PERMANENT...don't forget that.
104 colonist, men and boys, landed on a finger of land up the James River on May 14, 1607. The ladies and children came later when the men realized it was too hard to live without them. Slaves were not common yet.
First we viewed an interesting video about the origins of Jamestown then went out into the settlement for a walk on the grounds, a tour guided by a very knowledgeable Ranger. This tour was followed by another with an archaeologist at Fort James excavations.
Miniature rendition of a pile driver constructed by the settlers for building piers and walls.
A beautiful memorial dedicated to the settlers of Jamestown. Dedication was in 1907 on the 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.
Captain John Smith...you've all heard of him and Pocahontas, but he was a confirmed bachelor and never married. Pocahontas married John Rolfe who arrived at the settlement a couple of years later. But more on that later. Back to Captain Smith. Three ships sailed from England in the winter of 1607. Captain Smith was incarcerated during the voyage for acts of treason and mutiny. Seems John Smith was extremely head strong. He was scheduled to be hanged on arrival. However, on arrival, the Captain of the expedition was to first open orders. Those orders named Captain Smith as a member of the governing board of the new settlement. Captain Newport freed him at that time. Captain Smith also became Governor of Virginia. (This memorial statue was also dedicated in 1907). Captain Smith was captured by the Powhatan Indians and it was at that time that he supposedly met Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan. Their relationship was believed to be father/daughter with much admiration on each side. Pocahontas was believed to have begged for her father to spare his life but there is nothing to substantiate this claim. But eventually the Chief and the Captain became tolerant friends and once again the Captain was spared.
Constructing protection against the local Indians was a primary concern for the settlers and this task was begun immediately. Originally Fort James was triangle shaped, leaving the back of the fort open to the swamps. The belief was no one would come through the swamps. They were wrong. Though on our walk back we saw snakes, muskrats, snapping turtles and deer making their way through it so why not indians too. When excavation began on the fort the original posts were uncovered. These posts are of course not original but they are in the same location. There was a time when it was believed the Fort was underwater from erosion of the banks of the river. This belief was also wrong after artifacts were uncovered in this area.
This church is the site of the second church built in 1609 and was also the site of the first congressional hearing/meeting . The foundation was found on excavation and was rebuilt in 1909. The Tower is original to 1609. Around the time of this churches construction, Captain Smith sustained a serious leg wound and returned to England, leaving the settlement in the care of General Percy, a complete incompetent. Everything went downhill after that. Captain Smith never returned to Jamestown.
The settlers were starving, there was little food, and the Indians who were experiencing similar difficulties were less inclined to share with the settlers, opting to take care of their own. The winter of 1609-10 is referred to as the "Starving Time". Supplies were on their way, but you know what happens...the only ships that arrived brought more settlers and sparse supplies. Of 500 settlers in Jamestown at the beginning of winter there were only 60 survivors when spring came. During the excavations there is proof that horses, dogs, and cats were butchered and also proof of cannibalism. The settlers also began raiding the surrounding indian villages for food. Not only did this piss off the Indians it seriously compromised strained relations and of course created a good reason to fight. Pocahantas was said to be instrumental in bringing peace between the settlers and Indians.
This is the excavation pit where evidence of cannibalism was found.
This cemetery was uncovered during one of many excavations.
Pocahontas.
The seige mounds shown below were built by the Confederates to protect the shipping on the James River, a primary route for supplies to the troops. It is believed that during the Civil War, the dirt covering Fort James was dug out and used to make the mounds/berms. Over two million artifacts were found in the mounds. This picture is just a portion of it. The primary focus of Jamestown is the history from 1609 to 1625 during the time of the first permanent settlers.
Eventually Jamestown was essentially abandoned for more "civilized" and central Williamsburg, about 15 miles East. Two large plantations were all that remained out on the island. The Ambler House is the one that still has ruins visible. This house was burned and rebuilt after the American Revolution and after the Civil War. It was after the third fire in 1895 that the owners threw in the towel and the house was completely abandoned.
Walking back to the Visitor Center we crossed the bridge over the swamp. Below were many critters, just a wiggling and squiggling away in complete bliss in the muck. Ah to be a muskrat.
An unfriendly snapping turtle, about one foot across the back.
A really big, big turtle, about 2 feet, maybe more, end to end.
Also saw a slithering brown snake but didn't get a picture. It was ugly.
That is a very brief reader's digest version but we'll go back tomorrow for the rest. Four hours in the hot sun, two guided tours, that's enough for us seniors. Can't absorb any more information. Thanks for visiting. Come back again.
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