Out of the Observations of William Simmons, Doctor of Divinity

Resource Sheet GT U1-08 (1 of 8)

Jamestown Document Set Document A Out of the Observations of William Simmons, Doctor of Divinity Reverend William Simmons’ observations were printed in John Smith’s General Historrie of Virginia. Revered Simmons is describing the time period when Captain John Smith returned to England when starvation was a threat to the Jamestown Colony. Spelling and punctuation have been modernized.

…of five hundred [people] within six months after Captain Smith’s departure, there remained not past sixty men, women and children, most miserable and poor creatures; and those were preserved for the most part, by roots, herbs, acorns, walnuts, berries, now and then a little fish: they that had stretch in these extremities, made no small use of it; yea, even the very skins of our horses. Nay, so great was our famine, that a Salvage we slew, and buried, the poorer sort took him up again and eat him, and so did divers one another boiled and stewed with roots and herbs: And one amongst the rest did kill his wife, powdered [salted] her, and had eaten part of her before it was known, for which he was executed, as he well deserved; now whether she was better roasted, boiled or carbonadoed [broiled] , I know not, but of such a dish as powdered wife I never heard of. This was that time, which still to this day we called the starving time; it were too vile to say, and scarce to be believed, what we endured… But God that would not this Country should be unplanted, sent and Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George Sommers with one hundred and fifty people most happily preserved by the Bermudas to preserve us…

Library of Congress, “The Colonists Nearly Abandon Jamestown.” Available at http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/colonial/jamestw n/abandon.html Resource Sheet GT U1-08 (2 of 8) Document B The Settlement of Jamestown - 1607 This narrative is from The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England & the Summer Isles: Together with The True Travels, Adventures and Observations, and a Sea Grammar (London, 1624), by Captain John Smith. It describes relationships with the Native Americans when the Jamestown colonists arrived in North America.

The first land [the colonists] made they called Cape Henry; where thirty of them recreating themselves on shore, were assaulted by five savages, who hurt two of the English very dangerously. Now falleth every man to work, the council contrive [create] the fort, the rest cut down trees to make place to pitch their tents…some make gardens, some nets, etc. The savages often visited us kindly. The president's overweening jealousy would admit no exercise at arms [use of guns], or fortification but the boughs of trees cast together in the form of a half moon by the extraordinary pains and diligence of Captain Kendall. Newport, Smith, and twenty others, were sent to discover the head of the river: by divers small habitations they passed, in six days they arrived at a town called Powhatan, consisting of some twelve houses, pleasantly seated on a hill; before it three fertile isles, about it many of their cornfields, the place is very pleasant, and strong by nature, of this place the Prince is called Powhatan, and his people Powhatans. To this place the river is navigable: but higher within a mile, by reason of the rocks and isles, there is not passage for a small boat, this they call the falls. The people in all parts kindly entreated them, till being returned within twenty miles of Jamestown, they gave just cause of jealousy: but had God not blessed the discoverers otherwise than those at the fort, there had then been an end of that plantation; for at the fort, where they arrived the next day, they found 17 men hurt, and a boy slain by the savages, and had it not chanced a cross bar shot from the ships struck down a bough from a tree among them, that caused them to retire, our men [would have] all been slain… Hereupon the president was contented the fort should be palisaded, the ordnance mounted, his men armed and exercised: for many were the assaults …of the savages, and our men by their disorderly straggling were often hurt, when the savages by the nimbleness of their heels well escaped. What toil we had, with so small a power to guard our workmen by day, watch all night, resist our enemies, and effect our business…cut down trees, and prepare the ground to plant our corn, etc.

National Center, The Settlement of Jamestown-1607, available at http://www.nationalcenter.org/SettlementofJamestown.html Resource Sheet GT U1-08 (3 of 8) Document C George Percy, “The Dying Time” George Percy, a gentlemen colonist in Jamestown, writes about the establishment of Jamestown in 1607. The account was published in 1625 by the Reverend Samuel Purchas. Spelling and punctuation have been modernized.

