What's
New?
May Membership Meeting 2010 Notice
March 9, 2010 - James Citty Company meets March 18 - Members of the Jamestowne Society who may be in Virginia on March 18 may wish to join the James Citty Company for its meeting on that date at 10 A.M. at the Hampton History Museum, 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton, VA (across the street from a free city parking garage). The speaker is Jim Tormey, the topic is John Rolfe, who played a major role in saving the Virginia Colony. Lunch will be at the Gray Goose. Your check for $23, payable to James Citty Company, should be sent to Dr. Thomas W. Sale, Governor, 4304 Chesapeake Avenue, Hampton, VA 23669-4638 by 10 March. Hurry! And yes, if other Companies would care to send their meeting notices to the Webmaster of this site, your meetings will be publicized in the same manner.
March 7, 2010 - Additional Information Added to Membership Application Process Page. Lyndon Hart, Society Genealogist, has provided additional information which now appears as Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 on the Membership Application Process Page. The added information answers frequently asked questions and provides helpful information to those who are applying for membership and those who are preparing supplementals. A link to the Membership Application Process Page has also been added to the section of this site which contains the Qualifying Ancestors Register.
March 3, 2010 - $30,000 Matching Fund Aims to Retire Mortgage by End of 2010! Since May of last year, individual members and Jamestowne Society Companies around the country have been generously donating to the Mortgage Reduction Fund. As a result, the principal balance owed on the headquarters building in Richmond, Virginia, has been substantially reduced. Now Dr. Michael David Frost, Secretary of State of the Jamestowne Society, has pledged to match - up to a total of $30,000 - donations to this fund received by the end of this year. Dr. Frost will reimburse the Society on a quarterly basis and progress will be posted on this website. In addition, members and Compaies who donate to the Mortgage Reduction Fund will be acknowledged in the Society's newsletter. If Dr. Frost's challenge is met 100% by the members and Companies, a mortgage-free Jamestowne Society is possible by the end of this year.
Donations to the Mortgage Reduction Fund are earmarked for the mortgage only. In the even that this challenge results in more than is needed to actually pay off the loan, the excess will go towards building improvements, some of which are currently on hold. This is an opportunity to help free over $9,000 annually in operating expenses and alow the Society to direct those monies to other worthwhile projects. Your participation is greatly appreciated!
Make checks payable to "Jamestowne Society." Write "Mortgage Reduction Fund" on the memo line of the check or in a letter accompanying the donation. Mail to Jamestowne Society, POB 6845, Richmond, VA 23230. Contributions must be received by December 31, 2010, in order to qualify for the matching fund.
March 1, 2010 - Sale Price on 2007 Membership Roster, 346-page soft cover roster listing all members, which also contains as an Index the Register of Qualifying Ancestors. Formerly priced at $25.00, the remaining volumes of the limited edition 2007 Roster are now available for $10 each. To order, visit the Jamestowne Society Shoppe Page - when you download and complete the PDF order form, cross out the $25 amount and replace it with "$10 each." Hurry while copies remain at this price! No more of the special May 2007 Quadricentennial Edition will be printed, and this will add to your collection of special items from that very special time in Jamestowne descendants' history.
February 22, 2010 - Many Updates to the Site!
May Membership Meeting Information: On May 15, 2010, the Jamestowne Society will host its May Membership Meeting at the Williamsburg Lodge. An interesting presentation on the "Subberb of James Cittie" will be presented by Alain C. Outlaw, Principal Archaeologist, Archaeological & Cultural Solutions, Inc., of Williamsburg. His topic will be the Argall Town area and time period as well as earlier historic finds in the vicinity. Please visit the May Membership Meeting 2010 Notice Page for complete details and to print and mail your reservation form at your earliest convenience.
Updates to List of Council Members: The following Jamestowne Society members have been elected to serve as Council Members. Council Members play an important role in the governance of the Society. Those whose names have been added are Joanne Clarke Fox of Capron, Virginia; Hon. Jere Malcolm Harris Willis, Jr., of Fredericksburg, Virginia; Joanne Saunders Berkeley, of Norfolk, Virginia, Dr. John Shelton, of Roanoke, Virginia, and Mary Irene Makima Ross, Esq., of Huntsville, Alabama. The changes have been made to the Officers, Council Members and Committees Page.
New Governor's Message: Society Governor Carter B.S. Furr, Esq., has submitted a new Governor's Message. The Governor's Message is available to all visitors of the website, and is a welcoming and informative. See the new Governor's Message.
Companies Page Updated: The Companies Page contains up to date information on the locations of the various Companies of the Society, and contact information for their Governors. The link is here. New Governors for the following Companies have been added: Tennessee: Clark Doan of Colliersville, Tennessee; Kentucky: Dr. Jack J. Early of Louisville, Kentucky; First Texas: Darla Racz of Houston, Texas; Jacksonville: Vann Rhodes of Deland, Florida; South Florida: Zelma S. Porter of West Palm Beach, Florida; West Texas Company, Leaf Faller of Midland, Texas; Little Rock: Gale Markley of Jonesboro, Arkansas; James Citty: Dr. Thomas W. Sale of Hampton, Virginia; First Nevada-Arizona: James Runge of Henderson, Nevada. Congratulations to the new Governors!
Changes and Additions for Company Websites: Another feature of the Companies Page is that links are provided to websites which various Companies have established in an effort to communicate with their members and with the public in a more efficient fashion. The small diamond-shaped icons next to a Company's name contains a link which will take you from the Jamestowne Society website to the individual Company's site. Three new Company sites have come online (congratulations to both for the hard work involved): Kansas-Missouri Company has a new site, as well as First Mississippi Company and First South Carolina. All of these websites are done locally by the individual Companies and reflect the character of the individual regions and groups. It is usually a volunteer effort, and takes lots of time to establish and maintain. Congratulations to the new webmasters and to those who are continuing to maintain and update the other Companies' sites!
