The Starving Time

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In the fall of 1609, Smith was injured in a gunpowder explosion and returned to England. With Smith no longer there, it became much harder to trade with the Indians. The winter became known as "the Starving Time". During the course of the winter, 440 of the 500 people who were alive when Smith left, died. Recent archeological evidence has shown that in order to survive some of the colonist resorted to cannabilism(eating Human remains) to survive.

The following spring, supply trips arrived and the settlers were told to abandon the colony. Before they could do so, however, additional English ships arrived carrying 150 new colonists and additional supplies. They also brought a new governor, appointed by Virginia Company, Lord De Le Warr, and a charter that greatly expanded the area of the colony.