History of Williamsburg, Virginia

HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA

Here at Colonial Ghosts, we are students of history. The history of Williamsburg started in 1492 when Christopher Columbus discovered what was to become America. Adventurers spent the next two centuries exploring this New World with an effort to create a new colony. The land was already inhabited by indigenous tribes; the Native Americans. This didn’t stop other countries from invading. In 1607, the English were the first to establish a settlement in the New World with the intent to stay.

This led to the founding of Jamestown, the first American colony. The growth process was slow and challenging, but eventually, the colonists established a government and designated Jamestown as their capital. It remained the capital for nearly a century until major parts of it were destroyed by fire. As a result, Williamsburg became the new capital.

Today, Williamsburg is not only known for its rich history but also for its eerie past. Williamsburg’s ghost tours take visitors through the city’s historic streets, sharing haunting tales of the spirits that still linger from its colonial days.

Embark on a ghost tour in Williamsburg, delve into its rich history, and uncover its haunting past—from eerie witch trial legends to the restless spirits that still roam its historic streets.

What is Williamsburg Known For?

Williamsburg, Virginia, is best known for its rich colonial history, charming 18th-century architecture, and immersive living history museums. As part of the Historic Triangle—alongside Jamestown and Yorktown—Williamsburg transports visitors back in time with costumed interpreters, historic reenactments, and preserved landmarks like the Governor’s Palace and Colonial Williamsburg’s Duke of Gloucester Street. The city offers a unique blend of education and entertainment, making it a favorite destination for history buffs and families alike.

Beyond its daytime attractions, Williamsburg has a chilling reputation as one of the most haunted cities in America. With a history dating back to the early 1600s, it’s no surprise that ghostly legends and eerie encounters abound. Williamsburg ghost tours take visitors through centuries-old streets and shadowy graveyards, unveiling spine-tingling stories of restless spirits, tragic pasts, and paranormal activity. These tours offer a thrilling and unforgettable way to experience the town’s haunted history up close.

Are you ready to walk the historic streets and see if you can encounter Williamsburg’s spirits for yourself?

History of Williamsburg : A Rough Start to Settlement

The desire to establish a colony in North America lead to a very important voyage in 1606. King James I granted a group of investors, known as the Virginia Company, voyage to North America. The goal was to find inhabitable land with an easily accessible route to the Pacific Ocean.

The crew set sail that year aboard three ships; the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. Finally, after a long voyage in May 1607, the 104 English colonists landed on the shores of what was going to become Jamestown. The area was perfect because of its deep water anchorage and its good defensive position. They began to set up camp in the New World.

The settlers were confident in their new discovery, but they needed supplies and more people. In the summer of 1607, Christopher Newport went back to England with two ships and forty crew members to report to the king and get the necessities.

When Newport left, the settlers suffered. Many of them were upper-class Englishmen and lacked the knowledge of sufficient labor and farming. The settlers were also surrounded by an unfamiliar climate; they weren’t used to the hot Virginia summers. There was little water, little food, and a constant risk of catching malaria. They suffered greatly from drought, disease, and death; more than half the population died by the end of the summer. In addition to the little resources and disease, the Native Americans were a constant threat.

John Smith

When John Smith became the colony’s leader in September 1608, things began to change.

John Smith was tough but fair. He established a, “no work, no food,” policy. He was also very instrumental in trading with the Powhatans for food.

John Smith established trading with the Native Americans, resulting in temporary peace between the groups. In exchange for beads, metal tools, and weapons, the English received corn.

However, there were some mixed feelings about John Smith. In the fall of 1609, he was mysteriously injured by burning gunpowder and had to go back to England.

After John Smith left, things got bad again. Settlers began to starve and a period of serious warfare between the Native Americans and the settlers began. Once again, many settlers died and starved and an overall feeling of helplessness overtook them.

In the spring of 1610, when the settlers were about ready to give up, two ships arrived. The ships carried at least 150 new settlers, supplies, and the new governor of the colony, Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr.

History of Williamsburg: Establishing Roots

When Thomas West arrived, he enforced martial law, stabilized a government, waged war against the Powhatans, and established a new land policy. Under this policy, plots of land were given to the colonists and the Native Americans were forced to move further West.

West’s reign ended when he took ill and had to head back to England. His successor, Sir Thomas Gates began to issue a system of new laws. Among other things, these new laws restricted the interactions between settlers and the Powhatans. Raids against the Powhatan villages were conducted and many Powhatans were killed.

Colonists still had trouble growing crops. In 1613, John Rolfe introduced tobacco as a cash crop and the colonists began trading with England. Rolfe also married Pocahontas, resulting in a brief period of peace between the settlers and the Powhatan tribe. Pocahontas was Chief Powhatan’s daughter and had converted to Christianity. The two married in April 1614 and the marriage allowed the colonists more land to grow their crops.

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Tobacco

Tobacco became very popular in England. As interest in this crop grew, so did the power to obtain more land and money. Colonists enslaved Africans and forced them to work in the cotton fields.

