
Who were the first settlers in Virginia?
- The Virginia Company of London 1606 to 1624
- First Settlers to Jamestown in 1607 as noted by Captain John Smith.
- Immigrants sent from London to Virginia in 1618.
- Immigrants sent from London to Virginia in 1619.
- Immigrants sent from London to Virginia in 1620.
- Immigrants sent from London to Virginia in 1622.
Where did many early Virginia settlements develop?
Where did many early Virginia settlements develop? The English immigrants to Virginia initially settled east of the Fall Line. They cleared the forest and started plantations in the flat Coastal Plain, close to the Chesapeake Bay and with easy access by ship to Europe and the islands in the Caribbean. What region is Virginia located in?
What was the reason for settling Virginia?
purpose of Virginia: Virginia was founded primarily for the purpose of profit by the joint-stock owned Virginia Company of London. It was also important in giving England territorial claims in America to match Spanish and French expansion, and to also give England markets and resources in the New World.
When did the first settle Virginia?
The first settlement in what became known as the Virginia Colony was Jamestown, which was founded in 1607. It was set up to be the center of the Virginia Colony’s government and commerce. Later in 1624, Virginia was created as a royal colony that included the original Jamestown settlement,…

What were the first two settlements in Virginia?
The founder of the new colony was the Virginia Company, with the first two settlements in Jamestown on the north bank of the James River and Popham Colony on the Kennebec River in modern-day Maine, both in 1607.
Where was the Colony located in Virginia?
Jamestown Colony, first permanent English settlement in North America, located near present-day Williamsburg, Virginia.
Where were most of the settlers in Virginia from?
In 1607, 104 men traveled from England and landed in the Chesapeake Bay. They traveled up the James River to establish a settlement out of sight from passing Spanish pirates who might sack the town or steal the supplies. About half of the men of the Virginia Company were wealthy gentlemen and their personal servants.
When was Virginia first settled?
1607In 1607, 104 English men and boys arrived in North America to start a settlement. On May 13 they picked Jamestown, Virginia for their settlement, which was named after their King, James I. The settlement became the first permanent English settlement in North America.
Who were the 1st settlers in America?
Five hundred years before Columbus, a daring band of Vikings led by Leif Eriksson set foot in North America and established a settlement.
Who were the first inhabitants of Virginia?
Early peoples The original inhabitants of Virginia arrived some 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. These were people of Paleo-Indian culture, who, like their successors, the Archaic-culture people, lived mainly by hunting and fishing.
What is the difference between historic Jamestown and Jamestown Settlement?
Historic Jamestowne is the location of the fort, originally settled in 1607. It is run by the National Park Service. The Jamestown Settlement is a privately-owned interpretive center. It is on Jamestown island but is not the site of the original fort.
Who sent settlers to Virginia?
In April 1606 King James I of England granted the Virginia Company a charter to establish colonies in Virginia. The Virginia Company was a private stock holding company. The charter named two branches of the company, the Virginia Company of London and the Virginia Company of Plymouth.
What is the Virginia Colony famous for?
Significance. It was the first permanent English settlement in the New World at Jamestown. It provided a source of fertile land and great wealth to England in the form of the cash crop, tobacco. With the House of Burgesses, America saw the first institutional instance of representative self-government.
Why did colonists settle in Virginia?
The first colony was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. Many of the people who settled in the New World came to escape religious persecution.
Who colonized Virginia?
EnglishIn 1607, English colonization began in Virginia with Jamestown, which would become the first permanent English settlement in North America.
Why was Virginia the best colony?
Virginia has had agricultural success with tobacco and the colony's economy has benefited from it substantially, the colony also has great geographical features such as bays and plenty of rivers as well as a mild climate.
What was the capital of the Virginia colony in 1699?
Jamestown on the James River remained the capital of the Virginia colony until 1699; from 1699 until its dissolution the capital was in Williamsburg. The colony experienced its first major political turmoil with Bacon's Rebellion of 1676.
What states were created by the colony of Virginia?
The entire modern states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, and portions of Ohio and Western Pennsylvania were later created from the territory encompassed, or claimed by, the colony of Virginia at the time of further American independence in July 1776.
Why did the Popham colony fail?
The Popham colony quickly failed due to a famine, disease, and conflicts with local Native American tribes in the first two years . Jamestown occupied land belonging to the Powhatan Confederacy, and was also at the brink of failure before the arrival of a new group of settlers and supplies by ship in 1610.
Why was the Croatoan named Dare County?
