apothecary
jar used
to hold medicines or other herbs - many found
at James Fort
The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
|
The
winter of 1609 was "the starving time."
Archeologists have found evidence that they ate cats, dogs, horses
and rats (including the black rat, the carrier of the black plague).
One settler was put to death for killing and eating his wife. It
was a hard winter and the Algonquians
also were short on food. Some burials found at the site for this
time were unusual - multiple bodies in graves and signs of hasty
preparation. Only 60 of the 214 settlers survived.
armor
fond at James Fort
The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
|
Then
a bad situation became worse. More settlers and supplies were sent
from England, but it was a very stormy crossing. Only 7 of the 9
ships made it, bringing 400 new settlers. The colony now had 400
additional mouths to feed and most of the supplies were lost at
sea.
William
Strachey reported that he found Jamestown almost empty. Nine out
of ten settlers had died. Sir Thomas Gates, the new governor of
the colony, considered the colony a total loss and ordered a return
to England. They dug a pit to hide the cannon and armor when they
left. Archeologists discovered a ring with family crest of William
Strachey in this pit. Strachey wrote a 25 page letter to a friend
telling of his experiences in America. There is speculation that
it found its way into the hands of William Shakespeare who may have
used Strachey's account of the storm for The Tempest.
William
Strachey's ring found at James Fort
The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
|
While
Strachey and the others were on the way back to England, another
ship was crossing to America with new settlers and lots of supplies.
They met and Strachey's ship turned around. Lord de la Ware, a relative
of Queen Elizabeth, arrived as the new leader of Jamestown.
The
drought was over and the settlement now began to cultivate a valuable
crop. They grew tobacco and traded it to the Indians who used it
for ceremonial purposes. White men quickly became addicted to it
and it spread all over Europe. There was a great demand for it,
and required little land to be prosperous. The Virginia colony began
to thrive.
Part
of The Virginia English Colony at
Jamestown exhibit
copyright©2003-2005
HistoryWiz |