Society Governor Attends First California Company Meeting: On January 9, 2010, the Jamestowne Society's First California Company held its annual meeting in San Diego. Speakers were Jamestowne Society Governor Carter Branham Snow Furr, Esquire, and Dr. Karen Ordahl Kupperman of New York University, author of "The Jamestowne Project." For more details on the interesting program and updates by Governor Furr, visit http://www.jimsonharvest.com/ . Jimson Harvest is a blog originated and maintained by Jim McCall, Jamestowne Society member, and amateur historian and lecturer.
Society Governor Attends First Nevada-Arizona Company Meeting: On November 21, 2009, the First Nevada-Arizona Company held its annual meeting in Phoenix. Society Governor Carter Branham Snow Furr, Esquire, was in attendance, and installed the new Company officers. Photos from the event show former Governor Marty Gordon and newly elected Governor Jim Runge, as well as the installation of officers.
November 30, 2009 - New Company Governor for First North Carolina: Serving for 2010-2011 will be Maj. Bessie Hubbard Tyner of Pembroke, North Carolina, whose contact information has been added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page.
November 15, 2009 - Fall Meeting features presentation on Werowocomoco: On November 7, 2009, members and guests of the Jamestowne Society gathered at the Commonwealth Club in Richmond. After the Council met at 9 AM, members assembled for the reception from 11:30 to 12:30, and for luncheon at 12:30 in the Ballroom. Those in attendance were privileged to hear a presentation on the archaeological dig at the site of Werowocomoco, the early 17th century capital of the Powhatan chiefdom, site of several significant contacts with the Jamestowne settlers in the period between 1607 and 1609. Your webmaster was absent due to illness, but Carole Morck, Newsletter Editor, kindly provided photographs she took at the meeting. The PowerPoint presentation, as shown at the meeting, was provided by David A. Brown and Thane H. Harpole of The Fairfield Foundation, and is linked to from the Fall Meeting 2009 Recap Page.
August 25, 2009 - Save the Date: May 15, 2010 is the date for the Spring 2010 Meeting, and will take place at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia. Details will be on the site as the date draws near. In the meantime, make sure to make your reservations for the Fall 2009 Meeting through the links above and below.
New Governor's Message: Carter Branham Snow Furr, Esquire, the Governor of the Jamestowne Society has a new Governor's Message for members, including background on the excavations at Werowocomoco, the anicent site of Powhatan's village, which will be the topic of David A. Brown's presentation at the Fall Meeting November 7 in Richmond. Read it here.
New Jamestowne Reading Resources: Two new titles, and one revised edition, suggested by James McCall, have been added to Jamestowne Reading Resources on this site, where you'll find books mentioned which are new and old, and some of which are linked to full texts online. The new additions are Hobson Woodward's "Brave Vessel: The Tale of the Castaways Who Rescued Jamestown and Inspired Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'" published in 2009, and Lorri Glover's and Daniel Blake Smith's "The Shipwreck That Saved Jamestown: The Sea Venture Castaways and the Fate of America," published in 2008. Also a new link has been added to the updated and expanded version of James Deetz' "In Small Things Forgotten: An Archaeology of Early American Life - the original was published in 1977, and the newer expanded edition was published in 1996. See for yourself in Jamestowne Reading Resources.
Also added to Jamestowne Reading Resources on this date is an online text of "Ye Kingdome of Accawmacke, or the Eastern Shore of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century," by Jennings Cropper Wise, published originally in 1911 by the Bell Book and Stationery Co. in Richmond. Although not about Jamestowne itself, the "land across the waters" played an important role in the early life of Virginia, and had many connections to the settlement at Jamestowne. Enjoy this and many other interesting titles (there are twenty links to online texts alone) in Jamestowne Reading Resources.
August 24, 2009 - Details of November 7 Fall Meeting are available on the November 2009 Fall Meeting Page. The speaker will be David A.Brown, a PhD candidate at the College of William and Mary, who was the Jamestowne Society Fellowship winner in 2004. Learn more about Mr. Brown's publications and projects on the November 2009 Fall Meeting Page. Many of his publications were co-authored with Thane Harpole, who will join him on November 7 in making the presentation to the membership. Deadline for reservations is October 16 - complete the reservation form and mail it today!
Availability of New Ancestors for membership or supplementals in the Jamestowne Society: Registrar Lyndon Hobbs Hart, III has announced that the following investors and/or members of the Drapers Guild should be added to our Ancestor List: John Coombe, Allen Cotton, William Banister, John Rany, John Meredethe, John Shawe, John Rose, Richard Husbande, William Essington, and James Mallett. Accordingly, these names have been added to the Qualifying Ancestors List on this site.
Updates to the Jamestowne Society Shoppe order form indicate that Volume 2 of the 4th Edition of Adventurers of Purse and Person is not available and there is currently no availability date for this volume. The PDF order form can be accessed through the Jamestowne Society Shoppe page.where members will find an array of insignia and gift items for purchase.
July 10, 2009 - First Louisiana Company has a new website. The link to it is on the Jamestowne Society Companies page.
July 9, 2009 - Henry Clinton Mackall, past Governor of the Jamestowne Society, died July 7 at Fairfax Hospital. Mr. Mackall lived in McLean, Virginia, and was the beloved husband of Mary Margaret Mackall, father of Caroline C. Mackall, Nancy S. Mackall and Lucy M. Thompson, and one grandson. Friends may call at the family home at 1032 Towlston Rd., McLean, Virginia, on Friday, July 10 from 6 to 8 p.m., and funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 11, at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 9220 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, Virginia, with interment at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church Cemetery in McLean. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fairfax County Historical Society, POB 415, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. The guestbook is online at www.moneyandking.com. Mr. Mackall, in addition to serving in the past as Governor of the Society was also on the Executive Committee of the Society, and had served the Society in a number of capacities for many years, including service as Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Lieutenant Governor. His dedication to the Society and hard work on its behalf will be long remembered.
June 28, 2009 - News from the Spring Meeting at the Williamsburg Lodge: The May Membership Meeting convened on May 16 at the Williamsburg Lodge. The meeting included the presentation of the charter to the Florida Gulf Coast Company, under the direction of new Company Governor, Ruth Hemmingway. The speaker was Patrick Noonan, Chairman Emeritus of The Conservation Fund, whose topic was "The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail." The trail is a waterway path encircling the Chesapeake Bay and recreates the routes originally taken by Smith and his fellow adventurers in the early days of the Jamestowne colony. See more about the presentation on the Spring Meeting 2009 Page.
