This moving account of James Towne's difficult early years is told from
the viewpoint of one of its settlers and enhanced by original
quotations.
During the first summer of 1607, half the James Towne colony died; food
was scarce, and the settlers battled oppressive heat and sickness. Over
the next few years, supply ships from England became the colony's
lifeline, as they brought much-needed stores of food and carried back
offerings from the new land, as well as the settlers' homesick
letters.
Conditions began to improve when Captain John Smith was elected
president of the colony, and James Towne soon doubled in size. While
some of the settlers had been reluctant to work, Smith required
participation from all, and the colonists began to take pride in
improving their conditions. Furthermore, by learning the native language
and befriending a Native American girl named Pocahontas, Smith was able
to establish, temporarily, an uneasy peace between the settlers and the
natives whose land they had taken.
As new settlers began to arrive from England though, the resources of
the budding colony were strained, and in the autumn of 1609 the colony
suffered a Starving Time. Deciding to abandon James Towne at last, the
colonists headed back toward England, only to have their journey
intercepted by a messenger, who informed the settlers that new leaders
sent by the King were due to arrive in the flailing colony any day, and
urged them to return.
Not for long after their arrival, the discouraged James Towne colonists
were met by a new governor and a ship full of healthy passengers with
enough supplies and hope to work together to ensure James Towne's
survival.
