Jamestown is very near Yorktown and Williamsburg; hence, the Historic Triangle, even though the major American historic events of each takes place decades apart in different centuries.
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas – 13 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in Massachusetts. Established by the Virginia Company of London on May 14, 1607 it followed several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke.
Captain John Smith (statue) became the colony’s leader in September 1608 – the fourth in a succession of council presidents – and established a “no work, no food” policy. Smith had been instrumental in trading with the Powhatan Indians for food.
Four hundred years later it is challenging to observe this peaceful, beautiful place and imagine the colony's situation. Serious problems emerged in the small English outpost, which was located in the midst of a chiefdom of about 14,000 Algonquian-speaking Indians, with whom relations were tenuous, ruled by the powerful leader Powhatan, father of Pocahontas.
An unfamiliar climate, as well as brackish water supply and lack of food, conditions possibly aggravated by a prolonged drought, led to disease and death. Many of the original colonists were upper-class Englishmen, and the colony lacked sufficient laborers and skilled farmers.
Pocahontas was born about 1596 and named "Amonute," though she also had a more private name of Matoaka. She was called "Pocahontas" as a nickname, which meant "playful one," because of her frolicsome and curious nature. She was the daughter of Wahunsenaca (Chief Powhatan), the mamanatowick (paramount chief) of the Powhatan Chiefdom. At its height, the Powhatan Chiefdom had a population of about 25,000 and included more than 30 Algonquian speaking tribes - each with its own Chief.
Chief Powhatan sent gifts of food to the starving English. These envoys were usually accompanied by Pocahontas, as she was a sign of peace to the English. On her visits to the fort, Pocahontas was seen cart-wheeling with the young English boys, living up to her nickname of "playful one."
The English knew Pocahontas was the favorite daughter of the great Powhatan, and was consequently seen as a very important person. On one occasion, she was sent to negotiate for the release of Powhatan prisoners. According to John Smith, it was for and to Pocahontas alone that he finally released them.
Jamestown Church, partially built in 1639 in Jamestown, Virginia, is one of the oldest surviving buildings built by Europeans in the original thirteen colonies. It is part of Jamestown National Historic Site.
A recently-built museum with lots of fascinating, recently-found artifacts is on the Park Service site.
Because of global warming this historic site is expected to be underwater by century's end. Experts on the site are now trying to decide what to do about that.
Also on the property is the Yeardley House, 1907.
This map shows much of the historical territory around Chesapeake Bay we will soon visit:
see Norfolk at the bottom, home of the Atlantic Fleet, where I saw the Tattoo.
The glass-making experts carry on this tradition that began in early Jamestown. Their products are beautiful and sold around the United States.
During her religious instruction, Pocahontas met widower John Rolfe, who would become famous for introducing the cash crop tobacco to the settlers in Virginia. By all English accounts, the two fell in love and married and had a son, Thomas. They went to England. Later, leaving London, Pocahontas, about 21 years old, became ill and was carried to shore where she died and was buried at St. George's Church on March 21, 1617. John Rolfe returned to Virginia, but left the young ailing Thomas with relatives in England.
Many Americans now trace their genealogy to Pocahontas.
Isn't her story amazing!
Read more at http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/pocahontas-her-life-and-legend.htm
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