On , 105 to 108 English men and boys (surviving the voyage from England) established James Towne for the Virginia Company of London, on a slender peninsula on the bank of the James River. It became the first long-term English settlement in North America.
The trips aboard the ships Susan Constant, Discovery, and the Godspeed, and the settlement itself, were sponsored by the London Company, whose "adventurers" (investors) hoped to make a profit from the resources of the New World. The settlers suffered terrible hardships in its early years, including sickness, starvation, and native attacks. By early 1610, most of the settlers had died due to starvation and disease. With resupply and additional immigrants, it managed to endure, becoming America's first permanent English colony.
Once the settlement location was chosen, the company members opened sealed instructions containing the list of the previously chosen councillors of the Virginia Governor's Council. The first council president was Edward Maria Wingfield. The other six council members were Bartholomew Gosnold, John Martin, John Ratcliffe, George Kendall, Christopher Newport (ex officio) and John Smith.
Original settlers Council members in bold. Titles and occupations are from era accounts, but use modern British spellings.
On December 30, 1606, between 105 and 108 settlers with 39 mariners (non-settlers) sailed aboard three ships from Blackwall, London, England. + Original Jamestown settlers (May 1607): Name Occupation Alt. names Death date (YYYY-MM-DD) Notes Gentleman Adding, H. Gentleman Alikok Ancient, Jeremy 1607–08–04 Slain by Natives Captain and Gentleman Archer, Gabriell 1609 or 1610 winter Secretary to the Council (lawyer) 1607–08–06 First death of the colony (dysentery) Captain and Gentleman Behethland, R. 1627 Gentleman Beast, B. 1607–09–05 Mason and Soldier Brinton, E. Gentleman 1607–04–07 Died in the West Indies (before arriving to Virginia) Gentleman Gentleman Brown, E. 1607–08–15 Boy Brunfield, J. ShipmasterPeter Wilson Coldham. The Complete Book of Emigrants: 1607-1660 (1987) Bucler, A. 1625 Gentleman Brewster, W. 1607–08–10 Died from Native wound Carpenter Not listed [as alive] after June 1607 Labourer Cawson, G. 1607–12–26 Tortured and killed by Natives Labourer Labourer Gentleman Clovill, Eustice 1607–06–07 Killed by Natives Boy Dutch Samuel 1622 accidental friendly fire of an English sentinel during the Powhatan uprising Gentleman Barber Cowper, T. Gentleman Gentleman Labourer and Soldier "1624 VA muster with wife Jane, 40 at muster, he was 36" Labourer Carpenter 1607–12–26 Killed by Natives Gentleman Robart Fentonne Gentleman Flowre, G. 1607–08–09 Gentleman Gentleman Gentleman Calthrop, Halthrop 1607–08–10 Possible mutineer Bricklayer Labourer Goulding, G. Gentleman Gower, T. 1607–08–16 Gentleman 1609–01–07 Possibly two cousins with identical names. Drowned Jan 1609 in James River. Grandson of Robert Gosnold of Earl Soham, Suffolk. and Captain 1607–08–22 Captain of the Godspeed Gentleman 1607–08–24 Bricklayer not listed [as alive] after June 1607 Gentleman Preacher before 1609 Sergeant (soldier) Jacon, T. 1607–09–04 Labourer Councillor and Captain 1607–12–01 Execution by firing squad for "mutiny"Barbour, Philip L. “Captain George Kendall: Mutineer or Intelligencer?” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 70, no. 3, 1962, pp. 297–313. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4246865. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024. Gentleman E. Kiniston or Kinnistone 1607–09–18 "Starved to death with cold" Carpenter and Labourer Leyden arrived on the Susan Constant Carpenter Laxton, W. Tailor and Soldier Loue, W. Councillor and Captain Martine, J 1632-06-?? Lower Brandon Plantation owner Gentleman 1607–09–18 Son of Councillor Gentleman Gentleman Francis Midwinter 1607–08–14 Died suddenly Corporal and Gentleman Morris, E. 1607–08–14 Died suddenly Labourer 1607–08–17 Died suddenly Gentleman 1607–09–19 Boy Boy Pecock, N. Gentleman Pennington, J. 1608-08-18 Gentleman Pennington, R. Gentleman, Shipmaster Percie 1632 Eventual Governor of Virginia Colony. Son of Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland. Gentleman Dru Piggas or Peggase 1607–08–19 Carpenter Posing, E. Captain and Gentleman Nathaniell 1622–03–22Served as acting Governor of Virginia Colony in 1619 Councillor and Captain Sicklemore, J. 1609-11-?? Captain of the Discovery, eventual Governor Blacksmith and Soldier 1622–03–13 Gentleman Jehu 1607–12–26 Killed by Natives Labourer Roods, W. 1607–08–27 not listed [as alive] after June 1607 Gentleman Sandys, T. Brother of Edwin Sandys (1561–1629) Labourer 1607-08-?? Gentleman Gentleman Simmons, R. 1607–09–18 Drummer Skot, N. Carpenter Councillor and Captain Smyth, J. 1631-06-?? Gentleman Gentleman Gentleman Gentleman, Stoodie, T. 1607–08–28 Gentleman Tankard, W. Labourer Tanin, H. Gentleman Throgmortine, Kenelme 1607–08–26 Carpenter and Soldier Servant to John Martin and later explorer. Accompanied John Smith on several expeditions. Labourer Gentleman 1607-08-24 Gentleman Waler 1607–08–24 Gentleman Labourer Surgeon Councillor and Captain Edward Marie Winfield 1631 Captain of Susan Constant Surgeon Commoner Mariners
First Supply settlers
Aboard the John and Francis (captained by Christopher Newport) and the Phoenix (captained by Francis Nelson), The John and Francis arrived in January, while the Phoenix was considered lost (but arrived months later). 120 settlers left England in October 1607. Only 100 made it to Virginia to settle. When they arrived at Jamestown, there were only 38 to 40 men that had survived the summer and autumn "seasoning time".
Second Supply settlers
Quickly after the first supply, Captain Newport boarded 70 new colonists to the .Avery E. Kolb. "Early Passengers to Virginia: When Did They Really Arrive?" The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 88, no. 4, 1980, pp. 401–14. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4248428. Accessed 6 June 2026. First women colonists are noted with female sign (♀️).
Third Supply settlers
With 500 to 600 persons, a fleet of nine ships set sail in May 1609 led by Thomas Gates and George Somers. The ships were named Sea Venture, Diamond, Falcon, Blessing, Unity, Lion, Swallow, Virginia, and a boat referred to as "Catch" (or ketch).ROSE, E. M. “Lord Delaware, First Governor of Virginia, ‘the Poorest Baron of This Kingdom.’” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 128, no. 3, 2020, pp. 226–58. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26926494. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
In July, a tropical storm struck the flotilla. The "Catch" vanished with all aboard, and the Sea Venture shipwrecked on Bermuda, inadvertently colonizing the island. The seven remaining ships arrived at Jamestown only to bring diseased and hungry passengers to the stressed colony.
Council members in bold. Those who died in Bermuda (or were lost at sea) are indicated with a Latin cross (✝️). Titles and occupations are from era accounts, but use modern British spellings.