On , 105 to 108 English men and boys (surviving the voyage from England) established the Jamestown Settlement for the Virginia Company of London, on a slender peninsula on the bank of the James River. It became the first long-term English settlement in North America.
The trips aboard the ships Susan Constant, Discovery, and the Godspeed, and the settlement itself, were sponsored by the London Company, whose "adventurers" (investors) hoped to make a profit from the resources of the New World. The settlers suffered terrible hardships in its early years, including sickness, starvation, and native attacks. By early 1610, most of the settlers had died due to starvation and disease. With resupply and additional immigrants, it managed to endure, becoming America's first permanent English colony.
Once the settlement location was chosen, the company members opened sealed instructions containing the list of the previously chosen councillors of the Virginia Governor's Council. The first council president was Edward Maria Wingfield. The other six council members were Bartholomew Gosnold, John Martin, John Ratcliffe, George Kendall, Christopher Newport (ex officio) and John Smith.
On December 30, 1606, between 105 and 108 settlers with 39 mariners (non-settlers) sailed aboard three ships from Blackwall, London, England.
Aboard the John and Francis (captained by Christopher Newport) and the Phà Ânix (captained by Francis Nelson), The John and Francis arrives in January, while the Phenix is considered lost (but arrives months later). 120 settlers left England in October 1607. Only 100 made it to Virginia to settle. When they arrived at Jamestown, there were only 38 to 40 men that had survived the summer and autumn.
Quickly after the first supply, Captain Newport boarded 70 new colonists to the Mary and Margaret. First women colonists are noted with female sign (âÂÂï¸Â).
With 500 to 600 persons, a fleet of nine ships set sail in May 1609 led by Thomas Gates and George Somers. The ships were named Sea Venture, Diamond, Faulcon, Blessinge, Unitie, Lion, Swallow, Virginia, and Catch (ketch),.
In July, a tropical storm struck the flotilla. The Catch vanished with all aboard, and the Sea Venture shipwrecked on Bermuda, inadvertently colonizing the island. The seven remaining ships arrived at Jamestown only to bring diseased and hungry passengers to the stressed colony.
Survivors from Bermuda (137-142 passengers and crew) salvaged the Sea Venture, and built two ships: Deliverance and Patience. The ships made it to Jamestown on May 23 to find only 60 starving colonists, and chose to abandon the colony.
Patience and Deliverance (castaways from Bermuda and Sea Venture)
At the same time, Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr and Samuel Argall (after hearing of John Smith's adventures), led a humanitarian mission from England with 150 men (including a doctor, some Frenchmen, a Swiss miner) and supplies. Aboard the Hercules (of Rye), Blessinge (of Plymouth, England), and De La Warr ships, they intercepted the weary colonists in Chesapeake Bay departing Virginia and compelled them to return to Jamestown with the new provisions and passengers.
The Hercules (of Rye), which had left in July, 1610, returned to Virginia on April, 1611, with 30 immigrants (captained by Robert Adams).
The Noah brought ancient planter Henry Coltman in August, 1610. In September 1610, the Dainty arrived with "twelve men, one woman, three horses, and provisions..." Captained by Nathaniel West, the Mary Ann brought over widow Mistress Francis West. The Mary and Thomas brought over William Tucker.
Both Thomas Dale and Thomas Gates led flotillas back to Virginia. Thomas Dale headed to the colony with 300 labourers, at the request of the London Company. The Starr, the Elizabeth, and Prosperous (with Vice Admiral Christopher Newport) also carried horses, poultry, goats, and rabbits. Thomas Gates had ships Sarah, Tryall, Swan which arrived just after the Dale flotilla. Those who died before arriving in Virginia are indicated with a Latin cross (âÂÂï¸Â)
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