February 1 , 1607

George Percie

Jamestown Colony

Dear David,

I am writing about my new life in Jamestown, VA. I am a gentleman and I assisted in helping build the colony. I was also appointed to be deputy governor. Our fort was a triangular shaped and closed in by fence. We had a watchtower with canons. My house had a thatched roof and dirt and a fireplace. We also have a storehouse for our supplies, a guardhouse, and a church. The leaders in our council are Newport, Wingfeld, Kendall, Martin, Ratcliffe, Gosnold, and Smith. We elected Wingfeld for president. Our everyday life in Jamestown consisted of exploring the land ,trading with the Indians , and trying to help the sick who have malaria ,and who are starving. Many of my friends have died. I hope all is well back in England. I shall write soon.

yours truly,

March 3, 1620

Bob Feldman

25 Pecunit st.

Dear Bob,

I am a councilor in Jamestown. We set up our fort in the shape of a triangle, with towers in each corner where the look-outs stand . The Algonquin Indians have attacked our fort several times. Many people have died from the attacks,  mosquitoes that carry diseases, hunger and threw the winter. We built our fort on top of a swamp and we can’t plant anything. We work all day building houses in the fort, at night we bury the people who died. We bury them at night because we don’t want the Algonquin Indians to find them. I don’t like John Smith too much. He isn’t a very good leader. I’m going to try to get him removed from being the leader. I'll write back soon.

Sincerely,

John Martin

PS. don’t come to Jamestown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 27,1623

Dear Aunt Mary Allen,

You’ve got to come to the Southern Colonies. I know you love churches. We actually have one here now ain’t that sweet. We have drug jars, coins and breastplates. I was LUCKY! I didn’t die when the Algonquin Indians killed some colonists (over 300). Therefore, Williamsburg became the Capital of Virginia.

Now this state is a crown colony. I am a bricklayer and I put cement on the bricks and stack them to make the walls of the fort. John Smith is our leader. He is the one who stopped us from dying.

Your Nephew,

William Garret

Sept.19 1607

Robin Hood

Shearwood forest

Dear Robin Hood,

It has been four months since I landed in Virginia. We have built a fort in the shape of a triangle on the James River. We have a little village with a church and meeting house and I have set up a blacksmith’s shop. I make many things for the colonists including horseshoes, hoes, rakes, and reaping sickles for the farmers. I can also make locks, loggingchains, and axes. Captain John Smith is in charge of the colony, and told everybody " He that will not work, shall not eat. Life in Jamestown is not easy, the women in the colony prepare the food, make clothes, and clean the house. The men in our colony do the farming, slaughter cows and pigs, and build fences. I am trying to buy a horse but they cost around 20$ so it will take me a long time. We’re building a new school in our colony since we have lots of children here. Captain John Smith is hiring tutors and governesses to teach the girls and boys. If you are looking for an adventure come here. I hope this letter gets to you.

Yours truly,

James Read

February 2,1611

Dear Edward,

I landed in Jamestown Virginia. It is the worst here. The Indians are attacking us all the time! We are dying of hunger, smallpox fever, and diseases. The food is different. We eat turtles, fish, oysters, and sea gulls. The buildings are made of wood and are cold. The best room is the Keeping room. That is the kitchen. The fire keeps the room warm. I am a tobacco farmer. Growing tobacco was a very import to Jamestown because we will be able to make money. I will bring some back to England. John Smith is our leader. He isus get throw the awful winter. He told us ‘ he who does not work does not eat. John Smith was injered and was sent back to England.The good news is that I married an indain named Pacahotas.We have a son named Thomas. See you soon

your friend

KYLE

July 14 1502

Dear Kelsie,

On June 22 Captain Newport left for England with a cargo of clapboards and a load of sparkling rocks. We built a fort that was a triangular structure with cannons at each corner for protection against attacks. Every man in Jamestown must help build the fort in Jamestown. I am a gentleman. Over half the people died in Jamestown . We have not found gold yet. We really have low supplies. The first woman arrived in Jamestown in September 1608. The Indians wanted guns and swords .

Your Friend,

George Martin

September 19, 1620

Jamestown Colony

Dear Mr. Scott,

My job in the colony was to start a profitable business for the Jamestown colony. I experimented with tobacco seeds that I found in the Caribbean was able to start a real profitable export product that made our colony lots of money. England was the country which we traded with the fort where we lived was triangular in shape with a wall on the outside and a village like setting within that included a store, a church and about 40 houses. The buildings were made of wood King James I sponsored the trip to Jamestown. Captain John Smith was in charge of our colony. I traveled to Jamestown with my first wife on the sea venture in 16001. Both my wife and daughter died within 2 years of our trip. I met and fell in love with a woman, Pocahontas a few years later. The early colonists had a difficult time just surviving. There was very little food. Diseases where also common. Every day life was tough. In addition we did not have much colony. I am so glad that I helped the colony out with this huge success.

Most Dearly

John Rolfe

Dear Mom,

We finally made it to Jamestown. My job as a blacksmith is very important to our community. I have to make farming tools and pots and pans for people. I always have a fire going in my shop. It is nice in the winter but hot in the summer. I have to work many long hours.

