Jamestown

Using sea shells to scrape fur off hide

On the Discovery with the Godspeed in foreground

Nov. 21st we spent the afternoon at the Jamestown interpretive center.  We didn't enjoy it as much as Plimouth paritally because the story wasn't  as compelling to us.  Also the Plimouth interpreters always stay in character and we felt like we were really stepping back and living at that time.  Jamestown wasn't quite like this but we really did enjoy the museum. It is first rate and we learned a lot.  Though Jamestown had a rough beginning, it is where our representative form of government began.  Though there are many things that happened that we're not proud of, it is part of our tapestry and journey toward democracy.  Mark and I especially valued learning the history of the slave trade involving the Portuguese colony of Angola.  It was disheartening to see and read how they thought it was so impt. to baptize them and convert them to Christianity even though they were warring and enslaving them.  Many of the people in Angola were literate and had adopted Christian ways.  Queen Njinga of Angola fought valiently with what was happening to her people.  Most Virginian slave holders felt that it was wrong to enslave baptized Christians because they were then now "free from the yoke of slavery" according to the Bible. Therefore, they weren't interested in slaves' religious background or instruction.  Stefan really liked the ship canon firing demonstration. It shook the whole dock and it blew the trees as it went 872 miles per  hour.  A book we will want to get is the Lion to Guard Us.

Summary of Jamestown
l.  1607-The ships Susan Constant, Godspeed, Discovery carried 104 Englishman and a few boys, Captain Newport.
2. Men coming over,  Most hired by Virginia Charter Company to colonize Virginia and send riches back to England. Didn't find gold, sasaphras (root bear made out of), wood, furs, fools gold)
3. Voyage took 4 1/2 months but were well prepared and didn't suffer like the Pilgrims
4. Feared Powhatan Indians and Spanish so built Palisade around fort (Tall, sharp-pointed fence)
5. Misunderstandings by both Indians and Colonists cause of lots of fighting
6. John Smith, bold young man whom not many colonists liked but was great diplomat with Indians.  After a gun fire wound.  Had to return to England and then Indians became very hostile.  The great starving time happened.  Indians had killed pigs and men were seiged by Indians.  After siege, many wanted to return to England, Met  Lord Delware as leaving Jamestown.  He ordered them back.  Church bells rang twice a day to call people to worship.  Big punishments if didn' go to church.  Martial law established order.
7. Pocahontas helped spare John Smith's life and would later marry John Rolfe and become a Christian.  John Rolfe began to experiment and grow tobacco, the variety from South America.  Popular with Englishman, became a popular crop to grow in Virginia. Started making lots of money
8.  1619 a Dutch ship overtook a Potuguse slave ship and brought 19 slaves to Virginia.  Not many people wanted to leave England for the harsh conditions of Virginia so need for slaves grew and grew. 
9.1622 masacre-angry Indians attacked. 
10.  Many Virginia charters. Fourth one dissoved martial law and legislative assembly came into being which is the predessor to Houue of Burgess and House of Representatives.
11.  Jamestown burned 4 times and in 1699 the Capital moved to Williamsburg then to Richmond.
12.  Staggering numbers in the Virginia region:
       IN 1607-104 colonists,estimated 20,000 Powhatan Indians, 0 Africans
       IN 1699-60,000 colonists, 600 Indians, 6000 Africans