Members of the Jamestowne Society are descended from early settlers who lived or held colonial government positions in Jamestowne, Virginia prior to 1700, or who invested in its establishment.
The Jamestowne Society was organized for educational, historical, and patriotic purposes. The Society has a range of activities, from visiting early American sites, providing an annual graduate fellowship for research on Colonial Virginia prior to 1700, funding the restoration of records, and supporting preservation of Colonial sites.
Establishment of Jamestown
1607
In 1607, thirteen years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, a group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of Virginia's James River. They were sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, whose stockholders hoped to make a profit from the resources of the New World. The community suffered terrible hardships in its early years, but managed to endure, earning the distinction of being America's first permanent English colony. Significantly, the first representative government in the new world was organized and, members having been elected, met in the church at Jamestown in July, 1619. In 1625, the Virginia Company of London, which could no longer finance this venture, was dissolved by King James I, and Virginia became a royal colony.
Jamestowne Society
1936
The formal organization of the Jamestowne Society, at Jamestown Island on 14 May 1936, was the result of a vision by George Craghead Gregory, who was the founder and the guiding spirit of the society. The objects of the society were: "To discover and record the names of all living descendants of those early settlers who made great sacrifices to establish our English speaking nation; and to unite these descendants to honor the memory of their settler ancestors, to record their deeds, and to do homage to the birthplace of Virginia and the Nation."
By gathering together the descendants of those who experienced Jamestown's hardships and took advantage of its opportunities, we hope that like-minded individuals will work together to keep its history alive for new generations yet to come.
By 2005, the National Jamestowne Society had grown to over 5,000 members in 25 Companies throughout the Nation. The Washington and Northern Virginia Company was founded in 1959, and supports the Jamestowne Rediscovery archaeological “Dig.” Excavation since 1994 has uncovered hundreds of thousands of artifacts dating to the first half of the 17th century. Nearly half of the objects date to the first years of English settlement (1607-1610).
Washington and Northern Virginia Company
1959
Founded by Cornelia Magruder Bowie, who also served as the first Governor of the Company, the Washington and Northern Virginia Company has been active in supporting the Jamestowne Society since 1959.
The Washington and Northern Virginia Company also created a library of research materials for the use of citizens, students and scholars, to honor Herschel H. Helm, Governor of the Company from 1978 until 1987. He was a vigorous supporter and molder of the Company and was dedicated to preserving the record of early Virginia. Click on that link above for details.