History of Jamestown, Virginia Settlement 1607

Jamestown, Virginia was established on May 14, 1607 by English settlers, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This early Virginia colony became the first lasting settlement in America. The purpose of the Jamestown settlement in North America was for both freedom of religion and for profit from America's resources.

The settlement was located on the banks of the James River and was funded by London's, Virginia Company. The original Jamestown settlement housed only 104 men and boys. These early settlers suffered many hardships like, frigid winters, disease, and starvation during their first years in Jamestown, Virginia.

Journey to the New World

Three English ships, the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery left England for the New World in December of 1606. The ships carried 105 passengers but one died before reaching Virginia. When they arrived at Virginia in April of 1607, Captain Christopher Newport led a two week expedition to find the best spot for a new settlement. On May 13, the captain decided on an area along the James River. He felt that this spot was good for defending the settlement and it also offered deep water for anchoring the ships. The settlers went ashore and the establishment of the Jamestown colony was underway. Seven councilmen were named to govern Jamestown, including John Smith.

Contact with the Algonquian Indians

Fourteen thousand Algonquian Indians lived in the area of Jamestown. The tribe was led by the great chief, Powhatan. The relationship between the new settlers and the Algonquians was unstable and the colonists were often attacked. Eventually, the colonists began trading beads and iron tools for food with the Algonquians. Trading helped the Algonquians become more tolerant of the settlers but they never really became peaceful.

John Smith

John Smith was attacked by the Algonquian Indians and taken back to their chief, Powhatan. The fearlessness and confidence of John Smith impressed the chief. Powhatan asked Smith about the Jamestown colony and eventually invited Smith to become a member of the tribe through a customary ritual. While Smith was in Powhatan's company, he met Pocahontas, the chief's eleven year old daughter.

Pocahontas

Pocahontas participated in the ritual that elevated John Smith to become a member of the Algonquian tribe. He was allowed to return to Jamestown four weeks after he had been captured. John Smith believed Pocahontas spoke in his behalf to the chief, saving his life.

In 1614, Pocahontas married John Rolfe who brought the tobacco industry to the Jamestown area. Following the wedding, a time of peace between the Algonquians and Jamestown lasted for a few years.

The Starving Time

In 1609. John Smith left Jamestown and returned to England when he was burned by an explosion. It was then that the colony began to dissolve. Without Smith's leadership, the colonists lost their motivation. George Percy took over leadership but was not competent with governing Jamestown. The "Starving Time" began and only 60 colonists survived the famine. They abandoned Jamestown but returned when supplies were sent to the colony. Lord De La Warr who arrived with the supplies became the new governor of Jamestown. By 1623, Jamestown had grown to 4,500 colonists and the tobacco trade began to thrive.

Find more information on the events leading up to the settling of Jamestown from 1606 when the colonists set sail, up to 1608 when John Smith left the fort.

Jamestown Timeline 1606-1608, Virtual Jamestown, Virginia Center for Digital History, University of Virginia

Read a discourse written by the first president of Jamestown, Edward Maria Wingfield. He writes a detailed account about life in the new Virginia colony.

First Hand Accounts of Virginia, 1575-1705, Virtual Jamestown, Virginia Center for Digital History, University of Virginia

Take a look at historical artifacts excavated from the original Jamestown colony.

Jamestown Artifacts, Virtual Jamestown, Virginia Center for Digital History, University of Virginia

Learn about the layout of Jamestown Fort from a map created by Henry Chandlee Forman from the original 1607 plans of the fort.

Jamestown Fort, 1607, Virtual Jamestown, Virginia Center for Digital History, University of Virginia

Look at pictures from the reconstructed Jamestown Settlement in Virginia.

Berkeley: Jamestown Settlement Photos 2

Find more information about the history of Jamestown.

Jamestown Rediscovery, History of Jamestown

Virtual Jamestown, Virginia Center for Digital History, University of Virginia

References:

Jamestown Rediscovery, Captain John Smith

Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 1: John Smith." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide

Virtual School, A Brief History of Jamestown, Virginia