Governors' Roundtable
is a convening of Company Governors and takes place on the Friday
preceding the May Membership Meeting. Company Governors share news about
their Companies, and discuss ways to improve the Companies'
effectiveness in enhancing the membership experience. The Roundtable,
under the leadership of Carolyn Kendrick Farmer, begins in the morning,
includes lunch, and works through the afternoon. Here are those who
attended this year's Roundtable (including your webmaster who was the
photographer):
Florida Gulf Coast Company Chartered: Ruth Keeling Hemmingway is the Company Governor for the newly chartered Florida Gulf Coast Company, and was presented the Charter for the Company at the May 16 meeting in Williamsburg. Contact information for the newly formed Company has been added to the Companies Page. The new Company was chartered with 27 members. Congratulations!
Fellowship Award Announced: Other news from the May 16 meeting includes the announcement that Mr. Douglas Drake of Fountain Valley, California, has been awarded the 2009 Jamestowne Society Fellowship. He is a student at California State University at Long Beach, majoring in Archaeology. The title of his project is "Early Colonial Markets in 17th Century Virginia: Exchange Processes Determined from Gunflint Provenance." Gunflints accompanied settlers and explorers in their treks around the globe. They are thus useful in evaluating the market system, and to some extent, the social interactions, between the indigenous people and the new arrivals. Mr. Drake's study will include and compare gunflint examples found at Jamestowne and Occaheechl Town, a palisaded village (1680-1710) in North Carolina. The award was announced by Dr. Anne Tyler Netick, Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee.
Mortgage Reduction Fund: Contributions to the new Mortgage Reduction Fund will be welcomed by Faye Weems, Executive Director, at the Society headquarters. Make your check payable to the Jamestowne Society, indicate in the memorandum portion "Mortgage Reduction Fund," and mail to Jamestowne Society, POB 6845, Richmond, Virginia 23230.
New Council Member: Joyce McGehee Bockemuehl, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, has been appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of Kenneth Carrington Bass, III, on the Council. Her term expires in 2011.
Executive Committee Members Appointed by the Governor are Dr. Walter Raleigh Beam, Jr., Chester, Virginia; Barbara K. Benedict, Midlothian, Virginia, and Henry C. Mackall, Esquire, Fairfax, Virginia.
May 5, 2009 - New Smithsonian Institution Exhibition starts May 18: "Jamestown, Quebec, Santa Fe: Three North American Beginnings," will open May 18 at the National Museum of American History on the Mall in Washington, DC. and will remain there until October 31, 2009. The exhibit examines the English, French and Spanish cultures' beginnings in North America through a variety of artifacts and was developed through a partnership effort of the Virginia Historical Society and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, with assistance from the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Palace of the Governors in New Mexico and other organizations. Click here for more info!
May 3, 2009 - Kenneth C. Bass, III, former Attorney General and Webmaster for the Jamestowne Society died on Monday, April 27, 2009 at his home in Great Falls, Virginia. His wife, Shirley Bass, and sons Tim and Chris Bass, survive him, along with four grandchildren. He joined the Jamestowne Society on his lineage from Henry Fleete, and served the Society in many capacities over the years, including being the first webmaster of the Jamestowne Society website and being instrumental in getting the website online initially in the mid1990s, and served the Society additionally as its Attorney General. Funeral services were held on May 2, 2009 at McLean Baptist Church, McLean, Virginia, with private interment. Memorial contributions may be made to McLean Baptist Church, 1367 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia 22101 or to the American Cancer Society, 124 Park St. SE, Vienna, Virginia 22180. An online guestbook may be signed at moneyandking.com
April 13, 2009 - Company Governors: Address corrections and changes have been made for the Governors of the West Texas Company, the Tennessee Company, the South Florida Company, and the James Citty Company on the Jamestowne Society Companies page. When addresses change during the year (or if you notice an address which requires correction for any reason), Company Governors are reminded that they need to immediately contact not only the Companies Chairperson but also the Webmaster and the Executive Director of the Society, so that the information is coordinated and properly corrected. The US Post Office forwards mail only for a short time any more, and delayed corrections may result in lost mail. Some of the lost mail may be prospective members trying to contact Governors at the addresses listed, for example, on the webite. Your address may be corrected by a simple e-mail to the Webmaster and Companies Chairperson, but should be made in writing to the Executive Director to correct the membership database. Company Governors serve as our ambassadors in the community, so it's important that this information be current. Thanks!
February 24, 2009 - Qualifying Ancestors: Joyce Bockemuehl has completed a supplemental on Rev. Jean Bertrand, who was not previously included in the Qualifying Ancestor List. His name has been added to the list. Congratulations! Visitors will note that the typeface used in the Qualifying Ancestors List has been changed from an Old English font to Arial, which we understand is more easily readable.
February 22, 2009 - Funds to which Members may contribute include not only the APVA Fund and the Mortgage Reduction Fund, but also the Wingo Fund (to restore old court records) and the Scholarship Fund. Contributions should be sent to the Jamestowne Society's headquarters, with the appropriate fund designation in the memo portion of checks.
February 15, 2009 - Reserve Now for May Meeting: The May Membership Meeting of the Jamestowne Society will be held on May 16, 2009 at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg. The speaker will be Patrick Noonan, Chairman Emeritus of The Conservation Fund, who will share information on the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, which retraces the 1607-1609 voyages of Smith and those who accompanied him. The meeting venue will be the Williamsburg Lodge, a change from the past. Go see all the details on the new May 2009 Meeting Notice Page newly added to the site. You'll find details on the luncheon and meeting, as well as information on block rates at the Williamsburg Lodge. See you in May!
