Samuel Collier was one of four young boys who arrived in Virginia with the first 104 settlers in 1607. Because he could read and write he served as John Smith's page, rather like a secretary. Samuel survived those hard early years, unlike many others. Although no diary or journal of Samuel has survived we have used historical records to imagine what Samuel might have written concerning his adventures and hardships in the New World. To access Samuel Collier's diary entries about his life in Virginia, select the Samuel Collier's Diary link below.
Hello I am Samuel Collier a boy about your age living in London where plans are made for a settlement in Virginia. I was one of the first 104 settlers to arrive in Virginia in 1607. Because I am able to read and write I keep it diary or journal of what I saw. Here are some of my adventures in the new world in my life at Jamestown.
August 1606 London, England. What am I to do? Father is gone. I'm living in one of the largest cities in the world and I can't find a job. There's a talk of a new adventure though. I'm thinking of joining the Virginia Company of London which is organizing a journey to Virginia to start a new colony. Perhaps they could use me?
November 1606 Success! Today I encountered Captain John Smith. How fortunate am I that I can read and write for he can make use of me as a page or secretary on the journey to Virginia to start a colony. We are to sail in December!
April 26, 1607, Virginia. About 4 o'clock this morning, I was awakened by the cry of the watch - “LAND! VIRGINIA!“ 4 and a 1/2 months at sea in these cramped quarters have caused much quarrelling among the men. It seems like we've been at sea forever. Now we have finally arrived. We built a small boat called a shallop to explore the Chesapeake Bay. I can already see the white sandy beach and tall pines. What a welcome site. The air is mild and the river beyond the Bay looks brighter than any I have ever seen in England we named the river the James after our King James the first.
May thirteenth 1607. Jamestown. After exploring up-and-down the river, we found a place 30 miles from the bay to settle. From what we have seen so far, Virginia is nearly a paradise. I have also seen many squirrels, rabbits and wild turkeys. It is indeed a land of plenty.
June 16th, 1607. We've been cutting down trees during the past weeks to clear the land and build our fort. The fort is shaped like a triangle with high towers called bulwarks at each corner where we will mount our canons from the ship. It has been much work to do finishing the fort - building our shelter, planting food, and exploring our new home.
September 1607. These past months have been the most hot and humid. Men our dying daily from cruel diseases and hunger. We still don't have the skills to hunt, catch, or grow enough food, so we are forced to eat the wormy food left from our voyage. The water is bad too. Half our number are dead - over 50 souls. We all would have died if Percy hadn't brought us bread, corn, fish, and meat in good plenty. What miseries! How I long for the comforts of home in England.
March through April, 1609. Captain John Smith has taken me with him on two of his trips to visit Indian villages along the James River. During the last trip Captain John Smith ordered me to spend some time in the village with one of the local Wahunsenwansus (sp?) that is what they called their chiefs. While I was there I tried to learn as much as I could including a few words such as moccasins and tomahawks. I also saw a beast that looked like a badger who lived in the trees like squirrels, he is named “raccoon. Another animal was as big as a cat, had a tail like a rat and carried her baby in a big under her belly. It was called an “opossum.” What an adventure!
June, 1610. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones, if that’s what you call those that survived the CRUEL winter known as ‘The Starving Time.’ So many have succumb to hunger disease, including some of my friends.
June, 1614. The last 7 years we’ve tried to fine some ways to make a living. We recently had victory in one attempt – growing tobacco. John Roth experimented to see if tobacco grown in the West Indies might also grow here – and it does! But the tobacco we grow in Virginia is shipped to England in exchanged for English goods that we need. Tobacco should make some of us quite successful!
September, 1620. Jamestown has changed a lot since those terrible early years. Our city has spread out along the rivers and our communities have started nearby. I now have my own land and house. I married too. Growing tobacco takes lots of work. Several of my workers are indentured servants. Many English men and women are starting their new lives in Virginia as indentured servants. Last year in 1619, about 20 Africans arrived in Virginia and became servants too. As far as I know, they were the first Africans to come to Virginia. Another important event took place at Jamestown in 1619; we elected representatives to meet at the House of Burgesses. It gives us a representative government just like England. I'm glad too because I plan to spend the rest of my life in Virginia - my new home.
