Germans in Jamestown

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Remarks by German Ambassador Scharioth At the Unveiling NEW!

Book Preface

The story of Johannes Fleischer, the first German Physician in America

On April 19 and 20, 2008, the German Community of the United States celebrated the arrival of the first Germans in Jamestown. On that day, a Wayside Marker was dedicated, which honors the first Germans, who landed in Jamestown. They were Hessian glass blowers. Shortly thereafter they were joined by the first Physician to arrive in the New World, Dr. Fleischer, who was also German.

Dr. Klaus Scharioth, the German Ambassador, spoke at the dedication along with the Mayor of Wiliamsburg, Jeanne Zeidler. (You can read the Ambassador’s speech in this section). Later that day, a reception, followed by a banquet was held in recognition of this historic event.
In this section we will attempt to present a selection of the data that was collected in researching this historical event.

We are proud to say that the Deutscher Sport Club (German American Sportsclub) and the Gesangverein Virginia both donated $1,100 toward the cost of the Wayside Marker and the expanses associated with the festivities. Members from both clubs worked tirelessly in the preparation and planning of the festivities.

Click here for the Celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the First Germans in Americia (Dedication by German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth)

Did you know...?

A German was the only non-English in the very first group of settlers to land on Jamestown Island in May 1607.

This German arrived at the first permanent English colony 13 years before the Pilgrim Fathers landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

He was the first physician and trained botanist in English America. Holding both a Ph. D. and M.D. from a major university, he was one of the most educated persons at Jamestown during the 100 years it was the capital of Virginia.

Nearly a million objects have been catalogued by archaeologists who re-discovered the long-lost James Fort. Less than 1 percent of these objects bear words. More than 90 percent of these words are in German.

Copper was gold for the Virginia Indians. The Jamestown settlers kept alive during the first year by trading copper-alloy Rechenpfennige or reckoning pennies from Nürnberg for food.

German glassmakers produced the first “industrial-type product” at Jamestown.

German woodworkers helped build a European-style house for Paramount Chief Powhatan and lived in the same household as his daughter Pocahontas.