Historic Jamestowne, Were It All Began

Those who came to Jamestowne in May of 1607 did so as English subjects and established a colony and capitol, under a charter granted by James 1 to the Virginia Company of London.  This was a business adventure bent on exploiting the natural resources of the area.  The 104 colonists that arrived here faced the worst drought in eight centuries, Powhatan Indian tribes, poor leadership, and a very unhealthy atmosphere.  By the summer of 1607, colonists were dying from disease and starvation.  While life was never easy, over the decades to follow progress was made.  There are many stories besides the John Smith and Pocahontas stories.  Starvation led to cannibalism as the living tried to continue living.  It was desperate times until ships arrive with supplies but they bring more colonist's causing shortages and more starvation in the winter of 1609 - 1610.  Working together with the Powhatan Indians 60 of the 300 colonist's made it through to see Lord de la Warr arrive with more supplies.

Jamestowne grew from a commercial outpost of the verge of extinction to a colonist port of entry and administrative center.  At one time everything that arrived in America came through this port of entry.
The remnants of what is left are duplications of what is buried beneath them.  Archeologists decided to not to leave what was discovered of the foundations of the original colony above ground and instead buried them to protect them from erosion and built duplicates of what was discovered on top of the burial sites.  Archeologists are still working the site and there is an amazing amount of treasures found that are on display to see.

Foundations

Well

Row house foundation

Fences everywhere

Remains of one of the mansions

Same as above

More fences

Really old tree

The original find is buried beneath this

Archeologists at work

Large hole to uncover

Pocahontas

John Smith

The Church

Fort Wall reconstructed in the original holes

Barracks

We were British

Armor

Cross near the museum

We drove down to Yorktown to investigate a photo op location for the arrival of Hermione on Friday. For those who may not know, Layafette a French aristocrat and military officer worked to get the French government to commit troops and supplies to assist George Washington in the final days of the Revolutionary War.  On March 10, 1780 Layafette boarded the Hermione to travel to America with papers that he delivered to George Washington and representatives of his government stationed in the colonies that France would help the Revolutionary cause.  It is said that had we not gotten the help of the French we may very well still be British subjects.  A recreation of the Hermione set sale from France in April 2015 and she is expected to arrive in the York River just south of Yorktown this coming Friday morning.  I am hoping to take some pictures of the arrival.

Hope all is well and thanks for stopping by.