Questions for Reading #3 A Jamestown Settler Describes Life in Virginia, 1622

1. In the very first sentence of Sebastian Brandt’s letter he mentions that his “brother and . . . wyfe are dead aboute a year” and does not mention them again. How does this matter-of-fact statement help us understand conditions faced by settlers in Virginia in the early 1600s?
2. What conclusions can you draw about Brandt knowing that he continued to search for precious metals after most Jamestown settlers were involved in agriculture?
3. Make a list of what you think you would need to survive a year in Jamestown. Compare it with the shopping list Brandt sent to the merchant in London.