We have built a 3-sided fort to protect us from the Indians. All of our homes and stores and the church tower are inside the fort. We also grow crops. Our houses all have thatched roofs. Every day is a lot of hard work. Besides working in the shop. We spend a lot of time caring for animals and fixing meals.

Our leader is named John Smith. The Indians once captured him but he is now making us a stronger colony. Because of his strong leadership we all survived. He made some rules one was "who does not work does not eat".

I miss you but don’t worry

Love, James Read

June 1607

Dear Imogene,

Hello from Jamestown Virginia. I am working here as a blacksmith. It is very hard because people are asking me to make things like axes, hoes, kettles, pots, and cannons. I am the first known blacksmith to settle with the Puritans. I can work with almost anything and that is what makes me so valuable to colonial life. The word "smith" is a common name for people like me who work with metal. Blacksmiths like me are the heart of all trades. To be good I need to be very artistic in my work.

Captain John Smith is in charge, he did a great job but then he got injured by a gun powder accident. Then he went back to England to get cured.  In the meantime, Lord De La Ware is in charge.

Boy, is it hard living in Jamestown because it is on a swamp and is slowly sinking. The mosquitoes on the swamp carry the deadly disease malaria. The Starving Time was very bad because we were still not familiar with where to find food.  We relied on Pocahontas for survival.  Many of us lost our lives from starvation.  The Indians attack so many times because they want us off their land.  The Indians also showed us how to farm, fish, and hunt.  Soon we discovered tobacco.  It is unheard of in England.  This could very well be a commodity on the New World, finally a way to become rich!

Our fort is made out of wood.  It is five sided and is constructed of placing logs placed upright in a narrow slot trench.  It surrounds a church, houses, and a meeting house. We made it for safety from indian attacks.

Sincerely, 

James Reed

March.8,1608

Jamestown Colony

Dear Mother and Father,

After sailing the seas from England, I am finally settling down to begin planning my new business venture, which is to create the Virginia Company. Since I can’t be a member of the company, I have been appointed the Resident Council. I am in charge of working with the Virginia Associates and became involved in the local affairs for the new colony called Jamestown. It is here where I am finally settling down. The weather here is cool, but other colonists say it can get very cold in the winter. I decided to explore my new homeland. Mother and Father did you know that Jamestown fort is still being built? It was started in 1607 and they said it would take three years to build. I can’t believe it. I know you are going to ask me what is inside the fort. The houses, two churches, Pocahontas Statue, two grave sites, and the barracks. A man by the of Captain John Smith is in charge. You are probably wondering what the everyday life is like here at the fort. Each day after the daily chores were done, we had to keep a look out for the intruders- the Indians. We didn’t want them to destroy the fort. Sometimes I take a break to rest and relax. Well it’s my turn for look out duty. Goodbye

and write back soon.

Your Son.

Captain Bartholomew Gosnold

February 1, 1608

Dear Henry,

I am living in Jamestown, and a lot has happened. The Virginia Company sent us on our voyage on May 14^th . Our orders from the Virginia Company were for us to look for gold and a path to the Orient by water. Many of the people living here got sick from bad drinking water and died. Only 38 are living now.

That’s not all. Captain Smith was captured by Powhatans (INDIAN TRIBE) while he was trying to find food for us . If it were not for Pocahontas ,chief Powhatans daughter, he would have been killed. She made her father save him, thank goodness. When we arrived at Jamestown, I was very sick from the stormy weather, but luckily  I made it. We set up a praying area between some trees by tying a sail to them. we use branches and stumps for seats. I have been leading prayers every day and give two sermons every Sunday. I am their minister. A sad thing happened last month. There was a fire here that destroyed everything- all I had left now are the clothes was wearing when the fire happened .My books were destroyed . Hopefully everything will get better and I hope more people will arrive in Jamestown soon.

I hope that you are well.

Sincerely,

Reverend Robert Hunt

June 30, 1607

Dear Mother And Father,

After 4 months at sea we finally sighted land on the morning of Sunday April 26, 1607.We were all very exited about arriving to Virginia. That evening Captain Newport opened the sealed instructions and read the names

of the seven men who will lead the colony. We set out to find a good spot to start building the new colony we call Jamestown. We have met Indians, some who seem happy to have us here but others that would like to see us get back on our ships an leave. During the month of May we settled on a spot to start building a fort. The fort is built as a triangle with the front side facing the James River. We built watchtowers at each corner and mounted canons on top. Inside are a storehouse, a guardhouse and a church. Reverend Hunt held the first service on Sunday June 21,1607. The next day, June 22,Captain Newport left for England with a cargo of clap boards and a load of rocks we hope are gold. Being a Gentleman ,I was not happy when we were told that all told that all had to work to help make their new colony survive. I have learned to help make plant crops, cut wood and build houses. I have to end now because some of my men are forming a hunting party and others are going fishing for food and I think I would like to help with one of them. By for now and I will write again soon.

Your son,

John Brookes

Dear Fred,

Everything is not going well.  But there is not enough food to eat and it is cold and snowy.  In the summer there is a lot of mosquitoes everywhere.  People are dying of the disease they got.  Other times we could play and other times we could not play because we had a lot of work to do.  We took a voyage and it was very cold and dangerous.  We also went exploring looking for gold.  We don't really have good toys.  My Mom and Dad make me pray a lot. And work hard.

by Richard Mutton