Members are encouraged to support the valuable work of the APVA by contributing to APVA through the Jamestowne Society's APVA Fund, and to support the efforts of the Jamestowne Society to eliminiate the mortgage remaining on the Society's headquarters building in Richmond by contributing to the Mortgage Reduction Fund. Contributions to the APVA Fund and the Mortgage Reduction Fund may be made payable to the Jamestowne Society, with the designation of the proper fund in the "memo" section of your check, and mailed to the Society headquarters at POB 6845, Richmond, VA 23230. When you contribute to APVA through the Society, it allows you to take credit for your charitable contribution, and allows the Society to receive proper credit for donations coming from its members. Helping the Society eliminate the mortgage on its building allows funds to be directed to other worthwhile items within the Society's budget. The Executive Committee of the Society which met on February 7 requested that this information be disseminated. Thank you for remembering these important causes when you are considering your charitable giving in the coming year!
Qualifying Ancestors: Website visitor Ann Mueller called to the Society's attention that the Qualifying Ancestor listed as "Otto Thorpe" should possibly be listed as "Otho Thorpe." After consultation with the Society Genealogist, Lyn Hart, it has been agreed that the change should be made. Although there are no Jamestowne Society members yet who descend from Otto/Otho Thorpe, it may be the change someone is looking for. If you haven't visited the Qualifying Ancestor List recently, you should do so. Members can find additional ancestors for whom supplemental applications can be submitted, and since the Jamestowne Society Shoppe now has the new ancestor bars, it's a good time to renew your interest in completing supplementals!
January 17, 2009 - New Governor, Oklahoma Company: Congratulations to William Richard Wynn of Tulsa, the new Governor of the Oklahoma Company! The contact information has been added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page.
January 14, 2009 - New Company Website Announced: Congratulations to First South Carolina Company, headquartered in Ridgeway, South Carolina, which has established a web presence. Visit the new site through the link on the Jamestowne Society Companies page.
January 2, 2009 - Committees Announced: The Governor of the Jamestowne Society, Carter Branham Snow Furr, Esquire, has announced the composition of the Committees which assist the Governor, the Executive Committee and Council Members in the operation of the Jamestowne Society for the coming term. The listing of the Committees and their members is on the Officers, Council Members and Committees section of this site.
January 1, 2009 - Address Correction for Secretary of State: The city of residence for Dr. Michael D. Frost, Secretary of State of the Jamestowne Society, is Mission Hills, Kansas. This change has been reflected on the Officers and Council Members page on this site.
December 29, 2008 - New Governors for Roanoke-New River Valley and Kentucky Trace Companies: W. Harrison Schroeder, immediate Past Governor of the Jamestowne Society is now serving as Company Governor for the Roanoke-New River Valley Company, and Laura Garnett Waldron is the new Company Governor for the Kentucky Trace Company. Contact information for both new Governors have been added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page. Congratulations on to both on taking office! For clarification, the newly chartered Kentucky Trace Company is located in Western Kentucky in the area of Paducah, while the Kentucky Company is in the Louisville - Lexington area of the state.
December 4, 2008 - Governor's Message: Newly installed Jamestowne Society Governor Carter B. S. Furr, Esq. has prepared his Governor's Message. Directed both to members and to visitors to the website in general, you can view it on the Governor's Message Page. Governor Furr points out several sections of the website which contain items of interest.
November 30, 2008 - News from the November 8 Meeting: New Officers and Council Members Installed: The outgoing Governor of the Jamestowne Society, W. Harrison Schroeder, Esquire, installed new officers and members of Council. New officers are Governor Carter Branham Snow Furr, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor Joseph Holleman Barlow, Secretary of State Dr. Michael David Frost, Auditor General Jerry William Zillion, Secretary of Treasury Harrison Ruffin Tyler, Attorney General Susan Noel Godman Rager, Esquire, Historian Ann Harrison Booker Darst, Registrar Lyndon Hobbs Hart, III, Chaplain Rev. James Wilbur Browder, III. Faye Chewning Weems continues in her role as Executive Director of the Society. Councilors whose terms expire in 2009 are LTC Charles Clement Lucas, Jr., MD, April Wood Miller, Prof. Joseph Neal Payne, Hon. Gary Murdock Williams. Councilors whose terms expire in 2010 are Dr. Walter Raleigh Beam, Jr., Carolyn Kendrick Farmer, Dr. Michael David Frost, David King Woodroof. Councilors whose terms expire in 2011 are Barbara K. Benedict, Aurelia Dance Lacy, Kenneth C. Bass, III, Esquire, Ann Spotswood Burwell Fishburne Duthie. Past Governors are W. Harrison Schroeder, Esquire, Aubrey R. Bowles, III, Esquire, Dr. Anne Shelton Tyler Netick, Ambrose Rucker Woodroof, Esquire, Dr. James Morris Bagby, Edward Barry Wright, Jr., Wellford G. Goode, Henry C. Mackall, Esquire, Robert Needham Hendry, DeEtte DuPree Nesbitt, Brig. Gen. Charles D. McGuire, USAR, Ret., Dr. James J. Owen. The Officers and Councilors listing also appears on the Officers and Council Page on this site.
News from the November 8 Meeting: Captain John Smith's Chesapeake Bay: Members and Guests enjoyed learning more about the Chesapeake Bay region as it likely was at the time of the First Permanent English Settlement in America. Dr. Kent Mountford, Ecologist/Environmental Historian for the Cove Corporation in Lusby, Maryland, presented an in depth look at the ecology of the area, and how encroaching population has changed the Bay from the pristine environment of 1607-1608 to a quite different estuary today. See photos of the meeting on the November 2008 Meeting Recap page and a special 4-page section of photos of the PowerPoint presentation, "Captain John Smith's Chesapeake Bay," by Dr. Mountford on the November 2008 Meeting Presentation page.
New Governor for Kansas-Missouri Company: Dessa Jane Burrell of Independence, Missouri, has assumed duties as the new Governor of the Kansas-Missouri Company. The change of Governor has been added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page. Congratulations!
November 7, 2008 - New Governor for First Colorado Company: Jean Williams Taylor of Denver has begun her new term as Governor of the First Colorado Company. Congratulations! The change of Governor has been added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page.
October 26, 2008 - New Jamestowne Society Scarf makes its debut and is now available through the Jamestowne Shoppe on this site. Designed by Joyce Bockemuehl, the beautiful silk scarf has hand-rolled edges, and will make a beautiful wardrobe addition. The oblong scarf measures 52" long x 14" wide, costs $75.00, plus a $2.50 per item shipping charge. Order yours today!
