The Tale of the Marigold

The Tale of the Marigold

It is generally accepted that between May 5 & May 20, 1619 John Comes (Jamestown John) arrived at Jamestown, Virginia on the Marigold & his ship had set anchor. John immigrated to Jamestown on the Marigold from England. He came to America as an indentured servant to help set up the colonies for two to six years in exchange for free passage on the Marigold. It has been said he was the son of John & Margaret Archdale Combe. There is conflicting documentation relative to the relationship which contradicts the lineage associated with John of Jamestown and tale of the Marigold trip. Here is part of the tale:

It’uz a long 8 ta 12 weeks. Travel from England was reals hard in dem days! Most dem guys a-travlin’ ta Jamestown jus didn’t have da stamina and lotso ‘em jus died. Dem sailors didn’t know shi’ noways; navigation’uz real pathetic, mights e’en say primitive. Da ship’s captain and crew didn’t e’en know how fast they/uz a goin’. Hell, they eid’t e’en know where ‘ems wuz mo’t eida time. ‘Ey didn’t e’en knowed nuttun bout the Gulf Stream! No idea where they wuz most a da time… or more i’portant, where they’ould ends up.

Conditions on dat ship wuz jus unbearable. Dem motley passengers traveled alow deck ins da “hold”, jus a big room at a-bottom of da ship it wuz… maybe lessen five feet of headroom. ‘Ceptin fer realz short folk, allz ‘em had ta stoop a’most da entire time they’uz afoot. There wutten’t but a few lanterns ‘n da room’uz a’most always pret-much dark. Da hold floor was covered wit a bunch a deep sand a-givin’ stability ta da ship. A fire’uz always a-burning on da sand ‘n a chimney’uz a-runnin’ rights through da deck. Dat hold’uz always fillt wit’ smoke. There’uz no privacy neiter. Dem shi’buckets wuz jus a-sittin’ ‘round fer a-pissin’ ‘n shitin’. Dem passengers had ta take da shi’ buckets up ta da deck a specific times ta dump ‘em ov’r da side a da ship. There’uz dirty utensils and cookin’ pots around da fireplace fer ‘em ta makes ‘eir own meals. Food’uz really bad. Nuttin’ fresh a-course. Bread’uz always a-moldy n’ infested wit wha’ e’er. Dar’uz salted meat a-had maggots and most always wuz a-rotten. Haha, they’uz a callin’ it “survival a da fittest!” Only da folk God a-wanted ta make it ‘ould be a-survivin’. Those who completed the voyage w’uz definite da strongest and most fit a’ da bunch. Half a ‘em maybe or e’en less ‘ould a-make it off da ship but a half a dem ‘ould pass away realz soon after they’us a getting’ here. Dem survivors dough, they’uz a providin da good stock fer a makin the next folk haha. America came from da toughest folk aroun’ fer sure!

Conditions’uz only a-slight bit better for ‘em officers and crew who’uz also a- livin in dem crowded deckhouses.

Captain Lane’s Marigold had set out from an English port in about March, 1619 and during a May high tide she cast anchor and tied up on the lower James River. The passenger list included respectable citizens, officials of the Virginia Company, indentured servants, and convicts. John Comes was immediately turned over to Governor Sir George Yeardley who had just come over himself…

Dr. Josiah H Combs

The Great Year

The Great Year

Sumada time alls we cud talk bout was the year 1619. Ya see that’s da year whens the legendary Jamestown John brought da “Combs” name to da new world! We’uz always a jokin’ dat be the reason all them women came dat year but that ain’t all the story!

Jer

Life ‘n Jamestown’uz real difficult twixt da original settlin of 1607 and 1619, da Great Year. Da original settlers’d never planned on growin’ all ‘eir own food. They thought trade wit’ them Injuns, da local Powhatans, between supply shipments from England woulda been da answer.

Da initial lil’ group of 104 men and boys chose da location cuz it’uz favorable for defense purposes, but there weren’t no good huntin’ there and the water wutten so good neither. Though they’uz doin’ some farmin’, few of these settlers wuz accustomed to real work and didn’t know nuttin bout farmin’. Day failed to plant da crops early ‘nough to gets any successful harvest. Hunting’uz real poor and day quickly kilt all the small game. Dem colonists were dependent on tradin’ wit the Injuns and a-trustin’ for da supply ships from England ta show up regular for their food.

