Jamestown Island in James City County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Jamestown Memorial Church

Photographed by Tracy Andersen Roberts, July 3, 2026

1. Jamestown Memorial Church Marker

Inscription. The 2019 restoration of Jamestown's Memorial Church was made possible thanks to the generosity of the following friends:

The General Society of Colonial Wars
James City County
The Jamestowne Society
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
The Virginia Society of Colonial Wars
2019 Commemoration, American Evolution

Dedicated July 30, 2019 in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of America's first General Assembly which took place here.

Erected 2019.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is July 30, 1619.

Location. 37° 12.508′ N, 76° 46.695′ W. Marker is in Jamestown, Virginia, in James City County. It is on Jamestown Island. It can be reached from Colonial National Historical Parkway 1½ miles south of Jamestown Road (Virginia Route 31), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1371 Colonial National Historical Pkwy, Williamsburg VA 23185, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Tombstones (here, next to this marker); The Tombs of James and Sarah Blair (here, next to this marker); In Memory of the Colonial Governors (a few steps from this marker); Church Tower (a few steps from this marker); Jamestown (a few steps from this marker); The First General Assembly of Virginia (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Extension, Blockhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Jamestown’s Churches (within shouting distance of this marker).

Also see . . .
1. Jamestowne Rediscovery's website entry.

marker shown under windows on south exterior wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tracy Andersen Roberts, July 3, 2026

2. marker shown under windows on south exterior wall

The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (now Preservation Virginia) acquired 22.5 acres of Jamestown Island, including the 17th-century church tower site in 1893. The APVA conducted archaeology around the old church foundations and began to plan the construction of a new church for the 300th anniversary of the settlement in 1907.

(Submitted on July 7, 2026, by Tracy Andersen Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia.)

2. https://historicjamestowne.org/history/the-first-general-assembly/.

the oldest continuous law-making body in the western hemisphere

The most convenient place we could finde to sitt in was the Quire of the Churche Where Sir George Yeardley, the Governor, being sett downe in his accustomed place, those of the Counsel of Estate sate nexte him…

— Proceedings of the Virginia Assembly, 1619

The first General Assembly met in the “quire” (choir) of the what was then the newly-built wooden church at Jamestown on July 30, 1619. Following instructions from the Virginia Company of London, the sponsors of the colony, the Assembly’s main purpose was “to establish one equal and uniform government over
Photographed by Tracy Andersen Roberts, July 3, 2026

3. church as viewed from the south, marker is located to the right and rear of the exterior
all Virginia” and introduce “just Laws for the happy guiding and governing of the people there inhabiting.” It met as a single body and was made up of the Governor, Sir George Yeardley, his four councilors, and 22 burgesses chosen by the free, white male inhabitants of every town, corporation, and large plantation throughout the colony. Henceforth, settlers were able to participate in their own government and promote measures for the general good.

(Submitted on July 7, 2026, by Tracy Andersen Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2026, by Tracy Andersen Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 7, 2026, by Tracy Andersen Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.