400th Anniversary Commemoration
of the First Permanent English Settlement
in America 1607-2007

The Three Ships: May 12, 2007, James River off Jamestowne Island
From left to right: Susan Constant, Discovery, and Godspeed. Viewed by Jamestowne Society members who attended the morning program on Jamestowne Island early on Saturday, May 12, 2007, this group sailing represents a rare occurrence where all three ships are under sail at one time. Photograph courtesy of Roger Mason.

Jamestowne Society Councillors at John Smith Monument, May 12, 2007
Councillors gather at the monument for a photo after adopting two resolutions on the morning of the 400th Anniversary Commemoration on Jamestowne Island. From left to right: Past Gov. Henry C. Mackall, Esq., Past Gov. Anne Tyler Netick, Councillor Alexander Clarke Magruder, Sr., Attorney General Kenneth C. Bass, III, Esq., Companies Committee Chairperson Carolyn Kendrick Farmer, Councillor Rev. Dr. Albert Clinton Walling, II, Past Gov. Brig. Gen. Charles Danny McGuire, Past Gov. Dr. James Morris Bagby, Gov. W. Harrison Schroeder, Esq., Historian Margie Tucker Stewart, Councillor Ann Harrison Darst, Councillor Professor Joseph Neal Payne, Councillor April Wood Miller. Photograph courtesy of Roger Mason.

Commemorative Program, Saturday, May 12, 2007, Jamestowne Island
"John Rolfe," as portrayed by Living History Associates re-enactor Richard A. Cheatham, regales the audience on the conditions of life at Jamestowne as though he were leading orientation for settlers arriving there. In the backjground are Peter H. Bryan, President-Elect of the Order of First Families of Virginia; the Rt. Rev. Claude Charles Vache, Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, Episcopal Church (retired), Carter Branham Snow Furr, Esq., President of the Order of First Families of Virginia; W. Harrison Schroeder, Esq., Governor of the Jamestowne Society; Brig. Gen. Charles Danny McGuire, 2007 Committee Chairman, Jamestowne Society. Photograph courtesy of Jamestown 2007.

Jamestowne Society Governor Addresses Audience at Morning Program
Society Governor W. Harrison Schroeder, Esq., addresses those assembled on Jamestowne Island for a special early morning program on Saturday, May 12, 2007. The outdoor program allowed those gathered, who, in addition to Jamestowne Society members, included members of the Order of Descendants of Ancient Planters and the Order of First Families of Virginia, to view the James River in the background. Photograph courtesy of Dr. David R. Beam, DDS.

Presentation of Wreaths at Graveyard next to Memorial Church
On Saturday, May 12, 2007, wreaths were presented to honor the occasion on behalf of the Jamestowne Society and on behalf of the Companies of the Jamestowne Society. The graveyard is adjacent to the Memorial Church built at the time of the 300th Anniversary, the Memorial Church is attached to the tower which still survives from the 1600s. Shown, left to right: Brig. Gen. Charles Danny McGuire, Jamestowne Society 2007 Committee Chairman and Past Governor of the Society; W. Harrison Schroeder, Esq., Governor of the Jamestowne Society; Kenneth C. Bass, III, Esq., Jamestowne Society Attorney General, and Carolyn Kendrick Farmer, Chairperson of the Jamestowne Society Companies Committee. Photograph courtesy of Carole Morck.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England Visits in May

Additional information: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived in Richmond May 3, 2007, for a state visit to the United States. The Queen addressed the Virginia General Assembly on May 3, and the following day, visited Historic Jamestowne. She was accompanied by Vice President Richard Cheney and Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the archaeological site on the isalnd, spoke with Dr. William M. Kelso, Head Archaeologist of the Jamestown Rediscovery Project, and toured the Archaearium, which houses many of the newly discovered artifacts. Jamestowne Society Governor W. Harrison Schroeder, Esq., and Lt. Governor Carter Branham Snow Furr, Esq., were in attendance as representatives of the Jamestowne Society and Order of First Families of Virginia, respectively. During the Queen's walkabout, Elizabeth Kostelny, Executive Director of APVA-Preservation Virginia, introduced the Queen to Furr and the two had a brief conversation. Furr told the Queen that our ancestors were the Englishmen who first founded Jamestown. The Queen then said, "Ah. You can trace your ancestors back to then?" Furr replied, "Yes, I can."

Morning Program, May 12, 2007, with Susan Constant in Background on James River

The program stage is barely visible at left. Those assembled had a true panorama of history before them - the three replica ships lazily sailed on the almost-becalmed James River in the background. Photograph courtesy of Carole Morck.

Early Morning Boarding of Charter Buses to the Island, May 12 2007

Getting up at the crack of dawn was not a hardship for descendants of the first permanent English settlers to America - they were looking forward to their private early morning access to Jamestown Island on the day of the 400th Anniversary Commemoration. Most were staying at the Williamsburg Marriott, or Kingsmill or other nearby accommodations. Photograph courtesy of Roger Mason.

Godspeed in New York

The "Godspeed," second in size in the replica fleet, toured locations along the East Coast in preparation for the 400th Anniversary Commemoration in the spring of 2007. Here, the Godspeed passes the Statue of Liberty. Photograph courtesy of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

 Replica of John Smith's Shallop

A replica of the shallop used by Captain John Smith to explore the Chesapeake Bay in the first years of settlement makes landfall at Jamestowne Island, re-enacting the landing of May 13, 1607.The shallop and its crew re-traced many of the routes which earlier explorers had taken.  Photograph courtesy of Carter Furr.

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Photos of the Godspeed from Fall 2007

Below are four beautiful photographs taken in the Fall of 2007 by Louise Kelley of the Godspeed as it passed the Kelley home on the Chickahominy River just South of Diascund Creek. Louise is the spouse of new Jamestowne Society member, Henry Kelley.

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