the Godspeed , and the Discovery . 
• A total of 104 English men and boys, plus 39 crewmen, arrived in North America to start the settlement, which was named after King James I.
• Jamestown served as the capital of the Virginia Colony for more than 80 years.
• Captain John Smith is often credited for implementing policies that saved the settlement in its early years.
• John Rolfe is credited for introducing a strain of tobacco that colonists were able to grow as a cash crop.
• Virginia became a Royal Colony in 1624 when King Charles I revoked the charter of the Virginia Company.
• Jamestown was plagued by fires due to its wooden buildings and was burned to the ground in 1676, during Bacon’s Rebellion.
• Another fire in 1698 led the colony to relocate the capital to present-day Williamsburg.
• Over time, Jamestown faded away and became farmland. Today, it is the Jamestown National Historic Site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jamestown Overview

Jamestown — also known as “James City” — was established on May 14, 1607, by the Virginia Company on James Island, a strategic location along the James River. Jamestown was approximately 60 miles from the confluence of the James River and the Chesapeake Bay. The settlement was established by a group of about 104 colonists who were led by Governor Edward Maria Winfield and his Governor’s Council.

The initial expedition was funded by the Virginia Company of London, a joint-stock company, with support from King James I. England wanted to follow in the footsteps of Spain and establish colonies in the New World, which were essential to the nation’s Mercantile System .

The purpose of the expedition was to establish a colony and to find gold and silver deposits, as well as a river route to the Pacific Ocean. The English believed a route to the ocean would allow them to establish trade with the Far East. At that time, Europeans believed the Pacific Ocean was much closer to the east coast of America. They had no idea it was 3,000 miles to the west.

During the first two years, the colonists in Jamestown faced many challenges. They suffered from hunger and illnesses like typhoid and dysentery, caused by drinking contaminated water from the nearby swamp. The colonists also lived with the constant threat of attacks from the local Indian tribes, who were part of the Powhatan Confederacy. Disagreements between leaders of the settlement also caused problems.

After Captain John Smith took on the leadership of the colony, a successful, but tenuous, trade relationship was created with the Powhatans. The Indians traded corn for beads, metal tools, and other objects — including some weapons — from the colonists, who depended on the trade relationship for food. Despite the relationship, skirmishes still broke out between the two groups and deteriorated further after Smith was forced to return to England. Due to famine, and new leadership at Jamestown, the Powhatans stopped trading food, which led to the “Starving Time” in Jamestown.

However, in 1610, a new group of settlers and supplies arrived and helped to turn the settlement’s fortunes around. The introduction of tobacco as a cash crop proved to be a profitable export for Jamestown and a period of peace followed the marriage of colonist John Rolfe to Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan.

In 1619, the Virginia Company, under the leadership of Sir Edwin Sandys, made changes to the operation of the colony that established the Headright System and the House of Burgesses. That same year, Dutch traders also arrived in Jamestown, carrying Africans with them. 

During the 1620s, Jamestown expanded from the area around the original James Fort into a “New Town” built to the east. Relations with the Powhatans deteriorated after the death of Chief Powhatan, and the Indians attacked Jamestown in 1622, killing 347 colonists. The incident led King James I to revoke the colonial charters and Virginia became a Royal Colony.

In 1676, the fort and settlement were burned to the ground by Nathanial Bacon and his army during Bacon’s Rebellion. Jamestown was rebuilt on a smaller scale and was replaced as the capital of Virginia in 1699 by Williamsburg.

Jamestown History

First virginia charter — april 10, 1606.

On April 10, 1606, King James I granted a charter that created two companies — the Virginia Company of London and the Virginia Company of Plymouth — for the purpose of establishing English colonies along the east coast of North America. 

The Virginia Company of London was given rights to the territory in the Mid-Atlantic region. Meanwhile, the Plymouth Company was given rights to present-day New England and established Popham Colony .

Jamestown and Popham were successors to the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island which was established in 1587 but disappeared by 1590.

Jamestown Expedition of 1606

The Virginia Company sent an expedition, consisting of three ships, to the Chesapeake Bay, under the command of Captain Christopher Newport. The ships were the Susan Constant , Godspeed , and Discovery . Together, they carried 104 men and boys. The group included 40 soldiers, 35 “gentlemen,” artisans, and laborers. The ships set sail from England on December 20, 1606, and arrived in the Mid-Atlantic Region in April 1607.

Jamestown Established — May 14, 1607

Newport had instructions from the Virginia Company to find a suitable place to establish a settlement that was uninhabited by Indians, provided protection from Spanish attacks, and had water deep enough for English ships to anchor. 

The ships sailed 50-60 miles north on a river they called the James River. On May 13, they chose the site — a low, marshy peninsula — and they went ashore on May 14. They named it “James Towne.” Both the river and the settlement were named after King James I.

The spot the colonists chose to settle appeared to be uninhabited but was within the hunting and fishing grounds of some tribes in the Powhatan Confederacy. However, the Indians did not build homes or mark the territory, which was an unfamiliar practice to the English colonists. As a result, the colonists believed the area was uninhabited.

Jamestown’s President and Council Revealed

All three ships in the fleet carried a sealed box, containing documents from the Virginia Company that identified which settlers were to serve as the President and President’s Council. Once the site for Jamestown was chosen, the boxes were opened, and the documents were read. 

The first President of the new Virginia colony was identified as Edward Maria Winfield, and the six members of the President’s Council were: 

• Bartholomew Gosnold
• Christopher Newport
• John Martin
• John Ratcliffe
• George Kendall

Captain John Smith was a surprise to the other colonists. He was a former mercenary who had been accused of insubordination aboard the ship by several other company members and imprisoned for part of the journey to Virginia.

Newport Reaches the Fall Line

Soon after the colonists were settled in, Captain Newport took some of his men and explored the rivers in the area. He traveled as far as the Fall Line, near present-day Richmond, Virginia. The Fall Line is a natural boundary that marks the transition from the Tidewater Region to the Piedmont Region.

Construction of Fort James

The presence of the colonists created conflict with the Powhatan Tribes, and they attacked the crude houses at Jamestown. After the settlement was attacked in May, the colonists were convinced they needed to build a fort for protection, which became the focal point of Jamestown.

On June 15, they completed the construction of a 3-sided fort with towers on each point. The towers were built to be large enough that they could hold several cannons. Inside the fort, the settlers built some new houses live in. Outside the fort, they started to clear land and plant crops. Unfortunately, the area was plagued by drought at the time, and the colonists had a difficult time growing crops.

Newport Returns to England

On June 22, after he believed the colonists were safe, Captain Newport left for England to get more supplies for the new settlement. 

Relationship with the Powhatans

The Powhatan Confederacy was large and powerful and consisted of many tribes, who spoke an Algonquian dialect.

• The Confederacy was led by a single chief, Wahunsonacock, who was also referred to as The Powhatan or Chief Powhatan. 
• The Powhatan territory covered most of the present-day area of Tidewater Virginia.
• It went from the Potomac in the north to the Carolinas in the south, from the Chesapeake Bay inland to the west of what is now Richmond. 
• It is estimated the Powhatan Confederacy was the largest Indian Confederation in the history of North America.

Chief Powhatan tried to establish friendly relations with the colonists by sending food, which they accepted — and then expected. Since the Powhatans were providing food, there was little incentive for the colonists to worry about their own crops. Instead, they focused on their search for precious metals and exploration of the area.

Disease Ravages Jamestown

Not long after Newport left for England, the colonists were plagued by:

• Contaminated Drinking Water — Unfortunately, the location they chose for Jamestown was too close to the ocean, so the salt water mixed with the fresh water in the James River, making it unhealthy to drink.
• Mosquitoes — The stagnant water was a perfect place for mosquitoes to thrive.
• Extreme Heat — The hot summer caused a significant amount of their food to spoil. 

During the fall and winter, many of the colonists came down with “the bloody flux” — dysentery — which spread because of the lack of clean water and unsanitary conditions. By the following spring, only 35-40 of the colonists were still alive.

John Smith’s Expedition

Many of the colonists, especially the well-to-do gentlemen, did not care for Smith, and he was sent out to look for food and explore the area. Smith worked carefully to improve the relationship with the Powhatans, and to present Jamestown as a strong, fortified settlement that could defend itself.

• Smith and his men traded with the Indians for provisions.
• He learned about the area and made an effort to learn the ways of the Powhatans, including their language. 
• The Indians told Smith stories of a western sea and of mountains and gold. 

Early on, Smith visited Indian villages, only to find they had been instructed by Chief Powhatan not to trade with the English. Desperate for food, Smith resorted to intimidation. If the villagers refused to trade, he would burn one of their buildings and threaten to burn the rest. Although it led to the Indians giving him some food, it also led Chief Powhatan to pursue him and try to kill him.

John Smith Captured and the Legend of Pocahontas

In December 1607, Smith was captured by the Powhatans and held captive. According to Smith, they intended to kill him, but Chief Powhatan’s daughter, Pocahontas, threw her arms around Smith and begged her father to spare him — which he did. Smith was released and returned to Jamestown. Whether or not this actually took place is the subject of debate, and is likely a story concocted by Smith.

Crisis in Jamestown

When Smith returned to Jamestown, he found the settlement on the verge of collapse. Newport had not returned with supplies, and some of the colonists wanted to sail back to England on the ship Discovery . Smith threatened to shoot anyone that tried to leave and the colonists responded by arresting him. 

Newport Returns — The First Supply

Newport returned to Jamestown on January 1, 1608, with supplies — and more colonists. Although one of the ships in the expedition was lost in a storm, Newport’s return to Jamestown calmed the situation with Smith, who was set free.

Newport also delivered a message from the Virginia Company, informing the colonists the company was not pleased they had not found gold, silver — or anything the company could make a profit from. The colonists were instructed to renew their focus on finding a way to make the settlement profitable.

Fort James Burns

Unfortunately, soon after Newport returned, a fire broke out in the fort, causing it to burn down, destroying all the food and supplies. By then Chief Powhatan was on good terms with Smith and he sent food and re-opened trade with Jamestown. Around that time, Smith realized the Indians were being generous, but were also expecting the colonists to pay more for the food they needed.

Gold Found Near Jamestown

Under Newport’s direction — and the renewed motivation to make a profit — the colonists spent a significant amount of time searching for gold. However, the focus on finding gold created friction between Smith and Newport for various reasons:

• Defenses at the fort were neglected.
• Exploration of the region stopped.
• Crops were neglected.
• Newport’s sailors were using up food, water, and supplies.

While Newport searched for gold, he started trading generously with the Indians. He even traded swords to them, which Smith was opposed to. 

Although Newport’s intentions were good, it created a situation that was unsustainable. Smith knew that once Newport returned to England, the Indians would still expect Jamestown to trade weapons and metal tools to them — and the settlement would have none to trade, which would cause issues with the Indians.

