New Discoveries at Jamestown: Site of the First Successful English Settlement in AmericaCotter, John L. (John Lambert)
History
New Discoveries at Jamestown: Site of the First Successful English Settlement in America
Cotter, John L. (John Lambert)
Jamestown (Va.) -- Antiquities; Jamestown (Va.) -- History; Jamestown (Va.) -- Social life and customs
One small cannon barrel fragment, possibly from a light cannon known as
a robinet, has been unearthed (the bore at the end of the barrel is only
1-1/4 inches across). A varied assortment of 17th-century cannon balls
have also been found, appropriate sizes for such ordnance as
demiculverines, sakers, minions, and falcons.
[Illustration: FIRING A DEMICULVERINE FROM A BASTION AT "JAMES FORT."
(Conjectural sketch by Sidney E. King.)]
[Illustration: HILT AND PORTION OF BLADE OF A SWEPT-HILT RAPIER
EXCAVATED AT JAMESTOWN OF THE 1600-1610 PERIOD.]
MUSKETS
An excellent assemblage of 17th-century musket barrels and gun parts
have been recovered from the Jamestown soil, reminiscent of times when
Indians attempted to wipe out the small settlement.
Among the gunlocks found are matchlocks, wheel-locks, snaphaunces,
"doglocks," and flintlocks. The first settlers were equipped with both
wheel-lock and matchlock muskets. Some of the muskets were so heavy,
they required a forked ground-rest to shoot (parts of two forked
ground-rests have been excavated). Other muskets, like the caliver, were
light, and could be fired without the use of a support.
The standard musket during the early years of the settlement was the
matchlock. By 1625, however, the picture had changed, for the
wheel-lock, snaphaunce, and "doglock," were being used in large numbers,
and the matchlock had become obsolete.
PISTOLS
Only a few pistol barrels and parts have been unearthed. One pistol
barrel is attractively ornamented with silver bands.
LIGHT ARMOR AND SIEGE HELMET
A breastplate and backpiece from a light suit of armor (probably a
pikeman's suit) were found in a refuse pit. These interesting specimens
were probably made in England during the 1600-20 period.
In 1953, Sgt. Floyd E. Painter found an English siege helmet (1600-40
period) 4 miles down the river from Jamestown Island.
[Illustration: A JAMESTOWN SENTRY ON DUTY SHOULDERING HIS HEAVY
MATCHLOCK MUSKET. (Conjectural sketch by Sidney E. King.)]
[Illustration: EARLY MUSKET BARREL AND GUN PARTS EXCAVATED AT
JAMESTOWN.]
[Illustration: BREASTPLATE FROM A LIGHT SUIT OF ARMOR FOUND IN A REFUSE
PIT. THIS WAS ONE TYPE USED BETWEEN 1600 AND 1640.]
[Illustration: A HEAVY SIEGE HELMET FOUND 4 MILES DOWNRIVER FROM
JAMESTOWN. WEIGHING OVER 8 POUNDS, IT WAS ONE TYPE USED IN EUROPE DURING
THE EARLY YEARS OF THE 17TH CENTURY.]
[Illustration: THE EARLY JAMESTOWN SETTLERS WERE ADVISED TO EQUIP
THEMSELVES WITH "ONE ARMOUR COMPLEAT, LIGHT." (Conjectural sketch by
Sidney E. King.)]
Farming
The first settlers brought seeds from England, and planted wheat 2 weeks
after landing at Jamestown.
The early Virginians successfully grew many kinds of crops: grains
(wheat, Indian corn, barley, oats, and rye), vegetables (peas, beans,
turnips, parsley, onions, potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots,
parsnips, lettuce, and others), and fruits (apples, peaches, apricots,
quince, figs, grapes, and melons).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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