In April 1607, the Virginia Company of London dispatched three ships – the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery – to establish the first permanent English settlement in North America. Captain Christopher Newport led the fleet, carrying around 100 men, including adventurers, laborers, and craftsmen with dreams of prosperity. After a grueling journey of several months, the settlers finally anchored off the coast of Virginia, specifically at Cape Henry. This area was named in honor of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, and its selection served both strategic and exploratory purposes.

Upon landfall, the colonists explored the nearby coastline and conducted initial encounters with the local Indigenous groups, primarily the Powhatan Confederacy. These interactions were marked by a mixture of curiosity and tension, as the English and the Native Americans began to navigate their respective interests in the land. The settlers took note of the rich resources, including timber and fertile soil, fueling their hopes for economic success. They conducted ceremonies, including raising the English flag, signifying their claim and intent to establish a colony.

However, despite the optimistic beginnings, the settlers were unaware of the trials that lay ahead, including conflicts with Native Americans, harsh weather, and food shortages. The colonists eventually moved inland to settle in what would become Jamestown, further solidifying the foothold of English interests in North America. This voyage was the beginning of a significant chapter in colonial expansion and interactions between the English settlers and Native Americans.