Eventually, some of the colonists found what looked to them like flakes of gold running through some streams. They also dug up dirt that was filled with the same flakes. It was all packed up and loaded onto Newport’s ships and taken back to England — where Newport found out it was nothing more than pyrite — “Fool’s Gold.”

Nelson’s Lost Ship Arrives

The ship that was lost during the First Supply sailed up the James River in April, under the command of Captain Thomas Nelson. When Nelson’s ship was separated from Newport’s, he sailed south, delaying his arrival in Jamestown. Nelson delivered supplies and more colonists before loading a supply of cedar and returning to England.

John Ratcliffe’s House

During the summer of 1608, Smith was away from Jamestown, searching for food. President John Ratcliffe put the colonists to work building a home for him outside of the fort. This kept the colonists from working on vital tasks, such as growing crops.

John Smith Takes Control of Jamestown

By September 1608, the colonists were desperate. The lack of food, illness, and trouble with the Indians was intensified by leadership issues and internal conflicts. Smith returned from his expedition, and although he was suffering from a stingray attack, the colonists voted to remove Ratcliff and put Smith in charge.

Smith took firm control, implemented strict discipline, and organized efforts to plant crops and construct proper houses and buildings. Smith’s motto, “Work or starve”, required each colonist to spend at least four hours each day farming in order to ensure the survival of the colony. 

Jamestown prospered, self-sufficiency increased, and the death rate fell. Smith’s success convinced the Virginia Company to eventually give more authority to the Governor.

However, Smith also had to deal with the high expectations Newport had created with the Indians. He was forced to adjust terms so it was more favorable for Jamestown. This led to the Indians stealing things like weapons and metal tools from Jamestown. Instead of retaliating with violence, as Governor Ralph Lane did at the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, Smith simply strengthened the defenses of Jamestown and had men keep a lookout for potential thieves.

Newport Returns — The Second Supply

Newport returned in October 1608 to find Smith in charge and everything in Jamestown in order. Newport’s expedition was large and included four ships and more than 100 new colonists — including women and children. Among the group were:

• Thomas Forrest and Margaret Foxe, the first married English couple in North America.
• Anne Burras, who was a maid to Mistress Forest. Anne became the first Englishwoman to marry in North America when she married colonist John Layton.

Second Virginia Charter — May 23, 1609

Upset over the progress — and lack of profit — the investors in the Virginia Company asked for a new charter to allow them to sell additional shares in the company. The charter was granted by King James I and expanded the borders of the Virginia Colony. It is often referred to as a “sea to sea” charter because it extended the western border to the Pacific Ocean. The Second Charter also gave the Virginia Company the authority to make its own laws, as long as they did not violate existing English laws.

The Third Supply — The Sea Venture is Delayed

A supply ship called the Sea Venture , under the command of Sir George Somers, sailed to Jamestown as part of a flee that carried the “Third Supply.” The ship carried the new charter, along with Sir Thomas Gates — the new Governor of the colony — William Strachey, and John Rolfe. During the journey, the ship ran into a storm and was blown off course. It was severely damaged and ended up on the island of Bermuda — which Gates and Somers claimed for England.

When the ship arrived, Somers safely ran it aground, allowing the passengers to be safely transported to shore, where they remained for 10 months. Many believe the account Gates wrote about the voyage of the Sea Venture and his time on the island served as the inspiration for William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest .

The First Anglo-Powhatan War Begins

The area was still suffering from drought, which led Chief Powhatan to withhold food from Jamestown again, contributing to the First Anglo-Powhatan War . The colonists responded by taking food at gunpoint and the Indians retaliated by killing livestock and burning crops, making the food situation even worse in Jamestown.

John Smith is Injured and Returns to England

Smith was injured in a gunpowder explosion and returned to England in October 1609. Without his leadership, the colony fell back into the habit of depending too much on the Powhatans for food.

The Starving Time

Without Smith’s leadership, the colonists living in Jamestown suffered through a long, harsh winter that has become known as “The Starving Time.” Due to threats of Indian attacks, the colonists rarely left the fort and many who did were attacked and killed. By early 1610, most of the settlers died — only 60 survived the winter — out of approximately 500. Some survived by leaving Jamestown and moving to Point Comfort, near present-day Hampton, Virginia.

Over the course of the winter, many died from starvation and disease. Some were desperate and hungry enough to eat animals, including pets, and shoe leather. George Percy, the President in John Smith’s absence, wrote “And now famine beginning to look ghastly and pale in every face that nothing was spared to maintain life and to do those things which seem incredible, as to dig up dead corpses out of graves and to eat them.”

Thomas Gates Arrives in Jamestown

After the Sea Venture landed on Bermuda, Somers and his men built two smaller boats — Deliverance and Patience . On May 10, 1610, the two ships left Bermuda and started the journey to Jamestown. Two men were left on the island to maintain England’s claim on Bermuda.

Within two weeks, the ships reached Point Comfort, where they found George Percy, who informed Gates the situation in Jamestown was perilous. The ships continued on to Jamestown and arrived there on May 24.

The settlement and fort appeared to be abandoned and were in disrepair. Someone rang a bell to see if anyone would respond. To the shock of Gates and Somers, starving, malnourished survivors emerged from the dilapidated buildings. Eventually, Gates decided the only thing he could do was abandon Jamestown, put everyone on ships, and return to England.

Lawes Divine, Morall, and Martiall

The same day Gates arrived in Jamestown — May 24, 1610 — he issued orders known as the “Lawes Divine, Morall, and Martiall.” The orders were the first set of English laws in the New World and defined how members, employees, and servants associated with the Virginia Company were required to conduct themselves.

Lord De La Warr Arrives in Jamestown

While the ships of the Third Supply were marooned on Bermuda, the Virginia Company appointed Thomas West, Lord De La Warr, as Governor. The company outfitted him with a small fleet, supplies, and colonists, and sent him to Jamestown.

As West and his fleet sailed past Point Comfort, Gates and his ships were sailing toward them. West stopped Gates and ordered him to return to Jamestown.

When West settled in at Jamestown, he was intent on ensuring the survival of Jamestown. He put the colonists to work, much like Smith had done before.

Jamestown Attacks Paspahegh

Unfortunately, Governor West was unable to successfully deal with the Indians. He sent a message to Powhatan, asking him to return prisoners and stolen goods. Powhatan refused and Delaware organized an attack on the village known as Paspahegh. George Percy led the nighttime raid. The Englishmen burned the village to the ground and brutally murdered some of the inhabitants, including women and children.

West and Somers Leave Jamestown

West and Somers were not in Jamestown for long. Somers sailed to Bermuda to capture wild pigs and for the settlement to use for food. Unfortunately, while he was there, he died. Meanwhile, West became ill and was forced to return to England. 

Although West remained Governor of Jamestown until 1619, several men served in his place as Acting Governor or Lieutenant Governor, including Sir Thomas Gates, George Percy, Sir Thomas Dale, Sir George Yeardley, and Sir Samuel Argall.

Dale was responsible for expanding the Laws Divine, as they applied to soldiers, which is often seen as imposing martial law throughout Virginia.

Third Charter of Virginia — March 12, 1612

On March 12, 1612, King James granted the Virginia Company of London a third charter, which extended the boundaries of the colony to include Bermuda. A new joint stock company was created to fund the colonization of Bermuda, which was known as the Somers Isles at the time. The company was called the Somers Isles Company and was led by Sir Thomas Smythe.

John Rolfe Plants Tobacco in Jamestown

In 1612, John Rolfe, one of many shipwrecked on Bermuda, acquired some tobacco seeds while he was on a trip to the Caribbean. He took them back to Jamestown, planted them, and they produced a sweet version of tobacco that became popular in England. From then on, tobacco was a vital cash crop that allowed Jamestown to find the stability it needed.

The Peace of Pocahontas

In 1613, Sir Samuel Argall kidnapped Pocahontas and took her to Jamestown. Governor Dale tried to trade her back to her father, Chief Powhatan, for prisoners and items the Indians had stolen prior to the Starving Time. 

However, when Dale went to meet with Chief Powhatan, he was not in his village. Further, Pocahontas announced she wanted to stay with the English in Jamestown. Pocahontas was kept in the settlement at Henricus. While she was there, she was instructed in Christianity and met John Rolfe. She was also baptized as a Christian and took the name, Rebecca.

In 1614, Rolfe married Pocahontas, and it helped establish a period of peace between Jamestown and the Indians, ending the time of the First Anglo-Powhatan War.

New Towne and New Settlements

As the colony grew, so did the need for a larger and more secure settlement. In 1619, a new settlement was built east of the original James Fort, called New Towne. Along with New Towne, settlements were established along the banks of the James River, including Bermuda Hundred.

Pocahontas Visits England

In the summer of 1616, John Rolfe, Pocahontas, their son, and a group of Powhatan warriors visited England They stayed until 1617 and John Smith visited her. Unfortunately, as the group prepared to return to England, Pocahontas became ill and died. She was buried in England and their son, Thomas, remained there. Rolfe returned to Virginia and his tobacco crops. The following year, Powhatan died and was succeeded by his brother, Opechancanough, who did not care for the English. The Peace of Pocahontas was coming to an end.

Great Charter of Virginia — November 18, 1618

Despite the popularity of tobacco, the Virginia Company was still in debt, so it decided to create a way to encourage people to pay to emigrate from England to Virginia. Two officers of the company, Sir Thomas Smythe and Sir Edwin Sandys, drafted a set of instructions for the new Governor, Sir George Yeardley, who replaced Thomas West. The instructions, which are known as the “Great Charter of Virginia,” established the Headright System and authorized the election of a General Assembly — the House of Burgesses.

Headright System

The Headright System provided incentives for landowners to pay for people to emigrate to Virginia. Basically, a landowner was given land for each immigrant they paid for. As more people moved to Jamestown, the landowners increased the amount of land they owned, and the lower class expanded. Initially, the immigrants were indentured servants. Once they completed their contracts, they were free to remain in Jamestown and were given a small amount of property, although it was usually poor, undeveloped land west of Jamestown. 

House of Burgesses

The Great Charter instructed Yeardley “to establish one equal and uniform government over all Virginia” and provide “just laws for the happy guiding and governing of the people there inhabiting.” The new General Assembly was the first representative assembly in English North America and held its first meeting — with the Governor and his Council — in the Jamestown church on July 30, 1619. The men elected by each district were called “Burgesses,” hence the name “House of Burgesses.”

Captured Africans Arrive in Jamestown

Not long after the first meeting of the House of Burgesses, John Rolfe recorded the arrival of a Dutch ship. The incident is significant because the ship carried approximately 20 Africans who were purchased by Jamestown landowners from the Dutch, to work on their plantations.