Chesapeake Bay Company has new Governor installed on October 25 at Historic Christ Church in Irvington, Virginia. Jean Booth McKenney of Irvington will serve for the 2008-2010 term. The Chesapeake Bay Company serves the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula areas in Virginia. The change of Governor has been added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page.
October 19, 2008 - Reminder that Reservations Deadline Approaches: The deadline for making reservations for the November 8 Fall Membership Meeting in Richmond is October 24. See details on the Fall 2008 Meeting Page, and send in your reservations today!
New Bronze Marker: The Jamestowne Society has made available for purchase by its members a bronze marker of the Society's seal. This new item has been added to the Jamestowne Shoppe on this site. Very soon, another new item will be added. Watch the "What's New" page for details!
October 5, 2008 - Reservations Deadline Extended: The deadline for making reservations for the November 8 meeting has been extended from October 17 to October 24. The new date is on the Fall 2008 Meeting Page. Members are encouraged to send in their reservations early, as space is limited.
August 31, 2008 - November 8 Meeting Plans Announced: The Fall 2008 meeting of the Jamestowne Society will take place at the Commonwealth Club in Richmond on Saturday, November 8. Dr. Kent Mountford, Ecologist and Environmental Historian for the Cove Corporation in Lusby, Maryland, will be the speaker. Dr. Mountford will share with us a view back into the Chesapeake and surrounding area as it was in 1607-1608, and define the challenge of restoring the large estuary and its environs to its former pristine state. You, your family and your guests are cordially invited to join the Jamestowne Society for this fascinating presentation, and for, as always, a delightful luncheon at the Commonwealth Club. Visit the Fall 2008 Meeting Page for more details and reservation form.
New Ancestor Bars Available: Get busy on your supplementals! Now, for the first time, you can honor both the ancestor you based your membership upon, and all of the supplemental ancestors from whom you have proven your descent. The new Ancestor Bars fit beautifully on the large medallion which was recently introduced. The new Ancestor Bars are now ready to be ordered through the Jamestowne Shoppe. There's a separate order form for these bars - you'll see the link on the Jamestowne Shoppe page. Special thanks to Joyce Bockemuehl for her hard work in making these bars a reality.
Newest Companies Added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page are the Tennessee Valley Company and the New England Company, both formally recognized at the May 2008 membership meeting in Williamsburg. The listings have been added along with contact information so you can get in touch. Again, congratulations to Richard Knight and Dr. Charles C. Lucas, respective Company Governors.
New Photo Added to the May 17 2008 Luncheon and Reception Photos Section: Margaret Gunn submitted a photo of Michelle Schroeder, spouse of the current Society Governor, Governor W. Harrison Schroeder, and Betty Page Schroeder, parent of the current Society Governor, which was taken at the May 2008 Membership Meeting in Williamsburg.
July 20, 2008 - Membership Process and Application: All applications for membership must be made using the Society's own computer software. Prospective applicants will receive information on ordering the software after they are issued an invitation to join, when they receive their preliminary application. For more details, visit the Membership Process and Application Section.
July 10, 2008 - New Approved Ancestor: Jamestowne Society Genealogist Lyndon H. Hart, III, has announced the addition of a new ancestor to the Qualifying Ancestors List. Thomas Ballard, c. 1620-1688, Councillor, is already on the List; newly added is Thomas Ballard, Jr., c.1654-1711, who served as a Burgess. The new addition has been added to the Qualifying Ancestors List on this site.
Membership Process and Application: Changes to this Section of the website now direct those interested in applying to the Society for membership to first contact a member of the Society. "Prospective members must demonstrate descent from a Qualifying Jamestowne Ancestor to the satisfaction of the Society genealogist." "Upon receipt of an invitation from the Society" and the prospective member's acceptance of it, candidates for membership will be sent a preliminary application to complete, which will, upon its return to the Society, be reviewed. Those who then appear to be eligible for membership will be sent application software on either CD or floppy disk. Visit the Membership Process and Application page for complete details.
Software Maintenance Assistance Requested: Since 2002, Jamestowne Society applicants have been able to prepare applications for membership and supplementals using Windows-compatible software. Society member Walter R. Beam has written and maintained the software; however, since Walt will be celebrating his 80th birthday this August, he has indicated a need to seek volunteers to continue this activity. Walt's experience with computers dates back to 1952, and includes a career in the field. He has updated the software to run on Vista. A new version which can incorporate features to ensure that every application forwards a digital final version of lineage data to Society headquarters is needed. The current software version allows but does not force compliance with this function. In addition to application software, the Society uses a Microsoft Access membership database, and there are plans to expand its capability and application. Jamestowne Society members (spouses and children included) having Windows application software design experience who would like to assist are invited to contact Walt at wrbeam@comcast.net (put Jamestowne Society in subject line) or by phone at 804-796-5151. The Jamestowne Society appreciates your assistance!
PDF Order Form accessible through the Jamestowne Shoppe has added space for ordering the two new ties available (see the June 22 addition below for details), and has deleted the floppy diskette and CD for membership applications. View the new PDF Order Form through the link to it in the Jamestowne Shoppe.
June 22, 2008 - First California Company, West Texas Company, Captain John Clay Company and Lone Star Company have new Governors:
First California Company is now headed by Joanne Murphy, whose address is 1744 Victoria Way, San Marcos, CA 92069-9401.
The new Governor for West Texas Company is Wynelle Wagnon, who resides at 2516 65th Street, Lubbock, TX 79412-3330.
The Captain John Clay Company's Governor is now Zipra Morgan, of 3611 Capistrano Trail, Austin, TX 78737.
The Lone Star Company's recently elected Governor is Carol Hooper, whose address is 5912 East University, #105, Dallas, TX 75206-4669.
The names and addresses of these new Company Governors have been added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page. Congratulations to each of them on their election!
2 New Ties Available: The Jamestowne Society now offers two new ties, both silk, available for purchase through the Jamestowne Shoppe section of this site. One design features gold stripes on a burgundy ground; the other design has the Jamestowne Society emblem woven into the fabric. Purchase for yourself or for a gift, a bargain at $50.00 each!