The fifteenth day of June, we had built and finished our Fort which was triangle wise, having three Bulwarks at every corner like a half Moon, and four of five pieces of Artillery mounted in them. We had made our selves sufficiently strong for these Savages. We had also sown most of our Corn on two Mountains, it sprang a mans height from the ground. This Country is a fruitful soil, bearing many goodly and fruitful Trees, [such] as Mulberries, Cherries, Walnuts, Cedars, Cypress, Sassafras, and Vines in great abundance. Monday the two and twentieth of June, in the morning Captain Newport departed from James Port for England… leaving us (one hundred and four persons) very bare and scanty of victuals, furthermore in wars and in danger of the Savages. We hoped after a supply which Captain Newport promised within twenty weeks. … The sixt of August there died John Asbie of the bloudie Flixe. The ninth day died George Flowre of the swelling. The tenth day died William Bruster Gentleman, of a wound given by the Savages, and was buried the eleventh day. The fourteenth day, Jerome Alikock Ancient, died of a wound, the same day Francis Midwinter, Edward Moris Corporall died suddenly. The fifteenth day, there died Edward Browne and Stephen Galthrope. The sixteenth day, there died Thomas Gower Gentleman. The seventeenth day, there died Thomas Mounslic. The eighteenth day, there died Robert Pennington, and John Martine Gentleman. The nineteenth day, died Drue Piggase Gentleman. The two and twentieth day of August, there died Captaine Bartholomew Gosnold … The four and twentieth day, died Edward Harington and George Walker, and were buried the same day. The six and twentieth day, died Kenelme Throgmortine. The seven and twentieth day died William Roods. The eight and twentieth day died Thomas Stoodie, Cape Merchant. The fourth day of September died Thomas Jacob Sergeant. The fifth day, there died Benjamin Beast. Our men were destroyed with cruel diseases as Swellings, Fluxes, Burning Fevers, and by wars, and some departed suddenly, but for the most part they died of mere famine. There were never Englishmen left in a foreign Country in such misery as we were in this new discovered Virginia. We watched every three nights lying on the bare cold ground what weather so ever came warded all the next day, which brought our men to be most feeble wretches, food was but a small Can of barley sod in water to five men a day, our drink cold water taken out of the River, which was… very salt, at a low tide full of slime and filth, which was the destruction of many of our men. Thus we lived for the space of five months in this miserable distress, not having five able men to man our Bulwarks upon any occasion. If it had not pleased God to have put a terror in the Savages hearts, we had all perished by these vile and cruel Pagans, being in that weak estate as we were; our men night and day groaning in every corner of the Fort most pitiful to hear, if there were any conscience in men, it would make their harts to bleed to hear the pitiful murmurings & out-cries of our sick men without relief every night and day for the space of six weeks, some departing out of the World, many times three or four in a night, in the morning their bodies trailed out of their Cabins like Dogs to be buried: in this sort I did see the mortality of divers of our people. Resource Sheet GT U1-08 (4 of 8)

It pleased God, after a while, to send those people which were our mortal enemies to relieve us with victuals, as Bread, Corne, Fish, and Flesh in great plenty, which was the setting up of our feeble men, otherwise we had all perished.

Encyclopedia Virginia, The Dying Time; an excerpt from Observations gathered out of a Discourse of the Plantation of the Southerne Colonie in Virginia, by George Percy (1625) available at http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/The_Dying_Time_an_excerpt_from_Observations_gathered_out_of_a_Discou rse_of_the_Plantation_of_the_Southerne_Colonie_in_Virginia_by_George_Percy_1625 Resource Sheet GT U1-08 (5 of 8) Document D Captain John Smith Seeks Powhatan's Aid Adapted from: Travels and Works of Captain John Smith, President of Virginia, and Admiral of New England, 1580-1631. Vol. 1. Ed. Edward Arber, F.S.A. Edinburgh: John Grant, 1910. This book was originally written by Captain John Smith and was edited by Edward Arber in 1910.

In January, 1609, the colony of Jamestown was starving. The famine forced Captain John Smith to seek the aid of Powhatan and his people. Relying on his fierce will as much as his intelligence and experience, Captain Smith commanded the quarrelsome settlers of Jamestown, England's only colony at the time. Until he had taken charge, Jamestown had teetered on the brink of destruction. Even with his leadership, the colony's problems remained serious. From their arrival in 1607, the settlers had always depended on the Indians of the region for food. But the unpredictable and often violent behavior of the English had caused Powhatan, the powerful chief of over two dozen tribes, to forbid his people from trading with the settlers. Although Smith desperately needed the Indians' corn, he stood this day before Powhatan not as a beggar but as someone who had been wronged by a friend. After arguing that Jamestown's settlers had been promised food by Powhatan, Smith claimed that the swords and guns the Indians wanted in exchange for food could not be spared. Then Smith ended his speech with a quiet threat, "The weapons I have can keep me from want: yet steal, or wrong you, I will not, nor dissolve that friendship we have mutally promised, unless you force me." Powhatan's reply, as recorded by Smith, showed his subtle understanding of English intentions: "Yet, Captain Smith, some doubt I have of your coming hither, that makes me not so kindly seek to relieve you as I would: for many do inform me, your coming is not for trade, but to invade my people and possess my country. My people dare not come to bring you corn, seeing you are thus armed with your men. To clear us of this fear, leave your weapons at home; for here they are useless, we being all friends." After long negotiations and despite Powhatan's doubts, he promised to give the English what food his people could spare. His decision profoundly affected both peoples - white and red.