Wit’in a few years of John Rolfe’s successful croppin’ a tabacci the colony gots itself ‘agether. Injuns’uz harassin’, even a-massacurin’ but dem Europeans wuz demandin’ da tabacci weed more n’ more. Nex’ ya know more settlers and servants was a needed. Hate was a-buildin’ toward dem Injuns. A 100 acres a land wuz jus a-given to dem colonists just for bringing indentured servants to da colony so ‘ere wuz ways to become real impotant in dem days.

Three real important things a-happened in da colony in da Great Year of 1619:

1. Da colonists’uz granted a voice ‘n theirs government and the House of Burgesses was a-started up. The first representative government in all of America. Da people voted for two men in each settlement in the Gini Colony to represent ‘em in law makin’ at the House.
2. They gots da opportunity to obtain wives. Up ‘til den, there had been very few lady folk in Gini. For da first twelve years, the Colony wus a-made up a almost nuttin but men. The London Company sent 90 young ladies ta Jamestown dat year. They’uz real soon all a-married off. After dat many a da new colonists brought ‘eir families.
3. John Combs, one certain indentured servant, a-came to Gini on the Marigold.

Though it wuz mostly great  dat year, there wuz a bad thing 'bout it too. Dat wuz the year slaves came to Gini too. Da tabacci trade growed, it’uz real hard ta find people who’d work in dem fields. Not many a da English were a-willin to do that kind of work! The Injuns neither. Dem Dutch sailed into the harbor of Jamestown wit a bunch a Negra Slaves; 20 of ‘em’uz purchased by da rich plantation owners! Den they a realized dem folk was real good workers, den hundreds more wuz a-bought in. Then da slavery a-spread like crazy ta all da English Colonies. 

Tobacco’s Role as the Primary Product

Tobacco’s Role as the Primary Product

Dem Spanish took the tabacci weed a-to da Europeans way back n in 1528 n’ it didn’t ‘zacly make ‘em rich back then. Shoot, ‘em injuns’uz z usin’ da stuff fer generations when da white folk a got here! Tabacci wuttent used er’y day by dem though, day used it fer ceremony or ta seal a deal wit da folk they wuttent too sure bout! I reasons dem Europeans wuz jus more prone ta bad habits. Both of ems like da pleasure ‘n found it and relaxin’. Dem Injuns also used da tabacci weed fer medicine afore da Europeans took on da way –a-thinkin’ in da 16th Century. Injuns’uz always a-carryin’ bunches a tabacci in pouches. Shi’, day wuz acceptin it like money a ways afore da whites in Ginny wuz. They smoked it but we’za were chewing it more en smokin’ it heres in America. Yous know, peace pipes n’all wuz da ways they’uz smokin’ it. Ya has ta chops it ‘n roles it inta biggers leaves ta smokes it cuz we did't 'av’ dat many pipes early on til pipe makin’ acame a wayz a-life.

Fer us English-types it all gotza started wit Raleigh! His colony off da Caroline coast wuz a failure ya knows, jus cuddent make it! …Roanoke Island off da coast ‘n da mid 1580s. He’uz a loosin’ his fortune in da ventures, but dem colonists wuz smart and takes some tabacci ta England early-on, introduced it ta da English wuz da thing ta do! It proved real pop’ler clear ‘cross Europe after that. Dem European tabacci plantations jus couldn’t keeps’up wit da demand.

So Tabacci’uz reals important to America! It’uz da primary product during da colonization in Gini. T’was used by the big plantation owners in Gini az-a form of money like I’uz a sayin’ ta barter fer services ‘n fer da necessities. Severance of indentures wuz real frequent a-settled in rewards a-bunches a tabacci, …usually dem dried leaves. The tabacci’uz used by dem freed servants az-a-usin’ it az money day wuz!

