Landing at Jamestown

by Aaron

In April of 1607, explorers from the Virginia Company of Great Britain arrived at the eastern coast of North America.  The colonists in their ships were driven between the Virginia Capes by a violent storm in April 1607.  They named the Capes 'Henry', in Chesapeake Bay, and 'Charles,' after the sons of their King, James I.  A party landed at Cape Henry on April 26th, but were driven back to their boat by the Indians.  As they came to the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay the storm had died down, and they called the place 'Point Comfort'.  The ships then sailed up the river, stopping at Hampton, and here and there looking for a good place for a colony.  They finally picked a low peninsula, which was half buried in the tide at high water.  Here they landed on May 13,
1607, and gave the place the name of Jamestown (originally called "James Cittie").  They also changed the river then known as Powhatan to James River (60 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay), in honor of their King.  The site was the best place for defense.  It was a narrow place that could be easily defended, and the fort did not see any ships
coming into Chesapeake Bay.  George Percy, one of the planners, described landing in the paradise he first saw from the ship. There were "fair meadows and goodly tall trees, with such fresh waters running through the woods as I was almost ravished at the first sight thereof." 

The instructions of the King and the laws for the government of the colony were put in a sealed box with orders that it not be opened until they landed for settlement.  After landing, the 104 settlers opened the sealed box that listed the names of the seven Council Members who were to rule the colony.  These leaders established the Virginia English Colony on the banks of the James River.  John Smith, a 27 year old adventurer (former mercenary and pirate), was one of them. 

Trouble arose soon after their arrival.  While the chosen place certainly gave good cover from the potential ambushes of local Indians, its swampy climate led to diseases such as Dysentery and Malaria.  Jamestown also suffered from poor leadership and men that were not used to life in the wilderness.  Many of them were what John Smith called "gentlemen," who did not want to work.  Many were not suited for the life they found in Jamestown.  They were made up mainly of English farmers and two or three German and Polish woodcutters hired in Royal Prussia.  Many were there for the chance to make a lot of money and did not want to build shelters or collect food.  They also fought over small things with each other most of the time.  By the winter of 1607, only 38 out of the
original 104 settlers were still alive.  Lack of food was making the situations even worse.  Jamestown was on the brink of collapse until John Smith disigned plans to get Indian corn and other foods by trading.

Smith's first excursions were very successful, and he returned to the colony with large amounts of corn and beans.  On one of his excursions, however, he was ambushed by Indians and taken to the great King Powhatan. Smith used his charm to convince Powhatan that the settlers were peaceful and did not intend to build a permanent settlement at Jamestown.Smith was returned to Jamestown and gained influence among the
colonists.

Sources:

http://www.historichamptonroads.com/colonial_history_12.htm

http://www.historywiz.com/exhibits/jamestownlanding.htm

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/history/jamestown.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Newport