Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-06-07
The First VirgiuianS.

Who were the hrSt SetiierS OF James
town? ? Cspt John Smith and the others
who came with him in 1907 were OF
course the first TO establish permanently
the English race and English institutions
on this side OF the Atlantic, but there
were white settlers in Virginia on the
banks OF the James eighty years before
them.
To the energetic and adventurous Lucas
Vasquez de Ayllon belongs the credit Tor
ihe saiiest settlement OF Jamestown.
This man was one OF the auditors or
magistrates of Santo Domingo, which
within thirty years OF its discovery by
Columbus had already become populouS
and prosperous colony. He possessed
the tireless activity and the eager ambition
that animated so many OF his countymen
in that golden age OF Spanish history.
Alter making a voyage OF exploration
that took him 10 South Carolina, he visit
ed Spain and got from the king-Charles
Va royal patent granting him the right
to explore farther and colonize the lands
10 the northward. II was expressly
provided, at Ayllon's suggestion, that the
natives OF the country were not TO be en-
slayed.
In June, 1926, he set sail from Santo
Domingo with three ships and party OF
six hundred persons, men and women,
including several priests and physicians.
He took with him also no less than
hundred horses The expedition was
more than FIVE times as large as that
which Christopher Newport brought over
in 1907, and much more completely fitted
out.
Aylon touched the mainland little
farther north OF the place that he had
formerly visited One OF hls vessels was
promptly wrecked on the low, sandy
coast; but Ayllon built small crait-a
sort OF pinnace-from the trees along the
shore, and. having transferred men and
stores from the wrecked vessel, kept on
again northward.
II was stipulated IN his patent that he
should explore carefully any passage
leading westward, for the men of that
day still believed that the East Indies lay
not far beyond the New World, and that
a water route thither must exist. Ac-
cordingly, when The mouth OF The Chesa-
peake was reached. Ayllon turned west
ward and sailed slowly up the James
River
Like the Englishmen who were 10 iol-
low him eighty years later, he was charm
ed with the beauty Of the country, and
felt that he could no, hope TO find better
spot for his colony The exact spot he
selected cannot to-day be identified
but from the descriptions OF il that re-
main II is clear that II was in the inn
mediate vicinity OF Jamestown, perhaps
on the very island itself
The settlement was given the name OF
San Miguel The work, mostly carried
on by the negro slaves Ayllon had brought
with him, went forward slowly. The
same malariaI levers that later thinned
the ranks OF The English settlers began
to rage as autumn advanced. Ayllon
himself tell sick, and died October Is.
Before the houses were finished winter
SET in-a bitter winter for that latitude,
Tor men died OF the cold.
Dissensions also rose among the col
onists. One party rose against The men
10 whom the dying Ayllon had committed
his authority, and imprisoned them. The
Indians were so badly treated that they
revenged themselves by killing several
Of the settlers. The slaves also rose IN
rebellion and SET fire TO the house OF
Gines Doncel. who had usurped The
government. There was sickness, suffer-
ing, famine, death.
At last came a er-revolution and
sharp bit Of fighting. Doncel and his
party were defeated and the men whom
they held in confinement were released.
Doncel was killed and some OF his chief
supporters were executed.
BY this time the enthusiasm OF what |
colonists were left had naturally enough |
evaporated. With The coming OF spring |
they determined TO abandon The ill-staned |
settlement OF San Miguel. They at
tempted 10 take the body Of AyIlon with
them for intement al Santa Domingo,
but the vessel that bore il was lost on the
voyage, and the first settler of Virginia
found his grave at the bottom OF the At
lantie. Only one hundred and fifty OF
the six hundred who had left Santo Do
mingo returned thiiher alive.
II is interesting 10 speculate on the
changes that might have been wrought in
American history had the Spanish settle
ment OF Jamestown been successful and
permanent No doubt il is fortunate that
il was not so, but whatever was The III
fortune Of Ayllon and the unwohhiness
OF some OF his party. il is pleasant TO
think that the first yirginian was brave
and high-minded man, one Of the honor
able figures in the not always honorable