History 108
Mr. Marcum
November 20, 2012
Rethinking Jamestown
Sheler, Jeffery L.
The article Rethinking Jamestown was written by Jeffery Sheler in January 2005 the article is about the Archaeological finds of the original fort built in 1607-1620. The author goes in depth of what artifacts were found, and when the artifacts were used. It also references how Jamestown was formed, and other facts about Jamestown the original fort.
The author backs up his thesis with facts found in the archaeological finds of Jamestown along with historic writings from those who survive the first few years at Jamestown. Through these writings people have an idea of what Jamestown went through in its first few years. Jamestown was not just a colony that survived and grew from its establishment; it was a township of a way of life for those who lived there. Each colonist having some duties in the colony taking strength from each other and supporting each other in order to survive.
In 1585 the first established English settlement in “The New World” was Roanoke Colony commonly referred to as “The Lost Colony of Roanoke.” Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in “The New World” established by the Virginia Company of London in 1607. Jamestown was the 1st capital of the colony for 83 years (from 1616 until 1699). The settlers of Jamestown in the first few years died from many reasons, health related issues, diseases possibly from malaria, and Native Americans known as “The Powhatan Tribe”
Sir Walter Raleigh knew in order to establish a long term colony you must have Men, Women and Children. Virginia Dare was the first English child born in Roanoke Colony in 1587, since the settlement was deserted when Virginia Dare’s Grandfather (John White) came back in 1590 and no one knows where the colonist or the settlers went little is known about her. Two women came to Jamestown in 1608 named Mrs. Thomas Forrest and Anne Burras (who was 14yrs old and