New Jamestowne Reading Resource: A link to the online text of Philip Alexander Bruce's "Social Life in Virginia in the Seventeenth Century: An Inquiry into the Origin of the Higher Planter Class, Together with a Description of the Habits, Customs and Diversions of the People," originally published in 1907, is now available through the new link in Jamestowne Reading Resources. This brings the number of listed resources to 128, with 19 online texts.
June 6, 2008 - Preston Haynie: W. Preston Haynie was not a Jamestowne Society member, but in his role as volunteer librarian and archivist for many years at the Northumberland County Historical Society in Heathsville, Virginia, he was responsible for hundreds of Society members being able to connect the generations on their applications and locate the necessary supporting documentation. Preston Haynie died in a Richmond hospital on June 6, 2008, following cardiac surgery in recent weeks. Those who remember him might consider a donation to the Northumberland County Historical Society, POB 221, Heathsville, VA 22473. Northumberland County is the parent county of the Northern Neck of Virginia, and in that role, it was the repository for many of the very early records on which our research so depends.
June 5, 2008 - Linda Frazier: Shenandoah Valley Organizing Governor, died on May 30, 2008. The Company was chartered in May 2005. To read the obituary which chronicles the accomplishments of the life of Linda Betts Frazier, located at NewsLeader.com, click here. The Society extends sympathy to her family and friends. Her energy and efforts to establish a Company in the Valley of Virginia will long be remembered.
Alabama Company has chosen a new Governor, who is Robert Martin Cheney of Montgomery, Alabama. The listing and a contact address has been added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page.
Governors Listing: A complete list of the names of the Company Governors and Officers of the Society appearing in the photograph taken at the Governors' Roundtable on May 16 has been added to the May 16 Governors' Roundtable Page, which is part of the coverage of the May 2008 Membership Meeting in Williamsburg.
May 26, 2008 - May Meeting Recap and Photos - If you missed the May meeting in Williamsburg, you missed a really stellar presentation by Dr. Douglas Owsley of the Smithsonian Institution on the upcoming exhibit, "Written in Bone," which explores the evidence left (literally) in the bones of 17th century Chesapeake Bay area residents. See photos from the presentation on the special section on this site devoted to the May 2008 Meeting, and follow a link to the Smithsonian brochure on the exhibit. The main page on the May Meeting has links to lead you to "Written in Bone," the Governors' Roundtable, the Reception, and the Luncheon/Meeting. Two new Companies were chartered at the Luncheon/Meeting - welcome to the New England Company whose Organizing Governor is LTC Charles C. Lucas, Jr., MD, and to the Tennessee Valley Company whose Organizing Governor is Richard H. Knight, Jr., Esq.
Little Rock Company website: The Little Rock Company of the Jamestowne Society has its own website, and you are cordially invited to visit. The new link has been added to the Jamestowne Society Companies page. Patsy Penney is Governor of the Little Rock Company, and Martha Poplin is the Company's webmaster.
April 29, 2008 - Topic for May Meeting - Dr. Owsley's fascinating topic for the May membership meeting is "Forensic Files of the 17th Century Chesapeake." Read more details about his planned presentation for the Williamsburg meeting here.
April 27, 2008 - New Photos of Godspeed taken in the Fall of 2007 have been added. The photos were taken from the home of Henry and Louise Kelley on the Chickahominy River. Henry is a new member of the Jamestowne Society. See the new photos at the bottom of the 400th Anniversary Page.
Update to Reading Resources: Now there are 127 Reading Resources, including 18 which have online texts. The newest addition is "The Lost Colony and Jamestown Droughts," by David W. Stahle, Malcolm K. Cleaveland, Dennis B. Blanton, Matthew D. Therrell and David A. Gay. Published in 1998 in Science Magazine, it's an interesting look at how both the fate of the Lost Colony and the high death rate during early settlement at Jamestowne can be attributed in great measure to severe droughts. Check it out in Jamestowne Reading Resources
April 14, 2008 - Great Northwest Company: The Great Northwest Company, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, has chosen a new Company Governor, who is Dr. William Michael Waring. Ardyth Schaumburg, former Governor, continues to serve the Company in the capacity of Lieutenant Governor. The change has been made on the Jamestowne Society Companies page, with contact information for Dr. Waring.
April 10, 2008 - Washington & Northern Virginia Company: This Company which serves the area of the Nation's Capitol and NOVA, has elected a new Governor. Betsy Graves Smith is now leading the Company. The change has been noted on the Jamestowne Society Companies page, with contact information for her. Rachel L. Wills is in charge of the Company's own website.
March 30, 2008 - History Channel Program Features Dr. Douglas Owsley: The speaker for the Jamestowne Society May meeting is Dr. Douglas Owsley (see the May Meeting info on this site); on March 29, he was featured in a History Channel presentation, "Written in Bone." Jamestowne Society member Jean Tomes was seen in the presentation next to Dr. Owsley in the section on St. Luke's Church. Read more about the program on the History Channel's website.
Slideshow Presentation from 400th: The Michigan Company's website features an interesting slideshow presentation of photos made by Steven Baker at the 400th Anniversary Celebration last May. To view, click here!
March 15, 2008 - New Contact Information for San Antonio Company: A new address has been listed for Nancy Parker Corwin, Governor of the San Antonio Company on the Jamestowne Society Companies page.
March 9, 2008 - Kentucky Company Website: Congratulations to the Kentucky Company on publishing their own website! It's now linked to through the Jamestowne Society Companies page. Anne S. Moore, Governor of the Kentucky Company, is webmaster.
March 6, 2008 - Spring Membership Meeting 2008: Details on the Saturday, May 17, 2008 meeting are now on the website, complete with luncheon reservation form in PDF Format. Note that space is limited, there is a deadline of April 25, 2008, and there will be no late reservations or walk-ins accepted. The speaker will be Dr. Douglas W. Owsley, Head of the Division of Physical Anthropology, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. See all the details on the Spring Membership Meeting 2008 Page.