According to some accounts, there were already 30 Africans working in Jamestown as indentured servants. However, the Africans that were purchased from the Dutch are often considered to be the first slaves in the Province of Virginia. 

Because the landowners were paying to bring people into the colony, they were compensated with land. However, unlike indentured servants, slaves were not freed and were unable to acquire land. While the population increased, so did slavery, and so did the plantations of the wealthy landowners — or the “Wealthy Planters” as they are typically referred to.

English Women Arrive in Jamestown

Another major event in the growth and development of Jamestown took place in 1619. That year, the Virginia Company recruited approximately 90 women and sent them to Virginia. For the most part, their purpose was to find husbands and start families, which is widely believed to have contributed to the growth and stability of the colony.

Powhatan Attack of 1622

After Chief Powhatan died, he was succeeded by his brother, Opechancanough. As the Virginians expanded their plantations, they used up more land, angering Opechancanough, who decided to coordinate an attack on Virginia settlements on March 22, 1622.

On that day, warriors from the Powhatan Confederacy attacked plantations and settlements, killing nearly 350 of the 1,200 colonists. The attack marked the beginning of the Second Anglo-Powhatan War .

People living in and around Jamestown were warned about the impending attack by an Indian boy who was living with the family of Richard Pace. The boy warned the Pace family, who took refuge, and then Pace warned Jamestown. The town prepared its defenses and was able to prevent the planned attack.

King James I Revokes the Virginia Company Charter

In 1623, the Privy Council opened an investigation into the affairs of Sandys and the Virginia Company. The next year, Nathaniel Butler, who had been the Governor of Bermuda, published a pamphlet that was critical of how the government of Virginia operated. A commission was sent to Virginia to assess the situation. 

On May 24, 1624, King James I revoked the Virginia Company’s charter and Virginia became a Royal Colony, under the direct control of the monarch. Sir Francis Wyatt was appointed as the first Royal Governor of Virginia and served until 1626. Wyatt was followed by Sir George Yeardley (1626–1627) and Francis West (1627–1629). West was the brother of Thomas West, Lord De La Warr.

The Second Anglo-Powhatan War Ends

The shift in colonial rule did not alter relations with the Indians, and the Second Anglo-Powhatan War continued until 1632 when the Powhatans were forced to concede. Afterward, the colonists expanded their settlements along the James River and throughout the region. Within two years, the colonists completed a palisade — a fence made from wooden stakes — that stretched for six miles across the Virginia Peninsula. The palisade was intended to act as a barrier to keep Indians from moving down the Peninsula to attack the settlements, including Jamestown.

Following the Second Anglo-Powhatan War, Virginia was governed by a series of men who were often in trouble with the law or caught up in political intrigue.

• Sir John Harvey was impeached by the Council of Virginia — his own Governor’s Council — and removed from office. Harvey went to England and plead his case to King Charles I, arguing there was a conspiracy to change the colony’s charter. Harvey was restored to office and served as Governor from 1637 to 1639.
• Sir John West served as Acting Governor after Harvey was ousted. When Harvey returned, West was recalled to England where he was questioned for his role in the supposed conspiracy to change the colonial charter. West was the third West brother, following Thomas and Francis, to spend time serving as Governor.
• Sir George Reade served as Acting Governor when Harvey was in England. Reade appears to have been able to avoid controversy and is most well-known as being the great-great-grandfather of George Washington.

Sir William Berkely Arrives in Jamestown

Sir Francis Wyatt was appointed as Governor for a second time in 1639. He served until 1632 when he was replaced by Sir William Berkeley. Berkeley served as Governor from 1642 to 1652 and then again from 1660 until 1677. He was also one of the Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina.

According to most accounts, Berkeley was talented, with an interest in science. He believed trade with the Indians was important to Virginia’s success and he also believed the colony needed to diversify its economic system so it did not depend entirely on tobacco. However, Berkeley manipulated the political system so it favored the wealthy upper class, and he insisted on enforcing the Navigation Acts, which ultimately led to his downfall. 

Third Anglo-Powhatan War and Treaty of 1646

Once again, Opechancanough planned another coordinated attack against the English settlements, due to encroachment on Powhatan lands. The surprise attacks were carried out on April 18, 1644, ending in the deaths of roughly 350-400 of the 8,000 colonists living in Virginia, and starting the Third Anglo-Powhatan War .

In 1646, Opechancanough, who was likely over 90 years old at the time, was captured and held prisoner in Jamestown. While he was there, a guard shot him from behind, killing him. His death led to the end of the war — and the Powhatan Confederacy. 

His successor, Necotowance, signed the Treaty of 1646, which made all tribes in the Powhatan Confederacy tributaries to the King of England. Per the treaty, each tribe was given land, essentially a reservation, and was required to pay tribute — an annual fee — to the Governor.

Further, Indians and Virginians were prohibited from crossing into each other’s territory unless they had a pass issued from the forts on the border.

Jamestown and the English Civil War

During the English Civil War, Governor Berkeley remained loyal to the Stuarts, as did most Virginians, who were members of the Church of England. Virginia’s loyalty to the Stuarts and the “Cavaliers” is what earned it the nicknames “Cavalier State” and “Old Dominion.”

When King Charles I was dethroned and executed, Oliver Cromwell and Puritans took control of England and replaced Berkeley with Richard Bennett (1652–1655), who was followed by Edward Digges (1655–1656), and then Samuel Mathews (1656–1660).

King Charles II ascended the throne in 1660 in an event known as the “Restoration of the Stuart Monarchy.” The new King restored Berekeley as Governor of Virginia, in part as a way to thank him for his loyalty to the monarchy.

Bacon’s Rebellion

Bacon’s Rebellion was a violent uprising led by Nathaniel Bacon that took place in colonial Virginia in 1676 and 1677. The rebellion was the result of a political dispute between Governor Berkeley and Virginia colonists, led by landowner Bacon, over how to deal with attacks from remnants of the Powhatan Tribes on the frontier.

Many of the colonists that banded together under Bacon were former indentured servants — black and white — who lived on small farms that were unable to compete with the larger plantations. Naturally, they resented the political system that benefitted the upper class. When the Indian attacks started, Berkeley refused to attack the Indians, fearing it would disrupt the lucrative trade that he and his political allies benefitted from.

It was the first rebellion in the colonies where colonists took up arms against English government officials. On September 14, 1676, Bacon and his army burned Jamestown to the ground and Berkeley was forced to flee.

Near the end of the conflict, Bacon died and English troops were sent to restore peace. As a result of the rebellion, the Virginia House of Burgesses outlawed indentured servitude, which contributed to an increase in the use of enslaved Africans in Virginia.

After Bacon died, Berkeley and the Indians signed the Treaty of 1677, which restored peace. However, Berkeley was recalled to England, where he died on July 9, 1677.

The Jamestown Fire of 1698

When the city was rebuilt, it was on a smaller scale. In the following years, it was less of a hub of business and more of an administrative center for the colony’s politicians.

Jamestown remained the capital of Virginia until the statehouse and prison, located on the western end of the island, burned to the ground in 1698, in a fire started by a prisoner. Although the buildings were lost, a significant number of the public records were saved.

Influential men like James Page of Middle Plantation — present-day Williamsburg — successfully lobbied to have the capital moved there. In 1699, Middle Plantation succeeded Jamestown as the capital of Virginia.

People continued to live on the island and in the area, but it transformed from a town to farmland. By the mid-1700s, the land became part of two plantations, owned by the Travis and Ambler families.

Afterward, Jamestown faded away, and the land was eventually purchased by the owners of surrounding plantations. 

Jamestown Today

Today, Jamestown National Historic Site is located on the James River. Nearby is Historic Jamestowne, a living-history museum that includes a reconstructed Fort James and a small representation of a Powhatan village.

Jamestown Significance

Jamestown Settlement was important to the history of the United States because it was the first successful English settlement in the New World.

Jamestown AP US History (APUSH) Study Guide

Use the following links and videos to study Jamestown, the 13 Original Colonies , and the Southern Colonies for the AP US History Exam. Also, be sure to look at our Guide to the AP US History Exam .

Jamestown APUSH Definition

Jamestown refers to the first successful permanent English settlement in North America. It was established on May 14, 1607, in present-day Virginia. The settlement was sponsored by the Virginia Company, a joint-stock company that sought to profit from the colonization of the New World. Although Jamestown struggled at first, the introduction of tobacco as a cash crop helped stabilize the colony. Jamestown is often seen as the beginning of the English presence in North America and the beginning of the 13 Original Colonies.

Jamestown APUSH Video — The English Colonies in America

This video from The Daily Bellringer provides an overview of the early days of the English Colonies in America, including the Jamestown Settlement, and is an excellent resource for students studying for the AP US History Exam.

Jamestown Pictures

These paintings from the National Park Service depict life in Jamestown through the years.

• Written by Randal Rust

• Art History
• U.S. History
• World History

The Dawn of American Settlement: The Founding of Jamestown

Map of Jamestown Island, showing the terrain and location of the original 1607 fort. (Modern roads, causeway, and buildings not shown)

On May 14, 1607, a group of approximately 100 English settlers, sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, landed on a small island along the James River in the Virginia Colony. This marked the beginning of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. The founding of Jamestown was a landmark event that shaped the course of American history, reflecting the aspirations, struggles, and complexities of the early European settlers in the New World. This narrative explores the critical moments and significant challenges that characterized the establishment and survival of Jamestown, weaving through its story of hardship, leadership, and eventual prosperity.

The Journey Begins

The story of Jamestown, a pivotal chapter in the early history of the United States, unfolds with the ambitious initiative taken by King James I of England. In a strategic move aimed at bolstering the English presence across the globe and challenging the dominance of the Spanish Empire in the New World, King James I granted a charter to the Virginia Company. This charter was not merely a document but a beacon of hope and opportunity, marking the beginning of an endeavor to establish a permanent English settlement in the Americas. The Virginia Company, comprised of a group of investors and adventurers, was tasked with the mission of expanding English trade routes and asserting English influence in the uncharted territories of the New World.

On December 20, 1606, a small fleet comprising three vessels—the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery—embarked on a journey from England to the Americas. This expedition was a testament to the daring and determination of those early settlers who sought fortune and a new life in unknown lands. The journey across the Atlantic was anything but smooth; it was marked by the challenges of navigating treacherous waters, battling unpredictable weather, and coping with the uncertainties and perils that lay in the vast expanse of the ocean. The settlers aboard these ships were driven by a mixture of hope, ambition, and the quest for adventure, enduring months of hardship on the high seas.

After an arduous voyage that lasted approximately four months, the expedition finally reached its destination in April 1607. The settlers arrived at a location that would later be named Jamestown, in honor of King James I, thereby establishing the first permanent English settlement in North America. The selection of Jamestown as the settlement site was influenced by several factors, including its strategic defensive position against potential attacks from Spanish forces and its perceived abundance of natural resources.

