|
Exaggerated reports and wild tales of the early voyagers to Virginia, that gold and silver were so plentiful, cooking utensils were made of them and that native children had been seen playing in the unexplored forests with strings of diamonds and pearls around their necks, created great excitement amongst the English people, who longed for this wealth. Leading merchants of London organized a great trading company to make settlements in Virginia and in 1606 King James I. Granted a charter to the London Company for that purpose. They at once prepared to send out a colony, and on December 19th, 1606, 105 men listed as gentlemen, carpenters and laborers (but 12 were laborers), set sail down the Thames in the “Susan Constant” of 100 tons, the “Godspeed” of 40 tons and the “Discovery” of 20 tons, or as some authorities state, the “Sarah Constant,” “Goodspeed” and “Discovery,” in command of Admiral Christopher Newport. After a very long, tempestuous and eventful voyage they passed through the Virginia Capes late in April, 1607, touched at Cape Henry, Point Comfort, Hampton and other points, and finally landed and settled at Jamestown, May 13, 1607. (See cards Nos. 3, 4, 7 and 8.) |
