I guess the members of this list will think I'm a "nit-picker", but I read the historical information about the first colonies of Virginia and found it quite interesting, HOWEVER, I must question the part which stated that the water of James River, which the colonists had been drinking, became contaminated and a deep well was dug for drinking water. The water of James River has never been drinkable because it is brackish (salty) up to the falls at Richmond..I am sure the person who posted the information obtained it from some source which was thought to be reliable and true. In reference to the post about "taking on water at Newport News", I worked 24 years at Newport News Shipbuilding Co. and there was a spring along the bank of James River, inside the shipyard, a building had been built over it but the water seeped up through the floor and finally had to be piped into the river..I wonder if that was the watering place of colonial ships??? Any of you who go to Jamestown and Williamsburg, Va. should drive down to Newport News and visit the Mariners Museum, it's very interesting. G. Lee Hearl.. Abingdon, Va.