Immigrant William Jarrett, IV

Will Jarrett (b.1594) sailed to and helped build Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. Records say William Jarrett was a very young man, around 13 years old, when he left for America on December 30, 1606; he encountered three storms at sea, two ill-omened comets, a near mutiny, and finally arrived in Chesapeake Bay’s Cape Henry on the 5 May 1607, only to be attacked by Indians the very next day! The 104 survivors build Fort Jamestown, but over half of them will die in the next seven or eight months. Out of the 104 Jamestown Colonists, only 38 survived that first year, due to the worst drought in 700 years, the ineptitude of many of the settlers, and, of course, Indian attacks. However, Capt. Newport's re-supply fleet brought not only new supplies, but also new colonists to Jamestown.

The following year, in 1609, nine ships carrying 450 new settlers arrived in Jamestown; and one of them was carrying Will’s brother Samuel. No doubt, Will was glad to see his brother, but also, no doubt, sorry he could not have warned him of the dire hardships of Jamestown, which were censored from any letters home.

In 1619 Charles Cittie was established near Jamestown, and Will would live there in the Weyanoke District. Jay G. Jarrett writes, “1607 William Jarrett (Garrit) landed in Jamestown. He was a bricklayer (Hotten p. 217). Later he patented 200 acres at Weyanoke District. He is listed in Capt. John Smith’s list of first settlers (p. 24 Cradle of the Republic)."

In 1620, after working hard in the Colony for 13 years, Will was able to get an apprentice for his business and he later patented 200 acres of land for cultivation. Will attended a meeting at the London Company in London in 1620. At the meeting, Will stated he had been a resident of Jamestown for 13 years.

March of 1622 brought an Indian rebellion against the colonists. In one fell swoop, the Indians attacked over thirty homes and plantations killing 347 men, women, and children. Others, especially women, were taken as slaves. Will’s brother Sam was killed near Flowerdieu Plantation. Sam was only about 28 years old. He left a wife and at least one child, a son named Samuel who was granted his 100 acres in 1625. Will's brother Sam was buried at Fort Jamestown Cemetery.

The Virginia Company was dissolved in 1624, Will Jarrett was one of only three original settlers still living in the Jamestown area; the other two were laborers John Laydon and John Dods.

Jay G. Jarrett says in the 1640s Robert, Richard, another Samuel, and John Jarrett all came to Virginia Colony about the same time. Richard patented 1600 acres in various parts of the Jamestown area. They were all related and from the same area. Most of the Jarrett family moved to Georgia in the 1700s. They were believed to be Will’s brothers and/or cousins.

Will Jarrett lived on his 200 acres of land in the Weyanoke District near Henry Cittie, now Henry City Co, Virginia, until he died at age 92. Will is buried in Fort Jamestown Cemetery.

Will and wife, Margaret Jane, had a son named Richard R. Jarrett, who had sons, Charles and Thomas, who were members of the Horse Militia in 1687, and also daughter Elizabeth. Crystal Jarrett Inman shows a document that states Richard married Margery Bellingham, who then married Wm. Chambers after Richard died.

Richard R. had a half-brother, Robert, who was the son of Margaret Jane (1600-1680) and Devereaux Richard Jarrett. But things are a little muddy, for both Richard R. and Robert are given the same birth date of 1625; and Devereaux, born in 1591, lived until 1684 (93 yrs.), while Will lived from 1594 until 1685/6 (91/2 yrs.)