The First Americans-The Cradle of the Republic; In 1607, the Spanish Empire's most hated enemy, the English, ventured forth to grab a piece of territory that had been lived on by Natives for many hundred of years. Three ships with 144 settlers left England and set sail to a land already decimated by the 'plague', brought there by the Spaniard, Samuel De Champlain in 1605. The English landed April 1607 and began a settlement at Jamestown, Va. Construction of a fort, digging for gold, planting of wheat got underway. The ships returned to England by June, 1607. January,1608, other ships arrived from England with supplies of food & equipment. Oct. 1608, arrival of supply ships, bringing 70 settlers, with two woman as the first to come to America. Drinking water from the James River became contaminated from excrement's of the colonists, so a "deep well" was dug at the fort. 1609 brought supplies and 400 new settlers. 1610, ships had returned from England with supplies & another 150 settlers. 1611, three supply ships arrived at 'James Citty' with 300 people, domestic animals ('cattle, cows, goats, swine, poultry, etc.)'. Due to over-crowding, new settlements were opened to other areas of Va. During the next few years, ships came & went, taking material to England & returning with people, supplies & animals. Exploring up & down the Atlantic coast took place. 1612, Henrico, Eastern Shore & Bermuda City were settled. 1613-1614, plantations were being developed. 1614-1615, farming & house building increased. 1614, Pocahontas & John Rolfe got married. 1616, a slightly firm peace with the 'Native' Indians, developed. John Smith named the area north of Virginia, 'New England' in 1614. Also 1614, the Dutch were living & farming in Albany, NY. 1617-1620, a plague wiped out an estimated 90% of the Native population, from Florida to Canada. 1614-1618, Samuel Argall explored north & attacked the French in New England & Nova Scotia, bringing back captives to Jamestown. 1613, tobacco was exported from Va. to England. 1617, more people came & some died. 1618, there was a drought & a hurricane to hit Va. 1616-1619, new partition of land developed. 1618, private ownership of property enlarged with 'headrights' which brought new settlers. 1619, representative government was established, (which extends to the present time). 1619, a Dutch ship brought & sold a group of twenty negroes from the West Indies. 1619, an attempt to establish a college for youth at Henrico began. 1619, brought 150 persons for 'iron works' industry. By 1620 there were 27 'Towns, Plantations, Settlements & Communities in Virginia.' In 1620, . . . but that's another history. Harry. macbd1 wrote: Several postings ... . . . in early times . . . . Neil McDonald ==== VAAUGUST Mailing List ==== > **************************************************************** The Augusta County mailing list page has instructions on how to subscribe and unsubscribe from the list Visit it at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapulask/augustaquery/augustalist.htm ***************************************************************