jamestown uncover startling discovery
Brenda Kellow
June 16, 2013
Historians have always wondered how the Jamestown settlers survived the worst drought in centuries. They were not used to such harsh conditions. They suffered through crop failures and had insufficient skills for trapping animals for food. Many of the 104 settlers died while only about one-third who lived. Even so, we consider Jamestown a successful settlement in the new world.
Cannibalism was suspected. George Percy, the President during the ‘starving time’, hinted at cannibalism when he wrote in 1625 they did “digge upp deade corpes out of graves and to eate them.” This past summer they exhumed the remains of a young girl. The cut marks on her jaw, face, forehead and shinbone are those specialists consider cannibalistic.
Will this discovery affect the pride of Jamestown descendants? It may bother family historians but we must remember we have never undergone starvation remotely resembling their fate in the new land. They were survivors. We descend from sturdy stock. It is doubtful any of us have the strength and fortitude of any of our ancestors in those trying times.
If cannibalism existed and we consider Jamestown a success story, what will investigations of unsuccessful settlements yield?
You can read the account from the Smithsonian online at www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Starving-Settlers-in-Jamestown-Colony-Resorted-to-Eating-A-Child-205472161.html.
THE MAYFLOWER ARGUMENT: With the 400-year anniversary Mayflower celebration scheduled for 2012, two English towns are fighting over the Mayflower history. Harwich and Essex are battling with Plymouth over claims to the Mayflower. The people of Harwich claim the Mayflower was built there; it was the homeport, and the birthplace of the captain. Many documents refer to the Mayflower of Harwich. They claim that Plymouth ‘hijacked’ the Mayflower history 400 years ago. If this is true, then our Founding Fathers were from Essex, not Plymouth. John Acton of Harwich says the “Mayflower was only there to take on supplies and to pick up passengers from an accompanying ship that sprang a leak. Read more about it at www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10026878/Americas-founding-fathers-were-Essex-boys-according-to-claims.html. I am sure more on this battle will be forthcoming. Will our history concerning Jamestown and Plymouth be rewritten?
VATICAN PUTS 82,000 MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION ONLINE: The Vatican announced this over a year ago but because of the gold and silver content—the real stuff—the images were difficult to capture. Their goal was to give the world access to their vast, priceless collection. They began with the oldest in the collection and from there chose the more delicate in need of preservation. The collection contains a Hebrew manuscript and the de Europa of Pope Pius II circa 1491. Once online, many things will be uncovered and secrets will be revealed. Read more at www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/05/02/digitizing_history_82000manuscript_collection_vatican_library_goes_online.html.
ARCHIVES OF APPALACHIA ONLINE: If you have ancestors who lived in Appalachia, you will want to access the Archives of Appalachia, founded 35 years ago in Johnson City, Tennessee on the East Tennessee State University campus, at www.etsu.edu/cass/archives/. Researchers working there found Washington County, Tennessee court records, old recipes and folk medicine remedies that profile the culture of the region. There are also railroad records, music and old folk recordings, diaries, scrapbooks, photo albums, etc. Will findings unlock other unusual events that affect our history? Access to the library is not limited and it is open to genealogists. The staff is delighted to help guide you to your records of choice.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].
Cannibalism was suspected. George Percy, the President during the ‘starving time’, hinted at cannibalism when he wrote in 1625 they did “digge upp deade corpes out of graves and to eate them.” This past summer they exhumed the remains of a young girl. The cut marks on her jaw, face, forehead and shinbone are those specialists consider cannibalistic.
Will this discovery affect the pride of Jamestown descendants? It may bother family historians but we must remember we have never undergone starvation remotely resembling their fate in the new land. They were survivors. We descend from sturdy stock. It is doubtful any of us have the strength and fortitude of any of our ancestors in those trying times.
If cannibalism existed and we consider Jamestown a success story, what will investigations of unsuccessful settlements yield?
You can read the account from the Smithsonian online at www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Starving-Settlers-in-Jamestown-Colony-Resorted-to-Eating-A-Child-205472161.html.
THE MAYFLOWER ARGUMENT: With the 400-year anniversary Mayflower celebration scheduled for 2012, two English towns are fighting over the Mayflower history. Harwich and Essex are battling with Plymouth over claims to the Mayflower. The people of Harwich claim the Mayflower was built there; it was the homeport, and the birthplace of the captain. Many documents refer to the Mayflower of Harwich. They claim that Plymouth ‘hijacked’ the Mayflower history 400 years ago. If this is true, then our Founding Fathers were from Essex, not Plymouth. John Acton of Harwich says the “Mayflower was only there to take on supplies and to pick up passengers from an accompanying ship that sprang a leak. Read more about it at www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10026878/Americas-founding-fathers-were-Essex-boys-according-to-claims.html. I am sure more on this battle will be forthcoming. Will our history concerning Jamestown and Plymouth be rewritten?
VATICAN PUTS 82,000 MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION ONLINE: The Vatican announced this over a year ago but because of the gold and silver content—the real stuff—the images were difficult to capture. Their goal was to give the world access to their vast, priceless collection. They began with the oldest in the collection and from there chose the more delicate in need of preservation. The collection contains a Hebrew manuscript and the de Europa of Pope Pius II circa 1491. Once online, many things will be uncovered and secrets will be revealed. Read more at www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/05/02/digitizing_history_82000manuscript_collection_vatican_library_goes_online.html.
ARCHIVES OF APPALACHIA ONLINE: If you have ancestors who lived in Appalachia, you will want to access the Archives of Appalachia, founded 35 years ago in Johnson City, Tennessee on the East Tennessee State University campus, at www.etsu.edu/cass/archives/. Researchers working there found Washington County, Tennessee court records, old recipes and folk medicine remedies that profile the culture of the region. There are also railroad records, music and old folk recordings, diaries, scrapbooks, photo albums, etc. Will findings unlock other unusual events that affect our history? Access to the library is not limited and it is open to genealogists. The staff is delighted to help guide you to your records of choice.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].