CONTENTS
Foreword
The Start of Colonization 1
The Establishment of Jamestown 4
Summer and Fall, 1607 5
The Three Supplies, 1608-1610 6
A Critical Hour 10
Order and More Stable Ways 12
Tobacco 16
Yeardley and Argall 18
A New Approach 21
Yeardley and Wyatt 26
Virginia and the Dissolution 29
The Spread of Settlement—1607 to 1624 34
Towns, Plantations, Settlements, and Communities in Virginia: 1607-1624 (numbers are keyed to text and to illustrating map) 32, 33
1. Pasbehegh Country—1617 35
A. Argall Town—1617 36
B. Pasbehegh—c.1617 37
C. "the Maine"—1608 37
2. Smith's (Southampton) Hundred—1617 38
3. "Tanks Weyanoke"—c.1618 41
4. Swinhows—before 1622 43
5. Westover—c.1619 43
6. Berkeley Town and Hundred—1619 44
7. Causey's Care (or "Cleare")—c.1620 46
8. West and Shirley Hundred—c.1613 47
9. Upper Hundred-"Curls"—c.1613 49
10. "Diggs His Hundred"—c.1613 49
11. The "citty of Henricus" (Henrico)—1611 50
12. Arrahatock—before 1619 52
13. The College Lands—c.1619 53
14. The Falls—1609 56
15. Falling Creek—c.1619 57
16. Sheffield's Plantation—before 1622 59
17. Proctor's Plantation—before 1622 60
18. Coxendale—c.1611 60
19. "Bermuda Citty" (Charles City) Incorporation 62
A. Bermuda Hundred—1613 62
B. Rochdale Hundred—1613 63
C. Bermuda City—1613 63
20. Piercey's Plantation—c.1620 66
21. Jordan's Journey—c.1619 67
22. Woodleefe's Plantation—c.1619 68
23. Chaplain's Choice—c.1623 68

It remained for the Virginia Company of London, under its charter of April 10, 1606, to found the first permanent English settlement in America. This company, a commercial organization from its inception, assumed a national character, since its purpose was to "deduce" a "colony." It was instrumental, under its charter provisions, in guaranteeing to the settlers in the New World the rights, freedoms, and privileges enjoyed by Englishmen at home as well as the enjoyment of their customary manner of living which they adapted to their new environment with the passage of years. Quite naturally the settlers brought with them their church and reverence for God, maintained trial by jury and their rights as free men, and soon were developing representative government at Jamestown.

The immediate and long-range reasons for the settlement were many and, perhaps, thoroughly mixed. Profit and exploitation of the country were expected, for, after all, this was a business enterprise. A permanent settlement was the objective. Support, financial and popular, came from a cross section of English life. It seems obvious from accounts and papers of the period that it was generally thought that Virginia was being settled for the glory of God, for the honor of the King, for the welfare of England, and for the advancement of the Company and its individual members.

In England, and in Virginia, they expected and did carry the word of God to the natives, although not with the same verve as the Spanish. They expected to develop natural resources, to free the mother country from dependence on European states, to strengthen their navy, and to increase national wealth and power. They expected to be a thorn in the side of the Spanish Empire; in fact, they hoped one day to challenge and overshadow that empire. They sought to find the answer to what seemed to be unemployment at home. They sought many things not the least of them being gold, silver, land and personal advancement. As the men stepped ashore on Jamestown Island, perhaps each had a slightly different view of why he was there, yet some one or a combination of these motives was probably the reason.

The first section of this account is an adaptation, by the author of the booklet, Jamestown, Virginia: The Town Site and Its Story (National Park Service, Historical Handbook Series, No. 2) published by the Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1949.

Portrait from John Smith's General History (London, 1624). Courtesy of the Tracy W. McGregor Library, University ofVirginia. Portrait from John Smith's General History (London, 1624). Courtesy of the Tracy W. McGregor Library, University ofVirginia.
"James Fort" built in May and June, 1607—A painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park. "James Fort" built in May and June, 1607—A painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park.
The Arrival of the Settlers at Jamestown on May 13, 1607. English Merchantmen of the size and date of the Godspeed 40 tons, Susan Constant 100 tons, and the "pinnessee" Discovery 20 tons maneuvering for anchorage off Jamestown Island 1607. A pencil Study by Griffith Bailey Coale, courtesy of Mariners Museum. The Arrival of the Settlers at Jamestown on May 13, 1607. English Merchantmen of the size and date of the Godspeed 40 tons, Susan Constant 100 tons, and the "pinnessee" Discovery 20 tons maneuvering for anchorage off Jamestown Island 1607. A pencil Study by Griffith Bailey Coale, courtesy of Mariners Museum.
Worship at Cape Henry on April 29, 1607 as depicted by Stephen Reid. Courtesy of the Chrysler Museum at Norfolk. Worship at Cape Henry on April 29, 1607 as depicted by Stephen Reid. Courtesy of the Chrysler Museum at Norfolk.
Pottery-making as it may have been done in the early years at Jamestown where such work was carried on. A painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park. Pottery-making as it may have been done in the early years at Jamestown where such work was carried on. A painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park.
"The Cooper" as he may have worked in early Jamestown. A painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park. "The Cooper" as he may have worked in early Jamestown. A painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park.
Shipbuilding, known to have been carried on at Jamestown as early as 1609, may have been done in this manner. A painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park. Shipbuilding, known to have been carried on at Jamestown as early as 1609, may have been done in this manner. A painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park.
A winter scene suggestive of life on Jamestown Island about 1625. From a painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park. A winter scene suggestive of life on Jamestown Island about 1625. From a painting by Sidney King for Colonial National Historical Park.
A home such as could have existed at Jamestown by 1625. From a painting for Colonial National Historical Park by Sidney King. A home such as could have existed at Jamestown by 1625. From a painting for Colonial National Historical Park by Sidney King.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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