Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and The Start of a New Nation

John Smith returned to Jamestown on January 2, 1608. He slyly offered two 3,000-pound guns (instead of cannons) and other gifts for his 12 guides to take home. By this time, there were only 40 of the original 105 settlers left, and newly appointed council member Gabriel Archer joined a majority of council members who wanted to return home. Smith returned to find them preparing the Discovery for such a journey and ordered them off the ship at gunpoint. Archer and Ratcliffe overruled the remaining council members and voted to have John Smith executed for his role in his companions’ deaths on the Chickahominy River. Their logic was not based on English common law, however, and when Newport finally arrived on the ship John and Francis with a resupply of food and 60 new colonists, he overruled Smith’s execution.

Soon after Newport’s arrival, a fire broke out, destroying the newly refurbished stores. Hearing news of Smith’s “great father” (i.e., Newport), Powhatan sent gifts of bread and venison, and trade continued with the local communities (with Ratcliffe setting newly inflated prices). Smith and Newport met with Powhatan and promised to defeat his local enemies in exchange for food.