Two English children were born in this colony; the first was named Virginia Dare – Dare County, North Carolina, was named in honor of the baby, who was among those whose fate is unknown. The word Croatoan was found carved into a tree, the name of a tribe on a nearby island.
Why was the Virginia colony called the Old Dominion?
After the English Civil War in the 1640s and 50s, the Virginia colony was nicknamed "The Old Dominion" by King Charles II for its perceived loyalty to the English monarchy during the era of the Protectorate and Commonwealth of England.
What was the first profitable export in Virginia?
Tobacco became Virginia's first profitable export, the production of which had a significant impact on the society and settlement patterns. In 1624, the Virginia Company's charter was revoked by King James I, and the Virginia colony was transferred to royal authority as a crown colony.
Which colony sided with the Crown?
While the newer, Puritan colonies, most notably Massachusetts, were dominated by Parliamentarians, the older colonies sided with the Crown. The Virginia Company's two settlements, Virginia and Bermuda (Bermuda's Independent Puritans were expelled as the Eleutheran Adventurers, settling the Bahamas under William Sayle ), Antigua and Barbados were conspicuous in their loyalty to the Crown, and were singled out by the Rump Parliament in An Act for prohibiting Trade with the Barbadoes, Virginia, Bermuda and Antego in October 1650. This dictated that:
Why was Virginia founded?
One of the New England colonies and chartered by James I in 1606, Virginia was founded to give the English territorial claims to America as well as to offer a colonial market for trade.
When was Jamestown founded?
Jamestown: The first successful settlement in the Virginia colony founded in May, 1607. Harsh conditions nearly destroyed the colony but in 1610 supplies arrived with a new wave of settlers. The settlement became part of the Virginia Company of London in 1620.
What was Rolfe's purpose in the colony?
Rolfe is credited with introducing tobacco as a crop for export, which ensured the colony of profits as well as bringing eight years of peace between Indians and colonists through his marriage to Pocahontas. purpose of Virginia: Virginia was founded primarily for the purpose of profit by the joint-stock owned Virginia Company of London.
What were the successes of Virginia?
successes of Virginia: Virginia succeeded politically in terms of creating the House of Burgesses as a semi-democratic assembly and forcing governors to cooperate with the legislature. They did this through the power of the purse as governors did not control money, and therefore depended on the legislature for they salaries.
What is the term for the period early in any settlements development when food and supplies are scarce?
starving time : The period early in any settlements development when food and supplies are scarce due to lack of preparation, unfamiliarity with the surroundings, weather, and inability to successfully grow crops. The starving time usually cost a large percentage of the settlers lives and lasted for the first few years.
What was the purpose of the Virginia Company?
purpose of Virginia: Virginia was founded primarily for the purpose of profit by the joint-stock owned Virginia Company of London. It was also important in giving England territorial claims in America to match Spanish and French expansion, and to also give England markets and resources in the New World. indentured servants: People who promised ...
What was the name of the group of supporters of Charles I during the English Civil War?
Cavalier: The group of supporters of Charles I in the English Civil War which lasted from 1642-1648. The term Cavalier continued to be used to mean any supporter of the British crown, especially Americans who were British sympathizers during the American Revolution.
What was the first colony in Virginia?
In 1607, permanent English colonization began in Virginia with Jamestown. The Virginia Company colony was looking for gold but failed, and the colonists could barely feed themselves. The famine during the harsh winter of 1609 forced the colonists to eat leather from their clothes and boots and resort to cannibalism. The colony nearly failed until tobacco emerged as a profitable export. It was chiefly grown on plantations, using primarily indentured servants for the intensive hand labor involved. After 1662, the colony turned black slavery into a hereditary racial caste. By 1750, the primary cultivators of the cash crop were West African slaves. While the plantations thrived because of the high demand for tobacco, most white settlers would raise their families on subsistence farms. Warfare with the Virginia Indian nations had been an ongoing factor during the 17th century. After 1700, there was continued conflict with natives east of the Alleghenies, especially in the French and Indian War (1754–1763), when the tribes were allied with the French. The westernmost counties including Wise and Washington, only became safe with the death of Bob Benge in 1794.
How long did it take for the first colonists to land in Virginia?
In December 1606, the London Company dispatched a group of 104 colonists in three ships: the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, under the command of Captain Christopher Newport. After a long, rough voyage of 144 days, the colonists finally arrived in Virginia on April 26, 1607 at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. At Cape Henry, they went ashore, erected a cross, and did a small amount of exploring, an event which came to be called the "First Landing."
How many Virginians left the South?