February 29, 2008 - Update to Reading Resources: The full online text of "Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources," compiled and published by William Fletcher Boogher, published in Washington DC in 1903, has been added to Jamestowne Reading Resources. This brings the number of resources listed (including online texts) to 126 resources, including 16 online texts.
Order Form change: Minor change to the Order Form was made today. Particular notice is directed to the new prices of the gold items (see addition noted February 27 below). The Order Form is linked to through the Jamestowne Shoppe section of this site.
February 27, 2008 - Michigan Company Website: Congratulations to the Michigan Company on producing their own website! It is now linked to through the Jamestowne Society Companies page. Emma Winegarner is webmaster.
New Prices on Gold Items: The PDF Order Form was last revised on February 27 to reflect the new costs of gold, and members are encouraged to contact the Executive Headquarters at 804-353-1226 before placing an order to make sure of current prices. The Order Form in PDF is available through the Jamestowne Shoppe section of this site. (Ties are not available at this time).
February 25, 2008 - New Contact Information for Company Governors: The new Governor of the First Louisiana Company is Emily Smith, 71205 Whiskey Oaks Lane, Covington, LA 70433. New addresses for several of the Companies have also been posted on the Jamestowne Society Companies page.
New Order Form is now available in PDF format through the Jamestowne Shoppe section of this site. Prices are subject to change without notice, so it's advisable to call the Executive Headquarters before mailing your order. (Telephone 804-353-1226).
February 7, 2008 - New Mailing Address for Society Headquarters: The Jamestowne Society National Headquarters Office in Richmond has obtained a new post office box and zip code. Therefore, all pages on this website, as well as the Jamestowne Society Shoppe's Order Form, now reflect the new address of P. O. Box 6845, Richmond, VA 23230.
January 12, 2008 - Photo Slideshow from the Michigan Company features photographs by Steven W. Baker of the May 2007 400th Anniversary Celebration festivities. This link has been added at the suggestion of Jim McCall of the First California Company. The slideshow is an excellent recap, and the new link has been added to the 400th Anniversary Celebration Photos Page on this site.
Updates to the Jamestowne Society Companies page: (1) Jan Tyler, Governor of the First Colorado Company has submitted an address change, and the new address is now listed; (2) Hugh A. Williams, Jr. is now Governor of the First North Carolina Company, and his contact information has been added to the Companies page as well. Company Governors are encouraged to submit additions/corrections as they arise.
First Colorado Company's November meeting is highlighted with photos and information at Blacktie-Colorado.com's website. Read about the meeting, and see the group photo of those in attendance. You'll also want to view the Photo Slideshow of the occasion!
December 24, 2007 - Jamestowne Society Companies: A correction has been made to the listing of the Governor for the Great Northwest Company. This company, headquartered in Sequin, Washington, has Ardyth Hatcher Schaumburg leading it.
December 3, 2007 - Update to Reading Resources: The full online text of "Colonial Churches in the Original Colony of Virginia: A Series of Sketches by Especially Qualified Writers, Second Edition" includes thirty-five illustrations, and has information on the Jamestowne Church as well as other early churches in the colony. Published by Southern Churchman Company in Richmond in 1908, the original was from the University of Michigan. The citation and link have been added to Jamestowne Reading Resources:
November 30, 2007 - Updates to Membership Application and Process Page and to Order Form: In order to clarify the membership application process, the Membership Process page has been updated to make clear the steps necessary to join the Society. The Order Form which is accessible through the Jamestowne Society Shoppe page has been updated to reflect a change in the cost of a copy of lineage papers.
November 23, 2007 - Updates to Reading Resources: Texts of four more books from mid-1800s and the early 1900s are available online. They are (1) a 1907 thesis by George Thomas Surface, "Studies on the Geography of Virginia;" (2) "History of the Virginia Company of London, with Letters to and from the First Colony Never Before Printed," by Edward Duffield Neill (pub. 1869); (3) "The Legislature of the Province of Virginia: Its Internal Development," 1907 thesis by Elmer Isaiah Miller; and (4) "Pioneers of the Old South: A Chronicle of English Colonial Beginnings," published in 1918 by Mary Johnston. Their citations and links have been added to Jamestowne Reading Resources:
November 18, 2007 - First Georgia Company has new Governor - J. V. Michael Motes' listing has been added to Jamestowne Society Companies with his contact information.
Newly Updated Application Software from Walt Beam has been added to the Membership Process and Application section of this site.
Executive Director Kelly Carson Johnson who has been at the Jamestowne Society for five years, is leaving on November 23, and the new Executive Director who will begin duties on November 26 is Faye Chewning Weems.
November 13, 2007 - New Council Members - A listing of new Council Members installed on November 10 has been added to the Officers and Council Members section of this site.
November 11, 2007 - Photos and News from the Fall Meeting - See photos and read about the November 10 Fall Membership Meeting at the Commonwealth Club. Information about new officers and Council members will be added shortly!
November 10, 2007 - Link to Richmond Marathon Map - Important to you if you're attend the November 10 meeting - the link has been added to the November 10 Meeting Information page..
November 5, 2007 - Updates to November 10 Meeting Information - The speaker will be Chief William P. Miles, Chief of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe since 1990, and Director of the Richmond Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Read more on the November 10 Meeting Information page. Times for Council Meeting, Reception and Luncheon have been added as well.
