William Powell

William Powell ( – ), was an early Virginia colonist, landowner, militia officer and legislator. Considered an ancient planter for living in the Virginia colony during its first decade, he was one of two representatives from what became James City County, Virginia in the first Virginia House of Burgesses in 1619. His former plantation, now across the James River in Surry County, Virginia is now within Chippokes State Park.

Early life in England Sources conflict as to whether William Powell was born in 1577 or 1585 or whether these were the years of birth of one or two other men of the same name. Although his date of birth is uncertain, the colonist William Powell obviously was born in England.

Settlement in Virginia

William Powell arrived in Jamestown, Virginia between 1608 and 1610. The surname "Powell" was common,, and several "ancient" colonists had similar names (including Poole). In 1608, a "Master Powell, tradesman" arrived in October, 1608, with the Second Supply aboard the Mary and Margaret. It is more likely that Powell, described as a gentleman, arrived in the Third Supply mission of nine ships, which some arrived in August, 1609 after a major tropical storm. Another source states that the records of the Virginia Company showed that William Powell, a subscriber of the company, came to Virginia in with Lieutenant Governor Sir Thomas Gates aboard the Sea Venture. These statements are not entirely incompatible. The small ships of the Third Supply mission arrived in Jamestown in 1609 and Powell, who is identified as being in Jamestown before May 1610, must have been on one of those ships, which returned from Virginia to England by November, 1609.

The Sea Venture, with Sir Thomas Gates and other prominent passengers, was beached in Bermuda after being caught in a severe tropical storm and separated from the other Third Supply ships. The surviving passengers did not arrive in Jamestown until late May 1610, after being stranded in Bermuda for 42 weeks. The castaways had to build two small vessels from remains of the Sea Venture and cedar trees in order to complete their journey.

On February 9, 1610, the Acting Governor Captain John Percy sent "Ensign Powell" and Ensign Waller to capture, or kill if necessary, Wochinchopunck, the chief of the Paspahegh and a sub-chief or tributary of the Powhatan. The chief had been harassing and even killing colonists. He even had tried to kill Captain John Smith during the previous year but Smith subdued him and took him prisoner, only to have him later escape. Finding they could not capture the strong Wochinchopunck, Powell killed him with a sword. Lieutenant Puttock, who had been closely following Powell and Waller, killed one of the chief's men.

Deputy Governor Samuel Argall appointed William Powell as captain, responsible for the Jamestown defenses and its blockhouses, and further appointed him lieutenant governor in 1617. Powell was a member of the first Virginia House of Burgesses in 1619, representing James City County, Virginia. Powell lived on the "Surry side" of James City County, on the south side of the James River from Jamestown, Virginia. Surry County, Virginia was organized from this area in 1652.

In 1620, Argall contracted with, or possibly even ordered, Powell to clear land and build houses for new colonists at Martin's Hundred. Powell tried to force the newcomers to pay for the work, but they were able to show this would be unjust because Argall had actually put their site in the wrong location. William Powell himself was an ancient planter.

Militia leader Captain Powell, who was described as the "gunner" of James City County, was one of a few who received early word of the planned colonist massacre and was "instrumental in giving warning to the plantations nearest Jamestown." Most sources state that the friendly Native American ("Chanco") who gave warning of the impending attacks told Richard Pace of the planned attack. As Powell and Pace lived near each other and were business associates, it appears that Pace warned Powell and that both men proceeded to warn other people in the neighborhood of Jamestown, as stated in William Stith's 1740 history of the colony. Immediately after the attack, Powell went to Martin's Hundred to help evacuate the survivors. He took possession of the estate of Nathaniel Powell, who was killed along with his wife during the attack. It was later determined Powell was not related to Nathaniel as he had claimed. Nathaniel's older brother, Thomas Powell, succeeded to ownership of the property.

Aftermath In 1620, Powell and another colonist named John Smith took some land on Hog Island, which they shared with Captain Samuel Mathews.

On a date between March 4, 1626 and the end of 1628, Edward Blaney, one of James City County's burgesses in 1623, married Margaret Powell, the widow of Captain Powell. Like Powell, Blaney lived on the south side or "Surry side" of James City County, across the James River from Jamestown, Virginia.