The establishment of Jamestown marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the Americas. It was a venture fraught with challenges, including harsh environmental conditions, the threat of attacks from indigenous peoples, and the struggle to find sustainable sources of food and fresh water. Despite these obstacles, Jamestown served as a foothold for English expansion in the New World, laying the groundwork for the cultural, economic, and political development of what would eventually become the United States of America. The story of Jamestown is a tale of survival, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity in the face of adversity, embodying the spirit of exploration and the enduring desire for a better future.

Initial Struggles and the Starving Time

1854 image of the ruins of Jamestown showing the tower of the old Jamestown Church built in the 17th century

The initial phase of the Jamestown settlement was fraught with difficulties that tested the limits of human endurance and resilience. The settlers, lured by the promise of wealth and new beginnings, found themselves in an environment for which they were woefully unprepared. The land, while lush and fertile, was also foreign and unforgiving. The challenges they faced were manifold, including navigating the complex and often hostile relationship with the indigenous peoples, particularly the Powhatan Confederacy.

The Powhatan Confederacy, a powerful network of tribes led by Chief Powhatan, controlled the area surrounding the new settlement. Initial interactions were mixed, with periods of trade and cooperation punctuated by bouts of conflict and misunderstanding. The cultural divide, coupled with competition for resources, led to strained relations that would have lasting implications for both the settlers and the indigenous populations.

Disease was another relentless foe. The settlers, lacking immunity to the diseases prevalent in the New World, were ravaged by illnesses that swept through the cramped and unsanitary conditions of their encampment. These outbreaks decimated their numbers, further exacerbating the challenges of establishing a stable and self-sufficient colony.

However, it was the scarcity of food that brought the settlers to the brink of extinction. The winter of 1609-1610, known as the “Starving Time,” stands as a grim testament to the severity of their plight. A combination of factors contributed to this dire situation. The settlers’ lack of knowledge regarding the cultivation of crops suitable for the new environment, unfavorable weather conditions, and the disruption of supply lines due to ongoing conflicts with the Powhatan Confederacy all culminated in a catastrophic shortage of food.

As the harsh winter set in, the situation became desperate. The population, which had numbered around 500 at the onset of winter, was decimated, leaving only 60 survivors by the spring of 1610. Accounts from this period describe the settlers resorting to eating horses, dogs, and even rats. There were even unconfirmed reports of cannibalism, a stark indication of the dire circumstances they faced.

The “Starving Time” was a turning point for the Jamestown colony. It underscored the importance of cooperation, both among the settlers themselves and with the indigenous populations. It highlighted the need for better preparation, understanding of the environment, and sustainable practices. The survivors of this harrowing winter emerged with a newfound determination. Their experiences during the “Starving Time” would shape the future development of Jamestown, laying the foundation for what would eventually become a prosperous and enduring settlement, albeit at a great cost to both the settlers and the indigenous peoples of the region.

Detail of the map made by Pedro de Zúñiga y de la Cueva, depicting the fort in about 1608

John Smith and the Powhatan Confederacy

Captain John Smith, a name synonymous with the early days of the Jamestown settlement, played a pivotal role in ensuring the survival of the fledgling colony. His leadership qualities, experience, and pragmatic approach to dealing with the challenges faced by the settlers were instrumental in navigating the precarious early years of the settlement. Smith, a soldier of fortune with a colorful past, arrived in Virginia with the initial settlers in 1607, quickly establishing himself as a leader and an essential figure in the colony’s governance and defense.

One of the most significant contributions of John Smith to the Jamestown settlement was his efforts to establish trade relations with the indigenous peoples, particularly the Powhatan Confederacy. The Powhatan Confederacy, a powerful alliance of tribes in the region, was initially wary of the English settlers. The relationship between the settlers and the Powhatan tribes was complex, characterized by periods of trade and cooperation as well as tension and conflict.

Smith’s interactions with the Powhatan Confederacy are highlighted by a legendary encounter involving Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan. According to Smith’s own account, he was captured by Powhatan’s men and was about to be executed when Pocahontas intervened, placing her own body between Smith and his executioners, thereby saving his life. This dramatic moment has been romanticized in American folklore and literature, though historians continue to debate the accuracy of Smith’s narrative. Some scholars argue that the event, if it occurred at all, might have been a symbolic adoption ceremony rather than an actual execution attempt.

Regardless of the veracity of the Pocahontas story, John Smith’s efforts to forge a relationship with the Powhatan Confederacy were critical to the colony’s survival. Through diplomacy and trade, Smith was able to secure much-needed food and supplies for the settlers, helping to stave off the extreme privations that would later culminate in the “Starving Time.” His leadership during this period helped to establish a precarious balance between the settlers and the indigenous populations, enabling the Jamestown colony to continue despite the overwhelming odds against it.

Smith’s tenure in Jamestown was not without controversy, and his strict discipline and demanding leadership style earned him both respect and resentment among the settlers. However, his contributions to the colony’s early survival are undeniable. His explorations of the Chesapeake Bay and the surrounding regions provided valuable information about the area and its resources, further aiding the colony’s development.

After being injured by a gunpowder explosion in 1609, Smith returned to England, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and adaptability that would characterize the spirit of the Jamestown settlement. His writings and maps provided invaluable insights into the early years of English colonization in North America, contributing to the continued interest and expansion into the New World. John Smith’s complex relationship with the Powhatan Confederacy and his role in the survival and growth of Jamestown remain key components of the narrative of early American history.

The Introduction of Tobacco

Jamestown commemorative stamps, issue of 1907 The U.S. Post Office issued a set of stamps, on the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown colony.

The introduction of tobacco to Jamestown in 1612 by John Rolfe marked a pivotal moment in the economic trajectory of the struggling colony. From its humble beginnings, tobacco swiftly rose to prominence as the primary cash crop, revolutionizing the economic landscape of early colonial America. This humble plant, native to the Americas, would not only transform the fortunes of Jamestown but also significantly impact the broader development of the Southern United States and beyond.

The cultivation of tobacco emerged as a beacon of hope for Jamestown’s survival. The favorable climate and fertile soil of Virginia proved ideal for tobacco cultivation, allowing for robust yields and high-quality leaf production. With its rapid growth and profitability, tobacco quickly supplanted other agricultural endeavors, becoming the cornerstone of the colony’s economy.

Tobacco cultivation catalyzed the establishment of the plantation system in Virginia. Large landholdings were devoted to the cultivation of tobacco, leading to the consolidation of land into vast plantations worked by a labor-intensive workforce. This shift towards plantation agriculture fundamentally reshaped the social and economic fabric of the Virginia colony. Plantation owners wielded immense wealth and power, shaping the trajectory of both local and regional politics.

The economic prosperity brought about by tobacco cultivation, however, came with profound social consequences. As the demand for labor in the tobacco fields soared, the institution of indentured servitude gained prominence. Indentured servants, primarily poor English immigrants seeking a new start, bound themselves to labor contracts in exchange for passage to the New World and the promise of eventual freedom. The reliance on indentured servitude to meet the labor demands of the tobacco industry created a stratified society, with a wealthy elite at the top and a disenfranchised laboring class at the bottom.

The insatiable demand for labor, coupled with the limitations of the indentured servitude system, ultimately paved the way for the introduction of African slavery. Initially, Africans were brought to the colony as indentured servants, but over time, the institution of chattel slavery became entrenched. The exploitation of enslaved Africans became central to the profitability of the tobacco industry, perpetuating a system of racial oppression and exploitation that would endure for centuries.

Democracy in the New World

The establishment of the House of Burgesses in Jamestown represented a groundbreaking development in governance. Comprised of elected representatives from Virginia’s various settlements, the House of Burgesses provided a forum for colonial leaders to deliberate and enact laws for the welfare of the community. This experiment in self-government reflected the colonists’ desire for greater autonomy and representation, setting a precedent for democratic governance in the New World.

The principles of representation and participatory governance embodied by the House of Burgesses would profoundly influence the development of democratic institutions in America. The concept of elected representatives empowered to make decisions on behalf of the people became a cornerstone of American political thought, shaping the design of state and federal governments in the centuries that followed.

However, the events of 1619 also underscore the complex and often contradictory nature of Jamestown’s legacy. While hailed as a beacon of democracy, Jamestown was also deeply entwined with the institution of slavery. The arrival of the first recorded Africans in English North America in 1619, forcibly transported aboard a Dutch ship, marked the beginning of a tragic chapter in American history.

The juxtaposition of these events highlights the dual nature of Jamestown’s legacy, reflecting the tension between democratic ideals and the realities of exploitation and oppression. The presence of enslaved Africans in Jamestown served as a stark reminder of the profound inequities that existed within colonial society, challenging the notion of democracy as universally inclusive and egalitarian.

Despite these complexities, the legacy of Jamestown as the birthplace of American democracy endures. The principles of representative government and individual rights championed by the House of Burgesses continue to shape the political landscape of the United States, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of democracy in the New World. However, it is essential to confront the darker aspects of Jamestown’s history, including its role in perpetuating slavery, as we strive to uphold the ideals of freedom and equality for all.

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Colonial America: Jamestown

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• Jamestown Colony On May 14, 1607, a group of roughly 100 members of a joint venture called the Virginia Company founded the first permanent English settlement in North America on the banks of the James River.
• A Short History of Jamestown On December 6, 1606, the journey to Virginia began on three ships: the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery. In 1607, 104 English men and boys arrived in North America to start a settlement. On May 13 they picked Jamestown, Virginia for their settlement, which was named after their King, James I. The settlement became the first permanent English settlement in North America.
• Historic Jamestowne Official website of historic Jamestowne.

Archives & Reference

• Jamestown: The National Archives (UK) This shows resistance to Jamestown in Virginia, named after King James I, England’s first settlement in North America. It was founded in 1607 with the hope of discovering a northwest passage to the Orient and spreading the Anglican faith.
• Jamestown Colony: Credo Reference A Credo Reference landing page on the Jamestown Colony. This page includes links to reference works, journal articles, and a mind map.
• The Jamestown Records of the Virginia Company of London: A Conservator's Perspective Library of Congress senior paper conservators Sylvia R. Albro and Holly H. Krueger tell the remarkable story of how Library conservators rescued Thomas Jefferson’s colonial Jamestown records from disintegration.

