Feast At Henricus Interprets The First Thanksgiving
This Educational And Historical Park Offers Recreation Through The Interpretation Of Early Virginia Beginning With 16th Century Native Americans
Most American students are taught about the colonization of our country and how Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the New World. They are taught about Capitan John and his interactions with the native populations, however, odds are most, if asked, would not be able to tell you anything about Sir Thomas Dale, or the settlement of Henricus.
“In 1607, the English made the choice to establish James Fort, which would become Jamestown. It is about 60 miles as the crow flies down river from Henricus. It was a Virginia Company of London settlement and was not doing well. Most people learned about the ‘Starving Times’ when there was disease and cannibalism in the settlement. At that time, James Fort was considered on the outs and the Virginia Company wanted to bring in new talents, new leaderships, and new blood. That’s what brought Sir Thomas Dale and Reverend Alexander Whitaker to Virginia in 1611, their job was to fix Virginia in the sense of security and religion”, explained John Pagano, director of interpretation for Henricus Historical Park.
Dale’s instructions were to create a new seat of government up river from James Fort. In order to complete his mission Dale had to deal with the indigenous inhabitants, the Powhatan. “Dale is pretty smart, he sends word to the Powhatan leadership saying, ‘I’m going up there to put in a new town and I hope we can get along, but if you’re not going to work with me then you need to come battle me’, so he essentially throws down the gauntlet to the Powhatan tribe”, said Pagano.
Dale did have to battle with the natives and ultimately, he and his musketeers prevailed. “In the fall of 1611 Dale came up to this location with 300 men and boys and through combat and victory established Henricus Fort. This fort was considered the new more advanced fort in Virginia. It was a 7-acre fort for 300 people whereas James Fort was a third of the size for a third of the people”, stated Pagano.
Visitors to the historical park today experience what life was like for the early settlers. “Most people are going to get a very authentic experience. In our reconstructed Powhatan village, our interpreters are amazing. They demonstrate primitive tools, making canoes, the agriculture of the time, making pottery, all kinds of things”, said Pagano. “The English side is bigger, so you get to see a more expansive view of English life. Visitors get to experience English life in a fort under martial law and they get to see an amazing 17th century English church. As they go up the road, they are going to see a tobacco plantation and learn how agriculture and the tobacco industry shaped and defined Virginia for well over 300 years. As they move up the trail, they come to Reverend Whitaker’s house called Rocke Hall. That is the place that Pocahontas was brought and converted to Christianity.”
Early life in Henricus was quite difficult for the settlers. “Most of the first winter, they lived in tents and underground burrows, living like ground hogs. Living in Henricus they were living under martial law, it’s a military garrison. Even though most people who come to Virginia didn’t want to live under martial law, they had to. So, if they did any infraction of the martial law first their food was stopped, then they would be physically punished, then if they did something really bad, they would get executed. Execution was probably common at first. Residents had to go to church every day for roll call and they had to attend church on the sabbath”, explained Pagano.
With all the difficulties they faced, one might wonder why the settlers would want to come to Virginia in the first place. “The constant evolution of English people is the desire for more land and space. At first the Virginia Company wanted to find gold in America, but the reality is there wasn’t much to be found, so they came here more specifically for the things they can do with the land. For most English, land is everything, so when you consider the idea of wanting land, it is going to be a conflict with how the native people view the land”, Pagano said.
Relations between the native population and the English settlers were tenuous at best. In 1613, Chief Powhattan’s daughter Pocahontas was captured and taken to Henricus to Reverend Whitaker for Christian education. After her conversion, she was married to John Rolfe. “Through her conversion and marriage to John Rolfe, there was an alliance formed between the English and Pocahontas’ father Powhatan”, stated Pagano. This alliance was short lived and in 1622 Powhatan’s younger brother led an attack against the English settlements destroying most of Henricus.
Henricus Historical Park tells the story of the English settlers and their interactions with the natives of the Americas. The story is told through interaction with the visitors and interpreters dressed in period clothing using period tools providing a memorable experience for visitors. “Everything we try to focus on is tactile. How did the things in this environment, things that you can touch, experience, manipulate, the things you smell, how did this impact or have to do with colonial life”, claimed Pagano.
Jared Langenegger
A graduate of New Mexico State University with B.S. in wildlife and fisheries science, Jared spent 15 years working in fisheries and parks management. He enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, painting, and wood working.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Pocahontas State Park, with 3 lakes offering plenty of fishing. Boat rentals available seasonally by the 225-acre Swift Creek Lake. The Civilian Conservation Corps Museum is dedicated to Depression-era workers who helped build the state park system.