H.S.I Historical Scene Investigation, Jamestown: “What Caused the Failure of the Jamestown Colony in 1610?” available at https://web.wm.edu/hsi/cases/jamestown/jamestown_documents.htm#doc7 Resource Sheet GT U1-08 (6 of 8) Document E Ralph Hamor, “A True Discourse of the Present Estate of Virginia” Ralph Hamor, a gentleman living in Jamestown, writes an account that includes a description of the state of affairs in Virginia, settlements established in the colony, and the relationship between the colonists and the Indians up to June 18, 1614.

For fish the Rivers are plentifully stored, with Sturgeon Porpoise , Bass , Rockfish, Carp , Shad, Herring, Eel , Catfish, Perch, Flat-fish, Trout , Sheeps' -Head, Drummers, Jarfish, Crevises, Crabs , Oysters and diverse other kinds, of all which myself have seen great quantity taken, especially the last summer at Smiths Island, at one haul , a frigates' lading of Sturgeon , Bass and other great fish in Captain Argals and even at that very place which is not above fifteen miles from Pointeomfort, if we had been furnished with salt, to have saved it, we might have taken as much fish as would have served us that whole year . Not are these provision of bread, flesh, and fish, all we have for sustention of man's life, behold more change and variety of food , which our soil and climate affords , Carrots , Parsnips , Turnips , Radish…Cabbage, Parsley, all the manner of potherbs and other herbs , Marjoram , Time, winter-Savory, Lettuce Purslaine, and besides the natural grain of that Country as wheat peas and beans , it did me much good to view our English wheat how forward it was, full eared , of one grain forty ears or more, a span long, and only wanting ripening in mid June, our English peas then ripe, and beans very forward, and English barley very hopeful , such as mine eyes never beheld better in England: And if that soil bring for the these things (as can those which have been there with me affirm and witness ) as plentiful and unchangeable for taste and quantity as England or any other country, why should any man that has his limbs , in a peaceable state as is that, so much as dream of starving?

Virtual Jamestown Project 1575-1705, “A TRUE DISCOURSE OF THE PRESENT ESTATE OF VIRGINIA, and the success of the affairs there till the 18 of June, 1614.”Available at http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/jamestown- browsemod?id=J1004 Resource Sheet GT U1-08 (7 of 8) Document F A Distinguished Passenger, “Two Tragicical Events,” 1621 & 1622 A “distinguished passenger” on the William and Mary, narrates an account that includes a description of a seafight with two Spanish ships and of the Indian Massacre of 1622. The account was translated into Dutch and published by Peter Vander Aa, bookseller at Leyden, in 1707.

This source can be accessed at http://www.virtualjamestown.org/exist/cocoon/jamestown/fha/J1022.

Two Tragical Events William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine Vol. IX, April 1901, No. 4 Two Tragical Events. (1998). Retrieved July 8, 2015, from http://www.virtualjamestown.org/exist/cocoon/jamestown/fha/J1022

Document G “In 17th-Century Letters, King of Spain Frets Over Jamestown” In two letters, one dated July 29, 1608 and the other, June 11, 1609, King Phillip III of Spain expresses his concerns over the English settlement of Jamestown. The source discusses the King’s fears of attacks and a mission of sending spies into Jamestown.

This source can be accessed at http://www.history.com/news/in-17th-century-letters-king-of- spain-frets-over-jamestown.

Cohen, J. (2010, December 15). In 17th-Century Letters, King of Spain Frets Over Jamestown. Retrieved July 8, 2015, from http://www.history.com/news/in-17th-century-letters-king-of-spain-frets-over-jamestown

Document H “Death at Jamestown- Clues and Evidence” From an episode from Secrets of the Dead, a pathologist and archaeologist discuss the possibility of the early colonists at Jamestown suffered from arsenic (a chemical element, metalloid, that can contaminate ground water) poisoning.

This source can be accessed at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/death-jamestown-clues- evidence/1435/.

Clues and Evidence. (n.d.). Retrieved July 8, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/death-jamestown-clues-evidence/1435/ Resource Sheet GT U1-08 (8 of 8) Document I Spanish Invasion?

Select one of the following two sources:

IA. Spies at Jamestown This podcast with transcript from Colonial Williamsburg shares the story of the Spanish spy, Don Diego de Molina. This podcast discusses de Molina’s arrival in Jamestown, his capture, and observations of the English settlement in 1611.

This source can be accessed at http://podcast.history.org/2011/09/12/spies-at-jamestown/.

IB. Spanish Spies and Sneak Attacks – The Nightmare at Jamestown This video from National Geographic discusses the historical evidence left behind by Spanish spies and their impact at Jamestown.

This source can be accessed at http://safariwan.bcps.org/?a=175938&d=25466AA

IA. Hunter, H., & Girona, M. (2011, September 12). What's New on History.org: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History and Citizenship Website. Retrieved from http://podcast.history.org/2011/09/12/spies- at-jamestown/ IB: New World: The Nightmare at Jamestown [Video file]. (2005). Retrieved July 8, 2015, from http://safariwan.bcps.org/?a=175938&d=25466AA