October 15, 2007 - Updates to Reading Resources: Digitizaton of books from the 1800s and early 1900s has made possible complete online texts of these volumes. There are 8 which are of interest to Jamestowne Readers, their citations and their links have been added to Jamestowne Reading Resources:
(1) "(The) Adventures of Captain John Smith, the Founder of the Colony of Virginia," by Lambert Lilly (New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1842)full text online;
(2) "Captain John Smith (1579-1631), Sometime Governor of Virginia, and Admiral," by Charles Dudley Warner (New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1881), full text online;
(3) (The) Cradle of the Republic, Jamestown and James River," by Lyon Tyler Gardiner (Richmond, VA: Whittet & Shepperson, 1900), full text online;
(4) "Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography," edited by Lyon Gardiner Tyler (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), full text online;
(5) "(The) Founding of Jamestown, Percy's Discourse of Virginia, Wingfield's Discourse of Virginia, 1607, 1619," American History Leaflets, Colonial and Constitutional, No. 36, edited by Albert Bushnell Hart and Edward Channing; Parker P. Simmons, 1907), full text online;
(6) (The) Historie of Travaile into Virginia Britannia, Expressing the Cosmographie and Comodities of the Country, Togither with the Manners and Customes of the People, Gathered and Observed as Well by Those Who Went First Thither, as Collected by William Strachey, Gent., The First Secretary of the Colony," edited by R. H. Major (London: The Hakluyt Society, 1849) full text online;
(7) "(The) Site of Old 'James Towne,' 1607-1698," by Samuel H. Yonge (Richmond: Wm. Ellis Jones, Printer, 1903), full text online;
(8) "Virginia Vestusta, During the Reign of James the First, Containing Letters and Documents Never Before Printed, a Supplement to the History of the Virginia Company," by Edward D. Neill (Albany, NY: Joel Munsell's Sons, 1885), full text online.
October 7, 2007 - Updates to Reading Resources: Jim McCall of the First California Company contributed information on Seth Mallios' book, "The Deadly Politics of Giving; Exchange and Violence at Ajacan, Roanoke and Jamestown" (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2006). Jim notes that Seth was a site supervisor for Jamestown Rediscovery and editor of "The Journal of the Jamestown Rediscovery Center." The book has been added to Jamestowne Reading Resources.
September 19, 2007 - Updates to Reading Resources: Bibliographic information on (1) James Horn's 2007 book, "Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown and the First English Settlement of America," and (2) Warren Billings' 2007 Revised Edition of "The Old Dominion in the Seventeenth Century: A Documentary History of Virginia, 1606-1700" has been added to Jamestowne Reading Resources.
September 17, 2007 - Society Governor Photo: A photograph of W. Harrison Schroeder, Jamestowne Society Governor, has been added to the Jamestowne Society Governor's Message page.
Richmond Law Magazine article: Summer 2007 edition contains a feature article on the presentation of a plaque on Jamestowne Island commemorating the special bond between English and American legal systems. The presentation took place in April 2007, and was made by Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and other dignitaries and special guests, including the Chief Justice of England and Wales. A PDF file containing the article may be accessed by clicking here - a perspective is included, within the article, by S. G. Rager, Webmaster and alum of the University of Richmond School of Law.
September 16, 2007 - How to obtain May 12 Photos: A link to Convention Photography, the official photographer for the Jamestowne Society 400th Anniversary weekend events, has been added to both the 400th Anniversary Commemoration page and to the 400th Anniversary - More Photos page on this site.
September 11, 2007 - November Meeting Notice: A special page has been added giving details on the Saturday, November 10, 2007 meeting at the Commonwealth Club in Richmond. You'll also find a link to PDF files containing a map of the Club location, and driving directions to get you there. Reservations deadline is October 31, and capacity is limited. Click here to access the November Meeting Notice.
September 9, 2007 - Jamestowne Society Fellowships: In the old website, this page was called "Fellowship." The contents of the old Fellowship page have been placed on the Jamestowne Society Fellowships page, which contains clear, concise directions for applicants who want to apply for the $2000 annual award. The new "Articles for Sale" page from the old website is now a redesigned Jamestowne Society Shoppe, with color photographs of all items available for sale.
First Texas Company, First Georgia Company Site and New York Company pages still reside on the Jamestowne Society domain. All three pages have been updated a bit. All three are encouraged to establish their own domain names and branch out on their own as others have already done. We know you can do it!!!
September 8, 2007 - Jamestowne Reading Resources: In the old website, this page was named "Bibliography." The contents of the old Bibliography page have been placed on the Jamestowne Reading Resources page, along with many new additions. Selections appropriate for young readers are marked with an asterisk (*). The resources are alphabetically listed by author. Total listings are 110, including 50 new ones.
September 7, 2007 - First Ohio Company link added: to the Companies page; First Ohio Company Governor Beth Kennard submitted the new link - be sure to visit the First Ohio Company website! They've done a great job with their web presence - people can find them easily, and navigate their site quickly.
September 3, 2007 - Vista-compatible application software: Walt Beam, who has dedicated many hours to the development and updating of the Jamestowne Society Membership Application software, has provided a new Vista-compatible application. So now prospective Members can use this on the newest computers, and current Members can use this to produce their supplemental applications. You'll be able to now access this updated software from the Membership Process and Application Page. Thanks, Walt!
Time and Weather: Descendants of Jamestowne settlers are scattered all over the globe today. When you visit the "What's New?" page, now you can see at a glance what time it is in Jamestown, and what the temperature is. If you click on the "Weather Gizmo" provided by Weather Underground, you can see what the forecast is. Our ancestors could have made use of this technology!
September 1, 2007 - Website redesign launched: Whether or not our settler-ancestors greeted each other with the contemporary phrase, "What's new?" - it's a relevant question regarding websites. The Jamestowne Society site, on September 1, 2007, began a new journey with new and updated design and content. When you visit (and we hope you'll find reasons to return again - soon and often), check this page first. New additions will be outlined here for you, with the date added. If you're a webmaster with links to various pages in the old Jamestowne Society site (prior to 9/01/07), efforts will be made in the coming weeks to notify you where possible of the changes. In some cases, you may not find a corresponding page published in the new site. Comments from visitors are always welcome. Direct your comments concerning membership and Society matters to Kelly Carson Johnson, Executive Director of the Jamestowne Society. Comments concerning the site should go to Susan Godman Rager, Webmaster. At the bottom of this page (and of every page on the site) you will find buttons to click that will pop an e-mail for you already addressed to the appropriate person to make e-mail contact easier. The name and address of Society Headquarters (and phone number) are also at the bottom of each page for convenience.
The input of Jamestowne Society members and guests is always welcome. The site exists for you, to provide information on Society membership, activities and events, to allow you to remember your participation in past events, and to allow Members to purchase insignia and other items through the Jamestowne Society Shoppe. Enjoy your visit and please come back again! Spread the word about the new site design and content! -- Susan Godman Rager, Webmaster
