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Jun 24, 1497
John Cabot lands in Nova Scotia.
A year after the date of his patent, John Cabot left Bristol, England, not with the "five shippes" the King had authorized but in little "Matthew" with a crew of only eighteen men. "Matthew" landed in Nova Scotia on 24th June 1497 -
Aug 1, 1508
Sabastian Cabot sets sail for a North-West passage.
John Cabot's son, Sabastian, journeys accross the Atlantic in search of a North-West passage for India. Not much is known about his trip, and some historians even doubt it ever happened. -
Apr 20, 1536
Richard Hore departs Gravesend, England for North-West passage.
Sailed on for the purpose of catching codfish and taking tourist on a cruise to the northeast coast of North America. Two months after leaving England, they anchored at Penguin Island. They ran short of provisions and killed and ate what ever they could find, eventually resorting to cannibalism, to stay alive. Some of the tourist died of starvation and others were killed and eaten. -
Aug 14, 1576
Martin Frobisher searches for northwest passage.
Frobisher took three ships to search for a northwest passage. He made two more trips by 1578. but he did not find the passage. Although he failed, Forbisher's voyages were important beacuse for the first time in several decades, the English had returned to America. -
Dec 12, 1578
Gilbert recieves first charter from Queen Elizabeth.
There was growing unrest between Spain and England, and English privateers found it difficult to attack Spanish ships in the Caribbean because England had no base in the region. Advisors recommended the Queen establish outposts in America to support noval operations against Spain. Sir Humphrey Gilbert receives a charter from Queen Elizabeth to create a colony in America. (He made two attempts, both failed) -
John White returns to Roanoke Island
The colony's leader, John White, returned to England for additional supplies but did not return until 1590 because of the war between England and Spain. He found no trace of the colonists, and the only message left was the cryptic word “Croatoan” carved on a wooden post. -
Virginia Company is formed.
The Virginia Company is a joint-stock company (the Plymouth, and the England Company collectively) founded with the purposes of establishing settlements on the coast of North America, between the 34th and 45th parallel lines. -
Virginia Company sends three ships for the New World.
In December 1606, the Virginia Company's three ships, containing 144 men and boys, set sail. On May 13, 1607, these first settlers selected the site of Jamestown Island as the place to build their fort. -
Jamestown Colony is founded.
The Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery reached the Virginia coast in late April to early May, 1607. The expedition was led by Captain Christopher Newport. On May 13, after two weeks of exploration, the ships arrived at a site on the James River selected for its deep water anchorage and good defensive position. The passengers came ashore the next day, and work began on the settlement. -
Captain Christopher returns to England.
Captain Christopher Newport returned to England on the Susan Constant, loaded with wood and other natural resources for sale in English markets. -
First Anglican religious service is held.
Reverend Robert Hunt held the first Anglican communion in Jamestown under a sail used for protection. -
John Smith becomes leader of the Jamestown Colony.
Previous settlement leaders had trouble with authority and discipline. John Smith was the first leader to show real leadership of the people, someone they could rely on, someone they could trust and have faith in. Times were hard, and they needed hope. -
John Smith leaves Jamestown forever.
Smith was accidentally injured by a gunpowder burn and had to return to England for treatment never to return to Virginia. -
Famine strikes Jamestown Colonies.
The settlers had arrived in the midst of a severe regional drought, and they had been too arrogant to till the soil. They could have received help from native Americans, but they considered the indigenous people to be savages and, eventually, enemies. The settlers ate their cattle, hogs, poultry, and finally their horses. And then they starved. Some cases of cannibalism were recorded. By the spring of 1610, only 60 settlers were alive. -
Elizabeth City and Hernricus are founded.
Communities branched out along the river to form domestic housing sites for families. Governor Thomas Dale founded the city of Henricus in 1611 near Richmond, intending to replace Jamestown as the colony's capital. Henricus never prospered as was hoped, however.
