Editing John Smith (explorer) (section)

===Influx of settlers===
Some of the settlers eventually wanted Smith to abandon Jamestown, but he refused. Some deserted to the Indian villages, but Powhatan's people also followed Smith's law of "he who works not, eats not". This lasted "till they were near starved indeed", in Smith's words, and they returned home.<ref name=SnellCh4 />

In the spring of 1609, Jamestown was beginning to prosper, with many dwellings built, acres of land cleared, and much other work done. Then in April, they experienced an infestation of rats, along with dampness which destroyed all their stored corn. They needed food badly and Smith sent a large group of settlers to fish and others to gather shellfish downriver. They came back without food and were willing enough to take the meager rations offered them. This angered Smith and he ordered them to trade their guns and tools for fruit from the Indians and ordered everyone to work or be banished from the fort.<ref name=snch4p85 />

The weeks-long emergency was relieved by the arrival of an unexpected ship captained by [[Samuel Argall]]. He had items of food and wine which Smith bought on credit. Argall also brought news that the Virginia Company of London was being reorganized and was [[Jamestown supply missions|sending more supplies and settlers]] to Jamestown, along with [[Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr|Lord De la Warr]] to become the new governor.<ref name=snch4p85 />
[[File:John Smith taking the King of Pamavnkee prisoner - etching.jpg|thumb|right|John Smith taking the King of Pamunkey prisoner (1624 history)]]

In a May 1609 voyage to Virginia, Virginia Company treasurer [[Thomas Smythe|Sir Thomas Smith]] arranged for about 500 colonists to come along, including women and children. A fleet of nine ships set sail. One sank in a storm soon after leaving the harbour, and the ''[[Sea Venture]]'' wrecked on the Bermuda Islands with flotilla admiral Sir [[George Somers]] aboard. They finally made their way to Jamestown in May 1610 after building the ''Deliverance'' and ''Patience'' to take most of the passengers and crew of the ''Sea Venture'' off Bermuda, with the new governor [[Thomas Gates (governor)|Thomas Gates]] on board.<ref>{{harvnb|Snell|1974|loc=Ch. 4|p=91}}</ref>

In August 1609, Smith was quite surprised to see more than 300 new settlers arrive, which did not go well for him. London was sending new settlers with no real planning or logistical support.<ref name=SnellCh4 /> Then in May 1610, Somers and Gates finally arrived with 150 people from the ''Sea Venture''. Gates soon found that there was not enough food to support all in the colony and decided to abandon Jamestown. As their boats were leaving the Jamestown area, they met a ship carrying the new governor Lord De la Warr, who ordered them back to Jamestown.<ref name="SnellCh4" /> Somers returned to Bermuda with the ''Patience'' to gather more food for Jamestown but died there. The ''Patience'' then sailed for England instead of Virginia, captained by his nephew.

Smith was severely injured by a gunpowder explosion in his canoe, and he sailed to England for treatment in mid-October 1609. He never returned to Virginia.<ref name=SnellCh4 /> Colonists continued to die from various illnesses and disease, with an estimated 150 surviving that winter out of 500 residents. The Virginia Company, however, continued to finance and transport settlers to sustain Jamestown. For the next five years, Governors Gates and Sir [[Thomas Dale]] continued to keep strict discipline, with Sir Thomas Smith in London attempting to find skilled craftsmen and other settlers to send.<ref>{{harvnb|Snell|1974|loc=Ch. 4|pp=93–94}}</ref>