The Jamestown Brides

By: Jennifer Potter

Narrated by: Charlotte Strevens

Jamestown, England's first real foothold in the New World, was fraught with danger - from starvation and disease to violent skirmishes between colonists and the native populations. Mortality rates were impossibly high: six out of seven settlers died within the first few years. How clear these and other perils were made to the 56 young women who left their homes and boarded ships in England in 1621, nearly 15 years after Jamestown's founding, is not known. But we do know who they were. Their ages ranged from 16 to 28, and they were deemed "young and uncorrupt". Each had a bride price of 150 pounds of tobacco set by the Virginia Company, which funded their voyage. Though the women had all gone of their own free will, they were to be sold into marriage, generating a profit for investors and helping ensure the colony's long-term viability.

Without letters or journals (young women from middling classes had not generally been taught to write), Jennifer Potter turned to the Virginia Company's merchant lists - which were used as a kind of sales catalog for prospective husbands - as well as censuses, court records, the minutes of Virginia's General Assemblies, letters to England from their male counterparts, and other such accounts of the everyday life of the early colonists. In The Jamestown Brides, she spins a fascinating tale of courage and survival, exploring the women's lives in England before their departure and their experiences in Jamestown. Some were married before the ships left harbor. Some were killed in an attack by the native population only months after their arrival. A few never married at all. In telling the story of these "Maids for Virginia", Potter sheds light on life for women in early modern England and in the New World.

©2019 Jennifer Potter (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

You’ve come a long way lady, to help us get to where we are today

As the book began, I really wasn’t sure just what I was getting into. Would this be a dry reading of an academic paper, a far fetched re-enactment of history ? I was determined to finish it no matter, as each book deserves at least this.
It was interesting, it did provide new insight, it was worth the tedious moments. This historical era was harsh on women, Jamestown town was worse than that. Money over lives seems to be the theme of the Virginia Company, and sadly this theme continues today. However, learning from those women who were born before me is encouraging and I am proud of these women. History is or should be our milk to grow upon.
Unfortunately, I found the readers accent to be distracting.

Interesting but not Engaging

The people talked about were great but the narration and storyline was not engaging. I liked it but far from loved it.

History

I appreciated the contents of this book, since it had no political twist to it. I've become weary of listening to books which the history seems to be politically expunged.

Didn’t know this part of history

I enjoyed the book, learning many new things about this place and timeframe of which I was unaware. A bit challenging to keep all the characters straight. It is, however, heavily researched and one does learn and appreciate more what life was like after listening to it.

Informative research of James town brides

Interesting historical research of the plight of women in James town an what little to no rights that woman had over there lives.

Important history of the first English women settlers

Learn about the first women to be to be purchased by the first men in Jamestown for marriage. Indeed, a very tough life! I have such respect for the women's endurance. (Church always seems to get in there and sabotage. ) Author was very diligent in the research. Of course, now I will visit Jamestown. It is important valuable knowledge for everyone. I wish to thank the author.

Interesting history

Very enjoyable, informative account supported by good sources. The narrator has a nice voice too.

I really wanted to like this

There were so many names, I felt like I needed charts to remember who is who. It’s an interesting premise, but it was so tough to to keep listening.

Read this book!

This is an incredibly well written biography on brave women who threw their known lives to the wind, to start a new life in the violent new world. Ms. Potter did a wonderful job collecting primary source evidence and reasonable conjecture to describe why these women took the risk of going to the Virginia colony and what their lives were like.
This is a great book in general, but it's made even greater by representing women that have been largely ignored by history in spite of their contributions.

Must love women's history.

I loved the women's history the author strenuously labored to include. I am nourished by stories of my foremothers that is so hard to come by. These works are crucial to compiling the true scope of history. Thank you!