Nightmare in Jamestown

Bubonic plague, starvation, maybe even cannibalism—such were the miseries of life in England’s Jamestown settlement, circa 1609. Four centuries later, this program explores the colony’s story with the help of dramatic reenactments and information on recent historical discoveries. Sophisticated forensics and archaeological methods reveal the contents of Jamestown graves, producing shocking evidence of hunger and disease as well as political intrigue and espionage. Viewers also learn how the Church of England has allowed the attempted exhumation of 17th-century remains—female bones that could hold clues to the Jamestown struggle and to the contributions of an unsung hero named Bartholomew Gosnold. A National Geographic Production. (51 minutes)

Source: Films on Demand

John Smith, Jamestown and the Roots of America

The principles of supply and demand are a fundamental part of economics and help dictate the prices of goods and services.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2At5Ymp3c_E&list=PLRpUYjB1LkA82qe62a-n1LcbIkF4kVjbn&index=40

Perspectives

For readers of Nathaniel Philbrick's Mayflower, a revolutionary argument for replacing Plymouth Rock with Jamestown as America's founding myth. In school, students are taught two origin stories for Colonial America. The first is the story of the pilgrims- hardworking, devoted, religious people who made a colony and thrived. The second is that of Jamestown, where lazy louts committed treasonous acts and nearly starved to death before they were rescued by food supplies and martial law from England. But both of these interpretations come from English sources- they were written up by the very governors and lords the American people threw off roughly 150 years later. In Marooned, Joseph Kelly reexamines the events of Jamestown and comes to a radically different and decidedly American interpretation of these first Virginians. In this gripping account of shipwrecks and mutiny and America 's earliest settlements, Kelly argues that the colonists at Jamestown were literally and figuratively marooned, cut loose from civilization, and cast into a state of nature. In Jamestown, the British caste system meant little- those who wanted to survive needed to work and fight and intermingle with the nearby native populations. The desperation of the colony meant that for the first time, centuries before Locke or Jefferson penned the words, all men were equal, and the colonists themselves began to insist on being their own masters and choosing their own fates.

Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown

Pocahontas may be the most famous Native American who ever lived, but during the settlement of Jamestown, and for two centuries afterward, the great chiefs Powhatan and Opechancanough were the subjects of considerably more interest and historical documentation than the young woman. It was Opechancanough who captured the foreign captain "Chawnzmit"--John Smith. Smith gave Opechancanough a compass, described to him a spherical earth that revolved around the sun, and wondered if his captor was a cannibal. Opechancanough, who was no cannibal and knew the world was flat, presented Smith to his elder brother, the paramount chief Powhatan. The chief, who took the name of his tribe as his throne name (his personal name was Wahunsenacawh), negotiated with Smith over a lavish feast and opened the town to him, leading Smith to meet, among others, Powhatan's daughter Pocahontas. Thinking he had made an ally, the chief finally released Smith. Within a few decades, and against their will, his people would be subjects of the British Crown. Despite their roles as senior politicians in these watershed events, no biography of either Powhatan or Opechancanough exists. And while there are other "biographies" of Pocahontas, they have for the most part elaborated on her legend more than they have addressed the known facts of her remarkable life. As the 400th anniversary of Jamestown's founding approaches, nationally renowned scholar of Native Americans, Helen Rountree, provides in a single book the definitive biographies of these three important figures. In their lives we see the whole arc of Indian experience with the English settlers - from the wary initial encounters presided over by Powhatan, to the uneasy diplomacy characterized by the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, to the warfare and eventual loss of native sovereignty that came during Opechancanough's reign. Writing from an ethnohistorical perspective that looks as much to anthropology as the written records, Rountree draws a rich portrait of Powhatan life in which the land and the seasons governed life and the English were seen not as heroes but as Tassantassas (strangers), as invaders, even as squatters. The Powhatans were a nonliterate people, so we have had to rely until now on the white settlers for our conceptions of the Jamestown experiment. This important book at last reconstructs the other side of the story.

The essential history of the extraordinary year in which American democracy and American slavery emerged hand in hand in colonial Virginia. Along the banks of the James River, Virginia, during an oppressively hot spell in the middle of summer 1619, two events occurred within a few weeks of each other that would profoundly shape the course of history. In the newly built church at Jamestown, the General Assembly -- the first gathering of a representative governing body in America -- came together. A few weeks later, a battered privateer entered the Chesapeake Bay carrying the first African slaves to land on mainland English America. In 1619, historian James Horn sheds new light on the year that gave birth to the great paradox of our nation: slavery in the midst of freedom. This portentous year marked both the origin of the most important political development in American history, the rise of democracy, and the emergence of what would in time become one of the nation's greatest challenges: the corrosive legacy of racial inequality that has afflicted America since its beginning.

The Jamestown Brides

Jamestown, England's first real foothold in the New World, was fraught with danger - from starvation and disease to violent skirmishes between colonists and the native populations. Mortality rates were impossibly high: Six out of seven settlers died within the first few years. How clear theseand other perils were made to the fifty-six young women who left their homes and boarded ships in England in 1621, nearly fifteen years after Jamestown's founding, is not known. But we do know who they were. Their ages ranged from sixteen to twenty-eight, and they were deemed "young and uncorrupt."Each had a bride price of 150 pounds of tobacco set by the Virginia Company, which funded their voyage. Though the women had all gone of their own free will, they were to be sold into marriage, generating a profit for investors and helping ensure the colony's long-term viability.Without letters or journals (young women from middling classes had not generally been taught to write), Jennifer Potter turned to the Virginia Company's merchant lists - which were used as a kind of sales catalog for prospective husbands - as well as censuses, court records, the minutes ofVirginia's General Assemblies, letters to England from their male counterparts, and other such accounts of the everyday life of the early colonists. In The Jamestown Brides, she spins a fascinating tale of courage and survival, exploring the women's lives in England before their departure and theirexperiences in Jamestown. Some were married before the ships left harbor. Some were killed in an attack by the native population only months after their arrival. A few never married at all. In telling the story of these "Maids for Virginia" Potter sheds light on life for women in early modernEngland and in the New World.

Save Our History: Secrets of Jamestown

In 1607, 105 Englishmen crowded onto three ships to cross the Atlantic and make a new life for themselves in North America. They built a fort at Jamestown and established trade with the indigenous people, but things quickly turned bad: the Native Americans became hostile, the land proved unforgiving, and disease broke out. How did Jamestown, long thought to be a near-failure due to the colonists’ apparent incompetence, manage to survive to become the first permanent English settlement? This program spotlights an archaeological dig that is yielding evidence every day of the story of Jamestown’s turbulent first years, including a 400-year-old well and a swamp filled with 1,000-year-old trees. Visits to a firing range, a sculptor’s studio, and a forensics lab shed additional light on Jamestown’s past. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes) Distributed by A&E Television Networks.

Early English settlements - Jamestown

Kim discusses how after many years of unsuccessful settlements, the English founded the colony of Jamestown in Virginia.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1lC2OIMipA

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The Voyage That Changed History: London to Jamestown, 1606

Jamestown celebrated more than 400 years after the voyage.

By Sony Stark

“There are many adventures to be had here, my lady!” proclaims the short-bearded gentry dressed in a high standing collar and baggy short trousers.

He represents the send-off party for King James 1st bidding farewell to 104 brave soldiers including Captain John Smith – all destined for the New World.

Having just watched Terrence Malick’s “The New World,” it feels oddly surreal to be standing in Canary Wharf, London for the mock-launch of the replica Discovery, the smallest of the three ships that set sail that day for Virginia. The other two were the Susan Constantine and the Godspeed.

Clash of Cultures

About a dozen actors dressed in Elizabethan costumes reenact preparations by climbing high into the sail towers and stocking provisions in the hull. One of these actors is Captain John Smith and I’m desperate for an interview.

The ship is wedged in a port surrounded by glass high-rises and modern conveniences. The clash of cultures is buffeted by a patriotic fife and drum procession that helps sustain the illusion of the year 1606.

May 13th, 2007 marked the 400th-anniversary observance of the 1607 founding of Jamestown, Virginia , America’s first permanent English settlement. Both sides of the Atlantic have been busy commemorating the occasion with re-enactments, special tours, and even a complete website to trace your British roots.

Claustrophobia Sets In

I’m aboard the Discovery, a tattered ship no bigger than the yellow school bus parked across from it. Claustrophobia is closing in fast while I’m filming from underneath the floorboards of the ship. It’s dark and dreary and smells musty.

LOVE ENGLAND? Get our new England Plane Reader for your Kindle or Nook with dozens of articles to take with you! only $2.99

It’s easy to see how the voyage was plagued with difficulties from food shortages to disease to tensions that came close to capsizing the entire journey.

They All Survived

But, somehow all 104 men and boys survived the five-month trip and rushed ashore to be greeted by a generous tribe of Algonquin Indians. Had it not been for the early generosity of the natives and Captain John Smith’s heroics, odds are all the soldiers would have perished that first brutal winter.

“Journey to the New World”

British dignitaries, ancestral experts, and even Virginia’s governor board the replica to offer insight into the importance of both parties’ contributions.

At the adjoining Docklands Museum, the curator walks us through exhibits that help explain the religious and economic reasons for embarking on a journey fraught with peril.

The permanent exhibition is titled “Journey to the New World” and offers glimpses into the daily life of the settlers including maps, charts and maritime instruments.

Later that evening the party continues with a formal banquet in the Great Hall of the Middle Temple , built in 1573. With military-style seating, a high crossbeam ceiling, and a feast set for a king, it reminds me of a scene from a Harry Potter movie.

Each guest (there are about 200 of us) is assigned their own personal server that choreographs movements (refilling coffee, removing plates, bringing out dessert) with other servers. It’s mesmerizing to watch and I wonder – might this be how King James’s nobililty was accustomed to dining in 1606?

Time to Delve

Learning about the birth of a nation naturally includes a surplus of stories about perseverance and triumph. And since my only reference to Captain John Smith is a sappy storyline with a celebrity actor who survives captivity when a young Indian girl named Pocahontas protects him from decapitation, it’s time to delve deeper.

Part of the magic of tracing someone’s roots is finding a guide passionate and articulate about history. Blue Badge Guide Jean Howard is an authority on the younger years of Smith, a sea captain who was also a member of the Council of Virginia and Admiral of New England.

It’s believed the Captain’s early years in small sheltered communities helped foster his yearning for exploration and travel. As soon as he turned 16, he sought military adventures through Europe, Russia, the Mediterranean and Northern Africa.

We’re visiting the rural English countryside in the rolling hills and valleys of Lincolnshire , two hours by train north of London. There are several towns to see (Willoughby, Alford, Louth and Spilsby) so time is of the essence and Howard rushes me through a busy itinerary.

“Louth is the town where the Captain would have attended grammar school in 1585,” says Howard. She admits that he was probably not the world’s most obedient schoolboy.

“In fact, I’m quite certain that he had a will and a mind of his own and would have been a rebellious student,” smiles Howard. I gathered that much from Malick’s movie a few days earlier. Unfortunately, the school is in session so we instead hurry into St. James Church where the faithful are gathering for morning mass.