John Rolfe in da Gini Colony a-took ta da concept ‘n made ‘imself some real money! In 1612, ‘e planted a field a-tabacci which’uz a yieldin’ a real fine crop. Afore long tabacci’uz a-cummin’ a-most ‘portant barterin’ product there’us ‘n da colony ‘n da colony gotz real rich wit it. Tabacci leaves wuz so valuable they replaced da money fer aw-whilz, men’uz frequently paid wit da weed fer their work. As time a-went on though, it was a-comin’ realz hard ta find dem field workers as dem colonists’uz steel realz lazy ‘n wuzn’t so willin’ ta duz dat kind a work.

Dat’s when da slaves come ta Gini a-durin da Great Year. As da tabacci trade’uz a increasin’, it a-came realz hard ta find people who’ould work in da fields. Hates a sayz it aginz but not many a dem English’ere willin’ ta do dat kind a work. Da Injuns weren’t a-willing ta help the English nowayz neither. Da Dutch ship sailed inta da harbor a Jamestown a-carryin’ a bunch-a dem Negra slaves; 20 of ‘em wuz purchased by the plantation owners! Such a shame!!! As it’uz realized wha’ excellent workers these folk wuz, hundreds more’uz bought. As time went on, slavery spread spread like-a wild fire ‘cross da colonies. I hates da thought but we’za never made it wit out a-forcin’ da salvery ta ‘appen.

A 16th Century Spanish Historian described how Columbus sent scouts into the interior of present day Cuba:

…men with half-burned wood in their hands and certain herbs to take their smokes, which are some dry herbs put in a certain leaf, also dry, like those the boys make on the day of the Passover of the Holy Ghost; and having lighted one part of it, by the other they suck, absorb, or receive that smoke inside with the breath, by which they become benumbed and almost drunk, and so it is said they do not feel fatigue. These, muskets as we will call them, they call tabacos. I knew Spaniards on this island of Española who were accustomed to take it, and being reprimanded for it, by telling them it was a vice, they replied they were unable to cease using it. I do not know what relish or benefit they found in it…

Bartolomé de las Casas, a 16th Century Spanish Historian; History of Tobacco, Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia; 2014

GGGrandpa Jer's Tobacco Cutter

Jer's Tobacco Cutter

 

Jer chews tabacci! We were laughing about that the other day until he spit on the floor. He knew I was pissed and said he was sorry. Times were just different. Jer told me he just had a dirt floor and wasn't thinking. He was real sorry.

Today, GGGrandpa Jer gave me this tobacco cutter when I saw him this morning! Cast in iron. The base is about 16 inches long, Pretty cool apology for the floor thing! He got it from one of his Uncles!

My sister Deb thought that was pretty cool. My brother Paul wanted to know if he taught me to make shine.

Jer told me we would discuss that when we get to Kentucky and his boys... He said, " They'uz a shinin' up dem hills!" Apparently Andrew is the main culprit... doesn't that just figure!

Bruce

The Fate of the Sea Venture 1609-1610

The Fate of the Sea Venture 1609-1610

Bruce

George Yeardley was a survivor of the ill-fated voyage of the Sea Venture, shipwrecked in Bermuda for 10 months. The Sea Venture was the flagship of the London Company’s third supply mission to the Colony but was challenged by storm at sea. The Starving Time was in part due to the shipwreck as the supplies were expected 10 months earlier, the time delay resulting from the wreck. The Third Supply Mission from England to Jamestown consisted of five to six hundred people in a fleet of eight ships. The ships ran into a massive hurricane on July 25th and were separated. One by one several of the eight ships made their way to the James bringing more colonists than supplies as the flagship carried the bulk of the supplies and was taking on water for four days after the storm due to damage sustained in the hurricane. The Captain of the Sea Venture made the decision to deliberately run aground sailing into the reefs at Discovery Bay off the Bermuda Shore. Around August 7 all of the 150 passengers had safely made land but their fate was unknown to the others of the fleet. Two new ships were built of Bermuda cedar and salvage from the wreck over the next nine months. The ships were readied for sea but May 10, 1610 and set sail on the 20th. Without the leadership which resided on the Sea Venture, as well as nearly all the supplies, the rest of the group floundered in Jamestown along with those already there. They were ill-prepared to survive, majorly contributing in the “Starving Time”.

Later we will discover how George Yeardley was a remarkable contributor to the development of the Colonial culture and governance with Virginia and how his life meshed with the fate of the Combs Family, but now Jeremiah Lorenzo will give us a look at the difficulties presented during the “Starving Time” as handed down through the family lore.

