Leadership in Jamestown: The First Years 1606-1608
Introduction
By 1600, Englishmen were getting serious about the North American continent and establishing a new colony. After many failed attempts at colonization in the years prior, James I was finally in a place to grant his people's wishes for a colony, so on April 10, 1606, James issued a charter to the Virginia Company of London [1] Although King James made the first and greatest decision to allow the colonization of North America, he was only a small part of the leadership and foundation in the first colony, Jamestown. Christopher Newport, Edward Wingfield, John Ratcliffe, and John Smith played the largest roles in the founding of Jamestown and The Virginia Colony.
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[1] Frank Grizzard and Boyd Smith, The Jamestown Colony: A Political, Social, and Cultural History (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2007) XXII.
The Journey & Arrival
On December 20, 1606, three ships and 104 settlers set sail from London, headed for the founding of The Virginia Colony. The experienced privateer Christopher Newport captained the flagship Susan Constant, Bartholomew Gosnold captained the Godspeed, and John Ratcliffe captained the Discovery. [1] This crew landed in the Chesapeake Bay on April 26, 1607, without a clue as to who would be in leadership over the settlers. The Company had sent along a sealed box for the men to open once they arrived, giving them the names of those on a leadership council. The council included the captains Christopher Newport, Bartholomew Gosnold, and John Ratcliffe. There were a few others including John Smith, to many of the men's surprise and disdain as he was of a lower class. [2] Then the council voted Edward Wingfield as president. Many men were upset and confused by the choices of these leaders. “By naming such different men to lead the settlement, the Virginia Company signaled that different forms of “expertise” might prove useful in the Americas, but these differences soon became disagreements.” [3] As time went on, struggles for power occurred in all realms of their new settlement.
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[1] Brendan Wolfe, “Early Jamestown Settlement” Encyclopedia Virginia (2014).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Michael A Lacombe, “‘A continuall and dayly Table for Gentlemen of fashion’: Humanism, Food, and Authority at Jamestown,” American Historical Review 115, no. 3 (June 2010): 674.
Spring & Summer 1607
The first few months were a time of starvation, illness, and confusion in leadership. The Indians came in contact many times and were occasionally violent. Other times, the Indians offered trading for supplies from the Englishmen. John Smith wrote in “The Proceedings,” that they were on guard at all times for the fury of the savages, until their hearts changed and they brought goods to trade. [1] This meant that the men were unsure at any given time how to interact with the Indians. After about two months on the new continent, Captain Newport headed back to England for more men and supplies and promised to be back in five months. A note was sent with him from the councilmen to the Company, regarding their settlement. The ending of this note states, “Captaine Newporte hath seene all and knoweth all, he can fullie satisfie your further expectations, and ease yow of our tedious letters, wee moste humblie praie the heavenly Kings hand to blesse our labours with such counsailes and helpes, as wee may further and stronger proceede in this our Kinges and Contries service.” [2] The leaders were serious in their words as well as actions. They were determined to make this a permanent and stable colony. At this time John Smith was placed in charge of all things abroad, meaning he would search for a settlement area, search for trade, and interact with the Indians. [3] Smith led groups of people along the rivers in a small boat, searching for villages to raid for food. However, food was very scarce and caused starvation across the colony. Many of the councilmen and settlers became ill or passed away during the months Newport was away. George Percy, one of the settlers, kept track of each death in his writings. He noted over 40 deaths in the settlement, including Captain Gosnold. He states, “There were never Englishmen left in a forreigne Countrey in such miserie as wee were in this new discovered Virginia.” [4] During this time as food was scarce, men were hiding their own rations. One in particular, was President Edward Wingfield. Wingfield quickly became disliked by most of the colonists and was charged with many abuses to his people. [5] In John Smith’s writing, “A True Relation,” he notes that Wingfield was generally hated by all of the men. [8] Although, Wingfield had not wished to be in the place he was because food source was out of his own control. Wingfield wrote about himself during this time stating, “The President well seeing to what end their ympacience would growe, desired them earnestly and often tymes to bestowe the Presidentshipp amonge themselves.” [6] He had no desire to be leading them due to the things out of his control and he knew how the men felt about him. Thus, he was not surprised when he was approached for resignation. Wingfield writes of his own replacement, stating that many of the councilmen came to him for his resignation on the 10th of September and he gladly rid himself of the hardship. [7] Wingfield was then sent to be imprisoned upon one of the ships along the shore. John Ratcliffe, next in line of authority took the place of presidency at this point. Smith was not impressed with his leadership either and described Ratcliffe as a leader of weak judgment in dangers and less industry in peace. [8]
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[1] John Smith, “The Proceedings,” in James Horn, ed., Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America, (New York: Library of America, 2007), 47-48.
