This weekend we visited Historic Jamestowne on the anniversary of Bacon’s Rebellion in the 17th century, which began with a tour from decades earlier with John Rolfe.
On this typical drizzly September day (at least this year it’s typical), we were directed to the church to stay dry, where we cozily sat on benches within the brick walls that hold memories of the struggles of survival in the first years of settlement.
The floor underneath our feet is marked with special inlaid tiles marking the graves of those who died in those first years.
In this quiet hallowed place, we intently listened as John Rolfe took us back in time…
As the rain pitter pattered outside the open door, a mist hung over the James River.
Through the mist, time changed from 2011 to 1621 as John Rolfe fondly remembered his wife, Pocahontas, the young Native America princess who helped to save an English settlement and later stood before the English court. She died shortly after.
1606 VIRGINIA COMPANY OF LONDON ESTABLISHED
Rolfe’s story turned to the establishment of Jamestowne in 1607, three years before his arrival.
After learning of Spanish discoveries of gold in the New World, a group of shareholders in England formed the Virginia Company of London as a business.
ADVENTURERS NEEDED TO SEEK GOLD
Financing a group of men to settle and seek gold in the Chesapeake region, the Virginia Company anticipated the arrival of discovered gold, enabling a return on their investment, with a profit for the adventurers as well.
December 6, 1606 – Adventurers sail from England to the New World.
May 14, 1607 – The Susan Constant, Discovery, and Godspeed deposit 104 English men and boys in Virginia, where the Jamestowne colony is established.
June 15, 1607 – Adventurers complete the building of the fort, overlooking the James River.
SOCIALISM BEGINS WITH RELIANCE ON ENGLAND TO PROVIDE ALL NEEDS
While a few of the adventurers labored, the others trusted provisions to arrive by boat, which took weeks or months since wind is not the most reliable source of power.
The ships that arrived brought more men, but no food.
Used to having other people serve them, only a few of the gentlemen served with the few laborers who arrived to secure food from the plentiful supply of wild animals in the woods and fish in the deep waters of the James River.
Instead, many focused solely on seeking gold, while John Smith mapped the Chesapeake, and sometimes returned with food from the Indians.
STARVING TIME
Since few of the adventurers prioritized food and shelter, not enough hands were on deck to prevent the starving time.
Hunger led to weakened conditions which exacerbated disease.
HE THAT WILL NOT WORK SHALL NOT EAT
Becoming governor of the colony in 1608, John Smith announced: He that will not work shall not eat.
After ordering all to farm, repair buildings, and expand the fort, survival improved, but enemies were made.
Severely injured from a mysterious gun powder explosion, Smith returned to England in October 1610, and the colony returned to starvation.
CAPITALISM WORKED
A later leader hit upon the ingenious idea of profit which led to the ultimate success of the colony.
Adding to the stability of a bunch of bachelors, was the arrival of women and children through families.
I think, I’m trying to read my rain wrinkled notes..that men currently there were given 3 acres of land to work and profit from.
Men who financed themselves to go to Virginia were given 50 acres of land.
If they brought a wife, they were given another 50 acres.
If they brought indentured servants, they got another 50 acres.
Free enterprise, for which America is renown, led to success.
JOHN ROLFE FOUND GOLD IN TOBACCO
John Rolfe himself hit upon the profitable crop of tobacco, the “gold” of the region.
{{{Little did they know Virginia did have gold. We drive by the gold mine camps all the time when we drive down to Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestowne. And then I learned about Mineral, Virginia, epicenter of the recent earthquake, also home to gold mine camps, at this post where I recount Smith’s Rappahanock expedition where gold was found but not until 200 years after his journey.}}}
1619 FIRST REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN NEW WORLD
When these men first landed with them, they brought the English Common Law.
In 1619, the first representative assembly met in Jamestowne, called the General Assembly. Jamestowne became the first capital of Virginia.
Jamestowne’s success enabled the arrival of the Pilgrims to the New World in 1620. In fact, the Pilgrims’ original destination was Jamestowne, but they were blown off course, landing in today’s Massachusetts in 1620.
As the rain continued to drizzle and the mist hovered over the massive James River, we walked outside with John Rolfe, who of course had many more fascinating tales to tell.
