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Showing posts with label chesapeake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chesapeake. Show all posts

Friday, April 3, 2009

American Indian Holocaust and Survival

American Indian Holocaust and Survival: A Population History Since 1492 by Russell Thornton (1987)

Virginian Robert Beverly wrote of his Countrymen:

In all the latter voyages they never su much as endeavored to come near the place where the first settlement was attempted at Cape Hatteras; neither had they any pity on those poor hundred and fifteen souls settled there in 1587 of whom there has never since been any account, no relief sent to them, nor so much as an enquiry made after them, whether they were dead or alive, till about 3 yars after this, when Chesapeak bay in Virginia was settled, which hitherto had never been seen by any English Man. So strong was the desire of riches and so eager the pursuit of a rich trade, that all concern for the lives of their fellow Christians, kindred, neighbours and country-men, weighed nothing in the comparison, thou an enquiry might have been easily made, when they were so near them. (Beverley, 1705: 24-25)

Note that he mentions them as "kindred".




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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Captain John Smith Set Out to Find the Lost Colonists

Captain John Smith

Portrait of Captain John Smith
Only 27 when he explored Chesapeake Bay, John Smith proved
himself an energetic and resourceful leader.

"There is but one entrance by sea into this country, and that is at the mouth of a very goodly bay, 18 or 20 miles broad. The cape on the south is called Cape Henry, in honor of our most noble Prince. The land, white hilly sands like unto the Downs, and all along the shores rest plenty of pines and firs ... Within is a country that may have the prerogative over the most pleasant places known, for large and pleasant navigable rivers, heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation..."

- Captain John Smith, 1612 Smith's Journey



The real Captain (a military rather than maritime title) John Smith arrived at the mouth of the Bay in 1607 after a lengthy and rather miserable voyage across the Atlantic. Taken prisoner under mutiny charges during the trip, he discovered that the King of England had designated Smith a member of the newly formed governing council of Jamestown. The first summer in Jamestown was dreadful, as many men died from disease and malnutrition. To escape the rivalries of the colony, find passage to the western ocean, discover gold and locate the colonists of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, Smith gathered 14 men for a voyage up the Chesapeake. Using only a "two to three tons burden" knock-down boat brought from England, the men set out on June 2, 1608

Cont. here:



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