Moving Harmonies

“This is where Smith would have prayed,” whispers Howard. Recent restoration projects removed the dark stain from the ceiling beams and stripped it to its natural look allowing copious amounts of light to flood in. Behind us, a choir is practicing under the highest church spire in the country, circa 1515.

Melodious hymns provoke the hairs on the back of my neck to stand straight up. The tall hallow chamber boasts the perfect combination of acoustics and for a few minutes, I listen in wonder. Might Smith have been as moved by the harmony as I am? It’s certainly uplifting, full of energy, and fills me with positive emotion.

Creamy white flowers pop through the frost-covered cemetery grounds of Willoughby St. Helena Church. I tiptoe around them but Howard assures me that the wild plants, called Snowdrops, are hearty and plentiful.

Smith was baptized in the small stone font at St. Helena lit by several stained-glass windows. The font is preserved as it was 400 years ago. Today the windows are etched with a storyboard of Smith’s life, including his killing three Turkish warriors in single combat and a portrait of Princess Pocahontas.

Next up is Tattershall Castle where John Smith learned the art of horsemanship and jousting. This red-brick medieval castle is popular today for fairytale wedding ceremonies from April through October. It’s not open to the public in the winter but the 100-foot tower with an exterior double moat and brick vaulting stands impressive enough.

Final Resting Place

We follow the battlement walkway to the back of the castle where crooked headstones half-buried in the wet fenlands shine like mirrors in the sun. Before us is a non-descript view of the fenlands and the faint smell of when horses raced back and forth.

Faster than you can say “The Sport of Kings” my pursuit of Captain John Smith’s life comes to close at his final resting place in London. St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate on Giltspur Street is the largest church in the City of London.

Again, stained-glass windows show pictorial scenes of sea ships with John Smith’s image and two of his most trusted friends, surrounded by a map of Virginia with books at his feet. The exact position of his tomb is somewhere under the stone floors on the south aisle with a brass plate carving. The first few lines of the etched poem read:

John Smith (1580-1631)

“Here lyes one conquered, that hath conquered Kings, Subdu’d large Territories, and done Things Which to the world impossible would seem But that the Truth is held in more esteem.”

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JOURNEY TO JAMESTOWN: THE VOYAGE OF THE SUSAN CONSTANT AND THE FIRST NINETY DAYS IN THE FORT From George Percy, "Observations"

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This Day In History : August 20

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First enslaved Africans arrive in Jamestown, setting the stage for slavery in North America

On August 20, 1619, “20 and odd” Angolans, kidnapped by the Portuguese, arrive in the British colony of Virginia and are then bought by English colonists. The arrival of the enslaved Africans in the New World marks a beginning of two and a half centuries of slavery in North America .

Founded at Jamestown in 1607, the Virginia Colony was home to about 700 people by 1619. The first enslaved Africans to arrive in Virginia disembarked at Point Comfort , in what is today known as Fort Monroe. Most of their names, as well as the exact number who remained at Point Comfort, have been lost to history, but much is known about their journey. 

They were originally kidnapped by Portuguese colonial forces, who sent captured members of the native Kongo and Ndongo kingdoms on a forced march to the port of Luanda, the capital of modern-day Angola. From there, they were ordered on the ship San Juan Bautista , which set sail for Veracruz in the colony of New Spain. As was quite common, about 150 of the 350 captives aboard the ship died during the crossing. Then, as it approached its destination, the ship was attacked by two privateer ships, the White Lion and the Treasurer . Crews from the two ships kidnapped up to 60 of the Bautista ’s enslaved people. It was the White Lion which docked at Virginia Colony's Point Comfort and traded some of the prisoners for food on August 20, 1619.

Scholars note that the arrivals were technically sold as indentured servants. Indentured servants agreed, or in many cases were forced, to work with no pay for a set amount of time, often to pay off a debt and could legally expect to become free at the end of the contract. Many Europeans who arrived in the Americas came as indentured servants. Despite this classification—and records which indicate that some of them did eventually obtain their freedom—it is clear that the Africans arriving at Point Comfort in 1619 were forced into servitude and that they fit the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ definition of enslaved peoples.

The arrival at Point Comfort marked a new chapter in the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which began in the early 1500s and continued into the mid-1800s. The trade uprooted roughly 12 million Africans, depositing roughly 5 million in Brazil and over 3 million in the Caribbean. Though the number of Africans brought to mainland North America was relatively small— roughly 400,000 —their labor and that of their descendants was crucial to the economies of the British colonies and, later, the United States.

Two of the Africans who arrived aboard the White Lion , Antonio and Isabella, became “servants” of Captain William Tucker, commander of Point Comfort. Their son William is the first known African child to have been born in America, and under the law of the time he was born a freeman. In the coming decades, however, slavery became codified. 

Servants of African origin were oftentimes forced to continue working after the end of their contract, and in 1640 a Virginia court sentenced rebellious servant John Punch to a lifetime of slavery. With fewer white indentured servants arriving from England, a racial caste system developed and African servants were increasingly held for life. In 1662, a Virginia court ruled that children born to enslaved mothers were the property of the mother’s owner.

As cash crops like tobacco, cotton and sugar became pillars of the colonial economy, slavery became its engine. Though the slave trade was outlawed in 1807, chattel slavery and the plantation economy it made possible flourished in the South. The 1860 census found that there were 3,953,760 enslaved people in the United States, making up roughly 13 percent of the total population.

The conflict between abolitionists and those who wanted to preserve and spread slavery was a major catalyst in the outbreak of the Civil War . President Abraham Lincoln formally freed enslaved people in the South with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, although it was not until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 that slavery was formally abolished in the United States.

In the end, 246 brutal years of slavery had an incalculable effect on American society. It would take another century after the Civil War for racial segregation to be declared unconstitutional , but the end of state-sanctioned racism was by no means the end of racism and discrimination in America. Because it became a crucial part of the culture and economy of early America after its introduction in Jamestown, slavery is often referred to as the nation’s “original sin.”

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I often struggle to find websites with thorough explanations in simple language to help kids understand historical events or scientific concepts, so I decided to create some of my own!

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The Traveling McNairs

The World is Yours to Explore Fun Facts for All

• mcnairfamilyva
• Feb 14, 2022
• 10 min read

A Journey to Jamestown Settlement

Updated: Feb 16, 2022

Fourth graders in Virginia are expected to learn about the state's geography, people, and history, so we hit the road to see first-hand the Jamestowne Settlement and learn about life in the 1600s during the founding of the United States of America. Have you ever heard of Pocahontas and John Smith? They lived in this region!

I'm confused. Is Historic Jamestowne the same as The Jamestown Settlement?

No. They are two separate sites. Historic Jamestowne is the original site of the first permanent English settlement in North America. Jamestown was established about 13 years before the pilgrims landed in Plymouth, MA. It is currently an active archeological dig site where scientists are looking for artifacts from this period.

The Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum that includes a re-creation of an Indigenous American village, the three ships that brought settlers to the New World, and a re-creation of James Fort. There are costumed historical interpreters in all the sites demonstrating what life was like back then. You can see musket demonstrations, blacksmithing, woodworking, an armorer, and a medical display, amongst others. It also has an excellent museum, full of hands-on exhibits where you can see and learn about actual artifacts from this time.

Where is Jamestowne?

Historic Jamestowne is in the Tidewater region of Virginia. It is located on Jamestown Island, on the James River at Jamestown, Virginia. It is near Historic Williamsburg , which was another important city during the years of Colonial America. Its location next to the Chesapeake Bay played a key role as ships could easily travel in and out of the area.

Who started Jamestowne?

King James I of England , eager to compete with other European countries as they all explored new trade routes for land and profit, gave the Virginia Company of London the charter to create a new colony in the New World.

The Virginia Company of London financed an expedition of 144 men (105 settlers and 39 crewmen) to travel to what is now called America on three ships (the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery). Led by Captain Christopher Newport, they set sail on December 20, 1606. Four months later, after stopping at numerous places on the Atlantic Ocean, they landed in Jamestown Island in 1607.

Setting up Jamestowne

When the settlers first arrived, they knew they had to build a fort for their protection. They named the settlement Jamestown after King James I, and built a triangle-shaped fort (James Fort) to protect their colony. Unfortunately, the area they picked was not ideal; the winters were harsh and cold, with no protection from the elements. In summer, rain made the site a swamp filled with mosquitoes and germ-infested waters.

What were the settlers like?

The first settlers of Jamestown were all British gentlemen looking to get rich quick that did not know how to fish, hunt, or farm. Very few of them were used to the work it took to survive in the new world.

The first year was a disaster for these settlers. More than half of them died during the first winter, dying from diseases, germs in the water, and starvation. Some were also killed in disputes with the Indigenous people called the Powhatan. The few that survived only survived with the help of the Powhatan and a resupply ship that arrived 9 months later.

On this supply ship was Margaret Fox Forrest, who came to join her husband at the colony, accompanied by her 14-year-old maid, Anne Burras. Anne Burras later became the first woman to give birth at Jamestown. It wasn't until 1620 that approximately 90 single women were brought to Jamestown with the clear intention of growing the community and bringing a sense of permanence to the colony.

Who were the Powhatan?

The Powhatan Indians were a group of Eastern Woodland Indians who occupied the coastal plain and lived in the area for thousands of years. They were also referred to as the Algonquians because of their shared culture and language. Some words we use today, such as moccasin and tomahawk, came from this language. When the English arrived in 1607, ancestors of the Powhatans had been living in eastern Virginia for thousands of years.

Powhatan way of life

Wahunsonacock/chief powhatan.

The leading chief of the Powhatans was Wahunsonacock (called "Powhatan" by the English), and he ruled over a large confederacy of approximately 32 tribes. Each tribe had its own chief, and although they lived in separate villages, they shared many things in common, such as religious beliefs and cultural traditions. Tribe people paid tribute taxes, such as deerskins, shell beads, copper, or corn, to their local ruler, and these local chiefs paid tribute to Powhatan. In return, they received Powahatan's protection.

The Powhatan was a matrilineal society where kinship and inheritance were passed down through the mother or female line. This was how Powhatan came to his position as paramount chief. Powhatan lived in Werowocomoco , a large Powhattan town located on the York River.

Captain John Smith

At first, the settlers did not get along with the Powhatan. The Powhatan sometimes kidnapped or killed settlers that would venture outside the fort. Then in 1608, Captain John Smith, an experienced seaman and soldier, became the colony's leader and set forth a new chapter in the settlement. He implemented many changes that were necessary for the colony to survive, such as:

Implementing a new rule that said, "if you don't work, you don't eat." This rule was necessary because many settlers were sitting around expecting others to build houses, grow crops, and hunt for food.

He also told Virginia Company to only send skilled laborers such as carpenters, farmers, and blacksmiths to the settlement in the future.

