Jamestown, a Comparison of Accounts

As I compare the account of the settling of Jamestown as written in Chapter three of the textbook to Jeffery L. Sheler’s account in the Smithsonian Magazine, I will show how they are alike and how they differ. Both are in agreement that the settlers suffered from diseases, drought, and starvation, as well as attacks from the Native Americans. When the settlers first landed, they were in awe of the garden paradise, the fresh streams, and the stately trees. However, soon, they were involved in their first Indian skirmish. This resulted in their going back to their ships and traveling down the James River to secure a safe sight. They landed on a marshy peninsula which they thought would give them protection from further Indian attacks and also serve as a good place to watch for enemy ships. Also, it states in both of the article and the chapter that they worked at building a fortress and were eager to extract gold, timber, and other commodities for the Virginia Company. As a result of their unwise choice for the location of the first English settlement, and due to the tremendous heat and insect infestation, 46 of the colonist died. Other deaths were to follow from Indian attacks and disease. Chapter 3 portrays the settlers as high bred gentlemen who wanted to be leaders and not laborers. Many of the others were craftsmen and men who had always worked as gentlemen's servants. It also states that the settlers resorted to bullying the Indians for food and had no desire to labor. IN the article “Rethinking Jamestown” written by Jeffery L. Sheler in the Smithsonian Magazine, we are challenged to take a much different view of the settlers based on the latest archaeological finds The archaeologist believe that the artifacts they have uncovered show that the Jamestown settlers were much better equipped than originally thought. The new evidence shows that there was a long lasting drought and not laziness that did them in. Sheler states ‘today the banks of the James River are yielding secrets hidden for nearly 400 years that seem to tell a different story. Archaeologists working at the settlement site have turned up what they consider dramatic evidence that the colonists were not ill-prepared dandies and laggards, and that the disaster-plagued Virginia Colony, perhaps more than Plymouth, was the seedbed of the American nation—a bold experiment in democracy, perseverance and enterprise.’ In 1996, the original fortress was discovered that was long believed that had been swallowed by the river. Since then, the archeological team have discovered other buildings inside the fort’s parameter along with several hundred artifacts and skeletal remains of some of the first settlers. The evidence has caused many historians to rethink their original assumptions of the first settlers. The artifacts that were discovered included fish hooks, weaponry, glass making, and wood working equipment. The bones of fish, game, and assorted livestock were also discovered. These finds in themselves show that the settlers sent by the Virginia Company were better equipped than originally thought. Some of the more essential artifacts reveal that there were German glass makers as reported by Captain John Smith. There are other findings that prove there were clay tobacco pipe makers. Also other artifacts show evidence of ceramic dome vessels used for distilling and a ceramic boiling vessel for refining precious metals. Just another hint that the settlers were industrious. Also extremely interesting is the discovery of a hand toe weapon called a buckler. Some think because it was considered an obsolete weapon even in that day, it proved that the colonist were poor equipped. However, some believe that the buckler was deliberately chosen by the colonist because they believed they would face gorilla type warfare. In sifting through cellars and trenching, they have discovered a large amount of Indian arrow heads, pottery, and other items. There is also sufficient evidence that Indians were inhabitants of the fort. It is believed that Indian women cohabited with the colonist before a sufficient amount of English women arrived. The Virginia Company wanted the colonist to cultivate a good relationship with the Indians. There is proof that was short lived and proved deadly for the Indians and the colonist. Some archaeologists believe that it is hard to differentiate between what was left behind by the original colonist and the ones who came later. However, others declare that they can prove that many are definitely from the original settlers of Jamestown. As for myself, I believe that the many artifacts prove that the original one hundred and four were as well equipped as they could be. I don’t think they had a clue of what was to come, the many, many hardships that they would endure. They didn’t know that they would lose so many in death from disease, Indian attacks, and starvation. Regardless of the truth of the Jamestown settlers, it is our history. It is there that the first colonist struggled, lived, and died to make this history. Jamestown still remains one of the first settlements of America.