[2] Council of Virginia, “Letter From the Council of Virginia to the Virginia Company of London 1607,” Encyclopedia Virginia.
[3] John Smith, “A True Relation,” in James Horn, ed., Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America, (New York: Library of America, 2007), 48.
[4] George Percy, “Discourse,” in James Horn, ed., Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America, (New York: Library of America, 2007), 933.
[5] Michael A Lacombe, “‘A continuall and dayly Table for Gentlemen of fashion’: Humanism, Food, and Authority at Jamestown,” American Historical Review 115, no. 3 (June 2010): 674.
[6] Edward Maria Wingfield, “A Discourse of Virginia,” in James Horn, ed., Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America, (New York: Library of America, 2007), 954.
[7] Ibid., 955
[8] Bob Dean, The River Where American Began (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2007), 64.
Fall & Winter 1607
As fall was passing, Newport had yet to return. Winter was quickly approaching, men were few, and discoveries were not fulfilled. Per the Company’s request, gold had not been found and neither had an alternate route to China. Ratcliffe placed the blame on Smith as he was searching for food rather than the requests of the Company. [1] Smith had been risking his life, entering the Indian villages and murdering for food. He became known for his violent actions of killing Indians in search of food for his people, which they called the “gunboat diplomacy.” [2] On one specific occasion in December of 1607, Smith’s men were killed and Smith himself captured by the Indians. Wingfield writes of this issue from his imprisonment stating, “The 10th of December Master Smyth went up the Ryver…to trade for Corne…twoe of our men in the Cannow, which were presently slayne by Indians…and he himself taken prisoner…” [3] For about a month Powhatan had Smith hostage and this is where Pocahontas apparently saved Smith from being sacrificed. [4] Smith was soon released and sent back to Jamestown, where minimal men were left in the cold and angered at him for the colonists that had been murdered on their exploration. Ratcliffe and his council decided to hang Smith for his wrongs. The January day that Smith was to swing from the gallows, Newport arrived with the supply shipment and had orders to free Smith as well as Wingfield. [5]
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[1] Bob Dean, The River Where American Began (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2007), 65.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Edward Maria Wingfield, “A Discourse of Virginia,” in James Horn, ed., Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America, (New York: Library of America, 2007), 961.
[4] Bob Dean, The River Where American Began, 73.
[5] Ibid., 75
Spring & Summer 1608
In the next few months Smith led relations and trading with his new ally, Powhatan. Newport left in March for another supply, taking with him Edward Wingfield and a few other enemies of Smith. [1] In July of 1608 Smith had expelled yet another president, Ratcliffe, and had himself elected president the following month. Many colonists suspected Smith to be abusing power and seeking to be a tyrant king. [2] Although Smith denied any claims against himself he did in fact reign alone most of his term. Smith even sent a letter to the Virginia Company of London stating his issues with the councilmen and sailors, including his closest councilmen Newport and Ratcliffe. In this note he asked for more laborers to be sent rather than men in line for the council. [3] Smith continued his relations with the Indians and explored much of Virginia until 1609 when he was sent back to England for injuries. During this time and for many years to follow, Christopher Newport remained the leading sailor bringing settlers and supplies to and from England and Virginia.
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[1] Bob Dean, The River Where American Began (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2007), 78.
[2] Dennis Montgomery, 1607 Jamestown and the New World (Lanham Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2007), 37.
[3] John Smith, “The Generall Historie,” in James Horn, ed., Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America, (New York: Library of America, 2007), 362-364.
Bibliography
Council of Virginia, “Letter From the Council of Virginia to the Virginia Company of London 1607,” Encyclopedia Virginia. Accessed on http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Letter_from_the_Council_in_Virginia_to_the_Virginia_Company_of_London_1607.
Deans, Bob. The River Where American Began. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2007.
Grizzard, Frank, and Boyd Smith. The Jamestown Colony: A Political, Social, and Cultural History. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2007.
Horn, James ed., Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America, (New York: Library of America, 2007).
Lacombe, Michael A. “‘A continuall and dayly Table for Gentlemen of fashion’: Humanism, Food, and Authority at Jamestown.” American Historical Review 115, no. 3 (June 2010): 669-687.
Montgomery, Dennis. 1607 Jamestown and the New World. Lanham Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2007.
Wolfe, Brendan. “Early Jamestown Settlement” Encyclopedia Virginia (2014). Accessed on http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Jamestown_Settlement_Early#start_entry.