He also encouraged dialogue with the Powhatan tribe to improve the colony's relationship with the Powhatan tribe.

However, some claim that during one of Smith's visits to see Powhatan, he was taken captive and was saved by the chief's daughter, Pocahontas. Pocahontas, age 11 or 12, was the favorite daughter of Powhatan. Pocahontas wasn't her actual name; her real name was Amonute, and she also had the more private name Matoaka. Pocahontas was her nickname, which some think means "playful one" or "ill-behaved child."

For centuries, stories have been told of Pocahontas saving John Smith from being executed by her father and allying with the English, helping to find common ground between both. Most of these stories originated from Captain John Smith's journal, where he wrote about the beautiful daughter of a powerful native leader who rescued him from being executed by her father. His writings even give the impression that they had fallen in love.

However, some historians now claim that Captain Smith's life was not in danger and that he might have misinterpreted a ritual ceremony that Pocahontas took part in.

After this significant event, however, Pocahontas joined Powhatan envoys to the settlement, which made it clear that they came in peace. Even though relationships between the Powhatan and the settlers were strained, Pocahontas occasionally brought the hungry settlers food and helped successfully negotiate the release of Powhatan prisoners in 1608.

The Starving Time

In September of 1609, Captain Smith was injured in a mysterious gunpowder explosion that some claim could have been the act of settlers not happy with all the changes he implemented. Due to his injuries, he had to sail back to England to recover. The winter after John Smith left turned out to be the worst year in the history of the settlement. It is often called the "starving time" because only 60 of the 500 settlers living in Jamestown survived the winter. Some claim that they had to resort to cannibalism to survive.

The settlement struggled for the next few years until one of the settlers, John Rolfe, believed that tobacco could be the crop that Jamestown could trade with England. He started growing tobacco plants from seeds he had smuggled on his journey to the New World. By 1614, four barrels of Rolfe's tobacco were shipped to London, marking the beginning of the tobacco trade and establishing Jamestown as a one-crop economy. Tobacco became a cash crop for Virginia and helped the colony grow over the next several years.

In 1614, John Rolfe married Pocahontas, who converted to Christianity a year later and was renamed Rebecca at her baptism. Their marriage brought a climate of peace between the colonists and the Powhatan tribe. In 1615 John and Rebecca traveled to England, but before they could ever return to Virginia, she became ill and died.

Slavery in the colony

In 1619, John Rolfe documented the arrival of the first African captives to Jamestown on a Dutch ship. They were initially captured in modern-day Angola, an area of West Central Africa, and forced to march over 100 miles to board the San Juan Bautista , a Portuguese ship destined for Mexico.

While in the Gulf of Mexico, two English privateers , the White Lion and the Treasurer attacked the ship and stole 50 to 60 African captives on board. The White Lion then brought the first Africans to Jamestown. Historians believe that Rolfe either falsified his report to conceal what the English had done or that the White Lion swapped flags with a Dutch ship causing Rolfe to incorrectly record the ship's country of origin.

For years, the people who came in 1619 have been described as “the first Africans to set foot on the North American continent,” but that is incorrect. Nor is it the case that those who arrived in 1619 were the first enslaved people in what would become the United States.

These erroneous statements ignore the brutality of the ongoing and broad slave trade preceding 100 years before the first African ever stepped foot on Jamestown soil.

There are many documented cases of Africans arriving in the Americas prior to 1619. For example, in 1565, the Spanish brought enslaved Africans to present-day St. Augustine, Fla., the first European settlement in what’s now the continental U.S. Prior to that, in 1526, a Spanish expedition to present-day South Carolina was thwarted when the enslaved Africans aboard resisted .

Additionally, the English settlers enslaved indigenous people — notably those of the Powhatan Confederacy —around the time of 1619, and some colonists later owned both Indegenous and African slaves.

The later years

In 1624, King James revoked the Virginia Company's charter, and Virginia became a royal colony. Similar to England, and by order of King Charles I , the colony was divided into the original eight shires of Virginia (or counties) in 1634. Jamestown was now located in James City Shire, later renamed the "County of James City", now known as James City County, Virginia, the nation's oldest county.

The Fall of the Powhatan Confederacy

In 1646, Opchanacanough , Chief Powhatan's younger brother and now tribe chief, was captured and killed by an English soldier acting outside of orders. After his death, the Powhatan Confederacy declined and in 1677, Opechancanough's successor signed the first peace treaty, known as the Treaty of Middle Plantation . between the English Crown and representatives from various Virginia Native American tribes, including the Nottoway , the Appomatto c , the Wayonaoake, the Nansemond , the Nanzatico , the Monacan , the Saponi , and the Meherrin . The treaty stated that the tribes had the right to keep their lands, hunt, fish, keep and bear arms, and others if they maintained their loyalty towards the English Crownpay yearly tribute payments to the English. The treaty also confined the tribes into reservations.

Bacon's Rebellion

In 1676, a man named Nathaniel Bacon, unhappy with the colony's Governor William Berkley, led the first popular revolt in England's North American colonies . The conflict between the two men was over the presence of the indigenous tribes in the territory. Bacon wanted all Indegenous people from the settlement gone while Berkely wanted to foster trade. Then in 1676, joined by approximately 60 other colonists, Bacon organized raids against neighboring Native American groups. Bacon eventually seized control of Jamestown and burned it to the ground on September 19.

The Rebellion quickly fell apart after Bacon's sudden death on October 26, 1676.

Jamestown recovery

When King Charles II heard of Bacon's Rebellion, he sent a fleet of ships carrying thousands of soldiers and a three-man commission to defeat Bacon and investigate the causes of the conflict. However, Berkeley had already restored order and executed the leaders of the uprising. During Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, the statehouse and most of the buildings at Jamestown were destroyed, but the capital remained in Jamestown.

Through the 1690s, Jamestown was still a tiny village with inadequate meeting facilities for the House of Burgesses, but when the statehouse burned down again in 1698, rather than rebuilding Jamestown again, the capital of the colony was permanently moved in 1699 to Middle Plantation (now known as Williamsburg), leaving the original Jamestown settlement abandoned.

Wanna visit Jamestown? Here are some tips.

WHICH SITES TO SEE – If traveling with kids, I suggest you spend the morning visiting the Jamestown Settlement (more fun for kids), have lunch and ice cream at the Yorktown Riverwalk water-front area, then do the American Revolution Museum nearby in the afternoon. Some kids might get bored at the Historic Jamestowne site but there is plenty of outdoor space to walk and burn up some energy. Get them nice and tired.

TICKETS – If you plan to visit more than one site during your trip to the Williamsburg/Jamestown area, I suggest you purchase a combo ticket. They have different packages depending on how many days you plan to be there as well as what sites you want to see. We were in the area for a long weekend, so we purchased the America’s Historic Triangle package which is a 7-day ticket that includes admission to the Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown Battlefield, and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Kids 5 and under are free. Click on the links below to find a combo ticket package that works for your crew.

Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum

Historic Jamestowne

Colonial Williamsburg

WHEN TO GO - I suggest you bundle up and go during the winter months. Avoid the summer if you can, since summers here are hot and very humid. You’ll still see the exact same things during the winter months, but school field trips are not commonly scheduled for those months.

WHERE TO PARK - There is plenty of free parking at both the Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne.

PET RESTRICTIONS - Leashed pets are allowed on outdoor locations of Colonial Williamsburg as well as at Historic Jamestowne, but not allowed at the Jamestown Settlement. Service animals are welcomed at all locations.

MISCELLANEOUS TIPS -

Wear comfortable sneakers or hiking shoes as there is a lot of walking.

If visiting in the spring or fall, bring bug spray . Lots of mosquitos due to the natural geography of the region.

Allow about 3 hours to explore the outside exhibits and the museum, a little bit longer if you are a heavy reader as I am.

Are you an expert in this field? Please reach out if you see any errors in the information I've written. I'm not a historian, just a homeschool mom, so I want to make sure I am giving my kids all the right info.

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It’s probably a bit childish, but I can’t help it. Whenever someone brags to me that she’s a Mayflower descendant, my nose goes a little higher In the air when I respond,“My ancestor arrived 13 years earlier. In 1607, to be exact. To Jamestown.” Maybe it’s because I feel outnumbered – the Jamestowne Society < www.jamestowne.org > has 3,660 current members and 6,678 since its 1936 founding, compared to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants’ < www.mayflowersclciety.com > 27,000 members and 75,000 accepted lineages.

Why the disparity? Whereas the Mayflower colonists consisted of family groups, the first ships to Jamestown carried all men. Not until more than a year later did wives and children travel with colonists to join the original settlers – that is, those who survived. Some historians estimate Jamestown had an 80 percent mortality rate from 1607 to 1625.

Today, as we celebrate the 400th anniversary of America’s first permanent English settlement, interest in Jamestown genealogy is greater than ever. How do you find out If you descend from the select few? Use our guide to uncover your Jamestown connection.

Once upon a time, 400 years ago …

For those of you who (like me) nodded off during high school history class, let’s begin by recapping the history of Jamestown. A little more than 400 years ago, European countries were looking for new land so they could establish colonies. The Spanish had done so in 1565 at St. Augustine in what’s now northern Florida, and the English tried it in 1585 when Sir Walter Raleigh’s fleet of seven vessels carrying 108 men landed on Roanoke Island, near the coast of present-day North Carolina. The Roanoke colonists eventually went back to England. Two years later; another group headed by John White landed there with 150 men, women and children. White returned to England to get more supplies, but the war between Spain and England kept him from going back until 1590. By then, the settlers had disappeared, and Roanoke went down in history as the Lost Colony.

In 1606, King James I granted a charter to the Virginia Company of London, a group of entrepreneurs, to make another attempt at colonization. That December, 105 men embarked on the voyage, traveling on three ships: the Susan Constant , the Godspeed and the Discovery . They landed at Jamestown Island May 14, 1607.

Along with the colonists, the convoy carried a sealed box, which was to be opened within 24 hours of arrival in Virginia. Inside, the Virginia Company gave detailed instructions and named who the settlement’s leaders would be. Seven men were to govern the colony, perhaps the most memorable being Capt. John Smith.

Although the Virginia Company told the colonists to “have great care not to offend the naturals” (natives), the newcomers came under attack from the Algonquian Indians, so they built a fort. Fighting with Indians was on-again, off-again, but the Powhatan tribe helped keep the settlers alive by trading food for copper and iron implements. While the settlers might’ve been equipped to deal with their human enemies, they had little defense against famine and disease.

In January 1608, 100 new colonists – toting supplies – arrived to find only 38 survivors. That fall, the second supply ship brought more passengers, including the first two women, “Mistresse Forrest” and Anne Burras, her maid. By May 1610, after another winter; 37 colonists had left by boat and only 60 remained. Just when they were about to give up and return to England, another ship with more settlers and provisions reached them.

