A Visit to 17th -century Jamestown, Virginia

Jamestown Fort

                                             
I am exploring the 17th-century again to see what life was like for people outside of New England. In the future, the story of Pocahontas will shape the story of Jamestown. The true story was very different.


Jamestown was founded in 1607 by a bunch of men. They arrived on three ships like the ones you see behind me. The ships were called The Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery . (Anya, do you remember seeing the Godspeed with my guardian WITHOUT ME when you came to visit?).

104 men landed in April 1607. They were gentlemen, laborers, sailors, a preacher and other assorted men.

Jamestown ship

This land was occupied by 14,000 Indians. Their leader was Powhatan, father of Pocahontas. She was a little girl not much older than me at the time. More about the Powhatan a little later.

Indians burned and hollowed logs to make canoes

The English settlers built a fort to protect themselves from Spanish raiders and local Indians. The fort is a triangle shape with walls of planks and posts. Each corner has a raised area to support cannons and guns.

Follow me back to the 1600s and visit the fort.

"Good day! I am Mary Peirsey. I am ten years of age. I was born in England. My parents have brought my elder sister Elizabeth and me to the new world to this strange place called James Towne. I do not understand why. 'Tis an unusual place of wilderness and hard work.

Pray, come join me in exploring my new home.

Good day! Welcome to Jamestown!

These fort buildings have wattle-and-daub buildings with thatch roofs. They are supported by wooden posts set into the ground. After the frames were built, horizontal pieces of split wood were woven into the frames. Clay mixed with water, sand and straw was put on the wood panels. The thatched roofs were made from marsh reeds or split clapboard. This is very different from our homes in England. 

Here you can see the construction of the church roof

After the men set up their fort they learned to trade with the Indians.

They built a storehouse first to hold supplies and exports, an Anglican church, and a guardhouse as headquarters for military activities. Later they added a cape merchant’s office and a governor’s house.

Welcome to the Jamestown fort

The storehouse

The first order of business is survival. All activities in the fort are done to survive. The soldiers hold military drills every day.

The men try different businesses to keep the colony going. They have glassmaking, a woodshop, pitch and tar and potash manufacturing and a blacksmith.

Kidskin leather used for gloves. It's very soft. 

Everyone goes to church. It is the law. Just because we are in a savage land does not mean we must abandon our faith.

This is a fancy Anglican church

I sit quietly in my family's pew waiting for the service to begin

The church is much fancier than New England meetinghouses

church pews

The first women arrived in 1608 and more came after that. In July 1609 a fleet of nine ships left England to bring more people and supplies.

I survived a long voyage across the sea. I am now here in the wilderness of this place called Virginia.

                                                   

The few women in the fort cook, garden and sew for the men.

Here, chicken, chicken

Come chicken! I need to cook you for my supper. 

Finally catching the chicken, now I can cook her in the fireplace.

Baking bread in an outdoor oven

picking herbs (say that h) in the garden

The sun is strong and beats down on my head as I pick mustard

 Parnsips.

Leeks 

picking chives

My work is never done

This rooster wants to chase me away

Do not be afeared to join us in James Towne. Although we are currently at war with the Indians our militia will take care of them. 

Be ye willing to work ye will survive.  God willing, I shall survive and have my choice of husband. Perhaps one day I will be mistress of a grand house with fine furniture as grand as any in England!"

If you live in the future, you can learn more about the women from my guardian. We learned lots but weren't allowed to take you time traveling with us. My guardian couldn't hold me and take notes so she is slowly taking notes from other researchers to tell you what we learned.

In the meantime, follow me on a search for Pocahontas! I heard she used to visit the fort and learn English. She was lively and fun and sometimes played with the children. I will tell you about how the Virginia Indians survived and thrived after the English made war on them.

p.s (Why does everyone keep asking me if my name is Samantha? I met a very nice girl and her Grammie time traveling with me. They know some of my friends and were very interested in me and my adventures. I NEARLY got attacked by a toddler monster but my guardian takes good care of me and won't let that happen). 
Read more about History of Jamestown