Historians estimate that one million Virginians left the commonwealth between the Revolution and the Civil War. With this exodus, Virginia experienced a decline in both population and political influence Prominent Virginians formed the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society to preserve the legacy and memory of its past. At the same time, with Virginians settling so much of the west, they brought their cultural habits with them. Today, many cultural features of the American South can be attributed to Virginians who migrated west.
What was the population of Virginia in 1830?
The population grew slowly from 700,000 in 1790, to 1 million in 1830, to 1.2 million in 1860. Virginia was the largest state joining the Confederate States of America in 1861.
What was the role of Virginia planters in the Declaration of Independence?
Virginia planters had a major role in gaining independence and in the development of Democratic-Republican ideals of the United States. They were important in the Declaration of Independence, writing the Constitutional Convention (and preserving protection for the slave trade), and establishing the Bill of Rights.
When did the Virginia Company charter change?
In 1624 , the Virginia Company's charter was revoked and the colony transferred to royal authority as a crown colony, but the elected representatives in Jamestown continued to exercise a fair amount of power. Under royal authority, the colony began to expand to the North and West with additional settlements.
Which colony became the wealthiest and most populated British colony in North America?
The westernmost counties including Wise and Washington, only became safe with the death of Bob Benge in 1794. The Virginia Colony became the wealthiest and most populated British colony in North America, with an elected General Assembly.
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Mentioned by George Wythe in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, April 7, 1775: "...the matters you are considering are the same that are in the appendix to Mr. Stith's History...." Both Dean's Memo and the Brown Bibliography suggest Wythe owned the first edition of this title based on his letter.
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in antique paneled calf with spine gilt and gilt morocco label. Purchased from the William Reese Company.
What was the first settlement in Virginia?
The first settlement in what became known as the Virginia Colony was Jamestown, which was founded in 1607. It was set up to be the center of the Virginia Colony's government and commerce. Later in 1624, Virginia was created as a royal colony that included the original Jamestown settlement, when King James I revolked the charter of the bankrupt Virginia Company and the colony transferred to royal authority as a crown colony, but the elected representatives in Jamestown continued to exercise a fair amount of power. Under royal authority, the colony began to expand to the North and West with additional settlements. In 1630, under the governorship of John Harvey, the first settlement on the York River was founded. In 1632, the Virginia legislature voted to build a fort to link Jamestown and the York River settlement of Chiskiack and protect the colony from Indian attacks. This fort would become Middle Plantation and later Williamsburg, Virginia. In 1634, a palisade was built near Middle Plantation. This wall stretched across the peninsula between the York and James rivers and protected the settlements on the eastern side of the lower Peninsula from Indians. The wall also served to contain cattle.
Who were the first people to settle in Virginia?
The people of the expedition consisted of 'gentlemen' and farmers. The first settlement in what became known as the Virginia Colony was Jamestown, which was founded in 1607.
What is the history of Virginia?
The recorded History of Virginia began with settlement of the geographic region now known as the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, previously settled thousands of years ago by Native Americans. The earliest visits to the area were conducted primarily by English and Spanish explorers. After early attempts by Spain to establish a colony in the 1570's were abandoned , permanent European settlement did not occur until the establishment of Jamestown in 1607, by English colonists. As tobacco emerged as a profitable export, Virginia imported more Africans to cultivate it and hardened boundaries of slavery. The Virginia Colony became the wealthiest and most populated British colony in North America.
How many shires were there in the Virginia colony?
Also in 1634, a new system of local government was created in the Virginia Colony by order of the King of England. Eight shires were designated, each with its own local officers. These shires were renamed as counties only a few years later. They were:
Why did Virginia import tobacco?
As tobacco emerged as a profitable export, Virginia imported more Africans to cultivate it and hardened boundaries of slavery. The Virginia Colony became the wealthiest and most populated British colony in North America.
What was the name of the fort that was built in 1634?
This fort would become Middle Plantation and later Williamsburg, Virginia. In 1634, a palisade was built near Middle Plantation. This wall stretched across the peninsula between the York and James rivers and protected the settlements on the eastern side of the lower Peninsula from Indians.
When was the first settlement on the York River?
In 1630 , under the governorship of John Harvey, the first settlement on the York River was founded. In 1632, the Virginia legislature voted to build a fort to link Jamestown and the York River settlement of Chiskiack and protect the colony from Indian attacks.
Who explored Virginia?
Exploration and Settlement of Virginia. John Cabot, the Italian mariner sailing for Henry VII, established the English claim to much of North America by his voyages of 1497 and 1498; whether he actually sighted Virginia is not known. The voyage of Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524 established the French claim to the area. ...
Who established the French claim to Virginia?
