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JAMES TOWNE In the Words of Contemporaries |
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11. "JAMES TOWNE," 1614 AND 1616
AFTER years of bitter experience, the discovery of a method of curing tobacco furnished Jamestown and Virginia a staple commodity and assured the economic success of the venture. By 1614 the outlook had improved greatly. To the eyes of Ralph Hamor, in that year, at "James Towne," there was progress and even prosperity.
. . . James towne scituate, upon a goodly and fertile Island: which although formerly scandoled with unhealthfull aire, we have since approued as healthfull as any other place in the country: and this I can say by mine own experience, that that corn and gardaine ground (which with much labour beeing when we first seated upon it, a thick wood) wee have cleered, and impaled, is as fertile as any other we have had experience and triall off. The Towne it selfe by the care and providence of Sir Thomas Gates, who for the most part had his chiefest residence there, is reduced into a hansome forme, and hath in it two faire rowes of howses, all of framed Timber, two stories, and an upper Garret, or Corne loft high, besides three large, and substantiall Storehowses, joyned togeather in length some hundred and twenty foot, and in breadth forty, and this town hath been lately newly, and strongly impaled, and a faire platforme for Ornance in the west Bulworke raised: there are also without this towne in the Island, some very pleasant, and beutifull howses, two Blockhouses to observe and watch least the Indians at any time should swim over the back river, and come into the Island, and certain other farme howses.
The commaund and government of this towne, hath master John Scarpe, Liftenant to Captain Francis West, Brother to the right Honourable, the Lord Lawarre.
A True Discourse of the Present Estate of Virginia BY RALPH HAMOR.
Two years later, in 1616, John Rolfe wrote of Jamestown and Virginia.
At James Towne . . . are 50 [people] under the commaund of Leiftenaunte Sharpe, in the absence of Captaine Frances West Esquire, Brother to the right Honorable the Lord Lawarre whereof 32 are Farmors. All these maintaine themselves with food and raiment. Mr. Richard Buck Minister there a verie good Preacher.
[In all Virginia] . . . the number of Officers and Laborers are 205. The Farmors 81 besides 65 woemen and chilldren in every place some, which in all amounteth to 351 persons: a smale number to advaunce so greate a Worke.
A True Relation of the State of Virginia BY JOHN ROLFE
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