The Starving Time 1609-1610

The Starving Time 1609-1610

Dem colonists survived da winter n’ da times, they became known as “Da Starvin’ Time”. Da Starvin’ Time wuz a time a forced starvation cuz da supplies didn’t a make it and da Injuns wuz not a helpin matters much.

Dem Injuns jus a wanted ta rid Gini of da English folk afore more a ‘em a started comin’. They’uz a makin’ a campaign that killed all but bout wise 60 of dem 500 colonists during da winter of 1609–1610. Dem Injuns ‘ceeded in isolating da colony from eating opportunity. ‘N da lack a water due to da real dry season’uz-a contributin’ ta the near demise by a-messin’ wit da farm production. Da James River water was pret much useless cuz a da sea salt when there’s no rain fall. The water’uz barely drinkable about half the year when conditions’uz good let alone wit da no rain. Wit da real dry winter, dem colonists wuz a-drinking dirty, salty water from da James.

They died a disease, a cold and some by da arrows of ‘em Injuns. Da lousy 60 surviving colonists decided ta return ta England. They’uz all a-crowded into two small ships n’ad set sail toward the mouth a da river. At da mouth of the James they met more ships arriving from England. Da ships carried da new Governor, Lord Delaware, more colonists and lotsa supplies for erbody. The two small boats turned around and followed the others up da river. Jamestown wuz barely saved.

John Smith and Jamestown, Virginia 1607-1609

John Smith and Jamestown, Virginia 1607-1609

All a me’s Uncles and me’s Great Gramps a-told dis story oer n oer agin! Dun’t ‘amember Great Gramps a tellin’ it but I’za sure ‘e did!

Jer

‘n 1607, Jamestown’uz a-settled by three shiploads a-da London Company colonists (all-s’m wuz men, might a-seyz “gentlemen” who ern’t so used ta hard workin’ ors life in-a da sticks). Da only real man’uz John Smith who’uz picked ta be da leader in da colony a early on. He’z a writa, explora, map make-a, a soldier and a whole bunch a utter stuff. Hell, he wrote advertisements ‘bout da new world n stuff.

Here every man may be master and owner of his owne labour and land... If he have nothing but his hands, he may...by industrie quickly grow rich.

John Smith

Dem settlers chose a place on da banks of da river what they’ze named da James fer da King. Dat’s where da name Jamestown come from.

Dem colonists found life pret tough, more harder than they’uz ‘spectin’ and most-a these gentlemen wuz pert’ lazy. They’uz even attacked by Injuns a very first day they’uz there. The land was real low and marshy and wit mosquitoes a-plenty! Most-o ‘em colonists wuz-a struck wit da fever and afore long bout half a ‘em had died. Smith could see a handwritin’ on da wall and took charge. He seyz that “any man who would not work should not eat!” A few went hungry for a bit afore everyone suddenly a started ta contribute. Dis’uz da same ol’ John Smith who’d a be takens prisoner by Chief Powhatan who’uz prepared to kill ol’ John til da Chief’s daughter, Pocahontas, asked her pops ta spare ‘im.

Powhatan promised-a help dem English folk by sendin’ corn to ‘em ta use during the winter. Lotso dem settlers did make it through the first winter buts nowhere close ta all a ‘em!

Da second shipload men folk arrived and wuz no more enthusiastic than da first group. Dat Injun chief was a-worried ‘is whole tribe’d be a-driven away from da huntin’ grounds as the colony a-got bigger. ‘e declared da Injuns’d supply no more a da corn! John knew da colonists’uz gonna starve real soon. John’uz a brave man and ‘e marched on dem Injuns wit only 40 men and confronts em. He threatens a kill the chief’s brother right in front of Powhatan. Afraid his brother’s life would be ova Powhatan seyz OK - more corn for dem Englishmen. In da summer of 1609, John gotz himself all injured up on-a exploration into da sticks; he’uz real severe burnt n ‘ad ta return to England ta get fixed up. Wit da Captain gone, da shi’ a-happened n’ dem English wouldn’t work nor more, food became real scarce n’ da Indjuns wouldn’t help none, da population growin’ as seven more shiploads of folks wus a comin’ in. N’ wheres-a da supplies?