The voyage of Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524 established the French claim to the area. The first known European settlement in Virginia was erected by Spanish missionaries in 1570; it lasted only weeks before being destroyed by Native American attacks.
Where was the first colony established?
In 1584, the first effort by the English to establish a permanent colony was made at Roanoke Island, which was then considered to be part of Virginia (but later would be North Carolina ).
What happened in the 1650s?
During the 1650s, when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector in England, royal authority lapsed in Virginia. This accorded the colonists additional opportunity to govern their own affairs. Most Virginians remained supporters of the monarchy, however, and the colony welcomed fleeing Cavaliers, supporters of the future king - Charles II.
When was Williamsburg moved to Richmond?
When the capital was moved to Richmond in 1780, Williamsburg lost some of its prominence. Since it was built on higher grounds, it could not be easily accessed by major waterways as was the case with most of the state's early colonies. 4. Onancock.
When was Williamsburg founded?
Williamsburg was founded in 1632 under the name of Middleton Plantation. From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg served as the capital of the Colony of Virginia. (Jamestown, the original capital, had been burned during Bacon's rebellion of 1676.) The government was able to use facilities offered by the College of William & Mary.
What is the oldest town in Essex?
It wasn't until 1682 that a local man by the name of James Hobbs established a trading post. "Hobbs Hole" was then changed to "New Plymouth" before the name was changed back to it's original name of Tappahannock, meaning "where the tide ebbs and flows."
What was the name of the township in 1749?
Decades later, the General Assembly established Dumfries as a township in May of 1749, named after Dumfries, Scotland. The town was an important tobacco port in Colonial America, rivaling cities such as New York and Boston. Photographed above is the notable Henderson House. Wikicommons.
What is the most significant colonial site in the New World?
1. Jamestown. Beth/flickr. Jamestown is where it all began. Settled in 1607 by the Virginia Company of London, the site became the first permanent settlement in the New World. Jamestown 's is most significant for its colonial identity, and it was the capital of the Virginia Colony from 1616 until 1699.
What is the name of the town in York County?
Yorktown. Jasperdo/flickr. Yorktown is the county seat of York County and was founded in 1691 is a tobacco port on the York River to send the product to England. The town played a crucial role in American history as the site where Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington in 1781.
What is the oldest part of Alexandria?
This portion of town is well-known for its historic buildings, one of which includes the boyhood home of Robert E. Lee. The Market Square is believed to be the oldest of its kind in the country.
Where did the first families of Virginia come from?
They descended from English colonists who primarily settled at Jamestown, Williamsburg, The Northern Neck and along the James River and other navigable waters in Virginia during the 17th century. These elite families generally married within their social class for many generations and, as a result, most surnames of First Families date to the colonial period.
Why did Charles II call Virginia his old dominion?
Some royalists left England on the accession to power of Oliver Cromwell and his Parliament. Because most of Virginia's leading families recognized Charles II as King following the execution of Charles I in 1649, Charles II reputedly called Virginia his "Old Dominion" – a nickname that endures today.
Where did the FFV come from?
English colonists who formed the FFV emigrated to the new Colony of Virginia. Their migration took place from the settlement of Jamestown through the English Civil War and English Interregnum period (1642–1660). Some royalists left England on the accession to power of Oliver Cromwell and his Parliament.
What were the ties between the Spencer family and the Washington family?
For instance, there were ancestral ties between the Spencer family of Bedfordshire and the Washington family; a Spencer secured the land grant later purchased by the Washingtons, where they built their Mount Vernon home. These sorts of ties were common in the early colony, as families shuttled back and forth between England and Virginia, maintaining their connections with the mother country and with each other.
What period did the first family of surnames come from?
These elite families generally married within their social class for many generations and, as a result, most surnames of First Families date to the colonial period. The American Revolution cut ties with Britain but not with its social traditions.
Why was the Jamestown Exposition held in 1907?
In 1907, the Jamestown Exposition was held near Norfolk to celebrate the tricentennial of the arrival of the first English colonists and the founding of Jamestown. Preservation Virginia, formerly known as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, was founded in Williamsburg in 1889 to memorialize Virginia history.
How did tidewater Virginia evolve?
Tidewater Virginia evolved as a society descended from second or third sons of English gentry who inherited land grants or land in Virginia. They formed part of what became the southern elite in America.

Overview
Government and law
In the initial years under the Virginia Company, the colony was governed by a council, headed by a council President. From 1611 to 1618, under the orders of Sir Thomas Dale, the settlers of the colony were under a regime of civil law that became known as Dale's Code.
