Category Archives: News

Catherine “Catsy” Wylie Hopkins (Taylor) Schafer The First California Company extends condolences to the family of our loyal and generous member Catherine “Catsy” Wylie Hopkins (Taylor) Schafer.  Catsy passed away January 11, 2011 just shy of her ninety- seventh birthday.  … Continue reading →

By Martha W. McCartney “Old Christmas” was not an easy time. Although nothing is known about the Virginia colonists’ very first Christmas, commemorated on January 6, 1608 (“Old Christmas”), it is likely that the cold and hungry settlers huddled together … Continue reading →

By Martha W. McCartney Although no written records have come to light describing how colonial Virginians decorated their houses-of-worship during the Christmas season, at least one English song makes reference to the “Holly and Ivy, Box [boxwood], and Bay, Put … Continue reading →

Captain John Woodleaf conducts the first American Thanksgiving upon safe arrival in Virginia.Image courtesy of Berkeley Plantation. Contrary to popular belief, the first American Thanksgiving was in Virginia – not Plymouth, Massachusetts. On December 4, 1619, after ten weeks at … Continue reading →

Sit back and enjoy this set of pictures from the October 2010 meeting. For a better view, click on the menu button at the lower left corner of the slide show window and select Full Screen.

With an outstanding speaker, a stunning venue, and a packed house, the October meeting of the First California Company of the Jamestowne Society was, by all accounts, one to remember. Research historian and author Martha W. McCartney presented a tantalizing … Continue reading →

By Ginny Gotlieb Do you want to know all the good seventeenth century gossip? Who’s related to whom and their occupation? Our fall program will provide tidbits and guidance on clues to learning about these early settlers. Martha McCartney, author … Continue reading →

By Ginny Gotlieb As your new Governor, I want to welcome our new board and thank all who have agreed to serve. I am pleased that some of our newer members are moving into leadership roles and that former Governors … Continue reading →

Archaeologists and visitors mark the discovered postholes and probable locations of to-be-excavated postholes of the possible 1608 church. Over the past two months the Jamestowne Rediscovery Archeological Project has found what may be the site and remains of the original … Continue reading →

New member of the  First California Company, Mary Weisiger Andeen is not only a descendant of Pocahontas, but her family has passed down through the generations, a beautiful cameo brooch believed to have belonged to Pocahontas and carved in her … Continue reading →

First California Company of the Jamestowne Society had another successful presence at the recent Southern California Genealogy Jamboree. The conference was held in June at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel in Burbank. The Jamboree is an opportunity for our Company … Continue reading →

Welcome to our new blog! It is our hope that this blog will provide a better way to stay in touch with our members between meetings. We hope this blog can become our primary vehicle for communication about events, meetings, … Continue reading →