JAMESTOWN MADE REED BLACKSMITHY LEAD 1 POUNDER CANNONBALL,1622

Description

JAMESTOWN MADE REED BLACKSMITHY LEAD 1 POUNDER CANNONBALL,1622
This VERY rare Jamestown Virginia made 1 pounder lead cannonball was made in 1622 by the Reed Blacksmithy at the Jamestown Village on the mainland for the new Virginia Militia after the 1622 Powhatan Indian Massacre.                                                                                                                               It was found by Confederate Captain William Allen in 1861 at the old Jamestown Fort on James- town Island in the James River of Virginia.                                                                                            William Allen owned the island in 1861 & built several artillery fortifications to prevent the Union fleet from using the James River to attack Richmond.                                                                                He found quite a few artifacts dating back to the early 1600’s & took them home with him to his local plantation as he realized their historical value.
The Virginia militia was formed in response to the Powhatan Indian Massacre of 1622 when over 2600 colonists were killed to protect the remaining 3400 survivors.
This cannonball is very hard lead, 1 13/16” diameter, weights about 13 ounces & is in very good as found condition & is covered with a white patina.
There were very few cannonballs ever found from Jamestown & are very seldom seen at antique or militaria shows!
*
Indian Massacre of 1622
.
Chief Opchanacanough and his Powhatan Confederacy attempted to eliminate the English colony once and for all. On the morning of March 22, 1622, they attacked outlying plantations and communities up and down the James River in what became known as the
Indian Massacre of 1622
. More than 300 settlers were killed in the attack, about a third of the colony's English-speaking population. Sir
Thomas Dale
's development at
Henricus
, which was to feature a
college
to educate the natives, and
Wolstenholme Towne
at
Martin's Hundred
, were both essentially wiped out. Jamestown was spared only through a timely warning by a Virginia Indian employee. There was not enough time to spread the word to the outposts. Of the 6,000 people who came to the settlement between 1608 and 1622, only 3,400 survived.
.