Though their suffering continued, the newcomers experienced a few years of peace and prosperity following the April 5, 1614, wedding of John Rolfe to Pocahontas, the favored daughter of the Algonquian chief Powhatan. The colony managed to survive – and you could be one of those hardy colonists’ descendants.

First contact

Whatever genealogical connection you’re trying to prove, it always starts with you. That old adage of starting with yourself and working backward holds true for Jamestown roots, too. Thoroughly research each generation to be sure it connects back to the next one. Ask yourself for each child: “How do I know this is the child of so-and-so? What proof do I have?” You don’t want to accidentally trace the wrong lineage.

Talk to relatives, too. Find out if there are any family stories of Jamestown ancestry. Did Great-aunt Matilda join the Jamestowne Society? If so, contact the group to see if you can get a copy of the paperwork she submitted to become a member.

Next, look for original records – censuses, vital records and so forth – in county courthouses or on microfilm at libraries, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) < archives.gov > or the Family History Library (FHL) < www.famllysearch.org >. Remember: The further back you get your lineage (especially beyond 1850, when federal censuses first named every member of a household), it pays off to intensify your sleuthing into documents such as deeds, wills, court records and tax lists.

A good guide to help you with Old Dominion State research is Virginia Genealogy: Sources & Resources by Carol McGinnis (Genealogical Publishing Co.). To find journal articles that may contain information about your Virginia ancestors, check Earl Gregg Swem’s two-volume Virginia Historical Index (Genealogical Publishing Co.). Commonly known as“Swem’s Index,” it’s available in many genealogical libraries.

The Jamestown connection

Your goal, of course, is to link your lineage to a Jamestown settler. You’ll find three lists of them at < www.apva.org/hlstory/list.html >: the Original Settlers, who arrived on one of the three initial ships May 14, 1607; the First Supply, which followed in January 1608; and the Second Supply, which came in October 1608.

Don’t be too quick to claim a connection – just because the same name or surname appears in your family tree, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re related to a Jamestown settler. You’ll have to prove a relationship with thorough research.

Luckily, Jamestown lineages are well-documented: Many colonists’ descents through several generations have been published in print and online, and you can use these sources as jumping-off points. Perhaps the best reference to date is John Frederick Dorman’s three-volume Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5 (Genealogical Publishing Co.). These books establish six-generation descents of about 150 people who’ve been identified as either settlers who came between 1607 and 1625 (“adventurers of person”), or Virginia Company of London stockholders who came to the colony during that period or whose descendants did (“adventurers of purse”). For more biographical information, see Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers, 1607-1635: A Biographical Dictionary by Martha W. McCartney (Genealogical Publishing Co.).

When you’re searching for Jamestown colonists and their descendants online, remember that not everything you find is accurate. Look for well-documented genealogies that cite original and respected sources – and steer away from secondary, unverified compilations such as “World Family Tree” or “Jennie’s Genealogy.” These types of sources have such high rates of inaccuracy that the Jamestowne Society won’t accept them as proof of an applicant’s ancestry.

Pocahontas’ progeny

If you have designs on discovering you’re a descendant of Pocahontas, you need to know two things: Contrary to her Disney character, she wasn’t a hot babe “with a Barbie-doll figure” who dressed in “a deerskin from Victoria’s Secret,” explains David A. Price in Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Heart of a New Nation (Alfred A. Knopf). And she and Smith were never romantically involved, although she did save Smith’s life when he was captured by Opechancanough.

Pocahontas – also known as Matoaka – did marry a Jamestown Englishman, however. She and husband John Rolfe had one known child, Thomas Rolfe, who was born in 1615. Pocahontas died the following year after the three went to England.

Today, more than 100,000 people can claim descent from the Indian princess, says proven Pocahontas descendant David Morenus. If family stories say you might be among them, Morenus recommends you consult two sources compiled by Stuart E. Brown Jr., Lorraine F. Myers and Eileen M. Chappel: Pocahontas’ Descendants (Genealogical Publishing Co.) and Pocahontas’ Descendants: A Revision, Enlargement and Extension of the List (Genealogical Publishing Co.). Check Brown and Myers’ Fourth and Fifth Corrections and Additions to Pocahontas’ Descendants (Genealogical Publishing Co.), too, and see Morenus’ Web site, Pocahontas Descendants < pocahontas.morenus.org/poca_gen.html >, for a chart of some of her descendants.

Red, white and blue Bollings

Pocahontas’s son, Thomas Rolfe, and his wife, Jane Poythress, had only one child, a daughter named Jane. Jane Rolfe married Col. Robert Bolling, and the Bollings were more prolific – so much so that Bolling descendants have been dubbed “red,” for those who descend from Pocahontas; “white,” for those who descend from Col. Robert Bolling and his second wife, Anne Stitch; and “blue” for those Bollings who have appeared “out of the blue” and don’t actually descend from Robert Bolling or (as most claim) his son Col. John Bolling.

Of the 12 “blue” Bollings – whom many people claim as ancestors and thus that they’re Pocahontas descendants – a Benjamin Bolling (1734 to about 1832) deserves special attention. He had, by most accounts, eight children, so he has numerous descendants. But Morenus says DNA tests have ruled Benjamin out as a Pocahontas descendant, and claims of descent through him have been rejected by the Princess Pocahontas Foundation < www.pocahontasfoundation.org >.

Morenus’s site contains a discussion of the Bolling genealogy; you’ll also want to visit the Bolling Family Association Web site < www.bolling.net > for information. To participate in the organization’s DNA study or see the results of the 100-plus men who’ve already been tested, go to < www.bolling.net/bfa_dna_participants.htm >.

Alas, we can’t our ancestors. It was the luck of the draw that I can lay claim to a Jamestown settler through my mother’s paternal ancestry. And given the mortality rate of those original immigrants, I do feel pretty lucky. Otherwise, I might not be here to celebrate the 400th anniversary of my ancestor’s arrival in Jamestown – 13 years before those Mayflower passengers finally got here.

Sharon DeBartolo Carmack

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Residents at SMP Health - Ave Maria donate to Make-A-Wish North Dakota

The community service group decides on projects to help others..

JAMESTOWN — The Community Service Group at SMP Health - Ave Maria presented $600 this week to Billi Jo Zielinski, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish North Dakota.

It was the latest project taken on by the small group of residents, which started in 2022 as the result of a resident’s desire to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“This is unique,” Zielinski said after accepting the donation. “This is my first time coming to an assisted living center and I think that’s awesome.”

To raise the $600, the residents made hot and cold packs, which were given away for a freewill donation. They made aprons and fudge and sold them as well.

The Community Service Group is made up of five to 10 residents, said Peggy Widmer, Ave Maria activities director. One of those members, Laverne Morlock, has participated in a number of projects, she said. She helped make the hot and cold packs for the Make-A-Wish North Dakota fundraiser.

“To help other people,” she said as to why she participates in the group.

Widmer said the residents were active in their communities and wanted to give back to the community.

Zielinksi said the donation will make a difference to children.

“Donations like this from caring individuals — I just love that they were service leaders in their communities before coming to SMP Health - Ave Maria and that they’re still giving back in their lives and they’re giving to kids who need a little boost in their lives,” she said. “So this $600 will boost wish experiences. … it could help for an excursion or buy some life jackets for a pontoon wish or computer gaming equipment. So every dollar counts and every dollar truly makes a difference.”

The members of the Community Service Group decide what project to do, Widmer said, and are supported by Ave Maria staff. The projects have included making pillowcase dresses for little girls and hygiene kits that were sent to Africa through Orphan Grain Train, making dog and cat beds for the James River Humane Society, baking cookies for A Moment of Freedom’s bake sale and making little hearts for the NICU at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo. They have purchased sandwiches and drinks for the Jamestown Police Department and raised money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Running of the Pink.

The work of the group hasn’t gone unnoticed. After learning about their projects, Gov. Doug Burgum wrote a letter to the group in March, recognizing their efforts.

“As your list of compelling causes and projects suggests, your willingness to share your talents, energy and time to improve lives, express gratitude and empower others is inspiring and testament to a generation instilled with the desire to help one another be successful,” he wrote. …The commitment you have made as a group, and as individuals, reflects a mindset of compassion, action and leadership that reminds each of us that our ability to change the course of someone’s life is a choice we make every single day.”

Widmer said the group’s next project is expected to be raising funds for Running of the Pink in June.

—---------------------------

Make-a-Wish grants children’s wishes

Billi Jo Zielinski, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish North Dakota, said the nonprofit helps kids from 2 ½ years old to 18 years old who have a condition that is a critical illness, not necessarily terminal but that may place the child’s life in jeopardy at the time of referral is eligible for a wish.

“We grant about 50 kids their wishes each year across the state of North Dakota and there’s a need for people to make sure we’re reaching every eligible child in Jamestown and beyond,” she said.

Volunteers such as Toni Wegenast in Jamestown and others are part of that wish journey for families, she said. They visit with the family and child to discover what would give them the most hope and joy during their diagnosis.

“If you know of anyone who is having a benefit for a kiddo who may have cancer or if you are a medical professional, a school nurse, a social worker, a doctor, whoever may have information about a child’s condition and they haven’t been introduced or even if they have been introduced to Make-A-Wish, making sure that they know about our programs so we can walk alongside them and just give them a chance to be a kid again and give them the opportunity to decide what would give them the most joy,” Zielinski said.

Make-A-Wish has granted 1,100 children their wishes since the chapter was founded in 1985, she said.

People can also help through in-kind support such as donating airline miles and following them on social media to learn about events.

Zielinski said helping also gives people joy.

“I think that’s what I’ve been discovering over this last decade of being part of Make-A-Wish is that it really does bring you happiness to be a part of something bigger than yourselves,” she said. “And whether you are a kindergartener or living in an assisted living center you still want to add value to your community and I think that is a really amazing thing that we give an opportunity for people to give through Make-A-Wish to the kids and families that we serve.”

To volunteer or for more information, wish.org/northdakota or call (701) 280-9474 or 800-362-9474.

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Jamestown man accused of strangling 8-month-old child, causing life-threatening injuries

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Jamestown man was arrested Monday after he allegedly strangled and caused life-threatening injuries to an 8-month-old child, the Jamestown Police Department announced.

Following an investigation, police said Sean L. Thomas, 26, allegedly caused serious physical injuries to the child by “shaking and then strangling it.” Thomas was allegedly taking care of the child at the time and is not the 8-month-old’s father, according to police.

Police said the child has been transported to an out-of-town hospital where it is currently in critical condition and being treated for life-threatening injuries.

Thomas was charged with first-degree strangulation, second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Further charges are expected and the investigation is ongoing, according to police.

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