The 4-H American Chestnut Project
Chestnuts were described by Captain John Smith on the coastal plain of Virginia, where they are now rare. It is possible they were planted by native Americans. The following is excerpted from "A Map of Virginia With a Description on the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Government and Religion." In: Barbour, P.L. (ed.) The Complete Works of Captain John Smith, Vol. I. Univ. of North Carolina Press.
A Description of Virginia, by Captain John Smith, published in 1612
"The wood that is most common is Oke and Walnut, many of their Okes are so tall and straight, that they will beare two foote and a halfe square of good timber for 20 yards long; Of this wood there is 2 or 3 severall kinds. The acorns of one kind, whose barke is more white, then the other, is somewhat sweetish, which being boyled halfe a day in severall waters, at last afford a sweete oyle, which they keep in goards to anoint their heads and joints. The fruit they eate made in bread or otherwise."
"There is also some Elme , some black walnut tree, and some ash: of Ash and Elme they make sope Ashes. Of walnuts there is 2 or 3 kindes."
"There is a kind of wood we called Cypres, because both the wood, the fruit, and leafe did most resemble it, and of those trees there are some neere 3 fathome about at the root very straight, and 50, 60, or 80 foot without a braunch."
"By the dwelling of the Savages are some great Mulberry trees, and in some parts of the Countrey, they are found growing naturally in pretty groves."
"In some parts were found some Chestnuts whose fruit equalize the best in France, Spaine, Germany or Italy, to their tasts that had tasted them all."
Click here to see John Smith's map and to connect to the virtual Jamestown web site.