Under a charter from the company in 1618, a new model of governance was put in place in 1619, which created a new House of Burgesses. On July 30, 1619, burgesses met at Jamestown Church as …
Names and etymology
The name "Virginia" is the oldest designation for English claims in North America. In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh sent Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe to explore what is now the North Carolina coast, and they returned with word of a regional king (weroance) named Wingina, who ruled a land supposedly called Wingandacoa.
The name Virginia for a region in North America may have been originally suggested by Sir Walte…
History
Although Spain, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands all had competing claims to the region, none of these prevented the English from becoming the first European power to colonize successfully the Mid-Atlantic coastline. Earlier attempts had been made by the Spanish in what is now Georgia (San Miguel de Gualdape, 1526–27; several Spanish missions in Georgia between 1568 and 16…
Relations with the Natives
As the English expanded out from Jamestown, encroachment of the new arrivals and their ever-growing numbers on what had been Indian lands resulted in several conflicts with the Virginia Indians. For much of the 17th century, English contact and conflict were mostly with the Algonquian peoples that populated the coastal regions, primarily the Powhatan Confederacy. Following …
Geography
The cultural geography of colonial Virginia gradually evolved, with a variety of settlement and jurisdiction models experimented with. By the late 17th century and into the 18th century, the primary settlement pattern was based on plantations (to grow tobacco), farms, and some towns (mostly ports or courthouse villages).
Economy
The entrepreneurs of the Virginia Company experimented with a number of means of making the colony profitable. The orders sent with the first colonists instructed that they search for precious metals (specifically gold). While no gold was found, various products were sent back, including pitch and clapboard. In 1608, early attempts were made at breaking the Continental hold on glassmaking through the creation of a glassworks. In 1619, the colonist built the first ironworks i…
Culture
England supplied the great majority of colonists. In 1608, the first Poles and Slovaks arrived as part of a group of skilled craftsmen. In 1619, the first Africans arrived. Many more Africans were imported as slaves, such as Angela. In the early 17th century, French Huguenots arrived in the colony as refugees from religious warfare.
Overview
The History of Virginia begins with documentation by the first Spanish explorers to reach the area in the 1500s, when it was occupied chiefly by Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan peoples. In 1607, English colonization began in Virginia with Jamestown, which would become the first permanent English settlement in North America. The Virginia Company colony was looking for gold and spices, a…
Prehistory
For thousands of years before the arrival of the English, various societies of indigenous peoples inhabited the portion of the New World later designated by the English as "Virginia". Archaeological and historical research by anthropologist Helen C. Rountree and others has established 3,000 years of settlement in much of the Tidewater. Even so, a historical marker dedicated in 2015 states that rec…
Early European exploration
After their discovery of the New World in the 15th century, European states began trying to establish New World colonies. England, the Dutch Republic, France, Portugal, and Spain were the most active.
In 1540, a party led by two Spaniards, Juan de Villalobos and Francisco de Silvera, sent by Hernando de Soto, entered what is now Lee County in search of …
Royal colony
In 1624, the Virginia Company's charter was revoked and the colony transferred to royal authority as a crown colony, but the elected representatives in Jamestown continued to exercise a fair amount of power. Under royal authority, the colony began to expand to the North and West with additional settlements.
In 1634, a new system of local government was created in the Virginia Colony …
Religion
The Church of England was legally established in the colony in 1619, and the Bishop of London sent in 22 Anglican clergyman by 1624. In practice, establishment meant that local taxes were funneled through the local parish to handle the needs of local government, such as roads and poor relief, in addition to the salary of the minister. There never was a bishop in colonial Virginia, and …
American Revolution
Revolutionary sentiments first began appearing in Virginia shortly after the French and Indian War ended in 1763. The Virginia legislature had passed the Two-Penny Act to stop clerical salaries from inflating. King George III vetoed the measure, and clergy sued for back salaries. Patrick Henry first came to prominence by arguing in the case of Parson's Cause against the veto, which h…
Early Republic and antebellum period
Victory in the Revolution brought peace and prosperity to the new state, as export markets in Europe reopened for its tobacco.
While the old local elites were content with the status quo, younger veterans of the war had developed a national identity. Led by George Washington and James Madison, Virginia played a major role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 …
Civil War
Virginia at first refused to join the Confederacy, but did so after President Lincoln on April 15 called for troops from all states; that meant Federal troops crossing Virginia on the way south to subdue South Carolina. On April 17, 1861 the convention voted to secede, and voters ratified the decision on May 23. Immediately the Union army moved into northern Virginia and captured Alexand…