History Historic Articles Tobacco and Early Colonial Expansion | Tobacco and Early Colonial Expansion |
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Established in the early 1600’s, Jamestown was Britain’s first colony on the American mainland. It survived primarily through the efforts of Thomas de la Warr and the introduction of tobacco. Descended from an old Wickwar family, renowned for their soldierly skills, de la Warre prevented Jamestown’s abandonment and subsequently had the Delaware tribe, river and state all named after him.
This wasn’t the end of the matter though, and in 1692 it was reported that “nine plantations of tobacco (1,300 roods in area) were discovered near Bristol” and these were finally suppressed by “the superior machinery of the revolution government”. For nearly forty years the Bristol merchants “engaged in a truceless warfare as champions of free trade with Africa against the would-be monopolists of London…… the chartered African Company…..” and had their privileges abolished by Parliament in 1698. Within about ten years Bristol’s African fleet numbered nearly sixty vessels. Although tobacco processing was mostly confined to the port cities, Wickwar still maintained an interest in the trade with a number of successful pipe makers. 
Thanks to David Hardill (Heritage Centre Office) |
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The fledgling colony of Jamestown was founded in 1607, when famous
people such as Captain John Smith and Pocahontas helped with its
formation. Early struggles with tribal conflict, crop failure and
starvation led to a proposed abandonment, before de la Warr sailed to
their rescue in 1610, helping to turn the colonies fortunes round with
the introduction of tobacco.
The first shipments of African slaves arrived in 1619 and by 1638 the
first slave market was established. In 1661 the Virginia Assembly
formerly recognised slavery as a practise.