J is for Jamestown (Blogging through the Alphabet)

There are many interesting places to study and visit in relation to Colonial America. This week I chose to focus upon Jamestown for Blogging through the Alphabet. The town (and the nearby river) were named for King James I of England.

Facts about Jamestown

• Narrow sandbar connected Jamestown to the mainland
• Land was swampy 
• Poor drinking water
• Mosquitoes brought malaria 
• First workers' strike in British America – Polish glass-makers demand same rights as Englishmen 
• In 1619, men outnumber women 8:1 
• House of Burgesses is formed to make laws 

Things started out well in the settlement of Jamestown but – during the summer and fall – Indian attacks, bad drinking water, disease, and poor diet led to great problems. If it wasn't for Captain John Smith, the settlement of Jamestown might not have survived. He took over the control of the colony when he was 28 and things were difficult in the settlement. 

"If any would not work, neither should he eat." – John Smith 

He sought aid from the Native Americans – the Powhatans – learning their language and the way in which they hunted and fished. Because of his honesty and fairness, he was respected by the Powhatans. He traded English goods with them for food like corn for the settlement. Smith also convinced the settlers to stop looking for gold and silver as he found no evidence of mines.

An accident occurred (gunpowder exploded in Smith's boat while he was sleeping) and Smith needed to return to England in the fall of 1609. Before he left, he wrote there were ten weeks' provisions for the settlement. He anticipated this would get the settlers through the winter and that the Native Americans would continue to supply corn. 

There were chickens and goats (and pigs on nearby Hog Island) as well as an abundant amount of wildlife in the woods (deer, squirrels and rabbits). People should be able to find frogs, fish, and oysters in the river. Things seemed to be going well for the settlement. New people arrived at Jamestown and a new baby was born – Virginia Laydon. 

But the Starving Time was coming. 

Why were the years 1609-1610 so difficult? Why did the Starving Time occur? The Powhatan wouldn't trade with Jamestown. The settlement was under siege. War broke out. The settlers could not leave to hunt or fish. They only had access to the supplies and food within the stockade. It was written people ate dogs, cats, mice, and rats. Even boots and shoes!

In May 1610, two English ships tied up to the docks of Jamestown. In October 1609 when Smith left there were 500 settlers. Now there were only 60 left alive. Buildings had been burnt to help provide warmth. They wanted to leave. 

Lord de la Warr, the new governor, made the colonists start Jamestown again. And it prospered even under difficult conditions. More settlers arrived – artisans, laborers, women. And even though things were different, there were still many deaths due to the swampy land that led to diseases. 

Eventually the settlers in and around Jamestown would find a way to make great profits – tobacco. The leaves made the settlers rich after they figured out the best way to run their plantations. They employed indentured servants and slaves to help work the tobacco plantations. 

A Turning Point – 1618-1619 

The settlers set up their own law-making body – the House of Burgesses – which meant they were making laws for themselves. Land reforms also made it easier for settlers to obtain private property. The tobacco plantations began to use Africans in addition to indentured servants. (Whether the Africans were slaves or indentured servants is still up for debate.)

There would be periods of success and failure for Jamestown up until the 1670s when the town burned to the ground during Bacon's Rebellion. You can still visit the area where the National Park Service has several interesting places to study and see.

Resources 

Colonial National Historic Park 
Jamestown Rediscovery: Historic Jamestowne 

images from: 
Pottery: © Mlhead | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images
Fort: Pixabay 
Tobacco plant: Openclipart 
Other images from U.S. History Images 

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