In 1619, King James founded The Virginia Company to assist in the growth of the colony. They adopted the Great Charter of 1618. Among other things, under this charter, appointed representatives from the new eleven areas of settlement discussed the current issues in Virginia and possible solutions. This made up the first legislative body in the New World and would become a model representation for governments in later colonies. That same year more men, in addition to women and children, arrived to grow the colony even further.

Jamestown was growing more and more by the second. The Powhatans, however, were suffering. The colonists were making life hard for them and they lost two important people. Pocahontas died in 1617. A year later, Powhatan died in 1618. Powhatan’s brother became the new chief and he was more than willing to pay back the settlers for the crimes they committed against his people.

Problems with the Natives

After Powhatan’s death, his brother, Opechancanough, became the new leader of the Native American tribe. The Native Americans were angry about the colonist’s insatiable need for land and the growing colonies. They decided to do something about it.

In March 1622, the Powhatans killed around 300 – 400 English settlers in a surprise attack. This was a shock to King James and the rest of England. In an effort to take control of the situation, King James dissolved the Virginia Company into an official crown colony. Jamestown was now the capital of the New World.

Despite the successful attack on the settlers, the Native Americans still suffered. Diseases brought from the Old World (England) resulted in a huge loss of the Native American population.

Despite the tragedy, in 1630, the colonists expanded their territory to the North and West. The growing community and government were really coming together. In each county, there were various positions in the government a man could hold. The chief justices made up the courts, the sheriff’s enforced the law, and the clerks kept track of the county’s legal records.

Furthermore, the Native Americans continued to attack the colonists but continually failed. In 1644, the Powhatans tried one last time. The attack results in the capture of Opechancanough.

Demand for cotton continued to grow and with the free labor from the slaves, land-owners were turning a serious profit. However, sales started to decline in 1666, growing between the mid 1670’s and declining again between 1680 and 1713. The crown denied the colonists the right to end production of tobacco.

Williamsburg is Established

In 1676, a rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon erupted in the colony, resulting in the sacking and burning of much of the capital town.

What began as a small conflict between the Doeg Native American tribe and a colonist named Thomas Mathew quickly escalated into a full-scale uprising. Mathew had cheated the Doegs in a trade, angering them and prompting a retaliatory raid on his plantation, where they stole several hogs. In response, Mathew and other colonists killed several Native Americans, further fueling tensions.

Instead of reporting the situation fully to Governor Berkeley, militia officers took matters into their own hands, attacking and killing chieftains and members of the Susquehannock tribe. This act violated an existing peace treaty and set off a chain of events that would become a defining moment in Williamsburg’s history.

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Nathaniel Bacon

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As the retaliations continued, the settlers appointed Nathaniel Bacon (a member of the Governor’s council) to lead them in the attacks. Bacon asked Governor Berkeley to assist in the attacks against the Indians. Berkeley refused and Bacon led his seventy men into battle anyways.

Bacon was arrested in June 1676, but the rebellion did not end with his capture. By September, his followers had burned down most of Jamestown, leaving the colony in ruins. The revolt ultimately collapsed when Bacon died of a fever in October of that year.

In the aftermath of Bacon’s Rebellion, chaos spread throughout Virginia, prompting England to tighten its control over the colony. To enforce stricter laws, the Crown sent royal governors to challenge the power of the General Assembly, reshaping the colony’s political landscape.

Tensions continued, and on October 21, 1698, another devastating fire broke out, destroying Jamestown’s statehouse—the third government building to burn down in the settlement’s history. As a result, in 1699, colonists decided to relocate the capital to Middle Plantation, renaming it Williamsburg. This marked the beginning of Williamsburg, Virginia’s history as the new political and cultural center of the colony.

Over time, Jamestown faded, ceasing to exist as a town by the mid-1700s. However, its legacy remains an essential part of American history, influencing the foundations of the nation.

Learn More About The Haunted History of Williamsburg

Williamsburg is a city where history and hauntings intertwine, creating the perfect setting for spine-tingling ghost tours. Beyond its well-documented past, the town holds secrets whispered through the centuries—echoes of untimely deaths, lost loves, and restless spirits that refuse to fade into the past. Williamsburg, Virginia’s history is filled with both triumph and tragedy, making it a fascinating destination for those who seek to uncover the stories hidden within its cobblestone streets.

Many tours begin at iconic landmarks, where the energy of those who came before still lingers. As you walk the dimly lit streets, you’ll uncover chilling tales of betrayal, tragedy, and the supernatural. From duels that ended in disaster to love affairs shrouded in mystery, Williamsburg’s haunted history is as thrilling as it is eerie.

Curious to uncover more of Williamsburg’s haunted past? Dive deeper into the eerie history in our blog and book your Colonial ghost tour to encounter these spectral stories firsthand! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more ghostly updates and chilling tales!

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/jamestown
http://historicjamestowne.org/history/history-of-jamestown/
https://www.jyfmuseums.org/visit/jamestown-settlement/history-of-jamestown
https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Early_Settlers_of_Colonial_Virginia
https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/bacon-nathaniel-1647-1676/

History of Williamsburg