400 Year Anniversary Anniversary of the Beginning of America

In 1606, King James I of England gave The Virginia Company a charter granting permission to colonize Virginia. The Virginia Company was a group of wealthy business people who hoped that gold would be found in Virginia. They expected to get rich on the profits from the wealth of the new colony.

On May 13, 1607, after more than a four-month ocean voyage, three tiny ships packed with these 104 English business men, boys and explorer Captain John Smith landed at a marshy peninsula on a river in an alien wilderness. These settlers faced mosquito-infested swamps as well as hostile Indians and the fear of attack by the Spaniards. The worst drought in 800 years, disease, severe famine and strife challenged the fledgling colony. Less that one in three would survive the first year. Yet these survivors were joined by more shiploads of men, women and children and through perseverance and enterprise established what would become the seedbed of the American Nation and its first experiment in democracy.

That was almost 400 years ago. William Shakespeare was a popular actor and budding playwright and scholars were translating ancient texts into what became the King James Version of the Bible. Jamestowne was established thirteen years before the Pilgrims’ arrival at Plymouth Rock as the first permanent English settlement in North America.

First Company is joining in this celebration with several events of its own, including a tour to participate in America's Anniversary Weekend and presenting a program on The Story of the Beginning of America for groups, schools and organizations of all kinds.

Today on the banks of the James River, the Jamestowne “Dig” is revealing the true history of these intrepid souls, drawn out of the shadows of legend and fallacy through new archaeological findings. Jamestowne is recognized as the first permanent English settlement in North America and the setting for the charming tale of Pocahontas and Capt. John Smith.

In May of 2007, the descendants of the first settlers are preparing for the 400th anniversary to honor the sacrifices of their ancestors, and commemorate the hard-won success of our nation’s true birthplace -- Jamestowne.