"Aye-we must eat. Corn, for God's love, if there's nought else, give us corn."
1607-Smith made his first explorations in the Tidewater section, was captured by the Indians and saved by Pocahontas. The pinnace "Virginia" built in 1607 was the first vessel of American construction
1608-Population 158-Within one year of the first settlement 120 additional colonists had arrived, but sixty-seven of the original number had died. On October 6 Newport arrived with seventy new colonists, but twenty-eight had died since May and the population only totaled 200.
1609-Population about 190. Smith explored the Chesapeake and its tributaries, trading with the Indians for corn to supply the colony.<a href="#1" class="toolTip" title="Footnote: 1
The second charter was granted in 1609. Sicklemore had been sent by Smith to visit the country of the Chowanocks in an attempt to ascertain if there could be any trace of the lost colony and had returned without any information whatever.">[1]
In the Autumn of 1609, he was severely burned by an accidental explosion of powder, stored in the shallop in which he was returning to Jamestown from Nonesuch (site of Richmond). He had attempted to establish a new settlement of one hundred and twenty persons, under `Vest, but, much to his disgust, had failed.
Owing to his great suffering, and lack of means for proper treatment in Virginia, he embarked for England "above Michaelmas," (Sept. 29th). He had been with the colony a little over two years and had not only saved the settlers from starvation but protected them from the Indians. The savages feared him more than all the others combined. Smith, on numerous occasion had given them cause to respect, as well as fear his skill in directing the colony's affairs. With Captain Percy, and fifteen companions in adventure, he had ascended the York (then the Charles) to the present site of West Point--(West's Point) and, though surrounded by several hundred hostile warriors, under Opecahancanough, had singled out the wiley Chieftain, seized his scalp lock, and pointing a pistol to his breast; made demand that the Indians throw down their arms and supply him with corn. Such acts as this, compelled the Indians to fear attempting treachery and proved the means of saving the colony from starvation or massacre. While Smith ,vas risking his life in search of food for the settlers, many of them not only made no effort to relieve the situation, but spent hours of idleness at Jamestown playing quoits and pitching horseshoes upon the streets.
It was a sad day for the Colony- when Smith embarked.
He left behind him three ships and seven boats, commodities ready for trade with the Indians; corn, newly gathered, ten weeks' provisions in the store; twenty-four pieces of ordnance; 300 muskets, with other arms and ammunition more than enough for the men; one hundred trained soldiers, nets for fishing, and tools for all kinds of work, sufficient apparel, six mares and a horse (the Indians had no horses), five or sit hundred hogs, a like number of hens and chickens, some sheep and goats.
Starvation Time Comes.<a href="#2" class="toolTip" title="Footnote: 2By June, 1610, of 490 left by Smith, there were only sixty alive. This period is recorded as "starving time." On June 10, Deleware arrived with supplies and ninety new colonists, just in time to intercept Gates the morning after deserting Jamestown. Gates had provisions for only sixteen days and intended taking the starving band to Newfoundland in the hope of meeting with assistance from an English fishing fleet. The Colonists returned to Jamestown, where they received Lord Deleware and joined him in giving thanks to God for saving them in such dire necessity and peril. Delaware established a health resort near Hampton, probably at Buckroe, in order to acclimate newcomers before forwarding them to Jamestown. This was the first quarantine and health resort established in America.
1611-When Sir Thomas Dale arrived with colonists, cattle and a year's supply of provisions, he found the settlers had only a three months' supply of food in store and that the chief occupation of the inhabitants was playing at bowles in the streets. Dale set them to work felling timber, etc., also planting a crop of corn at Kicquotan, near the fort erected there.