Beginning of Jamestown The Virginia Company of England made a brave plan: sail to the new, mysterious land, which they called Virginia in honor of Queen Elizabeth I. One hundred and twenty people made the journey across the Atlantic Ocean. They then established Jamestown in Virginia, on May 14, 1607. It was known as the first lasting British settlement in North America. Though determined to succeed, the settlers did not know what the hard challenges that would come ahead.
Almost half of the settlers of Jamestown were craftsmen, artisans, laborers, a barber, and only two surgeons. The other half was men with wealth who didn't have an occupation. The wealthy people misjudged the hard work you needed to survive in the New World. After eight to nine months, only thirty-eight of the hundred-twenty pioneers were alive. One of the survivors was Captain John Smith. He kept the colony going with his firm leadership for the first two years.
English: "John Smith," line engraving from the 18t...
Titel page of A Description of New England of John...
English: John Smith, A Map of Virginia: With a Des...Jamestown grew to five hundred new settlers under the leadership of Captain John Smith. After Captain Smith left in 1609, trouble came.
The weather conditions were getting irregular and the supplies were getting less. Only sixty people out of five hundred survived the harsh climate that followed after Captain Smith's departure. Jamestown, though had a good harbor, was now infested with mosquitoes and lacked fresh water. The remaining people fought with deadly diseases and also with famine. The Algonquian Chief, Powhatan, at first accepted the settlers' permission to settle, build, and farm on his land. When more settlers came Chief Powhatan grew tired of it and some of the Algonquians attacked the settlers. Then there was some peace. The reason peace came was that the chief's daughter, Pocahontas, married John Rolfe, a farmer in Jamestown. Also new supplies came to...