1565 African slaves are brought to Spanish colony of St. Augustine. 1607 Jamestown is settled. It is the first permanent settlement in the colony of Virginia. The Virginia Company of London finances the settlement with the expectation of seeing profits from harvesting Virginia's raw resources. 1612 John Rolfe plants Caribbean tobacco seeds in the rich Virginia soil.
Tobacco becomes the exported product that makes Virginia a wealthy colony.
The first recorded Africans in the colony of Virginia arrive at Jamestown on a Dutch ship. Colonial Williamsburg historians believe these Africans were indentured servants. 1639 Blacks in Virginia are not required to bear arms although white settlers must. An African servant, John Punch, and two servants of European descent are captured while attempting to run away. The European servants are required to serve additional time as part of their punishment.