JAMESTOWN
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOATBUILDING

On April 27 1607, the day after the Jamestown colonists landed at Cape Henry, some of the settlers began to build or assemble a small boat. George Percy, one of the original colonists, reported that it was completed and launched on April 28.

It appears, therefore, that 350 years ago—on the sandy beach near Cape Henry—the Jamestown bound colonists made their first important commodity by hand in the New World.

Contemporary records reveal that many small boats were built at Jamestown from the earliest years of the settlement. They afforded the best means of transportation through the uncharted wilderness, and were used for fishing, trade, and exploration.

The conjectural illustration shows colonists building a small boat at Jamestown Island—near Back River—about 1650.

Research on painting by author. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Boatbuilding At Jamestown Over 300 Years Ago

Conjectural Painting

Photo courtesy National Park Service.
Boatbuilding Tools Unearthed at Jamestown

All tools in the picture were hand wrought during the seventeenth century. Some may have been forged at Jamestown.

TIMBERING

Timbering was one of the first activities undertaken by the Jamestown colonists and was one of the first English industries in America. The day the settlers arrived they began cutting down trees, for timber was needed to build their fort and town as well as to export to the mother country. Thomas Studley, a member of the first colony, reported that clapboards were made for loading on the ships which were to return to England:

Now falleth every man to worke, the Councell contrive the fort, the rest cut downe trees to make place to pitch their tents; some provide clapboard to relade the ships, some make gardens, some nets, &c.

Captain Newport left Jamestown in June, 1607 and aboard his two ships were clapboards and other wooden products.

The virgin forests growing in the vicinity of Jamestown furnished planks, masts, clapboard, wainscoting, and other wooden products needed by the mother country. As England had run short of timber and was paying exorbitant prices to European countries for naval stores and timber products, the supply furnished by the Jamestown colony helped greatly to relieve the situation. The Virginians were also helped, for timber was one of the few products which brought profits to the struggling colony.

The conjectural painting shows settlers carrying out timbering activities at Jamestown. Some of the piled up lumber will be used in the colony, some will be shipped to England.

Research on painting by author. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Timbering At Jamestown Three Centuries Ago

Conjectural Painting

Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Tools Used By The Early Jamestown Settlers For Timbering

A few of many tools excavated at Jamestown which were used for timbering over 300 years ago: felling axes, a hewing axe, adze, hatchet, wedge, and saw fragment.

The Carpenter. Faber Lignarius.

We have seen Mens food and cloathing; now his dwelling followeth. At first they dwelt in Caves 1 then in Booths or Huts 2 and then again in Tents 3 at the last in Houses. The Woodmen felleth and heweth down Trees 5 with an Ax 4 the Boughs 6 remaining. He cleaveth Knotty wood with a Wedg 7 which he forceth in with a Beetle 8 and maketh Wood-stacks 9. The Carpenter squareth Timber with a Chip-Ax 10 whence Chips 11 fall, and saweth it with a Saw 12 where the Saw-dust 13 falleth down. Afterwards he lifteth the beam upon tressels 14 by the help of a Pulley 15 fasteneth it with Cramp-Irons 16 and marketh it out with a Line 17. Then he frameth the Walls together and fasteneth the great pieces with Pins 19.

Courtesy Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D. C.

Seventeenth Century Timbering and Building

The 1685 engraving shows activities relating to timbering and house building. Similar practices were carried out at Jamestown during the seventeenth century. From Orbis Sensualium Pictus by Johann Comenius (London, 1685).

BARRELS AND CASKS

(COOPERING)

As early as 1607 barrel staves were made at Jamestown for exporting to England. Later, when tobacco and other crops were grown successfully—and a few commodities were produced in Virginia for export—barrels, casks, and other wooden containers were made by the cooper in large numbers.

John Lewes was the first cooper to reach Jamestown, arriving in January, 1608. Others followed him throughout the seventeenth century; and for almost a hundred years their craft was an important one in the "Capital Cittie."

The illustration shows a cooper and his helpers making barrels and casks at Jamestown, about the year 1625.

Research on painting by author. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Making Barrels and Casks At Jamestown—About 1625

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Conjectural Painting

The Cooper.

The Cooper 1, having an Apron 2 tied about him, maketh Hoops Of Haslel-rods 3, upon a Cutting-block, 4 with a Spoke-shave, 5 and Lags 6 of Timber. He maketh Hogs-heads 7 and Pipes, 8 with two Heads, and Tubs 9, Soes 10, Flaskets 11, Buckets 12, with one Bottom of Lags. Then he bindeth them with Hoops 13, which he tieth fast with small Twigs 15, by means of a Cramp-Iron 14, and he